Author: Miguel Garcia

Vietnamese property firm First Real Estate has signed an agreement to lease a fleet of 1,000 electric vehicles from VinFast through Green Future Trading and Service JSC, a mobility and car rental business recently launched by Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong. The deal, formalized on Friday, will initially see 300 electric vehicles delivered this year, with the remaining units to follow in 2025. The EV fleet will be deployed for tourism purposes and operated by First Real’s subsidiaries, Viet An Group Joint Stock Company and Green Motion Joint Stock Company. See also: VinFast Lowers Prices on EV Models, Phases Out…

UK-based charge point operator Char.gy will install more than 6,000 on-street electric vehicle chargers in Brighton & Hove over the next two years, in what is being described as the largest project of its kind in the country. The £130 million initiative is being delivered in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council and is supported by the UK government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund. The rollout is expected to significantly expand charging access in a city where 40% of residents lack off-street parking. See also: char.gy Secures Contract to Enhance EV Charging Infrastructure for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils…

Tesla has removed Forward Collision Warnings (FCW) from the formula used to calculate its Safety Score, a key component of its insurance pricing model, following ongoing legal scrutiny. The update, rolled out quietly in the latest version of the Safety Score system, comes as the company faces a potential class action lawsuit alleging that the FCW metric led to unjustifiably high insurance premiums. The Safety Score, introduced in 2021, is used by Tesla Insurance to assess driver behavior and determine monthly premium rates. It aggregates real-time driving data across several metrics, including Hard Braking, Aggressive Turning, Unsafe Following, and others.…

Hybrid truck startup ReVolt Motors has secured its first commercial customer for its Peterbilt 579-based extended-range electric semi truck, with New York-headquartered Page Trucking ordering five units and placing an option for 15 more. The trucks promise up to 40% better fuel economy and over twice the torque of conventional diesel trucks, according to the company. The hybrid trucks use a unique dual-power system that combines battery-electric drive with a diesel-powered generator, offering up to 1,200 miles of range. ReVolt removes the transmission and traditional drivetrain from the Peterbilt chassis and replaces it with a battery pack, e-axles, and a…

Traktionssysteme Austria (TSA) will supply 1,500 high-performance electric motors to Polish bus manufacturer Solaris over the next three years under a framework agreement signed in June 2024, the Austrian motor specialist announced on Thursday. The contract covers TSA’s permanent magnet synchronous motors of type HD.T3, which offer a peak output of 420 kW, maximum torque of 4,000 Nm, and efficiency exceeding 97 percent. Designed for compact integration, the motors are suitable for various bus configurations and can be used in both battery-electric and fuel cell-powered models. See also: Solaris Secures Sarajevo Trolleybus Contract Amid European Expansion Solaris will install the…

German charging technology firm ADS-TEC Energy has secured a tender to supply more than a dozen battery-buffered fast-charging systems to Q8 and Tango petrol stations in Belgium and the Netherlands, the company said. The rollout will include both ChargePost and ChargeBox systems, which are designed to deliver up to 320 kW of charging power without requiring major upgrades to local grid infrastructure. The battery-buffered design allows the systems to store electricity slowly from the grid and discharge it rapidly when a vehicle is connected, making them particularly suitable for locations with limited grid capacity. See also: Huawei Unveils 1.5 MW…

The European Commission has formally submitted an amendment to CO2 emission standards for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, granting automakers additional flexibility to meet emissions reduction targets. Under the proposal, car manufacturers will have until 2027 to comply with the 2025 emission targets through a three-year averaging system. The proposal, titled “Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council,” was officially published following a draft report released earlier this month. The amendment allows automakers to balance CO2 emissions across the 2025–2027 period rather than meeting annual targets. “During the period 2025 to 2027, manufacturers should ensure that the…

Panasonic Energy and Japanese raw materials firm Sumitomo Metal Mining have launched a recycling initiative to recover nickel from lithium-ion battery production waste for reuse in new batteries, the companies said. The project, which marks Panasonic Energy’s first closed-loop recycling effort in automotive battery production, will extract nickel from battery scraps generated at its factory in Osaka, Japan. The recovered material will then be reprocessed into cathode material for new batteries produced at the same facility. See also: Panasonic Elevates Energy Unit’s Earnings Forecast Amid Strategic Reforms “Building a sustainable recycling scheme for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries is crucial for the…

BMW has opened an additional body shop to support its Regensburg factory, increasing production capacity as demand for electrified vehicles continues to grow. The new facility, located in Neutraubling, spans approximately 40,000 square meters and currently produces around 120 car bodies per day. The expansion allows BMW to manufacture the BMW X1 series in both Regensburg and Neutraubling, rather than relying solely on the existing body shop. The new production hall was developed in under a year, with BMW converting an existing site previously used for logistics. The company obtained a change-of-use approval in April 2024, allowing the dismantling of…

German automotive supplier Webasto has entered into a partnership with Aachen-based battery recycling startup Cylib to recycle used batteries and production waste from Webasto’s battery manufacturing operations, the companies said. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen Europe’s raw material ecosystem and promote sustainable battery production. Cylib, which secured €55 million in investor funding last year, recently began constructing its first industrial battery recycling facility at Chempark Dormagen, Germany. The site, backed by tens of millions of euros from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, is designed to recover critical materials such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, and…

The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq is set to arrive at U.S. dealerships this spring, and some dealers are already offering early discounts on the three-row electric crossover. While most retailers are sticking to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), select dealers in Nevada and New York have listed models with a $2,000 reduction. Cadillac of Las Vegas has multiple Vistiq crossovers priced $2,000 below sticker, while Mount Kisco Cadillac in New York has an $80,215 Vistiq Luxury model listed for $78,215. The discount aligns with a $2,000 “Competitive Cash Allowance” available at launch, though the starting price remains at $77,395 before…

Volkswagen Group announced on Tuesday that it will collaborate with Valeo  and Mobileye  to enhance its assisted and autonomous driving capabilities, expanding its supplier network for future high-volume models. The German automaker said the partnerships will support the development of Level 2+ automated driving systems, designed to improve driver comfort and safety. “By integrating cutting-edge sensor and software technology, we aim to bring advanced driver assistance features to a wider range of customers,” Volkswagen said in a statement. See also: Volkswagen Urges German Government to Back EV Transition in 12-Point Plan Under the agreement, Valeo will supply electronic control units,…

Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer EHang has signed a framework agreement with JAC Motors and Guoxian to establish a joint venture in Hefei, China, for the development of a production facility. The agreement follows EHang’s recent milestone in Europe, where it successfully completed the first unmanned urban eVTOL flight test in Spain. The new joint venture aims to build an advanced eVTOL manufacturing hub in Hefei, integrating automation and standardized production processes. The companies plan to collaborate on research and development, manufacturing, and sales, with a focus on advancing the low-altitude economy. “This initiative aims to foster…

The University of Michigan has announced plans to construct a new electric vehicle battery research laboratory, aiming to advance next-generation battery technologies and expand hands-on education. The facility will be located on the university’s Ann Arbor campus. The lab will be housed in a 25,000-square-foot expansion of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute building on North Campus. It will feature three battery laboratories, a substation, a battery cell testing facility, and various auxiliary support areas, the university said. See also: University of Córdoba Develops Sodium-Sulphur Battery with Over 2,000 Charge Cycles In addition, the university’s EV Center will open…

Iveco and Stellantis have signed a ten-year agreement to introduce two new fully electric vans, expanding Iveco’s commercial EV lineup. The vans, built on Stellantis’ platform for medium and large transporters, will be produced at Stellantis facilities in Italy, Poland, and France and marketed under the Iveco brand across Europe, including the UK. The launch is scheduled for mid-2026. Expanding Iveco’s Electric Van Portfolio The new models will join Iveco’s existing electric range, which includes the eDaily and the Hyundai-backed eMoovy chassis. They will feature gross vehicle weights of 2.8 to 4.25 tonnes, aligning them with Stellantis’ existing Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro,…

Wayve, a UK-based autonomous vehicle startup, is pushing forward with a strategy that emphasizes affordability, adaptability, and broad application across the automotive and robotics sectors. CEO Alex Kendall outlined the company’s approach at Nvidia’s GTC conference, highlighting an end-to-end data-driven learning model that eliminates the need for high-definition maps or rule-based software. The company, which has raised over $1.3 billion in the past two years, aims to license its self-driving software to automakers and fleet operators, including Uber. While no formal automotive partnerships have been announced, a Wayve spokesperson said the company is in “strong discussions” with multiple original equipment…

Northvolt’s bankruptcy trustee said on Friday that “significant” progress had been made in efforts to keep the Swedish electric vehicle battery maker operational while negotiations with potential buyers continue. Northvolt filed for bankruptcy in Sweden on March 12, marking one of the country’s largest corporate failures. The company had been viewed as a crucial part of Europe’s ambitions to develop a competitive battery industry to rival China. Following the bankruptcy filing, Northvolt stated that its factory in northern Sweden would remain operational in the short term. However, the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee will decide whether production continues during negotiations over the…

Porsche has pushed back the launch of its all-electric 718 Boxster and Cayman by two years, citing issues with battery cell supply following the insolvency of Swedish battery maker Northvolt. “With the electric model series in the 718 segment, we too cannot avoid the issue of the availability of high-performance cells,” Porsche and Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume told Automobilwoche. The electric 718, initially planned for a 2025 debut, will now follow the all-electric Cayenne, which is scheduled for 2026. See also: Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Sets Fourth Lap Record, Conquers Interlagos Circuit Porsche had relied on Northvolt for high-energy-density…

Toyota and EVgo have inaugurated their first co-branded fast-charging station in California, marking a step toward improving access to high-speed EV charging. The new DC fast-charging station, equipped with 350kW chargers, was launched on Monday in Baldwin Park and Sacramento as part of Toyota’s broader “Empact” initiative, which aims to expand charging infrastructure in underserved communities. See also: Toyota’s Cheapest EV Yet? bZ3X SUV Launches in China from $15,150 “Together with EVgo, we are supporting broader access to charging infrastructure for all battery EV drivers, including those driving Toyota and Lexus BEVs,” said James George, General Manager of EV Charging…

Ford has issued a recall for 234 Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs from the 2021-2022 model years in the United States after discovering that some vehicles did not receive a necessary software update, despite being marked as repaired. The update was originally intended to address a potential risk of power loss due to an overheating battery contactor, the company said. The recall relates to Ford’s 2022 Safety Recall 22S41 (NHTSA recall number 24V-412), which sought to fix a defect in the high-voltage battery main contactors. Under heavy acceleration or DC fast charging, these components could overheat, potentially causing them to weld…