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.
Bosch plans to invest approximately €950 million in the production and development of components for electric vehicles and automated driving in Suzhou, China. The first phase of the project is set to be finished by mid-2024. The company currently operates four factories in Suzhou, which employ around 10,000 people. https://twitter.com/BoschPresse/status/1613575634017554450 Earlier this month, Robert Bosch Venture Capital joined forces with Boyuan Capital, BAIC Futian, Beijing Yihuatong, and Shenzhen Fuyuan Wisdom to establish Beijing Kawen New Energy Vehicle Co. Ltd. This venture capital platform, established by Bosch Group in China, will focus on researching and developing, as well as producing and…
According to Volkswagen, chip shortages that have affected the automotive industry for over a year are coming to an end. These shortages have caused delays and price increases in manufacturing, but the company predicts that vehicle production will become more consistent later in the year. Volkswagen acknowledges that some production will still be impacted by the chip shortage in 2023 and the company plans to address it. The chip shortage, which began in 2020, has been a major issue for the automotive industry, causing delays of over a year for some customers and an increase in prices for new and…
Mercedes-Benz has completed the delivery of 45 electric buses to Verkehrsgesellschaft Ludwigslust-Parchim (VLP), a public transit company in northeastern Germany. The order, placed in 2019, included the final 15 vehicles and was part of a project to provide electric buses for the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with an additional 2 vehicles for Rostocker Straßenbahn AG (RSAG). The funding for the project was approved in December 2019, with Mercedes-Benz meeting the delivery deadline of late 2022. First batch of 15 battery-electric eCitaro buses were handed over to VLP to complete the order. These buses, with a total battery capacity of 378…
According to German media, Mercedes-Benz is planning to stop using the EQ label for its electric models starting in 2024. Instead, the company may release future electric vehicles under their traditional names, such as E-Class, regardless of their power source. According to Handelsblatt, a German business newspaper, Mercedes-Benz is considering abandoning the use of the EQ label for its electric models, and instead releasing them under their traditional names such as E-Class, C-Class, G-Class, etc. The decision is yet to be finalized, but sources suggest that this change is likely to happen as the company shifts to an “electric-only” strategy.…
Solid Power, a solid-state battery developer, has received over $5 million in funding from the US Department of Energy to continue developing its nickel- and cobalt-free cells for EVs. The company, which was spun out of the University of Colorado in 2011, specializes in solid-state, sulfide-based electrolyte technology and aims to bring more energy-dense cells to the EV market at or near the cost of current lithium-ion batteries. Solid Power has received investments from legacy automakers like Ford and Hyundai and has a partnership with SK Innovation. The company plans to deliver its cells to Ford and BMW by the…
GM, Ford, Google, and solar energy producers announced that they will join forces through the Virtual Power Plant Partnership (VP3), hosted by energy transition nonprofit RMI, to develop standards and policies for the widespread adoption of virtual power plants (VPPs). These systems help balance electricity demands on the grid during shortages. Virtual power plants (VPPs) utilize advanced software to coordinate and control thousands of decentralized energy resources, such as electric vehicles or smart thermostat-controlled electric heaters. With customer consent, VPPs can respond to electricity shortages by switching the battery mode of multiple households’ electric vehicles from charging to discharging, or…
The Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV features advanced technology and capabilities, such as all-wheel drive performance and software updates over the air. Despite its strong initial offerings, the rapid pace of EV development means the I-Pace must constantly evolve in order to stay competitive. Jaguar is updating the vehicle with a sleek new front grille in Atlas Grey, emphasizing its electric nature and enhancing its overall appearance. The Jaguar I-Pace has undergone updates to its grille, featuring a black and silver emblem. The front bumper finishers, lower door finishers, and rear diffuser are now painted in the same color as the…
The Squad Solar City Car is the world’s first for daily urban mobility powered by solar energy. Launched in the middle of last year, this car is a solution for minimizing emissions and urban congestion, designed for platform sharing and personal use. Easy as a moped with the comfort and safety of a car. Squad is a two-seater car with small solar panels on the roof. This golf cart style vehicle can cover a distance of up to 96.5 km on a single full charge. Squad automatically charges its batteries with solar energy from solar panels on its own roof.…
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) officially marketed its newest low-emission vehicle, the Prius Series Parallel Hybrid (HEV) in Japan. Consisting of three variants with two engine options, 1.8L and 2.0L, this modern crossover car comes with a fifth generation hybrid system. This is a form of promotion for the company towards carbon neutrality which is starting to get busy globally. Reporting from the official Toyota Global website, it is stated that embedding related technology is also to reduce fuel consumption (BBM). This is because the level of efficiency in related vehicles is so economical compared to before. Furthermore, it is stated…
The Kia EV6, an all-electric vehicle, was awarded the title of North American Utility Vehicle of the Year™ by the North American Car of the Year jury. This marks the second time in three years that a Kia vehicle has received this honor, and the first time a Kia EV has won. “Since its launch, the Kia EV6 has been inspiring customers and media critics around the world with its advanced engineering and bold design. As the embodiment of Kia’s new brand direction, the EV6 is contributing to a dramatic shift in Kia’s brand perception and prestige globally,” said Ho…
The Nextcell project, funded by the EU with €8 million, aims to develop a new generation of high-performance lithium-ion battery cells using a semi-solid state approach. The project is led by FEV, and involves 17 partners from ten EU countries. The goal of the project is to establish “gellified battery cells” which will addresses cost, safety, and sustainability issues. Current lithium-ion battery cells use solid, porous electrodes, solid separator foils, and a liquid electrolyte. The Nextcell project aims to explore an alternative approach by using gel-like materials for both the electrodes and the electrolyte, which are expected to result in…
German forming specialist Schuler has been commissioned by South Korean manufacturer LT Precision to create a production line for pressing battery cell housings. The new machines will be installed at LT Precision’s US factory and will be used to produce cylindrical battery cell housings with dimensions of 21 millimeters in diameter and 70 millimeters in length, which are commonly used in electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, as well as in Rivian’s electric cars. However, Schuler has only announced that the battery cell housings produced by this line will be used in electric vehicles from…
CES 2023 displays a variety of the latest technological developments, one of which is the Dolby Atmos feature in the Volvo EX90 cabin. Like listening to a music concert in the cabin, the sound system is truly extraordinary. Overview of the Dolby Atmos feature, is the name of a surround sound technology owned by Dolby Laboratories. Atmos was introduced on June 8, 2012 at the launch of the film Brave. After the launch of Atmos technology for cinemas, several types of Atmos technology for retail users were also launched. Dolby Atmos is already known as a sound technology that uses…
The French government has reduced subsidies for electric cars in 2023. The eco-bonus, which had been previously delayed for a year, went into effect on January 1st. Electric cars will now receive a maximum subsidy of 5,000 euros from the state, compared to the previous 6,000 euros. The decision to reduce subsidies was part of a restructuring plan for the automotive industry, due to a decrease in sales caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The environmental bonus now only applies to battery-electric and fuel cell cars with a price less than 47,000 euros and a weight less than 2.4 tonnes, covering…
Tevex Logistics, a subsidiary of the German butcher Tönnies Group, plans to use the battery-electric eActros LongHaul truck for food deliveries in the future. To this end, the company has signed a letter of intent with Mercedes-Benz Trucks to order 50 units of the vehicle. The letter of intent was signed during an official visit to Daimler Truck headquarters. No further details on the planned use of the vehicles were provided in the announcement. The Tönnies Group, known for its meat products, will use the vehicles in particularly demanding, temperature-controlled food transport. The company is committed to becoming one of…
Malta is seeking to acquire 250 new electric vehicles for its government fleets through a 10 million euro tender funded by EU funds. The goal of the project is to increase the percentage of electric vehicles in public service from 7% in 2021 to 40%. The tender is divided into four lots for the procurement of 194 five-passenger cars, 30 eight-passenger vehicles, 16 small commercial vehicles, and 10 large commercial vehicles, all of which must be no older than 2022. The deadline for the tender is 7 February. Through this project, the government aims not only to replace its internal…
Volkswagen is recalling a small number of its new ID.4 electric crossovers due to an electrical issue with the 12V battery, which is not related to the electric powertrain. The recall affects rear-wheel-drive models of the ID.4 produced for the 2022-2023 model years, as the charging cable for the 12V battery may rub against the steering column and potentially cause a short-circuit if the insulation becomes worn. This issue could potentially result in a fire risk if left unaddressed. All-wheel drive models are not affected by this recall. “On affected vehicles (rear-wheel drive only), the 12V battery charging cable may…
The Estrema Fulminea, boasting a impressive 2,012 horsepower, is set to make an attempt at breaking the electric vehicle record at the Nurburgring track this fall. The production version of the vehicle is scheduled to be revealed in June, with plans to tackle the Nordschleife circuit in September. It has been some time since there have been updates from Automobili Estrema, but it appears that they have been busy preparing for this highly anticipated record attempt. Automobili Estrema plans to bring the Estrema Fulminea to the Nurburgring track in September to attempt to set a new electric sports car lap…
Due to the high cost and limited availability of lithium, researchers are seeking alternative materials for use in efficient energy storage systems. One potential candidate is sodium, which has shown promise as an alternative to lithium in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, one challenge in using sodium in SIBs is the large size and slow movement of sodium ions, which can negatively impact the performance of the SIB anode. In order to address this issue, researchers from Korea and the United States have developed pyrolyzed quinacridones, a new type of carbonaceous material for use in SIB anodes. These materials are easy…
At CES, Sony Honda Mobility unveiled Afeela brand with a prototype sedan that gives a preview of a production model set to be released in North America in 2026. While the release date is still a few years away, the brand is already planning for its future lineup. In an interview with Autocar, Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno stated, “We’re already considering our second and third models. We want to have a diverse lineup, not just a single offering.” The company is reportedly considering a range of options for its future lineup, including a crossover, another sedan, and possibly…