Author: David Smith

Tesla has reportedly sent emails to Canadian customers who had placed orders for the Fremont-made Model Y Long Range, informing them that their orders have been canceled. According to Drive Tesla Canada, the email states that the ordered configuration is no longer available, although it does not specify which configuration that refers to. Affected customers will receive a refund of their deposit. However, Tesla is providing an alternative option for Canadian customers by allowing them to switch their orders to other available configurations. This includes the newly introduced Model Y Long Range manufactured at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory in China. The…

BYD Launches Five Electric Cars in the French Market Chinese automaker BYD is set to introduce five electric cars to the French market, marking the beginning of its expansion in the country. Collaborating with four major dealer networks for sales, BYD aims to establish 15 to 20 sales locations across France in partnership with its dealers before the end of this year, with a long-term goal of reaching 100 locations. The first batch of BYD vehicles will be supplied to dealers this month, and sales are scheduled to commence shortly thereafter. While BYD has mentioned three dealer groups by name—BYmyCAR,…

Toyota, a leading automotive company, has announced a significant investment of nearly $50 million in a state-of-the-art battery laboratory. The facility will be constructed at Toyota Motor North America’s (TMNA) research and development headquarters in York Township and is set to commence operations in 2025. According to Shinichi Yasui, Vice President at TMNA Research and Development, this substantial investment reflects Toyota’s strategic shift towards electrification. The primary objective of the new laboratory is to assess the development of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) at various stages, from cell to package. This initiative aims to support Toyota’s battery plant in North…

French oil and gas corporation TotalEnergies has reached an agreement with the city of Berlin to install up to 500 public AC charge points over the next three years. These charging stations will have a capacity of 11 kW and will be operated by TotalEnergies until 2030. The partnership, known as the “Berliner Modell,” was announced during the inauguration of the first charging station on Babelsberger Straße 46 in Berlin-Schöneberg. The installation and operation of the charging points will be carried out in collaboration with the Berlin Senate and the local grid operator, Stromnetz Berlin. The stations will not only…

Volvo has made a groundbreaking entry into the electric vehicle market with the launch of its first entry-level electric car, the Volvo EX30. The company surprised customers and competitors alike with a price that sets a new benchmark. The online launch event took place in the UK, marking the first market for the release. Volvo CEO Jim Rowan confirmed that the Volvo EX30 has been released on schedule, as previously announced in December, during a video published on YouTube. The video, which showcased the compact-sized car, emphasized the idea that small changes can make a big difference and have a…

Lucid Group, a luxury electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer based in the United States, is making preparations to enter the largest auto market in the world, China. The head of Lucid’s China operations, Zhu Jiang, confirmed that the company is gearing up to enter the Chinese market. While Lucid plans to initially sell imported cars in China, there is also consideration being given to local production, although no specific details were provided. Zhu, who has extensive experience in the auto industry and previously worked at Jidu Motor and Ford Motor, expressed that Lucid’s entrance into the Chinese market would be facilitated…

General Motors (GM) has recently announced its decision to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its electric vehicles (EVs) starting in 2025. This move signifies a significant departure from the prevailing trend, where most automakers, apart from Tesla, have been utilizing the Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors. Last month, Ford also revealed its plans to embrace the NACS, and now GM is following suit. In addition to announcing the transition to NACS, GM has unveiled a collaboration with Tesla, which will enable GM owners to access over 12,000 Superchargers. However, this integration will not be immediate, as the…

Aston Martin’s Chairman, Lawrence Stroll, has confirmed that the luxury car manufacturer is on track to release its first-ever series-production battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in 2026. Stroll’s statement, reported by Autocar, suggests that Aston Martin is not heavily prioritizing electric vehicles (EVs) but instead focusing on plug-in hybrids. During an interview, Stroll revealed that there is not a significant demand for BEVs among Aston Martin’s customer base. However, he assured that the forthcoming battery-powered Aston Martin will be an entirely new product built on a fresh platform, rather than simply retrofitting batteries into an existing design. Chief Creative Officer Mark Reichman…

Italian automaker Fiat is gearing up for a brand overhaul in the United States as it prepares to reintroduce its popular electric car, the Fiat 500e. The move is seen as an attempt to challenge Tesla’s dominance in the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market. Fiat has experienced a significant decline in sales over the past few years, prompting analysts to believe that a new, affordable, and distinctive EV like the revamped 500e could help reshape the brand’s image. Having been a part of the North American market since the early 1900s, Fiat has had a tumultuous history with several…

Michigan-based Battery Technology Company, Our Next Energy (ONE), is advocating for the use of two battery packs in electric vehicles (EVs) as a means to achieve longer ranges. Collaborating with BMW, ONE is incorporating its dual-chemistry battery, known as Gemini, into BMW’s iX electric SUV. The latest information sheds light on the potential benefits of ONE’s patented technology. Gemini, with a capacity of 185 kilowatt hours, boasts an impressive claimed range of 600 miles. The battery consists of a smaller lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit for daily driving, offering 150 miles of range, and a larger range-extending battery capable of…

Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese battery cell manufacturer and partner of Volkswagen, is considering the construction of a large battery cell factory in Morocco. The specific timeline for the project’s construction and production launch is still unclear. A letter of intent has already been signed by Gotion and the Moroccan government, outlining a potential investment of 65 billion dirhams (approximately 6 billion euros) for a battery cell factory with an annual capacity of 100 gigawatt-hours. This significant investment is expected to create over 25,000 job opportunities, according to the organizers. Typically, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) serves as the initial step…

A recent study conducted by iSeeCars has shed light on the average annual mileage of three-year-old electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States. The findings indicate that EV owners drive significantly fewer miles than their counterparts who own internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. On average, owners of three-year-old EVs cover approximately 9,059 miles (14,579 km) per year, which is over 3,000 miles (4,828 km) or 29 percent less than the average mileage of ICE vehicle owners. Even the most driven three-year-old EVs fall short of the average mileage covered by the owners of ICE vehicles of the same age, with…

SGMW, the joint venture between SAIC Motor, General Motors, and Liuzhou Wuling Motors, has experienced a notable increase in sales for its Wuling Bingo EV. The company reported selling 18,015 units of the electric vehicle (EV) during the past month, marking a month-on-month growth of 9.9%. This achievement brings the cumulative sales volume to an impressive 42,154 units, just over two months after its official launch. The success of the Wuling Bingo EV can be partly attributed to its popularity among female buyers. According to the product manager of Wuling Bingo, approximately 68% of the current purchasers are women. Furthermore,…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has embarked on an extensive road endurance and reliability testing campaign for its eActros 300 Tractor, a battery-electric heavy-duty truck designed for distribution haulage. The vehicle covered approximately 3,000 kilometers from the Mercedes-Benz Wörth plant in Germany to Aksaray, Turkey, where the testing is set to take place. The journey involved traversing several countries, including Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bulgaria, with two eActros vehicles accompanying the eActros 300 Tractor throughout the entire route. The purpose of this road endurance trial is to evaluate the performance, durability, and safety systems of the electric truck before it enters series…

In an exhilarating finish to the second Jakarta E-Prix, Maximilian Guenther stormed ahead to claim Maserati’s first-ever victory in Formula E. The race, which featured a longer distance than the previous day’s event, witnessed a gripping battle between Guenther and Jake Dennis of the Andretti team. Starting from pole position, Guenther briefly lost the lead to Dennis early on. However, employing a strategic approach, Guenther utilized his final attack mode to perfection, overtaking Dennis after the latter encountered difficulty passing Mitch Evans in his Jaguar. Guenther’s skillful maneuver allowed him to reclaim the lead and maintain a small but decisive…

In May, the combined sales of Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the United States demonstrated a noteworthy increase, indicating a positive trend for the automotive group. With a year-over-year growth of 10.7 percent, the total sales reached 170,933 units. Moreover, the group’s performance for the first five months of the year showcased an encouraging 8.8 percent increase, with a total of 830,841 vehicles sold. Breaking down the sales figures for May and the year-to-date results, we observe the following: Ford sales for May: 164,430 units, indicating a substantial 12.0 percent increase compared to the previous year. Ford sales year-to-date: The…

Embark, a San Francisco-based self-driving trucking company, is set to be acquired by Applied Intuition, a software provider for autonomous vehicles based in Mountain View. The acquisition, an all-cash transaction, is valued at approximately $71 million. Embark’s future has been uncertain since March when it announced significant layoffs and the closure of two offices. CEO Alex Rodrigues expressed the company’s struggle to find a way forward and began exploring the sale of assets and potential dissolution. However, with this acquisition, Embark’s path forward becomes clear. Rodrigues sees it as an exciting new chapter for the company and is eager to…

In an exhilarating showcase of electric racing, Porsche driver Pascal Wehrlein emerged victorious in the first of two Formula E races held in Jakarta on Saturday. Wehrlein’s impressive performance not only secured him his third win of the season but also reinvigorated his bid for the championship title. With only six races remaining in the season, Wehrlein’s triumph brought him within a whisker of the championship leader, Nick Cassidy from Envision Racing. Currently sitting at the top with 128 points, Cassidy now faces a tight competition with Wehrlein trailing closely behind with 126 points. Meanwhile, Jake Dennis from Britain holds…

Quantron, the renowned German company specializing in vehicle electrification, is making strides in its expansion plans by entering the Italian market. The company has announced its acquisition of the Eyes Group, a subsidiary of Friem, an Italian company that holds a prominent position in power converter production and the green hydrogen supply chain. This move will lead to the establishment of Quantron Italy, a new subsidiary for the company. Headquartered in Milan, Quantron Italy will initially focus on manufacturing zero-emission vehicles for last-mile transportation. The strategic partnership between Quantron and Friem, facilitated by this acquisition, is expected to pave the…

In an exciting turn of events, the renowned Lancia Delta Integrale is making a comeback in the 2023 World Rallycross Championship (World RX) as an all-electric powerhouse. The electrified version of this legendary car will be piloted by none other than Sebastien Loeb, the nine-time World Rally Championship winner. Sporting a striking Martini-inspired livery, this zero-emissions hatchback boasts an impressive all-wheel drive system powered by two electric motors—one on each axle. Together, they deliver a staggering 671 horsepower, propelling the car from 0 to 62 miles per hour (0 to 100 kilometers per hour) in a mind-blowing 1.8 seconds. According…