Author: Floyd Hawkins

NIO, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, recently unveiled its third-generation battery swap station during a test run in Haikou, Hainan province. This latest facility was showcased alongside a hotel and was attended by NIO’s CEO and senior vice president, among other executives. The third-generation battery swap station, which was first revealed at the NIO Day 2022 event on December 24, 2022, boasts a 30% increase in daily service capacity compared to its predecessor, capable of servicing up to 408 battery packs a day. Additionally, the station can store up to 21 battery packs, compared to the 13 of the…

Ford CEO Jim Farley emphasized the necessity of building out a supply chain in the US for critical battery minerals, calling it the constraint to accelerating EV production. Meanwhile, the American automaker continues manufacturing massive batteries, upwards of 140 kWh, for its full-size electric truck, the F-150 Lightning. Imagine how many EVs could be produced by making smaller, more efficient models. Perhaps like an electric Maverick? Ford jumped out of the gate in 2022, selling 61,575 electric vehicles in the US and becoming the second largest EV maker domestically behind Tesla. However, it also came at a price. Ford revealed…

Winnebago Industries, the iconic manufacturer of RVs and motorhomes, has announced that it is set to acquire lithium-ion solutions provider Lithionics Battery. The move will enable Winnebago to harness Lithionics Battery’s cutting-edge technology and engineering expertise as it ramps up production of electric RVs. Winnebago has been in the RV business for decades, but with the industry shifting rapidly toward electric power, the company has been working to develop new solutions. Its electric RV prototype, the eRV2, made its debut earlier this year, but with a range of just 108 miles, the vehicle still has a long way to go…

Rivian has been making waves in the automotive industry with its highly anticipated R1T and R1S models. These vehicles have been praised for their range, power, and sleek design. However, as with any new product, there are bound to be some issues that arise. This was the case for Chase Merrill, a 24-year-old from upstate New York who had been eagerly awaiting the delivery of his R1S for three years. Just two days after taking ownership of his new electric SUV, Merrill ran into trouble when driving through a snow drift on his family’s property in the Adirondack Mountains. Despite…

Velocity Truck Rental & Leasing, a subsidiary of Velocity Vehicle Group, is stepping up its efforts to introduce zero-emission trucks to the commercial sector. The company has added 200 battery-electric trucks to its rental and leasing business, including 125 Class 8 Freightliner eCascadia’s and 75 Class 6 & 7 Freightliner eM2’s from Daimler Truck North America (DTNA). The new rental and leasing fleet, along with supporting infrastructure to charge vehicles in 90 minutes or less, will enable Velocity’s customers to deploy zero-emission trucks quickly and cost-effectively into their operations. According to David Deon, President of Velocity Truck Rental and Leasing,…

A recent study by Reuters has shed light on the state of Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption in America. The study revealed that 34% of Americans would consider purchasing an EV as their next vehicle, while 31% ruled it out. Unsurprisingly, the study also found that there is a clear political divide on this issue, with 50% of Democrats willing to consider an EV, while only 26% of Republicans and 27% of Independents responded positively. The study also explored the price and range preferences of potential EV buyers. It found that 56% of respondents would not pay more than $49,999 for…

Stellantis, the multinational automotive manufacturer, has announced that it will invest over $140 million (€130 million) in the Eisenach Assembly Plant in Germany to produce an all-electric successor to the Opel/Vauxhall Grandland compact SUV. The new vehicle will be based on the STLA Medium platform, and production is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2024. The Eisenach Assembly Plant currently produces the Grandland and Grandland GSe sporty AWD plug-in hybrid variant under the Opel and Vauxhall brands. Stellantis’ decision to add a battery electric vehicle (BEV) to Eisenach’s output supports Opel’s goal of having a fully electric product…

The UK government has confirmed a £3 million investment in First Bus for 18 new zero-emission buses in Leicester. Northern Ireland-based company Wrightbus will manufacture the electric buses, enabling an all-electric fleet at First Bus’s Leicester depot. This latest investment is in addition to the 68 electric buses already funded for Leicester last year, bringing the total number of electric buses to 86 and making the town home to one of the first fully electric bus depots in the UK. Janette Bell, Managing Director at First Bus, expressed delight at Leicester becoming a blueprint for the company’s bus depots of…

Swedish tech company Candela has secured $20 million in new funding from a group of investors to mass produce its electric hydrofoil technology. The company’s innovative system aims to help operators switch to more sustainable electric vessels by offering shorter travel times, frequent departures, and more comfort than traditional ships. The funding will be used to bring Candela’s 30-passenger electric ferry, the Candela P-12 Shuttle, to mass production in the company’s new Stockholm factory. The investment is co-led by EQT Ventures and investor duo Joel Eklund and Svante Nilo Bengtsson, with participation from Ocean Zero LLC and other investors. The…

South Korean automaker Kia Motor has recently announced its highly-anticipated entry into China’s rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market. The automaker is set to launch its super popular EV6 crossover as an import in August, marking the start of its foray into the country’s increasingly crowded EV market. Kia has been gaining significant traction with its lineup of all-electric vehicles, and its expansion into China is poised to take its growth to the next level. Kia is the second largest automobile manufacturer in South Korea behind Hyundai Motor Group, which owns a minority stake. The automaker recently held a virtual…

Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 electric SUV has taken the market by surprise, attracting a new group of buyers who would typically stick with premium brands. The success of the IONIQ 5 has even surprised company leaders like Michael Cole, President, and CEO at Hyundai Europe, who believes that “brand loyalty doesn’t seem to be as strong in EVs.” Hyundai, known as a “cheap” car brand earlier, has transformed itself in the EV era, focusing on innovation, quality interior and exterior designs, and state-of-the-art technology. The IONIQ 5 was designed with a progressive approach that looked back to the brand’s past, in…

Fortum Battery Recycling, a subsidiary of Finnish energy company Fortum, has recently obtained environmental approval under the Federal Immission Control Act to recycle traction batteries from electric vehicles in Kirchardt, a town in southern Germany. The newly opened recycling center in Kirchardt has already begun operations and has the capacity to process over 3,000 tons of batteries per year. The company uses a combination of mechanical and hydrometallurgical technologies to recycle battery materials, allowing for the recovery of 95% of the valuable metals from the battery’s black mass. The German plant will be linked to Fortum’s hydrometallurgical recycling plant in…

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research in Bremen have developed a new method for determining the AC resistance within a battery using dynamic impedance spectroscopy. This method enables more precise evaluation of battery cell condition, without the need for extensive laboratory testing. Battery cell aging is a complex phenomenon that has proven difficult to determine under real-world conditions. However, precise assessment of cell aging during operation is critical for gaining a better understanding of battery aging mechanisms and extending battery life. This is precisely what the new measurement method aims to achieve. Previously, precise…

In the realm of electric cars, few make quite as much of an impression on the road as the HiPhi Z. Developed by Human Horizons and first unveiled last year, the car’s striking presence is undeniable, whether or not you’re a fan of its design. As an unconventional vehicle, many are curious to see if it’s any good. One YouTuber, Wheelsboy, was eager to jump behind the wheel of the HiPhi Z and share his thoughts. His comprehensive review offers an in-depth tour of the car’s exterior and interior design, and to everyone’s surprise, it is even crazier than initially…

Ford has been granted almost $630 million in incentives to help establish an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Marshall, Michigan. The $3.5 billion project is expected to create 2,500 jobs and license battery technology from China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL). The incentive package was passed earlier this month and includes a $330 million appropriation for road and infrastructure improvements to prepare the site for the massive factory. Additionally, the incentives include a $299.7 million appropriation for land acquisition, demolition, tree clearing, and other activities at the site. See also: Ford to Build $3.5 Billion Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Plant…

The much-anticipated release of the 2024 Volvo EX90 EV SUV promises to include a comprehensive suite of advanced safety technologies, free of subscription service fees, as reported by Jalopnik. This luxury vehicle, Volvo’s newest flagship model, boasts an innovative LiDAR sensor system, an ultrasonic sensor infused body panel, eight cameras, and five radar modules. Notably, all of these sophisticated systems come standard, and the manufacturer has already hinted at possible self-driving capabilities via over-the-air updates in the future. However, the technology is not yet available. See also: Volvo EX90 specifications : Everything You should know Volvo’s head of future vehicles,…

German automaker Volkswagen is gearing up to showcase a new electric model during its presentation on March 15. The announcement was made by the company’s CEO, Thomas Schäfer, who stated that the brand has been working hard on its products and will introduce a new design language for its future models as well. Volkswagen’s livestream event on March 15 at 6:20 pm CET will provide a glimpse into the new electric model, which is expected to be the ID.2 EV hatchback. The company has been promoting the event with the hashtag #VWforthepeople. See also: Fisker’s First Electric Vehicle, the Ocean,…

Porsche, the renowned German automaker, has officially confirmed the launch of an all-electric Cayenne SUV, which is expected to debut in 2026. The announcement was made at the company’s annual general meeting, where the automaker also revealed details about its K1 flagship EV SUV. Porsche has been making strides in the electric vehicle market, with the all-electric Macan set to start deliveries in 2024 and the all-electric 718 sports cars planned for the middle of the decade. The automaker is now looking further ahead, with plans to bring two new battery-electric luxury SUVs to the market. The Cayenne EV will…

German automaker Volkswagen has announced that it has selected St. Thomas, Ontario, as the site for its first North American EV battery cell plant. This move comes after the company revealed plans to produce electric SUVs and pickups in South Carolina. The initiatives are part of Volkswagen’s broader North American EV strategy. After the US passed the Inflation Reduction Act last August, Volkswagen joined several other global automakers in looking to build and assemble EVs in the country to take advantage of the new tax credits. The company also signed a memorandum of understanding with fellow German automaker Mercedes-Benz to…

Amprius Technologies, based in Fremont, is set to construct a new battery-making facility in Brighton, Colorado. The move comes as the company seeks to expand the production of its proprietary silicon anode lithium-ion battery cells that offer greater energy density than conventional graphite cells. The new facility will be built in phases, with an initial output capacity of 500 megawatt-hours, and is expected to become operational in 2025. When completed, the factory will cover a footprint of 775,000 square feet, with a potential output of 5 gigawatt-hours per year. See also: Solid Power will send a pre-production solid-state battery to…