Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM) has developed a real-time impedance spectroscopy method for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, enabling dynamic monitoring of battery health during operation to improve safety and extend service life. The new system, led by researcher Fabio La Mantia, measures a battery’s impedance — a key indicator of state of charge, state of health and internal safety — without the need for the vehicle to be at rest. Conventional impedance testing can take up to 20 minutes and requires the battery to be idle, but the Fraunhofer method allows instant readings while…

Li Auto has moved to clarify the purpose of a high-speed crash test video shown during the July 29 launch of its i8 SUV, after the footage sparked criticism from commercial truck manufacturer Chenglong. In an August 3 post on Weibo, Li Auto said the test, conducted by a state-owned independent institute, was aimed at evaluating the SUV’s passive safety performance rather than the safety of the truck. The video depicted a frontal collision between the i8 and a heavy-duty Chenglong truck, with the SUV sustaining minimal deformation and the truck’s cab suffering significant damage. Chenglong, a subsidiary of Dongfeng…

Aptiv PLC raised its full-year earnings forecast on Thursday, supported by steady demand for its advanced driver-assistance systems and infotainment technologies. The company reported stronger-than-anticipated vehicle production in the first half of the year, helping to offset headwinds from U.S. trade tariffs and elevated input costs. The Dublin-based automotive supplier now projects adjusted earnings per share (EPS) between $7.30 and $7.60 for 2025, surpassing analyst expectations of $7.23, according to LSEG data. The improved outlook lifted Aptiv’s U.S.-listed shares by 1.5% in early trading. In the second quarter, Aptiv posted adjusted EPS of $2.12, exceeding the $1.84 estimate. Revenue rose…

Ford Motor said on Wednesday that U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles and raw materials such as steel and aluminum are set to cost the company more than previously projected, prompting a downward revision to its full-year earnings outlook. The company now expects tariffs to reduce annual gross revenues by as much as $3 billion, up from the earlier projection of $2.5 billion. The announcement sent shares of Ford down about 3% in after-hours trading. The automaker reported that tariffs reduced second-quarter results by $800 million, although its strong U.S. manufacturing footprint helped limit the blow compared to some of its…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), China’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, posted a 34% increase in second-quarter net profit, showing resilience despite intensifying competition and margin pressures in the domestic market. The company reported a net profit of 16.5 billion yuan ($2.30 billion) for the quarter, compared with a 32.9% rise in the previous quarter. Revenue for the same period grew 8.3% year-on-year to 94.2 billion yuan, improving from a 6.2% increase in the first quarter. For the first half of 2025, CATL recorded a 33% profit gain and a 7.3% rise in revenue. See also: CATL Unit…

U.S. electric vehicle maker Lucid Motors has signed a multi-year deal with actor Timothée Chalamet, naming him its first Global Brand Ambassador as the company seeks to reposition itself as a luxury lifestyle brand and reach a wider, younger audience. Chalamet, known for roles in Call Me by Your Name, Dune, and Wonka, has previously been spotted driving a Lucid Air as early as 2023. He will now lead Lucid’s upcoming fall advertising campaign for the Gravity SUV, its first electric SUV set to launch later this year. https://twitter.com/LucidMotors/status/1950217436076118510 “Timothée brings the same bold creativity and authenticity that drives our…

U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian plans to open a new office in London focused on artificial intelligence and autonomous driving technology, the company said, as part of efforts to support ongoing development of its driver assistance systems. The London-based team will complement Rivian’s existing operations in Palo Alto, California. “We’re incredibly excited about opening our AI hub in London and attracting leading talent,” said James Philbin, Vice President, Autonomy & AI at Rivian. “Our connected vehicles improve over time through over-the-air updates – and the work the team will do in the UK will accelerate our plans and ensure our…

BMW i Ventures, the venture capital arm of BMW Group, has co-led a funding round in Estes Energy Solutions, a U.S.-based company developing advanced battery systems for zero-emission power applications. The investment is aimed at accelerating the deployment of Estes’ next-generation battery technologies across commercial sectors including defense, aviation, marine, rail, and heavy machinery. The capital will support the build-out of a pilot manufacturing line and help Estes meet growing demand for electrification beyond the automotive space. The company said it plans to deploy systems to early customers beginning in the fourth quarter of 2025. Estes’ technology is designed to…

Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) on Thursday posted a 16% decline in second-quarter operating profit, as newly imposed U.S. tariffs on vehicles and parts weighed on its bottom line. The South Korean automaker warned of a more pronounced impact in the third quarter, citing uncertainty surrounding ongoing trade discussions between Seoul and Washington. The company reported an operating profit of 3.6 trillion won ($2.64 billion) for the April-to-June period, compared to 4.28 trillion won a year earlier. The result was in line with a 3.5 trillion won SmartEstimate compiled by LSEG from 22 analysts. Revenue rose 7% year-on-year to 48.3 trillion…

Bulgarian EV charging software provider Ampeco has signed strategic deals with Italy’s Latitude and North America’s EVerged to support the rollout and management of charging infrastructure under both companies’ growing e-mobility operations. In Italy, Ampeco will provide its platform to Latitude’s new brand Eleven, which aims to deploy 10,000 charging points across the country over the next five years. Latitude, leveraging more than a decade of renewable energy experience, plans to initially operate Eleven as an e-mobility service provider (eMSP) with roaming capabilities and later transition into a charge point operator (CPO), targeting enterprise workplace and destination charging. “We already…

Australian logistics company Centurion has announced that its off-grid electric truck fleet is now fully operational, following the deployment of an additional 10 Mercedes-Benz eActros vehicles. The 30-strong fleet relies entirely on solar-powered charging hubs with integrated battery storage and renewable fuel backup, eliminating the need for grid electricity. The fleet now comprises 25 eActros 300s and five eActros prime movers. These are supported by two dedicated charging hubs located at Centurion’s Perth Airport depot. Combined, the hubs feature 15 dual-port slow and fast chargers powered by 4.4 megawatts of rooftop solar and 10.3 megawatt-hours of battery storage. Both sites…

Tesla is preparing to roll out a major update to its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, integrating features from its internal robotaxi program in Austin. The development marks a rare public update from CEO Elon Musk, who stated the change would deliver a significant improvement to the system. The upcoming upgrade suggests Tesla is aligning its consumer FSD software with the more advanced platform used in its internal fleet. The move comes after several months of limited changes to FSD, with recent updates mostly focused on incremental refinements to version 13. While Musk did not provide specific details or a timeline,…