Author: Floyd Hawkins

The electric vehicle (EV) market in the United States continues to gain momentum as sales of all-electric cars experienced significant growth in April. The latest registration data from Experian, reported by Automotive News, reveals that the number of battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations during the first four months of 2023 reached 348,258, marking a substantial 72 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This surge in registrations accounted for approximately 7 percent of the total car market, a notable rise from the 4.4 percent market share observed in 2022. In comparison, the total number of registrations for light-duty…

French bicycle company, Lapierre, continues to captivate cyclists worldwide with its exceptional road and mountain bikes that cater to both professional racers and passionate enthusiasts. While Lapierre has long been celebrated for its high-end models, the company has recently expanded its product line to include a diverse range of electric bikes. Making a significant impact this year is Lapierre’s latest creation, the E-Zesty—an innovative full-suspension electric mountain bike that has set the industry abuzz. The E-Zesty, set to debut in 2023, boasts a geometric design inspired by classic trail bikes and features 140 millimeters of suspension travel in both the…

Tesla has made changes to its production plans at the Giga Berlin manufacturing facility in Germany. The American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer will be reducing the number of temporary workers and eliminating Saturday shifts, while remaining confident in achieving its production targets. This decision comes following reports of a potential delay in Tesla’s goal of reaching a weekly production rate of 6,000 cars at the Berlin-Brandenburg site. Earlier this year, Tesla achieved a significant milestone by producing 5,000 Model Y vehicles per week at its German factory. In order to further ramp up production, the company added a third shift…

London-based EV startup, Ark, has entered the competitive market of oddball micro electric vehicles (EVs) with its latest offering, the Zero. While quadricycles like the Citroen Ami, Fiat Topolino, Opel Rocks Electric, and Renault Twizy may seem unconventional to North American observers, these vehicles have carved out a small but significant niche that is projected to expand in the coming years. At present, the Zero is exclusively available in the United Kingdom, where its price of £5,995 ($7,620) positions it as the country’s most affordable electric vehicle, undercutting the Ami and offering a cost-saving of £1,700 ($2,160). However, it should…

In a significant development, Tesla’s battery cell team at Giga Texas has reached a major milestone by successfully manufacturing its 10 millionth 4680 battery cell in Austin. Following their tradition, Tesla took to Twitter to announce this momentous achievement, accompanied by a photo featuring members of the battery cell team outside Giga Texas. Initially unveiled during the Battery Day event in 2020, the 4680 battery cell boasts remarkable advancements over conventional lithium-ion batteries. It offers 5 times more energy, 16% greater range, 6 times more power, and is also more cost-effective to produce. Tesla commenced production of the 4680 cell…

SK Signet, a leading charging equipment manufacturer, announced plans to introduce electric-vehicle chargers compatible with Tesla’s technology later this year. This move follows recent steps taken by major automakers Ford and GM to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), signaling a growing acceptance of Tesla’s charging design by the industry. By embracing Tesla’s charging technology, electric vehicle charging companies are aiming to avoid potential customer losses to competitors who exclusively offer the Combined Charging System (CCS), supported by automakers such as Volkswagen and Hyundai Motor. SK Signet, whose clientele includes charging station operators like Electrify America and EVgo, has…

Vauxhall has recently revealed the pricing details for its latest offerings, the Astra Electric and the Astra Sports Tourer GSe. The Astra Electric, the brand’s first fully electric vehicle, will have a starting price of £39,995 on the road (OTR). Meanwhile, customers can now place orders for the Astra Sports Tourer GSe, a plug-in hybrid variant, starting from £43,250. The Astra Electric will be available in two trim lines: the sporty GS and the top-of-the-range Ultimate. Prospective buyers can now place their orders, and deliveries are expected to commence later this summer. The vehicle was initially introduced in November last…

Tesla has recently introduced an enticing offer for customers looking to purchase new inventory Model 3 vehicles in the United States and Canada. Buyers who take delivery of these vehicles by June 30th will receive a complimentary three-month period of free Supercharging, a network of high-speed charging stations provided by Tesla. This move by Tesla is believed to be an additional incentive aimed at accelerating the sale of existing Model 3 inventory before an anticipated refresh. Speculation about a Model 3 update has been circulating since late last year, with reports suggesting a potential release during the second half of…

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has recently announced its partnership with Agratas, an Indian battery company, to provide battery cells for its upcoming electric vehicle (EV) lineup. This collaboration comes as JLR aims to expand its electric offerings and transition towards a sustainable future. Agratas, a subsidiary of JLR’s parent company Tata, will be responsible for the design and production of the battery cells, while JLR will focus on the design and production of the battery packs. The batteries are expected to offer a remarkable capacity of 120 kWh, enabling JLR’s electric cars based on the upcoming 800-volt all-electric platform EMA…

Nyobolt, a British battery developer, has recently showcased a groundbreaking charging process that fully charges a vehicle equipped with a 35 kWh battery in under six minutes. The company plans to scale up this impressive battery technology in the coming year, offering exciting prospects for the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The innovative battery technology, developed by the spin-off from the University of Cambridge, features anodes made of niobium and tungsten. This advancement promises significantly shorter charging times, revolutionizing the EV charging experience. To demonstrate the capabilities of their battery technology, Nyobolt has introduced a new concept vehicle based on the…

Volkswagen has announced its latest collaboration in the film industry, teaming up with co-producers Zag and Mediawan Kids & Family for the production of “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie.” As part of this partnership, Volkswagen will introduce four cars from its ID. series, including a concept car based on the iconic Beetle. While specific details about the Beetle EV concept remain scarce, the movie poster reveals its return in an all-electric form, marking the revival of this beloved model. The concept showcases the classic round headlamps without a grille, as electric vehicles do not require the same level…

In an innovative pilot project, electric vehicle users in Germany may soon have the freedom to select their own tariffs and energy mix at public charging stations. This collaborative initiative involves four key players: transmission system operator 50Hertz, renewable energy provider LichtBlick, IT startup decarbon1ze, and distribution system operator Stromnetz Berlin. The main objective is to test the underlying IT processes that would allow users to bring their preferred energy suppliers and respective billing systems. This endeavor aims to decouple the charging station operators from setting prices at will, thereby empowering users to choose their energy provider and have their…

A recent report by consulting firm P3 Group has revealed that the Lucid Air Grand Touring offers the highest charging speed and driving range among all electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the US. This news comes as no surprise, as consumers continue to prioritize range and charging speed when shopping for an EV. Priced at $139,650, including destination fees, the Lucid Air Grand Touring demonstrated its superiority by achieving the most range during a 20-minute charging session, covering an impressive distance of 208 miles. This achievement places the Lucid Air GT at the top of the charging metric among the…

Denza, the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand under BYD, is generating significant buzz as it prepares to introduce its first-ever SUV, the Denza N7. Even before the official announcement of specifications and pricing, pre-orders for the Denza N7 have already surpassed 20,000 units, according to Zhao Changjiang, the general manager of Denza’s sales division. Impressively, 55% of these pre-order holders own luxury vehicle brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, while 35% are existing BYD and Denza owners, as reported by local auto media outlet Yiche. This early success is a positive indicator for the brand’s entry into the…

California-based zero-emission truck solutions provider, Forum Mobility, has been granted $4.5 million in financing from East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) to establish a cutting-edge electric truck charging depot. The depot, known as the Greenville Community Charging Depot, will cover a vast 4.4-acre area conveniently located near I-580 in Livermore. This state-of-the-art facility will have the capacity to charge up to 96 trucks simultaneously and cater to the needs of drayage carriers involved in transporting cargo to and from the bustling Port of Oakland. The move comes as California intensifies its efforts to combat emissions in the transportation sector. The California…

In a significant development, Rivian (RIVN) is set to lose its position on the Nasdaq-100 index (NDX) due to a staggering decline in its stock price, which has fallen over 90% from its all-time high shortly after its initial public offering (IPO). This announcement comes as JP Morgan analyst Min Moon’s prediction that Rivian would be ousted from the Nasdaq-100 becomes a reality. The Nasdaq-100 is a stock market index comprising the 100 largest nonfinancial companies listed on the exchange. Generally, if a company’s weighting falls below 0.1% for two consecutive months, it is typically removed from the index. Rivian…

Chinese power battery manufacturer CATL has introduced a battery swap solution for heavy-duty trucks, expanding on its previous release of a similar solution for passenger cars. The new offering, called Qiji Energy, was unveiled during an online launch event. It comprises battery swap stations, battery blocks, and a cloud platform. The battery swap stations for heavy trucks incorporate adaptive tuning technology and cover the full wheelbase of these vehicles. The battery blocks, powered by CATL’s third-generation lithium iron phosphate batteries, feature advanced heat dispersion technology and boast a cycle life of over 15,000 cycles. Similar to EVOGO’s Choco-SEB (swapping electric…

Munich-based e-mobility start-up EcoG will be unveiling its standard-compliant bi-directional charging technology in collaboration with Infineon at the Power2Drive industry trade fair in Munich this week. The solution offered by EcoG has been thoroughly tested with vehicle manufacturers and complies with the new ISO 15118-20 standard, ensuring universal bidirectional charging compatibility. This eliminates the need for technical agreements during development, benefiting both charging stations and vehicle manufacturers. EcoG’s software has been designed to be compatible with all vehicle-to-grid-capable (V2G) vehicles, including those still in development. Additionally, EcoG handles interoperability tests with vehicle manufacturers, streamlining the process for all parties involved.…

XPeng, the renowned electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has witnessed a remarkable reception for its newly unveiled SUV, the G6, as revealed by the company’s pre-sale order announcement today. Within just 72 hours of initiating pre-sales, the XPeng G6 secured an impressive 25,000 orders, according to the company’s update on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. Enthusiastic visitors flocked to XPeng stores over the past three days to experience the G6 show cars firsthand, highlighting their keen interest in the vehicle, XPeng reported. Positive comments have poured in from visitors, commending the spaciousness, impressive 755 km range, and fast-charging capabilities…

In a significant step towards its goal of achieving carbon-neutrality on the road by 2040, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has entered into a framework agreement with North American manufacturer New Flyer. The agreement entails the delivery of up to 621 battery buses, with an initial order of 186 units already placed. The order specifically includes 186 units of New Flyer’s Xcelsior Charge NG model, featuring a length of 40 feet (approximately 12 meters). Furthermore, the framework agreement allows for an option to purchase an additional 435 units of the same model. The contract extends over a period of five…