Author: Casper Benedict

E-mobility battery management software provider Qnovo has announced its collaboration with NXP Semiconductors, a company in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications. The partnership will offer Qnovo’s new battery management system software, SpectralX©, in NXP’s e-mobility enablement solutions for electric vehicles in 2023. SpectralX© is an intelligent battery management system that uses predictive analytics to improve battery performance, range, and safety in various types of EVs with any type of lithium-ion battery. The software is designed to work as an application layer in the operating system, residing on top of a manufacturer’s existing battery management system. See also: Qnovo Partners…

As the automotive industry shifts towards sustainability, Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz stands out as a pioneer in introducing recycled materials to electric vehicles. While the long-wheelbase version of the ID.Buzz is yet to make its debut in the US market, the European version has already made a significant impact on the industry. The ID.Buzz features recycled materials in its headlining, carpets, seat covers, and underbody panels. VW is especially proud of its Seaqual yarn, which consists of 10% marine debris and 90% recycled PES yarn. Not only is the production of Seaqual eco-friendly, but it also reduces CO2 emissions by 32%. See…

Lexus has confirmed that its all-electric RZ 450e will not be equipped with a steer-by-wire system or a steering yoke upon its arrival in northern North America. However, the automaker has revealed that customers in the US and Canada can expect the feature to be offered at a later date. Instead, the RZ 450e will be fitted with an electrically-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system, along with a traditional steering wheel. It is not yet clear what the steer-by-wire system will be called in North America, but it will be offered alongside the rack-and-pinion system when it does become available. According to…

Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure provider Swarco Smart Charging and second life battery energy storage system supplier Connected Energy have joined forces in the UK to help expedite the roll out of EV charging. By collaborating with Connected Energy, Swarco Smart Charging will be able to offer EV charging hardware with Connected Energy’s E-Stor system, which uses second life electric vehicle batteries to provide onsite energy storage. The E-Stor system stores excess power generated from renewable sources until it is needed, ensuring that there is always enough energy for charging, regardless of demand spikes. Each E-Stor unit comprises 24 second-life EV…

Pyka, a California-based start-up, has unveiled its latest creation, the Pelican Cargo, which is said to be the largest autonomous electric aircraft to date. The aircraft boasts four electric motors that generate a total output of 100 kW, with a payload capacity of 400 pounds and a range of up to 200 miles. The Pelican Cargo is designed to cater to the needs of the agriculture industry as a cargo and crop-spraying aircraft. Pyka’s autonomous flight control software, flight computer, batteries, electric propulsion system, and carbon fibre composite airframes are just a few of the company’s proprietary technologies that have…

Lucid Motors, the luxury electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, recently released its full 2022 financial results, and it’s not good news. Despite achieving its production guidance and boasting over 34,000 reservations at the end of 2021, Lucid’s future seems to be dimming. The automaker missed some critical goals, and its 2023 production target is set very low. The stock prices dropped nearly 14 percent during the trading day. The reservation banks have dropped to 28,000, and reports suggest that Lucid may have called potential customers over a dozen times to save sales. On top of that, the fourth-quarter revenue was only…

Tesla’s Sentry Mode, which was introduced in February 2019, is a feature that allows the electric carmaker’s vehicles to record potential vandals and thieves who intend to damage the vehicle. However, the Dutch Data Protection Authority recently launched an investigation into the feature, citing concerns that it could infringe on people’s privacy. The investigation was triggered by reports that many Teslas parked on the street were recording anyone who came near the vehicle, and that these images were being saved for a long time, regardless of their intentions. The agency noted that if every car were to do that, it…

Ford engineers have made a breakthrough in electric vehicle technology by demonstrating that heating surfaces can significantly reduce energy consumption in the interior of electric vehicles. The test, conducted as part of the EU project CEVOLVER (Connected Electric Vehicle Optimised for Life, Value, Efficiency and Range), showed that energy consumption could be reduced by 13% in an electric delivery vehicle equipped with heated armrests, floor mats, door panels, sun visors, and a heated steering wheel. Ford’s statement indicated that using heated surfaces could increase the range of electric vehicles by 5% in cold weather conditions compared to a conventional heater…

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is doubling down on its commitment to the electric vehicle (EV) transition in the construction industry. The company has developed a new solution for mid-size range construction machinery by converting a 20-ton loader into an EV, making it more accessible to customers in the market. This latest move is part of Volvo CE’s wider push to become carbon-neutral by 2040, with an electric vehicle share of 35% by 2030. Partnering with CE Engineering Solutions and Parker Hannifin, Volvo CE created the L120H Electric Conversion, which will be available to select European customers this year. The…

Aberdeen City Council has awarded Ulemco a contract to convert 35 utility vehicles to run on hydrogen dual fuel. Once completed, this will be the largest H2 fleet in the UK. The partnership follows Ulemco’s successful supply of heavy-duty vehicles to the council over a year ago. The new contract has been expanded to include further refuse collection vehicles, road sweepers, tippers, and tractors. Ulemco estimates that the fleet conversion will save up to 40% of CO2 emissions across the whole fleet. See also: Warrington to Transition Entire Bus Fleet to Electric with £21.5 Million ZEBRA Funding The company expects…

Tata Motors announced on Monday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with ride-sharing giant Uber to supply 25,000 XPRES-T electric vehicles (EVs) in one of the largest deals in the green mobility space to date. The companies said the EVs would be used in Uber’s premium category service and would be operational across seven cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad. The deliveries of the cars to Uber fleet partners will begin in a phased manner starting this month, and the companies did not disclose the financial details of the deal. The XPRES-T EVs…

Volkswagen will produce an electric SUV based on its best-selling Tiguan model. The vehicle, which is expected to be named the ID.Tiguan, will be built on VW’s improved MEB-Plus platform and will be manufactured at its main plant in Wolfsburg. The announcement was made at a works council meeting attended by Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The electric Tiguan is scheduled to launch in 2026 and is designed to play a crucial role in VW’s strategy until the flagship Trinity EV goes into production. The Trinity was initially planned to launch in 2026 but was delayed due to software issues. The…