Business Oct 23, 2020

Why building an electric car is so expensive, for now

Carmakers are aiming to find new savings on technology, most critically the batteries that can make up a third of a vehicle’s cost.

Business Jan 28, 2020

Japanese and U.S. firms tie up in bid to use old EV batteries to slash power storage costs

As major players jostle for market share in large-scale power storage, American Electric Power and Nissan Motor Co. are testing new technology that reuses old electric vehicle batteries to slash costs. The pilot study in Ohio will road-test technology that could lower system costs by ...

Business Apr 4, 2019

Fastest electric car chargers wait for batteries to catch up

The viability of electric vehicles depends in part on one manufacturing plant in eastern Australia, where gleaming white cabinets the size of large refrigerators are loaded on shipping crates. They're among the most advanced car chargers available, promising to deliver a full tank of ...

Business / Tech | FOCUS Jan 8, 2019

In Japan, China and U.S., scientists work feverishly for a breakthrough on powerful batteries for EVs

To deliver an electric vehicle that's cheaper, safer and capable of traveling over 800 km on a single charge, the auto industry needs a breakthrough in battery technology. That's easier said than done. Scientists in Japan, China and the United States are among those struggling to ...

Business / Tech Oct 28, 2018

Battery boom: The future of cars rests with firms that predate the Model T

It took more than seven years for automakers to sell 4 million passenger electric vehicles. It'll take about six months to sell the next million. That surging demand is transforming the lithium-ion battery business, with more power packs expected to be installed in EVs this ...

Business / Corporate Oct 25, 2018

More common in moon rocks, the metal scandium could transform planes and cars

There's an unexpected benefit from the boom in battery metals mining — it's going to boost production of scandium, an obscure element whose long-held promise to transform manufacturing of planes and cars has been stalled by a lack of supply. The silver-white metal, found in ...

Business Jul 4, 2018

Retired electric vehicle batteries find a second life chilling beer and grilling sausages

The first batches of batteries from electric and hybrid vehicles are hitting retirement age, yet they aren't bound for landfills. Instead, they'll spend their golden years chilling beer at convenience stores in Japan, powering car-charging stations in California and storing energy for homes and ...

National Mar 19, 2011

Quake takes heaviest toll on elderly

RIKUZENTAKATA, Iwate Pref. — The elderly couple fled their home on foot as the warning sirens blared. But they could not keep up with their neighbors and fell behind as the tsunami rushed in. Nearly a week later, 71-year-old Taeko Kanno and her husband are ...