Author: Harding Greenwood

Stellantis, the parent company of Ram Trucks, has recently teased its upcoming fully electric van, the ProMaster EV, which is set to debut in the first half of 2023. The ProMaster EV will compete directly with the Ford E-Transit and is poised to become a major player in the rapidly growing electric commercial vehicle market. The teaser photo included in the Stellantis financial results presentation shows the front end of the van, based on the high-roof model, and features an illuminated RAM emblem on the front grille. While we don’t have many details about the ProMaster EV’s design, it’s likely…

Mercedes has announced a recall of three EQS all-electric sedans due to a rearview mirror problem. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the mirror was insufficiently attached to the windshield, which means it could fall off completely. While this might seem like a small issue, it has wide-ranging impacts on the car’s safety systems. The rearview mirror housing also contains a camera, which means that if the mirror falls off, the EQS could lose access to several advanced driver assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, brake assists with pedestrian detection, lane…

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved two loans totaling €80 million to support the development of charging and hydrogen filling stations in Greece and Spain. The funding will be divided between Greek oil company Motor Oil and Spanish charging infrastructure firm Zunder. Motor Oil will receive €40 million over ten years to build 3,000 charging stations and an unspecified number of hydrogen filling stations across Greece, including an entire infrastructure for the hydrogen business. The loan aligns with the company’s goal of becoming the largest producer of renewable energy in Greece. However, details on the charging stations are not…

Hamburg’s municipal cleaning company has recently put the all-electric eEconic into operation, in a bid to reduce emissions and contribute to the city’s climate neutrality goal. At a press conference, the Environmental State Councilor Michael Pollmann, along with SRH Managing Director Professor Rüdiger Siechau and Franziska Cusumano, Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks & Custom Tailored Trucks, handed the key over to “Kolonne 11” of the city cleaning department. The eEconic, produced by Mercedes-Benz, is a locally CO2-neutral vehicle that offers a pleasant and quiet driving experience. The vehicle has been in series production since last year and is characterized by…

Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced that deliveries of its R1T Max Pack, a highly anticipated electric pickup truck, will be delayed until the second quarter of 2023. The announcement came in an email sent to R1T Max Pack reservation holders, in which Rivian explained that the delay was due to changes to the configurator, allowing customers to choose between the Max pack with standard Dual-Motor or the Max pack with enhanced Dual-Motor. In the email, Rivian expressed its commitment to getting the R1T to its customers as soon as possible, but noted that the new delivery window estimate…

Kiel’s public bus operator, KVG Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft (KVG), is set to make history as the first German operator to receive delivery of Mellor Sigma electric buses. The three Sigma 7s have been tailored to KVG’s specifications and are expected to be operational by March 2023. The compact Sigma 7s are ideal for use on Kiel’s narrowest streets, with capacity for up to 31 passengers in just 7 meters. The buses will be supplied in partnership with Mellor’s regional sales and service partner, Jebsen & Jessen. Mellor and Jebsen & Jessen worked closely with KVG to ensure that the buses meet…

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has recently announced that the company plans to enhance its vehicle camera system by introducing dash cam functionality. This move is expected to provide drivers with a range of benefits and help them keep an eye on their vehicle while on the road. Similar to Tesla’s Sentry Mode, Rivian’s Gear Guard is a well-received feature that adds another layer of security to EVs. Before such security features were available, drivers had to resort to using low-quality third-party solutions to monitor their vehicles. However, with the addition of dash cam functionality, Rivian will expand the scope of…

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL will use Toyocolor’s Lioaccum conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersions in batteries for electric vehicles from 2024. The move is expected to significantly increase the energy density of the batteries. Toyocolor, a subsidiary of Toyo Ink, a Japanese specialty chemicals company, will expand production capacity for these CNT dispersions. Lioaccum dispersions containing CNTs are used as an additive in lithium-ion cathodes to increase battery capacity and energy density. Toyocolor claims that its in-house dispersion technology will overcome previous technical hurdles and achieve highly stable CNT dispersions of high quality. See also: CATL Plans to build EVs battery…

Blue Corner, a subsidiary of Blink Charging, has signed a decade-long deal with BluePoint, a subsidiary of Belgium’s Technology Trade Federation AGORIA, to provide 280 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports to support over 2,000 companies in Belgium. Blue Corner will be responsible for installing, operating, and maintaining the EQ 200 EV chargers at selected BluePoint business centers in Brussels, Antwerp, and Liege. The Level 2 chargers will be rolled out over the next few years to meet the growing demand for EV charging in Belgium. “We are proud to partner with BluePoint and AGORIA to install the right chargers in…

Faraday Future has sent one of its latest production-ready FF 91 Futurist vehicles to China for market validation and testing. The vehicle, which was constructed at the FF’s California manufacturing facility, has already arrived in Shanghai and is undergoing final preparations and tests. The shipment is a demonstration of the company’s US-China dual-home market strategy, which aims to produce and sell electric vehicles in both the US and China, the largest electric vehicle markets in the world. The company aims to start producing saleable FF 91 Futurists in March 2023 and to begin delivering the vehicles in April, assuming that…

South Korean conglomerate LG’s subsidiary, LG Innotek, has unveiled a groundbreaking wireless 800-volt battery management system for electric vehicles. This innovative solution is aimed at making the battery packs smaller and lighter, with production slated to commence next year. The wireless battery management system (BMS) is embedded in a high-frequency communication module that integrates essential wireless communication components, including a chip and an antenna, into a single device. This is a first-of-its-kind development, according to the company. The primary benefit of the wireless BMS is its ability to reduce the weight and volume of the battery pack, resulting in up…

BMW is in discussions with the British Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to receive a grant of 75 million pounds in order to maintain the production of electric Mini vehicles at its Cowley plant near Oxford. The German carmaker had previously faced rumors that it might end its electric Mini production in the UK and move it to China in partnership with Great Wall, with conventional models still being produced in the UK and the electric Countryman being built in Germany. However, these rumors were later debunked by German media which reported that BMW would continue building…

Zeekr has recently made a big announcement – the introduction of its third model, the Zeekr X. This new car is being positioned as a compact, all-electric SUV that is sure to turn heads with its sleek and stylish design. Real car photos have been leaked online, giving us a sneak peek at what’s to come. The front of the Zeekr X boasts the highly recognizable Zeekr design language. The 3D LED daytime running lights are made up of 41 light-emitting units on either side, making the car look even more full and three-dimensional. The intelligent matrix LED transmission headlights…

Researchers at Dalhousie University, funded by Tesla, have found a surprising reason behind the self-discharge of lithium-ion batteries even when not in use: the use of adhesive tape. The coiled electrodes in the battery cells are held together with PET adhesive tape, which decomposes at high temperatures and forms dimethyl terephthalate (DMT). DMT acts as a redox molecule that reduces at the cathode of the battery, picking up an electron, and oxidizes at the anode, releasing the electron, resulting in battery discharge. The researchers have discovered this through tests with NMC batteries and found that the electrolyte became increasingly discolored…

Autel, a leading provider of automotive electronics and diagnostic tools, made its debut at the eCarExpo, the largest electric vehicle fair in the Nordic countries. The event took place on February 3-5, 2023 at Friends Arena in Stockholm. The company showcased its portfolio of products, including the recently launched MaxiCharger DC Compact, a sleek and compact electric vehicle charger. The MaxiCharger DC Compact boasts a 21.5-inch LCD touchscreen and is powerful enough to provide up to 47kW of power for the European version. It can be placed on a pedestal or set on wheels for ultimate portability, making it an…

The Canadian government is investing nearly $15 million for the installation of over 2,350 electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the country, with 2,100 of these chargers located in the Greater Toronto Area. The funding was granted to 32 organizations, including private firms, municipalities, and utilities. The government has made a historic $1 billion investment since 2016 to make EVs more affordable and chargers more accessible to Canadians, and has approved funding for the installation of more than 34,500 EV chargers to date. Budget 2022 set aside additional funds, totaling $900 million, to continue deploying zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and extend the…

Volvo Cars is embarking on a major transition to electric vehicles (EVs) with the aim of converting all of its core models into EVs by 2026, according to sources cited by Reuters. The automaker is reportedly planning to electrify the next generations of its S60 and S90 sedans and the XC40, XC60, and XC90 SUVs. The automaker already sells the all-electric XC40 Recharge and has recently launched the EX90 all-electric mid-size SUV, which is being referred to as its electric SUV flagship. Additionally, Volvo Cars has plans to introduce a luxury electric minivan for the Asian market. The sources revealed…

Nissan has announced a custom version of its new Ariya electric SUV, designed for an adventure-packed 10-month trip from the North Pole to the South Pole. The vehicle was unveiled by Nissan and the Pole to Pole expedition team in Iceland, and the special modifications made to the car for the extreme terrain were revealed. To ensure the Ariya is equipped for the journey, Nissan worked with Arctic Trucks, experts in polar expedition vehicles. The modifications made to the car were kept “intentionally minimal,” with no changes to the battery or powertrain. However, the raised suspension and wider wheel arches…

Compleo Charging Solutions UK has provided electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to the Faraday Institution, an independent research organization focused on electrochemical energy storage. Compleo installed fast-charging, 3-phase 22kW AC units at the Faraday Institution’s headquarters in Oxfordshire, offering reliable charging to staff, pool cars, and visitors. Susan Robertson, Faraday Institution, chief operating officer, said: “The Compleo EV charging software (eOperate) is invaluable to us. It enables our staff, visitors and pool cars to charge reliably using RFID cards while ensuring that speculative visitors to the site can’t plug in and get free electricity. See also: FLO installs 100th EV…

Volkswagen has plans to expand its electric vehicle offerings in North America and is reportedly considering the Canadian province of Ontario as the location for a future battery cell plant. The details of where the new compact electric SUV, smaller than the ID.4, will be produced are not yet clear. According to company sources, Volkswagen (VW) has decided to manufacture another electric vehicle in North America, as reported by German publication Handelsblatt. This compact SUV, smaller than the ID.4, is slated to start production in mid-decade, potentially at the Chattanooga, US plant or in Puebla, Mexico, where the ID.4 is…