Author: Christopher Harrison

Italian Lego Certified Professional Riccardo Zangelmi has just unveiled his incredible creation at the Milan Design Week, an awe-inspiring model of a Kia EV6 made entirely from 350,000 Lego bricks. This life-size replica, built at the request of Kia Italy by BrickVision, is a testament to the future of sustainable mobility, and the idea that it is built “brick by brick.” Despite the somewhat gimmicky PR angle, the model is undeniably impressive, featuring a functioning lighting system and a level of detail that is truly astonishing. The Brick To The Future project took 800 hours to complete, the equivalent of…

Gazelle Bikes, a well-known electric bicycle manufacturer based in Holland, has recently launched four new e-bike models in the US. The Gazelle Avignon C380, Arroyo C5, Ultimate C380, and Ultimate T10 will be rolled out this spring. The company has a rich history of over a century of quality bike design, and I recently had the opportunity to visit their factory in the Netherlands and ride several of their e-bikes. Based on my experience, I can attest that these are high-quality e-bikes that combine European engineering with a uniquely Dutch design ethos, emphasizing comfort and practicality. Gazelle has continued to…

StoreDot, the company behind the innovative extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology, is set to produce silicon batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). These new batteries will enable car manufacturers to create cheaper, lighter, and more sustainable EVs with an optimal driver experience in mind. StoreDot’s technology has reached sufficient charging and discharging cycles to allow manufacturers to include smaller battery packs with XFC technology that can translate into improved EV specifications such as better car efficiency, increased utilization of regenerative braking, and lower costs. The company is on track to deliver its silicon-dominant XFC batteries to EV OEMs next year.…

Tesla slashed prices for its electric vehicles in Europe, Israel, and Singapore, as part of its global discount strategy initiated in China earlier this year. However, this move has raised concerns about the company’s industry-leading profit margin. Tesla reported a disappointing 4% increase in first-quarter deliveries despite offering discounts in the United States, China, Japan, Australia, and South Korea aimed at boosting demand. In response to the underwhelming delivery data, Tesla has announced its fifth vehicle price reduction this year in the U.S. market. This comes as Washington prepares to introduce tougher standards that will limit EV tax credits. However,…

Volkswagen brand boss, Thomas Schäfer, recently spoke with Auto News Europe about the forthcoming ID.2all hatchback from the car manufacturer, which will have a starting price of less than €25,000 ($27,464). Despite its affordable price point, Schäfer insists that the ID.2all will be profitable for VW. According to Schäfer, VW will not have margins below 6% and intends to make money. He stated, “With the scale we have with four vehicles from three brands [on the same MEB Entry platform] – two from VW, one from Cupra, and one from Skoda – I guarantee we can. We are not a…

Finnish Minerals Group has taken a significant step towards the establishment of a new cell production plant in the southern Finnish port city of Kotka. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a potential partner for the project and has begun preparations for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. The Finnish Battery Chemicals Oy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Finnish Minerals Group, will conduct the EIA process, and a reasoned conclusion on the EIA report is expected by the summer of 2024. If the environmental impact assessment is positive, the plant will have a production capacity of either…

Tesla fans and automotive enthusiasts alike have been eagerly awaiting the production launch of the highly anticipated Cybertruck. After a long production hiatus, it appears that Tesla is finally concluding its testing and regulatory work on the vehicle, as it was recently spotted at the Giga Texas wind tunnel. The video of the Cybertruck at the Giga Texas wind tunnel, which was initially reported on Twitter by Giga Texas expert Jeff Roberts, has since gone viral on numerous other social media sites. While the drone footage, unfortunately, doesn’t provide a clear view of the truck’s design, we do get a…

POSCO Holdings Inc. and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have announced their plan to collaborate towards achieving carbon neutrality. This partnership is aimed at leveraging the strengths of each company to explore future collaboration and accelerate initiatives towards carbon neutrality. Under the agreement, the two companies will explore collaboration in key areas including automotive steel sheet, electric steel sheet, batteries, and recycling. One of the major areas of focus will be the adoption of ultra-high tensile steel sheet that contributes to further weight reduction in vehicles, and automotive steel sheet produced through a process that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The partnership…

Osprey Charging, a UK network of rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging points, has demonstrated the increasing deployment of public charging infrastructure with an impressive milestone. The company announced that it installed as many chargers in the first quarter of 2023 as it did throughout the entire year of 2022. In just 10 weeks between January and March, Osprey Charging installed 142 new rapid EV charging stations that are now open to public use, bringing the total number of charge points to 4+ charger hubs across the UK. According to Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging Network, the whole team is…

Maeving, a UK-based electric motorcycle startup, has its sights set on breaking into the US market by the end of 2023 or 2024, according to CEO and founder Tom Stirrup. The company’s first model, the RM1, has already generated buzz in Europe for its budget-friendly price tag of £6,990 (~$8,605 USD) and impressive range of up to 80 miles. See also: Maeving RM1 specifications : Everything you need to know However, in order to meet US Department of Transportation (DOT) standards, Maeving will need to homologate the RM1, which could pose a challenge. Stirrup also acknowledges that the company may…

General Motors (GM) has announced its leadership role in a $50 million Series B financing round for US lithium mining group EnergyX. As part of the agreement, GM will also be collaborating with EnergyX to develop the company’s lithium extraction and refinery technology. This partnership aims to unlock North America’s supply of lithium by using EnergyX’s direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology portfolio to increase efficiency while improving sustainability for GM’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) production. EnergyX’s innovative DLE technology allows lithium metal to be made directly from brine, potentially in an anode-ready form for EV batteries. This process enables…

Japan is set to take another step towards embracing autonomous driving with the creation of a self-driving truck lane on its busiest expressway. The lane will be featured on a section of the Shin-Tomei Expressway, stretching around 62 miles between Numazu and Hamamatsu, two cities to the south of Mount Fuji, and could be reserved for autonomous haulage vehicles as early as next year. The lane will be accompanied by sensors and cameras to monitor road conditions, and advanced 5G communication will also be required to ensure that self-driving trucks are warned of any obstacles in the lane or hold-ups…

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to unveil new sweeping regulations aimed at boosting the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the US. The announcement, expected on Wednesday in Washington, marks a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, only 5.8% of vehicles sold in the US were EVs. However, the new EPA regulations would require automakers to adhere to a strict emissions limit for the total number of vehicles sold each year, ensuring that 54-60% of new vehicles sold would be EVs by 2030, and that percentage would jump…

Nissan has announced that its highly anticipated Max-Out all-electric convertible concept will make its debut in China at the upcoming Auto Shanghai 2023, which runs from April 18 to 27. Alongside the Max-Out, the company will also introduce two new concept vehicles designed to cater to the diverse mobility needs of Chinese consumers. The Max-Out was first introduced in 2021 as a digital concept, representing Nissan’s Ambition 2030 plan to meet consumer, environmental, and societal needs sustainably. Now, it has become a reality, offering an exciting and confident driving experience that is tailored to a broad range of lifestyles and…

Electric vehicle start-up, Canoo, has announced that it has entered into a long-term lease agreement with an affiliate of AFV Partners for its Vehicle Manufacturing Facility in Oklahoma City. The facility, which covers close to 500,000 square feet, will support a full general and final vehicle assembly line, state-of-the-art robotics, a body shop, paint shop, and automated paint line including e-coat and sealing, quality control, complete vehicle testing, validation and more. In phase 1, Canoo expects to employ more than 500 people and has the ability to expand. Canoo’s decision to establish its manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City is attributed…

South Korea has taken a significant step towards boosting its battery industry, announcing that it will provide financial support of 7 trillion won (about $5.32 billion) for its battery makers over the next five years. The aim is to assist these companies in investing in infrastructure in North America and help them deal with the US Inflation Reduction Act, which was introduced by the US Treasury Department last week. Under the new tax rules for electric vehicles (EVs), automakers must source a certain percentage of critical minerals for EV batteries from the United States or a US free-trade partner to…

Polestar has announced plans to launch two new models within a year of each other. The Polestar 3, which will be the company’s second model, is set to launch in the fourth quarter of this year, while the Polestar 4 is due to arrive just nine months later. Speaking to Auto News, Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath confirmed that the Polestar 3 will be the brand’s first model to be manufactured in the US, at Volvo’s factory in Charleston, South Carolina. He also explained that the Polestar 4 will be a slightly-lifted sedan similar to the Tesla Model Y. Despite the…

Canadian Charge Point Operator (CPO) ChargerQuest, in partnership with Noodoe, is taking significant steps towards dominating the EV charging industry in Canada. The two companies have announced the launch of a new DC fast EV charging hub in Tobermory, Ontario, consisting of six “Powered by Noodoe” 120kW Exceed DC charging stations. ChargerQuest plans to become the most established Charging Service Provider (CSP) in Canada, with over 300 charging assets nationwide. Noodoe CEO Jennifer Chang believes that the partnership between Noodoe and ChargerQuest is ideal, stating, “ChargerQuest and Noodoe have aggressive plans for Canadian expansion in 2023. Together, we’re defining what’s…

Delta Electronics, the global electronics corporation from Taiwan, has recently announced the launch of their latest innovation in the EMEA region – the DC Wallbox 50kW. This new product is a game-changer in the electric vehicle (EV) charging industry, as it is only half as wide as standard chargers of its kind, making it perfect for on-street installation. According to Delta, the DC Wallbox 50kW can provide over 200 km in range for EVs with just one hour of charging, thanks to its charging efficiency of 97%. Its slim design, measuring only 25 cm in thickness, is a marked contrast…

Tesla has announced that co-founder JB Straubel is returning to the company as a non-executive board member. Straubel was a key figure at Tesla, serving as its Chief Technology Officer for 14 years before departing in 2019 to launch Redwood Materials, which is working on creating a North American battery supply chain. Straubel played a crucial role in giving Tesla a technological edge when it came to batteries and power electronics, and was widely regarded as the company’s second most important executive after Elon Musk. His departure was seen as a significant loss for Tesla, but now his return as…