Author: Todd Gilbert

The United States and Japan have announced a new trade agreement focused on electric vehicle battery minerals. The deal aims to strengthen the two countries’ battery supply chains while granting Japanese automakers wider access to a new $7,500 U.S. EV tax credit. This credit is part of last year’s climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act, which seeks to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The agreement prohibits the two countries from enacting bilateral export restrictions on minerals critical for EV batteries, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and manganese. By working together to combat “non-market policies and practices” of other countries in the sector,…

Li-Cycle, a rapidly growing battery recycling company, announced on Monday that it will build a facility in France to break down lithium-ion batteries from forklift manufacturer The Kion Group. The new facility, set to open in 2024, will complement similar sites currently under development in Germany and Norway, and will allow Li-Cycle to expand beyond the consumer automobile market. According to Tim Johnston, Li-Cycle’s executive chairman, “We believe strongly in a regional approach to recycling as our customers begin to localize their own supply chains. Europe continues to be a growth center for electrification, so we are going to continue…

Solaris, a leading European manufacturer of e-buses, is set to showcase its latest addition to its green transport offering at the 14th edition of the Elekbu trade fair. The Urbino 18 electric bus, equipped with two drive axles and Solaris High Energy batteries with a capacity of over 550 kWh, will be presented at Solaris’s stand. The Elekbu trade fair, Germany’s largest conference and exhibition of e-buses, aims to address key issues facing the e-mobility sector and public transport. This year’s edition will focus on how to achieve climate protection goals through innovative solutions and transforming transport to become more…

Tesla has released a new software update that addresses a common problem faced by drivers during winter months. The latest update, 2023.6.9, features a new convenience option called “Climate System Warming Up,” which aims to eliminate the unpleasant cold air that blows out of the vents when the vehicle is first started. Tesla vehicles are known for their frequent software updates, which often include performance improvements, bug fixes, and new features. With this latest update, Tesla owners can enjoy various improvements, including Apple Music updates and an appearance change for the tire pressure card. The “Climate System Warming Up” feature…

Bowlus is on a mission to become the first fully electric RV company in the world. Last year, the company launched its all-electric Bowlus Volterra, which was a tremendous success. Now, Bowlus is looking to electrify its entire lineup. While the Bowlus RVs are trailers and do not have their own electric drivetrain, the Volterra boasts a battery management system that can be charged via a solar system. This feature provides travellers with electricity while off the grid, offering an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional generators. See also: Bowlus Volterra electric travel trailer : Everything you should know What…

Aptera Motors has made another exciting announcement this week, revealing that it has selected an open-source driver assistance system called “openpilot” as its official system for integration into its production model solar EVs. This is a significant step forward for the startup, which is making great strides towards reaching its goal of scaled EV production in 2023. The openpilot system, originally developed by comma.ai, has been voted the number one driver assistance system by Consumer Reports and is the only consumer system available (aside from Tesla) that can halt at stop signs and red lights while using only 1/10th the…

Xing Mobility, a Taiwanese developer of immersion cooling technology for batteries, has announced a strategic partnership with Nordic Booster, a Norwegian company specializing in batteries for construction equipment and mobile charging systems for heavy industrial vehicles. Through this cooperation, Xing Mobility’s Immersio XM25 battery system will be introduced to the Northern European vehicle market for construction, agriculture, and mining. Nordic Booster has already ordered Immersio-XM25 battery systems with a total of 2 MWh. Xing Mobility claims that the battery system is already being mass-produced and available for delivery. According to Xing Mobility, the immersion cooling technology involves the battery cells…

The Katek Group, a technology company based in Munich, has announced that it has signed a framework agreement to deliver over one million white-label wall boxes. The company’s aim is to become the market leader among wall box manufacturers, and this is the third order it has received in a year. The latest agreement was made with “a European car manufacturer” and will run for five years. The GhostONE wall box has been available since last year, and since it is white-label, it is difficult to determine who is placing these large orders. However, Katek has set high goals for…

Ford of Europe is set to revive classic nameplates like Capri in a bid to sell future electric vehicles (EVs) and make a significant impact on the industry. However, despite tapping into its rich history, the company is not looking to create retro-modern vehicles and is refusing to be constrained by past designs. According to recent reports, Ford’s next European EV will be named Capri, and it will be the second model the automaker bases on Volkswagen’s MEB electric vehicle platform. In an interview with Autocar, Ford’s head of European design, Amko Leenarts, revealed that reviving classic nameplates would be…

Everrati, a UK-based electric vehicle (EV) conversion specialist, has achieved another milestone in its global expansion by delivering its first mainland European commission to a customer in Amsterdam. The commission is an electrified Land Rover Series IIA, featuring an OEM-grade electric powertrain developed at Everrati’s global headquarters in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. The vehicle offers a range of up to 150 miles, almost identical to its combustion-engined past, and can drive in near silence and emission-free around the streets of Amsterdam. The first Dutch customer to receive Everrati’s Land Rover is Shane Happach, a fintech CEO, and a passionate advocate…

A new electric car manufacturer named Günsel has recently emerged from the northern part of Cyprus. The company has been working on a compact electric car since 2016, and it is now ready for series production. The Günsel B9 is a two-door compact model that boasts 140 kW of power and a 52.6 kWh battery integrated into the vehicle floor. The car has a range of up to 350 kilometres, and its top speed is electronically limited to 150 km/h. Although the B9 was presented as a prototype a few years ago, the latest images show a left-hand drive car…

Brahms Electric Vehicles has created a unique product that has recently hit the Facebook marketplace: a custom-converted Nissan Leaf hearse. The seller claims it is rare, although there are already a few converted Nissan Leafs delivering bodies to crematoriums and cemeteries in the UK. The vehicle appears to have been built by Brahms Electric Vehicles, a company that specializes in making electric hearses more affordable by maintaining the overall shape and length of the base vehicle. The company offers full visibility of the coffin and flowers through a large side window, and the configuration and engineering to achieve this have…