Author: Casper Benedict

A unique piece of history was sold at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction on January 28th – the first-ever 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV rolled off the production line and onto the auction block. The highly-anticipated electric SUV garnered much attention and ultimately sold for a staggering $500,000. However, the real winner of this auction was not the lucky buyer, but Tread Lightly!, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the great outdoors through education and conservation efforts. The entire amount raised from the sale of the GMC Hummer EV SUV will go directly to Tread Lightly!, as Barrett-Jackson graciously waived their…

A recent study conducted by UpShift, a performance marketing services company, compared the running costs of electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE) during winter across several countries. The study used the most popular EV and ICE vehicle in each country to make the comparison. The results showed that EV owners in the United States saved the most money in comparison to other countries, due to low electricity costs. On average, EV charging costs were $78.95 per month, compared to the average ICE fueling cost of $272.79 per month. This resulted in total winter season savings of $193.84…

General Motors is considering a switch from pouch to round cells in its future electric vehicles, according to a report by TheElec. The change in cell format could also be the reason behind the cancelation of the plan for a fourth joint US battery cell plant between GM and LG Energy Solution. The current electric car platforms of GM utilize LGES pouch cells, but it appears that future models will support the use of round cells, specifically the 4680 format (46mm diameter and 80mm height) that Tesla uses. The fourth US battery cell plant was initially planned to be built…

California-based 3D-printed solid-state battery developer, Sakuu, has enlisted Porsche Consulting, the consulting subsidiary of Porsche, to plan its global gigafactories. Sakuu currently operates two facilities in Silicon Valley, one being a pilot line for solid-state batteries and the other an engineering center that will allow Sakuu to expand its 3D printing battery platform. The company aims to have annual production capacities of 200 GWh for lithium metal and solid-state batteries by 2030 and has commissioned Porsche Consulting to plan a reference factory in the US with maximum efficiency and sustainable setup that can be replicated globally. The first factory will…

Porsche racer Pascal Wehrlein claimed victory in both Formula E Race 1 and Race 2 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on January 27-28, 2023. The German driver defeated his toughest competitor, Jake Dennis of Andretti, who only finished second in both races. An intense battle for third place took place between Rene Rast (McLaren) and Sam Bird (Jaguar), with Rast successfully overtaking Bird at the finish. This result was Rast’s revenge against Bird from the day before. British rookie Jake Hughes (Mercedes), who started from pole position, was left finishing in fifth place after running out of power in the final…

Microvast Holdings and REE Automotive have signed a supply and purchase agreement to offer energy storage systems for REE’s electric vehicle (EV) platforms. Microvast’s subsidiary, Microvast Gmbh, will provide MV-C Gen 4 HpCO high-energy lithium-ion battery packs for REE’s zero-emission commercial vehicles. These batteries offer high energy density, fast charging (30 minutes full charge), high power performance and long cycle life. The MV-C Gen 4 battery packs also feature improved thermal management and safety controls, meeting upcoming safety standards. See also: REE Automotive to build Plant in UK with an annual capacity of 10,000 EV chassis “Microvast’s MV-C Gen 4…

Global EV company Ideanomics has acquired VIA Motors, an American commercial electric truck manufacturer. VIA Motors currently sells one vehicle, its cab-chassis electric truck, which can be outfitted with any standard bed or box and is well-suited for delivery use. The electric truck comes in three distinct lengths and features an AWD electric drivetrain, allowing for fuel and repair savings. The system uses an 82kWh battery, capable of a range of 114 miles, and can be charged in roughly 45 minutes from 0 to 100 percent using DC fast charging. https://twitter.com/ideanomicshq/status/1618979687417479171 Ideanomics has a history of acquiring electric vehicle startups,…

Tesla, the US-based electric vehicle manufacturer, is planning to expand its presence in Israel by setting up a large sales and service center in the industrial zone of Netanya. The company has signed a lease on a privately-owned property, which spans five dunams and is located at 39-41 Hakadar Street in north Netanya, close to the sales and service center of Chinese electric vehicle brand Geely Geometry. The property has 3,300 square meters of built space and building rights for commerce and offices. The new center will include Tesla’s first permanent showroom in Israel and a bodywork and paint workshop…

US semiconductor manufacturer Onsemi has entered into a strategic partnership with Volkswagen to supply components for a complete traction inverter solution for use in a next-generation Volkswagen electric platform. The partnership will see Onsemi supply its EliteSiC 1200 V silicon carbide power module to Volkswagen as a first step. The number of units or the financial scope of the order were not disclosed. Onsemi has not specified which Volkswagen vehicle platform is involved, but it is speculated that the SiC semiconductors are part of an overall system optimization for the PPE or the revised MEB+ platforms, both of which are…

Renault is taking a unique approach to electric vehicles by offering retrofit kits for classic models, including the Renault 4 and 5 and the first-generation Twingo. The kits, which are being produced by R-FIT, a brand belonging to oldtimer specialist MCC Automotive, will be showcased at the annual classic auto show, Rétromobile in France. This is not the first time Renault has offered retrofit kits for older models, despite also working on electrifying these model series from the ground up. The Renault 4 and Renault 5 are set to be fully electrified in 2024 and 2025, while the third-generation Twingo…

The Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo may be generating buzz, but it falls short for many businesses. ABT e-Line is providing increased flexibility by electrifying Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 models for customers. Volkswagen has removed the e-Transporter from its range of commercial vehicles in the UK, leaving only the compact ID Buzz Cargo as a pure-electric panel van. ABT e-Line’s offering provides a range of short and long wheelbase options, varying roof heights, and even platform and chassis cab choices thanks to a comprehensive conversion program. The experts at ABT e-Line take an existing Transporter, any diesel model with a DSG automatic…

Electric car subscription service Onto has raised £100 million in a funding round led by global investment group CDPQ and asset manager Pollen Street. The funding, which takes Onto’s total capital raised to £340 million, will be used to expand the company’s fleet of electric cars in the UK. Founded in 2018, Onto currently operates over 7,000 electric cars in the UK as part of a subscription service that includes free delivery, 1,000 miles per month, insurance, service and repair, and access to more than 12,000 public EV charge points. The service also includes access to more than 25 different…

Tesla has begun rolling out a new software update to its vehicles, featuring two new enhancements: Auto Steering Wheel Heat and Sentry Mode Lighting. The Auto Steering Wheel Heat feature allows customers to set their steering wheel heater to regulate temperature automatically based on the climate control set temperature. To access this feature, customers can simply tap the temperature settings to bring up the climate control panel. Please note that this feature is only available on Tesla vehicles with heated steering wheels. Tesla writes in the release notes of the new 2023.2.0.5 software update about the new Auto Steering Wheel…

AUTO STEERING WHEEL HEAT Set your steering wheel heater to regulate its temperature automatically based on the climate control set temperature. To access steering wheel heating controls, tap the temperature settings to bring up the climate control panel. SENTRY MODE LIGHTING When a threat is detected, Sentry Mode will softly pulse the headlights to indicate that your vehicle is recording video. The pulsing stops after 60 seconds or when the vehicle is unlocked. SPEED ASSIST Speed Assist now leverages your car’s cameras to detect speed limit signs. This improves the accuracy of speed limit data on local roads and highways…

The Royal Mail, the United Kingdom’s postal service, has reached a significant milestone with the deployment of its 4,000th electric delivery van from its Blackpool office. In the coming months, the Blackpool site will continue to expand its fleet of electric vehicles, with all delivery and collection functions to be operated by EVs. As part of the organization’s efforts to lower its carbon footprint, the Royal Mail has been expanding its fleet of electric vans. The goal is to become net zero by 2024. Additionally, the organization aims to reduce its average carbon emissions per parcel delivery within the UK…

Bosch and APCOA have announced plans to expand the use of automated valet parking technology in Germany. The technology, which enables contactless and cashless parking without a ticket, will be installed in 15 parking garages in cities such as Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Munich. This move follows the approval of driverless SAE Level 4 parking for commercial use at Stuttgart airport, one of the few locations in the world to have passed the necessary legislation for such systems. The APCOA FLOW platform will be used to implement the technology, and Bosch’s modular system will enable the quick expansion of…

The CEO of Nissan Motor Company, Makoto Uchida, has announced a significant investment of $250 million in the company’s powertrain plant in Decherd, Tennessee. This investment is intended to support the electrification of Nissan’s vehicle lineup, as demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States continues to grow and government initiatives support this trend. Although Uchida did not specify when the investment will occur or provide specific details about its purpose, he did indicate that it is part of Nissan’s increased efforts to electrify its vehicles in the US. This investment brings Nissan’s total commitments to US electrification to…

24M announced today that it has been awarded $3.2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) as part of the EVs4ALL program. The program aims to develop more affordable, convenient, efficient, and resilient electric vehicle (EV) batteries. “We are pleased to be chosen for this initiative and help strengthen the domestic supply chain for advanced batteries that power electric vehicles,” said Naoki Ota, president and CEO of 24M. “The demand for lower-cost, higher-capacity batteries is greater than ever before. The current processes to manufacture lithium-ion batteries are approaching performance and cost limits and…

Mercedes-Benz has made several new appointments to its top management team, affecting the level 1 positions below the Group Board of Management. Among the changes, Christoph Starzynski, currently the Head of Development Electric Drive, will take on responsibility for the overall vehicle development of all Mercedes-Benz passenger car series starting July 1, 2023. The series of appointments was prompted by Wolf-Dieter Kurz, Head of Product Strategy & Steering, who after 34 years with the company, decided to “begin a new phase of his life” in March, according to an official statement. Kurz’s duties will be taken over by Oliver Thöne,…

The Genesis GV60 electric SUV was awarded the title of “Best Electric SUV” at the 2023 What Car? Awards, held at Grosvenor House in Park Lane. The event brings the automotive industry together to honor the UK’s top achievements and contributions. This award marks the GV60’s first of the year, building on a string of accolades received in Europe in 2022, such as “German Car of the Year” in the premium segment and “Swiss Car of the Year.” What Car? Editor Steve Huntingford praised the GV60, saying, “With its first electric SUV, Genesis has created a truly game-changing car. Standout…