Author: Casper Benedict

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…