Author: Christopher Harrison

Group14, a leading US silicon battery material manufacturer, revealed today the finalization of five substantial purchase agreements valued at a minimum of $300 million. These agreements, encompassing key markets in Europe, Asia, and North America, include prominent battery cell manufacturers serving both electric vehicles and consumer electronics sectors. Group14 CEO and Co-Founder Rick Luebbe emphasized the significance of these agreements, stating, “The pace at which our customers are committing to SCC55 deliveries underscores a pivotal moment in the global shift towards electrification. Demand from the electric vehicle battery sector is surging, driven by the transformative performance enhancements offered by Group14’s…

Electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr  achieved a milestone in June, delivering a record 20,106 vehicles, marking its highest monthly figure to date. This reflects an 89.32% increase from the same period last year and an 8% rise from May, according to data released by the company on Wednesday. In the second quarter, Zeekr reported delivering a total of 54,811 vehicles, a 100.05% surge year-on-year and a 65.80% increase from the first quarter. The robust performance in the first half of 2024 saw the company deliver 87,870 vehicles, up by 106.11% compared to the previous year. See also: Zeekr EX1E Electric SUV Revealed…

UrbanV, a vertiport operator, and construction and technology infrastructure firm Icad Holdings have announced a collaboration to advance air mobility infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The partnership seeks to establish a framework for vertiport operations and develop plans for managing vertiport networks across the region. “At UrbanV, we aim to improve people’s lives by enabling a fast, efficient, safe, and clean alternative to existing transport solutions for people and goods over short distances by air,” said Carlo Tursi, CEO of UrbanV. “We have the ambition to become a major global operator of vertiport networks and we will…

Rivian is gearing up to unveil a bidirectional electric vehicle charger, allowing R1T and R1S owners to power their homes using their vehicle’s battery, a capability long anticipated by enthusiasts. Senior vice president of electrical hardware, Vidya Rajagopalan, announced during Rivian’s recent Investor Day presentation that the company is nearing the release of both the necessary software and the bidirectional charger itself. See also: Rivian Exceeds Q2 Delivery Expectations, Eyes Positive Gross Profit by Year-End “We will be announcing this later, but we will be offering a bidirectional charger that you can mount on the wall of your garage, or wherever…

Rivian, in its first Investor Day following the Volkswagen partnership announcement, revealed details about its upcoming bidirectional charging capabilities for its R1T pickup trucks and R1S SUVs. During the event, Rivian disclosed that both the first and second-generation R1T and R1S vehicles can support bidirectional charging up to 24 kW with a dedicated wall charger mount. Additionally, the upcoming R2 vehicles are expected to handle bidirectional charging up to 11 kW, showcasing Rivian’s strategic integration of advanced features into its vehicle designs. See also: Rivian Soars 36% on Volkswagen’s $5 Billion Investment Boost https://twitter.com/RivianUpdates/status/1806370970682224735 The announcement marks a significant development for…

Hyundai has debuted its new micro SUV, the Hyundai Inster, at the 2024 Busan Mobility Show today, showcasing a compact vehicle designed for navigating narrow and bustling city streets in Europe. Derived from the South Korea-exclusive Hyundai Casper petrol model, the Hyundai Inster measures 3,825 mm in length, 1,610 mm in width, and 1,575 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,425 mm. It offers 280 litres of luggage space, expandable to 351 litres by adjusting the rear seats. The Hyundai Inster lineup features two single-motor variants: Standard Range and Long-Range. The base model boasts a 71.1 kW motor paired…

South Korean battery cell manufacturer SK On has entered into a non-binding agreement with ExxonMobil, aiming to procure up to 100,000 tonnes of lithium annually from the U.S. energy giant’s first planned project in Arkansas. The agreement sets the stage for a multi-year supply arrangement crucial for SK On’s battery cell production, specifically targeting electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured in the United States. SK On, which currently operates two battery factories in Georgia and is constructing three more in collaboration with Ford, plans significant expansion through its joint venture, BlueOval SK. This includes upcoming facilities in Kentucky and Tennessee, supported by…

Volvo Cars announced on Monday that it will postpone the launch of its EX30 electric vehicle in the United States until 2025 as it boosts production capabilities at its facility in Belgium. The EX30, Volvo’s smallest and most affordable EV, began production in China last fall and quickly became a top seller in Europe. Global sales reached 14,500 units in the first quarter of 2024, approaching the figures of its larger sibling, the EX40, which recorded 17,400 units sold during the same period. See also: Volvo Recalls All EX30 Models Due to Software Bug, Fixed Through OTA Update Initially slated for…

Volkswagen’s Scout brand has received a substantial incentive of nearly $1.3 billion for its upcoming $2 billion manufacturing facility in South Carolina. State Governor Henry McMaster signed the legislation approving the incentive package. In addition to the direct incentive, Scout will benefit from up to $180 million in tax credits for job development, contingent on its hiring plans, according to South Carolina’s Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey. Volkswagen anticipates that the Scout plant will generate approximately 4,000 jobs, with positions in the body shop, paint shop, and final assembly buildings. See also: Scout Motors Set to Revive Iconic American Truck Brand with…

Rocky Mountain Power, an electricity provider, has teamed up with Electrify Commercial, a business unit of Electrify America, to install its first fast-charging locations in Utah. The collaboration aims to add 20 new charging hubs in the Salt Lake area. The new charging stations, located in Millcreek and Vernal in Salt Lake County, offer up to 350 kW and are part of the Electrify America network. Despite being part of this network, the stations are owned by Rocky Mountain Power, which handles pricing. See also: Electrify America Accelerates EV Charging Network Expansion, Targets 5,000 DC Fast Chargers by Year-End In May…

Tesla is advancing its supercomputing capabilities with a massive new cluster being built at its Gigafactory Texas. CEO Elon Musk revealed plans for the center’s power consumption, highlighting the company’s ambitious goals for this year and beyond. Musk announced on X that the supercomputer center is designed to require approximately 130MW of power and cooling this year, with plans to scale up to over 500MW within the next 18 months. He noted that half of the chips in the cluster will be Tesla’s own hardware, while the other half will be comprised of Nvidia or other manufacturers’ hardware. See also: Tesla…

International delivery company UPS has announced plans to integrate 100 all-electric Iveco eDaily vehicles into its fleet in Paris, as part of a larger strategy to expand its electric vehicle presence in Europe. UPS aims to have 600 electric delivery vehicles in operation across Europe by the end of the year. While the press release does not specify whether the 100 electric vehicles have already been delivered or are scheduled for future deployment in Paris, UPS highlights that these transporters are “custom-made for UPS” and offer a range of up to 142 miles (228 kilometers). Artur Drenk, UPS sustainability director…