Author: David Smith

South Korean chemical company, LG Chem, has teamed up with Chinese company, Huayou Cobalt, to construct a new factory for nickel, cobalt, and manganese cathode precursor materials in South Korea. The factory, which is set to be built at the Saemangeum National Industrial Complex, will commence construction this year with the first phase, an annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of precursor material, scheduled to be commissioned by 2026. The second phase will see production doubled to 100,000 tonnes, which is sufficient for the cathodes of more than one million electric vehicles. This letter of intent will enable LG Chem…

ScottishPower has joined forces with the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HiTrans) to increase the number of rapid charging stations across western Scotland. The collaboration aims to install 24 new charging points in underserved areas, focusing on Argyll and Bute, the Highlands (Skye, Lochaber and Lochalsh), and the Western Isles. See also: Blink Charging Secures $7 Million Grant to Bring Electric Ride-Sharing to Underserved Communities in New Jersey The Scottish utility will manage the installations using Raption 50 chargers, which provide 50 kW of charging capacity. The technology has already been tested and used in ScottishPower’s existing charging network, which…

SAIC brand MG has revealed the production version of its Cyberster electric roadster at Auto Shanghai, and it is set to launch in mainland Europe and the UK in the summer of 2024. The two-seater features scissor doors that open to the top at an angle, giving it a sleek and modern design. According to Carl Gotham, Advanced Design Director of the responsible MG design studio in London, the focus was to create a design that paid homage to the brand’s past and to bring back the sporting bloodline while also being modern and forward-facing like the MG of today.…

Italy’s antitrust authority has launched an investigation into Enel, the country’s largest utility company, over its potential abuse of its dominant position in the electric vehicle (EV) charging market. The probe covers all of Enel’s EV charging businesses, including Enel X Way and Enel X Way Italia, and could have implications for Volkswagen, which recently launched a joint venture with Enel X to build HPC posts in Italy. See also: Enel X Way Plans to Install 10,000 Public Charging Stations and 2 Million EV Charge Ports by 2030 in North America Enel has stated that it has always acted within…

BYD, the Chinese automaker, has officially unveiled its latest model, the Song L concept, on the first day of the Shanghai auto show. This premium all-electric SUV is part of the Dynasty series and is designed with a coupe-crossover stance, catering to young users who are seeking a stylish and sporty vehicle. The Song L combines BYD’s pioneering technology with a breakthrough design that redefines the aesthetics of the next generation of Dynasty products. Based on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, the Song L incorporates CTB (cell-to-body) technology and intelligent electric four-wheel drive. It features an electric rear wing and electronic mirrors,…

Toyota has revealed two new electric vehicle concepts at this year’s Auto Shanghai, which are set to become part of the brand’s bZ lineup. The bZ Sport Crossover Concept and the bZ FlexSpace Concept are not part of Toyota’s planned ten new EV models for the next three years, but they will precede two production models designed for the Chinese market. The bZ Sport Concept is a joint venture between Toyota and BYD, but Toyota will produce and sell it. The sporty concept has been designed with the younger Generation Z in mind, featuring an active style and evolving capabilities…

Ikea Canada has announced plans to add 25 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to its stores in Ontario and Quebec, as it continues its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. The company invested $305,000 of its own money and received an additional $300,000 from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) to fund the initiative. The Level 2 and Level 3 chargers will be installed at stores in Montreal, Boucherville, Quebec City, and Ottawa, as well as its distribution centre in Beauharnois, Que. “At Ikea Canada, we have a simple yet powerful vision to create a better everyday…

Polestar, the Swedish electric vehicle (EV) automaker, has announced the production start date for its new production facility in South Carolina, which it will share with its parent company, Volvo Cars. The move is seen as a crucial step for the brand to become eligible for EV incentives in the United States, which require that EVs must be manufactured in North America. According to a recent report from Reuters, Polestar’s “new” production facility will begin producing the brand’s all-electric vehicles in 2024, starting with the Polestar 3 full-size SUV. This marks a significant change for the brand, whose production has…

Volkswagen’s subsidiary PowerCo is reportedly seeking partnerships to build an ecosystem for electric vehicle batteries in Indonesia. The move is part of the company’s efforts to expand its EV production globally. PowerCo will work with companies such as Ford, Vale, Huayou Cobalt, Eramet, Merdeka Gold Copper, Merdeka Battery, and the Kalla Group to establish the ecosystem. The partnership was announced by Indonesian Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia during his visit to Germany with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. According to Lahadalia, the investment will be made by PowerCo, but no further details have been provided. See also: Volkswagen’s PowerCo Begins Construction on…

Vietnamese automaker VinFast has announced that its new VF 8 electric SUV has been added to the list of eligible vehicles under the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), allowing both new and existing VinFast customers to qualify for up to $7,500 in tax rebates in California, which can extend to other participating states. VinFast is a relatively young electric vehicle (EV) automaker that has caught the attention of many due to the speed at which it has developed, announced, and begun delivering its first all-electric models. Despite several hurdles slowing down its…

Velotric has announced the release of their latest electric bike design, the Thunder line, which features two lightweight models optimized for city riding. The Thunder 1 and Thunder 1 ST are pedal assist e-bikes that weigh just 36 pounds, making them some of the lightest budget e-bikes on the market. Despite their low weight, both models offer numerous features to enhance their functionality. Both the Thunder 1 and Thunder 1 ST come with hydraulic disc brakes, adjustable brake levers, torque sensors for highly responsive pedal assist, 8-speed transmissions, automatically activating LED headlights, thru-axle hubs for increased strength and ruggedness, and…

NFI, a major third-party supply chain solutions provider in the US, is accelerating its commitment to sustainability by expanding its fleet of Class 8 battery-electric trucks (BETs) in Southern California. The move is part of the Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI) project, which aims to demonstrate that fleets can scale up their BET fleets successfully. Under the project, NFI plans to deploy and operate 30 electric Freightliner eCascadias and 20 Volvo VNR Electric trucks from its warehouse facility in Ontario, California. These trucks will support its dedicated port drayage services for customers spanning from manufacturing to retail. The company…