Author: Jonathan Collins

German electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) developer Lilium has announced the opening of its regional headquarters for the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) in Shenzhen, China. The move is part of Lilium’s strategy to introduce its air taxis to the region as soon as they are market-ready. Lilium has signed a cooperation agreement with the Bao’an district in Shenzhen to establish its regional headquarters. Through this partnership, Lilium aims to actively participate in the region’s low-flying economy and build relationships with local infrastructure partners, customers, and regulators. Initially, the focus will be on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao metropolitan area, home to over…

The Watford Borough Council in the UK has secured a grant worth £386,250 to install new public electric vehicle (EV) chargers, furthering its commitment to sustainable transportation. The funding, provided by the UK government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and the Energy Saving Trust, will cover 50 per cent of the installation costs. The project includes the installation of 24 twin charge points and 40 lamp column charge points, bringing the total number of on-street charging locations in Watford to 115. Each location will be equipped with two to four charge points, ensuring convenient access for residents and visitors.…

Renault Group has unveiled its state-of-the-art logistics facility in Villeroy, France, showcasing a new era of innovation in the automotive industry. The facility is 100% automated, featuring cutting-edge robotics technology from Exotec, a leading French industrial robotics company. The centerpiece of the facility is Exotec’s Skypod robots, which autonomously pick items at height, significantly reducing the risk of accidents for operators. These robots are equipped with advanced navigation and handling capabilities, allowing them to swiftly and efficiently navigate complex logistics environments, even in the presence of other equipment and workers. At the Villeroy site, 191 robots have been deployed according…

Altilium and Enva, a prominent recycling and resource recovery specialist, have announced a strategic partnership for the collection and recycling of electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the UK. This collaboration aims to address the increasing number of EVs and battery-powered devices, creating a circular economy for battery minerals in the UK. The partnership leverages Enva’s nationwide collection infrastructure and relationships with car dealerships, along with Altilium’s expertise in EV battery recycling and recovery of critical materials like lithium. Altilium’s EcoCathode™ process enables the recovery of over 95% of battery metals for reuse in new battery production. Under the memorandum of…

Tesla China has recently launched an over-the-air software update for its customers in China, introducing a range of enhancements to eligible vehicles in the country. The update includes a revamped user interface, more detailed maps, and updates to features such as Auto Park. These improvements were detailed by the company in a post on the popular local social media platform Weibo. In its Weibo announcement, Tesla China highlighted that the update aims to reduce reliance on mobile devices and smartphone apps, making the driving experience smarter and more practical. “Smart, more practical. The magic of OTA brings a billion new…

California has achieved a significant milestone in its efforts to reduce emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks, with new data showing that sales of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in this category doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year. According to a report released by the state, ZEVs now represent 1 out of every 6 new vehicles sold for services including last-mile delivery, freight transportation, and school buses. In 2023, 18,473 medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs were sold in California, exceeding the state’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) goal two years ahead of schedule and selling five times the required amount. Since 2021,…

32GROUP, the exclusive distributor for ZM Trucks’ zero emission Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Electric commercial vehicle products in select markets of West Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe, has made its first major move by placing a 900-unit truck order with ZO Motors North America. The order was finalized during the recent Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas, showcasing the growing demand for environmentally friendly commercial vehicles in these regions. With a vision to lead the market in new energy commercial vehicles, 32GROUP aims to leverage ZM Trucks’ cost-competitive and intelligent, zero emission vehicle platforms. The company,…

Joby Aviation, an electric air taxi company, has acquired the autonomy division of Xwing, which has been developing automated flying technology since 2016. This acquisition marks a significant step for Joby in advancing its capabilities in autonomous flight technology. Xwing has been flying autonomous aircraft since 2020, using software developed in-house. Joby, however, has clarified that it has no immediate plans to operate its air taxis without pilots, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has yet to include pilotless passenger-carrying flying taxis in its regulations. Joby’s founder and CEO, JoeBen Bevirt, commented on the acquisition, stating, “The exceptionally talented Xwing…

Los Angeles-based electric bike manufacturer Hi-Power Cycles has announced the formation of a new “defense division” called HPC Defense, unveiling an 80 mph (130 km/h) military electric bike as one of its initial products. The Revolution W, touted as the “fastest factory military-grade e-bike in the world,” is fully manufactured in the US. It features a 10,500-watt motor capable of propelling the bike to speeds of up to 80 mph (130 km/h), far exceeding the civilian electric bike speed limit of 28 mph (45 km/h) in the US. The bike is equipped with a German-made Schlumpf High-Speed Drive that allows…

Tesla’s approach of using only Vision cameras for its automatic wiper function is drawing criticism for its erratic behavior, which users find challenging to fix. Despite promises from Tesla engineers, including CEO Elon Musk, to address the issue, drivers continue to experience problems with the windshield wipers in automatic mode. For example, when the car is on Autopilot and it starts to rain, the wipers sometimes fail to start or operate at an appropriate speed due to a lack of sensitivity to rain intensity. Rather than incorporating an additional sensor to control the wipers, Tesla persists in its Vision-only strategy.…

Tesla’s Giga Nevada has reached a significant milestone by producing its five millionth drive unit. This achievement, highlighted in a recent post on Tesla’s official Tesla Manufacturing account on social media platform X, underscores the facility’s crucial role in Tesla’s operations. While Giga Nevada does not assemble vehicles, it serves as a vital hub for manufacturing batteries and drive units for Tesla’s best-selling vehicles in the United States, including the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover. The production output from Giga Nevada is integral to the assembly of these vehicles at Tesla’s Fremont Factory. https://twitter.com/gigafactories/status/1798061479553548608 The recent social media…

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm emphasized the importance of quadrupling import duties on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) to over 100% in August, stating that it is crucial to the health of the U.S. auto sector. In an interview with Reuters reporters and editors, Granholm highlighted the need to maintain a strong domestic EV industry and avoid ceding ground to China, as was witnessed in the solar panel sector. Granholm noted that China’s industrial policy is aggressive, and the U.S. must take action to protect its industries. Washington is investing heavily in clean energy tax subsidies to develop U.S. EV and…

European EV charging and smart energy management platform provider Last Mile Solutions has announced its expansion into the United Kingdom, following its successful operations in 22 European countries. The company, boasting partnerships with 190 charge point operators (CPO), aims to offer flexible, interoperable, and internationally experienced solutions to enhance EV charging businesses. Last Mile Solutions recently collaborated with Mastercard to establish new payment standards for the EV charging industry. Additionally, in May, the company partnered with leasing provider Arval to enhance charging infrastructure. Arval customers now have access to over 300 high-power charging parks in seven European countries through Fastned,…

Electric vehicles (EVs) face a hurdle in their adoption due to their poor residual values, with consumers increasingly aware of the steep depreciation these vehicles experience in the used car market. The issue extends to lessees as well, as shown in the latest study by J.D. Power’s Automotive Leasing Guide. This guide, updated every two months to aid lenders in predicting a vehicle’s future value at the end of a lease, closely monitors the used market and wholesale auctions. The data has led to projected cuts in residual values for EVs, potentially affecting leasing costs in the third quarter of…

Rock Tech Lithium, the German-Canadian company, has been granted final approval by Brandenburg’s state government for its lithium hydroxide converter project in Guben. The approval was formally delivered to Rock Tech CEO Dirk Harbecke and Guben Mayor Fred Mahro by Brandenburg’s Environment Minister Axel Vogel and Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach. The approval follows a recent setback for Rock Tech Lithium, as its funding application from the federal government’s battery cell ecosystem fund was unexpectedly cancelled. While there is no mention of state subsidies in the approval announcement, the company has expressed its intention to seek alternative support to complete the…

In a bid to protect local brands, European regulators are considering imposing significant tariffs on Chinese auto imports. However, experts are divided on whether these tariffs will have the desired effect. European lawmakers are concerned that Chinese automakers’ efficient operations and substantial profit margins could allow them to absorb these financial penalties while still offering bargain-priced electric vehicles (EVs) to European consumers. Investigations into state subsidies boosting Chinese brands began earlier this year, with lawmakers expected to announce their decision next week. See also: EU Tariffs on Chinese EVs Could Cost Beijing Nearly $4 Billion in Trade, Study Finds Analysts anticipate…

Peterbilt, an US truck manufacturer, has announced its largest electric vehicle (EV) order to date. Swedish electric transport specialist Einride has placed an order for 150 of Peterbilt’s 579EV electric heavy-duty trucks, marking a significant step in the electrification of North America’s transport sector. While Peterbilt manufactures its own range of electric trucks, including the Peterbilt 579EV and the medium-duty 220EV, Einride has opted to integrate Peterbilt’s technology platform with its trucks to enhance its service offerings in North America. The Peterbilt 579EV, a Class 8 electric truck, boasts a gross combined vehicle weight rating of 82,000 lbs and can…

Dutch retail giant Albert Heijn is ramping up its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions by expanding its fleet of electric vehicles. The company has set an ambitious goal to supply all its stores and customers in the Netherlands and Belgium with zero-emission vehicles by 2030. Albert Heijn currently boasts the largest fleet of electric vehicles in the Netherlands, with 74 electric trucks and 250 electric delivery vans already in operation. These vehicles can be charged at ten charging hubs equipped with 270 charging stations. The expansion of the electric delivery network to more cities is a significant development. After successful…

French battery start-up Verkor announced on Friday that it had finalized its funding by securing more than 1.3 billion euros ($1.41 billion) in green financing for its first battery gigafactory in Dunkirk. The financing comes at a time when Europe is actively working to attract electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturers, aiming to reduce dependency on Asia and compete in the green subsidies race with the United States. Verkor’s gigafactory is one of four electric vehicle battery factories planned in northern France. See also: Renault-Backed Verkor Secures €2 Billion in Funding for Battery Gigafactory Construction “This debt financing will enable us to…

Daimler Truck North America has announced a partnership with Li-Cycle to recycle its end-of-life lithium-ion electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The move is part of Daimler’s efforts to maximize battery lifespans and reduce material waste. However, specific details of the arrangement between the two companies, such as scope and timescale, have not been disclosed. Li-Cycle, a Canadian company listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol LICY, operates four pre-processing facilities, known as “Spokes,” in North America: Kingston, Ontario; Rochester, New York; Gilbert, Arizona; and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. These facilities produce an intermediate product called “black mass,” which contains lithium, nickel, cobalt,…