Author: Casper Benedict

The Tesla Cybertruck has been a subject of intense debate and speculation ever since its initial concept was unveiled back in 2019. Throughout the past year, numerous evolved prototypes have been captured on camera, further fueling the discussions. In the recent Tesla Shareholders’ meeting, held just yesterday, Elon Musk himself confirmed that the long-awaited deliveries of the Cybertruck will finally kick off later this year, much to the surprise and excitement of everyone present. To make things even more intriguing, a nearly production-ready model made a spontaneous appearance during the meeting, leaving attendees in awe. When addressing the challenges surrounding…

The Formula E season is heating up, and the latest race in Monaco showcased some exciting developments for two of the sport’s top teams. The Jaguar-powered teams have been on an upward trend this season, and that trend continued in Monaco with Nick Cassidy winning the E-Prix in the customer Jaguar of the Envision team ahead of Mitch Evans. This marks Cassidy’s second win in a row, and he has now taken over the championship lead from Pascal Wehrlein of Porsche. The Monaco race also marked the start of the second half of the season, and the entire Formula 1…

Paccar, a US-based truck manufacturer, and Toyota, a Japanese automotive giant, have announced an extension of their collaboration to introduce hydrogen-fuelled Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. Equipped with Toyota’s next-generation hydrogen fuel cell modules, these trucks will join the existing battery-electric offshoots of the Kenworth T680 and Peterbilt 579 trucks, both Paccar brands. The first hydrogen trucks are expected to reach customers by 2024 and 2025, with the Kenworth T680 truck already available for pre-order in the United States and Canada. See also: Nissan is now using electric trucks from Nikola and Kenworth to deliver new vehicles The Kenworth T680 truck…

Volkswagen has announced that it is accelerating its transition to electric vehicles (EVs) by expanding its ID family of electric cars and introducing three new electric SUVs to its lineup. Along with these new models, the existing ones will also receive updated and more powerful powertrains, as well as a facelift with updated interiors from next year. See also: 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 come new range, faster charging and new interior The first of the three new models will be an electric version of the VW Tiguan. While it will be based mainly on the VW ID.4, it will look different…

Nio, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, has partnered with Dutch company NXP Semiconductors to incorporate their latest 4D imaging radar technology into its vehicles. This cutting-edge radar technology significantly enhances the performance of current tech and adds advanced functionalities, allowing Nio’s vehicles to detect and classify other vehicles and vulnerable road users up to 300 meters ahead, even in limited visibility conditions. Thanks to its fine resolution point-cloud, the 16 nm radar processor can distinguish between objects such as a bicycle riding close to a large truck or a child standing behind a parked car, and do so in…

Wolfspeed, a subsidiary of Cree, and ZF, a leading technology company for mobility, are planning to establish a joint research and development centre in the Nuremberg metropolitan region for silicon carbide power electronics. The new development site aims to complement the planned silicon carbide chip factory in Ensdorf, Saarland, which is also supported by the German and Bavarian state governments. However, the funding for the R&D centre and the chip factory is still subject to approval under the EU’s Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) programme and the prior approval of antitrust authorities. If the approvals are received, work…

BMW and E.ON, two of Europe’s leading companies in the automotive and energy sectors, have announced a partnership to launch a new smart charging service for electric vehicles (EVs). The “Connected Home Charging” service will launch in several European countries in the second half of this year, with a focus on smart charging at home. According to the partners, this is the first cross-industry project of its kind in Europe, with a common interface that will connect electric vehicles, smart homes, and the energy sector. BMW will provide the vehicles and wall boxes, while E.ON will be responsible for ensuring…

Wrightbus, a Northern Irish manufacturer of electric buses, has secured a new order to deliver 48 zero-emission double-decker buses for Stagecoach in London. The all-electric buses are expected to be delivered before the end of the year and will support Stagecoach’s strategy to have a zero-emission bus fleet in all their operations by 2035. This is not the only order for Wrightbus, as earlier this month, bus operator Arriva ordered 50 BEV double-deckers to join their London fleet. Wrightbus also has a £25.3 million contract to supply 117 battery-electric vehicles for First Bus across the UK. See also: Stagecoach Continues…

Fiske announced the momentous delivery of their cutting-edge all-electric SUV, the Fisker Ocean, to its very first customer. The lucky owner had the honor of receiving the keys from none other than Henrik Fisker himself, the Chairman and CEO of the company, at the newly unveiled Fisker Center+ facility in Copenhagen, Denmark. The vehicle presented was a limited Ocean One launch edition model, boasting a sleek Great White exterior paintjob, complemented by striking 22″ AirGlider Black alloy wheels. The interior featured a pristine white Sea Salt theme, complete with luxurious white AlcantaraTM seats. Expressing his sheer enthusiasm, Chairman and CEO…

Honda and GS Yuasa are set to collaborate on a joint battery factory in Japan, with production expected to begin in 2027. The two companies have had a joint venture in place for 14 years called Blue Energy, which has produced batteries primarily for Honda hybrid models and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Earlier this year, Honda and GS Yuasa signed an agreement to develop batteries, production methods and establish a supply chain for raw materials. The plan for a battery cell factory is a direct result of this agreement, with Blue Energy investing around 431 billion yen ($3.2 billion) to…

Vitesco Technologies, a leading supplier of electrification solutions for vehicles, has unveiled a new option for the fourth generation of its EMR4 electric axle drive platform. The platform now includes a new rotor that uses electromagnets rather than permanent magnets. This innovative rotor design makes the EMR4 an externally excited synchronous machine (EESM) that eliminates the need for rare earth materials and reduces costs. The EMR4, which was introduced in July 2021, can be designed as a permanently excited synchronous machine (PSM) and cover the power spectrum from 80 to 230 kW, depending on customer requirements. The latest variant showcased…

Daimler Truck has recently unveiled a new brand of medium-duty electric trucks in the United States, called Rizon. The new trucks will come in two models: L-model and M-model, both with different battery packs and ranges. The L-model will have three 124 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs, offering a range of 110 to 160 miles (177 to 257 km). On the other hand, the smaller M-model features two 83 kWh battery packs and can go 75 to 110 miles (121 to 177 km) on a single charge. Daimler Truck opted for LFP battery technology, as it has double…

Mercedes-Benz has recently revealed the latest addition to its fleet of vehicles, the new E-Class. However, what is noteworthy is that it will be the last new model from the manufacturer that runs on pure combustion engine platform. Starting from the autumn of 2023, Mercedes-Benz will offer three fourth-generation plug-in hybrid models. This is part of the company’s long-term strategy to shift its focus towards electric vehicles. The new E-Class will come in two versions, the E 300 e and E 300 e 4MATIC, both equipped with an electric drive output of 95 kW and a 25.4 kWh battery. Depending…

Rivian intends to allocate a sum of $10 million towards establishing a remanufacturing facility in Kentucky, as part of its efforts to increase the production of its fully electric vehicles. Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky disclosed that Rivian plans to invest $10 million in upgrading its existing plant. Currently, the facility primarily serves as a storage space for replacement parts. However, the company will now transform it into a complete remanufacturing operation to provide support for warranty, repair, and service of its electric trucks and SUVs. This investment of $10 million will facilitate the expansion of the site’s capabilities and…

Great Wall Motor’s Ora EV brand has unveiled its second model for the UK market, following the successful launch of the Funky Cat compact hatchback. The latest addition to the lineup is a premium sedan that is already available in China under the name Ora Lightning Cat. The UK version of the sedan was recently introduced in the form of a pre-production show vehicle at the Fully Charged Live event in Farnborough, UK. Once it hits the UK market in the first quarter of 2024, this electric sedan will compete against rivals such as the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq…

Tesla has reduced the price of the seven-seat, third-row feature for its popular Model Y SUV to $3,000, down from the previous $4,000. This adjustment comes as Tesla faces a high inventory level and follows a series of recent price changes. The standard Model Y comes with five seats, but customers have the option to upgrade to a seven-seat configuration. While the two additional seats in the third row may not be very spacious, they can accommodate families who frequently transport multiple children. Unlike the rear-facing seats in the trunk of the original Model S, the Model Y’s third-row seats…

Northvolt subsidiary Cuberg is making significant strides in the development of lithium metal batteries, particularly for aviation. Having previously published validated performance data in July 2022, Cuberg has now produced a 20 Ah lithium metal pouch cell in a commercial format with energy of 405 Wh/kg. Northvolt has also confirmed that Cuberg is embarking on developing a fully integrated high-performance battery system for aviation. The aviation industry is searching for cleaner energy solutions and battery propulsion, but manufacturers have been limited by the weight and immaturity of aviation-certifiable lithium-ion battery systems. Cuberg’s new program will offer a certified battery system…

Onsemi, a semiconductor manufacturer based in the United States, has secured a long-term supply contract with Zeekr, an electric car manufacturer owned by Geely, to provide their EliteSiC silicon carbide power module. The SiC semiconductors will be utilized by Zeekr to increase the efficiency of its electric cars’ powertrain, improving performance, faster charging speeds, and longer range. The EliteSiC MOSFET, 1200 V, M3E is expected to make the inverters smaller and the corresponding cooling systems, reducing the energy requirements of the vehicles further. The supply agreement will enable the two companies to “build a stronger supply chain relationship to support…

The automotive industry has seen a shift in how automakers are connecting with enthusiasts for the launch of new vehicles. Increasingly, the Goodwood Festival of Speed (FoS) is becoming a preferred choice over traditional auto shows. Following suit, Hyundai has announced that its first-ever showroom-bound electric performance car, the Ioniq 5 N, will make its global debut at this year’s FoS, taking place in the south of England from July 13 to July 16. Hyundai has previously released teaser images and videos of the N EV but hasn’t provided a full technical breakdown. However, we do know that it shares…

Gogoro, the micro-mobility company based in Taiwan, has joined forces with Enel X, an Italian energy company, to create a virtual power plant (VPP) that combines thousands of battery swapping stations. The VPP is already up and running with 1,300 of Gogoro’s “GoStations” included in the network, and another 1,200 scheduled for deployment soon. By mid-2023, the VPP is expected to include all 2,500 stations in Taiwan, and the stored batteries will help balance the grid by either adding or receiving excess energy. According to Horace Luke, CEO of Gogoro, “time-shifting energy was key to enabling the sustainable transformation of…