Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

Greenlane, a joint venture between Daimler Truck, NextEra Energy Resources and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), has launched its first electric truck charging site in Colton, California, and signed its first fleet customer, Nevoya, as it begins expanding its network along major freight corridors. The charging hub, located at the intersection of Interstates 215 and 10, features 41 charging points, including 12 high-power, liquid-cooled dual-port CCS towers delivering up to 400 kW, and 29 charging stations with 180 kW output. The site supports pull-through and bobtail access for trucks and offers amenities such as 24/7 security, a lounge with food and…

Self-driving truck startup Kodiak Robotics said on Monday it will go public via a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Ares Acquisition Corporation II, in a deal that values the company at approximately $2.5 billion before new funding. The transaction includes more than $110 million in committed financing from new and existing institutional investors, including Soros Fund Management, ARK Investment Management, and Ares Management. The merger is also backed by $551 million in cash held in trust by the SPAC, subject to redemptions. The companies expect the deal to close in the second half of 2025. See also: Kodiak…

Carmaker Stellantis said it remains committed to its Maserati brand despite a sharp drop in production and mounting financial losses, as the automotive industry faces new challenges from U.S. tariffs and global market uncertainty. Stellantis has brought in consulting firm McKinsey to assess the potential impact of recently announced U.S. tariffs on Maserati and Alfa Romeo, as the two premium brands work to develop future plans. The move follows speculation over Maserati’s future after production fell by more than half in 2024 to 11,300 vehicles and the brand reported an operating loss of €260 million ($295.83 million). See also: Maserati…

SK IE Technology (SKIET), a South Korean specialist in battery materials, has secured an order to supply separator films for 300,000 electric vehicles to LG Chem by 2025. The films, a critical component in lithium-ion batteries, will eventually be delivered to LG Energy Solution (LGES) facilities in North America. According to South Korean media reports, the first batch of separator films was shipped to LG Chem this month. LG Chem will handle the coating process before transferring the finished separators to LGES’s battery production sites. Positioned between the anode and cathode in battery cells, separator films play a key safety…

Nearly 300,000 electric vehicles were newly registered in the United States during the first quarter of 2025, marking a 10.6% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data released by Kelley Blue Book. Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 7.5% of all new car registrations, up from 7.0% in Q1 2024, underscoring a steady, though fragmented, expansion of the EV market. Tesla retained its lead with a 43.5% share of EV sales, delivering approximately 128,000 vehicles. However, this represents an 8.6% year-on-year decline, with Model Y deliveries falling 34% to 64,051 units, partially offset by a 70% increase in…

Japanese autonomous driving startup TIER IV has obtained Level 4 certification for its autonomous bus service in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, marking a key step in the rollout of driverless public transportation in Japan. The certification, issued under the Road Transport Vehicle Act, applies to the full route between Komatsu Station and Komatsu Airport, and a designated section of the return trip. The bus service, which began commercial operations in March 2024, was developed through a multi-party collaboration involving Komatsu City, BOLDLY, Aisan Technology, and insurer Sompo Japan. The service aims to improve local transportation links, particularly following the opening of…

Hesai Technology, a leading provider of lidar solutions, has entered into an exclusive partnership with Chery Automobile’s new energy brand, iCAR, to equip upcoming vehicles with its compact ATX Lidar. The agreement marks a key step in both firms’ efforts to advance intelligent driving technologies for the mass market. The ATX Lidar will be integrated into new iCAR models, with mass production expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. Designed to support advanced features such as active braking, adaptive cruise control, urban navigation, and smart parking, the sensor combines ultra-high-definition imaging with long-range detection capabilities in a compact…

Hyundai and Genesis electric vehicle (EV) owners in North America now have access to over 20,000 Tesla Superchargers, the automaker announced on Tuesday. The move extends fast-charging capabilities to models such as the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Kona Electric, and the original Ioniq Electric, as well as Genesis models GV60, Electrified GV70, and Electrified G80. Hyundai will provide eligible owners with a free North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter, allowing them to connect to Tesla’s fast-charging network. Customers who purchased or leased their EV on or before January 31, 2025, will receive an email starting April 7 with instructions on…

Toyota has announced a refreshed version of its bZ4X electric SUV for the 2026 model year, introducing several improvements in battery technology, performance, and interior features. The updated model, which will be available in both Europe and the United States, aims to enhance the vehicle’s competitiveness in a growing market dominated by the Tesla Model Y and other similarly sized electric SUVs. See also: Everything You Should Know About Toyota bZ3X Specifications One of the most notable updates is the introduction of a new 57.7 kWh battery pack, available exclusively in the base front-wheel-drive variant. This model is powered by…

Voyah, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand under Dongfeng Motor, said it has received more than 65,000 orders for its updated Dream MPV, reinforcing its position in China’s high-end multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment. “For every three premium MPVs sold in China, there is one Voyah Dream,” the company said in a Weibo post. See also: Voyah Expands Dream MPV Lineup with Huawei-Powered Smart Driving Variants The Dream MPV, which has an average selling price of more than RMB 390,000 ($53,810), was updated in September 2024 with eight variants—four plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) versions and four battery electric vehicle (BEV)…

Dongfeng Honda, the joint venture between Honda and Dongfeng Motor, will launch the new Honda S7 on March 6, offering an optional smart driving system developed by Huawei, local media outlet Yiche reported on Monday. The S7 SUV will come with two smart driving solutions: Honda’s Sensing 360+ and Huawei’s system, according to the report. The model will also feature a light field screen, co-developed by Honda and Huawei, which functions similarly to an augmented reality head-up display (AR-HUD) for enhanced driver visibility. See also: Dongfeng Honda Launches Lingxi L, Its First Electric Sedan Amidst Competitive Market Honda introduced its…

Thirteen charge point operators (CPOs) in France have established Charge France, an industry association aimed at accelerating the country’s ultra-fast charging network expansion. The coalition, which includes Ionity, Fastned, and Allego, plans to install 40,000 high-power charging (HPC) points by 2028, a fourfold increase from current levels. The newly formed association said its members have already invested over one billion euros in public charging infrastructure and have committed an additional three billion euros by 2028. The initiative aims to ensure widespread access to ultra-fast charging points for electric vehicle (EV) drivers across France. See also: Delta Electronics to Supply 800…

Cork-based smart charging firm Ohme has been named a trusted home EV charging partner for SSE Airtricity, a leading green energy supplier in Ireland, in a move aimed at making electric vehicle ownership more cost-effective for customers. The partnership will introduce Ohme’s intelligent home chargers to over 750,000 SSE Airtricity customers, integrating with the company’s energy tariffs, including the Smart EV Charge plan. The plan offers up to 8,000 km of free EV charging and a reduced rate of 7.29 cents per kWh. Ohme is also the first EV charger to be integrated into SSE Airtricity’s EnergiHub app, which helps…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng plans to roll out full-scenario Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving in the second half of 2025, marking a significant step in its smart driving technology strategy, Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng said in an internal letter on Monday. “I believe that L3 autonomous driving will drive AI cars into the ‘iPhone 4 era,'” He said, according to the letter obtained by CnEVPost. L3 autonomy allows vehicles to handle certain driving tasks without human intervention but requires drivers to take over when needed, raising regulatory and liability considerations. He said Xpeng’s smart driving software helped many…

Toyota remained the world’s top-selling automaker in 2024, delivering nearly 11 million vehicles despite a 3.7% decline from the previous year. However, with electric vehicle (EV) sales accounting for just 1% of its global volume, the Japanese automaker faces growing competition from EV-focused rivals like BYD and Hyundai. The company retained its crown for the fifth consecutive year, selling over 10.8 million vehicles, including its Daihatsu, Hino, and Lexus brands. While it stayed ahead of Volkswagen, which sold just over 9 million vehicles (a 2.3% decline from 2023), Toyota’s sales dropped for the first time in two years. Toyota and…

Spanish ferry operator Baleària has unveiled plans to operate the first fully electric ferry line connecting Tarifa, Spain, and Tangier, Morocco. Over the next two years, two electric catamarans will be built at the Armon shipyard in Gijón to serve the intercontinental route, marking a significant step toward zero-emission maritime transport in the region. The vessels, designed by Incat Crowther, will measure 87 meters in length and boast a capacity for 800 passengers and 225 cars. Equipped with four electric propulsion units delivering 16 MW of power, the ferries will feature 11,500 kWh battery systems, enabling them to complete the…

Tata Motors is optimistic about the future of India’s electric vehicle (EV) market as production costs decline due to cheaper battery technology, reducing the price gap with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The company, which leads the Indian EV segment, highlighted these advancements during the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, positioning itself for continued growth in a competitive landscape. The event underscored a surge in India’s EV momentum, with automakers showcasing new offerings. Tata Motors revealed near-production versions of its Sierra EV and Harrier EV, while Hyundai debuted the Creta EV, drawing significant attention. Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest…

GAC Group has announced plans to establish a dedicated subsidiary to collaborate with Huawei on the development of smart vehicles. The new company, code-named “GH,” will have a registered capital of RMB 1.5 billion yuan ($200 million), as confirmed by GAC’s board of directors on January 10. The subsidiary will focus on jointly defining and designing vehicles with Huawei, working across product development, marketing strategies, and ecological services. The partnership aims to introduce a new automotive brand based on cutting-edge technologies and a fresh vehicle architecture. The two companies will work together to launch a series of intelligent new energy…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into crashes reportedly linked to Tesla’s Actually Smart Summon feature. The probe, initiated on January 6, 2025, follows complaints and media reports suggesting the feature may fail to detect obstacles during operation. The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) cited one specific complaint involving a crash allegedly caused by Actually Smart Summon, along with at least three media reports of similar incidents. The feature is designed to allow Tesla vehicles to navigate parking lots autonomously but reportedly struggled to detect posts or parked cars in the cases under…

Hyundai has officially unveiled its highly anticipated electric vehicle, the Creta Electric SUV, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey toward a more sustainable future. Launched on Thursday, the Creta EV draws design inspiration and innovative features from Hyundai’s IONIQ lineup, featuring a sleek and modern aesthetic that sets it apart from traditional gas-powered models. With an impressive range of nearly 300 miles, this new electric SUV promises to redefine the electric vehicle landscape, especially in the Indian market. One of the standout features of the Creta EV is its local manufacturing, as Mr. Tarun Garg, CEO of Hyundai…