Author: Ryan Fisher

Michelin has formed a partnership with Beontag to incorporate its RFID technology into millions of commercial and passenger tires over the next two years. The collaboration will embed UHF RFID tags in Michelin tires, enabling the tracking of each tire’s lifecycle, including manufacturing, storage, distribution, installation, and replacement. The two companies have been working together since 2019 to develop this RFID system, with extensive testing and development leading to the creation of a “reliable connected tire” that can endure up to 621,000 miles, including retreading of truck tires. Laurent Couturier, RFID system designer at Michelin, stated, “This system enables precise,…

The Tesla Model 3 has excelled in the Green NCAP test, earning a 5-star safety rating with an impressive average score of 98%. The Green NCAP hailed the Model 3 as one of the most energy-efficient vehicles it has ever tested, specifically highlighting the Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) variant. The Model 3 RWD achieved outstanding results, scoring 10/10 on the Clean Air Index, 9.7/10 on the Energy Efficiency Index, and 9.8/10 on the Greenhouse Gas Index. The perfect score in the Clean Air Index is expected, given the vehicle’s zero tailpipe emissions. In the Energy Efficiency Tests, the Model 3…

Tesla has lost Zheng Gao, its long-time head of Autopilot hardware engineering, to Amazon’s self-driving subsidiary, Zoox. Gao, who played a pivotal role in developing Tesla’s autonomous driving hardware, joins Zoox at a time when both companies are advancing their self-driving technologies. Gao spent over eight years at Tesla, leading the Mechanical, Thermal, Display, and Camera Engineering teams for low-voltage electronics systems. His work was instrumental in creating the hardware underpinning Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems. Before Tesla, Gao held senior engineering roles at Apple, contributing to various electronics designs. Zoox confirmed Gao’s appointment to a similar leadership…

Self-driving technology firm May Mobility has launched a new autonomous vehicle (AV) service in Japan, marking the company’s first deployment outside the United States. The Michigan-based company has equipped a customized version of Toyota’s electric e-Palette shuttle with its Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) autonomous driving system, showcasing the adaptability of its technology across different vehicle platforms. The pilot service will operate on Toyota Motor Kyushu Company’s factory campus in Miyata, Fukuoka. The shuttle will navigate a designated loop with six stops, transporting employees and guests around the Lexus manufacturing site. While the vehicle operates autonomously, a human monitor will be…

Avatr Technology, a joint venture backed by Changan Automobile, CATL, and Huawei, has launched the updated Avatr 11, introducing extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants to its SUV lineup. This marks the second model from the Changan subsidiary to offer both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and EREV options. Originally founded as Changan Nio in 2018, Avatr now operates independently after Nio (NYSE: NIO) largely exited the partnership. The Avatr 11, which first debuted as a BEV in August 2022, is the first premium Chinese vehicle to feature Huawei’s full-stack smart car solution, Huawei Inside, as standard. The updated version introduces the…

Nissan is significantly enhancing charging infrastructure for its Ariya electric vehicle (EV) owners, announcing that they will soon gain access to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS)-compatible Superchargers starting December 10, 2024. This move expands the Nissan Energy Charge Network (NECN) by a notable margin, providing Ariya drivers with access to Tesla’s expansive network of Superchargers, which already boasts more than 100,000 charging stations in the U.S. and 25,000 in Canada. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G17dX4-ss3w To use this network, Nissan Ariya owners will need to purchase a North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter kit, priced at $235, which is available for order through…

Tesla China has clarified that the company currently does not have plans to release the Cybertruck in the country. The announcement was made following a report from Chinese media outlet Jiemian News, which indicated that the Tesla China team had denied any immediate plans to introduce the electric pickup truck to the market. The Cybertruck, first unveiled in November 2019, officially began deliveries in the United States on November 30, 2023. At present, the vehicle has only been delivered to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Tesla China’s official website lists only the Model Y, Model 3, Model S, Model X,…

Paraclete Energy, a U.S.-based battery materials company, has presented a study on its silicon-based anode material, SILO Silicon, which it says could significantly reduce battery weight and improve electric vehicle (EV) range. According to the company, SILO Silicon uses a polymer matrix design to offer advantages over traditional graphite anodes, including lower costs. Paraclete Energy estimates the cost of SILO Silicon at $35 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), compared to $53 per kWh for graphite. “Our data-driven approach demonstrates substantial reductions in battery weight and size alongside a notable increase in driving range,” said Jeff Norris, CEO of Paraclete Energy. The study…

Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony AI (NASDAQ: PONY) debuted on the Nasdaq stock exchange, completing the year’s largest U.S. IPO in the autonomous driving sector. The company priced its initial public offering (IPO) at $13 per American Depositary Share (ADS), the upper limit of its projected range. After increasing the offering size by 33% from 15 million to 20 million ADSs, Pony AI raised $260 million. Concurrent private placements brought the total proceeds to $413 million. Despite a valuation of over $5 billion at IPO—down from $8.5 billion in 2022—Pony AI shares fell 7.69% during its first trading day, closing…

The European Union and China are reportedly approaching a resolution on tariffs for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports, according to Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee. Speaking to German broadcaster n-tv, Lange indicated that China might agree to set a minimum price for EVs sold within the EU, though details remain unclear. “We are close to an agreement: China could commit to offering e-cars in the EU at a minimum price,” Lange stated. “This would eliminate the distortion of competition through unfair subsidies, which is why the tariffs were originally introduced.” The EU imposed tariffs of up…

The first Electric Vehicle (EV) charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern United States is now operational in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Located at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield, the hub features four DC fast chargers and four Level 2 chargers, marking a significant step in expanding EV infrastructure in rural regions. Funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, the hub is strategically positioned near Interstate 91, serving drivers traveling between Connecticut and the Canadian border. In addition to serving local residents and visitors, the station supports municipal EVs and commercial vehicles,…

BYD, a Chinese manufacturer of new energy vehicles (NEVs), has secured an agreement with the Azerbaijani government to establish a commercial vehicle manufacturing base in the country. The announcement was made on November 13, following an earlier order for electric buses from Azerbaijan. The agreement, signed during the COP29 climate conference in Baku, will see BYD set up a manufacturing facility in the Sumgait Industrial Park, located in Azerbaijan. The plant is expected to produce around 200 electric buses annually from 2025 to 2028. This move marks a significant step in BYD’s expansion into the electric bus market in the…