Author: David Smith

Sila, a California-based EV battery materials startup, has announced that its range-boosting silicon-based anodes, “Titan Silicon,” are now commercially available after beginning mass production. The new battery material is expected to make its debut in the upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQG G Wagon, making it the first car to feature Titan Silicon. Silicon anodes have been shown to offer the ability to store 10X more charge than graphite and other metal alloys in the same amount of space, making them an ideal solution for EV batteries. According to estimates from IDTechEx, investments in silicon anodes have soared over the past few years,…

Chinese officials are urging global cooperation to advance the development of the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector, which has gained significant momentum worldwide. The call came from Wan Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology, during the annual China EV 100 Forum held in Beijing. Wan emphasized China’s commitment to expanding high-level opening-up to promote global efforts in electric, smart, and low-carbon development. He also proposed deepening cooperation between nations via bilateral or multilateral organizations like the World New Energy Vehicle Congress. Xin Guobin, vice-minister of industry and information technology, also stressed the importance of cross-regional and…

The Tesla Cybertruck has been one of the most talked-about vehicles in recent times, with many eagerly waiting for its release. It’s an all-electric pickup truck that promises to be both powerful and sustainable, and its futuristic design has garnered a lot of attention. Recently, a prototype of the Cybertruck was spotted doing on-road testing at the company’s test track in Fremont, California. The vehicle was filmed from above, and it showcased several features that have become synonymous with the Cybertruck, including the controversial single giga-wiper, triangular side mirrors, panoramic glass roof, and a round steering wheel. While the wheels…

Tritium, an EV charger manufacturer, is now accepting orders for its first EV charging system for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. The NEVI program is an initiative of the US Department of Transportation that provides funding to states to build a coast-to-coast network of EV chargers. The program has been allotted $1 billion a year for five years beginning in 2022. The investment is expected to help build EV chargers across more than 75,000 miles of US highway, according to the US Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. Tritium’s NEVI-compliant charging system will include four PKM150 150…

General Motors (GM) has announced its decision to stop supporting Apple’s CarPlay platform in favor of teaming up with Google to design custom-built infotainment systems for their future electric cars. The move, which has been described as controversial, marks a significant shift for GM, which only a few years ago had gone all-in on CarPlay. According to a report by Reuters, GM’s decision to phase out CarPlay will begin with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer. The company believes that this change will enable it to collect more data on how consumers drive and charge electric vehicles (EVs) while developing its infotainment…

Amazon has announced that its fleet of Rivian electric delivery vans (EDVs) has grown to over 3,000 vehicles in operation across the United States, up from the 1,000 reported in November last year. While the figure is still short of Amazon’s initial goal of having 10,000 EDVs on the road by the end of 2022, the company remains committed to having 100,000 EDVs in operation by 2030. The online retail giant first started using the Rivian EDVs in the summer of 2022 and reports that they have delivered over 75 million packages in more than 500 cities and regions across…

XPeng, the electric vehicle manufacturer based in China, has announced that it will be rolling out its Tesla FSD-like Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) to two of its flagship models, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards building its assisted driving capabilities. The company plans to release a new OTA update called Xmart OS 4.2.0 today, which will open up the first phase capabilities of XNGP, XPeng’s new generation of intelligent driving systems, to the XPeng G9 and P7i. The announcement was made by Wu Xinzhou, the Vice President and head of the autonomous driving center at XPeng, during…

Waymo has made a bold announcement that is sure to make waves in the automotive industry. The company has revealed its plans to phase out the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and transition to an all-electric vehicle (EV) fleet. As part of this transition, Waymo will be replacing its plug-in hybrid minivan with the Jaguar I-Pace in Phoenix and the East Valley region starting next month. This move marks a significant milestone for Waymo, as it becomes one of the first autonomous vehicle companies to embrace electric power. According to the company, EVs offer several key benefits over traditional gas-powered vehicles, including…

Volta has announced a significant update to its advanced infrastructure planning solution, PredictEV®. The new feature will provide state and local governments with data-driven insight into the travel patterns of residents in disadvantaged communities, allowing them to identify EV charger locations that will maximize convenience and utilization with more precision. This update ensures that infrastructure funds are efficiently and effectively spent as governments develop competitive applications for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, upholding the federal government’s Justice40 goal. PredictEV is a powerful planning tool that leverages disparate data sources, including local mobility, demographic, commercial, and site-specific data,…

Klean Industries Inc, a company that specializes in converting waste into clean energy and resources, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nikola, a manufacturer of heavy-duty commercial battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. The agreement aims to promote the adoption of zero-emission trucks and to develop green hydrogen supply and dispensing infrastructure in the United States and Canada. Under the MOU, the companies will work together to encourage the use of Nikola Class 8 zero-emission vehicles with Klean’s partners and feedstock suppliers. They will also collaborate on the development of green hydrogen supply and dispensing infrastructure in…

Lyft and Ericsson have announced a new partnership to expand e-bike services and connectivity in the United States. The ride-hailing giant will use Ericsson’s IoT Accelerator platform to manage the connectivity of its network of e-bikes and e-scooters, regardless of their location, with global connectivity and management provided by Deutsche Telekom. Lyft plans to use the partnership to achieve its goal of providing a “micromobility service with scalability and reliability.” By mid-2023, the company hopes to have connected 20,000 e-bikes to its ecosystem. The partnership will improve Lyft’s ability to manage large fleets of vehicles, but more importantly, it will…

Shanghai-based Hesai Group, a leading manufacturer of LiDAR technology for autonomous and advanced assisted driving, has signed an investment agreement with the Chongqing Economic Development Zone to establish a software global R&D headquarters in the city. The deal was announced on March 26th, according to a report in the Chongqing Daily. Chongqing’s mayor, Hu Henghua, has called on Hesai to strengthen its cooperation with local car companies. As part of the agreement, Hesai will create an innovation incubation center, establish a LiDAR industrial park, and construct the software global R&D headquarters in the Chongqing Economic Development Zone. Hesai, which began…