Author: Michael Khan

The Volkswagen Team Switzerland, under the leadership of long-distance electric vehicle expert Felix Egolf, successfully drove the all-electric ID.7 Pro S for 794 kilometers (493.4 miles) on a single battery charge, taking a total of 15 hours and 42 minutes. This distance exceeds the model’s maximum WLTP range of up to 709 kilometers. The drive took place on public roads within the Zug metropolitan area, south of Zurich, and included a variety of driving conditions such as main roads, motorway sections, and hilly country roads. Eight drivers participated in the two-day event, achieving an average energy consumption of 10.3 kWh…

Tata Motors has commenced construction of a new automotive manufacturing facility in Panapakkam, Tamil Nadu, marking a significant milestone as the first company to produce Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) models in India. The greenfield plant will focus on building next-generation Tata and JLR cars, including electric vehicles (EVs). At the groundbreaking ceremony, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran stated, “We are pleased to make Panapakkam as the home of our next generation of cars and SUVs, including electric and luxury vehicles.” The project represents a significant investment of approximately 90,000 million rupees (around €968 million), with the goal of reaching an…

The Chinese investor ADM Group has finalized an agreement in Pakistan with Malik Enterprises and Indus Valley to develop 3,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations nationwide. This initiative involves a significant investment of $90 million by ADM Group in charging infrastructure, while Indus Valley will provide the necessary land. Malik Enterprises is tasked with the installation and licensing processes. Malik Khuda Bakhsh, CEO of Malik Enterprises, indicated that approximately 1,000 stations will be established in Karachi and throughout Sindh, while 1,500 stations are planned for Punjab. The remaining 750 stations will cater to electric vehicles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.…

Indian bus body builder Veera Vahana, in collaboration with energy startup Exponent Energy, has launched the Veera Mahasamrat EV, touted as the fastest-charging electric bus in the world. This new model features an impressive 320 kWh LFP battery pack operating at 650 volts, which can be rapidly charged in just 15 minutes using Exponent Energy’s advanced 1 megawatt (MW) charger. According to Exponent Energy’s announcement on LinkedIn, the Veera Mahasamrat EV is designed to cover a distance of 650 km with two brief stops for rapid charging at designated highway charging stations. The bus is powered by a 190 kW…

In collaboration with Foxconn, Sharp has unveiled its LDK+ electric minivan concept, designed to prioritize stationary time and transform the interior into an extension of the living room. A standout feature of this concept is a massive 65-inch display positioned in the rear, which enhances the user experience. However, it may take several years before Sharp’s first electric vehicle (EV) reaches the market. Despite ongoing challenges in the global economy affecting the EV sector, Sharp is among the latest brands to announce plans to enter the electric vehicle market. The LDK+ concept is equipped with AI technology and solar panels,…

Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commission Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis have agreed to work towards resolving differences concerning tariffs on electric vehicle (EV) imports from China. The talks come as the European Commission seeks to balance trade relations with China while addressing concerns over potential subsidies in China’s EV industry. According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, Dombrovskis indicated that the European Union remains open to continuing negotiations on price commitments for Chinese EV imports. Both sides expressed a willingness to reach a mutually acceptable solution. Currently, the European Commission has reportedly lowered its…

India’s cabinet has approved a 109 billion rupee ($1.3 billion) scheme to incentivize the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce pollution and transition to cleaner fuels. The initiative, named the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE), aims to promote the use of e-two wheelers, e-three wheelers, e-ambulances, and e-trucks, Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday. The scheme will provide 36.79 billion rupees in subsidies, with a first-time allocation of 5 billion rupees for the deployment of e-ambulances and another 5 billion rupees for the replacement of old polluting…

General Motors (GM) is set to make its mark in South Korea’s electric vehicle (EV) market with the Chevy Equinox EV, officially certified for launch. The new electric SUV will face tough competition from Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, one of the leading EVs on its home turf. GM has been ramping up its presence in Korea, revealing plans earlier this year to introduce four new models, two of which are electric. The first, the Cadillac Lyriq, went on sale in July, marking GM’s debut Ultium-based EV in the Korean market. Priced at 106,960,000 won (approximately $80,000), the luxury electric SUV offers…

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Mooving, an electric vehicle (EV) solutions provider, have announced a collaboration to develop a widespread battery-swapping network throughout India. The initiative will leverage Mooving’s technology and HPCL’s extensive retail presence, aiming to install 500 automated battery-swapping stations over the next 12 months. The partnership grants Mooving access to over 22,000 HPCL retail outlets across the country, marking a significant step forward in enhancing India’s EV infrastructure. The initiative is expected to promote the adoption of electric mobility by introducing a Battery as a Service (BaaS) model, which could reduce EV acquisition costs and provide…

Tesla has officially introduced a new color option for its Model 3 sedan in the United States, adding the Quicksilver paint to its lineup. This addition marks an expansion of Tesla’s customization offerings for the Model 3, catering to growing customer demand for more diverse color choices. The Quicksilver color, characterized by its dynamic, multi-coat finish, has been a popular choice in European markets, where it has been available for both the Model Y and Model 3 for several years. Tesla describes the Quicksilver paint as having “metallic highlights and dark undertones,” which create a “liquid metal effect that accentuates…

CATL and BYD continued to hold the top two positions as the world’s largest battery makers in the first half of the year, both slightly increasing their market share, according to data from South Korean market researcher SNE Research. Global battery consumption for electric vehicles (EVs) totaled 364.6 GWh in the January-June period, up 22.3 percent from 298.1 GWh in the same period last year. CATL’s battery installations reached 137.7 GWh, a 29.5 percent increase from 106.3 GWh last year. The Chinese power battery giant maintained its leading position with a 37.8 percent market share, the only supplier exceeding 30…

With the addition of 320 new electric buses, Delhi now boasts the largest electric bus fleet in India, totaling nearly 2,000 units. These buses, provided by Tata Motors, offer a range of 225 kilometers and will operate on various routes: 114 buses will depart from the Sukhdev Vihar Depot, 150 from the Kalkaji Depot, and 120 from the Naraina Depot. The Delhi government announced the procurement of these buses in February. Despite this addition, the electric buses still represent a small fraction of the 7,683 buses servicing Delhi. However, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena emphasized that more electric units would…

A Tesla Cybertruck was seen in Florida last week with drivers reportedly testing the Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, in anticipation of the company’s launch of the feature for the electric pickup. Chuck Cook, a known figure in the Tesla community for his FSD videos and unprotected left turn tests, spotted Tesla advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) operators testing the software with the Cybertruck on Thursday. This sighting comes as Tesla has been progressively rolling out FSD v12.5, with the Cybertruck expected to receive this version. https://twitter.com/chazman/status/1819410072377643282 During a virtual speech at the X Takeover event in California last Sunday, CEO…

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a new measure to limit electric vehicles (EVs) to charging only up to 80% state of charge (SoC) at public fast-charging stations. This initiative aims to reduce the time EVs occupy chargers and alleviate congestion. Set to be implemented by the end of the year, the regulation will apply to 400 ultra-fast chargers with a capacity of 100 kilowatts owned by the government, according to local media reports. This step is part of the city’s broader strategy to optimize the use of its EV charging infrastructure. This approach is not unique to Seoul. Electrify America,…

Li Auto has revised its limited-time exclusive gift packages, expanding the benefits and including the Li Mega model. This follows the company’s previous reduction of the maximum package value from RMB 7,199 to RMB 2,399 on July 25, which excluded the Li Mega. The new purchase incentive program reinstates higher-value packages and reintroduces the Li Mega to the offer. The program, which has been running since June, also includes a 0 percent down payment option and up to RMB 10,000 in car purchase benefits. https://evmagz.com/li-auto-delivers-51000-vehicles-in-july-sets-record/ Li Auto’s local competitors Nio, Xpeng, and Zeekr have yet to announce their purchase incentives…

The Alpine A290, introduced in mid-June, is now available for configuration in Germany and France, with prices beginning at €38,700. Higher-spec versions can exceed €40,000. The entry-level A290 GT is priced at €38,700 and delivers 130 kW of power. The A290 GT Premium, also with 130 kW, starts at €41,700. The A290 GT Performance and A290 GTS, both offering 160 kW, are priced from €41,900 and €44,700, respectively. In France, the A290 is eligible for a €4,000 rebate. The A290 is based on the electric Renault 5, which has been available for order since late May, starting at €32,900. Both…

Autonomous vehicle software developer Applied Intuition has completed a secondary sale valued at over $300 million, allowing shareholders and employees to sell stock while enabling venture capitalists to increase their stakes. This secondary sale follows the company’s recent Series E funding round in which it raised $250 million, elevating its valuation to $6 billion. The secondary round, which was oversubscribed, saw participation from new investor Fidelity Management and Research Company, as well as existing investors General Catalyst, BOND, Lux Capital, and Elad Gil. The success of this secondary round highlights the growing prominence of AI companies, particularly those advancing automated…

Tesla has unveiled a render of its forthcoming ‘Semi Factory’ for the production of electric semi trucks, located adjacent to Gigafactory Texas in Nevada. The Tesla Semi program, which faced significant delays since its inception, was initially unveiled in 2017 with plans to launch in 2020. However, production officially began in late 2022. Despite this, the production has remained limited, with Tesla having built around 70 Semi trucks as of October 2023. These trucks are currently used internally by Tesla and one primary customer, PepsiCo. In January 2023, Tesla announced plans to expand Gigafactory Nevada to ramp up the production…

Rivian and Volkswagen have received approval from German authorities to form a new joint venture, clearing the way for their partnership to develop next-generation electric vehicles. The German Federal Cartel Office announced on Monday that it had no competition concerns with the alliance. “It’s not expected to significantly impede effective competition,” said Andreas Mundt, president of the Bundeskartellamt, the agency overseeing the approval. The joint venture, announced over a month ago, will leverage Rivian’s software expertise to create an architecture for future electric vehicles. Volkswagen plans to invest up to $5 billion in the venture, with $3 billion allocated directly…

Stellantis is preparing to intensify its efforts in the European electric vehicle (EV) market, facing strong competition from Chinese manufacturers, according to CEO Carlos Tavares. At a presentation of the company’s new EV production line in Serbia, Tavares emphasized Stellantis’s readiness to compete robustly. “We are going to be challenged and I would say brutally challenged by the Chinese offensive on the European market,” Tavares said. “At Stellantis we are ready for the fight.” He added that the company aims to prove its technological capabilities and competitive edge in the sector. See also: Stellantis Plans Expansion of Affordable Hybrid Vehicles Amid…