Author: Jonathan Collins

Group14 Technologies, a leading developer of advanced silicon battery materials, said it raised $463 million in a Series D funding round and acquired full ownership of its South Korea battery active materials (BAM) factory, strengthening its ability to produce high-performance SCC55® for global energy storage markets. The Series D round was led by SK, Inc., with participation from Porsche Investments, ATL, OMERS, and other investors. The funding will support expansion of Group14’s manufacturing operations in the U.S. and South Korea, enabling the company to supply over 100 electric vehicle (EV) and consumer electronics customers. The acquisition gives Group14 100% control…

Chinese automaker BYD has officially launched its Atto 2 electric SUV in the United Kingdom, with prices starting at £30,850 ($41,500) on-the-road (OTR), the company said on Tuesday. The move expands BYD’s European lineup between the smaller Dolphin and larger Atto 3 SUV models. The Atto 2 is offered in two trims: Boost and Comfort. The base Boost model features a 51.1 kWh BYD Blade battery, providing up to 214 miles of range, with city driving estimated at 302 miles per charge. The higher-spec Comfort model includes a 64.8 kWh battery, delivering up to 261 miles of range, and is…

Princeton NuEnergy (PNE), a US-based battery recycling company, has inaugurated a commercial-scale Advanced Black Mass (ABM) and battery-grade cathode production facility in Chester, South Carolina, the company said. The fully operational plant provides advanced recycling capabilities that allow the US to produce and regenerate key battery minerals domestically. The facility processes used and scrap batteries to extract black mass, a concentrated mixture of active materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. These materials can then be separated and refined to produce new cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, including those based on NCM and LFP chemistries. Dr Chao Yan, PNE’s…

SAIC Motor’s Maxus brand plans to introduce the eDeliver 75, a fully electric truck with a gross vehicle weight of 7.5 tonnes, to the British market, with sales and deliveries expected to begin in October. The eDeliver 75 is equipped with a 120 kWh LFP battery, offering a WLTP range of 155 miles. The battery can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes using a 120 kW fast charger. Standard features include vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, a five-year vehicle warranty, and an eight-year battery warranty. The electric truck can carry a payload of up to 4,590 kg…

Volkswagen AG is offering competitive lease deals on its 2025 ID.4 electric SUV, with monthly payments starting at $129 in California and select West Coast states, the company said. The offer comes as the ID.4 has become the third-best-selling electric vehicle in the U.S. for January 2025. The lease deal applies to a 24-month term with $2,499 due at signing, resulting in an effective monthly cost of $233. By comparison, a 2025 Volkswagen Jetta S is listed at $269 per month for 36 months, with $3,999 due at signing, making the ID.4 a significantly more affordable option despite its higher…

Researchers at Tianjin University in China say they have developed a lithium battery with more than twice the energy density of Tesla’s most advanced cells, a breakthrough that could extend the range of electric vehicles and improve performance if successfully scaled for commercial use. The team’s prototype achieved an energy density of 604.2 watt-hours per kilogram, compared with about 300 Wh/kg for Tesla’s top batteries. The findings, published in the journal Nature, describe a newly designed electrolyte with a disordered structure that allows lithium ions to move more freely, improving both stability and efficiency. “The delocalized electrolyte design overcomes the…

German tour operator Willms Touristik has converted 18 MAN double-decker sightseeing buses, built between 1988 and 2019, from diesel to electric power in a move it described as a cost-effective alternative to buying new vehicles. The company said the buses, which entered service this spring in Cologne and other German cities, were retrofitted with DANA TM4 SUMO HP motors producing 145 kW and paired with an Allison six-speed T280R automatic gearbox adapted for electric use. Six lithium iron phosphate battery packs provide a range of around 200 kilometres, enough for daily city tours. “Take-off is smooth, manoeuvrability is excellent and…

Construction has begun on the Centre for Circular Production of Next Batteries and Fuel Cells (CPC) at Braunschweig University of Technology, a project aimed at advancing recycling and sustainable production processes for energy storage technologies. The new facility, located at Braunschweig Research Airport, is scheduled to begin operations in 2027. The 3,700-square-metre CPC will host around 150 scientists focused on developing batteries and fuel cells designed for recyclability from the outset. Their work will target the recovery and reuse of raw materials such as lithium and rare metals, with recycling processes to be incorporated into product design from the start…

Kia said it is counting on its new EV4 compact to boost its electric vehicle portfolio, with plans to sell 160,000 units a year globally, half of them in Europe. To meet that demand, the South Korean automaker will begin production of the model in Slovakia at the end of August, marking the first fully electric Kia to be manufactured in Europe. The EV4, built on the front-wheel-drive version of Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, will roll off the assembly line at Kia’s Zilina plant, where combustion models such as the Ceed and Sportage are also produced. Deliveries are due…

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) said it will allocate $46 million in grant funding to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, with a focus on both public access and fleet needs. The initiative sets aside $16 million for workplace, apartment block, campus, and public site chargers, while $30 million will be directed to charging hubs along secondary transportation corridors in western and central Massachusetts, aimed particularly at medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Funding will be rolled out through new grant opportunities and by scaling up existing programs, with final allocations yet to be determined. MassDEP said distribution will be…

BYD’s sub-brand Fang Cheng Bao released interior images of its upcoming Tai 7 hybrid SUV on Weibo, as the model approaches its official launch in the fourth quarter. The Tai 7 adopts a softer interior style compared with the rugged lines of the Bao 8 off-road SUV. It is equipped with a horizontal central display and a smaller instrument panel positioned in front of the steering wheel. Fang Cheng Bao said the vehicle will be offered in three color options — gray, blue, and orange. Positioned as a hybrid SUV combining off-road capability with family usability, the Tai 7 is…

Governors Island has launched the state’s first hybrid-electric ferry, the Harbor Charger, marking a significant step in sustainable maritime transport for the city. The $33 million vessel will operate passenger services between Governors Island and New York, replacing a diesel-powered ferry that had been in service since 1956. The Harbor Charger can accommodate up to 1,200 passengers and 30 delivery or commercial vehicles, with cruising speeds of 10-12 knots, reportedly up to 66% faster than previous ferries. The vessel features a Siemens Energy BlueDrive Eco diesel-electric system, a BlueVault battery-based solution, and the EcoMain technology platform, all supplied by Siemens.…

Serve Robotics Inc., a California-based developer of autonomous sidewalk delivery robots, said it has acquired Vayu Robotics Inc. to strengthen its technology for AI-based navigation and expand into new markets. The deal combines Serve’s autonomy stack and extensive real-world data with Vayu’s expertise in foundation model-based robotics and scalable simulation technology. The acquisition is expected to accelerate the adoption of learned autonomy for last-mile delivery, enabling safer, faster, and more reliable navigation. Serve said the integration will also lower operational costs and open opportunities to expand its robots into additional environments such as bike lanes and road margins. Vayu’s founders…

Tesla has introduced the Model Y L in China, offering buyers a larger version of its best-selling sport utility vehicle with enhanced comfort and upgraded features. The new model addresses one of the most frequent complaints among existing Tesla owners: overheating wireless phone chargers. See also: Tesla Model Y L Reviews Highlight Adult-Friendly Third Row and Automatic Folding Seats The Model Y L, which is longer than the original version, adds a more spacious interior, redesigned front seats with adjustable headrests, captain’s chairs in the second row, mechanical armrests, and B-pillar air vents for improved airflow. The design changes are…

Nissan said on Tuesday the 2026 LEAF will remain the lowest-priced electric vehicle in the United States, with the redesigned model starting below $30,000. Now in its third generation, the LEAF shifts from its original hatchback form to a compact SUV while extending driving range and adding more charging options. The company released pricing for three of the four trims, with the SV+ starting at $29,990, the S+ at $34,230 and the Platinum+ at $38,990. Nissan said the SV+ undercuts last year’s comparable trim by nearly $2,000, despite offering additional standard features and a longer range. A base model, the…

Tesla vehicles are among the least likely to be stolen in the United States, according to a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). The analysis found that four Tesla models ranked in the top ten lowest-theft vehicles for the 2022–2024 model years. The Tesla Model 3 AWD recorded the lowest theft claim frequency, scoring just 1 on a relative scale where 100 represents the industry average. The Model Y AWD and Model 3 RWD followed closely with a score of 2, while the Model S AWD tied with the Toyota Rav4 Prime at 5. “This year’s findings…

Tesla’s self-driving Robotaxi service has drawn skepticism from industry observers, including John Krafcik, former CEO of Waymo and current board member at electric vehicle maker Rivian. The service operates in Austin, Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area, offering driverless rides to select users. In Austin, the platform launched on June 22, initially serving a small group of invited guests, with its geofence and user base expanding in the two months since. In the Bay Area, regulatory restrictions prevent Tesla from marketing the platform as a “Robotaxi,” a distinction confirmed by CEO Elon Musk. Krafcik, who led Waymo for seven…

Leapmotor, a Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer backed by Stellantis NV, posted its first-ever half-year profit, driven by significant sales growth and improved operational efficiency. The company reported net income of RMB 30 million ($4.2 million) for the first half of 2025, making it the second Chinese NEV maker after Li Auto to achieve half-year profitability. Leapmotor delivered 221,664 vehicles in the first six months, up 155.7 percent from a year earlier. Deliveries for the first seven months reached 271,793 units, a 149.8 percent increase year-on-year. In response to the strong performance, Leapmotor raised its full-year 2025 sales target…

Lamborghini has introduced the Fenomeno, a limited-edition plug-in hybrid supercar that the Italian automaker says is its most powerful road car ever. The model blends a V-12 gasoline engine with three electric motors to deliver a combined output of 1,065 horsepower. Based on the company’s Revuelto platform, the Fenomeno features a 6.5-liter V-12 engine producing 823 hp and 534 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Two electric motors power the front wheels, while an additional axial flux unit from Yasa assists the gasoline engine. Lamborghini said the car can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour…

Allianz UK said it will fully switch its vehicle fleet to electric models by 2030, with conventional fuel engines to be phased out. The company has already begun placing orders for new electric vehicles as part of the transition. This year, the insurer ordered 160 battery-electric vehicles, bringing its total to 307, or about 28% of its fleet. The orders follow a series of internal trials that included employee test drives, benchmarking exercises, and assessments of vehicles adapted for drivers with accessibility needs. Bethany Thomas, Head of Sustainability at Allianz UK, said: “This move is an important one for us…