Volkswagen’s electric SUV is making a comeback. Last month, the Volkswagen ID.4 topped Tesla’s Model Y to become the best-selling EV in Europe, and it was even in the top three in the US. Read more…
Tesla partners with Steak ‘n Shake on Superchargers with up to more than 100 locations
Tesla has partnered with Steak ‘n Shake to deploy Superchargers at up to more than 100 restaurant locations. Read more…
Hyundai, Kia push solid-state EV batteries until 2030, but these rivals are racing ahead
Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia, doesn’t expect to launch solid-state EV batteries until 2030, at the earliest. The company said there’s “a lot of uncertainty” around the promising new battery tech. With others, including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Stellantis, Honda, and Chinese battery giants CATL and BYD, who will be the first to get the “holy grail” of battery tech on the market. Read more…
Making A Plug-In Hybrid Is A Lot Harder Than You Think
It’s also a lot harder than making a good EV. So if you think PHEVs are the easy answer, think again. Read more…
Installing Home Chargers Can Be Tricky. Here’s How To Avoid A Potential Fire
Tom Moloughney fixes a homeowner’s melted plug and explains what went wrong. Read more…
Solid-state battery reality check – Hyundai and Kia say not until 2030
The whole world is talking about solid-state batteries and their promise of longer ranges, faster charging, and improved performance for electric cars. However, Hyundai and Kia are cooling the hype a bit, suggesting that the widespread commercial availability of this technology is still years away. Some automakers are promising rapid rollouts, but Hyundai Motor Group believes that solid-state batteries won’t… Read more…
California Energy Commission to launch $55-million EV charging station funding round
The Fast Charge California Project, part of the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), will open a new $55-million funding window in July 2025 to support the installation of DC fast charging stations at businesses and publicly accessible locations across the state. The new funds will cover up to 100% of the costs to deploy… Read more…
Schneider Electric and Liminal partner on EV battery ultrasound-based inspection
France-based digital automation specialist Schneider Electric, has partnered with Liminal Insights to develop battery inspection services. The companies are developing a joint offering that integrates Liminal’s ultrasound-based metrology and analytics solutions with Schneider Electric’s automation and industrial intelligence ecosystem to deliver real-time inline quality inspection. The new integrated inspection system—which is compatible with all battery… Read more…
Why Level 1 EV Wall Charging Is More Useful Than You Think
With an electric car, sometimes a humble wall outlet can be your best friend. I proved that on my Rivian R1T road trip. Read more…
India: PM E-DRIVE electric bus subsidy quota rapidly filling up
The quota for electric bus subsidies under India’s PM E-DRIVE scheme is filling up fast. A little over four months into the launch, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has already approved the subsidy for 9,800 electric buses—70% of the total allocation. Read more…
TV documentary casts doubt on Northvolt’s ‘green batteries’
According to research by Swedish television, the insolvent battery cell manufacturer Northvolt has hardly any batteries in circulation so far. Furthermore, those batteries that have already been installed are said to contain none of the Swedish company’s own cathode active material. The journalists conclude that Northvolt has failed with its promise of a ‘green’ electric car battery. Read more…
Wheel-E Podcast: EBC merger, Super73 recall, Bafang tour, more
This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes a merger between Electric Bike Company and Integral Electrics, California looking to clamp down further on Sur Ron hooligans, a Super73 recall, Cowboy’s production move, a tour inside Bafang’s factory in China, and more. Read more…
Polestar (PSNY) locks in $450 million in funding as the EV maker ‘starts its next chapter’
Polestar (PSNY) secured another $450 million in fresh funding as the EV maker aims for profitability this year. With three electric vehicles and a fourth on the way, Polestar expects 2025 to be its biggest yet. Read more…
Elon Musk ‘cancels’ Tesla engineer for complaining about the CEO’s behavior
Elon Musk has reportedly ‘canceled’ a Tesla engineer for complaining about the CEO’s behaviors on social media. Read more…
GM’s EV Surge Is Set To Face Its Biggest Challenge This Year
General Motors catapulted to become one of America’s best-selling EV makers. Now comes Trump’s wrecking ball. Read more…
Nio Onvo launches service allowing owners to upgrade battery packs on demand
Onvo will allow owners to upgrade their 60-kWh standard-range battery packs to 85-kWh long-range battery packs on a daily, monthly or annual basis starting March 1.
Upgrades cost RMB 45 ($6.18) per day, RMB 800 per month, or RMB 8,800 per year.
Xpeng expands to new European markets
Shortly after Xpeng’s announcement of its expansion into Poland, the Chinese manufacturer has also announced its imminent market entry into Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In all three countries, Xpeng will distribute its electric cars via the Hedin Mobility Group from the second quarter of this year. Read more…
Altilium & Talga Group cooperate on recylced graphite for EV batteries
UK recycling specialist Altilium has signed a letter of intent with Australian battery materials company Talga Group to supply Talga with up to 16,000 tons of recycled graphite over a three-year period from 2026. Talga is building Europe’s first anode refinery for natural graphite in Sweden and is developing an anode product made from recycled graphite. Read more…
Prague considers mandetory electric taxis by 2030
The Prague city council’s transport committee is considering only permitting battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell electric taxis in the city from 2029. The final decision lies with the city councillors, who must approve this in the form of a decree. Read more…
Kia PV5 debuts as an electric van ready for anything
Kia is stepping into the commercial electric vehicle market with the PV5. Kia’s first electric van is designed to handle everything from passenger transport to delivery services. This new model, part of Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) lineup, offers businesses and individuals a flexible and efficient electric solution. The PV5 comes with three battery options – 43.3 kWh, 51.5 kWh,… Read more…
