Author: Michael Khan

Uber Freight has announced its first zero-emission electric truck pilot, teaming up with California-based WattEV, an electric trucking and charging infrastructure company. The partnership aims to advance zero-emission freight transportation, deploying electric trucks on select routes starting in Southern California, with plans to grow nationwide using WattEV’s electric heavy-duty transportation platform. The pilot program will help the company expand its network as it develops routes from the Port of Long Beach to the Inland Empire and Central Valley, with plans to expand to North Carolina and Arizona. Uber Freight’s extensive logistics network, combined with WattEV’s electric innovations, allows shippers to…

German automakers, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen (VW), are calling on the government to accelerate the scaling up of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the country. In an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag on Sunday, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius emphasised the importance of building up the charging station infrastructure in order to hasten the transition to EVs. He noted that this was not just a question for the private sector but also for politics. “To speed up the change (to electric vehicles), we need to be sure that the charging station infrastructure is being built up,” Mercedes-Benz Chief Executive…

Switch Mobility, an Indian electric vehicle manufacturer, has recently delivered the first batch of electric double-decker buses to Brihan Mumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) in Mumbai. This marks the first step in fulfilling BEST’s order of 200 electric double-decker buses from Switch Mobility. The Switch EiV 22 is the first air-conditioned electric double-decker bus entirely designed, developed, and manufactured in India. The company claims that the bus is equipped with the latest technology, a modern design, maximum safety, and best-in-class comfort features. The EiV 22 is primarily intended for intra-urban travel and can travel up to 250 km on…

EHang, the autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) technology platform company in China, has accomplished another breakthrough with its EH216 passenger-grade AAV, completing its first passenger-carrying autonomous flight in Japan. The flight was carried out with no pilot on board and two passengers on the coast of Tanoura Beach in Oita city, under the authorization of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan. It is also the first-ever passenger-carrying flight for an autonomous eVTOL aircraft in Japan, marking a significant milestone for EHang. EHang is committed to providing customers in various industries with AAV products and commercial solutions such…

Warrington, a town situated between Liverpool and Manchester in England, has announced plans to replace its entire fleet of 105 buses with electric vehicles. The transition will be made possible through a partnership between the Warrington Borough Council and operator Own Buses, which successfully secured the largest funding award from the UK Government’s 2011 ZEBRA scheme. The Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) funding was awarded to the council, with Warrington reportedly receiving £21.5 million (€25.4 mn), making it one of the first places in the UK to have an all-electric bus fleet. The council is expected to use electricity…

Ola Electric, a company backed by SoftBank Group, has announced plans to invest $920 million in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The investment will be used to manufacture electric cars and batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), in response to the growing demand for EVs in India. Ola Electric Technologies and Ola Cell Technologies, subsidiaries of Ola, will invest 76.14 billion rupees ($920 million) in Tamil Nadu. The company aims to annually produce 140,000 cars and hire 3,111 workers through this investment, building on its existing production of e-two wheelers in the state. In November, the company’s cumulative production…

Hydrogen fuel cells are gaining popularity among fleet operators as a practical alternative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for long-haul trucks and vans. While BEVs are suitable for short distances, proponents of hydrogen fuel cells argue that batteries are too heavy, take too long to charge, and could overload power grids. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can refuel in minutes and have a much longer range than BEVs. According to Daimler Truck CEO Martin Daum, “the fact is we need both BEVs and hydrogen.” Daimler Truck plans to invest up to 15 billion euros on fuel cells over the next decade.…

Iveco Bus, part of the CNH Industrial Group, has been awarded a tender to supply 120 electric buses to Autoguidovie, the largest privately owned local public transport company in Italy. The purchase has been supported by Next Generation EU funds and national grants. Autoguidovie will deploy the E-Way buses in different regions, with deliveries starting in the second half of 2023. This latest contract builds on Iveco Bus’s success in the 2022 electric bus market in Europe, with figures from Chatrou CME Solutions showing that 347 battery-electric buses from Iveco were registered last year. The E-Way buses in operation as…

The Indian Geological Survey has uncovered a massive deposit of lithium in the Reasi district of the north-western state of Jammu and Kashmir. The deposit is estimated to hold around 5.9 million tonnes of lithium, as announced by India’s Ministry of Mines. This discovery is expected to change India’s dependence on imports of the raw material from Australia and Argentina, as the country strives to become CO₂-neutral by 2070. The government of India has already launched initiatives to build a battery and cell industry in the country, with a call for funding to establish battery cell factories in October 2021.…

Renault and Nissan have announced a major investment of 600 million dollars in India to produce six new models, including the first two electric vehicles (EVs) the companies will manufacture in the country. The EVs will be part of the A-segment and will be exported as well, with the partners promising to build on their previous experience and expertise in the electrification of the mass market, which began with the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe more than a decade ago. The Chennai plant where the six new models will be produced will be based on common alliance platforms, with three…

Mahindra and Mahindra made a big splash in India with the debut of their new Born Electric SUVs on the eve of the Formula E race in Hyderabad. The company took the opportunity to showcase a brand new electric SUV called the BE Rall-E, which was not shown at last year’s event. This new electric SUV is based on the BE.05 electric SUV that was first revealed in the previous year. The BE Rall-E boasts a bold yellow paint job and black piano-finished outside rearview mirrors. Its rugged design features a front and rear bumper that gives it an off-road…

Volvo Trucks North America is ramping up its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by expanding the use of its zero-emission Volvo VNR Electric trucks. In partnership with four carrier companies, a total of 15 battery-powered Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric trucks will transport parts and components to the New River Valley Assembly Operations (NRV) in Virginia and the Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) plant in Pennsylvania. According to Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, “We believe in leading by example, and this project is an important part of our strategy to create a world-class, sustainable transport system.” The…

Indian automaker Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd has announced that it will be investing 10 billion rupees ($121 million) to establish a manufacturing facility in Telangana, India. This new facility will be dedicated to producing electric three- and four-wheel vehicles, such as cargo and passenger vehicles, and will be part of the company’s efforts to expand its last-mile mobility business. The investment will be made over the course of eight years at the company’s Zaheerabad plant and will require the approval of the Telangana government, which Mahindra has already secured through an agreement. See also: Mahindra showcases five new electric SUV…

Dutch fuel cell system developer and integrator zepp.solutions has revealed the creation of a hydrogen-powered truck called Europa. Based on a well-known diesel truck manufacturer’s proven chassis, the first examples of the Europa are expected to be on the road in the final quarter of 2023. Although the specific diesel model that serves as the base has not been revealed, the published rendering has led many to believe that it is a Mercedes Actros. The Europa is a 4×2 tractor unit that will be equipped with 350-bar hydrogen tanks, which will hold over 50 kilograms of hydrogen, offering a range…

Ourense, a city in Galicia, Spain, is set to make history as the first in the region to introduce fully electric city buses. This has been made possible through a partnership with local manufacturer Unvi. Over the coming months, 25 new buses will be introduced on Ourense’s streets, with 10 of them being fully electric and the remaining 15 being diesel-powered. The electric buses, known as Unvi eC22, will be equipped with the latest technology, including driver assistance systems, pedestrian detection, and maximum accessibility for passengers. See also: Tata Motors Eyes Spain or UK for European Battery Cell Factory Location…

Volkswagen is recalling nearly 21,000 of its electric ID.4 crossover vehicles due to a potential loss of power and stalling while driving. The root cause of this issue is found to be with the software controlling the high-voltage battery, which can reset itself under certain conditions, leading to the deactivation of the pulse inverter. This in turn can cause the electric motor to lose power. The affected ID.4s were manufactured between May 26, 2020, and January 20, 2022, with the problem first being identified in July 2021. However, after investigation, Volkswagen concluded in September 2021 that the drivers were not…

Volvo Cars reported a total of 48,520 global car sales in January, a 2% increase compared to the previous year. However, the figures are still 19% lower than the sales recorded in 2021. Despite this, the company has reason to celebrate as their plug-in electric car sales continue to grow at a steady rate. In January, Volvo sold 19,742 rechargeable cars, a 31% increase from the previous year. This represents 40.7% of the total car sales, marking the third consecutive month with a result above 40%. More notably, all-electric car sales saw a significant boost of 152% year-over-year, reaching 7,874.…

The latest report by Canalys on electric vehicles (EVs) in India reveals promising growth in the market. In 2022, the overall car market grew by 23%, and the EV sector saw an impressive increase of 223% with 48,000 vehicles delivered. Despite the economic uncertainties in the country, the demand for EVs and luxury EVs remains high due to rising consumer buying power. Tata dominates the Indian EV market with 86% share, thanks to their two models. Chinese automaker MG holds 9% and Hyundai 1.6% with only the Kona being sold in the country. Luxury brands such as Mercedes, BMW, and…

India has increased taxes on cars and motorcycles brought into the country as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make In India” initiative ahead of the 2024 elections. Imported cars priced under $40,000 will now be subject to a 70% tax rate, up from 60% previously. Meanwhile, the taxes on semi-knocked-down vehicles, which have major components imported before final assembly in India, will rise from 30% to 35%. These tax hikes will take effect starting April 1st. India’s recent decision to impose a 70% tax on fully-built electric vehicles (EVs) with a value over $40,000 has sparked concern from luxury…

The Tesla Model S has once again set a benchmark in the electric vehicle (EV) industry by achieving the longest driving range in winter conditions. According to Motor.no, a Norwegian media outlet, the electric sedan covered 530 km (329 miles) on a single charge during winter. Typically, EVs experience a decrease in driving range during cold weather, similar to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. This is because of the way lithium-ion batteries operate. However, the Tesla Model S defied the odds and was the only EV among all test vehicles to surpass 450 km (279 miles) under the harsh…