Author: Jonathan Collins

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…