EV Charging Stations Expanding in Las Vegas, Houston

Joanna Schroeder

Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations are expanding in Las Vegas, Nevada and Houston, Texas. MGM Resorts International has announced the largest installation of EV charging stations in Nevada while IKEA has announced the addition of EV charging stations at its store located in Houston, Texas. MGM is installing 27 EV charging stations at nine of their Las Vegas resorts as …

Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles

Greenercars.org Releases Environmental Ratings

Joanna Schroeder

Greenercars.org has released its 17th annual 2014 Environmental Scores with the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive topping the list with the hightest-ever score of 59 out of 100. The vehicle will be rolled out nationally this year. The GreenerCars initiative is part of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The next two “greenest” cars were the Toyota Prius C …

Alternative Vehicles, automotive, Electric Vehicles, Environment, Natural Gas

C-Max Solar Energi Taps Sun for Power

Joanna Schroeder

Ford Motor Company has announced its new C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, what they call a first-of-its-kind sun-powered vehicle with the potential to deliver the best of what a plug-in hybrid offers, without depending on the electric grid for fuel. Instead of powering its battery from an electrical outlet, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept harnesses the power of the sun by …

Alternative energy, Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Solar

UC Riverside to Host Solar Energy Summit

Joanna Schroeder

The University of California, Riverside is hosting a summit focused on solar energy in Inland Southern California on Thursday, February 6, 2014 at its Bourns College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology. “Solar Energy in Inland Southern California: The Future is Now,” will take place from 7:30 am to 6 pm PST. The event is designed for city …

Alternative energy, Alternative Vehicles, Education, Solar

IKEA Plugs In 3 Blink EV Charging Stations

Joanna Schroeder

IKEA has plugged-in three Blink® electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its Dallas-area store as part of its partnership with Car Charging Group, Inc., the new owner of the Blink Network and Blink charging stations, and the largest provider of EV charging services with more than 13,430 charging points in 35 states and three countries. To charge an EV at …

Alternative energy, Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles

What Will We Drive in 2023?

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new study, “Tomorrow’s Vehicles: What Will We Drive in 2023?” released by the Fuels Institute, the growth of vehicles running on alternative fuels will accelerate over the next decade but diesel-fuel and gasoline-powered vehicles will continue to dominate the market. For light-duty vehicles (passenger vehicles and light trucks), gasoline-powered vehicles will continue to dominate the market, although …

Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Research

Pressure Cooking to Improve Electric Car Batteries

Joanna Schroeder

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering have redesigned the component materials of the battery found in electric vehicles in an environmentally friendly way. The goal was to solve several problems with the technology including they take a long time to charge; the charge doesn’t hold long enough to drive long distances; they don’t allow drivers …

Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Research

Cadillac ELR Leaves Detroit Smart Grid Ready

Joanna Schroeder

The LA Auto Show is taking place this week and the new Cadillac ELR will have some unique new features. The vehicle will leave Detroit, Michigan smart grid ready by using the extended range electric vehicle (EV) technology. Combined with OnStar’s could-based connection, the ELR will be able to communicate with the electric grid and potentially save energy. ELR owners …

Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Smart Grid

Report: EV Charging Won’t Overload Grid

Joanna Schroeder

According to a recent PSR Analytics report that measured Summer 2013 vehicle charging in the nation’s highest residential concentration of electric cars, electric vehicle (EV) owners are charging their cars much less during hot summer afternoons than most behavioral models predict. The analysis, conduced by Pecan Street Research Institute, found that not only is charging behavior is much more diverse …

Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Electricity