Author: Andy Williams

Nio Power, the energy infrastructure unit of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc, said on Thursday it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Wuhan’s state-owned Optics Valley Traffic Company to advance the construction and operation of charging and battery swap facilities. Under the agreement, the two sides will cooperate on charging and battery swap infrastructure, energy innovation projects and the development of a broader brand ecosystem, Nio said in a statement. The company did not disclose financial terms or a construction timeline. An image released by Nio showed Chief Financial Officer and Nio Power head Stanley Qu attending the…

The European Commission said on Thursday it is assessing a proposal from Volkswagen related to tariffs imposed on the automaker’s electric vehicles manufactured in China, raising the possibility that the current duties could be replaced by an import quota and minimum price mechanism. The review follows warnings from Volkswagen’s SEAT/CUPRA brand, which produces its Tavascan all-electric SUV at the group’s Anhui plant in China, that the tariff presents a serious threat to its business outlook in Europe. See also: Volkswagen Anhui Files for Approval of New ID.UNYX 07 Electric Sedan in China The Commission imposed anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese-built electric…

Volkswagen has set out plans to transform its Transparent Factory (Gläserne Manufaktur) in Dresden into an innovation campus focused on future technologies, marking a strategic shift for the site as vehicle production is phased out. Under a letter of intent signed with the Free State of Saxony and the Technical University of Dresden (TU Dresden), the German carmaker will make large parts of the facility available for academic and industrial research. The initiative will focus on key technology areas including artificial intelligence, robotics, microelectronics and semiconductor design. See also: Volkswagen Delays Five-Year Model and Plant Planning as Strategy Review Deepens…

Rivian has revealed one of its most exclusive production vehicles to date, announcing a limited run of just 10 units of the R1S Quad Miami Edition, priced at $134,990, as the electric vehicle maker explores new demand for ultra-premium collector configurations. The special-edition SUV was first previewed at the opening of Rivian’s Brickell Space showroom in South Florida and is now being formally offered as a production model. The Miami Edition is based on the company’s high-performance Quad-Motor R1S but features a bespoke exterior and interior design package inspired by South Florida’s art deco heritage and 1980s coastal styling. See…

Global electric vehicle (EV) battery installations rose sharply in the first ten months of the year, with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) extending its lead in the market while rival BYD saw its share edge lower despite higher volumes. Total global EV battery installations reached 933.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) from January to October, up 35.2% from 690.7 GWh a year earlier, according to data released by South Korean market research firm SNE Research. See also: China Moves to Rein In Excessive Competition in Battery Industry CATL posted installations of 355.2 GWh over the period, marking a 36.6% increase from…

he Greater Manchester Combined Authority has approved the release of nearly £60 million to procure around 220 additional battery-electric buses, expanding the region’s Bee Network as local authorities accelerate plans to fully decarbonise public transport by 2030. The £59.1 million allocation will subsidise the additional cost of replacing Euro VI diesel buses with zero-emission electric models. The first new vehicles from the order are expected to enter service by the end of 2026 and will convert a further 13% of the Bee Network bus fleet from diesel to electric operation. See also: Go North West Tests Retrofitted Electric Bus for…

Spanish performance brand Cupra is preparing to enter the growing market for small, sporty electric hatchbacks with the launch of the Cupra Raval early next year, positioning the model as a more dynamic alternative to typical urban EVs. The Raval is built on the Volkswagen Group’s updated MEB+ platform, which will also underpin future small electric models from Volkswagen and Skoda. Cupra, however, has engineered a distinct setup for its new hatchback. The chassis sits 15 mm lower than its platform counterparts, supported by stiffer suspension tuning and progressive steering aimed at delivering sharper handling. Unlike some rivals in the…

Ford Motor is developing its next generation of electric vehicles around a newly unveiled Universal EV Platform (UEV), aiming to sharply cut production costs and broaden access to affordable electric vehicles in North America, the company said. The platform, revealed in August, will debut with a mid-size electric pickup scheduled to enter production in 2027. Ford has previously indicated the truck is expected to start at around $30,000, positioning it among the most affordable electric pickups on the U.S. market. See also: What We Know So Far About Ford Universal EV Platform Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley said cost reduction…

Workhorse Group said its shareholders have approved the company’s proposed merger with Motiv Electric Trucks, clearing a key hurdle for the transaction that will unite two manufacturers focused on medium-duty electric commercial vehicles. The vote took place at Workhorse’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on Nov. 25, with final voting results filed with U.S. regulators via a Form 8-K. See also: Workhorse Expands W56 Electric Step Van Lineup With Utilimaster Aeromaster Body The merger is expected to close in the coming weeks, subject to several remaining conditions, including the arrangement of new debt financing involving Workhorse and Motiv’s largest…

Electrogenic, the UK-based EV conversion specialist, has completed its first African deployment after converting a fleet of Land Rover Defenders to fully electric power at Sarara, a remote safari lodge in Kenya’s Matthews Range. The installation expands the company’s presence to a fourth continent and showcases the use of solar-charged EV technology in off-grid environments. Sarara operates within the 850,000-acre Namunyak Conservancy, where roads routinely become impassable during Kenya’s rainy season. The lodge previously faced closures when diesel deliveries could not reach the site. The electrified Defenders—powered entirely by on-site solar infrastructure—enabled uninterrupted operations through the 2024–2025 wet season. The…

The German city of Karlsruhe has shifted its waste collection fleet to fully electric operations, deploying 18 Mercedes-Benz eEconic trucks across daily routes without usage restrictions. The rollout, which began at the end of September, marks one of the most extensive municipal adoptions of electric refuse vehicles in the country. The eEconic trucks are being used for routine waste operations—including residual waste, paper, and bulky waste collection—mirroring the duties traditionally handled by diesel models. Each truck is equipped with a 112 kWh battery pack, of which about 97 kWh is usable. According to fleet managers, the vehicles complete average daily…

Spanish bus manufacturer Irizar has secured contracts to supply a total of 80 electric buses to public transport operators across Poland, expanding its presence in a market traditionally dominated by domestic producer Solaris. The agreements cover five separate operators and include multiple variants of the Irizar ie bus, ranging from 10-metre models to 18-metre articulated units. The company said its ie bus platform was selected across all tenders included in the latest awards. See also: KVB Places Record Order for 78 Electric Buses From Spain’s Irizar In Warsaw, operator MZA Varsovia has ordered ten 10-metre electric buses, with deliveries scheduled…