Author: David Smith

General Motors’ self-driving unit, Cruise, announced plans to begin supervised testing of its autonomous vehicles in California’s Bay Area this fall. The company will initially deploy manual mapping vehicles in Sunnyvale and Mountain View, followed by the testing of up to five autonomous vehicles. Cruise shared the update on the social media platform X, outlining its preparations for resuming operations after previously pausing its self-driving car program. The company halted operations in October 2023 after an incident in San Francisco, where a pedestrian hit by another vehicle was dragged by one of its robotaxis. “Resuming testing in the Bay Area…

Volkswagen Group is facing significant financial challenges as the company reportedly falls short of its savings targets by several billion euros, prompting top management to consider drastic measures, including potential plant closures and job cuts. The automaker, which has been struggling with rising material costs and weak market performance, is now confronted with a financial gap that could amount to as much as five billion euros. Initially reported as a three-billion-euro shortfall, the situation has escalated, with Der Spiegel revealing that the financial plan for Volkswagen and VW Commercial Vehicles brands is currently missing between four to five billion euros.…

Li Auto reported 48,122 vehicle deliveries in August, reflecting a 5.64% decrease from 51,000 units in July, though this figure represents a 37.83% increase compared to the 34,914 vehicles delivered in August of the previous year. As of the end of August, the company’s cumulative deliveries since inception totaled 921,467 vehicles. Established in July 2015, Li Auto has emerged as a leading player in China’s extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) market. The company’s first model, the Li One EREV, debuted in October 2018 with deliveries starting in December 2019. Since then, the Li One has been discontinued, and the company now…

A large-scale vehicle-to-grid (V2G) initiative has been launched in Jiangsu Province, China, engaging more than 1,200 electric vehicles (EVs) in a project designed to feed energy back into the grid. The project, reported by the state news agency Xinhua, allows these EVs to charge during off-peak hours and then discharge electricity back to the grid during times of high demand, helping to alleviate potential energy bottlenecks. State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power, the grid operator behind the project, successfully enlisted 1,277 electric vehicles across 482 charging stations by offering discount vouchers to participants. The initiative reflects a growing interest in V2G…

Revel, the Brooklyn-based electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure company, is expanding its operations to Los Angeles, where it plans to build a fast-charging Superhub with 42 stalls. The new facility, located in Downtown LA, is expected to open in 2026 and will operate 24/7, serving the public around the clock. Currently, Revel’s charging infrastructure is concentrated on the East Coast, with three sites in New York City offering a total of 54 fast chargers. Two of these sites are in Brooklyn, including the company’s flagship Superhub in Bed-Stuy, while the third is in Queens. Originally, Revel aimed to have six locations…

Xpeng has undergone a significant restructuring of its organizational framework, aligning with a broader industry trend towards end-to-end artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This move parallels recent organizational changes made by local competitors Nio and Li Auto, as reported by local media outlet Redplanx. The restructuring primarily affects Xpeng’s technology development department, which is responsible for algorithm development related to perception, planning, control, and localization. The department has been reorganized into three distinct divisions: AI end-to-end, AI applications, and AI efficiency. This shift aims to streamline the focus on AI models and enhance the efficiency of technology delivery. The reorganization involves…

Hansea, a private bus operator in Belgium, has placed an order for 181 electric buses from MAN Truck & Bus, bringing its total fleet of fully electric city buses to 271, all supplied by MAN. The new order includes the MAN Lion’s City E model, which has been in operation since 2021 on Antwerp Line 36. Hansea initially acquired 90 Lion’s City E buses, which have now been delivered. This latest order is part of Hansea’s broader strategy to electrify its entire bus fleet by 2035. Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, remarked, “This is a…

African electric vehicle manufacturer Spiro has begun operations in Ogun State, Nigeria, offering its electric motorbikes across up to eight major Nigerian provinces. Spiro’s electric bikes feature both slow and fast charging capabilities. The company has established strategic partnerships to expand Spiro’s charging network, facilitating the transition to electric mobility. Additionally, Spiro provides battery swapping services for its motorcycles. Initially, three swapping stations will be set up in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, with plans for additional stations in the future. “Our expansion marks a new chapter for Spiro and the broader EV ecosystem in Nigeria,” said Spiro CEO…

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced plans to invest £18 billion in its electric and hybrid vehicle production over the next five years, an increase of £3 billion from its initial announcement in April 2023. The increased investment aims to balance the production of both electric and combustion engine models. Originally, JLR intended to convert its Halewood plant in the UK solely for electric vehicle production. However, the Wolverhampton engine plant, which currently manufactures combustion engines, will now also produce electric drive units and battery packs for the next generation of JLR vehicles. In February 2024, JLR shifted its strategy…

BYD, the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker, announced that it will introduce two new sedan models in its Seal lineup on August 8. The new models, the 2025 Seal EV and the Seal 07 DM-i, mark the company’s continued rapid pace of product launches. The original BYD Seal debuted in China on July 29, 2022, as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and was considered a strong competitor to the Tesla Model 3. On September 6, 2023, BYD expanded the Seal lineup with the hybrid Seal DM-i. This year, on May 28, the company added the Seal 06 DM-i, featuring…

Norwegian charging station operator Fastcharge is collaborating with Kempower to establish the first truck-exclusive charging hubs in Norway. These hubs are set to become the country’s first dedicated facilities for heavy goods vehicle charging. Fastcharge, a specialist in charging stations for trucks, plans to roll out several public truck charging stations in Norway by the end of the year. The initial public hub began operations in the Alnabru district of Oslo at the end of July. Additional hubs are scheduled to open in Ringsaker, Sandefjord, Gjesdal, Bergen, and Malvik in the coming months. The Oslo charging park features stations capable…

char.gy has secured a contract with Richmond and Wandsworth councils to upgrade and expand their electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This partnership will involve the migration and integration of existing charging networks, increasing char.gy’s network by approximately one-third. Richmond and Wandsworth councils, early adopters of extensive on-street charging networks under the five-year Go Ultra Low City Scheme (GULCS), sought to enhance their services as the scheme concludes. Instead of replacing the infrastructure, the councils opted for a migration strategy through a competitive procurement process. char.gy has been selected to manage the transition and operation of 950 charge points across the…

Fortescue, a green technology, energy, and metals company, has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with COSCO SHIPPING, the world’s leading shipping company, to collaborate on decarbonizing shipping. The partnership aims to develop technologies that lower emissions and establish a green fuel supply chain. This initiative includes exploring the construction and deployment of COSCO SHIPPING vessels, or co-owned vessels, powered by green ammonia to transport iron ore and other mineral products. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions along the Australia-China Iron Ore Green Shipping Corridor. The signing ceremony, held in Shanghai, was attended by Fortescue Metals Chief Executive…

Amazon has integrated over 15,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian into its U.S. fleet, part of a larger order of 100,000 placed nearly five years ago. The rollout has also begun in Europe, with initial deployments in Germany. Since Amazon started using the Rivian electric vans in the U.S. in 2022, approximately 15,000 units have been delivered. In Europe, the process has been slower. Amazon had previously announced 300 Rivian electric vans for Germany, specifically targeting cities like Munich, Berlin, and Düsseldorf. However, the company has not provided an updated status on the rollout. https://evmagz.com/amazons-rivian-electric-van-fleet-gets-a-boost-with-over-17000-installed-chargers/ Amazon plans to invest over…

Kia has announced the pricing and range details for its new EV3 compact SUV in the UK and the Netherlands. The entry-level EV3 with a 58.3 kWh battery is priced from £32,995 in the UK, approximately €39,171, while in the Netherlands, it starts at €36,995. The larger battery variant, with an 81.4 kWh capacity, is available in the UK from £35,995 (€42,733) and in the Netherlands for €41,495. The final WLTP range figures for the EV3 have been disclosed in the Dutch price list. The 58.3 kWh battery is offered in three trims: Air, Plus, and Plus Advanced. The Air…

Tesla China has introduced a new retrofit option for Model Y owners, allowing them to enhance their vehicles with a multicolored ambient lighting system. Priced at RMB1,299 ($180), the upgrade includes both hardware and software components. The retrofit, recently highlighted by members of the electric vehicle community on social media, adds LED ambient lights to the Model Y’s dashboard. These lights, which can be controlled through the vehicle’s infotainment system, offer up to 256 color options for the cabin. https://twitter.com/Tslachan/status/1817804336006856819 Tesla China described the upgrade as providing “an immersive in-car experience and adding unique charm,” with features including touch screen…

Israeli battery technology company Addionics, known for its 3D copper foils for electric vehicle batteries, has raised $39 million in a Series B funding round. The round was led by General Motors’ venture capital subsidiary, GM Ventures, and Israeli investor Deep Insight, with participation from Scania and other strategic investors. Addionics plans to use the funds to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and expand global business operations, including the construction of a U.S.-based gigafactory for the production of its 3D Current Collectors. These unique copper foils replace traditional 2D layered electrode structures with a 3D structure, offering superior energy density, higher…

Daimler Truck AG has launched a Battery Technology Center (BTC) in Mannheim, Germany, enabling the company to produce its own battery cells and battery packs on a pilot line. The BTC, dedicated to developing commercial vehicle-specific battery cells and next-generation truck batteries, spans over 10,000 square meters. The facility’s opening follows a strategic partnership with mechanical engineering company Manz, announced in May 2022. “Product and process development for battery electric commercial vehicles is carried out on an area of over 10,000 square meters,” Daimler Truck stated. The BTC combines both development and production capabilities. The BTC is divided into two…

General Motors announced plans to invest at least $900 million to convert its Lansing, Michigan auto plant into an electric vehicle (EV) production facility, according to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Thursday. Granholm disclosed the investment during an event in Lansing, emphasizing GM’s commitment to advancing EV manufacturing in Michigan. The government also approved $500 million in grants for GM’s Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant transformation to EV production, with specific models for the plant yet to be detailed. GM’s broader strategy includes converting several internal combustion engine plants, including two in Michigan and others in Tennessee, Ohio, and Kansas,…

Hydrogen fuel cell car sales in the United States plummeted during the second quarter of 2024, marking a significant downturn for the niche market primarily centered in California, where series-produced models are available. According to data from the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership, only 99 new hydrogen fuel cell cars (FCVs or FCEVs) were sold across the U.S. in Q2, reflecting a sharp 91% year-over-year decline and reaching the lowest level since Q4 2015 when the hydrogen segment was in its infancy. The sales figures, sourced from Baum and Associates and encompassing sales to both retail and fleet customers, underscore a…