Author: Andy Williams

Mercedes is set to upgrade its electric vehicle (EV) lineup with the latest drivetrain technology to enhance their driving range. The models set to receive the update first are the EQE, EQS, and EQS SUV, with production expected to commence in July. The updates will include the new automatically decoupling front electric motor, the DCU. The front motor was previously always connected to the drivetrain, but was found to create more resistance than it could produce in electricity. The DCU resolves this issue by automatically disconnecting the front motor when it is not needed and reconnecting it when necessary. See…

Tesla has experienced a volatile year with regard to pricing tactics. In its major markets of Europe, North America, and China, the automaker made substantial reductions in car prices. Despite these cuts, Tesla continues to tweak its pricing with the most recent example being a $500 hike for the Model Y Long Range in the US. The question remains whether this signals a shift towards restoring prices after the reductions. However, news has surfaced of a new discount being offered by the company on its Model S and Model X in the US. According to Teslarati, Tesla is offering a…

The 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 6 has been given impressive official EPA ratings, exceeding most expectations. Hyundai introduced the IONIQ 6 as an “electrified streamliner” last June, positioning it as a sportier and more aerodynamic electric vehicle compared to its first dedicated EV, the IONIQ 5 SUV. The IONIQ 6 is built on the same 800V E-GMP platform as the IONIQ 5, and boasts advanced features such as vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities, ultrafast charging with a charge time of up to 80% in just 18 minutes, and the latest technological advancements. Hyundai announced at the LA Auto Show that the IONIQ 6…

Tesla recently reduced its vehicle prices in various regions including the US, Europe, Australia, and China. In some cases, the price cuts were over 30% due to increased eligibility for government subsidies and federal tax credits. The company attributed the price cuts to reduced production costs, not weaker demand. Tesla’s aggressive price reductions, made possible by its advanced economies of scale and manufacturing efficiency, put pressure on other EV manufacturers to follow suit. Brands were forced to lower their electric vehicle prices in order to remain competitive in the market. See also: Volkswagen and BP plan to expand their electric…

Volvo Trucks North America’s customer, Rockview Farms, a Southern California-based dairy business, deployed two Volvo VNR Electric trucks for farm-to-customer milk deliveries. The zero-emissions trucks will reduce noise and emissions in the Downey, California neighborhood. Rockview Farms’ deployment is part of the Volvo LIGHTS project, which has already deployed over 30 battery-electric freight trucks in California’s South Coast Air Basin. The Volvo VNR Electric provides a quiet and comfortable experience for drivers, with zero tailpipe emissions and reduced heat, noise, and vibration. TEC Equipment in La Mirada offers training and a route planning tool, the Electric Performance Generator, to optimize…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk met with Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden, John Podesta and Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu in Washington on Friday to discuss ways to further promote the adoption of electric vehicles in the United States. According to a Senior White House spokesperson, the meeting focused on “shared goals around electrification” and how recently passed legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can help to increase the use of electric vehicles in the country. See also: Biden Will Replace 600,000 Government Vehicles Into Electric Cars The spokesperson stated that topics of discussion also included…

Shares of electric vehicle maker Lucid Group (LCID.O) skyrocketed 43% on Friday, following rumors that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) was looking to acquire the company. The speculation, which originated from an unverified alert from deals website Betaville, caused Lucid to become the sixth-most traded stock on U.S. exchanges and the third top mover on the Nasdaq. The PIF, which already owns more than 65% of Lucid, did not comment on the rumors. In 2018, the PIF expressed interest in taking Tesla private, however, the deal never came to fruition. Lucid has been facing challenges in delivering its luxury…

French car manufacturer Peugeot has announced ambitious plans to fully electrify its line-up by 2025 and cease sales of combustion-powered vehicles in Europe by 2030. The company will also be introducing five new electric vehicles (EVs) in the next two years, starting with the E-308 and E-308 SW wagon, followed by the E-408, E-3008, and E-5008. The E-3008, set to be revealed in the second half of 2023, will have a range of up to 700km and will be available with three powertrains, including a dual-motor all-wheel-drive option. It will be the first vehicle built on the STLA Medium platform,…

Lexus is offering several ways to enhance the ownership experience for customers purchasing its all-new, all-electric RZ 450e crossover. The luxury car manufacturer has announced that it will be working with ChargePoint, a leading provider of public EV charging stations and home charging equipment, and Qmerit, an EV integration solutions provider, to offer home chargers, installation services, and access to a vast network of public charging stations. To support a home charging experience, Lexus dealers will offer customers the option to purchase a ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 charger at the dealership or directly from ChargePoint online. The ChargePoint Home…

The year 2022 was a banner one for Tesla, as the company set new records for quarterly revenue, operating income, net income, and electric vehicle deliveries. During the company’s Q4 and full year 2022 financial results and Q&A webcast, CEO Elon Musk addressed the question on many investors’ minds: demand for electric cars. Musk stated that after Tesla reduced prices globally, orders for their vehicles surged to new record levels in January. He sought to put investors’ concerns about demand to rest by saying, “So far in January we’ve seen the strongest orders year-to-date than ever in our history.” This…

Cadillac is set to showcase its new all-electric ultra-luxury sedan, the Celestiq, at the Montage Los Cabos resort in Mexico next month. The event will take place from February 10th to 18th and will feature world-renowned chef Mauro Colagreco, who will be serving up a fusion of French and Mexican flavors at the resort’s Mezcal restaurant. Colagreco, renowned for his Michelin-starred Mirazur restaurant in Menton, France, which was named the world’s best restaurant by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2019, will be showcasing his culinary skills in an event featuring the debut of the new all-electric ultra-luxury sedan, the…

According to GM Authority, Cadillac is set to expand its electric vehicle lineup with the introduction of a new Tech trim level for the Lyriq model. The new model, which is expected to arrive for the 2024 model year, will be positioned below the Luxury and Sport grades and will be available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. Pricing for the Tech model is currently unknown, but it is expected to be more affordable than the Luxury and Sport models. The Tech model will also come with less standard equipment than the Luxury and Sport models. While the Driver…

Orange EV, a US-based company based in Kansas City, is expanding to Canada, bringing its popular electric terminal truck to the northern market. Specializing in smaller yard trucks for use in distribution centers, ports, and warehouses, Orange EV’s trucks are designed to easily move containers around yards and lower the carbon footprint of these operations. The trucks have already proven themselves capable of handling harsh winter weather, having been operated in places like Minnesota and western New York. As part of its expansion into Canada, Orange EV is offering customers an additional savings of $100,000 per truck, for up to…

Liverpool, located in North West England, has selected Ubitricity to expand the city’s charging network by utilizing lamp posts as charging points. The Berlin-based company, which is now a subsidiary of Shell, has ambitious goals for the UK market. The Liverpool City Council plans for Ubitricity to install 300 charge posts, increasing the existing network of 150 on-street chargers. This move would make Liverpool the authority with the third-largest public charging network in the UK, behind London and Coventry. A lack of accessible public electric vehicle (EV) charging points is a significant barrier to EV adoption. According to the Department…

In recent years, vehicle top speeds have increased significantly, prompting calls for formal speed limits on Germany’s unrestricted Autobahns. However, Transport Minister Volker Wissing, a member of a coalition government elected in October 2021, has dismissed the possibility of introducing limits in the near future. Despite a coalition party being pro-speed limit, and reports indicating high public support for limits, including support from Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel, Wissing has not made it a policy priority. “The pace is the personal responsibility of the citizens, as long as others are not endangered. The state should hold back here,” Wissing told…

BP’s electric vehicle (EV) charging business, bp pulse, has unveiled the first charging corridor for medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks (E-Trucks) in Europe. Six public charging locations with ultra-fast 300 kW charge points, specifically designed for E-Trucks, have been established along a 600 km stretch of the Rhine-Alpine corridor that runs through Germany. This corridor is one of Europe’s busiest road freight routes, linking key ports in Belgium and the Netherlands with the Mediterranean port of Genoa in Italy and spanning a total of 1,300 km. The new chargers have been installed at Aral retail sites in Germany between the…

Swedish electric car manufacturer, Polestar, has unveiled an updated version of its flagship model, the Polestar 2, set to hit showrooms for the 2024 model year. The new iteration boasts an increased range and faster charging capabilities, in addition to additional standard equipment. The sleek five-door, five-seat fastback, which made its debut in 2020, is currently the only vehicle offered by Polestar. However, the brand has plans to expand its electric lineup with the impending release of the Polestar 3 in 2023, and future models such as the Polestar 6 roadster, expected to arrive in 2026. Polestar has undergone significant…

The Volvo Group Venture Capital AB has announced an investment in the autonomous trucking technology company Waabi. The Canadian start-up is developing next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) technology to solve autonomy at scale. Recently, Waabi unveiled its core autonomous trucking solution, the Waabi Driver, designed for large-scale commercialization and safe deployment. This solution is complemented by Waabi World, a scalable high-quality simulator, which exposes the Waabi Driver to a vast diversity of scenarios to hone its driving skills and pave the way for widespread adoption of autonomous trucking. Martin Witt, President of Volvo Group Venture Capital, said, “The company Waabi is…

Battery cell manufacturer SK On has teamed up with US graphite processor Urbix to develop anode materials for its batteries. The South Korean company is looking to secure its US supply chain with innovative materials. Should the partnership with Urbix prove successful, SK On may pave the way for establishing an anode supply chain in North America. Additionally, the Korean firm has expressed interest in securing subsidies under the US government’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires materials to be sourced primarily in the US for electric vehicles to be eligible for federal subsidies. SK On has yet to reveal…

Rivian and Clearloop will unveil a new electric vehicle (EV) charging site, Waypoints, in Paris, Tennessee. The event follows the previously announced partnership between the two companies to support the development of one megawatt (MW) of the Paris Solar Farm project, which is developed, owned, and operated by Clearloop’s parent company, Silicon Ranch. The Waypoints chargers will be powered by 100% carbon-free renewable energy. The companies share a common approach of utilizing emissionality to determine where new solar generation can displace the most carbon, in order to expand access to clean energy in the communities that can benefit the most.…