Author: Joshua Morris

Allianz SE has urged the European Union to implement a continent-wide “driving license” for autonomous vehicles (AVs), aiming to harmonize safety testing and oversight, while projecting a 50% reduction in road accidents by 2060 due to automation. The recommendations were presented in Allianz’s report, HANDS OFF – The Safety Promise of Autonomous Mobility, unveiled at the 13th Allianz Motor Day 2025 in Munich. Research by the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) indicates that automation could reduce traffic accidents by 20% by 2035, with potential savings exceeding 50% by 2060 as Level 3–4 automated systems become more widespread. Analysis of 20,000…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Leapmotor (HKG: 9863) said it will begin pre-sales of its new Lafa 5 electric hatchback in China on November 7, positioning the model as one of its key global offerings in the coming years. The company announced the plan on Weibo, adding that a pre-sale event will take place at 7:00 p.m. Beijing time. The Lafa 5 first made its global debut at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, Germany, in early September, when pre-orders opened in China without pricing details. Leapmotor previously said the vehicle would officially launch in the fourth quarter, with deliveries…

There’s a new contender in the commuter e-bike scene, and it’s designed to make your daily rides faster and more enjoyable. The newly introduced Batch eCB.3 brings together comfort, practicality, and impressive performance, offering pedal-assist speeds up to 28 mph (45 km/h) for an effortless commute. At the core of the eCB.3 is a 500W Vinka rear hub motor, classed as a Class 3 system, providing smooth pedal-assist up to 28 mph. Paired with a 48V, 15Ah (720Wh) battery, the eCB.3 delivers solid range for urban commutes or extended weekend rides. See also: Audi Launches Second-Generation Electric Mountain Bike With…

Tesla Inc. has started producing its own residential solar panels at Gigafactory New York in Buffalo, with first customer deliveries expected in the first quarter of 2026. The move comes amid renewed interest in Tesla’s solar business, which the company had largely deprioritized in recent years. See also: Musk Signals Tesla Production Expansion Ahead of Autonomous Vehicle Rollout During Tesla’s Q3 earnings call, Mike Snyder, VP of Energy and Charging, cited a surge in U.S. residential solar demand driven by recent policy changes: “We’ve also seen a surge in residential solar demand in the US due to policy changes, which…

UK-based charge point operator Zest said it will install electric vehicle (EV) chargers at 20 additional Central Co-op locations, expanding its long-term partnership with the British grocery chain. The move follows successful charger deployments at six Central Co-op sites across the Midlands, Lancashire and East Anglia. Under the partnership, Zest funds, installs and operates the charging infrastructure, typically offering chargers with power outputs between 30 kW and 120 kW. The facilities are designed for Co-op customers to use while shopping. Existing sites include Wirksworth, Shelton Lock, Wildwood, Hambleton, Hethersett, and Thornton-Cleveleys. See also: Portsmouth Partners with Zest to Launch Over…

Charge point operator BP Pulse said it will extend its partnership with Transport for London (TfL) until at least 2029, continuing efforts to expand and upgrade London’s public fast-charging network for electric vehicles. The partnership, first established in 2018, has led to the installation of more than 150 fast chargers across multiple London boroughs. Since then, the two partners have been implementing a phased upgrade programme to replace older units with new charging technology. See also: BP Pulse and Moto Partner to Roll Out 300 High-Powered Electric Truck Chargers Across UK Motorways by 2030 BP Pulse said that the first…

Isuzu Motors will provide its ERGA EV autonomous bus for demonstration tests in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, from October 2025 to January 2026, the company said. The vehicle will make its world premiere as a reference exhibit at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, held at Tokyo Big Sight from October 30 to November 9. The demonstration is part of a collaborative effort to advance digital transformation in regional transportation through autonomous mobility, involving Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu, Mitsubishi Corporation, Aisan Technology, and A-Drive. Isuzu previously conducted Level 2 autonomous driving tests using an ERGA diesel bus along the same…

Ford Motor said on Thursday it is prioritizing production of its gas-powered and hybrid F-Series trucks as it works to recover from financial and operational setbacks caused by a fire at an aluminum supplier’s plant in New York. Production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning remains on hold at the company’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. The decision follows a September 16 fire at Novelis’ aluminum plant in Oswego, which severely damaged its hot mill and disrupted Ford’s supply chain. Novelis expects the facility to resume full operations by December 2025. The setback has forced Ford to focus on…

Pando Electric, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for multifamily properties, has launched Pando Canopy, a wireless mesh system designed to maintain consistent connectivity for EV chargers without relying on WiFi or cellular networks. The system is included with all Pando Gen2 installations at no additional cost. The Canopy mesh network operates locally through a self-healing, peer-to-peer architecture, enabling chargers to share data and maintain functionality even in areas where internet access is limited, such as underground garages or large parking structures. Users can charge vehicles offline, with data automatically syncing to the cloud once connectivity is restored.…

Stellantis has delayed the launch of the all-electric Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio to 2027, extending the life of their gasoline-powered predecessors as the automaker adjusts its EV rollout strategy. Alfa Romeo CEO and Maserati COO Santo Ficili confirmed the delay during a presentation for the updated Tonale SUV, according to a report from Motor1. The next-generation Giulia and Stelvio were initially scheduled to debut in 2026 as fully electric models built on Stellantis’ new STLA Large platform. See also: Maserati May Base Future Quattroporte, Levante on Alfa Romeo’s STLA Large Platform The postponement will allow Alfa Romeo to refine…

General Motors (GM) announced plans to introduce “eyes-off” driving in 2028 on the Cadillac Escalade IQ, enabling drivers to take their eyes off the road on highways in North America. The system represents a significant evolution of GM’s existing Super Cruise hands-free technology. Unlike Tesla’s camera-only approach, GM’s system will integrate lidar, radar, and cameras for perception. Sterling Anderson, GM’s executive vice president of global product, emphasized the importance of the multi-sensor approach, stating: “The evolutionary analog doesn’t work here… Why do we have multiple modes? And why have we somehow managed to fuse them? And you don’t think you…

The European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) has released its first-ever dataset on public charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles across the European Union, reporting a total of 1,512 charging stations currently in operation. Of these, 1,369 locations are designated for mixed use—serving both heavy and light commercial vehicles—while 143 stations are exclusively available for heavy-duty vehicles. EAFO’s data focuses on charging stations rather than individual recharging points, a distinction that may refer to entire charging sites with multiple outlets. See also: Germany Opens First Public Megawatt Charging Point for Electric Trucks Germany leads the EU with 479 stations, followed by Sweden…