Author: Tyne Rodriquez

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…

Polestar and Luminar are increasing their joint efforts to integrate long-range LiDAR technology into future Polestar vehicles. With a growing focus on advanced safety and autonomous driving, the use of LiDAR technology is becoming more widespread. This enhanced partnership will allow both companies to work together on integrating Luminar’s 3D laser scanning technology into future Polestar vehicles, including the upcoming electric 4-door GT car, the Polestar 5. Luminar is already supplying LiDAR technology for Polestar’s first SUV, the Polestar 3, through an existing partnership with Volvo Cars. Orders for the Polestar 3 with LiDAR from Luminar are now being accepted,…

Swiss technology firm ABB has received an additional 325 million Swiss francs from four investors, including Porsche SE, for its e-mobility division and charging station business. This marks the completion of the second and final round of pre-IPO private placement, which raised a total of 525 million Swiss francs. The first round saw ABB receive 200 million Swiss francs with 8% of the shares ceded, while the second round saw 12% ceded, leaving ABB with 80% of the shares in ABB E-Mobility. The new investors include Porsche, BeyondNetZero, GIC of Singapore, and Just Climate. Notably, Porsche is a holding company…

The debate over the installation of electric vehicle chargers in Missouri continues, with members of the House committee divided on the issue. While some see the requirement as a violation of business freedoms, others believe that local governments should bear the burden of these costs. The bill, which is supported by both the fossil fuel industry and the Missouri Retailers Association, has sparked controversy and sparked discussions about the pace of EV adoption in the state. On one hand, proponents of the bill argue that the lack of EV charging infrastructure is a barrier to the widespread adoption of electric…

TravelCenters of America (TA), the largest full-service truck stop and travel center publicly traded, partners with Electrify America to install DC fast charging stations along major highways. The goal is to keep up with the rapidly growing number of EVs on the road. Electric vehicle sales hit a record high last year, with over 800,000 new EVs sold, up 65% from the previous year, according to Kelley Blue Book. The demand for zero-emission EVs is at an all-time high. As the number of EVs on the road increases, so does the need for charging infrastructure. Although most charging is done…

AUTO STEERING WHEEL HEAT – Vehicle Improvements for Model 3 and Y Set your steering wheel heater to regulate its temperature automatically based on the climate control set temperature. To access steering wheel heating controls, tap the temperature settings to bring up the climate control panel. SENTRY MODE LIGHTING – New Feature for Model 3 and Y When a threat is detected, Sentry Mode will softly pulse the headlights to indicate that your vehicle is recording video. The pulsing stops after 60 seconds or when the vehicle is unlocked. SPEED ASSIST – Autopilot Improvements for Model S, 3, X and…

The VinFast VF 8 City Edition, an electric vehicle (EV) from Vietnamese automaker VinFast, has been criticized for its poor range and high price point. However, the company has recently announced improvements to the vehicle’s range and reduced its pricing. The VF 8 Eco City Edition now boasts an EPA estimated range of 207 miles (333 km) on a single charge, an improvement of 28 miles (45 km) from its original range. Additionally, the price of the VF 8 Eco City Edition has been dropped from $55,500 to $49,000, and the VF 8 Plus City Edition now starts at $56,000…

The Toyota bZ4X is an SUV that has had a rocky start in the market, with slow sales and a recall in 2022. However, the automaker is determined to give the bZ4X another chance in 2023, with a goal of selling 10,000 units. This may seem like a small number, but it represents a significant increase from the 1,200 units sold in the previous year. One of the reasons for the low sales is that Toyota had to recall all the bZ4Xs due to a loose nut that could cause the wheel to fall off. Additionally, it takes more resources…

Cabot Corporation has announced plans to expand its CCA production capacity in the United States. The company aims to enhance its leadership position in the market and support the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) with a planned investment of around $200 million over the next five years. As part of this investment, Cabot plans to add conductive carbons capacity at their existing facility in Pampa, Texas, which will cost approximately $75-90 million to produce 15,000 metric tons of conductive carbons annually. This project is expected to create approximately 75 high-quality jobs and commence operation at the end of 2025.…