Author: Tyne Rodriquez

SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), General Motors’ joint venture in China, has revealed the interior design of the highly anticipated all-new Wuling Bingo EV, just one week after its world debut. The Bingo EV marks the first five-door, pure electric car developed by Wuling and is set to expand the brand’s lineup in the zero-emission car market. The official images showcase a new design language for the brand, with multiple rounded lines and retro-inspired elements. The minimalist dashboard layout is a standout feature, featuring independent modules for a double infotainment screen, air vents painted in the same color as the body with chrome…

Ford’s highly anticipated electric truck, the F-150 Lightning, is facing production delays due to an internal dispute with its battery supplier, SK On. The Korean company is reluctant to give full access to its cell technology and manufacturing process, causing concern for Ford, which wants to investigate the cause of a recent battery fire incident before giving the green light for production to resume. To resolve the issue, Ford has dispatched its own team of battery researchers to meet with SK On in Korea, and plans to send equipment installation engineers from its Blue Oval SK joint venture in the…

Hyundai has just revealed the prices for its much-anticipated electric sedan, the IONIQ 6, and fans of the brand will be pleased to hear that the vehicle is set to hit US dealerships this spring. The IONIQ 6 is the company’s second dedicated EV, following in the footsteps of the wildly popular IONIQ 5, and boasts a range of cutting-edge features, including ultrafast charging, vehicle-to-load capabilities, and an 800V E-GMP platform. The IONIQ 6 is also one of the most aerodynamic and energy-efficient electric vehicles on the market, with an impressive drag coefficient of just 0.22. The vehicle quickly captured…

Volvo has delivered the first batch of BZL battery-electric buses for the UK market. Two out of the 25 10.8m single-deck vehicles were delivered to Stagecoach West Scotland, with the rest set to arrive in stages over the next few months. The buses will be used in Ayrshire, and they will join two more BYD ADL Enviro200EVs that were also delivered to the operator. The BZL range is based on proven and successful technologies from Europe, with the bodywork provided by MCV. The buses have many commonalities with the 7900e models, and Stagecoach West Scotland gained direct experience with the…

Republic Services has announced the launch of the industry’s first fully integrated electric recycling and waste collection truck. With over 17,000 trucks, Republic Services is among the largest operators of vocational fleets that provide residential and commercial recycling and waste solutions. The company has committed to significant electrification efforts through its supplier partnerships, making it the only environmental services provider in the United States with approved emissions reduction targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In 2019, Republic revealed its long-term sustainability goals, including reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030, and the…

Australia’s Magnis Energy has signed a binding agreement with Tesla to supply battery anode materials for a minimum of three years starting in February 2025. This deal is a significant milestone for Magnis Energy, and it underscores the growing importance of battery materials in the world’s transition to clean energy. As the world moves towards decarbonization, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is growing at an unprecedented rate. According to a report by BloombergNEF, global EV sales are projected to grow from 1.7 million in 2020 to 26 million in 2030. This exponential growth in EV sales is driving the…

Hyundai Auto Canada has made a spectacular return to the Canadian International Auto Show with the debut of two North American reveals, which showcase the brand’s electrified future. The N Vision 74, which premiered at the Canadian auto show, and the RN22e, which made its North American debut, offer a glimpse into Hyundai’s cutting-edge zero-emissions technologies. These “rolling labs” serve as a testament to the company’s continuous innovation and development in high-performance, electrified vehicles. Hyundai Motor’s rolling labs are crucial to testing and verifying the company’s advanced technologies before applying them to future production models. The RN22e and N Vision…

British Petroleum (BP) has made a significant move into the world of electric vehicles (EVs) with its recent acquisition of TravelCenters of America (TA) for approximately 1.3 billion dollars. The takeover of the US-based company, which operates rest stops, restaurants, and shops in 44 states, is a definitive signal of BP’s commitment to electromobility. This move by BP comes on the heels of a recent announcement by the US government to allocate one billion dollars for the development of EV charging infrastructure across the country. BP reportedly plans to invest one billion dollars into charging infrastructure in the USA by…

Magna is set to expand its operations in Ontario with a $470 million investment. The expansion includes a new battery enclosures facility in Brampton to support the Ford F-150 Lightning and other OEM programs, as well as the expansion of existing locations in Guelph, Belleville, Newmarket, Windsor, and Penetanguishene. Magna’s investment is expected to create over 1,000 new jobs in Ontario over the next few years. The Ontario government has provided Magna with $23.6 million in grants to support these expansions and ongoing training and development programs for employees. The new battery enclosures facility in Brampton will cover 490,000 square…

HEVO, a company specializing in wireless charging technology, has announced a partnership with Stellantis, a leading automotive manufacturer. Under the agreement, Stellantis plans to integrate HEVO’s wireless charging technology into its electric vehicles (EVs). As part of the collaboration, HEVO and Stellantis are currently demonstrating Level 2 wireless charging on a Chrysler Pacifica PHEV at Stellantis’ office complex in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The demonstration is expected to be completed in 2023, after which the companies plan to move on to a 50kW fast wireless charging project. See also: HEVO partnership with Vehya to accelerate installation of wireless EV charging in…

German solar company, sonnen, is expanding its virtual power plant (VPP) model to include electric cars in its digital community. The VPP, which connects households with sonnen batteries to the Dutch transmission grid operator TenneT, has been in operation since 2019. The new integration of electric car batteries into the VPP is another storage medium that can help stabilise the grid, allowing EV owners to make the storage capacity of their car batteries available to TenneT. This follows testing in winter last year and extends to EV batteries as a storage option, but the integration only regards controlled charging, so…

Swedish engineering firm Sandvik has secured a major deal worth over €33 million (SEK 370 mn) with Rana Gruber, a company in Norway looking to decarbonize its iron ore mine operations in Storforshei. As part of the deal, Sandvik will deliver a fleet of zero-emission trucks, loaders, drills, on-site service support and batteries to Rana Gruber. The order, which was split into two parts, was initially booked for 15% in December of last year, with the remaining 85% due to be delivered in the coming months. The equipment delivery is set to begin this spring and will continue through to…

The European Parliament has recently approved a new law that effectively bans the sale of new gasoline and diesel-engined cars in the 27-member bloc by 2035 due to their carbon emissions. The law requires automakers to cut 100% CO2 emissions from their new vehicles by this time, meaning that it will be impossible for them to sell new vehicles that produce carbon emissions. In addition, the law also sets a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions for new cars sold from 2030 compared to 2021 levels. However, the new legislation also provides a big opportunity for hydrogen combustion and eFuels or…

Ferrari and Tesla are two very different automakers, yet they share a common goal – producing high-performance vehicles. While they both achieve this end in different ways, Ferrari is looking to learn from Tesla. Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari, has praised Tesla for its role in shaking up the automotive industry, which was dominated by internal combustion engines. Vigna recognizes that Tesla has been a “wake-up call” for the industry, making processes and decisions happen faster. “Things used to happen too slowly. Tesla shook up the industry and accelerated processes and decisions. They were faster and more agile.” said Vigna…

Colorado Teardrops, an American camper trailer company, has just introduced its first specially designed trailer for electric vehicles, named The Boulder. This innovative trailer not only serves as a comfortable camping accommodation for up to four individuals, but also doubles as a charging station for electric vehicles. With a 75 kilowatt-hours battery pack integrated into its powder-coated steel frame, The Boulder can recharge the main battery of an EV while it’s parked. According to the company’s website, The Boulder can also act as a “Powerwall on wheels,” providing energy not only to the EV, but also to the home. This…

Ford is set to make a major announcement about its plan to build a new lithium iron phosphate battery plant in Michigan. The facility, which is expected to cost $3.5 billion, is expected to be located in the Marshall area and eventually employ at least 2,500 workers. Ford will own and operate the plant in partnership with Chinese battery company China Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), which will act as the technology partner to help develop the batteries. The state of Michigan has been actively marketing the 1,900-acre “megasite” in Marshall, which is located about 100 miles west of…

Yunex Traffic is introducing an innovative contactless payment option to its electric vehicle (EV) ChargePoint Operator (CPO) clients throughout the UK. The payment process is designed to be quick and straightforward, without the confusion often associated with EV charging payment methods. The solution is based on a contactless bank card reader and RFID reader, with all instructions displayed on one screen. This eliminates the need for users to navigate multiple parts of the charger to input information, making the payment process fast and convenient. Wilke Reints, Managing Director of Yunex Traffic in the UK, stated that the company worked closely…

Kempower, a leading Finnish manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment, is expanding to the United States. The company is setting up a plant in Durham County, North Carolina, which will begin producing DC chargers for EVs by the end of the year. The move is part of Kempower’s strategy to locally produce EV chargers for the US market, in accordance with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which requires EVs and related equipment to be partially manufactured in North America. See also: Nordic Consortium to Build Charging Infrastructure for Electric Trucks on Swedish Roads Kempower is investing $41 million in the…

Recharge Industries is set to acquire the assets of bankrupt battery start-up Britishvolt, with EY, the insolvency administrator, anticipating the completion of the transaction within the next seven days. The Australian company was selected as the buyer with the best offer among multiple bidders, according to a publication by EY, as reported by several media outlets. The recently finalized deal follows Britishvolt’s announcement of bankruptcy just three weeks prior. The company had planned to establish a battery cell factory in Blyth, Northumberland, England. See also: Britishvolt Files for Insolvency, Lays Off Most Employees Amid Failed Investment Talks Recharge Industries, an…

Tesla’s recent price war has raised concerns among its suppliers as the company aims to keep costs low. During the fourth quarter and full-year 2022 earnings call, Tesla’s executives highlighted their focus on cost optimization, with CFO Zach Kirkhorn mentioning the company was “attacking every area of cost”. However, this news has not been received positively by all suppliers. Dan Sharkey, a lawyer who represents automotive suppliers, noted that aggressive price cuts are never good news for suppliers and that “there’s not going to be any room there” as many suppliers are already financially struggling. See also: Used Tesla Prices…