Author: Shaun Williams

Alphabet’s autonomous ride-hailing unit Waymo has begun testing its new Robotaxi equipped with sixth-generation self-driving hardware, featuring a wider range of sensors designed to improve safety and reliability. The new hardware integrates more than 13 cameras, six radar systems, and four LiDAR sensors, according to a video posted on social media platform X by technology influencer Sawyer Merritt. “The new Waymo Robotaxi will also have ‘heaters, wipers and sprayers’ to keep the self-driving tech clean,” Merritt wrote in his post. A safety driver remains on board during testing, the footage showed. https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1957655074865377293 The trial comes as self-driving vehicles gain traction…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng on Tuesday reported record second-quarter revenue and its narrowest quarterly net loss in five years, as robust deliveries and cost efficiencies helped strengthen margins. The company’s net loss for the three months ended June 30 was 480 million yuan ($70 million), the lowest since the third quarter of 2020, compared with a 1.28 billion yuan loss a year earlier. On a non-GAAP basis, net loss came in at 390 million yuan. Revenue rose 125.3% year-on-year to 18.27 billion yuan ($2.55 billion), driven by higher deliveries of its latest models. Vehicle sales accounted for 16.88 billion…

Transit authorities in San Mateo County have approved a $36.3 million charging infrastructure agreement aimed at supporting the district’s growing fleet of electric buses, the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) said. The project will begin with upgrades at SamTrans’ South Base facility, including high-capacity chargers, overhead pantograph dispensers and enhanced electrical and communication systems. While detailed specifications of the hardware have not yet been disclosed, the investment is expected to cover charging for the 37 electric buses currently operating and accommodate up to 110 additional zero-emission buses in the future. “This investment is about more than just buses –…

New electric car registrations in the United States rose sharply in July, marking the second-highest monthly total since records began, data from Cox Automotive showed. The momentum, however, may prove temporary as federal tax credits are set to expire in September. Cox Automotive reported 130,082 new EV registrations for July, up 26.4% from June and 19.7% from a year earlier, lifting the market share of electric cars to 9.1%. Eleven brands posted their best EV sales of the year, with Tesla leading at 53,816 vehicles, followed by Chevrolet, Hyundai, Ford and Honda. Volkswagen and Audi also posted notable gains, with…

Tesla plans to roll out an update to enable the B-Pillar camera on its Cybertruck as part of its Sentry Mode security feature, addressing a gap that owners have been requesting the company to close for months. The upgrade, expected in an upcoming software release, will enhance the pickup’s ability to monitor surroundings and deter vandalism. Sentry Mode, available across Tesla’s lineup, turns the vehicle into a mobile surveillance system, recording incidents occurring nearby. While the system has aided in solving crimes such as vandalism and theft, the Cybertruck has been missing support for the B-Pillar camera since launch. This…

The Palo Alto Police Department has received its first patrol-ready Rivian R1S electric SUV for testing, marking the debut of the model as a U.S. police cruiser. Assistant Chief James Reifschneider said the vehicle aligns with the city’s technology-focused approach. “This car works perfectly with a lot of the other technologies we use here in Palo Alto that I think separate us from other agencies,” he told local broadcaster KRON4. The department’s R1S, finished in gloss black with white door panels and police insignia, was unveiled at a recent event at Rivian’s headquarters. The vehicle will be fitted with additional…

V4Smart, the battery company acquired and renamed by Porsche in March 2025, has unveiled its second-generation cylindrical battery cell, aiming to broaden its customer base with two performance-focused versions that incorporate new silicon-based anode technology from Porsche partner Group14 Technologies. The German sports car maker purchased Varta’s battery subsidiary V4Drive on March 4, taking a majority stake and renaming it V4Smart. Varta AG retains a minority interest but no operational control. The company, founded in 2022, previously offered a single product — the V21700 UHP-26 booster cell — designed to provide high power for short bursts rather than serve as…

Toyota plans to introduce three battery electric models in South Africa in 2026, a senior company executive said on Thursday, marking the Japanese automaker’s entry into a nascent market where Chinese and European rivals are stepping up competition. Volvo currently leads electric vehicle (EV) sales in South Africa, followed by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, while Chinese manufacturers such as BYD are rapidly increasing their footprint. Toyota, which dominates the country’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid market with a 67% share in 2024, currently only sells hybrid models locally, including the Corolla Cross. “We’re launching battery electric vehicles at the beginning of 2026,…

Daimler Truck, Volvo, Paccar and International Motors have filed a lawsuit against the state of California, challenging the strict emissions regulations that they say conflict with federal standards and hinder production planning. The move coincides with the dissolution of the Clean Truck Partnership, a coalition formed in 2023 to comply with California’s tighter vehicle standards. The lawsuit, submitted to a federal court in Sacramento on Monday, comes after President Donald Trump revoked California’s exemption for stricter emissions rules in June. The manufacturers said they are now “caught in the crossfire” between state and federal authorities, creating regulatory uncertainty. The Clean…

Greenlane has launched its second commercial electric vehicle charging corridor in the United States, connecting Southern California and Arizona along Interstate 10, one of the nation’s busiest freight routes. The corridor is designed to support medium- and heavy-duty logistics fleets, with stations located in Colton and San Bernardino, as well as Blythe, California, and Greater Phoenix, Arizona. The move comes through a new partnership with truck equipment manufacturer Windrose Technology, aimed at enabling single-charge freight journeys. To test the corridor’s performance, Windrose deployed its R700 Class 8 electric semi from the Colton location carrying a gross combined weight rating (GCWR)…

GAC Group will introduce a new extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system, named “Xingyuan,” on Aug. 19, alongside the launch of the EREV version of its Hyptec HL SUV. The company said the system is designed to address performance limitations when the battery is low, a common challenge for EREVs. The Xingyuan system incorporates GAC’s in-house developed range extender, which the company claims achieves industry-leading power generation and fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiency. It is designed to maintain strong performance even in low-battery conditions, while reducing fuel consumption, noise, and vibration. An AI-powered energy control platform will manage intelligent energy recovery and real-time…

Electrify America has opened a large electric vehicle charging station in Santa Monica, California, featuring 20 “Hyper-Fast” chargers capable of delivering up to 350 kilowatts each. For compatible EVs, the system can add roughly 20 miles of range per minute, the company said. The station, located at 1802 Santa Monica Boulevard near the I-10 freeway, operates around the clock, has on-site security cameras, and is powered by 100% renewable energy through renewable energy certificates. The facility is part of Electrify America’s strategy to build larger charging hubs with higher capacity, following recent openings in San Francisco and San Diego. Since…

GreenWay plans to deploy 368 new high-power charging (HPC) points in Poland and Slovakia by the end of 2025 under the EU-funded Cross-E initiative, in what the company calls one of the largest charging infrastructure investments in its history. The project will double the network’s capacity to 75 megawatts once complete. Of the total, 279 charging points will be installed at 48 locations in Poland, while 89 will be set up at 20 sites in Slovakia. GreenWay said 80% of the new stations will be capable of delivering up to 400 kW, enabling faster charging for electric vehicles. The company…

Wacker has unveiled a new silicone rubber designed to insulate busbars in high-voltage batteries used in electric vehicles, aiming to enhance both safety and cost efficiency in component manufacturing. The product, marketed as ELASTOSIL R 531/60, can be processed through extrusion, allowing for streamlined production of sheathing for aluminum or copper busbars that distribute current between battery cells and modules. According to the company, ELASTOSIL R 531/60 offers a unique safety feature in the event of fire. When exposed to extreme heat, the material undergoes ceramification, forming an electrically insulating protective layer that can withstand temperatures ranging from 800°C to…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has introduced its Super E-Platform 3.0 Evo, a next-generation electric car architecture featuring a 1,000-volt system capable of delivering charging power up to 1,000 kW. This advanced platform allows for rapid recharging of up to 400 kilometers of driving range in just five minutes under optimal conditions, significantly surpassing current industry standards. The architecture includes a newly developed powertrain utilizing silicon carbide inverters, a 1,000-volt battery pack, and a highly efficient “hairpin” electric motor that can reach speeds up to 30,000 rpm — a figure previously seen only in motorsports or prototype vehicles. The platform…

Tesla’s retail sales in China declined in July, marking the fifth month of year-on-year decreases so far this year, as the electric vehicle maker navigates shifting demand in the world’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) market. The U.S.-based automaker sold 40,617 vehicles in China last month, down 12.14% from 46,227 units a year earlier and down 33.94% from 61,484 units in June, according to data released on Thursday by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Despite a brief rebound in June, Tesla has recorded annual declines in Chinese retail sales for five out of the past seven months. Tesla’s Shanghai…

Hyundai’s Inster EV, the company’s most affordable electric SUV, has quickly gained popularity in Germany, emerging as the best-selling small electric car in the country during the first half of 2025. The compact SUV recorded over 1,130 new registrations in July alone, bringing its total registrations in Germany to approximately 6,300 for the first seven months of the year. “We’re delighted that Germany’s best-selling electric small car is a Hyundai,” said Ulrich Mechau, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Germany. He added that the Inster EV hits the right balance of affordability and performance, meeting growing demand for cost-effective electric…

South Korea’s SK On is positioning itself for a future dominated by solid-state battery technology, forecasting its early advantage in pouch-type cells could give it a competitive edge as global automakers and suppliers intensify efforts to commercialize next-generation electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Solid-state batteries, which replace liquid electrolytes in conventional lithium-ion cells with solid alternatives, are widely seen as a game-changer for the automotive industry due to their potential for greater energy density, faster charging times, longer lifespan, and improved safety. However, their commercial debut remains several years away. “When the world of solid-state batteries arrives, it will definitely be…

Tesla is dissolving the team behind its Dojo supercomputer project, effectively ending its in-house chip development efforts aimed at powering autonomous driving systems, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter. Peter Bannon, who led the Dojo initiative, is leaving the company, while remaining team members will be reassigned to other computing and data center projects within Tesla. The decision comes in the wake of the departure of around 20 Tesla employees who recently launched a new AI startup, DensityAI. The company, founded by former Dojo head Ganesh Venkataramanan along with ex-Tesla engineers Bill Chang and Ben…

A European research consortium led by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is developing a new class of battery anode material that blends recycled silicon with tin sulphide to boost energy density and improve sustainability in next-generation lithium-ion batteries. The RESTINA project—short for Recovered Silicon / Tin Sulphide Nanocomposite Anode Materials for Generation 3b Lithium Ion Batteries—seeks to create an anode material that combines the high specific capacity of silicon with the strong electrical conductivity of tin compounds. The goal is to achieve higher energy density, improved cell chemistry, and longer cycle life compared to current electric vehicle batteries. “In…