Author: David Smith

The Keck School of Medicine of USC recently conducted a study that has made a surprising discovery – electric vehicles (EVs) can improve public health. While the primary association with EVs is reducing emissions and fighting climate change, this study is one of the few that highlights the correlation between EVs and individuals’ health. The study took place in California, the largest market for EVs in the country. The researchers analyzed various factors, including air pollution levels and asthma-related emergency room visits, and compared them with electric vehicle registrations between 2013 and 2019. The study found that as more people…

SK On, the electric vehicle (EV) battery division of South Korean energy company SK Innovation, is reportedly targeting 2-3 trillion won ($1.6 billion to $2.4 billion) in a new funding round. The sources who provided this information claim that the funding will mostly come from international investors, and the company aims to finalize the fundraising as early as the end of March. The previous funding round was in December, when SK On raised 2 trillion won from SK Innovation and 800 billion won from Korea Investment Private Equity and others, with the understanding that an initial public offering (IPO) would…

Cenntro Electric Group, a company specializing in electric commercial vehicles, has announced the production of their own battery packs. The battery packs will be manufactured at Cenntro’s facilities in Freehold, New Jersey, and Herne, Germany. Last year, Cenntro acquired Tropos Motors Europe, a supplier of compact electric commercial vehicles, and its assembly plant in Herne. The new battery packs will be initially installed in the Cenntro Metro vehicles. See also: Cenntro Electric finish construction of lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in Mexico “By manufacturing our own battery packs, we hope to enhance supply chain efficiency, improve battery resilience, and ultimately have…

Polestar and Rivian, two leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, have teamed up to publish the “Pathway Report” on the impact of the automotive industry on the climate crisis. The report, conducted by Kearney, a global management consulting firm, reveals that the car industry is projected to exceed the 1.5-degree target set by the IPCC by at least 75% by 2050. The findings indicate that passenger vehicles account for 15% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally, and the automotive industry is far from meeting the goal of reducing GHG emissions by 43% by 2030. The report warns that without immediate…

Horizon Robotics, a provider of energy-efficient computing solutions for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and Guangzhou Automotive Group’s (GAC) premium electric vehicle (EV) brand, AION, have signed a comprehensive strategic partnership to jointly develop advanced driving assistance products. Horizon Robotics, with over 2 million Journey series units shipped, will support AION in meeting consumer demand for high-quality mobility and provide a safer and more convenient driving experience. AION will utilize Horizon Robotics’ solutions to develop market-leading car models with advanced automated driving and interactive in-cabin functions. The two companies will also explore cooperation on Journey series solutions including Journey 5.…

BMW has announced a recall for 3,431 of its electric vehicles due to a problem with the noise-generating device that is required by law in the US. The sound generator, which is supposed to activate when the car is reversing, may malfunction and fail to make a sound, potentially putting pedestrians at risk. The recall affects 1,988 i4 eDrive40 vehicles manufactured between 2022-2023 and 1,442 iX xDrive50 SUVs manufactured between 2022-2023. BMW discovered the issue during a routine quality control check at one of its factories and after further analysis found that only specific models were affected. Owners of the…

The Defense Innovation Unit has given Canoo a contract for battery module supply for testing and demonstration. This supports the U.S. Department of Defense’s effort to incorporate scalable and adaptable capabilities in tactical situations. “We are very proud to be selected by the Department of Defense and to contribute to our country’s global defense technology leadership. This award is another example of our focus and commitment to innovation. We’ve worked hard and continue to develop our patented technologies and ability to deliver flexible, on-demand energy solutions that are multi-purpose capable to serve America’s interests and its allies around the world,”…

NIO start in 2023 with a total of 8,506 vehicle deliveries in January. It represents a decline of 46.22% from the 15,815 vehicles delivered in December and a decrease of 11.87% compared to the 9,652 vehicles delivered in the same month in the previous year. Of these deliveries, 2,190 were premium smart electric SUVs and 6,316 were premium smart electric sedans. The company’s cumulative vehicle deliveries reached 298,062 as of January 31st, 2023. See also: Nio unveils EC7 electric flagship coupe SUV and all new ES8 During the peak travel season surrounding the Chinese New Year Holiday, NIO provided over…

Nissan and Renault have agreed for Nissan to acquire a stake in Ampere, the future independent electric car division of Renault Group. The agreement is still subject to approval from the respective boards. The amount of investment by Nissan has not been disclosed yet. The goal of Nissan is to become a “strategic shareholder”. As stated by Renault CEO, Luca de Meo, Ampere is to become a fully-fledged OEM with 10,000 employees offering six electric models by 2030, including Renault 5 Electric, Renault 4 Electric, Megane E-Tech Electric, Scénic Electric and two more yet to be revealed. See also: Renault…

Lion Electric Co., a leading producer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, has successfully manufactured its first lithium-ion battery pack at its battery facility in Mirabel, Quebec. The battery pack is expected to be certified in Q1 2023 and production will gradually ramp up throughout the year. The first batteries will be used to power Lion’s Lion5 truck and LionAmbulance, which are slated for commercial production in H1 2023. The Mirabel battery facility offers Lion a competitive edge in the market with its vertical integration, allowing for more control over supply, technology, and vehicle integration. See also: Lion Electric…

LG Energy Solution (LGES) has announced its record-high annual consolidated revenue and operating profit for 2022. During a conference call, the company also revealed its 2023 revenue target to increase the annual revenue by 25 to 30 percent from the previous year, through the expansion and stable operation of global manufacturing facilities, as well as increasing sales in the North American region. For the full year, LGES reported KRW 25.6 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 1.2 trillion in operating profit, marking an on-year increase of 43.4 percent and 57.9 percent respectively. The increase in revenue was attributed to an…

At the recent E-Lion day event, Peugeot unveiled its plans for the future of electric vehicles. One of the most intriguing announcements was the company’s commitment to recycling and refurbishing key components in order to support longer lifecycles for its EVs. Peugeot believes that by implementing these strategies, the lifetime of a fully electric vehicle can be extended to 20-25 years, which is a significant increase from the current lifespan of approximately 15 years for an ICE-powered vehicle. To accommodate this new reality, the company’s designers have been working on innovative ways to upgrade EVs throughout their lifecycle. The idea…