Author: Derick Munoz

France’s car industry is set to sign a strategy agreement with the government aimed at dramatically increasing electric car sales, coinciding with a state visit by the President of China. The agreement, to be signed on Monday, aligns with President Emmanuel Macron’s goal for the nation’s carmakers to produce two million electric or hybrid vehicles by the end of the decade, despite facing stiff competition from China, the world’s top producer. According to a finance ministry briefing, the new agreement will set an interim goal of 800,000 electric vehicle sales by 2027, a significant increase from 200,000 in 2022. Additionally,…

Ride-hailing company Revel is eyeing Tesla’s abandoned Supercharger projects in New York as an opportunity to expand its own charging infrastructure. With Tesla reportedly abandoning plans for several Supercharger sites following layoffs in its Supercharging department, Revel sees potential in taking over these already-powered sites for its own charging stations. Revel, based in New York City, has been actively building its charging stations in recent months. According to a report from Crain’s New York, the company is in talks to take over four planned Supercharger sites, totaling around 60 charging stalls. Robert Familiar, a spokesperson for Revel, commented on the…

Hyundai has agreed to invest close to $1 billion in Motional, an all-electric robotaxi company, in a move that will give the Korean automaker a majority stake in the company. The investment includes a direct injection of $475 million from Hyundai into Motional, as well as the purchase of shares from joint venture partner Aptiv. Hyundai will spend an additional $448 million to acquire an 11% stake in Aptiv’s share in Motional. Following this investment, Aptiv’s stake in Motional is expected to reduce from 50% to approximately 15% as of March 31, leaving Hyundai with an 85% stake. Kevin Clark,…

Rivian has appointed Javier Varela as its Chief Operating Officer, signaling a strategic move to strengthen its leadership team. Varela, a veteran from Volvo, will join the electric-vehicle startup in August, succeeding Frank Klein, who has been the head of operations since 2022 and will step down after contributing to the ramp-up of the R1 SUVs and pickups. Varela’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Rivian as it expands its production facility, even amidst a slowdown in demand. Varela’s extensive experience, particularly his role as deputy CEO and COO at Volvo, is expected to be instrumental in Rivian’s growth…

Hyundai Mobis, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor, has revealed plans to construct a new battery system plant in Spain, a move seen as a strategic entry into Western Europe’s automotive market. The facility will serve as a dedicated plant supplying Volkswagen, a key global client. The decision to establish the plant in Spain is in line with Hyundai Mobis’s broader strategic goals related to ‘electrification’ and ‘expansion of global orders.’ Currently, the company operates battery system production facilities in Korea, China, and the Czech Republic, with additional facilities under construction in the USA and Indonesia. Jung In-bo, head of the…

Factorial Energy, a solid-state battery technology company based in Massachusetts, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LG Chem to accelerate the development of solid-state battery materials. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of next-generation battery materials by combining LG Chem’s battery material capabilities with Factorial’s innovations in battery materials and processes. Upon successful completion of the project, the two companies have agreed to further discuss technology licensing and material supply to maintain a strategic partnership for market leadership. Jong-ku Lee, CTO of LG Chem, stated, “Through this collaboration, we aim to become technology leaders in…

Chinese eVTOL manufacturer EHang has announced a collaboration with Greater Bay Technology (GBT) to develop high-speed battery charging systems for flying vehicles. The partnership aims to create an Ultra-Fast Charging (UFC)/eXtreme Fast Charging (XFC) battery system for EHang’s electric aerial vehicles (EAVs). EHang and GBT plan to jointly develop eVTOL power cells, batteries, packs, charging piles, and energy storage systems that comply with the airworthiness standards of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The goal is to reduce EAV battery charging times to less than 10 minutes for a 30% to 80% charge. EHang’s founder, chairman, and CEO, Huazhi…

UK-based vehicle recycler EMR Metals Recycling has made a significant investment in Australian-owned Renewable Metals, known for its innovative recycling process for lithium-ion batteries. The partnership aims to revolutionize battery recycling by streamlining the process and improving recovery rates. The agreement includes plans to construct a demonstration-scale EV battery refining plant at EMR’s site in Birmingham. This facility will be capable of processing various types of lithium-ion batteries, including those from automotive, e-mobility (e-bikes and e-scooters), industrial, domestic, and portable applications. Renewable Metals’ recycling process offers higher recovery rates and avoids the production of sodium sulfate, making it more suitable…

Ford Pro has announced the availability of the latest version of its commercial electric vehicle (EV), the E-Transit, offering up to 32% more range and faster charge times. The 2024 E-Transit is equipped with a larger 89 kWh battery, up from 67 kWh, providing an estimated range of up to 159 miles. This increased range opens up new use cases, such as refrigerated delivery, according to Ford. The upgraded E-Transit also features dual onboard chargers, delivering a 22% faster charge time when using Ford Pro’s 80A Series 2 charger and charging software. This allows the vehicle to be fully charged…

Fraunhofer’s Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB has inaugurated the first construction phase of its PreFab facility in Münster, marking a significant step towards establishing Germany as a global leader in battery technology. The PreFab, spanning 6,800 square metres, is a precursor to the larger FFB Fab, which will offer 20,000 square metres of production and research space for industrial-scale battery production. The PreFab will serve as a research space for developing battery cell production processes and technologies. According to RWTH Professor Achim Kampker, a member of the FFB institute management team, the facility will focus on producing pouch…

Redwood Materials, a player in the battery recycling industry, joined forces with the Rotary Club to spearhead a battery collection drive in honor of Earth Day 2024. The company, known for its innovative approach to recycling, aims to encourage more individuals to participate in similar events and contribute to building a cleaner energy future. The partnership with the Bellevue Rotary Club in Washington was highlighted through a video shared by Redwood Materials. The initiative focused on collecting used batteries from various devices such as laptops, tablets, and phones. The collected batteries will undergo recycling to recover valuable raw materials, promoting…

Opel CEO Florian Huettl dismissed rumors about the discontinuation of the electric Manta project, reiterating the company’s commitment to resurrecting the iconic model in an electric avatar. Huettl confirmed that the project is progressing, emphasizing its importance as an emotional vehicle with a rich history. He stated, “The Manta project is making progress… It will be a car for a broad target group. But I can assure you that we will treat our history with great respect.” Opel’s decision to pursue the electric Manta follows an earlier announcement in 2021 under former CEO Michael Lohscheller’s leadership. The company aimed to…

The Kia EV9, an all-electric SUV, has added another accolade to its collection by winning the coveted “Best of the Best” award in the Cars and Motorcycle category at the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2024. The Red Dot competition judges praised the EV9’s “Opposites United” design philosophy, highlighting its successful exterior design, contemporary character, and strong classic lines. The Red Dot Design Award is renowned as one of the most prestigious seals of design quality. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 24, 2024, at the Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany. Since its launch in 2023,…

The European Union is facing a significant shortfall in electric vehicle (EV) charging points, needing nearly eight times more installations per year than in 2023 to meet projected demand, according to the European autos group ACEA. In 2023, just over 150,000 public charging points were installed across the bloc, totaling more than 630,000. However, this falls far short of the approximately 410,000 needed annually for the European Commission to achieve its target of 3.5 million charging points by 2030, ACEA stated. Demand for EV charging has outpaced expectations, with EU electric car sales growing three times faster than charging point…

Gogoro, known for its innovative swappable battery technology for light electric vehicles, has announced a significant partnership with Japanese giants Sumitomo Corporation and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd. (SMFL). The partnership aims to leverage Gogoro’s Smart Batteries and battery-swapping system to expand the use of its technology beyond electric scooters, marking a major milestone for the company. The partnership with Sumitomo, a conglomerate with a vast array of subsidiary companies and a strong presence in industries such as automotive, transportation & construction systems, and urban development, is expected to accelerate Gogoro’s global business expansion. This move highlights Gogoro’s…

German automaker Audi has announced a collaboration with U.S. company Applied Intuition to jointly develop automated driving (AD) systems, aiming to integrate the technology into future Audi vehicles. The partnership will focus on creating a unified solution to facilitate the development, validation, type approval, and deployment of AD systems. This collaboration seeks to address the challenges of slow progress and high costs associated with AD development. Applied Intuition’s end-to-end simulation and data management solutions, combined with Audi’s scenario-based systems engineering expertise, will enable the creation of a solution that meets current and future regulatory requirements. This framework will be designed…

Iberdrola and BP are set to introduce the first megawatt charging stations in southern Europe as part of their joint venture in Spain, focusing on enhancing the charging infrastructure. The partners plan to install the MCS chargers, with a capacity of 1,200 kW, at logistics company Disfrimur’s site near Murcia in south-east Spain. The first MCS chargers are expected to be operational in 2024, initially at the Disfrimur site near Murcia and later at another company site in San Isidro near Alicante. Spanish company Power Electronics will provide the necessary hardware for the chargers. Iberdrola aims to establish the first…

Archer Aviation has announced a major framework agreement with Abu Dhabi, unveiled at the DRIFTx mobility event in the UAE capital. This agreement signifies a significant step forward in accelerating Archer’s planned commercial air taxi operations in the region, with a targeted launch as early as next year. The agreement, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, covers various aspects crucial to Archer’s expansion, including in-country manufacturing, operational setup, and training facilities across the UAE. Notably, Abu Dhabi’s commitment positions the emirate at the forefront of advancing urban air mobility, with plans to kick off air taxi operations utilizing Archer’s…

Tesla has revealed plans for a European tour featuring its distinctive Cybertruck, which is set to visit 24 different cities across the continent. The electric vehicle company shared a teaser video on its Europe and Middle East account on X, showcasing the upcoming tour that will include stops in Germany, Italy, Spain, England, and more. Dubbed the “Cyber Odyssey” in the video, the tour follows previous Cybertruck displays in China, Japan, Thailand, and at the Tesla Gigafactory near Berlin, Germany. The tour marks Tesla’s continued efforts to showcase its unique electric pickup truck to audiences around the world. https://twitter.com/teslaeurope/status/1784602451066204438 The…

Amid speculation about the fate of the BMW 4-Series, BMW North America’s Head of Product Communications, Tom Plucinsky, has clarified the automaker’s stance, indicating that reports of the 4-Series’ demise may have been premature. Plucinsky’s comments not only cast doubt on the rumored discontinuation but also underscore BMW’s dedication to both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) technologies. Plucinsky emphasized BMW’s ongoing investment in a dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform while cautioning against assuming the discontinuation of any particular model. He also highlighted BMW’s research into hydrogen power as a potential solution for long-distance driving needs. Speculation…