Author: Robin Cannon

Milence, a joint venture of Daimler Truck, Traton Group, and Volvo Group, has announced plans for its first truck charging hub in Spain. The facility, set to open in 2025, will be located at the Zaragoza Logistics Platform (PlaZa) in Aragon, marking Spain as the eighth market in which Milence operates. Strategically situated near the A2 motorway and Zaragoza airport, the hub will be accessible from key transport routes and connected to two major TEN-T corridors: the Mediterranean corridor linking Spain to Eastern Europe and the Atlantic corridor facilitating access to Northern Europe. The development aligns with Milence’s goal of…

The Fiido Air Carbon is a sleek, lightweight e-bike designed for those looking for a futuristic look and a smooth ride. Weighing in at just 30.3 pounds (13.75 kg), this e-bike features a carbon fiber frame that not only enhances its visual appeal but also ensures durability and ease of use. Currently available for $1799, Fiido is offering a special “super early bird” discount that includes an additional battery to double the bike’s range—making it an even more appealing option for long-distance riders. However, this discounted price will increase as sales progress, so early buyers benefit from the best deal.…

KGMC Commercial (KGMC) has introduced its new 9-meter electric bus, the KGC 090, as part of its expanding eco-friendly vehicle lineup. Mass production began this month at the company’s Gunsan plant, with customer deliveries scheduled to commence on Nov. 25. The KGC 090 complements KGMC’s existing 11-meter electric bus model, reinforcing its portfolio of environmentally friendly vehicles. KGMC reported contracts for 300 electric buses in 2023, encompassing both 9-meter and 11-meter variants, generating approximately 100 billion won ($71.44 million) in revenue—an increase of 160% compared to last year’s sales of 115 units worth 38 billion won. To date, 227 of…

Electric vehicle maker Nio has denied circulating rumors suggesting it could be acquired by BYD, China’s leading EV manufacturer. The claims, which originated from a suspected BYD employee on social media, alleged a joint venture between the two companies, with BYD holding a majority stake. Both companies have firmly denied these assertions. The rumors, claiming BYD would take a 51% stake in a joint venture with Nio, gained significant attention due to the alleged involvement of a BYD employee. Nio dismissed the claims as baseless, while BYD also denied any truth to the speculation. The companies indicated they are considering…

Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt has appointed Paul O’Donnell, an expert in corporate restructuring, to lead its Northvolt Ett factory in Skellefteå as the company confronts mounting production setbacks and financial difficulties. This strategic move comes as the factory, Northvolt’s sole active cell production site, struggles to meet quality and output targets. Despite being operational since late 2021, the Northvolt Ett plant has faced significant hurdles in scaling up production. While an internal goal of 51,000 cells per week was circulated earlier this year, the factory has reportedly only achieved this output once in recent months. The company has since acknowledged…

The University of Warwick has teamed up with charging infrastructure company Zest to install 78 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across its campus. The collaboration is part of a 15-year agreement under which Zest will manage and maintain the facilities following an investment of £1.3 million. George Saxon, Head of Transport Systems & Operations at the University of Warwick, expressed enthusiasm for the project: “We have been delighted to partner with Zest on this significant step towards sustainable transport solutions on our campus. The new charging facilities align with our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and supporting those transitioning to…

Car plants under construction by China’s BYD and Germany’s BMW in Hungary are expected to commence production in the latter half of 2025, providing a potential boost to the country’s economy, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff stated on Thursday. Hungary has positioned itself as a major trade and investment partner for China under Orban’s leadership, diverging from the approach of some EU nations that are exploring ways to reduce dependence on the world’s second-largest economy. In Europe, Germany remains Hungary’s largest trading partner, with several car manufacturers already operating in the country. “The optimism for next year’s economic…

Tesla’s Model S Plaid has long been considered the benchmark for electric performance sedans, known for its remarkable speed and capability, often defeating traditional gas-powered supercars in drag races. However, a new competitor from Lucid Motors, the $250,000 Air Sapphire, has raised the stakes, prompting a showdown to see if it can best the Tesla in a real-world performance test. Edmunds Cars conducted the comparison, focusing on a U-styled drag race that not only measures straight-line acceleration but also challenges the vehicles’ braking and cornering abilities. This setup provided a more holistic view of the two sedans’ performance, testing not…

Ford Motor Company has announced a reduction in work hours at its electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Cologne, citing lower-than-expected demand for EVs in Germany. A spokesperson for Ford explained that the company is making temporary adjustments to production volumes at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Centre to align with the current market situation. Ford has applied for Germany’s short-time work scheme, a furlough initiative supported by the Federal Employment Agency, to implement reduced hours for three weeks at the plant. Under the scheme, workers will receive government support for a portion of their salaries while avoiding job cuts. The…

Xpeng announced on social media platform Weibo that it has commenced volume deliveries of its newly launched electric sedan, the P7+, across China, beginning November 11. Vehicles are arriving at Xpeng’s delivery centers nationwide, as the company seeks to meet robust demand following last week’s launch of the model. Unveiled on November 7, the P7+ starts at RMB 186,800 ($26,000), which is RMB 23,000 (11%) below its initial pre-sale price. Xpeng has streamlined its offerings for this model, providing two standard variants priced at RMB 186,800 and RMB 198,800. A limited edition, priced at RMB 218,800, sold out quickly with…

Waymo, Alphabet’s driverless ride-hailing division, has announced a new AI-based research model for autonomous driving, signaling its exploration into advanced multimodal approaches for self-driving vehicles. The model, named EMMA, is designed to process sensor data and real-world information for use in autonomous navigation. Currently, EMMA remains in the research phase and is not operationally deployed in Waymo’s vehicles, underscoring the company’s cautious approach to the technology. “EMMA is research that demonstrates the power and relevance of multimodal models for autonomous driving,” said Drago Anguelov, Waymo’s VP and Head of Research. EMMA leverages knowledge from Waymo’s Gemini language model, utilizing both…

Delta Electronics is providing around 800 UFC 200 ultra-fast chargers for an ambitious expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at McDonald’s locations across France, as part of a partnership with French charging network operator Izivia. The project, launched last year, aims to install over 2,000 charging points across 700 McDonald’s sites by 2025, bolstering France’s EV infrastructure. The charging stations, labeled as the ‘Izivia Fast’ network, were announced by Izivia, a subsidiary of French energy giant EDF, in November 2023. Delta’s UFC 200 chargers, each with a capacity of up to 200 kW, are equipped with two CCS and…