Author: Moira Shortle

Cruise has expanded its fleet of self-driving robotaxis to operate 24/7 throughout San Francisco. CEO Kyle Vogt took to Twitter to confirm the news, expressing his excitement for this significant milestone after nearly a decade of anticipation. The rollout of the expanded service will be introduced gradually, starting with Cruise’s own staff members, known as “Cruisers,” who will have access to round-the-clock rides across the entire city. Additionally, selected “power users” who provide feedback to Cruise will be able to hail driverless Chevrolet Bolts during the day in the northwest section of San Francisco and throughout the entire city at…

Lotus is now making waves in the electric vehicle market with its groundbreaking model, the Lotus Eletre. Not only is this vehicle the brand’s first foray into all-electric production cars, but it also boasts an impressive array of advanced sensors that could potentially enable it to achieve Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities. What sets the Lotus Eletre apart is its innovative utilization of multiple LiDARs. Two of these LiDAR sensors are cleverly integrated into the front fenders, automatically deploying whenever necessary. Furthermore, a third LiDAR sensor is positioned on the roof of the vehicle. In addition to LiDAR, Lotus has…

In a recent report by Reuters, NIO revealed its plan to enter the European market with a sub-30,000 euros ($33,060) priced model. Founder, chairman, and CEO William Li disclosed this information to German magazine Der Spiegel, emphasizing NIO’s intention to directly compete with Volkswagen. Li, without providing further details, stated, “Yes, in terms of price that means we are also attacking Volkswagen more strongly than before,” as quoted by Der Spiegel. This move aligns with NIO’s broader strategy of targeting the mass market by developing two sub-brands known as ALPS and Firefly. During a face-to-face communication with NIO owners, co-founder…

Toronto’s Transit Commission (TTC) is set to receive a major overhaul in the form of CAD 700 million (€465 million) investment for the procurement of 340 electric buses and infrastructure. The plan also involves upgrading eight bus depots before the e-buses enter service in 2025. The funding for this project is shared by the Canadian government and the City of Toronto. The federal Zero Emission Transit Fund is also contributing $349 million to the initiative. TTC’s aim is to have an emission-free fleet by 2040, and with the latest investment, it is set to pave the way for the electrification…

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…