Author: Sibley Presley

Nikola Corporation, a manufacturer of electric trucks, announced on Wednesday the formation of a new division to oversee the production and distribution of hydrogen fuel. This move will allow the company to focus on its core business of vehicle production. Carey Mendes, President of Nikola’s Energy Business, stated that the new unit, named HYLA, represents the company’s hydrogen-focused energy business and will support their own fuel-cell electric vehicles as well as those of other original equipment manufacturers. “Nikola is the only company that is successfully integrating a revolutionary new product, the hydrogen fuel cell truck, and the full hydrogen energy…

Incat Tasmania, an Australian ferry manufacturer, is working on a revolutionary new vessel for South American firm Buquebús. The 130-meter, lightweight ferry, capable of carrying 2100 passengers and 210 vehicles, was originally set to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), but Buquebús has now requested that Incat investigate installing a battery electric powertrain instead. The ferry is planned for use on a route between Argentina and Uruguay, spanning approximately 150 miles. While the company recognizes that there are challenges to be overcome in creating a large-scale electric ferry, they are confident in their ability to do so. Incat CEO…

When the Porsche Taycan was first introduced to the market, it was met with fierce competition from the reigning all-electric sedan champion, the Tesla Model S Performance. However, the months following its release saw the Taycan Turbo S emerge victorious in drag races against the Model S. Since then, the landscape of high-performance all-electric sedans has shifted with the introduction of new models such as the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Lucid Air Sapphire. In response, Porsche appears to be working to improve the Taycan in order to better compete with these direct rivals. Last year, a Taycan Turbo…

Nissan, the Japanese automaker, is reportedly developing a new electric midsize pickup truck to compete with the Rivian R1T and potential electric pickups from other manufacturers such as Ford and Toyota. This move follows Nissan’s decision to discontinue the Titan, its full-size pickup truck, after years of failing to gain significant market share from the leading American manufacturers. According to Automotive News, Nissan aims to capture a portion of the growing market for electric midsize pickups. “[Businesses] prefer to source their fleets from the same brand for maintenance reasons,” said Nissan Dealer Advisory Board Chairman Tyler Slade. According to Slade,…

Rumors are circulating that Chinese automaker BYD is in discussions with Ford to acquire one of the American automaker’s German plants for European production. The plant in question is Ford’s Saarlouis facility, which is set to end vehicle production in 2025. The Ford Focus compact model is currently produced at the facility. According to the Wall Street Journal, the two companies are still in early stages of discussions. However, Ford is also in talks with approximately 15 other potential investors, including financial investors who may collaborate with a manufacturer to take over the plant. In June, Ford announced plans to…

UK-based company ZeroAvia made history by successfully conducting the maiden flight of the world’s largest hydrogen-electric powered aircraft. The 19-seat Dornier 228 testbed aircraft, retrofitted with a full-size prototype hydrogen-electric powertrain on its left wing, took off from the company’s R&D facility in Gloucestershire, UK, for a 10-minute flight. The flight is a significant milestone in the HyFlyer II project, a government-backed R&D program aimed at developing a 600kW powertrain for zero-emission flights on 9-19 seat aircraft worldwide. The powertrain consists of two fuel cell stacks, with lithium-ion battery packs providing additional power during takeoff and added redundancy for safe…

International logistics company DB Schenker is taking steps to electrify its fleet and road freight transport by adding 100 new MAN eTrucks to its fleet by 2026. The first vehicles will be produced in small series on the production line at the company’s headquarters in Munich and handed over in the first half of 2024. As the first pilot customer for these eTrucks, DB Schenker aims to gain practical experience with the product as early as possible and will set up its own charging infrastructure, intelligent route planning, and other digital services from MAN Digital Solutions such as eManager, ServiceCare…

Tesla recently acquired a patent for an “Automotive Glass Structure having feature lines and related methods of manufacture,” and has now revealed details about the Cybertruck’s windshield. The patent was obtained on January 19th. The company describes the glass in the patent: “Automotive glass structures having curves and feature lines and methods for forming the same are provided. An example method includes applying localized heat (e.g., via a laser, heating element) to a location of a substantially planar glass structure and bending the glass structure at that location (e.g., along a line of the planar glass structure) to form a…

Toyota and Enel X Way have announced a new partnership that allows electric and plug-in hybrid Toyota and Lexus drivers to use Enel X Way’s advanced charging solutions and technologies. The partnership aims to promote the development of electric mobility in Italy by providing convenient charging services. As part of the partnership, the 7.4 kW WayBox Procellular charging solution will be added to the accessory range of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. This home charging station comes with a three-year warranty for customers and can be connected to the Enel X Way charging infrastructure for remote assistance through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or…

Tesla recently lowered prices on its entire Model S3XY lineup in the United States, with some vehicle variants receiving discounts as high as 20%. This move has had a ripple effect across the automobile industry and has put pressure on competitors in the EV market. The price reductions have received mixed reactions among investors and Wall Street analysts. Some argue that the move is a response to declining demand, while others argue that it is a strategy to put pressure on competitors, particularly since popular variants of vehicles like the Model 3 and Model Y are now eligible for a…

Vulcan Energy Resources, a geothermal lithium producer, has signed a Binding Term Sheet (BTS) with Stellantis for the initial phase of a multiphase project designed to decarbonize the energy mix of Stellantis’ manufacturing site in Rüsselsheim, Germany, through the development of new geothermal projects. In June 2022, Stellantis invested €50 million in Vulcan and extended its original binding lithium hydroxide offtake agreement to 2035. As a result of this investment, Stellantis holds an 8% share in Vulcan and is now the second-largest shareholder in the company. The ZERO CARBON LITHIUM Project, being developed by Vulcan, aims to produce a battery-quality…

First Student, a leading provider of school bus transportation, has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to electrify its fleet. The company has now logged over one million miles on its electric school buses, which currently number more than 230. These buses safely transport almost 800,000 students to and from school each year. This achievement is a clear indication of First Student’s commitment to sustainable transportation and reducing its environmental impact. The company has partnered with over 50 school districts to apply for funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program, resulting in the acquisition…