Author: Shaun Williams

Tesla has reduced the price of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver assistant software in the United States from $12,000 to $8,000, as CEO Elon Musk intensifies the company’s focus on self-driving technology. Musk is banking on self-driving technology to become a lucrative venture for Tesla, which is currently the world’s most valuable automaker. However, despite years of efforts, Tesla has yet to achieve full self-driving capability, facing increasing regulatory and legal scrutiny. Earlier this month, Musk announced that Tesla would unveil its robotaxis on August 8, following reports that the company had abandoned plans for an inexpensive, mass-market car in…

Fastned, an European fast-charging network for electric vehicles (EVs), has unveiled its vision for the “motorway service station of the future” with the opening of a shop, restaurant, and toilets at one of its fast-charging stations. This development marks a significant step towards making the EV charging experience more pleasant and convenient for customers. The first location of this innovative concept is situated on the E19 motorway in Brecht, Belgium, between Antwerp and Breda. Fastned plans to expand this concept to other locations, starting with Gentbrugge, where it intends to build charging stations with shops on both sides of the…

The global electric vehicle (EV) market witnessed a remarkable surge in 2023, with a record 13.7 million units sold worldwide, comprising 18% of total passenger vehicle sales. This acceleration was particularly evident in the fourth quarter, which saw 4.4 million EVs sold, according to a recent Bloomberg NEF report. Despite this global momentum, the United States’ adoption of EVs remains sluggish in comparison. In 2023, only 1.3 million EVs were added to American roads, accounting for just 9% of new vehicle sales. This figure falls significantly below the global average, highlighting the nation’s slower pace of EV adoption. Looking ahead,…

Michelin Services and Solutions has made its initial foray into electrification by introducing its first electric vans in the UK. The move signifies the company’s commitment to transitioning its entire fleet to electric vehicles by 2026. The company’s service division has deployed 17 Vauxhall Combo Electric eLCVs, marking the beginning of its plan to electrify the 54-strong fleet of the unit by 2026. While these vehicles are currently on a four-year lease, Michelin has plans to further expand its electric transporter fleet in the coming year. Alastair Cameron, National Operations Manager for Services and Solutions at Michelin, highlighted the significance…

In a recent meeting as part of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC), the EU Commission and the US government failed to reach an agreement on a raw materials partnership, further excluding Europe’s car manufacturers from significant portions of electric vehicle (EV) subsidies in the US. The meeting, which was the final one before the US presidential elections in November, was seen as a crucial opportunity to amend the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to include European car manufacturers in EV subsidies. However, no breakthrough was achieved, with the joint final declaration of the TTC meeting only stating an intention to…

Tesla has reportedly reduced production at its Shanghai plant as sales of electric cars in China experience slower growth amidst intense competition in the world’s largest car market. According to insiders cited by Bloomberg, Tesla has scaled back production of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles at the Shanghai plant to five days a week, down from the previous 6.5 days. The production lines will now operate in two shifts of 11.5 hours each for the remaining days of the week. It is unclear when production will resume at full capacity, as Tesla has not provided a clear indication.…

Connected Energy, a leading energy storage company specializing in second-life battery systems, has successfully installed its innovative energy storage solutions at two Volvo Truck & Bus dealer sites in the UK. The installations, located in Carlisle and Enfield, utilize Connected Energy’s 300kW E-STOR system to power both DC and AC electric vehicle charging stations. The Enfield site features a configuration supporting 350kW and five 22kW electric car chargers, while the Carlisle installation supports a 150kW truck charge point and two 22kW electric car chargers. These systems ensure that both locations have sufficient power to operate high-capacity charging points, crucial for…

Lilium, the Munich-based aviation company, has signed a memorandum of understanding with US aviation service provider Atlantic Aviation to ensure seamless compatibility between the Lilium Jet and Atlantic’s network of aviation assets across North America. This agreement will allow operations at current and future locations. Atlantic Aviation operates more than 30 airport locations in Lilium’s targeted launch markets in Florida, Southern California, the northeast of the US, and Texas. In January, the company announced its plan to install charging infrastructure for electric aircraft at all of its locations, in cooperation with VTOL start-ups such as Joby Aviation and Archer. The…

North American bus manufacturer New Flyer has announced a substantial order from New York City, encompassing the delivery of up to 1,420 electric buses over the next five years. The order includes the production of both 12 and 18-meter buses for the city. The New York City Transit Authority (NYCT) has committed to purchasing up to 2,090 buses from New Flyer within five years, with up to 1,420 of them being electric. Under the framework agreement, NYCT has already placed a firm order for 205 Xcelsior Charge NG electric buses. The agreement for electric buses spans both 12 and 18-meter…

Tesla will resume production at its German Gigafactory on Wednesday after power was restored late Monday night. The financial impact of the recent power outage is not as severe as initially feared, according to the company. Experts predict that Tesla will take less than a day to restart production at the plant, with operations expected to be fully operational by Wednesday, as reported by the German Handelsblatt. Initially, Tesla had announced that production would be suspended until the end of the week following the arson attack on a nearby electricity pole last week, which caused a blackout in the company…

Tesla has issued an open letter accusing Australia’s leading automotive lobby, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), of spreading false information regarding proposed regulations to cap fuel efficiency standards. The company announced its intention to exit the group in June, and Polestar is reportedly considering a similar course of action. Australia currently lacks regulations mandating fuel efficiency standards, making it one of the few developed countries without such rules. The government’s recent announcement of plans to introduce regulations similar to those in the U.S. prompted the FCAI to claim that these rules would result in higher prices for consumers.…

Brighton & Hove, a pioneering municipality in the UK, is set to bolster its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure with the addition of 100 new lamp post charging points and 20 fast chargers next month. This expansion will bring the total number of EV chargers in the city to close to 500, offering residents and visitors greater accessibility to charging facilities. The first phase of the initiative will focus on installing AC chargers, made possible by a 440,000-pound government grant from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). This grant will cover 60 per cent of the total cost of…

SK On, a South Korean battery manufacturer, showcased improved versions of its SF cells, first introduced in 2021, at the InterBattery trade fair in Seoul. The company also presented the Winter Pro LFP battery, designed to excel in low-temperature conditions. The trade fair, held at the Coex Convention & Exhibition Centre, has been ongoing since Wednesday. SK On highlighted improvements in the energy density of its SF cells, which already offered a charging time of 18 minutes for the usual window of ten to 80 per cent. The 2024 version maintains this charging time while boasting a nine per cent…

Hyundai has unveiled the stunning new Ioniq 6 Black Edition, following the recent launch of the updated Ioniq 5. The sleek blacked-out electric vehicle (EV) comes with special matte wheels, black front and rear molding, side sills, outside mirror cover, and front mat emblem. Launched in Korea earlier this week, the Ioniq 6 Black Edition is a design-specialized package that highlights the sophisticated beauty of black. It is available starting from the Exclusive Plus trim. See also: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Earns Top Spot as Most Fuel-Efficient 2024 Model in U.S. In Korea, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 Standard starts at $37,500 (KRW…

South Korea’s Hyosung Advanced Materials, SK Chemicals Co., and Hankook Tire & Technology have announced the commercialization of a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) tire called “ion,” which is made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) materials. This marks the first finished product tire for EVs that utilizes recycled PET. The collaboration between the three companies spanned two years to develop and bring ion to market. SK Chemicals supplied the recycled PET, while Hyosung Advanced Materials developed high-strength tire cords from the material. These tire cords were then integrated into Hankook Tire’s EV tire brand. The product is notable for containing 45%…

DHL continues to lead the way in green transportation. The company, which made headlines in 2015 by being the first major company to put an all-electric class 8 yard truck into service, has now expanded its fleet to 50 electric yard trucks from Orange EV. This marks a significant step towards DHL’s goal of fully phasing out diesel trucks by 2025. These heavy-duty trucks, known by various names such as terminal trucks, yard dogs, or mules, are ideal candidates for electrification due to their low-speed, high-torque, short-distance operations. The quiet, vibration-free, and instant power operation of electric drive makes them…

California-based Karma Automotive has unveiled its latest creation, the Gyesera sedan, marking a significant expansion of its lineup as the company celebrates its 10th anniversary. This all-electric four-door model follows the footsteps of the 1,000-hp Kaveya super coupe GT, which made its debut in Las Vegas last year. Unlike the range-extended GS-6, one of the oldest cars still on sale in 2024, the Gyesera is purely electric. While it shares its platform with the GSe-6, Karma Automotive has reimagined most aspects of the car, making it an all-new model with distinct performance and styling. See also: Karma Automotive Unveils Kaveya Super…

Renault and Volkswagen are currently in “good discussions” about jointly developing a small and affordable electric vehicle (EV), aiming to counter the threat posed by cheaper Chinese cars in the European market, where a significant portion of their sales originate. Renault CEO Luca de Meo confirmed this week at the Geneva auto show that talks with VW are underway, along with discussions with other potential partners, although he did not disclose their names. “I am open to anybody who wants to jump in. I have production capacity. I have the platform. I know how to do it,” he stated. See…

A Tesla Cybertruck recently fetched an impressive $244,000 at auction, surpassing its retail value by more than double. Tesla had implemented measures to prevent early buyers from flipping the Cybertruck for profits before converting reservations into orders. However, enforcing such restrictions can be challenging, as consumers generally have the right to resell products they own for a profit. The auction sale, reportedly marked as sold to Porsche Orlando on Cox Automotive’s Manheim auction platform, raises questions about the buyer’s intentions. It remains unclear whether Porsche Orlando, a Porsche dealership, intends to resell the Cybertruck on its lot or purchased it…

Hyundai and Kia have joined forces with the country’s premier national research university to pioneer a next-generation autonomous driving sensor, in a move that underscores their commitment to advancing automotive technology despite recent challenges in the driverless vehicle sector. The collaboration sees Hyundai and Kia teaming up with KAIST, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, to establish a joint research center dedicated to developing on-chip light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology. See also: Aptiv to Trim Stake and Halt Funding for Self-Driving JV Motional Amid Losses With a team of 30 engineers from Hyundai, Kia, and KAIST’s School of…