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…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Leapmotor is taking ambitious steps to expand its global footprint and ensure its survival in a rapidly consolidating EV market. The company’s CEO, Zhu Jiangming, revealed in an interview at the Munich auto show that Leapmotor is targeting a substantial increase in sales and exploring partnerships outside China to license its cutting-edge EV technology. Leapmotor, an eight-year-old player in the EV sector, is embarking on a mission to export its EVs, starting with markets in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The company is also set to launch five new models, all built on a fresh…

Ola Kaellenius, the Chief Executive of Mercedes-Benz, has stated that the variable costs associated with the production of electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to remain higher than those of combustion engine models for the foreseeable future. This revelation was made during the IAA car show in Munich, where Mercedes-Benz provided insights into its upcoming electric vehicle architecture, specifically the CLA compact electric sedan set to launch next year. The new CLA is anticipated to offer 30% to 35% more driving range than its predecessors. Kaellenius acknowledged that the higher variable costs associated with EVs, including raw materials for batteries, software…

Tesla reported robust sales figures for its China-made vehicles in August, as per data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer sold 84,159 China-made vehicles during the month, including exports, marking a significant increase of 30.92 percent from the previous month and a 9.35 percent rise from August the previous year. In the broader context, Tesla has experienced remarkable success in the January-August period of 2023, with a total of 624,983 China-made vehicles sold. This represents a substantial year-on-year growth of 56.27 percent, underscoring the company’s enduring popularity in the Chinese EV market. See…

Hyundai Motor Group has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Zinc, a leading non-ferrous metal smelting company based in Korea. The collaborative agreement sets the groundwork for a comprehensive partnership across the nickel value chain, with the shared goal of advancing the EV industry’s critical raw material supply. The MOU signing ceremony, graced by the presence of Heung-soo Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Strategy Office at Hyundai Motor Group, and Ki Duk Park, President and Co-CEO of Korea Zinc, marks a significant milestone in the partnership. The strategic collaboration encompasses various facets, including joint…

Hankook Tire & Technology, a prominent player in the global tire industry, has introduced the ‘iON Innovative Technology’ system, designed to bolster Research & Development (R&D) processes and improve customer engagement for its electric vehicle (EV) tire brand, ‘iON.’ This initiative reflects Hankook’s commitment to advancing innovation within the evolving electric mobility sector. The newly established ‘iON Innovative Technology’ system signifies Hankook Tire’s strategic effort to build upon its existing expertise in EV tire technology. This system takes its name from the successful ‘iON’ brand, which is recognized for its high-performance tires catering specifically to electric vehicles. See also: Hankook…

The University of Texas at Austin’s Discovery to Impact has invested $250,000 in Group1, a local startup focused on advancing Potassium-ion battery (KIB) technology. Group1’s mission is to reshape the energy sector by offering an alternative to Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) through their innovative KIB technology, potentially reducing dependence on critical minerals. This investment, the fourth from UT Austin’s $10 million Seed Fund, will assist Group1 in expanding its team, scaling up production of its proprietary potassium cathode material, Kristonite™, and forming collaborations with Tier1 cell and automotive manufacturers interested in exploring lithium-alternative solutions. Discovery to Impact, UT Austin’s research commercialization…

After its recent unveiling, the Kia EV5’s price has stunned the market by coming in lower than anticipated. The compact electric SUV, which is poised to enter the burgeoning Chinese electric vehicle (EV) sector, is set to provide a strong competition to established players. Kia’s Chinese joint venture disclosed on Tuesday that the EV5 will have a starting price of approximately $22,000 (159,800 yuan), revealing an unexpectedly affordable entry point for the compact electric SUV. Set to make its market debut on November 17 in China, the EV5 was unveiled to the public at the Chengdu Motor Show last week.…

In a strategic move towards bolstering its commitment to the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, Ford Pro, a subsidiary of Ford, has introduced an updated range of EV chargers tailored specifically for fleet applications. With the recent launches of groundbreaking electric models like the Ford F-150 Lightning and E-Transit, the automotive giant is addressing the crucial need for accessible and dependable charging infrastructure for its commercial customers, further solidifying its position in the evolving EV landscape. The cornerstone of Ford Pro’s new charging lineup is the ‘Series 2’ 80-amp AC charger. What sets this charger apart is its ISO-15118 compatibility, a…