Author: Derick Munoz

China’s Commerce Minister, Wang Wentao, is scheduled to arrive in Paris on Sunday for discussions expected to focus on China’s burgeoning export of affordable electric vehicles (EVs) to the European market. The talks are set against the backdrop of an ongoing European Commission investigation into whether China’s EV industry has benefitted from unfair subsidies. According to four sources briefed on Wang’s trip, the discussions will address the European Commission’s concerns that Chinese EVs are benefiting from substantial state subsidies, potentially giving them an unfair advantage in the market. The European Commission has warned that China’s share of EVs sold in…

Xiaomi, the renowned Chinese smartphone manufacturer, made a significant stride into the automotive industry with the launch of its first electric vehicle, the SU7. Amid a ceremony in Beijing celebrating the commencement of deliveries, Xiaomi’s CEO and founder Lei Jun expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Xiaomi’s car officially debuts, the real revolution in smart cars has officially begun, and China will surely give birth to a great company like Tesla.” The initial deliveries of the SU7, from a limited batch of 5,000 cars known as the “Founder’s Edition,” have already received more than 100,000 orders, highlighting the strong demand for Xiaomi’s…

Electric vehicle manufacturer Canoo delivered a disappointing forecast for its 2024 revenue on Monday, falling well below analyst expectations. This comes amidst a broader slowdown in the demand for battery-powered cars, impacting startups and leading major automakers to revise their EV investment plans. Canoo’s shares tumbled 38% in extended trading following the announcement. The EV industry is grappling with challenges, including high-interest rates aimed at curbing inflation, which have dampened consumer interest in EVs – typically priced higher than their gas-powered counterparts. In response, automakers, including industry leader Tesla, have slashed prices to stimulate demand. Canoo, based in Texas, specializes…

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has announced a recall of 1,867 Polestar 4 electric vehicles produced in China between November 29, 2023, and February 1, 2024. The recall, effective immediately, addresses a potential software issue with the all-electric crossover SUV’s brake controller software. According to a report by CNEV Post, the software fault could lead to brake control degradation and failures in features like electronic brake assist. SAMR has warned that the fault could pose a serious safety hazard. The administration advises Polestar 4 drivers to maintain increased following distances from other cars and apply greater pressure to…

British startup LiNa Energy, a spin-off from Lancaster University specializing in solid-state sodium battery technology, has successfully concluded a funding round to support the scaling of its operations. The investment, led by Jacob Wolff-Petersen, consists of £2.7 million in equity and an £815,000 grant from the Future Enterprise Investor Partnership, administered by Innovate UK. Additionally, LiNa Energy has secured an advanced commitment for future funding. The funding will enable LiNa Energy to establish an automated solid-state electrolyte manufacturing line at its first pilot-scale production facility. This investment marks a significant step towards increasing the production capacity of LiNa’s patented battery…

New York City is set to build its largest electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Queens, near JFK airport, with a focus on accommodating electric trucks. The charge park, slated to be operational by 2025, will initially feature 65 charging stations, including 12 fast chargers, with the capacity to scale up for more electric vehicles and trucks. The project is a collaboration between the city’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Wildflower, a developer of urban infrastructure for sustainability. The charge park will occupy a 2.3-acre land parcel between Nassau Expressway and Rockaway Boulevard, offering 24/7 accessibility. NYCEDC President & CEO…

Tesla’s venture into supplying charger hardware to non-Tesla entities has taken a significant step forward with the deployment of the first non-Tesla-branded V4 Supercharger stations in the UK. Last year, Tesla surprised the industry by announcing a deal with BP to sell $100 million worth of Supercharger hardware, which would be installed at BP gas stations across the US under the BP brand. This marked a departure for Tesla, as it was one of the few times the company sold Superchargers to third parties and the first instance of doing so on a large scale to create a non-Tesla branded…

BYD has made waves in the industry with the unveiling of its new Seagull (Dolphin Mini), boasting starting prices as low as $9,700 (69,800 yuan). Despite not being available in the US, American automakers are taking note of the disruptive potential of BYD’s latest offering. The new Seagull EV Honor Edition (Dolphin Mini overseas) was launched earlier this month, featuring a “shocking price” starting at around $9,700 (69,800 yuan). Equipped with BYD’s Blade batteries, the EV comes in 30.08 kWh and 38.88 kWh versions, offering ranges of up to 190 miles (305 km) and 252 miles (405 km) respectively. Additionally,…

Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors is planning to utilize Thailand as a production base for an electric version of its D-MAX pickup truck, with exports set to begin next year, a Thai government spokesperson announced on Thursday. Chai Wacharonke disclosed that Isuzu intends to invest 1 trillion yen ($6.62 billion) in research and development by 2030, including the establishment of a testing center. The electric D-MAX is slated to be exported from Thailand starting in 2025 to countries such as Norway, Britain, Australia, and others, Wacharonke added. Isuzu will unveil its first electric D-MAX pickup truck at the Bangkok International Motor…

Indian steel group JSW and MG Motors, a brand of the Chinese automotive group SAIC, have officially launched their joint venture, JSW MG Motor India, in India. The ambitious goal of the joint venture is to sell one million electric cars in India by 2030, capturing a third of the market. At a media event in Mumbai, the joint venture unveiled the MG Cyberster EV, a well-known electric roadster from MG. JSW MG Motor India will initially focus on premium cars, with plans to launch its first plug-in hybrid car by 2025 and to develop a charging infrastructure across India.…

In a significant step towards sustainable urban transport, the French capital region of Île-de-France has initiated test drives of an electric double-articulated bus equipped with a floor-based conductive charging system from Alstom. This trial marks the first of its kind in the region and signals a potential shift towards cleaner, more efficient public transportation. The test vehicle, named Tzen 4, is the result of collaboration between Van Hool, Kiepe Electric, and Alstom, developed specifically for Île-de-France Mobilités’ ambitious plans to introduce a fleet of 24-metre-long electric buses. This move underscores the region’s commitment to reducing emissions and improving air quality.…

The German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) is leading a European research project called ‘NICOLHy’ aimed at developing new types of storage tanks for liquid hydrogen. The project, conducted in collaboration with four European partners, seeks to increase the capacity of suitable tanks by a factor of forty while reducing costs by 80 per cent. The focus of the research is on the long-distance transport of liquid hydrogen, such as its transportation by ship from producing countries to Europe. Unlike hydrogen tanks in fuel cell vehicles for the road, the project aims to enhance storage methods for…

A project called ‘HyTruck’ is set to establish a network of hydrogen refuelling stations for heavy goods vehicles in the Baltic Sea region, with parts of the infrastructure to be installed in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Partners from Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, and Finland are collaborating on the initiative. The aim of HyTruck is to create a network of hydrogen refuelling stations along the Trans-European Transport Network, stretching from Rostock via Berlin-Brandenburg, Poznan in Poland, Kaunas in Lithuania, Vidzeme in Latvia, to Helsinki in Finland. The project, led by the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Ministry of Economics, involves nine…

The Fisker Ocean, an all-electric SUV, has been honored with the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD in the Electric Vehicle: SUV category. The award recognizes the vehicle’s design concept, functionality, and impact. The iF DESIGN AWARD, presented annually by iF International Forum Design GmbH, attracted nearly 11,000 entries from 72 countries in 2024. The Fisker Ocean stood out in the highly competitive Automobiles category, which undergoes evaluation by a panel of 132 independent design experts. The SUV excelled in both form and function, showcasing its engaging design and user-friendly features. Henrik Fisker, Chairman and CEO, expressed appreciation, stating, “We’re honored that…

BluSmart Mobility, the Indian ridesharing company, has announced plans to expand its fleet with 4,000 electric cars from Citroën. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate this expansion. The 4,000 Citroën ë-C3s will be delivered to BluSmart over the next twelve months, with the first 125 units already handed over in Bangalore. BluSmart, which already operates more than 7,000 electric vehicles, aims to further decarbonize mobility in India through this initiative. Anmol Jaggi, Co-founder & CEO of BluSmart, emphasized the company’s commitment to building a comprehensive EV mobility ecosystem in India, stating, “With the mission…

Volkswagen is ramping up its collaboration with Mobileye to introduce advanced automated driving features across its premium brands and light commercial vehicles, according to a press release from the Volkswagen Group. The partnership aims to integrate Mobileye’s SuperVision and Chauffeur platforms, providing technologies for partially and highly automated driving. This initiative will enable Group brands such as Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche to swiftly implement new driving functions, including extended Level 2 features and, in the future, Level 3 capabilities. Level 3 automation allows vehicles to temporarily take over driving tasks in specific areas, relieving drivers from continuous monitoring. Christian…

Swedish electric boat manufacturer Candela has announced its most substantial funding round to date, securing €24.5 million (US $26.6 million). The company’s recent success comes on the heels of unveiling its P-12 electric ferry and signing its first commercial user, bringing Candela closer to its goal of replacing combustion engine watercraft with efficient electric boats in both recreational and commercial boating industries. Candela’s innovative design incorporates computer-controlled hydrofoils that lift its boats above the water surface, enabling them to use 80% less energy than comparable vessels. This efficiency improvement is particularly significant in watercraft, where the hydrodynamic challenges result in…

UK-based commercial vehicle electrification firm Lunaz Applied Technologies has gone into administration, resulting in the loss of approximately 40 jobs. The company, which was established in 2021 as a spinoff of classic car electrification specialist Lunaz, failed to secure the necessary funding to commence production of its electric bin lorry, known as the Lunaz Upcycled Electric Vehicle. Despite the closure, Lunaz intends to retain its intellectual property and plans to restart the programme and production once market demand increases. A spokesperson for the company stated, “The Lunaz Group is currently restructuring its business to rescope timelines for the start of…

Energy giant Shell has unveiled plans to shutter up to 1,000 retail gas stations in the coming years, aiming to bolster its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The move is part of Shell’s broader Energy Transition Strategy, signaling a significant shift towards sustainable energy solutions. In its latest report, Shell outlined its intention to close 500 retail sites annually in both 2024 and 2025. The company is redirecting its efforts to scale its public EV charging network, with ambitions to increase charging points to 200,000 by 2030, a substantial rise from the current 54,000. See also: Electric Vehicle Adoption Accelerates in…

Tesla has issued a recall for 6,557 vehicles due to safety concerns related to their pedestrian warning systems (PWS). The automaker stated that the PWS did not meet current safety standards after a factory reset of the affected cars. Tesla plans to update the vehicles with a new software revision to resolve the issue. The problem came to light on February 6th when an investigation revealed an issue with the PWS on an internal fleet vehicle. Subsequently, Tesla discovered that the gain value of the PWS was incorrect and had been muted. The company initiated an investigation to determine the…