Author: Derick Munoz

Skoda, an automobile manufacturer, has revealed the Enyaq Coupe Respectline, a new electric crossover, as part of its celebration of Pride Month. The vehicle showcases Skoda Auto’s core values of diversity, equity, fairness, and inclusion. With its eye-catching design, the Enyaq Coupe Respectline highlights the concept of diversity through a vibrant and colorful prism. While the standout feature is the attention-grabbing wrap, the model also boasts a distinctive Crystal Face grille. Illuminated by 131 white and multicolored LEDs, the grille has a gaming aesthetic. Inside the vehicle, the expressive theme continues with rainbow ambient lighting and matte white trim adorned…

BYD, the renowned Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has achieved remarkable sales figures for its latest offering, the Seagull, in the month of May. After its initial release in April, where it sold 1,500 units, the Seagull saw a significant boost in demand, with sales skyrocketing to 14,300 units in May. Among the total number of pure electric vehicles sold by BYD in May, which amounted to an impressive 119,603 units, the Seagull contributed approximately 12% to the overall sales. This demonstrates the strong appeal and market reception of BYD’s newest addition to its electric vehicle lineup. The Seagull presents potential…

Jeep surprised many by sharing video footage of its Grand Cherokee 4xe undergoing testing of AI and autonomous off-road technology in Moab, Utah. While the brand may not be commonly associated with electric vehicles (EVs) or autonomous driving, Jeep’s strong connection with off-roading prompted them to prioritize the development of autonomous capabilities for rugged terrains rather than focusing solely on highways like many other automakers. Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, has been somewhat slower in embracing full battery-electric vehicle (BEV) adoption. However, the Jeep brand is steadily moving towards electrification, with plans to introduce four all-electric SUVs by 2025. Among these…

In the ever-evolving landscape of autonomous vehicles, the competition to develop the most effective self-driving technology is intensifying. As history has shown, great technological advances often face challenges from alternative solutions to the same problem. Whether it was Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla’s clash over AC and DC current or Sony’s Betamax facing off against the VHS tape system, the quest for supremacy in innovation is rife with rivalries. Now, a key battleground for self-driving technologies has emerged, pitting companies advocating for highly detailed maps against those favoring a mapless approach. Certain firms firmly believe that self-driving cars should rely…

Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand under Geely, achieved a remarkable milestone in May by delivering 8,678 vehicles. This figure represents a substantial growth of 100.42 percent compared to the same period last year, when they delivered 4,330 vehicles. Furthermore, it signifies a 7.12 percent increase from the 8,101 deliveries in April. This marks the fourth consecutive month of rising delivery numbers for Zeekr, a commendable feat following a significant drop in January due to a temporary plant shutdown for upgrades. During the January-May period, Zeekr exhibited impressive performance by delivering 32,013 vehicles, reflecting a remarkable surge of 117.66…

First Mode, a US-based company, has partnered with ABB to procure 80 battery systems capable of storing a total of 2.6 MWh. These cutting-edge battery systems will be installed in a fleet of zero-emission dump trucks. Equipped with Bordline ESS lithium-ion systems, the converted dump trucks will utilize a combination of fuel cell and battery propulsion. The primary purpose of these batteries is twofold. Firstly, they will enhance the trucks’ power output while ascending uphill terrains. Secondly, they will capture and store recuperation energy during downhill drives. A press release from ABB states that this order comes on the heels…

Fisker, an electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced its plans to begin delivering a large volume of vehicles to customers in the United States during the week of June 19. Recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reveals that the all-electric Fisker Ocean Extreme, equipped with standard 20-inch wheels and tires, boasts an estimated total range of 360 miles. This surpasses Fisker’s previous range estimates. In addition to its impressive range, the Fisker Ocean Extreme has obtained both an EPA Certificate of Conformity and a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order (EO). These approvals authorize the sale and delivery…

Volvo, the renowned automaker, has unveiled its latest over-the-air update, aimed at enhancing the Apple CarPlay experience in over 650,000 vehicles. The update focuses on seamlessly integrating Apple’s features throughout the cabin, providing drivers with a more comprehensive and user-friendly interface. Notable improvements include the integration of Apple Maps and other navigation applications into the driver display, placing vital information directly behind the steering wheel. Additionally, the center infotainment screen has received tweaks to optimize the layout and functionality of the CarPlay feature. One of the most significant enhancements of this update is the native support for Apple Maps and…

Tesla is continuously enhancing its cars with innovative features through free over-the-air (OTA) software updates. In their upcoming 2023.20 software update, currently undergoing internal testing, Tesla is introducing a new feature called ‘Tire Service Mileage.’ This feature, located in the ‘Controls’ menu, enables drivers to easily track the number of miles driven since their last tire service. According to leaked release notes obtained by Not A Tesla App, the purpose of this feature is to assist users in monitoring when their tires were last rotated, replaced, or swapped. By keeping tabs on tire service history, drivers can conveniently schedule their…

BYD saw record new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in May, putting it over the 1 million unit mark for sales in the year. The NEV giant sold 240,220 NEVs in May, up 108.99 percent from 114,943 units a year ago and up 14.23 percent from 210,295 units in April, according to data released today. The company discontinued production and sales of vehicles powered entirely by internal combustion engines in March last year to focus on producing plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles. BYD’s NEVs include passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles, with sales of 239,092 new energy passenger cars…

According to a study conducted by the ICF Climate Center, electrifying the entire US federal fleet has the potential to generate substantial cost savings and significantly curb greenhouse gas emissions. With over 650,000 vehicles under its purview across civilian and military agencies worldwide, the federal fleet covers an impressive 4 billion miles annually, amounting to an operating cost of approximately $4.5 billion per year. These expenses include the hefty sum of over 367 million gallons of gasoline. Surprisingly, out of the extensive federal fleet, only a minuscule fraction, approximately 4,300 vehicles, are currently battery electric or plug-in hybrid electric, accounting…

Lotus Type 133, the upcoming electric sedan from Lotus, has been recently spotted cruising the streets of China. The vehicle, heavily camouflaged to maintain its mystery, is in its final stages of testing and is set to make its grand debut soon. The unveiling of the Lotus Envya, as it will be called, is scheduled for the latter half of this year, with sales commencing in early 2024. Sharing the modified SEA platform with its SUV counterpart, the Lotus Envya will utilize the Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) known for its excellent performance. This means that it will benefit from the…

A Tesla driver in Michigan has reported that her car was in “self-driving mode” when she crashed into a tree, although it is important to approach these claims cautiously until further data is gathered. The incident occurred on Sunday evening near Big Rapids. According to the police report, a 41-year-old female from Hudsonville was driving a Tesla in the westbound direction on M-20 when she stated that she had activated “self-driving mode” in her vehicle. She informed local news that her car veered to the right, left the road, collided with a tree, and rolled multiple times. The driver was…

Renowned automotive enthusiast Misha Charoudin’s recent review of the Tesla Model S Plaid at the Nürburgring has shed light on troubling issues with Tesla’s flagship performance vehicle. These concerns, while particularly evident in the case of the Model S, are indicative of potential challenges prevalent in the broader electric vehicle (EV) market. Charoudin expressed reservations about the car’s stability and handling, especially during acceleration, asserting that the vehicle exhibited unpredictable and hazardous behavior under hard acceleration. The Model S struggled to achieve confident and predictable acceleration and cornering, primarily due to its soft stock suspension that excessively lightened the steering.…

Automotive supplier BorgWarner has recently disclosed its undisclosed investment in the Ramos Arizpe Campus located in Mexico. This strategic move is expected to result in the creation of approximately 280 new employment opportunities. The primary objective of this investment is to facilitate the production of cutting-edge battery cooling plates, which will be utilized in the forthcoming generation of electric vehicles manufactured by a prominent carmaker. Joe Fadool, President and General Manager of BorgWarner Emissions, Thermal and Turbo Systems, expressed his enthusiasm, stating that this substantial investment will not only drive progress and enhancements in manufacturing capabilities, but also reinforce the…

Amsterdam’s public transit operator, GVB, is set to implement smart charging technology across its depots in the Dutch capital. Partnering with The Mobility House, GVB aims to intelligently charge its growing fleet of electric buses by the end of this year. The initiative will involve intelligent charging of 159 electric buses at 190 DC charge points equipped with The Mobility House’s ChargePilot technology. The electric bus fleet consists of vehicles manufactured by VDL, according to reports. Since 2022, GVB has already been utilizing this technology at the Amsterdam Central charging hub. Now, the collaboration is expanding to include an additional…

Infineon Austria is spearheading a groundbreaking research project in the European Union called ALL2GaN, aimed at harnessing the energy-saving potential of highly efficient power semiconductors made of gallium nitride (GaN) for seamless integration into various applications. The project, known as “Affordable smart GaN IC solutions for greener applications” (ALL2GaN), envisions a remarkable reduction of energy losses by an estimated average of 30 percent with the introduction of the new GaN chip generation. This advancement is expected to yield substantial benefits for onboard chargers and mobile charging applications. Comprising a consortium of 45 partners from twelve countries, the ALL2GaN project boasts…

Opel, one of the 14 automotive brands owned by Stellantis, will be the sole representative of the group at the upcoming IAA Mobility event in Munich, Germany, scheduled to run from September 5th to 10th. This news comes as a disappointment to those anticipating the presence of other prominent Stellantis brands such as Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, and Jeep, all of which sell vehicles in Europe. A spokesperson from Stellantis confirmed to Auto News Europe that Opel’s focus at the event will be on highlighting its shift towards electrification. Opel plans to seize this opportunity to publicly showcase the Astra Sports…

Less than two months after unveiling their fifth electric vehicle (EV) model, the G6, XPeng Motors is already making headway on their sixth model, known as the X9. This new addition to their lineup marks the Chinese automaker’s foray into the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment, with a specific focus on targeting overseas markets. XPeng Motors has been making significant strides throughout 2023, particularly in the past few months. Following the introduction of their advanced and capable Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), the company introduced their SEPA 2.0 modular EV architecture designed to support these systems. Merely two days later, the…

Volvo is generating significant buzz with its upcoming electric crossover, the EX30, as it gears up to launch an extensive marketing campaign under the tagline “Something small is coming.” With the imminent arrival of this compact vehicle, Volvo is well aware that the EX30 has the potential to become a bestseller across various markets. While the official press release from Volvo provides limited details apart from the unveiling date of June 7, a series of leaks and accidental website reveals have already given us a glimpse into what to expect from this exciting electric crossover. By inadvertently sharing photos and…