Author: Harding Greenwood

Toshiba and Japanese startup Naturenix have begun testing a new battery replacement and monitoring service in Bangkok, Thailand. The service, which involves the use of Toshiba’s lithium-ion battery, the ‘SCiB,’ aims to offer fleet operators a cost-effective solution by leasing batteries through a subscription model. This approach allows vehicle purchasers to buy vehicles without batteries, lowering initial costs. Naturenix, responsible for developing and manufacturing the battery packs, has integrated technology to minimize heat generation, a critical feature for the hot climate in Thailand, where high temperatures can degrade lithium-ion batteries. The company also includes data analysis functionality in the battery…

Porsche is recalling 15,906 Taycan electric vehicles (EVs) in China, broadening a previous recall from May, following concerns over potential battery fire risks. The recall affects vehicles produced between January 7, 2020, and December 15, 2023, with implementation set to begin on November 15, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The recall stems from potential short circuits within the high-voltage power battery modules, which could lead to thermal runaway and increase the risk of fire in extreme cases. Porsche will conduct battery tests on the affected vehicles through authorized dealers and replace any faulty modules at no…

Daimler Truck North America has assisted Reyes Beverage Group (RGB) in deploying 29 zero-emission Freightliner eCascadia Class 8 electric semi trucks in California. The trucks will serve RGB’s California delivery fleet, marking a significant step in the company’s transition to a fully zero-emission truck fleet by 2039. The first 20 eCascadias will be stationed at RGB’s Golden Brands – East Bay and Harbor Distributing – Huntington Beach warehouses, with an additional nine trucks set for deployment at the Gate City Beverage – San Bernardino warehouse by the end of 2024. This initiative builds on RGB’s earlier shift to renewable diesel…

Denza, the premium brand under BYD, unveiled its Z9 sedan on the opening day of the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show. The Z9, a companion to the Z9GT hatchback launched in September, is available in plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) versions, starting at RMB 334,800 ($46,320). The Z9 PHEV comes in three variants priced at RMB 334,800, RMB 364,800, and RMB 414,800, while the BEV variant is offered in two configurations priced at RMB 354,800 and RMB 384,800. The sedan features slightly different dimensions depending on the variant, with the PHEV measuring 5,235 mm in length…

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has indicated plans to prioritize the development of a federal framework for fully self-driving vehicles, with the U.S. Department of Transportation set to play a key role, according to a Bloomberg report on Sunday. The move is expected to benefit prominent Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a staunch Trump supporter who invested heavily in the campaign and has taken a leadership role in the new Department of Government Efficiency, focused on cutting regulations and restructuring federal agencies. Musk has shifted Tesla’s focus towards self-driving technology, moving away from his earlier plan to build an affordable EV…

Ford Motor Company has agreed to pay a $165 million penalty to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for delays in recalling vehicles equipped with malfunctioning rearview cameras. This fine marks the second-largest in NHTSA’s history, following the 2019 Takata airbag recall penalty. In a consent order, the NHTSA cited Ford for failing to provide accurate and complete information in its recall reports and for delays in submitting mandatory quarterly recall updates. The automaker will pay $65 million upfront, while $55 million will be suspended, contingent on compliance with the terms of the agreement. An additional $45 million will…

Audi is unveiling its latest electric vehicles (EVs) designed for the Chinese market at the Guangzhou Motor Show, including the Q6L e-tron and the AUDI E concept. The AUDI E concept, developed under a new sister brand, features distinctive branding without the traditional four-ring logo. The AUDI E concept, previously revealed in Shanghai, will make its public debut at the SAIC stand. The near-production electric Sportback measures 4.87 meters in length and features a dual-motor system delivering 570 kW of power. Audi describes the AUDI brand as focused on “intelligent and connected electric vehicles,” creating a separate identity from the…

EVgo, a leading electric vehicle charging network in the United States, has announced record revenue of $67.5 million for the third quarter of 2024, representing a 92% increase compared to the same period last year. The company also saw its energy throughput grow to 78 GWh, a 111% year-over-year rise, as it expanded its customer base to over 1.2 million registered users. The company operates over 1,000 fast-charging locations across 40 states, continuing its rapid expansion. Recent efforts, including the introduction of the “ReNew” program to improve charger reliability and partnerships with companies such as Pilot/Flying J and General Motors,…

Xiaodi Hou, co-founder and former CEO of self-driving trucking startup TuSimple, has petitioned a California district court to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the company from transferring its remaining U.S. assets to China, according to court documents filed Monday. Hou’s request includes expedited discovery of evidence to support his motion, with a court hearing scheduled for December. Hou alleges TuSimple, once valued at $8.5 billion, is diverting tens of millions of dollars in investor funds to unrelated ventures in China, including an AI-generated animation and video game business tied to co-founder and board chairman Mo Chen. The company,…

Polestar has introduced a more affordable, longer-range version of its luxury electric SUV, the Polestar 3. The new 2025 Long Range Polestar 3 RWD variant, now available for pre-order, offers an EPA-estimated 350 miles of range starting at $67,500 — a $6,400 reduction compared to the entry-level AWD trim. The rear-wheel-drive model, powered by a single rear motor, generates 295 horsepower and 361 lb-ft of torque. This brings a balance between performance and efficiency, offering a 0-60 mph acceleration in 7.5 seconds, compared to the AWD variant’s 4.8 seconds. Those desiring higher power output can opt for the Performance Pack,…

Swedish truck manufacturer Scania is in discussions with various battery cell producers to secure supplies for its future electric vehicle (EV) lineup, while maintaining its partnership with Swedish battery maker Northvolt, CEO Christian Levin revealed in an interview with Reuters. Scania, part of Volkswagen-owned Traton Group, has set a target for half of its vehicle sales to be electric by 2030, though current sales remain under 1%, hindered by production and delivery challenges at Northvolt. “We talk to everyone in order to ensure we do not face disruptions if Northvolt encounters issues,” Levin said, without naming the alternative suppliers. Despite…

General Motors is laying off close to 1,000 employees worldwide, primarily in the United States, as the automaker continues efforts to streamline its operations and cut costs, a source told Reuters on Friday. GM confirmed the layoffs in a statement, though it declined to specify the total number of jobs affected. “In order to win in this competitive market, we need to optimize for speed and excellence,” the Detroit-based company said. “As part of this continuous effort, we’ve made a small number of team reductions.” The layoffs include 507 employees at GM’s tech center in Warren, Michigan, according to a…

Jaguar’s transformation into an all-electric luxury automaker is underway, with the first of its new EV lineup—a 4-door GT—spotted in testing on British roads. Images of the camouflaged vehicle reveal a sleek, low-riding profile and aggressive design features that signal a departure from Jaguar’s traditional styling. This model will be the first of Jaguar’s EV series, set to launch under its new identity from 2025. The company announced its shift to electric earlier this year, retiring popular models like the F-Type and E-Pace to make way for a fresh lineup built on Jaguar’s new JAE (Jaguar Electric Architecture). “This electric…

Hyundai Motor is preparing to launch an AI-powered electric vehicle (EV) in China next year, its first model specifically designed for the world’s largest EV market. Developed with Haomo, a Chinese autonomous driving startup, the new EV aims to boost Hyundai’s presence in a market largely dominated by local giants like BYD. A Hyundai spokesperson shared with The Korea Herald that the company is “working to load the software” onto the new EV model, adding, “The level of autonomous driving is somewhere between 2 and 2.5.” The collaboration with Haomo will see Hyundai’s new EV equipped with DriveGPT, Haomo’s generative…

General Motors’ self-driving unit, Cruise, will pay a $500,000 criminal fine after admitting to submitting an inaccurate report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerning an October 2023 incident where one of its autonomous robotaxis struck and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco. The fine is part of a deferred prosecution agreement announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday, where Cruise admitted to omitting key details in its report on the accident. “Companies with self-driving cars that seek to share our roads and crosswalks must be fully truthful in their reports to their regulators,” said Martha…

Lyten, a U.S.-based battery developer, is set to acquire Northvolt subsidiary Cuberg’s production facility in San Leandro, California, in a move to bolster lithium-sulfur battery production. The acquisition comes as Sweden’s Northvolt navigates financial challenges and consolidates its battery operations to its Swedish research facility. Lyten plans to convert the San Leandro facility, previously used by Cuberg for lithium-metal batteries, for the production of lithium-sulfur batteries. This site will join Lyten’s existing San Jose pilot facility, established in May 2023, expanding the company’s footprint in California’s battery production landscape. “The acquisition of additional manufacturing capacity for lithium-sulfur is in direct…

Geely, the Chinese automotive giant, is reportedly considering acquiring an 85% stake in the German air taxi startup Volocopter for approximately $95 million, according to Bloomberg. This potential deal highlights growing interest from Chinese companies in the electric aircraft sector, which is sometimes referred to as “flying cars.” The family office of Gerhard Sturm, founder of fan manufacturer EBM-Papst, is also believed to be involved in the discussions. Geely’s interest in Volocopter is not entirely surprising, as the car manufacturer has been involved with the company since 2019, becoming one of its investors. Additionally, the two companies formed a joint…

Integrals Power, a company specializing in advanced battery materials, has commenced the distribution of its Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathode materials to key customers in the automotive and energy storage industries. This step is aimed at strengthening the global supply chain for sustainable energy solutions. The LFP and LMFP materials are being produced at Integrals Power’s UK pilot plant, which has a capacity of 20 tonnes of LFP annually. This facility also plays a crucial role in the development of LMFP, a higher-performance version of LFP that includes manganese to enhance energy density. LMFP…

The State of Michigan has partnered with Electreon, a wireless EV charging specialist, and Xos, Inc., a commercial electric vehicle manufacturer, to expand wireless charging availability for commercial vehicles in Detroit, including UPS delivery trucks. The collaboration builds on Michigan’s ongoing efforts to establish itself as a leader in sustainable transportation innovation. This initiative follows the successful deployment of the first wireless EV charging roadway in the U.S. on Detroit’s 14th Street, unveiled last year by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Electreon. The roadway integrates Electreon’s inductive charging coils, enabling EVs equipped with receivers to charge while driving.…

Tesla has made strides in reducing the battery drain caused by its Sentry Mode, an anti-theft system that has been a source of frustration for many vehicle owners. The system, which alerts owners to suspicious activity around their vehicles by recording footage from cameras and sensors, has long been known to drain significant amounts of battery power. The issue was particularly pronounced when the system was left on for extended periods. Sentry Mode is designed to be activated by voice commands or through the Tesla app. Once enabled, it keeps the vehicle’s cameras and sensors powered while in Park mode,…