Author: Joshua Morris

Kia’s 2025 EV6 and 2026 EV9 electric vehicles will be eligible for the U.S. federal electric vehicle tax credit of up to $7,500, the automaker confirmed, with the exception of the high-performance GT variants built in South Korea. Kia’s EV6, which received a mid-cycle update, now features a larger battery offering up to 319 miles of range, along with a refreshed design and support for Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). See also: Kia EV6 Owner Files Lemon Law Claim Over Repeated 12-Volt Battery Failures The EV9, Kia’s first three-row electric SUV, also features native NACS compatibility and will soon…

The Philippines has reached a total of 912 publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, as the country aims to dramatically scale up its EV infrastructure to 7,300 public chargers by 2028, the Department of Energy (DOE) said. The expansion is focused on the National Capital Region, including Manila and 16 surrounding local government units. The DOE said it will soon publish new guidelines for charge point operators, detailing technical and safety standards—particularly for fast chargers that provide high-speed energy delivery to EV batteries. See also: ADB Provides $100 Million Loan to Ayala Corporation for Electric Vehicle Ecosystem in the…

British electric vehicle charging platform Paua said on Friday it will integrate high-performance chargers for electric trucks operated by Milence into its network, expanding its offering to fleet operators across the UK and Europe. The partnership will allow Paua’s customers access to Milence’s strategically located charging hubs, including the recently opened UK site at Able Humber Port. Milence, a joint venture between Daimler Truck, Traton Group and Volvo Group, plans to deploy at least 1,700 charging stations across the UK and mainland Europe by 2027. See also: Be.EV and Paua Partner to Expand UK Charging Network According to Paua’s website,…

British engineering firm Ricardo has developed a prototype electric motor that eliminates the need for rare earth elements, in a move aimed at reducing reliance on critical raw materials in electric vehicle (EV) production. The newly developed synchronous reluctance motor, known as the Alumotor, was created through a consortium led by Ricardo and supported by funding from Innovate UK. Unlike traditional EV motors that use rare earth magnets or materials like cobalt, the Alumotor is built using aluminium hairpin windings. See also: Ricardo Leads EU-Funded Project to Establish Harmonized Life Cycle Assessment for Zero Emission Vehicles and Batteries Ricardo said…

PFI FERSA Automotive and SEG Automotive have announced a remanufactured electric drive unit for early Renault Zoe models, offering a more affordable alternative to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacements. The new solution, marketed under the ‘redrive’ brand, is expected to be commercially available by June 2025. The companies claim that the unit will be priced around 30% lower than conventional OEM options. The offering targets early-generation Renault Zoe vehicles, which were among the first battery-electric cars to enter mass production in Europe following their launch in 2012. With many of these vehicles now out of manufacturer warranty, the new solution…

Vauxhall has reduced the prices of all its electric vehicles to under £40,000 in response to the UK government’s revised Expensive Car Supplement, which adds a £2,125 tax burden on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) priced above this threshold. The change, which came into effect on April 1, eliminates the previous road tax exemption for BEVs. While new electric cars priced below £40,000 will now pay a first-year Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) of £10, those exceeding the threshold will face an annual £425 surcharge for five years. Vauxhall’s decision ensures its EVs remain exempt from the higher tax, keeping ownership costs…

Scottish public transport operator Xplore Dundee has taken delivery of 12 fully electric double-decker buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong, with the new fleet set to enter service in the coming months. The vehicles, identified as Yutong U11DD models, each accommodate up to 84 passengers and are equipped with a 422 kWh battery. While the company has not disclosed the expected driving range, Yutong’s specifications indicate the 11-meter bus can be configured with either a 22 kW or 350 kW motor. The buses feature dual DC charging sockets with CCS compatibility. See also: Yutong to Introduce T75e Electric Truck in UK…

Lotus is set to roll out the 2026 Eletre and Emeya this summer, introducing a revised trim structure and performance branding aimed at clarifying the models’ capabilities. The new lineup includes “600” and “900” designations, reflecting their respective power outputs. The Eletre 600 and Emeya 600 feature a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing 603 hp (450 kW), while the 900 variants boast 905 hp (675 kW). Six trim levels—600, 600 GT, 600 GT SE, 600 Sport SE, 900 Sport, and 900 Sport Carbon—offer varying levels of performance and luxury. See also: Lotus Robotics, CaoCao Mobility Unveil Autonomous Ride-Hailing Platform in China…

Nio has surpassed 70 million cumulative battery swap services, reaching the milestone on April 1, less than four months after hitting 60 million, the company announced. Since March, Nio has been performing an average of 88,000 battery swaps per day, equating to one vehicle receiving a fully charged battery every 1.02 seconds. The service has delivered more than 3.7 billion kWh of power, equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 1.85 million households, the company said. See also: Nio Partners with State-Owned Firm to Build 100 Battery Swap Stations in Beijing Battery swapping remains the preferred charging option among Nio…

South Australia has ordered 60 electric buses from Swedish manufacturer Scania as part of its commitment to a zero-emission public transport system, the state government announced. The buses, which will be delivered in the latter half of this year and into 2025, mark a significant expansion of the region’s electric vehicle fleet. The Scania buses will be assembled by Australian bus manufacturer Volgren in Victoria. Charging infrastructure is set to be installed at the Morphettville depot to support their deployment, though technical specifications for the buses and charging systems have not yet been disclosed. The initiative aligns with South Australia’s…

Volvo Cars has issued a global recall for nearly 73,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles due to a potential risk of short circuits in their high-voltage batteries when fully charged, the company confirmed. The recall affects multiple models produced between 2020 and 2022, including the S60, S90, V60, V90, XC60, and XC90 series. The recall was initially reported by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which announced that 7,483 affected vehicles had been sold in the United States. However, Volvo Germany has since confirmed to German automotive publication Auto, Motor und Sport that the issue extends worldwide. Approximately 8,000 vehicles…

Porsche has initiated a pilot project to recover valuable raw materials from decommissioned high-voltage batteries, aiming to test a closed-loop recycling process and establish a broader battery recycling network in collaboration with external partners. The project is structured in three phases, starting with the mechanical shredding of end-of-life batteries from development vehicles to produce what the company calls “black mass.” This granulated material contains essential battery metals such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium. Porsche has so far processed approximately 65 tonnes of black mass, the company said. See also: Porsche Engineering Unveils Innovative AC Battery Concept for EVs In…

Lion Smart, a subsidiary of Lion E-Mobility, has partnered with Hofer Powertrain to accelerate the development and commercialization of immersion-cooled battery systems, the companies announced on Thursday. The collaboration aims to leverage Hofer’s expertise in battery system validation and rapid implementation, alongside Lion Smart’s advanced immersion-cooled battery technology and modular platform solutions. The companies plan to scale the technology from prototype to series production, targeting high market potential for their battery systems. See also: German Battery Specialist Lion Smart Partners with SVOLT for Next-Gen Battery Packs “With Hofer Powertrain, we have a strong partner by our side that perfectly complements…

Ponomarets Bikes has introduced the Eidolon, a high-performance electric bike emphasizing lightweight design and customization. Weighing just 9.9 kg (21.8 lbs), the carbon-framed e-bike is powered by a Mahle X20 rear hub motor, delivering 250W and 55Nm of torque. It pairs with a Mahle iX250 battery integrated into the frame, offering a claimed range of up to 100 km under optimal conditions. See also: Velotric Launches Nomad 2 Fat-Tire E-Bike with Enhanced Power and Versatility Customers can choose between a SRAM Red AXS electronic derailleur or an Ingrid RD1 mechanical derailleur, both fitted with a 12-speed SRAM cassette. The bike…

One of the UK’s largest bus operators, First Bus, has inaugurated the region’s first electric bus depot in Weston-Super-Mare, backed by a €17.7 million (£14.9 million) investment. The initiative, supported by the national Zero Emissions Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) program, includes the introduction of 24 fully electric buses to serve North Somerset and Bristol. The new fleet will operate on key routes, including the X1 (Weston to Bristol) and X4 (Portishead to Bristol), as well as several inner-city services in Bristol. With this addition, a third of First Bus’ fleet in Weston-Super-Mare will be electrified. The double-decker buses, which can…

The MG4 EV is undergoing a significant redesign just three years after its initial release, with a larger body, new styling, and a revised electric drivetrain. The updated model is 11 cm longer than its predecessor, featuring a 4.5 cm longer wheelbase, and incorporates a new electric powertrain. According to leaked specifications from Chinese regulatory filings, the revamped MG4 EV measures 4,395 mm in length, 1,842 mm in width, and 1,551 mm in height, making it larger in all dimensions than the current MG4 Electric. The vehicle’s weight has also been reduced to 1,485 kg, down from 1,620 kg. The…

Xiaomi’s smart electric vehicle (EV) business generated RMB 16.3 billion ($2.25 billion) in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a 71.58% increase from the RMB 9.5 billion recorded in the previous quarter, the company reported in its latest earnings release. The company’s broader innovative business segment, which includes EVs, contributed RMB 16.7 billion in revenue for the quarter, with EV sales accounting for RMB 16.3 billion. The segment’s gross margin improved to 20.4%, up from 17.1% in the third quarter. Xiaomi reported an adjusted net loss of RMB 700 million in Q4, a significant improvement from the RMB…

Xiaomi EV, the electric vehicle arm of Xiaomi, has increased its 2025 vehicle delivery target to 350,000 units as it scales up production capacity, company founder and CEO Lei Jun announced on Weibo. The revised target represents a 16.67% increase from the previous goal of 300,000 units. Lei said Xiaomi EV has been making strides in boosting output, with the company recently reaching the milestone of 200,000 cumulative deliveries. It took 229 days to deliver the first 100,000 units, while the second 100,000 were completed in just 119 days. See also: Xiaomi Expands EV Ambitions in Europe with Key BMW…

The government of British Columbia (BC) will exclude Tesla products from its EV charger rebate program as tensions escalate in the US-Canada trade dispute, a move that has drawn criticism over potential inconsistencies in its application. The provincial program, which covers up to 50% of the cost of a Level 2 EV charger and includes incentives for backup power solutions, has until now included Tesla chargers, inverters, and the Powerwall home battery. However, Tesla products will no longer be eligible for rebates, with the government stating that the change aims to prioritize Canadian-made goods over US-manufactured products. See also: Tesla…

The European Union has launched the HyLiST research project to advance solid-state battery technology, a breakthrough expected to deliver higher energy densities, faster charging times, and longer service life compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. HyLiST, short for Hybrid Lithium Metal-based Scalable Solid State Battery Manufacturing, is led by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and involves a consortium of 13 partners from nine countries. The project seeks to develop a new generation of solid-state batteries that will be more durable, efficient, and environmentally friendly, with potential applications in electric vehicles and aviation. Over the next 36 months, HyLiST aims to…