UK’s Project EV introduces MCS charger with vehicle-to-grid features

UK’s Project EV introduces MCS charger with vehicle-to-grid features
UK’s Project EV introduces MCS charger with vehicle-to-grid features

Commercial EV charging providers are gradually rolling out chargers compliant with the new Megawatt Charging System (MCS). Now UK charge point supplier Project EV has presented a charger that supports vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which could provide an additional source of income for electrified commercial fleets.

As Electrive reports, Project EV’s new charger was “designed for high-demand charging environments such as commercial locations, large fleet operations and highway rest stops.” The power cabinet can support up to ten outlets, and is compatible with liquid-cooled and air-cooled systems. Few other technical details are available at the moment.

The new charger was developed in collaboration with the UK’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and Innovate UK. It is part of the Electric Heavy Goods Vehicles—first roll-out and demonstration of V2X and grid decarbonisation project, which aims to demonstrate the “V2G services potential of electric HGVs (eHGVs)—load-balancing, frequency stabilisation and resilience.” The project is headed by Kaasai Services and received 1.4 million pounds in funding from the UK government.

“Over the past year, our team has worked tirelessly to design and deliver the cutting-edge hardware for this trial,” said Richard Pink, Chief Technology Officer at Project EV. “We are immensely proud of the innovative charging solution we’ve developed, featuring exceptional versatility with multiple charging guns tailored to meet diverse customer requirements.”

Source: Electrive

CBMM opens facility in Brazil to produce Echion’s XNO niobium anode material

CBMM opens facility in Brazil to produce Echion’s XNO niobium anode material
CBMM opens facility in Brazil to produce Echion’s XNO niobium anode material

CBMM, a global specialist in the production of niobium products, has opened a manufacturing facility dedicated to producing Echion Technologies’ proprietary XNO active anode material. The new plant, located in Araxá, Brazil, is capable of producing 2,000 tons per year of XNO, equivalent to 1 GWh of Li-ion cells.

As part of its strategic growth plan, CBMM aims to reach a capacity of 20,000 tons of niobium oxide for batteries by 2030.

The recent ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new plant “marked a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between CBMM and Echion and represents a major step forward in the companies’ joint goal of expanding the use of niobium in battery production.”

Echion says its niobium-based anode material, XNO, enables Li-ion batteries to charge safely at high speeds, maintain high energy densities even at extreme temperatures, and deliver high power across a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles. XNO has been specifically engineered to power electrified heavy-duty industrial, commercial and mass transit vehicles.

“The opening of this production plant creates robust supply capacity to meet the significant commercial demand we have for XNO,” said Jean de La Verpilliere, CEO of Echion Technologies. “XNO is already having a positive impact on our cell manufacturing customers, downstream OEMs and end users. Echion is beginning to trade at scale, and that is a major milestone for company growth.”

Source: CBMM

Vauxhall CEO Huettl also becomes head of Stellantis in Germany

Vauxhall CEO Huettl also becomes head of Stellantis in Germany
Vauxhall CEO Huettl also becomes head of Stellantis in Germany

With immediate effect, Florian Huettl will be responsible for Stellantis’ activities in Germany in addition to his position as CEO of Opel/Vauxhall. The new dual position is intended to help increase efficiency in the local business. The previous head of Stellantis Germany was Lars Bialkowski.

Stellantis to rejoin ACEA

Stellantis to rejoin ACEA
Stellantis to rejoin ACEA

Following the departure of CEO Carlos Tavares, car manufacturer Stellantis wants to rejoin the European manufacturers’ association ACEA. Under Tavares, Stellantis had left the association in 2022.

Nobina goes all in on electric buses for Malmö

Nobina goes all in on electric buses for Malmö
Nobina goes all in on electric buses for Malmö

The Swedish transport authority Skånetrafiken has just awarded public transport provider Nobina the contract to operate and expand bus services in Malmö for twelve years from June 2027. Nobina has pledged to ensure that 95 per cent of the 300 buses the company operates in Malmo will be electric by 2027, with the rest electrified in the years shortly after.

The Buzz Around Volkswagen’s 2025 Rebirth of an Icon

For EV enthusiasts, old hippies, new hippies, and automotive aficionados alike, the 2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz is finally here, marking the triumphant return of our beloved classic bus. Yes, it took nothing short of two entire decades to finally bring this charming concept to market, but we couldn’t be more excited to get inside! So bust out your bell-bottoms, dab some patchouli, and fire up those incense sticks you’ve been stockpiling because the all-new 21st Century Kombi is finally here!

TL;DR: Volkswagen’s all-electric homage to the iconic VW Microbus merges classic nostalgia with an enticing array of modern-day upgrades, making it the freshest, newest face worth talking about in the EV world.


Design and Features

As America’s only all-electric minivan option, the ID Buzz’s design unapologetically embraces its hippy roots. With its upright front end and playful two-tone color schemes, this retro icon is sure to turn heads and pique the interests of EV lovers, petrolheads, and treehuggers alike.

Under the hood (or wherever they put the battery in these things), the ID Buzz promises to pack a lot more punch than its predecessor. No “0-60 in 5 Minutes” bumper stickers here, as 282 horsepower for the rear-wheel-drive version and 335 for the 4Motion model means this little swagger wagon should be more rocketship than minibus. Adding Volkswagen’s suite of advanced driver assistance technologies like IQ.DRIVE and Park Assist Plus with Memory Parking means you’ve got yourself a ride that even the most tech-savvy modern-day hipster would approve of. Sporting a 91-kWh battery, the rear-wheel-drive models boast an EPA-estimated range of 234 miles, while 4Motion all-wheel-drive models are rumored to be good for 231 miles. While neither of these figures provide impressive range, Volkswagen equips both models with a fast-charging lithium-ion battery system, providing users with a +75% charge in just 30 minutes using high-speed chargers.

Hats off to VW interior designers here as well. Inside, you’ll find clean lines, an expansive dash, and an exquisite blend of comfort, storage, and passenger versatility with your choice of three interior themes: dark brown, light brown, or light gray. The classic and chic interior offers just enough retro design cues to make it feel special amidst its industry-leading third-row legroom, a greenhouse-sized 67-inch panoramic glass roof, and several customizable seating arrangements, with options for either second-row bench or captain’s chairs available. In a clever nod to Volkswagen’s first bus, the all-new ID Buzz sports a pair of vintage-style sliding rear windows. Instead of rolling down, the glass simply slides back, just like the originals did. And it’s small touches like these that showcase Volkswagen’s commitment to truly capturing the fun and soul of the original transporter we all know and love. Up front, a 5.3-inch digital cluster and a 12.9-inch infotainment system promise to deliver an enjoyable, seamlessly connected driving experience, especially when paired with the optional 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio package upgrade.

Need more space? Remove the third-row seats and you’ve netted yourself an insane 145.5 cubic feet of party, camping, or pet transporting space, making it perfect for everything from family outings to weekend getaways. Will it have 17, 18, 19 cup holders? We have no idea, but we’d certainly love to see some Westfalia-type companies get ahold of these things for some inspirational high-tech camper conversions, especially in the AWD variants. (We love our vintage Syncro Camper Buses!)

The bad news? It’s definitely the price

Rolling into dealerships just in time for this year’s Christmakwanzika, the new ID Buzz starts at an eye-watering price of $59,995. At this kind of ask, VW’s transporter can’t really call itself “The People’s Wagon” anymore. And considering the version you really want is going to be the AWD model, expect to drop closer to $68,000 for this enticing little delight. That said, and similar to other launches of retro icons, you can still expect demand to outstrip supply; after all, there’s plenty of man-bun-wearing hipsters out there looking to carve out their social niche. And to be honest, there are probably worse ways to spend seventy grand, but with greedy dealers endlessly trying to cash in on our nostalgia (see your local, friendly Nissan Z dealer for more details), Volkswagen has promised to curb any dealer price gouging. We’ll have to wait and see how that pans out, but it would be nice to not have to pay over MSRP to get your hands on this one.

The 2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz is more than just a new electric vehicle; it’s a revival of a classic vehicle and an equally classic lifestyle that resonates with a whole new generation of drivers while simultaneously bridging the gap with those of us who were around the first time, helping put the original Volkswagen Bus on the map. This new rendition promises to strike a balance between nostalgic appeal and real-world functionality, and while it might not be the perfect vehicle for everyone, it’s sure to capture the hearts of those who appreciate its clever blend of history, innovation, and general functionality.

We’re just glad this thing really finally happened…

Peace!

10 Dec 2024 | Nissan Gets Supercharger Access, VW ID.4 Deliveries To Resume and BYD Becoming A Giant

10 Dec 2024 | Nissan Gets Supercharger Access, VW ID.4 Deliveries To Resume and BYD Becoming A Giant
10 Dec 2024 | Nissan Gets Supercharger Access, VW ID.4 Deliveries To Resume and BYD Becoming A Giant
  Welcome to a new podcast EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JOHN BERTRAM. Patreon supporters get the episodes ad free. Be like JOHN by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDaily NISSAN DRIVERS CAN ACCESS TESLA SUPERCHARGERS FROM TODAY Nissan drivers are expanding their charging options now that ARIYA owners can use 17,800 Tesla Superchargers starting today, December 10. Nissan has pitched […]

SOLiTHOR makes progress with solid-state batteries for aviation and maritime applications

SOLiTHOR makes progress with solid-state batteries for aviation and maritime applications
SOLiTHOR makes progress with solid-state batteries for aviation and maritime applications

SOLiTHOR has made advancements in the development of its lithium solid-state batteries, which are designed to help the aviation and maritime industries accelerate their electric transition.

The latest advancements include improvements in cyclability, energy density and readiness for industrialization.

Recent testing of SOLiTHOR’s pouch cells, conducted at a moderate temperature of 25° C and with external pressure below 72 psi/4.9 atm, has resulted in 1,000 full charge discharge cycles with a coulombic efficiency above 99.2 %. The testing measured endurance, which is a key performance requirement for long-lasting aviation and maritime applications.

The company’s thin Gen-1 solid electrolyte combined with thin lithium metal and high-loading nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathodes enables specific energy of 384 Wh/kg and energy density of 1,026 Wh/l at stack level obtained on a different set of cells. These gravimetric energy values are significant for the aviation and maritime sectors, which require lighter, safer and more powerful batteries.

Relative discharge capacity as a function of number of full cycles for a representative Lithium metal-solid state pouch cell based on NMC / Gen 1 Solid Electrolyte / Li metal components

SOLiTHOR’s solid-state technology is fully compatible with commercial cathode components manufactured in the lithium-ion battery industry. This will enable the rapid industrialization of its products in the coming years by leveraging lithium-ion battery production lines at low cost, according to the company.

SOLiTHOR has manufactured 3 Ah pouch cell prototypes, which it is running through its internal performance and safety testing protocols. Its short-term plan is to send those prototypes for external validation and testing at aviation and maritime manufacturers.

“Aviation and maritime vessels require high power and high energy to provide the necessary electrification to safely transport aircraft and ships over longer distances. One of SOLiTHOR’s long-term objectives is to partner with battery manufacturers to mass-produce the cells for both our aviation and maritime clients,” said Huw Hampson-Jones, the company’s CEO.

Source: SOLiTHOR