Author: Floyd Hawkins

With the Shanghai Auto Show quickly approaching, car enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly anticipating the exciting new models and technologies that various car companies have promised to unveil. Among them is XPeng, a renowned Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, which is preparing to showcase its latest vehicle technology architecture. XPeng announced in a press release on Friday, April 14th, that it will hold a press conference on Sunday, April 16th, to unveil its next-generation vehicle technology architecture. The press conference will be hosted by XPeng’s chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng, and will start at 3:00 pm Beijing time. The company has…

Volkswagen is continuing its push towards electric vehicles by unveiling a new generation of drive units for its Modular Electric Building Kit MEB. The German automaker’s rear-axle drive APP550 promises improved efficiency and more power than previous models. The drive unit, manufactured by VW Group Components in Kassel since mid-March, delivers up to 210 kW and 550 Nm of torque. This is a considerable improvement on the engine variant used in most MEB models to date, which has a power output of 150 kW and 310 Nm. VW recently released images of the new electric drive system being tested in…

Rivian, the electric vehicle automaker, has recently made significant announcements at the Bank of America Securities Summit that have caught the attention of investors and fans alike. The company’s CFO, Claire Rauh McDonough, revealed new information about the R1 truck ramp, the profitability of the company, and its upcoming R2 vehicle. Additionally, she provided updates on the production ramp of the Electric Delivery Van (EDV) and the Adventure Network charging infrastructure. One of the most significant announcements made was that Rivian remains on track to achieve profitability by the second half of 2024. McDonough stated that this is primarily driven…

As the world eagerly anticipates the start of production of Tesla’s highly anticipated Cybertruck, the electric automaker has been busy testing its beta prototypes around California. Each sighting of a new prototype offers a glimpse into the possible design features that could make it to the final production version. The latest sighting of a Cybertruck prototype at Tesla’s Fremont factory is no exception. The prototype, which was equipped with a set of measurement devices, was fitted with new steel wheels that caught the attention of many enthusiasts and industry watchers. On closer inspection, it appears that the new steel wheels…

After months of speculation, it seems that Tesla is finally ready to offer a Model Y variant with the highly anticipated 4680 battery cells. The company hinted at this development recently when it added the Model Y Dual Motor AWD to its design studio in the United States. At $49,990 before incentives, the Model Y AWD offers an impressive 279 miles of range per charge, a top speed of 135 mph, and a 0-60 mph time of 5.0 seconds. The vehicle qualifies for the federal tax credit, provided buyers are eligible for the program’s benefits. See also: New Model Y…

Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), the British bus manufacturer, has announced that it will expand its electric bus production by building the new Enviro400EV double-decker model at its headquarters in Larbert, Scotland, starting August 2023. The company will convert existing warehouse space into production lines to accommodate the new model, increasing the number of production sites from two to three. Paul Davies, President and Managing Director of Alexander Dennis, explains that the company has been focused on a modernization agenda for the past couple of years, underpinned by significant investment in people, products, and facilities. “We not only need to future-proof…

AVL List, a engineering firm specializing in energy and mobility solutions, has developed a groundbreaking approach to measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of batteries. The company is now advocating for the inclusion of a battery’s CO2 footprint in its passport, and it claims that its innovative approach can reduce CO2 in production by up to 30%. Unlike traditional methods that rely on estimates and random checks, AVL’s approach involves using sensors that measure the amount of energy used in each manufacturing step. By doing so, the company can accurately determine energy consumption during production and provide manufacturers with data…

Ford’s F-150 Lightning pickup truck has already impressed buyers with its innovative features and impressive power. Now, the American automaker has introduced a new artificial intelligence-based technology that will make towing with the Lightning even easier. Called Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, this cutting-edge system allows Lightning owners to automatically back up and align their truck’s hitch ball to a trailer with just the push of a button. The technology uses machine learning and computer vision to automate the process of backing up to a trailer, using the truck’s rear camera and corner radars to align the hitch to the…

Tesla’s much-awaited Master Plan Part 3 has finally been released, and the EV community is buzzing with excitement. The 41-page document titled “Sustainable Energy for all of Earth” covers various topics, including Tesla’s vision for the future of electric transportation, solar power, and energy storage. While the entire document is packed with information, it’s the details about the Cybertruck that have piqued the most interest on social media. One particular section of the plan titled “Batteries for Transportation” reveals that the Cybertruck will have a battery pack size of 100 kWh. This information has caused some concern among EV enthusiasts…

Volkswagen’s US electric vehicle (EV) sales are on the rise, with the automaker announcing a significant increase in all-electric car sales in Q1 2023. The company sold 9,758 Volkswagen ID.4 EVs, a 254% increase YoY, and a slight increase over Q4 2022’s sales of 9,439 units. The ID.4 outpaced Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, which sold 5,407 units during the same period. Despite the impressive growth in EV sales, Volkswagen’s total vehicle sales in the US were down compared to previous years, reaching only 67,853 units, a 4% YoY increase. In contrast, the company sold over 90,000 vehicles in Q1 2021. However,…

Volkswagen is set to make a big splash in the electric vehicle market with the upcoming world premiere of their flagship electric sedan, the ID.7. The unveiling is set for April 17th, and the company is putting the final touches on the vehicle as it prepares for its release in China, Europe, and the US. One of the standout features of the ID.7 is its impressive driving range. The car comes equipped with a newly developed powertrain that is much more efficient than the current units available for all vehicles sharing the MEB platform. The car boasts a WLTP range…

Panasonic, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cylindrical-type battery cells for electric vehicles (EVs), has begun early talks with Stellantis and BMW to supply their vehicles with batteries. Stellantis, which owns several automobile brands including Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, and Dodge, has already announced plans to operate three battery plants in North America. The company is reportedly in conversation with Panasonic to supply the batteries for these plants, although details are yet to be confirmed. See also: Panasonic builds electric vehicle battery factory for Tesla in United States BMW, on the other hand, is said to be exploring alternatives to…