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Sandia team develops GaN diode that is significant step toward protecting grid from EMPs

Green Car Congress

Scientists from Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new gallium-nitride (GaN) diode that can shunt excess electricity within a few billionths of a second while operating at a record-breaking 6,400 volts—a significant step towards protecting the nation’s electric grid from an electromagnetic pulse (EMP).

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As the off-road vehicle market rushes to electrify, standards are lagging behind

Charged EVs

High-voltage DC current is more dangerous and harder to interrupt than the comparatively sedate 48 volts used in smaller vehicles. Unfortunately, thanks to the fast pace of electrification and the slow pace of standards bodies, electrical safety standards for heavy vehicles are lagging behind the market. Geoff Schwartz: Yes.

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DOE awards $200k to support NCSU project on extreme fast charging for EVs

Green Car Congress

Level 1 chargers, which rely on standard 120V outlets and alternating current, are the slowest available charging method, taking approximately 50 hours to charge a standard 70kWh EV battery. hours to fully charge a standard 70kWh battery. Level 2 chargers utilize 240V outlets and require approximately 7.5

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DOE releases report from 6 projects evaluating EV charging impacts on grid and customer charging behaviors

Green Car Congress

The work was done under the DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability’s (OE) Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG program). Major findings were grouped in three categories: charging behavior; grid impacts; and technology issues. Grid impacts. Technology issues.

Grid 253
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GMs Approach to Integrating Smart Plug-ins to the Smart Grid Leverages Emerging Standards and OnStar

Green Car Congress

GM is embracing the use of communications standards that operate with optional data transports to enable smart charging and integration with the emerging smart grid. A network of smart loads with communications to report their current state and act on smart grid commands. EVSE=Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment. Source: GM.

Grid 239
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Mercedes launches new plug-in hybrid S 580 e; Gen4 hybrid system, 100 km electric range

Green Car Congress

This V8 gasoline engine with integrated second-generation starter-generator and 48-volt on-board electrical system is also available with both wheelbases, with prices starting at €126,366 (US$149,000). S 580 e combined fuel consumption: 1.5-1.1 l/100 km, combined CO 2 emissions: 33.0-26.0 g/km, combined electrical consumption: 22.0-20.2

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Colorado buyers of Chevy Volt eligible for $13,500 in tax credits

Green Car Congress

Colorado residents who purchase or lease a new Chevrolet Volt are eligible for a state tax credit of up to $6,000 in addition to a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for a total price reduction of as much as $13,500. The Volt has a total driving range of up to 379 miles, based on EPA estimates.