Author: Floyd Hawkins

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has received a $19.85 million grant from the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. This funding will be used to support the electrification of UCLA’s BruinBus fleet and the development of electric charging infrastructure in the Westwood area. In partnership with CALSTART, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing clean transportation, and wireless charging provider Electreon, UCLA aims to enhance its public transport services and install California’s first in-road electric charging system. This initiative is part of a broader effort to prepare for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and…

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by Tata Motors Limited, has confirmed that its new Jaguar Electrified Architecture (JEA) platform will remain exclusive to Jaguar models and be produced solely in the UK. The move is part of JLR’s strategy to elevate the Jaguar brand to a premium level, focusing on high-quality craftsmanship and exclusivity. “This platform is dedicated for Jaguar,” Rawdon Glover, Managing Director of Jaguar, said in an interview with Autocar India. He also ruled out manufacturing JEA platform-based models outside the UK, including in China, a significant market for luxury electric vehicles. Glover likened the approach to Rolls-Royce’s…

Honda’s electric SUV, the Prologue, has quickly become one of the top-selling electric vehicles in the US, surpassing 25,000 units sold by the end of November 2024. The Prologue saw a significant sales boost in October and November, with over 6,800 units sold in November alone—a 66% increase from 4,100 units sold in October. Honda began deliveries of the Prologue in March 2024, and its performance has been impressive. As of November, Honda had sold 25,132 Prologue models, marking a sharp contrast to the brand’s absence in the electric vehicle market in 2023. The Prologue now ranks as the fifth…

Spanish energy provider Endesa and wholesale supplier Transgourmet Ibérica are collaborating to enhance electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Spain. The joint initiative involves the deployment of 134 EV charging points across 36 GM Cash-Gros Mercat locations, catering to both public and private users. The project includes a mix of charging stations with capacities ranging from 22 kW to 300 kW. Endesa plans to install 12 ultra-fast 300 kW chargers at three locations, 62 ultra-fast 150 kW chargers at 31 sites, eight fast chargers with 50/60 kW capacity at six locations, and 52 22 kW chargers at 27 sites. Currently,…

A joint venture between Stellantis (STLA.MI) and Samsung SDI, StarPlus Energy LLC, has received a conditional commitment for up to $7.54 billion in loans from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop two electric vehicle (EV) battery plants in Kokomo, Indiana. The loan commitment, announced as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to bolster domestic EV production, aims to support the production of lithium-ion batteries for the North American market. The project, expected to create 2,800 direct jobs and several hundred additional positions in nearby supplier facilities, marks a significant investment in the U.S. EV supply chain. While the loan…

Jaguar has revealed the Type 00 concept car at Miami Art Week, offering a bold preview of its upcoming electric vehicle (EV) lineup. The concept, described as an “unmistakable, unexpected and dramatic physical manifestation of Jaguar,” signals a shift in the brand’s design philosophy as it transitions to an all-electric future. The Type 00 serves as a precursor to Jaguar’s first production EV, a four-door GT set to debut in late 2025. Based on the Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA) platform, the production model is expected to deliver a WLTP range of up to 770 kilometers (478 miles) and support rapid…

Tesla has instructed employees involved in Cybertruck production at its Gigafactory Texas to stay home for three days this week, according to an internal email cited by Business Insider. Workers were told they “do not need to report to work” on December 3, 4, and 5 but will still receive their usual pay during this period. Tesla has not commented on the report, and CEO Elon Musk has not addressed the matter on X, the social media platform where he often responds to company-related news. The brief production pause comes at a critical time as Tesla seeks to meet fourth-quarter…

Chinese automaker BYD reported record-breaking sales of 506,804 new energy vehicles (NEVs) in November, marking its second time surpassing the 500,000-unit milestone. This represents a 67.87% increase from 301,903 units sold in November 2022 and a slight rise of 0.83% compared to October’s 502,657 units. BYD, which ceased production of fully internal combustion engine vehicles in March 2022, has focused exclusively on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). In November, passenger NEVs accounted for 504,003 units, a year-on-year increase of 67.23%. Commercial NEVs, though a smaller segment, saw a sharp rise of 433.52% year-on-year, with 2,801…

China’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery producer, CATL, is setting its sights on a new frontier: green energy power grids. The company, a key supplier to Tesla, plans to develop and manage zero-carbon grids tailored for industries such as mining, urban infrastructure, and data centers. CATL founder Robin Zeng emphasized the immense potential of this market, suggesting it could be “ten times larger” than the demand for EV batteries. The firm currently commands 37% of the global EV battery market, positioning it as a dominant force in the industry. This expansion marks a significant strategic shift as CATL aims to…

Volkswagen Group is reevaluating its direct-to-customer sales approach, citing challenges posed by the automotive market’s transition to electric mobility. The German automaker recently announced a joint review with its retail and wholesale partners in select European markets to assess its current sales models and determine the best path forward. In a statement, Volkswagen reiterated its commitment to the direct-to-customer model as a long-term goal but acknowledged that adjustments may be needed. “Due to the slower transition to electric mobility across the industry, two sales models for private customers would need to be operated in parallel longer than originally anticipated: The…

FedEx has introduced Mercedes-Benz eVito 112 panel vans in Singapore, marking the first deployment of these custom-built electric vehicles (EVs) for last-mile logistics. The move aligns with the company’s commitment to purchasing only electric vehicles by 2030 and achieving carbon-neutral operations by 2040. The eVito panel vans offer a load capacity of 923 kilograms and an estimated range of 321 kilometers per charge, likely powered by the 60 kWh battery that Mercedes has used in the eVito since 2021. These EVs are replacing 31 diesel-powered Vito 114 CDI vans, a transition FedEx estimates will eliminate approximately 148 metric tons of…

Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer VinFast reported a net loss of $550 million for the third quarter, down from a year earlier, as lower material costs and increased production volumes helped offset losses. The Haiphong-based automaker delivered 44,773 vehicles in the first nine months of 2024, representing 55% of its annual delivery target of 80,000 vehicles. Approximately 20% of these deliveries were to related parties, the company stated. “The momentum in Q3 has continued into Q4,” said VinFast Chairwoman Thuy Le. “We expect to finish 2024 on a strong note and meet our 80,000 vehicle delivery target.” The company reported…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Monday that it will uphold its April ruling requiring advanced automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in nearly all new cars and trucks by 2029, rejecting industry calls to reconsider. The rule mandates that vehicles must be capable of stopping to avoid collisions at speeds of up to 62 miles per hour (100 kph). The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing major automakers including General Motors, Toyota Motor, and Volkswagen, had criticized the requirement as technologically unfeasible and requested a review. NHTSA dismissed the request but clarified technical standards and corrected a…

Jeep is offering an attractive 0% APR financing deal for up to 72 months on its fully electric Wagoneer S SUV, with the promotion running through December 2, 2024. The offer, aimed at bolstering EV adoption, is available to buyers in the Central, Southern, and Northeastern US, with indications it may also extend to the West Coast. The 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV combines off-road prowess with advanced electric performance. Equipped with a dual-motor setup delivering up to 600 horsepower, the SUV boasts a range exceeding 300 miles on a full charge. Its acceleration matches its power, with an estimated…

Renault Trucks has revealed plans for a new version of its E-Tech T electric truck, offering a range of up to 600 kilometers per charge. The French manufacturer aims to open orders for the vehicle in late 2025, with production set for 2026. This announcement follows a similar move by sister company Volvo Trucks, which plans to launch an electric truck with the same range in 2025. The new E-Tech T model represents an evolution in Renault’s electric transport ambitions. “The advent of this electric truck will boost the transition to electric mobility,” said Emmanuel Duperray, Senior Vice President of…

Samsung SDI is expanding its presence in the electric vehicle (EV) battery market by increasing the production of high-performance batteries and diversifying its customer base. The company plans to begin mass production of 46mm diameter batteries in early 2025, offering enhanced energy capacity and output as part of its strategy to strengthen its market position. As of November 25, Samsung SDI has been selected to supply batteries for two Audi EV models, the e-tron 50 quattro and the Sportback 50 quattro, which previously used batteries from LG Energy Solution. This change means that nine out of Audi’s 14 domestic EV…

Kia has unveiled the highly anticipated EV9 GT for the first time at the LA Auto Show, showcasing a sportier, more powerful version of its EV9 electric SUV. The EV9 GT takes the already impressive EV9 and enhances it with a boosted 374 kW output, a new electric all-wheel-drive system, and a fresh chassis design, offering a thrilling combination of performance and utility. Enhanced Power and Performance The EV9 GT stands apart from the standard EV9, which offers an output of 283 kW with an all-wheel-drive setup. The GT model introduces substantial upgrades, particularly in its drivetrain. The GT uses…

Robert Bosch, the world’s largest car parts supplier, will reduce the working hours and pay of approximately 10,000 employees in Germany, as the country’s auto industry faces mounting pressures from weak demand and competition from lower-cost Chinese rivals. This move, announced on Saturday, follows a series of measures to address financial constraints, including a plan disclosed on Friday to eliminate up to 5,550 jobs. The latest adjustments will see employees on 38- or 40-hour contracts at various German sites having their weekly hours reduced to 35, confirmed a Bosch spokesperson, corroborating a report by dpa news agency. This step builds…

Tesla has disputed findings from a recent analysis of U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data that named the company as having the highest fatality crash rate among automakers. The report, which examined accidents involving 2018-2022 model year vehicles resulting in at least one fatality, ranked Tesla’s popular Model Y with a crash fatality rate nearly four times the national average. Fatal accidents are tragic – we aim to avoid them, safety 1st. This math is incorrect – crash test data is real; Teslas are among the safest cars. Maybe a bad denominator in the per mile calc, by end…

Tesla has begun rolling out its Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) software to Cybertruck owners in Canada, marking a significant milestone for the electric automaker. The update, version v12.5.5.3, follows the initial U.S. launch of FSD Supervised for Cybertrucks in September, which had been eagerly awaited after months of development. Install complete! FSD is here for Cybertruck Canada!! pic.twitter.com/nXMnxnVVxr — Dare W (@darewecan) November 24, 2024 Over the weekend, Canadian Cybertruck owners, including X user Dare W, reported receiving the update, sharing screenshots of release notes and videos showcasing early system performance. This rollout coincides with Tesla’s recent introduction of the…