Author: Floyd Hawkins

Mercedes-Benz, one of the world’s leading luxury car manufacturers, is gearing up to unveil its new compact family, known as “Entry Luxury,” by the end of 2023. The company plans to launch four models on its new MMA architecture, which can support both electric and combustion engines. The upcoming compact cars are expected to have premium features, with high-end materials and state-of-the-art technology, including the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS). Despite shifting its focus towards high-end, more profitable models, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius has affirmed the company’s commitment to smaller cars. However, he emphasized that the company will concentrate on…

Luxury German automaker Mercedes-Benz has announced its sales statistics for 2022, and the numbers are impressive. The company has more than doubled its electric vehicle (EV) sales compared to the previous year, selling a total of 117,800 EVs in 2022, up 124% from 2021. Mercedes has established itself as a leader in electrification in Europe, introducing significantly more EV models than its traditional rivals BMW, Audi, and Porsche. Its aggressive electrification plan has caught the market’s attention, resulting in an impressive surge in EV sales. See also: Ford Doubles EV Sales in 2022 with 61,575 Battery-Powered Vehicle Sales The Mercedes…

Natural disasters are a constant threat to the island nation of Japan, with earthquakes, typhoons, and other hazards being a part of everyday life. In response to this, Japan has allocated a significant amount of its disaster prevention budget towards measures such as earthquake-proof buildings, evacuation centers, and alert systems. However, the need for more sustainable solutions has become increasingly important in recent years. To address this need, Nissan Motor and Kotohira Town have announced a new partnership to use electric vehicles, specifically the Nissan LEAF, as “driving storage batteries” to provide power to evacuation centers in the event of…

Tesla is leaving all other luxury car makers in the dust when it comes to sales. Not only did the American automaker outsell every other luxury brand in the US for 2022, but it did so by a huge margin. Tesla’s sales grew by an impressive 40%, while BMW, the former leader, saw a drop in sales of over 5%. According to a report by Automotive News, Tesla had a whopping 484,351 new car registrations in the US in 2022. In contrast, BMW had 327,929 new car registrations for the year, and Mercedes-Benz’s sales were essentially flat, with 269,511 new…

Wireless vehicle charging is an emerging technology that will significantly impact the electric car industry, according to SkyQuest’s market research. By 2035, it’s predicted that over 45% of all new car sales will be electric vehicles (EVs), largely due to advanced charging technologies like wireless charging. SkyQuest’s report also highlights the critical role of fast-charging infrastructure in the growth of the EV market, driven by factors such as the rising popularity of EVs, the increasing cost of oil, and global concerns about climate change. This, in turn, contributes to the expansion of the global market. See also: Japan pilots wireless…

The UK’s largest EV charging point manufacturer and supplier, Rolec EV, has announced a partnership with Monta to install over 20,000 charge points across the UK in 2023. This will help drive EV charging infrastructure in the UK and support the country’s net-zero sustainability goals. As part of the partnership, Rolec’s customers will gain access to Monta’s EV charging software solutions, and all new compatible Rolec units will be shipped with Monta onboard. Additionally, Rolec drivers will have access to thousands of charge points on the Monta network and can be instantly reimbursed for their charges via the Monta wallet.…

Belgian materials technology company Umicore has announced that it is embarking on the industrialisation of its high lithium, manganese (HLM) technology for active cathode materials. The firm has set its sights on producing and deploying the technology in electric vehicles by 2026. The HLM technology is a sustainable and low-cost battery technology that offers high energy density. Umicore views it as complementary to its portfolio of nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) battery materials for electric vehicles. The HLM technology is expected to provide better total cost of ownership than lithium iron phosphate (LFP), with longer ranges, equivalent safety, more reliable…

The Aptera Gamma electric vehicle was showcased at an investment conference in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where the company was seeking additional funding to move production forward. “It was an honor being a partner at FTE – Follow the Entrepreneur over the weekend where we had the opportunity to connect to the Swiss Investment Community, meet our Swiss pre-order holders, and speak about the Ecosystems of the Future,” the company said on LinkedIn. See also: Aptera Unveils Launch Edition of Solar-Powered Three-Wheeled Electric Vehicle with 40,000 Pre-Orders Aptera has been seeking additional funding to sustain its operations. To this end, the company has…

The highly anticipated all-electric 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 has finally arrived in Australia, where it will be offered alongside the Ioniq 5. This cutting-edge vehicle is set to be a game-changer in the electric car market and is set to impress customers with its advanced features and top-notch performance. When the Ioniq 6 becomes available later this month, it will be offered in three different variants, each with its own unique features and price point. The base model, the Dynamiq, will retail for AU$74,000 ($51,445), while those looking for a more premium experience can choose between the Techniq, priced at…

VinFast announced today that it has selected U.S. Bank as its preferred provider for financing and leasing of its vehicles in the United States. As a well-established lender in the vehicle finance and leasing industry, U.S. Bank serves a wide range of customers through its consumer and business banking, payment services, corporate and commercial banking, and wealth management and investment services. With this partnership, customers will be able to access financing and leasing solutions for VinFast vehicles at VinFast showrooms and through the VinFast website, directly from U.S. Bank. “With the goal to make electric vehicles accessible to everyone, VinFast…

Polestar has announced the Australian pricing for their latest offering, the Polestar 3 electric SUV. Following the unveiling of the vehicle in October 2022, the company received almost 7,000 expressions of interest, leading to the opening of the order books for the vehicle. The Polestar 3 will be launched in Australia in the first quarter of 2024, with two versions available – the Long range Dual Motor starting at AUD 132,900 and the Long range Dual Motor with Performance Pack starting at AUD 141,900. The Polestar 3 comes loaded with a range of standard equipment, including air suspension, a panoramic…

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has announced that Tesla is considering establishing a facility in two different states of Mexico. During a press conference, López Obrador confirmed that the electric vehicle manufacturer is weighing its options between Nuevo Leon and Hidalgo. This announcement comes on the heels of previous statements made by high-level government officials indicating Tesla’s interest in establishing a presence in Mexico. This move by Tesla would mark a significant step for the automaker in expanding its operations in the region. Tesla’s interest in Nuevo Leon, a province bordering Texas, has been a topic of discussion since…

FLO has launched FLO Ultra, a highly advanced charger designed to optimize energy transfer with cutting-edge performance and intelligent design for an unparalleled electric vehicle charging experience. The FLO Ultra is a high-speed electric vehicle charger that boasts maximum energy transfer, future-proof performance, and a smart design. With two powerful charging ports housed in a durable aluminum casing, it can charge most EVs to 80% in just 15 minutes, offering up to 320 kW using dynamic power sharing and up to 500 kW with multiple stations connected. Available from 2024, the Level 3 chargers offer flexible parking solutions for drivers…

Tesla is preparing for a potential launch of its insurance service in Europe by seeking a Legal Counsel to handle its European insurance operations. Tesla established its insurance branch in Malta in December 2020, but it has yet to offer specific insurance services to European drivers. However, Tesla’s recent job posting for the Legal Counsel role and its recent registration with Companies House to move its European Insurance operations to its London headquarters, located at 109 Devonshire Road, suggests that the automaker is moving closer to launching its insurance service in Europe. See also: BYD Plans Acquisition of Seized Insurer…

European materials technology and recycling group Umicore has signed a long-term supply agreement with Finnish state mining firm Terrafame for nickel sulphate. The agreement will see Terrafame providing a significant portion of Umicore’s nickel requirements for its cathode materials plant in Nysa, Poland. The details of the purchase quantities, contract period, or order value have not been disclosed. Umicore selected Terrafame as its nickel supplier due to the Finnish company’s low carbon footprint in its nickel sulphate manufacturing process, which reduces the carbon footprint of battery-grade nickel by more than 60% compared to the industry average. Umicore CEO Mathias Miedreich…

The Austrian Post has put into service its 3,000th electric vehicle, marking the beginning of the implementation of “Green Vienna.” The latest addition to the yellow-green electric fleet is stationed in Vienna, where the Post aims to deliver completely CO2-free by 2025. By spring, the Post will deliver all letters, advertisements, printed media, and small packages in Vienna without emissions. The Post is investing around 20 million euros to replace its conventional vehicles with new electric vehicles and to expand the charging stations in its logistics locations in Vienna. See also: Canada Post plans to convert its fleet to all-electric…

Volvo Cars announced its January sales results, with a total of 48,520 cars sold, a 2% increase from the same month in the previous year. The Swedish automaker saw a significant rise in sales for its Recharge line of electric and hybrid vehicles, with a 31% YoY increase and accounting for 40.7% of all Volvo sales globally. The fully electric models alone represented 16.2% of the total sales. Europe had the strongest sales growth, with 21,436 cars sold, a 14.7% increase from January 2022. The UK, Italy, and Belgium were among the leading markets. Recharge models made up 59.8% of…

In 2022, Rivian marked its first full year of production and achieved remarkable results. As per a video shared by the company’s VP of Manufacturing Tim Fallon, Rivian produced 25,051 electric vehicles, with 24,337 being “factory gated” and 20,332 delivered to customers. The company’s manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois runs two shifts and has already reached a daily production record of 200 vehicles. If this rate were to be maintained throughout the year, Rivian’s annual production would exceed 70,000 vehicles. In 2023, the company plans to add a night shift to further increase production of its electric vehicles including the…

NIO  has launched European deliveries of the EL7, previously known as the ES7 in China. The name was changed due to a lawsuit with Audi just prior to its launch. The first local customers in the Netherlands received the EL7 on January 31, according to a post by the General Manager of NIO Netherlands on the company’s mobile app. The delivery took place at NIO Space Mobile, near the Zandvoort race track. Kees, one of the first to receive a NIO delivery, chose the brand for a new experience and future access to more options through a subscription model, as…

General Motors (GM), one of the Big Three automakers, has made a historic move in securing a $650 million investment in lithium development. GM will be working with Lithium Americas to develop the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, which is the largest source of lithium in the US and the third largest globally. As the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles (EVs), the demand for battery materials will continue to rise, and the development of lithium mines will become critical for automakers. This massive investment by GM makes it the largest investor in Lithium Americas and positions the automaker as…