Author: Michael Khan

Volkswagen will buy autonomous driving software and hardware from Israeli company Innoviz Technologies in a $4 billion deal. The deal has been signed with VW’s CARIAD technology group and will include components such as a laser-based lidar sensor that the Volkswagen Group will use for driver assistance systems and vehicle automation by mid-decade. “We are excited to work with the CARIAD team and become a supplier of LiDAR sensors and software to support safe mobility for vehicles launched from the middle of this decade,” said Innoviz chief executive and co-founder, Omer Keilaf in a statement. “CARIAD is a leading player…

Sunrun, America’s leading provider of solar power, battery storage, and home energy is launching a Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charger in September. The company said that this is a step they are taking to support the growing demand for electric vehicles across the country. According to Sunrun, EV sales in the United States will more than double by 2021, accounting for 5% of all new car sales. For this reason, Sunrun’s ambition is to help EV owners charge their vehicles quickly and safely while also providing solutions to manage the increasing energy consumption of homes. https://twitter.com/Sunrun/status/1554937187682091010 “With the new…

Tata Motors is currently working on a number of new electric cars for the Indian market, including the new Curvv EV and the Avinya EV concept that will debut after 2025. Tata Motors currently offers two cars in its electric portfolio, the Tata Nexon EV and the Tata Tigor EV. In addition, it recently launched the new Tata Nexon EV Max for consumers who want a luxury version of an electric SUV with more reach and better performance. The Tata Nexon EV is currently the best-selling electric car in India, with more than 80 percent market share in the green…

Investors in Tesla asked CEO Elon Musk how the company plans to spend its money in the coming years, and about the company’s global economic prospects. This was asked at the Tesla 2022 shareholder meeting which was held on Thursday (5/8). Elon Musk jokes that making macroeconomic forecasts is a recipe for disaster. But he still estimates that Tesla has passed the peak of inflation and is likely to see a relatively mild recession, which lasts for about 18 months. This analysis is based on predictions of the raw materials needed to make electric vehicles. “We’re getting a bit of…

BorgWarner has just announced that it has acquired Rhombus Energy Solutions, headquartered in San Diego, California. Rhombus Energy Solutions is a leading provider of charging solutions in the North American market and has offered V2G and Underwriters Laboratory certified charging. Rhombus also supplies patented technology to EV OEMs. Some of its biggest customers are Proterra (electric truck and EV charging) and charging and network service provider Nuuve. According to the statement, the company paid approximately $130 million at closing, and up to $55 million could be paid out in contingent payments over the next three years. “The technology that Rhombus…

General Motors paid Livent Corp $198 million in advance to secure a supply of lithium essential for the production of electric vehicle batteries for six years. The agreement between the two parties shows the auto industry’s concerns about a tightening market for minerals essential for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries. Paying cash in advance for mineral supplies is not uncommon in the mining industry. The deal shows GM wants to ensure it has enough raw materials to meet its target of producing 1 million EVs annually in North America by 2025. “GM is certainly thinking for the long term here,” Paul…

Hino Motors, Ltd. has officially launched its first electric battery truck, the Hino Dutro Z EV in Japan. This light duty truck is Hino’s new proposal towards a “last mile of logistics” future with carbon neutral vehicles. This Hino Dutro Z EV reflects customer feedback on ease of use in the field by having a very low floor structure based on the newly developed special chassis of the BEV, making it easier to handle cargo in and out of the vehicle thereby contributing to reduced driver load. Despite having a compact body, this truck has cargo space which is claimed…

The Volvo Group plans to build a battery plant for its heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The plant will be used to meet growing demand for zero-emission transportation, the company said on Wednesday. “There is a strong demand from our customers already today, and by 2030, it is our ambition that at least 35% of the products we sell are electric,” CEO Martin Lundstedt The batteries will be adapted to commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses, construction equipment and other electric drivelines. If all goes well, Volvo plans to gradually increase capacity and reach large-scale serial production by 2030. They will design…

Faraday Future has delayed the start of production and launch of the FF91, its debut vehicle until the third or fourth quarter of 2022. The delay is due to the company needing additional capital to carry out the launch, media reports said. The Los Angeles-based electric vehicle startup previously said it plans to launch a battery-powered SUV this month. Founded in 2014, Faraday Future said in early 2018 it would start making and selling electric SUVs, but had been forced to delay deliveries several times. “The company needs additional cash to commercially launch the FF 91, and is currently seeking…

After going through many trials, Sono Motors finally showed off the final form of its newest EV and will soon enter the mass production stage. Sion, the name of the EV car, has been prepared by Sono since around 2017. From 2017 until finally its release, the German car manufacturer has made 37 prototypes. From the published photos, the Sion looks to have received a revision of the car’s interior and exterior, which includes changes to the taillights, door handles, charging port, and rear fascia. In the interior of the car, Sono will change the model of the steering wheel…

The Genesis Electrified GV70 has two electric drives, each with a power of 160 kW with 350 Nm of torque for the front and rear wheels respectively. However the combined power is limited to 360 kW in Boost mode, with a combined torque of 700 Nm. Although based on a different platform, the Electrified GV70 also uses components from E-GMP. The battery has a capacity of 77.4 kWh, and a voltage of 800 Volts. With these specifications, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. When fully charged, Genesis claims the GV70 has a range of…

Auckland-based Invisible Urban Charging (IUC) will roll out more than 6,000 EV chargers at commercial locations and parking lots in Florida over the coming months. Partnering with Lincoln Property Co., they will be the first company to build an EV charging station for all electric vehicle models. According to reports, the number is double the IUC promised, after all charger models are used. IUC will also be the operator of EV chargers in the region. “The EV charging infrastructure is a key piece of the puzzle that will accelerate the shift to electric transport,” said Nigel Broomhall, CEO of Invisible…

Daimler Trucks has completed construction of the electric truck charging station (eTruck Charging Park) of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, together with its project partner, the service division Netze BW near the Application Information Center (BIC) in Wörth am Rhein, Germany. At the eTruck Charging Park, electric truck customers can now test charging stations and charging concepts from various manufacturers and work with experts from Mercedes-Benz to develop tailor-made charging solutions for applications from all electric truck brands. The charging technology on these charging stations is provided for testing and combined with a comprehensive suite of consulting services to help customers move smoothly…

The US Department of Energy announced that it will provide a $2.5 billion loan to Ultium Cells LLC, a joint venture of General Motors Co (GM.N) and LG Energy Solution for the construction of a lithium-ion battery cell production facility. The loan comes from the government’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program. The program previously provided low-cost government loans to Tesla, Ford and Nissan. President Joe Biden’s administration is targeting 50% of US car production by 2030 to be hybrid or all-electric vehicles. “We have to have vehicle manufacturing capacity but also battery manufacturing capacity,” said Jigar Shah, who…

After the success of the launch of the Mercedes-Benz eActros as its first electric battery truck, Daimler Trucks has now officially released the second model of its electric battery truck, the Mercedes-Benz eEconic. The Mercedes-Benz eEconic is a testament to Daimler Truck’s seriousness in accelerating the electrification transition in the commercial vehicle segment. Dr. Ralf Forcher as Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks said that from design sketches to actual builds, from prototypes to officially entering the production line, eEconic is a new line of Mercedes-Benz electric battery trucks that are ready to lead the commercial vehicle industry on city streets.…

MAN Truck & Bus as a leading manufacturer of trucks and buses from Germany announced that it has extended its cooperation contract with one of the giant German football clubs, FC Bayern Munich until 2024. In the agreement, FC Bayern Munich will contribute to the CO2 decarbonization mission by using the MAN Lion City E electric bus as its transportation fleet to the airport. Marketing Director of FC Bayern Munich, Andy Jung, said that together with MAN, FC Bayern Munich is now standing on a responsible approach to the environment and clean mobility. “With MAN Truck & Bus, we have…

Maruti Suzuki has officially launched the new Suzuki Grand Vitara in India (20/7). The Suzuki Grand Vitara was launched as a new car in India to coincide with NEXA’s seventh anniversary. The Suzuki Grand Vitara was also introduced as one of Suzuki’s new cars developed in collaboration with Toyota. “With the global launch of the Grand Vitara, we bring an SUV that represents Suzuki’s best design, technology and performance,” said Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Maruti Suzuki. “We believe the Grand Vitara will set a new benchmark for SUV lovers in India and redefine the Joy…

Volkswagen confirmed on Monday, July 18, that a cheaper version of the ID.4 crossover is on its way to launch to the public. The cheaper ID.4 will be powered by a 62 kWh battery, a decrease when compared to the currently offered ID.4 with an 82 kWh battery, which has an EPA range of 275 miles. With the smaller battery option, this will also significantly reduce the price of the ID.4 which should be less than $42,000. There is no definite price for the latest version of this EV. But it is estimated to be priced at 30,000 US dollars…

Solaris, a bus manufacturer from Poland, received an order for 20 electric buses from the public transportation company MPK Kraków. MPK Kraków ordered seven articulated Urbino 18 electric buses and 13 single Urbino 12 Electric buses to be delivered within the next year. The electric buses ordered by MPK Kraków will complement Solaris’ previous fleet of zero-emission buses that debuted on city roads in 2016. The electric buses ordered by MPK Kraków use Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of almost 300 kWh on solo buses and more than 400 kWh on articulated buses. Each bus will also…

The first race of the Formula E New York City ePrix series was held on Saturday afternoon (16/7/2022). In the race that took place at the Brooklyn Highway Circuit, Envision Racing team racer, Nick Cassidy came out as the winner of a race full of drama with the presence of 2 Red Flags and rainy weather in the middle of the race. The first race of the New York City ePrix series is planned to last 45 minutes. After the start, Nick Cassidy who started from pole position immediately shot and maintained his leading position. Meanwhile, the exciting duel involved…