Author: Floyd Hawkins

Toyota and its Chinese partner GAC have started pre-sales of the bZ3X electric SUV in China, marking their latest collaboration in the growing electric vehicle market. With a starting price equivalent to €13,000, the bZ3X is offered in three variants and is set to launch officially in March 2025. The bZ3X is based on the GAC Aion Architecture Electric Platform (AEP) 3.0, sharing similarities with GAC’s Aion V model. It features a 150 kW electric motor from Guangzhou Nidec Auto Drive System and is equipped with a 50 kWh LFP battery in the base 430 Air+ version, delivering a range…

Fjord1, a ferry operator in Norway, has commissioned Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) to supply two onshore charging stations for its fleet of autonomous, zero-emission ferries set to operate between Lavik and Oppedal starting September 2026. The move reinforces Fjord1’s commitment to environmentally friendly ferry operations and advances Norway’s push towards sustainable transport solutions. The Lavik-Oppedal route spans 5.6 kilometers across the Sognefjord and is among Norway’s most vital ferry connections, facilitating the transport of 1.2 million cars annually. Fjord1, awarded the operational contract for the route from September 2026 to August 2034, will deploy four zero-emission ferries, each with a…

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has placed an order for 98 hydrogen fuel cell engine modules from Ballard Power Systems. Each engine, with a capacity of 200 kW, contributes to a total power output of approximately 20 megawatts. The engines will be utilized in CPKC’s hydrogen locomotive program in Alberta, Canada, with delivery expected in 2025. This order is part of a Long-Term Supply Agreement (LTSA) between the two companies, building on earlier deliveries from Ballard Power Systems, which have supplied nearly 10 megawatts of fuel cell engines to CPKC since 2021. The expanded collaboration supports CPKC’s exploration of hydrogen…

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz, which began deliveries in the U.S. last month, is seeing significant markups at dealerships, with some even reaching over $35,000 above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). The most notable case is Volkswagen San Bernardino, which has listed two 1st Edition models for $107,668, compared to the MSRP of $72,668. This results in a hefty $35,000 markup, a 58% increase over the van’s base price. Other dealerships are also charging substantial premiums. King Volkswagen in Maryland has added a $10,000 markup, bringing the price of its 1st Edition to $81,895, up from the original MSRP of…

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…