Author: Jonathan Collins

Hubject, a eRoaming provider, has announced a strategic collaboration with Driveco, a prominent French charging infrastructure provider. The partnership aims to bolster the accessibility and convenience of electric vehicle (EV) charging across Europe by integrating Driveco’s charging points into Hubject’s Intercharge network. Additionally, this cooperation empowers Driveco to offer the highly sought-after Plug&Charge functionality at its charging stations. Driveco’s ambitious goal of operating more than 60,000 charging points throughout Europe by 2030 hinges on the successful integration of Hubject’s comprehensive offering. By aligning their efforts, the two companies seek to address the key challenge of providing a sufficient number of…

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, BYD, is expanding its global footprint by teaming up with French auto parts group, Forvia, to build a state-of-the-art seat assembly plant in Thailand’s Rayong province. The collaboration marks the eighth joint venture between BYD and Forvia, who have already established seven successful factories in China. The new plant will operate under the banner of Shenzhen Faurecia Automotive Parts Co Ltd, a joint venture formed by BYD and Faurecia in 2017, with Forvia holding a majority stake in the venture. The facility will focus on producing complete seat sets, catering to the growing demand…

Electrovaya, a prominent Canadian battery manufacturer, has recently announced the expansion of its Infinity product line with the introduction of the cutting-edge ‘Infinity-HV’ battery systems. These advanced batteries are specifically designed to cater to heavy-duty, high-voltage applications, including buses, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, hybrid-fuel cell/battery systems, and stationary energy storage units. The company plans to initiate pre-production deliveries of the Infinity-HV systems in the fourth quarter of 2023. The Infinity-HV battery systems come in two distinct variations: HV-90 and HV-180. The HV-90 offers a nominal energy capacity of 35 kWh, while the HV-180 boasts an impressive 70 kWh. Both variations…

Komatsu, a renowned construction equipment manufacturer ranking second globally only to Caterpillar, has made waves with the launch of its latest innovation: the PC33E-6, a cutting-edge 3-ton class electric mini excavator. Introduced to the European market, this revolutionary machine boasts a 115-volt electrical architecture, housing a powerful 17.4 kW Komatsu electric motor and a state-of-the-art 35 kWh Komatsu lithium-ion battery pack. One of the standout features of the PC33E-6 is its remarkable charging capability. Equipped with a 400V external charger input, the excavator can recharge from 20% to 100% in just over an hour and a half. Komatsu showcased its…

China’s Farizon, a manufacturer of electric and hybrid trucks, has successfully secured $600 million in a Series-A funding round, as officially stated by the company. Farizon, which is under the ownership of Geely, a well-known automaker, is based in Hangzhou and specializes in producing and marketing hybrid and pure electric commercial vehicles. According to the company, the newly acquired funds will be channeled towards advancing technology and product development, as well as expanding their operations beyond the borders of China. The Series-A funding round was led by Boyu Capital and Yuexiu Industrial Fund, and saw participation from other notable investors…

MAN Truck & Bus, in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, recently took part in a groundbreaking study called the ‘Mobility Study on Low-Noise Logistics.’ The aim of the study, funded by the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia, was to establish noise emission standards specifically for delivery vehicles. As part of the study, MAN utilized a pre-production model of their upcoming MAN eTruck, set to be available to customers in 2024, to conduct real-world measurements alongside selected vehicles. The data collected during the study, which involved measurements carried out…

In a groundbreaking move aimed at revolutionizing the automotive industry, Aptera Motors has set its sights on creating the most aerodynamic passenger vehicle ever. With an ambitious goal of achieving a drag coefficient of just 0.13 Cd, the Aptera is projected to surpass the aerodynamic efficiency of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 by a remarkable 38%. This breakthrough development promises to significantly enhance overall efficiency in the electric vehicle sector. To propel their innovative vision forward, Aptera Motors recently announced a collaboration with renowned Italian design firm Pininfarina to validate and optimize the aerodynamics of their groundbreaking vehicle. This collaboration marks…

After an extensive wait of over a year, the long-anticipated LiveWire S2 Del Mar electric motorcycle has finally unveiled its comprehensive specifications. This nascent electric motorcycle company emerged as a result of Harley-Davidson’s internal e-motorcycle development and is now ready to disclose the complete details of its new bike to the public. While some details of the upcoming motorcycle had previously been disclosed, such as an estimated power rating of approximately 80 horsepower (60 kW) and a city range of around 100 miles (160 km), the latest information surpasses these initial expectations. The S2 Del Mar will feature an impressive…

During Tesla’s investor day presentation in March 2023, Drew Baglino, the Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Energy Engineering at Tesla, confirmed that future Tesla models will incorporate bi-directional charging. While the exact details remain undisclosed, the question now arises as to which model will be the first to feature this innovative charging capability. A surprising clue has emerged from a rather unexpected source—the Tesla coloring book available at the brand’s service center. The book contains a caption that reads, “Cybertruck has enough battery power to charge a Tesla.” Although this information may seem trivial to coloring enthusiasts, it has…

The highly anticipated 2024 GMC Hummer EV 3X Pickup is set to hit the market this autumn, and GMC has made an exciting announcement regarding its enhanced range capabilities. With an impressive upgrade, the upcoming electric pickup will be able to travel up to 381 miles (613 km) on a single charge. Although GMC has not disclosed the specific advancements that led to this improvement, it is clear that the new model surpasses its predecessor by an additional 26 miles (42 km). Notably, the Hummer EV 3X Pickup outshines the Ford F-150 Lightning, which offers a range of only 320…

Buick, the automobile manufacturer, has made remarkable strides in the first quarter, emerging as the fastest-growing mainstream automotive brand. This impressive growth can be attributed to their ongoing product blitz, which promises to introduce an impressive lineup of five new or updated models within a span of just 18 months. During a recent event held in Michigan, Buick officials shared their excitement over the fruits of their labor, showcasing the recently unveiled facelifted Encore GX in February, swiftly followed by the highly anticipated all-new Envista in April. Building on this momentum, Buick has now tantalized consumers with a sneak peek…

Rivian, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has extended an exclusive invitation to a select group of quad-motor R1T owners and dual-motor reservation holders to test drive its highly anticipated performance dual-motor R1T model. The company has released an exciting new video showcasing the electric truck and capturing the enthusiastic reactions of the customers. As part of its R1 series, Rivian now provides three different drive system configurations, catering to diverse consumer preferences. The quad-motor configuration, featured in numerous Rivian R1T models on the roads today, stands as the flagship option. This all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup delivers exceptional on and off-road performance,…