Author: Shaun Williams

A study by the University of Leeds has found no significant difference in pedestrian casualty rates between electric vehicles (EVs) and conventional petrol or diesel cars in the United Kingdom, easing concerns that battery-powered vehicles pose greater risks due to their weight and low operating noise. The research analysed collision data covering about 250 billion miles driven annually in the UK between 2019 and 2023. It found average pedestrian casualty rates of 57.8 per billion miles for EVs and 58.9 for non-electric vehicles. Out of 71,979 recorded pedestrian casualties involving cars, taxis and private hire vehicles, electric vehicles were linked…

DHL has begun rolling out its first dedicated high-power charging hubs for battery-electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) at its German parcel centres, commissioning six fast-charging points at its Aschheim facility near Munich, the logistics group said on Thursday. The Aschheim site marks the first completed location under an 18-month collaboration between DHL and utility group E.ON to expand fast-charging infrastructure for electric trucks across Germany. The newly installed chargers, supplied by Italian manufacturer Alpitronic, can deliver up to 400 kilowatts each, with power shared when two trucks charge simultaneously on the same unit. See also: DHL Express Expands U.S. Fleet…

A German research and industry consortium has launched a multi-year project to develop scalable megawatt charging stations for electric vehicles, aiming to address the growing power demands of heavy-duty transport and motorway charging hubs. The initiative, known as the ReNew Project, brings together the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE with industrial partners including Infineon, Siemens, STS Spezial-Transformatoren-Stockach, and engineering firm Gruner. The project is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and targets the first full system concepts by mid-2028. At the center of the project is the development of a medium-voltage direct current (DC)…

CaoCao Inc., the mobility services arm of Geely Holding Group, on Tuesday outlined a long-term strategy to scale up its autonomous-driving business globally, setting out a decade-long roadmap aimed at commercial Robotaxi deployment across 100 cities. The plan was presented by Chief Executive Gong Xin at a strategy event in Hangzhou, where the company also unveiled a prototype of what it calls a future mobility hub, the “Green Intelligent Transit Island.” Under its so-called “Ten Years, One Hundred Cities, One Hundred Billion RMB” strategy, CaoCao plans to establish five global operations hubs, expand Robotaxi services to 100 cities and generate…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has asked Alphabet-owned Waymo for detailed information on its self-driving system after reports that its robotaxis illegally passed stopped school buses at least 19 times this year in Austin, Texas. In a Dec. 3 letter first reported by Reuters, regulators requested technical data on Waymo’s fifth-generation autonomous driving system, two months after opening a formal investigation into how its vehicles behave around stopped school buses. See also: Waymo to Launch Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service in London by 2026 The inquiry followed video footage from Atlanta showing a Waymo robotaxi driving around a school…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will introduce a long-wheelbase version of its electric ID. Buzz Cargo from 2026, pairing the extended body with the larger 86-kWh battery as the German manufacturer continues to broaden its electric commercial vehicle lineup. The battery-electric van has so far only been offered as a short-wheelbase model. The company said detailed technical specifications and pricing for the extended version will be announced at a later date. “Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will announce the technical details and prices of the extended ID. Buzz Cargo as soon as they are finalised,” the Hannover-based unit said in a statement. See also:…

China’s BYD has produced its 70,000th vehicle at its Thailand manufacturing plant, about 16 months after the facility began operations, the company said on Wednesday. The milestone vehicle, a Sealion 06 sport utility vehicle rebranded locally as the Sealion 6, rolled off the production line on Nov. 27 and was delivered to an employee of BYD’s Thailand plant, the company said in a statement. See also: BYD Delivers 100,000th New Energy Vehicle in Thailand Construction of the plant began in March 2023, with production starting in July 2024 at the WHA Rayong 36 Industrial Estate. The facility, which spans nearly…

China’s FAW Group is close to finalising an equity investment in electric vehicle maker Leapmotor, though the state-owned automaker is now expected to take a smaller stake than previously discussed, as Leapmotor continues to post record monthly vehicle deliveries. People familiar with the matter said FAW is now planning to acquire around 5% of the Stellantis-backed automaker, about half the level earlier market speculation had suggested. Discussions between the two companies began earlier this year following the launch of their first joint vehicle project in spring 2025, and signing is expected later this year. See also: Leapmotor Debuts A10 Compact EV…

British autonomous driving startup Wayve has acquired German data quality specialist Quality Match to strengthen the accuracy and safety of the datasets used to train its artificial intelligence driving systems, the company said. The deal brings Quality Match’s 20 employees into Wayve’s global operations and expands the company’s engineering footprint in Germany, where it recently opened a testing and development hub near Stuttgart. Quality Match founder Daniel Kondermann has joined Wayve as Director of Data. See also: Wayve Showcases Global Scalability of AV2.0 Embodied AI with Rapid Adaptation in Japan Founded in 2019, Quality Match focuses on validating and analyzing…

Royal Mail has deployed its first eight electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) at parcel hubs in Daventry and Warrington, marking the postal operator’s initial move into zero-emission long-haul transport as part of Britain’s wider freight decarbonisation drive. The vehicles, DAF XD 350E 42-tonne battery-electric trucks, will handle round-the-clock deliveries between parcel centres and postal depots. Royal Mail said the trucks will be supported by ABB Terra 360 fast chargers, capable of adding rapid driving range during peak operations. See also: Royal Mail Trials 19-Tonne Electric Trucks in Push to Decarbonise Heavy Fleet “Introducing electric HGVs into our network is a…

DHL Summit Solutions, Inc. (DSSI), a joint venture between DHL Supply Chain APAC and JG Summit Holdings, has deployed one of the largest private electric logistics fleets in the Philippines, adding 23 electric vehicles and 22 prime movers to its operations, the company said. The new fleet integrates zero-emission vehicles with high-efficiency prime movers equipped with smart routing and load-planning systems. All assets are linked through DHL’s Connected Control Tower digital platform, which provides real-time visibility, predictive maintenance and automated scheduling to improve fleet utilisation and reliability. The company did not disclose the specific vehicle models, although a press image…

The New South Wales government has begun accepting applications for the fourth round of its A$39 million EV fast-charging grants programme, a scheme designed to accelerate the rollout of high-powered charging hubs across the state. Under the initiative, the government will co-fund new fast and ultra-fast charging sites, with a particular focus on regions where public charging remains sparse. The Fast Charging Grants scheme aims to deliver 275 fast and ultra-fast hubs, with stations spaced no more than 5 km apart in urban areas and no more than 100 km apart along intercity highways. In the first three rounds, the…

Xiaomi’s electric vehicle unit recorded deliveries above 40,000 units in November for the third straight month, underscoring continued momentum for the company’s automotive ambitions in China’s highly competitive new energy vehicle market. The EV arm of Xiaomi disclosed the milestone on its official Weibo account without releasing precise figures. The company previously reported deliveries of 41,948 vehicles in September, its first time exceeding the 40,000 threshold, followed by a record 48,654 units in October. Official November data is expected to be released later this month alongside industry figures from the China Passenger Car Association. See also: Xiaomi Hits 500,000-Vehicle Production…

A 10-year-old Tesla Model S has retained more than 88% of its original battery capacity after a decade of use, according to an independent battery test shared by the owner through an electric-vehicle-focused YouTube channel, offering fresh insights into the long-term durability of early-generation EVs. Tom, host of the YouTube channel Ludicrous Feed, recently documented his experience owning a 2015 Tesla Model S 70D since new. The vehicle, equipped with a 69 kWh battery pack and originally rated for about 350 km (218 miles) of range, has accumulated roughly 121,000 km (75,000 miles). A third-party diagnostic assessment showed the battery…

Students at TU Eindhoven have developed a compact electric city car designed for easy self-repair, as part of a project aimed at promoting sustainability and influencing both automotive industry practices and European regulation. The battery-electric concept car, named Aria, was created by the TU/ecomotive student team and features a modular design that allows users to replace individual components without relying on manufacturers for minor repairs. The students said Aria is built around detachable modules, including the battery, body panels and interior electronics. “Users can repair the car themselves and are no longer dependent on the manufacturer for minor fixes,” the…

Mercedes-Benz has begun European sales of the all-electric CLA Shooting Brake, expanding its compact EV line-up with a more versatile body style while initially limiting the range to higher-priced long-range variants. At launch, only two versions equipped with the 85 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery are available, mirroring the early offering of the CLA electric sedan. See also: Mercedes Prepares Entry-Level GLC 200 EQ With LFP Battery and Sub-€60,000 Starting Price The CLA 250+ Shooting Brake is priced from 57,096 euros in Germany, while the all-wheel-drive CLA 350 4MATIC Shooting Brake starts at 61,653 euros, making both versions around 1,250 euros…

A fully electric version of a 1972 BMW 2002 has been listed for sale, highlighting the growing trend of converting classic combustion-engine vehicles into battery-powered models. The converted car, finished in its original Golf Yellow paint, is offered through online auction platform Bring a Trailer and was rebuilt by Munich-based specialist Bavarian Econs Tech. The original engine and drivetrain have been removed and replaced with a 33-kilowatt-hour battery pack sourced from a BMW i3, while propulsion is provided by an electric motor from a Tesla Model S. See also: Kindred Motorworks Unveils In-House Grayback Electric Vehicle Platform for Classic Car…

Aito, the vehicle brand jointly created by Huawei and Seres (HKG: 9927), is preparing to introduce a new SUV model, the Aito M6, in the second quarter of 2026, according to a report from local outlet LatePost. The publication said the upcoming model is aimed at the RMB 250,000 ($35,180) segment of the family SUV market, adding that it will be offered in both battery electric (BEV) and extended-range (EREV) versions. In the original report, LatePost noted that the M6 “will not replace the M5,” citing a source close to Seres. The M6 would become the latest addition to Aito’s…

China has completed its first large-capacity all-solid-state battery production line, marking a technical step forward for its electric-vehicle supply chain, according to state media reports. The line, developed by GAC Group, is currently producing 60 Ah+ vehicle-grade solid-state cells on a small-batch test basis as the company prepares for wider deployment later this decade. The 60 Ah+ designation refers to the capacity of each cell, with higher ampere-hour ratings generally allowing greater energy storage when assembled into a full battery pack. GAC said the solid-state cells are designed to support future electric vehicles with ranges beyond 1,000 km, compared with…

BYD will discontinue its rotating infotainment screens, a feature that helped differentiate the brand when it expanded internationally but has become increasingly incompatible with third-party software. The company confirmed the change as it prepares to integrate more app ecosystems into its vehicles. The rotating display, capable of switching between portrait and landscape orientations, has been a hallmark of several BYD models in recent years. While popular among customers, the feature has proven limiting for key applications. See also: BYD’s Racco Mini EV Could Become One of Europe’s Most Affordable Electric Cars BYD vice president Stella Li said the company’s expanding…