StoreDot, the pioneer of extreme fast charging technologies for electric vehicles, has entered a strategic partnership with Polestar, following an investment from the all-electric premium performance brand. As part of this new partnership and investment agreement, Polestar will investigate utilizing StoreDot’s extreme fast charging silicon-dominant batteries for future Polestar cars.... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE), in coordination with General Motors and MathWorks, announced that the Georgia Institute of Technology has been named the winner of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, which tasked 11 North American universities with applying advanced vehicle technologies to a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer while considering emissions, safety,... Read more →

In continued efforts to support the growing electric vehicle (EV) segment, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced a next-generation powerline communication (PLC) device, the QCA7006AQ, designed to address the needs for electric vehicle (EV) charging station communications—also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)—that use global Combined Charging System (CCS). The PLC... Read more →

By Brent Wilson, CEO of Galvanic Energy. America’s electric vehicle (EV) industry seems to have hit a rough patch of pavement in recent months. Lithium prices continue to rise, and no new domestic lithium sources have yet to be established. Even Tesla, despite its substantial efforts to hold the line... Read more →

Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors unveiled their first jointly developed light electric vehicles (EVs)—the Sakura and the eK X EV (pronounced “eK cross EV”), —in Japan. The line-off ceremony took place at the Mitsubishi Motors’ Mizushima Plant in Kurashiki City, Okayama Pref., Japan, where the vehicle is produced. Under planning... Read more →

EPA’s new Clean School Bus Program will provide $5 billion over the next five years (FY 2022-2026) to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. EPA is now offering $500 million through the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates for zero-emission and low-emission school bus rebates as the first... Read more →

Volkswagen is expanding its global production network for electric vehicles by now starting to make the all-electric ID.4 in Emden. Emden is now the second site for electric vehicles in Germany following Zwickau and also joins the Chinese plants in Anting and Foshan. Chattanooga (ID.4) and Hanover will also commence... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) entered into an agreement with the State of Georgia to build its first dedicated full electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the US. The new EV plant and battery manufacturing facilities represent an investment of approximately US$5.54 billion. Non-affiliated Hyundai Motor Group suppliers will invest... Read more →

Renault unveiled its new Scénic Vision concept-car at the ChangeNOW summit in Paris. Its hybrid electric and hydrogen powertrain aims to reduce downtime related to energy recharging while reducing the carbon footprint, including the battery. Renault Scénic Vision is zero emission in production and in use with a 75% smaller... Read more →

Mercedes-AMG is positioning the Vision AMG show car as suggestive of the all-electric future of AMG Driving Performance. Beneath exterior design of the four-door coupe—featuring a long wheelbase and emphasized by short overhangs, powerful shoulders, large wheels, a distinctive rear spoiler and star-shaped headlamp signature—is the equally dedicated AMG.EA platform... Read more →

Volkswagen and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) are exploring the use of MEB electric components for Mahindra’s new “Born Electric Platform”. Both signed a Partnering Agreement on 18 May to evaluate the scope of collaboration. Mahindra intends to equip its “Born Electric Platform” with MEB electric components such as electric... Read more →

ABB E-mobility announced a new investment into EV charging software provider ChargeLab. Co-ordinated through ABB EL Ventures, the investment forms part of ChargeLab’s $15-million Series A financing. ABB E-mobility first partnered with ChargeLab in 2020. This investment, along with a new commercial partnership to develop next-generation software solutions for ABB... Read more →

GVB, the public transport company of Amsterdam, is further expanding its electric fleet with 84 new generation VDL Citeas. These vehicles, based entirely on an electric powertrain, will be deployed from 2023 onwards. The framework contract includes an option for a further 130 new VDL Citeas, which in the coming... Read more →

Volvo Trucks is opening its first battery assembly plant. Located in Ghent, Belgium, the plant will supply ready-to-install batteries for Volvo Trucks’ full electric heavy-duty trucks. This investment shows our strong commitment to electrifying truck transportation. By 2030, at least 50 percent of all trucks we sell globally will be... Read more →

After well more than one million-miles (1.6 million kilometers) of testing in daily customer operations, Daimler Truck and its US Freightliner brand recently unveiled the all-electric eCascadia that will enter series production in 2022. Built on the best-selling heavy-duty truck platform in North America, the new battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia provides... Read more →

Electrify America entered into a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with developer Terra-Gen to build a solar photovoltaic renewable energy generation project in San Bernardino County, California called Electrify America Solar Glow 1. The new solar project is expected to generate 75 MW at peak solar capacity or an... Read more →

Kia Corporation will establish a new manufacturing facility dedicated to producing electric Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs). The intelligent new production hub for PBVs will be located within Kia’s existing Hwaseong manufacturing site in Korea. The company plans to begin construction in the first half of 2023, with the aim to... Read more →

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) awarded the “Automotive Excellence Award” to Ford Motor Company for its advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) innovations in the all-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The award was presented by John Catterall, vice president of AISI’s automotive program, at the 20th annual Great Designs in... Read more →

ŠKODA AUTO has started manufacturing battery systems for all-electric vehicles based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB) in Mladá Boleslav. This makes the car manufacturer’s main plant the only production facility for MEB battery systems in Europe outside Germany. Around 250 employees will soon be assembling more than... Read more →

The Cobalt Institute’s Cobalt Market Report 2021, prepared by CRU, confirms the role of cobalt as one the key commodities of the green future, due to the rapid growth of the lithium-ion battery market and a strong global uptake of electric vehicles. In 2021, the cobalt market showed unprecedented demand... Read more →

Genesis Motor America announced the start of sales of its first electric vehicle, the GV60 (earlier post). The Genesis GV60 enters the US market with a number of available world-first automotive features, including Face Connect and a Crystal Sphere. These innovative features enable drivers to be even more connected with... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz will work with Sila, a next-generation battery materials company (earlier post), to incorporate Sila's silicon anode chemistry in batteries which are optionally available for the first time in the upcoming electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class. This will add another innovative cell chemistry to the Mercedes-Benz battery portfolio. The innovative high-silicon anode... Read more →

Standalone Swedish premium electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar has released its second Annual Review and Sustainability report, highlighting progress towards its ambitious climate goals. In 2021, Polestar reduced greenhouse gas-emissions per car sold by 6% through its focus on increased efficiency and use of renewable energy. Polestar is targeting a truly... Read more →

Infinitum Electric, creator of the air-core motor (earlier post), announced $80 million in Series D funding to scale motor production to meet increasing demand. Infinitum Electric will use the investment to integrate vertically and automate production of its motors for the commercial and industrial market segments, and complete development and... Read more →

Hyundai Motor America (HMA) and Kia Motor America (KMA) are recalling certain 2022 Ioniq 5 and 2022 EV6 vehicles, respectively, because a software error in the Shifter Control Unit (SCU) may disengage the parking mechanism, which can allow the vehicle to roll away. For the Ioniq 5, drivers are recommended... Read more →

EAVX, a subsidiary of JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO), and REE Automotive, an automotive technology leader and provider of electric vehicle platforms, announced that the companies’ new fully electric walk-in van (WIV) prototype will begin customer evaluation this summer. The Class 5 vehicle marks the debut of the EAVX body... Read more →

Modine Manufacturing Company, a diversified global leader in thermal management technology and solutions, announced the general availability of its suite of EVantage Thermal Management Systems for commercial EV chassis. Leveraging more than 100 years of thermal expertise, Modine, which put radiator systems in the Model T, produces complete EV thermal... Read more →

Cadillac announced ordering information, pricing and EPA-estimated range for the battery-electric 2023 LYRIQ RWD. Cadillac also announced a special charging offer, designed to simplify the charging experience for LYRIQ customers. Ordering for the 2023 LYRIQ RWD and AWD models will open on 19 May, with RWD deliveries expected starting this... Read more →

Electreon, a provider of wireless and in-road electric vehicle (EV) charging technology, signed an agreement of cooperation with Israel public transportation company Electra Afikim. As part of the agreement, Electreon will provide Electra Afikim with wireless charging infrastructure that will enable simultaneous charging of 30 buses, 24 hours a day.... Read more →

Using new analytical methods, the research group “CritMET: Critical Metals for Enabling Technologies” led by Michael Bau, Professor of Geochemistry at Jacobs University in Bremen has studied the distribution of germanium and gallium in iron-manganese crusts from the deep sea. The results have now been published in two journals: Geochimica... Read more →

Last week, US Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Congressman Donald McEachin (D-Va.-04), and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07) led 61 of their colleagues in both the US Senate and House of Representatives in sending a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to... Read more →

A research team in China has developed a new type of electrolyte for high-energy Li-ion batteries with a self-purifying feature that opens a promising approach for electrolyte engineering for next-generation high-energy Li-ion batteries. A paper on their work is published in the RSC journal Energy & Environmental Science. Conventional LiPF6/carbonate... Read more →

EMT, the public bus operator in the City of Madrid, has ordered 60 Urbino 12 electric buses from Solaris, featuring high energy batteries and pantograph charging which will ensure high operability in all kinds of conditions. The contract value is more than €30 million. EMT Madrid intends to turn 25%... Read more →

California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), launched in 2009, accelerates commercialization of zero-emission and near-zero-emission technologies by providing point-of-sale vouchers to make advanced vehicles more affordable. Of the 730 zero-emission trucks on the road in California as of January 2022, more than 60% are directly... Read more →

UK Transport Minister Trudy Harrison announced more than £200 million (US$244 million) of government funding will be injected into an extensive zero-emission road freight demonstrator program. The 3-year comparative programme will begin later this year to help decarbonize the UK’s freight industry with initial competitions for battery-electric and hydrogen-fuel-cell technology... Read more →

Volkswagen Group will launch an all-electric pick-up and rugged SUV (“R-SUV”) in the United States. The decision of the Board of Management was confirmed by the Supervisory Board of the Volkswagen Group earlier this week. The vehicles will be designed, engineered, and manufactured in the US for American customers. To... Read more →

Volvo Trucks and Deutsche Post DHL Group have signed a cooperation agreement to accelerate the shift to zero-exhaust-emission vehicles. DHL intends to intensify its transition to heavy electric trucks by deploying a total of 44 new electric Volvo trucks on routes in Europe. The intended order includes 40 electric trucks... Read more →

Fisker confirmed that it will produce its second vehicle, the Fisker PEAR (Personal Electric Automotive Revolution) (earlier post), at the factory Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd.) recently acquired in Ohio from Lordstown Motors (earlier post). The Fisker PEAR will enter production in 2024. Both the Fisker and Foxconn... Read more →

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced a notice of intent to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Fiscal Year 2022 Vehicle Technologies Office Program Wide FOA.” (DE-FOA-0002718) The potential FOA will advance research, development, demonstration, and deployment in several areas critical... Read more →

Test and measurement company TOYO Corporation announced that a major US automotive manufacturer recently selected TOYO’s vehicle-in-the-loop simulator (ViLS) for testing and validating its next generation of electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles. The ViLS allows automotive engineers to perform a wide variety of vehicle, environmental, and road testing under... Read more →

NFI Industries—a leading third-party supply chain solutions provider—is increasing its investment in electromobility solutions with its latest order of 60 Volvo VNR Electric trucks. The battery-electric freight trucks will be deployed in NFI’s Ontario, California fleet throughout 2022 and 2023, in support of its goal of operating the first 100%... Read more →

Lordstown Motors, an OEM of electric light-duty trucks focused on the commercial fleet market, has closed the sale of its Lordstown facility and signed a contract manufacturing agreement and joint venture agreement for product development with affiliates of Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn). As previously disclosed, on 10 November 2021,... Read more →

With the introduction of Ultramid A3U44G6 DC OR (PA66 - GF30 FR), BASF is expanding its portfolio of flame-retardant engineering plastics for the eMobility market. In the case of already proven Ultradur (PBT) products, color stability can be largely guaranteed, especially in orange (RAL 2003) which is in high demand... Read more →

onsemi announced that China-based EV maker NIO chose the latest VE-Trac Direct SiC power modules from onsemi for its next-generation electric vehicles (EVs). The silicon carbide (SiC)-based power modules enable longer range, higher efficiency and faster acceleration for EVs. The collaboration of the two companies is expediting the commercialization of... Read more →

Qorvo, a provider of innovative RF solutions, announced a next-generation series of 1200V Silicon Carbide (SiC) Field Effect Transistors (FETs) with industry-leading figures of merit in on-resistance. The new UF4C/SC series of 1200V Gen 4 SiC FETs are suited for mainstream 800V bus architectures in onboard chargers for electric vehicles,... Read more →

School bus manufacturer Blue Bird Corporation unveiled a Class 5-6 electric vehicle platform at the 2022 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo. The company is building on its nearly century-long expertise of school bus manufacturing to expand its zero-emission transportation solutions to the commercial vehicle market. Blue Bird’s flexible Class 5-6... Read more →

STMicroelectronics is supplying silicon carbide (SiC) technology for eMPack electric-vehicle (EV) power modules from Semikron, a leading manufacturer of power modules and systems. This is the result of a four-year technical collaboration between the two companies to design-in ST’s advanced SiC power semiconductors for superior efficiency and industry-benchmark performance in... Read more →

KS HUAYU AluTech GmbH, a subsidiary of Rheinmetall AG, has received a new order with a lifetime value of nearly €170 million. It is the largest order in the aluminum specialist’s history. Awarded by a major German automaker, the order encompasses carrier plates for battery control components. Carrier plates are... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Company launched a global manifesto campaign called ‘Innovation Begins, from Very Human Things’ to share its vision for self-driving robotaxis. Motional, formed in March 2020 as an autonomous driving joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, will work in partnership with ride-hailing services to deploy the Level... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has released the draft 2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan—the third update to the state’s initial 2008 Scoping Plan. It identifies a path to achieve carbon neutrality over the next two decades while also assessing the progress the State is making towards reducing its greenhouse... Read more →