Author: Casper Benedict
Casper Benedict
Casper Benedict is a EV writer at EVMagz.com, reporting on electric vehicle launches, battery innovation, charging infrastructure, and clean mobility trends across global markets. Outside of work, he enjoys trail running, experimenting with home coffee roasting, and restoring vintage bicycles.
Hyundai Motor Company recently revealed details about the extreme winter testing of IONIQ 5 N, the first high-performance, mass-production all-electric N brand model at the Hyundai Mobis Proving ground in Arjeplog, Sweden. The location is adjacent to the Arctic Circle, offering automakers everything they need for comprehensive winter testing, such as low-grip coefficient icy surfaces and deep sub-zero temperatures as low as -30°C (-22°F). This allows Hyundai N engineers to test new models, such as the IONIQ 5 N, in the most extreme low friction conditions to achieve the optimal balance between the car’s responsive ‘fun-to-drive’ character and its ability…
Farasis Energy, a Chinese battery manufacturer, has developed a breakthrough solution for preventing thermal runaway in its latest battery cells. The company has optimized the design of its battery modules to contain thermal runaway to a single cell and prevent it from spreading to neighboring cells, and subsequently to the entire battery pack. The new design has been tested and confirmed by independent laboratories at the module and pack level. Farasis General Manager Europe, Stefan Bergold, had earlier confirmed the development of this solution that limits thermal runaway. He said, “this had been proven by Farasis – in simulations, demonstrations,…
Kia Motors has revealed more information about its upcoming electric flagship SUV, the EV9, following a design preview two weeks ago. The EV9, which is based on parent company Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), will be Kia’s first three-row electric SUV. The car comes with three powertrain configurations, featuring fourth-generation battery technology. Specifications The base model, EV9 RWD Standard, is powered by a 76.1-kilowatt-hour battery that drives an electric motor producing 160 kilowatts (215 horsepower) and 258 pound-feet (350 Newton-meters) of torque. According to preliminary data, the EV9 RWD Standard can go from 0-62 mph in 8.2…
Toyota is the only major manufacturer to offer a fuel cell electric car in the United States. The 2023 Toyota Mirai has received an update, bringing a host of tech upgrades, including the latest infotainment system and advanced driver assistance systems. The new model is now equipped with Advanced Drive and Advanced Park, both of which use LiDAR, cameras, and radar to provide a far-improved performance. Advanced Drive is a Level 3 autonomous driving system that can be engaged on limited-access highways and other scenarios. Meanwhile, Advanced Park can autonomously park the vehicle, including parallel and perpendicular parking, and backing…
Tesla has just announced the release of its Extended Service Agreement (ESA), which is now available for purchase through the Tesla app. However, there are some significant caveats that buyers need to be aware of before investing in the service agreement. To begin with, the ESA is only available for Tesla vehicles that are still covered by the basic warranty that comes with the purchase of the vehicle. While the basic warranty has varied in duration and mileage coverage over the years, it currently offers a four-year/50,000-mile warranty for most Tesla models. The ESA is available for Tesla’s 2012-2020 Model…
Moscow, the capital city of Russia, is taking another major step towards sustainable and eco-friendly transportation with the procurement of 1,000 electric buses from KAMAZ and plans to purchase another 200 electric buses from GAZ Group. This initiative is in line with the city’s goal to enhance its public transportation network and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to Maksim Liksutov, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport, the delivery of the 1,000 electric buses from KAMAZ and 200 electric buses from GAZ Group will be made over the next two years. This will effectively double the current number of electric…
VinFast, the Vietnamese automaker, has once again hit a rough patch in its international expansion efforts. One of their electric SUVs caught fire while on display in a showroom in Germany, causing significant damage to both the vehicle and the showroom itself. According to a report by the German publication Kölnische Rundschau, the fire broke out at a VinFast showroom in Cologne’s Rudolfplatz area on Monday afternoon, and local officials believe it started near the frunk of the vehicle and spread to the showroom. The report does not specify which model of VinFast’s vehicle was involved. VinFast had been looking…
Dutch public transport operator, Qbuzz, has just placed an order for 54 electric buses from Belgian manufacturer, Van Hool. This is the second e-bus order placed by Qbuzz in less than a week, cementing their commitment to sustainable public transportation. The new buses are scheduled to be delivered in Q4 2024 and will be deployed in the Dutch provinces of Groningen and Drenthe. The Qbuzz order includes Van Hool’s A15LE E model, part of the A-series of buses introduced in June 2022. The A15LE E is a 15-meter long zero-emission bus that is battery-powered, and equipped with two ZF Axtrax…
US battery separator manufacturer Entek is making a substantial investment in a new production facility in Terre Haute, Indiana, with plans to supply separators for up to 1.6 million electric cars annually. The company plans to invest $1.5 billion in the construction of the new factory, which is expected to begin operations between 2025 and 2027. The facility will be built on an area of about 1.4 square kilometres in Terre Haute, with the company planning to construct four buildings initially. “Indiana is one of the most manufacturing intensive states in the country. I am thrilled to welcome ENTEK to…
South Korea’s LG Energy Solution announced on Friday that it will be resuming a previously stalled U.S. battery project, investing $5.6 billion in Arizona to qualify for federal incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The decision comes after the company had reassessed a $1.3 billion investment plan due to challenging economic conditions. With the new investment, LG Energy Solution joins a growing list of suppliers and car makers expanding battery production capacity in the United States, encouraged by the IRA’s $369 billion of subsidies. The company supplies Tesla, Lucid, and other automakers. “The company’s decision to increase investment…comes from…
China’s GEM has teamed up with South Korean companies SK On and ECOPRO Materials to establish a new plant in South Korea. The joint venture will invest $932.56 million between 2023 and 2026 to build a factory with a capacity of at least 43,000 tonnes of nickel-based battery material each year, according to GEM. The new plant aims to meet the sourcing requirements of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in August 2022. The law requires automakers to source 50% of the critical minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries from North America or U.S. allies by 2024,…
A recent study conducted by JD Power has revealed that EV owners are becoming increasingly frustrated with their home charging experience. The study cites higher electricity rates and charging speeds as the primary reasons for the dissatisfaction. This news comes as no surprise as inflation following the pandemic has caused the prices of everything from lumber to eggs to soar, with electricity rates being no exception. The latest Energy Information Administration data shows average residential rates in the US rose nearly 10% in 2022 to 14.96 cents per kilowatt-hour. The study, titled the US Electric Vehicle Experience Home Charging Study,…
If you’ve ever attended a Formula One race, you must have noticed electric scooters zipping around the pits. These e-scooters have become the ultimate tool of convenience in the F1 paddock, making life easier for time-strapped drivers and mechanics alike. One F1 driver who has a vested interest in the growth of the electric mobility segment is Lando Norris. Norris’s father, Adam Norris, believes we’re polluting too much and wants to do his part for the environment. “Fundamentally, cities are getting clogged up with congestion. How do we change that?” he asks. In 2019, Norris and his team started Pure…
Nottingham City Council has partnered with Connected Energy to launch a groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot project. The CleanMobilEnergy initiative features 40 bi-directional electric vehicle (EV) chargers, three solar arrays, and second-life batteries with a combined capacity of 600 kWh, enough to power the average UK household for two months. The energy storage units are made from 24 used EV batteries, and the system allows for maximum use of renewable energy to decarbonise EV charging. Nottingham City Council has a fleet of 250 electric vehicles, including six zero-emission bin lorries, and over 50% of the council’s vehicles are powered by electricity.…
Electrify America has announced its latest complimentary charging program, available for electric vehicle (EV) owners. Future owners of Hyundai’s upcoming IONIQ 6 model will receive two years of free 30-minute charging sessions on the network, which offers speeds up to 350 kW, perfect for the car’s 800V e-GMP platform. With over 800 charging stations and approximately 3,500 chargers, Electrify America operates the largest fast-charging network in North America. It is investing over $2 billion in EV infrastructure to expand its footprint, consumer education, and charger access. Electrify America also supports its customers by offering complimentary charging on holidays such as…
General Motors’ Cruise unit is seeking permission from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to test its autonomous vehicles across the state, with plans to expand beyond San Francisco to other cities like Los Angeles. For the past two years, Cruise has been testing its autonomous ride-hailing service in San Francisco. The company’s spokesperson, Drew Pusateri, stated that the application doesn’t represent any immediate changes to its testing or operations, but Cruise aims to continue working with the California DMV to safely and responsibly test its services in other cities in the future. If granted, the test permit will…
Mercedes-Benz has recently unveiled its new GLC Coupé edition, which is set to hit the Western European markets in July 2023. The latest version of the popular model is equipped with three PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) engine options: the 300 e 4MATIC, 400 e 4MATIC, and 300 de 4MATIC. All three PHEV variants come with an electric motor generating an output of 100 kW and a 31.2 kWh battery. Depending on the version, the GLC Coupé can travel between 113 and 131 kilometres solely on electric power. The petrol PHEVs have a system output of 230 and 280 kW,…
Skoda, the Czech Volkswagen subsidiary, has announced plans to expand its main plant in Mladá Boleslav with a second assembly line for MEB battery systems, increasing production capacity to 1,500 units per day. The plant is the only European site outside Germany that produces battery systems for MEB vehicles. The first assembly line went into operation in May 2022, and Skoda is now confirming its schedule for the second expansion stage to bring the second line online by the end of 2023, producing over 380,000 battery systems annually. See also: Skoda Sells 53,700 All-Electric Cars in 2022, up 9.3% from…
Ascend Elements, a Massachusetts-based company that has developed a battery recycling process it calls “hydro-to-cathode,” has signed a supply agreement with Koura, a subsidiary of chemical company Orbia. Under the agreement, Ascend will supply Koura with up to 5,000 tonnes of recycled lithium carbonate per year, which Koura will use in lithium-ion battery materials for the US and European markets, including lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), a key electrolyte salt. The supply agreement will enable Koura to produce enough material to support the production of over one million electric vehicles per year. See also: Honda and Ascend Elements Team Up to Recycle…
American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) has announced its acquisition of a commercial-scale battery recycling facility in Nevada. The move comes as part of ABTC’s ambitious expansion plan to enhance lithium-ion battery recycling technologies and reduce the cost of operations. In November 2022, ABTC was selected to receive a competitive grant worth $20 million from the US Department of Energy. The funding will enable ABTC to develop and commercialize next-generation battery recycling technologies that will improve the recovery of recycled products. See also: Redwood Materials Achieves Impressive 95% Recovery Rate in Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Program The company is currently completing…