Author: Clara Weiss

Ford Motor is moving into the battery energy storage market, aiming to repurpose unused electric vehicle battery capacity to meet growing demand from data centres, utilities and power grid operators. The U.S. automaker said it plans to invest about $2 billion over the next two years to convert its battery manufacturing site in Glendale, Kentucky, into a dedicated hub for producing large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). The facility will manufacture systems larger than 5 megawatt-hours, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic cells, battery modules and 20-foot direct-current container systems used in grid and industrial applications. See also: Ford Files…

Polestar has begun deliveries of its Polestar 4 electric SUV coupe to customers in the United States, extending the model’s global rollout after earlier launches in China, Europe and Australia. The Polestar 4 is the fourth model from the Geely-owned, Swedish-designed electric vehicle brand. It was unveiled in 2023 and entered production in China later that year, with customer deliveries starting in Europe and Australia in 2024. U.S. deliveries began this week, following a longer wait for North American customers. See also: Polestar Opens Full-Service Retail and Service Site in Miami Area The first U.S. handover took place at Polestar…

MOKE International has launched operations in California after becoming the first low-volume electric vehicle manufacturer to earn approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), marking a significant regulatory milestone for the company. The expansion includes the debut of its limited-run “California Collection” and the appointment of Shaver Automotive as its initial retail and service partner in the state. The CARB certification enables MOKE International to enter one of the world’s most regulated EV markets. The company said the approval underscores its compliance with California’s emissions requirements, noting that the achievement positions the Electric MOKE for broader U.S. availability. The…

Rivian on Thursday detailed a broad strategy to advance assisted and autonomous driving across its vehicle lineup, unveiling new custom hardware, AI models, and a multi-year software plan during its inaugural Autonomy & AI Day. The company said the upgrades are designed to support hands-free driving capabilities on most marked roads in North America and eventually enable higher levels of automated operation. See also: Rivian CEO Says Fully Driverless Consumer Cars Could Arrive Before 2030 https://twitter.com/Rivian/status/1999167754838868112 At the core of the roadmap is Rivian’s first in-house autonomy processor — developed with Arm and TSMC — which is slated to replace…

General Motors has introduced significant lease discounts on two of its electric SUVs — the Cadillac Lyriq and the Chevrolet Blazer EV — as automakers move to counterbalance the end of the $7,500 U.S. federal EV tax credit for many models. The reductions were among the steepest EV lease price drops recorded in December. The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq AWD Luxury is now advertised at $439 per month for 24 months with $4,979 due at signing. The effective monthly rate of $646 is $28 lower than in November, following a larger reduction of $115 per month the prior month. GM is…

Subaru of America has released full pricing and specifications for the 2026 Uncharted EV, an all-electric compact crossover arriving at U.S. dealerships in early 2026. With a starting MSRP of $34,995, the model becomes Subaru’s most affordable electric vehicle and enters the competitive compact crossover segment with a manufacturer-estimated driving range of more than 300 miles on the base trim. The Uncharted will be offered in three configurations — Premium FWD, Sport and GT — all equipped with a 74.7-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a standard North American Charging Standard (NACS) port. The Premium FWD provides 221 horsepower and the…

Kenworth Truck and Peterbilt Motors have introduced substantial additions to their battery-electric vehicle (BEV) portfolios, rolling out new medium-duty models based on PACCAR’s integrated ePowertrain platform. The new trucks are intended to expand zero-emission options for a wide array of applications, including regional distribution, utility, and vocational fleets across the U.S. and Canada. Kenworth launched its first conventional medium-duty BEVs, the T280E, T380E, and T480E. These models are now available for order, with production scheduled to begin in 2026. The trucks feature eMotor ratings from 170 kW up to 350 kW, with peak torque reaching 1,850 lb-ft. Depending on the…

A former chief engineer at luxury electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors is suing the company for wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation, claiming a top Human Resources executive referred to him as a “German Nazi.” Eric Bach, who spent a decade at Lucid and previously oversaw “all hardware engineering,” “product management and corporate planning,” filed the federal lawsuit on Monday in the Northern District of California. See also: Water Spill Leaves Lucid Air Electric Sedan With $15,000 Repair Bill, Owner Says The complaint alleges that Bach was targeted because of his German heritage and that he was stripped of his responsibilities…