Author: Jonathan Collins

Autoflight, a Chinese eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) company backed by battery manufacturer CATL, has introduced a water-based vertiport designed to support electric air taxi operations in locations where land-based infrastructure is limited. The system, jointly developed with CATL, functions as a battery-powered vessel equipped with a landing platform, photovoltaic energy storage, charging systems, dispatch tools, and communication equipment. According to Autoflight, the concept is intended to address constraints such as site selection challenges, slower deployment timelines, and operational complexities on land. The company said the solution is designed for several application areas, including energy platform maintenance, emergency response,…

Kempower has opened downtown Durham, North Carolina’s first public DC fast-charging station, marking a milestone for local EV infrastructure. The station, located at 111 W. Chapel Hill Street, is operated in partnership with National Car Charging and features two connectors—CCS1 and CHAdeMO—near restaurants, retail, and other downtown amenities. Although the area has long offered numerous Level 2 chargers, this is the first DC fast charger in the city center. Until now, EV drivers needed to travel about three miles outside downtown for the nearest fast-charging option. Kempower did not disclose the unit’s peak charging output, but a recent PlugShare report…

Changan Automobile’s sub-brand Nevo has launched the updated Q05 small electric SUV at the opening of the 2025 Guangzhou auto show on Friday, positioning the model as a low-cost competitor to vehicles such as the BYD Yuan Up. The new Q05 is available exclusively as a battery electric vehicle, with prices starting at RMB 79,900 (USD 11,230). The Q05 measures 4,539 mm in length, 1,865 mm in width and 1,680 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,656 mm. This places it slightly larger than BYD’s Yuan Up, which has a length of 4,310 mm and a wheelbase of 2,620…

CATL is preparing to resume operations at its Jianxiawo lithium mine in Yichun as early as next month, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The move comes as lithium carbonate prices in China experience sharp swings. According to the report, the company has developed a preliminary plan to restart production in early December and has asked suppliers and partners to ready equipment, chemicals and personnel. CATL has also notified refineries that process raw materials from the mine. Bloomberg noted that the preparations “do not guarantee regulatory approval,” and that the plan may still change depending on…

Xpeng officially introduced its extended-range X9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on Thursday, marking the company’s first entry into the EREV (extended-range electric vehicle) segment. The model starts at RMB 309,800 ($43,550), reflecting an 11.5 percent reduction from its pre-sale price and undercutting the battery electric variant, signaling Xpeng’s focus on competitive positioning. The X9 EREV is available in two variants: the 1602 Max at RMB 309,800 and the 1602 Ultra at RMB 329,800, down from RMB 370,000 during pre-sales. “We aim for the vehicle to operate solely on electricity in 90 percent of scenarios without activating the range extender,” Xpeng said,…

Autonomy, a US electric-vehicle subscription provider, said it is expanding its fleet with an additional 1,250 battery-electric cars after securing $25 million in financing, marking a shift from its previous Tesla-only offering. The investment, backed by a loan from SR Alternative Credit arranged through Finacity Corporation, will support the integration of new models, including the Polestar 2, Tesla Model 3 Highland and Tesla Model Y Juniper. The company said the procurement round is designed to diversify model categories and price ranges. It added that the inclusion of Volvo and Polestar vehicles is intended “to offer more models and price categories,…

PowerCo, Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary, has appointed Alexander Schmitt as its new Chief Procurement Officer and member of the Executive Board, effective 18 November. Schmitt replaces Jörg Teichmann, who is leaving the position by mutual agreement and will transition to another role within the Volkswagen Group. The company did not disclose details on Teichmann’s future assignment or whether he will join a specific VW brand or take up responsibilities at group headquarters. Teichmann joined PowerCo in 2022 as one of its first board members and oversaw the creation of the procurement division during the company’s formative phase. Schmitt previously held senior…

Kia unveiled its first fully electric PV5 Chassis Cab at Solutrans 2025 in Lyon, marking the expansion of its PV5 light commercial vehicle range to include a driver’s cab model suitable for multiple conversions. Orders are now open in Germany. The PV5 Chassis Cab was developed in collaboration with European conversion companies to support a variety of body types and applications, the company said. The chassis measures under five metres in length and can carry payloads of up to 1,005 kilograms with cargo volumes of up to eight cubic metres. At the trade fair, Kia showcased a food truck built…

Ford has shared new information on the 2026 Puma Gen-E, confirming that the refreshed compact electric crossover will receive a battery update enabling more than 400 km of range. The company also highlighted a significant software upgrade, as the model will adopt Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driver assistance system for the first time. While Ford says the Gen-E will become “even better,” the announcement leaves several technical details undisclosed. The current 43 kWh pack has been redesigned to push WLTP range from 376 km to above 400 km, with Ford additionally claiming an urban range of more than 550 km. The…

Renault has presented the production version of the Trafic E-Tech Electric at the Solutrans 2025 transport exhibition in Lyon, marking the company’s first model based on Ampere’s flexible software-defined vehicle (SDV) architecture and its first use of 800-volt technology in a Renault-branded vehicle. The electric van is scheduled to reach the market at the end of 2026, with additional body styles to follow. Renault confirmed that the Trafic E-Tech will offer a 150-kW electric motor producing 345 Nm of torque, paired with either an NMC battery for up to 450 km of WLTP range or a lower-cost LFP pack targeting…

NewPower has secured its first contract to repower an existing fleet of electric buses, marking a shift from its previous focus on diesel-to-electric conversions. The agreement covers 28 first-generation Metrodecker electric double deckers, which will receive new batteries, drivelines, axles, powertrains and HVAC systems as part of a wide-ranging upgrade programme. The company said the initiative responds to rapid advancements in electric bus technology and aims to help operators extend the usefulness of early battery-electric models facing range or reliability limitations. The upgrade is designed to deliver performance improvements without requiring operators to purchase new vehicles. Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of…

WeRide and Grab announced on November 13 that they have secured approval from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to conduct autonomous fleet trials in the Punggol district. The upcoming pilot will deploy vehicles developed under the joint Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride) program, marking a significant step toward introducing commercial self-driving mobility services in Singapore. Early testing of WeRide’s GXR robotaxi began in Punggol in mid-October, representing the district’s first exposure to the model. With the LTA’s approval, both companies plan to scale up the initiative, targeting a fourfold increase in trial operations along designated feeder routes by late 2025. See…

Nio has stopped producing its 150 kWh semi-solid-state battery packs after building only a few hundred units, CEO William Li said in a recent interview, citing insufficient demand from customers despite the technology’s ability to deliver driving ranges exceeding 1,000 km under China’s CLTC standard. The company began series production of the packs in April 2024 using semi-solid-state cells supplied by WeLion, following several delays. The batteries were marketed as advanced, gel-electrolyte units intended to significantly extend range but came with substantially higher costs. Li said customer interest in upgrading their vehicles from standard 75 kWh or 100 kWh packs…

Stellantis Chairman John Elkann on Monday urged the European Commission to grant carmakers greater flexibility in meeting upcoming emissions targets, saying the bloc should allow the industry to comply with its 2030 climate goals by averaging performance over multiple years. In an interview with Politico, Elkann said the industry should be able to meet targets “over a five-year period from 2028 to 2032,” mirroring an arrangement the Commission adopted earlier this year that allows the 2025 targets to be averaged across 2025–2027. See also: Over 150 European EV Executives Urge EU to Keep 2035 Zero-Emission Target He said the approach…

Xpeng reported its smallest quarterly net loss in five years as strong delivery momentum and rising service revenue lifted its third-quarter performance. The company posted a net loss of RMB 380 million in the July–September period, marking a 78.93 percent reduction from a RMB 1.81 billion loss a year earlier and a 20.28 percent improvement from the second quarter. See also: Xpeng Unveils X9 Ultra with Triple Turing AI Chips and Up to 2250 TOPS Computing Power It also marked the eighth consecutive quarter of year-on-year loss reduction, with the company reiterating its goal of achieving quarterly profitability in the…

Volkswagen will introduce a NACS-to-CCS charging adapter for ID.4 and ID. Buzz owners in North America, enabling access to Tesla’s Supercharger network and other fast-charging providers adopting the North American Charging Standard. The rollout aligns Volkswagen with a growing list of automakers offering NACS compatibility for existing EV models. For vehicles produced before the 2026 model year, the adapter will be available beginning November 18 at Volkswagen dealerships or through the company’s website for $200. See also:  Volkswagen Aims for €12 Billion Savings in 2026 Amid Pressure on U.S. EV Plans Volkswagen said that original owners of 2025 model-year ID.4…

China is considering introducing new safety regulations that would restrict the default acceleration performance of passenger vehicles immediately after startup, aiming to reduce accidents linked to unintended operations amid the growing popularity of high-performance electric vehicles (EVs). The proposal, outlined in the draft national standard “Technical Specifications for Safety of Power-Driven Vehicles Operating on Roads” released by the Ministry of Public Security on November 10, would require vehicles to default to a state where acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour takes more than five seconds each time the vehicle starts. Public feedback will be accepted until January 10,…

Polestar reported a wider loss for the third quarter on Wednesday and announced plans to carry out a reverse stock split to maintain compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements, after its shares fell below the minimum $1 threshold. The electric vehicle maker, majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding and chaired by Li Shufu, saw its stock drop as much as 17% in early New York trading following the announcement. The company posted a net loss of $365 million for the quarter, compared with a $323 million loss in the same period a year earlier. See also: Polestar 5 Set to Join Gran…

Waymo said on Wednesday it will begin offering robotaxi rides that include freeway driving in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, marking a major expansion for the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company. The move will allow faster travel across metropolitan areas, with ride times expected to be cut by up to 50%, according to the company. The new capability will enable rides between suburban areas and cities, as well as trips to key destinations such as San Francisco International Airport, where testing is already underway. Initially, freeway rides will be available only to selected Waymo riders who opt in via the…

Vector has introduced the vCTS.performance, a new hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test system designed to validate charging communication between electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, including the emerging Megawatt Charging System (MCS). Developed in partnership with EA Elektro-Automatik, the system aims to support high-performance and scalable testing for next-generation EV charging technologies. See also: Germany’s Vector Begins Production of Megawatt Charging Controller for Heavy-Duty EVs According to Vector, the vCTS.performance can deliver up to 3.84 megawatts (MW) of scalable DC charging power, enabling both load and endurance tests that simulate real-world charging conditions. The system supports multiple global charging standards, including MCS, CCS,…