Author: Christopher Harrison

Researchers at Pohang University in South Korea have unveiled a groundbreaking metal-air battery design that could revolutionize energy storage. Unlike traditional metal-air batteries, which require complex structures and are susceptible to performance degradation from environmental factors like humidity and oxygen, this new variant boasts remarkable simplicity and efficiency, thanks to a novel material. Dr. Ji-Won Choi, lead researcher of the study, explains, “Our electrode utilizes the surrounding air, eliminating the need for intricate construction. This, coupled with a unique material composition, results in a high-performance, rechargeable battery.” The key to this innovation lies in the battery’s anode, which is coated…

Fisker Inc.’s recent 8-K filing has cast a shadow over the future of the EV automaker, as it failed to repay a loan of nearly $3.5 million last month, signaling potential bankruptcy for the company’s second iteration. The filing paints a grim picture for Fisker 2.0 and its flagship Ocean SUV, which has faced challenges since its launch, including software issues and lower-than-expected sales. Despite efforts to rebound, such as lowering production targets and seeking financial backing from an OEM partner, Fisker has struggled to maintain liquidity. In March 2024, Fisker expressed “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue, prompting…

China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) maker, BYD, is making significant strides in overseas markets, with the opening of its first store in the Caribbean signaling an aggressive global expansion strategy. The company aims to enter ten new markets by the end of the year as it continues to gain traction internationally. BYD’s recent sales performance underscores its growing presence in the EV market. In May, the company achieved its second-highest sales month ever, selling 331,817 new energy vehicles (EVs and PHEVs), representing a 38% year-over-year increase. Nearly 146,400 of these were fully electric vehicles. So far this year, BYD has…

Volvo has initiated production of its flagship fully electric EX90 SUV at its manufacturing facility in Charleston, South Carolina. The company has announced that the first customer deliveries of the EX90 are expected in the second half of this year. The EX90 represents a significant advancement for Volvo Cars as it becomes the first model to be powered by core computing technology, promising a new level of safety features for vehicles. See also: Volvo Launches World’s First EV Battery Passport for Flagship SUV Since its establishment in the summer of 2018, the Charleston plant has been producing the EX90 alongside the…

Elon Musk has disclosed further details about Tesla’s supercomputing cluster, Dojo, and outlined the company’s expected expenditure on Nvidia products in 2024. The discussion about Nvidia’s supercomputers emerged after Tesla redirected some of the company’s chips to X and xAI locations due to storage constraints, according to Musk. Subsequently, Musk took to X to share insights into Tesla’s purchases from Nvidia this year, estimating the spending to range between $3 billion and $4 billion, along with other updates on the company’s AI supercomputing requirements. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1798055141670781107 Musk also mentioned the nearing completion of Tesla’s Giga Texas south extension, which will accommodate…

Milence, the joint venture between Daimler Truck, the Traton Group, and the Volvo Group, is accelerating its efforts to establish a robust electric truck charging infrastructure across Europe. The venture has just unveiled its third charging hub in Sweden, enhancing coverage along the country’s main logistics routes. Located in Åstorp near the E4 highway, the new Milence electric truck charging facility initially features four CCS charging stations, each capable of delivering up to 400 kW. Plans are in place for an expansion to eleven charging stations in the second phase, with MCS chargers also set to be deployed. Positioned within…

Neural Concept, a Swiss-based AI software company, has secured $27 million in a Series B financing round led by Forestay Capital, with participation from the D. E. Shaw Group and existing investors. The company, founded in 2018 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), aims to significantly reduce the development time of electric vehicles (EVs) from four years to just 18 months. Pierre Baqué, co-founder and CEO of Neural Concept, highlighted the impact of their platform on design processes, stating, “Our software will suggest some improvements on how to make it more efficient because…

As global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) surged to 14,073,000 units last year, a 33.5% increase from 2022, the growth rate has been steadily declining, according to a report by SNE Research released on May 30. The report projects sales to reach 16,410,000 units this year, with a growth rate expected to further decline to 16.6%. Experts attribute this slowdown to a variety of factors, including the saturation of early adopters, insufficient charging infrastructure, and high prices, leading to a period of stagnation known as the “chasm” before mass adoption. However, industry analysts remain optimistic about the long-term prospects of…

Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, expressed bewilderment over the Biden administration’s decision to significantly increase tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), calling the move erratic. The new tariff rate on EVs made in China and imported to the U.S. is set to jump to 102.5 percent, up from 27.5 percent. This increase also applies to raw materials like steel and aluminum from China, as well as microchips. Ingenlath remarked, “There is a certain erraticness that comes with going from one day to the next to 100 percent tariffs.” See also: Polestar and StoreDot Achieve Rapid EV Charging: 10 to 80 Percent…

Zeekr’s all-electric models, the Zeekr X and Zeekr 001, have both secured the highest possible 5-star ratings from Euro NCAP, one of the world’s most respected consumer safety assessments. The ratings were awarded under more stringent protocols in 2024, highlighting the exceptional safety standards of Zeekr vehicles. Both models also received 5-star Green NCAP ratings, recognizing their outstanding contributions to sustainable development. These accolades underscore the advanced safety features and environmentally friendly technologies integrated into Zeekr vehicles. See also: Waymo’s Partnership with Zeekr Threatened by New U.S. Tariffs on Chinese-Built EVs Developed from the state-of-the-art Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform for…

Peugeot has announced a partnership with German mobility startup Vay to integrate its teledriving technology into Peugeot vehicles. Teledriving offers remote driving capabilities, allowing cars to be operated by a human from a distance, presenting a cost-effective and safer alternative to autonomous vehicles. The technology is particularly useful in short-range driving scenarios, such as last-mile delivery of goods, vehicle flow management in logistics centers, and car sharing or rental services, offering on-demand valet services. See also: Vay Makes Transatlantic History as Pioneer in Teledriving, Succeeding in Las Vegas Autonomy Trial Peugeot has already equipped one of its passenger vehicles with teledriving…

Hamm, a manufacturer in road-building, gardening, and landscaping equipment, unveils its latest innovation: a full line of eight new battery-powered electric tandem compact rollers. This rollout marks a significant advancement in the construction industry, offering environmentally friendly solutions with no compromise on performance. Launching this week for North American customers, the HD 10e and HD 12e models stand out as prime examples of Hamm’s commitment to sustainability without sacrificing power. These electric rollers deliver the same level of compaction force as their combustion engine counterparts but with the added benefits of reduced noise and zero local emissions. Earlier this year,…