Author: Harding Greenwood

Wisconsin has restarted its federally backed electric vehicle charging program, allocating $14 million for 26 new fast-charging sites after a court order forced the release of National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funds that had been frozen earlier this year. The latest funding round brings the total number of state-supported fast-charging projects to 78, as officials aim to enable seamless EV travel along major highway corridors. The restart follows a federal court ruling that compelled the Trump Administration to release NEVI funds. Wisconsin had joined a multi-state lawsuit after the freeze threatened about $55 million in federal support for its charging…

Fiat has revised the UK line-up of its electric Grande Panda by replacing the (RED) trim with a new entry-level ‘Pop’ version, a move the brand said is aimed at aligning the trim structure of its battery-electric and hybrid models. With the update, the Grande Panda is now offered in three trims across both powertrains: Pop, Icon and La Prima. The new Pop version retains several features previously offered on the outgoing (RED) trim, including 16-inch white steel wheels, selected lighting elements, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, rear parking sensors, heated door mirrors and an electric parking brake. The interior…

Li Auto’s monthly vehicle deliveries fell for a sixth consecutive month on a year-on-year basis in November, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker pinned its recovery hopes on ramping up production of its Li i6 electric sport utility vehicle early next year. Li Auto delivered 33,181 vehicles in November, down 31.92% from a year earlier but up 4.45% from October’s 31,767 units, according to figures released by the company on Monday. From January to November, total deliveries reached 362,097 vehicles, representing a decline of 18.08% year on year. Cumulative deliveries since inception stood at 1,495,969 units as of the end…

The town of Basildon now hosts the first fully electric bus depot in Essex following the completion of a £30.6 million electrification project led by First Bus, marking a major milestone in the company’s nationwide decarbonisation programme. The Cherrydown Way depot has been retrofitted with high-capacity charging infrastructure capable of supporting overnight charging for a fleet of 55 battery-electric buses. The project was delivered through a partnership between First Bus and Essex County Council and received partial funding from the UK Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA2) scheme. The government grant totalled £4.8 million, while First Bus…

An industry consortium led by Austrian charging technology developer Easelink, together with automakers Audi, Nissan and Voyah, has formed a joint body aimed at accelerating the global standardisation of an automated electric vehicle charging system known as Matrix Charging. The group, called the Matrix Charging Interest Group (MCIG), is designed to coordinate technical work on Easelink’s conductive robotic charging solution, which allows a vehicle to automatically connect to a ground-mounted charging plate without manual cables. Unlike inductive wireless charging, which transmits power through electromagnetic fields, the Matrix Charging system relies on a physical connector that drops from the vehicle to…

BMW is considering equipping some of its larger electric models with range-extender technology, with a primary focus on the Chinese market, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the company’s strategy. The German automaker is said to be evaluating extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) versions of high-end models such as the X5 sport utility vehicle and the 7 Series sedan, which are seen as large enough to accommodate both an electric drivetrain and a small combustion-based generator. See also: BMW-GWM Joint Venture Spotlight Automotive Recalls Mini EVs in China Over Battery Risk BMW has not confirmed specific product plans but said it…

The expiry of the $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit for new electric vehicles at the end of September has triggered a sharp slowdown in sales and prompted some traditional automakers to reconsider their electrification plans, but Rivian Automotive’s chief executive said the shift could ease competitive pressures for pure-play EV manufacturers. Buyers rushed to take advantage of the incentive before it ended, leading to a steep decline in sales in October, the first full month without the subsidy. At the same time, higher import tariffs and the removal of incentives have led some automakers, including Kia and Stellantis, to delay…

Xpeng is moving to increase production of its newly launched extended-range X9 MPV after receiving stronger-than-expected early demand, according to a report from Chinese media outlet Wallstreetcn. The company has asked suppliers to prepare additional materials for 5,000 units by the end of the year, a move aimed at maintaining delivery timelines. In the original report, a supply chain source said the goal was to “address robust order demand” following the vehicle’s launch. The X9 EREV, introduced on November 20, is Xpeng’s first extended-range model and was released with a starting price of RMB 309,800, an 11.49 percent reduction from…

Finnish technology company Donut Lab has introduced DonutOS, a new software platform designed to transform how electric vehicles are conceived, engineered and brought to market. The company, now a subsidiary of electric motorcycle manufacturer Verge Motorcycles, said the platform integrates virtual modelling with real-world vehicle behaviour to create what it calls “Digital Twin 2.0.” Donut Lab is widely known for its Donut Motor — a hub motor integrated into the wheel rim and used in the Verge TS Pro — which gives the motorcycle its distinctive hollow rear-wheel appearance. Earlier this year, the company unveiled a 630-kW version of the…

BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse has intensified his warning that Europe is losing ground in the global push to industrialize hydrogen technologies, saying investment momentum has shifted decisively to Asia and the United States. Speaking at the Automobilwoche Kongress, he emphasized—as reported by Automotive News—that hydrogen has evolved from an experimental niche into a strategically scaled technology, and that Europe is not keeping pace. Zipse said regional competitors, including China, Japan, Korea and the U.S., are pursuing long-term hydrogen strategies even as Europe focuses primarily on battery-electric vehicles. “The biggest investments in next-generation drivetrains are now happening in Asia and…

Lucid Motors on Thursday introduced the Gravity Touring, the latest variant of its flagship electric SUV, ahead of its public appearance at the 2025 Los Angeles International Auto Show. The model is now available to order in the United States, with deliveries beginning immediately for select configurations. The Gravity lineup remains central to the company’s long-term strategy as it works toward launching a future mid-size EV. Production of the Grand Touring and Touring trims is ramping up at Lucid’s plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, following earlier delays and a slower-than-expected sales rollout in 2024 and early 2025. The Touring variant…

Li Auto has updated its product development and overseas market strategy following a three-day closed-door strategy meeting in October, local media outlet 36Kr reported. The company cited declining sales, product development challenges, and heightened competition as key factors behind the adjustments. See also: Li Auto Fires Staff Following Li Mega Recall and Quality Issues in L-Series Models The automaker plans to reduce its major vehicle platform cycle from four years to two, enhance differentiation among future models, and place greater emphasis on design language. It also acknowledged increased competition from rival EV models, including Xiaomi’s YU7 SUV. Li Auto is…

The Hyptec SSR, an electric supercar developed by GAC and formerly known as the Hyper SSR, has set a new Guinness World Record for the highest drift speed achieved by an electric vehicle. The record was confirmed at 213.523 kph during a controlled test session, the company announced on social media. The record attempt was performed by driver Ye Zhicheng, who was required to sustain a drift angle of at least 30 degrees while exceeding 207 kph across a minimum distance of 50 metres. The verified result of 213.523 kph surpassed the criteria by a considerable margin. According to GAC…

The European Union will fund five battery cell production projects under its Innovation Fund after Porsche subsidiary Cellforce withdrew its application, reducing the overall grant amount from €852 million to €643 million, the European Commission said on Friday. The Commission had initially selected six proposals in July under the first Innovation Fund call dedicated to batteries. The decision changed when the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) signed contracts only with five project sponsors. Cellforce cancelled its “CF3_at_Scale” project following a major restructuring at Porsche, which included job cuts at the subsidiary. The remaining five projects are expected…

Ford Motor said it will broaden the availability of its BlueCruise hands-free driver assistance system in Europe starting in 2026, extending the technology to several high-volume models including the compact electric crossover Puma Gen-E. The system, already offered on the Mustang Mach-E since 2023, allows drivers to briefly remove their hands from the steering wheel on approved motorway sections while remaining attentive to traffic conditions. “Since then, 16 European countries have approved its use in series production, making BlueCruise the most widely used semi-automated system of its kind in Europe,” the company said, adding that drivers can activate the feature…

Tesla has reached a new production milestone with the completion of its 5-millionth battery pack at Giga Shanghai, the company’s largest manufacturing facility globally. Tesla said its battery packs are independently developed with proprietary cell chemistry and structural design, offering high performance, strong energy density, and resilience in cold weather. See also: Tesla’s China Deliveries Hit Three-Year Low in October as Exports Surge The company added that the system supports mileage that exceeds the vehicle’s lifecycle and adheres to safety standards that are significantly higher than industry norms. https://twitter.com/Tesla_Asia/status/1988515953332666409 Although Tesla engineers its own battery pack systems, Giga Shanghai does…

Subaru will scale back its investment in electric vehicles and redirect more funds toward hybrid technology, the company said, as demand trends and market dynamics reshape its long-term electrification strategy. While the Japanese automaker will continue developing electric SUVs in partnership with Toyota, it is reassessing the timeline for in-house production of additional battery-electric models. The company had earmarked 1.5 trillion yen (around 8.4 billion euros) for electrification through 2030, but a larger share of that investment will now be allocated to hybrid powertrains, according to a report by Nikkei Asia. See also: 2026 Subaru Solterra Gains Native NACS Port…

Mercedes-Benz has given an early glimpse of the new GLB EV’s interior as the compact electric SUV nears its world premiere on December 8. The automaker said testing of the upcoming model is underway at its Mercedes Technology Center (MTC) in Sindelfingen, Germany. Engineers are putting the GLB EV through extreme weather tests, exposing it to wind tunnel conditions ranging from -40 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow cannons simulate various snow types while high-powered fans generate winds up to 124 mph, recreating blizzard-like conditions. See also: Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 Sees Record $50,000 Incentive, Marking Biggest Factory Discount Yet Despite being…

Australian electric vehicle startup MEVCO, once hailed as a rising player in mining electrification, has gone into liquidation just three years after its founding and a year after announcing a partnership with Rivian. Founded with the goal of electrifying the mining sector, MEVCO aimed to replace traditional light commercial vehicles such as Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser models with electric pickups and off-road vehicles. The company planned to provide not only the vehicles but also charging infrastructure, maintenance services, and monitoring systems for mining operations across Australia and abroad. In April 2024, MEVCO announced a strategic partnership with Rivian to…

LiveWire, the electric motorcycle brand spun off from Harley-Davidson, unveiled several new electric models at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, highlighting its growing commitment to the electrification of two-wheel mobility. The lineup includes the S4 Honcho series and the S2 Alpinista Corsa, alongside a preview of a forthcoming maxi-scooter co-developed with Kymco. The S4 Honcho Trail and Street models mark LiveWire’s entry into the lightweight motorcycle segment, roughly equivalent to a 125cc petrol bike. Production for both versions is expected to begin in early 2026. The Street variant is designed for urban commuting and can be ridden in many…