Author: Jonathan Collins

Videos surfaced online capturing a Tesla Cybertruck in a stranded situation off-road, requiring assistance from other pickup trucks to recover. The incident unfolded on the Corral Hollow OHV trail in Bear Valley, California, as the electric pickup truck encountered difficulties and ended up off the trail. Despite Tesla promoting the Cybertruck as an off-road-capable vehicle with impressive specifications, real-world testing has been limited, and the incident highlights challenges that may arise in practical off-road scenarios. The images reveal the Cybertruck stuck on the side of the trail, prompting speculation among observers about potential issues, such as a reported software problem…

Tesla’s Cybertruck Foundation Series edition, currently extending purchase invitations to select early reservation holders, continues to reveal insights into Cybertruck options and accessories not officially disclosed. Among the revelations is the intriguing “range extender,” a mysterious component in the Cybertruck specs. Elon Musk, responding to inquiries, clarified that the range extender is an “optional pack fitting in about 1/3 of the truck bed, designed for very long trips or towing heavy loads.” Recent details from a Cybertruck review suggest that the range extender’s battery pack has a capacity of 50 kWh. Initial pricing was identified in Tesla’s website code at…

Manfred Weber, Chairman of the conservative EPP group in the European Parliament, has expressed intentions to revisit the recently established ban on combustion engines in the EU by 2035 if his group secures a majority following the mid-2024 elections. The ban, ratified in late March, prohibits the registration of new cars and light commercial vehicles with combustion engines. Despite the earlier decision, conservatives, led by Weber, are pushing for a review of the regulation in 2026, aiming to reverse the combustion engine ban. Weber highlighted the desire to address what he perceives as a disadvantageous decision, particularly the competitive challenges…

In a strategic move to tap into the growing European electric vehicle (EV) market, Arcfox, the EV brand under Chinese automaker BAIC Group, is set to invest “tens of millions of dollars.” Following the approval for two of its models to be sold in Europe, the company aims to capitalize on the projected 25 percent market share that Chinese EV manufacturers are expected to hold in the region. According to Ohad Seligmann, Chairman of EV Motors Ltd, the overseas distributor for Arcfox, the brand’s unique advantage lies in its collaboration between BAIC and Canadian auto parts supplier Magna, bringing 70…

Tesla has initiated the offering of a fully-equipped ‘Foundation Series’ of its Cybertruck model, priced at $120,000, to customers in the United States. The move comes following the delivery of the first 10 Cybertrucks at a recent Tesla event. Addressing concerns of potential delays reminiscent of the “Tesla Semi” situation from the previous year, where initial deliveries were followed by a hiatus, recent reports indicate that Tesla is proactively engaging with Cybertruck reservation holders, encouraging them to convert their reservations into orders. The newly introduced ‘Foundation Series’ of the Cybertruck is positioned as a fully-optioned version, featuring limited-edition laser-etched badging,…

Ford Motor Co.’s commercial division is teaming with utility Xcel Energy Inc. to make available 30,000 electric-vehicle charging ports in several U.S. states by 2030. Xcel’s coverage territory includes Gogebic and Ontonagon counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near Wisconsin as well as Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, the Dakotas, Texas and Wisconsin. Most of the charging ports’ costs for the equipment and installation will be offset by Xcel for qualifying business fleet customers. Ford Pro will provide the charging hardware and customer service and support over the equipment’s lifetime. Business fleets also can get access to the automaker’s telematics services. The 30×30…

Electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies is set to invest $41 million in the expansion of its existing facility at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York. The site is slated to become a manufacturing and final assembly center for Beta’s electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft (eVOTLs). Headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, Beta Technologies is directing the investment to enhance its facilities at Plattsburgh International Airport. The funding comprises $41 million from the company’s budget and an additional $20 million from U.S. funding. In return, Beta commits to generating 85 full-time jobs at the site. The expanded facility at Plattsburgh International…

Chinese firm Gotion High-Tech and Slovakian battery company InoBat have signed a letter of intent with the Slovakian government, solidifying plans for their joint battery cell factory in Šurany, south of Slovakia. The location had previously been identified as the “Central European region” in the initial announcement made in September. The agreement outlines that Gotion InoBat Batteries (GIB) will commence construction of the factory in 2024, with the Slovakian government providing subsidies, a 65-hectare site, plot preparation, and power grid connectivity. Production is anticipated to commence in Q2 2026, with series production slated for 2027. The Gotion InoBat Batteries factory…

Tesla has broadened access to its charging infrastructure in China, allowing other brands of electric vehicles (EVs) to utilize its charging stations. The move follows a pilot program initiated in April, and to date, over 350 Supercharger stations and 260 destination charging stations in the Chinese mainland are open to non-Tesla EVs, as confirmed by the company. Initially, on April 24, Tesla launched a pilot program opening 10 Supercharger stations and 120 destination charging stations to 37 non-Tesla EV models. In the recent expansion, the number of charging stations accessible to non-Tesla vehicles has increased, accompanied by a slight expansion…

Dutch startup Kitepower has introduced the Hawk system, an innovative solution designed to generate wind energy with kites and charge electric vehicles (EVs) independently of the grid. The Hawk kite system boasts a capacity of 30 kW and efficiently stores the wind-generated energy in a 400 kWh battery, offering a mobile and off-grid renewable energy solution for various applications, including farming, building, and island communities. The off-grid nature of the Hawk system, coupled with its ease of installation, enables power generation over day and night, providing a reliable and sustainable energy source. Kitepower envisions the technology as a practical and…

Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony.ai has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining Guangzhou’s inaugural autonomous truck formation driving test license. This authorization allows Pony.ai to conduct autonomous truck testing in the southern Chinese city, marking a pivotal development in its pursuit of advancing autonomous trucking capabilities, particularly for bulk commodities transportation in fleets. In an official press release, Pony.ai outlined its commitment to scaling up its autonomous trucking business, emphasizing the economic and operational benefits of its innovative “1+N” fleet model. This model features one leading autonomous truck guiding multiple Level 4 (L4) autonomous trucks, a configuration designed to optimize…

SK ecoplant, in partnership with EcoPro and TES, is gearing up to establish a cutting-edge battery recycling facility in Hungary, strategically leveraging Hungary’s prominence as a European Battery Production Hub. The move is strategically positioned to tap into a consistent supply of discarded batteries, given Hungary’s status as a hub for global battery and electric vehicle companies. Sources unveiled on November 19 that Park Kyung-il, President of SK ecoplant, formalized the “Hungary Battery Recycling Business Cooperation” through a memorandum of understanding signed on November 16 at the company’s Seoul headquarters. The agreement involved key representatives, including Song Ho-jun from EcoPro…