Author: Floyd Hawkins

Kia has opened domestic orders for its first electric van, the PV5, marking the start of its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business as the automaker expands its electric commercial offerings. The launch follows the model’s initial reveal at CES 2024, and comes ahead of a broader global rollout. Built on Hyundai Motor Group’s new E-GMP.S EV architecture, the PV5 is designed for versatility, with the ability to adapt to various business and personal use cases. The first two available variants are Passenger and Cargo models, with further configurations such as refrigerated trucks, campers, and luxury versions expected in the coming…

American interest in fully electric vehicles (EVs) has declined to its lowest level in years, with more buyers turning to hybrid alternatives, a new study from the American Automobile Association (AAA) shows. According to the survey of 1,128 U.S. adults, only 16% said they were “likely” or “very likely” to consider an EV for their next vehicle, down from 25% in 2023. This marks the lowest figure recorded by AAA since 2019 and reflects growing consumer hesitancy amid concerns over price, infrastructure, and long-term ownership costs. The percentage of respondents who said they would not consider an EV rose to…

At least five of Waymo’s self-driving Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles were set on fire during violent unrest in Los Angeles over the weekend, potentially representing as much as 5% of the company’s local fleet, according to eyewitnesses and local reports. The destruction came amid large-scale protests following U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the area last week. While the demonstrations were mostly peaceful, some turned violent, with clashes reported between protestors and police. President Trump authorized the deployment of the National Guard in response to the escalating unrest. https://twitter.com/BGOnTheScene/status/1931875366307815645 In one incident, multiple Waymo vehicles were allegedly called…

Dutch charging infrastructure provider PowerGo said on Friday it is expanding its ultra-fast charging network across several European countries, with new installations planned in Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. The expansion includes charging points capable of delivering speeds ranging from 240kW to 480kW. In Denmark, PowerGo has been awarded a contract by the Danish Road Directorate (Vejdirektoratet) to install 10 charging points across three highways. The new chargers will be deployed at locations including Rute 21 near Torkilstrup on Sjælland, the E45 near Aalborg in the north, and a site in southern Jutland near the German border. In Belgium,…

German automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen is evaluating the future of its Electrified Powertrain Technology Division, with options ranging from a carve-out to a possible exit from the driveline business, WirtschaftsWoche reported on Thursday, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter. The division, despite its name, includes not only electric drivetrains but also hybrid and conventional passenger car transmissions. The business unit accounts for approximately 32,000 employees and €11.5 billion in annual revenue — roughly one-fifth of the group’s workforce and one-quarter of its total sales. One of the scenarios under discussion is a spin-off of the division, referred to internally…

Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has signed a partnership with Resorts World Las Vegas to offer self-driving rides to resort guests, marking the first commercial agreement of its kind in the city’s hospitality sector. Under the deal, Zoox becomes the “official robotaxi partner” of the resort and will begin operating its purpose-built autonomous vehicles (AVs) on-site. The service will initially be available to participants in the company’s Zoox Explorer program, where early users ride for free in exchange for feedback, with broader availability expected later. https://twitter.com/zoox/status/1927751643480674484 Zoox’s electric robotaxi features a 133 kWh battery and four-wheel steering for improved urban…

Kia has announced pricing and feature updates for the 2026 model year of its EV9, the automaker’s all-electric three-row SUV, including a new Nightfall Edition and slight performance enhancements across the lineup. As part of the yearly update, Kia introduced the EV9 Nightfall Edition based on the Land AWD trim. The new variant features gloss black 20-inch wheels, black badging, and trim accents, as well as unique exterior and interior details. The Nightfall Edition will be available in both six- and seven-seat configurations at no additional charge. It also introduces a model-exclusive color option dubbed “Roadrider Brown.” However, Kia has…

Oregon has reopened its Clean Vehicle Rebate program for new and used electric vehicle (EV) purchases, aiming to avoid the demand-driven shutdowns seen in the last two years. Since May 22, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has offered two distinct rebates. The Standard Rebate provides $2,500 to all Oregon residents, businesses, non-profits, and government agencies purchasing eligible new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), without income restrictions. The Charge Ahead Rebate is targeted at low- and moderate-income households earning less than 400% of the federal poverty level, offering up to $7,500 for new EVs…

The European Commission has selected 13 strategic raw materials projects outside the European Union as part of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), adding to the 47 projects already approved within the EU in March. The 60 projects together aim to secure reliable access to critical raw materials essential for European industries, particularly in electromobility and renewable energy. Announced on Thursday, the 13 third-country projects were chosen from 46 applications received last year and mark the first wave of the CRMA’s implementation since it came into force in May 2024. Nearly a third of those external applications have now been…

Self-driving truck developer Plus Automation said on Thursday it will merge with special purpose acquisition company Churchill Capital Corp IX (CCIX.O) in a deal valued at $1.2 billion, as it prepares for the commercial rollout of its autonomous vehicles in 2027. The transaction, supported by veteran Wall Street financier Michael Klein, is expected to generate approximately $300 million in proceeds for Plus. The company plans to use the funds to advance product development and expand testing programs ahead of its anticipated launch. The merger is scheduled to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. The move reflects a cautious but…

Trevor Milton, the recently pardoned founder of bankrupt electric truckmaker Nikola, is resisting a subpoena from creditors seeking information about his finances, according to a new court filing. The subpoena, issued April 1 by the official committee of unsecured creditors in Nikola’s bankruptcy case, aims to uncover details about Milton’s assets following his failure to pay an arbitration award of nearly $100 million owed to Nikola. The committee claims Milton has not fulfilled the debt, which stems from a 2023 arbitration ruling linked to his earlier criminal conviction. Creditors allege Milton fraudulently moved tens of millions of dollars to avoid…

BT Group has begun rolling out more than 3,500 new electric vans as part of a strategy to establish the UK’s largest commercial electric vehicle fleet, the company said on Thursday. The first 750 vehicles have already been delivered, sourced via a fleet management agreement with Holman, and will be deployed by Openreach, BT’s broadband infrastructure arm. The initial batch includes electric vans from manufacturers such as Toyota, Stellantis, Renault and Ford, with a large number of Toyota Proace Electric, Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, and Vauxhall Combo Electric models already in service. The vehicles will support Openreach’s operations, including fibre installation,…

FAW-Volkswagen will begin producing two new electric vehicles based on Volkswagen’s China-specific Compact Main Platform (CMP) at its Tianjin plant in 2027, as part of the German carmaker’s broader push to revive growth in its largest market. Volkswagen announced earlier this year that it plans to launch 30 new models in China by 2027, with a focus on fully electric and plug-in hybrid offerings to counter growing competition from domestic manufacturers such as BYD. The FAW-Volkswagen joint venture said it would manufacture the two new models under a cooperation agreement, though it did not provide further technical details or model…

Windrose Technology and Terawatt Infrastructure have completed a series of interoperability tests at Terawatt’s facility in Rancho Dominguez, California, demonstrating Windrose’s dual gun charging capability delivering over 650 kW using two 350 kW chargers from Delta Electronics. The tests indicated the ability to charge a vehicle for a 240-mile range in about 40 minutes, supporting the needs of commercial electric fleets. The partnership is also progressing on software integration to connect Windrose’s vehicle systems with Terawatt’s site and energy management platforms. This integration is intended to improve charging efficiency, increase vehicle uptime, and reduce total cost of ownership for fleet…

Enel and Rome Fiumicino Airport have commissioned Italy’s largest energy storage system powered by second-life electric vehicle batteries, the companies said on Thursday. The stationary battery energy storage system (BESS), with a total capacity of 10 megawatt-hours (MWh), has been installed at Fiumicino International Airport and integrates 762 battery modules previously used in electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis. The project is designed to store solar energy generated during the day for use around the clock, supporting the airport’s electricity needs. The initiative was developed in collaboration with Enel X, German research institute Fraunhofer Italia-IEC, and system integrator Loccioni.…

Automotive supplier Continental has developed an innovative sensor technology that directly measures the temperature inside the rotor of permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM), aiming to enhance electric motor performance, reduce costs, and improve sustainability. The new electric motor rotor temperature sensor (eRTS) achieves a temperature measurement accuracy with a tolerance of just three degrees Celsius, a significant improvement over the 15-degree margin of error typical of existing software-based temperature simulations, Continental said. The sensor consists of two parts: a small unit called the ‘Mote’ embedded near the rotor magnets and an external ‘Transducer’ that transmits data to the inverter controller.…

Global consumer interest in Tesla is waning, with the electric vehicle maker losing ground to domestic competitors in China and facing challenges in both the U.S. and Europe, according to a new UBS survey. In China, Tesla’s standing as a top EV brand choice fell to 14% from 18% a year earlier, now ranking behind BYD and Xiaomi, UBS analysts wrote in a research note. The data points to a shift in Chinese consumer preference toward domestic brands, though Tesla continues to outperform other foreign automakers. Tesla’s image as a technological leader has weakened amid intensifying competition in China, the…

The UK government will ease regulations around electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by removing the need for planning permission for most public and private chargepoint installations, Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood announced. The changes, effective from the end of May, aim to simplify and accelerate EV charger deployment across homes and businesses. The move is part of broader efforts to boost electric mobility and cut costs for drivers. “We’re cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have more chargepoints to power from and less red…

Chinese autonomous driving technology company WeRide has expanded into the Saudi Arabian market, as it continues its international rollout and deepens its cooperation with Uber Technologies. The company has started testing and deploying autonomous vehicles—including Robotaxis, Robobuses, and Robosweepers—in several Saudi cities such as Riyadh and AlUla. These deployments are intended to lay the foundation for future large-scale commercial operations. WeRide plans to begin pilot operations of its robotaxi service on Uber’s platform within the next few months, with full commercial deployment in Saudi Arabia scheduled for 2025. Autonomous Robobuses are also being trialed in several key areas, including King…

H2 Mobility has inaugurated what it describes as the most powerful hydrogen refuelling station in Europe, with a daily capacity of up to five tonnes. The high-performance site, located on Höherweg in Düsseldorf, is designed primarily for commercial fuel cell vehicles and features the ability to refuel up to three vehicles simultaneously. The station is part of a joint project with Stadtwerke Düsseldorf and local public transport operator Rheinbahn, which also coordinated hydrogen production, infrastructure, and usage. “This filling station is a milestone for hydrogen mobility in Europe,” said Frank Fronzke, Managing Director and COO of H2 Mobility. “With our…