Author: Jonathan Collins

The Greek Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has issued an international tender to procure 125 electric buses for service in Athens, as part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s public transport system. The tender follows a revision of the electric vehicle program under the Recovery and Resilience Fund and was published in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Deputy Finance Minister Nikos Papathanassis approved an allocation of 88.3 million euros in European Union funding for the project, which is set for completion by summer 2026. See also: Greece Reinstates Free Public Parking for Electric Vehicles Until…

General Motors (GM) will reportedly end production of the gasoline-powered Chevy Blazer in the U.S. after the 2025 model year, making the SUV available exclusively as an electric vehicle. The move aligns with GM’s broader restructuring of its crossover lineup and its transition toward electric mobility. A report from GM Authority, citing unnamed sources, claims that the gas-powered Blazer will be phased out, following the discontinuation of Cadillac’s XT4, XT5, and XT6 models. See also: GM Addresses Phone Call Sound Quality Issue in 2024-2025 Chevy Blazer EV Models However, GM declined to confirm the news, stating to Electrek, “We have no…

Lyft plans to introduce fully autonomous robotaxis, powered by Mobileye, in Dallas by 2026, with expansion to follow, TechCrunch reports. Marubeni will own and finance the Mobileye-equipped vehicles, which will be available on Lyft’s ride-hailing app. Lyft has not disclosed its automaker partner, but Mobileye’s technology is already integrated into models from Audi, Volkswagen, Nissan, Ford, and General Motors. See also: Lyft, Mobileye Partner to Expand Autonomous Fleet Commercialization Jeremy Bird, Lyft’s executive vice president of driver experience, said the company aims to scale “to thousands of vehicles across multiple cities.” He emphasized the importance of Marubeni’s fleet management role,…

Porsche AG is adjusting its long-term corporate strategy to strengthen profitability, announcing plans to expand its lineup of combustion engine and plug-in hybrid models amid a slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) demand. The move signals a shift from the company’s previously ambitious electrification targets. The German luxury carmaker, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group (VOWG_p.DE), said on Friday that it expects sales of €39 billion to €40 billion ($42 billion to $43 billion) in 2025, with an operating profit margin of 10% to 12%, down from an estimated 14% in 2024. The company’s initial public offering (IPO) in 2022 set a…

New York City is inviting manufacturers and suppliers of electric construction equipment to participate in a trial program, aiming to evaluate battery-powered machinery for public works before making procurement decisions. The city intends to test light-, medium-, and heavy-duty electric equipment free of charge for up to six months, according to a statement from the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) and the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI). See also: Falco Construction Trials Electric Excavators in Push Toward Net Zero Manufacturers have until March 10 to submit proposals, with selected companies set to be announced in April.…

The European Commission is signaling potential flexibility on its planned 2035 ban on new combustion engine vehicle sales, as automakers push to ease regulations on CO2 penalties and extend the role of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). According to a report by German publication Der Spiegel, EU officials have not ruled out allowing the sale of PHEVs beyond 2035. A recently published EU strategy paper suggests that regulators will “examine possible flexibilities to ensure that our industry remains competitive without lowering the overall ambition of the 2025 targets.” The document also acknowledges that a “technology-neutral approach” may be required to meet…

The UK government has abandoned a proposal to increase the maximum continuous power of electric bike motors from 250W to 500W, following widespread opposition. The plan, put forward by the Conservative Party, aimed to encourage greater adoption of electric bicycles, but was met with significant concern during the public consultation process. A year ago, the Department for Transport (DfT) launched a consultation to explore the potential benefits of raising the motor power limit and allowing throttle-assisted electric bikes to reach speeds of up to 15.5 miles per hour (25 km/h) without requiring type approval. However, after reviewing the responses from…

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has paused funding for a $5 billion electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure program, a move that has sparked criticism from industry groups and legal experts who argue the decision is unlawful. The program, part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) initiative, has already allocated at least $31 million to Tesla, which accounted for approximately 6% of total awards as of mid-2023. See also: Ford CEO Questions Trump’s Proposed Tariffs on Auto Imports The suspension follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January, targeting federal charging infrastructure programs, including NEVI. A…

Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC), the automaker’s first in-house battery manufacturing facility outside of Japan, is set to begin production in April. The nearly $14 billion facility, located in the United States, will produce batteries for a range of electrified vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The plant, which is Toyota’s 11th manufacturing site in the U.S., is expected to support approximately 5,000 jobs. See also: Toyota Considers New EV Battery Plant in Kyushu This new plant is part of Toyota’s strategy to produce locally and invest in communities…

BYD is set to announce its vehicle intelligence strategy on February 10 at its global headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. The company has extended invitations for the event, highlighting its commitment to making technology accessible. “Technology is made for people and should be available to everyone,” BYD stated in the invitation. The forthcoming “God’s Eye” system aims to usher in a new era of intelligent driving, providing users with enhanced safety, comfort, and convenience. BYD’s Shenzhen-listed shares experienced a significant uptick, rising nearly 9% to RMB 307.02, reaching a three-month high, partly due to this announcement. See also: BYD Sells…

Li Auto reported a sharp decline in deliveries for January, reflecting the seasonal slowdown in China’s auto market. The company delivered 29,927 vehicles during the month, down 48.85% from December’s 58,513 units and 3.97% lower than the same period last year. China’s auto industry typically experiences weaker sales at the beginning of the year, with demand peaking toward year-end. Despite the downturn, Li Auto’s Li L6 surpassed a cumulative delivery milestone of 200,000 units in January. See also: Li Auto Establishes First Overseas R&D Center in Germany The extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) model, which launched in April 2024 at a…

Researchers at George Washington University (GWU) and collaborating institutions have created a new method to extract and purify lithium directly from geothermal brines, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional mining for electric vehicle (EV) battery production, according to a study published this week. The process avoids harsh chemicals and uses an electro-driven system to selectively capture lithium ions, converting them into battery-grade lithium hydroxide with 99.5% purity. Traditional methods rely on solar evaporation and chemical precipitation, which consume significant water and energy. See also: German Research Institutes Complete ‘InForm’ Project to Accelerate and Optimize Battery Cell Production The GWU…