Author: Todd Gilbert

The European Commission has allocated €852 million in grants to six battery cell manufacturing projects under its Innovation Fund, aimed at bolstering Europe’s position in electric vehicle (EV) supply chains and reducing import dependency. The funding follows a €1 billion battery-specific tender, part of the wider €4.6 billion IF24 programme announced in December 2024. The six selected projects—located in France, Germany, Sweden, and Poland—are designed to promote innovation in sustainable production techniques and advanced battery chemistries. Collectively, they are expected to add around 56 GWh of annual capacity and reduce emissions by an estimated 91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent…

Chinese automaker Geely Galaxy announced that cumulative sales of its E5 electric SUV, known as the EX5 in overseas markets, have surpassed 150,000 units since the vehicle’s launch in August 2023. The model, part of Geely’s expanding electric lineup, recorded 77,685 deliveries in the first half of 2024. Built on Geely’s Global Electric Architecture (GEA) platform, the E5 is a compact pure electric SUV with a 4,615 mm length and a 2,750 mm wheelbase. In China, the E5 is offered in five trim levels, priced between 107,800 yuan and 143,800 yuan (approximately $15,000 to $20,100). Two battery options are available…

Autonomous driving company WeRide has received a landmark permit to test its fully driverless Robovan W5 in Guangzhou’s Huangpu District, becoming the first company authorized for driverless logistics testing in the area. The new permit follows an earlier approval granted in Nansha District, highlighting WeRide’s continued expansion of its autonomous delivery operations in China. The approval enables WeRide to conduct full-area tests of its Robovan W5, an electric delivery van equipped with Level-4 autonomous driving capabilities and a redundant sensor suite for safety in complex urban settings. The Robovan is designed to handle high-frequency, last-mile logistics with a 5.5 cubic…

Nissan Motor is in discussions with Taiwan’s Foxconn to explore the use of its Oppama plant for electric vehicle production, according to two people familiar with the matter. The potential agreement could prevent the closure of the facility, located in the port city of Yokosuka, south of Tokyo. The talks come as Nissan moves forward with a global restructuring plan aimed at improving the company’s financial performance. The strategy, led by CEO Ivan Espinosa, includes the closure of seven out of 17 manufacturing plants worldwide and a workforce reduction of approximately 15%. Originally considered for shutdown, the Oppama plant could…

The German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) has officially launched a hydrogen research filling station at its Technical Safety Test Site (TTS) in Horstwalde, Brandenburg. Described by BAM as the only research facility of its kind in Germany, the station is designed to trial and develop advanced quality assurance and safety technologies for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure under real-world conditions. The facility replicates all key components of a hydrogen filling station—including a compressor, buffer storage tanks, gas coolers, and dispensing units—enabling tests of operational processes such as fuel transfer, leak detection, and material stress. A hydrogen-powered vehicle, reportedly…

Pony.ai has launched road testing of its robotaxis in Luxembourg, marking a key step in the Chinese autonomous driving company’s international growth strategy. The tests, conducted in partnership with local mobility provider Emile Weber, began in the town of Lenningen and are expected to extend to additional regions across the country. The initiative follows the establishment of Pony.ai’s European research and development center in Luxembourg in September 2023. The center focuses on advancing autonomous vehicle technologies and is part of the company’s broader effort to build partnerships and infrastructure to support future deployments in the region. See also: Pony.ai and…

Hyundai is set to unveil its next-generation electric performance sedan, the Ioniq 6 N, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 10, marking the next step in the company’s evolving N division strategy. Building on the success of the Ioniq 5 N, the upcoming model is aimed at delivering a sharper, more dynamic driving experience in a sleeker package. The Ioniq 6 N’s development stems from the 2022 RN22e concept, with prototypes undergoing extensive testing in recent years. A first teaser arrived in April 2025 alongside the facelifted standard Ioniq 6, but newer preview images now highlight the performance…

Electric vehicle infrastructure firm ChargePoint has introduced its latest home charging product, the Flex Plus, aimed specifically at company car drivers and fleet managers. The new charger is paired with ChargePoint’s Driver Management Solution, offering a comprehensive system for managing fleet charging, cost reimbursement, and usage data. The Flex Plus is the first product to utilize the company’s newly developed AC charging architecture. It supports charging speeds of up to 19.2 kW and introduces features such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capabilities, smart home integration, and dynamic load balancing — which allows faster charging when household electricity demand is low. ChargePoint emphasized…

Honda’s electric push in the U.S. market continues to gain momentum, with the Prologue maintaining strong monthly sales and the Acura ZDX emerging as a surprise success in the luxury EV segment during the first half of 2025. Honda sold 2,799 Prologue electric SUVs in June, bringing total U.S. sales for the year to 16,317 units. The Prologue has averaged more than 2,700 monthly sales in 2025, positioning it ahead of Toyota’s bZ4X, which reached just over 9,200 units sold during the same period. Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, sold only 3,779 RZ electric SUVs in the first half of the…

Finnish EV charging manufacturer Kempower has been appointed a preferred supplier of charging hardware by Allego, a major European charge point operator, with plans for large-scale deployments beginning in the second half of 2025. The partnership will see Kempower’s fast-charging systems installed across Allego hubs in Denmark, France, the Nordics, and the Benelux region. Allego currently operates over 34,000 public charging points across Europe and offers various charging capacities ranging up to 300 kW. The collaboration with Kempower is aimed at strengthening its high-power charging infrastructure to meet growing EV demand in key regions. The two companies have conducted pilot…

Porsche is reportedly reconsidering its decision to discontinue the internal combustion engine (ICE) version of its Macan SUV, the brand’s best-selling model. The move comes amid evolving market conditions and a broader reassessment of electric vehicle strategies across the industry. According to a report from Car Magazine, the German automaker is exploring a plan to reintroduce a combustion-engine Macan model, potentially leveraging the same platform as the new Audi Q5. A return to ICE could take approximately three years to develop, the report notes, with a formal announcement possible as early as March 2026. Porsche Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke…

Kia has opened UK order books for its new EV4, the automaker’s first fully electric C-segment hatchback, with prices starting from £34,695. The EV4 is available with two battery sizes and offers a maximum WLTP range of up to 388 miles, making it Kia’s most long-range electric model to date. The base ‘Air’ model features a 58.3kWh battery, providing up to 273 miles of range. The top-tier ‘GT-Line S’ trim, priced at £43,895, is equipped with an 81.4kWh battery capable of up to 388 miles in its long-range configuration. All variants are powered by a front-mounted 150kW (201bhp) electric motor,…