Author: James Bryant

France has launched its first dedicated electric truck charging corridor, stretching from Paris to Lyon, in a joint initiative by motorway operator APRR and Engie subsidiary Vianeo. The corridor includes five service stations along the route, where trucks can charge using ultra-fast chargers of up to 480 kW. The stations are spaced approximately every 150 kilometers, with charging points located at key service areas on the A5b and A6 motorways, including near Melun, Auxerre, and Beaune. The Galande service station, located closest to Paris, features both a 400 kW Alpitronics charger and a 480 kW EVBox charger. While it remains…

United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain stated on Thursday that the potential victory of Republican former President Donald Trump in the upcoming Nov. 5 election could jeopardize hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs if he follows through on his threat to revoke electric vehicle investments. Fain’s comments come amid heightened political tensions surrounding the future of the auto industry, particularly concerning the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). Democrats have highlighted Trump’s running mate, U.S. Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who recently declined to affirm the continuation of a $500 million investment aimed at converting a General Motors (GM) facility…

National charging network Be.EV has teamed up with Formula Space and Derbyshire Police to tackle the rising problem of EV charging cable theft in Chesterfield. In response to recent incidents, Be.EV has launched the “Charging Hub Intelligent Protection” initiative (CHIP) to deter vandalism and ensure charging locations remain accessible for drivers. Charging cable theft costs the industry over £500,000 annually due to replacement and repair expenses. Be.EV is urging the wider industry to adopt similar security measures at charging hubs nationwide. The initiative was unveiled at the 85 Saltergate Charging Hub, featuring a mobile CCTV system monitored 24/7 and a…

General Motors (GM) is abandoning the ‘Ultium’ branding for its electric vehicle (EV) batteries and related technologies, opting for a more diversified approach to its battery strategy. After years of promoting Ultium as a flexible, all-encompassing solution, GM now plans to use multiple battery chemistries and suppliers to better tailor battery technology to each vehicle. “We’re moving from a single-source, single-form factor, single-chemistry to a multi-chemistry, multi-form factor, multi-supplier strategy,” said Kurt Kelty, GM’s vice president of battery. “What we’re going to do going forward is really optimize for each vehicle.” GM first introduced Ultium in 2020 as a modular…

Hyundai Motor plans to utilize the proceeds from its $3.3 billion initial public offering (IPO) of its Indian unit to boost research efforts and develop new vehicles, aiming to position India as a manufacturing hub for emerging markets. The IPO, set to launch next week, will value Hyundai India at up to $19 billion, making it the largest IPO in the country’s history. “The IPO proceeds will be used to ‘invest aggressively in new products, future technology, and research and development capabilities of the India unit,'” said Unsoo Kim, managing director of Hyundai India. The South Korean automaker intends to…

Green NCAP has tested the BYD SEAL U DM-i plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), marking the third model from the automaker to undergo the organization’s evaluations. The SEAL U, a D-segment SUV, features a WLTP-approved range of 500 kilometers, powered by an 86 kWh battery and a consumption rate of 20.5 kWh/100 km, which was confirmed through Green NCAP’s independent testing. The assessments included more demanding scenarios, such as high-load highway driving and cold ambient tests at -7°C, which can affect the energy consumption of large SUVs. Despite these conditions, the SEAL U performed as expected, with increased consumption but…

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has expressed strong opposition to the European Union’s decision to impose additional tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China, following a vote passed earlier today. In a statement, MOFCOM criticized the EU’s actions as “unfair, non-compliant, and unreasonable protectionist practices,” specifically targeting the imposition of anti-subsidy duties on Chinese EVs. The spokesperson emphasized that China’s EVs are market-driven and characterized by full competition and ongoing innovation, contributing significantly to global efforts in climate change mitigation. The ministry stated that the EU’s protectionist measures violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and disrupt the international trade…

Alphabet’s Waymo is set to expand its robotaxi fleet with electric vehicles from Hyundai Motor, the companies announced on Friday. The collaboration will see Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 SUVs, produced at the automaker’s Georgia facility and equipped with Waymo’s autonomous technology, begin on-road testing in late 2025. Waymo, which currently operates around 700 vehicles, is the only U.S. company running uncrewed robotaxis that collect fares. While Waymo already uses I-PACE vehicles from Jaguar Land Rover and is testing technology with Zeekr, a spokesperson clarified that the Hyundai partnership will not replace any current vehicle platforms. “The team at our new manufacturing…

The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 has showcased its logistics capabilities by transporting approximately 82,000 liters of beer to Oktoberfest in Munich. Operated by logistics company Lettl Transporte, the electric truck delivered beer on behalf of the Hofbräuhaus, highlighting its utility for significant event logistics. Lettl Transporte managed the nighttime beer deliveries for the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus, utilizing the eActros 600 with a tanker trailer that has a capacity of 27,500 liters. During a practical test, the electric truck completed multiple trips to Theresienwiese over three evenings, after being refueled at the brewery. The truck made four stops at the Hofbräu festival tent…

Volvo’s most affordable electric vehicle, the EX30, has achieved a significant milestone, with the 100,000th unit rolling off the assembly line on September 30, 2024. The production of the EX30 commenced last fall in China, and its rapid success reflects the growing demand for this compact, low-cost electric SUV. Despite its small size, the EX30 is equipped with the advanced technology and safety features that Volvo is known for, positioning it as a “small but powerful” option within the brand’s lineup. Priced starting at around $40,000 (30,000 euros) in Europe and approximately $28,600 (200,800 yuan) in China, the EX30 is…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio has entered into a partnership with UK-based artificial intelligence startup Monolith to improve the testing and development of its electric car battery packs in Europe. This collaboration will use real-time data from Nio’s battery swapping service to enhance battery performance and longevity, with testing set to begin in five European markets, the companies said on Tuesday. Monolith’s CEO, Richard Ahlfeld, mentioned that the startup is working through regulatory processes to bring similar services to China, opening up the possibility of collaboration with additional Chinese automakers. “That should enable us to work with other Chinese automakers,”…

Dürr, a leading German mechanical engineering company, has introduced an advanced coating system called the GigaCoater, designed for the simultaneous coating of both sides of battery cell electrodes. This new technology aims to significantly lower production costs for manufacturers while maintaining high quality. The GigaCoater is tailored for competing battery cell original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and boasts several improvements. According to Dürr, the system can handle wider substrate capacities at faster coating speeds, ensuring “a significant reduction in manufacturing costs while maintaining automotive-grade quality across widths of up to 1,200 mm.” Dürr has been at the forefront of simultaneous double-sided…