Author: Jonathan Collins

ChargeScape has partnered with PSEG Long Island to enroll more than 6,000 BMW and Ford electric vehicles (EVs) in a grid management initiative designed to reduce electricity demand during peak periods. The program, which represents the first EV-focused enrollment in PSEG Long Island’s nine-year-old Peak Load Reduction initiative, seeks to strengthen grid stability during the summer months. The collaboration includes participation from over 4,000 BMW EV drivers and approximately 2,200 Ford EV drivers. ChargeScape’s software platform, EV AI, utilizes real-time grid data to determine the optimal timing, duration, and power level of EV charging sessions. The system adjusts these parameters…

French equipment manufacturer Manitou Group and Chinese forklift producer Hangcha Group have formed a joint venture to develop and manufacture lithium-ion batteries, as both companies seek to advance the electrification of material handling equipment. The collaboration will initially focus on replacing lead-acid batteries in existing vehicle fleets with longer-lasting lithium-ion systems. The scope of the joint venture may later expand to retrofitting diesel-powered models and jointly developing fully electric machines. Zhao Limin, Chairman and General Manager of Hangcha Group, described the agreement as a milestone for the company’s industrial strategy. “Deepening strategic cooperation with Manitou Group and jointly establishing a…

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor is partnering with Faraday Future in a strategic effort to enter the US market through the introduction of a new electric vehicle model based on the Wey Gaoshan MPV. The move comes amid ongoing regulatory hurdles that have kept Chinese auto brands largely out of the US market. The FX Super One, unveiled by Faraday Future on July 17, marks the debut model of the company’s second brand, FX. According to Chinese tech media outlet Yiou, the model is officially licensed by Great Wall Motor and built on the platform of the Wey Gaoshan MPV,…

Octillion Power Systems, a California-based manufacturer of high-density lithium-ion battery packs, has expanded its partnership with Vision Marine Technologies Inc. to supply battery systems for electric outboard motors. The agreement covers the production of Vision-branded battery packs tailored for the E-Motion™ 180E propulsion system and is intended specifically for the U.S. market. Production will take place at Octillion’s facility in Reno, Nevada, which the company says will help ensure a secure and efficient domestic supply chain. The battery systems are engineered for marine environments and are expected to offer high energy density and improved durability. Vision Marine will integrate the…

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) has launched the Sealion 6 DM-i in Singapore, marking its first hybrid offering in the country as it seeks to broaden its product range in one of Asia’s most competitive automotive markets. The Sealion 6 DM-i, known as the Song Plus DM-i in China, was unveiled during a local event, according to a statement from the company. The model is priced from S$212,888 ($166,140) in Singapore, inclusive of the Guaranteed Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which is required for car ownership in the city-state. Singapore’s stringent vehicle ownership policies and…

Ballard Power Systems has secured a significant order from Hamburg-based eCap Marine for 32 FCwave fuel cell engines to power two hydrogen-fuelled container ships operated by logistics firm Samskip, the Canadian company said this week. The 6.4 megawatt (MW) order will supply 32 FCwave-200 kilowatt (kW) modules for installation across two 135-metre vessels. Each vessel will be equipped with a 3.2 MW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system, supported by diesel generators for auxiliary use. The ships are expected to operate on a zero-emission route between Norway and the Netherlands. Initial deliveries are scheduled to begin before the end of 2024,…

Spanish bicycle manufacturer BH Bikes has introduced its 2026 iLynx+ NX electric mountain bike, featuring the latest Bosch Performance Line CX motor system, a choice of carbon or aluminum frames, and configurations for both trail and enduro riding. The new model targets a wide range of e-MTB enthusiasts with its adaptable design and starts at €4,799.90. At the core of the iLynx+ NX is the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, offering up to 100Nm of torque and 400% pedal assistance. Paired with an 800Wh in-frame battery, the drive unit is designed for long-range and aggressive riding. The KIOX 400C display,…

U.S. states have built just 384 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports at 68 locations across 16 states as of April 2025 under a $7.5 billion federal infrastructure program launched in 2021, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said on Tuesday, citing concerns over slow implementation and the absence of measurable performance goals. The joint office responsible for overseeing the program “has not defined performance goals with measurable targets and time frames for its activities,” the GAO stated in its report, raising questions over accountability in the rollout of nationwide EV charging infrastructure. The findings come amid broader political and legal tensions…

UK-based electric scooter maker Bo is preparing to attempt a Guinness World Record with its latest model, the Bo M Turbo, a high-performance e-scooter designed to reach speeds exceeding 160 km/h (100 mph). The record attempt is set to take place during the Bonneville Speed Week in Utah, USA. Equipped with a dual-motor system delivering 24kW of power and a 1.8kWh battery, the Bo M Turbo is built on an aluminium unibody frame. The company claims a cruising range of up to 150 miles (241 km) at moderate speeds of 28 km/h (18 mph), making it one of the longest-range…

Daimler Truck has expanded its CharterWay rental portfolio in Germany by officially adding the all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, offering customers access to the long-haul electric truck through flexible contracts from one day up to three years. The eActros 600, which has been in series production since November 2024, became available to CharterWay customers in June. “With the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, we enable a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for heavy-duty haulage and make the entry into electromobility simple and risk-free,” said Martin Kehnen, CEO of CharterWay. The eActros 600 is the latest addition to CharterWay’s lineup of around 6,000 rental trucks.…

Dutch electric vehicle (EV) charging company Fastned has launched its first fast-charging station directly on a German motorway, part of a nationwide infrastructure rollout under the German network initiative. The new site, located at the Neufelder Heide-Süd service area on the A40 motorway in North Rhine-Westphalia, features six charging points, each capable of delivering up to 400 kilowatts of power. The station is the first of 34 planned motorway locations awarded to Fastned earlier this year under a government contract aimed at bolstering Germany’s EV infrastructure. In February, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) awarded contracts to four…

Kia Corp. will use a nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery from China’s CATL in the South Korean version of its EV5 electric SUV, set for release in September, as the company shifts focus toward performance in its domestic lineup. The automaker had considered lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from BYD, which currently supplies power units for the EV5 in China. While BYD’s LFP technology is more cost-effective, Kia reportedly determined it did not meet the requirements for the South Korean market. CATL’s NCM battery, although more expensive than BYD’s, was considered a better fit for the vehicle’s performance targets and…

The Polish city of Bialystok has placed a second order for electric buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong, via its Polish distributor Busnex, securing 30 U12 low-floor models and accompanying charging infrastructure to further its public transport electrification efforts. The new contract includes the delivery of 30 fully low-floor U12 electric buses, as well as 25 depot charging stations and three mobile chargers to be deployed across three bus depots. While the specific configuration of the buses has not been disclosed, the city indicated the vehicles must be capable of traveling over 400 kilometres on a single charge. “This is already…

South Korean battery manufacturer SK On has signed a contract with local battery materials firm Ecopro to supply lithium hydroxide for its production facilities in the United States, in a move aimed at securing subsidy eligibility under U.S. clean energy rules and reducing reliance on Chinese imports. The agreement will see Ecopro supply up to 6,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide produced in South Korea during 2024, according to Korean media reports. The material will be processed at SK On’s domestic cathode facilities before being shipped to its U.S.-based battery plants. This volume is estimated to support the production of batteries…

Italian automation specialist Comau has inaugurated a dedicated dry room laboratory at its headquarters in Grugliasco, aimed at enhancing its battery cell production capabilities and accelerating the development of next-generation lithium-based technologies. The new facility, with an investment of nearly one million euros, is equipped with three proto-test stations—two operating at a dew point of -40 °C and one at -50 °C—and includes the company’s Racer 5 Sensitive Environments robot. The laboratory is open not only to Comau’s internal Global Competence Centre, staffed by more than 40 engineers, but also to customers, academic institutions, and industry associations. With the launch…

– Stellantis has decided to discontinue its hydrogen fuel cell technology development programme in Europe, cancelling the planned production of hydrogen-powered Pro One vans in France and Poland, as the automaker reevaluates the viability of the technology in the light commercial vehicle market. The move comes after a strategic review by the company, which identified limited hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, high investment requirements, and insufficient demand incentives as key barriers to commercial success. Production of the fuel cell versions of vans such as the Citroën ë-Jumpy, Peugeot E-Expert, and Opel Vivaro, which was scheduled to begin this summer at Stellantis’ Hordain…

Geely Galaxy, a sub-brand of Geely Auto, has expanded its A7 plug-in hybrid lineup with two new lower-priced variants ahead of the model’s official launch expected in August. The move is seen as a strategic effort to enhance competitiveness in China’s growing hybrid sedan market. The newly added variants feature electric ranges of 70 kilometers and 150 kilometers, with starting prices of RMB 97,800 ($13,620) and RMB 113,800, respectively. These prices mark a reduction of RMB 6,000, or 5.78%, compared to the previous base model, which was priced at RMB 103,800 during the initial pre-sale phase. To achieve the lower…

Integrals Power’s lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery technology has reached a major testing milestone, completing more than 1,000 charge and discharge cycles while maintaining over 80% capacity. The test, conducted over five months by defense and research organization QinetiQ, highlights the performance and resilience of the company’s next-generation battery materials developed in the UK. The LMFP pouch cells were evaluated using a 1C charge and discharge rate, commonly used as a benchmark for battery durability. The results point to the potential of LMFP chemistry to support longer-lasting electric vehicle (EV) battery packs while maintaining stable performance under sustained usage.…

Aeva and Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) are expanding their partnership to support the industrialization of Aeva’s 4D LiDAR technology for future autonomous truck applications. The collaboration aims to integrate advanced sensing systems into series production as the companies advance their respective automation strategies. Under the extended agreement, Aeva will serve as the production LiDAR supplier for Torc Robotics, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG focused on autonomous driving technology. The partnership has reached an initial milestone with the deployment of autonomous-ready Freightliner Cascadia trucks equipped with Aeva’s 4D LiDAR sensors on highways in Texas. DTNA is also contributing additional…

China has revised its luxury car consumption tax policy, lowering the price threshold and expanding its scope to include all vehicle types, including electric vehicles (EVs). The updated policy, effective July 20, reduces the threshold from RMB 1.3 million to RMB 900,000 (excluding VAT), the Ministry of Finance announced. Under the new rules, cars with a tax-inclusive price exceeding RMB 1.017 million will now be subject to the luxury car consumption tax, compared to the previous threshold of RMB 1.469 million. The policy affects vehicles of all powertrains—gasoline, pure electric, and fuel cell—but exempts used cars. Notably, this marks the…