Author: Shaun Williams

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…

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (FFIE) is advancing the development of its FX 6 electric vehicle, with two prototype mules set to arrive at the company’s Los Angeles headquarters this month. Shipped from FF China, these vehicles mark the official start of the testing and validation phase for the FX 6 in the U.S. This step aligns with FF’s goal of introducing AI-driven electric vehicles (AIEVs) under its FX brand, with further updates expected in March regarding the FX 6 and the brand’s overall strategy. See also: Faraday Future Unveils FX Prototype, Begins Development Phase The FX 6 prototypes will…

Kia’s high-performance EV6 GT is now more affordable than ever, thanks to lease savings of nearly $20,000. As the automaker prepares to launch the 2025 model year, it is offering significant incentives to clear out the 2024 EV6 GT, making it a compelling option for performance-focused EV buyers. Introduced in 2022, the EV6 GT is Kia’s most powerful production vehicle ever, boasting 576 horsepower and 0-60 mph acceleration in just 3.4 seconds. The automaker designed the GT with a focus on high performance, equipping it with GT and drift drive modes that adjust the vehicle’s motor, brakes, steering, and suspension…

Tesla’s Lead Engineer for the Cybertruck, Wes Morrill, has shared a brief first look at the upcoming off-road armor for the all-electric pickup truck. In a recent post on X, Morrill revealed that the off-road armor was displayed at Johnson Valley during the King of the Hammers event. The area is also where Tesla’s team spent significant time testing and refining the Cybertruck’s accessories. Morrill highlighted that the new armor is “low profile, tough, and best of all, coming soon.” See also: Tesla Cybertruck Off-Road Accessories, Including Armor and Rockers, Expected by March Cybertruck off-road armor was on display at…

Tesla’s Model Y has lost its position as Europe’s best-selling car in 2024, according to market analysts at Jato Dynamics. While it remains the region’s top-selling electric vehicle (EV), it ranks fourth overall, trailing three combustion-engine models. The Model Y recorded 209,214 new registrations in Europe last year, marking a 17% decline from 2023. It was overtaken by the Dacia Sandero, Renault Clio, and Volkswagen Golf in the overall rankings. See also: EV Prices Drop 25% Since 2018, Narrowing the Gap with Combustion Cars Globally Jato did not pinpoint a specific reason for the drop but cited multiple factors, including…

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has secured three sites along major routes for the development of DC charging hubs, each set to feature 20 chargers upon completion. The new hubs are located on Chester Road in Erdington, Birmingham, Bristol Road South in Longbridge, Birmingham, and Coventry Road in Sheldon, near the airport. All three sites are expected to be operational by next year. See also: Blink Charging Expands EV Charging Network at Royal Farms Locations in Maryland and Delaware The hubs are partially funded by the region’s £1.3 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) from the UK government,…

Nissan is open to new partnerships, including with technology firms, after calling off merger discussions with Honda, two people familiar with the matter said on Thursday, with Taiwan’s Foxconn among potential candidates. The Japanese automaker, which has been implementing a turnaround strategy, opted to withdraw from negotiations with Honda after the latter proposed making Nissan a subsidiary, a third source said. “A consensus was reached on Nissan’s side that the talks could not proceed under that proposal,” the person added. See also: Nissan Offers U.S. Buyouts, Cuts Shifts in $2.6 Billion Cost-Cutting Drive Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer…

Ferrari is set to launch its first fully electric vehicle (EV) on October 9, marking a significant departure from its tradition of high-performance combustion engines, CEO Benedetto Vigna said on Tuesday. The luxury automaker also forecast at least a 5% increase in revenue and core earnings for 2024. Vigna, speaking during the company’s earnings call, described the upcoming EV launch as “unique and innovative” but did not disclose further details. The model will be one of six new vehicles Ferrari plans to introduce this year. “We are confident in our ability to drive robust growth in 2025, ahead of most…

Testing of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on California’s public roads has significantly slowed, according to new data released by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The figures for 2024 show a sharp 50% drop in total autonomous vehicle test miles, with 4.5 million miles logged compared to 9 million in 2023. The decline is particularly marked in the driverless testing category, which fell by 83%, from 3.26 million miles in 2023 to just 552,895 miles last year. The DMV’s records also show that fewer companies are participating in the testing programs. As of 2024, only 31 companies hold permits for…

The reuse of lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles is emerging as an essential component of sustainability efforts in the automotive industry. As electric cars become more prevalent, the potential for conserving resources through upcycling used batteries has grown significantly. However, the process has not yet become mainstream due to technical and economic challenges. The QuaLiProM research project aims to address these barriers and improve the viability of battery reuse. Funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the QuaLiProM project brings together experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg,…

Blink Charging has deployed 76 EV charging points across 23 Royal Farms convenience store locations in Maryland and Delaware, with plans to exceed 100 charging ports across the two states, the company said on Thursday. The fast chargers are partially funded by the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Electric Corridors Grants Program and Delaware’s DNREC Division of Air Quality, Blink stated. See also: Blink Charging Partners with Stable Auto to Optimize EV Charging Network Using AI Solutions The company owns, operates, and maintains the charging stations, which are expected to include its all-in-one fast charger capable of delivering up to…

German energy firm E.ON announced plans to install new ultra-rapid EV charging hubs at six locations across Scotland, adding 42 high-powered chargers near key cities including Dundee, Edinburgh, Stirling, and Dunfermline. The expansion builds on E.ON’s existing presence in Scotland, where the company already operates an ultra-rapid charging hub in Aberdeen. The facility, which features 12 charging bays, is E.ON’s most northern EV charging site in the UK and is “strategically positioned at the gateway to the Granite City,” the company said. See also: E.ON and Fleggaard Group Expand Charging Infrastructure at German-Danish Border E.ON states its ultra-fast chargers can…

Tesla is preparing to introduce several new products in 2025, including a more affordable electric vehicle (EV) expected to launch in the first half of the year, Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja said. “We will be introducing several new products throughout 2025. We are still on track to launch a more affordable model in the first half of 2025 and will continue to expand our lineup from there,” Taneja stated. See also: Tesla Charts Path to Growth in 2025 After First Annual Delivery Decline in 2024 Tesla was previously expected to unveil a prototype of the lower-cost EV, informally referred…

Chinese automaker BYD sold 8,700 passenger vehicles in the UK in 2024, marking a 658% year-on-year surge and solidifying its position as the country’s fastest-growing car brand, the company said Thursday. BYD’s UK market share rose from 0.17% to 0.96% over the year, supported by a retail network expansion from 14 to 60 sites. Brand awareness climbed to 31%, boosted by sponsorship of the EURO 2024 football championship, which reached over 1 billion viewers globally. The ATTO 3 remained its top-selling model, while the DOLPHIN led in retail sales. BYD, which entered the UK market in March 2023, has introduced…

Connected Kerb, a leading UK charge point operator (CPO), has secured £65 million in funding to accelerate the growth of its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The investment is being provided by the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and Aviva Investors, with £55 million coming from the NWF and £10 million from Aviva. The company plans to significantly expand its network of EV charging points, aiming to increase the number of charging sockets from 9,000 by the end of 2024 to approximately 40,000 by 2030. While the exact timeline remains unspecified, the ambitious goal is in line with the UK’s broader…

Stellantis will assume full ownership of its hybrid vehicle transmission joint venture with Punch Powertrain, taking over operations at production facilities in France and Italy, the company said in a statement. The decision affects plants in Metz, France, and at the Mirafiori complex in Turin, Italy, where Stellantis will now manage the development and production of electrified dual-clutch transmissions (eDCT) independently. “This move aligns with our strategic plan to expand and renew our mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid lineup,” Stellantis said. See also: Stellantis Confirms STLA Small Platform for Spanish Plants, With Production Expanding to Italy The hybrid drive facility, initially…

Waymo said it will begin offering fully driverless robotaxi rides to employees in Atlanta, a step toward opening the service to the public in 2025. The move signals Waymo’s expansion into new markets and follows its $5.6 billion Series C funding round, which valued the company at $45 billion. Investors in the round included Alphabet, Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, and Tiger Global. See also: Waymo to Test Autonomous Vehicles in 10 New Cities, Starting with Las Vegas and San Diego Earlier this week, Waymo announced plans to test in 10 additional cities this year, beginning with San Diego and Las Vegas.…

Toyota Motor Europe has joined forces with Hydrogen Refuelling Solutions (HRS) and French energy group Engie to develop advanced hydrogen refuelling systems aimed at significantly reducing refuelling times for commercial vehicles. The initiative, part of the European Union-funded RHeaDHy project, seeks to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as a clean energy source for heavy-duty transport. The RHeaDHy project (Refuelling Heavy Duty with very High flow Hydrogen) focuses on creating high-performance hydrogen refuelling stations capable of refuelling 700-bar hydrogen trucks with 100 kilograms of hydrogen in under ten minutes. This breakthrough is expected to address one of the key challenges in…