Author: Todd Gilbert

German automaker Audi is considering building a factory in the US to take advantage of tax incentives and subsidies offered under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), according to Audi CEO Markus Duesmann. While a decision has not yet been made, Duesmann said the IRA had made building a US plant for electric cars very attractive, and that both building a plant itself and doing so with other Volkswagen (VW) brands were possible options. The $430bn IRA, passed last August, offers subsidies and tax incentives for domestically produced green industry products, including a $7,500 consumer tax credit to buyers of North…

NIO has opened its second showroom in Sweden, marking its continued expansion in the European market. The new NIO Space is located in Göteborg, Sweden’s second-largest city, and was unveiled on February 23. The opening of this showroom comes just months after the company opened its first Swedish showroom in Stockholm. According to Mattias Lundgren, general manager of NIO Sweden, the new NIO Space in Göteborg will feature the latest NIO models, including the ET7, EL7 and ET5. The ET7, which was unveiled at the NIO Berlin launch event in October 2022, is the company’s flagship sedan, while the EL7…

Bentley, the British luxury car brand, has announced that it will be ending production of its flagship 12-cylinder engine, marking a significant shift towards electrification. This move makes Bentley the first luxury car brand to call time on the technology that has been considered the pinnacle of engineering in the combustion era. The 12-cylinder engine, which is much larger than the standard three or four in most petrol cars, and even larger than the V8 engines common in high-performance cars, gave Bentley’s models their signature effortless power. However, the last batch of the current engine, which was first released in…

German multinational company, Continental, has announced the development of a new sensor that will help to improve the efficiency and performance of electric cars. The e-motor Rotor Position Sensor (eRPS) will be added to the company’s sensor portfolio for the fast-growing electric car market. With the start of production planned for the end of 2025, the eRPS is expected to enhance the driving experience of electric cars by offering improved accuracy, efficiency and smoother operations. The eRPS sensor is designed to detect the exact position of the rotor in a synchronous electric machine. By doing so, it can help to…

The buzz surrounding the all-new GMC Hummer EV SUV has been building up for months, with car enthusiasts eagerly waiting to see the vehicle in action. However, a recent forum post has caused a stir, revealing that the first production model of the Hummer EV SUV, which was already sold to a buyer in January, is back up for sale before the first buyer has even taken delivery. The Hummer EV SUV in question is a highly sought-after vehicle, featuring the Edition 1 trim package, which includes 4WD, 830 hp (618 kW), 800-volt architecture, and four-wheel steering. According to the…

Nikola has announced that it has chosen PlusDrive, the next generation safety system developed by Plus, to enhance the driver assistance features of its battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and hydrogen electric vehicle in the United States. The first factory-installed Nikola Tre BEVs and hydrogen electric vehicles featuring the PlusDrive safety system will be available by the end of 2024. Michael Lohscheller, President and CEO of Nikola Corporation, said, “The enhanced driver assistance features are yet another differentiator of Nikola’s premium driver experience for our customers. We are one of the first OEMs to offer 100% electric steering paired with the ZF…

Autel Energy has announced the launch of their latest electric vehicle charger, the MaxiCharger AC Ultra, which is now available for purchase in North America. The charger boasts an elegant design, exceeding commercial-grade reliability and durability, making it an ideal solution for any commercial environment. Equipped with dual charging ports, multiple network capabilities, and an eight-inch advertising-ready touchscreen, the AC Ultra can charge two vehicles simultaneously, each at 19.2 kilowatts of AC power. This innovation has solidified Autel Energy’s position as the leader in electric vehicle charging solutions. The AC Ultra is OCPP compliant, featuring an eight-inch LCD touchscreen, a…

Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains, has once again demonstrated its commitment to innovation by unveiling the SR-X, a unique version of its popular SR/S model. Developed in collaboration with HUGE Design, the SR-X represents the latest example of the company’s “Design the Future” program, which brings together talented designers and engineers to push the boundaries of what is possible with electric motorcycles. See also: Verge Motorcycles Unveils Highest-spec Model, the Verge TS Ultra The SR-X is a semi-faired design that combines clean lines and disciplined design-detailing with the aggressive stance and raw performance found in…

Ford has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LG and KOÇ Holdings to build a battery production facility in Ankara, Turkey. The move comes as Europe has officially mandated the phasing out of combustion engines by 2035. With construction starting this year, Ford plans to produce 25GWh of battery cells annually at the plant when it opens in 2026. Eventually, it plans to ramp up production to 45GWh annually, making it one of the largest battery plants on the continent. LG has worked with Ford Europe to supply the automaker with batteries in Poland, but…

Volkswagen Group Technology has given us a sneak peek at its upcoming electric car innovations in the areas of batteries, charging, and electronic components at the Tech Day 2023. The event was focused on the future of electric drive systems, and Volkswagen aims to achieve up to 20% more efficiency by offering a complete drive system from a single source, resulting in significant cost advantages. The German carmaker is developing central components like batteries, electric motors, pulse inverters, and thermal management systems in-house, with the goal of achieving technological leadership in electric mobility. According to Oliver Blume, Chair of the…

Jidu, a startup backed by Baidu and Geely, announced that it plans to incorporate Baidu’s ChatGPT-like product, called Ernie bot in English, into its upcoming electric, assisted-driving cars. Jidu will be using Baidu’s Apollo system for the in-car user interface and assisted driving technology, with plans to deliver its first car later this year. The integration of Apollo and Ernie bot is expected to enhance user interactivity with the car, particularly through voice control. This technology will be especially useful in “smart cars” such as Jidu’s planned model. While Baidu expects to complete internal testing of Ernie bot in March…

Volvo Trucks North America has been ramping up its efforts to increase the number of electric heavy-duty trucks serving its North American assembly plants. Together with four haulage partners, a total of 15 battery-electric Volvo VNR Electric trucks now commute to serve supplier logistics, transporting parts from four different suppliers to the New River Valley Assembly Operations (NRV) in Virginia and Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) in Pennsylvania. The electric trucks used are current-generation vehicles that Volvo introduced in early 2022, belonging to US Class 8 and capable of traveling up to 275 miles (about 443 kilometres) on a single charge.…