Author: Casper Benedict

Volvo Group Australia will produce all-electric trucks in its Wacol factory, Queensland’s largest vehicle manufacturing plant, starting in 2027. This decision follows the start of commercial production of heavy-duty electric trucks in Gothenburg, Sweden, and the approval to trial them on Queensland roads, just six months ago. The commitment to manufacturing fully electric trucks in Australia aligns with Volvo’s success in receiving significant orders for electric trucks since introducing them in Australia in 2021. This development coincides with the ongoing dialogue about re-establishing an all-electric vehicle manufacturing industry in Australia. See also: Australian freight company orders 36 Volvo FL electric…

Tesla is on the verge of releasing Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta version 11.3, with a select group of testers set to receive the update by the end of the week. The new release is part of Tesla’s ongoing effort to fine-tune its advanced driver assistance software, which has received intense scrutiny and criticism. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has provided some details on the FSD Beta release, indicating that the company might release version 11.3.2 before the full release of the single stack in North America. The single stack software, which was rolled out in late 2022, uses a single software…

Google continues to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) ownership experience by introducing new features to Google Maps. Vehicles with Google built-in systems such as GM, Renault, Polestar, and Volvo will now offer several useful new functionalities to their users. One of the most notable updates is the inclusion of charging station information in search results. For instance, when searching for supermarkets, those with on-site charging stations will be clearly marked, making it easier for EV owners to find places to recharge while shopping. See also: Renault and Google will work together to develop software for future cars Another significant update…

Mercedes-Maybach is making its entry into the world of electric vehicles with the launch of its first plug-in hybrid model, the Mercedes-Maybach S 580 e. This new model is essentially the Maybach version of the Mercedes S-Class plug-in hybrid. Additionally, Mercedes-Maybach is also set to unveil its first fully electric model before the end of 2023. The new plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Maybach S 580 e boasts an electric range of up to 100 km according to WLTP standards. The electric motor provides 110 kW to the total system output of 375 kW. This performance is not surprising, as the drive system…

Ineos, the company behind the highly-regarded Grenadier off-roader, has announced details about their upcoming electric SUV. The second model from the company will be developed in partnership with Magna-Steyr and is expected to hit the market in 2026. In an interview with Australia’s Drive, Mark Tennant, an executive at Ineos, revealed the company’s close collaboration with Magna-Steyr on a new electric SUV project. This vehicle, which is expected to have robust off-road capabilities, is expected to be introduced in 2026. According to Tennant, the exterior design is nearly finished with just a bit more work to be done on the…

The recent car sales data from Norway presents an intriguing picture. January of this year saw the lowest number of new car registrations in the country since 1962, with just 1,860 new cars recorded. This marks a significant decline compared to the 41,441 cars sold in December 2022, of which 39,497 were registered that same month. The sudden drop in sales can be attributed to the end of generous electric vehicle (EV) subsidies announced by the government in December 2022. Since 2010, car sales in Norway have been steadily increasing, reaching 200,840 cars sold in 2021. However, the discontinuation of…

Hyundai Motor America has launched a new car subscription service that provides consumers with an alternative to purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle. Called Evolve+, the service was unveiled at the 2023 Chicago Auto Show and offers customers the chance to rent a Kona Electric or Ioniq 5 for either $699 or $899 per month, depending on the model. The subscription fee includes 1,000 miles of driving, maintenance, registration, roadside assistance, and insurance. The appeal of Hyundai’s new service lies in its month-to-month nature, offering the freedom to cancel the subscription after a single month without any long-term commitment. See…

After a prolonged period, Tesla has made a significant change to its vehicle order pages in the United States. The latest update eliminates the default display of “potential savings” in the prices of electric cars, and now shows their actual purchase price. In the past, Tesla’s US order pages faced criticism over the use of “potential savings” in pricing. When a consumer visited the order page of a vehicle, such as the Model Y, they would see two prices, one labeled as “potential savings” and the other as “purchase price.” However, this is no longer the case, as the actual…

Rivian has recently released a software update for its R1T and R1S vehicles, which has resulted in improved range capabilities. The update, version 2023.02.03, was rolled out on February 7 and includes a variety of enhancements, including improvements to the R1 key fobs and alerts for potentially unlocked doors. One of the key improvements in the update is the “Improved EPA – Estimated Range Numbers”. According to Rivian, the update has increased the “Depth of Discharge”, which refers to the percentage of the battery that has been used in relation to its overall capacity. This has resulted in more usable…

Hertz Global Holdings Inc’s latest regulatory filing on Tuesday revealed that their rental fleet has fallen short of their planned order for Tesla vehicles. According to the filing, the company’s American fleet peaked at 428,700 vehicles, with only 11% of them being Tesla cars. The company’s international fleet includes an additional 1,187 Teslas, bringing the total number of Tesla EVs in Hertz’s fleet to 48,344. This is significantly less than the 100,000 electric vehicles the company had intended to order from Tesla by the end of 2022. See also: Hertz adds Tesla Model Y to its electric vehicle fleet In…

EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, a joint venture between ElringKlinger and Plastic Omnium, has received a new order from a European car manufacturer for fuel cell stacks to be used in a forthcoming production vehicle. The details of the vehicle have not been disclosed. The order covers the development of a custom stack, delivery of prototypes, and has a single-digit million euro value. The stacks will begin shipping this year. According to Dr. Gernot Stellberger, Managing Director of EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, the company’s customer has high standards for quality and production. EKPO was able to meet these requirements with their…

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has shared further information about their collaborative plans and vision for the next 15 years. The partnership is set to encompass joint efforts in regions such as Europe, India, and Latin America. Rumors have been circulating about a potential 800-volt architecture in Europe. At the end of January, Nissan revealed its intentions to acquire a maximum stake of 15% in the Renault Group’s upcoming independent electric vehicle division, Ampere. Mitsubishi is also evaluating the possibility of investing in Ampere, though the exact percentage the car manufacturer is eyeing has not been disclosed yet. The alliance partners plan…