Volkswagen Group and Rivian yesterday announced a plan to form a 50:50-owned joint venture (JV) to create class-leading software technology and next-gen electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture. The German conglomerate will invest up to $5 billion in the American startup as part of the deal. Read more…

The Swiss company Landis+Gyr has fully acquired the Slovenian charging infrastructure manufacturer Etrel. The Swiss company has also appointed former Smatrics boss Michael Viktor Fischer as CEO of the business unit, which will operate as Landis+Gyr EV Solutions in future. Read more…

VW Commercial Vehicles is planning a new entry-level variant for its electric minibus ID. Buzz is planning a new entry-level variant. With the smaller battery, this version is to be positioned below the price of the current model. However, VWN is already planning to increase the production volume of the new long version and the powerful all-wheel-drive GTX this year. Read more…

The German technology company The Mobility House and Green Energy Storage Initiative SE (GESI), a project developer of large-scale battery storage systems, are establishing a joint venture focusing on the construction and marketing of battery storage systems (BESS). The duo aims to ensure a storage capacity of up to 8 GW in Europe by 2035. Read more…

The Greek government is pushing ahead with an initiative called ‘Zap Taxi Club’ to increase the number of electric taxis in Greece’s capital Athens tenfold to at least 1,000 units by 2026. Electric taxis are now being promoted twice in Athens as a result. Read more…

The truck charging specialist Milence is planning its second charging hub in the Netherlands. The joint venture is already present in Venlo near the Dutch-German border. A second location is due to open in Zwolle in the province of Overijssel in December. Read more…

ElectroRide, an Indian multi-brand two- and three-wheeler electric vehicle retail chain, has partnered with Battery Smart, India’s largest battery-swapping network for light electric vehicles. The two companies aim to set up battery-swapping stations across 2,500 locations across India in the next five years. ElectroRide is also expanding its portfolio into the four-wheeler segment. Read more…

MAN Truck & Bus is now offering its electric heavy-duty truck in the UK. MAN has received almost 2,000 order enquiries and orders for the eTGX and eTGS versions of the electric truck around seven months after the sales launch in continental Europe. Read more…

A new media report says that BYD’s upcoming auto factory in Mexico could create 10,000 jobs. The Chinese automaker started selling cars in the country just a year ago but has rapidly expanded its product line-up. Read more…

In a new scientific study, experts from the University of Münster, among others, have determined the future degradation and recycling volumes for electric vehicle battery materials that are necessary to enable and maintain the circular economy in Europe. This has already resulted in recommendations for action. Read more…

British marine charge point operator Aqua SuperPower and the Canadian marineV2G software provider BlueGrid have have launched the first transatlantic vessel-to-grid project for marine electrification. Read more…

German automotive supplier ElringKlinger has announced plans to open a new Group site in Easley in Pickens County in the northwest of the US state of South Carolina. Read more…

German chemicals giant BASF and the French mineral recovery and processing company Emaret are shelving their plans to invest in a nickel-cobalt refinery complex in Indonesia for electric vehicle batteries. Read more…

Hyundai could convert its factory in Jeonju (North Jeolla Province), South Korea, into a hydrogen vehicle hub. This plant would then become a base for the company’s hydrogen buses and trucks. Read more…

Canada has announced that it may raise the import tariff on EVs made in China. The country wants to create a level playing field for its auto workers. Read more…

In the northern German city of Kiel, blackbirds have been observed imitating the alarm sound of electric scooters. A researcher says that this unusual side-effect of electric micromobility is also likely to spread to other cities as the sound seems to be advantageous for blackbirds finding mates. Read more…

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The US semiconductor manufacturer Texas Instruments (TI) and Taiwanese electronics specialist Delta Electronics are jointly developing improved power electronics for electric vehicles. In the first phase of the collaboration, the partners are focusing on the development of a lighter and more cost-effective 11 kW onboard charger. Read more…

German laser specialist Trumpf has presented several laser systems that can be used to recycle batteries on an industrial scale. In particular, the medium-sized company wants to use lasers to improve the cost-effectiveness of dismantling electric vehicle batteries for reconditioning or recycling. Read more…

British public transport operator Transdev Blazefield presented its 19 Enviro400EV. The all-electric buses will go into service for subsidiary The Harrogate Bus Company, serving route 36. Read more…