Lucid Motors announced a long-term partnership with leading EV battery supplier LG Chem for the Lucid Air electric sedan. Lucid Motors said that it selected LG Chem for a long-term partnership because its batteries provide the ideal level of efficiency, with those batteries further optimized by Lucid to meet or... Read more →

The North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE)—a non-profit organization dedicated to doubling the freight efficiency of North American goods movement—has determined that regional trucking operations are well suited to be early adopters of electric trucks. It is also a rather large segment of the market with sufficient scale to... Read more →

Porsche Leipzig is expanding the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in central Germany with a new charging park called Porsche Turbo Charging. The total capacity of the facility, which includes six internal quick charging points, is 7 MW. Porsche Leipzig currently has Europe’s most powerful rapid-charging park, which is operated... Read more →

Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a leading diversified natural resources group, is assessing the construction of a battery material plant to produce nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) precursor materials for batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). The Group is evaluating technical solutions offered by engineering firms BGRIMM Technology Group from China and Outotec from Finland,... Read more →

Plug Power Inc. is partnering with Colorado-based Lightning Systems, a global developer of zero-emission drivetrains. This collaboration enables both companies to offer the first electric, fuel-cell-powered Class 6 trucks (up to 12.5 tons) capable of supporting middle-mile delivery logistics between warehouses and distribution centers. The electric commercial trucks produced by... Read more →

Chevrolet has launched the Menlo, the brand’s first fully electric vehicle in China. (Earlier post.) Initially being offered in Beijing, the Chevrolet Menlo is available in four variants priced from RMB 159,900 (US$22,800) to RMB 179,900 (US$25,600) after national subsidies for new energy vehicles. The Chevrolet Menlo incorporates GM’s class-leading... Read more →

General Motors is making enhancements to Energy Assist, a standard feature available in the myChevrolet mobile app for Bolt EV owners. Energy Assist, first available for customers in 2017, currently enables Bolt EV owners to plan and manage their routes more effectively, locate available charging stations both along their route... Read more →

Workhorse Group will display its newly-designed C650 all-electric step van at the NTEA Work Truck Show, 4-6 March in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company‘s new C650 and C1000 step vans will are 650 ft3 and 1000 ft3 vehicles both weighing approximately 12,500 lbs (5,670 kg) when fully loaded. Through a lightweight,... Read more →

A study by a team from MIT, with colleagues from Alfred University, UC Berkeley, and RIT, has found that supplies of cobalt—a critical material in some battery chemistries—is adequate in the short-term (up to 2030), but that the industry needs to invest in additional efficient refining and recycling capacity, so... Read more →

The E-Mobility Group of Daimler Trucks & Buses is launching a worldwide initiative to establish a charging infrastructure for battery-electric trucks. The initial focus is on charging stations installed at the depots of truck customers. Within the framework of the initiative, the E-Mobility Group is bringing together the main players—e-truck... Read more →

Atlis Motor Vehicles, an electric vehicle technology startup designing an electric pickup truck (Atlis XT pickup), announced the first Atlis Battery Day event, where it will showcase early prototypes of its proprietary ultra-fast charging battery technology and 100% electric XP Platform. If you’re going to change the world, you have... Read more →

Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX), an aviation technology start-up, and Spirit AeroSystems, a global aircraft design and manufacturing company, have signed a memorandum of understanding and a definitive agreement to cooperate on creation of affordable, certified all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The program aims to converge automotive mass production... Read more →

In 2019, 95.6 GWh of battery capacity was deployed globally in newly sold passenger EVs, an increase of 30% over the year prior, according to Adamas Intelligence’s web-based EV Battery Capacity and Battery Metals Tracker. Asia Pacific led with 50.9 GWh deployed, an increase of 27% over the year prior,... Read more →

Norwegian wholesaler ASKO is deploying two battery electric Scania distribution trucks in its operations in Oslo, Norway. This pilot marks another milestone in the cooperation regarding electrified solutions for heavy transport between Scania and ASKO. Asko is also piloting the use of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks with Scania. (Earlier post.) The... Read more →

Yamaha Motor has begun accepting orders for a high-performance electric motor prototype that is capable of delivering industry-leading high power density for automobiles and other types of vehicles. 35kW prototype unit under development The compact unit generates from 35 kW up to 200kW in output due to a high-efficiency segment... Read more →

New Flyer of America Inc. announced that New Flyer has been selected by the Oregon State Government as an approved supplier of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses to the State of Oregon Heavy-Duty Transit Bus Price Agreement. The agreement is for up to five years, including a base term of two... Read more →

AMT Genoa (Italy) has acquired 14 10.8m Irizar ie electric buses and associated charging facilities. The Irizar buses will operate around the streets of Genoa from August 2020. Irizar ie 10.8m electric bus With on-board energy of 350 kWh, these vehicles have a range of 220 km and have 3... Read more →

Rare earth elements (REEs) are vital materials for modern technologies. The US National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is collaborating with the University of Kentucky and their subcontractor Virginia Tech to demonstrate a novel process for the extraction of REEs from coal using plasma. REEs, which represent the 15 elements of... Read more →

Voltabox AG secured a long-term framework contract with e-troFit GmbH as the preferred supplier of high-performance battery systems for e-troFit’s conversion solutions for diesel buses. e-troFit is individually adapted to the customer’s requirements: Based on an analysis of the route profile, the company determines the actual battery capacity requirement and... Read more →

Greenlots, a member of the Shell Group and a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions, has installed charging infrastructure for a fleet of electrified commercial trucks as part of its ongoing partnership with Volvo Trucks. The heavy-duty fleet charging stations are the first of four installations... Read more →

Volvo Trucks North America offered a first look at its Class 8 battery-electric project trucks during an exclusive event at TEC Equipment dealership in Fontana, California. The Volvo Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions (LIGHTS) Innovation Showcase, held at Volvo Trucks’ TEC Equipment dealership’s Fontana location, revealed the progress that... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Group and Canoo will jointly develop an all-electric platform based on Canoo’s fully scalable, proprietary skateboard design (earlier post) for upcoming Hyundai and Kia EVs and PBVs (purpose-built vehicles) (earlier post). As part of the collaboration, Canoo will provide engineering services to help develop a fully scalable, all-electric... Read more →

Nikola Corporation announced the product launch of the Nikola Badger electric pickup truck with an estimated range of 600 miles. The advanced electric pickup will feature a hydrogen fuel-cell and battery powertrain. The Badger is engineered to deliver 980 lb-ft (1,330 N·m) of torque, 906 peak HP and 455 continuous... Read more →

In Germany (the largest car market in Europe), the 2020 registration year started with 246,300 newly registered passenger cars—7.3% less than in January 2019, according to figures from the German KBA (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt). However, alternative drive types increased significantly in the reporting month. Source: KBA. With 7,492 new vehicles, the number... Read more →

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio last week issued an executive order specifying the attainment of an all-electric “carbon-neutral” fleet by the year 2040. New York City operates more than 30,000 owned and leased vehicles (on-road and off-road), the largest municipal fleet in the United States. Under the executive... Read more →

Charging network ChargePoint and NATSO, which represents America’s travel plazas and truckstops, are creating a National Highway Charging Collaborative to extend access to EV charging. Over the next decade, the Collaborative will leverage $1 billion in capital to deploy charging at more than 4,000 travel plazas and fuel stops that... Read more →

In the last quarter of 2019, EU demand for diesel cars further decreased, dropping to 29.5% of new-car registrations, according to data from ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. Gasoline cars accounted for 57.3% of the EU market, while electrically‐chargeable vehicles (ECV) made up 4.4% of total new car sales... Read more →

Alstom will manufacture, deliver and maintain until 2032 eleven Coradia Continental battery-electric trains for regional traffic on the Leipzig-Chemnitz route on behalf of VMS (Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen) and with the support of ZVNL (Zweckverband für den Nahverkehrsraum Leipzig), the two authorities responsible for this line. The contract is worth approximately €100... Read more →

IVECO and FPT Industrial, the commercial vehicle and powertrain brands of CNH Industrial N.V., and Nikola Motor Company will manufacture, through their European joint venture, the Nikola TRE in Ulm, Germany, at the IVECO manufacturing facility. This strategic and exclusive heavy-duty truck partnership saw CNH Industrial taking a $250-million stake... Read more →

Within the scope of EU-funded GiantLeap project, Bosch Engineering GmbH, together with VDL Enabling Transport Solutions b.v. and their partners, designed and built a fuel cell range extender system for battery-electric buses. The system is contained in a specially designed trailer to be attached to the tow hitch of any... Read more →

The BMW Group is expanding production capacity and increasing its staff at the Competence Center for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing faster than originally planned. Due to growing demand for electrified vehicles, the plant expects the number of modules needed for production of high-voltage batteries to double from the previous year.... Read more →

The new BMW Aerodynamic Wheel is making its debut together with the BMW iX3, the market launch of which is planned for this year. The new combination of aluminum base wheel and individually designed inserts complements the efficient basic alignment of the BMW Group’s first purely electric Sport Activity Vehicle... Read more →

Renault Trucks signed a contract with the Carlsberg Group to deliver twenty D Wide Z.E electric trucks. These 26-tonne trucks, which will be delivered in 2020, will be operated by the Feldschlösschen brewery, the Group’s Swiss subsidiary. The D Wide Z.E. is equipped with two electric motors with a total... Read more →

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has received a five-year, $25-million contract from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide testing and analytical services related to vehicle emissions and fuel efficiency. SwRI will conduct emissions characterization and technology assessment under the “Testing and Analytical Services for Regulation of Motor Vehicles, Engines,... Read more →

Pioneering methods to accelerate electric fleet adoption, AMPLY Power will demonstrate and document its Charging-as-a-Service approach for an all-electric school bus fleet in New York City. Logan Bus Company is providing a fleet of five electric school buses for the demonstration, Black and Veatch will be bringing its depth of... Read more →

Electrify America will open its 400th electric vehicle charging station this week, setting a rapid pace for installation of DC fast-charging stations. The network’s aggressive timeline has resulted in the addition of more than 1,700 new chargers from coast-to-coast in just 20 months. Electrify America opened its first site in... Read more →

Formula E and the FIA provided images of the newly named Gen2 EVO, using a reimagined design that will debut in season seven when the electric racing series competes under the banner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Ahead of another milestone season, the first Formula E car... Read more →

The European Commission (EC) last week approved an increase in state funding by €300 million (US$332 million) for the purchase of electric buses in Germany in accordance with EU state aid rules. The German aid scheme will apply until the end of 2021 and is intended to cover the additional... Read more →

Didi Chuxing (DiDi), the world’s leading mobile transportation platform, will launch Latin America’s first shared electric vehicle (EV) fleet through its app in Mexico, as the company further invests in sustainable transportation innovations in the region. Launched in April 2018, DiDi Mexico offers its range of ride-hailing, taxi-hailing and food... Read more →

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) unveiled ten new hydrogen fuel-cell-electric Xcelsior CHARGE H2 heavy-duty transit buses in Santa Ana, California. The order was previously announced in April 2018, at that time becoming the US’ largest procurement and deployment of fuel cell-electric buses. The hydrogen-fueled buses will be strategically integrated... Read more →

Scandinavian transport operator Nobina has ordered 60 Volvo high-capacity electric buses which will enter service in Malmö, Sweden next year. It is immensely gratifying to receive yet another significant order for electric buses. In a short space of time we have taken orders for 220 electric buses from two of... Read more →

TDK Corporation subsidiary TDK Ventures Inc. has invested in AutoFlightX, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air mobility company. AutoFlightX is an eVTOL air-cargo and air-taxi company headquartered in Munich, with R&D centers in Shanghai and Shenzhen, China. AutoFlightX is the fourth investment by the TDK corporate venture capital... Read more →

Wright Electric announced the start of its electric propulsion development program for its flagship 186-seat electric aircraft, named Wright 1. In order to achieve the commercial flight capability of the Wright 1, Wright is engineering electrical systems at the megawatt scale by building a 1.5 MW electric motor and inverter... Read more →

King County Metro (Metro)—the public transit authority of King County, Washington, which includes the city of Seattle—has agreed to purchase 40 sixty-foot battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE heavy-duty transit buses from New Flyer, with plans to order an additional 80 battery-electric buses in the coming year. Upon execution of the purchase agreement... Read more →

BYD has delivered its first two battery-electric buses to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the largest transit operator in Canada and the third-largest transit operator in North America. The bus is part of a total order by the TTC for 10 BYD 40-foot K9M buses, all of which are scheduled... Read more →

General Motors is resurrecting the HUMMER as an electric truck in the GMC family. The GMC HUMMER EV truck will showcase the GMC brand’s design and engineering and will feature 1,000 horsepower; 11,500 lb-ft (15,592 N·m) of torque; and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds. Initial availability... Read more →

Energy major Total, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Saft, and Groupe PSA with Opel, intend to establish a joint venture named Automotive Cell Company (ACC) to develop EV battery manufacturing in Europe. The project will leverage cutting-edge R&D, notably provided by Saft, in order to produce EV batteries starting in 2023.... Read more →

UPS’ venture capital arm, UPS Ventures, has completed a minority investment in Arrival, which makes electric vehicle (EV) platforms and purpose-built vehicles. Along with the investment in Arrival, UPS also announced a commitment to purchase 10,000 electric vehicles to be built for UPS with priority access to purchase additional electric... Read more →

The Lincoln Motor Company is working with Rivian to develop an all-new electric vehicle previously announced as part of Ford Motor Company’s original investment in Rivian. (Earlier post.) Lincoln’s first fully electric vehicle will join the Aviator and Corsair Grand Touring plug-in hybrid vehicles, further solidifying Lincoln’s commitment to electrification.... Read more →

Solaris has won a tender for the delivery of three articulated electric buses to the operator SWB in Bonn. The Urbino 18 electric buses feature the new generation of Solaris High Energy+ batteries. Pursuant to the agreement, the Solaris buses will be put into service this year. A key condition... Read more →