Author: Joshua Morris

Beep, Inc. has launched the United States’ first fully autonomous public transportation system, marking a major milestone in urban mobility. Operating under a five-year agreement with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), Beep’s new service—called the Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (NAVI)—is now active in Florida’s largest city. The NAVI service forms a key component of JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program and operates along a 3.5-mile corridor on Bay Street, linking Jacksonville’s Central Business Core with the Sports and Entertainment District. The system deploys a fleet of 14 electric Ford E-Transit vehicles, all equipped with Oxa’s autonomous driving software and supervised…

Dahon has unveiled the K-Feather, a 12 kg (26.5 lb) folding electric bicycle that brings ultralight performance to the mass market with a starting price of $1,199 in North America and €1,499 in Europe. The new model targets urban commuters and last-mile riders, offering a compelling alternative to high-priced ultralight e-bikes. While not the absolute lightest e-bike available, the K-Feather comes close at a fraction of the cost. By comparison, premium ultralight e-bikes such as the LeMond Prolog, Trek Domane+ SLR, and Hummingbird Flax range from $4,500 to nearly $9,000 and weigh as little as 10 kg (22 lb). Dahon’s…

French EV charging company Electra will reduce the price of fast charging to €0.49 per kilowatt-hour across several European markets starting this month, as part of a wider effort to make high-speed charging more accessible and support the energy transition. The new price applies exclusively to users who initiate charging sessions via the Electra mobile app, the company announced. Previously, the app-based rate in Germany stood at €0.59/kWh, while ad hoc payments via card or QR code remained at €0.69/kWh — a price that appears unchanged in the current update. The new pricing applies nationwide in Germany, Austria and Switzerland…

Tesla has begun broadening access to its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, moving beyond the small group of initial testers who began using the platform in late June. The expansion marks the next phase of the company’s effort to gather more consistent data from local users as it moves closer to commercializing its driverless ride-hailing platform. The Robotaxi service, which began its first rides on June 22, is now being offered to more Austin-area residents. Tesla is reaching out to those who previously submitted interest forms via the Robotaxi section of its website, with additional invitations being issued as part…

South Korea’s Hankook Tire has expanded its iON tire lineup for electric vehicles with the launch of the iON HT, an all-season tire tailored for large SUVs and light commercial electric vehicles (EVs), the company said on Tuesday. The iON HT – short for “Highway-Terrain” – is engineered to meet the demands of heavier EVs by offering low rolling resistance for energy efficiency, as well as reinforced durability to support the added weight from battery packs. The tire is rated with an ‘XL’ load capacity, allowing it to carry heavier loads in regular use, particularly for electric trucks and high-capacity…

Four maritime industry groups have jointly established the Global Alliance for Maritime Electrification (GAME) to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission technologies for inland, coastal, and commercial vessels. The alliance brings together the International Electric Marine Association (IEMA), the Zero Emission Ship Technology Association (ZESTA), the Maritime Battery Forum (MBF), and the European Onshore Power Supply Association (EOPSA). Collectively, these organisations represent more than 250 global stakeholders. GAME’s founding mission is to coordinate international efforts to fast-track electrification by addressing fragmented policies, infrastructure gaps, and limited research funding. The group’s scope will centre on mid-sized and small watercraft that frequently operate…

Electric vehicle advocacy groups on Tuesday urged the U.S. House of Representatives to reject or amend a Senate-passed bill that would terminate key federal tax incentives for EV buyers, warning that the move would jeopardize American industry and national competitiveness. The bill would eliminate the $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicle purchases and the $4,000 credit for used EVs, effective September 30. It passed the Senate amid growing political scrutiny over clean energy subsidies. The Electrification Coalition, a policy group promoting EV adoption, criticized the bill as damaging to U.S. interests. “Driving much of the nation’s manufacturing investment…

Tesla has introduced a set of low-profile updates to its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China, improving both performance and range for select long-range variants. The Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive now starts at RMB 285,500 (approximately $39,300), reflecting a RMB 10,000 ($1,400) price increase. The update includes a longer range and quicker acceleration, suggesting previously optional features are now included by default. According to Tesla’s local configuration page, the Model 3 Long Range variant now offers a CLTC-rated range of 753 kilometers (468 miles), up from the prior 713 km (443 miles). Additionally, its 0–100 km/h…

A U.S. federal judge has rejected Tesla’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit involving the death of a pedestrian in a 2019 crash, allowing claims related to alleged design flaws and insufficient warnings tied to the company’s Autopilot system to move forward toward trial. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami ruled that the estate of Naibel Benavides Leon and her former partner Dillon Angulo can pursue claims that Tesla’s driver-assistance technology played a substantial role in the crash. The trial is scheduled to begin on July 14. The case stems from an April 25, 2019, incident in Key Largo, Florida,…

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD will invest 32 billion forints ($94 million) in expanding its operations in northern Hungary, with a new plant in the town of Komárom that will triple its annual production capacity of electric buses and trucks, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said on Friday. The expansion will boost the site’s annual output to 1,250 vehicles and includes plans to establish a research and development laboratory. The Hungarian government will support the project with a 3.1 billion forint grant, according to Szijjártó. “We Hungarians do not consider East-West cooperation a threat, but rather an opportunity, a big…

BMW Group Korea and the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) will jointly establish a Global Interoperability Testing Center (GIOTEC) in Ansan, South Korea, in the latter half of 2025, aiming to improve compatibility between electric vehicles (EVs) and charging systems worldwide. Announced during a joint ceremony and facility inspection, the initiative is designed to address persistent issues in EV charging, including system outages and incompatibility between chargers and vehicles. BMW Group Korea said in a statement that the center will build a “cooperative system” to help resolve these challenges, adding that “major domestic and foreign automobile brands, manufacturers of EV…

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has scaled back production at several of its domestic factories and delayed expansion plans amid signs of market saturation and intensifying competition, according to sources familiar with the matter. Two individuals with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that BYD has cancelled night shifts and cut output by at least a third in some plants. The move comes as BYD grapples with ballooning inventories following a wave of discounting that reshaped China’s EV market in recent months. BYD has seen meteoric growth, becoming the world’s largest EV manufacturer and the top-selling carmaker in China. But…

A consortium of French aerospace companies including Daher, Safran, Collins Aerospace, and Ascendance has launched a joint research initiative to develop a hybrid-electric propulsion system for small aircraft, marking a strategic effort to reduce carbon emissions in general aviation. The project, named TAGINE (Tentative dans l’Aviation Générale d’Introduction de Nouvelles Énergies), is backed by France’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) and national aviation research body CORAC. It aims to develop and test a hybrid-electric propulsion system for six- to ten-seat aircraft by 2027, a category that accounts for approximately 25,000 aircraft worldwide. At the core of the TAGINE project…

Xpeng officially launched the right-hand drive version of its X9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in Indonesia on Wednesday, as part of its broader strategy to grow in Southeast Asia. Local assembly is set to begin next month in Jakarta. The right-hand drive X9 is priced from 9.9 billion Indonesian rupiah ($60,980) and marks Xpeng’s first localization production project outside China. “The right-hand drive version of the X9 will begin local production in Jakarta in July,” the company said on Weibo, describing it as “the official launch of Xpeng’s first overseas localization production project in Indonesia.” Initially unveiled in China on January…

French hydrogen taxi operator Hype is pivoting away from hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to battery-electric taxis, citing rising hydrogen costs, infrastructure shortcomings, and the insolvency of electrolyser maker McPhy as key factors behind the decision. Hype, which has operated a hydrogen-powered fleet in Paris since 2015, said the economic environment for hydrogen mobility in the Île-de-France region has become unsustainable. “Hydrogen prices have exploded since 2021,” the company wrote in a post published on LinkedIn, accusing major suppliers Air Liquide and TotalEnergies of creating “a kind of oligopoly.” The operator claims there is currently no credible path to green hydrogen…

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL is preparing to introduce its battery swapping technology in Europe, as part of a broader strategy to lower electric vehicle (EV) costs and expand its global footprint, a senior company executive told the Financial Times. Jiang Li, CATL’s Vice President and Board Secretary, said the company sees “huge potential” in battery swapping, particularly for making EVs more affordable by decoupling battery ownership from vehicle purchase. “Then we can copy the business model in Europe and other regions,” Li said, outlining plans to bring the system abroad after scaling domestically. CATL aims to build 1,000 battery swap…

Opel has announced plans to bring a road-legal version of its electric rally vehicle, the Mokka GSE Rally, into series production, aiming to extend the motorsport experience to everyday drivers. The new model, called the Opel Mokka GSE, is based on the electric rally car prototype unveiled at the ELE Rally in the Netherlands last month. The prototype featured a 207 kW electric powertrain delivering 345 Nm of torque, a 54 kWh battery, and visual elements including a yellow-black livery, bold “OMG! GSE” graphics, and rally-specific components like a roll cage and crash protection system. “During the development of the…

Nio is considering bringing in strategic investors for its chip-related business, according to a report from Chinese outlet LatePost, as the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker seeks to trim operating costs and advance toward profitability. The company’s chip team, currently functioning as an internal business unit, is expected to spin off into an independent entity, LatePost reported, citing multiple sources and internal documents. While the company will reportedly retain control of the new entity, it may sell a minority stake to industrial or strategic investors. When approached by LatePost, a Nio representative described the information as speculative. However, several industry…

Gotion High-tech will supply its newly developed 46-series cylindrical battery cells to Chinese eVTOL maker Ehang, as part of a strategic partnership to enhance the capabilities of the EH216 electric aircraft series. The agreement upgrades a previous framework signed in December 2023 and includes collaboration on battery systems, energy storage, and charging infrastructure. Gotion’s high-energy-density, high-power 46-series cells will form the core of a custom battery system designed to extend range, increase power, and improve safety for Ehang’s flagship EH216 model. “Gotion’s advanced 46-series cylindrical battery cell technology will unlock higher performance boundaries for the EH216 series,” said Feng Shuai,…

Autonomous vehicle software specialist Applied Intuition has closed a $600 million Series F and tender offer round, more than doubling its valuation to $15 billion. The round was co-led by funds managed by BlackRock and Kleiner Perkins, with new participation from the Qatar Investment Authority, Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Greycroft, and others. Existing backers such as General Catalyst, Lux Capital, Elad Gil, and Bond also contributed. The raise follows a $250 million Series E just one year ago, which valued the company at $6 billion. Applied Intuition provides simulation software and data tools to assist companies and government agencies in…