Author: Joshua Morris

Tesla’s path toward integrating solid-state batteries into its vehicles may face delays as two of its primary battery suppliers, Panasonic and CATL, remain cautious about the technology’s readiness for large-scale electric vehicle (EV) deployment. Both companies pointed to technical and economic barriers that suggest solid-state batteries are unlikely to enter Tesla’s product line in the near future. Panasonic, which supplies Tesla with lithium-ion batteries, recently stated that solid-state technology is currently more suitable for smaller applications such as drones and handheld tools rather than full-size EVs. The company emphasized that the technology remains a niche solution, not yet ready for…

Emobi, a North American EV charging roaming and JustPlug infrastructure provider, has partnered with ElectricFish, a developer of distributed energy systems, to expand fast-charging solutions that operate without extensive grid upgrades. The collaboration combines Emobi’s JustPlug technology with ElectricFish’s 350Squared energy storage and charging system, which the companies say offers 133% faster charging compared with conventional equipment while reducing grid upgrade costs by up to 90%. “This partnership exemplifies our commitment to future-proofing EV infrastructure as we expand beyond public charging into fleet charging depots,” said Lin Sun Fa, CEO of Emobi. Emobi stated that its technology enables 80% of…

Electric bus maker GreenPower Motor has signed a contract with the state of New Mexico to launch a two‑year school bus pilot program starting this September. The project will test electric bus operations on various routes while assessing charging needs and grid readiness across the state. GreenPower will deploy three Type A all‑electric Nano BEAST Access school buses in the first year, followed by three larger Type D BEAST and Mega BEAST buses in the 2026‑2027 school year. The $5 million agreement covers vehicle procurement, charging stations, and overall program management. The buses will rotate to different districts through five…

Rivian has filed a federal lawsuit in Ohio seeking to overturn the state’s ban on direct-to-consumer vehicle sales, calling the restriction an outdated barrier that protects incumbent dealers at the expense of consumers. The California-based electric vehicle maker sued the registrar of Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles on Monday, alleging that the prohibition on its direct-sales business model “reduces competition, decreases consumer choice, and drives up consumer costs and inconvenience — all of which harm consumers — with literally no countervailing benefit.” Rivian currently sells vehicles directly in 25 states and Washington, D.C., but Ohio customers must order from out-of-state…

Nissan Motor is considering retaining a gas-powered version of its Juke crossover SUV even after the launch of an all-electric model in 2026, as the company weighs regional demand and regulatory factors, Automotive News reported on Monday. The Juke, Nissan’s second-best-selling vehicle in Europe after the Qashqai, is slated to be produced as an EV at the company’s Sunderland plant in the UK as part of a previously announced £3 billion ($3.9 billion) investment to transition three top-selling models — the LEAF, Qashqai, and Juke — to electric power. According to the report, Nissan could offer the Juke with an…

German road construction equipment maker Wirtgen Vögele has launched the MINI 500e and MINI 502e battery-powered pavers, co-developed with Italy’s C. M. S.r.l., aimed at meeting stringent noise and emissions standards on urban construction sites. The compact machines feature an electrically heated screed and offer paving widths from 0.25 to 1.8 metres. They are powered by a 22.8 kW electric drive and come with either a 15 kWh or 22 kWh lithium-ion battery, enabling up to 16 hours of operation. Both models can be charged via a standard 110/120-volt socket in about eight hours. “These pavers excel on small-scale construction…

Lyft said it has completed its acquisition of the FreeNow e-mobility app from Mercedes-Benz and BMW, expanding its ride-hailing and taxi services to 11 countries and nearly 1,000 cities. The deal, first announced in April, gives Lyft a direct presence in nine European markets, including Ireland, the UK, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Poland, France and Austria. The former Mercedes/BMW-owned brand will now operate under the name “FreeNow by Lyft,” with the existing red FreeNow logo accompanied by Lyft’s pink branding. “Our integration approach centers on respecting what makes FreeNow successful – the talented team, unique needs of each local market,…

ZF Friedrichshafen has reached an agreement with its works council and the IG Metall union to establish a joint roadmap for restructuring its Electrified Drive Technologies Division, known as Division E. The move follows ongoing financial difficulties within the division and aims to secure long-term competitiveness and employment stability. The supplier said both management and labor representatives signed the agreement on 30 July, forming what it calls an “alliance for competitiveness and job security.” The initiative sets a framework for collaborative planning, with restructuring measures to be defined and finalised by the end of September. Division E, which handles electric…

Germany will implement a new regulation, the Road Traffic Remote Control Ordinance (StVFernLV), on December 1, 2025, establishing the first legal basis for testing remote-controlled motor vehicles on public roads. The regulation was introduced by the Federal Ministry of Transport as part of broader efforts to support the integration of autonomous technologies and modern mobility concepts. The ordinance enables remote steering of motor vehicles, a capability expected to assist autonomous vehicles in handling complex traffic scenarios by allowing remote human intervention when necessary. This approach is anticipated to enhance safety and flexibility in the deployment of self-driving systems. The regulation…

MG Motor, a subsidiary of Chinese automaker SAIC, is preparing to expand its electric vehicle portfolio with a new C-segment electric SUV. While the vehicle has not yet been officially unveiled, the model is widely believed to be called the MG S6 EV, following a recent trademark application and design registration in Europe. According to comments made in an interview with British publication Auto Express, the new electric SUV is intended to compete with models such as the Renault Scenic E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.4, and Nissan Ariya. Positioned between the MG S5 EV and IM6, the upcoming model is part of…

AEye, a developer of high-performance lidar technology, has announced the launch and initial deployment of OPTIS™, a physical AI platform designed to deliver high-resolution, real-time 3D perception. The system, powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson Orin, is intended for applications across transportation, safety, and infrastructure monitoring. OPTIS™ integrates AEye’s Apollo lidar sensor with embedded computing to form what the company describes as a complete autonomous system. It is designed to provide long-range object detection—up to one kilometer—while supporting rapid decision-making in complex environments. According to AEye, the platform enables operational flexibility through a software-defined architecture, which may help reduce upgrade complexity and…

Tesla  said it has produced its 1,000th Megapack energy storage unit at its Shanghai Megafactory, less than six months after production began at the site. The milestone unit will be shipped to Europe, the company announced on Chinese social media platform X. Construction of the Shanghai Megafactory began on May 23, 2024, marking Tesla’s first dedicated energy storage facility outside the United States. Located in the Lingang area of Pudong—home to Tesla’s China electric vehicle plant—the facility began operations on February 11. https://twitter.com/Tesla_Asia/status/1950092123245809874 “From the first unit to the 1,000th, the Shanghai factory achieved this milestone in less than six…

Li Auto said on Monday it has completed construction of its 3,000th supercharging station in China, marking a key infrastructure milestone. The company announced the achievement on its official Weibo account, stating, “The 3,000th Li Auto supercharging station has been completed, and the nation’s largest supercharging network is ready for the launch of the i8.” According to Li Auto, its supercharging network now covers 258 cities across all 31 provinces in China, with 16,523 charging piles installed nationwide. The Li i8, features a 97.8-kWh ternary lithium battery and supports 5C ultra-fast charging. The company says the vehicle can add 500…

The UK government has launched a £25 million grant to help local councils install pavement channels for electric vehicle (EV) charging cables, aiming to support residents without off-street parking. The new initiative forms part of a wider £63 million package announced in July to accelerate the country’s transition to electric mobility. Known as the Pavement Channels Grant, the programme supports the installation of in-ground cable channels that allow households to run EV charging cables safely from their homes to roadside vehicles. The scheme targets urban and suburban areas where private driveways are not available, helping to bridge the access gap…

Johnson Matthey has announced a major upgrade to its Gothenburg facility, expanding its capabilities to support testing of hydrogen internal combustion engines (H₂ICE) as part of efforts to develop cleaner mobility solutions. The facility, already home to diesel engine test cells for both heavy- and light-duty vehicles, will now be able to conduct full-scale H₂ICE engine testing for the first time. The new test area is expected to be operational by autumn 2025. The upgrade will enable Johnson Matthey to assess catalyst performance within complete engine aftertreatment and control systems, generating critical data for hydrogen mobility development. This follows the…

Indonesia has increased its share of global refined nickel supply to 62%, driven by its vast reserves, competitive production costs, and economies of scale, according to a new report by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. The firm’s latest Nickel Cost Model revealed that at the average London Metal Exchange (LME) price of $15,380 per tonne in the first half of 2025, 22% of global nickel producers were operating at a loss. This includes several Indonesian rotary kiln-electric furnace (RKEF) and nickel matte operations. Benchmark noted wide variations in nickel production costs depending on the processing route. Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) producers, particularly…

Alphabet’s self-driving unit Waymo said on Monday it plans to begin operating its autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas by 2026, expanding its U.S. footprint through a new partnership with Avis Budget Group. The announcement comes as Waymo accelerates its national rollout, adding new cities through collaborations with fleet operators and ride-hailing platforms. Under the Dallas initiative, Avis will oversee vehicle maintenance, depot management, and other fleet operations as part of a multi-year agreement. “We look forward to bringing our fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the people of Dallas next year, offering a new era of safe and seamless transportation,” said…

Orbis Electric has introduced HaloDrive, a modular axial flux motor-generator designed to boost electric mobility across industries ranging from transportation and marine to aerospace and power generation. The new system delivers a torque density of 100 Nm/kg—comparable to that of a V8 engine—while achieving 97% operational efficiency. According to the company, HaloDrive’s architecture supports up to 35% cost savings in drivetrain applications and offers up to 90% lower operational costs in select configurations. The unit’s modular four-part design includes an injection-molded plastic stator and tunable gearset, which help reduce weight, increase thermal stability, and minimize manufacturing costs compared to traditional…

Athens is set to retire its fleet of 130 electric trolleybuses and replace them with 100 new electric buses by 2027, marking a major shift in the city’s public transportation strategy. The move, announced by the Athens public transport company OASA, will also include the removal of the overhead lines that currently power the trolleybuses. Trolleybuses have served the Greek capital since at least 1949, with some sources citing operations as early as 1929. Despite periodic updates, most of the vehicles currently in use are around two decades old. Due to age-related inefficiencies, the actual performance of the fleet is…

The European Union and the United States have reached a trade agreement that will see a 15% base tariff applied to most EU goods entering the US market, in a move EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described as the “best tariff we can get” following earlier threats of significantly higher duties. The accord, announced Sunday after a meeting between von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump at the latter’s golf resort in western Scotland, sets a new framework for transatlantic trade covering goods such as automobiles, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals. Certain strategic items, including aircraft and spare parts,…