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…