Author: Ivan Popov

Hyundai is sweetening the deal for customers purchasing or leasing the 2025 IONIQ 5 by offering a free ChargePoint Level 2 home charger or a $400 charging credit. This promotion, launched in January 2025, is designed to make the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) even more attractive by providing home charging solutions or credits for use at public stations. The program builds on the success of Hyundai’s earlier offer, which began in September 2024 and included the IONIQ 6 and Kona Electric models. With the 2025 IONIQ 5 now offering more range, a sleek redesign, and the addition of an…

A research team from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in South Korea has developed a lithium metal battery featuring a triple-layer solid polymer electrolyte, offering significant improvements in fire safety and battery lifespan. Led by Principal Researcher Kim Jae-hyun, the team’s innovation aims to advance energy storage systems, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs). The new battery design incorporates a three-layer structure for the electrolyte, with each layer serving a specific function. According to the researchers, the middle layer enhances the mechanical strength of the battery, while the outer layers improve electrode contact and enable better lithium-ion…

South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced plans to allocate 1.5 trillion won ($1.02 billion) in 2025 to encourage domestic consumers to purchase electric vehicles (EVs), aiming to boost sales amidst concerns about safety and limited access to charging infrastructure. The government’s initiative follows a decline in domestic EV sales, which dropped by 9.7% in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of reduced demand. The number of EVs and hydrogen fuel cell cars in South Korea reached 720,000 by the end of 2024, with EVs accounting for 680,000 of that total. One significant factor affecting consumer sentiment has…

Electric vehicle (EV) sales maintained their strong momentum in December 2024, with sales incentives playing a significant role in the continued growth, according to the latest report from Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book. The average transaction price (ATP) for EVs in December reached $55,544, contributing to a slight increase in the industry-wide ATP. The December ATP for EVs saw a year-over-year increase of 0.8%, slightly below the industry average, and a month-over-month rise of 1.1%. Notably, Tesla saw an increase of 10.5% in its ATP compared to the previous year. Incentives for EVs remained robust in December, accounting for 14.3%…

Swedish electric vehicle (EV) maker Polestar announced a revised business strategy on Thursday, delaying its timeline for achieving profitability and expanding its market presence. The company cited challenging market conditions, including falling global EV demand and intensified competition from manufacturers like Tesla and Volkswagen Group. Polestar, backed by China’s Geely, now expects to achieve positive free cash flow after investments in 2027, revising its earlier forecast of late 2025. The company also downgraded its revenue projections for 2024, anticipating a mid-teens percentage decline and a negative gross margin. These adjustments come as Polestar works to stabilize operations under new leadership,…

Deutsche Bank predicts BYD Group will see a 29% increase in total vehicle sales for 2025, with a projected 5.52 million units sold. Analyst Wang Bin’s team highlighted key brand growth, with BYD expected to sell 5.1 million units, a 25% year-on-year increase. Notable increases are also expected for the Denza and Fang Cheng Bao brands, projected to rise by 100% and 184% respectively. In its annual sales forecast, Deutsche Bank projects BYD’s overseas market sales to surge by 92%, reaching 800,000 units. In 2024, BYD sold over 4.27 million new energy vehicles (NEVs), including significant overseas expansion, which saw…

Tesla’s revised Model Y, internally referred to as “Juniper,” is set to begin production at the Gigafactory in Grünheide, Germany, starting Tuesday. The facelifted version of Tesla’s best-selling electric SUV is expected to launch imminently in European markets. According to Handelsblatt, Tesla management informed employees on Monday that full-scale production of the Model Y Juniper would commence on January 14. While test vehicles were manufactured in recent weeks, the transition to Juniper marks the first significant update to the Model Y since its initial release over four years ago. During the two-week factory holiday in December, production lines were reportedly…

Tesla has officially launched its redesigned Model Y “Juniper” for the Chinese market, but the vehicle’s debut has sparked questions about its potential release in North America. Just days after the launch event in China, a covered version of the new Model Y was spotted driving in Santa Clara, California, according to a video shared by X user Teslaconomics on Sunday. In the footage, the vehicle’s front and rear bumpers are covered, concealing the newly redesigned headlights and taillights, despite the official reveal in China. BREAKING: I found the new Tesla Model Y in Silicon Valley, CA! pic.twitter.com/Xsf5DEk5M5 — Teslaconomics…

The insolvent German engineering firm Manz AG, known for manufacturing battery production systems, is seeking a strategic investor to acquire the company as a whole, according to its insolvency administrator. Provisional administrator Martin Mucha has enlisted consulting firm PwC to lead the investor search, expressing optimism that a solution could be reached by spring. The process aims to maintain uninterrupted business operations to enhance the company’s appeal to potential buyers. Concurrently, a delisting process is underway to remove the company from the stock exchange, Mucha confirmed to DPA. Manz AG filed for insolvency with the Stuttgart District Court in December…

May Mobility, a Toyota-backed firm, has unveiled a new autonomous electric minibus in partnership with Tecnobus. Designed for urban environments, airports, and corporate campuses, the minibus can carry up to 30 passengers and reach speeds of 45 mph (72 km/h). Equipped with an array of cameras and sensors, the vehicle aims to improve transit access and reduce urban congestion. The minibus will be fully electric and feature swappable batteries to minimize downtime. May Mobility has confirmed that the first buses will be ready by the first half of 2026, with plans to deploy them later that year. While specific deployment…

Several automakers, facing the EU’s stricter 2025 emissions regulations, are planning to purchase carbon credits from electric vehicle (EV) companies such as Tesla and Polestar to avoid substantial fines, according to an EU filing released on Tuesday. Under the new rules, manufacturers with lower EV sales can “pool” their emissions with industry leaders, allowing them to purchase emissions credits and reduce their overall emissions averages. Automakers including Stellantis, Toyota, Ford, Mazda, and Subaru are set to pool their emissions with Tesla, while Mercedes, Polestar, Volvo Cars, and Smart will form a separate pool. Manufacturers such as Tesla and Polestar, which…

The public transport company EMT Palma, serving the Mallorcan capital, has announced an ambitious plan to expand its fleet with 100 electric buses over the next three years. The city government has allocated €33 million to support this initiative, aiming to electrify around half of EMT Palma’s bus fleet. The move will replace aging diesel buses from the 2000s and natural gas vehicles from 2009-2010, with the company looking to enhance sustainability across its operations. While details on suppliers, bus configurations, and contract processes remain undisclosed, a statement confirmed that €12 million from the Tourism Tax for Sustainable Development has…

Honda’s first electric SUV, the Prologue, has become a strong contender in the US EV market, surpassing 33,000 units sold in 2024 after setting a new record in December. The Prologue’s strong sales performance has contributed to Honda’s overall sales growth, as the automaker set new records for SUV, hybrid, and electric vehicle sales in the US. In December, Honda sold 7,885 Prologue models, surpassing the previous month’s record of 6,800 units. This contributed to a total of over 33,000 Prologues sold in 2024, despite deliveries only beginning in March. During the second half of the year, the Prologue averaged…

Ford is building on its successful fourth-quarter electric vehicle (EV) sales by extending its “Power Promise” program, which includes a free Level 2 home charger and standard installation for all new EV buyers. The promotion, launched in October 2024, has been extended through March 31, 2025, and aims to make the transition to EV ownership smoother by ensuring that drivers wake up to a fully charged vehicle every morning. Ford’s efforts to ramp up its EV sales were successful in 2024, with the company reporting a 34.8% year-over-year increase in EV sales. Ford sold 97,865 fully electric vehicles in 2024,…

LG Energy Solution (LGES) has unveiled a new battery management system (BMS) diagnostic solution powered by system-on-chip (SoC) technology, developed in collaboration with Qualcomm. The innovative BMS solution is built on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis platform, following a partnership established in March 2024. Unlike traditional BMS hardware, LGES describes the new system as the first in the industry to integrate high-performance SoC computing, enabling faster and more precise data collection and anomaly detection. The advanced diagnostics also enhance battery lifespan monitoring and thermal incident detection. Marketed under LGES’s ‘B.around’ brand, introduced last autumn, the BMS portfolio now includes software, hardware,…

Tesla reported record global deliveries of 495,570 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting a 2.28% year-over-year increase. Despite the growth, the figure fell short of Wall Street’s forecast of 512,277, according to a Bloomberg survey. This marks a rare underperformance for the EV giant, as it also reported a 1.07% decline in full-year deliveries to 1,789,226 units, the first annual decrease in over a decade. Tesla’s core models, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, accounted for the majority of Q4 deliveries with 471,930 units, slightly below market expectations of 484,575. The company’s higher-priced models, including the…

German automotive supplier Eberspaecher has inaugurated a new production facility in Przylesie, Poland, dedicated to manufacturing thermal management systems for electric city buses and coaches. The facility is expected to enhance the company’s capacity for meeting rising demand in the e-mobility sector. The new plant spans 12,500 square meters and will commence production this month. It replaces part of the operations from Eberspaecher’s existing Bus & Coach division in Olawa, Poland, which has been producing vehicle heaters for various drive types for seven years. The relocation, coupled with the launch of a new thermal management system, prompted the investment in…

Honda is intensifying its focus on electric vehicles, confirming plans to debut two new electric vehicle prototypes at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The Japanese automaker is looking to strengthen its electrified portfolio, following a year-long teaser of its next-generation EV vision. A teaser image reveals a glimpse of the two prototypes, one of which appears to be an evolved version of last year’s Saloon EV Concept. While retaining signature design elements such as the LED taillights, illuminated Honda script, and diffuser-mounted slim brake light, Honda has labeled the vehicle a “prototype” rather than a concept…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved California’s ambitious plan to phase out the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035, a move hailed by environmental advocates but likely to face legal and political challenges. EPA Administrator Michael Regan granted a waiver under the Clean Air Act, allowing California to enforce its regulations requiring that by 2035, at least 80% of new vehicles sold in the state be fully electric and up to 20% be plug-in hybrid models. California’s rules, initially unveiled in 2020, have already been adopted by 11 other states, including New York, Massachusetts, and Oregon. “Clean cars…

Parcel delivery company DPD has entered a strategic agreement with BP Pulse to enhance its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the UK. Under the deal, BP Pulse will upgrade existing chargers and install new fast-charging stations at DPD’s facilities, accelerating the company’s transition to an all-electric fleet. So far, 14 DPD sites have been upgraded, with an additional 16 planned for 2025. These include key hub locations in cities such as Edinburgh, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Middleton. Valerio Ferro, General Manager of BP Pulse UK, described the collaboration as a “blueprint for large-scale fleet electric charging solutions.” He added,…