Author: Harding Greenwood

Toyota has unveiled its latest marketing campaign, titled “Electrified Diversified,” aimed at promoting its ambitious vision to achieve carbon neutrality across its products, services, and operations. The campaign made its debut with a 30-second commercial, a creation of Saatchi & Saatchi, a prominent advertising agency. In a departure from the strategies of some of its competitors, Toyota proudly maintains a diverse lineup of powertrain options, offering consumers a spectrum of choices that includes battery-electric vehicles, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell-powered vehicles. This campaign showcases several of Toyota’s popular models, such as the Tundra Hybrid, Sienna, Prius, bZ4X, and the Mirai.…

In a concerted effort to propel the development of zero-carbon aviation, a new coalition named the Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) alliance has been established in the United Kingdom. Comprising prominent players from the aviation and renewable energy sectors, including easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Ørsted, GKN Aerospace, and Bristol Airport, this alliance believes that the UK possesses the ideal conditions to become a global leader in hydrogen-powered flight. Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a pivotal element in the decarbonization of aviation, crucial to various low and zero-emission aviation technologies. The UK’s extensive coastlines offer the potential for wind energy generation, a valuable…

Stellantis is reportedly set to make a significant investment of more than one billion euros in its Spanish production facilities located in Vigo and Zaragoza. The purpose of this substantial investment is to enable the production of electric small cars, utilizing the STLA Small platform, starting from the year 2025. However, it has been confirmed that no electric vehicles will be manufactured on the new platform in Madrid. This development comes to light through sources familiar with Stellantis’ investment plans, as reported by Spain’s largest daily newspaper, El País. Rumors of such investment had already circulated back in June. Furthermore,…

Cruise, the self-driving subsidiary of General Motors, has announced that it is on the brink of receiving official approval from the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) to commence mass production of its purpose-built Origin autonomous vehicle. The Origin, notably devoid of a steering wheel or pedals, represents a significant milestone in the autonomous vehicle industry. Kyle Vogt, CEO of Cruise, made this announcement during a Goldman Sachs conference, asserting that rigorous testing and validation had already been conducted. Vogt stated, “We’ve tested and validated it. We actually have run the Origin on public roads, both in Austin and San…

NIO is reportedly entering into a joint venture with battery specialist SVOLT, aiming to embark on the development of large cylindrical battery cells. This development, revealed by Chinese media outlet 36kr and based on insights from informed industry insiders, includes plans for establishing a pilot production line in Maanshan, within the Anhui province of China, as well as the formation of a collaborative research and development team. NIO’s initial intention was to construct a battery factory with a substantial annual capacity of 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh) for the production of large cylindrical cells, situated alongside its primary production center in Hefei,…

Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has recently reached a notable production milestone, having manufactured over 5 million cars across its global network of Gigafactories. This achievement highlights the company’s significant growth in production capacity since its inception in 2008. Tesla announced this milestone through its communication channel, Tesla on X, during a Saturday update. Unlike previous announcements, specific details such as the production location, the model of the milestone car, and images of factory workers were not provided. Instead, Tesla expressed gratitude to its community of owners for their support in reaching this milestone. See also: Rivian’s Dual-Motor R1T Shatters…

Japanese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer, SkyDrive Inc., continues to make significant strides this summer, announcing a substantial pre-order agreement with South Korea for their SKYDRIVE eVTOLs. This latest development adds to a series of milestones achieved by the company, as it strives to revolutionize urban air mobility across the world. After an earlier redesign of their SKYDRIVE eVTOL model, aimed at accommodating more passengers, SkyDrive successfully secured their inaugural pre-order in July. In conjunction with this, the company also revealed its intentions to establish a US headquarters in South Carolina. See also: SkyDrive unveils the design of…

In a significant technological advancement, sources with inside knowledge revealed that Tesla has made strides in perfecting the “gigacasting” process, potentially enabling the die casting of an entire electric vehicle’s complex underbody in a single piece. This development, reported by Reuters through anonymous insiders, could revolutionize Tesla’s electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, substantially reducing production costs – a key objective for CEO Elon Musk. Tesla’s “unboxed” manufacturing strategy, unveiled earlier this year, forms the foundation of this groundbreaking achievement. This strategy aligns with Musk’s ambitious plan to produce tens of millions of affordable EVs over the next decade while maintaining profitability.…

In a recent announcement, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has bestowed its prestigious Top Safety Pick+ award upon three model year 2023 electric vehicles: the Genesis Electrified GV70, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Lexus RZ 450e. This recognition underscores the automakers’ commitment to ensuring the safety of their electric car models. The IIHS evaluation process encompasses a comprehensive examination of a vehicle’s safety attributes, including crashworthiness, avoidance, and mitigation capabilities. These aspects are crucial in assessing how well a vehicle safeguards its occupants during a collision and the role of safety technologies in minimizing collision impacts. To qualify for…

Vicinity Motor, a commercial electric vehicle manufacturer, has unveiled its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ferndale, Washington, poised to make a significant impact on their order backlog. The facility boasts an impressive annual assembly capacity of over 7,000 low- and zero-emission vehicles, addressing the surging demand for eco-friendly transportation solutions. Vicinity Motor reports a substantial order book exceeding $150 million, bolstered by recent agreements with key industry players including Lafarge Canada, Transdev, and Pioneer Auto Group. See also: Vicinity Motor Secures $30 Million in Credit to Fund Production of Class 3 Electric Truck This cutting-edge plant has the capability to assemble…

Technical University of Munich (TUM) has established a new world record by covering a staggering 2,573 kilometers on just one battery charge. This achievement surpasses the previous record holders by nearly 1,000 kilometers, marking a significant milestone in the world of electric vehicles. The vehicle, affectionately named ‘Muc022,’ achieved this feat by continuously circling an empty hangar at Munich Airport for a duration of 99 hours, ultimately breaking the previous record of 1,608.54 kilometers after four days of relentless driving. The battery, boasting a capacity of 15.5 kWh, finally depleted its power reserves after completing an astonishing 2,573.79 kilometers. The…

BP, a global energy giant, unveiled its latest milestone in the realm of electric vehicles (EVs) by inaugurating the largest EV charging hub in the United Kingdom. Situated at the crossroads of three major motorways in central England, this state-of-the-art facility has the capacity to serve up to 180 electric cars, marking a significant step in the company’s commitment to sustainable transportation. The hub boasts an impressive array of 30 ultra-fast 300-kilowatt charging stations, capable of adding 100 miles (approximately 160.93 kilometers) of driving range in just 15 minutes. Additionally, the facility offers 150 7-kilowatt slow-charging points to accommodate a…