Author: Sibley Presley

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is furthering its commitment to decarbonizing the construction industry by investing SEK 80 million (approximately €7.1 million) in battery pack production at its excavator plant in Changwon, South Korea. The investment will help add a 2,500-square-meter facility to produce various battery packs for the Volvo Group, with battery pack production scheduled to start in June 2024. The Volvo plant in Changwon is the biggest excavator factory in Volvo CE’s production network, manufacturing over half of the company’s global output. While a large electric excavator is not yet available as a serial vehicle, the Changwon plant…

Ricardo, a global environmental and engineering consulting company, has launched a project funded by the European Union to establish a single life cycle assessment (LCA) approach for zero emission vehicles (ZEV) and batteries across Europe. The project is part of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and has received funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Currently, there is no agreed European or international standard on vehicle life cycle assessment. This poses challenges in providing transparency and comparability of impacts from these products. To address this issue, Ricardo is leading a collaborative TranSensus LCA consortium, which includes 44 stakeholders from industry…

In 2023, General Motors (GM) plans to accelerate its electric vehicle (EV) strategy by introducing seven Ultium-based EVs, in addition to the Bolt EV and EUV, as part of its efforts to revamp its supply chain for the future. At the Wolfe Global Auto, Auto Tech, and Auto Consumer Conference, CEO Mary Barra emphasized GM’s transformation and investments, which she believes will give it an edge over rivals and bring it closer to overtaking Tesla. Barra highlighted GM’s dedicated electric vehicle platform, the Ultium EV architecture, which she believes is one of the company’s primary advantages over other legacy automakers.…

ServCity, autonomous driving project backed by Nissan and the UK government, has recently concluded after successfully completing 1,600 test miles in Greenwich, London. The project used a Nissan LEAF electric car to develop a “blueprint” for integrating self-driving vehicles into cities and testing the feasibility of “robotaxi” services. Robert Bateman, Nissan Project Manager for ServCity, said that the project’s completion marked a significant step towards the future deployment of autonomous mobility. “With more than 115 people involved and almost 16,000 working days clocked up across the consortia during the lifetime of the project, ServCity represents an important step towards future…

Ford has filed a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office that could enable multiple electrified vehicles to charge on a single charger. The technology aims to combine vehicle-to-everything communication with bidirectional charging, allowing battery-electric vehicles (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) to be charged at once, either individually or in order of preference. The patent proposes that future Ford electric vehicles be equipped with two charge port assemblies. One port would be used traditionally to replenish the vehicle’s battery pack, while the other would serve as a plug socket, allowing another vehicle to be charged. Alternatively,…

Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) has recently announced the launch of a groundbreaking new chassis-cab, designed specifically for next-generation electric light commercial vehicles. Known as the WATT eCV1, this innovative and flexible 3.5-tonne cab and chassis unit represents the first in a line of multiple commercial vehicle offerings from WEVC. The eCV1 has been created using the company’s breakthrough, proprietary PACES architecture. This modular electric vehicle platform complies with ISO regulations and exceeds European Small Series Type Approval safety standards, allowing for a wide range of electric commercial vehicle designs that can be tailored to meet specific fleet requirements. See…

Regio, a leading Swedish property company, and IONITY, a high-power charging (HPC) network operator, have announced a strategic partnership to build 12 new charging stations with 108 public high-power charging points across Sweden. The stations will be located at retail sites on key highway junctions, making it easy for both long-distance travelers and EV owners to access fast, public charging. With charging capacity of up to 350 kW, EV drivers will be able to recharge their batteries to 80% capacity in less than 30 minutes. The 12 new sites will provide a significant boost to Sweden’s rapidly growing EV charging…

Dutch electric bus manufacturer Ebusco has reported a significant increase in its order book for 2022, with a total of 1,474 buses contracted, up from 325 at the end of 2021. The company has also provided some preliminary figures ahead of the release of its full-year results on 29 March 2023. In Europe, 78 Ebusco battery-electric buses were registered in 2022, and the company says it has made progress in transitioning the Ebusco 3.0 from prototype production to serial production. See also: Ebusco receives order for 19 Ebusco 3.0 electric buses from Nobina Group Despite challenges in the labour market…

General Motors is striving to surpass Tesla as the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer by 2025, and it’s making steady progress toward that goal. The company recently announced that Cadillac will unveil three new fully electric models later this year, with plans to start production in 2024. Several years ago, General Motors pledged to launch 30 new EVs by 2025 and produce one million units annually by that same year. According to CEO Mary Barra, the lineup will include many affordable EVs for the masses, filling a gap in Tesla’s offerings, which are mostly luxury vehicles. See also: 2024 Cadillac…

Tesla will open up part of its charging network to electric vehicles made by rivals as part of a $7.5 billion federal program to electrify the nation’s highways and reduce carbon emissions, according to the Biden administration. Tesla will install 3,500 new and existing superchargers along highways and 4,000 slower chargers at locations such as hotels and restaurants for non-Tesla customers by the end of next year. Tesla would be eligible for a subsidy, including retrofitting its existing fleet, as long as its chargers would allow other vehicles with a federally backed charging standard called CCS to charge. Tesla has…

Lion Electric has received financial support from Mitsubishi HC Capital Canada for its LionCapital Solutions financing division, which provides financing solutions for Lion electric school buses and trucks in the US and Canada. LionCapital Solutions was launched in February last year, offering complete solutions for electric vehicles, including the necessary infrastructure and financing options. With Mitsubishi HC Capital America and ENGS Commercial Finance Co joining the program, Lion Electric can provide up to 100% of the cost of fleet electrification, which may eliminate the upfront capital requirements for fleets transitioning to electric vehicles. See also: Lion Electric celebrates signing of…

Eovolt, a French company specializing in e-bikes, has created an impressive range of folding e-bikes and city bikes designed for individuals on the go. The Morning, Afternoon, and Evening models are the current offerings from Eovolt, with each model tailored to different preferences and requirements. Prior to 2023, Eovolt utilized a rudimentary cadence sensor in their e-bikes, resulting in a jerky pedal assist. However, the 2023 model year sees all Eovolt bikes equipped with a modern torque sensor. This sensor allows for a less intrusive pedal assist and tailors the motor’s power output to the rider’s pedal force. This technology…

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard revealed on Tuesday that Tesla is about to make a significant announcement in Mexico, where the electric vehicle manufacturer has been exploring potential locations for its upcoming automotive production plant. The announcement comes as Tesla has been considering multiple sites for its next Gigafactory, including locations in Canada, South Korea, Indonesia, and Mexico. Mexico has been a top contender for Tesla’s next production facility for several months now. In late 2022, reports suggested that Tesla was on the verge of announcing its intention to build a factory in Nuevo Leon, a state in northern Mexico. However,…

Ford is teaming up with China’s CATL, the largest EV battery cell supplier in the world, to build a battery plant in Michigan. The facility will produce enough batteries for up to 400,000 Ford electric vehicles each year, and is set to start production in 2026. This move is crucial for Ford as it seeks greater profitability from its EVs, and will aid the automaker in ramping up to a late-2023 run rate of 600,000 EVs globally. The chosen site around Marshall, Michigan, could be Ford’s most significant industrial operation to date, as it focuses on expanding its electric vehicle…

Tesla’s Model S and Model X cars in Europe will soon undergo several modifications, including pre-approved updates for the new Hardware 4.0 Autopilot driver assistance system. The changes have been detected by a member of the German Tesla Fahrer Und Freunde forum, who shared images from the Netherlands, where Tesla’s European headquarters is based. Tesla’s latest autopilot technology is anticipated to be released soon. Here’s the list of changes submitted on January 20, 2023: Introduction of Generation 4 complex vehicle control system (Autopilot); Introduction of new car computer and GNSS antenna; Introduction of Gen3 inverters to ######m1# drive units; Change…

Public transport operator Transdev in Sweden has placed an order for 52 electric buses from BYD, one of the leading electric vehicle manufacturers. The order includes 44 15-metre electric buses and 8 12-metre buses for use in the Gästrikland province located on the east coast of Sweden. The 15-metre buses, featuring a double axle at the rear, are in high demand in Scandinavian countries for intercity operations. These vehicles have three doors and are equipped with an advanced LFP battery technology that provides a range of 450 kilometres, making them a practical option for many public transport operators. See also:…

South Korean company, LG Chem Ltd., is looking to ensure a stable and self-sufficient global supply chain for the raw materials used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The firm, which is the parent of LG Energy Solution, the world’s second-largest battery cell maker and supplier to major automakers, is prioritizing securing supply over price. “Our first and foremost priority is to secure enough raw material for the future,” stated LG Chem CEO, Shin Hak-cheol. To this end, LG Chem is exploring potential partnerships and investments in mining companies, though Shin confirmed the firm will not become a mining company itself.…

Zeekr Intelligent Technology has secured a whopping $750 million in Series A financing just two months after filing for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The investment came from five sources: Amnon Shashua, the founder and CEO of Mobileye Global Inc., CATL, Yuexiu Industrial Fund, Tongshang Fund, and Xin’an Intelligent Manufacturing Fund. The financing round was announced in a press release by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which is the parent company of Zeekr. Upon completion of the investment, Zeekr’s valuation will reach $13 billion. The funds will be used to accelerate the development of its proprietary technology…

Recently, a photo of the Tesla Cybertruck beta prototype made its rounds on the internet and it showcases the unique triangular side mirrors that have generated much discussion. However, a recent spotting of another Cybertruck unit has raised even more questions with its new features. The new photo features a massive wiper, larger than any other passenger car on the market, and even rivals those on buses. This addition is an unexpected change from the original design, but it makes more sense compared to the smaller wipers seen before. https://twitter.com/greggertruck/status/1623824271318589440 Another aspect that stands out is the ground clearance of…

Ram Trucks has made a bold move by revealing its new production electric pickup, the 1500 REV, in a 60-second Super Bowl commercial. Dubbed “Premature Electrification,” the ad showcases the highly-anticipated vehicle, which made its world debut at CES 2023 last month. The 1500 REV doesn’t quite resemble the 1500 Revolution BEV Concept as previously shown, but rather resembles an electrified version of Ram’s current 1500 pickup truck. Despite this, the 1500 REV still boasts unique features that set it apart from its predecessors. The front and rear ends of the vehicle boast intricate details such as the headlights with…