Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

Weev, a Belfast-based startup dedicated to improving the charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland, has recently received a significant funding boost. Octopus Investments, a part of the Octopus Energy Group, has committed to investing up to £50 million in Weev, aiming to address the shortage of charging facilities in Northern Ireland. Octopus emphasized the inadequate provision of charging infrastructure for electric vehicle (EV) drivers in Northern Ireland, stating that they were “disproportionately underserved.” According to the British Department for Transport, there are only 20 public charge points available per 100,000 people in the region, which is significantly lower than the UK…

Daimler Buses, a prominent German bus manufacturer, has announced its plans to produce the eCitaro electric bus in France starting from the first quarter of 2024. To facilitate this expansion, the company intends to invest approximately 50 million euros in the Ligny-en-Barrois location by 2030. In preparation for the production of both electric and diesel buses, Daimler has procured three hectares of land to expand its existing plant. Although an official announcement regarding electric bus production in France is still pending, reports from various media sources confirm the development. The conversion and modernization of the new site are expected to…

In an exciting development, Tesla is preparing to launch sales of its Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) variant in South Korea. The Ministry of Environment has granted Tesla Korea, the local unit of the Texas-based automaker, an environmental certificate for the Model Y RWD manufactured at Giga Shanghai in China. This certification is a mandatory requirement for automakers to sell their vehicles in Korea. The certified Model Y RWD for the Korean market will be equipped with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which will be supplied by China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL). It is worth noting that Tesla’s Model…

The recent announcement made by Governor Samuel Garcia of New Nuevo León, Mexico, regarding a potential billion-dollar investment from Kia to expand its plant in the region and collaborate with Hyundai in producing two electric vehicles (EVs) has attracted considerable attention. This strategic move is aimed at ensuring that both automakers’ EV models meet the criteria for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credit. The Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Kia and Genesis, achieved the significant milestone of becoming the third-largest global automaker last year and intends to sustain its momentum in the emerging era of electric vehicles. Hyundai and…

Sony Pictures Entertainment’s (SPE) RIDEVU is set to make its debut in VinFast electric vehicles (EVs) this summer, introducing a unique in-car platform tailored for seamless integration into vehicle infotainment systems. Under the agreement between SPE and VinFast, new vehicle buyers will have the opportunity to access a wide selection of Sony Pictures’ feature films and series. RIDEVU will be seamlessly integrated into VinFast vehicles and will receive over-the-air updates to ensure continuous improvement and delivery of new features. VinFast customers will have the option to include RIDEVU as part of their VinFast Online Premium package, enhancing their overall driving…

Nissan is bidding farewell to its pioneering small EV that kickstarted its electric car journey. While the LEAF electric car is being phased out, Nissan has plans to introduce its successor in 2026. Once upon a time, the Nissan LEAF held the title of being a top-selling electric vehicle. When the electric compact car was launched in 2010, it quickly gained popularity as the first mass-market EV in the US, beating the Tesla Model S by 18 months. With its comfortable interior, decent range, and attractive price, the LEAF became a favorite among consumers. However, over the past decade, almost…

Quantron, the Augsburg-based manufacturer, has announced the release of a new fuel cell truck for the US market. Designed for heavy-duty and long-haul applications, the Quantron Class 8 US Truck has a range of up to 850 miles (1,360 kilometres) and was unveiled at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Anaheim, California. The truck is a conversion to a fuel cell drive based on an existing chassis, as is customary for Quantron. See also: Quantron AG and Norwegian Hydrogen Collaborate to Introduce Hydrogen-Powered Heavy-Duty Trucks in Scandinavia While technical details of the fuel cell, buffer battery and electric motor were…

Hyundai is generating a lot of buzz in the automotive industry with its upcoming release of the performance-focused Ioniq 5 N. The automaker has launched a teaser campaign ahead of the car’s debut at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed in July, building anticipation among fans and industry experts alike. One of the most interesting aspects of the Ioniq 5 N is the fake engine noise that Hyundai has developed for the electric vehicle. Unlike other performance EVs, the virtual engine noise is not a direct copy of a combustion engine, but instead has a unique tone that grows higher during…

ENRX, a Norwegian company founded earlier this year, is planning to build a one-mile section of a four-lane highway in Florida that will inductively charge electric vehicles with 200 kW while they drive. The company has partnered with the Central Florida Expressway Authority and the Aspire Engineering Research Center for this initiative. The process works by fitting electric vehicle batteries with a special receiver pad, which charges the batteries as they drive over coils embedded in the road. The energy is then transferred from the coils to the receiver pad mounted on the vehicle floor. The Next Generation Electric Roadway…

Opel and ADAC have extended their partnership in electric rallying for another year until 2024, ahead of schedule. The two companies will enter the third season of the electric racing series, which will take place across Europe, starting with the ‘ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup powered by GSe’. The ‘ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup powered by GSe’ will feature a total of eight events in four countries, including Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland. The vehicles in the competition feature 100 kW/136 hp output based on the battery-electric Opel Corsa Rally Electric. The technical specifications have not changed much since the…

Bosch, the world’s largest automotive supplier, has announced that it is reorganizing its supplier business to keep up with the trend towards software-based vehicle development. The company’s Mobility Solutions division will be renamed “Bosch Mobility” and will be managed as a separate business sector with its own business responsibility and management team. The move is aimed at serving existing and new customer needs even better and faster with customized solutions from a single source, according to Bosch. The company aims to achieve sales of over 80 billion euros worldwide with its mobility solutions alone by 2029. This comes as software…

Stellantis, the global automotive company, has entered into a binding agreement with Alliance Nickel (formerly GME Resources) to secure a significant supply of nickel and cobalt for the production of its battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The deal will see the company receive 170,000 tonnes of nickel sulphate and 12,000 tonnes of cobalt sulphate over an initial period of five years from the NiWest nickel-cobalt project in Western Australia. This agreement will provide Stellantis with around 40% of the projected annual production from the NiWest project, which is expected to begin work later this year, although a commissioning date has not…