Author: Moira Shortle

In a move that further solidifies its position in the growing electric vehicle (EV) charging market, Shell has announced its acquisition of evpass, the largest network of public charging stations for EVs in Switzerland. Founded in 2016 by Green Motion and previously owned by Eaton, FMV, and energy supplier AEW, evpass has over 3,000 charge points throughout the country and boasts a subscriber base of 50,000. This acquisition aligns with Shell’s strategy to operate over 500,000 charging points worldwide by 2025 and 2.5 million by 2030. In December 2022, Shell launched its first two fast charging stations in Switzerland and…

Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin recently achieved a significant milestone in electric vehicle production. The facility successfully produced 4,000 Model Y in one week, as announced by the electric vehicle maker’s official social media account for Europe. With this milestone, the factory has achieved an annual run-rate of 208,000 Model Y, an impressive feat considering the challenges it has faced over the years. The successful ramp-up of production at Giga Berlin is a positive sign for Tesla’s manufacturing operations. Its sister factory, Giga Texas, was opened just weeks apart, and it is expected to achieve a similar production milestone soon. Once both…

Expeto, a provider of enterprise networking solutions over private and public mobile networks, has unveiled its new solution for connected vehicles. Called Connected Vehicles, the solution is available on the Expeto NeXtworking Platform as a Service and offers granular visibility and control for next-generation connected car, autonomous vehicle, and advanced logistics applications. Connected Vehicles provides automotive OEMs with the ability to manage software-defined fleets via public networks, as an extension of their own private networks. With the increasing number of sub-systems that require cellular connectivity, Expeto’s unified control plane allows OEMs to configure and monitor data paths between each of…

Alfa Romeo has had a bumpy road to recovery, but the Italian carmaker is showing signs of newfound confidence as it starts 2022 on a high note. The brand has reported a 22% increase in registrations across Europe, with France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, Greece, and Portugal all showing increased demand. The company attributes much of this success to the Tonale, a compact SUV that marked the beginning of Alfa Romeo’s “metamorphosis.” This transformation will continue with Alfa Romeo’s commitment to electrification, culminating in a zero-emission range by 2027. The brand’s CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, has promised that the upcoming next-generation…

Ford has released a teaser video for one of their upcoming electric vehicles (EVs) based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform. In the video, Ford of Europe Design Director Amko Leenarts reveals an aerodynamically optimized wheel on an unnamed model, which could be the so-called “Sport Crossover” set to arrive in 2024. Although details are scarce, the teaser shows that the crossover may have a more rakish windscreen and less plastic cladding than Ford’s previous MEB-based model. Martin Sander, Model e Europe boss, teased that the new EV will be a “rebellious, uncompromising, SUV … reimagined for the EV era.” It is…

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Kaluza, a UK-based energy software platform, have announced a partnership to launch Japan’s first telematics-based smart charging service. The collaboration aims to increase the affordability of electric vehicles (EVs) and maximize their value for a decarbonized energy system. The new service builds on Kaluza’s global smart charging expertise, following deployments in North America, Europe, and Australia. Smart charging technology enables EVs to charge during times of low demand, when energy is cheaper and greener. The technology also helps avoid high electricity prices and alleviate network balancing challenges. Through the new service, Kaluza’s software will directly…

Nikola Corporation, the American BEV and FCEV automaker, recently shared its Q4 and full year results for 2022. While some of the numbers saw significant drops compared to Q3, the company has several accolades on its report card and even bigger plans for this coming year. Despite the setbacks, Nikola’s progress in both its commercial vehicle business, Tre Fuel Cell EVs, and its energy business continues to harden. If the company executes its 2023 milestones laid out in its recent presentation, its overall upward trend for the year should continue. One of the highlights of Nikola’s Q4 report was the…

Mercedes-Benz and Google have just announced a new long-term strategic partnership that will see the two companies collaborating on a range of initiatives designed to create the next-generation digital luxury car experience. Specifically, Mercedes-Benz will become the first automaker to create its own branded navigation experience using Google Maps Platform’s new in-car data and navigation capabilities. This partnership will give Mercedes-Benz access to Google’s leading geospatial offering, including detailed information about places, real-time and predictive traffic information, automatic rerouting, and more. See also: Google Maps trials navigation features for electric vehicles The new partnership will see Google’s industry-leading mapping and…

French motorway management company Vinci Autoroutes has recently announced the opening of four fast-charging parks across the country, in collaboration with Dutch EV charging infrastructure provider, Allego. The four new charge hubs, located in Les Brouzils and Chavagnes on both sides of the A83, Rouillé Pamproux Nord on the A10, and Toulouse Sud Nord on the A61, offer multiple charge points for EV drivers, including CCS fast chargers and a CHAdeMO and AC charging point. Each of the four fast-charging parks boasts four Alpitronic Hypercharger HYC300s, which can provide up to 300 kW power and two connections each, along with…

BRP, the Canadian manufacturer of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and personal watercraft, has been making waves with its plans for electrification. Last year, the company revealed two new electric models: the Origin and Pulse, and now its sister brands, Ski-Doo and Lynx, are following in their footsteps. The companies have announced their plans to launch their first-ever electric snowmobiles in 2024. The lineup will include the Ski-Doo Grand Touring Electric and the Lynx Adventure Electric, both of which closely resemble their traditional, ICE-powered counterparts. Not only do they promise emissions-free fun, but also an enjoyable experience for beginners and veterans alike.…

Recently, rumors circulated regarding Huawei’s automotive business and its intentions towards some of its current partners. The company was rumored to have split from Seres, its manufacturing partner, and was looking to build its own car factory for Huawei-branded electric cars. However, Huawei CEO, Richard Yu, took it upon himself to deny all the rumors and defend Huawei’s current business model and strategy. Unlike its competitor, Xiaomi, Huawei has taken a more conservative approach to the car business. The company has a three-pronged approach, acting as an auto part manufacturer, providing its Huawei Inside software suite to automakers, and through…

Fiat, the iconic Italian automaker, is set to expand its electric vehicle (EV) lineup with the launch of two all-new models in the second half of 2023. While the brand’s European lineup is already fully electrified, with the exception of the 500e, which is its only pure EV offering, the company plans to change this anomaly by introducing the two new EVs. The announcement was made during Stellantis’ presentation of its full-year financial results for 2022. Although no information was given about the bodystyle of the upcoming EVs, previous comments made by Fiat’s CEO, Olivier François, and various reports from…

Enel X Way North America, a global e-mobility business of the Enel Group, has entered into a partnership with Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company (LG&E and KU), the two largest utilities in Kentucky, to install fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at up to eight locations across their service territories. The five-year agreement will provide LG&E and KU with DC fast EV charging infrastructure, software, and operations and maintenance services. The first phase of the project will include four locations to be determined by LG&E and KU in 2023, providing EV drivers with access to eight…

Samsung has announced its foray into the autonomous vehicle business by partnering with US-based semiconductor company Ambarella. Rather than producing its own self-driving systems like Xiaomi, Samsung will provide AI chips to control autonomous vehicles. Ambarella, a Tier-1 automotive supplier that started in 2004, is set to be Samsung’s first customer. The two companies aim to revolutionize the next generation of self-driving cars. Ambarella’s technology is used in many consumer products, including GoPro, Nest Dropcam, Garmin dashcams, and DJI Phantom drones. In recent years, the company has acquired a series of automotive companies, including VisLab, a computer vision firm that…

China’s BYD has emerged as Thailand’s top-selling pure electric vehicle (EV) brand in January 2023, with its ATTO 3 model delivering 1,040 units, according to the country’s latest insurance registration records. The company’s successful performance in Thailand is due to its large-scale exports of the model, with over 10,000 units shipped so far. The ATTO 3’s popularity in Thailand was evident in November 2022 when BYD launched pre-sales of the model, which resulted in 10,500 orders being placed in just 42 days. Despite exceeding BYD’s expectations, high demand caused temporary delivery difficulties, leading the company to temporarily suspend reservations. However,…

Hyundai IONIQ 5 has been awarded the title of Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year 2023 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), making it the second consecutive year Hyundai has received the award, following the Tucson’s win for 2022. The IONIQ 5 has also been bestowed with several international accolades, including World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year, and World Car Design of the Year. In Canada, the AJAC recognized the IONIQ 5 as the “Best Electric Vehicle for 2023,” while the EV SUV Below $45,000 category saw it receive Canadian Black Book’s inaugural…

EVgo, one of the largest electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging networks in the United States, has announced plans to significantly improve the user experience this year. The company has unveiled its new EVgo ReNew maintenance program, which focuses on the reliability of DC fast chargers and maximizing uptime. Over the coming year, EVgo plans to replace, upgrade, or retire hundreds of stations as part of its ReNew program. The exact number of charging stalls that will be included in the program is not known, but it is expected to be a few times bigger than the 125 charging stalls upgraded, replaced…

Birmingham Airport (BHX) in the UK has partnered with ZeroAvia to bring zero-emission aircraft and on-airfield hydrogen refuelling to the airport. The airport plans to utilise a disused area to build hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and conduct testing and operations. ZeroAvia, a company that is currently developing a zero-emission system capable of flying 20-seat aircraft 300 nautical miles by 2025, uses hydrogen-electric engines to generate electricity, which powers electric motors to turn the aircraft’s propellers, producing only water as a byproduct. BHX has set a target to become a net-zero-carbon airport by 2033 by prioritising zero-carbon airport operations and minimising the…

Sinje Gottwald, a B2B Account Manager, has accomplished a remarkable feat by riding the longest distance on an electric motorcycle. She completed her 124-day journey along the West Coast of Africa on the CAKE Kalk AP, covering 13,000 km from Spain to South Africa without technical or medical support. Despite facing daily challenges such as inclement weather, terrain, charging the bike, and dehydration, Sinje’s triumph on the Kalk AP is a breakthrough for technological and social aspects. Sinje, a veteran of motorcycle adventures, gained recognition in 2017 after accomplishing a solo circumnavigation of the world, breaking down barriers and normalizing…

Porsche, a brand known for creating fun and engaging vehicles, has doubled down on its mission to get people to enjoy their drives with the recent software update of its ROADS app. The update adds an artificial intelligence (AI) feature that suggests scenic routes based on various parameters, including road curves, topography, landscape features, and points of interest. According to Robert Ader, Chief Marketing Officer at Porsche AG, the app’s centerpiece is the scenic route generator. With just a few clicks, driving enthusiasts can find their own dream route, plan a circuit route or navigate to a specific destination, no…