Author: Shaun Williams

Volvo Penta is set to unveil its latest modular and scalable battery energy storage system (BESS) platform at Bauma 2025, aiming to support off-grid power needs in construction and mining. The system is designed to help industry operators transition towards electrification while maintaining productivity and efficiency. See also: Ästad Vingård Adopts Volvo L25 Electric for Sustainable Vineyard Operations The company’s new BESS platform builds on a previous concept and is intended to integrate seamlessly with electric power solutions for construction and mining applications. “Our modular and scalable battery-electric platform is designed to support the electrification ecosystem—combining high-performance drivelines with the…

Aito, the new energy vehicle (NEV) brand jointly developed by Huawei and Seres Group, has filed an updated version of its flagship SUV, the M9, signaling a possible facelift for the luxury model. The filing appeared in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) catalog released for public comment on February 20, marking the final regulatory step before a vehicle can be sold in the country. The latest filing includes three variants of the Aito M9—two extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) models and one battery electric vehicle (BEV) model—produced at Aito’s manufacturing bases in Chongqing. The SUV retains its existing…

Rock Tech Lithium has announced the formation of a new company, NewCo, in partnership with Swiss mining firm Arcore. The joint venture will oversee Rock Tech’s planned lithium refinery in Brandenburg, Germany, as part of a broader strategy to establish a fully integrated European supply chain from raw material extraction to battery-grade lithium production. NewCo will manage both Rock Tech’s refinery project in Guben, Germany, and Arcore’s lithium mining operation in Lopare, Bosnia-Herzegovina. A binding agreement for the venture was signed this week, under which the two companies will merge their subsidiaries. Rock Tech plans to contribute its wholly-owned subsidiary,…

Tesla has expanded its Model Y lineup in Europe, introducing three standard variants after discontinuing the limited-edition “Launch Series.” The updated range includes the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (LR RWD), and Long Range All-Wheel Drive (LR AWD). The Performance version remains unavailable at this stage. The changes come less than a month after Tesla debuted the facelifted Model Y, codenamed “Juniper,” with a special “Launch Series.” While this edition is no longer available in most European markets, it remains listed in the UK configurator. The Launch Series was essentially a Long Range AWD model with…

Renault’s budget brand Dacia has begun developing a new electric city car for Europe, targeting a price below £15,000 (€18,000). The vehicle, closely related to the upcoming Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric, is expected to launch by mid-2026, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo told Autocar. “I defy any competitor in the world to do that,” de Meo said, highlighting the aggressive 16-month development timeline. The new Dacia EV will be based on the same AmpR Small platform as the Renault 5 and Renault 4, with production set to take place in Europe to avoid EU tariffs on Chinese-built imports, such…

Ionna, the North American fast-charging joint venture backed by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota, has announced plans to integrate Hubject’s Plug&Charge ecosystem into its network. The move follows the official opening of Ionna’s first charging park in Apex, North Carolina, earlier this month. By adopting Plug&Charge technology, Ionna aims to streamline the charging process, enabling vehicle-based authentication for compatible electric vehicles. The system operates on the ISO 15118-2 standard, which allows for automated communication between the vehicle and charging station, eliminating the need for physical authentication methods such as RFID cards or mobile apps. See…

Danish furniture retailer Jysk has introduced electric trucks in Denmark for the first time, replacing diesel vehicles for container transport between the port of Aarhus and its distribution center in Uldum. The two electric trucks, operated by logistics partner Dania Connect, complete eight round trips daily, moving more than 50 containers filled with products such as mattresses, bed linen, and garden furniture. “We are pleased that we now, together with Dania Connect, have electric trucks on the Danish roads to transport our goods,” said Ole Thomsen, Jysk’s Executive Vice President of Logistics. “Even though our global logistics network requires different…

Norwegian bus operator Vy Buss has placed an order for three Solaris Urbino 9 LE electric buses, marking the model’s debut in Norway. The electric midibuses will enter service in Slemmestad, a suburb of Oslo, in July 2025, Polish manufacturer Solaris said in a statement. The Urbino 9 LE electric, a nine-meter-long bus introduced in 2021, is the shortest electric model in Solaris’ lineup. The vehicle features a central electric motor with a peak output of 220 kW and is powered by batteries with a capacity of up to 350 kWh. See also: MPK Poznań Expands Zero-Emission Fleet with Nine…

Rivian is recalling 17,260 units of its R1T pickup and R1S SUV due to a headlight defect that may prevent the low beams from illuminating in cold temperatures, the company said. The issue, traced to incorrectly configured parts installed during manufacturing, affects vehicles built between April 29, 2024, and February 3, 2025. See also: Rivian Unveils California Dune Edition of Tri-Motor R1 with Off-Road Upgrades According to Rivian, the malfunction occurs when the vehicle starts in cold weather, potentially leaving one or both low beams inactive. Affected vehicles display a warning message: “Low beams might not be working. Service low…

Payment solutions provider GLS Mobility has joined forces with Gireve’s roaming platform to broaden the reach of its cloud-based direct payment system, aiming to simplify transactions at electric vehicle charging stations without requiring extensive hardware upgrades. The GLS Mobility solution enables charge point operators (CPOs) to offer direct payments via a central terminal at charging locations, supporting credit and debit cards, girocards, and mobile payment services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. See also: Fuuse Partners with Gireve to Expand EV Charging Accessibility and Network Reach While some additional hardware is necessary, the system reduces the need for individual…

TotalEnergies has launched a pilot project in Utrecht to trial dynamic charging tariffs at 15 charging stations, adjusting prices based on the expected availability of solar and wind energy. The French energy company has not disclosed the exact locations of the sites, but an accompanying press image suggests the inclusion of AC chargers. It remains unclear whether DC fast chargers are part of the trial. See also: DAF Trucks, TotalEnergies to Collaborate on EV Charging and Megawatt Systems However, as part of its broader infrastructure expansion in Utrecht, TotalEnergies plans to install 38 high-power charging stations at 17 locations across…

Ästad Vingård, one of Sweden’s largest commercial vineyards, has adopted electric machinery to enhance its sustainability efforts and maintain the integrity of its award-winning wines. The vineyard, located in the Åkulla beech forest nature reserve, now utilizes a Volvo L25 Electric compact wheel loader, reducing emissions and noise pollution in its operations. See also: Volvo EX30 Charging Test Shows Real-World Fast Charging Performance The decision to integrate electric equipment aligns with Ästad Vingård’s commitment to organic grape cultivation and an eco-friendly visitor experience. Diesel emissions can affect the delicate balance of acidity, aroma, and taste in grapes, making clean-energy solutions…

Chevrolet has introduced the Blazer EV.R NASCAR prototype, a high-performance, track-only electric vehicle, ahead of this weekend’s Daytona 500. The one-off prototype, developed in collaboration with NASCAR, showcases Chevrolet’s push into electrified racing technology and mirrors similar efforts from Ford Motor (F.N). See also: Ford Reveals High-Powered Electric NASCAR Prototype, Eyes Future of EV Racing The Blazer EV.R NASCAR is built around NASCAR’s Next Gen chassis and is powered by a 78 kWh liquid-cooled battery paired with three six-phase electric motors, producing a combined 1,300 horsepower. Power is distributed through a programmable all-wheel-drive system designed for high-speed track performance. “NASCAR…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has responded to recent reports suggesting that the automaker was poised to win a $400 million contract from the U.S. Department of State to supply armored electric vehicles (EVs). The contract, initially listed as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Procurement List for 2025, was widely anticipated to involve the supply of armored electric vehicles, with the Cybertruck seen as a likely candidate. However, the list was later updated to remove Tesla’s name from the award listing, prompting questions about the status of the deal. See also: Tesla Officially Launches Full Self-Driving in Mexico, Surprising…

May Mobility has launched its first fully driverless commercial shuttle service in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, marking a significant step in its approach to autonomous transportation. The Michigan-based startup has been operating a free, on-demand autonomous vehicle service along Technology Parkway since September 2024, but with a human safety operator onboard. With the latest deployment, May has removed the operator and begun charging for rides. See also: May Mobility Unveils Electric Autonomous Minibus to Expand Transit Access Peachtree Corners, a tech-focused city in the Atlanta metropolitan area, is home to the Curiosity Lab, a living laboratory featuring a 5G-enabled, three-mile autonomous…

U.S. engine manufacturer Cummins has acquired First Mode, a Seattle-based company specializing in the electrification of mining and rail vehicles, marking a strategic move to expand its alternative drive solutions. The acquisition, completed on February 11, includes First Mode’s hydrogen and battery drive technologies, along with its production and engineering teams in the U.S., Australia, and Chile. See also: Heliox and Cummins Introduce Two New DC Chargers to North America The deal follows Anglo American’s decision to divest from First Mode as part of a broader effort to “prioritise its capital.” Cummins will integrate First Mode into its Power Systems…

The ‘SkaleD – Scaling extrusion-based direct coating’ project, coordinated by EAS Batteries, aims to revolutionize the manufacturing of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. With an investment of approximately 2.1 million euros from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the project seeks to enhance the efficiency of the direct coating process in industrial battery cell production. This development aims to reduce manufacturing costs while addressing environmental concerns by eliminating solvent-intensive processes. The project brings together five research partners—EAS Batteries, Manugy, Matthews International, the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS), and the Fraunhofer Research Centre for Battery Cell…

Rivian has launched a teaser campaign hinting at a major announcement scheduled for February 19. The cryptic visuals include tire tracks in the sand, an underbody shot of a vehicle, and a peek through the R1T’s gear tunnel, with distant sand dunes in the background. Accompanying these images is the tagline, “A mirage takes shape,” sparking widespread speculation about the company’s next move. The desert-themed teaser has generated several theories regarding Rivian’s upcoming reveal. Some industry observers believe the company may be unveiling a special edition or a new color option for its R1T and R1S vehicles, possibly a sand-colored…

British chemical firm Johnson Matthey has entered a long-term collaboration with German technology company Bosch to develop and manufacture catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) for fuel cell stacks, the companies announced. The technology is aimed primarily at commercial vehicle applications. Under the agreement, Johnson Matthey will supply its CCMs for Bosch’s integrated fuel cell power module, which is designed to be compact and scalable. The collaboration seeks to enhance the performance and efficiency of fuel cell technology, supporting wider adoption in mobility and energy sectors. See also: Plug Power and Johnson Matthey Partner to Accelerate Green Hydrogen Economy Growth with 5GW CCM…

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS has been selected as the official pace car for the 67th Daytona 500, marking the first time an electric vehicle will lead “The Great American Race.” Chevrolet announced the decision ahead of the NASCAR season opener, set for February 16, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway. With up to 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the Blazer EV SS is Chevrolet’s most powerful SS model ever. The performance-oriented SUV, equipped with Wide Open Watts mode, can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. It will pace the Daytona 500 with its…