Swiss digital engineering firm Akkodis has presented a sustainable mobility ecosystem at the IAA in Munich. At its heart is an exchangeable battery that can be swapped between electric cars, e-scooters or cargo electric bikes – and even cell chemistries. To illustrate the concept, Akkodis brought a self-developed Urban Lifestyle Vehicle (ULV) to Munich. This […] More…
Hate cars but kind of need one? Why a low-speed vehicle like this may be for you

Cars and city living – it’s a complicated relationship. While cars offer the promise of supposed freedom and convenience, they also come with parking nightmares, fuel costs, and the dreaded rush-hour gridlock. But what if there was a middle-ground solution? Enter the low-speed vehicle (LSV).. More…
Tesla Giga Train launches but is a little off track
Tesla employees may now take the train to get to Giga Berlin. The EV maker launched a dedicated shuttle between the German factory and Erkner railway station. It is not exclusive to Tesla staff but comes with a general catch. The Tesla train is not electric but runs on diesel so those having hoped for […] More…
BYD Plug-In Car Sales Reached Another Record In August 2023

The company sold about 274,000 electric cars, but the growth rate is slowing down. More…
Kempower is coming to Canada
Kempower has deployed its EV charging technology for the first time in Canada by the Electric Circuit, the largest EV charging network in Québec. The first installations with dynamic power sharing are already under construction. The Kempower Satellite system has been distributed in the city of Rivière-du-Loup by Bornes Québec. The satellite signifies Kempower’s dynamic […] More…
Super73’s K1D Is An Electric Balance Bike Designed For Young Riders

The K1D can be adapted and configured as youngsters improve their two-wheeled skills. More…
Hyundai Mobis sets sights on growth in Europe
Hyundai Mobis, the South Korean automotive supplier belonging to the Hyundai Motor Group, presented its European expansion strategy ‘Mobis Mobility Move 2.0’ at the IAA Mobility. This year, the company wants to grow by 50 per cent in the European market and then by more than 30 per cent each year. Hyundai Mobis says it […] More…
DHL Express Ireland receives 44 Ford Transit EVs
DHL Express Ireland is replacing 44 diesel-powered pick-up and delivery vehicles with 44 electric vehicles from Ford. Before the launch, DHL had already established EV charging infrastructure across all of its main service centres in Ireland. DHL Express aims to transition its entire leasing fleet in Ireland to electric vehicles and is investing 4.3 million […] More…
Volkswagen’s Elli now claims access to over half a million charge points
Volkswagen’s energy business, Elli, has brought its entire product range to the IAA Mobility in Munich and gives a glimpse into future services. Most notably, the charging network is scaling up. But first, to the booth where Elli’s Flexpole fast charging station is taking centre stage. The column connects to an integrated battery, acting as […] More…
FAW-VW lowers ID.4 prices in China
Volkswagen has significantly reduced the price of its ID.4 in China. The ID.4 Crozz version offered by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture is now available from 145,900 yuan, the equivalent of around 18,500 euros. When the ID.4 was launched in China at the beginning of 2021, the price was still 193,900 yuan (currently around 24,600 euros), […] More…
Xpeng to release the P7 & G9 in Germany
Xpeng will be launching two vehicles in Germany in 2024. This was announced by the Chinese electric car manufacturer at the IAA Mobility. So far, Xpeng offers its large electric sedan P7 and its electric SUV G9 in four rather northern European countries. After Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden, Germany will thus become the […] More…
Volvo Cars invests in SiC technology by Leadrive
Volvo Cars has announced an investment in Leadrive, a Shanghai-based provider of power electronics and controls for electric vehicles, founded in 2017. The company has worked with Schaeffler and SAIC-Volkswagen on SiC e-axles. The website also reveals a German branch in Aachen. Undisclosed remains the level of investment by Volvo Cars Tech Fund. The statement […] More…
Ford Files Trademark For F-200, Possibly For Upcoming EV Truck Codenamed T3

Ford’s next-generation full-size electric pickup will be built at the BlueOval City facility in Tennessee. More…
BMW adds front-wheel drive to iX1 range
BMW has presented a second variant of its all-electric iX1 at the IAA Mobility. Previously only available as the iX1 xDrive30 with all-wheel drive, the model will also be available in the new entry-level iX1 eDrive20 version from November 2023. Unlike the iX1 xDrive30, the iX1 eDrive20 will only have one electric motor – on […] More…
CATL to produce fast-charging Shenxing battery in Europe
CATL plans to produce its novel fast-charging battery, Shenxing, in Germany and Hungary. The battery maker’s Chief Engineer, Gao Pengfei, announced at the IAA Mobility that the European launch would follow once production begins in China by the end of 2023. This was as close as Gao Pengfei came to giving a specific timeline for […] More…
Rivian Hires Ex-Porsche North America CEO Kjell Gruner As Sales Chief

Gruner made an abrupt exit from Porsche Cars North America after less than three years as CEO. More…
Nissan Starts Selling Portable Power Source With Old Leaf EV Batteries

The 32-pound generator has two reclaimed battery modules. More…
Avatr 12 Debuts As Gran Coupe EV With Up To 578 HP, 434 Miles Of Range

The second model made by the Changan/CATL/Huawei joint venture was revealed in Munich. More…
Close look at Tesla Model 3 Highland

Today, we get a close look in person at the Tesla Model 3 refresh – aka Model 3 Highland – in Munich for IAA. More…
Thyristors save space in charger

Littelfuse has developed a reference design for a 2 MW bidirectional fast charger for commercial vehicles (writes Nick Flaherty).
Rather than using MOSFETs, the 12-pulse thyristor stack can support a 2 MW output in a smaller volume with just forced-air cooling.
Five 70 kW modules using thyristors that are stacked to provide 350 kW occupy 0.175m³, excluding any pumps and radiators needed for cooling the circuit. For a dual 350 kW charger, the minimum space consumed is a cube with 1.5 m sides and a volume of 3.4m³. More…

