Author: Todd Gilbert

Vulcan Energy has received authorisation to begin seismic surveys for its geothermal energy and lithium extraction project in the Ludwigshafen region, a collaboration with chemical giant BASF. The approval marks the first phase of development as the two companies explore the potential for renewable heat and lithium production from deep geothermal resources. The German-Australian lithium specialist and BASF signed a letter of intent three months ago to assess the feasibility of using geothermal energy at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site. Vulcan will lead the exploration phase, conducting two-dimensional seismic measurements over approximately 75 square kilometres in the Vorderpfalz region, which includes the…

Nearly all Renault 5 and Alpine A290 vehicles delivered in France must return to the workshop due to a potential issue with the inverter that could prevent the cars from starting, according to French automotive news portal L’Argus. The report states that 15,722 units assembled at Renault’s Douai plant between September 1 and December 23, 2024, may be affected. Customers will be notified via email or the ‘My Renault’ app. Renault emphasized that the action is a “special technical operation” rather than a recall. See also: Renault Reports Record 2024 Operating Profit, Lowers Margin Forecast for 2025 Some owners have…

Tesla will acquire portions of the struggling German high-tech parts maker Manz AG, including more than 300 employees at its Reutlingen site in southwest Germany, the company said on Tuesday. The deal marks an expansion of Tesla’s operations in Germany, where it already runs a major manufacturing plant near Berlin. See also: Tesla Rolls Out Advanced Assisted Driving Features in China, Avoiding FSD Label The acquisition comes as the U.S. electric vehicle maker faces declining sales in the country, with a nearly 60% drop in January compared to the previous year. Tesla Automation GmbH, a subsidiary specializing in special-purpose machine…

BYD has launched its new electric compact SUV, the Atto 2, in France with a starting price of €28,990 ($30,358), making it the company’s most affordable SUV in the region, a senior company executive said. The vehicle was presented on Tuesday at Paris’ La Défense Arena. The Atto 2 enters the competitive European B-segment SUV market with pricing significantly below key rivals. It is €5,000 cheaper than the Kia Niro, €6,000 less than the Opel Mokka-e, and €7,000 below the Peugeot e-2008. See also: BYD Officially Introduces Atto 2 in Europe with Two Trim Levels and 312 km Range However,…

The UK government has extended its plug-in grant scheme for electric vans and taxis by an additional year, with £120 million in funding allocated to support the transition to zero-emission vehicles. The subsidy program, originally set to expire in April 2025, will now continue until April 2026. Under the scheme, businesses and individuals purchasing electric vans can receive up to £2,500 for models weighing up to 2.5 tonnes, while those buying vans of up to 4.25 tonnes are eligible for grants of up to £5,000. The program also offers grants of up to £4,000 for taxi drivers switching to electric…

Chinese LiDAR manufacturer RoboSense Technology has reached a major industry milestone, delivering its one millionth LiDAR unit as it continues to expand into robotics. The company announced that its one millionth LiDAR rolled off the production line at its Shenzhen facility on February 21 and was delivered to Shanghai-based Humanoid Robot on February 24. RoboSense claims it is the first company globally to reach the one-million-unit mark with high-channel LiDAR. See also: RoboSense Unveils World’s First LiDAR With Over 1,000 Channels Hong Kong-listed RoboSense is China’s largest LiDAR supplier, with customers including BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY), SAIC Motor Corp,…

Onvo, a sub-brand of Nio, has released the first official image of its second model, the Onvo L90, as it gears up for entry into China’s competitive electric vehicle (EV) market. The image, shared on Onvo’s Weibo account today, reveals a side view of the L90, albeit wrapped in camouflage. “The flagship SUV for large family spaces, the Onvo L90, is rechargeable, swappable, a better experience than refueling, and a better pure electric than pure electric,” the company wrote in its post. See also: Li Auto Unveils Li i8, Its First All-Electric SUV, with Official Images Released Onvo President Alan…

Chinese battery manufacturer CALB expects its net income to rise sharply in 2024, citing business expansion and cost reductions, according to its earnings preview released on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The company anticipates a net profit of between RMB 786 million ($108 million) and RMB 874 million, marking an increase of approximately 80% to 100% from RMB 437 million in 2023. CALB attributed the earnings growth to its improving economies of scale and continued enhancements in product performance. “Thanks to our leading technology and product competitiveness, we have successfully reduced costs while maintaining performance improvements,” the company said in…

Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus has introduced the second generation of its hydrogen-powered double-decker bus, the Streetdeck Hydroliner, featuring improved efficiency, increased passenger capacity, and lower operating costs. Wrightbus, which launched the first generation of the Streetdeck Hydroliner in 2020, said the latest model has been completely redesigned over a four-year development period. The company claims the new bus offers a range of more than 300 miles (482 km) and can be refueled in eight minutes, making it a viable alternative to diesel-powered buses. See also: Wrightbus Unveils Rightech Brand with Four New Battery-Electric Vehicles “Alongside our market-leading EV bus,…

Scania and DHL Group have unveiled plans for an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV), integrating battery power with a fuel-powered range extender to enhance operational flexibility. The truck, set for deployment in February 2025, will be used for parcel transport between Berlin and Hamburg, DHL’s Post & Parcel Germany division announced. The EREV is designed as a transitional solution, enabling DHL to operate on 80–90% renewable electricity while utilizing a fuel-powered generator when necessary. The hybrid approach addresses charging infrastructure limitations while reducing carbon emissions. See also: Scania Steps In to Support Northvolt’s Struggling Battery Production “The future is electric,…

As the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate consultation nears its conclusion, Asif Ghafoor, CEO of national EV charging network Be.EV, has emphasized the importance of a consistent approach to the transition toward electric vehicles (EVs). Ghafoor suggests that automakers’ concerns reflect the challenges of adapting to industry changes. “It’s not surprising that carmakers are raising concerns,” Ghafoor said. “Market shifts often bring challenges for established businesses. The transition to EVs represents a significant change, and companies must navigate this evolving landscape.” Ghafoor believes that UK and European automakers have had time to prepare for the shift to EVs and…

Tesla is preparing to enter the Indian market, with the electric vehicle maker expected to ship an initial batch of vehicles to a port near Mumbai in the coming months, Bloomberg News reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The company is targeting a sales launch around the third quarter of 2025 and is expected to focus on major urban centers, including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, according to the report. However, it remains unclear which models will be introduced and where they will be sourced from. Tesla’s best-selling models, the Model Y SUV and the updated Model 3 sedan, are…

Maextro, a new automotive brand formed by Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC), is set to launch its first model, the Maextro S800, at the end of May, the companies announced on Tuesday. The luxury sedan will debut at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show in Shenzhen. Richard Yu, managing director of Huawei and chairman of its smart car solutions unit, said the Maextro S800 will be available in both extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) versions. “This model incorporates advanced intelligence and safety features while offering a luxury driving experience,” Yu said…

Milence has inaugurated its first truck charging park in Italy, marking a significant step in its expansion across Europe. The new site, located in Bagnolo San Vito along the A22 Brenner motorway, features four high-power chargers (HPC) with a capacity of up to 400 kW. This development strengthens Milence’s commitment to supporting zero-emission freight transport by providing crucial infrastructure for heavy-duty electric vehicles. Italy becomes the sixth country to host a Milence charging park, following the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Sweden, and Germany. The Bagnolo San Vito site is strategically positioned about 40 kilometers south of Verona, serving as a key…

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Volkswagen to advance collaboration in lithium battery research and development for new energy vehicles (NEVs), as well as new materials and parts development, the company announced. The partnership aims to create advanced and cost-efficient battery solutions, CATL said in a statement. “The two companies will jointly develop technologically advanced and cost-competitive battery concepts and products,” the company noted. See also: CATL Expands Workforce in Germany to Boost Battery Production The agreement also paves the way for further cooperation in battery recycling, battery swapping, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology,…

Hyundai Motor Group is reportedly preparing to expand production capacity at its electric vehicle plant in Georgia, aiming to raise annual output from 300,000 to 500,000 units in response to potential U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles, the Korea Times reported. Industry observers say Hyundai has been bracing for tariff measures since Donald Trump’s re-election and seeks to increase the share of vehicles built in the United States. See also: Hyundai, Kia Adjust U.S. EV Batteries to Qualify for $7,500 Tax Credit; SK On Scales Up Production The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia has been assembling the Ioniq…

Finnish charging station manufacturer Kempower has launched a zero-percent financing offer for its DC charging solutions in eight key markets, aiming to accelerate the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. The initiative, running until May 19, 2025, is available in the UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Spain, and Australia. See also: Kempower and Ziegler Energy Solutions Partner to Enhance EV Charging for Fleets Dubbed ‘0% Financing, 100% Electric,’ the campaign is part of Kempower’s collaboration with DLL, a global provider of financial solutions. The offer allows investors to acquire Kempower’s fast-charging stations with no interest costs or prepayments over…

China holds a commanding position across the electric vehicle battery supply chain, controlling raw material extraction, refining, and cell production, according to a new study by Fraunhofer FFB and the University of Münster. The analysis underscores Europe and the United States’ dependence on Chinese supply lines, despite efforts to secure greater control over critical battery components. The study examined four key raw materials essential for lithium-ion battery production—lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese—and found that China dominates all but one. “Mineral raw materials are at the very beginning of the supply chain for battery cell production, and Europe is almost 100…

Kia has officially launched the EV9 GT, the high-performance variant of its flagship electric SUV, in South Korea. The new trim features a dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrain producing 509 horsepower (374 kW) and 740 Nm of torque, significantly enhancing its performance. This powertrain enables the EV9 GT to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.5 seconds, making it the fastest and most powerful version of the EV9 to date. The model starts at 88.49 million won ($61,500) in its domestic market and is set to launch in North America, Europe, and other global markets later…

Eve Energy has commenced production at its newly built Malaysian plant, marking a key milestone in the Chinese lithium battery maker’s international expansion, the company announced on Friday. The facility, located in Kulim District, Kedah, saw its first battery unit roll off the assembly line on February 16. It is Eve Energy’s first overseas factory and its 53rd globally. “The Malaysian plant is the first step in Eve Energy’s expansion in overseas markets and is a key step in the company’s efforts to connect with the world,” the company said. See also: Eve Energy Unveils Omnicell: A Revolutionary 6C Fast-Charging…