Author: Moira Shortle

Canadian battery technology firm Nano One Materials is accelerating its efforts to commercialize its One Pot process, starting with 200 tonnes per year of LFP cathode materials. The production is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2023 at the Candiac facility in Quebec. This plant, which Nano One acquired in 2022 as part of its purchase of Johnson Matthey’s Canadian battery business, has a production capacity of 2,400 tonnes, and the company is upgrading it to its One-Pot technology. The plant will start with an output of 200 tonnes per year, which is expected to rise to up…

BorgWarner, a US automotive supplier, has announced plans to expand its battery and e-mobility capacities in the United States. The company will upgrade existing facilities in South Carolina and Michigan, as well as open a new EV battery service centre. The Seneca factory in South Carolina will receive a $42 million investment to upgrade the facility and develop new manufacturing lines. BorgWarner plans to produce 3GWh of battery modules annually from the expanded facility starting in the first half of 2024. See also: BorgWarner to showcase various electric vehicle technology at Auto Expo Components 2023 in New Delhi In Michigan,…

Chile’s President Gabriel Boric recently announced a plan to have the state take a controlling stake in the country’s lithium industry. The announcement has left business leaders feeling disconcerted, while analysts have cautioned that the proposal appears to try to strike a middle ground between competing interests. Boric stated that private companies will have to partner with the government in exploiting Chile’s lithium, with the state taking a controlling interest in each partnership. This has led some to call it a nationalization of the industry, while others have disagreed. Nicolás Saldías, senior analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit for Latin…

Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) has unveiled its highly innovative eCV1 electric commercial vehicle prototype, featuring a unique central driving position, at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham this week. The vehicle is built around WEVC’s flexible EV architecture, enabling a wide range of electric commercial vehicle designs that can meet specific fleet requirements. “Our unique approach to addressing the challenges facing the industry is going to enable the transition to mission-specific, yet cost-effective electric light vans,” said Neil Yates, CEO of WEVC. “Our eCV1’s cabin has been designed to make their job easier, safer, and less strenuous, improving visibility,…

BYD, a Chinese automobile manufacturer, has recently launched the Yangwang U8, a high-end NEV SUV under its new brand. With a massive size of 5319/2050/1930 mm, the U8 stands on the new E4 platform, supporting both BEVs and PHEVs. Its powertrain comprises four electric motors, each with a power output of 225 hp and 320 Nm of torque. Consequently, the U8 boasts a total power of 1100 horses and a torque of 1280 Nm, making it capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3 seconds. One of the most intriguing features of the U8 is its ability…

According to Kelley Blue Book (KBB) estimates, the average price paid for a new electric vehicle (EV) in the US rose by $313, or 0.5%, in March 2023 compared to February 2023. The average new EV sold for $58,940 in March, well above the industry average. Despite Tesla, the automaker with the largest share of EV sales, cutting prices three times in recent months, the increase was driven by rising sales from other brands, such as Mercedes, Rivian, and Lucid, offsetting lower-priced Tesla products. Although new EV pricing peaked in 2022, March’s upward movement of the average transaction price (ATP)…

The United States Treasury Department announced on Monday that new battery sourcing rules would result in several automakers losing access to a $7,500 tax credit for their electric vehicles. Companies affected include BMW, Hyundai, Nissan, Rivian, Volvo, and Volkswagen. The rules come into effect on Tuesday, and they aim to reduce the US’s dependence on China for EV battery supply chains, in line with President Joe Biden’s goal of making 50% of new US vehicle sales EVs or PHEVs by 2030. Under the new regulations, the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Rear Wheel Drive credit will be reduced by half…

Last week, an image of what was believed to be a revised version of the Tesla Model 3 made its way around the internet. Now, a reliable source has confirmed that the image is authentic. According to Teslascope on Twitter, the image is a prototype build of the “Project Highland” Model 3. And a trusted source “with some relation” to Tesla has confirmed that the photo is indeed of an actual test vehicle. The source went on to detail some of the key aesthetic differences between the new Model 3 and the existing version. Notably, the updated Model 3 will…

Geotab, a provider of telematics and data intelligence solutions, is playing a key role in revolutionizing the way electric vehicles are managed. With its comprehensive platform, Geotab offers near real-time data on battery charge, range, energy and fuel usage, and charging history for over 300 different EV makes and models, making it the global leader in EV telematics. Recently, Geotab announced a world-leading milestone at the grand opening of its new Innovation and Research Hub in High Wycombe, England. This state-of-the-art facility, which has been active since 2020, is dedicated to advancing the data intelligence required to support the electrification…

Lancia, the iconic Italian automaker, has just unveiled the Pu+Ra HPE concept, signaling the start of a new era of electrification for the company. The high-performance electric coupe draws inspiration from some of Lancia’s most iconic models, such as the Stratos, Beta, and Flaminia, while also offering a glimpse into the future of Lancia’s design language. The car’s name, “Pu+Ra,” is derived from Lancia’s new “pure and radical” design language, while “HPE” stands for “High Performance Electric,” paying homage to the Beta HPE of the 1970s, whose designation originally stood for “High Performance Estate.” Like the Stratos, which was inspired…

Chinese technology giant Huawei is expanding its presence in the electric vehicle (EV) market with a new partnership with JAC Motors. The two companies will collaborate to produce luxury pure electric vehicles priced between RMB 800,000-1 million ($146,000), according to a report from local media outlet 36kr. This move follows Huawei’s recent partnership with Seres Group, with which it launched a premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand called AITO. JAC Motors is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for EV brand NIO, but in this partnership with Huawei, it aims to gain more flexible cooperation opportunities by learning from the tech…

Sustainable maritime transportation start-up REGENT has unveiled its full-scale prototype for a zero-emission 100% electric seaglider, which is set to take flight in 2024. The company’s mission is to revolutionize regional transportation by designing and building all-electric seagliders that offer a quick, low-cost, and sustainable coastal travel solution. With 40% of the world’s population residing in coastal communities, REGENT’s electric seagliders can provide an alternative zero-emission travel method to reduce congestion. The vehicle operates a few meters off the water’s surface, combining the high speeds of an aircraft with the low operating costs of a boat. By operating at an…

Tesla’s latest Master Plan Part 3 has been released, and it’s as optimistic as ever. CEO Elon Musk is known for his grandiose plans that are often deemed impossible or unrealistic by critics, but he has a track record of delivering on them in the end. However, a preliminary analysis by Benchmark suggests that Tesla and Musk may have underestimated the true scale of the investment required for the latest plan. The estimated costs for mining, refining, chemicals, Gigafactories, and recycling come to $3.4 trillion, excluding the $7 trillion estimated for battery production. But Benchmark believes that mining, refining, and…

PepsiCo has become the first company in the world to acquire a fleet of Tesla Semi electric trucks, unveiling 21 of them at its Sacramento bottling plant on Tuesday morning. Another 15 vehicles will be used by PepsiCo’s FritoLay manufacturing plant in Modesto, California. The new trucks will be used for local deliveries of Pepsi products, while some of the 100 ordered by PepsiCo will be used for long-haul deliveries in California. At a Tuesday plant news conference, PepsiCo officials touted their commitment to sustainability, acknowledging the cost of the Tesla Semi is high, at around $250,000, which is twice…

Zeekr, the electric vehicle (EV) brand owned by Chinese automaker Geely, has officially launched its latest premium crossover, the Zeekr X, in China. The vehicle is designed to compete in the European market in the near future, boasting a sleek design penned in Sweden, high-tech features, and impressive performance at a surprisingly low price. The Zeekr X is powered by two electric motors that deliver up to 422 horsepower (315 kW/428 PS) and 400 lb-ft (543 Nm) of torque, enabling the EV to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) from a stop in just 3.7 seconds. The vehicle’s impressive acceleration is…

Hyundai Motor Group has announced its ambitious plan to become one of the top three electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in the world by 2030. The group, which includes Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Genesis, aims to achieve this goal through a combined sales strategy of its electric models. To support its objective, the South Korean automotive conglomerate is planning to invest KRW 24 trillion (around USD 18 billion) in the domestic EV industry over the next decade. The investment will expand the annual EV production in Korea to 1.51 million units and global volume to 3.64 million units by 2030. The…

German automaker Volkswagen Group has set its sights on capturing a larger share of the US market by prioritizing electric vehicle (EV) production in North America. With the aim of delivering at least 25 all-electric models over the next seven years, Volkswagen plans to adhere to the new terms laid out in the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which will allow the company’s EVs to qualify for the entire $7,500 federal tax credit. Although Volkswagen may not be leading the all-electric charge in terms of technology, it is making daily moves to pivot toward BEV production in order to deliver…

Kia Motors has announced the construction of a dedicated plant for the production of battery-electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV) at its Hwaseong plant in South Korea. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday, April 12, and was attended by more than 200 people, including government officials, executives from Hyundai Motor Group and Kia Motors, and employees from the automotive parts industry. During the ceremony, Kia Motors’ Global President and CEO, Ho Sung Song, reiterated the company’s commitment to investing KRW 24 trillion (approximately USD 20.8 billion) in the domestic electric vehicle industry by 2030. Song said that this investment would focus…

Tesla, the renowned electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has reached a remarkable milestone with the installation of its 45,000th Supercharger worldwide. The company’s public charging network is one of the main selling points for Tesla cars, and this achievement highlights the company’s commitment to expanding its charging infrastructure. What’s even more impressive is that the jump from 40,000 to 45,000 Superchargers took only five months, demonstrating Tesla’s dedication to providing reliable and convenient charging options for EV owners worldwide. This is significant, as the expanding network is expected to have a positive impact on the overall EV ownership experience, especially when…

Carrefour Énergies, the French supermarket giant’s energy division, has been making significant strides in the country’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure since its launch in April 2022. The company has already equipped over 100 hypermarkets with EV charging terminals and has set its sights on adding another 200 stores to its tally by the end of 2023. By installing charging stations throughout the country, including urban and rural areas, Carrefour is making electric mobility more accessible to the masses and providing a new local service powered by 100% green energy. To achieve this ambitious goal, Carrefour has partnered with two…