Author: Miguel Garcia

A recent poll has revealed that a majority of Americans are not interested in purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), citing concerns such as range anxiety and high costs. The survey, conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, involved 6,265 adults and highlighted the challenges facing President Biden’s goal of increasing EV sales. According to the poll, concerns about range anxiety and a lack of affordable EV options are major barriers to adoption. Many respondents expressed worries about not living near a charging station, with 50 percent of…

The global electric vehicle (EV) battery market continues its upward trajectory in 2024, with prominent players such as CATL and BYD maintaining their dominance. CATL, in particular, retains over a third of the market share, but BYD is narrowing the gap with its introduction of new, lower-priced EV models. From January to April 2024, global EV battery consumption reached 216.2 GWh, marking a 21.8% increase from the same period last year. CATL emerged as the market leader, with an installed capacity of 81.1 GWh, representing a 30% year-on-year growth. According to SNE Research, CATL accounted for 37.7% of the market…

Archer, a Californian electric air taxi developer backed by Stellantis, has been granted certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin commercial flight operations. This certification marks a significant milestone for Archer as it prepares to launch its electric vertical-take-off-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the series eVTOL Midnight, for commercial use. While the series eVTOL Midnight is not yet certified for commercial operations, Archer plans to utilize conventional aircraft, without specifying the type, to leverage its mobile booking application, vertiport technology integrations, and proprietary operations software platform, all of which are currently under development. Archer’s immediate focus will be on…

China refuted allegations of violating World Trade Organization (WTO) rules by using prohibited subsidies for its electric vehicles (EVs). A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, Mao Ning, asserted that the success of Chinese EVs in international markets stems from “comparative advantages and market laws,” not illicit subsidies. The statement comes in response to U.S. President Joe Biden’s remarks accusing China of subsidizing EVs to saturate the American market, a concern echoed by other U.S. officials. Mao emphasized that subsidies cannot compensate for industrial competitiveness, adding, “There are no prohibited subsidies stipulated by the WTO.” Contradicting Biden’s claims, Mao highlighted that…

Mercedes and Stellantis have paused work on their joint European electric vehicle (EV) battery factory projects and are reevaluating their direction, considering a potential shift to using cheaper lithium iron phosphate cells. The partnership, known as the Automotive Cells Company (ACC), was formed in 2021 with the aim of producing battery cells for electric vehicles. ACC had initially raised $4.7 billion earlier this year to construct four factories, with plans to raise a total of around 7.6 billion Euros for the project. The joint venture has already opened one factory in Douvrin, France, but work on the upcoming factory in…

In a bid to enhance the performance and affordability of electric vehicles (EVs), Dutch semiconductor manufacturer NXP and German supplier ZF have joined forces to develop silicon carbide (SiC)-based inverters. This collaboration aims to bolster the capabilities of 800-volt EVs, enabling them to travel further distances on a single charge. NXP recently announced the integration of its GD316x high-voltage electronic circuits into ZF’s upcoming SiC traction inverters for 800-volt applications. This partnership is expected to expedite the deployment of these advanced inverters, which promise safer, more efficient, and more potent power electronics for electric vehicles. Drivers can anticipate increased range,…

Stellantis, the parent company of Fiat and Jeep, is exploring options to reduce costs in its transition to electrification, including the possibility of bringing some suppliers in-house, according to CEO Carlos Tavares. Tavares emphasized the importance of suppliers keeping pace with Stellantis’ teams in the shift to electrification. “When suppliers are not racing at the same speed of our teams, our teams see a big benefit to in-source,” Tavares stated during a conference call from Melfi, Italy. “You come to the conclusion that what you have outsourced, you can do it in-house.” This move comes as automakers face pressure to…

In a fresh wave of scrutiny, Toyota Motor Company faces renewed criticism under the leadership of Chairman Akio Toyoda. Two of the Japanese automaker’s largest shareholders are now calling for his removal following reports of misconduct regarding inadequate vehicle verification testing, adding to a string of previous certification violations. Despite being a global market leader in automotive, Toyota has often been criticized for its inconsistent commitment to electrification under Toyoda’s tenure. In a recent ranking by InfluenceMap, Toyota was named the worst automaker in global climate lobbying, underscoring its poor performance in climate policy engagement. Toyota, along with Subaru and…

Gotion High-tech, a leading Chinese battery maker, is set to expand its presence in international markets with plans to build energy storage plants in Spain. The company recently announced a cooperation agreement with Spain’s Phi4Tech Technology Group and the UAE’s Unicorn RE to collaborate on energy storage and new materials development in Spain. According to Gotion, the partnership will focus on a range of projects in the European energy sector, from new materials to final energy solutions. This move is expected to open up new growth opportunities for Gotion in the European energy storage market and promote the development of…

Despite recent setbacks and changes in Tesla’s plans, the Mexican state of Nuevo León remains optimistic about the arrival of the Tesla Gigafactory, believing that the project is still on track. Tesla initially announced the Gigafactory Mexico in March 2023, aiming for rapid production commencement. However, in October, the company announced a temporary pause on the project due to global economic concerns. CEO Elon Musk affirmed that while the project was delayed, preparations were ongoing, including the procurement of “long lead items.” The final timeline for the factory’s construction and operation would depend on economic recovery, with Tesla prioritizing investments…

Iberdrola has installed 2,000 AC charging points at around 450 locations of the Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona as part of a partnership initiated last year. The agreement, which aims to deploy up to 3,500 charging points at 800 Mercadona locations in Spain and Portugal, represents a significant step in advancing sustainable mobility. The 2,000 charging points, each offering up to 22 kW output, have been installed at supermarkets and Mercadona workplaces. The exact distribution of these charging stations was not specified, but Iberdrola confirmed that the publicly accessible points would be distributed across locations throughout Spain. See also: Iberdrola and BP…

Electric vehicle (EV) startup Fisker is grappling with financial challenges, leading to significant layoffs as it seeks funding, a buyout, or prepares for potential bankruptcy. The layoffs, affecting hundreds of employees, were announced during an all-hands meeting held after the company directed everyone to work from home—an unusual move according to multiple current and former employees. Founder and CEO Henrik Fisker informed employees that a major investor, to whom the company owes money, along with a chief restructuring officer working on behalf of the investor, pushed for further layoffs. While Henrik Fisker did not disclose the investor’s identity, he mentioned…