Author: Todd Gilbert

Mercury Insurance, one of California’s largest auto insurers, has released its annual ranking of the most affordable electric vehicles (EVs) to insure for the 2025 and 2026 model years. Now in its 10th year, the list is designed to guide budget-conscious consumers as they weigh insurance costs alongside other expenses in the transition to EVs. The list places the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Chevrolet Equinox EV, and Nissan Leaf among the most cost-effective EVs to insure. Other models included are the Kia Niro EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, Hyundai Kona EV, MINI Cooper SE, Hyundai Ioniq EV, Fiat 500e, and the Subaru…

Chinese ride-hailing company Didi Global posted a second-quarter net loss of 2.5 billion yuan ($350 million), weighed down by a one-off provision related to a shareholder lawsuit, even as revenue increased on the back of overseas growth. The loss was largely attributed to a 5.3 billion yuan charge for the previously disclosed case, alongside higher marketing and operating expenses as domestic competition intensified. Rivals such as Alibaba and Meituan have expanded their ride-hailing services through super-app platforms that aggregate multiple providers, drawing in users with broader digital offerings. Didi’s revenue rose 10.9% year-on-year to 56.4 billion yuan from 50.9 billion…

Zeekr has opened pre-sales for its 9X large luxury hybrid SUV, debuting the model at the 2025 Chengdu auto show on Friday. The official launch is scheduled for late September. The Zeekr 9X, the company’s first hybrid model, starts at RMB 479,900 ($67,340) during pre-sales, making it one of the highest-priced vehicles from a Chinese automaker. Three variants—Max, Ultra and Hyper—are priced at RMB 479,900, RMB 499,900 and RMB 569,900 respectively. Customers placing a RMB 5,000 deposit will receive a RMB 10,000 discount on the final payment. As is common in China’s automotive market, the official launch price is expected…

Taiwanese battery developer Xing Mobility is unveiling the latest model in its “Immersio” series of cell-to-pack (CTP) systems at the IAA Mobility trade fair in Munich, with the technology making its debut in Caterham’s fully electric Project V sports coupé. The new system combines a module-free CTP design with immersion cooling, in which battery cells are fully surrounded by coolant to improve heat dissipation and reduce the risk of thermal runaway. This differs from conventional cooling methods that rely on plates or channels in contact with only part of each cell. Xing said the Immersio platform is designed to meet…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr said on Monday it will begin pre-sales of its large hybrid SUV, the Zeekr 9X, on August 29 at the 2025 Chengdu auto show. The event is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Beijing time on media day, with the public exhibition running from September 1 to 7 at Western China Expo City in Sichuan province. Zeekr said its booth will be located at H1103 in Hall 11. “The Zeekr 9X is Zeekr’s first hybrid model, featuring a 2.0T hybrid engine and a full-stack 900-volt hybrid high-voltage architecture,” the company said in a statement. The…

UK charge point operator Zest has opened a new electric vehicle charging hub in Leicester, adding ten ultra-fast bays as part of its plan to expand infrastructure in regional cities. The site, built on the grounds of a former car wash on Uppingham Road, offers charging speeds of up to 300kW. Zest said the hub was designed to improve access in “underserved areas across the UK.” The price of 65 pence per kilowatt hour is positioned below the national average of around 76 pence/kWh for ultra-rapid charging, according to Zapmap. “To meet the growing demand for electric vehicles, we need…

The United States is preparing to repeal federal rules limiting carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles, a move that could lower manufacturing costs but also slow the country’s transition to electric mobility, according to a proposal published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA said on Aug. 1 it plans to rescind the 2009 “Endangerment Finding,” the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, industry outlet Motortrend reported. In June, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) separately announced revisions to its Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program aimed at easing fuel efficiency targets. U.S. regulators…

XCharge North America, part of XCHG Limited, has introduced the Energy Asset Vault, a blockchain platform designed to convert large-scale renewable energy projects into digital assets. The platform tokenizes solar farms, grid-scale battery storage, and EV charging networks, allowing investors worldwide to participate in renewable energy infrastructure. The platform integrates real-time performance monitoring, including energy output, operational uptime, and revenue tracking, with third-party validation to provide transparent reporting. Initial funding for the platform totals $10 million, sourced from XCharge’s treasury and planned capital market activities. Pilot programs are being launched with select partners to test the tokenization of live energy…

Carrar, an Israeli developer of battery systems, has secured three new original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreements, expanded production capabilities, and announced plans for a Series A+ funding round. The developments support the company’s presence in electric vehicle (EV), marine, and energy storage markets. The OEM agreements allow Carrar’s proprietary two-phase immersion battery technology to be integrated into various applications. The company said the technology is designed to extend battery life, enhance safety, and reduce material consumption and carbon footprint compared with conventional systems. To meet growing demand, Carrar is implementing a commercial-scale assembly line and upgrading testing facilities to meet…

WeRide launched WePilot AiDrive, a one-stage end-to-end advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) developed in partnership with German auto supplier Bosch. The system integrates sensing and decision-making into a single process, allowing vehicles to respond more quickly and efficiently compared to traditional two-stage setups, WeRide said. The technology, which has completed core function validation, is scheduled to begin mass production and vehicle deployment in 2025. https://twitter.com/WeRide_ai/status/1958454041295442272 WeRide said the platform can scale across different computing power requirements, adapt to both vision-only and multi-sensor fusion setups, and improve through daily data-driven iteration. The company added that its proprietary middleware enables compatibility across…

German recycler Revomet GmbH and China’s CNGR Advanced Material Co. Ltd. have established a joint venture to advance sustainable battery recycling in Europe, the companies said on Wednesday. Under the agreement, CNGR will acquire a 25% stake in revomet Bitterfeld GmbH, which operates one of Europe’s most advanced recycling facilities for battery scrap in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. The partnership aims to recover nickel, cobalt, and lithium at high purity, supporting Europe’s battery supply chain and circular economy efforts. The collaboration combines Revomet’s recycling technologies and process know-how with CNGR’s expertise in precursor cathode active materials (pCAM). It will also be supported by…

Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast on Wednesday opened its first authorized dealership in California, partnering with Sunroad Automotive Group as part of its efforts to expand across the United States. The new outlet, VinFast San Diego, offers test drives, sales, leasing, and after-sales services, including maintenance and warranty support. The launch comes as VinFast prioritizes California, the largest EV market in the U.S., to accelerate consumer adoption of its vehicles. The automaker showcased its VF 8 and VF 9 SUVs at the event, priced from $39,900 and $62,900 respectively. Leasing options start at $279 per month for the VF…

Ford Motor is exploring opportunities to sell excess batteries from its new U.S. facility as the automaker adapts its electric vehicle strategy amid cooling demand and upcoming policy shifts. BlueOval SK, Ford’s joint venture with South Korea’s SK On, began battery production this week at its Glendale, Kentucky, plant, which will supply the F-150 Lightning pickup. But executives say the plant could take on broader roles. “Both of our parents are looking for opportunities for new business,” BlueOval SK chief executive Michael Adams told Bloomberg, adding that the priority of finding outside buyers was “fairly high.” Potential customers could include…

BYD said on Monday that its Seal U DM-i plug-in hybrid SUV has surpassed 10,000 sales in the UK less than a year after its debut, making it the country’s best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle. The model has become BYD UK’s top seller, helping the Chinese automaker reach a cumulative 30,000 sales since launching in the British market in 2023. The milestone comes as the company accelerates efforts to grow its share in Europe through electric and hybrid offerings. “The Seal U DM-i’s fantastic sales statistics show how the British public are responding in ever greater numbers to our brand proposition,…

AUDI, the premium automotive brand of Volkswagen, and Chinese automaker SAIC have launched pre-sales of their first jointly developed electric vehicle, the E5 Sportback, in China. The model follows the introduction of the AUDI brand in November 2024, with official launch planned for September 2025. The E5 Sportback is a midsize sedan built on the Advanced Digitized Platform EV architecture co-developed by Audi and SAIC. It measures 4,881 mm in length, 1,960 mm in width, and 1,479 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, comparable to Nio’s ET5 Touring. The vehicle is offered in single-motor and dual-motor configurations,…

UK-based Everrati Automotive Limited has launched the Porsche 911 (993) Founders Edition, a limited-run electric vehicle that reinterprets the classic air-cooled 911 with contemporary electric performance. The vehicle was unveiled during Monterey Car Week, highlighting Everrati’s focus on combining heritage design with sustainable technology. The Founders Edition is capped at nine initial builds, with owners contributing to design choices, including bespoke paint colors. Each car maintains the 993’s iconic silhouette and analogue cabin while incorporating hypercar-grade electric motors and inverters to deliver high-performance yet quiet driving suitable for grand touring. Interiors feature handcrafted, bespoke materials reflecting British craftsmanship. The model…

Dongfeng Motor’s premium electric off-road brand M-Hero has officially launched the M817 hybrid SUV, incorporating Huawei’s latest automotive technologies as it expands its lineup in China. The M817 was unveiled on Thursday with two versions, Pro and Max, starting at 319,900 yuan ($44,540) and 349,900 yuan respectively. The prices mark a 10,000-yuan reduction from earlier pre-sale levels. The model is a five-seat off-road SUV measuring 5,100 mm in length, nearly 2,000 mm in width, and up to 1,919 mm in height, with a 3,005 mm wheelbase. It features a hybrid powertrain with a 1.5-liter engine and dual electric motors, delivering…

Wiggins Lift Co., a U.S. manufacturer of heavy equipment, has introduced its Yard eBull, an electric forklift designed for ports and industrial yards seeking to cut emissions while maintaining high lifting capacity. The Yard eBull can be configured to lift between 36,000 and 120,000 pounds and is equipped with enough battery capacity to operate for two to three shifts before recharging. When needed, the machine uses a standard automotive CCS port compatible with DC fast-charging systems, including hardware from ChargePoint. See also: SSA Marine Converts Entire Forklift Fleet at Port of LA Terminal to Electric in Zero-Emissions Milestone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ6XBFc8EO8 “While…

Germany’s Mobility House has introduced the Alpitronic Hypercharger HYC49, a fast-charging station with a maximum output of 49.9 kW, positioned to comply with the European Union’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) without requiring a payment terminal. The HYC49 is technically based on the HYC50 model but is factory-configured to deliver 100 watts less power. By keeping output under the 50 kW threshold, the charger avoids the AFIR mandate—effective from April 13, 2024—that requires all newly installed public chargers of 50 kW or higher to include widely accepted electronic payment terminals. “This is done on the software side via the load…

Volvo Cars has announced further changes to its senior leadership team following Hakan Samuelsson’s return as chief executive earlier this year, including appointing managers to oversee individual product lines. In March, Volvo’s board dismissed CEO Jim Rowan and reinstated Samuelsson, who previously led the Swedish automaker for many years, to serve for two years until a younger, long-term successor is found. The company said Erik Severinson, formerly Chief Product & Strategy Officer, has been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer with immediate effect. He will be succeeded in his previous role by Michael Fleiss, who returns to Volvo after leaving in…