Author: Robin Cannon

Volkswagen has announced the availability of the upgraded Volkswagen ID.3 in the UK market. The new version of the popular electric model features a refreshed design, improved materials, and advanced assist systems. Interested customers can place their orders with Volkswagen UK Retailers starting from Thursday, April 27. The recently unveiled Volkswagen ID.3 showcases several enhancements and upgrades. The exterior design has been refined, giving the car a more sleek and modern look. Inside, the interior now offers a more luxurious feel and incorporates user-friendly features and state-of-the-art technology. To emphasize Volkswagen’s commitment to sustainability, the range of exterior color options…

Blue Bird Corporation recently delivered a fleet of 20 electric school buses to Boston Public Schools (BPS). This marks the largest deployment of electric school buses in the Northeast, according to school officials and local government leaders. The initiative, spearheaded by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, aims to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and improve the health of students and the community. The new electric buses, provided by Blue Bird Corporation, are now in operation within Boston Public Schools. These buses, known as Blue Bird Vision electric buses, have a maximum capacity of 71 students and can travel up to 120…

It’s not just the high-end hypercars and limited-edition sports vehicles that are flying off the shelves; family haulers are in high demand as well. Volvo, in particular, has been taken aback by the overwhelming response to its latest offering, the EX90, as the entire first year’s production of this all-electric SUV has already been snatched up by eager buyers. Unveiled last year, the EX90 serves as the electric-only alternative to Volvo’s older, comparably sized XC90, which offers combustion or hybrid power options. Despite its starting price of $80,000, potential customers wasted no time in placing deposits with dealers and securing…

Prince Edward Island has partnered with Lion Electric, a Canadian manufacturer of electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, to deploy electric school buses for emergency power supply at community disaster relief centers during power outages. Lion Electric, headquartered near Montreal, Quebec, is renowned for its production of the iconic yellow North American school buses. The company has emerged as a leader in the electric vehicle sector. The LionC electric school bus, equipped with a battery capacity ranging from 126kWh to 210kWh, boasts impressive power capabilities. Of particular relevance to this development is its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functionality. V2G refers to the capability…

The German government is taking steps to reduce its dependence on other countries for critical raw materials used in the production of electric car batteries. A new commodity fund worth up to 2.2 billion euros is being planned to finance the mining and production of these materials. The fund could be launched as early as next year, pending agreement on the necessary funding. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has highlighted Germany’s dependence on Russia for natural gas, and the country is seeking to reduce its reliance on China for resources. The new fund is part of Germany’s efforts to secure…

Lancia, the historic Italian carmaker, is set to release its second production model in 2026, and it will be named Gamma. Luca Napolitano, the CEO of Lancia, made the announcement during the presentation of the Pu+Ra HPE concept. He also gave a hint about the car’s design, stating that it will be a five-door “sportback” with a sloping roofline and a hatchback featuring a sporty rear window. The Lancia Gamma is expected to measure around 4.7 meters (185 inches) long, making it the largest and most luxurious offering from Lancia. The new Gamma will have a fully electric powertrain, reflecting…

NIO has officially launched its highly anticipated 2023 model year ET7 sedan at the Shanghai auto show. The company’s founder, chairman, and CEO, William Li, announced that the new model is now available for pre-order and order lock-ins, with deliveries set to begin in mid-May. The ET7 is NIO’s flagship sedan and was originally introduced at the NIO Day 2020 event on January 9, 2021, with deliveries starting on March 28, 2022. The 2023 model brings more than 15 updates and upgrades, including improved seats and a 40w wireless charging panel for cell phones, all at the same prices as…

Savic Motorcycles, an Australian startup, has been working tirelessly to bring its C-Series electric motorcycle from the drawing board to the showroom floor. The company first showcased its prototype in 2018 and has since been refining its design while pursuing investment partners to bring the C-Series to life. In October 2021, Savic secured a grant from Australia’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, which invests in Australian businesses, to move the C-Series into production. Now, with the company aiming to deliver over 250 units to pre-order customers, it has partnered with Equitise to launch an equity crowdfunding campaign. Equity crowdfunding is a…

Danish ride-hailing company, Viggo, has secured 3.27 million euros in funding from a Norwegian venture capital fund and a group of private investors from Canada, including former world heavyweight boxing champion, Lennox Lewis. The funds will support the company’s international expansion, which aims to offer its electric ride-hailing services and ultra-fast charging infrastructure in new markets, and to compete with fossil fuel taxi companies. Viggo offers a ride-hailing service with electric vehicles and operates primarily with battery electric cars. In Oslo, it also uses the fuel cell car Toyota Mirai and urban high-power charging hubs. The company plans to expand…

Human Horizons, a Shanghai-based start-up specializing in autonomous driving technology and luxury electric vehicles (EVs), has announced plans to expand into European markets. The announcement follows the successful completion of testing by TÜV SÜD, which approved the sale of Human Horizon’s flagship X EV in Europe. This move marks an important milestone for the Chinese company, which launched its HiPhi EV brand a year after its official founding in 2017. The HiPhi brand debuted with three concept designs, including the HiPhi 1 SUV, which eventually evolved into the HiPhi X SUV, the company’s first production model. The HiPhi X SUV,…

German automotive supplier ZF has signed a long-term supply contract with STMicroelectronics for silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors. These semiconductors will be integrated into ZF’s inverter platform for use in electric vehicles, and ST will manufacture the SiC chips in Italy and Singapore, package them into modules called STPAK, and test them in Morocco and China. The modules will then be supplied to ZF from 2025 onwards, enabling the supplier to adapt inverters to customers’ performance requirements without changing the inverter design. See also: ZF Group to Invest $194 Million in Expanding Manufacturing Capabilities in Mexico for EV Market According to…

Faraday Future, the American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has once again encountered a setback, as the company has announced yet another delay in the first delivery of its highly anticipated FF 91 model. Despite starting production around two weeks ago, the company has postponed the first delivery until the end of the second quarter, citing an inability to meet its time requirements by certain suppliers as the reason for the delay. However, the exact identity of these suppliers and the components involved has not been revealed. In an attempt to reassure customers who have already paid for the FF 91,…

Zero Motorcycles has long been recognized as the pioneer in electric motorcycle production. Since 2006, the company has focused solely on the development and production of electric two-wheelers, years before the current trend of greenwashed electric vehicles. Today, Zero Motorcycles is expanding operations globally to accelerate the adoption of electric motorcycles. See also: Zero Motorcycles Launches Incentive Program for Electric Motorcycles with up to $4,250 Discount! Recent partnerships with Indian motorbike label Hero MotoCorp and Philippine-based company Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI) are testament to Zero Motorcycles’ commitment to expanding its global reach. IMI is a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation and…

Alfa Romeo is set to join the electric vehicle (EV) market with its upcoming Brennero model, reportedly launching next year. The Brennero will be a small SUV based on the Jeep Avenger, and is expected to offer several types of drive, including an electric option. It will use an in-house 115 kW electric motor developed by the Stellantis-Niedc joint venture and the current generation of the e-CMP electric drive. The vehicle will also boast an improved battery capacity of 54 kWh, which should provide a range on par with the Avenger, which can travel up to 392 kilometres according to…

MG, the historic British automaker, is paying tribute to classic British roadsters with its all-new Cyberster. The fully electric model has been partially revealed through photos from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ahead of its debut at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show. The Cyberster will be available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive versions, with the latter boasting up to 536 horsepower of electric power. The production version of the 2021 MG Cyberster concept was initially shown in leaked design patent drawings in June 2022, before being spotted undisguised in February 2023. The new images offer the best…

The Shyft Group, Inc. has achieved an important milestone in the development of its Blue Arc™ EV Solutions Class 3, 4 and 5 electric delivery vehicles, which have completed testing and received an executive order of compliance from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The vehicles are designed to provide customers with a clean air solution for last-mile delivery and have achieved a new benchmark for range in commercial EVs. The CARB compliance confirms the city driving range of 225 miles for the Class 3 Blue Arc EVs, while the Class 4 and 5 EVs provide 700 to 1,000 cubic…

Rivian has been making headlines in recent times, and for good reason. Despite numerous production and financial challenges, the company has managed to weather the storm and is aiming to produce 50,000 vehicles this year, its most productive yet. This comes as a relief to investors who are seeking more clarity on the company’s future plans. In an effort to provide just that, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe sat down for a video interview with YouTuber Marques Brownlee. The interview was posted last week and garnered much attention as Scaringe outlined the company’s “master plan” for the future. He highlighted the…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, NIO, announced that consumers can lock in orders for the EC7 electric coupe SUV starting April 10th, a month before the planned delivery date. Consumers who reserve the EC7 by paying a deposit of RMB 5,000 ($730) before the pre-order lock-in starts can benefit from using their deposit as RMB 10,000 towards the purchase of the car. The EC7, NIO’s second coupe SUV after the EC6, will be available for test drives from April 10th, and deliveries of custom vehicles are scheduled to begin in mid-May. NIO’s optimized exterior design gives the EC7 a wind…

Tesla’s recent “Tesla Master Plan Part 3” presentation gave fans and investors a glimpse into the highly-anticipated compact EV and another electric vehicle that resembles a minivan or LCV. Both vehicles were placed alongside the Cybertruck, hinting at an imminent reveal. However, the automaker did not mention anything about the Tesla Roadster, indicating that the sports car’s debut may be pushed back further to prioritize other models. The first of the two EVs has a boxy shape, leading many to believe it’s a fully electric commercial/passenger van from Tesla. Interestingly, references in other parts of the presentation suggest that this…

Volkswagen (VW) has issued a safety recall and stop-sale notice for its ID.4 SUV due to a potential safety hazard with the vehicle’s doors. The recall comes amid an investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for several other vehicle issues. According to the NHTSA, VW is recalling certain 2023 ID.4 vehicles due to door handles that allow water to enter the circuit board assembly, causing the door to open unexpectedly at speeds below 9 mph/15 kmh. This issue could affect up to 16,207 ID.4s. VW has not yet specified the fix required to address the door issue,…