Author: Joshua Morris

Li Auto  and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) have signed a five-year comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement to deepen collaboration in battery technology and expand their global reach, the companies said on Wednesday. The deal, signed in the presence of Li Auto CEO Li Xiang and CATL CEO Robin Zeng, will focus on areas including battery safety, supercharging technology and joint efforts to expand domestic and international business operations, CATL said in a statement. The battery maker will continue supplying Li Auto with a full range of systems, including ternary lithium, M3P, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and sodium-ion batteries. CATL…

Daimler Truck said on Thursday its Mercedes-Benz GenH2 hydrogen prototypes have completed initial customer trials in Germany, covering more than 225,000 kilometers and demonstrating fuel consumption as low as 5.6 kg per 100 km, comparable to diesel in range and practicality. Five prototypes were tested with partners including Amazon, Air Products, Holcim, INEOS Inovyn and Wiedmann & Winz, using about 15 tons of liquid hydrogen across 285 refueling sessions. The trucks, equipped with a 300 kW fuel cell from cellcentric and a 70 kWh buffer battery, achieved ranges of 1,000 km or more per refueling, with stop times of 10…

Fleet management firm SG Fleet has teamed up with UK charging provider Ohme to include smart home chargers in its electric vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice packages, aiming to cut costs for drivers and encourage wider EV adoption. Under the partnership, the cost of an Ohme charger is bundled into monthly rental fees, removing upfront expenses for employees switching to EVs. SG Fleet said its UK salary sacrifice fleet has recorded a 400% increase in EVs since 2021, underscoring growing demand. Ohme’s chargers allow drivers to tap into off-peak electricity tariffs, potentially reducing annual charging costs to as little as £119,…

UK-based electric vehicle charging network Be.EV said it has launched operations in London with four new ultra-rapid charging hubs, adding 30 fast-charging bays to its network. The first installation was completed at the Crown Hotel, which also marks the company’s 300th ultra-rapid charge point. Additional hubs will be located near Croydon, Dartford and Watford. Be.EV said it is investing more than £2.5 million in the new charging sites. The company, founded in Manchester in 2019, operates more than 750 charging bays nationwide and aims to expand that number to 1,600 by the end of 2025. Its growth is supported by…

German-Canadian company Rock Tech Lithium said it has reduced the projected operating costs for its planned Guben Converter in Brandenburg, Germany, by 23 per cent, lowering expected expenditure to €93.1 million annually. The company now estimates the cost of producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate will fall from around €5,033 to €3,878 per tonne, based on an annual output of 24,000 tonnes. The facility is scheduled to come online in 2027 and will be capable of producing enough lithium hydroxide to supply roughly 500,000 electric vehicles a year. “This significant cost reduction is a major step forward,” said Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO…

Hyundai Motor America said it is recalling more than 31,000 Ioniq 6 electric vehicles in the United States due to a defect that may cause charging port door panels to detach while driving, posing a potential crash risk. The recall affects certain 2023–2025 Ioniq 6 models built in South Korea between Dec. 14, 2022, and Dec. 26, 2024, according to documents filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The issue stems from insufficient engagement between the charging flap and the outer panel’s retaining hooks. The panels, supplied by LS Automotive Technologies of South Korea, may come loose while…

Geely will make its first foray into the UK market with the launch of its EX5 all-electric SUV, with customer deliveries set to begin in late October. Pre-orders for the model, priced from £31,990, are now open. The mid-size SUV comes with a 60.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a WLTP range of up to 267 miles, depending on trim level. The EX5 measures 4.61 metres in length, 1.90 metres wide, and 1.67 metres high. It is powered by a front-mounted 215bhp (160kW) electric motor that enables a 0–62mph acceleration in 6.9 seconds. The SUV supports charging at up…

Solaris Bus & Coach and MZA Warsaw have signed a contract for the delivery of 79 electric buses, including 50 articulated Urbino 18 models and 29 Urbino 12 buses. The agreement also includes an option for an additional 79 vehicles. The buses will feature a modular drive system that eliminates the engine tower, increasing passenger space and providing room for rooftop battery placement. Solaris High Energy batteries will power the fleet, with capacities exceeding 500 kWh for the 12-meter buses and more than 700 kWh for the articulated models. Charging will be via plug-in connectors, and the buses will include…

Kia has launched a taxi variant of its PV5 electric van in Korea, adding to its growing Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) lineup. The PV5, available in passenger and cargo versions, is Kia’s first fully electric van and forms part of a strategy to offer flexible models tailored to industries including logistics, transport, and retail. The PV5 taxi is equipped with a 71.2 kWh battery, providing a range of up to 358 km (222 miles). Features designed for taxi use include protective floor mats, rear passenger USB ports, a driver footrest, and sliding second-row doors. Kia has also introduced an upgraded…

Urban mobility specialist Tern has launched an updated version of its Vektron folding e-bike, introducing stronger motors, integration with the Bosch Smart System, and a new belt-drive option aimed at reducing maintenance and improving everyday usability. The latest Vektron lineup, available in several configurations, retains its compact folding design while offering upgrades in performance and comfort. The e-bike can roll on its wheels even when folded, easing transfers on public transport, and its pannier rack includes reinforced supports that allow the bike to stand securely when folded. Integrated mudguards, lighting, and a pannier-ready rack are standard across the range. The…

The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning received mixed results in the latest crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), falling short of the ratings required to earn a Top Safety Pick award. While the electric pickup was rated “good” in the category of front crash prevention: pedestrian, as well as for its seat belt reminder system, the IIHS gave it lower scores in other areas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlTnWKb5Vxg The F-150 Lightning received a “marginal” rating for child seat latch ease of use, an “acceptable” rating for its headlights, and a “poor” rating in the moderate overlap front crash test.…

Volkswagen’s flagship Touareg SUV, slated to be discontinued next year, could return as an electric model and potentially become the first vehicle built on the group’s new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), according to a report by Automobilwoche. The prospect of an ID. Touareg debuting the SSP comes as a surprise, since the architecture was expected to launch with the ID. Golf or ID. Roc in Wolfsburg. However, delays to those models — now reportedly pushed to 2030 due to the later relocation of ICE Golf production to Mexico — may clear the way for the SUV. Ending combustion Touareg production…

The FIA has entered a multi-year agreement with Extreme H to establish the first hydrogen-powered World Cup in motorsport, positioning the series as a major new global off-road championship. The FIA Extreme H World Cup is scheduled to begin later this year in Saudi Arabia, with detailed locations and dates set to be announced on 17 September. The series will run entirely on hydrogen fuel cell technology, powering not only the vehicles but also paddock operations, broadcast systems, and hospitality. Organizers describe Extreme H as a real-world demonstration of hydrogen’s potential, aiming to stimulate investment in refueling infrastructure and promote…

Orange EV, a U.S.-based electric yard truck manufacturer, has partnered with charging technology company OptiGrid to introduce the Orange Juicer™, a battery-integrated DC fast charger designed to reduce deployment timelines and cut infrastructure costs for fleet operators. The Orange Juicer incorporates a 180-kWh onboard battery that draws steady energy from existing site power, then delivers high-capacity charging on demand. The system bypasses lengthy utility upgrades, enabling fleets to bring electric trucks into service within weeks rather than years. Orange EV and OptiGrid say the solution delivers full fast-charging capability while consuming up to 85% less grid input power compared with…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng said it will introduce an extended-range version of its X9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in October, marking its first entry into the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) market. The seven-seat X9 EREV, described by the company as the world’s longest-range new energy MPV, will be built on an 800-volt high-voltage platform supporting 5C ultra-fast charging. According to Xpeng, the model will offer a battery-only range of 450 kilometers under the CLTC standard, and a combined range of up to 1,600 kilometers when both fully charged and fueled. The vehicle uses a 1.5-liter engine supplied by Harbin Dongan…

Subaru is offering its 2025 Solterra electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) for lease at a rate roughly 40 percent lower than the Tesla Model Y, the company said. The promotion is available until the end of September for well-qualified buyers who take delivery from existing retail stock. Under the deal, the Solterra Premium trim can be leased for $299 per month over 36 months, with no security deposit or down payment required. By comparison, a Tesla Model Y adjusted for zero down payment leases at $492 per month for the same term. Lessees of the Solterra will have the option…

RoboSense, a developer of AI-driven automotive sensors, announced that its mass-producible digital LiDARs are now compatible with NVIDIA’s DRIVE AGX platform, a move expected to accelerate the deployment of autonomous driving technologies for automakers worldwide. The integration makes RoboSense’s E1, EMX, and EM4 LiDARs available within the NVIDIA DRIVE ecosystem, providing high-definition 3D perception data to support the development of L2 to L4 autonomous driving systems. RoboSense said the EM4 is the only mass-produced digital main LiDAR with more than 500 beams, offering both long-range perception and near-field blind-spot coverage. Mark Qiu, CEO of RoboSense, said the partnership “offers leading…

Chinese automaker BYD plans to introduce its high-power “Flash Charging” technology to Europe, enabling up to 1,000 kW charging through a single CCS cable, according to Spanish outlet TestCoches. In China, BYD’s megawatt system currently requires plugging in two cables simultaneously. But TestCoches reported from the IAA Mobility 2025 show in Munich that “in Europe only one cable is required to reach the 1,000 kW maximum DC charging power. And of course, the European standard connector, the CCS plug, remains in use.” BYD first showcased its 1,000-volt “Super e-platform” earlier this year, which integrates an updated Blade battery and technical…

Xpeng is preparing to launch an extended-range version of its P7+ sedan next year, marking another step in the company’s expansion into the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) market, Chinese media outlet Cailian reported on Thursday. The upcoming P7+ EREV is expected to feature a battery capable of 5C fast charging and deliver a pure electric range of about 400 kilometers. The move aligns with Xpeng’s strategy to offer both battery electric and extended-range powertrains for future models, which will also be rolled out to global markets. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently disclosed regulatory filings for an…

ExxonMobil has acquired the U.S.-based assets and technology of Superior Graphite, along with select international offices, in a bid to enter the synthetic graphite market and bolster domestic production of battery materials for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. The acquisition brings over a century of graphite expertise to ExxonMobil, enabling the company to combine Superior Graphite’s proprietary processes, intellectual property, and production know-how with its own operational scale and technology. The move is expected to expand synthetic graphite production in the United States. Synthetic graphite, a key material for lithium-ion battery anodes, impacts both energy density and overall…