Author: Derick Munoz

Milence, a joint venture between Daimler Truck, the Traton Group, and the Volvo Group, has revealed plans for its second charging station in Sweden, located in Ödeshög along the E4 freeway between Malmö and Stockholm. The station, set to open in September 2024, will initially feature eight CCS charging points providing 400 kW of power, with plans to expand to 16 points and include MCS chargers once the standard is finalized. This expansion aims to support the growing demand for electric truck charging infrastructure. Anja van Niersen, CEO of Milence, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions, stating, “Sweden…

Car rental giant Hertz announced its intention to significantly increase the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) this year. Contrary to its initial plan to sell 20,000 EVs, Hertz now aims to sell a total of 30,000 electric cars in 2024, marking a 10,000-unit increase from its January announcement. “At the beginning of the year, we had around 60,000 units in our global EV fleet,” Hertz wrote in its statement, “We have now upsized our EV disposition plan by 10,000 vehicles, for a total of 30,000 EVs intended for sale in 2024.” This move would account for half of all electric…

CarMax has released its latest report on used electric vehicle (EV) sales, revealing notable shifts in the market. According to the Spring 2024 CarMax Electric Vehicle Consumer Report, based on sales data from September 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, the top three most popular EVs at CarMax are the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, and Nissan LEAF, respectively. While these models held the top three slots in CarMax’s 2023 report, their average prices have decreased by $3,000 to $5,000 compared to last year. This trend is mirrored in the broader market, as the average price range for the…

BYD has announced its latest innovation, the BYD Shark electric pickup truck, featuring a Dual Mode Off-Road (DMO) plug-in hybrid system. The company unveiled the new model through its official X account, creating anticipation ahead of the upcoming Beijing Autoshow. While specific pricing details have not been disclosed, the BYD Shark is expected to offer advanced technology and a sleek design. The incorporation of the DMO system is aimed at enhancing the vehicle’s off-road capabilities, potentially making it a competitive option in the electric pickup truck segment. BYD’s unveiling of the Shark underscores its commitment to innovation in the electric…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has postponed his planned visit to India, originally scheduled for April 21-22, 2024, citing his busy schedule at Tesla. Musk expressed regret over the delay but affirmed his intention to visit later in the year. Confirming the news on social media platform X, Musk said, “Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year.” https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1781541775183610310 Initially reported by India’s CNBC TV18, Musk’s trip seemed well-prepared, with the CEO expressing anticipation for meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other…

Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, hinted at the imminent launch of Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in China, responding to queries from users on social media. Musk’s response came as a reply to a user’s post on X, stating, “It may be possible very soon.” Despite having introduced FSD four years ago, Tesla has not yet made it available in China, despite customer requests. This delay has allowed other Chinese automakers to develop and deploy similar software, seeking to gain a competitive edge over Tesla. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1781558948144820578 One such competitor, Xpeng, announced in March its plans to upgrade its advanced driver assistance software,…

Tesla China has recently updated its order page for the Model 3, leading to revised delivery estimates for the all-electric sedan. The adjusted delivery estimates apply to both the Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) and Long Range Dual Motor All Wheel Drive (AWD) versions of the Model 3 manufactured at Giga Shanghai. According to the updated order page, the estimated delivery dates for the Model 3 RWD and Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor AWD are now listed as 3-6 weeks, compared to the previous estimate of 2-6 weeks. Notably, this update only applies to the Model 3, as the Model…

Hyundai announced its decision to pause advertising on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. The South Korean auto giant cited brand safety issues as the primary reason for this decision. The company is also in direct talks with X, which is now owned by Elon Musk, to address these concerns. The specifics behind Hyundai’s advertising pause remain unclear, with Reuters seeking further comment from the auto manufacturer. This move by Hyundai follows similar actions by other major companies last November. The White House had condemned Elon Musk’s endorsement of what was described as a “hideous” antisemitic conspiracy…

Zero Carbon Charge, a South African company based in Vredendal, is set to launch a truck charging network powered solely by locally generated solar energy. Approval procedures for the first six locations are currently underway. The company, known for its work on building a high-power charging (HPC) network for cars in South Africa using off-grid solar power, has founded a subsidiary called Zero Carbon Logistics. This new entity aims to set up 120 charging stations for electric trucks on national motorways throughout the country, with the first stations scheduled to open in 2027. The architectural design for the charging parks…

Li Auto has unveiled its latest electric vehicle (EV) model, the Li L6, as part of its efforts to reach a wider customer base with lower prices. The Li L6, available in both Pro and Max trims, is priced at RMB 249,800 ($34,500) and RMB 279,800, respectively, making it the least expensive model in Li Auto’s lineup. The company began accepting orders for the Li L6 at the launch event, with customers able to place a refundable deposit of RMB 5,000. Customers who order the Li L6 between April 18 and May 5 will receive limited-time benefits totaling RMB 20,000,…

Tesla is set to unveil a substantial investment of up to $3 billion in India during an upcoming visit by CEO Elon Musk to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to reports. The move signifies Tesla’s ongoing efforts to deepen its presence in the Indian market and expand its global footprint. The electric vehicle (EV) giant has been actively pursuing a stronger foothold in India, aiming to introduce its vehicles on a larger scale. However, negotiations between Tesla and India have faced hurdles, with disagreements over import duties and the establishment of a local manufacturing facility. Despite these challenges,…

Lotus has officially opened orders for its new hyper SUV, the Eletre, in North America, marking a significant step in the company’s transition to producing 100% electric vehicles. Customers in the US and Canada can now customize and order the Eletre, which is the first of a new generation of Lotus SUVs designed to be fully electric. The Eletre is available in two variants in North America: the standard Eletre and the higher-performance Eletre R. Both models feature a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration and are built on Lotus’ proprietary 800V platform, with a 111.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Lotus has positioned…

BASF has launched its prototype metal refinery for battery recycling in Schwarzheide, Germany, aiming to refine processes for recycling raw materials from old batteries and production waste. The pilot plant will optimize technologies that will later be used in a larger recycling facility to recover valuable metals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and copper, according to BASF. The company plans to construct a commercial-scale refinery in Europe in the coming years, although specifics on the location and timeline remain undisclosed. The Schwarzheide site already houses BASF’s cathode material production, which the company touts as a hub for battery material production…

Tesla is poised to benefit significantly from the US government’s EV tax credit program, with the automaker’s Model Y leading the charge in sales. However, challenges loom for other EV makers as they strive to compete in this rapidly evolving market. The US government has allocated close to $600 million for EV tax credits in the first quarter of this year, with more than 90% of eligible EV buyers taking advantage of the new point-of-sale tax credit reimbursement introduced on January 1st. Tesla, America’s largest EV maker, is reaping the rewards, selling seven times more EVs than its closest competitor,…

German automotive supplier Mahle has announced securing two major orders for thermal management modules for electric vehicles (EVs), totaling almost 1.5 billion euros. This milestone includes the largest single order in Mahle’s corporate history. The significant order comes from an undisclosed “established, globally positioned vehicle manufacturer.” The second order is from an “up-and-coming, innovative car manufacturer from the Asian region.” This diversification in clients showcases Mahle’s appeal to both traditional automakers and emerging EV startups. The thermal management modules integrate components for controlling battery temperature, vehicle interior, powertrain, and power electronics. This integration enhances system efficiency compared to individual components,…

Aston Martin, in collaboration with Lucid, had previously announced plans for a modular electric vehicle platform to underpin four new models, including a crossover and a hypercar, with the first electric vehicle slated for a 2025 debut. However, the British luxury automaker has now revealed a significant delay of approximately two years for these models. In an interview with Autocar, Aston Martin’s executive chairman, Lawrence Stroll, cited a discrepancy between the hype surrounding electric vehicles and actual consumer demand, especially at Aston Martin’s price point. Stroll mentioned, “We planned to launch at the end of 2025 and were ready to…

Ferrari is set to bolster its expertise in battery cells through a partnership with Bologna University and chipmaker NXP Semiconductors, aiming to enhance its understanding of cell technology without venturing into manufacturing them. While the iconic Italian brand plans to introduce its first all-electric vehicle by late 2025, details about the model remain scarce. Ferrari’s CEO Benedetto Vigna emphasized the importance of this upcoming EV, stating that it must meet high standards to persuade customers of the viability of electric vehicles. Speaking about the collaboration, Vigna stated, “Production will always be done through external manufacturers, based on the know-how we…

In the first quarter of 2024, the Volkswagen Group sold 136,400 electric cars, marking a slight decline of around three per cent compared to the same period last year. Despite this decrease, the global automotive giant remains optimistic about its electric vehicle (EV) prospects, highlighting significant growth in some markets. One notable trend is the increase in EV sales in China, where Volkswagen experienced a remarkable 91 per cent growth, with 41,000 EVs delivered to customers. However, EVs still make up only 5.9 per cent of total sales in China for the group. In contrast, the European market saw a…

Following the declaration of insolvency of Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool on Monday, the company’s future has been clarified with the acceptance of a joint bid from Dutch competitor VDL and German trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull. Considered as favorites, VDL and Schmitz Cargobull’s bid was chosen over a counter-bid from Flemish entrepreneur Guido Dumarey and ABC Companies, Van Hool’s US dealer. The accepted bid will result in only 650 to 950 of the 2,500 employees being able to keep their jobs. Schmitz Cargobull is interested in Van Hool’s Belgian-based trailer division, while VDL is focused on the coach business. Van…

Ford has recently unveiled its 2024 Mustang Mach-E lineup, introducing several upgrades that enhance the electric SUV’s performance and usability. Despite the late model year update, the improvements make the wait worthwhile for enthusiasts. One of the significant enhancements across all models is the increase in estimated EPA range. The extended-range battery now offers up to 320 miles of range in the rear-wheel-drive motor configuration, thanks to a new rear motor and various efficiency improvements. Additionally, Ford has improved fast-charging times significantly. The 2024 Mustang Mach-E with the extended-range battery can now charge from 10-80% in approximately 36.2 minutes, which…