Author: Jonathan Collins

EVgo, a player in the electric vehicle (EV) charging industry, is set to introduce a groundbreaking concept aimed at accelerating the deployment of fast-charging stations across the United States. This innovative approach, known as “prefabrication,” is expected to streamline the installation process and potentially reduce construction costs by up to 15 percent. The core idea behind this prefabrication model is to assemble all charging equipment, including dispensers, power cabinets, and other necessary components, into a single base frame before shipping it to the fast-charging site. This efficient method promises to cut installation time in half, a significant advantage for both…

China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) revealed that U.S. automaker Tesla (TSLA.O) delivered a total of 72,115 China-made electric vehicles in the month of October. This figure represented a marginal 2.6% decline from the previous month. Notably, sales of China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, Tesla’s popular offerings, experienced a modest 0.6% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Meanwhile, Chinese automaker BYD, known for producing both electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid models within its Dynasty and Ocean series, recorded robust performance in October. BYD managed to deliver 301,095 passenger vehicles during the month, reflecting a 5%…

Waabi has announced a groundbreaking 10-year partnership with Uber Freight. Under this collaboration, Waabi will provide billions of miles of driverless capacity to the Uber Freight network, with initial commercial pilots set to begin between Dallas and Houston. Waabi’s unique approach to autonomous driving, characterized by its AI-centric methodology, has propelled it to the forefront of the industry in just two short years. The company employs a high-fidelity closed-loop simulator, known as Waabi World, to not only rigorously test self-driving software but also continually train and refine its systems in real-time. This innovative approach has allowed Waabi to rapidly scale…

The Supervisory Board of BMW AG has officially announced the extension of Oliver Zipse’s contract as Chairman of the Board of Management until 2026, confirming previously leaked rumors about his continued leadership. Zipse, who has been at the helm of BMW since August 2019, will continue to steer the company through a period of profound transformation and global crises. Under Zipse’s leadership, BMW has significantly expanded its electric vehicle (EV) portfolio, solidifying its position in the competitive EV market. Notably, the development of the New Class, the upcoming model generation, is already in progress, with production scheduled to commence in…

Heybike has officially announced the impending arrival of the Mars 2.0, an upgraded version of its popular Mars electric bike, slated for release in the third quarter of 2023. While maintaining the familiar folding all-terrain design of its predecessor, the Mars 2.0 promises to bring several intriguing improvements, setting it apart in the competitive e-bike landscape. Key among these enhancements is a significant upgrade in power. The Mars 2.0 will be equipped with a robust 750W motor, with the capability to reach a peak mode of 1200W, a notable improvement over the original Mars, which featured a 500~750W motor. Additionally,…

Fastned, the fast-charging network provider, has made a substantial expansion to its charging facility at the “Seed & Greet” charging park in Hilden, Germany. The company has introduced five cutting-edge Alpitronic Hyperchargers to enhance its charging capabilities. Four of these new charging columns have been strategically placed between the existing HYC300s and Schüren’s bakery, while the fifth column is positioned at the far end of the row, offering convenient access for charging while towing a trailer. This expansion effectively doubles the number of charging points available at the site, marking a significant milestone for Fastned. Notably, these are the first…

BMW is gearing up to introduce its latest electric vehicle, the BMW i5, and is making sure to emphasize the unique features that set it apart in the market. While the i5 may not immediately outsell its combustion-powered 5-Series counterparts, BMW is keen on boosting sales by showcasing some of its intriguing attributes, one of which is the ‘Anti-Theft Recorder.’ BMW has released a 40-second video on YouTube, demonstrating the ‘Anti-Theft Recorder’ in action. The video depicts two potential thieves approaching an i5 at night while being monitored by agents from a control center who are determined to unlock the…

In a move set to advance the electrification of fleets in Europe, Iveco Bus and ChargePoint have formalized a strategic agreement, paving the way for Iveco Bus to offer ChargePoint’s comprehensive fleet software portfolio to its European customer base. This collaboration between the two industry leaders aims to provide transport operators with a holistic solution for fleet deployment and charging infrastructure management, as highlighted in the official release by Iveco Bus. The joint expertise of Iveco Bus and ChargePoint is expected to offer vital support to transport operators navigating the transition to electric mobility. This collaboration delivers a powerful suite…

A fortunate Tesla owner had the unique opportunity to get an up-close look at a Release Candidate (RC) Cybertruck over the weekend. This encounter provided an unprecedented view of the rear-wheel steering system in action, shedding light on a key feature of this highly anticipated electric pickup truck. Rear-wheel steering, for those unfamiliar, is an advanced system that adjusts the angles of the rear wheels when the driver turns the steering wheel. While the rear wheels do not move at the exact same angle as the front wheels, they synchronize their movement, either in the same direction or in the…

Cobalt hydroxide prices, a crucial component in the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, have witnessed a significant decline due to an influx of supply from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the world’s leading cobalt producer. Typically, cobalt hydroxide prices are referenced as a percentage of the cobalt metal price, known as payables. In August, these payables plunged to just 46% of the cobalt metal price, a stark contrast to the approximately 90% seen in late 2021 and early 2022 when cobalt metal commanded a price of around $60,000 per metric ton. Currently, cobalt is trading at approximately $32,000…

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Standardization Administration have officially approved and published three pivotal standards for ChaoJi-1, the next-generation conductive DC charging technology based on the GB/T communication protocol. These documents encompass general requirements, the communication protocol, and the connection specifications for conductive (wired) charging. ChaoJi-1, as reported by the CHAdeMO Association, boasts the capability to support charging powers of up to a remarkable 1.2 megawatts, all while maintaining compatibility with the latest CHAdeMO version 3.1. Notably, this alignment with CHAdeMO 3.1 is not entirely surprising, given that the CHAdeMO 3.0 protocol was jointly developed and…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer NIO Inc. has successfully concluded a $1 billion offering of convertible notes, as announced earlier this month. The company confirmed the closing of this offering, comprising $500 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due in 2029 and another $500 million of convertible senior notes due in 2030, in a recent statement. NIO disclosed that these notes were exclusively sold to qualified institutional buyers. Additionally, the company granted the initial purchasers of the note offering an option, exercisable within 30 days of the note issuance date, to acquire up to an additional $75 million…