Author: Derick Munoz

Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car subsidiary of Xpeng, announced that it has garnered nearly RMB 300 million ($42.8 million) in pre-orders for its innovative modular flying car. This significant milestone comes as the eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) manufacturer entered strategic partnerships with two Hangzhou-based firms, Gaozhi Aviation and Aocheng Aviation, culminating in contracts for 150 modular flying cars. The pre-orders were formalized during the third Global Digital Trade Expo, which took place from September 25-29 in Hangzhou. At the event, Xpeng Aeroht showcased flight demonstrations of its Voyager X2 flying car, emphasizing the company’s commitment to advancing air…

Kia Corp., part of Hyundai Motor Group, has commenced mass production of electric vehicles at its first dedicated EV plant in South Korea. The automaker is positioning itself to recover from the ongoing global slowdown in the electric vehicle (EV) market, with hopes of leading innovation in the sector. The newly completed facility, known as the EVO Plant, is located in Gwangmyeong near Seoul and boasts an annual production capacity of 150,000 units. At the plant’s completion ceremony, Kia’s executive vice president Choi Jun Young emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainable mobility, stating, “To provide sustainable mobility solutions, we will…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new funding opportunity under its Clean School Bus Rebate Program, making up to $965 million available to school districts. This latest round builds on nearly $3 billion in previous investments aimed at improving air quality in and around schools. To date, the Clean School Bus Program has funded approximately 8,700 bus replacements, with around 95% of those being zero-emission, battery-electric vehicles. Funding has reached nearly 1,300 school districts across almost all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories. Many of these funds have been directed to…

Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group focused on advancing the transition to net zero, has announced a new project aimed at producing and validating electric vehicle (EV) battery cells using materials recovered from end-of-life EV batteries. This initiative marks a first for the UK, demonstrating the production of battery cells using recovered cathode active materials (CAM) that will be validated for use in vehicles with a leading automotive manufacturer. The project is supported by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK as part of its Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator (ARMD) competition. Collaborating with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Altilium plans to utilize…

Liquidators for the electric vehicle division of China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) are currently in negotiations with a potential buyer to acquire a stake in the company, aiming to secure a new credit line to support production. The firm, known as China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle (0708.HK), initially aimed to rival Tesla but has been significantly impacted by the debt crisis facing its parent company. On Thursday, China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle announced that its liquidators have not yet finalized any agreements with prospective stake buyers, nor have they secured any deals to extend credit to the EV manufacturer. In a…

Audi has confirmed that the 2025 Q6 e-tron will start at $63,800 in the United States, with deliveries expected by the end of the year. The company also announced plans to introduce a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) variant in the fourth quarter of 2024, expanding the lineup of this all-electric SUV. The RWD version is expected to have an estimated EPA range of 321 miles, making it the longest-range battery electric vehicle (BEV) in Audi’s portfolio. This variant features a rear motor producing 302 horsepower, enabling acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph.…

Advanced air mobility (AAM) operator UrbanLink has signed a new purchase agreement to enhance its electric aircraft fleet in the Southeastern United States, acquiring 27 all-electric Seagliders from REGENT Craft, a developer focused on sustainable air mobility. Based in South Florida, UrbanLink aims to transform urban transportation by integrating zero-emission solutions, such as electric aircraft and seagliders. The company is working towards enabling zero-emission travel within a 500-mile range by 2028, with plans to extend this range to 1,000 miles by 2030. Initial hub cities include Miami, Los Angeles, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. UrbanLink is positioning itself to become…

Tesla faces heightened expectations for its vehicle deliveries as Wall Street anticipates positive results ahead of the company’s upcoming quarterly report. Set to release its production and delivery figures for the third quarter of 2024 next week, Tesla is projected to reverse its recent trend of year-over-year delivery declines. After delivering 435,059 vehicles in Q3 2023, which was surpassed in the last quarter despite lower overall performance, analysts believe the company can achieve this target. Strong demand in China, fueled by a 0% interest financing offer, is contributing positively. However, concerns linger regarding weaker performance in Europe and an uncertain…

BYD has delivered 100 electric buses to Cutcsa, Uruguay’s largest electric bus operator, marking a key milestone in its commercial vehicle expansion. The delivery took place at BYD’s Qingdao plant in Shandong province on September 19, with executives from both companies present, according to a company statement. The BYD K9UD buses, each measuring 12.2 meters in length and equipped with a 422-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, can cover up to 450 kilometers on a single charge. Cutcsa aims to fully electrify its fleet by 2040, reflecting a broader trend toward sustainable transportation in Latin America. “We are proud to partner…

Mercedes-Benz has commenced the assembly of its EQS SUV at its Chakan facility, located near Pune in Maharashtra, marking a significant step in the company’s operations in India. This facility is now the second location, alongside the main plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where the full-size electric SUV is manufactured. The EQS SUV is being assembled in the 580 4MATIC variant using imported knocked-down kits, allowing Mercedes-Benz to capitalize on minor localization to reduce import duties and offer a more competitive price in the Indian luxury car market, which remains relatively small compared to the US and Europe. The EQS SUV…

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta have identified ferric chloride (FeCl3) as a promising new cathode material for solid-state batteries, potentially leading to significant reductions in both costs and reliance on critical raw materials. Initial tests indicate that FeCl3 performs comparably or even better than established cathode materials while costing only one to two percent of their price. The chemistry behind the FeCl3 cathode utilizes abundant materials—iron (Fe) and chlorine (Cl)—while eliminating the need for nickel and cobalt, which are often costly and subject to supply chain vulnerabilities. The team’s findings suggest that FeCl3 not only matches…

Tesla will return to the 2024 Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l’Auto) after a six-year absence, marking its reappearance at the automotive event set to take place from October 14 to 20, 2024. Tesla’s last participation at the Paris Motor Show was in 2018, when it introduced the Model 3 sedan, a vehicle that contributed to making electric cars more accessible to a broader market. For the 2024 event, Tesla is expected to showcase its full range of vehicles. This includes the Model Y, which became the best-selling vehicle globally by volume last year, the updated Model 3 sedan, as…