Author: Sibley Presley

Electric two-wheelers have been gaining popularity across Europe, and with that comes the birth of new and exciting mobility devices that blur the line between e-bike and electric motorcycle. One such device is the Colibri M22, a lightweight electric motorbike designed specifically for city-dwellers with a love for adventure. The Colibri brand, created by Petre Georgescu, hopes to establish lightweight electric mobility as a viable alternative to gas-powered transportation. Their aim is to inject fun into the equation, resulting in the creation of this rugged, lightweight electric bike that resembles a cross between a mountain bike and an electric motorcycle.…

BYD has delivered a new batch of electric buses to Indonesia, marking its continued efforts to promote the electrification of public transportation in the country. The 22 electric buses, known as the K9, were delivered by VKTR Group, BYD’s electric bus distributor in Indonesia, to the local bus company Mayasari, and will be put into operation on the Transjakarta bus rapid transit system. This is the second order BYD has delivered in Indonesia, following the first delivery of 30 electric buses to Transjakarta in March 2022, which marked the first all-electric buses to be put into operation in Indonesia. The…

Tesla has submitted its application to the State Office for the Environment for the expansion of its Giga Berlin plant, with the aim to increase production capacity from 500,000 to 1 million vehicles per year. The application only involves changes to the existing plant in Grünheide, Germany to further ramp up production, and no additional water supply will be required. Tesla has optimised planning and production processes, enabling the company to accomplish the expansion without requiring additional water resources. This news comes as no surprise, as Tesla intended to submit the application for the expansion of its factory in Grünheide…

Ubitricity, a specialist in kerbside charging, has secured yet another contract in the UK, this time with the West Suffolk Council. The Shell-owned company will install 100 electric vehicle (EV) charge points across the county as part of the deal, which includes both maintenance and installation services. Under the agreement, Ubitricity will set up a new network of chargers, including 5kW, 7kW, 50kW, and 150kW options. EV drivers can pay for the service using a debit or credit card, or via the Shell Recharge app. The charge points will be located in spots chosen for driver convenience, such as town…

European sales of electrified vehicles soared in the final quarter of 2022, with Tesla leading the pack. According to Counterpoint Research data, the American automaker’s sales were driven by the Model Y, which became the best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Europe last year. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Berlin factory reached a milestone by producing 3,000 units per week in November. The second-best-selling brand was Volkswagen, whose ID.4 and ID.3 were the fifth and seventh-best-selling electrified vehicles on the continent between October and December 2022. The German automaker sold 48 percent more electrified vehicles in Q4 2022 than in the same period of…

Volkswagen is setting its sights on an even more affordable electric vehicle (EV) than the ID.2all Concept. The automaker has announced plans to launch an EV with a price tag of less than €20,000 ($21,100) by 2025, which is an ambitious target for the European market where even the Chinese-made Dacia Spring starts above €20,000. While it was originally thought that VW’s entry-level EV, potentially named the ID.1, would cost under €25,000, it seems that price target was set for the ID.2all, which may enter production as the ID.2 or ID. Golf. Instead, the more affordable model VW is working…

The iconic Land Rover Defender has been given a new lease of life with a custom build from ECD Automotive Design, a leading Land Rover restoration specialist. Commissioned by a customer in Los Angeles, California, this Defender 110 has been converted to an all-electric vehicle with a Tesla-sourced powertrain consisting of a 450-horsepower motor and a 100-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Dubbed Project Ghost, this classic Defender 110 features a matte Quantum Gray paint with exterior black accents, including the roll cage, steering guard and vents. It rides on 16-inch Wolf Steel wheels in matte black shod with BF Goodrich All Terrain…

Maryland is taking a big step in reducing its carbon emissions by phasing out the sale of new internal combustion engine cars and light trucks by 2035. This move follows other states that have adopted the same “Advanced Clean Cars II” rule. The state is expected to save tens of millions of dollars annually due to the potential health benefits. Governor Wes Moore declared, “Today, we’re talking about a major transformation that is going to define this administration—and that’s how we turn Maryland from a state powered by oil and gas to a state powered by clean energy. I am…

Beep, a company that provides autonomous shared mobility solutions, has teamed up with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to expand its Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation (CASSI) program. The partnership aims to further the state’s understanding of autonomous technologies and demonstrate the viability of shared autonomy. NCDOT and Beep will collaborate on testing applicable use cases for shared, electric, and autonomous shuttles. The first pilot project under this partnership will be in Cary, North Carolina’s Fred G. Bond Metro Park, a municipal park in Wake County. The four-stop, two-mile route provides an environmentally friendly mobility solution for residents…

Audi, the German luxury carmaker, has announced the release of its software update 3.2 for the Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron from the model year 2023 onwards. The update, which includes features such as Plug&Charge, future over-the-air updates, and increased DC charging capacity, will also be available for all older models. Audi has touted software update 3.2 as delivering functions with “high everyday utility”. However, the extent of the update will depend on the age of the vehicle. Vehicles produced in the model year 2023, starting from calendar week 35/2022, will have the update installed as standard. See also:…

Mitsubishi Motors, the Japanese automaker, has revealed its strategic plan to launch 16 new models in the next five years, with a particular focus on electric and hybrid vehicles. The ambitious plan will see the company introduce nine electric and hybrid models, along with a pickup truck and an SUV, as part of its alliance with Renault and Nissan. Although details of the alliance models are yet to be released, the rendering suggests they will be battery-electric vehicles. Meanwhile, the other nine models already include the Mitsubishi ASX, a compact EV Colt, and two models that are yet to be…

Neta, Hozon Auto’s Chinese electric car brand, has commenced construction of its first production facility outside China in the Thai capital of Bangkok. With operations expected to commence at the end of January 2024, the new plant is set to become a critical location for manufacturing and exporting right-hand drive electric cars to ASEAN countries. While the automaker did not provide any specific details on production capacity, it did reveal that this would be “the first plant of China EV startups in Thailand.” Neta has also inked a cooperation agreement with Bangchan General Assembly Co., Ltd. (BGAC), a Thai company,…