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Tesla revives free Supercharging for new Model S and Model X orders
Tesla has temporarily brought back Supercharging with conditions before, but it's not holding back this time around. The automaker is once again offering free, unlimited Supercharger access for all new Model S and Model X purchases -- not just inventory cars, used cars or referrals. About the only catch is that it's linked to the time of ownership and can't be transferred.
UK government puts $620 million behind Jaguar Land Rover's EV push
The UK government is continuing its electric vehicle push by giving Jaguar Land Rover a £500 million ($620 million) loan guarantee to help advance its position as a global EV maker. This means that should Jaguar Land Rover default, the government will assume its debt obligations up to that amount. The funding pot, from UK Export Finance, is designed to give the UK a foothold in the EV market, and will help support Jaguar as it invests billions in building an electric XJ saloon at its Castle Bromwich factory. The car maker has also promised that from next year all of its models will be available in an electric version.
Raspberry Pi 4 doesn't work with some USB-C chargers
The Raspberry Pi 4 promises to be a boon for homebrew gadget makers, but it has flaw that could pose headaches for some users. Tyler Ward and others have discovered that the Pi 4 isn't using a properly designed USB-C port. Instead of giving two pins their own resistor, Raspberry Pi created a custom circuit that has them sharing a single resistor. As a result, some USB-C chargers (those with "e-marked" cables) will only recognize the Pi 4 as an audio accessory and won't charge it.
Tesla’s Superchargers: The company's killer app
Telsa wants to be Ford and Chevron. The company wants to build the cars and supply the fuel. In this case, that fuel is electricity and the delivery system is the company's robust Supercharger network. CEO and tweet-machine Elon Musk routinely talks about changing the world for a better place. To reduce pollution for bluer skies, greener grass and the ability to breathe without sucking in CO2. Tesla has already started that trend by forcing other automakers to accelerate their timeline with electric cars.
EVgo's 'roaming' deals give you access to 450 more fast chargers
It can be challenging enough to find electric car charging stations of any kind, let alone to look for one belonging to your charging network of choice. The hunt is about to get considerably easier, though. EVgo has forged agreements with ChargePoint and EV Connect that will let customers of one charging network 'roam' on the chargers of the other. You won't necessarily have to sign up for multiple accounts or face extra fees just to have enough electricity to get home.
Rivian's electric trucks can charge each other
If electric cars are ultimately batteries on wheels, shouldn't you have the option of charging one EV with another? You will with Rivian's truck and SUV. Company chief R.J. Scaringe told The Drive in an interview that "Rivian-to-Rivian" charging will be available. While he didn't elaborate on how it would work, the practicality is clear. Much like some newer phones, a friend with a low battery could grab some electricity in a pinch rather than waiting to plug into a dedicated charger.
Tesla's first V3 Supercharging stations are open to the public
Tesla's V3 Supercharging stations are finally available to everyone. Well, everyone that owns a Tesla and wants to cruise on down the company's Fremont, California factory.
Walmart has more than 120 ultra-fast EV charging stations in 34 states
Walmart has come a long way since it unveiled plans to add Electrify America chargers to its stores. The big-box retailer now has over 120 of the VW-backed fast EV charging stations across its stores, giving drivers in 34 states a way to top up while they're shopping. There are plans to continue expanding, too. Neither partner said how many more stations were coming, but Reuters sources claimed that 180 more stations were coming before the end of 2019.
Lyft offers free EV charging to Portland drivers
Lyft might have a way to recruit more EV drivers: top up their cars for free. The ridesharing service has teamed up with Portland General Electric to offer free EV charging in the Oregon city's metro area to eligible drivers from July 1st onward. There will only be a "number of locations" that support it (including Hillsboro station). Still, it could be easier for drivers to work for Lyft knowing they won't have to wait for recharges and spend some of their hard-earned pay.
Samsung chips promise secure 100W USB-C fast charging
Samsung released two new USB Type-C power delivery (PD) controller chips for power adapters, SE8A and MM101. The chips included built-in security safeguards and are able to communicate with devices that meet USB-PD 3.0 specifications to deliver the optimum power for each device. With up to 100W-charging, they support fast charging on power-hungry products like laptops and tablets, too.
This guy built his own smartwatch and so can you
DIY projects can be a lot of fun, and if Raspberry Pi has taught us anything it's that people love to tinker. But for most folk, forays into the world of build-it-yourself tech start and end with a specific kit and a whole bunch of instructions to help them along. Not so for one inquisitive Redditor, who recently revealed that he built an entire smartwatch from scratch. And since he's been kind to enough to share details of the process down to the smallest minutiae, you can too.
Penske debuts fast charging stations for electric delivery trucks
Today, Penske Truck Leasing opened 14 DC fast charging stations at four facilities in Southern California. According to the company, they're the first high-speed charging stations specifically designed for heavy duty, commercial electric vehicles in the US. And they'll be used to charge semi trucks, like the Daimler Freightliners that Penske has been testing.
Google Maps helps you find open EV charging stations in real time
From now on, you just have to fire up Google Maps if you need to hunt for an open EV charging station. The latest versions of Google Maps for Android, iOS and the web now show real-time availability for charging ports in the US and UK, giving you a better idea of when to go for a top-up -- you're no longer relegated to static info like before. The feature won't help you find a Tesla Supercharger (you don't really need that given Tesla's app), but it will cover the networks of Chargemaster, EVgo and SemaConnect, with Chargepoint coming soon.
Apple cancels AirPower after more than a year of delays
It's been well over a year since Apple first announced AirPower, a wireless charging mat that would power up an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods (with a wireless case) all at the same time. At the time, Apple said the device would be available sometime in 2018. But after its announcement in September of 2017, information was scarce, and it seemed Apple couldn't solve the heating and power challenges necessary to finalize the product. Now, Apple's pulling the plug for good.
Tesla trumps Audi and Jaguar EVs in independent efficiency test
Tesla has had no end of production troubles in recent times. Even the roll-out of the Model 3 in Europe was marred by logistical issues. But there's a reason its EVs are still so widely-lauded despite these challenges: they're efficient. And that efficiency in comparison to Tesla's competitors has now been confirmed in a test conducted by German electric car rental company nextmove.
Tesla makes a small cut to its controversial Supercharger price hike
Tesla is reducing its Supercharger price hike by 10 percent amid a torrent of negative feedback. Last week, the EV-maker raised the per kWh rates for its fast charging stations by about 33 percent in numerous markets. As Electrek pointed out, prices hit 32 cents per kWh in areas in downtown NYC and 36 cents per kWh in some California locations.
Tesla hikes Supercharger prices worldwide to reflect changing costs
Tesla's efforts to improve its bottom line go beyond layoffs and disappearing perks. Electrek has learned that Tesla is raising Supercharger rates around the world, with per kWh rates climbing about 33 percent in numerous markets. While it's still less expensive than gas (even the 36 cents per kWh in some California locations is modest), it's not quite the savings it represented in the past. According to Tesla, this is really a matter of adapting to financial realities.
Paying for EV charging could soon be as simple as plugging in your car
The number of EV charging stations across America is increasing, thus paving the way for wider adoption of electric vehicles. But a lot of the infrastructure surrounding charging has remained complicated and time-consuming. Charging points typically require downloading an individual app -- or in some cases, making a phone call to a customer rep -- before you can start juicing up. It's a faff. Now, though, Electrify America is working on a program that will let you pay for electric vehicle charging simply by plugging in your vehicle.
Hyundai imagines a future where EVs can charge themselves
Automakers and other companies are planning to ramp up charger installations to keep up with the increasing interest in electric vehicles. But if they can't keep up with growing EV sales, overcrowding at public charging stations could become an enormous problem -- especially since (as CNET noted) people tend to leave their cars plugged in while they wander off instead of monitoring them and unplugging as soon as they're done. Hyundai and Kia believe the solution to that problem is a system that can automatically guide an EV to a wireless charging station and then drive it away as soon as it's fully charged.
Next-gen EV charger adds 62 miles of range in three minutes
Reducing charge times is a key factor for widespread EV adoption, and BMW and Mercedes just took a new step in that direction. A Porsche EV prototype charged at a record 400 kW rate, gaining 100 km of range in just three minutes, while BMW brought its research i3 vehicle from a 10 to 80 percent charge in 15 minutes. Both companies were testing out a new 450 kW charger recently inaugurated in Jettingen-Scheppach, Bavaria as part of part of their "FastCharge" consortium.
