Author: Jonathan Collins

Ford Motor Company is offering free home charging to its electric vehicle (EV) customers in Texas through a partnership with TXU Energy, one of the state’s largest energy providers. The initiative, which comes with specific conditions, aims to encourage EV owners to charge their vehicles during off-peak hours to support grid stability and promote sustainable energy practices. To benefit from the offer, owners of newer Ford battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) must be TXU Energy customers. The free charging is available between 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. the following day, during which time customers will…

Electric vehicle (EV) battery prices in China have continued their downward trend in July, driven by falling battery material costs, according to a report from market research firm TrendForce. The report reveals that while demand for power batteries in China remained stable, the prices of key battery materials, including cathode materials and metals such as cobalt, nickel, and particularly copper, continued to decline. This has led to a slight reduction in battery cell prices. In July, the average price of square ternary cells was RMB 0.48 ($0.0672) per watt-hour (Wh), a decrease of 2.1 percent from June. Square lithium iron…

Fast-charging network operator Allego, owned by French infrastructure investor Meridiam, is set to be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Meridiam announced that the delisting process has begun. In June, Allego concluded a framework agreement with Meridiam, under which Meridiam would acquire the remaining shares in Allego. As a result, Allego’s shares will no longer be traded on the NYSE. The Dutch charging point operator (CPO) confirmed that the outstanding shares have been transferred to Meridiam, making it the sole owner, thereby initiating the delisting process. Meridiam and Allego stated that the move to delist will provide Allego…

The European Commission plans to amend the EU Battery Regulation in 2027, shifting the basis for calculating the CO2 footprint of electric vehicle batteries from the actual electricity used to the national electricity mix. This proposal has sparked opposition from Germany’s automotive industry. The EU’s Battery Regulation, aimed at promoting the circular economy, came into force in August 2023, with most provisions effective since February 2024. The Commission, which initiated the regulation in 2020, now seeks to adjust the calculation method for the CO2 footprint of car batteries. From 2027, the CO2 footprint will be based on the national electricity…

Tesla has reportedly shelved its plans to establish a manufacturing facility in Thailand, opting instead to concentrate on expanding its charging infrastructure in the country, according to a recent report by local publication The Economic Base. Speculation about Tesla’s interest in setting up a factory in Thailand emerged last year. In November, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited Tesla’s Fremont Factory and met with executives, including VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy. Following the visit, the Prime Minister hinted that Tesla was considering an investment in Thailand, with potential locations being evaluated and an estimated $5 billion investment on the…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has announced that the upcoming Transporter and Caravelle models will be the first Volkswagen vans to offer a choice of turbodiesel, plug-in hybrid, or electric drive options. Alongside this announcement, Volkswagen has released the first images of the new Transporter. The latest generation of the Transporter promises more space, increased payload, enhanced towing capacity, and improved efficiency. The Transporter will be available in several variants: a panel van for pure goods transport, a panel van Plus with a second seat row for combined goods and passenger transport, a Kombi for passenger transport, and a double cab variant…

Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources has announced funding for the installation of 660 public Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers across Nova Scotia. The Polycorp Group of Companies and 292 Main Street Developments Limited will carry out the installations. Polycorp Group will receive CAD 3,054,725 (approximately EUR 2 million) to install 634 Level 2 chargers and nine charging stations at multi-unit residential buildings in Nova Scotia. Meanwhile, 292 Main Street Developments Limited will receive CAD 95,596 (about EUR 63,000) for the installation of 26 chargers at Latitude 45 Suites, where an internal EV car-sharing program will also be…

Norway registered nearly 6,000 new electric vehicles (EVs) in July, a noticeable decrease from June’s figures but still strong given the traditionally weak holiday period. After a robust performance in June with 14,009 new electric car registrations—almost double that of May—July saw a significant drop, with 5,934 new EVs hitting the road. This represents a decline of 116 percent from the previous month. However, compared to July 2023, which saw 6,148 new electric registrations, the decrease is a modest 3.5 percent. In total, 6,456 new passenger cars were registered in Norway in July, down 14.2 percent from the same month…

Zeekr and Mobileye have announced plans to accelerate technology localization in China and integrate Mobileye technologies into the next-generation Zeekr models. The collaboration aims to further driving safety and automation efforts in both the Chinese and global markets. Since late 2021, Zeekr has delivered over 240,000 vehicles, including the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr 009, utilizing the Mobileye SuperVision platform. The expanded partnership will focus on accelerating the scaling and delivery of core technologies for the Mobileye SuperVision platform. This will enable Zeekr engineers to better utilize Mobileye’s technologies and development tools, improving data validation and streamlining software upgrades for customers.…

Rivian has announced that it will no longer include a physical key fob with new deliveries of its second-generation R1S and R1T models, opting instead for a KeyCard and mobile app system. This change mirrors a decision made by Tesla in 2022 for its Model S and Model X vehicles. The decision has been met with dissatisfaction from Rivian’s customer base, who argue that a physical key fob is crucial, particularly for off-road use where cell service may be unreliable. Discontent among Rivian owners has been prominently expressed on social media platforms such as Reddit and brand-specific forums. https://www.reddit.com/r/Rivian/comments/1e1r9wl/key_fob_no_longer_included/ One…

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has announced plans to discontinue brands that do not generate profits, following a decline in the company’s financial performance for the first half (H1) of 2024. Stellantis reported H1 2024 sales of EUR 84,504 million ($91 million), a decrease from EUR 98,063 million in the same period last year. Net income for the first half of 2024 was EUR 5,624 million ($6 million), down from EUR 10,923 million ($11 million) a year earlier. In response to these results, Stellantis is focusing on improving margins and addressing high inventory levels in the United States. As part of…

Luxury electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors has unveiled a short video showcasing the first pre-production unit of its Gravity SUV at its Casa Grande, Arizona factory. According to CEO Peter Rawlinson, this development represents a crucial step in the company’s plan to bring the vehicle to market. Peter Rawlinson, who also serves as Lucid’s CTO, posted the clip of the Gravity SUV on his LinkedIn page. He noted that the SUV’s body, featured in the video, had recently emerged from the factory’s paint shop, sporting a coat of Infinite Black paint. The vehicle was then moved onto the assembly line,…