Home » News

EVPlus - December 2013 News

If you find a news item relevant to EVs, Hybrids & battery technology etc, please submit it via the Contact page.      

MAXWELL AND SK TO JOINTLY DEVELOP ULTRACAP/BATTERY COMBO
Added by admin 16/12/13

Ultracapacitors (aka ultracaps or supercapacitors) are the toast of the town, thanks to their rapid charge and discharge capabilities, tolerance of extreme temperature conditions and long operational life. However, their killer application may be as partners with lithium-ion batteries, which offer higher energy density.
Maxwell Technologies (Nasdaq: MXWL), a manufacturer of ultracapacitor-based energy storage products, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Korean energy provider SK Innovation to develop energy storage solutions leveraging the complementary characteristics of SK’s lithium-ion batteries and Maxwell’s ultracaps.
“As our name implies, we are seeking to move beyond the limitations of existing technologies to develop and deliver products that better meet the requirements of the most demanding energy storage and power delivery applications,” said Stephen J. Kim of SK Innovation’s battery division. “Our goal is to develop truly differentiated products that will create large new opportunities for both companies.”...
                                                 
                                                   Story, photo and lots more courtesy: ChargedEV
                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Aussie On Holiday in Hawaii with the Nissan Leaf
Added by admin 05/12/13

During a recent holiday in Waikiki, a beach front neighbourhood of Honolulu in Hawaii, EV News took the opportunity to rent a Nissan Leaf for the day. Having scanned the available cars on the Enterprise Rent-A-Car web-site and noticing they had Nissan Leaf available and for approx the same price as others in the same bracket I couldn't resist test driving one.
We picked up our Silver 2013 Leaf with 544 miles on the odometer with a full charge and only a vague idea where we were going. Earlier in the week we'd hired a 3rd generation Toyota Prius to lap the Island of Oahu a couple of times. (I've driven a Holden Volt and a Mitsubishi iMiEV, but not a Prius so I had to tick that box)
Having just hopped out of a Prius the controls in the Leaf were immediately familiar. It wouldn't be a wild guess to say the mouse-shaped gear selector in both could be from the same supplier. The start procedure in both is almost identical too, put the wireless key in the centre console, foot on the brake pedal, push button to start, select 'D' on the 'mouse', foot parking brake off, push the throttle and start moving forward - silently...
                                                 
                                                   Story, photo and lots more courtesy: Electric Vehicle News
                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Base hybrid arrival heralds broader Lexus GS update
Added by admin 04/12/13

By TIM NICHOLSON (GoAutoNews #707 - page 20)

LEXUS has given its mid-size GS range a shot in the arm with the addition of the entry-level GS300h hybrid, giving the premium marque some much-needed firepower against its European diesel rivals.
The GS300h is available in three specification levels, kicking off with the Luxury from $79,000, F Sport from $87,000 and Sports Luxury that starts at $102,000, excluding on-road costs.
This marks a $2000 premium over the base GS250 petrol variant in F Sport and Luxury guises.
The addition of the new hybrid variant gives Lexus a competitor for its German rivals’ base diesel offerings including the Audi A6 TDI priced from $79,500 and the BMW 520d and Mercedes- Benz E220 CDI (both $82,400).
Powering the GS300h is a 164kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor and nickel-metal hydride battery, matched with a continuously variable transmission...
                                                 
                                                   Story, photo and more courtesy: John Mellor's GoAutoNews
                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                               

 

   
    Website by WebPageOz