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Recharge Wrap-up: Toyota battery breakthrough, PSA's millionth BlueHDi diesel

Scientists at Toyota have developed battery technology that allows for higher energy density. Using material from hydrogen storage, researchers at the Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA) in beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan have created an electrolyte that works well with a magnesium metal anode. Besides improving energy density for smaller, more powerful batteries, magnesium is also more stable than lithium, making it a safer alternative. Rather than guarding their secret, Toyota is sharing details of this breakthrough in order to advance the technology in hopes of an earlier mass deployment of magnesium batteries. See the video above, and read more in the press release below. Farmdrop – a sort of online farmer's market in the UK – is looking for help naming its electric delivery "vanimals." The Nissan e-NV200 vans are painted and decorated to look like cows, pigs, and chickens. While three of the vans have already been named, fans can suggest their own clever ideas for the rest of the fleet on social media. Those whose names are selected will win a month's worth of shopping on Farmdrop. Cary McCarface, anyone? Read more at the company's website. PSA has built its millionth Euro 6 BlueHDi diesel engine. The automaker builds two diesel engines – a 1.6-liter and a 2.0-liter – at its plant in Tremery, France at a rate of 7,000 engines a day. BlueHDi technology uses three different emissions control mechanisms to filter pollutants out of diesel exhaust, including an oxygen catalyst, an additive filter to remove particulate matter, and a Selective Catalytic Reduction system to reduce NOx. BlueHDi is used in all new Peugeot, Citroen, and DS Euro 6 diesel vehicles. Read more at Green Car Congress. Charging Ahead Toyota Scientists Make Breakthrough on Safer, Smarter Batteries May 04, 2016 ANN ARBOR, Mich. (May 4, 2016) -- For anyone (i.e. everyone) who's ever panicked when their mobile device chirped, "low battery," the future could be far less stressful, thanks to the advanced battery research of scientists at the Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA). A new breakthrough involving magnesium batteries may soon open the doors for smaller, longer-lasting batteries for everything from cars to cell phones. What's the Big Deal with Magnesium? Magnesium metal has long been theorized as a much safer and more energy-dense alternative to current lithium battery technology.

Some NY cabs could avoid hybrid ban

The Nissan NV200 is having a rough go of it as New York City's Taxi of Tomorrow. The Greater New York Taxi Association wants the van banned on the grounds that it isn't a hybrid, and has gone so far as to sue the city to keep the NV200 out of taxi fleets. According to The New York Times, the city has responded by proposing to allow taxi drivers to use certain hybrid vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission's proposal would allow any vehicle with an interior volume of 138 cubic feet or more. Unfortunately, that excludes nearly every machine that isn't the size of the NV200.
Technically, Nissan is working on a hybrid version of the Taxi of Tomorrow, but it may be years before that model hits the streets, and the Greater New York Taxi Association isn't satisfied with the city's offer. In a statement, the Association said, "These rules look like they have been created to short-circuit the litigation. We do not consider this to be a serious proposal."

Recharge Wrap-up: Formula E's other events, continued record EV sales

Formula E wants fans to know that it is more than just a race. During each ePrix weekend, the electric race series hosts a variety of events. For each race, Formula E sets up an eVillage where fans can meet drivers and get autographs, learn about electric vehicles, spectate Formula E's School Series races, enjoy live music and dance performances, play games, eat food and take part in numerous other activities that don't make their way into the television broadcast. Or course, though, the race is always the main event. See more in the video above. Electric vehicles enjoyed a fourth straight month of record sales in February. Despite low oil prices, customers bought an estimated 7,881 EVs last month, up 13 percent from a year before. 52 percent of those sales were battery electric vehicles, while the rest were plug-in hybrids. BMW i3 sales dropped 77 percent over a year ago, selling 248 cars. The Tesla Model S and Chevrolet Volt sold the most, while the Ford Fusion Energi outsold the Nissan Leaf for the first time. The Audi A3 E-Tron sold 248 units (same as the BMW i3) despite low inventory. Read more at Inside EVs. Renault more than doubled its EV sales in January compared to a year before. Sales were up 104 percent, at 1,886 units (1,977 if you include the Twizy). This January marked higher EV sales for Renault than the three previous years. The biggest selling Renault EV, which also happened to be Europe's best selling EV, was the Renault Zoe, up 105 percent at 1,416 units sold. Read more at Inside EVs. Nissan's "No Charge to Charge" promotion has expanded to Orlando, Florida. This is the 27th market in the US to offer free charging to Nissan Leaf customers. Buyers and lessees get two years of free charging with an EZ-Charge card, which works with AeroVironment, Blink, ChargePoint, Greenlots and NRG eVgo charging networks. "Significantly lower operating costs and a fun-to-drive nature make owning the all-electric Leaf a cost-effective and convenient choice for Orlando residents," says Nissan EV Sales & Marketing Director Andrew Speaker. Read more in the press release below. Nissan's "No Charge to Charge" program increases to 27 cities in the U.S. with the addition of Orlando Free public, electric vehicle charging now offered to new Nissan LEAF buyers in the Orlando metro area ORLANDO – Nissan's "No Charge to Charge" promotion has officially arrived to the Sunshine State.