Author: Jonathan Collins

Forge Battery, a subsidiary of Forge Nano focused on lithium-ion battery production, has received $100 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to increase production capacity at its North Carolina factory to 3 GWh per year. The funds will enable Forge Battery to begin construction of the Morrisville Gigafactory expansion in early 2025. Ahead of this, the company plans to produce 21700-format cylindrical battery cells on a new manufacturing line at its Colorado facility before shifting production to the expanded North Carolina site. See also: General Motors Invests $10 Million in Forge Nano to Boost EV Battery Technology “Forge Battery…

AB Dynamics has unveiled the 2025a update for its Track Applications Suite, bringing significant usability improvements and enhanced automation for key industry standards, including Euro NCAP’s Heavy Vehicle ADAS protocols and NHTSA’s FMVSS 127 standard. The update introduces over 600 new pre-defined test scenarios to the Special Groups library, streamlining the testing process. It also expands protocol coverage, adding ADAS test scenarios for Euro NCAP’s new Heavy Vehicle protocols, such as the Heavy Goods Bicycle Nearside Turn Across Path (HBNTAP) test, and ensuring compliance with FMVSS 127, which requires testing at speeds up to 90 mph. Safety has been enhanced…

Nissan has delayed the production of electric vehicles (EVs) at its Canton, Ohio plant, now pushing the start date to at least 2028. In addition, the company has scrapped plans to produce a smaller electric SUV in the U.S., which was originally set to sit between the LEAF and Rogue models in size. The delay was confirmed by Nissan official Amanda Plecas, Senior Manager of Manufacturing and Labor Communications, who noted that the company is focused on transforming the Canton plant into a “Nissan Intelligent Factory” for EV production by 2028. This shift follows Nissan’s February 2022 announcement of a…

In the Netherlands, the research organization TNO and the company SusPhos have teamed up to create an economically viable recycling process for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The goal is to recover critical materials, including lithium and phosphate, through a process that is competitive with the low cost of producing new batteries. This initiative is part of the Green Chemistry and Circularity project, aimed at driving sustainability within the battery industry. See also: ICL and Dynanonic to Establish €285 Million LFP Cathode Plant in Spain The collaboration combines SusPhos’ expertise in recovering and upgrading phosphates from wastewater with TNO’s sustainable…

General Motors (GM) has announced a recall of nearly 3,000 2025 Chevy Equinox EV AWD models due to a defect in the adaptive cruise control system. The recall, disclosed in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Wednesday, highlights issues with the brake system control module (BSCM) software that could prevent the vehicle from braking as intended. According to GM, an incorrect software calibration in the BSCM is causing the adaptive cruise control feature to fail to engage the brakes properly, posing a potential safety risk. See also: Chevy Introduces New Deals on Equinox and Blazer…

Guident  has expanded its intellectual property portfolio with the validation of its European Patent Grant No. 4097550, which now covers 20 European nations, and the receipt of a Notice of Allowance for a new patent application in the United States. These developments are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to advance the safety of autonomous vehicles (AVs) through artificial intelligence (AI) and sensor fusion technologies. The European patent covers methods for assessing risk levels and enabling real-time control of autonomous vehicles when safety thresholds are exceeded. The protection applies across key European markets, including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.…

Israeli minerals group ICL and Chinese battery material manufacturer Shenzhen Dynanonic are forming a joint venture to produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode material in Europe, with an initial investment of approximately €285 million. The facility will be located at ICL’s existing site in Sallent, Catalonia. The project aims to bolster ICL’s battery materials portfolio and tap into the growing demand for LFP cathodes, a key component in lithium-ion batteries. “This expansion builds on our strong, existing upstream position in specialty phosphates globally and leverages the strengths of Dynanonic, a leading producer of battery materials, to develop a significant new…

Christian Weingärtner has been appointed Vice President Europe Business Transformation at Ford, where he will oversee the company’s strategic changes in the region. Christoph Herr will step into Weingärtner’s previous role as Managing Director for Ford Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Ford-Werke GmbH announced on Monday. Weingärtner, 42, previously served as Managing Director for Marketing and Sales as well as Managing Director for the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). He left the management board in November 2024 but continued his operational duties until this latest promotion. In his new role, Weingärtner will report to John Lawler, Vice Chair and Chief Financial…

Scout, the Volkswagen-owned automaker, has revealed plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup to include extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) alongside its battery electric models. The upcoming EREV versions of the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup aim to address range anxiety by integrating a small combustion engine to recharge the battery, providing a total range exceeding 500 miles (805 km). The range-extender engine, positioned at the rear of the body-on-frame chassis, is designed to maintain the quiet and smooth operation characteristic of electric vehicles, according to Scout’s head of strategy, Ryan Decker. While specific engine details remain unconfirmed, possible candidates include…

The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) achieved a groundbreaking milestone at CES 2025 with the successful completion of the world’s first multi-car autonomous race, organizers revealed. Held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the event featured four IAC AV-24 racecars, all piloted by AI drivers from leading university teams across the globe. The race, a 20-lap exhibition, concluded with an exciting side-by-side finish, with UNIMORE Racing edging out Cavalier Autonomous Racing by less than three-tenths of a second. The exhibition race not only highlighted the impressive capabilities of AI drivers but also underscored the progress the IAC is making in enhancing…

FedEx has taken a significant step toward reducing its carbon footprint in South Korea with the deployment of its first electric vehicles (EVs). The company introduced six Hyundai ST1 Electric Cargo Vans, marking the beginning of its effort to electrify its parcel pickup and delivery fleet in the country. This move is part of FedEx’s broader goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. The newly deployed electric vans will be used for operations in high-traffic areas such as Seoul and Busan. Each vehicle has a 1-ton load capacity and can travel up to 317 kilometers on a full charge. FedEx…

Harbinger, a Los Angeles-based electric vehicle startup, has raised $100 million in a Series B funding round. The round was co-led by Capricorn Investment Group and Leitmotif, with participation from Tiger Global and mobility venture firm Maniv. Harbinger, which was founded in 2022 by former Canoo and QuantumScape employees, focuses on developing modular all-electric chassis for medium-duty trucks. Harbinger CEO John Harris commented, “We know how the EV space has gone. We know that it’s just littered with bodies from the decade past. So we really, really try to keep our scope very focused and have very high confidence in…

Canada’s Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Programme has been paused as it has run out of allocated funds. The program, initially set to run until March 2025, has been so successful that it has fully committed its funding ahead of schedule. As a result, customers who have already placed orders for electric vehicles (EVs) and received pre-approval for the incentive will still benefit from the subsidy, while others will need to pay the full price for their vehicles or delay their purchase. While the iZEV program has been paused as of January 12, 2025, there is no clear indication of…

Opel has launched its ‘Electric All In’ package, designed to ease the transition to electric mobility for customers. Targeted at owners of battery-electric models such as the Opel Grandland Electric and Opel Frontera Electric, the package offers a comprehensive range of services aimed at convenience, connectivity, and peace of mind. The package includes a home charging solution with an eProWallbox Move, which provides WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to monitor and control the charging status remotely via an app. Additionally, Opel Connect PLUS services offer emergency and breakdown assistance, live navigation with updates on charging stations and parking, and…

Finnish startup Donut Lab showcased a groundbreaking family of wheel hub motors at CES 2025, including a 630 kW variant designed for cars. The innovative electric drives are poised to revolutionize vehicle powertrain design with unmatched torque and power density. Headquartered near Helsinki, Donut Lab is a subsidiary of Verge Motorcycles, known for its Verge TS electric motorbike featuring a signature “donut motor” that leaves the rear wheel hollow. Building on this concept, Donut Lab has expanded its technology to accommodate a range of vehicles, boasting exceptional specifications. The car-specific wheel hub motor fits a 21-inch tire, weighs 40 kilograms,…

Hyundai has introduced a new “outdoor-focused” variant of its Inster EV, called the Inster EV Cross, with prices starting at £28,745 ($35,000) in the UK. This new model builds on the Inster EV’s initial success, offering additional features designed for adventure seekers, making it a rugged option in the electric SUV market. The Inster EV, Hyundai’s first small electric SUV, debuted last June as the European counterpart to the Casper Electric, which is sold in South Korea. While the base model is priced around $27,000 (€25,000) in Europe, the Inster EV Cross comes with a £2,000 ($2,500) premium over the…

Microvast Holdings, Inc., a Texas-based battery technology company, has introduced its innovative True All-Solid-State Battery (ASSB) technology, promising to enhance battery safety, energy density, and operational efficiency. The new battery is designed for a range of industries, including electric vehicles (EVs), robotics, and energy storage, offering safer high-voltage operation in a compact form factor. The standout feature of the ASSB is its bipolar stacking architecture. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes, the solid-state design eliminates the liquid component, allowing for higher voltage operation and increased safety. The battery integrates internal series connections within a single cell, streamlining…

Zeekr, the electric vehicle brand under Geely, has announced plans to start series production of the Zeekr RT, a customized version of the Zeekr Mix designed in collaboration with Waymo. The Zeekr RT, developed specifically as an autonomous robotaxi, will begin deliveries to Waymo in 2025, according to the announcement made at CES. The partnership between Zeekr and Waymo, which has been in development for three years, was officially unveiled with the introduction of Zeekr’s SEA-M platform. The first prototypes of the robotaxi have been undergoing test drives in San Francisco since the summer of 2024, with a safety driver…

BT Group has announced an order of approximately 3,500 new electric vehicles (EVs), set to be supplied by Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, and Renault over the next two years. This fleet expansion is poised to make BT Group the owner of the UK’s largest electric vehicle fleet, with nearly 8,000 EVs on the road by 2026. The move is part of the company’s broader strategy to decarbonize its operations and support the UK’s transition to greener technologies. As the UK’s second-largest commercial vehicle fleet, BT Group currently operates over 27,000 vehicles, including 4,300 electric ones. The new order will push the…

Munich has initiated a new tender for the construction of 2,700 new AC charging points across eight designated zones, following a ruling by the Southern Bavaria Public Procurement Chamber in November 2023. The previous tender had to be restarted due to a formal error, as the city had mistakenly put a service contract out to tender instead of a concession. According to the city’s announcement, “Now that the city council has amended the special use guidelines and special use fees, thus establishing a binding framework for the authorisation of charging facilities on public land, charging point operators can submit applications…