Author: Moira Shortle

ZF has secured orders for electric drivetrains from two international commercial vehicle manufacturers, Ford Trucks and Farizon. Ford Trucks, part of the Turkish joint venture Ford Otosan, will utilize ZF’s CeTrax 2 dual electric central drive for its new battery-electric F-LINE series truck. This model features two hairpin electric motors providing continuous power of 380 kW and a peak torque of 24,700 Nm. Additionally, ZF will supply an electrically powered hydraulic steering pump as part of a long-term supply agreement aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the vehicle’s hydraulic systems. According to Peter Laier, a member of ZF’s Board of…

Alphabet’s Waymo is in discussions with South Korea’s Hyundai Motor to potentially outsource the manufacturing of its self-driving vehicles, according to a report by South Korean newspaper Electronic Times. The talks reportedly focus on using Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 electric vehicle for Waymo’s sixth-generation autonomous driving technology. Officials from Waymo and Hyundai have met multiple times to explore the possibility of replacing vehicles from China’s Zeekr with Ioniq 5 models, as the Biden administration’s tariff hikes on Chinese imports, including electric vehicles, are set to take effect on September 27. The report comes amid the U.S. government’s 100% duty on Chinese…

BYD has refuted claims that it has raised its annual sales target. Li Yunfei, BYD Group’s general manager for branding and public relations, stated on Weibo that while current orders and sales are strong, there has been no official increase in the company’s sales goal. The denial follows a widely circulated report from Morgan Stanley analyst Tim Hsiao, who suggested in a September 9 research note that BYD had raised its annual sales target from 3.6 million units to 4 million units. The report, which was picked up by both Chinese and English media, has sparked considerable discussion on social…

Lucid Motors has confirmed that it will not be venturing into the electric pickup truck market. Founder and CEO Peter Rawlinson made the announcement during the company’s Manufacturing and Technology Day, stating, “I don’t want Lucid to start thinking about a pickup truck.” The decision marks a shift from Rawlinson’s earlier stance in 2020, when he hinted that the company had future-proofed its paint shop for potential pickup truck production. However, the focus on efficiency and the challenges associated with making a business case for an electric truck led to a change of heart. “I really think it’s very tough…

Lithium Australia has announced a new agreement to recycle end-of-life batteries from BYD’s New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in Australia. The partnership, which has an initial term of three years and an option to extend for an additional two years, marks a significant milestone for both companies. Under this agreement, Envirostream Australia, a subsidiary of Lithium Australia, will handle the recycling of BYD’s Blade Batteries, which use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. The companies have not disclosed specific recycling targets but noted that BYD’s vehicles comprised approximately 14% of all NEVs sold in Australia in 2023. Simon Linge, CEO and Managing…

Natron Energy has unveiled plans to build the first sodium-ion battery gigafactory in the United States, located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. The proposed facility, with a projected capacity of 24 GWh per year, represents a significant expansion for the company, which currently operates on a much smaller scale. The $1.4 billion project aims to capitalize on the advantages of sodium-ion batteries, which are considered a viable alternative to the widely used lithium-ion batteries. Sodium-ion batteries offer several benefits, including the absence of critical materials like lithium, cobalt, copper, and nickel, making them more cost-effective and less flammable. Natron Energy…

The Vietnamese government is considering subsidizing electricity costs for electric vehicle (EV) chargers as part of its efforts to promote electric cars. The proposal is part of a broader initiative that also includes potential incentives for EV production, imports, and scrappage programs. According to a Reuters report, Vietnam currently has around 150,000 EV charging points, most of which are operated by the country’s leading EV manufacturer, VinFast. Earlier this year, VinFast’s founder, Pham Nhat Vuong, established a charging infrastructure company called V-Green, which aims to set up charging networks in key markets. However, these networks will primarily serve VinFast vehicles.…

SES AI Corporation, a developer of lithium metal batteries, announced that its 100 Ah cell designed for electric vehicles has successfully passed safety tests in China. The tests were conducted according to the Chinese safety standard GB38031-2020, marking a significant milestone for the company. The GB38031-2020 standard encompasses a range of stringent safety evaluations, including overcharge, over discharge, heating, temperature cycling, and crushing tests. SES AI, formerly known as SolidEnergy Systems, emphasized the importance of this achievement. “Compliance with GB38031-2020 demonstrates that SES AI’s 100 Ah Li-Metal cells can effectively manage safety risks under these stringent test conditions,” the company…

German air taxi startup Volocopter, originally aiming to debut its commercial service during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, has postponed these plans due to several challenges. Instead, the company carried out a demonstration flight yesterday at the Saint-Cyr-l’École airfield, marking a significant, albeit scaled-back, milestone in its journey. The Bruchsal-based startup successfully completed a piloted test flight at what is now the first customized commercial vertiport for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This airfield, located approximately 25 kilometers from central Paris, became the alternative site for the test after protests thwarted Volocopter’s original plan to launch from…

Xpeng has commenced mass production of its Mona M03, the first model in its new Mona lineup, with the official launch anticipated by the end of this month. The first production units of the M03 have already rolled off the assembly line, according to Xpeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng, who made the announcement on Weibo. Xpeng is accelerating its final preparations for the Mona M03’s market debut, aiming to deliver the vehicles as soon as they become available. “Our team is working hard to ensure that customers can receive their vehicles quickly once they are released,” Mr. He stated.…

CATL has launched its first experience center in Chengdu, Sichuan province, marking a significant step in the Chinese power battery giant’s efforts to engage directly with consumers. The 13,800-square-meter showroom, named Ning Space, is designed to offer a comprehensive look at electric vehicle (EV) models powered by CATL’s batteries, making it the world’s first new energy experience center according to the company. The showroom features nearly 100 EV models from about 50 different car brands, including well-known names such as Nio’s ES8, ES6, ET7, ET5, and ET5 Touring, Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, and Xiaomi’s SU7. This diverse collection…

Electric truck maker Nikola reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter revenue on Friday, along with a smaller-than-anticipated adjusted loss, driven by increased deliveries of its hydrogen-powered big rigs. The company’s shares surged 17% in early trading following the announcement. Nikola’s revenue for the quarter reached $31.3 million, surpassing Wall Street estimates of $27.1 million, according to LSEG data. This growth is attributed to an 80% increase in deliveries, with the company delivering 72 hydrogen trucks during the quarter. This uptick in demand comes despite a broader slowdown in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, as customers increasingly opt for Nikola’s hydrogen fuel cell vehicles…