Author: Christopher Harrison

Nio, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, faced a challenging start to 2024 with falling sales and increased losses, marking a departure from its previous trend of consistent growth. In the first quarter of 2024, Nio delivered 30,053 electric vehicles, a 3.2% decrease compared to the same period last year and a significant 39.9% drop from the previous quarter (Q4/2023) when it delivered 50,045 electric cars. The company’s record quarter was in Q3/2023 with over 55,000 deliveries. The second-quarter figures will be closely watched, as Q2 has historically been Nio’s weakest quarter in the past two years, with deliveries ranging between…

The Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Kia, is making significant strides in the US electric vehicle (EV) market, steadily closing the gap with Tesla. Following a record start to 2024, Hyundai and Kia combined accounted for 11.2% of all EVs sold in the US through May. Both Hyundai and Kia have been gaining traction in the market with their lineup of affordable and fuel-efficient electric cars. Hyundai boasts six of the top ten most fuel-efficient EVs (by trim) in 2024, while Kia’s EV6 also made the list. Offering features like over 300 miles of range, fast charging in under 20…

BMW is enhancing driver safety in its self-driving vehicles by leveraging AI-powered tools from Cerence, a software firm specializing in automotive AI solutions. BMW will integrate Cerence’s Emergency Vehicle Detection (EVD) tool into its Level 3 Personal Pilot system to detect approaching emergency vehicles. Level 3 automation, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers, occurs when a vehicle is in control of driving in certain, specific circumstances. Cerence’s EVD tool is designed to identify the unique sounds of emergency vehicles, automatically lowering the volume of in-car music and alerting the driver to pull over when such sounds are detected.…

Virginia has announced its departure from the California electric vehicle (EV) mandate program by the end of the year, citing a desire to maintain autonomy over its automotive policies. Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized, “No one should mandate what kind of cars Virginia residents can drive, especially not unelected leaders nearly 3,000 miles away from the Commonwealth.” The program, originally adopted by Virginia in 2021, aligns with California’s efforts to enforce stricter emissions standards. However, with California’s recent implementation of the Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which imposes more stringent rules effective January 2025, Virginia has opted out. Instead, the state…

Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) and Volvo Financial Services have introduced a new Truck-as-a-Service (TaaS) business model named Volvo on Demand, aimed at facilitating the adoption of electric trucks without the need for upfront investment. Under this initiative, “qualified customers” in the US can rent one of 25 Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric trucks, with the option to sign up for as little as 12 months and pay based on mileage driven. This approach allows customers to minimize upfront costs associated with transitioning to battery-electric trucks and to free up credit lines for other business needs. The 25 electric trucks…

XCharge North America has announced the installation of its C6AM solution at the town hall of Middleburg, Virginia, marking the town’s first DC fast charger (DCFC) and enhancing EV travel around the greater Washington, D.C., and Virginia areas. The C6AM charger station features two charging ports capable of delivering a 150kW output to vehicles, significantly reducing idle time compared to Level 2 chargers. This efficiency makes it a valuable addition for Middleburg residents and visitors traveling with EVs. Designed for the United States grid, the DCFC solution can be seamlessly installed and operated on 208v or 480v infrastructure, eliminating the…

Hyundai is gearing up to introduce an electric version of its Staria van in 2026, targeting Europe’s evolving environmental standards, particularly in the continent’s robust electric vehicle (EV) market. To facilitate this move, Hyundai has initiated the expansion of its high-voltage battery installation line at its Ulsan Plant in Korea, with production of the electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) slated to commence in early 2026, as confirmed by industry sources. The Staria EV is scheduled to enter mass production in Europe in the first half of 2026, with distribution planned not only in Europe but also in key Asia-Pacific markets like…

LG Energy Solution has partnered with US chipmaker Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) to develop advanced fast-charging technologies aimed at boosting demand for eco-friendly cars by addressing concerns about charging speed. The collaboration, announced on Wednesday, involves a memorandum of understanding between LG Energy and ADI to enhance LG Energy’s battery management total solution (BMTS). Over the next two years, the two companies will work together to develop algorithms for precise measurements of internal temperatures of EV battery cells. ADI will supply high-performance battery management integrated circuits (BMICs) as part of the agreement. “This cooperation is expected to lead to the…

Volvo as initiated the transfer of manufacturing for Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) to Belgium as the European Union (EU) prepares to impose tariffs on China-made EVs, according to a report by The Times. The automaker is relocating production of its EX30 and EX90 models to Belgium, with the possibility of moving assembly of some Volvo models intended for the UK, the report stated, citing anonymous sources. Volvo, owned by Geely, is viewed as particularly vulnerable among western automakers to potential tariffs, the Times noted. Trade tensions between the EU and China have led to a series of anti-dumping investigations against…

As Tesla gears up for its highly anticipated Robotaxi unveiling event on August 8, the automaker is fine-tuning its API with two new features that could shape the future of its ride-sharing service. These features, Passenger Ratings and Guest Mode, are designed to enhance the overall experience and safety for both riders and owners. Tesla’s next-generation platform, upon which the Robotaxi will be built, is expected to streamline manufacturing processes, facilitating growth in production and deliveries. The ride-sharing service, akin to platforms like Uber or Lyft, will incorporate a “Rider Quality Score,” allowing passengers to rate their experience. This score…

Swedish developer Altris and renewable products provider Stora Enso have joined forces to advance Stora Enso’s hard carbon solution, Lignode, as an anode material in Altris’ sodium-ion battery cells. This partnership aims to bolster the development of environmentally friendly batteries without compromising on energy density, while enhancing the European battery supply chain. Altris’ sodium-ion battery technology is crafted from abundant raw materials, eliminating the need for conflict minerals and toxic elements like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. These batteries offer exceptional performance, including longer lifespan, flexible working temperatures, and enhanced safety. Lignode, developed by Stora Enso, is a sustainable hard carbon…

Ford is set to reveal a new all-electric “sports crossover” next week, built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, following the Electric Explorer. The new Ford EV crossover is expected to be unveiled on July 10, 2024, and production is scheduled to begin later this year. The announcement comes shortly after the first all-electric Explorer rolled off the assembly line at Ford’s new Cologne EV plant in Germany this week. This new EV is part of a 2020 deal between Ford and VW to utilize the MEB platform, which also underpins VW’s ID series. While Ford had initially hinted at introducing an…