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…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the Chinese battery cell manufacturer, has appointed Mathias Hüttenrauch as the CEO of CATL Europe, a newly created position within the company. The move comes as CATL expands its production capabilities in Germany and looks to strengthen its presence in the European market. Hüttenrauch brings with him over 30 years of experience in Asia and Europe, having previously served as CEO of Nedschroef, a Dutch automotive supplier, and founded his own company focused on investments in new-mobility and digitalisation projects. See also: CATL’s Qilin Battery Enters Mass Production, Boasting 13% Higher Capacity than 4680…

Porsche is gearing up for the production of its first-ever all-electric SUV, the Macan EV, which is set to begin production at the end of 2023. To get ready for this significant milestone, Porsche has been upgrading and improving its Leipzig site over the past few years. The entire production facility is now powered entirely by electricity from renewable sources, which aligns with Porsche’s vision of a more sustainable future. The Macan EV will be built on the same assembly line as the carmaker’s combustion models and hybrid vehicles, thanks to the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture. The PPE…

Lancia is set to reveal its new styling language at the “Emozione Pu+Ra” event on April 15, and the Italian automaker is doing it with a bang. The company is unveiling a new two-door sportscar concept that will showcase Lancia’s new design direction, marking the brand’s manifesto for the next decade. The concept car will be fully electric, further cementing Lancia’s commitment to a sustainable future. The teaser images released by the company show a circular roof and wraparound greenhouse, which promises to offer a panoramic view and natural light inside the cabin. The rear end features round LED taillights…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Zeekr has reported a strong rebound in its monthly deliveries, according to data released on Friday. The company delivered 6,663 EVs in March, marking a 271.20% increase from the same month in 2022 and a 22.14% rise from February 2023. However, Zeekr’s first-quarter delivery figure of 15,234 was down 53.08% from its fourth-quarter figure of 32,467. The company’s decrease in deliveries in the first quarter was mainly due to a production halt at its Ningbo, Zhejiang plant for 21 days around the Chinese New Year holiday. The factory resumed production on February 1, resulting in…

NIO, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, has announced its delivery results for March and the first quarter of 2023. The company delivered a total of 10,378 vehicles in March, comprising of 3,203 premium smart electric SUVs and 7,175 premium smart electric sedans. In the first quarter of 2023, NIO delivered 31,041 vehicles, marking a YoY increase of 20.5%. As of March 31, 2023, the company has delivered a total of 320,597 vehicles. To further support its EV ecosystem, NIO has been deploying its third-generation Power Swap station in China since March 28, 2023. Each station can service up to…

Honda has announced its plan to unveil prototype models of the second set of “e:N Series” electric vehicles (EVs) at the upcoming 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2023), scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China from April 18-27, 2023. As part of its electrified vehicle booth, Honda will showcase its range of electrified mobility products available in China, including the world premiere of prototype models of e:N Series EVs, hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric models, and three electric bicycle (EB) models announced earlier this year. The intelligent technology booth at the exhibition will feature exhibits that provide visitors…

The popularity of electric bikes has surged in recent years, with the UK market expected to experience significant growth in the coming years. However, this growth brings with it a new challenge: the safe and responsible disposal of end-of-life electric bike batteries. In response to this challenge, the UK-based Bicycle Association has announced plans to set up a nationwide electric bike battery collection and recycling service. After conducting a thorough tender process, the Bicycle Association selected the European Recycling Platform UK (ERP UK) as its partner to develop this initiative. Although the final form of the programme has not been…

The European Parliament has recently reached a preliminary agreement with the EU Council regarding the deployment of charging and hydrogen refueling stations throughout Europe. This decision is part of the EU’s ambitious transport network project, TEN-T, which aims to connect all parts of the Old Continent through highways, roads, ports, and trains. The new rule mandates that by 2026, there must be charging stations every 60 kilometers along the TEN-T network. This will enable electric vehicles to travel longer distances with ease, addressing one of the main concerns of EV owners – range anxiety. Additionally, these charging stations should offer…