Author: Shaun Williams

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…