Author: Derick Munoz

Tesla has filed a lawsuit against Australian company Cap-XX in a Texas federal court. The lawsuit alleges that Cap-XX’s supercapacitors, utilized for energy storage in electric-vehicle batteries, violate two U.S. patents owned by a Tesla subsidiary. This legal action comes as a response to a prior lawsuit initiated by Cap-XX against Tesla subsidiary Maxwell Technologies in 2019, accusing them of patent infringement. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who had previously committed in 2014 to refrain from “initiating patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology,” stated that this lawsuit is a necessary measure. Tesla argues that…

A recent study conducted by technology firm Recurrent has shed light on the impact of high temperatures on the range of electric vehicles (EVs). Contrary to the significant range loss experienced during winter due to cabin and battery heating, the study reveals that air conditioner usage and battery cooling have a relatively minor effect on EV range in the summer. To gather data for their research report, Recurrent collected information from nine different electric vehicle models, including popular ones like the Bolt EV, Ford F-150 Lighting, Mach-E, Hyundai Kona EV, Nissan Leaf, and the Tesla lineup. By analyzing the data,…

The United States has witnessed a remarkable surge in interest and demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in recent years. However, despite the growing enthusiasm, a surprising number of EVs are reportedly languishing unsold on dealership lots across the nation. According to a recent report from Cox Automotive, prominent automakers such as General Motors, Ford, Hyundai, and Toyota are currently grappling with an inventory of unsold EVs that exceeds 90 days’ worth of supply. In total, dealerships across the US are holding over 92,000 brand-new EVs, a staggering figure that is more than three times the number observed just a year…

Hyundai Motor Company, encompassing both the Hyundai and Genesis brands, has released its latest sales figures, showcasing a significant boost in global vehicle sales. In June alone, the company sold a total of 375,113 units, representing a substantial increase of 9.5 percent compared to the same period last year. Moreover, during the first half of 2023, Hyundai Motor sold an impressive 2,081,462 vehicles, marking a noteworthy year-over-year growth rate of 10.8 percent. Of particular interest is the remarkable surge in plug-in electric vehicle sales for the company. Hyundai Motor Company reports that the combined wholesale shipments of Hyundai and Genesis…

In a significant development, Tesla has introduced its latest V4 Supercharger station, equipped with a credit card reader, marking the first time the company has incorporated such a feature. This move could potentially pave the way for state subsidies and incentives for Tesla’s charging infrastructure. When Tesla initially launched its Supercharger network back in 2012, the service was entirely free for Tesla vehicle owners. However, the company later implemented charging fees exclusively for Tesla owners. At that time, Tesla managed all payment and charging session activations through an automatic handshake process between the vehicles and charging stations, facilitated by the…

In a recent address to top executives at Volkswagen, Thomas Schäfer, the CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, delivered a sobering message: “This is the final wake-up call.” Schäfer expressed concern over the company’s excessive spending and called for an immediate freeze on expenses to regain control. During an online management meeting, Schäfer emphasized the need to rein in costs, stating, “We have allowed costs to spiral out of control for far too long.” As part of a comprehensive cost-cutting plan, Schäfer intends to implement spending reductions for the remainder of the year. Last month, Volkswagen unveiled its ambitious “Accelerate Forward”…

Cruise, the autonomous driving subsidiary of General Motors, has reached a significant milestone by surpassing three million miles of driverless travel. The groundbreaking announcement was made through Cruise’s official social media accounts, highlighting the remarkable progress achieved by their Cruise AVs. This accomplishment comes just weeks after the service exceeded 1.5 million driverless miles in early May of this year, showcasing the exponential growth and rapid advancement of Cruise’s autonomous technology. The continuous expansion into new markets has played a pivotal role in Cruise’s steady growth. Following successful testing in San Francisco, California, the robotaxi service has recently launched in…

In a direct response to the recent price reduction of the VW ID.3 in China, MG Motor has taken swift action by lowering the price of its rival model, the MG Mulan. Chinese customers can now enjoy a substantial discount of 24,000 yuan, equivalent to approximately 3,000 euros, on the purchase of this compact electric car until the end of July. This significant price adjustment brings the starting price of the MG Mulan down to 115,800 yuan, roughly 14,500 euros. It positions the attractively priced MG Mulan approximately 10,000 yuan below the current reduced price of the VW ID.3, which…

Lucid experienced a substantial surge in vehicle production and deliveries during the second quarter of 2023, compared to the same period last year. However, when compared to the previous quarter, the company did not witness any growth. In Q2 2023, Lucid Air production reached an impressive 2,173 cars, representing a remarkable 204 percent increase from the previous year. Moreover, customer deliveries soared to 1,404 vehicles, marking a noteworthy 107 percent surge compared to the same period last year. Although these figures appear impressive at first glance, a closer examination reveals a concerning trend. Both production and deliveries in Q2 2023…

According to a recent report by market research firm TrendForce, solid-state batteries with highly active materials are projected to enter mass production between 2030 and 2035. These cutting-edge batteries are expected to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) industry, offering a remarkable increase in energy density and range compared to current lithium batteries. Currently, most new energy vehicles (NEVs) rely on liquid lithium batteries, categorized as nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) or lithium iron phosphate (LFP) based on their cathode materials. However, the energy densities of these batteries are approaching their limits, limiting the driving range of EVs. TrendForce’s report highlights that EVs equipped…

On Tuesday, the renowned German carmaker, Mercedes-Benz Group, announced a remarkable 6% year-on-year increase in sales during the second quarter. The company sold a total of 515,700 vehicles, buoyed by the rising demand for their all-electric and high-end models. Mercedes-Benz experienced sales growth across its major markets, including Europe, Asia, and North America. Notably, deliveries in Germany surged by an impressive 23%, while China witnessed a substantial increase of 12%, and the United States saw a modest growth of 6%. However, in other regions worldwide, second-quarter sales experienced a decline of 12%, resulting in 20,700 vehicles sold. The electric vehicle…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, Xpeng, has initiated the delivery of its highly anticipated G6 SUV today, marking a significant milestone as the company endeavors to augment its production capabilities. Xpeng announced on Weibo that deliveries of the G6 have commenced in several cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Changzhou. The company also revealed its plans to expand deliveries to additional cities in the near future. The G6 was officially unveiled by Xpeng in China on June 29, and its success is pivotal for the automaker to revitalize lackluster sales. Available in five variants, the G6 comes with a range…