Electric Vehicle News

Canada-based EV charging station manufacturer and network operator FLO has launched a new home EV charger.

The company offers three options for the FLO Home charger, which is available with a choice of a J3400 connector (also known as NACS or the Tesla connector) or a J1772 connector.

• FLO Home X3 includes an industrial-grade thermoplastic enclosure and features a 50 A/12 kW output. 
• FLO Home X6 features a heavy-duty aluminum enclosure and a detachable cable holster for additional flexibility.
• FLO Home X8 offers higher power output and ruggedness for high-performance cars and trucks. It features an 80 A/19.2 kW output and a detachable holster.

FLO’s chargers feature a 25 ft cable and multiple wiring, cable management and pedestal options. Embedded heat sensors in the vehicle-side connector and the dwelling-side plug help detect overheating issues. Smart charging via Wi-Fi allows owners to manage access via the FLO app.

“Buying a house and a car are often the most significant purchases for a family,” said Nathan Yang, FLO Chief Product Officer. “We engineered the new generation of FLO Home chargers to help protect these investments and future-proof EV charging whether it’s today’s crossover or tomorrow’s heavy-duty electric pickup truck.”

Source: FLO

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

After getting my first impressions on Friday, I set out the next day to see how the Kia EV9 performed on the open road. So, I set out for Socorro, New Mexico, a small town on I-25 with some cool places in easy reach of the CCS charger. Everything went … [continued]

The post My First Adventure With The Kia EV9 Shows It’s Up To The Task, Even When Charging Companies Aren’t appeared first on CleanTechnica.

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US-based NovaCHARGE, which provides utility-grade EV charging solutions, has expanded its fleet management software to help effectively dispatch drivers and optimize off-site charging.

NovaCHARGE Fleet Director combines vehicle management, a charging station locater, and worker management to efficiently dispatch drivers to move vehicles as needed, reducing costs by making use of existing offsite charging facilities such as EV charging hubs. Fleet Director tracks all locations, chargers, vehicles, and workers registered within the system, and uses that information to assign jobs and tasks to nearby available workers to ensure optimal workflow and vehicle charging.

The software can be used as a standalone solution or alongside the company’s ChargeUP charging platform management system. NovaCHARGE’s fleet software platform is designed to work with a broad range of charging stations, including non-OCPP compliant and Tesla chargers, and any EV model. The fleet management suite can fully integrate with the tools fleet operators already use to run their operations such as third-party telematics, route planning, dispatch and maintenance systems.

Source: NovaCHARGE

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Most popular mapping apps can show the locations of public EV chargers—but they lack important details, such as whether a station requires payment, and whether it is currently in service (EV-specific apps such as PlugShare provide much more detailed information).

Now Google Maps has announced plans to upgrade the EV charger information it provides. The service plans to roll out new features designed to provide more detailed and current information about chargers.

Google Maps will soon provide information about the exact locations of charging stations. As frequent EV travelers know, finding an address on a map is one thing, but finding the actual charger can be quite another. “In the coming months, we’ll start showing summaries in Google Maps that describe a charger’s specific location based on helpful information from user reviews, so you can find exactly where to go,” says Google. “For example, when you’re headed to a charging station you may see a detailed description, like ‘Enter the underground parking lot and follow the signs toward the exit. Just before exiting, turn right.’”

This information will be derived from the millions of reviews posted every day in Maps, which will now prompt users for details about their charging experiences (as EV-specific apps have long done).

The updates will roll out starting with vehicles with Google built-in. “Soon you’ll be able to see nearby chargers on the in-car map, with information like real-time port availability and charging speed.”

Vehicles with Google Maps built-in will also suggest charging stops for drivers on multi-stop trips (as apps in EVs from Tesla and others do). If you’re planning a road trip, Maps will suggest the best charging stops along the way.

Google’s web sites are also adding more EV-friendly features. On google.com/travel, you can now search for hotels and filter those that offer onsite EV charging.

Source: Google

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Portuguese EV charging infrastructure manufacturer Efacec has launched a new high-power modular EV charger incorporating an active monitoring and remote upgrade system.

The QC180 is an all-in-one Plug & Charge-ready system. It allows for simultaneous charging at up to 180 kW, includes an independent remote connection for maintenance and asset management and incorporates a credit card payment terminal. It also enables integration with Efacec’s Load Management System (LMS), a tool that allows operators to manage station power at the installation site.

The new charger provides more customer and network operation support. It joins the company’s QC60, QC90 and QC120 models in European markets. The QC180 is the first of a set of new products that Efacec plans to introduce in 2024 and 2025.

Source: Efacec

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

There was a time when Kia was the bargain basement brand. Quality sucked, but the price was low. In recent years, Kia has made an amazing turnaround and has become an automotive leader. Nothing seems to prove this more than the company’s fast-charging and reliable EV offerings. So, when we … [continued]

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ReElement Technologies, a rare earth element and critical battery metal producer, has partnered with EDP Renewables North America, a renewable energy supplier, to recycle rare earth materials for wind turbines and EV motors.

The partnership aims to develop a circular supply chain for renewable energy equipment and inputs by efficiently and sustainably recycling neodymium-based permanent magnets from decommissioned wind turbines into magnet-grade rare earth elements. ReElement’s process recycles permanent magnets in a way that is three times safer way than traditional Chinese mining and processing procedures, according to the company.  

“Our flexibility to refine multiple feedstocks utilizing a smaller, scalable and environmentally safer method enables us to provide valuable solutions to supply chain challenges,” said Chris Moorman, Chief Commercial Officer of ReElement Technologies.

Source: ReElement Technologies

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Volvo CE, the Volvo Group’s construction equipment subsidiary, and Volvo Trucks have partnered with France-based logistics firm Capelle Transports to pilot an electric shuttle service that carries out the initial transport of construction machines from the Volvo CE factory in Belley, France, and optimizes the loading of truck trailers. 

The program is part of Volvo Group’s efforts to reduce its indirect Scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030. It has also increased efficiency by optimizing the loading of each truck trailer that leaves the yard.

In the trial, a Volvo FH Electric truck, with fully optimized loading capacity, is used to transport compact excavators, such as EC18 Electric, ECR18 Electric and ECR25 Electric models, to a logistics center near Lyon, from which they are dispatched on their journeys to the customer.

“This project contributes to reduced CO₂ emissions during the initial transportation of our products and is another milestone in our efforts to achieve a more sustainable operation,” said Hui-I Tsai, Head of Global Outbound Logistics at Volvo CE.

Source: Volvo CE

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

The rollout of the Tesla Semi has been slower than EVangelists would have liked. The electric semi tractor was first unveiled in 2017, and officially entered production in late 2022. Since then, it has been deployed in limited numbers.

Last October, it was reported that Tesla had built about 70 Semis trucks, which were being used internally and by one confirmed customer, PepsiCo. Tesla recently broke ground on a new facility at its Nevada Gigafactory site, where Semis are slated to be produced.

Now Electrek reports that Tesla has delivered Semis to at least one more customer: Martin Brower (MB), a logistics company that serves the restaurant industry and operates a fleet of hundreds of trucks.

MB has confirmed that it used two Tesla Semis in a pilot program earlier this year, and the company’s drivers certainly seem to like them. “A group of five MB drivers…were trained to operate the Tesla Semi, which uniquely positions the steering wheel and driver’s seat in the center of the cockpit and has other design features to increase driver visibility and safety,” MB told Electrek. “Overall, our drivers had positive feedback on how the vehicle performs.”

SEE ALSO: 10 Electric Truck Case Studies – Commercial Electrification at Scale (Webinar)

“The Tesla Semi rises above any other tractor with mobility, center seat configuration, and precise movement that allows the driver to navigate safely,” said MB driver Casey Kamp.

“The Tesla Semi experience has been impressive since day one,” said Megan Yamaguchi, Assistant Transportation Manager at MB. “Our drivers had no problem learning the systems and maximizing the features that set these tractors apart. We’ve been able to push these tractors well beyond expectations and look forward to our electric future.”

Source: Electrek

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

California-based EV and industrial charging equipment producer AMPURE has introduced, under the PosiCharge brand, a cloud-based data management platform, PosiLink, designed for electric material-handling fleet operations.

AMPURE was formerly known as Webasto Charging Systems, and was acquired recently by Transom Capital Group.

The company says its new software, which transitions from its legacy PosiNet platform, improves performance, efficiency, and informed decision-making by providing operators easy access to critical battery information, including energy consumption, usage patterns and system performance. It also serves as an asset-management hub by allowing operators to monitor and optimize every aspect of their fleets from a single interface.

“The introduction of PosiLink underscores our dedication to empowering operators with the tools they need to thrive in today’s dynamic landscape,” said Michael Schoenberger, Chief Technology Officer at AMPURE.

Source: AMPURE

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine