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Tesla extends free Supercharger use to all existing owners
When Tesla put an end to free lifetime Supercharger access for new customers, it left more than a few people crestfallen -- one of the nicer perks of ownership just went out the window. However, Tesla has had a (partial) change of heart. As of now, any existing owner has free Supercharger use, even if you bought after the January 15th cut-off. And if you upgrade to a Model S or Model X in the future, you'll get to keep that gratis electricity. There aren't many people who'll need the offer right away (the Model S is only 5 years old), but this could give you a reason to upgrade quickly instead of holding on to your EV for as long as possible. And if you're a first-time buyer, don't fret -- you'll have a way of scoring free charging as well.
WD's G-Drive USB-C adds storage and power to your laptop
Apple's courageous decision to equip the MacBook with just one USB-C port for charging and external storage forced owners to carry a pricey dongle if they wanted to do both at once. If you're in that camp, or would rather not sacrifice a port on your MacBook Pro or other USB-C device, Western Digital has a drive that could make your day. The G-Drive USB-C gives you 4, 8 or 10TB of storage, while simultaneously charging your laptop with up to 45 watts of power.
BMW and Nissan launch 174 new dual-plug EV chargers in the US
Nissan LEAF and BMW i3 owners now have a lot more charging stations they can go to. The automakers have expanded their dual-format fast-charging network, adding 174 stations to their current crop with the help of eVgo. These 174 stations spread across 33 states offer dual 50 kW DC chargers that support both CHAdeMO and SAE Combo (CCS) connectors. They can charge not just LEAFs and i3s, but also other electric vehicles, so long as they're equipped with quick-charge ports. Nissan says the 50kW stations only need around 30 minutes to bring EVs up to 80 percent of their full capacity.
California power companies want $1 billion to build EV chargers
It's expensive to build an electric car charging network, and California utilities want the government's help covering the tab. PG&E, SDG&E and Southern California Edison are requesting roughly $1 billion in funding to build both EV chargers and the power infrastructure needed to support them. Edison is asking for the most. It's asking for $570 million to build public fast charging sites, the foundations for charging medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (including buses) and incentives in both electricity rates and for EV-toting ridesharing drivers.
ChargePoint's new stations are built for EVs of the future
It's quickly becoming more feasible and convenient to own an electric vehicle thanks to the steady expansion of recharging infrastructure. ChargePoint knows a little something about that, since it's built more charging stations than anyone else (over 31,000, in fact). The company isn't resting on its laurels, though. Today it announced a new super-fast, future-proofed shrine to electricity: the ChargePoint Express Plus. It's capable of pumping out an industry-leading 400 kW per port, which is way more than any EV can handle right now. For perspective, most existing "fast-charging" stations boast an output of 50 kW, though some of Tesla's Superchargers can reach a peak of 145 kW.
You only have two weeks left to buy a Tesla with free supercharging
A few months ago, Tesla gave its customers the bad news: new buyers will have to pay for their own electricity. It was a small surprise, considering the fact that free use of Tesla's Supercharger network was a big bonus for buying the company's vehicles. The free access was supposed to drop off for any vehicle purchased after the start of the year, but the company seems to be offering a slight reprieve: prospective Tesla buyers now have two weeks to buy a car with unlimited free access to the charging network.
Car makers plan grid of super-fast EV chargers in Europe
It's all well and good to create electric car charging networks to help you on long drives, but merely having stations isn't enough. What use are abundant chargers if you spend ages waiting for your battery to replenish? Thankfully, at least some big automakers are aware of this. BMW, Daimler, Ford and the Volkswagen Auto Group are forming a joint venture that will install a grid of super-fast EV chargers along major European highways. And we do mean fast -- they could supply up to 350kW of power, or nearly triple the 120kW that Tesla Superchargers offer. So long as your car supported that kind of input, you could be back on the road in several minutes.
US plans electric car charging networks along highways
While the range of modern electric cars is good enough that you can safely commute around town without running out of power, cross-country trips are still challenging. Tesla drivers have access to Superchargers, but what if you're driving a rival EV with a less robust charging network... or you're going somewhere that has no chargers at all? The Department of Transportation is changing that. It's creating 48 EV charger "corridors" in US highways that will address 35 states and cover approximately 25,000 miles. You'll find stations (both current and upcoming) every 50 miles, and states will use common signs to let you know when charging is available at the next exit.
Native Union made a USB hub that blends into your home
If you're reading this, chances are you're a gadget freak and may need to recharge multiple devices on a daily basis. That's when you're greeted by a pile of messy cables plugged into a dull-looking and maybe under-powered USB hub. Cable boxes may hide the ugliness, but they're bulky and don't actually solve the issue. Not one to admit defeat, Native Union -- the mad folks behind the marble iPhone case -- came up with the ultimate solution: a stylish, cylindrical USB hub dubbed Eclipse. On the outside, it looks like a piece of home decor thanks to its wooden top, but it's really the inside that got our attention: as you touch the top gently, the main body slowly rises up to let you uncoil the cables tucked inside, while the base emits a subtle halo for night-time usage. It's rather mesmerizing to watch.
Apple lawsuit reveals most chargers sold on Amazon are fake
Apple has filed a lawsuit against Mobile Star LLC for manufacturing fake Apple chargers and cables and passing them off on Amazon as authentic goods. According to the details of the lawsuit posted by Patently Apple, Cupertino bought and tested over 100 Lightning cables and chargers marked "Fulfilled by Amazon" over the past nine months. The result? Around 90 percent of the chargers were fake. Now, we all know there's an abundance of counterfeit Apple goods out there, but people tend to trust listings sold by Amazon itself. And in this case, Amazon clearly stated that the items were "original." Check out one example below the fold to see what we mean.
Tesla moves its 'unexpected' product unveiling to Wednesday
Tesla was set to reveal an "unexpected" product today, but you'll have to wait a few more days to find out what it is. In a tweet early this morning, CEO Elon Musk said that the announcement has been postponed until Wednesday (October 19th), because it "needs a few more days of refinement." It's still not clear exactly what Tesla is announcing; speculation has ranged from the Model 3's final design, to a new PowerWall model to an updated version of the Autopilot.
BMW and VW finish installing EV chargers along US coastlines
If you regularly drive some of the busiest highways in the US, you now have a stronger incentive to pick up an electric car. BMW, Volkswagen and ChargePoint have finished installing 95 promised EV charging stations along key routes on the US' eastern and western coastlines. The chargers, typically placed about 50 miles apart, will help you travel from Boston to Washington, DC (mostly along Interstate 95) or Portland, Oregon to San Diego (on Highway 101 and Interstate 5) without worrying about your battery.
The best portable solar battery charger
By Mark Smirniotis This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. After considering 70 models and testing portable solar battery chargers for over 30 hours, we think the Anker PowerPort Solar Lite is the one to get if you need to power a small device in an emergency or off the grid. It can fully charge most phones at nearly full speed with less than a day's worth of sunlight.
Charge your phone with KFC's new take-out box
Suppose you've just fired up Yelp to hunt down the nearest KFC, texted your friends to get their order and then posted a sweet victory Snapchat of your crispy haul. That probably just took a chunk from your smartphone battery -- but don't worry dudes, KFC's got your back with a device charger in your take-out box. Just don't try to plug it in while you're fingers-deep in greasy chicken.
Here's maps will help you find available EV charging stations
If you drive an electric car, you know that it's not enough to find a charging station on the map -- you need to know that there's an available plug. Here and Hubject think they can help. They've forged a partnership that will see Here's maps (both in apps and in the car) get real-time info for EV charging stations using Hubject's platform in Europe. You'll know whether or not there's a space free, what connectors are available and other details that can mean the difference between powering up and driving by. The integration won't be finished until the summer, but it'll make those cross-continent trips less nerve-wracking when it's ready.
Apple reportedly looks into making electric car charging stations
Any electric car maker worth its salt knows that their vehicles are only as good as the charging stations that keep them running... and that includes Apple, apparently. Reuters sources understand that Apple is asking charging station manufacturers about their technology for the sake of its oft-rumored electric car project. It's not certain how deep the talks go or who's involved (the companies certainly aren't talking). However, NRG Energy issued a vague response noting that it's talking to "every potential manufacturer of tomorrow." We wouldn't rule it out, then.
Qualcomm says it's fine to fast-charge your phone over USB-C
Technically, USB-C and fast-charging methods like Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 aren't supposed to mix. As Google's Benson Leung (a frequent crusader for good USB implementations) noted last fall, the USB-C spec explicitly forbids the variable voltage tricks that QC3.0 and others use to top up your battery in a hurry. Does that mean that your HTC 10 or LG G5 is at risk of catching fire, then? Not if you ask Qualcomm. It tells Android Central that you can make its fast-charge solution fit USB-C's voltage demands, and there have been "no reports" of problems so far. In short, you shouldn't have to worry when you plug in. So it's all settled, right?
Apple has a fast USB-C charger for your iPad Pro (updated)
One of the harsh lessons from the iPad Pro is that big batteries take a long time to charge -- forget to plug it in at night and you could be in for a hassle in the morning. Apple is finally tackling that problem today, though. Alongside the 9.7-inch Pro, it's introducing a 29W USB-C power adapter for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro that should charge your tablet much more quickly than the 12W adapter that comes in the box. You'll need a computer with a USB-C port for this to work, of course, but it could be worth the $49 to save yourself some time during every recharge. Update: As it turns out, the adapter itself is actually the same one that comes with the latest MacBook. But the Lightning to USB-C cable is certainly a new offer from Apple.
Apple issues voluntary recall for some international AC adapters
Heads up, world travelers. If you have an Apple AC plug adapter or Travel Adapter kit meant for use in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Continental Europe, New Zealand and South Korea, you might want to talk to the folks in Cupertino about getting a replacement. The company just announced a voluntary recall of those adapters — ones that shipped with Macs and iDevices between 2003 and 2015 — because there's a risk their prongs could break and shock someone. Apple says it's aware of 12 such incidents around the world, so check out the company's recall site to see if yours is one of the problematic bunch.
BMW and Nissan roll out dual-plug EV chargers across the US
In some says, Tesla's Supercharger network is its ace in the hole -- you can buy one of the company's electric cars knowing that you'll have speedy charging when away from home. BMW and Nissan aren't going to let this competitive edge go unanswered, though. They're launching a network of 120 dual-format fast chargers (both CHAdeMO and CCS) across 19 US states, any of which should bring most EVs up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes. The stations should be available now, and you can find them in the automakers' respective mobile apps.
