Author: Casper Benedict

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…

Geely Group’s luxury electric brand, Zeekr, is set to make a major impact with its highly anticipated new model, the Zeekr X. As the brand’s flagship vehicle, the Zeekr X is designed to showcase Geely’s cutting-edge automotive technology and electrification expertise. With its impressive range and powerful performance, the Zeekr X is poised to be a game-changer in the competitive EV market. According to the Chinese regulator, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Zeekr X will feature a 66-kWh battery, which is set to power the vehicle’s two electric motors. This high-capacity battery is capable of delivering…

Ford has just teased its upcoming electric SUV on Twitter, hinting at a new addition to the company’s EV lineup. While the automaker has been producing its electric F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E in the United States, it has yet to expand its consumer offerings in Europe. But with increasing regulatory pressure and demand for electric vehicles, Ford’s new electric SUV could be the answer. The teaser video shared by Ford on Twitter provides little information about the upcoming SUV, though it may be the second teaser released ahead of its launch. Last week, Ford’s VP of European Sales, Martin…

Tesla has just announced the opening of its first V4 Supercharging stalls in Europe, located at a new station in Harderwijk, Netherlands. The V4 stalls feature a taller design and a longer cable, attached at the top, to provide easy access for more electric vehicles, especially non-Tesla EVs, which may have charging inlets in different locations. The new V4 stalls are currently in a pilot rollout and are only available for Tesla cars. However, if everything works correctly, Tesla will include the station in the non-Tesla Supercharging pilot program in Europe, which is the ultimate goal. https://twitter.com/TeslaCharging/status/1636015653760143362 The power output…

Scania is making significant strides in electrifying transportation. The Swedish company, which is under the Traton Group brand portfolio, recently delivered Norway’s largest electric truck to Northern Europe’s largest active limestone quarry. The Scania P 45, with a 300 kWh battery capacity from nine batteries, weighs 64 tons and has three axles. It will transport around 120,000 tonnes of lime annually, reducing emissions on the 20 km transport route by 156 tons and saving 58,800 liters of fossil fuel consumption. In addition to being eco-friendly, the electric truck is nearly silent, reducing noise pollution for nearby residents. See also: Traton,…