Author: Ryan Fisher

BYD’s premium sub-brand, Denza, is setting its sights on a significant sales increase in 2025, following a somewhat underwhelming 2024. According to local media outlet AutoPix, Denza aims to achieve over 300,000 units in sales for the year, representing a 138 percent increase from its 2024 sales figure of 126,035 units, which marked a slight decline of 1.41 percent from the previous year’s 127,840 units. This ambitious target comes after a challenging year for Denza, though the brand managed to surpass its revised sales goal. Denza’s primary sales driver in 2024 was the D9 MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), which accounted for…

A coalition of 21 Polish municipalities has called on the national government to provide higher subsidies for hydrogen-powered public transport, citing challenges in managing the costs associated with hydrogen buses. The group has sent a joint letter to Poland’s Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, seeking financial support to offset the high operating costs. The municipalities, which include Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, and Łódź, among others, argue for a dedicated subsidy mechanism for cities using hydrogen buses. They claim such measures would enhance environmental quality, improve public health, and contribute to energy independence and economic development. Many of the municipalities…

EACON Mining has successfully deployed a fleet of over 800 autonomous haulage trucks, covering more than 27 million kilometers across 19 projects. The fleet consists of 14 low-emission models, including both hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, sourced from six original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This milestone underscores EACON’s focus on advancing automation and sustainability within the mining sector, with its solutions tailored to meet specific operational needs. The company has demonstrated its ability to rapidly deploy autonomous systems, with fully operational fleets going live in as little as two weeks. This speed of deployment has drawn industry leaders such as CNBM, SPIC,…

The New South Wales (NSW) Government has placed an order for 319 battery electric buses, marking a significant step in the transition of its public transport fleet to zero-emission vehicles. The order, which includes buses from manufacturers Custom Denning, Foton Mobility Distribution, VDI-Yutong, and Volvo, will see 276 of the new buses operational on the Northern Beaches and North Shore by 2028. The remaining 43 electric buses will serve the Western Sydney International Airport. The NSW government stated that this order is part of its broader initiative to replace the state’s 8,000-strong diesel and gas public bus fleet with zero-emission…

U.S. electric vehicle (EV) sales are projected to reach new heights in 2025, accounting for one in four vehicles sold, according to Cox Automotive’s 2025 Outlook report. The forecast reflects growing consumer interest in EVs, aided by a surge in new models, expanded incentives, and an improving economic outlook. Cox Automotive predicts the U.S. auto market in 2025 will be the strongest since 2019, driven by a robust finish to 2024. While most automakers posted year-over-year growth in 2024, notable exceptions included Stellantis and Tesla. General Motors emerged as the top-selling automaker, with Honda and Mazda also showing substantial gains.…

Geely Holding Group  announced on Sunday its ambitious goal of selling more than 5 million vehicles annually by 2027, aiming for a 79% growth from its 2023 sales of 2.79 million units. The company seeks to reach this target by consolidating its diverse brands and improving operational efficiency. Geely, which has sold 3 million vehicles in the first 11 months of 2024, reflecting a 20% increase from the same period in 2023, plans to streamline its operations by combining its passenger car brands into two main units: Geely Auto for the mass market and Zeekr Technology for the premium segment.…

Tesla has completed construction of its Megapack grid-scale battery factory in Shanghai, China, marking the company’s second such facility and its first outside the United States. After approximately seven months of construction, the Shanghai “Megafactory” is now entering its trial production phase, Tesla China announced on Tuesday, according to local news outlet Xinhua Net. The new facility, located in the Lingang Economic Development Group complex near Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, spans 200,000 square meters and has received an investment of approximately 1.45 billion yuan (about $201.7 million). Tesla expects to begin ramping production immediately, with the goal of delivering its first…

Volocopter GmbH, an air taxi start-up backed by Mercedes-Benz and Honeywell, filed for insolvency proceedings on Monday, citing its inability to secure sufficient funds to sustain regular operations. Despite its efforts to raise capital, the company, based in Bruchsal, Germany, stated that finding a viable solution outside of insolvency proceedings was not possible. “Despite recent intensive fundraising efforts, finding a viable solution to maintain regular operations outside of insolvency proceedings has not been possible,” Volocopter said in a statement. The company plans to continue its operations during the insolvency process while seeking additional funding. The electric vertical takeoff and landing…

German engineering firm Manz AG, known for manufacturing equipment for battery production, has announced plans to file for insolvency proceedings due to insolvency and overindebtedness. The decision follows a breakdown in funding support from lenders and an abrupt end to talks with potential investors. Manz confirmed its Managing Board will file for insolvency in the coming days, citing an inability to meet financial obligations and overindebtedness under German insolvency law. “Discussions with one of the interested investors were at an advanced stage but were unexpectedly broken off,” the company said in a statement. Efforts to secure alternative financing had failed,…

Chinese battery manufacturer Sunwoda and materials specialist XTC New Energy Materials are collaborating to accelerate the development and commercialization of solid-state batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. The partnership aims to address the technical and industrial challenges of next-generation battery technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling mass production by 2026. The agreement between Sunwoda’s subsidiary, Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery (SEVB), and XTC will focus on innovative solutions, including composite cathode ion and electron conduction networks, high-stability electrolyte films, and lithium-metal anodes designed to prevent dendrite formation and improve coulomb efficiency. “This collaboration combines material innovation with…

A recent report commissioned by Ford Pro reveals that small businesses across Europe could save up to €14,000 per van over three years by switching to electric vans. These savings primarily stem from the lower cost of charging compared to refueling petrol and diesel vehicles, along with reduced maintenance costs. The study, based on a survey of 1,000 businesses, highlights significant savings in five major European markets: France, Spain, the UK, Italy, and Germany. The report, titled The Economics of Commercial Van Usage Across Europe 2024, reveals that electric vans quickly pay for themselves within three years through lower running…

ABB E-mobility has introduced the C50, a slim and efficient charging solution designed for destination charging. With a depth of just 23.5 centimeters and a 21.5-inch touchscreen, the C50 offers up to 50 kW of power through dual connectors, catering to typical visitor dwell times of 60 to 90 minutes. The C50 is tailored for retail and urban locations, addressing challenges associated with existing charging solutions. ABB emphasizes that while AC charging is often too slow for short stays and high-power DC chargers are costly for retail settings, solutions like the C50 bridge the gap. “Charging has to go beyond…