Audi of America’s Q4 e-tron family welcomes a new rear-wheel drive variant: the Q4 40 e-tron. With the addition of the Q4 40 e-tron, customers can achieve an EPA estimated range of up to 265 miles. With the addition of the fourth and fifth models to Audi’s fully electric fleet,... Read more →

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will nearly double the funding awarded for clean school buses this year following increased demand, with school districts from all 50 states applying for the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates during this first round of funding. In May, EPA had announced the availability of... Read more →

New York Governor Kathy Hochul directed the State Department of Environmental Conservation to take major regulatory action that will require all new passenger cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs sold in New York State to be zero emissions by 2035. This regulatory step will be complemented by new and ongoing investments... Read more →

Citroën unveiled a new all-electric concept car called oli, an exercise in weight reduction and resource usage. With speed limited to 110 km/h (68 mph) and acceleration close to the classic 2CV model, the concept car gains a wider range and significantly improved battery lifespan. The target vehicle weight of... Read more →

General Motors and OneD Battery Sciences signed a joint research development agreement focused on the potential use of OneD’s silicon nanotechnology in GM’s Ultium battery cells to drive significant increases in energy density for longer range and reduced cost. GM Ventures and Volta Energy Technologies also participated in OneD’s Series... Read more →

FreeWire Technologies, a global electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy solutions provider and a manufacturer of ultrafast, battery-integrated EV charging stations and power solutions (earlier post), announced a program to make available battery-integrated electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and solutions for Chevron-branded stations. This will include both Chevron’s company-owned stations... Read more →

Transportation is now the largest source of carbon emissions in the US. To address this, the federal and state governments are accelerating incentives for Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) and their infrastructures to shift away from fossil fuels, funding a massive shift to EV fast charging and hydrogen refueling. ZEV Station... Read more →

The first fully electric commuter plane Alice from Eviation Aircraft (earlier post) successfully completed its maiden flight at Moses Lake, Washington. Alice lifted off on 27 Sep at 7:10 a.m. from Grant County International Airport (MWH), flying for a total of eight minutes and reaching an altitude of 3,500 feet.... Read more →

Logistics company Hegelmann Group, which operates in Europe, and Mercedes-Benz Trucks signed a Letter of Intent for the order of 50 eActros LongHaul electric trucks (earlier post) at this year’s IAA Transportation in Hannover. The vehicles are to be delivered to the family-owned company from Bruchsal, Germany with the start... Read more →

VIA Motors, a provider of electric drive technology and sustainable mobility solutions for a wide variety of Class 2 – 5 electric commercial vehicles applications, has received a purchase order for 2,000 Class 3 VIA electric cutaway chassis cabs from Pegasus Specialty Vehicles. Pegasus will leverage the flexibility of VIA’s... Read more →

Hertz and bp signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the development of a national network of EV charging stations powered by bp pulse, bp’s global electrification and charging solution brand. Last week, Hertz announced it plans to order up to 175,000 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and BrightDrop EVs over... Read more →

The 2023 Nissan Ariya—Nissan’s first all-electric crossover (earlier post)—goes on sale late fall (FWD models only) and offers a choice between front-wheel drive and e-4ORCE all-wheel drive with a long range and standard range battery option. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the 2023 Nissan Ariya start at $43,190. Customers... Read more →

BMW is adding two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants to the new BMW 7 Series range, including the first BMW M model in the range. BMW is also optimizing the efficiency of the new BMW 740d xDrive available in European markets (fuel consumption combined: 6.8 – 6.1 liters/100 km [35 –... Read more →

BMW M GmbH is introducing its first high-performance car with an electrified drive system. The BMW XM is equipped with a plug-in hybrid system comprising a V8 gasoline engine and electric motor that delivers combined fuel consumption of 1.6 – 1.5 l/100 km [147 – 157 mpg US] in the... Read more →

PowerCo, the new battery company of the Volkswagen Group, and Umicore have established a joint venture for precursor and cathode material production in Europe. From 2025 onwards, the joint venture will supply PowerCo’s European battery cell factories with key materials. By the end of the decade, the partners aim to... Read more →

VinFast, Vietnam’s first global EV maker, and Renesas Electronics Corporation are expanding their collaboration agreement to include automotive technology development of electric vehicles (EVs) and delivery of system components. As part of the newly expanded agreement, Renesas will provide a broader range of products to VinFast, which will include SoCs,... Read more →

After an initial optimization at the end of 2021, which increased its range by 6.5% (+22 km), the PEUGEOT e-208 will benefit from a major technological shift in 2023 to incorporate the new PEUGEOT e-308’s drivetrain: maximum power will increase by 15%, while major work on efficiency will reduce average... Read more →

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the next generation of the world’s best-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), is rated to offer 38 miles of all-electric range from a 350-volt, 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted below the floor and between the wheels for a low center of gravity, but minimal loss... Read more →

Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. has received electric axle (e-Axle) orders for mid-size and large-size battery-electric vehicles from Honda Motor Co., Ltd., slated for a global rollout in 2026. Hitachi Astemo will deliver a high-performance, integrated drive unit for Honda, with the e-Axle system combining a highly efficient, silicon carbide (SiC) inverter;... Read more →

ABB recently unveiled its new Plant Optimization Methodology for battery manufacturing, presenting how greenfield battery sites can jumpstart global operations. With major automakers committing more than $500 billion towards electric vehicle production, and many planning to exclusively offer e-vehicles by 2035, there has been a huge growth in demand for... Read more →

Umicore last week inaugurated its carbon-neutral production facility for cathode active materials (CAM) for electric vehicles in Nysa, Poland. This makes Umicore the first company in Europe with a complete circular and sustainable battery materials value chain. The gigafactory will supply battery materials to Umicore’s car and battery cell customers... Read more →

Elli, the Volkswagen subsidiary that manages all activities related to charging and energy for the Group in Europe, the Elia Group and its start-up re.alto signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Berlin. The MoU underscores the signatories’ shared vision of integrating electric cars into the electricity system. Over the... Read more →

LG Energy Solution (LGES) signed separate partnership agreements with three major critical mineral suppliers in Canada. The latest arrangements to secure lithium and cobalt from Snow Lake Resources Ltd., Electra Battery Materials Corporation and Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. are in line with LG Energy Solution’s strategic vision to reinforce its... Read more →

General Motors will invest $760 million at its Toledo, Ohio propulsion manufacturing operations to prepare the facility for production of drive units that will be used in future Ultium-based battery electric trucks, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and GMC HUMMER EVs. Toledo Propulsion Systems will be GM’s... Read more →

The Electrification Coalition (EC) launched the Electric Freight Consortium (EFC), a forum for collaboration between the EC, private-sector partners and industry leaders representing a broad cross-section of the freight transportation sector that will accelerate freight electrification at scale. The EFC will complement its freight policy and pilot work by creating... Read more →

At the IAA Transportation show, QUANTRON is presenting a family of hydrogen and battery-electric trucks. As part of a strategic partnership, QUANTRON has developed an FCEV Heavy Duty Truck together with Ballard Power Systems. The QUANTRON QHM FCEV incorporates the FCmove-XD 120 kW fuel cell newly developed by Ballard and... Read more →

At IAA Transportation 2022 in Hannover, BYD unveiled its new eBus Blade Platform—an electric bus chassis based on BYD’s Blade Battery technology—alongside an upgraded model in its eBus range, and also introduced two zero-emission eTrucks. BYD eBus Blade Platform uses the BYD Blade Battery. (Earlier post.) In the Blade Battery,... Read more →

Bollinger Motors, which recently became a majority owned company of Mullen Automotive (earlier post), is partnering with Wabash, a leading truck body and trailer manufacturer, to develop a stronger, lighter, refrigerated truck body on electric chassis. Wabash has developed a lightweight molded structural composite technology—EcoNex—for use in truck bodies and... Read more →

Hertz and General Motors announced an agreement in which Hertz plans to order up to 175,000 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and BrightDrop EVs over the next five years. Hertz and GM believe this plan is the largest expansion of EVs among fleet customers and the broadest because it spans a... Read more →

Allison Transmission announced the new eGen Power 130S, the latest product to be introduced to the company’s eGen Power family of fully electric axles, this week at IAA Transportation in Hannover, Germany. The new Allison eGen Power 130S was designed specifically to support the heavier 13-ton gross axle weight rating,... Read more →

The first Volta Zero vehicle has been completed at the company’s contract manufacturing facility in Steyr, Austria. The vehicle, the first of a series of second-generation production verification prototypes, will form part of a pilot fleet of trucks. These will be loaned to customers for extended periods in late 2022... Read more →

General Motors electric delivery vehicle subsidiary BrightDrop is expanding its business and product portfolio with the launch of a new temperature-controlled eCart that helps streamline order fulfillment and pickup for online grocery purchases. Online grocery is a rapidly expanding market that’s expected to reach $240 billion by 2025. Kroger, America’s... Read more →

Cenntro Electric Group Limited and its subsidiary Cenntro Automotive Europe GmbH introduced two new all-electric commercial vehicles at IAA Transportation 2022 in Hannover, Germany. The two new vehicles, the Logistar 260 (LS260) and the Logistar 100 (LS100), join the LS product line now available globally in Class 1 to Class... Read more →

At IAA Transportation, Renault unveiled the Trafic Van E-Tech Electric, the first electric model of the best-selling Renault Trafic Van. The Renault Trafic Van E-Tech Electric has all the same qualities that are behind the success of its predecessor, with more than 2.2 million units sold in more than 50... Read more →

Nikola Corporation and partner IVECO commercially launched the European Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle (BEV) heavy-duty truck at IAA Transportation and unveiled the European Nikola Tre fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) beta version. Nikola Tre BEV The European 4x2 Artic version of the Nikola Tre BEV offers range of up to... Read more →

Volvo Trucks unveiled a completely new, fully electric rear axle at the IAA Transport show in Hannover, Germany. The new e-axle integrates the electric motors and the transmission into the rear axle, thereby freeing up space for more batteries. More batteries mean longer range, which creates opportunities for long distance... Read more →

California has the green light to start using federal infrastructure funding to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the state’s interstates and highways following the recent federal approval of a joint plan by Caltrans and California Energy Commission. The US Joint Office of Energy and Transportation’s signoff on the... Read more →

Honda will introduce more than 10 new electric motorcycle models by 2025, with an aim to reach annual electric motorcycle sales of 1 million units within the next five years, and 3.5 million units (approximately 15% of total sales) as of 2030. Commuter EVs. Honda plans to introduce two commuter... Read more →

Nissan has begun production of its all-new and 100% electric Townstar EV model to be sold across select European markets. The Townstar EV builds on the success of the e-NV200. Hailing from Nissan’s electric Light Commercial Vehicle (e-LCV) expertise, it was engineered for capability, reliability and sustainability, with business owners... Read more →

Following the market launch of the eActros 300/400 for heavy-duty distribution in 2021, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is not only consistently pushing ahead with the introduction of further battery electric models for this and the coming years, but also focusing on even more diversity and flexibility in applications for the eActros itself.... Read more →

Following the market launch of the eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport in 2021, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is presenting the eActros LongHaul (earlier post) for the first time at the IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover. With clear contours and an LED light strip in the front area, the vehicle provides a preview... Read more →

London-based EV tire manufacturer ENSO said it is in discussions with multiple international car makers and has begun trials with major fleet operators. Multiple EV manufacturers have expressed interest in fitting ENSO’s range-extending, emissions-reducing tires. Fleet operators, meanwhile, are investigating fitting ENSO’s tyres to their electric vehicles to help lower... Read more →

MAHLE Powertrain is investing $4 million in a new powertrain dynamometer facility in Plymouth, Michigan, aimed at accelerating vehicle development as manufacturers continue the shift towards electrified vehicles. Capable of supporting full powertrain development, from the testing and calibration of individual drive components to the complete driveline systems of complex... Read more →

E.ON and Nikola Corporation are forming a joint venture with a goal to decarbonize heavy-duty trucking. This partnership is expected to offer customers an integrated mobility solution to promote the use of hydrogen. Both parties have now signed a term sheet to underpin the collaboration and will be negotiating a... Read more →

Bosch is starting volume production of a new drive unit consisting of an electric motor and an integrated inverter for light commercial vehicles. The inverter controls the electric motor and provides the connection to the high-voltage battery. Compared to its predecessors, the new unit provides even higher power and torque... Read more →

For the first time since finalizing the acquisition of Meritor last month (earlier post), Cummins will showcase Meritor’s 17Xe ePowertrain assembled with a Cummins battery system during the IAA Transportation tradeshow in Hannover, Germany. The 17Xe is designed for heavy-duty trucks in the 4x2 and 6x2 segment, with capacity to... Read more →

Our Next Energy (ONE), a Michigan-based energy storage company (earlier post), unveiled a 240-Ah prismatic anode-free cell after a successful 12-month R&D effort. The company believes its anode-free cell is the highest energy density large-format cell ever produced. The technology will enable the commercialization of ONE’s Gemini dual-chemistry architecture, which... Read more →

Amazon and Rhenus will test the Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul electric truck (earlier post) in real-world operations as early as 2023. The two companies have each signed a letter of intent with Mercedes-Benz Trucks. The logistics service provider Rhenus will use the e-truck in many different business areas in order to... Read more →

Volvo Trucks is beginning series production of the electric versions of the company’s most important product range, its heavy-duty trucks: Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX. These trucks can operate at a total weight of 44 tonnes GCW. The three models represent around two-thirds of the company’s sales. With... Read more →

Israel-based GenCell Energy, a provider of hydrogen and ammonia to power fuel cell solutions, launched GenCell EVOX, a new off-grid EV charging solution that leverages alkaline fuel cells, hydrogen and ammonia to power technologies. The solution has been designed to resolve range anxiety and grid limitations by generating green, grid-independent,... Read more →