Author: Ivan Popov

Canadian manufacturer Ballard Power Systems said it will launch a new generation of fuel cell modules for public transport at Busworld in Brussels in early October. The module, branded FCmove-SC, delivers a peak output of at least 75 kW and is designed to improve performance while reducing costs for bus operators. Ballard, which already has more than 850 fuel cell-equipped buses in service across Europe, said the new FCmove-SC builds on its existing product family but offers several technical advances. These include 25% higher volumetric power density through an integrated DC/DC housing, a 25% increase in maximum cooler outlet temperature…

Lucid said it has handed over the first Gravity SUV to autonomous vehicle developer Nuro, marking the initial milestone in a multi-year deal with Uber to deploy at least 20,000 self-driving cars in the United States. The prototype was assembled at Lucid’s Casa Grande, Arizona, factory before being transported to its Newark, California, headquarters, where Nuro engineers installed sensors and hardware for autonomous operation. Unlike this engineering prototype, future vehicles are expected to be retrofitted on Lucid’s production line prior to delivery. https://twitter.com/LucidMotors/status/1970836212358525405 The SUV has since been moved to Nuro’s Santa Clara facility, where engineers are integrating the Nuro…

FAW Group has agreed to acquire a stake in ZYT, the smart driving unit formerly known as DJI Automotive, making it the largest shareholder in the company, according to a filing on China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) website. The transaction involves purchasing part of New Territory Technology Company Limited’s holdings in ZYT. Following the deal, FAW will hold a 35.80 percent stake in ZYT, while New Territory will retain 34.85 percent, giving both parties joint control of the unit. Previously, New Territory, incorporated in Hong Kong in October 2022, held a 70.65 percent stake in ZYT and exercised…

NJ Transit has approved the purchase of 286 new buses, including 26 battery-electric models, in what the public transport operator called its largest procurement to date. The $500 million investment is part of the agency’s plan to modernise its aging fleet. The order includes 260 “clean diesel” 40-foot buses and 26 battery-electric vehicles, though the agency did not disclose specific models. In 2022, NJ Transit signed a five-year contract with New Flyer for up to 75 Xcelsior Charge NG electric buses, suggesting the new electric units could be supplied under that agreement. “Authorising these bus purchases marks the necessary final…

Germany’s Federal Network Agency has proposed new rules that would grant bidirectional charging for electric vehicles the same regulatory treatment as stationary battery storage, a step aimed at enabling cars to feed electricity back into the grid or household systems under an integrated framework. The draft regulation, titled “Market Integration of Storage and Charging Points” (MiSpeL), is designed to open market access for both fixed and mobile storage units. Under the framework, EV charging points with bidirectional capability would be treated like home batteries, making them eligible for grid feed-in and remuneration schemes. The plan is intended to increase flexibility…

Nvidia is considering a $500 million strategic investment in British self-driving technology company Wayve as part of its broader pledge to back artificial intelligence startups in the United Kingdom. Wayve said it has signed a letter of intent with Nvidia to evaluate the investment in its next funding round. The startup, which raised $1.05 billion in a Series C round in May with Nvidia among the backers, confirmed the potential investment is part of Nvidia’s £2 billion ($2.6 billion) AI funding commitment announced this week. During an event in London, Nvidia said the pledge would involve venture capital firms including…

Tesla may expand its Cyber lineup with a possible SUV or a smaller version of its Cybertruck, according to chief designer Franz von Holzhausen, though the company has not confirmed production plans. Speaking on Bloomberg’s Hot Pursuit podcast, von Holzhausen said Tesla has weighed the idea but declined to give specifics. “Wait and see is probably the best way to answer,” he said when asked about future Cyber-branded vehicles. Speculation has grown following two recent developments. Earlier this month, Tesla released a video titled Sustainable Abundance that included scale models resembling new Cyber-style designs. The company has also discontinued the…

Deepal, the new energy vehicle brand under Changan Automobile, on Sunday launched an updated version of its S07 mid-size SUV, equipped with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS SE smart driving assistance system. The model continues to be offered in both battery electric (BEV) and extended-range electric (EREV) variants. Two BEV versions are priced at 156,900 yuan ($22,060) and 166,900 yuan, while three EREV options start at 156,900 yuan, 166,900 yuan and 173,900 yuan. The entry-level price is 7,000 yuan, or 4.7%, higher than the previous generation. The S07 maintains the dimensions of its predecessor, measuring 4,750 mm in length, 1,930 mm in…

Polestar is recalling 27,816 vehicles in the United States due to a defect with the rearview camera that could increase the risk of crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The regulator said some Polestar 2 models may fail to display the camera image when the car is put in reverse, depriving drivers of a key safety feature. In July, NHTSA opened a recall query into 27,816 Polestar 2 electric vehicles after reports suggested that a previous software fix may have been inadequate. The Swedish automaker had earlier recalled certain 2021 to 2024 model year Polestar 2…

The EU-funded HighMag project, coordinated by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, has launched a Europe-wide initiative to develop magnesium-based batteries designed to support the shift toward electrified transport and renewable energy. The program focuses on creating high-performance, safe and sustainable energy storage solutions while maintaining compatibility with existing lithium-ion production lines. HighMag is developing two battery architectures: magnesium-sulphur systems with conversion cathodes and magnesium-metal systems with insertion cathodes. A coated magnesium anode powder is being designed for both approaches. The project follows the principle of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD), with work spanning from materials development to pilot-scale…

Cadillac’s newest electric SUVs have surpassed official U.S. government range estimates in independent testing, offering buyers more driving distance than advertised, according to results published by Edmunds. The entry-level Optiq Sport 2, equipped with an 85 kWh battery, is rated at 302 miles by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Edmunds’ real-world testing, however, the vehicle managed 339 miles, or about 12% more, while achieving better energy efficiency than the EPA rating. The three-row Vistiq 900 E4, with a 102 kWh battery and an EPA rating of 305 miles, covered 334 miles during testing – about 9% above its official…

Mercedes-Benz has announced that its battery-electric intercity bus, the eIntouro, has successfully completed high-temperature endurance trials in Andalusia, Spain. Over a five-week testing programme, the bus demonstrated operational reliability, charging performance, and energy management under ambient temperatures reaching 45°C. The model will make its world premiere at Busworld Europe 2025 in Brussels this October. Testing covered the electric drivetrain, battery thermal regulation, and air conditioning systems, alongside charging behaviour at public rapid-charging stations. The prototypes also tackled climbs in the Sierra Nevada up to 2,500 metres at full load, with descents used to validate recuperation performance. Daily runs of 300–500…

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle unit of Alphabet, said on Wednesday it has struck a deal with ride-hailing company Lyft to launch a robotaxi service in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2026. Waymo plans to begin testing its all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in the Nashville area in the coming months, with the service expected to open to the public next year. The partnership represents another step in Waymo’s expansion beyond its initial commercial market in Phoenix, which now includes Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with additional plans for Miami, Washington D.C., Dallas, and Denver. Under the agreement, Lyft will manage fleet…

The Michigan Supreme Court has revived a lawsuit challenging Ford Motor’s (F.N) BlueOval Battery Park Michigan project, a $3.5 billion facility under construction that is slated to begin producing lithium iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries for electric vehicles next year, the Detroit Free Press reported. The case, filed by a group of residents under the Committee for Marshall – not the Megasite, argued that city officials acted to block them from fairly voting on measures that would enable Ford and other entities to proceed with the development. The state’s highest court vacated a lower appellate court ruling and directed it to review…

Ford said on Tuesday it will cut up to 1,000 jobs at its electric vehicle plant in Cologne, Germany, as weaker-than-expected demand for battery-powered cars prompts the automaker to scale back production. “In Europe, demand for electric cars remains well below industry forecasts,” the U.S. carmaker said in a statement. Ford will switch production at the Cologne site to a single shift from January 2026, leading to the job losses. The Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, which began operations in 2023 after a $2 billion investment, is the company’s key European hub for its new generation of battery-powered models. The plant…

The new MG4 compact electric hatchback has been launched in China with five available trims and a subsidized price range between 65,800 yuan (about $9,140) and 99,800 yuan (about $13,860). Developed on SAIC’s E3 pure electric platform, the MG4 is positioned as an affordable option in the increasingly competitive compact EV market. The MG4 is powered by a six-in-one integrated electric motor producing up to 120 kW, with a top speed of 160 km/h. Customers can choose between a 42.8 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery pack or a larger 53.9 kWh version, delivering CLTC-rated ranges of 437 km and…

Tesla has extended the operating hours of its Bay Area ride-hailing service, allowing customers to book Robotaxi rides from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m., the company said on Friday. The move adds two additional hours to the daily schedule, expanding availability for late-night passengers. The service, which launched earlier this year following a pilot program in Austin, Texas, operates across San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. Riders request trips via Tesla’s mobile app in a process similar to Uber or Lyft, but with vehicles using the automaker’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. https://twitter.com/Tesla_AI/status/1966683703582851202 Despite the “Robotaxi” branding, each vehicle still has…

Volkswagen said it is facing technical challenges in enabling access to Tesla’s Supercharger network for its electric vehicles in North America, leaving the German automaker behind rivals in adopting the widely used fast-charging system. Tesla began opening its Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles in 2021, striking agreements that led most automakers in the region to adopt the company’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). Industry-wide integration accelerated this year after earlier delays caused by internal restructuring at Tesla, which included the dismissal and partial rehiring of its charging team. Volkswagen remains the last major brand without Supercharger access for its vehicles,…

Representatives of Solaris Bus & Coach and the Municipality of Gdańsk have signed a contract for the delivery of 30 electric buses, marking a significant step in the city’s transition to zero-emission public transport. The order comprises 18 units of 12-metre Solaris Urbino electric buses and 12 articulated Solaris Urbino 18 models, which will be operated by Gdańskie Autobusy i Tramwaje. The buses are scheduled for delivery by September 2026. The 12-metre vehicles will feature 600 kWh batteries, while the articulated versions will be equipped with 800 kWh energy storage systems, enabling extended operation on a single charge. Each bus…

QCraft, a provider of autonomous driving solutions, has formed a strategic partnership with TÜV Rheinland, an international testing and certification organization, to support the global deployment of intelligent mobility technologies. The agreement was signed at the IAA MOBILITY 2025 conference in Munich, Germany. The collaboration will combine QCraft’s L2++ to L4 autonomous driving systems with TÜV Rheinland’s expertise in testing, inspection, and certification. The companies said the partnership is intended to promote the safety, standardization, and commercialization of autonomous driving technologies worldwide. Dr. James Yu, Co-founder and CEO of QCraft, described the partnership as “a crucial step in the company’s…