Author: Christopher Harrison

BasiGo, a Kenyan-based electric vehicle (EV) company, has raised $24 million in Series A equity funding, along with an additional $17.5 million in debt financing, to further its mission of electrifying public transportation in Sub-Saharan Africa. This marks the largest investment in the region’s EV industry, according to the company. The equity round was led by Africa50 and included support from co-investors such as Novastar Ventures, CFAO Kenya, Mobility54, and others. In addition to the equity funding, BasiGo secured a $10 million loan from the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for its Kenyan operations and a $7.5 million debt facility…

Airbus and Toshiba have announced a new partnership to develop superconducting technologies aimed at enhancing the performance of hydrogen-powered aircraft. The collaboration will focus on creating a superconducting motor with two megawatts of power, utilizing liquid hydrogen as both fuel and a cooling mechanism. The partnership will see Airbus UpNext, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus, join forces with Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation, the energy division of Toshiba Group. The goal is to leverage superconducting technologies, which allow electricity to flow with minimal resistance at extremely low temperatures, improving the energy efficiency of electric systems in hydrogen-powered planes. This…

Tesla has received approval from the local environment ministry to commence the first stage of its expansion at Gigafactory Berlin, which is expected to significantly enhance the plant’s production capacity. According to Reuters, the ministry has greenlit the initial three phases of the expansion, which will include new logistics facilities, a battery cell testing and recycling lab, and additional storage infrastructure. The expansion will utilize land that Tesla already owns and follows recent efforts by the company to clear trees in preparation for the project. Tesla’s application for the expansion, submitted in July 2023, has faced notable opposition from environmental…

Tesla has begun rolling out its Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) software to a limited number of Cybertruck owners, marking a significant development for the vehicle almost a year after its launch in November 2023. According to a post on cybertruckownersclub forum, access to the FSD feature has been enabled with the 2024.32.20 software update, labeled as “early access.” This rollout follows Tesla’s initial delivery of the Cybertruck, which notably lacked the FSD capability upon release, unlike previous models such as the Model 3 and Model Y. The Cybertruck, being substantially different in design and technology from other Tesla vehicles, required more…

The Tesla Model Y has officially surpassed the Nissan Leaf to become Norway’s best-selling electric vehicle of all time, as sales records dating back to 2011 reveal. The all-electric crossover has outpaced the Leaf, one of the earliest EVs to hit the market, solidifying Tesla’s dominance in the Norwegian electric vehicle landscape. Having been the world’s best-selling vehicle last year, the Model Y is on track to maintain its top spot in the United States this year. While the Nissan Leaf has been a long-time favorite, leading in all-time sales for several years, the Model Y has gradually closed the…

Porsche has announced that owners of the new 2025 Macan Electric will enjoy one year of free 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America stations. This offer is part of an extended partnership between Electrify America and Porsche Cars North America, and applies to Macan Electric models arriving at U.S. dealerships this month. The 2025 Macan Electric, which boasts an EPA-rated range of 308 miles (288 miles for the Turbo variant), supports charging speeds of up to 270 kilowatts (kW) thanks to its 800-volt architecture. According to Porsche, the vehicle can charge from 10-80% in just 21 minutes under optimal conditions.…

Zeekr has officially launched the right-hand drive version of its Zeekr 009 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in Thailand, marking the company’s second model introduced in the Southeast Asian market. The Zeekr 009 went on sale on September 24, starting at 3,099,000 baht (approximately $94,760). Deliveries for the new MPV are expected to commence in October, according to the company’s announcement. This launch follows the introduction of the Zeekr X SUV, the first model offered in Thailand, which began pre-orders on March 25, went on sale on July 11, and saw deliveries starting August 1. To support its operations, Zeekr has established…

Volkswagen and Google have teamed up to create a new smartphone app featuring an AI assistant designed specifically for VW drivers. The app allows drivers to access information and receive assistance related to their vehicles while on the road. With simple voice commands, users can ask the AI assistant questions like “How do I change a flat tire?” and receive YouTube tutorials directly on their phones. In addition to this, drivers can use their phone’s camera to point at the vehicle’s dashboard and receive detailed information about their car’s systems. This is made possible through the integration of Google’s Gemini…

Kia has announced plans to provide its EV6 and EV9 owners access to over 16,500 Tesla Superchargers starting January 15, 2025. The automaker will facilitate this integration with complimentary North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapters for specific customers. According to a press release from Kia America, the free NACS adapters will be available to those who purchased a 2024 or 2025 Kia EV6 or EV9 after September 4, 2024. Owners of Kia EVs bought before this date, including the EV6, EV9, and Niro EV, will be able to purchase the NACS adapter at authorized Kia dealerships at a later time.…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced more than $3 billion in grants for 25 projects aimed at enhancing domestic battery production and reducing reliance on imports. The funding, which will be distributed across 14 states, is part of a broader initiative to strengthen the nation’s battery manufacturing base and support the transition to clean energy. John Podesta, Senior Advisor to President Biden for International Climate Policy, emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating it would “boost America’s manufacturing base, create good-paying union jobs all over the country, and help tackle the climate crisis.” The grants are administered by…

Peugeot is set to launch long-range variants of its electric SUVs, the e-3008 and e-5008, featuring a 97 kWh battery, at the Paris Motor Show from October 14 to 20. Currently, only the smaller battery option is available for order, but the Stellantis brand plans to introduce these new battery configurations at the event. Both models are built on the Stellantis STLA Medium platform and utilize battery cells from the ACC joint venture, which includes TotalEnergies and Mercedes-Benz. Notably, these cells are sourced from ACC’s sole operational factory in France. The e-3008 is expected to achieve a WLTP range of…

General Motors has expanded access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, offering more than 17,800 charging stations across North America to its electric vehicle customers. However, GM models, including Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC, will require a GM-approved North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter, priced at $225. While this move signals progress, challenges remain. The New York Times recently reported software issues affecting third-party use of the Supercharger network, alongside delivery delays for the necessary adapters. Over a year has passed since manufacturers announced plans to adopt the NACS standard, but GM is among the first to push forward. Currently, the NACS adapter…

Norway, a leading oil exporter, has marked a significant milestone in its shift towards electric mobility. According to recent data from the Norwegian Road Federation, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the country’s roads has now overtaken petrol-powered cars, underlining Norway’s transition to a greener transport sector. Out of 2.8 million private cars registered in Norway, 754,303 are fully electric, surpassing the 753,905 petrol-driven vehicles. While diesel cars still make up nearly one million registrations, sales of diesel models are steadily declining. Norway, with a population of 5.5 million, has set an ambitious goal of ensuring all new car…

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast reported a deepening net loss of $773.5 million in the second quarter, a 27% increase from the previous quarter and 40% higher than the same period last year. The losses were attributed to rising costs related to the company’s aggressive overseas expansion and impairment charges, despite a 33% quarter-on-quarter revenue increase to $357 million. “We are still a startup so we expect to have losses for a couple more quarters,” VinFast Chairwoman Thuy Le said in an interview with Reuters. She added, “However, the industry is driven by volumes. As we increase the volumes and…

Munich Electrification has confirmed that it is supplying Daimler Truck AG with a customised battery management system (BMS) tailored to the company’s specific needs. The agreement focuses on the “Bologna” BMS, which operates at voltages of up to 950 volts, though the details regarding the size or value of the contract were not disclosed. Munich Electrification, known for its development of battery management systems and software frameworks, describes the Bologna system as highly adaptable. The product integrates key components such as a battery management unit (BMU) and a cell monitoring board (CMB). The company states that the system’s flexible software…

Gaussion, a spinoff from University College London specializing in fast-charging technology for batteries, has successfully closed its Series A funding round, raising €10.9 million. The company, co-founded by Tom Heenan and Chun Tan, aims to address the persistent challenge of charging speed, which remains a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) for both passenger and commercial use. Gaussion has developed an innovative solution that utilizes an external magnetic field during charging and discharging cycles to enhance battery performance. This technology promises to enable battery manufacturers to produce batteries that can deliver a 200-mile (320-kilometer) charge in…

The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) has released a comprehensive overview of the current and planned battery recycling capacities in Europe. The study emphasizes the importance of proximity to car and battery manufacturers as a key factor in determining the locations of recycling facilities, while also noting significant growth in recycling capacities across the continent. The Fraunhofer ISI projects that the recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) will become increasingly crucial in Europe, with numerous expansion projects and new recycling plant announcements observed throughout the region. An interactive map included in the report showcases the expected battery recycling…

Rivian’s upcoming R2 five-seater SUV will be equipped with a charging port on the rear driver-side of the vehicle, enhancing its compatibility with Tesla Superchargers. The move comes as Rivian continues to align with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), which the company announced it would adopt last year. While Rivian gained access to the Tesla Supercharger Network earlier this year, one ongoing challenge for non-Tesla electric vehicle (EV) owners has been the varied placement of charging ports. Tesla’s standardized port location on the rear driver-side is designed to work seamlessly with the Supercharger stalls and their cable lengths. However,…

Hyundai Motor Group has confirmed that series production of the Kia EV4 electric saloon will commence in South Korea in March 2025. Additionally, rumors suggest a special European version of the EV4 may be produced locally. During the EV4’s initial reveal, production was slated for 2024. However, Hyundai has since postponed the timeline. According to the Korea Times, this delay is attributed to “falling EV sentiment triggered by a temporary demand stagnation before widespread adoption.” The EV4 will be manufactured at the Gwangmyeong plant in South Korea, sharing a production line with the EV3, which launched domestically in May. Both…

General Motors (GM) has implemented a new employee performance rating system, offering significant bonuses for top performers. The revamped system aims to attract and retain talent critical for the automaker’s electric vehicle (EV) production goals. “To ensure GM has the talent needed to achieve our ambitious goals, a more intentional process is required that sets clear expectations for performance and holds people accountable,” stated a GM memo. The new rating system transitions from three rankings to five, ranging from “does not meet expectations” to “significantly exceeds expectations.” Employees in the top 5% will receive a 150% bonus, while those in…