Author: David Smith

Volvo Trucks has announced that it is testing its fuel cell electric truck on public roads in Sweden for the first time. The tests are being conducted seven days a week and in all types of weather, according to Helena Alsiö, VP Powertrain Product Management at Volvo Trucks. The company says the harsh conditions in northern Sweden make for an ideal testing environment. The manufacturer first presented its FCEV prototypes last year, but they were only tested on closed tracks at that time. The new FCEV prototype features a hydrogen fuel cell unit and two fuel cells that generate up…

Ford has completed upgrades to its factory in Mexico and is opening order books for its improved Mustang Mach-E on May 3. The upgraded Mustang Mach-E boasts a higher EPA rating of 250 miles for the RWD version and 226 miles for the AWD model, thanks to the installation of a new LFP battery. The RWD version now starts at $42,995, while the AWD version starts at $45,995 – both of which are $3,000 lower than before. In addition to the extended range, the AWD version of the Mustang Mach-E also gets a power bump, increasing the total output to…

Hyundai has unveiled its Xcient fuel cell tractor for the US market, joining the five other countries where the vehicle is already available. The class 8 vehicle is equipped with two 90 kW hydrogen fuel cell systems, providing a total of 180 kW power, and a 350 kW electric motor. According to Hyundai, the 6×4 tractor boasts a range of over 450 miles (724 km) when fully loaded. The Xcient has already garnered interest from the US, with Hyundai announcing the NorCal Zero project in 2021, which will feature 30 Xcient FCEVs operating in California by the second quarter of…

Two UK-based companies, Biffa and Lunaz, have teamed up to sign a groundbreaking agreement to electrify and upcycle Biffa’s diesel refuse truck fleet over the next decade. This partnership marks a significant milestone towards achieving a sustainable future in the waste management sector. Lunaz will provide its proprietary upcycling and electrification process and technology to help Biffa achieve its goal of reducing emissions and carbon expenditure. The multi-year programme will begin with an initial order of up to ten 26-tonne upcycled electric refuse trucks, with the first deliveries scheduled for 2023. See also: Lunaz Design Transforms Rare 1961 Bentley S2…

Tesla’s latest move in the automotive industry has garnered significant attention and anticipation. Reports indicate that the company has secured an extensive order of interior parts for its highly anticipated Cybertruck, which is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The Cybertruck production program is closely watched, as it is expected to have a profound and long-lasting impact on both the electric vehicle (EV) industry and the pickup truck market. Tesla has been diligently working on bringing this innovative electric pickup truck to production, installing advanced manufacturing equipment and even providing glimpses of the production line through rare…

German multinational engineering and technology company Bosch has announced plans to acquire parts of TSI Semiconductors’ business in Roseville, California, and convert the site’s production to silicon carbide (SiC) chips. The move is part of Bosch’s plan to invest more than $1.5bn in the site over the coming years and expand its range of SiC chips globally. The SiC chips are a key component for electrified mobility and enable longer ranges and more efficient charging processes in electric vehicles. According to Bosch, SiC chips have up to 50% less energy loss, and up to 6% more range is possible on…

Porsche and Norsk Hydro are collaborating to reduce the carbon footprint of aluminium in the automotive supply chain. The goal is to achieve a CO2-free supply chain of aluminium supplied to Porsche and its suppliers by 2030. To achieve this, Porsche will use Hydro Reduxa 4.0, a low-carbon primary material produced with renewable energy, to reduce the production of the aluminium used by 60% less CO2 emissions by 2025. Barbara Frenkel, Member of the Executive Board for Procurement at Porsche AG, stated that “Aluminium and materials for battery production play a key role in our sustainability strategy. See also: Evonik…

Motiv Power Systems, a leading provider of electric trucks for medium-duty fleets, is launching the second generation of its innovative vehicles. Building on the previous generation, the new electric trucks will be “engineered to meet today’s fleet needs while embracing the latest EV technology. According to Motiv, the second-generation electric trucks will feature a new motor and battery system. The company worked with Nidec to design and patent a six-phase motor, which is said to offer torque that surpasses that of combustion engine vehicles. The battery system will use LFP batteries, which are capable of reaching a 200-mile range on…

Despite being exclusively available in North America, the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck has surprisingly made several appearances in Europe in recent months. This has naturally sparked speculation about the US EV startup’s intentions to expand to the European market. However, Rivian has not yet made any official announcements regarding its plans in this direction. Interestingly, the number of R1T sightings in Europe has been on the rise, adding fuel to the rumors. Over a year ago, the Rivian R1T was spotted at an airport in Belgium, followed by a sighting in Spain in November 2022, and most recently at…

General Motors (GM) has announced that it will stop production of the Chevrolet Bolt electric model by the end of this year. The Bolt and its larger counterpart, Bolt EUV, have been the company’s main electric vehicle (EV) sales drivers to date. Although GM plans to produce over 70,000 Bolt models this year and sell over 400,000 EVs in North America next year, the company will no longer prioritize the Bolt. Initially positioned to rival the Tesla Model 3, the Bolt had similar pricing and range capabilities. However, a recall last year may have solidified the decision to discontinue the…

Electric vehicles are gaining increasing popularity and becoming more affordable with each passing day. This trend has received a significant boost from the introduction of the MG Comet. However, prudent Indian consumers should be aware that despite its “no-nonsense” approach to modern transportation, this new compact car comes with some real-life limitations. The MG Comet is priced at a modest starting point of INR 798,000 (~US$9,768). Nevertheless, buyers will find its design reminiscent of an AI’s interpretation of the “Fiat 500 but cuboid,” despite MG’s claim that it is aesthetically appealing and Instagram-worthy. This unique design translates into a wheelbase…

Hyundai Motor Group and SK On have announced a joint venture to produce battery cells for electric vehicles in the USA, with a total investment of five billion dollars. The companies will each invest 2.5 billion dollars in a battery cell factory in Bartow County, Georgia, which is set to begin operations in the second half of 2025, with an annual production capacity of 35 GWh. This production capacity will be enough for 300,000 electric cars, which is crucial as Hyundai is currently constructing a new electric car plant, called Megaplant, in Bryan County, Georgia, which will have an annual…