Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

The Rivian R1T and R1S vehicles, both current and future, will soon have the ability to charge other EVs or homes in case of a power outage. This new bidirectional charging feature will allow Rivian vehicles to provide power to other electric vehicles if their battery runs out. An upcoming over-the-air update will enable the capability, as reported by the Twitter profile @rivianupdates, which is not officially linked to the company. The account cites a Rivian spokesperson in tweets and says more information on bidirectional charging will be disclosed at a later time. https://twitter.com/rivianupdates/status/1620826587158704128 Bidirectional charging is a revolutionary technology…

LG Energy Solution, a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells, stated during a recent conference that it is in discussions with Tesla and several electric vehicle startups to supply batteries from its Arizona factory, as reported by Reuters. LG Energy Solution has remained tight-lipped about the details of its planned battery factory in Queen Creek, Arizona. The company had previously announced its intention to invest $1.39 billion to build a facility for cylindrical batteries for EVs and electric tools with an annual capacity of 11 GWh. The factory was set to be a wholly-owned subsidiary and construction was slated to…

A historic journey was recently made by a Volvo FH Electric 40-ton semi-trailer truck, traveling a distance of 1,864 miles (3,000 km) between Zurich, Switzerland, and Valencia, Spain. This was the longest trip ever completed by a commercial electric truck. The round-trip was undertaken by Swiss logistics firm Krummen Kerzers, with driver Balint Schnell at the wheel. Schnell was tasked with picking up 20 tons of oranges from Casa del Mas grocery store’s citrus orchard in Canals, near Valencia, for delivery back to Küsnacht, on Lake Zurich. As this was Schnell’s first time driving an electric semi, he had to…

The Mercedes-AMG One, formerly known as the Project One, has finally begun deliveries to customers. The highly anticipated hypercar was first unveiled as a concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show five and a half years ago, with the production version revealed in June 2022. Only 275 of the F1-engined vehicles will be produced, making it a rare and exclusive sight on the roads. The first customer car was revealed in a trio of images shared by Mercedes-AMG, showing the mostly black exterior with Petronas green accents, white three-pointed stars in the rear, a red tip on the roof scoop, and…

Taiwan’s Foxconn, the electronics manufacturer, announced on Monday that it has hired Jun Seki as its Chief Strategy Officer for Electric Vehicles. Seki, a former executive of Nissan and Nidec, brings a wealth of experience and industry expertise to Foxconn. Seki was previously seen as a top contender for the CEO position at Nissan, where he spent three decades, including a role as head of the China division. Despite his impressive career, he was eventually passed over for the position and went on to join motor maker Nidec in 2020. See also: Nidec invests $715 million to build Mexico plant…

The electric vehicle manufacturer, Rivian, made its mark on the industry with the launch of its electric adventure truck, the R1T, and its SUV counterpart, the R1S, in 2021. The brand has garnered much attention for its impressive off-road capabilities and design. One of Rivian’s notable accomplishments is when an R1T truck provided power to an operating room during a power outage. To cater to pet owners, Rivian introduced the Pet Comfort feature which enables drivers to regulate the cabin temperature before leaving their vehicles, ensuring the comfort and safety of their furry companions. This feature was highly requested by…

Ford has reduced the prices of its Mustang Mach-E electric crossover SUV by up to $5,900 per vehicle. This action follows Tesla’s recent global price cuts of up to 20% on its electric vehicles, putting pressure on other electric vehicle manufacturers to respond. “Ford just cut Mustang EV prices in response to Tesla’s price cut. Mini price war about to begin with EVs in the US with Tesla’s shot across the bow on price cuts,” said Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, on Twitter. This move has made at least one version of the Mach-E eligible for a $7,500…

City Transformer, an Israeli electric vehicle startup, is aiming to launch production of its compact CT-2 model in Western Europe by the end of 2024 and will soon launch a Series B funding round to raise $50 million, the company said on Monday. The CEO, Asaf Formoza, revealed that the company has selected a factory for initial annual production of 15,000 vehicles, but declined to disclose its location. The additional funds the startup is raising should help speed up series production, Formoza added. See also: Citroen Ami : small urban EV costs less than £8,000 The CT-2, with a range…

Contipark, a parking operator, and E.ON, an energy company, have signed a cooperation agreement to install over 4,000 charging points in Germany and Austria between 2023 and 2025. The project will include AC wall boxes with a capacity of up to 22 kW. The first charging point is expected to go into operation in February in Düsseldorf, where Contipark has six car parks. On average, 30 charging points will be installed per property, totaling 150 equipped Contipark facilities. E.ON Drive will provide full service for the charging points, while Contipark will provide high-traffic locations. The companies plan to offer joint…

Zenobē officially opened its new Innovation Centre in Portsmouth with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Rt Hon. Penny Mordaunt MP. The facility will serve as a hub for breaking down barriers to fleet electrification, allowing fleet operators to transition smoothly to EVs. The Centre, located in the Railway Triangle Industrial Estate, will test a range of EV charging solutions to determine the most cost-effective and optimal options for fleet operators. It will also spur innovation in the electric transport sector by simulating the complexities of depot charging, with the ability to charge multiple EVs and buses at once, connected to…