Liberty Access Technologies

Even the Department of Homeland Security is adopting EVs, check out their new fleet

It’s probably never good if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shows up at your door. However, DHS revealed its next vehicle to show up will most likely be an electric one, as the agency says it is transitioning from internal combustion engines to EVs.

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The post Even the Department of Homeland Security is adopting EVs, check out their new fleet appeared first on Electrek.


Source: Charge Forward

NIO boosting its EV battery lease business with swap station expansion across Europe

Chinese EV automaker NIO has already rooted its flag in the soil of Europe, yet is still merely getting started with its plans to expand beyond its home turf. The company’s president recently shared that NIO plans to offer battery lease programs and a huge expansion of available swap stations as a strategy to entice more EU customers and gain a larger chunk of the growing EV market overseas.

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The post NIO boosting its EV battery lease business with swap station expansion across Europe appeared first on Electrek.


Source: Charge Forward

7 must-have features for your EV analytics platform (Webinar)

Data challenges have existed since the “information explosion”, but the rapid pace of innovation is reigniting the need to remain competitive. In the past, as long as you were using data in any capacity, you were sure to grow. But it’s no longer enough to be efficient—to remain competitive, you must be willing to constantly innovate. After all, in an innovation-driven economy, the biggest value comes from optimizing your products and services, and you do so through data. 

Join this session at our Fall Virtual Conference on EV Engineering, presented by NI, and learn about the top 7 considerations best-in-class companies use when investing in an analytics platform and how applying them is helping large automakers achieve zero blind spots with their data and not hindering progress due to lack of insight into their data.

Reserve your spot—it’s free!

Battery tech firm Iontra closes $38-million Series B funding round

Colorado-based battery technology company Iontra has closed a $38-million Series B funding round with investments from Volta Energy Technologies, Flag Group and others. Iontra says it plans to invest the new funds in its power control technology and battery development software.

Iontra says its power control technology could replace CC-CV charging.

“We have found a fundamental way to materially reduce degradation in lithium batteries when charging or discharging,” says Iontra Chief Science Officer Daniel Konopka. “This opens the door for dramatically better performance from existing battery cells representing a range of chemistries, materials, designs, and manufacturing processes. Our technology results in more than two-fold improvements to safe charging speeds and cycle life, improved capacity utilization and safe cold-temperature charging.” 

According to Volta CTO Dave Schroeder, “Iontra has developed a novel and distinctly capable tool for battery OEMs and technology developers to improve the design, cost and value of their products.”

“After nearly 10 years of hard work from our team of scientists, engineers, and technicians; two million hours of battery cycling; and multiple 3rd-party validation reports, Iontra’s technology is ready for use in commercial battery design, deployment and operation,” says Iontra CEO Jeff Granato.

“Iontra will initially commercialize its product for use in power tools, smartphones, and drones, and expects to quickly develop its product for larger-scale battery systems found in EVs, DC fast chargers, grid storage and other industrial applications,” says the company.

Iontra anticipates supplying its battery technology for commercial products by 2024, and it says it has partnered with top-tier automakers.

Shyft Group secures pre-order for Blue Arc electric delivery walk-in vans

Blue Arc EV Solutions is a new brand of The Shyft Group, which manufactures and upfits vehicles for the commercial, retail and service specialty markets. Blue Arc made its debut in March with a purpose-built commercial EV chassis; an electric Class 3 walk-in delivery van; and a portable, remote-controlled charging station called the Power Cube.

Now Shyft has announced the first pre-order for its electric Class 3, 4 and 5 walk-in delivery vans, from Randy Marion Automotive Group, a large dealer group in the Carolinas.

Following receipt of government approvals by this winter, Shyft expects to finalize a multi-year purchase order with Randy Marion, begin production in the Midwest, and start deliveries in mid-2023. Fleet customers will be able to pre-order online or at the dealerships starting in September.

The Blue Arc EV portfolio is available in Class 3-5 walk-in van configurations with body length options from 12 to 22 feet. The electric vans are designed for high-frequency, last-mile delivery fleets, and offer a choice of vocational packages. Range is 150 miles at 50% payload. Optional extended-range packs are available. The delivery van also features an integrated solar roof package for powering auxiliary systems such as heating and AC.

“From the beginning just 14 short months ago, we’ve been confident in our EV commercial vehicle design because we have served last-mile delivery customers for nearly 50 years,” said Shyft CEO Daryl Adams. “We’ve validated that our range will meet our customers’ expectations.”

“Our long history working with Shyft through its Utilimaster brand and the overwhelmingly positive response to the Blue Arc Class 3 all-electric delivery van give us great confidence in the entire Blue Arc line-up,” said Brad Sigmon, VP of Sales at Randy Marion Automotive Group. “The commercial-grade features from Shyft, engineered with first-hand knowledge of last-mile delivery, are a true differentiator versus the other EV options.”