Author: Harding Greenwood

VinFast made a notable stride towards expanding its presence in the North American market as they broke ground for their inaugural U.S. electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Chatham County, North Carolina. This groundbreaking initiative is set to be the state’s first-ever electric vehicle facility and is poised to become its largest economic development project. During the initial phase of development, an estimated investment of up to $2 billion will be allocated to construct an expansive facility spanning approximately 1,800 acres. The plant will feature five primary production areas, encompassing a body shop, a general assembly area, a press shop, a…

Four Republican U.S. senators are calling for a reversal of the Biden administration’s decision to waive “Buy America” requirements for government-funded electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Senators Marco Rubio, Roger Marshall, Rick Scott, and Kevin Cramer expressed apprehensions about the Federal Highway Administration’s waiver of U.S. content requirements for steel, iron, and construction materials, citing concerns that American taxpayers might end up subsidizing Chinese-made products. Senator Rubio further voiced worries that such a move could potentially empower foreign adversaries, particularly China, in controlling the nation’s energy infrastructure. The waiver, put forth by the agency in February, was aimed at facilitating…

Porsche, the renowned luxury automaker, is taking a unique approach to adapt to the automotive industry’s ongoing shift towards electrification. While the company aims to gradually transition most of its lineup to electric vehicles (EVs), it plans to keep its iconic 911 model series fitted with a combustion engine for as long as possible. Karl Dums, responsible for e-fuels development at Porsche, emphasized their commitment to electric mobility as the primary strategy but assured enthusiasts that the beloved 911 will continue with its traditional powertrain. As part of its broader electrification initiative, Porsche envisions EVs accounting for 80% of its…

German automaker Volkswagen has recently filed a patent with the German Patent and Trademark Office, proposing a novel steering wheel design that incorporates turn signals and various other features directly onto the wheel rim. This move comes after Tesla faced criticism for a similar approach in some of their car models. The patent, as reported by Car Buzz, outlines a steering wheel concept featuring tactile or physical elements, drawing parallels to a design previously filed by Ford. According to Volkswagen, the number of buttons and controls on the steering wheel would be tailored to different vehicle models. High-end models may…

In a recent email sent out to its customers, Electrify America has announced significant billing changes that will be implemented across its network on August 17th this year. The company took the initiative to clarify some of the new rules to ensure its customers are well-informed about these important modifications. Regardless of whether you are a casual user or a frequent customer of the Electrify America network, it is crucial to understand the key changes that will take effect in less than a month. See also: Electrify America Adopts North American Charging Standard to Enhance EV Charging Network The first…

Galp, a leading Portuguese energy company, has joined forces with Powerdot, a Portuguese charging infrastructure specialist, to enhance the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Spain. The collaboration aims to build 155 High-Power Charging (HPC) points with up to 200 kW capacity each, distributed across 33 locations along Spanish motorways and busy roads. The regions benefiting from this initiative include Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Asturias, La Rioja, Aragon, Galicia, Valencia, Catalonia, and Andalusia. With nearly five charging points per planned location, this project seeks to offer efficient and widespread EV charging access to motorists. See also: Hubject and MOBI.E Partner to…

At a recent ‘Tech Day,’ Mahle, the German automotive supplier, shed light on its groundbreaking developments in the field of e-mobility. Departing from merely selling individual components, the company is now emphasizing its system competence in the eMobility business. Central to this shift is the introduction of their innovative electric drive system, a modular technology that amalgamates the best features of SCT (Superior Continuous Torque) and MCT (Magnet-free Contactless Transmitter) electric drives. By combining high performance and contactless power transmission while eliminating rare earths, this cutting-edge system promises exceptional efficiency. It is noteworthy that Mahle had first mentioned the development…

Estonian autonomous delivery startup, Clevon, has successfully launched its commercial service in the United States through a partnership with PostNet Northlake. The company, known for manufacturing Autonomous Robot Carriers (ARCs), is revolutionizing the local delivery landscape by introducing its cutting-edge technology to the residents of Northlake, Texas. Following several weeks of rigorous testing, Clevon’s ARCs have now become a familiar sight on the streets of Northlake, providing a seamless and efficient parcel delivery service to the local community. Building on this initial success, the company aims to expand its services using the same technology, potentially enabling food and grocery deliveries…

Mazda, the Japanese automaker renowned for its beloved MX-5 Miata, is embracing the electric future with its fifth-generation model. According to a report from Motortrend, the next version of the MX-5 is confirmed to be electrified, marking a significant shift in the iconic roadster’s long-standing tradition. Since its inception in 1989, the MX-5 Miata has been celebrated for its agile driving experience, proving that power and torque aren’t everything when it comes to enjoying the open road. Throughout four generations of cars, the MX-5’s essence has remained consistent—a compact two-seater with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive setup, and the option of a…

Chinese electric vehicle battery giant, Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), has taken a bold step into the world of aviation by establishing a new aviation unit. The move has sparked excitement and speculation, hinting that electric airplane development may be closer to reality than anticipated. In collaboration with Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), a state-owned plane manufacturer, CATL is exploring the potential of electric airplanes. The two companies have joined forces in a joint venture, forming COMAC Times Aviation, with the support of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Enterprise Development group. COMAC has already been actively involved in the development of…

Chinese automakers have established a dominant presence in the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market of Southeast Asia, with research firm Counterpoint Research revealing that three out of every four EVs sold in the region during the first quarter were from Chinese brands. The main driving force behind this transition is Thailand, which serves as the primary regional auto manufacturing hub. According to Counterpoint, Thailand accounted for an impressive 79% of all EV sales in Southeast Asia during the same period. Thailand’s success in fostering the EV market can be attributed to the various incentives it offers to consumers and…

Stellantis is set to adopt a diversified strategy in sourcing semiconductors for its upcoming electric car platforms. The company has already secured direct partnerships with multiple manufacturers, ensuring the supply of semiconductors with a purchase value exceeding ten billion euros by 2030. Collaborating with strategic partners in the semiconductor industry, such as Infineon, NXP Semiconductors, Onsemi, and Qualcomm, Stellantis aims to incorporate their expertise into their STLA platforms. Additionally, the carmaker plans to develop its own custom semiconductors in collaboration with aiMotive and SiliconAuto in the near future. The decision to establish direct partnerships for semiconductor supply is a part…

In a bold move to challenge Tesla’s dominance in the electric-vehicle (EV) industry, Ford has intensified a price war by significantly reducing the prices of its F-150 Lightning trucks. The price cuts, which include a substantial 17% reduction for the base model, aim to bolster Ford’s market share in the highly competitive EV market. Previously, Ford had raised prices for the Lightning earlier this year. However, thanks to improvements in scale and lower battery raw material costs, the automaker now finds itself in a position to slash prices. Ford’s EV sales for the quarter ending in June experienced a 2.8%…

HoloMatic, a Chinese self-driving startup, has successfully concluded a new funding round, securing RMB 300 million ($41.8 million) in Series C3 funding. This latest round brings the total amount raised in Series C to over RMB 1 billion ($140 million), according to an official press release. The financing was co-led by Guangdong Technology Financial Group and GAC Capital, a subsidiary of GAC Group. GAC’s continued support for HoloMatic signifies their confidence in the startup, following a strategic cooperation agreement signed between the two companies in 2021. GAC has already invested a total of nearly RMB 400 million in HoloMatic. The…

Lucid Group, the luxury electric-vehicle manufacturer backed by Saudi Arabia, experienced a decline in production during the second quarter of the year, resulting in a 12% drop in the company’s shares on Wednesday. While deliveries remained stagnant, the supply chain challenges and an ongoing price war initiated by Tesla in January intensified the competition for Lucid. For the period ending June 30, Lucid delivered 1,404 vehicles, a minor decrease from the 1,406 deliveries in the previous quarter. Sequentially, production also fell by 6% to 2,173 vehicles. The company had previously revised its 2023 production forecast and reported lower-than-expected first-quarter revenue…

California-based GaN semiconductor manufacturer, NexGen Power Systems, has announced that it has been awarded funding by the US Department of Energy for its collaborative project with General Motors. The project aims to advance the development of electric drive systems, with a focus on improving efficiency, performance, and sustainability in electric vehicles. NexGen will leverage its Vertical GaN semiconductors to drive innovation in power electronics design, motor integration, thermal management, and system-level optimization. In a recent update shared in February 2023, NexGen unveiled the availability of engineering samples for its 700V and 1200V semiconductors. Notably, the company’s current generation 1200V, 1…

CATL, the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, has announced a significant breakthrough in battery technology that promises to enhance charging efficiency, particularly in frigid temperatures. During a forum in Shanghai, CATL’s chief scientist, Wu Kai, unveiled the company’s latest electrolyte, which has shown a remarkable 50% improvement in efficiency at -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit). Even under normal temperature conditions, the charging efficiency has increased by 43%. Although Wu did not disclose specific details about the development process of the new electrolyte, he emphasized that CATL is now capable of mass-producing EV batteries that can be…

Polestar, the renowned electric vehicle manufacturer, proudly announced its exceptional performance in global electric car deliveries during the second quarter of 2023. The company reported an impressive figure of approximately 15,800 units, marking a remarkable 36 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This outstanding achievement secures the second-best quarter ever recorded by Polestar. The driving force behind this success can be attributed to the robust sales witnessed in the month of June, which experienced a remarkable year-over-year growth of 73 percent. Although an exact number was not provided, Polestar acknowledged that the substantial surge in deliveries during…

In the realm of electric vehicles (EVs), car manufacturers and EV charging companies are increasingly committing to adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug. However, Lucid chief executive, Peter Rawlinson, has expressed reservations about the exaggerated excitement surrounding this development. Having previously worked at Tesla as the chief engineer of the Model S, Rawlinson was intimately involved in the design of the company’s charging plug. While he does acknowledge that Lucid might eventually transition to the NACS plug, he emphasizes the importance of waiting for official standardization by SAE International before making any decisive moves. Rawlinson, in an interview…

In a recent development, Toyota Motor North America has introduced significant leadership changes as part of its ongoing efforts to transition towards electrification. The Japanese automaker has unveiled a new position titled “Senior Vice President of Electric Vehicle Supply,” aimed at spearheading the company’s electric vehicle (EV) supply and production strategy in North America. Susan Elkington, previously the President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), has been appointed to this critical role. As the Senior VP of Electric Vehicle Supply, Elkington will assume responsibility for expediting Toyota’s electrified transformation, with a specific focus on battery and electric vehicle production as…