Author: Ivan Popov

Ford Motor said it will introduce a $30,000 mid-size electric pickup in 2027, the first vehicle to use its new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform and a redesigned manufacturing process aimed at reducing costs and increasing efficiency. The architecture, created by a small skunkworks team led by former Tesla engineer Alan Clarke, incorporates large aluminum castings that replace welded panels, cutting three-quarters of the parts, two-thirds of the welds, and half of the fasteners compared with a traditional pickup. It also eliminates nearly 1.6 km of wiring. See also: What We Know So Far About Ford Universal EV Platform Doug Field,…

Kingbull has introduced its Discover 2.0 series of fat-tire electric bikes, offering two models with different frame designs but similar specifications aimed at both city commuting and off-road riding. The new Discover 2.0 and Discover 2.0 ST are equipped with a 750-watt Bafang rear hub motor delivering 85 Nm of torque, a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph), and the ability to climb grades of up to 35 degrees. The ST version features a step-thru aluminum frame for accessibility, while the standard Discover 2.0 adopts a step-over frame. Both models carry a maximum payload of 400 lbs (181.4 kg).…

Nio has released the first interior images of its third-generation ES8 ahead of its August 21 debut in Chengdu, highlighting a redesign that blends luxury SUV space with business MPV comfort. The new ES8 features a horizontal central touchscreen similar to the ET9 sedan, replacing the vertical display of its predecessor, while an additional long screen spans behind the steering wheel and central screen for enhanced user interaction. The all-new ES8, positioned as a large-size SUV, measures 5,280 mm in length, 2,010 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,250 mm—making it the largest pure…

Kia is rolling out one of the most affordable electric vehicle lease offers in the U.S., with the 2025 Niro EV Wind available for as low as $109 per month until September 2. The promotion underscores the automaker’s strategy to make electric driving more accessible as competition in the EV market intensifies. The limited-time lease applies to a 24-month term with $3,999 due at signing, including a $4,240 capitalized cost reduction. Kia does not require a security deposit but does charge a $650 acquisition fee. See also: Kia Confirms EV5 GT Launch for Early 2026, Promises Over 600 HP and…

Kyte, a San Francisco-based mobility startup founded in 2019, officially ceased operations on August 15, 2025, after six years of providing app-based car rentals with doorstep delivery. The company, which once positioned itself as a flexible alternative to traditional rental providers like Hertz, faced mounting financial pressures and failed to achieve sustainable profitability. The startup initially gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, growing rapidly through partnerships with fleet owners and offering an on-demand delivery service that bypassed airport counters and paperwork. At its peak, Kyte raised more than $60 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz and secured a $250 million…

Skoda Auto released the first exterior video of its Vision O design study on Friday, highlighting the development of the automaker’s “Modern Solid” design language and offering a preview of future estate models. The video emphasizes the aerodynamic styling of the estate concept, featuring a sleek rear, narrow taillights forming a distinctive ‘T’ shape, a sloping roofline with a split roof spoiler, and a new B-pillar design that integrates seamlessly with the rear body. See also: Skoda H1 Operating Profit Rises 12% as EV Sales Surge Skoda lettering and the Vision O model designation are positioned on the fifth door,…

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) said it will acquire a 30% interest in the Copper World copper mine project in Arizona, owned by Hudbay Minerals, for a total consideration of US$600 million (approximately ¥87 billion). The deal includes US$420 million for equity and US$180 million allocated toward development costs. MC and Hudbay plan to jointly conduct a definitive feasibility study for the project. The Arizona project, already fully permitted, is expected to begin operations around 2029, producing roughly 100,000 tonnes of copper per year at peak from an open-pit mine, with potential for expansion through adjacent mining concessions. Arizona accounts for about…

Lucid Motors said it will offer a $7,500 rebate on its upcoming Gravity SUV to offset the phase-out of the U.S. federal electric vehicle tax credit, which is due to end in September. The “Lucid Advantage Credit” will be available for customers who order a Gravity by Sept. 30 and lease it between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. Existing qualifying customers will also be covered. See also: Lucid Rejects Low Sales Rumors, Expects Gravity to Lead Second-Half Output “Why Lucid Gravity? Because you can have it all, and then some,” the company said, noting the SUV’s market launch is scheduled…

Guident Corp., a Boca Raton-based autonomous vehicle teleoperation company, has partnered with the City of Boca Raton to introduce an autonomous shuttle service using MiCa vehicles, aiming to improve urban mobility and sustainability. Under the agreement, the service will operate over a 2.6-mile loop from Mizner Park to Royal Palm Place. The first phase will feature a 0.6-mile loop within Mizner Park for a one-year term, with the option to extend. The project also involves Circuit, the city’s current shuttle operator, and Estonia-based Auve Tech, which manufactures the MiCa shuttles. “Boca Raton is committed to innovative and sustainable mobility solutions…

The European Commission has approved a joint venture between Germany’s Bosch and Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation to provide battery swapping services, initially targeting the Chinese market. The companies said the venture aims to advance electric vehicle (EV) battery performance and improve total cost of ownership for fleet operators. The approval, granted under the EU Merger Regulation, concluded that the joint venture poses no competition concerns, citing its limited activities in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the relatively small market positions of both companies in relevant markets. The partnership, first announced in March 2022 alongside Blue Park Smart Energy (BPSE), will…

Rock Tech Lithium has secured about 250,000 euros ($274,000) in German government funding for a research project aimed at improving lithium yields at its converter facility in Guben, the company said on Tuesday. The initiative, called ELiSePro – short for “Efficient lithium recovery using selective processes” – will be conducted in partnership with RWTH Aachen University. The study will compare ion separation methods, including nanofiltration, capacitive deionisation and lithium ion sieves, to minimise losses in the conversion process. The results will be assessed on economic and technological grounds before being applied at industrial scale, and may be published or patented,…

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor and Kia posted a sharp rebound in electric vehicle sales in July, led by the arrival of new models including the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV4. The companies sold more than 25,000 EVs during the month, up 67% from June and well above this year’s monthly average of 16,960 units, according to Carisyou Data Research figures cited by KED Global. Electric vehicles accounted for a record 16.7% of new car sales in the country, with industry analysts pointing to fresh product launches as the main driver. Hyundai’s Ioniq 9, its first three-row electric SUV introduced…

Xpeng’s X9 seven-seat extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) has appeared in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filing, revealing key specifications ahead of its official launch in the fourth quarter. The new model will use the company’s Kunpeng Super Range Extender system and is expected to deliver a pure electric driving range of around 450 km, according to markings on the prototype. Declared dimensions are 5,316 mm in length, 1,988 mm in width and 1,785 mm in height, with a 3,160 mm wheelbase and a curb weight of 2,750 kg. Compared with the current battery-electric X9, the EREV is slightly…

The United Kingdom has expanded its Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme to include 17 eligible electric vehicle (EV) models, as part of ongoing government efforts to promote zero-emission transport and increase EV affordability. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced that new additions to the list include models from Renault, Nissan, Vauxhall, and Citroën, although no vehicle currently qualifies for the full £3,750 subsidy. The scheme, which launched last month with a total budget of £650 million, targets vehicles priced below £37,000. However, price is not the sole factor for eligibility. The DfT requires manufacturers to demonstrate verifiable commitments to decarbonisation,…

Transport Scotland has announced further funding for the second and final phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB2), reopening the opportunity for additional projects to receive support. The initiative aims to assist large bus operators in replacing diesel fleets with zero-emission alternatives, including battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Last July, the government awarded £41.7 million to a consortium led by Zenobē, involving eight bus operators. Although this was originally intended as the final grant, Transport Scotland confirmed that the second-placed bid in the funding competition would now be reviewed for further support. That bid comes from Rock Road,…

Tesla has introduced a long-range rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version of its Model 3 sedan in China, bringing the total number of Model 3 variants available in the market to four. The launch follows range upgrades across the entire lineup, the U.S. electric carmaker said on its Weibo account. The new RWD model, priced below the long-range all-wheel-drive (AWD) and AWD performance versions, uses a 78.4 kWh battery supplied by LG Energy Solution and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds with a top speed of 200 km/h. The dual-motor AWD long-range and performance versions are priced from 285,500…

Blue Bird Corporation has delivered 25 electric school buses to the Little Rock School District (LRSD) in Arkansas, supported by a $9.875 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program. The move is intended to reduce emissions and operating costs while modernizing student transportation for more than 19,000 students across over 40 schools. The Vision electric buses have a range of 130 miles on a single charge, a capacity of up to 69 passengers, and can recharge in about two hours. They join a fleet of roughly 70 vehicles that travel 1,400 miles daily to transport…

Transport and logistics firm DSV has added four Volvo FH Aero Electric 4×2 tractor units to its UK fleet, marking the start of a wider rollout that will see the company take delivery of 300 zero-emission trucks from Volvo Trucks by 2026. The new vehicles, which replace older diesel models, will be based at DSV’s site in Immingham, the company said on Thursday. The agreement between DSV and Volvo Trucks was signed in August last year. Volvo said the FH Aero Electric units offer “improved aerodynamics” and an advanced electric drivetrain designed to maximise energy efficiency. Each truck is equipped…

MAN Truck & Bus and German freight forwarder Dettendorfer are conducting a four-week trial of fully electric trucks on the Brenner route between Raubling, Germany, and Bolzano, Italy, to assess the potential of night-time operations to ease congestion, cut CO₂ emissions, and reduce noise in Alpine freight transport. The test, running in July and August, takes advantage of an exemption from the night-time driving ban on Austria’s A12 Inntal motorway, which applies to diesel vehicles but not to electric trucks. The MAN eTruck, produced in Munich since June 2025, offers ranges of up to 800 km with an intermediate charge,…

A large-scale modeling study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has demonstrated that dynamically controlling vehicle speeds to reduce stops and idling at intersections could lower carbon emissions by as much as 22% in major cities without impacting overall traffic flow or safety. Published in Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, the research employed advanced artificial intelligence to simulate traffic across thousands of intersections in three U.S. cities. The findings suggest that full implementation of “eco-driving” — a system that adjusts vehicle speeds in real-time to smooth traffic patterns — could reduce annual intersection-related emissions by 11 to 22…