Author: Derick Munoz

Hyundai Motor has launched a new set of software enhancements aimed at improving the electric vehicle (EV) charging experience for its customers in the United States. The updates, announced on Tuesday, allow users to access and manage multiple charging networks through a single platform, streamlining a process that has often been fragmented and inconsistent across providers. The company’s MyHyundai smartphone app, integrated with its Bluelink-connected car system, now supports four major charging networks: Tesla Superchargers, ChargePoint, EVGo, and Ionna. This integration eliminates the need for multiple apps to initiate and manage charging sessions, offering drivers a unified interface to locate…

Renault has officially revealed the full specifications of its three newly announced all-electric vans – the Trafic E-Tech, Goelette E-Tech, and Estafette E-Tech – following their initial debut in January. The models, which share a cutting-edge 800-volt electric platform, are designed to serve a wide range of commercial and municipal applications with advanced battery technology, high-efficiency drivetrains, and a centralized software architecture intended to support digital upgrades throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle. The new E-Tech van lineup is part of Renault’s push to expand its commercial electric vehicle offering, with the company emphasizing a shift not only toward electrification but also…

Ford Motor has developed a new battery cell chemistry called Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR) that it claims could significantly reduce electric vehicle costs while improving range and safety, according to Charles Poon, the company’s head of Electrified Propulsion Engineering. Writing in a LinkedIn post, Poon described the development as a “pivotal moment” in Ford’s electrification strategy. The new LMR battery cells, developed at Ford’s Ion Park research facility in Michigan, reportedly offer higher energy density than high-nickel alternatives, with safety performance comparable to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and a cost profile below that of medium-nickel cells. See also: Ford’s…

A hydrogen-powered drone developed in China has completed a 30-hour continuous flight, setting a new global endurance record for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in its class and demonstrating the advancing capabilities of hydrogen fuel cell technology. The drone, jointly developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and Tsinghua University, conducted the test flight in Dujiangyan, located in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The aircraft, weighing 50 kilograms, utilizes hydrogen fuel cells with an energy density of 600 watts per kilogram. Researchers achieved a system efficiency of 55% by implementing a lightweight fuel cell stack and a low platinum-loaded catalyst.…

Porsche has shelved its plans to independently expand high-performance battery cell production through its Cellforce Group subsidiary and lowered its full-year profit forecast for 2025, citing a slower-than-expected uptake in electric vehicles and mounting external pressures. The German automaker said its Executive and Supervisory Boards had approved a strategic realignment of its battery activities. “As a result of this and due to negative impacts from other battery activities, the amount of special expenses in the financial year 2025 will in total increase from €0.8 billion to €1.3 billion,” Porsche said in a statement. See also: Porsche Engineering Unveils Innovative AC…

XCharge will showcase the second generation of its Net Zero Series (NZS GEN2) and an updated version of its C7 DC fast-charging station at the Power2Drive trade fair in Munich in early May. The NZS GEN2 integrates battery storage, photovoltaic (PV) connectivity, and fast-charging capabilities into a single system aimed at energy efficiency and grid optimisation. The upgraded NZS GEN2 system can deliver up to 194 kW of power and includes a 233 kWh battery, expandable to 466 kWh, according to the company. In addition to higher battery capacity, the system now supports bidirectional charging, allowing energy to be distributed…

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 has regained eligibility for the full $7,500 federal electric vehicle (EV) tax credit in the United States, according to an update from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), following a four-month period during which the vehicle was excluded from the list of qualified models. Although the Ioniq 5 is assembled at Hyundai Motor’s Metaplant in Georgia, its removal from the list earlier this year was linked to battery sourcing requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act. See also: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Saves Driver $21,530 in Fuel Costs After 360,000 Miles, Retains 87.7% Battery Health During that period,…

A Hyundai Ioniq 5 driven more than 360,000 miles (580,000 km) in under three years has demonstrated strong long-term performance, retaining 87.7% of its battery capacity and saving its owner over $21,530 in fuel costs compared to a similar gasoline-powered vehicle, Hyundai said. The vehicle, owned by former traveling salesman Lee Young-Heum, caught the attention of Hyundai-Kia’s Research Institute due to its exceptionally high mileage. Engineers replaced the battery and motor free of charge to analyze the condition of the components and assess real-world durability under intensive use. See also: Hyundai Ioniq 9 Priced From $60,555, Offers Three Rows and…

Plus, a company focused on autonomous trucking technology, has completed validation tests of its driverless software system, SuperDrive, in a closed-track environment without human intervention. The development marks a step toward the potential commercial deployment of factory-built autonomous trucks. According to the company, SuperDrive independently operated a truck during the test, performing standard driving tasks and responding to simulated emergency scenarios. There were no safety drivers in the cabin and no remote control used during the demonstration. David Liu, co-founder and chief executive officer of Plus, said, “Autonomous trucks are among the most transformational applications of Physical AI. When it…

BYD, China’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) maker, has surpassed 20,000 cumulative NEV sales in the United Kingdom, nearly two years after officially entering the local passenger car market. According to a report on the semi-official Weibo account @小迪快报, BYD took 19 months to reach its first 10,000 unit sales in the UK and only five additional months to double that figure. In March alone, BYD sold 6,480 vehicles in the country, bringing first-quarter sales to 9,271 units. See also: BYD UK Sales Jump 658% to 8,700 Vehicles in 2024 Amid Retail Expansion BYD initially entered the UK in 2013…

Daimler Buses has delivered five new Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric buses to HEAG mobilo, the public transport operator in Darmstadt, as part of the operator’s ongoing strategy to decarbonize its fleet and modernize urban mobility. The newly supplied solo buses are equipped with NMC3 battery systems offering a total energy capacity of 588 kilowatt-hours, enabling a range of around 280 kilometres per charge, according to the manufacturer. The vehicles, which will be charged at the depot, are intended for use on regular city routes. See also: Asti Servizi Pubblici Receives First Mercedes-Benz eCitaro K Electric Buses HEAG mobilo has been gradually…

Uber said on Thursday it will collaborate with autonomous vehicle startup May Mobility to roll out thousands of self-driving vehicles across U.S. cities, beginning with Arlington, Texas, by late 2025. The agreement adds May Mobility to Uber’s growing network of autonomous vehicle partners as the ride-hailing giant expands its presence in the competitive robotaxi market. The vehicles will initially include safety drivers before transitioning to full autonomy, the companies said. See also: Autonomous ID. Buzz Vans to Enter U.S. Market via Uber Partnership “May Mobility’s robotaxis will initially operate with safety drivers before transitioning to fully autonomous operations,” the companies…

Nissan has announced a ¥10 billion (approximately $1.38 billion) investment into its operations in China by 2026, underscoring its commitment to the Chinese market as a hub for electric vehicle (EV) development. The announcement was made during the Shanghai Auto Show, where the company also debuted two new vehicles: the all-electric N7 sedan and its first plug-in hybrid pickup, the Frontier Pro PHEV. “With China moving so fast, we want to stay and we want to compete,” said Stephen Ma, head of Nissan’s China operations. “We can successfully thrive and compete here and so China has become a very good…

Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation and IAV Group have formalized a strategic partnership to co-develop next-generation virtual validation services for highly automated driving systems, aiming to streamline the path to global certification and homologation for Level 3 and above autonomous vehicles. As autonomous driving technology becomes more advanced, traditional validation methods struggle to meet the growing complexity and regulatory demands. The partnership will focus on integrating AI-generated test scenarios and distributed co-simulation technologies to enable scalable, realistic testing environments. Toshiba contributes its VenetDCP distributed co-simulation platform, while IAV brings its AI-driven scenario generation tools such as IAV Mela, both critical for…

Flynt, a Dutch startup focused on electrifying the light commercial vehicle segment, has revealed its first product — a fully electric van designed specifically for European cities and logistics. Scheduled for a 2026 market debut, the van is intended for fleet operators and last-mile delivery services, boasting an estimated range of up to 500 kilometres on a single charge and promising reduced total cost of ownership through high energy efficiency, minimal maintenance, and downtime. See also: Stellantis to Close Vauxhall’s Luton Plant, Shifting Electric Van Production to Ellesmere Port The van, currently referred to as the eLCV, features an 800-volt…

Hesai Group has introduced its new Infinity Eye lidar solution, aimed at enhancing perception systems across a range of autonomous driving levels, from L2 to L4. The launch includes three new automotive-grade lidar products—ETX, AT1440, and FTX—designed to provide improved detection capabilities for various vehicle autonomy requirements. The Infinity Eye offering includes three tailored configurations: Infinity Eye A for L4 systems such as robotaxis, Infinity Eye B for L3 conditional automation, and Infinity Eye C for L2 driver assistance. Each setup combines Hesai’s new lidar models in different configurations to address specific operational design domains. See also: Hesai’s AT128 Lidar…

Japan has voiced concerns over the new auto tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, highlighting perceived inconsistencies with a 2019 trade deal signed between the U.S. and Japan. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized Japan’s commitment to the agreement but expressed dissatisfaction with the potential impact of the new tariffs. See also: Ford Pauses U.S. Vehicle Shipments to China Amid Escalating Tariffs The U.S. tariffs, which will impose a 25% duty on imported vehicles starting April 3, 2025, and additional duties on auto parts in May, have raised concerns in Japan. While the 2019 U.S.-Japan trade deal focused on reducing tariffs…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio said it will delay the European launch of its Firefly brand to the third quarter of 2025, pushing back from an earlier target set for the first half of the year due to unexpected hurdles in building out its sales and service infrastructure. The Firefly brand, introduced in December, is aimed at competing with smaller premium electric models such as Mercedes-Benz’s Smart and BMW’s Mini. See also: Nio Targets 10% Sales Contribution from Firefly Brand Over Time Nio had initially planned to bring the brand to European markets in the first half of 2025 but…

Zeekr has officially unveiled the 009 Grand Collector’s Edition, a new top-tier variant of its flagship multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), signaling a deeper push into the ultra-luxury electric vehicle segment. With a starting price of RMB 899,000 ($123,150), the Collector’s Edition is priced RMB 110,000 higher than the standard 009 Grand and features unique design enhancements while maintaining the same core powertrain and battery systems. See also: Zeekr 7GT Shooting Brake EV Launched in China with 825 km Range, Starting at $27,615 The new four-seat variant builds on the Zeekr 009 Grand, which launched in April 2024 and was aimed at…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio has officially launched the first model under its third brand, Firefly, with deliveries set to begin on April 29. The compact battery electric vehicle (BEV), aimed at urban drivers, is priced from RMB 119,800 ($16,410) including the battery, undercutting key competitors such as the Mini Cooper and the Smart #1 in the Chinese market. See also: Nio’s Firefly Sub-Brand Adopts Horizon Robotics Chips to Lower EV Costs The launch price is 19.5% lower than the RMB 148,800 pre-sale price announced at Nio Day 2024, reflecting the company’s efforts to gain a foothold in the increasingly…