Li Auto has begun presales of its first fully electric SUV, the i8, in China. The six-seat crossover offers up to 720 km range and dual-motor all-wheel drive with a combined power output of 400 kW. Deliveries are scheduled for August. Read more…

Chinese battery swapping solutions provider U Power and Dutch company UNEX EV have opened Southeast Asia’s first smart battery swapping station in Phuket, Thailand. The duo have serious expansion plans using this facility as a pilot model. Read more…

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), as well as the federal states Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse, are funding two lithium projects by Vulcan Energy with a total of €103.6 million. The projects involve lithium chloride extraction in Landau and further processing in Frankfurt-Höchst. Read more…

The German startup Tozero is building a pilot plant for lithium-ion battery recycling at Gendorf Chemical Park in Bavaria. The company recently signed a lease agreement for an existing building to establish the demonstration facility. Read more…

MAN Truck & Bus now offers the Smart Charging Cube. The portable battery storage and charging solution offers up to four charging points and a charging capacity of up to 400 kW. It is available for purchase, lease or rental. Read more…

New York State has announced an additional $200 million to support the deployment of zero-emission school buses and charging infrastructure, making clean buses more affordable for public schools under its Environmental Bond Act. Read more…

From 31 July, all Lucid Air models will access over 23,500 Tesla Superchargers using an approved adapter. The carmaker also presented its 2026 lineup. It includes increased range on Touring, upgraded AC compressor, new Aeronaut wheels, and massaging seats on Grand Touring. Read more…

ChargeScape has partnered with PSEG Long Island to enrol over 6,000 BMW and Ford EVs in its Peak Load Reduction programme. Using ChargeScape’s AI platform, the initiative manages EV charging to support grid stability and offers financial incentives to participating drivers. Read more…

Four years after launching the second-generation Mokka and around a year after unveiling its facelift, Opel has revealed the performance version of the crossover. All models bearing the GSE badge will now be fully electric. Read more…

Solaris has received an order to supply 73 Trollino 18 articulated trolleybuses to Vilnius. These will be equipped with batteries in addition to their conventional overhead line drive, allowing them to travel up to 20 km without a connection to the overhead line. Read more…

The solution for zero-emission trucking is there, we just need to be more patient, says Anders Grauers from Chalmers University about the electrification of freight transport. We spoke to him at EVS38, where the optimism around electrification was palpable – but so was the realism about grid integration, infrastructure rollout, and cost competitiveness. Against this backdrop, Grauers’ insights provide a refreshing, pragmatic assessment of where we stand today, what needs to happen next, and why the electrification of trucks might proceed faster – and more smoothly – than many still assume. Read more…

No dedicated contacts, hardly any fleet discounts, and a service structure designed for (patient) private customers: fleet buyers have never been Tesla’s priority. But as the EV maker has confirmed to electrive, in Germany, that is set to change in the second half of the year – including special terms. Read more…

Tesla has now officially opened the Tesla Diner in Hollywood. In addition to more than 80 V4 Supercharger charging stations, the location also offers a two-story restaurant and a drive-in theater. Read more…

BYD is set to delay the start of series production at its Hungarian electric car plant, previously planned for the end of 2025, and will also scale back initial output, according to a report. In return, plans for its second European factory in Turkey are expected to be accelerated. Read more…

According to the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA), the total capacity of traction batteries in China reached 299.6 GWh in the first half of this year. CATL remains the market leader, though it has lost some market share. Read more…

Europcar Switzerland will be the first car rental provider to offer the two-seater Microlino to customers. They’re intended for affordable urban driving in Zurich and Bern with an inclusive tariff covering electricity and mileage. Read more…

Fernride has begun driverless operations at HHLA TK Estonia after TÜV SÜD certified its autonomous terminal tractor system. Backed by DB Schenker and HHLA, the Munich startup aims to scale its electric truck automation solutions across Europe. Read more…

The Australian logistics firm Centurion says its ‘off-grid’ electric truck fleet is now ‘fully operational’ following the introduction of a further 10 Mercedes-Benz eActros lorries. The trucks rely on charging infrastructure that uses a combination of solar power, battery storage, and a backup generator. Read more…

The UK-based charge point operator has reduced its headcount by 81 staff following a pre-tax loss of £82.7m in 2024. However, the company has managed to secure a further £100m in equity and increase its revenue. Read more…

Ballard Power Systems has received an order for 32 of its FCwave fuel cell engines from Hamburg-based eCap Marine to power two Samskip vessels. The first units will be delivered before the end of the year. Read more…