Author: Joshua Morris

Montreal has announced plans to install 11,000 new electric vehicle (EV) charging points across its greater metropolitan area by 2030. These will be strategically located on roadsides, in publicly accessible car parks, and on publicly accessible private property. The city aims to significantly enhance its EV infrastructure to support the transition to sustainable transportation. The initiative will focus on encouraging private sector participation through incentives and collaborations. Local businesses, such as petrol stations and grocery stores, are expected to play a role in providing charging points in their car parks, benefiting both employees and customers. Montreal’s efforts are aimed at…

Leonhard Kurz, a German leader in thin film technology, and Horizon, a Chinese technology company, have established a new joint venture in Europe called Horizon-Kurz New Material Technology. The focus of the venture will be on the development and production of advanced battery separator films, a crucial component in improving the safety, longevity, and performance of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. Although the specific ownership distribution has not been disclosed, sources confirm that Horizon holds the majority stake in the venture. Rainer Süßmann, Executive Senior Vice President at Kurz and now Managing Director of Horizon-Kurz New Material, highlighted the…

EV charging solutions provider Noodoe has launched an artificial intelligence-powered charging management system designed to improve electric vehicle (EV) station performance. The system, called “AI Advisor,” uses generative AI to analyze real-time data and provide pricing recommendations tailored to individual charging stations. According to the company, the solution has led to a reported increase in station revenue of 10 to 25 percent in early deployments. The AI-powered platform is integrated into Noodoe’s existing operating system and is intended to help operators increase utilization and revenue through data-driven pricing strategies. “AI Advisor is just the beginning. We’re actively building the next-generation…

Baidu’s autonomous driving arm, Apollo, has entered a strategic partnership with CAR Inc., one of China’s leading mobility providers, to roll out the country’s first autonomous vehicle rental service, the companies said in a joint statement. The initiative will allow users to book self-driving vehicles for designated time slots, targeting flexible transportation needs across urban and cultural destinations. The service is designed to support individuals who are unable to drive, such as seniors, foreign tourists, unlicensed users, and people with disabilities, offering them enhanced mobility options on demand. See also: Hesai to Supply Lidar for Baidu Apollo’s Robotaxi Deployment in…

Novo Energy, the battery production subsidiary of Volvo Cars, is reducing its workforce by half as part of a restructuring process triggered by its separation from former joint venture partner Northvolt, which is now insolvent. The decision affects around 150 jobs and underscores the challenges the company faces in its transition toward independent battery manufacturing. The job cuts come as Novo Energy navigates a critical phase in its development. Originally founded in 2022 as a joint venture between Volvo Cars and Northvolt, the company’s name reflects the initials of its founding partners. Following Northvolt’s financial difficulties, Volvo Cars assumed full…

The European Parliament on Tuesday endorsed a motion to accelerate approval of revised CO2 emissions targets for cars and vans, granting European automakers more time to meet regulatory requirements and potentially avoid significant financial penalties. The proposed change, initiated by the European Commission, allows vehicle manufacturers to comply with emissions limits based on their fleet averages over a three-year period from 2025 to 2027, rather than solely in 2025. The adjustment aims to ease the immediate compliance burden and respond to concerns from industry stakeholders over their ability to meet short-term electric vehicle (EV) sales targets. Automakers have warned that…

Autonomous driving startup Pony.ai said on Tuesday it will begin deploying its self-driving vehicles on the Uber ride-hailing platform, marking another major step in its global commercialization strategy and making it the third Chinese autonomous firm to announce a partnership with Uber in recent days. As part of a pilot phase, passengers using the Uber app will soon be able to opt for rides completed by Pony.ai’s autonomous vehicles, though the cars will initially operate with a safety driver onboard. A fully driverless service is planned for a later commercial launch. Pony.ai said its latest seventh-generation autonomous driving system enables…

Volvo Cars reported an 11% decline in global vehicle sales in April to 58,881 units, compared to the same month last year, as demand for its fully electric models weakened. The Sweden-based automaker, majority-owned by China’s Geely, said sales of battery-electric vehicles fell 32%, accounting for 20% of total monthly sales. See also: Volvo Begins Production of Electric EX30 at Belgium Plant to Boost European Supply Plug-in hybrid vehicle sales also dropped, leading to a 16% decline in overall electrified vehicle deliveries, which now make up 45% of Volvo’s total sales. The slowdown comes as Volvo navigates rising pressure from…

LG Energy Solution said it will establish a joint venture with French metal waste specialist Derichebourg to build a battery recycling plant in northern France, marking the South Korean firm’s first recycling partnership in Europe. The plant, located in Bruyères-sur-Oise in the Val-d’Oise region, is scheduled to begin construction in 2026 and enter operations by 2027. It will focus on pre-processing tasks including discharging, dismantling, and shredding battery production waste and used electric vehicle (EV) batteries. See also: LG Energy Solution Withdraws from $8.45 Billion Battery Investment in Indonesia Once fully operational, the facility will be capable of processing over…

Scout Motors, the U.S.-based electric vehicle brand owned by Volkswagen (VW), has appointed Oliver Wollinsky as its new Chief Production Officer (CPO). Wollinsky will lead the company’s manufacturing efforts, including overseeing the completion and ramp-up of its production facility in Blythewood, South Carolina. Additionally, former Bentley executive Jan-Henrik Lafrentz has been hired as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Wollinsky, who previously served as Scout’s Vice President of Production, has a long history in the automotive industry. He was previously the Plant Manager at SAIC Volkswagen, where he played a key role in the construction of manufacturing plants, including Volkswagen Group’s first…

Construction has officially commenced on the second and largest phase of the Fraunhofer Research Fab Battery Cells (FFB Fab) in Münster, Germany, marking a significant step toward industrial-scale battery cell production research. With a total floor space of 20,000 square metres, the expanded facility aims to enable gigawatt-level R&D capacity by the end of 2027. The ground-breaking follows the successful commissioning of the smaller FFB PreFab in April 2024, which offers 6,800 square metres of pilot-scale research space. The new FFB Fab will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure to support the testing and scaling of advanced battery technologies across the value chain,…

Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has appointed Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of generative AI firm Cohere, to its board of directors, expanding its leadership as it seeks to deepen its role in software and artificial intelligence. According to a regulatory filing, Gomez’s term will run through 2026. The appointment signals Rivian’s increasing interest in AI applications within its operations and vehicle offerings. See also: Rivian Aims to Expand EV Options Below $50,000 as Market Evolves Gomez, a noted AI researcher and co-author of the influential 2017 paper Attention Is All You Need, previously worked at Google Brain before founding Cohere…