Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

Tesla’s plans to build a Megapack factory in China have drawn criticism from a US congressional committee. Mike Gallagher, the Republican chair of the House of Representatives Select Committee on China’s Communist Party, has expressed concern about the electric vehicle (EV) company’s apparent reliance on both the US government’s tax breaks and the Chinese market. The announcement that Tesla will build a Megapack factory in Shanghai’s Lingang area is a clear indication of the growing demand for the company’s energy products and a bullish indication of its growth. However, politicians have questioned the company’s friendly relationship with China amid growing…

Tesla’s Model Y has taken the top spot in China’s SUV ranking, with 54,937 retail units sold in March, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The SUV saw a 38.28% increase in sales from a year earlier and a 115.22% rise from February. The BYD Song came in second with 40,114 units sold, followed by the BYD Yuan Plus with 27,907 units. The Model Y’s success in China can be attributed to Tesla’s practice of producing cars for export in the first half of each quarter and for the local market in the second half, which…

Aidea’s AA Cargo series has been making waves in the delivery industry in Japan, providing reliable transportation for multi-national corporations such as DHL, Japan McDonald’s, and CoCo Ichibanya. Despite the small size of the AA Cargo α4 model, it has been instrumental in keeping these businesses running smoothly. However, Aidea has bigger plans for their electric three-wheeler, as it enters the consumer market after attaining type approval from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. The AA Cargo α4 is designed for city dwellers in Japan’s major metropolitan areas, and features a 48-volt lithium-ion battery that powers a DC…

Polestar has announced the opening of a new retail location in Costa Mesa, California, known as Polestar South Coast. This latest addition to Polestar’s network of retail locations aims to expand the brand’s footprint in Southern California, and give Orange County residents a hands-on experience with Polestar’s electric performance cars and SUVs. Garth Blumenthal, Principal of Polestar South Coast, expressed excitement at bringing Polestar’s mission to Orange County: “Polestar’s mission to use design and technology to accelerate the change to sustainable, electric mobility will resonate with our customers.” This sentiment aligns with Polestar’s larger goal of creating a sustainable future…

The UK’s construction industry has taken a significant step towards a more sustainable future with the successful completion of a three-month trial of the country’s first electric concrete mixer. The electric ready-mix concrete mixer was used for commercial deliveries across Birmingham for Tarmac, a UK-based sustainable construction materials firm. The e-mixer operated out of its rail-fed Birmingham Plant at Washwood Heath, and it is part of the company’s strategy to offer decarbonized last-mile transport for construction projects. Renault Trucks and vehicle component maker TVS Interfleet partnered with Tarmac to create the e-mixer, which won the BAA Award for Safety and…

Tesla has announced a voluntary recall of 422 Model 3 units built between 2018 and 2019 due to potential issues with the front suspension lateral link fastener that may loosen. The recall represents roughly 1 percent of the total population of vehicles. The recall was initiated by Tesla on March 31 and will only affect older Model 3 vehicles built between four and five years ago. The decision to recall the vehicles was made after a series of complaints from owners from January 2022 through March 16, 2023. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated the claims and found…

At the recent China EV 100 Forum, CALB (China Aviation Lithium Battery Co., Ltd) revealed a groundbreaking new battery technology that could significantly enhance both energy density and production capacity. While currently ranked among the top 10 battery manufacturers in the world, CALB hopes that their new battery technology will help them move up the ranks and compete with the industry’s biggest players. CALB’s new battery technology boasts a unique U-shaped design that incorporates both structural and chemical innovations. These advances promise to reduce the current resistance of components by 50%, thereby allowing for improved energy density of up to…

The used electric vehicle market is finally picking up momentum as new EV sales in the US approach 7% of the total auto market, according to new data from Cox Automotive. In the first quarter of this year, used EV sales increased by 32%, with even more growth projected in the near future. Previously, used EV sales had been sluggish, but the availability of more used models due to the surge in new electric vehicle sales has led to an increase in the used market. Cox Automotive predicts that new EV sales will exceed 225,000 units in Q1, more than…

Ford is set to launch the 2024 Puma EV subcompact crossover next year, and it is likely to share the all-electric powertrain with the 2023 E-Transit Courier battery-electric van, recently unveiled by Ford Pro. The automaker has used an electrified version of the combustion-engined Puma’s front-wheel-drive B2E architecture for its smallest commercial electric vehicle. Therefore, it is logical for the Puma EV to use the same powertrain as the E-Transit Courier, particularly as both models will be manufactured from 2024 at the same plant in Craiova, Romania. The automaker has engineered the electric powertrain together for Puma and Courier at…

Ford has announced its newest addition to its commercial electric vehicle lineup with the unveiling of the 2023 E-Transit Courier. This compact van is Ford’s smallest electric commercial vehicle, set to hit European markets in 2024. The Courier’s design is bigger than its internal combustion-engined predecessor in every way, including a more expansive load capacity. The Courier can now fit two Euro pallets for the first time, with a width between the rear arches measuring 48 inches (1,220 millimeters). The all-new 2023 E-Transit Courier boasts a total cargo volume of 102.4 cubic feet (2.9 cubic meters), marking a 25 percent…

British electric drive specialist, Saietta, has announced that it will be supplying 3,000 of its electric drive systems to Ayro, a US manufacturer of low-speed electric vehicles. The powertrains will be used in Ayro’s new Vanish model, which is expected to go into production later this year. According to Saietta, the modular design of its electric drive system will allow for customised solutions to be delivered quickly and cost-effectively. Saietta’s electric drive system is designed to provide high torque, high power and high efficiency at low voltage and speed for urban applications. The company’s first commercial electric motor, the AFT140i,…

California, a state that has been at the forefront of battling vehicle emissions for over 60 years, is now turning its attention to big commercial trucks. Last year, the state decreed that all new cars must emit no tailpipe nasties by 2035. And now, the Biden administration is helping California pull the trigger on tough regulations for big trucks and other heavyweight industrial vehicles. On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it was granting California the authority to come down hard on these vehicles. Under the new plan, just over half of all new delivery vans and small…