Author: Christopher Harrison

Tesla is set to ship cars from China to North America for the first time, as it begins producing a version of the Model Y in Shanghai to be sold in Canada later this year. This move will connect Tesla’s largest and most cost-efficient factory in the world to North America, its largest market, and is expected to be a significant development for the electric vehicle maker. The news was confirmed by an individual with direct knowledge of the plan and a production memo seen by Reuters. According to the memo, the vehicles have been designed and tested for export…

StoreDot, the company behind the ultrafast Tesla-like 4680 cells, has announced its partnership with VinES Energy Solutions to develop Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) battery cells for VinFast EVs. The first generation of this XFC battery cell will be immediately adopted by VinFast vehicles when it becomes commercially available in 2025. VinES, a member company of Vingroup, the largest private conglomerate in Vietnam, specializes in researching, developing, and manufacturing advanced Li-ion batteries for mobility and energy storage. Together, StoreDot and VinES will research, develop, and offer XFC battery cells in different form factors to prepare for mass production and supply. StoreDot…

Audi has announced that its global car sales during the first quarter of 2023 increased by 7.9 percent year-over-year to 415,700 units. While this marks a significant improvement, it still falls short of Q1 2021 sales figures of 462,800 units. However, the brand’s all-electric car sales experienced impressive growth during the same period. In fact, all-electric car sales increased by 42.8 percent year-over-year to roughly 34,600 units, which is the best Q1 and the second-best quarter for battery electric vehicles (BEV) so far. Compared to the total volume, all-electric cars now represent about 8.3 percent share, up from 6.3 percent…

Tesla has provided a comprehensive update on its 4680 battery cell program, which is anticipated to be critical for its future electric vehicles. The 4680 battery cell format has been a topic of interest since Tesla introduced its own cell strategy at Battery Day in 2020. The company claimed that the new design could potentially reduce battery costs by over 50%. However, Tesla has faced bottlenecks in its efforts to bring it to volume production. During a conference call following the release of its Q1 2023 financial results, Tesla’s Senior VP of Engineering, Drew Baglino, gave an update on the…

Polestar has unveiled its third all-electric series model, the Polestar 4, at the Shanghai Auto Show. Positioned between the Polestar 2 and 3 in terms of size and price, the SUV coupé is the brand’s fourth model and the third BEV model after the Polestar 1 PHEV coupé. One of the most striking features of the Polestar 4 is the absence of a rear window. Instead, Polestar is claiming to provide “a new kind of immersive rear occupant experience.” See also: Polestar 3 electric SUV premieres on October 12 According to Polestar, the Polestar 4 was designed from the ground…

Italian carmaker Lancia has unveiled its ten-year vision for the brand with the all-electric concept vehicle, the Lancia Pu+Ra HPE. The vehicle study is based on the chassis and powertrain of the future Lancia Ypsilon, which will launch in 2024 as an all-electric and hybrid variant. However, it is unclear whether the Pu+Ra HPE will ever hit the road. According to Luca Napolitano, CEO of the Lancia brand, the Pu+Ra HPE represents the brand’s way of conceiving and experiencing the car. The EV boasts an electric range of more than 700 kilometers, with efficient aerodynamics being a prerequisite. Features such…

China’s CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, has announced the launch of its latest innovation, the Condensed Battery, which is expected to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) industry and pave the way for the electrification of aviation. With a single cell having an energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg, the Condensed Battery boasts high safety and high energy density, according to the company’s chief scientist Wu Kai. The Condensed Battery has a micron-scale adaptive mesh structure that regulates inter-chain interaction forces for changes in the electrochemical reactions of ultra-high energy density chemistries. This technology introduces a series of innovations…

Australia has announced new standards to boost electric car sales and cut vehicle emissions, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said in a news conference. The national electric vehicle strategy will introduce a fuel efficiency standard, outlining the carbon dioxide output of a car. Bowen noted that fuel-efficient and electric vehicles are cleaner and cheaper to run, calling the announcement a “win-win for motorists.” Australia lags behind other developed economies in electric vehicle adoption, with only 3.8% of cars sold in the country last year being electric. “Apart from Russia, Australia was the only developed country to either not have or be…

In recent years, the lines between the tech and automotive industries have become increasingly blurred. Electronic giants such as Apple and Alphabet have entered the automotive space with CarPlay, Android Automotive, and Android Auto. Similarly, companies like Nvidia and Qualcomm have offered their expertise in ADAS chips to help power the growing number of electric vehicles. Now, another major player has emerged in the automotive industry: MediaTek. See also: Waymo cuts 8% of workforce in bid to streamline self-driving technology development With its announcement of Dimensity Auto, a platform for smart vehicles, MediaTek is leveraging its expertise in power-efficient chips…

Volkswagen, the leading passenger vehicle brand in China for decades, has pledged its commitment to the country despite the rise of nimble local rivals. The German automaker plans to introduce 10 more electric vehicle (EV) models by 2026, in a bid to keep up with Chinese automakers who are outpacing foreign brands in the EV market. “At VW, we remain firmly committed to China…Our guiding principle is development in China, for China at full speed,” said Thomas Schafer, CEO of VW Passenger Cars, at the Shanghai Auto Show. Volkswagen has seen its share of the Chinese auto market shrink as…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), a battery manufacturer for electric vehicles, has announced its goal to achieve carbon neutrality in its core operations by 2025 and extend it across the entire battery value chain by 2035. The announcement was made by Jiang Li, CATL’s board secretary, at the Auto Shanghai. This carbon neutrality plan is considered the most comprehensive initiative in the lithium-ion battery industry to date, given the significant scale of CATL’s operations. According to SNE Research, the company’s sales volume of lithium-ion batteries reached 289 GWh in the previous year. Jiang Li noted that achieving carbon neutrality…

Since its unveiling in 2019, the Tesla Cybertruck has garnered a lot of attention, with over 1.5 million reservations made for the futuristic electric truck. However, many have wondered how many of those reservations will convert to actual purchases. Fortunately, according to the latest survey conducted by Recurrent Auto, it appears that the majority of Cybertruck reservation holders plan to follow through with their purchase. Recurrent Auto conducted the survey in March 2023 and asked reservation holders of various electric pickup trucks if they still intended to purchase the vehicle they had reserved. The same poll was conducted back in…

May Mobility, a US-based autonomous vehicle (AV) technology developer, and Moovit, a leading Mobility as a Service (MaaS) solutions provider, are joining forces to offer a complete autonomous public transit solution. The partnership aims to provide commuters with a safe, accessible, and sustainable form of mobility in regions globally. See also: May Mobility Launches Third-Generation Autonomous Driving System with Enhanced Safety, Efficiency and Rider Satisfaction May Mobility’s AV fleets will work in tandem with Moovit’s urban mobility app and on-demand reservation and routing software to enable riders to plan, pay, and ride in shared AVs. Potential users will be able…

Li-Cycle Holdings and VinES Energy Solutions, a member of Vingroup based in Vietnam, have announced a long-term recycling partnership that will begin in 2024. Li-Cycle, a company that specializes in sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling, will become VinES’ strategic and preferred recycling partner for battery materials sourced in Vietnam. As part of the agreement, Li-Cycle and VinES will also explore the construction of a dedicated Spoke near VinES’ manufacturing site in Vietnam to meet growing local demand for lithium-ion battery recycling solutions. An investment decision regarding the potential Spoke facility is expected to be made in 2025. In the meantime, Li-Cycle…

Hyundai Motor Co. is making the most of a loophole in the new US federal EV tax credit implemented by the Biden Administration, which allows its electric vehicles (EVs) to remain competitive in the US market. While the rule has strict regulations that disqualify most EVs, some loopholes are allowing carmakers to take advantage of credit eligibility that may soon be eliminated. One such provision enables customers to receive the full credit if they lease a new EV. Although Hyundai’s EVs are ineligible for the credit under the new rules because they are all manufactured in South Korea, the automaker…

Blink Charging has secured a $7 million grant from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction proceeds. The grant, awarded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), and New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), will help bring electric ride-sharing to underserved communities in New Jersey. The initiative is part of the $70 million RGGI auction proceeds aimed at reducing the upfront costs of electric trucks, buses, and equipment in underserved neighborhoods. The electric ride-sharing program aims to provide low- to moderate-income communities with access to reliable transportation, reduce greenhouse gas pollutants,…

Rheinmetall’s Materials and Trade division has secured a major order to produce engine blocks for a hybrid vehicle. The order, valued at a figure in the mid-double-digit million-euro range, comprises over 500,000 units and was won against rival bids from global competitors. The Castings business unit, a leading producer of lightweight aluminum parts, will produce the parts using gravity casting in China, with production set to begin in 2024. The customer is Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), China’s largest automaker, which covers the complete spectrum of drive technology. See also: US and Japan Sign Trade Agreement on EV Battery Minerals…

Tesla’s quest for world domination in the automobile industry is well underway, but the company knows that it can’t do it alone. That’s why it has begun recruiting in Malaysia, where it is working towards establishing an official presence in the country. In an effort to expand its global reach, Tesla is now advertising nine positions in Malaysia on its website, covering a range of categories, including engineering, IT, operations, and sales. See also: Tesla to Open Office and Charging Stations in Malaysia Last month, the Minister of International Trade and Industry welcomed Tesla to Malaysia on Twitter, and it’s…

RunDeer is on a mission to make a difference in the world of transportation. The company’s latest creation, the Starry Sky E-Bike, is set to hit the market soon, and it promises to revolutionize the way we commute. The electric bike is equipped with a powerful 350 W motor, capable of achieving a top speed of 28 mph (~45 kph), with multiple power modes that can be easily switched from the handlebar. The Starry Sky E-Bike features a 48V 17.5Ah Panasonic battery, which is detachable and provides an impressive range of up to 62 miles (~100 km) in hybrid mode…

The UK government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund has invested £35.7 million in London’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The investment will be used to build public charge points across all 32 boroughs and the City of London in collaboration with the London Mayor, London Councils, and Transport for London (TfL). The initiative aims to address the increasing demand for electric vehicle charging stations in areas without off-street parking. In addition to the grant, the LEVI fund will provide £3 million to assist councils in delivering the charging projects. See also: Visiting London, try hailing one of London electric Taxi…