Author: Miguel Garcia

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management is contributing to the European research initiative SAFELOOP, which seeks to develop a new generation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that are safer, more sustainable, and higher performing for electric vehicles, the institution said on Saturday. The project aims to improve LIB safety, sustainability, lifespan, and performance at a European gigafactory scale. Specific targets include a 15% increase in cycle stability by 2030 and a doubling of operating life compared to 2019. It also emphasizes the use of recycled materials from closed supply chains to enhance sustainability. SAFELOOP brings together 15 academic and industrial partners…

Siemens and Mennekes have entered into a partnership aimed at streamlining the planning of electric vehicle charging infrastructure by integrating charging station data into Siemens’ Simaris ecosystem. Mennekes will become the first external partner in the Simaris platform, the companies said in a statement on Wednesday. Siemens’ Simaris planning tools help electrical planners design power distribution networks and determine necessary components such as distribution boards. The collaboration will incorporate Mennekes’ charging stations into these tools, making it easier for engineers and developers to plan charging infrastructure ahead of installation. See also: Siemens eMobility Secures Major EV Charging Projects in Italy…

A new European Union-backed initiative, BeyondBattRec, has brought together twelve partners under the leadership of Denmark’s Aalborg University to advance battery recycling technologies. The project seeks to recover 95% of critical metals such as cobalt, nickel, and copper while also improving industrial scalability. Launched at the end of 2024, BeyondBattRec will run for four years until 2028, aiming to reuse over 70% of battery weight, cut CO2 emissions by 50%, and recover 95% of non-metallic components. While electric vehicle (EV) batteries have high theoretical recycling potential, current recycling rates remain low, with only 12% of battery materials recovered globally. See…

Automaker Stellantis expressed support for the European Commission’s decision to extend the compliance period for new carbon dioxide (CO2) emission targets, calling it a “meaningful step in the right direction” to balance industry competitiveness with climate commitments. The Commission announced on Monday that automakers would have three years—2025 to 2027—rather than a single year to meet the EU’s revised CO2 emissions targets. The move follows pressure from European automakers concerned about the pace of regulatory changes. See also: Stellantis Nominates Two New Board Members, Proposes Re-Election of Five Others “Stellantis welcomes the announcements made yesterday by Commission President von der…

Kia is recalling 342 units of its 2025 EV9 electric SUV in the United States due to a welding defect in the rear gear drive unit motor shaft, which could lead to reduced acceleration and motive power. According to a safety recall report, the issue affects dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants of the EV9, built at Kia’s Georgia plant between October and December 2023. See also: Everything You Should Know About Kia EV9 The problem stems from a supplier welding error, which may cause the motor shaft inside the rear gear drive unit to sustain damage. Affected vehicles may display warning signs…

Bedford Borough Council has opened a tender for the installation and operation of at least 256 new electric vehicle (EV) charge points, backed by over £1 million in government funding. The contract is expected to be awarded by summer 2025. The council is inviting charge point operators to bid for a share of £1,010,000 secured from the UK government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) initiative. The selected operators will be required to match the grant funding with private investment and install charging facilities in key locations across the borough through 2040. See also: Ionity Opens Largest UK Charging Hub at…

IM Motors, the electric vehicle subsidiary of SAIC Motor Corp, has shipped its first batch of LS6 electric SUVs to Thailand, marking its latest step in global expansion efforts, the company announced on Weibo on Monday. The LS6, which will be rebranded as the IM6 in Thailand, is set to make its official market debut at the Thailand Auto Show on March 24. A report from Chinese automotive news outlet Yiche suggests that the LS6 will be sold under SAIC’s MG brand as the MG IM6, though IM Motors has not confirmed the branding change in its official statements. See…

Scout Motors is progressing with the construction of its electric vehicle production facility in Blythewood, South Carolina, as part of a $2 billion investment aimed at expanding manufacturing capabilities.  The 1,100-acre site is expected to generate over 4,000 jobs and produce up to 200,000 vehicles annually, according to the company. A recent milestone was marked with the groundbreaking of the Scout Motors Drive Interchange Project, a new connection to Interstate 77 intended to facilitate truck traffic and regional development. See also: Scout Motors Faces Legal Battle Over Direct-to-Consumer EV Sales Model “We are excited to begin the construction phase of…

Leapmotor, the Chinese electric vehicle brand partnered with Stellantis through the Leapmotor International joint venture, has rapidly expanded its footprint in Europe, reaching 450 sales outlets across 14 countries since its market entry in September 2024. The company is now raising its annual target to 600 outlets, up from the initial 500. With the majority of its sales points integrated into Stellantis’ dealer network—alongside brands such as Fiat, Opel, and Peugeot—Leapmotor has delivered over 1,500 vehicles to European customers. In Germany, the company recorded nearly 180 new registrations in the final quarter of 2024 and another 155 in January 2025.…

Altilium, a UK-based clean technology company, has announced a significant advancement in EV battery recycling. New research from Imperial College London confirms that recycled cathode active materials (CAM) can match or even outperform the performance of virgin mined materials, marking a crucial step toward establishing a circular economy for electric vehicle batteries. The findings reveal that Altilium’s recycled CAM offers superior purity, morphology, and electrochemical performance when compared to commercially mined materials. See also: UK’s Altilium Expands EV Battery Recycling to LFP Chemistry The company’s EcoCathode™ process recovers over 95% of critical metals, providing a sustainable domestic supply of materials…

Fuuse has announced a new partnership with Gireve, a B2B digital platform for electric mobility, to integrate its public charging network into Gireve’s marketplace. This collaboration enables e-Mobility Service Providers (eMSPs) to connect with Fuuse’s infrastructure more easily, improving access to EV charging for drivers, charge point operators (CPOs), and eMSPs alike. See also: Vinci Autoroutes to Test Inductive Charging on French Motorway With the integration, eMSPs can now connect with Fuuse’s network through Gireve’s platform, simplifying the process with pre-written roaming agreements. This provides eMSPs with access to a broader range of charging stations, increasing service coverage and improving…

Archer has raised $300 million in new funding, strengthening its financial position as it accelerates the development of hybrid-propulsion aircraft for defense applications. The investment, led by funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, increases Archer’s total liquidity to approximately $1 billion. See also: Archer Aviation Secures $430 Million to Develop Hybrid Aircraft with Anduril Industries The company launched Archer Defense in December, focusing on next-generation vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft for military use. “I believe the opportunity for advanced vertical lift aircraft across defense appears to be substantially larger than I originally expected,” said Archer CEO Adam Goldstein. “As…

CATL maintained its position as the world’s largest power battery maker in 2024, with BYD coming in second. According to data from South Korean market research firm SNE Research, global electric vehicle (EV) battery usage reached 894.4 GWh in 2024, marking a 27.2% increase from 703.2 GWh in 2023. CATL’s EV battery installations in 2024 totaled 339.3 GWh, a 31.7% rise from 257.7 GWh in 2023, securing a 37.9% market share, the highest in the industry. This marks a slight increase from the company’s 36.6% share in 2023 and 36.8% in the January-November period of 2024. See also: Ford Seeks…

Swiss technology company Bühler Group has delivered its first megacasting solutions to Honda as the Japanese automaker ramps up electric vehicle (EV) production in the United States. Honda has installed several Bühler Carat 610 die-casting machines, with one dedicated to research in Japan and others deployed at its Anna Engine Plant in Ohio. Honda has been developing an EV production hub in Ohio since 2022, with assembly set to take place at its Marysville facility. Production will begin later this year with the Acura RSX SUV, followed by models based on the Honda 0 saloon and Honda 0 SUV prototypes…

Hyundai is gearing up to unveil a major advancement in electric vehicle (EV) battery technology, with plans to reveal its all-solid-state EV battery pilot line in March. These new “Dream” batteries promise to offer longer driving ranges, faster charging times, and significantly higher energy density compared to current battery technologies. Hyundai’s CEO Investor Day in 2023 outlined its strategy to become a dominant player in the EV battery market, backed by an investment of over $9 billion (KRW 9.5 trillion) over the next decade. See also: Hyundai and Kia Invest in WeaveGrid to Boost EV-Grid Integration Technology The all-solid-state battery…

The “Sodium-Ion-Battery Deutschland-Forschung – SIB:DE FORSCHUNG” project has officially launched, aiming to assess the viability of sodium-ion battery technology for Europe’s energy and mobility transition. The initiative seeks to expedite the industrial implementation of this technology, pooling the expertise of 21 national partners from both academia and industry. The Fraunhofer IFAM, which announced the project, emphasized that the consortium’s work will focus on everything from battery material development to large-format cell production. See also: Fraunhofer ISE Develops Medium-Voltage System for Fast-Charging Stations, Enhancing Flexibility and Cost Efficiency Sodium-ion batteries have garnered significant attention for their potential advantages over traditional lithium-ion…

Corvus Energy will supply a nearly 25 MWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system for the first-ever fully electric offshore vessel, set to enter service in 2027. The electric Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (eCSOV) is being built by Spain’s Armon shipyard for UK-based shipowner Bibby Marine. While the vessel will also be equipped with methanol engines, these will be used exclusively for charging, according to the manufacturer. Corvus Energy stated that this marks the largest LFP battery system ever deployed in a maritime project. The battery-powered ship will rely on an optimized DC grid system to enhance efficiency and minimize…

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to lend up to $100 million to Ayala Corporation, the Philippines’ oldest conglomerate, to help establish an electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in the country. The funding aims to support the installation of EV charging stations and the purchase of electric vehicles for commercial distribution. Specific details about the number of chargers or vehicles to be procured, as well as the timeline for implementation, were not disclosed in the press release. The ADB’s “Initial Environmental and Social Examination,” published in October 2024, provides further insight into the project, revealing plans to support the nationwide…

Glades County School District (GCSD) has added 13 electric school buses to its fleet, replacing over half of its aging diesel vehicles, some of which had been in service for over 25 years, the district announced. The $5 million initiative, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Rebate Program, aims to cut emissions and operational costs while improving student comfort with air-conditioned transport. See also: Thomas Built Buses Unveils Second-Generation Jouley Electric School Bus The Blue Bird Vision electric buses, supplied through Florida Transportation Systems, Inc., produce zero emissions and can travel up to 120 miles…

BMW plans to base its next-generation X5, including the electric iX5 variant, on an enhanced version of its existing Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform, rather than the forthcoming Neue Klasse platform, according to a report by Autocar. This decision reflects BMW’s strategy to maintain flexibility in its vehicle architectures. The CLAR platform, currently underpinning models like the X5 and i5, will be updated to incorporate elements from the Neue Klasse architecture. Enhancements include the integration of sixth-generation electric drive systems and the adoption of an 800-volt electrical system, aiming to improve performance and efficiency. See also: BMW M4 Electric Coupe Expected…