article thumbnail

Exeter team develops low-cost photoelectrode for spontaneous water-splitting using sunlight

Green Car Congress

The researchers believe this new type of photoelectrode is not only cheap to produce, but can also be recreated on a larger scale for mass and worldwide use. It then underwent a second cycle of water splitting test to determine if the electrode was re-usable and how much the performance varied. After a further 6?hours Govinder S.

Water 342
article thumbnail

Awesomely Weird Alibaba EV of the Week: $5,800 solar-powered electric family car

Electrek

If you’re already sold on the many benefits of driving an electric car, then you’re probably in the pro-solar-energy camp as well. You may have even considered the interesting proposition of marrying the two into a solar electric car, charging your EV for free with the sun rays currently cooking your paint job.

Solar 145
article thumbnail

Nissan’s Killer EV App, the Plug-In Car That Puts the Nail in GM’s Coffin

Creative Greenius

Everyone’s all excited that Ford just turned a profit, but they’re doing it with a fleet of uninspired crappy cars that they practically have to give away. You might as well call most of the cars they’re selling “future clunkers.&# When’s your affordable EV that gets 1oo mile range on a quick charge Ford?

Plug-in 191
article thumbnail

Renault and Powervault in EV battery “second-life” partnership trial

Green Car Congress

In the UK, Renault and Powervault are partnering to re-use electric vehicle (EV) batteries in home energy storage units. Powervault units can also automatically charge using low-cost, off-peak energy from the grid. —Nicolas Schottey, Program Director, EV batteries and infrastructures at Renault.

Batteries 199
article thumbnail

Nissan and Endesa collaborating to deliver vehicle-to-grid systems to market

Green Car Congress

Using this equipment, a Nissan LEAF or e-NV200 owner can connect to charge at low-demand, and cheap tariff periods, with an option to then use the electricity stored in the vehicle’s battery at home when costs are higher, or even feed back to the grid with a net financial benefit.

Grid 150
article thumbnail

The Business of Plugging In: Building the Full Ecosystem for a Successful Plug-in Vehicle Industry in the US

Green Car Congress

While OEMs and utilities continue to define and refine hardware standards and communication protocols for smart charging, a tremendous amount of work needs to be done in preparing both the grid and the process to accommodate the expected influx of plug-ins, and to make the process as easy as possible for consumers. —Jon Lauckner.

Plug-in 210
article thumbnail

This battery pack makes Tesla Roadster 400 lbs lighter, but it ain’t cheap

Baua Electric

It would slash the car’s weight by about 400 lbs, but it’s not cheap. It was the first commercially available consumer EV with lithium battery cells – enabling over 200 miles of range on a single charge. For example, re/cell believes it would be easier to make the pack capable of DC fast-charging. replacement pack.

Cheap 52