Author: Christopher Harrison

The all-new Jeep Avenger has officially begun regular production at the Stellantis plant in Tychy, Poland. This compact SUV marks the introduction of Jeep’s lineup of electric vehicles, designed specifically for the European market, as the brand aims to become a world leader in zero-emission SUVs. “The all-new Jeep Avenger is the first Jeep SUV to be produced in Poland, and a great reason for our entire team to be proud. We are starting 2023 with the launch of production of a vehicle that has already earned recognition of customers and industry experts,” said Tomasz Gębka, Stellantis Plant Manager in…

Xpeng is making a major move in the European market, as the company has officially opened up order books for the first two of its electric vehicles set to be sold in the region. Four countries will be able to purchase these vehicles, including Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Despite already having a presence in Norway, Xpeng has decided to formalize its presence in the European market through this expansion. As a result, Xpeng has also decided to upgrade its popular P7 model, which has been available in Norway since last year. The updated version will feature a more…

Volkswagen will not be producing hydrogen-powered passenger cars in the next decade. Instead, the company will focus its efforts on further developing electric vehicle (EV) technology. The statements come from the brand’s CEO, Thomas Schafer, who spoke to the Spanish division of AutoBild at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Schafer stated that hydrogen technology has significant disadvantages compared to battery technology and is not suitable for passenger cars. He added that commercial vehicles may be a possibility for hydrogen use, but not for passenger vehicles. See also: Honda plans to produce hydrogen-powered electric cars in the United States by…

British firm Kleanbus has successfully developed its first advanced modular electric platform, which it has installed in its first prototype vehicle. The company boasts that its “e-drivetrain in a box” system can quickly and affordably convert single or double-decker buses from internal combustion engines to electric, using a combination of Tier 1 electric powertrain components, proprietary software, and integration technology. The technology has been installed in an Optare Solo, and Kleanbus is now ramping up its prototype testing with dynamic development at its facility in eastern England. Additionally, the company is starting pilot trials with select bus fleet operators. “Momentum…

First Hydrogen, a company specializing in hydrogen technology for the automotive and energy industries, has unveiled the design for its new generation of zero-emission vans. Working with EDAG Group, a leading developer of concept cars and prototypes, First Hydrogen tasked the global mobility engineers with creating a design and styling for its light commercial vehicles. The first images of the Generation II vans showcase a smart digital panel on the front and vertical tail lights on the rear. The front panel features daytime running lights for improved visibility and a recognizable face, while the rear design accommodates different types of…

BMW has revealed its latest vehicle upgrades for Spring 2023, including updates to its electric models. Starting in March 2023, all variants of the BMW iX will feature a new and improved predictive heat management system for the high-voltage battery. This allows for manual preheating of the battery, using waste heat generated by the electric drives, to optimize the temperature before charging. This is important as charging at maximum power is not possible if the battery is too cold. Previously, the function was linked to active destination guidance in the BMW navigation system, but this caused issues for customers who…

San Francisco authorities are seeking to limit the growth of autonomous driving technology after numerous incidents caused by driverless cars. These cars have been known to stop in the middle of the road without reason and have interfered with firefighting efforts. Officials have written letters to California regulators asking them to reduce the road testing activities of Cruise and Waymo, who are competing to be the first to offer 24-hour robotaxi service in the state. In one incident, firefighters had to break the windshield of a Cruise autonomous car to prevent it from driving over their hoses. The proposed restrictions…

2023 is a pivotal year for Energica Motor. After financial tech firm Ideanomics acquired a 70% stake in the company in 2021, Energica shifted focus to expanding its dealership network. The firm also exited the Grand Prix paddock after the 2022 season to focus on serving its customer base, which was evident at EICMA 2022 with the release of updated models. To better support its French customers, Energica partnered with French e-garage start-up Revolte. The company offers repair and maintenance services for electric and hybrid vehicles at its Nantes, France location and also features a Mobile Workshop for roadside assistance.…

The Tesla Semi has been delivered to its initial customers, but the exact production specifications of the vehicle remain largely unknown. However, a recent visit to PepsiCo’s Frito Lay facility in Modesto, California provided some valuable insights into the production specs of the Tesla Semi. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, highlighted the importance of sustainable long-haulers during the first deliveries of the Semi. He pointed out that semi trucks, despite making up only 1% of vehicles on the road, are responsible for 20% of emissions in the transportation sector. The Tesla Semi is designed to address this issue. MotorTrend, an automotive…

Lynkwell, a provider of charging solutions for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, has acquired over 50 fast chargers from Tritium, a global leader in direct current fast charging. The chargers, which include Tritium’s 75kW modular charger and 150kW scalable fast charger, will be primarily installed in retail locations as part of Lynkwell’s growing charging network. Lynkwell operates a nationwide EV charging network and provides turnkey resources for other charging network operators, from permitting to installation and management. Tritium CEO Jane Hunter stated that the Tritium chargers will offer American EV drivers more fast charging options and help the US transition…

National Express West Midlands, a British bus operator, is investing £150 million ($204 million) in 300 electric buses to be deployed in the West Midlands by the end of 2024. This will make over a third of the operator’s fleet emission-free. The source of the electric buses has not been disclosed, but they will be manufactured in the UK. The investment will also include upgrades to the charging infrastructure and maintenance capacities of the depot network. See also: DHL Express Tests Hydrogen Fuel Truck in China, Operates 350 Kilometers National Express aims to have a fully emission-free bus fleet by…

Germany registered 632 zero-emission buses in 2022, a 7% increase from the previous year. This places the country second in Europe, behind the UK with 696 new e-bus and fuel cell bus registrations, according to data by Chatrou CME Solutions. In 2021, 555 battery-electric buses and 33 fuel cell buses were registered, double the figures from 2020. Mercedes continues to lead the electric bus market, with 296 new registrations for their eCitaro model in 2022. VDL Bus & Coach followed close behind with 106 new electric bus deliveries, a position they held in 2021. See also: BP Pulse places record-breaking…

The Tesla Model 3 RWD is the most affordable vehicle offered by the company, with a starting price of $43,990 before incentives in the United States. This price was recently reduced, making it even more accessible to consumers. The Model 3 RWD can also be leased for as little as $399 per month, making it a great option for those who want to experience the benefits of electric vehicles without committing to a full purchase. According to Tesla’s online configurator, selecting the “lease” option for the Model 3 sedan defaults to an estimated monthly rate of $399. This is based…

Lucid Motors, the luxury electric vehicle manufacturer, has officially opened its latest combination Studio, delivery and service centre in Montreal, Quebec. The new facility, located at 6700 Rue Saint-Jacques, marks the 32nd Studio and service centre location in North America and the 36th globally. This is the company’s third retail location in Canada and its first service, delivery and sales centre in Quebec. The 1,781-square-meter luxury retail and service space will provide comprehensive sales and service support to the local area. The grand opening will take place on Saturday, January 28th, and local electric vehicle enthusiasts are invited to visit…

Hyundai Motor Company, the parent company of the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands, has announced a significant investment in its electric vehicle (EV) range and production. The company will invest 10.5 trillion won ($8.5 billion) in 2022 to expand its EV offerings and build its first-ever EV factory in the United States. Of the $8.5 billion, $5.5 billion will be allocated towards building the new EV factory in Georgia, set to begin construction in Q1 2022. The remaining $3 billion will be used for research and development of current and future EVs across all brands. Hyundai currently produces several EVs,…

According to a recent test conducted by Consumer Reports, Tesla has fallen behind its rivals in the field of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The organization evaluated 12 ADAS in five categories, with Ford’s BlueCruise coming out as the top performer, followed by GM’s Super Cruise, Mercedes-Benz’s Driver Assistance, and BMW’s Driving Assistance Professional. Tesla’s Autopilot came in at the bottom of the list. Consumer Reports evaluated the systems based on capability and performance, keeping the driver engaged, ease of use, unresponsive driver, and how clear it is when the system is safe to use. Ford’s BlueCruise scored well in…

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States has been steadily increasing, and with it, the demand for public charging stations. A recent study by S&P Global Mobility, shared by Automotive News, found that the number of public EV charging stations in the US needs to increase fourfold by 2025 in order to meet the growing demand. This lack of a robust public charging network has long been identified as a barrier to EV adoption. While the majority of EV owners charge their cars at home, having access to fast and reliable public charging stations is crucial for…

In the fourth quarter of 2022, Tesla significantly ramped up the expansion of its Supercharging network worldwide. A record-breaking 395 new stations were added, representing a 78% increase from the previous year. The number of new individual connectors also saw a significant boost, with 3,536 added, representing a 59% increase from the previous year. The average ratio of connectors per station was 9.0. Throughout the year of 2022, Tesla installed over 1,200 new stations, with almost 11,000 individual connectors, making the network roughly one-third larger than the previous year. In addition, the company continued to expand its Non-Tesla Supercharger Pilot…

Tesla is currently working on an all-new, next-generation vehicle platform, which is expected to be ready in the not-too-distant future. The company’s Q4 and full-year 2022 financial report revealed that the new platform is currently under development and more details will be shared at the upcoming Investor Day event on March 1, 2023. “Our next generation vehicle platform is under development, with additional details to be shared at Investor Day (March 1st 2023).” Not much is known about the specifics of Tesla’s next-generation platform, however, according to previous reports, it is expected to be for electric cars smaller in size…

According to Elon Musk, a Chinese car manufacturer is most likely to rival Tesla’s position as the leader in electric vehicles (EVs). During a quarterly earnings call, Musk was asked about Tesla’s competition in China and he responded by praising the hard work and smart strategies of Chinese carmakers. Many global car manufacturers have set their sights on challenging Tesla’s dominance in the EV market, however it seems that a Chinese company may have the upper hand in achieving this goal. Elon Musk noted that Chinese carmakers “work the hardest, and they work the smartest.” “If I were to guess,…