In electric vehicle, battery and charging news are onsemi, Geotab, Nissan, Karma Automotive,FF, Safire and GM.
In this Article
onsemi for Traction Inverters for Mercedes
onsemi (Nasdaq: ON), a leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies, announced that Mercedes-Benz adopted onsemi silicon carbide (SiC) technology for traction inverters as part of a strategic collaboration. onsemi’s VE-Trac SiC modules increase the efficiency and lowers the weight of the all-electric Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX’s traction inverter, extending the electric vehicle’s (EV’s) range by up to 10%. The EV completed a 1,202 km (747 mile) trip from Stuttgart, Germany to Silverstone, England, holding the record for longest distance traveled on a single charge.
The VISION EQXX sets new standards for electric range and efficiency, while remaining sustainable and luxurious – and consuming less than 10 kWh of energy per 100 km (62 miles). This was achieved by a benchmark drag coefficient of just 0.17, lightweight design, reduced rolling resistance and the use of a battery that stores 100 kWh in 50% less space (and with 30% less weight) than comparable batteries. Key to the unprecedented range is an electrical system that ensures that 95% of the energy stored in the traction battery reaches the wheels – a huge improvement over internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles that are only able to achieve around 30%.
Geotab Patners with Atom Power for Fleet Management
Geotab, a global leader in IoT and connected transportation, partnered with Atom Power to deliver the industry’s first electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure integration available through Geotab’s fleet management platform, MyGeotab. Fleet managers will now have access to complex fleet analytics and industry-leading EV charging infrastructure to make their transition toward electrification simpler and more cost-effective than ever before.
Electrified fleets have an opportunity to be cost-efficient, scalable, and flexible, but today face a system of patchwork solutions. The Atom Power plug-in, in collaboration with Geotab’s data intelligence, provides a seamless customer experience through one dashboard. This integrated platform offers analytics around EV charging performance, as well as information on asset location, charging data, completion times, peak management, and time of use incorporation. The result: fleet operators can save time and money by eliminating the need for a third party platform to analyze charging data.
Nissan Intros Carefree+
Nissan is making it simpler to switch to an electric vehicle with the launch of a new customer care initiative, EV Carefree+, announced at Los Angeles Auto Show’s AutoMobility LA. The customer-focused initiative provides Nissan Ariya and LEAF buyers an all-inclusive package to give EV owners a positive, stress-free experience.
As one of the most comprehensive offerings in the industry for electric vehicle buyers, EV Carefree+ provides additional charging and maintenance benefits to help owners make the switch to electric easily. EV Carefree+ combines four pillars of support:
- EV Charging Assistance: Nissan is providing buyers or lessees of the 2023 Ariya and LEAF with complimentary charging offers on one of the nation’s largest public fast charging networks, EVgo. Ariya buyers and lessees receive one year of unlimited public charging1 with EVgo, while LEAF buyers and lessees receive a $100 charging credit with EVgo2. In addition, Nissan provides owners with a seamless home charging solution in collaboration with Wallbox3. Nissan also has the largest network of high-speed EV chargers at U.S. dealerships4.
- Included Maintenance: Scheduled maintenance for Nissan EVs is included for three years or 36,000 miles. All service is performed by Nissan-trained technicians at EV-certified dealerships. A Tire Hazard Protection plan is also included, keeping owners covered in case of tire damage.
- EV Battery Health Assurance: Every Nissan EV comes with an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty. When it’s time for service, Nissan’s network of experienced EV technicians provide comprehensive multi-point, EV-specific inspection reports.
- EV Roadside Assistance: EV owners are covered by 24/7 Roadside Assistance, including out-of-charge towing to the nearest Nissan dealership, charging location or even the owner’s residence. Roadside Assistance coverage is active for three years or 36,000 miles from purchase5.
EV Carefree+ will also be available for future Nissan electric vehicles. As part of the company’s Ambition 2030 plan, Nissan has committed to 40% of its U.S. sales being electric by 2030, with many more to be electrified.
Karma Automotive Electrifies Shuttles
During a symbolic ceremony, Karma Automotive held its first customer handover of production commercial vehicles electrified by Karma under the Powered by Karma brand at their headquarters in Irvine. Local Government officials and business leaders were in attendance, including Vice Mayor of Irvine, Anthony Kuo who presented Karma with a special recognition for their work towards sustainability.
The newly electrified shuttles will head to LAX starting this month, providing QuikPark’s customers with innovative technology to get them to their gate on time. The three shuttles had previously been in operation as gas and CNG vehicles. But today they start a new chapter in their operational lives as fully electric, zero emission vehicles.
“We are happy to embark on the journey to zero emissions, Powered by Karma is changing existing shuttle bus fleets that are either gas, diesel or propane into fully electric buses,” said Steve Burton, President at ACE Parking. “And in today’s world, where direct fuel emissions are causing all sorts of pollution, it is great to have zero emission vehicles that are newly repurposed shuttles.” He continued, “the way of the future is electric, and in adapting more commercial vehicles and putting them into use in the public and private sector, the better off we’ll be as we electrify our nation.”
Powered by Karma is the commercial business unit of Karma Automotive and was established to leverage its existing technical expertise and operational capabilities as an OEM. Karma offers a range of products and services that support the global electric vehicle renaissance, including electric powertrain systems and customized flexible manufacturing.
The ability to retrofit existing fleet vehicles, which have been in service for years, is a key enabler in supporting the sustainability efforts of fleet operators. With the Powered by Karma solutions, a company can take existing fleet vehicles and electrify them with a commercial grade powertrain system within days, utilizing Karma’s OEM expertise as an automaker. This capability can extend the productive operating life for these vehicles by up to 10 years.
Powered by Karma also offers a comprehensive set of customized flexible manufacturing capabilities at the Karma Innovation and Customization Center (KICC) in Moreno Valley, CA. This 555,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility offers complete vehicle assembly including full paint capabilities and is further supported by world class engineering, homologation testing, vehicle certification, and supply chain management services.
QuikPark Los Angeles Airport is conveniently located just a half block from LAX Airport at 9821 Vicksburg Ave, giving customers easy and fast access to and from LAX. They offer fast and friendly airport parking services complemented by their modern covered indoor parking facility.///
FF Receives CARB ZEV
Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (“FF”) (NASDAQ: FFIE), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, today announced the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has certified the FF 91 Futurist as a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV).
The Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program is part of CARB’s Advanced Clean Cars package of coordinated standards that control smog-causing pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions of passenger vehicles in California.
Safire Uses ORNL- Electrolite
Safire Technology Group, Inc. (Safire), a venture-backed company developing and manufacturing Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery safety technology announced it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Under the agreement, Safire has the exclusive right to commercialize the ORNL-invented breakthrough battery technology, SAFe Impact Resistant Electrolyte (SAFIRE™), the world’s first patented and proprietary drop-in safety additive for Li-ion batteries.
SAFIRE is a revolutionary drop-in electrolyte additive for Li-ion batteries that prevents fire and explosion by automatically transforming the liquid electrolyte to a solid state instantaneously upon kinetic impact, such as an electric vehicle crash. The additive provides a safe, low-cost solution for electric vehicles, electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircrafts, and defense equipment, resulting in increased safety and stability, higher performance, and projectile and ballistic protection.
GM Electric Profits by 2025
Gneral Motors Co. expects its rapidly growing portfolio of electric vehicles will be solidly profitable in 2025 in North America as the company scales EV capacity in the region to more than 1 million units annually, ramps up its software revenue opportunities, generates significant greenhouse gas benefits and realizes the positive impacts of new clean energy tax credits, the company told investors at a meeting in New York City.