Author: Harding Greenwood

Electrify America has unveiled a new Technology Campus near its headquarters in Northern Virginia, expanding its capacity to develop and test electric vehicle (EV) charging technology. The facility spans 32,000 square feet and includes 22 Hyper-Fast chargers, alongside a state-of-the-art Technology Development Lab. The Volkswagen subsidiary noted that the new campus will play a crucial role in testing and validating EV charging equipment under real-world conditions. The site includes two key laboratories: the existing Center of Excellence, opened in 2018, and the newly launched Technology Development Lab. The former focuses on hardware testing, software development, and interoperability, while the new…

Infineon Technologies has introduced the HybridPack Drive G2 Fusion, an innovative power module designed for traction inverters in electric mobility applications. This new module leverages both silicon and silicon carbide (SiC) technologies, aiming to achieve a blend of high performance and efficiency while reducing system costs. The Munich-based company emphasizes that this combination is essential for making electric mobility more accessible to a wider audience. The HybridPack Drive G2 Fusion is positioned to establish a new standard for power modules in the e-mobility sector, reflecting Infineon’s commitment to enhancing electric vehicle technology. Central to the module’s design is the use…

Dutch logistics service provider Simon Loos is set to significantly expand its fleet of electric trucks by ordering 75 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 units, which will more than double its current fleet of 60 electric trucks. This order was placed during the IAA Transportation event in Hanover, with the first eActros 600 expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2025. Upon completion of the delivery, Simon Loos will have a total of 135 electric vehicles, claiming to possess the largest fleet of electric trucks in the Netherlands. The company currently operates 60 fully electric trucks, predominantly sourced from Daimler…

armaker Stellantis announced on Wednesday a global recall of 54,000 hybrid crossover SUVs due to a defect that could cause the brake pedal to disengage during use. The recall affects 2024-2025 model-year Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid SUVs and 2024 model-year Dodge Hornet plug-in hybrid SUVs, which share the same platform. The recall was detailed in a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a separate statement from Stellantis. A total of 21,069 vehicles in the United States, approximately 2,280 in Canada, 134 in Mexico, and around 30,517 units outside North America are affected, the company…

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has released a study outlining the CO2 reduction requirements for the ten largest car manufacturers to comply with the European Union’s fleet limits set for 2025. On average, manufacturers will need to increase their battery electric vehicle (BEV) share by up to twelve percentage points, raising it from 16 percent in 2023 to approximately 28 percent by 2025. According to the ICCT survey, Volkswagen and Ford face the most significant challenges, with required CO2 reductions of around 21 percent. Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota are also required to reduce their emissions beyond the average…

Volkswagen is set to launch a new ID.3 model in China, featuring a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery pack, as it aims to strengthen its position in the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market. The move comes amid increasing competition from local automakers, such as CATL and BYD, which dominate the LFP battery segment. Despite delivering 6.52 million vehicles in the first nine months of 2024—down nearly 3% from the previous year—Volkswagen reported a 27% increase in EV deliveries in China through September. However, the company’s overall vehicle sales have declined by double digits, attributed to “particularly intense” competition in…

Elon Musk recently announced that the Tesla Semi, a class 8 electric truck, will soon be available worldwide, although production is still ramping up. The Tesla Semi has been gaining traction recently, despite skepticism regarding its feasibility, particularly concerning its advertised 500-mile range. This skepticism is compounded by Tesla’s ongoing credibility issues in the realm of vehicle autonomy. Recent trials, including one conducted with DHL, are beginning to validate Tesla’s claims about the performance of its semi-trucks. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1846230339070398639 This comes as the long-awaited vehicle program, initially slated for production in 2019, prepares to enter volume production after significant delays. Currently,…

Wolfspeed, a U.S.-based chipmaker, is set to receive $750 million in government grants for its silicon carbide wafer manufacturing plant in North Carolina, the U.S. Commerce Department announced on Tuesday. The news sent Wolfspeed’s shares surging by over 30%. This preliminary funding agreement is part of the government’s efforts to bolster domestic semiconductor production under the $52.7 billion Chips and Science Act. The grant requires Wolfspeed to take additional steps to strengthen its balance sheet. “We believe today’s announcement is a testament to the market-leading quality of Wolfspeed products and significance of Wolfspeed to broader U.S. economic and national security…

Luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker Lucid Motors has announced a partnership with the high-end hotel chain Four Seasons, providing guests with complimentary access to Lucid’s flagship Air sedan at select hotel locations. The program is expected to begin rolling out in the U.S. this fall, with plans to expand to Europe and the Middle East in the coming months. Through this collaboration, guests staying at participating Four Seasons locations will have the opportunity to reserve the Lucid Air for personal use either on-site or online. In addition to self-driving options, hotel guests can also request a chauffeured service using a…

Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (EVs) rose 30.5% year-on-year in September, bolstered by record numbers in China and renewed growth in Europe, according to market research firm Rho Motion. The U.S. market saw slower but steady progress ahead of the Nov. 5 election, adding uncertainty to future sales trends, Rho Motion’s data manager Charles Lester told Reuters. In September, global EV sales reached 1.69 million units. China led the surge with a 47.9% increase, reaching 1.12 million vehicles sold. North America, including the U.S. and Canada, saw a modest rise of 4.3%, with sales totaling 0.15…

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to strengthen Mexico’s electric vehicle (EV) supply chain in a bid to encourage domestic production and reduce dependency on imports. Speaking during a daily press briefing, Sheinbaum outlined the government’s vision to create a more self-sufficient EV industry by uniting local manufacturers and researchers. “We are going to generate supply chains so that everything that is in the electric car is manufactured in the country and we import as little as possible,” Sheinbaum said, noting that Mexican companies have already been producing electric motors for years. Sheinbaum revealed that Mexico has developed prototypes of domestically…

Following its insolvency this summer, Fisker has left its former headquarters in La Palma, California, in a state described by the landlord as “complete disarray.” Reports indicate that the premises are littered with rubbish, abandoned prototypes, and what appears to be hazardous waste, leading to estimates of “tens of thousands of dollars in cleanup costs,” according to landlord Tony Lenzini. Fisker’s legal representatives have responded to the claims, stating they cannot verify whether the items left behind belong to their client. The situation has been complicated further by reports that Fisker has sold some of its assets, including parts of…