Author: James Bryant

Dearborn Public Schools, Michigan’s third-largest school district, has expanded its student transportation fleet with 18 new electric school buses, marking a significant step toward cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable travel for its students. The new buses, Blue Bird All American Type D models, were supplied by Highland Electric Fleets and will serve daily routes across the district. Each bus can travel up to 120 miles on a single charge and recharges overnight within 6 to 8 hours. With a passenger capacity of up to 84 students, these buses use 155 kWh NMC battery cells and have a gross vehicle weight…

Mitsubishi Motors has announced plans to launch a new all-electric C-segment SUV, the Eclipse Cross, in Europe, with customer deliveries expected to begin at the end of 2025. The model will be produced at Renault’s Douai plant in northern France and is based on the Renault AmpR Medium platform. The vehicle marks Mitsubishi’s first fully electric launch in Europe since the i-MiEV in 2010, which was the world’s first mass-produced electric car. While Mitsubishi later shifted its focus to plug-in hybrid vehicles, the new Eclipse Cross signals a return to battery-electric vehicles in the region. “I can confirm that Mitsubishi…

At the Power2Drive trade show in Munich, Sungrow Charging unveiled its latest fast-charging solution—the compact IDC480E-C—designed to meet the increasing demand for high-performance electric vehicle charging across Europe. The new system builds on Sungrow’s charging technology portfolio and introduces a modular, high-efficiency charger featuring the company’s proprietary insulated air cooling system. At the heart of the IDC480E-C is a 40 kW power module that achieves an efficiency of over 97 percent. The system’s modular architecture allows for flexible scaling, enabling customers to configure output capacities ranging from 240 kW up to 480 kW. The charger is aimed at logistics companies…

Yamaha Motor’s subsidiary Enyring is set to debut a new e-bike series in Berlin and Amsterdam in the fourth quarter of 2025, offering a battery subscription model integrated with a city-wide battery swapping network. The initiative will introduce four distinct e-bike models, supported by a standardized 480Wh, 48V swappable battery system. Enyring, established by Yamaha in early 2024, aims to deliver flexible, sustainable battery solutions for compact electric vehicles, particularly e-bikes, through a subscription-based approach. In its upcoming rollout, the company will install around 40 battery swap stations in Berlin and 20 in Amsterdam, all within a 2-kilometre radius in…

A team of European white hat hackers has demonstrated the ability to remotely seize control of a 2020 Nissan LEAF , exposing serious vulnerabilities in the vehicle’s communication systems, including privacy and safety risks that experts say could have real-world consequences. The cybersecurity researchers at PCAutomotive, based in Budapest, revealed how they were able to track the vehicle’s location, intercept messages and conversations inside the cabin, broadcast media through the car’s audio system, and — most alarmingly — manipulate the steering wheel while the vehicle was in motion. See also: Next-Gen 2026 Nissan LEAF to Provide Over 300-Mile Range, Faster…

Rivian is pushing ahead with plans to produce its more affordable R2 electric SUV, targeting a mid-2026 production start despite growing trade uncertainties and newly imposed tariffs on imported auto parts, CEO R.J. Scaringe said during the company’s earnings call this week. The R2, first unveiled in March, is designed to offer over 300 miles of range and a base price of approximately $45,000. It will also feature an optional tri-motor all-wheel-drive version. Seen as critical to Rivian’s long-term viability, the R2 aims to compete directly with the Tesla Model Y and broaden the startup’s customer base beyond its premium…

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast has signed new dealership agreements in France and Germany, marking a strategic pivot from its direct sales model just as it prepares to close its own European showrooms and service centres. Astrada Simva will serve as VinFast’s first authorised dealer in France, with a showroom in Aix-en-Provence slated to open in June. In Germany, Schachtschneider Automobile has been appointed as a new sales partner and will open three authorised showrooms. The announcement follows news from last week that VinFast will shutter all of its European retail locations as of May 9 and transition fully to…

Lion Electric, a Canadian electric vehicle manufacturer known for its electric school buses and commercial vehicles, is facing imminent liquidation after the Quebec government withdrew its support for a public bailout. The decision to cease funding comes despite the regional government’s significant prior investments in the company. A court-appointed administrator indicated that the likelihood of liquidation is extremely high, following the provincial government’s refusal to invest additional funds into the struggling company. Jean-François Nadon, a restructuring expert with Deloitte, called the government’s decision a “shock wave” for Lion Electric, further exacerbating its dire financial situation. Premier François Legault of Quebec…

Skycharger, a leading provider of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, has announced plans to build two public charging hubs for electric trucks in Southern California. The initiative is backed by a $10 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and will be located in Kettleman City and Lebec, CA, along the busy Interstate 5 corridor. The two new charging hubs will feature charging stations capable of delivering at least 200 kW of power and will accommodate up to 64 electric trucks at once. To minimize the environmental impact and enhance operational reliability, each site will be powered by 5.1 MW…

QuantumScape, the U.S.-based solid-state battery developer backed by Volkswagen, has signed a strategic agreement with Japan’s Murata Manufacturing to explore joint production of ceramic separators, a key component in QuantumScape’s lithium-metal battery cells. The collaboration brings together QuantumScape’s proprietary separator technology and Murata’s manufacturing expertise in high-precision ceramics. Murata, a leading producer of passive electronic components and ceramic-based solutions, is the latest addition to QuantumScape’s network of strategic partners, which includes materials suppliers, automotive OEMs, and contract manufacturers. See also: QuantumScape Advances Solid-State Battery Production with New Separator Plant “Murata’s deep expertise in high-precision ceramics manufacturing makes them an exceptional…

Dongfeng has introduced the Nammi 06, its latest compact electric SUV, at the Auto Shanghai show, marking the second model under its Nammi sub-brand. Built on Dongfeng’s Quantum Architecture Platform 3, the Nammi 06 will initially be sold only in China, with pre-sales scheduled to begin later this month. Positioned above the previously launched Nammi Box (also known as the Nammi 01), the Nammi 06 is a 4.3-meter-long electric crossover comparable in size to the Nissan Kicks. See also: China Urges Auto Industry Consolidation to Boost EV Transition, Eyes Dongfeng-Changan Merger A launch is expected in 2025 with a reported…

Honda has expanded its Ye Series electric vehicle lineup with the debut of two new GT models at Auto Shanghai, developed through its Chinese joint ventures with Dongfeng and GAC. The vehicles serve as flagship EVs for each partnership and represent Honda’s efforts to accelerate time-to-market by leveraging local innovation in China. See also: Honda Considers Toyota Batteries for U.S. Hybrid Cars Amid Rising Tariffs Although both models share the GT designation, the Dongfeng Honda GT and GAC Honda GT differ in design, with each tailored to reflect the distinct brand identities of the respective joint ventures. Both vehicles adopt…