Author: Christopher Harrison

German students from the TUfast Eco group have recently announced their latest electric vehicle, the Muc023, which they believe is highly efficient and will participate in the upcoming Shell Eco Marathon. This competition seeks to crown the winner as the vehicle with the least energy consumption. Compared to its predecessor, the Muc023 weighs 10 kilos less, coming in at 65 kg, and has a power output of 570 watts, a torque of 12.7 Nm, and a drag coefficient of 0.13. The weight reduction was achieved through adjustments to the body and new wheel suspensions, which are about 40% lighter than…

UK’s leading charging infrastructure providers have teamed up to form a new organization called ChargeUK. The aim of this collaboration is to invest more than £6 billion in developing and operating charging infrastructure in the UK by 2030, and to become the “voice of EV charging” in order to have a greater say in politics and negotiations. ChargeUK’s founding members are comprised of 18 companies, namely Be.EV, Believ, BP Pulse, Char.gy, ChargePoint, Connected Kerb, ESB, Evyve, Fastned, Genie Point, Gridserve, Ionity, Mer, Osprey, Pod Point, PoGo Charge, Raw Charging, and Shell Recharge. These companies have announced that they will build…

The city of Boulder, Colorado, has taken a bold step towards a more sustainable future by becoming the first in the US state to purchase an all-electric fire engine. The Rosenbauer RTX fire engine, equipped with a diesel range extender, is set to arrive in late 2024 or early 2025, with an estimated cost of $1.78 million. The move comes as part of Boulder’s ongoing commitment to tackling climate change and promoting eco-friendly solutions. City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde praised the purchase as “a tremendous step forward for our community and yet another example of Boulder’s leadership in addressing climate change.…

California-based electric aircraft start-up Joby Aviation has announced a long-term agreement with Toyota to supply powertrains and other components for its aircraft. This move marks a significant step towards the future of electric aviation, with Toyota investing close to $400 million in Joby Aviation in 2020 and becoming the company’s largest shareholder. See also: Tesla to Begin Model S and Model X Plaid Deliveries in China in H1 2023 Under the agreement, Toyota will manufacture Joby-developed parts on a contract basis and deliver them to Joby’s powertrain and electronics manufacturing facility in San Carlos, where they will be assembled into…

Phoenix Motor Inc. is preparing to unveil its fourth-generation medium-duty electric drive system for fleet operations at the upcoming Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, held at the Anaheim Convention Center. The event is scheduled to run from May 1st to May 4th, and Phoenix will proudly present its latest product at booth #5364. According to Phoenix, the Gen 4 system boasts an innovative chassis layout that optimizes the placement of battery packs. These packs are strategically attached to both the front and rear of the frame rails, effectively maximizing the use of space. This design modification enhances ground clearance, making…

NIO has unveiled a significant surge in demand for its battery swap stations. Insights gained from a distance of over 10 billion kilometers traveled reveal that 60 percent of users have chosen to utilize NIO’s 1,383 Power Swap Stations, which now provide a convenient charging solution in both China and Europe. NIO users achieved this remarkable milestone of 10 billion kilometers in just 1,762 days since the brand’s launch. Highlighting its recent growth, NIO took less than 28 months from its launch to reach the first billion kilometers, at a time when there were only 150 Power Swap Stations available.…

It’s common knowledge by now that the electric car sector is experiencing rapid growth, and it appears that many individuals you converse with are contemplating the idea of owning an electric vehicle. Consequently, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Honda and Kia have decided to join the ranks of automobile manufacturers aiming to enhance their electric vehicle production and sales targets in order to stay competitive. This isn’t the initial instance where we have come across such announcements. In fact, some astute brands have already taken proactive measures to boost electric vehicle production in anticipation of the surge in…

California is intensifying its efforts to reduce emissions from trains and heavy-duty trucks by minimizing reliance on fossil fuels. The state has implemented new regulations customized for each industry, featuring ambitious goals that extend until the mid-2040s, with some measures already taking effect this year and impacting expenditure. On April 27th, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) sanctioned these new rules. The initial regulation, titled Advanced Clean Fleets, focuses on heavy-duty trucks and entails a prohibition on the sale of diesel-powered semi trucks by 2036. Moreover, it mandates that all trucks operating in California must be zero-emission vehicles after 2042.…

The All-electric Fisker Ocean is inching closer to reaching customers, and new details have emerged regarding the delivery timeline for American buyers. A recent email from the company confirmed that global deliveries are set to commence next month, with production of units bound for the United States picking up momentum between May and June of this year. Fisker is currently on the cusp of securing full-scale regulatory approval from multiple nations. Earlier this month, the Ocean received certification in Europe, boasting an impressive range of 440 miles (707 km) based on WLTP testing protocols. In the United States, the vehicle…

The Texas House has unanimously passed a significant measure, voting in favor of a $200 yearly charge for electric vehicle (EV) owners. The bill will now be submitted to Governor Greg Abbott for his final approval, ultimately becoming law. The objective of this bill, approved with a vote of 145-0, is to supplant the gas tax currently paid by conventional vehicle drivers. The revenue generated from the gas tax is instrumental in financing the state’s road infrastructure, making it a crucial funding source, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. In 2015 alone, Texas accumulated a substantial $3.4 billion through…

Rivian’s software executive, Wassym Bensaid, recently unveiled a plethora of upcoming enhancements and features in a Q&A session on Instagram. Undoubtedly, one of the most remarkable advancements that electric vehicles have brought forth is the ability to receive over-the-air (OTA) updates. As eloquently emphasized by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, this innovation enables your car to constantly improve, even while idly parked in your driveway. Rivian has now disclosed a wide array of forthcoming software improvements during a question-and-answer segment held on the automaker’s Instagram page yesterday. The list of enhancements slated for Rivian vehicles is extensive and highly anticipated by…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer NIO has recently initiated the delivery of its EC7 electric coupe SUV, which has gained recognition for its exceptional aerodynamics. Positioned to compete in the expanding premium electric SUV market, NIO’s flagship coupe SUV joins the ranks of the Polestar 3 as a formidable contender. NIO unveiled the EC7 during NIO Day 2022 in December, showcasing its remarkable aerodynamic design with a drag coefficient as low as 0.23 Cd. According to NIO, this feature sets the EC7 apart in terms of market-leading efficiency, even surpassing the Tesla Model X, known for its aerodynamic prowess at…

Serbian company ElevenEs has opened a new plant for the production of prismatic LFP battery cells in Subotica, Serbia. The cells produced in this facility will initially be supplied as samples to customers for use in electric vehicles, buses, trucks and stationary energy storage systems. By 2024, the plant is expected to be expanded into a “mega-factory” with a production capacity of 500 MWh. ElevenEs intends to build two large production facilities in the coming years, with a total capacity of 48 GWh. The first, with an annual capacity of 8 GWh, is scheduled to come on stream in 2026,…

Finnish electric vehicle (EV) charging platform, Virta, has secured €85 million ($95 million) in growth funding from its existing investors, including E.On, to expand its charging platform and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. The company plans to grow fivefold in Europe and Asia over the next two years. Virta CEO Jussi Palola stated that the EV charging platform is crucial for companies building global charging services, and the fresh funding will enable the company to secure the best growth capabilities for its partners. Apart from E.On, other investors, including Helen Ventures, Vertex Growth Fund, Finnish Industry Investment, Lahti Energy, Vantaa Energy, Jolt…

B-ON, the StreetScooter successor, has partnered with International Motors Limited (IML) to import and distribute its all-electric commercial vehicles to the UK. The move is expected to help B-ON reach a wider customer base as IML has a well-established dealer network in the UK. IML will take over sales and aftersales support, warranty execution, and parts distribution for B-ON’s electric light commercial vehicles MAX and GIGA, which are available in the trim levels BOX and PURE. See also: B-ON Powers Through Challenging First Year, Delivers 2,447 Electric Vehicles and Raises $150 Million in Capital B-ON’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Stefan…

Maxus, the commercial vehicle brand owned by SAIC, has recently revealed its latest electric van, the eDeliver 7. This new model is Maxus’s third EV transporter, after the eDeliver 3 and 9, and is available in four sizes. Maxus has already started planning another model, which is expected to be called the eDeliver 5 and positioned between the eDeliver 3 and 7. The eDeliver 7 will be competing in the 3.5-tonne class and is positioned exactly between the two existing electric vans. Reports suggest that the vehicle is the first representative of a completely new platform, but several core components…

Porsche has recently announced that they have made significant improvements to the third generation Cayenne, including the plug-in hybrid version, before launching the purely electric offshoot of the fourth generation model. The changes include updates to the drive, chassis, design, and equipment, making it one of the most extensive product upgrades in the history of Porsche. The Cayenne E-Hybrid, available in both the SUV and SUV Coupé, now boasts a system output of 346 kW, thanks to a revised V6 petrol engine and a new electric motor with an increased output of 30 kW to 130 kW. The battery’s energy…

Volvo Buses has signed a memorandum of understanding with Egypt’s Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles (MCV) to produce bodies for its electric buses in the city and intercity segments across European markets from next year. Under the agreement, MCV will manufacture bodies under license for the Volvo 7900 Electric and 7900 Electric Articulated city buses, scheduled for delivery to European customers in 2025. The companies also plan to jointly develop an electric intercity bus offering, with further details yet to be revealed. See also: DHL orders 2,000 Ford electric vans for last-mile deliveries Volvo Buses will retain the production of chassis and…

Solaris, the Polish manufacturer of electric buses, has announced its largest single order for hydrogen buses to date from the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The municipal company Rebus Regionalbus Rostock has ordered 52 fuel cell buses from Solaris, including 47 vehicles with a length of twelve metres and five articulated buses. Rebus Regionalbus, which is responsible for public transport in the Rostock region, plans to invest €40 million to convert to hydrogen public transport. The company currently operates 170 diesel buses and expects to commission the fuel cell vehicles in the first quarter of 2025. The average distance travelled on…

Ikea has committed to a £4.5 million investment in a partnership with Mer to install almost 200 charging stations at its stores across the UK and Ireland. The charging stations will cater to Ikea’s growing electric vehicle (EV) fleet and will increase its global network. The project, which is one of the region’s largest EV charging infrastructure initiatives for last-mile fleet services, will be managed and maintained by Mer. Ikea has announced its ambition to have over 500 charging points by 2025, as part of its target to achieve 100% zero-emissions deliveries from all of its stores and distribution centres…