December 2011

EV Battery Technology differences

December 31, 2011
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A closer look at the Nissan LEAF battery assembly Our article yesterday was about our drive in the Coda Sedan. A reader commented that the lithium iron phosphate chemistry of the battery pack in the Coda was also a lithium ion battery, which prompted some additional investigation on our part. According to Wikipedia, the lithium […]

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Driving the Coda Sedan

December 30, 2011
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A 1990’s sedan for 2012 With the San Diego International Auto Show coming to town, we got an opportunity to get behind the wheel of one true electric vehicle (EV) and a couple of hybrids. Also, recently we had an opportunity to join Car2Go, a car sharing service that operates in San Diego, Austin and […]

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Washington state gets its first DC fast charger

December 29, 2011
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First of nine fast charge stations in Washington state breaks ground The West Coast Green Highway will ultimately link the northernmost part of Washington state to San Diego with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations all along the way. While the completion of this goal may be many years off, the first step was taken this […]

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International Hot Rod Association adds rules for EVs

December 27, 2011
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IHRA to promote EV drag racing The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), the second largest drag racing sanctioning body in the United States, and the largest in Canada, has accepted electric cars and motorcycles into their ranks, according to the National Electric Drag Racing Association. The National Hot Rod Association had created classes for electric […]

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More EV battery issues

December 26, 2011
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A123 announces battery manufacturing glitch A123 Systems, the battery manufacturing company that supplies Karma, General Motors and Smith Electric Vehicles, has released an announcement regarding a hose clamp misalignment that could affect the battery cooling system of the battery it supplies to Fisker for the Karma electric vehicle (EV). This misalignment could potentially cause a […]

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Tsunami provided real world LEAF battery survival test

December 23, 2011
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No LEAF batteries damaged in tsunami destroyed LEAFs Roughly two dozen LEAFs were destroyed as a result of the tsunami that devastated Japan in March. None of the LEAFs batteries were damaged, according to the New York Times. LEAF batteries consist of four lithium-ion cells, packaged into modules, which are themselves packaged into the 660 […]

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EV infrastructure buildout continues

December 22, 2011
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Kohl’s Department Stores to see installations 33 Kohl’s Department Store locations will receive electric vehicle (EV) charge stations in eleven states according to Kohl’s. Each location will host anywhere from one to four charge stations and will be available to EV drivers at no cost to charge. Locations are to be determined in Arizona, California, […]

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Renault’s European approach – buy the EV, lease the battery

December 21, 2011
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Renault UK goes a different way Renault just yesterday delivered their first Kangoo Van ZE in the United Kingdom. One thing that makes Renault’s approach stand out from Nissan’s model in the US is this – Renault is choosing to sell (or lease) the vehicle without the battery. The battery is then leased separately. The […]

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Beyond round and black

December 19, 2011
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A discussion on the lack of a Nissan LEAF spare tire Nissan LEAF rolls on the latest technology low rolling resistance Bridgestone EP422 tires. It has no spare tire. This last bit of information sometimes causes concern. If one thinks about it for a moment, there is really not too much need to be concerned. Let […]

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Nissan pulls plug on Portuguese battery plant

December 18, 2011
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Plant was to start operations in 2012 Nissan last week announced that plans to produce electric vehicle (EV) batteries at a plant in Portugal have been put on hold, according to Reuters. Currently, Nissan LEAF batteries are produced in Oppama, Japan. Plans include additional battery production in Smyrna, Tennessee in 2012, Sunderland, United Kingdom and […]

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