Author: Ryan Fisher

Chinese scientists have developed a method to rejuvenate lithium-ion batteries, significantly extending their lifespan by injecting lithium to restore lost capacity, researchers at Fudan University said. A team of chemists, molecular engineers, and material scientists at the university found that adding lithium back into aging batteries could increase their charge cycles from approximately 1,500 to 12,000, a nearly eightfold improvement. The process, which involves injecting a special molecule—LiSO₂CF₃—into depleted batteries, could help reduce battery waste and improve sustainability in the electric vehicle and electronics industries. See also: China’s LFP Battery Sector Sees Demand Recovery Amid Rising Orders, Price Adjustments “The…

Volkswagen Group will produce key components for its upcoming Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) at its Kassel-Baunatal component plant in central Germany, CEO Oliver Blume confirmed. The site is expected to manufacture components for up to one million vehicles annually. The Kassel-Baunatal facility, managed by Volkswagen Group Components, is already a crucial part of the company’s electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. See also: Volkswagen’s Cariad Software Unit to Cut 1,600 Jobs Amid Restructuring It currently assembles the APP310 and APP550 electric motors and has been developing power electronics for future EVs since 2023. Blume, speaking to local newspaper Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine on…

Swedish battery cell manufacturer Northvolt may be on the verge of filing for bankruptcy in Sweden if it fails to secure fresh funding, local newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) reported on Tuesday, citing two sources. The company, which sought U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November last year, has been grappling with financial difficulties as it struggles to scale up production at its flagship plant in northern Sweden. DN reported that Northvolt’s board could file for bankruptcy on Wednesday for “the entire Swedish business” unless new capital is secured. See also: Scania Secures Additional Battery Supply Amid Northvolt Struggles, Warns of…

Singapore will introduce financial incentives for electric heavy vehicles and their charging infrastructure, aiming to accelerate fleet electrification, a government official announced. Under the new Heavy Vehicle Zero Emissions Scheme (HVZES), owners of electric goods vehicles, buses, and goods-cum-passenger vehicles with a Maximum Laden Weight (MLW) exceeding 3,500 kg will receive 40,000 Singaporean dollars (approx. 28,000 euros) per vehicle. See also: Charge+ Expands EV Charging Network in Singapore with Strategic Acquisitions The incentive, available from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028, will be disbursed in three stages—13,000 Singaporean dollars upon registration, 13,000 dollars after one year, and 14,000 dollars…

Geely Galaxy, a sub-brand of Geely Auto, has introduced an updated version of the LEVC L380 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), reducing the starting price to RMB 299,900 ($41,310), a 26.7% drop from the previous model’s RMB 379,900 base price. The L380, initially launched in June 2024 under Geely’s London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) unit, now falls under Geely Galaxy, which was upgraded to a standalone brand earlier this month. The updated model comes in five variants, with prices ranging from RMB 299,900 to RMB 599,900. The top-tier Collector Edition is limited to five units per month. See also: Geely’s Galaxy E5…

Polish bus manufacturer Solaris has received its first order for trolleybuses in Canada, with Vancouver’s public transport operator, TransLink, ordering 107 units of the Trollino 12 model, the company said on Saturday. The agreement also includes an option for up to 201 additional Trollino 12 trolleybuses and 204 units of the articulated Trollino 18 model, Solaris said. The first batch is scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027. See also: Vy Buss Orders Solaris Urbino 9 LE Electric Buses for Oslo Suburb “This agreement marks a significant milestone for Solaris and is a testimony to our commitment to becoming the…

Volkswagen (VW) will reintroduce physical buttons for key functions in its future vehicles, reversing its earlier move toward touch-sensitive controls, the company’s design chief Andreas Mindt said. The change will begin with the upcoming ID.2 model. “We will never, ever make this mistake any more,” Mindt told Autocar. “On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No guessing any more. There’s feedback, it’s real, and people love this.” See also: Volkswagen Unveils ID. Every1, a €20,000 EV Targeting Mass Market Adoption VW initially replaced traditional buttons with touch-sensitive controls on steering wheels and dashboards in late 2022, a decision…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK has introduced a new entry-level variant of its all-electric ID. Buzz Cargo van, featuring a 59kWh battery and priced from £35,960. The ID. Buzz Cargo Commerce 59kWh offers an estimated WLTP range of up to 200 miles and supports DC fast charging at up to 165 kW, allowing a 5% to 80% charge in around 30 minutes. Despite the smaller battery, the van retains its 3.9m³ cargo capacity, which Volkswagen says is sufficient to “accommodate two Euro pallets loaded widthways.” It has a payload capacity of 692kg and can tow up to 1,000kg. See also: DHL…

Apple Maps is expected to introduce navigation warnings for Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapters in an upcoming update to iOS, according to a code analysis shared this week. Aaronp613, a code sleuth on social media platform X, revealed on Monday that Apple’s iOS 18.4 beta contains new references to NACS charging adapters. The update appears to include voice alerts and on-screen warnings, informing drivers when an adapter is required for specific charging routes. See also: Tesla and Steak ‘n Shake Partner to Expand Supercharger Network Across U.S. A future iOS 18.4 beta will add support for NACS in…

A Maserati MC20 Coupe equipped with autonomous driving technology set a new land speed record for self-driving vehicles, reaching 197.7 mph (318 km/h) during an event at the Kennedy Space Center last week. The vehicle operated without a driver using self-driving software developed by Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s largest scientific and technological university. The project was conducted in collaboration with the Indy Autonomous Challenge, a competition focused on advancing autonomous racing technology. See also: Maserati Unveils GranCabrio Folgore Electric Convertible, Targets Tesla Roadster Fans The record-breaking run surpassed the previous autonomous vehicle speed record of 192.2 mph, set in April…

Camber has supplied a high-power EV fast charging system to CapMetro, Austin’s public transit agency, marking a significant step in the city’s shift toward electrified public transportation. The newly installed system adds 2.9 megawatts (MW) of charging capacity at CapMetro’s main bus depot, featuring two 1,440 kW Camber charging systems and 48 industrial dispensers capable of simultaneous charging. Camber will also provide maintenance, proprietary charger and energy management software, and remote diagnostic tools to optimize costs and efficiency. See also: Irizar Delivers Seven Electric Buses to Barcelona as TMB Expands Zero-Emission Fleet “With support from Camber, we have made tremendous…

Volkswagen’s ID.4 claimed the title of Europe’s best-selling electric vehicle in January, surpassing Tesla’s Model Y, as registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rose despite an overall decline in new car sales. According to data from JATO Dynamics, 165,473 EVs were registered in Europe last month, marking a 37% year-on-year increase. The Volkswagen ID.4 saw registrations surge 195% to 7,177 units, overtaking the Tesla Model Y, which recorded 6,155 registrations—a 46% decline from the same period last year. See also: Volkswagen Announces 2025 ID.4 Pricing and Availability in U.S. Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at JATO, noted that Tesla’s drop in…