Developments in motors for e-aircraft are becoming intertwined with issues of energy storage and certification. Nick Flaherty reports
There are many different designs for motors being developed for a variety of electric aircraft platforms, from vertical take-off air taxis to 100-seaters with a flying time of an hour or so for regional flights. This is leading to a range of design architectures to reach and exceed the 13 kW/kg power density needed for flight. More…
VW’s software arm Cariad sets up joint lab with Vivo to explore phone-car integration
Cariad China’s partnership with Vivo comes at a time when Chinese consumers are increasingly valuing the seamless experience of connecting their smartphones to EVs, which has even driven some EV makers, including Nio, to enter the phone making space. Read more…
Actor in Nio’s new EC6 launch event, buys an EC6
The EC6’s contribution to Nio’s sales is modest, but the actor’s move to buy the coupe SUV is an endorsement of the model and the Nio brand. Read more…
Leapmotor extends promotion to full range of models
One day after announcing discounts of up to RMB 10,000 for its least expensive model, the T03, Leapmotor announced benefits including loan interest subsidies for two other models. Read more…
Tesla launches virtual power plant in Puerto Rico, could become world’s biggest
Tesla has officially launched its virtual power plant in Puerto Rico and it could quickly become the world’s biggest thanks to the large Powerwall user base in the region. More…
Quick Charge Podcast: November 2, 2023
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. More…
Polestar now offers Flexible Lease in the States
Polestar now offers a Flexible Lease option in the US. It allows customers to terminate their lease after just five monthly payments or opt to continue the full 24 months. The Flexible Lease program applies to the new Polestar 2, Polestar 3, and the upcoming Polestar 4. The Flexible Lease program means you choose a period of ownership (24 months in this case), choose how many miles you’ll do yearly (7,500, 10,000, 12,000, or 15,000), choose a downpayment, and you’ll get a calculated monthly payment. After the term is over, you give the car back to Polestar and you move on to… More…
ZEEKR 001 and 009 first drives: Quality EVs offering proof this automaker is just getting started
After over two years of consistent coverage of Geely’s young, all-electric ZEEKR brand, I finally got the opportunity to see its first two EV models up close and take them both for a spin. As a bonus, ZEEKR also had its purpose-built EV designed for Waymo on display before first deliveries to the robotaxi startup begin. More…
Nikola’s recall was costly in Q3, but does rising orders signal the worst is behind it?
After recalling all of its battery electric trucks that it had delivered, Nikola’s losses widened in the third quarter. However, with orders rising for its hydrogen fuel cell truck, is Nikola turning the page?. More…
EV laggard North Dakota just got its first Electrify America charging station
Electrify America just launched its first EV charging station in North Dakota – here’s why that’s kind of a big deal. More…
Rivian hires industry vet as it gears up to break ground on its next-gen EV plant
EV startup Rivian announced that Arnhelm Mittelbach has joined the team as its first Georgia plant manager. Mittlebach joins Rivian with over 20 years of experience at Mercedes-Benz as the EV maker prepares to break ground on its second EV plant.. More…
OCSiAl to build graphene nanotube facility in Europe
Luxembourg-based nanotechnology manufacturer OCSiAl has received a construction permit for a nanotube manufacturing plant near Belgrade, Serbia. The 120-ton-per-year nanotube synthesis factory will open in 2024 and ramp up production through 2025. The facility will synthesize nanotubes and make nanotube suspensions for lithium-ion battery makers in Europe, the US and Asia, improving the performance of… Read more…
Here’s How The Polestar 4 Became The Brand’s Carbon Emissions Champion
The Polestar 4 has the lowest carbon impact of all Polestar vehicles at launch – 19.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Here’s why. More…
Toyota Will Try Out Electric Pickups As Taxis In Thailand Soon: Report
A Toyota exec said that a small batch of electric pickups will be trialed in the city of Pattaya in early 2024. More…
Tesla Cybertruck flaunts 4-wheel steering while crab-walking
Tesla’s Cybertruck got another of its cool features revealed, a video showing its four-wheel steering system in a test run at Gigafactory Texas. This advanced steering is not new; it made its debut in the automotive industry over twenty years ago. However, its integration into electric vehicles, especially pickup trucks provides a usability boost that’s certainly worth getting excited about. GMC reintroduced the concept to the modern audience with the “crab mode” on its Hummer EV, demonstrating the utility of rear-wheel steering. What’s gripping about the Cybertruck’s version of… More…
LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant in Morocco
South Korea-based chemical company LG Chem and China’s Huayou Group have partnered to build a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cathode materials plant. LG Chem is working to vertically integrate its cathode supply chain. The LG Chem-Huayou Group partnership will develop four plants: an LFP cathode material facility; a lithium conversion plant, also in Morocco; a high-pressure acid… Read more…
Enphase Energy’s IQ EV Charger allows charging directly from solar panels
Enphase Energy, a supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, has launched its new Enphase IQ EV Charger in the US and Canada. The IQ is designed to seamlessly integrate into Enphase’s solar and battery system to help homeowners maximize savings by charging their EVs directly from solar photovoltaic systems. The Enphase IQ is WiFi-enabled… Read more…
RadRunner 3 Plus review: A utility e-bike that blurs the line between budget & premium
The RadRunner 3 Plus is an electric utility/cargo bike that deserves a serious second look because of its unique place in the market, straddling the line between value-oriented and premium-focused. It comes from Rad Power Bikes, one of the leading budget-minded e-bike brands in the US, yet is part of the company’s push toward the more premium segment of the market. More…
Ford buys EV energy company AMP to improve charging and battery management
In its latest effort to improve the EV ownership experience, Ford has acquired Auto Motive Power (AMP). Ford will use the energy solutions providers’ tech to improve EV charging and battery management. More…
It’s a table! It’s a solar power plant! It’s both!
You can generate clean power for your home with this “solar table power plant” and eat your lunch on it, too.. More…
