Author: Andy Williams

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, recently announced that the company’s next “Supervised Full Self-Driving” (FSD) software update is expected to deliver a substantial improvement in performance. Musk claimed that the upcoming update, version 12.4, will undergo internal release this weekend, followed by a limited external beta next week. This update is projected to result in a “roughly 5 to 10 times improvement in miles per intervention” compared to the previous version, 12.3. The FSD program has been a focal point for Tesla, with the company continuously working to enhance its self-driving capabilities. With the entire system now based on…

At the Financial Times’ Future of the Car Summit in London, Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson shared his perspective on the competition between Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers and Tesla, emphasizing that while Chinese companies have made significant strides, they still lag behind Tesla in core EV technology. Rawlinson acknowledged the remarkable progress of Chinese automakers, noting their superiority to western counterparts in terms of fit and finish quality. However, he highlighted that Chinese engineering, particularly in drive train technology and battery integration, falls short of Tesla’s standards. “In terms of the elegance of their drive train technology, the batteries, the…

Stellantis has reported significant growth in the European electrified market during the first four months of 2024, signaling a strong start to the year for the automaker. Despite tough industry competition and the absence of incentives in many key European markets, Stellantis has emerged as a leader in the transition to electrification. Uwe Hochgeschurtz, Stellantis Chief Operating Officer, Enlarged Europe, highlighted the company’s performance, stating, “Our first months’ results reflect the tough industry competition, in absence of incentives in many significant European markets. We are leading the transition to electrification in many of our key countries and our commercial vehicle…

CATL has maintained its position as the world’s largest battery maker in the first quarter of 2024, while BYD has climbed back to second place from third, according to data released by South Korean market researcher SNE Research. Global battery consumption for electric vehicles (EVs) reached 158.8 GWh in January-March, up 22.0 percent from the same period last year. CATL’s installed battery volume in the first quarter was 60.1 GWh, a 31.9 percent increase from last year, securing its leading position with a 37.9 percent market share. BYD recorded power battery installations of 22.7 GWh in January-March, an 11.9 percent…

Lyten has shipped lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries to Stellantis and several other leading US and European original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for testing purposes. The shipment, comprising A samples of its 6.5 Ah Li-S pouch cells, marks a pivotal step in the commercial evaluation of lithium-sulfur batteries by prominent automakers. Stellantis, which had previously announced an investment in Lyten’s lithium-sulfur battery development in May 2023, is among the recipients of the shipment. “This milestone is the result of years of dedicated work and innovation from the Lyten team, and we are just at the start of further expanding the capabilities of our…

Wing, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, has teamed up with retail giant Walmart to expand their drone delivery service in the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth area. The collaboration has now taken flight, offering swift and efficient deliveries from two North Richland Hills Walmart Supercenters, further solidifying their commitment to innovation and customer convenience. This expansion marks the third and fourth stores where Wing and Walmart have jointly launched drone delivery, following a successful initial partnership. Walmart’s ambitious goal to provide drone delivery to 75% of the Dallas-Fort Worth population is steadily coming to fruition with this latest development. The…

Tesla’s Megapack factory in China, part of its Gigafactory Shanghai site, is poised to commence construction this month after facing delays since initial groundwork began in March 2024. Tesla’s resident drone operator at Giga Shanghai, WuWa, provided insights into the progress at the Megapack Factory, explaining the pause in construction following the initial activity in March. “In April this year, the Tesla Shanghai Megapack factory site, which had been relatively quiet, saw the arrival of excavators and bulldozers, signaling the official start of construction. However, after a few days of initial activity, including clearing the original concrete floor and sheds,…

French automotive supplier Valeo has announced the merger of its thermal and powertrain activities into a unified entity, the Valeo Power division. This strategic move aims to enhance Valeo’s ability to address the electrification market and improve vehicle range, performance, and comfort. The new Valeo Power division will be based on seven of Valeo’s regional operations and will gradually replace the former Valeo Thermal Systems and Powertrain Systems business groups. Xavier Dupont has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Valeo Power division and Valeo Group Executive Vice President. In addition to the merger, Valeo has updated the…

In-der-City-Bus (ICB), the public transport operator in Frankfurt, has placed a new order with Solaris for nine Urbino 18 Hydrogen articulated buses, expanding its fleet of eco-friendly vehicles. The new buses are set to be delivered in July 2025, adding to the 23 Solaris fuel cell buses already in operation in the city. This order marks a continuation of ICB’s partnership with Solaris, which began about two years ago with the delivery of 13 Urbino 12 Hydrogen buses. Last year, following a Europe-wide tender, ICB ordered an additional ten Urbino 12 Hydrogens. In addition to the hydrogen buses, ICB also…

Fisker has recently announced a significant financing boost and is on the brink of a promising partnership with a major automaker, according to a press release issued by the company. The company has secured a financing commitment of up to $150 million from an existing investor, contingent upon certain conditions, including the filing of Fisker’s 2023 Form 10-K. This financing, organized in four tranches, is provided by the holder of the company’s 2025-dated convertible notes. In addition to the financing, Fisker is engaged in ongoing talks with a major automaker regarding a potential deal. This deal could encompass an investment…

Tesla’s European Gigafactory near Berlin has halted operations until further notice following what CEO Elon Musk described as an “extremely dumb” suspected arson attack nearby that left the facility without power on Tuesday. The attack, located southeast of the German capital, ignited an electricity pylon close to the site, but fortunately, the fire did not spread to the Tesla facility, which is the U.S. electric vehicle maker’s first manufacturing plant in Europe. However, the incident has forced the company to suspend production at least until early next week, resulting in estimated losses in the high hundreds of millions of euros,…

CATL is exploring the establishment of research and development centers in Hong Kong, aiming to pioneer cutting-edge technologies for licensing worldwide and within the industry, its chairman disclosed to reporters on Monday. This potential expansion aligns with CATL’s strategic shift towards exporting battery technologies, not just batteries, as Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries come under escalating scrutiny from foreign administrations. See also: CATL’s M3P Battery Likely to Power Tesla Models Chairman Robin Zeng, the visionary behind the world’s largest battery manufacturer, shared these insights ahead of a session of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress. Zeng, a member of the…

Hyundai Motor America has announced its February sales figures, showcasing resilience in the face of market challenges. Despite concerns over rising interest rates impacting new car sales, Hyundai reported a total of 60,341 vehicle sales for the month, reflecting a 6% increase compared to the same period last year. This positive momentum has brought the company’s year-to-date sales to 107,884, although this figure represents a slight decline of 1.1% year-over-year. One of the standout performances for Hyundai in February was its all-electric car sales, indicating a potentially promising year ahead for the brand in the U.S. Market. Hyundai saw significant…

Flix, a leading passenger transport provider, has unveiled plans for the debut of its pilot program for the first 100% electric long-distance coach service in England and Wales. Scheduled to run from March 21 until June 2024, the pilot service will operate on a FlixBus route between London and Bristol in England, extending over to Newport in South Wales. This initiative marks Flix’s foray into offering long-distance coach services with zero tailpipe emissions, a significant development in the sustainable transportation sector. The three-month trial, conducted in partnership with operator Newport Transport, will feature the 46-seat Yutong TCe12 electric coach. See…

Panasonic Energy has signed a new contract with German company H&T Recharge for the supply of battery can production lines for cylindrical battery cells. The two companies have been collaborating since 2017. H&T currently supplies Panasonic with production lines for battery cans, enabling the production of battery cells with an annual volume of around 40 GWh at Panasonic and Tesla’s Gigafactory 1 in Nevada. The companies are working together in a factory-in-factory approach. See also: Panasonic Energy and Novonix Forge Supply Pact for EV Battery Anodes Under the new contract, H&T will supply and install four new, fully automated production lines…

Kople, an EV charging provider, has announced its decision to transition its network of more than 7,000 charging points to the Driivz software operating system. The Israeli company cited Driivz’s technical maturity, industry-leading charger uptime, and extensive network management and business operations capabilities as key factors in its selection. According to a press release, Driivz’s offering includes smart charging and intelligent energy management, which align with Kople’s goals for enhancing its charging infrastructure. Kople will leverage Driivz’s integrated software modules for EV charge point and network operations, EV charging billing, and future smart energy management. Joar Brunes, CEO of Kople,…

Itron, a company aiding utilities and cities in managing energy and water, has partnered with The Mobility House (TMH) to introduce the Fast & Flexible Interconnect (FIX) program. This initiative aims to assist utilities and grid operators in overcoming challenges associated with electric vehicle (EV) fleet electrification. TMH and Itron have identified interconnection delays and infrastructure constraints as key hurdles. Through this collaboration, the companies will integrate Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence solutions, including distributed intelligence capabilities, with TMH’s charging and energy management system, ChargePilot, and simulations. Don Reeves, senior VP of Outcomes at Itron, emphasized the significance of this integration,…

The cities of Düsseldorf and Duisburg in Germany are set to implement a ban on electric scooters in public transport, starting from March. The decision comes as the public transport companies Rheinbahn and DVG have decided to prohibit the use of electric scooters on buses and trains from 1 March onwards. The move follows a recommendation by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), which has been adopted by “numerous other transport companies,” although it is not yet clear whether Rheinbahn and DVG are among them. The VDV operations committee has extensively discussed the issue, particularly in light of several…

HiPhi founder Ding Lei made his first public appearance at the company’s Shanghai headquarters after the announcement of a six-month production shutdown, a move that triggered widespread concern among stakeholders. In an internal meeting with employees, Ding apologized for the situation, acknowledging shortcomings in his approach compared to counterparts from internet companies. He expressed determination to turn the company around within a three-month window, emphasizing the need for a shift in strategy. See also: Human Horizons’ HiPhi Brand Halts Production Amid Operational Challenges Ding revealed that several companies have expressed interest in HiPhi, signaling potential acquisitions and investments. Despite the challenges…

At this year’s Singapore Airshow, electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) jet developer Lilium has inked a memorandum of understanding with global aviation services provider PhilJets to introduce on-demand travel services in Asia, starting in the Philippines. Lilium, founded in Munich, Germany, in 2015, has expanded its development teams across Europe and the United States and currently employs nearly 1,000 staff, including 500 aerospace engineers. The company is focused on bringing its unique eVTOL Jet design to commercial operations. See also: Lufthansa and Lilium Explore Strategic Partnership for eVTOL Operation in Europe The partnership with PhilJets marks a significant milestone for…