Author: Joshua Morris

Mercedes has unveiled a new in-drive braking system for its electric vehicles, positioning it as a significant innovation in EV braking technology. Unlike most vehicles, which typically feature outboard brakes connected to the wheel hubs or occasionally inboard brakes, this new system places the brakes inside the housing of the electric vehicle’s drive unit. Mercedes claims the system offers several benefits, including reduced maintenance needs and a decrease in brake dust emissions. The concept of using electric motors for regenerative braking, which helps preserve friction brakes and recaptures energy for the battery, is already established in the EV industry. Various…

Audi has unveiled its 2025 RS e-tron GT and S e-tron GT, marking a significant update to its high-performance electric vehicle (EV) lineup. With nearly 1,000 horsepower and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 2.4 seconds, the new RS e-tron GT becomes the most powerful and fastest-accelerating production car in Audi’s history, pushing the limits of what electric performance can achieve. The 2025 e-tron GT family now includes two models: the S e-tron GT, which offers a more accessible performance package, and the headline-grabbing RS e-tron GT Performance. Both models feature improvements in battery capacity, driving range, and charging…

Kia debuted its highly anticipated 2026 EV9 GT at the LA Auto Show, showcasing a high-performance version of its three-row electric SUV. The EV9 GT boasts upgraded power, advanced features, and a native North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, aligning with Kia’s plans to enhance EV infrastructure compatibility. The EV9 GT features a significant horsepower boost to 501 hp, compared to the 379 hp of the current GT-Line trim. Its dual-motor system includes a 160 kW motor in the front and a 270 kW motor in the rear, enabling a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 4.3 seconds. Additional performance…

Autonomous vehicle startup Nuro is rolling out a test fleet of its driverless, passenger-less R3 vehicles across the Bay Area and Houston. This marks a significant expansion of Nuro’s testing operations, following a strategic shift toward licensing its autonomous vehicle (AV) technology to automakers and mobility providers. The initiative, which began two months after Nuro’s pivot, aims to showcase its AV technology to potential customers in both the automotive and delivery sectors. Nuro, which has raised over $2 billion from investors such as Tiger Global Management and SoftBank Vision Fund, initially planned to operate a fleet of low-speed delivery robots…

California has updated its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in a bid to attract more investments into cleaner fuel and transportation technologies, with the ambitious goal of reducing CO2 emissions in the transportation sector by 90% by 2045. The newly announced updates to the LCFS aim to cut the carbon intensity of the state’s fuel mix by 30% by 2030, ultimately reaching a 90% reduction by 2045. Additionally, the revisions will provide increased support for zero-emissions infrastructure, particularly for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and expand the eligibility for transit agencies to generate credits under the LCFS program. The LCFS functions…

Lion Electric, a Quebec-based manufacturer of electric buses, is grappling with severe financial difficulties and is now considering various alternatives, including a potential sale of the company. While the company is not yet ready to put itself up for sale, it has confirmed that the possibility is being explored internally. In a recent statement, Lion Electric revealed that it is evaluating several sources of financing and other strategic options, which could include selling the business or certain assets. The company is currently in discussions with its lenders to extend the grace period on a loan agreement until November 30, 2024.…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio has set an ambitious new target for international growth, aiming to expand into up to 25 countries or regions by the end of 2024. This marks a significant acceleration of its previous goal, announced three years ago, to enter more than 25 markets by 2025. Nio’s co-founder and president, Qin Lihong, revealed the updated target in an interview with Chinese state-run media outlet CGTN on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “I hope that we can expand to up…

Willowbank Raceway in Queensland, Australia, has prohibited electric vehicles (EVs) from participating in racing and testing on its track due to safety considerations. While hybrid vehicles are permitted, fully electric vehicles are now restricted, according to an official statement released by the raceway. “After careful consideration and investigation, Willowbank Raceway has decided that we can no longer allow road-registered Fully Electric Vehicles to race or test at Willowbank Raceway,” the statement read. The decision was based on a review of guidelines from Motorsport Australia, the National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA), and other emergency response protocols, which indicated that “the…

Tesla’s Model 3 has once again demonstrated its superior safety features, becoming the only vehicle among 30 tested to excel in a rear-end truck collision scenario, one of the deadliest types of vehicular accidents. In a rigorous crash test administered by the Chinese DCAR Institute for Collision Safety, the Model 3 was the standout performer, with its design and engineering allowing it to pass all the critical safety benchmarks. The crash test, known as the “trailer drill,” simulates the deadly scenario of a car rear-ending a truck while sliding underneath it. In this high-stakes test, the Model 3 showed remarkable…

Renesas Electronics, in collaboration with Nidec, has unveiled an ‘8-in-1’ proof of concept (PoC) for electric axle (E-Axle) systems, designed to control eight functions using a single microcontroller. The system integrates a motor, reduction gear, inverter, DC/DC converter, and onboard battery charger, demonstrating a compact, efficient solution for electric vehicles (EVs). This PoC, presented at electronica 2024 in Munich, is still in the prototype stage and not yet production-ready. The integrated system includes a 70 to 100 kW inverter with a maximum efficiency of 99%, a 1.5 kW DC/DC converter, a 6.6 kW onboard charger, a power distribution unit, battery…

Paris has enacted a traffic-restricted zone in its city center, prohibiting most vehicles from passing through key areas in an effort to reduce congestion and improve air quality. The measure, implemented by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, restricts car access to a 5.5-square-kilometer area covering Paris’s 1st to 4th arrondissements, which includes landmarks such as the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens. Since November 4, only emergency vehicles, buses, taxis, and residents or workers in the zone are permitted entry, along with individuals visiting the area for essential activities such as medical appointments, shopping, or entertainment. Transit traffic is strictly prohibited. The decree,…

Tesla has introduced a new feature in its navigation system that displays real-time availability at select third-party charging stations, starting with two new markets. This feature aims to make charging more efficient by helping Tesla drivers avoid potential wait times at non-Tesla chargers. Tesla owner and X user Matty06 shared photos last week showing the updated navigation screen, which now indicates the status of third-party chargers with phrases like “1 of 2 available.” The feature is currently available at select stations participating in Tesla’s Qualified Third-Party Charger Program, launched in 2022. @NotATeslaApp the latest map update in europe, give us…