Author: Casper Benedict

German cable specialist Phoenix Contact has introduced a new Type 1 charging cable for the North American market as part of its “Charx connect” series. The new cable supports power up to 125 kW and includes two new options for the North American Charging Standard (NACS). Phoenix Contact states that the 125 kW cable is designed for smaller DC charging stations and wall boxes, noting, “With their ergonomic design and compact dimensions, they are consistently designed for fleet solutions and applications in the public-commercial sector.” The cable features an integrated temperature sensor that detects overheating at the power contacts, automatically…

Tesla is planning to expand its factory in Grünheide, Germany, but the timing of the billion-euro investment remains uncertain as the company awaits an increase in sales. According to André Thierig, Plant Manager of the German Tesla factory, the expansion will proceed only when market demand signals are clear. “We will not spend several billion on the expansion of the factory without the signals being very clear that the market will demand it,” Thierig said in an interview with the German press agency dpa. “We firmly believe that the market will pick up again. It’s certainly a question of how…

VinFast has officially begun shipping its new mini electric SUV, the VinFast VF 3, after a successful pre-order phase. The VF 3, which starts at under $13,000, has garnered significant attention, with the company calling it a “social media phenomenon.” VinFast introduced the VF 3 in January, describing it as a vehicle designed to make city travel “not only sustainable but also more accessible.” Pre-orders opened four months later, with an introductory price of 235 million VND (approximately $9,248) for the battery subscription model. The purchase price for the VF 3 with the battery was set at 315 million VND…

Tesla is facing another wrongful death lawsuit, this time from the family of a motorcyclist killed in a crash involving the company’s Autopilot system. Over the past few years, Tesla has faced multiple lawsuits from individuals and families of those involved in accidents related to its advanced driver-assist (ADAS) features, marketed as Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. Recently, Tesla settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a Model X owner who died after crashing into a median while using Autopilot. The driver was reportedly distracted by his phone at the time. Tesla consistently denied responsibility, arguing that drivers must remain…

The U.S. Commerce Department is anticipated to propose new regulations barring Chinese software from autonomous and connected vehicles in the coming weeks, according to sources familiar with the matter. The proposed rule, driven by the Biden administration, aims to prohibit the use of Chinese-developed software in vehicles equipped with Level 3 automation or higher. This move would also prevent the testing of Chinese-made autonomous vehicles on U.S. roads. Additionally, the administration plans to propose restrictions on vehicles featuring advanced wireless communication modules developed in China. Under the proposed regulations, automakers and suppliers would be required to certify that their connected…

Geely Auto Group has introduced the Galaxy E5, a new all-electric compact SUV, at a launch event in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China. The vehicle offers a starting range of 440 kilometers and is priced from RMB 112,800 (approximately $15,750). The Galaxy E5 will be available in both left-hand and right-hand drive configurations, targeting global markets. In China, the SUV is offered in five variants, with prices ranging from RMB 112,800 to RMB 148,800. The model features dimensions of 4,615 mm in length, 1,901 mm in width, and 1,670 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm. All variants of…

Researchers at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with collaborators from international institutions, have introduced a novel cathode homogenization strategy for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASLBs). This advancement, detailed in a paper in Nature Energy, enhances the cycle life and energy density of ASLBs, marking a significant step forward in energy storage technology. Current ASLBs face challenges due to heterogeneous composite cathodes, which require electrochemically inactive additives to improve conduction. These additives, though necessary, reduce the batteries’ energy density and cycle life because they are incompatible with the layered oxide cathodes…

Tesla has begun deploying its newest Full Self-Driving (FSD) version, v12.5.1.1, to a larger number of vehicles, though it remains limited to those equipped with the HW4 computer. Over the weekend, FSD Supervised v12.5.1.1 was seen reaching more cars than the earlier v12.5.1 release, according to Not a Tesla App. Initially, Tesla’s focus for the FSD v12.5 rollout is on Model Y units with HW4, as CEO Elon Musk outlined a few weeks ago. Musk recently estimated that FSD v12.5 would start deploying to HW3-equipped cars in about 10 days, suggesting a rollout beginning Thursday this week. https://evmagz.com/tesla-rolls-out-fsd-v12-4-3-to-several-customers/ Musk explained…

Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn, a subsidiary of the Hon Hai Technology Group, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Henan provincial government in China to set up trial production plants for electric vehicles (EV) and solid-state batteries. The company announced this development on its social media platform. Foxconn’s new production facilities will serve well-known domestic and foreign automobile brands, the company stated. The trial manufacturing center will be located in the Zhangzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone, spanning about 700 acres. The site will include a business headquarters, R&D center, engineering center, industrial research institute, marketing center, and supply…

Zeekr reported delivering 15,655 vehicles in July, a decrease of 22.14% from 20,106 units in June. Despite this decline, the company experienced a significant year-over-year increase of 30.04% compared to 12,039 units delivered in July of the previous year. The drop in deliveries was attributed to ongoing upgrades to Zeekr’s production line, as the company undertook maintenance and retrofitted its equipment during the summer. A spokesperson for Zeekr told CnEVPost, “We conducted maintenance on our equipment and upgraded our production line to accommodate the capacity needs for upcoming new models.” Zeekr is targeting a delivery goal of 30,000 units per…

Volkswagen and the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory have set a new benchmark in wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging, successfully transferring 270 kW of power to a Porsche Taycan. Oak Ridge officials compared the wireless EV charging tests to the wireless charging technology used in smartphones and other small electronics. The advancements from these experiments are expected to facilitate the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to EVs. https://evmagz.com/porsche-offers-up-to-4500-discount-on-taycan-ev-for-tesla-owners/ Thomas Net commented on the achievement, noting the current limitations of power transfer systems. “A Taycan cannot accommodate today’s power transfer systems because they are too bulky…

TotalEnergies has announced plans to install and manage 2,000 additional electric vehicle (EV) charging points across all 19 municipalities in the Brussels Capital Region by June 30, 2025. This initiative is part of the company’s broader goal to deploy a total of 22,000 publicly accessible charging points in the region by 2035. Currently, TotalEnergies has already installed about 25% of the targeted 22,000 charging points. The company aims to ensure that every household in Brussels is within 150 meters of a charging point by 2035. This target aligns with the 10-year concession period awarded to TotalEnergies for managing the charging…

Lucid Motors CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson has announced a significant milestone for the electric vehicle manufacturer with the first pre-production model of the three-row Gravity SUV rolling off the assembly line at the Arizona factory. Rawlinson, who had the opportunity to drive the new vehicle, shared the moment in a video posted on his LinkedIn page. The video captures the CEO’s brief drive in the luxury all-electric SUV, accompanied by enthusiastic Lucid employees. https://evmagz.com/lucid-motors-unveils-first-pre-production-gravity-suv/ “I feel so honored to have just driven the very first pre-production Lucid Gravity fresh off the production line at our Arizona factory. Accompanied in…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) has resumed operations at its main Hanover plant following a three-week summer break. The plant is now set to produce additional variants of the ID. Buzz starting in the second half of the year. During the production hiatus, approximately 5,000 employees from VWCV and external partners undertook over 20 major projects and 800 individual measures to upgrade the facility. Key changes include transitioning to a solitary production mode, where the ID. Buzz and the T7 Multivan will be assembled on separate lines. Previously, the plant had produced three models, including the T6.1, on two lines. https://evmagz.com/volkswagen-unveils-uk-specifications-for-the-id-buzz-lwb-gtx-start-at-59545/…

BYD is preparing to enter the Canadian automotive market, according to a regulatory filing made earlier this month. The move comes as Canada considers imposing tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China. Reuters reported that while the filing did not provide a specific timeline for BYD’s market entry, it did address the potential impact of tariffs on the company’s plans to introduce passenger EVs in Canada. The report also noted that BYD Canada, a subsidiary of the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, has been engaging with Canadian government officials. https://evmagz.com/byds-mexico-ev-plant-to-create-10000-jobs-targets-50000-units-to-be-sold-in-2024/ Additionally, BYD has recently hired lobbyists to navigate…

Tesla is set to broaden the rollout of its latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) software update, CEO Elon Musk confirmed this week. Following an initial limited release of the FSD Supervised v12.5.1 to a select group of customers, Musk announced on Monday that a wider deployment would commence today. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1817956284315967727 The initial phase of the rollout focuses on Model Y units equipped with the HW4 hardware, with plans to expand to other models in the near future. Musk clarified that vehicles equipped with HW3 hardware would receive the update in about 10 days, pending additional validation. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1817964337061093594 Musk also addressed the…

Swiss technology developer ABB has secured a contract with Washington State Ferries (WSF), the largest ferry system in the United States, to supply propulsion systems for five new hybrid electric ferries. The agreement marks ABB as the sole supplier for these vessels. Under the contract, ABB will deliver comprehensive hybrid electric propulsion systems that include the ‘Onboard DC Grid’ power distribution solution, energy storage, advanced energy management, and integrated marine automation. ABB stated that the drive systems are designed to “enhance operational efficiency, help reduce emissions, and ensure reliable performance for the new vessels.” In addition to supplying the propulsion…

Tesla reported improved results for the second quarter of 2024 after a challenging first quarter, although both turnover and earnings were lower compared to the same period in 2023. Turnover slightly exceeded expectations, and earnings showed an increase from the beginning of the year, but the company faces potential challenges ahead. Tesla’s turnover for Q2 2024 reached $25.5 billion, while earnings totaled $1.48 billion. These figures reflect a slight improvement from Q1 2024, when the company reported earnings of $1.13 billion. However, they represent a 45% decrease from Q2 2023, which saw GAAP earnings of $2.7 billion. See also: Tesla’s Giga…

Hyundai Motor Group reported a significant rise in its electric vehicle (EV) sales in the United States, with a 60.8% increase in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. According to a report by the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA), the group sold approximately 61,843 EVs across its Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Genesis brands in the first half of 2024. This marks a substantial rise from the 38,457 EVs sold during the same period in 2023. Including plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, Hyundai Motor Group’s eco-friendly car sales reached 72,528 units, representing…

General Motors (GM) has decided to suspend its plans for the Cruise Origin self-driving vehicle to concentrate on developing a next-generation autonomous vehicle, as stated in the company’s Q2 2024 letter to shareholders. This decision follows the initial halt of the Origin’s production last year. Kyle Vogt, former CEO and co-founder of Cruise, expressed his disappointment on X, formerly known as Twitter, regarding the decision. “Disappointed to see GM kill the Origin,” Vogt wrote. See also: GM to Infuse $850 Million into Cruise for Resumed Self-Driving Tests https://twitter.com/kvogt/status/1815762969193558184 GM’s letter outlined the strategic shift, noting, “The Cruise team will also simplify…