Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

The UK government has revealed its Battery Strategy, a significant roadmap aimed at fortifying domestic supply chains for electric vehicles (EVs) and reducing dependence on Chinese-manufactured batteries. With an allocation of £2 billion for capital and research and development funding until 2030, the strategy places a central focus on supporting zero-emission vehicles, batteries, and their associated supply chains. Key investments outlined in the strategy include £38 million for the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, £12 million for the Advanced Materials Battery Industrialisation Centre, and £11 million earmarked for 20 technology innovators across the battery value chain. Highlighting the importance of international…

Swedish electric transport service provider, Einride, has inaugurated its initial ‘Smartcharger Station’ for electric trucks in Rosersberg, Sweden, signaling a collaborative effort with infrastructure developer and investor Polar Structure to establish a global charging infrastructure for heavy goods vehicles. The Rosersberg charging park, equipped with a total of nine charging points, features five ‘Charge & Go’ points for fast charging and an additional four ‘Charge & Park’ stations for overnight slow charging. The facility is designed with a load management system, allowing simultaneous charging for up to eight electric trucks. While Einride did not specify the reason behind the limitation…

French automotive portal L’Argus previously reported in September about the forthcoming Smart #2, slated to hit the market in 2025 as the successor to the Smart Fortwo. The report suggested that Renault and Smart would collaborate on producing the upcoming electric Twingo, aiming to offer it for less than 20,000 euros. This partnership was seen as essential for Renault to achieve its targeted price point. Renault CEO Luca de Meo acknowledged ongoing discussions with potential partner manufacturers to share costs. According to L’Argus, both the new electric Renault Twingo and the Smart #2 would utilize the AmpR Small platform (formerly…

Swedish company Northvolt is exploring the Canadian province of Quebec as a potential site to industrialize its Cuberg lithium metal battery system designed for electric planes, according to statements made by Paolo Cerruti, the head of Northvolt’s North American division. Cerruti shared the information during an event at the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, emphasizing that a final decision is still years away. “We are looking at it. It is very early on, we are a few years away. Probably second half of this decade,” mentioned Cerruti during discussions with reporters. The aviation industry, aiming for more fuel-efficient designs,…

US semiconductor giant Nvidia is bolstering its autonomous driving division in China with the recent addition of industry veteran Wu Xinzhou. Having posted a job advertisement on November 28, the company is actively recruiting talent for its autonomous driving team in China, headed by Wu, who previously served as the smart driving chief at Xpeng. The job listings encompass roles in Product Engineering, Data Curation, and Auto Labeling, with office locations spanning Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, as outlined in the recruitment announcement. Nvidia’s Drive ecosystem boasts collaboration with numerous entities, including automakers, truck manufacturers, shuttle companies, Tier 1 suppliers, sensor…

Tesla experienced a temporary adjustment to the deposit amount for its highly anticipated Cybertruck, raising questions about potential signals related to the vehicle’s impending launch. Since its unveiling in 2019, the Cybertruck has been a focal point for Tesla, garnering significant attention despite initial challenges, notably the unbreakable window demonstration mishap. Tesla CEO Elon Musk proudly announced over 250,000 reservations within a week of the vehicle’s debut. Typically, reservation numbers for new Tesla models follow a pattern of an initial surge followed by a tapering off. However, the Cybertruck has been an exception to this trend, sustaining strong reservation numbers…

The chief executive of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, has indicated that the multinational automotive company is open to adjusting its electric vehicle (EV) strategy based on the outcomes of key elections in the U.S. and Europe next year. During discussions with the press at Stellantis’ Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, Tavares underscored the company’s attentiveness to the results of the European Parliament elections in June and the U.S. presidential election in November. He acknowledged the possibility of adapting Stellantis’ approach “if political and public opinion tends toward fewer EVs.” Tavares emphasized the company’s readiness to respond to evolving political landscapes, stating,…

A manager at a Tesla showroom in San Diego has confirmed that the Cybertruck on display in the facility is equipped with a 123 kWh battery, contrary to the initially touted 500-mile range. Previous reports suggested a range of approximately 267 miles, prompting a reevaluation of Tesla’s ambitious mileage claims for its electric pickup truck. Tesla CEO Elon Musk had announced the Cybertruck with a promised range of 500 miles (805 km) when the electric pickup was initially unveiled four years ago. However, with the disclosure of the 123 kWh battery capacity, the practicality of achieving this range appears to…

Lithium-ion battery pack prices have witnessed a notable 14% reduction to $139 per kWh compared to the previous year, according to BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) annual battery survey. BNEF’s survey findings project a volume-weighted average cost of $128/kWh for lithium-ion battery packs in electric vehicles (EVs) in 2023. The survey indicates that the average price for cells within EV battery packs stands at $89 per kWh, with cells comprising 78% of the total pack cost. This marks an increase in the cell-to-pack cost ratio compared to the traditional 70:30 split. China emerges with the lowest lithium-ion battery pack prices, recording $126/kWh. Notably,…

In the realm of electric vehicles (EVs), the lithium-ion battery stands out as a key cost factor that has undergone a notable transformation in the past decade. According to the Bloomberg New Energy Foundation (BNEF), the average price of a lithium-ion battery in 2013 was $780 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Fast forward to the present, and the average cost has plummeted to $139/kWh, marking a record low that is 12 percent lower than 2022 prices. This decline is attributed to increased production capacity and diminishing costs of raw materials and components. Evelina Stoikou, Senior Associate in Energy Storage at BNEF, noted…

Zero-emissions aviation firm ZeroAvia has wrapped up its Series C funding round, securing a total of $116 million. The UK Infrastructure Bank has joined the investor lineup, alongside major contributors Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, and the NEOM Investment Fund (NIF). This financing round, known as Series C, is earmarked to propel research and development efforts aimed at scaling up clean propulsion technology for larger aircraft. ZeroAvia’s mission centers on integrating hydrogen-electric engines into every aircraft, presenting an environmentally sustainable solution to mitigate the aviation industry’s climate impact. With an eye on the future, ZeroAvia seeks to achieve the significant…

The CEO of Mazda, Masahiro Moro, has offered a pragmatic perspective on the electric vehicle (EV) landscape, emphasizing the ongoing challenges and consumer preferences in an interview with Fortune. Moro, while acknowledging the significance of EV technology, presented a nuanced viewpoint, suggesting that the EV market is not evolving as rapidly as anticipated. Moro’s interview highlighted the growing presence of Tesla in the EV sector, noting that, in the U.S., Tesla accounted for 57% of the 8% EV market share this year. Expressing concerns, Moro stated that non-Tesla EVs are struggling to gain traction, leading to inventory accumulation. Mazda, known…