Author: Alexander Reed

Repair costs for electric vehicles (EVs) in Germany are beginning to ease as adoption rises and service providers gain more experience, the German Insurance Association (GDV) said. According to GDV, comprehensive insurance claims for EVs were 20% to 25% higher than for comparable combustion engine models last year. That gap has since narrowed, with the average claim now around 15% to 20% higher than for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. “The more electric cars there are on the road, the less their claims differ from comparable cars with combustion engines,” said Anja Käfer-Rohrbach, deputy general director at GDV. She added…

SAIC Motor’s premium electric vehicle arm IM Motors has launched a new range extender system dubbed ‘Stellar,’ making its debut in the redesigned LS6 SUV and set to feature in the upcoming LS9. The system combines a large battery pack with a turbocharged petrol engine, giving the models a claimed total range of up to 1,500 kilometres. The LS6, which competes directly with Tesla’s Model Y, will go on pre-sale in China on Aug. 15. In overseas markets, including the United Kingdom, it is marketed as the IM6, though IM Motors has not confirmed whether the range extender version will…

Horizon Fuel Cell Group has acquired the intellectual property of U.S.-based hydrogen vehicle maker Hyzon Motors Inc., in a move to strengthen its position in the global market for hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks. The acquisition will enable Horizon to continue servicing Hyzon’s customer base in the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand while integrating its own advanced fuel cell systems into the platform. Horizon plans to deploy its VLS-IV Series 400kW fuel cell stack in future heavy-duty truck models, targeting a 15% to 20% reduction in hydrogen consumption compared with earlier designs. The company said the technology delivers diesel-equivalent performance…

A cybersecurity researcher uncovered flaws in a major carmaker’s online dealership portal that could have exposed customer information and vehicle data and allowed hackers to remotely unlock cars, TechCrunch reported. Eaton Zveare, a researcher at software delivery firm Harness, told TechCrunch the vulnerability “allowed me to create an administrator account with complete access to the system.” The portal, used by more than 1,000 dealerships in the United States, stores personal and financial data, vehicle telematics, and tools for pairing cars with mobile apps for remote functions. “The login process had insecure code that let me bypass authentication and gain ‘national…

Lithium futures in China rose sharply on Monday after Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) suspended output at a lithium mine in Jiangxi province. The most active lithium carbonate contract on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange jumped 8%, hitting its daily price limit, following weekend reports of the production halt. CATL confirmed it stopped operations at the Jianxiawo project in Yichun on August 9 after its mining permit expired. The company said it is expediting the renewal process and expects to resume production once regulatory approval is granted. The battery maker, one of the world’s largest suppliers for electric vehicles, said…

Amprius Technologies has delivered its next-generation high-performance SiCore battery cells to several customers in the drone and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector, including Airbus subsidiary AALTO, which is currently testing the cells in its Zephyr high-altitude reconnaissance platform. The deliveries mark the first customer shipments of Amprius’ advanced cells from its pilot production line in Fremont, California. The company unveiled the latest version of the SiCore battery earlier this year, featuring an energy density of 450 Wh/kg—one of the highest reported in the industry. Based on a proprietary silicon anode system, the technology is designed to deliver up to 80%…

Japanese construction equipment maker Komatsu has partnered with Silicon Valley-based autonomy company Pronto to roll out a new AI-powered haulage solution aimed at automating quarry operations in North America. The new system, called Komatsu Smart Quarry Autonomous, integrates Pronto’s autonomous driving technology into Komatsu’s quarry-sized trucks, enabling them to operate without human drivers. The platform, which can be retrofitted into existing equipment or built into new trucks, is designed to improve safety, reduce operational risk, and increase efficiency through continuous, 24/7 autonomous haulage. “This collaboration with Pronto accelerates our vision of smart, automated quarry operations,” said Jason Anetsberger, Komatsu’s Senior…

Bankrupt Swedish battery maker Northvolt had increased production of high-quality battery cells at its Skellefteå facility before halting operations, a development that helped secure a sale agreement. The company, once viewed as Europe’s key challenger to Chinese battery dominance, filed for bankruptcy in March and stopped production in June after failing to find a buyer in time. U.S. battery startup Lyten announced plans to purchase most of Northvolt’s assets, aiming to revive operations and position itself in the European market. The transaction is expected to close in Sweden by late October, with additional time required for assets abroad. Lyten, backed…

Guident Corp., a technology company focused on autonomous vehicle safety, has received new patent allowances in the United States and South Korea for its AI-based remote monitoring and control system. The approvals expand the company’s growing global intellectual property portfolio, underscoring its strategic commitment to enhancing safety and operational control in the autonomous mobility sector. The newly allowed patents—U.S. Application No. 17/909,432 and South Korea Application No. 10-2022-7034516—are titled “Artificial Intelligence Method and Apparatus for Remote Monitoring and Control of Autonomous Vehicles.” The technology underpins Guident’s Remote Monitor and Control Center (RMCC), a platform that leverages distributed sensor fusion and…

The Falkirk Wheel, the world’s only rotating boat lift, has welcomed its first all-electric passenger vessel following the conversion of the Antonine, a 23-year-old boat used to ferry tourists along Scotland’s historic canal system. The retrofit is part of Scottish Canals’ broader effort to reduce carbon emissions and enhance sustainable tourism. The Antonine, which previously operated with a diesel engine, now runs on a 50kW direct-drive electric motor, following a full conversion carried out by NoPuttPutt, a small electric boat specialist based in Bristol. The boat also features electric thrusters and a battery system capable of powering twenty 90-minute trips,…

Tesla and CEO Elon Musk have been named in a new class-action lawsuit filed by shareholders who claim the company misrepresented the safety and readiness of its autonomous driving technology, particularly its newly launched Robotaxi fleet. The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 4 in federal court in Austin, Texas, alleges Tesla failed to disclose key risks tied to its self-driving vehicles. It focuses on the June 22 public debut of Tesla’s Robotaxi service in Austin, where the fleet reportedly showed erratic driving behavior, according to court filings. The plaintiffs argue these incidents contradicted Tesla’s assurances of a “scalable and safe deployment”…

Nissan has set the starting price of its new electric Micra at £22,995 in the UK, with customer orders opening on 1 September. The compact EV, which shares its AmpR Small platform with the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric, matches its sibling’s entry-level pricing in the British market. The base ‘Engage’ trim comes with a 40 kWh battery and a 90 kW motor. The 52 kWh battery option is available only from the mid-range ‘Advanced’ trim, priced at £26,995, or the top-spec ‘Evolve’ version at £29,865. Nissan said it expects the Micra, built in France by Renault, to qualify for the…