Author: Moira Shortle

Lightning eMotors announced the Class 3 Lightning ZEV3™ electric passenger van has received Buy America certification. This, combined with its Altoona Testing certification, qualifies the ZEV3 for funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s $4 billion Low- and No-Emissions grant program and makes it eligible for incentives like the Federal Aviation Administration’s zero emission airport shuttle program (Buy American). With the availability of these funds, fleets can transition to electric vehicles more rapidly, reducing their carbon footprint. To take advantage of this funding, worth $1 billion in 2023, zero- or low-emission transit vehicles must be both Buy America certified and pass…

FLEETCOR has taken over Mina, a cloud-based electric vehicle charging software platform, to provide the market-leading home-charging software solution for commercial fleets in the UK. The acquisition follows a successful collaboration between the two companies. FLEETCOR now has access to the UK’s sole EV re-charging solution that calculates, captures and pays energy providers directly for at-home business charging. Mina’s platform makes the transition to electric vehicles effortless for commercial fleets by streamlining and automating the reimbursement process for at-home charging. Mina is a prize-winning start-up in the electric vehicle (EV) charging payment sector, with the goal of revolutionizing the charging…

The Skoda Enyaq iV vRS has made history by setting two Guinness World Records on a frozen lake in Sweden. The electric SUV achieved the record for “Longest Continuous Vehicle Drift on Ice” by continuously sliding on a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) ice circuit for nearly 16 minutes, covering a total distance of 4.568 miles (7.351 km). This effort easily surpasses the previous record of 3.872 miles (6.231 km) set in China in 2022. As an electric vehicle, the Enyaq also set a new ice drift record for EVs. The vehicle reached a maximum speed of 30 mph (49 kmh) during…

In January, NIO added two more NIO Houses in China, increasing the total number to 99. The NIO House is the company’s flagship experience center, serving as a place to showcase and sell vehicles as well as a hub for owners to experience a quality lifestyle. The facility consists of a display area for models and a space with various functions for users. Additionally, three NIO Spaces were added, bringing the total number to 299, slightly down from 303 at the end of December 2022. The company also added six service centers and two delivery centers in China, reaching 252…

Anson Wong, owner of a Rivian R1T, reported that his vehicle experienced a loud boom while charging at an Electrify America station. Two errors appeared on his vehicle and he claims the charger damaged his battery and battery management system. This is at least the third instance of an electric vehicle (EV) being towed away from an Electrify America charging station. The cause of these incidents is not yet known and could vary, but it has happened to a Rivian R1T, a Ford F-150 Lightning, and a Chevrolet Bolt. According to Wong, after the inspection by Rivian and Electrify America,…

NIO, a Chinese electric vehicle company, reported that during the Chinese New Year holiday, its battery swap stations along highways provided 906,056 battery swap services, with a single-day record of 62,356 swaps. From January 13th to February 5th, all NIO battery swap stations were open 24/7 and available to vehicle owners for free, unlimited use. During this period, NIO’s battery swap stations provided a total of 282,850 free services, which the company claims saved drivers 259,279 hours of highway travel time compared to the average charging time for other electric vehicles. NIO vehicles traveled a total of 276,699,061 kilometers, resulting…

Tesla Inc is exploring the possibility of establishing an assembly facility close to the recently opened Felipe Angeles International Airport in Mexico City. The facility would serve as a hub for exports for the electric carmaker. The potential plant would be located at an industrial park that is being developed in the vicinity of the airport, just 2 miles away. The announcement was made by Mexican Presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez. “Tesla is looking at investing in that area to take advantage of AIFA,” Ramirez told Reuters late on Monday, noting the site could serve as a base for the firm…

Hyundai is making a comeback to the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, after a three-year hiatus. From February 17th to 27th, the automaker will display its latest offerings, including the N Vision 74 and RN22e concepts, as well as the all-electric Ioniq 6 and its entire line-up. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take a test drive of several Hyundai models. “We are excited to make a return to the Auto Show in Toronto with the Canadian debut of the N Vision 74 and the global auto show reveal of RN22e,” president and chief executive of Hyundai Auto…

The 2021 Audi Grandsphere concept is a close preview of the next-gen Audi A8, which will have a full electric powertrain and be built on the PPE platform. The highly anticipated A8 E-Tron will launch in 2024 and take on competitors like the BMW i7 and Mercedes-Benz EQS. According to Audi’s head of design, Marc Lichte, the Grandsphere is a “very concrete teaser” that is “very close” to what will be produced. Out of the four “sphere” concepts, the Grandsphere is the one closest to production due to its production-friendly bodystyle. See also: Audi Activesphere electric car concept teased, previews…

London residents are eligible for up to £5,000 ($6,200) as part of a £110 million ($136 million) program aimed at reducing pollution by scrapping older, high-emission vehicles. The initiative, designed for low-income and disabled drivers, is specifically targeting cars that don’t meet the standards set by the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) in London. Currently, only the area within the city’s North and South Circular Roads fall under the ULEZ rules, but starting in August 2023, all 32 boroughs of London will require petrol cars to meet Euro 4 emission standards (2006) and diesel vehicles to meet Euro 6 standards…

BYD, the leading producer of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids, is expecting a significant increase in its 2022 net profit compared to the previous year. According to an exchange filing, the company projects a net profit of 16-17 billion yuan ($2.37-$2.52 billion) from sales of 1.86 million cars, marking a five-fold increase from its 2021 profit of 3 billion yuan. BYD attributes its success to strong sales growth and improved profitability, achieved by effectively reducing the cost pressure from rising raw material prices. See also: BYD officially confirmed two new EV brands that will be launched in 2023…

The Audi activesphere concept car is a true fusion of form and function, offering the best of several worlds. This luxurious sports car boasts a sleek design, high ground clearance, and large 22-inch wheels, but can also navigate rough terrain with ease. With the touch of a button, its Sportback rear transforms into an open cargo bed, perfect for carrying sporting equipment, like e-bikes or winter sports gear. Powered by Audi’s PPE modular system, the activesphere is a zero-emission electric vehicle with a range of over 600 km on a single charge, thanks to fast charging technology. The 800-volt system…