MG Motor UK has added Crewe-based dealership Grenson Motor Co. to its dealer network. With a history dating back over 40 years, Grenson Motor Co. is a well-established franchised dealership with a wealth of experience in the industry. Sean Pattinson, sales director at Grenson Motor Co., said: “Although we had no previous history with MG,… Continue reading MG Motor UK appoints Crewe dealership to its dealer network
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Fiat Chrysler open to fresh merger talks with Renault: report – Tech Xplore
Fiat Chrysler chief Mike Manley said the underlying logic of a tie-up with France’s Renault remained sound The chief of Fiat Chrysler remains open to the possibility of resuming merger talks with France’s Renault, months after talks between the two automakers aimed at forging an industry powerhouse broke down, according to an interview published Monday.… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler open to fresh merger talks with Renault: report – Tech Xplore
Toyota pulls Suzuki firmly into its orbit through stake deal
TOKYO (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) and Suzuki Motor Corp (7269.T) will take small equity stakes in each other, the Japanese car makers said on Wednesday, as they seek to develop newer technologies and meet sweeping changes upending the global auto industry. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Toyota is pictured at the Bangkok Auto… Continue reading Toyota pulls Suzuki firmly into its orbit through stake deal
GM wins US grant to develop solid-state batteries
General Motors is the latest automaker reported to be working on solid-state lithium batteries, thanks to a $2 million grant from Uncle Sam.
The money is part of a larger grant to develop more fuel-efficient powertrains, CNET reported. The company is expected to use the rest of the money to develop a lighter-weight, more efficient engine for medium duty trucks, perhaps to replace the company's 6.2-liter V-8.
Solid-state lithium batteries replace the flammable liquid organic solvents such as ethylene carbonate as an electrolyte in conventional lithium batteries with a solid, ceramic electrolyte that isn't flammable. That allows engineers to cram more lithium atoms into the battery to give it more energy without increasing volatility, which could lead to lighter, batteries for electric cars with longer ranges.
VW Battery Packs
So far, complex manufacturing challenges, cost, and power output have held the batteries back.
Other automakers, including Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and startup automaker Fisker are also racing to develop solid state batteries for electric cars.
GM is also working with Honda in a joint venture to develop future electric-car and fuel-cell technologies, including batteries.
Nio ES6 battery
John Goodenough, an engineering professor at the University of Texas, who co-invented the modern lithium-ion battery, announced a breakthrough in solid-state lithium batteries in 2017, but with long automotive development lead times, it has not yet seen the light of day.
Not all automakers or battery companies are optimistic about the prospects for solid-state batteries. Panasonic, Tesla's battery partner, has said it doesn't expect solid-state lithium batteries to be commercially viable for another 10 years, and Tesla recently bought ultracapacitor producer Maxwell Technologies. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said ultracapacitors have more promise for electric cars than lithium-ion batteries.
Renowned Mobility Expert Shiva Kumar Joins Ridecell To Head Up Business Development And Strategic Finance – PRNewswire
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Ridecell Inc., the leading platform provider for shared and autonomous mobility operators, today announced it has hired Shiva Kumar as the Executive Vice President, Business Development and Strategic Finance. He will oversee Ridecell’s business development and investor activities. Mr. Kumar brings industry-recognized expertise in mobility technology market to the… Continue reading Renowned Mobility Expert Shiva Kumar Joins Ridecell To Head Up Business Development And Strategic Finance – PRNewswire
Linglong Tire Signs Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation with Geely Automobile – PRNewswire
Linglong and Geely began their cooperation in 2012. During the past eight years, Linglong has been providing OE service to full range of models of Geely’s automobiles with excellent products and services. Linglong has been awarded the Quality Improvement Award and Best Cooperation Award by Geely. It is another major breakthrough for the close cooperation between… Continue reading Linglong Tire Signs Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation with Geely Automobile – PRNewswire
Faraday Future CEO is finally stepping down, reportedly in restructuring into partnership
Faraday Future CEO Jia Yueting is reportedly finally stepping down from his role at the electric vehicle startup as part of a restructuring into a partnership. Ever since it came out of stealth mode, FF has been involved in controversy. First, it was lawsuits from vendors. Later, it was executives departing and its CEO and… Continue reading Faraday Future CEO is finally stepping down, reportedly in restructuring into partnership
ProLogium And NIO Join Forces On Solid-State Batteries For EVs
NIO is interested in ProLogium solid-state battery cells and MAB (MultiAxis Bipolar) packs Solid-state battery company ProLogium Technology has announced a partnership with Chinese electric car manufacturer NIO to jointly develop next-generation batteries for EVs. The two set the short term goal of creating a prototype car with ProLogium solid-state battery pack – MAB (MultiAxis… Continue reading ProLogium And NIO Join Forces On Solid-State Batteries For EVs
Via Launches First On-Demand Deployment in Ontario with Sault Ste. Marie Transit Services
Published August 26, 2019 2:35 pm, Via NYC
Via Launches First On-Demand Deployment in Ontario with Sault Ste. Marie Transit Services
Sault Ste. Marie On-Demand aims to overhaul an underutilized fixed-route bus network with on-demand microtransit technology
August 26, 2019 (SAULT STE. MARIE, ON) — Via, the world’s leading provider and developer of on-demand public mobility solutions, today announced a new public transportation deployment in partnership with Sault Ste. Marie Transit Services, a leading transit provider in Ontario, Canada. Starting September 8, passengers will be able to ride Sault Ste. Marie On-Demand, a new dynamically-routed shared transit network aiming to dramatically overhaul the area’s existing fixed-route bus system.
Sault Ste. Marie On-Demand will initially operate on Sundays from 7:15 p.m. to midnight when ridership has historically been low on the existing fixed-route buses. Riders can hail a Sault Ste. Marie On-Demand bus in real-time to their desired stop, which allows more efficient utilization of city buses, rather than continuously driving on fixed-routes with little or no passengers.
“We are thrilled to partner with the innovative team at The City of Sault Ste. Marie to bring Via’s technology to Ontario for the very first time,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “The new Sault Ste. Marie On-Demand service shows how public transportation and technology can work together to make a city smarter. Residents now have a comfortable, convenient, and affordable way to move around. This is truly a great example of a city embracing the future of mobility.”
Using the Sault Ste. Marie On-Demand app, riders will be able to hail a shuttle directly from their smartphone. Via’s advanced algorithms will enable multiple riders to seamlessly share the vehicle. The powerful technology will direct passengers to a nearby bus stop within a short walking distance for pick up and drop off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.
Sault Ste. Marie On-Demand allows riders to travel from one pre-existing established stop to another as requested. Once the bus arrives, passengers can proceed onto the bus and pay using their existing transit pass or cash. The app provides riders with notifications and messages, real-time vehicle tracking, and an opportunity for users to provide post-ride feedback.
“This presents an excellent opportunity to run a pilot for on-demand services,” says Brent Lamming, Director of Community Services. “By implementing an on-demand transit technology system, the city intends to reduce the number of buses used to service the routes (presently nine), and improve service delivery by making more efficient use of resources.”
Commuters can use the service by downloading the Sault Ste. Marie On-Demand smartphone app powered by Via, available on iOS and Android, and available for download starting September 1. Users can book rides between the pre-existing Sault Ste. Marie Transit stops.
Via has been tapped by cities and transportation players around the world to help re-engineer public transit from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via now has more than 80 launched and pending deployments in nearly 20 countries, providing more than 60 million rides to date. To learn more about Via, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.
About Via
Via is re-engineering public transit, from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via’s mobile app connects multiple passengers who are headed the same way, allowing riders to seamlessly share a premium vehicle. First launched in New York City in September 2013, the Via platform operates in the United States and in Europe through its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Vans, ViaVan. Via’s technology is also deployed worldwide through dozens of partner projects with public transportation agencies, private transit operators, taxi fleets, private companies, and universities, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to power cutting-edge on-demand mobility. For more information, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.
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EVgo and Electrify America team up to make chargers more accessible
Finding a fast charger in the U.S. just got a lot easier for a lot of electric-car drivers.
Two of America's largest fast-charging networks announced an agreement Thursday to allow each other's users to charge at their charging sites without signing up for new memberships or payment plans.
Electrify America and EVgo agreed to a roaming partnership that will allow members of either service to charge at any EVgo or Electrify America charging station.
Each of the networks already has individual agreements with the nation's other largest networks, ChargePoint and Greenlots.
Electrify America DC fast chargers in Gulfport, Mississippi
Together they make up at least 42 percent of the DC fast chargers in the U.S. and 60 percent of the total fast-charging locations, according to data from the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center. The others are split among Tesla (with 52 percent of the total fast chargers in 22 percent of locations), and six smaller networks.
That means that drivers of EVs other than Teslas are have a widespread network in many ways on par with Tesla's Superchargers that they can use to top off their batteries.
Unlike Tesla's Supercharger network, however, EVgo chargers are concentrated in and around cities—where EVgo points out that most EVs drive—rather than along highways between cities where the chargers could allow drivers to make longer trips between cities, as Tesla's Superchargers do.
Electrify America 350 kw chargers at Home Depot in Chicopee, Mass.
Electrify America, a division of Volkswagen, was founded under the settlement agreement over Volkswagen's diesel emissions cheating, and is required to install such highway charging stations. So far, however, it has only completed the first of four phases of a 10-year rollout plan.
Roaming “interoperability” agreements are becoming more common, making it easier for electric car-drivers to use a wider variety of chargers.
This has led to a spate of recent announcements—many using the “One-Step Plug & Charge” label—including between Greenlots and Electrify America and ChargePoint and Blink.