Author: Thomas Schmidt

Germany has witnessed a significant surge in the number of electric cars on its roads, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority. The latest data from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) reveals a 39.1% increase in electric vehicles (EVs) compared to the previous year, with a total of 1,408,681 electric vehicles counted as of January 1, 2024. This growth builds on earlier figures from July last year, when 1.17 million electric cars were already registered in Germany. The addition of 326,000 new electric vehicles between July and December further boosted the EV fleet to over 1.4 million at the beginning of 2024.…

Daimler Truck reported robust performance in 2023, with a 1% increase in worldwide sales of trucks and buses compared to the previous year. The company sold a total of 526,053 units, up from 520,291 units in 2022. The strong sales were buoyed by a significant surge in zero-emission (ZE) vehicles, with Daimler Truck selling 3,443 ZE trucks and buses, marking a remarkable 277% increase from the 914 units sold in the previous year. The group’s revenue also soared to new heights, reaching €55.9 billion in 2023, a 10% increase from €50.9 billion in the previous year. This impressive growth was…

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport has announced the final funding decisions for 186 electric buses, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to promote sustainable transportation. Under the program, eleven operators and two districts will share 53.4 million euros to procure the vehicles and corresponding infrastructure. The funding program is part of Germany’s 2030 climate protection program, aimed at meeting the country’s 2050 climate targets and stimulating economic growth. Additional funding comes from the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP) through the European Recovery and Resilience Facilities (ARF) in the Next Generation EU recovery instrument. See also: Germany allocates €270…

Apple’s decision to terminate its electric vehicle program, known as “Project Titan,” has surprised many industry observers, but insiders suggest that the move was inevitable. Sources within the company reveal that Apple had limited interest in the automotive sector from the project’s inception. In 2014, senior Apple engineers, fresh from their work on the company’s smartwatch, were eager for a new challenge in the burgeoning electric car and autonomous mobility space. This enthusiasm led to the creation of the “iCar.” See also: Analyst Suggests Apple Pivot to EV Market with Rivian Acquisition After Apple Car Cancellation However, according to reports from…

In Germany, a development partnership known as XProLas has been initiated to investigate the use of compact X-ray sources to enhance the durability and performance of electric car batteries. Led by machine manufacturer Trumpf, the project involves collaboration from a network of 12 companies and institutes. The XProLas partnership aims to produce the first demo systems by 2026. The systems under development are expected to allow manufacturers to monitor the charging and discharging of batteries in real-time and identify impurities in the battery with exceptional precision. Electric car battery manufacturers could utilize the compact X-ray sources being developed for X-raying…

ZF, a global technology company, has unveiled its inaugural “zero-emission factory” following a conversion period of nearly one and a half years at its production site for power electronics in Klášterec, Czech Republic. This location, home to the Electrified Powertrain Technology division, is heralded as a blueprint for all ZF plants worldwide. A fundamental aspect of these “zero-emission factories” is not only to provide the plants with clean electricity but ideally with self-generated electricity as well. In Klášterec, approximately 3,400 solar modules installed on roofs and a green area adjacent to the hall complex generate PV electricity, covering approximately 20%…

Tesla Inc has parted ways with its lead interior designer, Peter Blades, known for his work on the interiors of popular Tesla vehicles such as the Model 3 and Model Y. Blades, who had been with Tesla for nearly a decade, played a significant role in shaping the interior design of several key Tesla models. He was the principal design lead for the Model 3’s interior and also contributed to the interior designs of the Tesla Semi and the next-generation Roadster. See also: Tesla Model Y Performs Well in Stringent Crash Tests, Compared to Traditional ICE Vehicles Most recently, Blades led…

Logistics company NFI has incorporated 50 new heavy-duty electric trucks into its fleet, marking a significant milestone in the Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI). The North American supply chain solutions provider has received delivery of 30 Freightliner eCascadia and 20 Volvo VNR Electric trucks, which will be used for drayage tasks between the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and NFI’s Ontario facility. See also: Canadian Retailer Loblaws Expands Electric Truck Fleet, Adds Freightliner eCascadia Trucks The deployment of these electric trucks was part of a larger initiative announced in 2021, which included the purchase of the vehicles from…

Italy has been engaging in discussions with Tesla and three prominent Chinese carmakers as part of its efforts to attract another manufacturer and achieve an annual output target of 1.3 million vehicles, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso revealed on Wednesday. “We’re having positive feedback,” Urso stated during a parliamentary hearing regarding the ongoing talks. See also: Italy Unveils 2024 Eco-Bonus, Allocating €950 Million to Incentivize Clean Vehicle Adoption Stellantis, the parent company of Fiat and Alfa Romeo, stands as Italy’s primary automaker, producing approximately 750,000 vehicles in the country last year, including 520,000 passenger cars and 230,000 vans. Urso noted that Rome…

Luminar Technologies saw a 10% decline in its shares on Wednesday following the release of its fourth-quarter results, which fell short of estimates due to a delayed production schedule for Volvo Cars’ new EX90 electric SUVs. The company had redirected its manufacturing and engineering resources to prepare for the production start of the cars, which was moved from late 2023 to mid-2024, impacting sales of its sensors. “The EX90 production delay is likely to last until mid-2024. Volvo is targeting customer deliveries of the EX90 in late 2024,” explained Jaime Perez, an analyst at R.F. Lafferty Equity Research. See also: Volvo’s…

BMW Group Thailand has announced plans to construct a battery factory in Rayong, Thailand, this year, in a move aimed at bolstering its electric car and plug-in hybrid sales. The decision is also driven by the escalating activities of Chinese companies in the region. “We decided to invest in battery manufacturing because China is expanding its EV investment and supply chains in Thailand,” said Alexander Baraka, head of BMW Group Thailand. He also noted that tensions in the Red Sea were causing delays in shipping some auto components to Asia, impacting BMW Group Thailand’s operations. See also: Thailand Introduces Incentives to…