Author: Christopher Harrison

After much anticipation and years of teasers, Lucid officially revealed its first all-electric SUV, the Gravity, on Thursday. Priced under $80,000 and boasting a maximum range exceeding 440 miles, production is slated to commence in late 2024. Positioned as a luxury electric SUV without compromise, the Gravity offers seating for up to seven passengers or, with folded second and third rows, an expansive 112.0 cubic feet of storage space. Capable of handling over 1,500 pounds of payload and towing up to 6,000 pounds, Lucid claims a rapid 3.5-second sprint to 60 mph without a trailer attached. The SUV’s impressive acceleration…

Xpeng, a prominent player in China’s electric vehicle (EV) market, reported a quarterly operating loss that exceeded expectations on Wednesday, attributed to the costs associated with scaling up production. In response, the U.S.-listed shares of the EV maker dipped 2.5% in premarket trading. Competing with Tesla on their home turf, smaller Chinese EV manufacturers like Xpeng and Nio have encountered hurdles in their journey, grappling with substantial expenses linked to expanding production capacities and launching new vehicle models. For the third quarter, Xpeng’s operating loss reached 3.16 billion yuan ($436.33 million), surpassing analyst estimates of 3.79 billion yuan but marking an…

Aluminium producer Hydro (NHY.OL) and UK-based Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) announced on Wednesday their joint initiative to explore the use of recycled and low-carbon aluminium, aiming to align with the climate goals of WEVC’s potential commercial electric van customers. Hydro’s low-carbon aluminium, produced using renewable energy, boasts a commendable CO2 footprint of 4.0 kg per tonne, significantly lower than the global average of 16.7kg. The collaboration between Hydro and WEVC extends to evaluating the incorporation of recycled aluminium in the manufacturing process. The anticipated outcome is a remarkable 50% reduction in the carbon footprint of WEVC’s eCV1 electric van,…

French automaker Renault disclosed ambitious revenue projections for its electric vehicles unit, Ampere, which it intends to list on the market in the coming year. Ampere foresees revenues surging to 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) by 2025, with an even more ambitious target of 25 billion euros by 2031, signifying a doubling of its financial prowess. Renault outlined key financial objectives for Ampere, including an anticipated break-even in 2025 and a targeted operating margin of at least 10% starting from 2030. These targets precede an investor day where Renault seeks to garner support for its planned initial public offering scheduled…

The next generation of the Toyota Camry, the best-selling sedan in the U.S. market, will come with only a gas-electric hybrid powertrain, the boldest move yet by the Japanese automaker to push hybrid technology into the heart of the U.S. market. The 2025 Camry will combine a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric drive system tuned to deliver more power in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the car, Toyota said. Compliance with tougher U.S. fuel economy rules was a factor in Toyota’s decision to make the new Camry an all-hybrid vehicle line, dropping four- and six-cylinder combustion…

Mercedes-Benz South Africa has joined forces with Chargify to enhance the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the country, aiming to install more than 120 AC and DC charging stations along key routes. These stations will be strategically placed between metropolitan areas, encompassing airports, shopping malls, restaurant hubs, private hospitals, expansion sites, residential estates, and small towns. In the initial phase of the collaboration, the partners plan to install 67 Mercedes-Benz EQ-branded charging stations across South Africa during the first quarter of 2024. The subsequent phase involves the addition of over 60 charging stations in key areas; however, no specific…

Tesla, a leading force in the electric vehicle (EV) market, is intensifying efforts to refine its range prediction tools, underscoring the significance of precise range estimates to alleviate concerns associated with range anxiety. In a recent disclosure on Tesla North America’s X platform (formerly Twitter), the company detailed an extensive list of factors considered by its navigation system when calculating driving routes and projecting the battery percentage upon arrival. The comprehensive list encompasses a spectrum of factors, ranging from apparent considerations to subtler variables influencing driving range accuracy. Noteworthy factors in the “obvious” category include the initial battery state of…

Electric vehicle pioneer Tesla is grappling with a recall involving certain 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles due to potential safety concerns stemming from the installation of incorrect airbags. The recall, a rare move for the Elon Musk-led company, comes after Tesla offered customers the option to switch from the controversial yoke steering wheel to a traditional round one for a fee, a service that quickly sold out in eight days. The recall notice, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), highlights the possibility that Tesla service technicians may have inadvertently installed the wrong airbag variant when…

BMW North America has unveiled plans to extend its electric vehicle (EV) charging service, ChargeForward, to encompass 48 states in the United States. This strategic move aims to amplify the company’s presence in the rapidly evolving electric mobility sector. Under the ChargeForward initiative, drivers of BMW electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models manufactured post-2018 can participate in the program. Through the integration of the telematics system, users have the opportunity to earn cash incentives by allowing ChargeForward to optimize the vehicle’s charging schedule, ensuring it aligns with periods of reduced strain on the grid. Presently, BMW collaborates with utilities such…

Karma Automotive showcased its latest creation, the Kaveya, a striking super coupe GT featuring distinctive butterfly doors. Unveiled at an event in Las Vegas, the Kaveya will be available in two versions – an all-wheel-drive variant boasting “more than 1,000 horsepower” and a rear-wheel-drive model with 536 horsepower, set to hit the road in the fourth quarter of 2025. The all-wheel-drive Kaveya is equipped with a 120 kWh battery, providing a range of “250-plus miles” (402 kilometers) and achieving a zero to 60 mph acceleration in under three seconds. Charging the battery from ten to 80 percent capacity is stated…

Tootbus, a subsidiary of RATP Dev, is set to repower 15 open-top double-decker buses for sightseeing services in central London, contributing to the city’s ambitious net zero targets by 2030. In collaboration with Magtec, the UK’s leading designer, manufacturer, and integrator of drive systems for commercial electric vehicles, Tootbus aims to transform its iconic fleet for sustainable operations. The multi-million-pound agreement with Magtec involves retrofitting the 23-tonne triaxle buses with electric drivetrains, including Magtec’s long-range 280 kWh battery system. These distinctive double-decker buses will ply hop-on, hop-off routes, showcasing London’s world-famous landmarks in and around Westminster. Andrew Gilligan, Managing Director…

Senator Joe Manchin, Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, has called on the U.S. Treasury to implement the “strictest possible standards” to prevent Chinese-produced minerals or Chinese battery companies from benefiting from electric vehicle (EV) tax credits. In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday, Manchin expressed concerns about reports indicating that Chinese battery firms are actively seeking opportunities to leverage these tax credits, emphasizing that U.S. incentives should not be susceptible to exploitation by adversaries engaging in “mineral laundering.” The Inflation Reduction Act, passed by Congress in 2022, prohibits $7,500 in future consumer EV tax credits…