Author: Derick Munoz

Renault, through its mobility division Mobilize, has taken a significant stake in Free To X, a subsidiary of Italian motorway operator Autostrade per l’Italia, to accelerate the expansion of fast-charging infrastructure across Italy. While the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, Renault confirmed that the transaction awaits regulatory approval. Free To X currently operates 110 fast-charging locations primarily along Italy’s motorway network. Mobilize’s investment will focus on extending this network to urban and suburban areas, making electric mobility more accessible beyond major highways. Gianluca De Ficchy, CEO of Mobilize, highlighted the partnership’s strategic importance in advancing sustainable mobility in…

BYD is advancing its SUV lineup with the Tang L, as revealed in a regulatory filing included in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) catalog, which details high-performance powertrains and cutting-edge technology. The Tang L features three battery electric vehicle (BEV) versions and five plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) versions listed in the MIIT catalog. Among these, the dual-motor BEV (BYD6500AJBEV4) mirrors the powertrain of the Han L sedan, delivering 230 kW from the front motor and 580 kW from the rear. This configuration enables the SUV, weighing 2,882 kg, to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in…

Mazda has announced plans to bring its EZ-6 electric saloon, already available in China, to European markets under the name Mazda6e. The Japanese automaker unveiled the vehicle at the Brussels Motor Show, marking a significant step in its European electric vehicle (EV) strategy. The model will debut in Germany in the summer of 2025, with prices starting at approximately €45,000. This move coincides with the phasing out of the aging MX-30 electric SUV in Germany and other regions. The Mazda6e is a product of Mazda’s partnership with Chinese automaker Changan and is based on the EPA1 architecture developed by Changan.…

Tesla will enable Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle (EV) owners in the United States to access its extensive Supercharger network starting in February, the automaker announced today. This move marks Mercedes-Benz as the latest in a growing list of manufacturers leveraging Tesla’s charging infrastructure, which was first opened to non-Tesla vehicles last year. U.S.-based Mercedes-Benz EV drivers will gain immediate access to Tesla Superchargers next month. Canadian owners, however, will need to wait until later this year before gaining the same privilege. In a statement, Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Dimitris Psillakis said, “Adopting the NACS standard in our electric vehicles and opening the…

Aptera Motors, the solar electric vehicle (sEV) startup, has revealed its production-ready vehicle at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, though it remains unclear when the first units will reach customers. The company first introduced its Launch Edition of the solar electric vehicle in January 2023, promising production would begin later that year. However, financial challenges delayed the timeline. In 2024, Aptera secured $33 million in funding and announced it was preparing for production, but the solar-powered trike from California has yet to be delivered. Since then, Aptera has raised a total of $135 million through equity funding, which the company…

Stockholm-based electric vehicle battery maker Northvolt announced on Wednesday that its shareholders voted to continue operations, providing the company with critical backing as it seeks new funding and navigates Chapter 11 restructuring. The Swedish firm, once seen as Europe’s leading contender in the EV battery sector, faced significant challenges last year, including production setbacks, reduced funding, and intensified competition from Chinese manufacturers. These difficulties culminated in a bankruptcy protection filing under U.S. Chapter 11 laws in November. In a statement, Northvolt expressed optimism, saying the shareholder vote demonstrates confidence in its ongoing transformation. “Northvolt continues to make progress in the…

British roadside assistance company AA has introduced 15 battery-electric Ford Transit Customs and 15 plug-in hybrid variants into its fleet as part of a trial to assess their performance in real-world scenarios. These vehicles will operate in cities such as Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Nottingham, Liverpool, and London, undergoing structured tests to evaluate their suitability for the company’s needs. The trial focuses on key operational factors, including the practicality of home and strategic charging solutions. According to AA, all participating patrols will have home chargers installed to support low-carbon operations, complemented by charging solutions from its partner, Rightcharge. The towing capacity…

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) made up 19.6% of the UK’s new car market in 2024, registering a total of 381,970 units sold. This represented an impressive increase of 21.4% from the previous year, as BEVs gained a stronger foothold in the market. However, despite this growth, the segment still fell short of the 22% target set by the government’s mandate for electric vehicle sales. This marks the second consecutive year of growth for the UK EV market, as sales of BEVs and hybrid vehicles continue to rise, while traditional combustion engine vehicles, such as petrol and diesel cars, experienced significant declines.…

Bosch introduced a new theft prevention feature for its e-bike batteries at CES 2025, allowing owners to digitally lock their batteries through the company’s Flow+ app. This enhancement aims to bolster security by automatically locking the battery when the e-bike is turned off. If a stolen battery is used on another Bosch e-bike, it will render the bike’s motor support inoperable, making the bike unusable. The new locking feature will be available later this summer through an over-the-air update for Bosch e-bikes equipped with the company’s smart system. In addition to this digital lock, Bosch is also enabling owners to…

Norwegian retail chain Coop has commissioned Mer to install at least 215 new electric vehicle charging points across 37 locations in Norway by the end of 2025. In addition to the new installations, Mer will upgrade existing charging stations with faster chargers, bolstering Coop’s charging network by more than 50%. Mer has ambitious plans to add over 6,000 charging points across Europe in the next four years, including 1,800 in 2025 alone. Nearly half of these developments are backed by partner agreements with companies like IKEA, Tesco, Dennree, and MPREIS. “We know that EV drivers appreciate being able to run…

Voyah, Dongfeng Motor’s premium electric vehicle (EV) arm, achieved its third consecutive record month in December 2024, delivering 12,136 vehicles. This represents a 21.15 percent increase compared to 10,017 vehicles delivered in December 2023 and an 11.79 percent rise over November 2024. For the full year of 2024, Voyah delivered a total of 85,697 vehicles, marking a significant 69.52 percent year-on-year growth. However, the company fell short of its full-year target of 100,000 vehicles, which was set earlier in the year. Despite this, Voyah remains optimistic about its growth trajectory and has set a target of selling 200,000 vehicles in…

Shell Recharge has announced that it will cease offering its ‘Shell Sky’ software for third-party charging stations in the US and Canada by April 30, 2025. The cloud-based software, developed by Greenlots before its acquisition by Shell in 2019, was used by third-party providers to manage commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Shell Recharge will remove its branding and discontinue support for the software as it shifts its focus toward expanding its own public charging network in North America. The company emphasized that existing customers using the Shell Sky software will have until the end of April to migrate their…