Author: Christopher Harrison

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…

BMW has announced the latest generation of the Mini Countryman, which will be available with a purely electric drive and all-wheel drive for the first time in a Mini brand car. The Countryman shares its platform and drive technology with the BMW X1 and iX1, with the iX1 debuting initially as an all-wheel drive vehicle. The Countryman SE ALL4 is expected to generate up to 230 kW with a temporary boost, matching the output of the iX1. The weaker version, called the Countryman E, will only feature a single electric motor producing 140 kW, although it is not clear whether…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), the world’s largest battery maker for electric vehicles, has confirmed that its battery plant in Hungary is “proceeding as planned”. This statement follows rumors that the construction of the Hungarian plant had been halted due to environmental issues. The plant is a key project for both China and Hungary, as the Central European country strives to attract Chinese manufacturers to create a global hub for EV batteries. CATL’s planned gigafactory in Debrecen, Hungary, will cover an area of 221 hectares, equivalent to around 280 soccer fields, and will supply both cells and modules to…

Rivian, the American EV manufacturer, recently announced the addition of a high-performance dual motor option to its R1T electric pickup truck. This follows the removal of the quad motor Max pack R1T from its configurator in December 2022. Reservation holders were initially told that they would need to reconfigure their electric pickups, and Rivian has now provided updated delivery times for them. In December, Rivian announced that it was removing the option to select a quad motor powertrain and the 400-mile range Max battery pack. Instead, current reservation holders were informed that they would need to settle for the Large…

Walmart is taking a major step towards embracing electric vehicles (EVs) by announcing plans to develop its own network of fast-charging stations at thousands of its Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across the US by 2030. This move will help Walmart address the reliability, cost, and maintenance concerns that typically arise when partnering with network operators. By owning its chargers, Walmart will not only be able to address range and charging anxiety but also provide shoppers with an added convenience that will increase their confidence in adopting EVs. According to Vishal Kapadia, Walmart’s recently appointed senior vice president of Energy…