Author: Sibley Presley

VinFast, and E.ON Drive have joined forces to establish a charging infrastructure for VinFast in France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The two companies will collaborate on installing both internal charging points for service centers and customer charging stations at VinFast’s retail network. The aim is to make e-mobility more convenient for customers. E.ON Drive will play a key role in developing a customized charging infrastructure that meets the needs of VinFast customers. The first phase of the project will include around 200 AC and DC (150 kW) charging points, with both private and public access. E.ON Drive will take charge…

Mahle, a leading automotive supplier, has upgraded its climatic wind tunnel in Stuttgart by adding a DC fast charging system. The facility now allows test engineers to charge electric vehicles with up to 350 kilowatts in any weather condition, even in extreme heat. This new capability allows for more realistic simulations of challenges that batteries face in real-world scenarios. For instance, fast charging in sweltering summer temperatures can be particularly taxing on batteries. During the fast charging process, the battery generates heat and without proper cooling, the temperature can rise to the point of damaging the cells. The thermal management…

Contargo, a German logistics firm, is taking a significant step in the transition to electric vehicles. The company is planning to establish the largest private charging network for heavy electric trucks in Germany. This year, 33 fast chargers will be installed at 14 locations across the country. The charging infrastructure provider, SBRS, will be Contargo’s technology partner in this endeavor. The chargers, with a capacity of 250 kW each, will be placed at the company’s premises in Duisburg, Voerde-Emmelsum, Emmerich, Frankfurt-Ost, Industriepark Frankfurt-Höchst, Gustavsburg, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Koblenz, Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, Neuss, Weil am Rhein, and Wörth. The exact distribution of the…

Hertz’s remarkable turnaround can be attributed to its partnership with Tesla, which saw the rental company place an order for 100,000 Model 3 sedans. Despite only receiving delivery of less than half of the vehicles, Hertz’s stock is soaring and the company is experiencing record earnings. When the news of Hertz’s agreement with Tesla was initially announced, many were skeptical. After all, Hertz had just filed for bankruptcy and seemed to be in dire straits. However, it quickly became apparent that Hertz’s order was simply a standard consumer purchase and the company would have to pay full price and wait…

Mercedes-Benz, a luxury automaker, is attempting to entice electric vehicle (EV) owners from rival brands to switch to its EVs with generous incentives, according to Cars Direct. The German brand is offering substantial discounts on its MY 2023 electric vehicles, with the EQS Sedan and SUV eligible for $2,500 off their MSRP and the EQE Sedan receiving a $1,000 reduction, while the smaller EQB SUV gets a $500 cut. Mercedes has not publicly advertised these incentives. In addition, the company is running an “EQ Conquest Program,” which offers potential customers a $1,500 bonus for trading in their rival brand’s EV…

Yunex Traffic has taken a major step into the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure market in the US by installing chargers in the bustling town center of Peachtree Corners, Georgia. The Siemens VersiCharge AC Level 2 chargers, which offer 11.5 kW of power on a 48A circuit, are compatible with the most commonly used EVs today and are currently available for use at no cost. The chargers are located in a bustling social hub, surrounded by popular restaurants, a movie theater, and retail stores. Yunex’s Vice President of Sales, Jon Ringler, stated that the company’s experience in providing EV charging…

The Munich-based startup, Sono Motors, has achieved a promising outcome in its first complete crash test of the Sion prototype. The electric vehicle, designed to be powered by affordable solar panels, underwent a crash test at the CSI facility in Italy, with the car fully covered in polymer-based solar panels and painted green for high visibility. The test, conducted at 50 km/h (31 mph), showed that the company’s proprietary solar panels remained intact and posed no threat to passengers or other road users. Sono Motors aims to conduct around 300 physical component, sled, and complete vehicle tests before the Sion…

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and the City of Calgary have entered into a partnership to invest $165 million towards procuring 259 zero-emission buses. These buses, operated by Calgary Transit, will be crucial in achieving the city’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. This investment marks a significant step towards the government of Canada’s target of having 5,000 electric buses on the road by the same deadline. According to CIB, this investment will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 10,000 tonnes annually. The bank will cover the upfront capital costs of the zero-emission buses, which are higher than diesel buses,…

MVM Mobiliti, the eMobility service of MVM Group, has joined forces with Hubject, a global leader in eRoaming services, to create a comprehensive and interoperable electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The partnership will allow EV drivers to access MVM Mobiliti’s charging stations, located in key spaces such as shopping centers and fast-food parking areas, using their preferred contract. With nearly 1600 charging points and a hundred of them being fast-chargers, MVM Mobiliti operates Hungary’s largest EV charging network. “We have joined intercharge with the aim of making our own charging network an even more integrated part of the European eMobility…

The IONIQ 5 by Hyundai has earned the title of Best Electric Vehicle in Cars.com’s 2023 Best of Awards, surpassing all other 2023 EVs evaluated by the company’s team of expert car reviewers. The IONIQ 5 stands out due to its innovative Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), providing ample interior space and superior performance. After evaluating multiple vehicles, the IONIQ 5 emerged as the winner among the three finalists for the 2023 Best Electric Vehicle Award. “During a time when many consumers are contemplating their first electric vehicle, Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 checks all the boxes,” said Ricky Lao, director, product planning,…

Faraday Future has announced the completion of financing agreements worth $135 million in convertible secured notes. $80 million of the funds will be available within 10 business days, subject to conditions being met, with the rest available within 5 business days after the satisfaction or waiver of further conditions, including approval from the company’s stockholders and an effective registration statement. The financing, along with the $33.4 million received since December 15th, 2022, means Faraday Future has secured the necessary funds for the start of production of the FF 91 Futurist. The company is set to begin production at the end…

The BMW Group is committing to a €800 million investment in its Mexican production site in San Luis Potosí to integrate fully-electric models and establish a local high-voltage battery assembly. The aim is to reach 50% of worldwide sales of fully-electric vehicles by 2030. The investment will allocate €500 million to the construction of a new high-voltage battery assembly center. Over 500 new employees will be hired to produce next-generation batteries for fully-electric vehicles. The NEUE KLASSE models will feature new round lithium-ion battery cells, developed specifically for the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology, which will increase energy density…

The sales of electric, plug-in, and hybrid vehicles saw a substantial rise in Europe in 2022, despite the lackluster performance of the overall new car market. This has led to alternative fuel vehicles accounting for nearly half of all new car registrations in Europe. According to the European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association, the European Union saw 1.1 million new electric vehicles (EVs) purchased in the market in 2022, representing a 28% increase from the previous year. As a result, more than one in eight new cars registered in the EU was a fully electric vehicle. In addition to EVs, hybrid and…

Connect Bus has made a significant investment in the electric bus market by placing an order for 42 Mellor Sigma 7 buses. These vehicles will be used for on-demand services on the Västraffik Flex line and will be operated by Connect Bus as part of their contract with Vastraffik, the agency responsible for public transportation in Sweden’s Vastra Gotaland region. This order comes after the successful implementation of Sigma 7 buses already in service in Gothenburg. The new all-electric buses will complement Connect Bus’s existing fleet of Mellor Orion E minibuses, which were introduced in March 2020. The delivery of…

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb in Colorado is known for its intense course, with a distance of 12.42 miles, 156 turns, and an elevation gain of 4,725 feet. It has seen many notable vehicles and drivers, such as Randy Probst’s modified Tesla Model S Plaid and Ken Block’s Mustang. The latest addition to this list is Rivian’s R1T, which will make its debut in the hill climb race. The vehicle will be driven by Gardner Nichols, Rivian’s Senior Performance Test Engineer and racing enthusiast. The R1T will participate in the 101st running of the PIkes Peak International Hill Climb and…

Zeekr, the electric vehicle company owned by Geely, saw a decline in its January deliveries, totaling 3,116 units. This represents a decrease of 11.73% compared to the previous year’s 3,530 units and a sharp drop of 72.51% from the 11,337 units delivered in December. The company attributed the decline to its decision to shut down production lines for an upgrade just before the Chinese New Year holiday. The plant was closed for 21 days, from January 21 to February 1, and has now resumed operations. Zeekr aims to prepare for the production of new models and improve its capabilities with…

Fastned, the Dutch EV charging company, has unveiled its latest high-speed charging hub in Washington, UK. The new facility features eight charging bays with a maximum capacity of 300 kW and serves EV drivers commuting between South Tyneside and Sunderland. With this launch, Fastned has increased its number of charging hubs in the UK to 13, and in the North-East region to 7. Fastned’s expansion in the UK continues with their latest 300 kW DC charging stations, following the opening of their largest HPC park in Scotland last May. In June, the company raised their targets, closed a financing round…

XPeng reported vehicle deliveries of 5,218 in January, down 59.62% YoY and 53.79% MoM. The decrease in deliveries is attributed to the seasonal slowdown during the Chinese New Year holiday, which took place from mid-January to the end of the month. XPeng delivered 2,249 units of its G9 SUV, and announced that it will soon launch a new version of its P7 sedan, with the company tweeting on January 25 that “we’re launching our two new EVs in Europe on February 3, 2023. XPeng experienced a decline in deliveries in the latter half of 2022, reaching a low of 5,101…

GM CEO Mary Barra has stated that the company will not lower the prices of their electric vehicles (EVs), even after Tesla recently cut prices of their EVs by 20%. This move goes against Ford’s recent decision to reduce prices on their Mach-E. GM recently released their Q4 financial results, which surpassed expectations with a 28% YoY increase in revenue and a 23% rise in revenue from 2021 to 2022. During a call with analysts, Barra attributed the decision to maintain current prices to the high demand for GM’s EVs. “When we look at our strong product portfolio and the…

The future of Lightyear solar cars remains uncertain as the operating company, Atlas Technologies, has been declared insolvent by a Dutch court. The appointment of an insolvency administrator has been made to determine the future of the Lightyear concept. Atlas Technologies was responsible for producing the Lightyear 0. It is part of a Dutch startup that includes two other companies: Atlas Technologies Holding B.V. (holding IP rights) and Lightyear Layer B.V. (role undisclosed). Of the three companies, Atlas Technologies B.V. appears to be the most critical. Recently, Lightyear announced a halt in production for the Lightyear 0 model, shifting focus…