Author: Brandon Mitchell

Frequent use of high-power fast charging can accelerate electric vehicle battery degradation, but the overall effect remains modest and generally within manufacturer warranty limits, according to a new study by Geotab. The Canada-based telematics and fleet management company analysed battery health data from more than 22,700 electric vehicles across 21 brands, using several years of aggregated real-world usage information. The study found that average annual battery degradation rose to about 2.3%, up from 1.8% recorded in 2023, a change Geotab attributes in part to the increasing use of high-power DC fast chargers. See also: Design Plays Key Role in Attracting…

PlusAI has formed a strategic partnership with Tokyo-based T2 Inc. to deploy Level 4 autonomous trucks in Japan, as the country looks to address chronic driver shortages and rising freight volumes. The collaboration brings together T2’s local logistics expertise and system design capabilities with PlusAI’s experience deploying autonomous trucking solutions with global manufacturers. PlusAI said the partnership is supported by a strategic investment from Mitsui & Co., underscoring growing interest from Japanese industry in next-generation freight mobility. See also: IVECO and PlusAI Plan Level 4 Autonomous Truck Trials in Southern Europe “Backed by Mitsui, this partnership is about bringing the…

Dutch truck maker DAF has expanded its electric truck portfolio by introducing battery-electric versions of its top-tier XG and XG+ long-haul models, extending electrification beyond the XF and applying the same modular electric architecture across its premium range. The XG and XG+ Electric use the same drivetrain technology as the XF Electric and differ primarily in cab design and size. Both models are positioned for national and international long-distance transport, offering a range of more than 500 kilometres, DAF said. DAF first unveiled its new generation of long-haul trucks in 2021, introducing the XF, XG and XG+ as a family…

Daimler Truck is restructuring the distribution of its Fuso brand in Europe, appointing the Emil Frey Group as the general distribution partner for Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) in 21 European countries, including Germany, France and Poland. Under the new arrangement, Emil Frey will take over sales, aftersales and service operations for Fuso trucks in the selected markets. The move forms part of the broader integration of the Fuso and Hino brands under a new holding company, Archion, which is scheduled to begin operations on April 1, 2026. See also: Transportes Ocón Deploys 15 Fuso eCanter Electric Trucks…

Volvo Cars is temporarily suspending operations at Novo Energy after failing to secure a new technology partner for the battery cell venture, dealing a setback to the Swedish automaker’s plans to localise battery production in Europe. Novo Energy was originally established as a joint venture between Volvo Cars and battery maker Northvolt to build a large-scale cell factory in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction of the site began in September 2023, with production initially planned to start this year and capacity targeted at up to 50 gigawatt-hours annually. Following Northvolt’s insolvency, Volvo took full ownership of the venture. See also: Novo Energy…

IVECO said it has agreed to work with long-time partner PlusAI to deploy heavy-duty trucks equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving systems in Southern Europe, marking a planned first for the region. Under the programme, IVECO, a brand of Iveco Group, and U.S.-based autonomous driving software company PlusAI will develop two IVECO S-Way heavy-duty trucks fitted with PlusAI’s SuperDrive virtual driver system. The vehicles are expected to begin multi-year testing in 2026, with a safety operator present in the cab throughout the trial period. See also: PlusAI Reports Progress Toward 2027 Autonomous Truck Launch With Updated Readiness Metrics The autonomous…

Motional, the autonomous vehicle company backed by Hyundai Motor Group, has reset its robotaxi strategy with an AI-first approach to self-driving technology and said it aims to launch a commercial driverless service in Las Vegas by the end of 2026. The move follows a period of retrenchment for the company, which was formed as a $4 billion joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv. Motional had previously missed a target to launch a fully driverless robotaxi service with Lyft, while Aptiv later exited as a financial backer. Hyundai subsequently injected an additional $1 billion to support operations, even as…

Solid-state batteries could move closer to commercial use after researchers at Switzerland’s Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) presented a new production method designed to address key technical barriers that have so far limited large-scale adoption. Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte used in conventional lithium-ion batteries with a solid, ion-conducting material. The technology is widely viewed as a potential breakthrough for electric vehicles because it promises improved safety by eliminating flammable liquids, while enabling higher energy density through the use of thin lithium-metal anodes. Higher energy density could translate into longer driving ranges or lighter battery packs. See also: Finland’s Donut…

PlusAI said it has made further progress toward its planned 2027 commercial launch of autonomous trucks, releasing updated readiness metrics that indicate improvements in safety validation, autonomous operation and reliance on remote assistance. The Silicon Valley-based autonomous trucking company reported that Safety Case Readiness for its SuperDrive platform reached 90.1%, up from 86.1% in the first half of 2025. The metric reflects progress toward the company’s target of full safety validation required for commercial deployment. See also: PlusAI Wins Inc. 2025 Innovation Award as Autonomous Truck Launch Nears PlusAI also said its Autonomous Miles Percentage rose to 99.2%, indicating the…

QNX and Vector Informatik have launched Alloy Kore, a foundational software platform aimed at simplifying the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), as automakers face rising complexity in integrating safety-critical and cybersecurity-certified systems. The jointly developed platform combines QNX’s safety-certified real-time operating system and virtualization technologies with Vector’s automotive middleware, providing a modular base layer intended to reduce integration effort for vehicle manufacturers. An Early Access version is now available, with a fully certified production release targeted for late 2026, the companies said. See also: Xpeng to Begin Public Road Tests of Robotaxis Using VLA 2.0 Software Mercedes-Benz is among the…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said it will introduce a larger usable battery and additional upgrades for its electric Transporter and Caravelle vans, aligning the models with recent changes announced by partner Ford Motor for the E-Transit Custom. The German unit said the electric Transporter and Caravelle will now feature a net usable battery capacity of 70 kilowatt-hours, up from 64 kWh previously, lifting the WLTP driving range to as much as 380 kilometres, an increase of about 13%. The vehicles are produced as part of a long-standing cooperation with Ford Motor at a plant in Turkey, where the E-Transit Custom and…

Waymo has renamed its Zeekr-built robotaxi ahead of its entry into commercial service, rebranding the vehicle as Ojai, TechCrunch reported, as the Alphabet-owned company moves toward broader deployment of its autonomous ride-hailing fleet. The vehicle, previously known as the Zeekr RT, was developed in partnership with Zeekr, a Chinese electric vehicle brand owned by Geely Holding Group. Waymo said the new name was chosen because the company determined that “the U.S. public isn’t familiar with the Zeekr brand,” according to spokesperson Chris Bonelli. The name Ojai is drawn from the town of Ojai in California’s Topatopa Mountains above Los Angeles.…