Author: Harding Greenwood

ABB E-Mobility has installed its first A400 All-in-One charger in North America at ITD Industries’ site in Etobicoke, Toronto, providing advanced charging support for the electric truck fleet of the Canadian dealer, including Nikola’s Class 8 trucks. The A400 charger, which ABB introduced in May, delivers 400 kW of power through two connections, each capable of providing 200 kW or up to 400 kW to a single vehicle. Occupying just 0.64 square meters, the charger features a 32-inch interface screen and integrated credit card reader for convenient operation. “This installation is a significant step toward setting a new industry benchmark,”…

Alphabet’s Waymo announced on Tuesday that its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, is now fully available to the public in Los Angeles, marking another milestone in the deployment of self-driving technology. This expansion comes on the heels of Waymo’s recent $5.6 billion funding round, reflecting a growing commitment by automakers and tech companies to the future of driverless transportation, despite regulatory hurdles. LA … the day is finally here! Rides are now open to everyone in beautiful, sunny La-La Land. ✨No waitlists or invite codes required. Download and ride today → https://t.co/Oq3GtBJk2i pic.twitter.com/PDhxfSgSj5 — Waymo (@Waymo) November 12, 2024 Waymo…

German-Australian firm Vulcan Energy has successfully produced lithium hydroxide at its facility in Frankfurt-Höchst, marking what the company describes as Europe’s first sustainable lithium production process, spanning raw extraction to final product. Vulcan Energy’s approach involves extracting lithium from geothermal brine, establishing a European supply of this essential battery material. The company operates one of Europe’s largest geothermal and lithium resources, primarily located in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. According to a February 2023 feasibility study, Vulcan’s initial production goal is set at 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) per year, utilizing lithium chloride through a multi-stage refinement process. To…

JW Lees, the UK-based brewer and pub operator, has partnered with charge point operator Be.EV to install ultra-rapid EV charging stations across seven of its pub locations in North-West England. The initiative aligns with JW Lees’ strategy to support sustainable travel options for its patrons, with installations spanning across its North-West sites. Under the partnership, Be.EV will install 22 new ultra-rapid charging bays, alongside upgrades to existing chargers. The total investment for the project is estimated to exceed £1.8 million. Charging infrastructure is already available for public use at five JW Lees locations: The Urmston (Stretford), The Millgate (Failsworth), The…

Inchcape+, the official distributor for BYD commercial trucks in Singapore, has secured an order for 100 units of BYD’s electric T9R trucks, marking the largest electric truck fleet purchase in the country to date. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2025. The BYD T9R is a 26 to 28-tonne electric truck designed for a range of applications including refuse collection, construction, and urban logistics. The T9R variant features BYD’s advanced 301.7kWh Blade Battery, providing a range of up to 320 kilometers. The truck is equipped with fast-charging capabilities, able to recharge from 20% to 80% in…

The California Highway Patrol recently tested a customized version of Lucid’s Air EV, dubbed the “Lucid Pursuit,” as part of its efforts to enhance its fleet with high-performance electric vehicles. Known for its efficiency and rapid acceleration, the Lucid Air is positioned as a prime candidate for law enforcement use with its notable range and powerful capabilities. The Lucid Air, specifically the 2025 Air Pure, holds the title of “the World’s most efficient car,” boasting a record efficiency rating of 5 miles per kWh and the highest EPA MPGe rating among electric vehicles, at 146 MPGe. Lucid’s electric sedan surpasses…

The head of investments at German automaker Volkswagen, Sven Fuhrmann, is stepping down from his position on the board of Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt, the company said on Monday, confirming earlier media reports. Fuhrmann has held the board seat since last year, representing Volkswagen, Northvolt’s largest shareholder with a 21% stake, as reported in its annual financial disclosures. Northvolt stated that Volkswagen is expected to appoint a replacement for Fuhrmann. The battery maker has faced a series of operational hurdles in recent months, including production challenges, the loss of a significant customer contract, and funding constraints. Northvolt is currently in…

China set a new record for new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in October, with 1.43 million units sold, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on Tuesday. This surpasses the previous record of 1.287 million units set in September, marking a 49.6% increase year-on-year and an 11.1% rise from the previous month. CAAM’s NEV sales figures encompass wholesale deliveries by automakers, covering both domestic sales and exports, and include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell vehicles. PHEVs continued to show robust growth, with 587,000 units sold in October, up…

Tesla has announced a year-end sales incentive in Europe, offering one year of free Supercharging to customers who purchase and take delivery of a Model Y by December 31, 2024. The incentive, announced through Tesla’s official Europe & Middle East social media account, aims to drive final-quarter sales and potentially clear inventory ahead of a refreshed Model Y version launch. 1 year of free Supercharging All you have to do is order & take delivery of your Model Y before Dec 31 — Tesla Europe & Middle East (@teslaeurope) November 8, 2024 The upcoming Model Y update, codenamed “Project Juniper,”…

Stellantis and its Chinese partner Leapmotor have halted plans to produce a second electric vehicle model at Stellantis’ Tychy plant in Poland, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, shifting focus to alternative sites in Germany and Slovakia. The companies are now considering Stellantis’ Opel plant in Eisenach, Germany, and its Trnava facility in Slovakia for production of the B10 electric crossover, according to one source. The decision follows private guidance from the Chinese government advising domestic automakers to avoid large investments in European Union countries that supported recent EU tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, the sources said. Stellantis and…

Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., a China-based cobalt producer, is working with banks to secure approximately $2.7 billion in financing for a nickel processing project in Indonesia, backed by U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. The financing effort, led by HSBC Holdings Plc and Standard Chartered Plc, aims to support a facility in Southeast Sulawesi that will produce battery-grade nickel essential for electric vehicles (EVs). Huayou, Ford, and Indonesian mining company PT Vale Indonesia have joined forces on this initiative, which aligns with Indonesia’s strategic push to expand its domestic processing capacity. Bloomberg sources indicate that HSBC and Standard Chartered are inviting…

MAN Truck & Bus has secured its largest electric bus order from a private customer in Austria. Tyrolean transport company Ledermair has placed an order for 27 MAN Lion’s City E electric buses, marking a significant step in the transition to sustainable transportation in the region. Deliveries are set to begin in the second half of 2025. Ledermair, a company with a long history in Tyrol, plans to incorporate 19 solo buses and 8 articulated buses into its fleet. The first two vehicles are scheduled for delivery in September 2025, with the remaining 25 units to arrive by the end…