Spotted: Chinese startup Chilye, a developer of high-voltage battery systems for electric vehicles (EVs), has raised RMB 100 million (around €14.8 million) from a group of investors led by Xiaomi, one of the world’s largest smartphone makers.
Most EVs operate at 400 volts, but there is increasing interest in 800-volt systems. For example, in 2020, Porsche released its luxury “Taycan” model — the first EV from a major automaker to use an 800-volt battery.
There are several potential benefits to higher voltage systems. They offer more range, lighter car weight, and better energy efficiency, and can also be charged more quickly using fast chargers. These potential advantages are persuading leading automakers to explore the technology, and Chilye claims to have secured clients that include ‘multiple mainstream automakers’.
Chilye’s new funding will be used to ramp-up commercial production of its high-voltage battery system. According to Technode, the company claimed earlier this year that it will have the annual production capacity to equip 3 million EVs with its products by mid-2022.
Xiaomi’s investment in Chilye is part of a broader push by the consumer electronics giant to become a key player in the EV market. The company intends to invest further in domestic Chinese companies in the EV supply chain, and it also has plans to mass-produce its first consumer EV model in the first half of 2024.
Other innovations spotted by Springwise that aim to make EV technology more efficient include AI that helps city planners build EV charging networks, smart charging that reduces the carbon footprints of EVs, and new technology that could revolutionise EV charging infrastructure.
Spotted: One fear for many electric vehicle (EV) owners is the thought of running out of juice miles from the nearest plug. Now, startup ZipCharge is poised to eliminate range anxiety with its ZipCharge Go portable charger. The company describes the Go as a ‘flexible and convenient charging solution’ for those without easy access to fixed charging points.
The portable powerbank was introduced at last years’ COP26 summit, and is about the size of a large suitcase. It weighs around 50 pounds, but is equipped with wheels and a handle, for greater portability. The idea is that users charge the Go from a household socket at a lower cost than using a public charger, then wheel it to where their car is parked. Once the Go’s power cable is locked into the car’s charging port, the device is secure, and its recycled plastic shell allows it to be used in all weather.
The ZipCharge Go can charge from any socket, and comes with a Type 2 EV socket. A 4-kilowatt-hour version will provide up to 20 miles of range after 20 minutes, and a higher capacity, 8 kilowatt-hour version will be able to provide around 40 miles of range. ZipCharge suggests this is enough for the average daily commute. The device can be charged up at home using an app, that allows users to schedule charging for off-peak hours, when electricity is cheapest.
According to a study by Ofgem, a lack of charging options at or near to home is a major factor in whether buyers decide to opt for an EV. A number of areas in the UK are installing charging points in streetlight poles or on streets, but these are often more expensive to use than home charging. The ZipCharge Go could help address those concerns. As the company says, “The best way to charge an EV is when you don’t need to. Top-up charge wherever you park, to avoid the visit to the charging station.”
As EVs become more popular, a number of innovators have turned to the issue of making charging more convenient. Some ideas covered here at Springwise include charging stations designed to include a range of amenities and AI-powered smart chargers designed to reduce the carbon footprint of charging.
From homes with peach-coloured walls to rose-tinted shops and restaurants, we’ve rounded up 10 interiors projects to make you think pink in our latest Dezeen Lookbook.
Cats’ Pink House, Taiwan, KC Design Studio
This holiday home in Taiwan is all pink – even the basketball court. KC Design Studio created the house by the sea for a client who owns several cats, so the interior includes pink cat ladders and a fluffy swing for the feline companions to recline on.
Find out more about Cats’ Pink House ›
The Daily Edited, Australia, Pattern Studio
Pattern Studio created a shop in Melbourne entirely in the signature colour of lifestyle brand The Daily Edited.
Blush-coloured walls are complemented by pale terrazzo floors and slabs of Norwegian rose marble.
Find out more about The Daily Edited ›
Ecnesse, China, by Penda China
Penda China used a rosy colour palette to create cosy cave-like interiors for high-end beauty salon Ecnesse in Beijing.
The rounded edges of the pink furniture echo the arched mirrors and doorways, which can be screened off using deep red velvet curtains.
Find out more about Ecnesse ›
Waterfront Nikis Apartment, Greece, by Stamatios Giannikis
Colourful flamingo-coloured walls are a standout feature of this apartment in an art deco building in Thessaloniki.
Architect Stamatios Giannikis, who hosts dinners and exhibitions in this apartment he designed, chose the pink walls to enhance the views of the sea from beyond the balcony.
Find out more about Waterfront Nikis Apartment ›
His House and Her House, China, Wutopia Labs
Part house, part installation, His House and Her House is a pair of structures that Chinese studio Wutopia Labs used to explore ideas around gender.
The feminine side of the project is painted entirely in pastel pinks, featuring billowing pink curtains across the facade and a patio filled with pink rock salt instead of gravel.
Find out more about His House and Her House ›
Minimal Fantasy, Spain, Patricia Bustos Studio
This striking holiday rental apartment in Madrid is decorated in 12 different shades of pink. Patricia Bustos Studio wanted to create something on of a kind, using bubblegum hues, satin sheets and surfaces with iridescent sheen.
“Pink is already the colour of a whole generation,” said the studio. “The generation of the brave, those who are not afraid of change.”
Find out more about Minimal Fantasy ›
Specus Corallii, Italy, Antonino Cardillo
Specus Corallii, or The Coral Cave, is a music room in Sicily that’s decorated in homage to the shell imagery associated with the city of Trapani.
The walls are covered in rough plasterwork that has been painted a muted pink to create a grotto-like interior, complemented by slabs of honey-coloured limestone.
Find out more about Specus Corallii ›
The Olive Houses, Spain, by Mar Plus Ask
The Olive Houses are a cluster of off-the-grid guesthouses in Mallorca designed as a retreat for artists and writers seeking a place to create free from interruptions.
Architecture studio Mar Plus Ask built the retreat around the boulders that litter the ancient olive grove, plastering the walls in a pale-pink stucco chosen to complement the delicate green leaves of the trees.
Find out more about The Olive Houses ›
Humble Pizza, UK, Child Studio
Child Studio created interiors for this vegan pizza restaurant in London that pay tribute to 1950s greasy spoon cafes.
Candy pink walls and furnishings highlight the pink Formica tables and countertops, all the flatware is pink and pink newspapers are used as decoration as well as reading material.
Find out more about Humble Pizza ›
Angle + Eart St Studio, Australia, by BoardGrove Architects
Three different tones of peach were selected by BoardGrove Architects to decorate the interiors of this shared office space in Melbourne. The trio of colours subtly differentiates between the front of house, workspaces and back of house zones.
