Author: Linda Ma

CATL has signed a 450 MWh supply agreement with US battery storage project developer HGP. Under the deal, CATL will provide HGP with the EnerC, an outdoor premade pod system that offers high safety, long life, and high integration for a variety of weather extremes. The battery storage project will be deployed in Texas and is expected to begin commercial operations in 2024. The partnership between CATL and HGP will leverage the strengths of both companies in battery technology and energy infrastructure and storage resource development to provide a more convenient solution for the market. This will help meet the…

Nine years after its first vehicle entered the Chinese market, Tesla has announced that deliveries of the new Model S and Model X have begun in mainland China. While the company’s China website shows expected delivery dates for both models in the second quarter, Tesla has confirmed the start of deliveries through a post on Weibo. Despite not providing additional information on Weibo, Tesla did announce the prices of the new Model S and Model X on January 6, which are not produced locally in China. This announcement came at the same time as the company significantly reduced the prices…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO has launched trial operations of its third-generation battery swapping station, Power Swap Station 3.0, in China. The move is part of Nio’s efforts to make battery swapping a more viable alternative to rival EV makers’ rapid-charging technology. The new stations are faster and more efficient, and can store up to 21 battery packs each. According to Shen Fei, Nio senior vice president for power management, the station can speed up battery swapping to less than five minutes, and reduce the service cost per swap. Nio has set a target of having 2,300 battery swapping stations…

Aion, a Chinese automaker best known for producing cheap and cheerful EVs targeted at younger customers, has just entered the hypercar market with its first electric vehicle – the Hyper SSR. Boasting a 900 kW (1,225 hp) powertrain and a lightning-fast 0 to 100 km/h spring time of just 1.9 seconds, this dramatic-looking vehicle has the potential to compete with the fastest electric cars in the world. The Hyper SSR is set to be a halo vehicle for the Aion brand, with the company hoping to sell more upmarket electric cars as part of its new strategy. While Aion has…

Chery New Energy, a division of the Chinese auto giant Chery, has announced a significant price reduction for three of its new energy vehicle (NEV) models. The cuts, ranging from RMB 4,000 ($581) to RMB 9,000 ($1,310), are effective from March 27, 2023. The reductions affect the QQ Ice Cream, Little Ant, and Wujie Pro models, with the Little Ant seeing the largest percentage drop. Chery New Energy cited the correction of new energy material prices globally and the company’s supply chain management capabilities as reasons for the price cuts. One significant factor in the price correction has been the…

Tesla has issued a new recall for its Model S sedans due to issues with the front trunk (frunk) latch lock, which could result in the lid unexpectedly popping open while driving. This poses a significant safety risk as it can limit forward visibility. The latest recall affects 2,649 Tesla Model S sedans that were imported from the US, with no impact on any other market since the Model S and its counterpart, the Model X SUV, are only produced at the Tesla Fremont factory in California. The recall in China applies to Model S vehicles produced between October 14,…

XPeng has announced the first deliveries of its P7i sedan, a facelift of its flagship P7 sedan, in seven Chinese cities. The automaker held delivery ceremonies in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing. Although the company did not disclose the number of P7i vehicles delivered, it marks the shortest time between the official launch and delivery of any XPeng model. The P7i was officially launched on March 10, offering four versions with a starting price of RMB 249,900 ($36,390). The P7i is built on the regular 400 V platform, but the model has undergone significant upgrades. Its maximum…

Avatr is a brand jointly owned by tech giants Huawei, CATL, and Changan, with Huawei responsible for the technology used in the vehicles. The brand’s first SUV, the Avatr 11, was officially unveiled last year with only one powertrain option, consisting of two electric motors producing a combined output of 570 hp (425 kW) and 650 Nm of torque. The dual-motor version came with two battery options, a smaller CATL-supplied battery pack offering 555 km of range, and a bigger 116 kWh pack rated at 680 km by CLTC. Starting next month, the Avatr 11 will be available from Huawei…

NIO, a leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, has announced a strategic partnership with Wencan Group, a supplier of one-piece die-casting parts, to provide supply support near its Hefei plants. The five-year cooperation framework agreement will involve collaboration on supply, low carbon, digitalization, and globalization, as well as deep research and development on lightweight die-casting structural parts for the body and new material applications. The two companies will also explore all-round cooperation in products such as integrated battery boxes, core EV components, and automotive chassis. Wencan, one of China’s leading suppliers of integrated die-casting parts and a core supplier of…

Li Auto, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, announced that it has achieved a major milestone with its cumulative vehicle deliveries topping 300,000. The company achieved this feat in just 39 months since it began delivering vehicles in December 2019, making it the fastest among China’s homegrown new luxury carmaker brands. Li Auto’s latest announcement came after it delivered the Li L9, Li L8, and Li L7 models to three owners at its Beijing delivery center on March 24. The company’s cumulative deliveries as of the end of February were 289,095, with 15,141 and 16,620 vehicles delivered in January and…

NIO, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has opened its first flagship showroom in the Netherlands. The NIO House is located in Rotterdam, the country’s second-largest city, and boasts seven main areas, including a vehicle display section and spaces for NIO owners to relax and engage with the community. Local visitors can explore NIO’s three EV models, including the ET7, EL7 (known as the ES7 in China), and ET5, in the vehicle display area. NIO’s flagship showrooms are designed to showcase and sell vehicles while also providing a hub for NIO owners to enjoy a quality lifestyle. Smaller NIO Spaces…

Hamburg is set to receive five new zero-emission buses as the municipal operator Hamburger Hochbahn has ordered the Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses. These buses are equipped with a 70 kW hydrogen fuel cell and will hit the streets as early as the second quarter of 2024. The growing demand for hydrogen as an alternative fuel has led to an increase in orders from carriers for hydrogen-powered buses. The benefits of hydrogen-powered vehicles include zero-emissions and an extremely low noise level. Hamburg is just one of the many cities opting to modernize their fleets with hydrogen-powered vehicles. The Solaris Urbino…