Volkswagen is integrating ChatGPT into its vehicles. As the Group announced at the CES in Las Vegas, the chatbot based on artificial intelligence will be made available in its own voice assistant, which can be used to control infotainment, navigation and air conditioning, for example, or to answer general knowledge questions. Read more…
Bosch and VW unit are automating EV parking and charging together
Automotive supplier Bosch and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cariad are demonstrating tech that allows EVs to park and charge themselves. Announced at CES 2024, Bosch is combining a previously-shown automated parking system with a charging robot that automatically plugs into the vehicle once it’s positioned in a parking space. Once it’s finished… Read more…
Northvolt gains huge subsidy to build its gigafactory in Germany
Swedish lithium-ion battery maker Northvolt locked in European approval for a €902 million ($986 million) subsidy from the German government to build its gigafactory there. Read more…
Europe: Plug-In Car Sales Decreased In November 2023 Because Of PHEVs
However, the growth of the all-electric segment was relatively weak as well. Read more…
Here announces more accurate range forecasts
The map and navigation provider Here wants to enable electric car manufacturers to make more accurate range predictions. The ‘Here EV Range Factors’ system that has now been announced is intended to incorporate numerous values in order to achieve a more accurate prediction of the remaining range. Read more…
Revo Zero’s hydrogen-electric SUV available for pre-order in the US
The US electric vehicle startup Revo Zero has opened the order books for pre-orders of its SUV called Energy. The vehicle uses both a hydrogen fuel cell and an electric battery. It is not clear when the car will hit the road or what the final price will be. Read more…
Tesla sells 75,805 cars in China in Dec, exports 18,334 from Shanghai plant
In the fourth quarter, Tesla sold 169,935 vehicles in China, accounting for 35 percent of its global deliveries of 484,507 vehicles. Read more…
Kia unveils its new platform for modular electric minivans
In a refreshing departure from the extravagant and outlandish concepts typically showcased at CES, Kia introduced its pragmatic ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle’ (PBV), designed to carry a range of modular electric minivans, catering to businesses and individuals alike. These minivans feature flat fronts, minimal overhangs, and a boxy, utilitarian aesthetic. What sets them apart is their adaptability. With long or short… Read more…
Volvo hands over first EX30 to European customers
Volvo has started deliveries of the EX30 in Europe. The first examples of the all-electric compact SUV were handed over to customers in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. Read more…
US researchers increase energy density of sodium-ion batteries
Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have developed and patented a new cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. This should enable a significantly higher energy density than other sodium-ion cells – but still lags somewhat behind lithium-ion technology. Read more…
24M presents innovative battery separator
The US battery cell developer 24M, which is supported by Volkswagen, is presenting a battery separator called Impervio. The new technology is designed to significantly improve the safety of lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries and will be ready for the market in one to two years. Read more…
BASF and Stena join forces in recycling batteries
BASF and Stena Recycling have signed an agreement on purchasing black mass. The deal is part of a broader collaboration between the two companies to establish a value chain for battery recycling for Europe’s EV battery market. Read more…
Nio needs to put every penny of investor and shareholder money to good use, says William Li
Nio needs to continue to improve its financial performance to support the company’s sustainable growth, and has a responsibility and obligation to put every penny of investor and shareholder money to good use, Li said. Read more…
France tightens penalty tax for polluting and heavy new vehicles
France not only has a reformed subsidy scheme for electric vehicles since the beginning of the year. A penalty tax, the so-called “malus ecologique” for polluting and heavy combustion vehicles, has also been increased to keep said vehicles off the road. Read more…
US EPA awards nearly $1 billion in clean school buses
In a new round of funding, the US government has awarded a total of almost one billion dollars to 67 applicants for the procurement of “clean” school buses and their infrastructure. Read more…
BMW increases EV sales by 75 per cent in 2023
The BMW Group sold a total of 376,183 all-electric vehicles in 2023. That is 74.4 per cent more than in 2022, with the BMW core brand achieving even stronger growth thanks to several new models, while Mini only saw a slight increase. Read more…
Hyundai is going all in on hydrogen, and relying on food waste to make that happen
Kia-owner Hyundai certainly isn’t in a big rush to go carbon neutral. It has set its target as the far-away date of 2050. But now it says it will rely heavily on hydrogen fuel cells generated from plastic, food, and organic waste to power a whole new generation of EVs, from passenger cars to heavy-duty trucks. Problem is, there is nowhere to charge them.. Read more…
Kia to launch electric vehicles on modular PBV platform from 2025
Kia presents its future “Platform Beyond Vehicle” (PBV) strategy at CES 2024. The focus is on modular electric cars and integrating software solutions, robotics and autonomous driving. The Concept PV5 presented in Las Vegas previews the first PBV series model. It will launch in 2025. Read more…
Bosch & Cariad launch automated valet charging tests
Bosch has been trialling automated parking with partners for a while now. Now the concept is to be expanded to include the automated charging of electric cars. Bosch and VW software subsidiary Cariad are now testing the system in two multi-storey car parks. Read more…
China’s NEV retail reaches record 945,000 in Dec, 7.74 million for full year 2023
For the full year 2023, China’s NEV penetration at retail was 35.7 percent, up 8.1 percentage points from 2022. Read more…
