This information that follows is taken from sources including The Car Connection, Autoweek, Green Car Reports, and other industry sources.
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Source: CBT News
Source: Automotive News
Crowe’s culture is a key factor in the Kelowna teams success each year. Continuous learning and professional growth are at the forefront of what we do, equipping our teams with the necessary skills and knowledge to #GrowWithCrowe.
With an emphasis on collaboration and open communication, the office has created a supportive environment where everyone feels encouraged to share ideas and learn from one another. Through training programs and mentorship opportunities, team members are empowered to stay updated on industry trends, enhancing their skills and enabling them to be trusted advisors to their clients.
Source: Automotive News
Source: Bloomberg News via Automotive News
Source: Automotive News Canada
Extended-range electric vehicles are having a moment right now, as automakers reassess their BEV plans for the rest of the decade and beyond amid a slowdown in demand in some EV segments. The tech itself isn't new per se, having made its most notable debut in 2010 with the Chevrolet Volt, in what already seems like another era entirely. Fifteen years later, EREVs are back in the spotlight as charging infrastructure remains a bit of a gamble, and as consumers actually want to take their electric trucks and SUVs on long road trips and make purchase decisions accordingly. "The market for all-electric vehicles has not developed as predicted a few years ago," says Otmar Scharrer, Senior Vice President R&D, Electrified Powertrain Technology at ZF. "For this intermediate phase, range extenders can be the ideal solution."
The basic concept is pretty simple: A battery-electric car uses a small gasoline engine on board just for power generation when it's needed to shore up reserves, and generates electricity solely for the battery rather than driving the wheels. And most of the time, it runs on its battery power and recharges as a regular EV.
But EREV technology hasn't stood still in the time since the Volt's debut. ZF has just revealed it's working on a next-gen extended-range system, due to enter production in 2026, dubbed eRE+ that features an intelligent clutch and a differential. This permits the engine to both generate electricity and serve as a secondary drive. Such a system has a target output ranging from 94 hp to 202 hp, with ZF also planning a new generation of conventional eRE systems for 2026 that only act as a generator. ZF points out that such systems are simpler and more advantageous for automakers than parallel-hybrid powertrains (which use the gas engine and battery simultaneously for propulsion), offering lower platform efforts, shorter development periods, and lower costs.
Smaller batteries in EREVs are another major advantage, both for automakers and consumers, especially at a time when traditional BEVs are still weighed down both by cost and mass.
With a small, supplemental engine, automakers can greatly ease range anxiety while offering a smaller and less expensive battery. "These represent a real alternative to larger—and thus more expensive—batteries or plug-in hybrids," Scharrer adds.
Source: Autoweek
Source: Automotive News
Source: CNBC
Source: CBT News
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