Author: Robin Cannon

The automotive industry is gearing up to leverage quantum computing technology, with the market expected to be worth $143 million by 2026 and an astounding $5.2 billion by 2035, according to a report by market research firm MarketsandMarkets. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 49%, fueled by government investments in quantum computing infrastructure and strategic collaborations between automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), auto component manufacturers, and technology providers. One of the key drivers of this growth is the ability of quantum computers to contribute to more effective route and traffic management. Early use cases have demonstrated this potential,…

Blink Charging, one of the leading electric vehicle (EV) charging companies, has secured a significant contract with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide up to 41,500 EV chargers. This marks a major milestone in the USPS’s plans to fully electrify its fleet of delivery vehicles by 2026. The contract was awarded through an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) program, which enables the USPS to purchase a maximum of 41,500 EV chargers from Blink Charging. The charging stations will be used to support the USPS’s growing fleet of electric vehicles, which is set to include 165,000 new vehicles in total.…

The Swedish automaker Polestar has recently teased what appears to be the 2024 version of its high-performance electric vehicle, the Polestar 2. CEO Thomas Ingenlath took to Twitter to announce the new edition, stating that it will be unveiled later this month. The teaser video shared by Polestar gives very few hints about the upcoming vehicle. However, the automaker did tease that “something thrilling is about to be unleashed on March 21”, with a glimpse of the vehicle’s front end featuring a beautiful gold brake caliper. See also: Everything You should know about Polestar 2 BST Edition 270 specifications https://twitter.com/ThomasIngenlath/status/1636393690263441409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1636393690263441409%7Ctwgr%5E8d9dea6555991de9bd0d125b87fed04e258f5b24%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.teslarati.com%2Fpolestar-2-bst-2024-tease-video%2F…

Mississippi has recently passed a new state law that restricts electric car manufacturers from selling their vehicles in person unless they open franchised dealerships. This means that companies like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid will be required to enter into franchise agreements before they can open new retail locations to sell their cars. The bill, named House Bill 401, was signed into law by Governor Tate Reeves on Tuesday. In a post to Twitter, the Governor stated that the bill was necessary to protect the almost 200 small businesses in the state that would be threatened by large manufacturers entering the…

Convenience store giant, 7-Eleven, has just announced its new proprietary EV charging network and app, named 7Charge. This new platform aims to deliver a fast-charging experience at selected 7-Eleven stores throughout the United States and is set to expand to Canada in the near future. With 7Charge, 7-Eleven is looking to build one of the largest and most compatible electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging networks of any retailer in North America. This revolutionary new technology is already offering fast-charging services to customers in several locations across the states of Florida, Texas, Colorado, and California. The 7Charge network boasts 7-Eleven’s trademark convenience…

Electrify America, the largest open DC fast charging network in the United States, has opened its first electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Hawaii. The station, located in Pearl City on the island of Oahu, features four EV chargers capable of delivering up to 150kW. With the launch of this new station, Electrify America now has a network presence in 47 states plus the District of Columbia. Although it has not yet expanded to Vermont, the company is well on its way to achieving its goal of installing over 10,000 individual chargers at more than 1,800 total charging stations in…

Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has identified a potential issue with the side curtain airbags in its R1S SUV and has initiated a recall campaign. The problem is related to the fasteners that secure the airbags to the roof rails. The company first became aware of the issue on February 16, 2023, when a vehicle at its assembly plant in Normal, Illinois, had a loose airbag. Rivian launched an investigation into the manufacturing error to determine the root cause of the issue. While the company has not provided specifics on what caused the defect, it has identified that the problem…

Hyundai, the South Korean automaker, is reportedly planning to launch its first electric vehicle (EV) with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries later this year. The upcoming EV will be equipped with cell-to-pack technology, which has been licensed by CATL to Hyundai Mobis in 2021, according to The Elec. The use of LFP cells in the new EV is significant, as it would be the first car from the Hyundai Motor Group to incorporate this technology worldwide. Kia, another subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group, has also announced that its second-generation Kia Ray EV minivan will use LFP batteries supplied by…

The upcoming 2024 GMC Hummer EV is set to bring a groundbreaking innovation to the table. The popular all-electric truck is set to receive a Level 2 onboard charger as standard on select trims, with the new feature allowing for bidirectional charging for the very first time. According to Automotive News, the 19.2-kilowatt Level 2 AC onboard charger will come as standard on the SUV’s Edition 1, 3X, and 2X trims, as well as on the pickup’s 3X and 2X variants. With this advanced onboard charger, the 2024 Hummer EV will be able to provide up to 6 kW of…

Subaru, the Japanese automaker famous for models like Impreza, Crosstrek, and Forester, has recently announced a significant reorganization of its top management. Atsushi Osaki will replace the current CEO, Tomomi Nakamura, as the new head of the company, while Jeff Walters will take over as the CEO of Subaru of America, replacing Tom Doll. As Subaru faces tough competition in the race towards zero emissions, the company recognizes the need for flexibility and expansion to survive the age of electrification. According to new CEO Osaki, Subaru aims to stay nimble and implement various systems while focusing on flexibility and expansion.…

Nissan is recalling more than 1,000 Ariya electric SUVs due to steering wheel detachment issues, following a similar investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into the Tesla Model Y. The NHTSA’s investigation of the Tesla Model Y was initiated after two reports of steering wheel detachment in the 2023 model year. The agency discovered that both vehicles had undergone an “end-of-line repair” that required steering wheel removal and re-installation. The NHTSA and Tesla are collaborating to determine whether any additional vehicles were affected and if a recall is necessary. See also: Nissan Ariya electric crossover gets 5…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has announced that Rainer Müller-Finkeldei will assume the role of Product Development head in May 2023. Müller-Finkeldei will replace Uwe Baake, who played a pivotal role in the development of trucks such as the GenH2 and the eActros, and will retire as planned at the end of April. Müller-Finkeldei’s new role will involve overseeing the development divisions of Mercedes-Benz Trucks in Germany, Brazil, and Turkey. He joins at a time when Daimler Truck aims to offer only CO2-neutral new vehicles in Europe, Japan, and North America by 2039, with the long-term objective of achieving CO2-neutral transport on roads…

In a groundbreaking move, Audi has teamed up with 15 research, recycling, and supplier partners to launch “MaterialLoop,” a joint project that explores the concept of circular economy in the auto industry. The initiative aims to recycle materials such as steel, aluminum, plastic, and glass from old cars to produce new vehicles, thereby reducing waste and emissions. The project’s core objective is to “close the loop” on materials by reusing them for production, thereby lowering the environmental footprint of vehicles. Gas-powered cars, in particular, emit an average of 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, according to EPA data. However,…

Tesla sold 74,402 China-made EVs in February, marking a 12.64% increase from January’s sales of 66,051 units, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The figures included Tesla’s exports from its Shanghai plant, as well as its deliveries within China. The breakdown figures of the sales are currently unavailable. The CPCA data also showed that Tesla’s February sales in China rose by 31.65% from 56,515 units in the same month last year. During the first two months of 2022, Tesla sold a total of 140,453 China-made EVs, up 20.71% from the same period last year, the…

Jet H2 Energy, a joint venture between H2 Energy Europe and Phillips 66, is set to build its first ten hydrogen refuelling stations in Germany and Denmark. These stations will supply gaseous green hydrogen at 350 and 700 bar for cars, light and heavy commercial vehicles, and buses. This announcement is part of the company’s plan to build a total of 250 public hydrogen refuelling stations in Germany, Austria, and Denmark. Initial orders for the components for the fueling stations have already been placed, and construction has begun. The stations should go into operation by spring 2024 at the latest.…

Kore Power, a US-based battery developer, has announced plans to partner with Siemens to establish a battery cell factory in Buckeye, Arizona, with an annual capacity of 12 GWh. The factory, called ‘KOREPlex’, will be one of the first gigafactories in the US built independently of an automaker, enabling it to supply batteries to a wide range of customers. The plant will initially have an annual production capacity of 6 GWh, with plans to expand production “to 12 GWh and beyond” later. The factory will produce battery cells for electric vehicles and stationary applications, and construction is set to be…

After a temporary halt in production, Ford has announced that it plans to resume production of the F-150 Lightning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center on March 13th. This follows a battery fire that occurred during a routine quality check on February 4th. While the fire resulted in halting production and an in-transit stop-ship order to prevent the release of recently built vehicles, Ford confirmed that Lightning trucks already in the hands of customers were not affected by the issue. The cause of the battery fire was identified, but not publicly revealed, and was linked to battery supplier SK On.…

Polestar has strengthened its financial position in Q4 as it heads into an exciting year with the launch of two new EVs. The company’s Q4 earnings and full-year 2022 earnings results, released on March 2, show that Polestar is outperforming most upcoming EV makers, with a reduction in losses and increasing revenues. The Swedish automaker, which beat its delivery goal and delivered 51,491 cars in 2022, reported revenue of $2.5 billion, up 84% from 2021, and exceeding Wall Street expectations of $2.4 billion. More importantly, Polestar cut its losses in half last year, with a net loss of $465 million…

NIO delivered 12,157 units in February 2023, indicating a 42.92% surge from the previous month and an impressive 98.29% growth from the same month last year. This makes it the highest-ever monthly delivery figure for the company. The automaker’s cumulative vehicle deliveries reached 310,219 units as of February 28, 2023. Of the total delivery volume, NIO delivered 5,037 sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and 7,120 sedans. The company’s product portfolio includes eight models, including the ES8, ES6, and EC6 based on the NT 1.0 platform, and the new ES8, ES7, EC7, ET7, and ET5 based on the NT 2.0 platform. The…

Li Auto, a leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, announced today that it delivered 16,620 vehicles in February, up 9.77 percent from January and a whopping 97.53 percent increase from the same month last year. The company’s cumulative deliveries now stand at 289,095 units, and it expects to deliver between 20,239 and 23,239 vehicles in March. During the Chinese New Year holiday, which fell from January 21 to 27, 2023, there was an impact on January deliveries. However, this did not deter the company from guiding for first-quarter deliveries of 52,000 to 55,000 vehicles when it reported fourth-quarter earnings on…