Author: Todd Gilbert

Beta Technologies, a fully integrated electric aviation system developer based in Vermont, has announced plans to produce and certify its CX300 fixed-wing electric plane. The CX300 has already flown over 22,000 test miles and undergone evaluation flights for FAA certification. Beta Technologies is unique in testing two prototypes simultaneously to capture twice as much performance data at once, focusing on both hovering and wing-borne flight. Beta Technologies has opened up orders for its fixed-wing electric plane alongside an operation and certification path already in place. The company intends to certify its CX300 fixed-wing electric plane for customer use and expects…

Volkswagen has announced plans to invest a staggering 180 billion euros ($192.76 billion) over the next five years, with a focus on battery production and its North American operations. The automaker also disclosed that spending on combustion engines will decrease starting in 2025. In a bid to achieve the ambitious goal of 50% electric vehicle (EV) sales worldwide by 2030, over two-thirds of the investment budget for the next five years is allocated towards electrification and digitalization, a significant increase from the previous year’s plan which stood at 56%. See also: Volkswagen Sets Ambitious Goal for EV Sales in Europe:…

Hyundai Mobis, an automotive supplier based in South Korea and a part of the Hyundai Motor Group, has recently revealed a groundbreaking innovation for electric vehicles (EVs) called Electronic Leveling Control (ELC). ELC is a system that empowers drivers to modify the vehicle’s height according to the road and driving conditions. In the past, leveling control was only available for high-end cars with air suspension, which can cost a fortune. However, ELC has changed the game by bringing leveling control to EVs with chassis based on steel springs, allowing drivers to enjoy the same benefits without having to shell out…

Volkswagen Group has set a new target for electric vehicle (EV) sales in Europe for its VW passenger cars brand. The goal is for at least 80 percent of the brand’s sales in Europe to be all-electric models by 2030, which is significantly higher than the 70 percent target announced in 2021 under VW’s Accelerate electrification strategy. Thomas Ulbrich, head of VW brand’s New Mobility business unit for software and self-driving cars, confirmed the new target and stated that the brand has the most ambitious goal of all Volkswagen Group brands, including Audi, Skoda, and SEAT/Cupra. Ulbrich explained that VW…

Volvo Cars has announced record-breaking sales figures for the month of February. The automaker sold 51,286 cars, which marks a 22% increase compared to the same period last year. The sales growth can be attributed to the company’s Recharge lineup of fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars. Out of all the Volvo cars sold globally in February, 40% were Recharge models, indicating a strong demand for eco-friendly vehicles. In fact, the sales of Volvo’s fully electric cars surged by 187% as compared to the same month in the previous year, comprising 19% of the total sales. The US market saw…

Lime, the San Francisco-based urban scooter company, has taken legal action against Hertz Corp, alleging unfair competition and accusing the rental car giant of hiring its senior engineers improperly. The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, seeks unspecified monetary damages and an injunction to “recover and protect its trade secrets.” In the lawsuit, Lime has named Charlie Fang, who was formerly the head of engineering at the company, and another engineer as defendants. Lime claims that Fang, who joined Hertz as a senior vice president last year, violated his employment agreement to not solicit former colleagues after leaving the company.…

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly popular, the availability of charging stations has become a major concern for EV owners. Tesla has been at the forefront of addressing this issue with its Supercharger network, which was previously exclusive to Tesla vehicles. However, Tesla has now opened its Supercharger network to other EVs, including electric motorcycles, and the first to be spotted charging at a Tesla Supercharger is the Energica Experia. The Energica Experia is an ADV (adventure touring motorcycle) designed to take on the likes of the BMW R1250 and the Ducati Multistrada, as well as the DSRX from rival…

Tenways has been making waves in Europe with its affordable and impressive selection of electric bicycles. One of its popular models, the CGO600, has just received an update, making it an even more appealing option for city commuters. The new and improved model, dubbed the CGO600 Pro, boasts a bigger battery and practical enhancements. What sets the CGO600 Pro apart is its incredibly lightweight construction, weighing in at just 16.5 kilograms, almost as light as some entry-level non-electric bicycles. This was achieved through careful design, but it also means the battery is non-removable, limiting the bike’s off-road capabilities. However, it…

Nikola is looking to expand into Canada as it sees the country as one of the most promising global markets for its trucks. The company aims to have its first trucks on the road in Canada next year. Michael Lohscheller, CEO of Nikola Corporation, stated that “It’s a very big market. Similar to Europe. There is a lot of support and incentive money, but more importantly an understanding and mindset that decarbonization needs to happen.” The manufacturer has already partnered with the Alberta Motor Transport Association to demonstrate its technology in Alberta and with Calgary-based TC Energy to bring large-scale…

Last year, Hyundai sold nearly 23,000 units of the Ioniq 5 in the US. However, it will be a more challenging task to achieve this year as neither the Ioniq 5 nor the Ioniq 6 qualify for the $7,500 federal EV credit, putting both cars at a disadvantage. Although one might expect Hyundai to reduce the prices, the company is instead increasing them. The smaller 58.2 kWh battery pack version of the Ioniq 5, which is the entry-level model, now costs $42,785, including the destination charge. This is a significant increase of $9,360 from its original price when it was…

Goodyear, a household name in tires, has announced the introduction of its newest energy-efficient tire, the RangeMax RSD, designed to support regional electric fleets with higher cargo capacities. As the number of electric vehicles on roads continues to grow, Goodyear has been anticipating the shift and has already developed several tires of its own to support its customers going all-electric. The RangeMax RSD is Goodyear’s latest addition to its portfolio of EV-centric products, described as its most versatile yet. The new tire boasts ultra-low rolling resistance technology to maximize efficiency and Treadlock Technology to encourage even wear and get more…

Xiaomi has once again made headlines in the tech world with its announcement of the new Digital Car Key feature at MWC 2023. This new tool will be available on the latest Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro smartphones and has been developed in collaboration with Google and BMW. Xiaomi stated that these collaborations are vital in providing innovative features that make their customers’ lives easier. With the Xiaomi Digital Car Key, you can now use your Xiaomi 13 to lock, unlock, or start your car. Furthermore, you can store, manage, and share your digital key with friends and family…

Rivian released its earnings report for Q4 and full-year 2022 on February 28th, after the market close. Although the company missed its revenue target, it significantly reduced its operating expenses as it aims to cut costs and increase production volume. According to CEO RJ Scaringe, 2022 was a “challenging year” for Rivian as it faced supply chain issues and product recalls while ramping up production. Despite these challenges, the company’s production is growing at an impressive rate. Rivian produced 24,337 EVs and delivered 20,332 in 2022, just shy of its goal of 25,000. However, this is a significant improvement from…

Lucid Motors has announced that it has chosen AT&T as its exclusive connectivity partner for its electric vehicles. The announcement was made at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The partnership will provide internet connectivity for the Air sedan’s features, such as telematics, diagnostics, audio streaming, and navigation. The navigation system will assist drivers in maximizing their driving range and reducing the need for charging stops. The Lucid Air is among the most enduring electric vehicles on the road, with a driving range of more than 500 miles. See also: Lucid Motors Unveils More Affordable RWD Version of Lucid Air…

Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, Tesla, has signed a supply deal worth $2.9 billion with South Korean battery cathode material company L&F Co Ltd, according to recent reports from Bloomberg. The deal is for the supply of high-nickel cathode materials and will reportedly commence on January 1, 2024, and end on December 31, 2025. In a public filing made by L&F on February 28, 2023, the South Korean company revealed that the high-nickel cathode materials will be used in the automotive, energy generation, and storage sectors across the US and other regions. The unit sales price of the materials may fluctuate…

Electric vehicles are rapidly taking over the automobile industry, and Fisker is gearing up to join the fray with its upcoming electric pickup truck, Alaska. During an earnings presentation, Henrik Fisker, the company’s founder, provided new details about the upcoming vehicle, stating that the company eventually aims to sell one million vehicles per year, including models in new segments with at least four unique features in each vehicle. Fisker also teased some of the features of the upcoming Alaska electric pickup truck, calling it a lifestyle truck that could be the “lightest, most efficient EV pickup in the world.” He…

Sydney, Australia’s largest city, is leading the way in a new electrification strategy aimed at reducing emissions caused by traffic. The strategy includes doubling the number of charging stations in city parking lots and retrofitting existing apartment buildings with chargers. The city also plans to promote public fast chargers in parking lots and service stations, test on-street chargers on utility poles in residential neighborhoods with Ausgrid, update charging infrastructure regulations for new buildings, and accelerate the conversion of its own fleets to electric vehicles. Currently, traffic is responsible for about 20% of emissions in the city, which is home to…

2023 Ford E-Transit Cargo Van is set to be equipped with digital rearview mirrors, a feature that is becoming more common among various car models. The lack of windows on a cargo van makes it a prime candidate for the digital rearview mirror system. This feature will be particularly helpful for cargo van drivers who usually face obstructed views of the area behind their vehicle. According to Christian Kreipke, Ford assistant brand manager for vans, the Digital Rearview Mirror is an invaluable tool for delivery drivers, especially those making multiple deliveries daily. “Cargo van drivers often contend with an obstructed…

BMW UK opens orders for the latest addition to its fully-electric family, the BMW i4 eDrive35. With a starting price of £49,995 (OTR), the four-door Gran Coupé offers a fully-electric range of up to 299 miles (WLTP), and is available in both Sport and M Sport trim. The BMW i4 eDrive35 is built at BMW Group Munich Plant, alongside the eDrive40 and M50 models, with an expected production volume share of fully-electric cars to increase to 50 percent of the total manufactured volume in 2023. BMW’s portfolio of fully-electric vehicles is growing, with the BMW i5 set to join the…

Incheon, a city in South Korea near the capital of Seoul, is making significant strides towards sustainability by planning to introduce 700 fuel-cell buses by the end of 2024. This project is a collaborative effort between the South Korean Ministries of Environment and Transport, the Incheon Municipal Government, Hyundai Motor, and SK E&S. Hyundai will supply the vehicles for this large-scale initiative, and SK E&S, an energy specialist under the SK Group, will set up hydrogen filling stations and provide liquid hydrogen. The buses are expected to be models of the Hyundai Elec City Fuel Cell type, which has already…