Author: Robin Cannon

Tesla Giga Shanghai will be disrupted once again as the company upgrades its production lines to produce a revamped version of the Model 3 sedan for the Chinese market. According to Bloomberg, some workers at the plant’s first phase of car manufacturing will not be allowed on the line starting from as early as Sunday while improvements are made. The production halt will last until the end of February. Tesla has been upgrading the production line in stages over the past two months, and deliveries of the new Model 3 are expected to start later this year. Giga Shanghai is…

Workers at Tesla’s New York state Gigafactory are attempting to form a union in a bid to improve their pay and job security. The employees responsible for annotating data for Tesla’s autopilot technology have officially informed the company of their intentions to join the Workers United Upstate New York, which represents over 86,000 workers across various sectors in the US and Canada. This move comes as Tesla has successfully prevented unions from forming in its US factories in the past. However, workers at the Buffalo plant claim that the pressures of production have been detrimental to their health. They have…

The European Parliament has passed a new law that would prohibit the sale of all petrol and diesel-powered vehicles in the EU by 2035. The law, which was approved on February 1st, aims to encourage consumers to opt for electric powertrains in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the EU achieve its ambitious climate goals. Under the new law, all car manufacturers must achieve a 100% cut in CO2 emissions for all new cars sold by 2035, effectively eliminating the possibility of selling any gas or petrol-fueled engines in any of the 27 EU countries. The legislation…

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, plans to increase its battery-electric vehicle lineup by prioritizing its luxury brand Lexus, according to incoming CEO Koji Sato. However, the company will continue to explore other technologies as it has in the past. This announcement comes as Toyota faces criticism for its perceived lack of enthusiasm towards battery-powered electric vehicles. Toyota, known for introducing hybrid technology with the Prius, believes that in markets where infrastructure is not yet ready to support batteries, hybrids are a more practical option for many drivers. The company also views hydrogen-powered vehicles as a potential future technology. See also:…

According to recent sales data from Germany’s Motor Transport Authority, the electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid market has taken a hit in the country. Last month, sales of fully-electric vehicles saw a drop of 13.2 percent compared to the same period in January 2022, while hybrids experienced a dip of 6.2 percent. Meanwhile, sales of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles increased by 3.5 percent. These declining sales figures are largely attributed to the changes made to government subsidies. Prior to January, the German government offered a €9,000 ($9,602) subsidy for EVs with a net list price below €40,000 ($42,677), split between the…

In the fourth quarter of 2022, Calpers, the largest pension in the United States, made a significant investment in Tesla by purchasing 675,683 additional shares worth approximately $131 million at Friday’s closing price. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System manages around $460 billion in assets and had previously disclosed its share transactions in a form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to Barron’s. This investment in Tesla proved to be a wise choice as the company has seen growth in 2023 after experiencing a 65% decrease in 2022. Strong financial and operational results in the fourth quarter and…

The Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E team has taken the lead in the Season 9 rankings after a successful fourth race in Hyderabad. António Félix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein, members of the team, placed third and fourth respectively, propelling the team to the top spot. The first and second positions were claimed by Jean-Éric Vergne from DS Penske and Nick Cassidy from Envision Racing. Sebastian Buemi, who had initially finished third, was demoted to 15th place post-race due to an infringement penalty. He received a 17-second penalty equivalent to a drive-through for an overpower violation. See also: Jean-Eric Vergne…

The world of zero-emission racing is set to see a new addition in 2024 with the launch of the ACE Championship. This exciting new electric single-seater competition is designed to provide opportunities for up-and-coming talent to break into the world of motorsports. Positioned as a feeder series to the ABB Formula E World Championship, the ACE Championship will feature two distinct levels: a top-level championship and an entry-level challenger series. The ACE Championship will run in a regional format, with a focus on areas that are currently underrepresented by existing categories. Teams will each run two cars and will have…

Autel is thrilled to reveal the successful installation of its electric vehicle charger, the MaxiCharger DC Compact, in the picturesque surroundings of Nice, France. This marks the product’s European debut and is part of the company’s broader European market strategy. The MaxiCharger DC Compact boasts exceptional versatility and efficiency, providing up to 47kW of power through its dual ports. It allows for simultaneous charging of two vehicles and dynamically distributes power between them, enabling a range of approximately 130 km with just a 30-minute charge. See also: Autel Debuts at eCarExpo with Compact and Powerful EV Charger, Partners with Eways…

The popularity of electric vehicles has led to a surge in interest in electromodding, which involves converting traditional gasoline vehicles into electric ones. This process may even have a greater positive impact on the environment than building new electric vehicles from scratch. In response to this growing trend, California State Senator Anthony Portantino has proposed Senate Bill 301, which aims to provide tax incentives of up to $2,000 for individuals who convert their vehicles to electric power. According to Portantino, the high cost of new electric vehicles, which average $66,000, makes electromodding a more affordable option for many people. The…

The US Department of Transportation is poised to enforce new regulations that would require Tesla to open up its charging network to other electric vehicles (EVs). This move would put pressure on the automaker to adopt the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) plug design, in addition to its proprietary plug design, in order to qualify for subsidies under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. The Biden administration has allocated $7.5 billion for the program to support the development of charging networks across the country, as part of its goal to make EVs account for 50% of new vehicle sales by 2050.…

Shanghai-based LiDAR maker Hesai Group made its debut on the Nasdaq, becoming the first Chinese LiDAR manufacturer to list in the US. The company’s shares began trading under the ticker HSAI and opened at $23.75, a 25% increase from its offering price. By the end of the day, the shares had risen 10.79% to $21.05, giving the company a market capitalization of $2.6 billion. The initial public offering (IPO) saw the company make a public offering of 10 million ADS shares for a total of $190 million, making it the largest IPO of a Chinese company in the US in…

The Geely brand has recently launched its latest electric car, the Panda mini. This adorable two-door, four-seater mini electric vehicle was officially unveiled on February 6 and has been warmly received by consumers. The Panda mini comes in four different models, with prices ranging from 39,900 to 53,900 yuan in the Chinese market. The design of the Panda mini is inspired by the classic small box shape of mini cars, with a narrow-strip closed front grille, and decorative trim around the edge. The round headlight group gives the car an unmistakable cute and charming look. Like other miniature EVs such…

Great Wall Motors (GWM), a Chinese carmaker, has announced the opening of three new Sales and Service Centers in the UK for its Ora brand. These locations, in Belfast, Chorley, and Exeter, will open their doors on March 6th, 13th, and 24th, respectively, with the Charles Hurst Group in Belfast being the first showroom to feature the Ora model. The company plans to further expand its infrastructure in the UK this year, with a goal of selling 5,000 units by the end of 2023. In addition to traditional retail work, GWM has adopted an omnichannel approach for the Ora brand.…

For the first time, The Mobility House (TMH) has demonstrated that electric vehicle (EV) batteries can participate in energy market trading and earn substantial revenues. This was achieved by using the flexibility of EV batteries as mobile storage units, with the trial being conducted using stationary EV batteries and not actual vehicles. The experiment took place over six months at the EUREF Campus in Berlin and involved 18 of the 20 retired Audi e-tron batteries that were installed there in 2019. TMH used software to simulate real-life driving and charging behavior based on German data for each battery. When not…

Nissan has unveiled a concept car called the Max-Out at its Global Headquarters Gallery in Yokohama, Japan, as part of its Nissan Futures event from February 4 to March 1. The event is aimed at showcasing the company’s vision for sustainable mobility and innovative design. Unlike the typical autonomous pod concept one might expect, the Max-Out stands out with its sleek and stylish design. Although it was first revealed in renderings over a year ago, this marks its first physical appearance. However, Nissan has yet to release any information on the car’s range or performance. Other than the fact that…

Mercedes-Benz has revealed a refreshed version of its GLE SUV and GLE Coupé. These updated models will only be available with electrified powertrains, including a minor technical update for the plug-in hybrid, and will launch in July 2023. The exterior, interior, technology, and equipment have been updated for the 2018 model generation. The engine range has been electrified, but the mild hybrids with 48-volt systems will not be covered in detail here as they don’t allow for significant electric driving. See also: Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV specifications : power, battery and range The PHEV versions will be available with two combustion…

TatvaSoft has joined forces with InstaVolt, a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the UK, to provide a seamless and user-friendly charging experience for EV drivers. InstaVolt aims to make EV charging as simple and transparent as possible, allowing customers to pay only for the electricity they consume using any contactless credit/debit card. To achieve its goal, InstaVolt sought a technology partner that could develop customized software solutions to enhance its customer offerings while maintaining its user-friendly approach and reliability. TatvaSoft rose to the challenge by creating a serverless, microservices-based solution that implements industry-standard EV network protocols, such as…

Mercedes-Benz has become the first car manufacturer to bring SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving to the United States after Nevada confirmed that the Drive Pilot system complies with state regulations. Following the initial announcement at CES 2023, Mercedes-Benz has received a certificate of compliance in Nevada, which attests that the Drive Pilot system complies with the requirements of Nevada Chapter 482A for Autonomous Vehicles. Currently, the Drive Pilot option is only available on the 2024 Mercedes EQS and the 2024 S-Class in the United States, with the first vehicles set to be delivered to customers in the second half…

Peugeot is set to revolutionize the electric vehicle market with the launch of its next-generation E-3008 electric SUV. The model will be the first in the Stellantis empire to use the new STLA Medium platform, set to hit the market in the second half of 2023. The C-segment compact SUV was confirmed during Peugeot’s E-Lion Day presentation, and will offer consumers a choice of three different powertrains and an impressive electric range of up to 434 miles. But Peugeot isn’t stopping there, as the E-3008 will be followed by an even larger E-5008 SUV, which will be released “shortly after.”…