Large quantities of batteries are essential for the future, whether for EVs, energy supply or everyday items such as smartphones. The EU has launched two legislative packages to reduce dependencies on raw materials and cell production. In a white paper, management consultancy P3 analysed how effective the planned mechanisms are – and whether the goals can be achieved. Read more…
Author: electrive.com
FinDreams & BorgWarner sign LFP battery production deal
The US automotive supplier BorgWarner announced a strategic partnership with BYD’s battery subsidiary FinDreams Battery. Under the agreement, BorgWarner will manufacture FinDreams’ blade battery. Read more…
Cyprus introduces new e-mobility subsidy programme
The government of Cyprus is launching a new e-mobility funding programme on 17 February with a budget of 36.5 million euros, which will be financed via the EU’s recovery and resilience mechanism. Read more…
Webasto withdraws from the charging infrastructure business
Automotive supplier Webasto will no longer offer charging solutions for electric cars. After a long search for a partner, the company is selling the majority of the division to the private equity company Transom Capital Group. The size of the minority stake Webasto will retain is not yet known. Read more…
Way is clear for new CO2 standards for lorries and buses in the EU
There appears to be a breakthrough in the final vote on new CO2 standards for lorries and buses in the EU: Germany agrees to the provisional agreement and in return receives a commitment from the Commission to review the regulation at a later date with a focus on e-fuels. Read more…
Lacroix starts building bidirectional chargers for Renault
The electronics specialist Lacroix is now producing bidirectional chargers for the Renault Group. Production of the Mobilize PowerBox has just started on the new production line at the Lacroix electronics plant in Beaupréau-en-Mauges, southwest of Paris. Read more…
Proace Verso EV and Proace Verso City EV are now available in the UK
Toyota is bringing two new electric vehicles to market in the UK, the nine-seater Proace Verso EV and the five-seater Proace City Verso EV. The carmaker expects to deliver the first vehicles to customers in March. Read more…
JLR slows down electric car ambitions
Regarding the roll-out of electric vehicles, JLR is stepping on the brakes. The carmaker also announced that it will launch more plug-in hybrids, saying that the demand for pure EVs has cooled down. Read more…
Fastned, E.ON, TotalEnergies and Autostrom win motorway charging tender in Germany
Autobahn GmbH des Bundes has successfully completed the tender for almost 1,000 fast-charging points at 200 unmanaged motorway service areas as part of the ‘Deutschlandnetz’ charging network. The contracts were awarded to Fastned, E.ON, the bidding consortium Autostrom Nord and TotalEnergies. Read more…
Austrian Post makes only emission-free deliveries in Innsbruck
The Austrian Post announced that it would be making CO2-free deliveries in Innsbruck a year ago, and now the switch has been made: With immediate effect, 145 electric vehicles are on the road in the city. Read more…
Kurt Kelty takes over as new chief battery strategist at GM
General Motors has appointed battery expert Kurt Kelty to the newly created position of Vice President of Batteries. Does the name sound familiar? Kelty once drove battery development at Tesla. Read more…
Panasonic purchases synthetic graphite from Novonix
Panasonic Energy has signed a binding purchase deal with battery materials company Novonix for the supply of synthetic graphite for the anodes of electric vehicle batteries in the USA. This agreement provides for the supply of at least 10,000 tonnes over a four-year period starting in 2025. Read more…
Electrify America opens indoor fast-charging park
Volkswagen’s charging infrastructure subsidiary Electrify America has opened its first indoor fast-charging park in San Francisco. During the charging time at one of the 20 high-power chargers, two lounge areas, Wi-Fi and restrooms are available. Read more…
Zeekr lowers prices in Europe for its electric SUV cheaper
Geely’s electric car brand Zeekr has lowered the price of the Zeekr X in the European launch markets. However, not as much as some of its Chinese competitors. The manufacturer also wants to attract new European customers with a special promotion until the end of April. Read more…
Fisker improves powertrain software via OTA update
Fisker has announced the rollout of an over-the-air software update for its all-electric Ocean SUV next week. The Ocean OS 2.0 OTA update includes improvements to performance, the powertrain, enhancements for SolarSky, and the energy management system. Read more…
BMW and MG not allowed to advertise “zero-emission” EVs
The British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned adverts by BMW and MG, claiming that electric cars are “zero-emission cars.” The ASA considers the claims to be misleading. Read more…
Hyzon and New Way to develop FCEV for refuse collection in North America
Fuel cell specialist Hyzon Motors and New Way Trucks want to develop fuel cell refuse collection vehicles for the North American market. Pilot tests with North American customers will begin in the first half of 2024. The companies hope to deliver the first fuel cell trucks to American customers in 2025. Read more…
Paris public transport to expand by 3,500 buses
Paris public transport operator Île-de-France Mobilités has announced plans to order 3,500 “clean” buses. The procurement is to kick off in 2025 and will last until 2028. The order is valued at €1.8 billion. Read more…
EV sales in China experience seasonal January slump
EV sales fell significantly in January to 729,000 units due to seasonal factors. Battery electric vehicles even did worse than plug-in hybrids. Due to the Chinese New Year in February, the current month will likely be weak, too. Read more…
US carmaker orders electric rear-wheel drive from Magna
Magna has received an order to supply a primary eDrive rear-wheel drive system for a high-end vehicle platform of a North American OEM. The 800-volt system can deliver up to 726 kW. Read more…
