Author: James Bryant

FREYR Battery has announced the cancellation of its planned $2.6 billion battery manufacturing facility in Coweta County, Georgia. The decision reflects a strategic pivot towards solar panel production, following the company’s recent acquisition of a solar module manufacturing plant in Texas. In a letter dated January 21 to the Coweta County Development Authority, FREYR cited several factors influencing the decision, including rising interest rates, declining battery prices, and changes in company leadership. The letter stated, “This decision was made reluctantly, as the Company has realigned its near-term strategic goals.” See also: Freyr Battery Secures €122 Million EU Grant for Vaasa…

Dutch robotics company Rocsys has secured a major contract to supply its autonomous charging solution at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II in the Port of Rotterdam, where it will power 30 electric, driverless terminal trucks. The deal follows APM Terminals’ recent agreement with Swiss-based autonomous vehicle technology provider Embotech and Dutch specialty vehicle manufacturer Terberg for the delivery of 30 electric terminal trucks. Rocsys’ charging system, which uses robotics and AI-based computer vision, will enable these vehicles to charge without human intervention, ensuring a fully automated workflow at one of Europe’s largest container terminals. “The future of mobility is autonomous, and…

British recycling specialist Altilium has begun recycling lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from electric vehicles, expanding beyond its existing nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery recycling operations. The company employs its proprietary EcoCathode™ technology to recover over 97% of lithium and 99% of graphite from LFP batteries, making the process both commercially viable and environmentally sustainable. While LFP recycling remains at a small scale, Altilium is preparing for large-scale operations with its planned ACT 4 facility. See also: Altilium and LevertonHELM Partner to Strengthen UK’s Lithium Supply Chain “The rise of LFP batteries presents both challenges and opportunities for recyclers,” said Dr. Christian…

DB Schenker France has placed an order for 66 electric Renault trucks, including 60 Renault Trucks E-Tech D and six Renault Trucks E-Tech T electric tractors. The latter marks the first deployment of electric tractors for the French branch of the global logistics provider. Eight of the 60 E-Tech D units have already been delivered and are operating in cities including Blois, Angers, Châteaulin, Rouen, and Rennes. The remaining vehicles will be distributed to 28 metropolitan agencies through the first quarter of 2025, the company said. The trucks will be used for urban, peri-urban, and regional transport. See also: Renault…

The Western Australian electric vehicle (EV) network has officially been completed, stretching across 7,000 kilometers and featuring 49 strategically located charging stations. With 110 total charging points, this network is considered one of the longest EV highways in the world. The stations, spaced approximately 200 kilometers apart, offer a combination of DC chargers with two CCS outlets and backup AC chargers. The network is managed by Chargefox, and users can charge their vehicles by ordering an RFID card or paying through the Chargefox app. Built by Horizon Power and energy retailer Synergy, the network was funded by a 43.5 million…

Rivian has officially opened orders for its all-electric commercial van, previously exclusive to Amazon. The van, available in two variants—the Delivery 500 and Delivery 700—starts at US$79,990 and offers businesses a sustainable and efficient solution for electrifying their delivery fleets. Deliveries are expected to begin in April 2025. Initially developed as part of a landmark partnership with Amazon, the Rivian commercial van gained attention when the e-commerce giant committed to deploying 100,000 electric vans by 2030. By 2022, Rivian had delivered the first wave of these vehicles, and Amazon’s fleet now includes over 20,000 units. Now, Rivian is expanding access…

Tesla has commenced production of its refreshed Model Y, codenamed ‘Juniper’, at its four automotive manufacturing facilities: Grünheide near Berlin, Shanghai, Texas, and California. The company announced on January 31 that production has “now started” and is occurring “simultaneously” across all four factories. The updated Model Y was unveiled on January 10 on Tesla’s website in Asia, with orders opening that same day. Two weeks later, the order books were opened in Europe and North America. The first deliveries are scheduled for March. See also: Tesla’s Model Y Juniper Facelift Boosts Range by 5% Notable design changes in the ‘Juniper’…

Tesla’s Megafactory in Shanghai is scheduled to officially start production on February 11, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the electric vehicle (EV) maker’s energy storage operations. This follows trial production that began in late 2024. A ceremony to mark the factory’s official start will be held at the Megafactory in the Shanghai Lingang district, according to a report by local media outlet Shanghai Securities News. The facility, which was completed in December 2024 after just seven months of construction, will begin ramping up production in the first quarter of 2025. This rapid pace of construction sets a new “Tesla…

Tesla is facing backlash, including calls for boycotts, after comments made by CEO Elon Musk regarding Germany’s history from the 1930s and 1940s. Musk suggested that Germany should “move past” its dark history, which has sparked outrage, particularly from Polish Minister Sławomir Nitras. In late January, Nitras called for a consumer boycott of Tesla, stating that “there is no justification for any reasonable Pole to continue purchasing Teslas.” He emphasized the need for a strong response, including a consumer-driven boycott. Tesla had a strong presence in Poland last year, selling 4,460 units and becoming the most popular electric vehicle (EV)…

Nissan Motor will offer voluntary buyouts to U.S. employees and reduce shifts at three American factories as part of a global push to slash $2.6 billion in costs, the automaker confirmed on Thursday. The buyouts apply to workers at vehicle assembly plants in Smyrna, Tennessee, and Canton, Mississippi, and an engine facility in Decherd, Tennessee. Nissan will cut one of two shifts for its Rogue SUV in Smyrna starting in April and for the Altima sedan in Canton from September. The company did not specify how many jobs it aims to eliminate but said no involuntary layoffs are planned. Nikkei…

The Tata Ace Pro EV is an electric mini truck specifically designed to cater to the growing demand for last-mile delivery solutions in industries such as e-commerce, courier and parcel services, FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods), and waste management. With a payload capacity of 750 kg, the Ace Pro EV offers a practical and efficient alternative to conventional fuel-powered vehicles, especially for urban and semi-urban transportation. Powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor, the Ace Pro EV produces 104 Nm of torque, enabling it to handle various light-duty transportation tasks. It is equipped with a 14.4 kWh LFP (Lithium Iron…

The UK produced 905,233 cars and commercial vehicles in 2024, an 11.8% year-on-year decline, according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This marks the lowest annual output since 2020 and reflects ongoing challenges as automakers retool factories to meet government mandates for electric vehicle (EV) production. Output of EVs, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid models, fell 20.4% to 275,896 units. The broader decline was attributed to global market weakness, supply chain disruptions, and factory retooling pauses. Production has dropped for ten consecutive months since March 2024, with December output down 27.1% year-over-year…