UK-based Octopus Electric Vehicles (Octopus EV) has secured a £550 million debt securitization facility from Lloyds Bank to fund EVs, accelerating total EV funding to £1.2 billion, the company announced on December 4. The company said that newly secured funds from this deal will play a pivotal role in financing its flagship EV salary sacrifice program. Launched in 2021, the scheme empowers drivers to save 30-40% each month on a new EV. The company offers an easy all-in-one service, providin...

Fermata Energy, leading supplier of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology, has appointed Alexandra Cattelan as its Chief Operating Officer (COO), the company announced on December 4. In her strategic role, Cattelan is slated to direct Fermata Energy’s operations, including engineering, primarily focusing on accelerating the commercial expansion of its innovative V2X bidirectional technology platform. Cattelan brings more than three decades of experience in electric propulsion, lithium b...

Hundreds of thousands of electric vehicle charging stations are needed around the world to support the transition to electric mobility. However, not all countries are moving at the same pace to build public EV charging infrastructure. This is due to many reasons, including the growth rate of EV sales and cost of acquiring and installing charging stations, which can vary significantly in many countries due to state and federal credits, rebates and incentives. For public charging station compan...

Israel-based wireless charging solutions provider Electreon has installed its inductive-charging coils between Marantette and Dalzelle streets in Detroit charge electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with the company-based receivers as they drive on the road, the company announced on November 29. As part of the project, MDOT and Electreon have agreed to install a combined mile of inductive-charging roadway in Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood. 14th Street, owned and maintained by the City ...

Poland-based electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment maker Ekoenergetyka has unveiled its all-new EV charger — the Axon Easy 400, which can deliver up to 400 kW and offers a large advertising display alongside other features, according to a news report published in Electrive on December 1. The new EV charger was unveiled on the sidelines of the London EV Show. Citing the company, the report mentioned that Ekoenergetyka has developed the new Axon Easy 400 EV charger based on the customer fe...

CATL, the world’s largest battery maker, has completed the tests of its battery-integrated CIIC skateboard platform and has achieved a driving range of 1,000 km, according to a news report published by the online publication CarNewsChina on December 1. Notably, CATL’s CIIC skateboard platform is called as the CATL Integrated Intelligent Chassis, which integrates batteries, electric motors and other critical units into a single platform underpinning an electric vehicle (EV) model. The CIIC...

Geely-owned British performance car company Lotus Cars has launched its own electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, including an ultra-fast 450 kW DC charger, power cabinet and a modular unit, which can charge up to four EVs at once, the company announced on November 28. According to Lotus, its all-new EV charging solution includes: a) Liquid-Cooled all-in-one DC charger: a new charger, which offers ultra-fast charging of up to 450 kW. The charger can add up to 88.5 miles or 142 km of dr...

Dongfeng Motor Company Ltd. (DFL) and Nissan Motor Company’s joint venture (JV) in mainland China with Dongfeng Motor Corporation (DFG), has launched its new growth strategy named ‘DNA+’ within which the automaker aims to develop and launch several new electric vehicles (EVs) and focus on export business, Nissan announced on November 13. In its press note, the carmaker said that DFL’s DNA+ strategy aims to accelerate business transformation, improve efficiency and achieve further deve...

LeapCharger has launched its latest iOS app to optimize electric vehicle (EV) charging experience, according to a company press release on December 1. The app offers users a seamless and intuitive platform to locate, navigate and optimize their charging sessions, with optimal user experience. The app offers intelligent charging navigation, real-time station status, fast charging optimization, tracks carbon footprint reduction with each charging session and has a user-friendly interface. â€...

Chinese electric car company NETA Auto has commenced production operations at its first overseas factory in Thailand, the company announced on November 30. The commencement ceremony was attended by Zhang Yong, co-founder and CEO of NETA Auto, Wanchai Jungsanguanphonsuk, CEO of Bangchan General Assembly Co., Ltd. (BGAC), a partner of NETA Auto, among other senior executives, the company said in its press note. According to the company, the rollout of the first 'Made in Thailand' NETA electr...

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Our Next Energy (ONE) has developed a battery technology called Gemini, which has achieved 608.1 miles of range in a BMW iX on a single charge, it said in a press release on Nov. 30. It was confirmed using a Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) test cycle, the European standard for determining the range of electric vehicles. Gemini’s dual-chemistry architecture features two different cell types using different battery chemistries. For long road trips, Gemini uses high-e...

In an effort to expand its presence beyond its home market in China, GAC Aion, the electric vehicle subsidiary of Chinese automaker GAC Group, plans to build an EV manufacturing plant in Thailand, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on Nov. 30. Citing a company announcement, the report mentioned that GAC Aion plans to invest a total of $65.9 million in setting up its EV factory in Thailand’s Rayong province and that the plant will be developed to have a production capacity...

Wallbox has partnered with Bidirectional Energy, a software platform for bidirectional electric vehicle charging, it said in a press release on Nov. 2. The companies also received a grant of $2.2 million in Phase 1 funding from the California Energy Commission’s (CEC's) Clean Transportation Program, which provides up to $100 million in annual funding for innovative transportation and fuel technologies. The companies released a new solution that combines Wallbox's Quasar 2 bidirectional...

Mercedes-Benz Group China Ltd. and BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. have reached an agreement to establish a 50:50 joint venture in China to operate a high-power electric vehicle charging network, the two companies said in a joint announcement on Nov. 30. Under the equal EV charging JV in China, Mercedes-Benz and BMW aim to provide their customers with premium charging services. “Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW will apply the expertise gained from global and Chinese charging operations, as well...

Indian conglomerate JSW Group plans to acquire a 35% stake in SAIC-owned MG Motor India as the Chinese carmaker looks to dilute its stake in its Indian entity, according to a news report published by Reuters on Nov. 30. The report cited a joint announcement made by the two companies. The shareholder agreement, and share purchase and share subscription agreement were signed by both the companies in London on Nov. 30. According to the report, the agreement between JSW and SAIC was signed wit...

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely), China’s leading privately owned automotive technology group and Nio Holding (Nio) have signed a strategic partnership agreement on battery swapping in Hangzhou, China, Geely announced Nov. 29. Under the new strategic agreement, both the companies plan to carry out comprehensive cooperation on battery standards, battery-swapping technology, battery-swapping network expansion and operation, swappable-model development and battery-asset mana...

Barcelona, Spain-based manufacturer of electric vehicle charging equipment, Circontrol, has unveiled the next-generation EV charging solutions under its successful Raption Series, the company announced Nov. 28. It said that the next-generation EV charging solutions are designed to improve ultrafast-charging stations in terms of user experience and power, following the line started with the new Raption Compact 160, which was first unveiled earlier in June, in Munich. Stepping up its offerin...

Japanese vehicle manufacturer Isuzu Motors Ltd. plans to build an electric vehicle development and testing facility within its Fujisawa-based plant to accelerate the development of a full lineup of carbon-neutral (CN) compliant vehicles by 2030, the company announced Nov. 29. Isuzu plans to install testing and evaluation equipment at its upcoming research and development (R&D) facility, which is slated to develop systems and components optimized for commercial EVs. The carmaker said that ...

EVgo has announced an expanded partnership with Meijer to install new fast-charging stations in the US Midwest, according to a company press release on Nov. 29. The new stations will feature up to six high-power 350-kW chargers at select Meijer locations in Ohio, US. The extended partnership builds upon the existing relationship between EVgo and Meijer, which has deployed 24 charging stalls at six Meijer locations across Michigan, US, and Ohio. Meijer has offered electric vehicle charging at ...

STMicroelectronics (ST) has introduced the STSAFE-V100-Qi secure element to strengthen privacy and security when charging car occupants’ portable devices. ST also revealed its collaboration with Indie Semiconductor to integrate the new secure element in Indie’s Qi wireless in-car charging reference design, according to a press release on Nov. 29. ST’s new integrated circuit (IC) enables in-car charging to meet the latest Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) specifications, which call fo...

Chinese carmaker Changan’s electric car unit Deepal plans to expand its presence in Europe and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) markets in 2024, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on Nov. 27. The report mentioned that the global expansion strategy is part of Deepal’s aggressive sales targets for 2024. Deepal plans to sell 450,000 electric vehicles globally in 2024, the report said, citing the brand's CEO Deng Chenghao. Disclosing his company’s plans on th...

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor plans to further expand its presence to at least eight new countries in Europe, after commencing its operations in the continent in 2022, according to a news report published by online news portal Electrek on Nov. 27. The report said that the carmaker also plans to set up a new European research and development (R&D) center as it continues to evaluate local production of electric vehicles in the region. The company currently produces cars only in China, ...

German automaker Volkswagen is embarking on cost optimization for a successful transition toward electric mobility, according to a Reuters report on Nov. 28. The company's €10 billion cost-cutting program will include staff reductions, quoting its Brand Chief Thomas Schaefer, who stated that high costs and low productivity are making the company's cars uncompetitive. The company is in negotiations with its works council over the cost-cutting scheme at its VW brand, which is the first step i...

Changan Automobile, a Chinese auto giant, has announced plans to establish a production base in Thailand, with an annual capacity of 100,000 units in the first phase. The facility, which began construction in early November, is expected to be up and running by the first quarter of 2025. Changan aims to use Thailand as a base to enter more Southeast Asian countries and other right-hand drive car markets, CnEVPost reported Nov. 27. The first phase of the production base will introduce mode...

Chinese vehicle manufacturer Dongfeng Motor has entered the Europen market with its premium electric vehicle unit Voyah Automobile, the company said Nov. 27. Dongfeng’s official entry in Europe was marked by the carmaker’s presence at the Fully Charged Live Europe Auto Show, which opened Nov. 24 in Amsterdam. Dongfeng Motor Import and Export Co. Ltd., through Voyah Automobile, is demonstrating its models — Voyah Free and Voyah Dream at the exhibition, marking its Voyah brand’s officia...

Luxury-car maker Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated its first European electric vehicle charging hub in Mannheim, Germany, the company announced Nov. 27. The new charging hub is part of the carmaker’s strategy to set up more than 2,000 of its own EV charging stations worldwide with over 10,000 fast-charging points by the end of this decade. The new Mercedes-Benz EV charging hub is situated in the Rhine-Main-Neckar region in Germany. The region, according to the company, is the one of the most im...

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In an official announcement on Nov. 24, Japanese carmaker Nissan has confirmed that all the three cars it produces at its Sunderland, UK-based factory will be 100% electric. The facility, which Nissan calls the EV36Zero hub and refers to as its blueprint for future manufacturing, will consist of three electric vehicles, three gigafactories and up to £3 billion of investment. The commitment will support Nissan’s 7,000 UK employees and the 30,000 supply chain jobs in the UK, the company said...

Europe's largest vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen has roped in Austria-based contract manufacturer Magna-Steyr to develop and produce two electric vehicle models to be positioned under its US-bound Scout brand, according to a news report published by the German publication Kleine Zeitung on Nov. 23. VW’s Scout range of EVs are expected to debut in the US in early 2027. According to the report, the development work at Magna in Graz, Austria, and the US is already in full swing, and the two...

UK-based Bramble Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the EDAG Group, an independent engineering services provider, to collaborate on a digital integration of its patented printed circuit board fuel cell (PCBFC) into EDAG’s electric vehicle storage platform, Bramble Energy announced Nov. 22. Bramble Energy said that the digital investigation will involve the design of a customized fuel-cell stack as well as the overall system layout fitting the EV platform, which would...

Ovo Energy has successfully completed the acquisition of public electric vehicle charging consumer app Bonnet, the energy supplier announced Nov. 24. Bonnet is a UK public-charging aggregator startup working to accelerate the uptake of sustainable transport. The startup’s groundbreaking technology brings together nationwide public charge point operators into one app. According to the press note, Bonnet is one of the largest public-charging consumer apps with over 80% of the UK’s charge...

Japanese carmaker Nissan plans to produce the electric version of two of its best-selling models at its Sunderland plant in the UK after several months of talks with the government, according to a news report published by Sky News on Nov. 23. According to the report, Nissan plans to build all-new electric Qashqai and Juke models at its Sunderland plant — a decision that is expected to save thousands of jobs at the manufacturing plant. The report added that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a...

Xiaomi has confirmed that its first electric sedan is on track to get into mass production in the first half of 2024 as per the original goal, according to a news report published by Pandaily on Nov. 21. The report cited Xiaomi Group’s President William Lu who spoke to investors and analysts on Nov. 20 on the sidelines of the company’s financial results conference call. The report further mentioned that Xiaomi plans to conduct the second winter test for its first electric cars soon. It...

Mahle announced Nov. 23 that it has developed a positioning system that allows an electric vehicle to be simply, reliably and precisely aligned above the charging coil used in a wireless EV charging system, installed on the floor. The German component supplier said in a statement that SAE International has chosen the Mahle positioning system as the global standard solution for wireless charging. Inductive or wireless charging of EVs is understood to be more convenient as there is no n...

Autel Energy has collaborated with Vattenfall to launch Autel’s first MaxiCharger AC Compact in Europe, it said in a press release dated Nov. 22. The partnership will provide a wide range of users with access to Autel’s electric vehicle charging products in the continent. As part of the collaboration, Autel Energy's Maxicharger AC Wallbox and Maxicharger AC Compact will be deployed in Vattenfall’s charging stations across Germany. The Maxicharger AC Wallbox offers adjustable charging an...

Tesla is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with the Indian government to sell its electric vehicles in India through the Completely Built Unit (CBU) route and set up a manufacturing plant in the country. The plant is expected to be established in one of the three states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which have well-developed ecosystems for making EVs and exporting them, according to a report published by Autocar on Nov. 22. The US-based EV maker is expected to invest a minim...

Electric vehicle charging equipment manufacturer XCharge North America has inaugurated its headquarters and facility in Kyle, Texas, on Nov. 16. The company, which specializes in innovating Level-3 EV chargers and energy storage devices, announced on the same day that it has also launched its battery-integrated EV charger for the US market. Notably, XCharge’s battery-integrated EV chargers are positioned under its "Net Zero Series" product portfolio. The official inauguration ceremony wa...

Xiaomi’s first electric car will be produced by the Chinese state-owned vehicle manufacturer Beijing Automotive Group Co. (BAIC Group), according to a news report published by the website Pandaily on Nov. 15. The report cited a public disclosure made by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which shared model information of the upcoming electric car developed by the consumer electronics major Xiaomi. Citing the publicly available information, the report stated that...

Electric-vehicle maker Tesla announced on its social media handle X on Nov. 22 that it is opening some select Superchargers for all EVs in South Korea. The move comes soon after the EV maker implemented a similar strategy of opening some of its Superchargers to all EVs in Australia and New Zealand. According to a blog post on Teslarati on Nov. 22, the carmaker’s Supercharger map reveals that it has opened several fast-charging stations to non-Tesla EVs in South Korea and that...

The South Indian state of Tamil Nadu has outlined an ambitious plan to achieve a roughly fivefold increase in its currently available 400 electric vehicle charging stations by March 2025, according to a news report published by automotive publication Autocar Professional on Nov. 22. The plan was confirmed by T. R. B. Rajaa, Tamil Nadu's minister for Industries, Investment Promotions and Commerce Department, who recently disclosed the state government’s plan to the publication at a...

Toyota Motor has collaborated with San Diego Gas & Electric Co. (SDG&E) to research vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) using a Toyota bZ4X, it said in a press release on Nov. 14. The research aims to explore bidirectional power-flow technology that enables BEV owners to both charge their vehicles’ batteries from the electric grid and discharge electricity from the batteries back to the grid. The collaboration between SDG&E and Toyota’s Electr...

Tata Power, one of India's largest and leading electric vehicle charging solution providers, has installed EV charging infrastructure along the Chandigarh-Shimla highway in India, covering a total distance of 111 km and addressing the demand for reliable EV charging options on the popular route, the company said in a press note released on Nov. 21. The company said the strategically positioned EZ Charge stations at Hotel Falcon Crest on Chandigarh-Shimla Highway and The Oberoi Cecil, Cha...

Tritium DCFC Ltd., a leading manufacturer and supplier of DC fast chargers for electric vehicles globally, will provide rapid chargers for Wales’ largest EV charging facility, the company announced Nov. 21. These rapid EV chargers will be provided to the National Library of Wales in the UK, the company said, adding that the new charging hub will accommodate 40 EV charging points, including five rapid Tritium 75-kW DC chargers with 10 connectors. With this new charging site, locals, visitors...

ChargePoint, a leading provider of electric vehicle charging networks in the US, announced Nov. 16 that the company has appointed Rick Wilmer as its new president and CEO with immediate effect. In conjunction with the appointment, Wilmer has also joined the ChargePoint board of directors, it added. Wilmer has been serving ChargePoint as the COO since July 2022, where he has been responsible for product management, development, engineering, manufacturing and supply chain, as well as customer e...

Geely’s premium electric car unit Zeekr has opened its first showroom in Stockholm, its first in Europe, and a second store is slated for opening in Amsterdam in December, according to a news report published by the online automotive news portal Electrive on Nov. 20. The report stated that Zeekr plans to open more showrooms in 2024, starting with Germany, as well as begin delivering cars to its customers in Europe simultaneously. It said that the first Zeekr cars for customers in Sweden ...

South Korean electronics major LG Electronics plans to enter the rapidly growing US electric vehicle charger market in 2024 with the introduction of its first line of AC and DC EV charging stations, the company announced Nov. 16. The company plans to enter the US EV charger market with its Level 2 and Level 3 EV charging piles. According to LG Business Solutions USA's Senior Vice President Nicolas Min, the company’s EV chargers will open new opportunities for businesses, municipalities and ...

Fuel retailer Parkland Corp. has secured up to C$210 million from Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to further support the ongoing expansion of its electric vehicle charging network, the company announced Nov. 16. Parkland’s existing EV charging network is mainly located in British Columbia, which has the highest proportion of EV drivers in North America, the company said, adding that its EV charging stations are colocated at its fuel retail sites. Parkland said that its EV charging ...

Wallbox has partnered with Atlante to develop new public charging points in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, with a focus on sustainability and technological innovation, it said in a press release dated Nov. 20. Atlante will install Wallbox's public charger Supernova in its 60-kW and 150-kW versions, strategically positioned along primary transportation arteries, and in parking lots and urban areas. The partnership is part of Atlante's project to install 5,000 charging points by 2025 a...

Infineon Technologies has announced the expansion of its CoolSiC 1,200 V and 2,000 V metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) module families with a new industry-standard package. The 62-mm device is designed in half-bridge topology and is based on the recently introduced and advanced M1H Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFET technology, according to a press release on Nov. 20. The package enables the use of SiC for mid-power applications from 250 kW â€” where silicon reach...

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Swedish electric-vehicle maker Polestar has become the second carmaker in China to get access to Tesla’s Supercharging network, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on Nov. 16. The report cited a company announcement in China. It can be recalled that earlier in November, SAIC-GM, a joint venture between SAIC Motor and General Motors, had recently announced a strategic partnership with Tesla in the world’s largest EV market to get access to the latter’s EV charging network. N...

Power Electronics and Jabil have teamed up to produce DC fast chargers in North America, according to a news report published by online portal Electrive on Nov. 16. The report mentioned that Power Electronics’ DC fast-charger NB400 will be produced at Jabil’s manufacturing facility situated in Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah. The NB400, which delivers up to 400 kW, is is eligible under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI) or NEVI-compliant. The productio...

Tata AutoComp has inaugurated a manufacturing facility for a battery-energy storage system (BESS), Autocar reported Nov. 18. The lithium-ion (Li-ion)-based BESS will be manufactured under its joint venture, Tata AutoComp Gotion Green Energy Solutions. Tata AutoComp will manufacture BESS for Tata Power, which will be deployed in the construction of a 120-MW Energy Storage Park in Chhattisgarh, India. With over 22,000 square feet, the BESS facility will have a capacity of 6 GWh and will se...

Technology company Heraeus has acquired a significant stake in the startup company Zadient, it said in a press release dated Nov. 13. Zadient is a French-German company specializing in Silicon Carbide (SiC) source material and Heraeus considers the market of SiC-base material highly relevant and a suitable addition to its operations. Zadient aims to accelerate its growth through the partnership with Heraeus. “We are very excited to be partnering with an industry leader like Heraeus. Th...

Wallbox has partnered with Sonepar by closing their ninth local partnership with Elektroskandia Sverige in Sweden, the company said in a press release dated Nov. 13. This partnership advances energy transition by granting installers access to user-friendly and efficient charging solutions. Sonepar and Wallbox first partnered in 2022, and has now spread their partnership to the US, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France, Canada, Austria and the Netherlands. Equipped with Wallbox’s exten...

SAIC-GM, SAIC Motor's joint venture with General Motors in China, has partnered with Tesla to get access to the latter’s electric vehicle charging network in the world’s largest EV market, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on Nov. 10. While SAIC-GM will become the first automaker in China to partner Tesla on the EV charging network, the report stated that SAIC-GM will get access to Tesla’s Supercharging network in China by the end of 2023. Citing the company, the ...

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US-based solid-state battery technology company Solid Power Inc. announced Nov. 7 that it has shipped its first A-1 electric vehicle battery cell samples to German premium carmaker BMW to formally enter automotive qualification. The company further stated that the ongoing BMW demo car program deliveries remain on track. Solid Power is also ramping up SP2 electrolyte volume for EV cells and has phased out SP1 production. Regarding the new development, John Van Scoter, president and CEO of S...

Hyundai Mobis has secured an investment of $940 million in loan to establish a new electrification hub in North America, based on its press release dated Nov. 8. The plan is part of Hyundai Mobis’ strategy to expand its global footprint in electric mobility. The announcement came soon after the successful funding for a battery cell joint venture factory in Indonesia last year. Although the company did not disclose the names of its funding providers, it said that the loan was secured after l...

Blink Charging Co., a leading global manufacturer and operator of electric vehicle charging equipment and services, has launched its advanced EQ 200 charger in the UK and Ireland, the company announced Nov. 2. According to the company, the EQ 200 is one of a new generation of vehicle-to-grid (VTG), bi-directional chargers designed to boost the development of an effective EV charging infrastructure and enable the switch from static EV charging to more dynamic and sustainable energy management ...

In mid-October, Nikkei reported that Japanese city Kashiwa is testing a technology that will allow electric vehicles (EV) to recharge wirelessly while being driven on public roads. Japan has joined a growing list of countries in Europe, mainland China and North America, where such projects are underway to gauge the safety, reliability and commercialization aspects of the technology. In the Japanese project, where charging coils have been embedded in the road surface at traffic signals, tests are...

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has selected Virta as its global sustainability and automotive flagship case, recognizing Virta's efforts in accelerating electric mobility, according to a press release dated Nov. 3. Virta will use AWS capabilities to connect electric vehicles to a cutting-edge digital infrastructure, advancing technology. While the shift to electric mobility is important for the reduction of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, concerns about the availability of charging services...

Wallbox NV announced Nov. 6 that it has signed a strategic partnership with one of the UK’s leading electric vehicle (EV)-charging network providers, Osprey. The collaboration will start by expanding Osprey’s current charging network with 125 units of Wallbox’s Supernova DC rapid chargers. Wallbox plans to provide these DC chargers with its WBX care program, offering preventative and corrective maintenance to their Supernova fleet, it said. According to Wallbox, its Supernova ra...

Fastned has unveiled its new station finding app for Android Auto, according to a press release dated Oct. 23. The launch follows its integration with the Apple CarPlay app earlier this year. Fastned has developed its own Android Auto app, which will contribute to an even easier charging experience. Electric vehicle drivers can now find Fastned stations, check the actual pricing and check real-time charger availability directly within their EVs' infotainment system. Android Auto allows Android u...

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. (TPEM) and Jaguar Land Rover PLC (JLR) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the licensing of JLR’s Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform for a royalty fee, Tata Motors Ltd. announced Nov. 2. TPEM and JLR are 100% subsidiaries of Tata Motors. TPEM plans to use JLR’s EMA platform, which includes its electrical architecture, electric drive unit (EDU) and battery pack and manufacturing know-hows for the development of its...

Mercedes-Benz HPC North America LLC (Mercedes-Benz HPC NA) and US-based real estate player Simon have signed a strategic relationship, wherein the carmaker’s electric vehicle charging unit plans to build a network of premium EV charging hubs at Simon’s select destinations in the US and Canada, the two companies announced Nov. 2. Simon has a number of premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations across North America. Mercedes-Benz expects this initiative to further...

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Ford Motor Co. plans to acquire energy-management startup Auto Motive Power (AMP) to boost its electric vehicle charging, battery management and power-conversion technology capabilities, according to a news report published by TechCrunch on Nov. 2. Following the deal and completion of acquisition process, the Los Angeles-based startup will cease to exist, the report said, adding that Ford plans to scoop up the startup’s technology, talent and facility in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., to ad...

Chinese automaker Changan has signed a land purchase agreement with Thailand's industrial estate developer WHA Group to build its new electric vehicle factory in the Southeast Asian country, according to a news report published by Xinhua News Agency on Oct. 26. The EV assembly plant will be spread across an area of 40 hectares and will be located in Thailand's eastern Rayong province, which is part of the country's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Changan’s EV plant is expected to b...

Michigan, US-based automotive component supplier BorgWarner Inc. (BorgWarner) has reported third-quarter 2023 net sales at $3.62 billion, registering a growth of 12% year over year, compared with the net sales of $3.23 billion for the third quarter of 2022, the company announced Nov. 2. The increase was primarily due to higher demand for the company’s products and recoveries from the customers of material-cost inflation. Net earnings slumped to $50 million from $273 million last year. The c...

Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars plans to launch a new business focusing on energy management around electric vehicles. The new business unit will be named Volvo Cars Energy Solutions, the company announced Nov. 2. With the new business, Volvo Cars aims to capitalize on the emerging potential of energy management solutions as global automakers transition to electric mobility. The carmaker said it aims to offer energy storage and charging-related technologies and services under its new business ...

Volkswagen Group brand Elli has launched an intelligent charging solution for electric vehicle fleets across Europe, the carmaker announced Nov. 2. The carmaker said that with its newly launched Elli Fleet Charging solution, the fleet operators in Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria are able to manage and cost-optimize their fleet charging. “After a market introduction phase lasting several months, over 650 German companies and fleet managers are already successfully using Elli’s produ...

Israel’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure plans to set up a total of 707 electric vehicle charging stations on traffic routes and central locations across the country, according to a press note issued by the ministry on Oct. 31. The Fuel and Gas Administration at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has confirmed the winners of the tender for the construction of fast and ultrafast EV charging stations, the ministry said, adding that it plans to allocate about 27.5 million shekels ...

EVgo Inc., one of the leading providers of public fast-charging networks for electric vehicles in the US, announced on Nov. 1 that it plans to take an innovative prefabrication approach to new EV charging station installation, with an aim to cut down the average station installation time in half and save about 15% in station construction costs at eligible sites. According to the company, its innovative prefabrication model further standardizes its construction process and station layout by ut...

Japanese carmaker Subaru Corp. has reached an agreement with US electric-vehicle maker Tesla to adopt the latter’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for the charging ports of its battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) to be launched in North America beginning in 2025, Subaru of America said Nov. 1. “To provide customers with access to the extensive Tesla charging network, Subaru will adopt NACS ports on certain Subaru BEVs launched in North America beginning in 2025 and will continue...

Sharing updates on its electric vehicle charging ecosystem on Oct. 31, Ford Motor Co. said that it is growing its BlueOval Charge Network (BOCN) in North America by 25%, bringing the new network total to more than 106,000 EV chargers. The automaker is now adding three new charge point operators (CPOs) — Blink Charging, Francis Energy and Red E — to its BOCN in North America, offering its customers access to their EV charging points across the US and Canada. Blink Charging, Francis En...

Israel-based extreme fast charging (XFC) battery-technology company StoreDot has confirmed that its silicon-dominant XFC battery cells have successfully passed an extended set of charging profile tests. In a press note issued by the company on Oct. 31, it said results showed that consecutive XFC conditions did not degrade StoreDot's cells, even after 1,000 consecutive XFC cycles — a result that proved the unique characteristics of its 100in5 technology. Elaborating on the same, it said...

China’s largest electric vehicle grid integration pilot project has been put into operation in Wuxi City, which is situated in east China's Jiangsu Province, according to a news report published by Xinhua News Agency on Oct. 25. The pilot project, which is now also open for demonstration, can feed power from 50 EVs (also known as new-energy vehicles [NEVs] in China) into the smart grid at the same time. Citing state power grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., the report said that EV...

Indian electric-vehicle maker Ola Electric has raised about $385 million in its latest funding round, which included about $240 million in debt, according to a news report published by TechCrunch on October 26. The report said that the new financing round values the Bengaluru, India-headquartered EV startup at about $5.4 billion. The funding round was led by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Temasek, while India’s largest bank, the State Bank of India (SBI), provided the debt facility, th...

The European Commission has approved the establishment of a joint venture by Iberdrola SA of Spain, and BP PLC of the UK, under the EU Merger Regulation, the commission updated in a press note on October 27. The commission said that the transaction relates primarily to the markets for installation, operation and maintenance of a public network of electric vehicle charging stations with fast and ultrafast-charging speeds in Spain and Portugal. “The Commission concluded that the notif...

ChargePoint, a leading provider of electric vehicle charging networks in the US, has released a new suite of software solutions aimed at expanding its fleet management product line, the company announced October 26. A new suite of software solutions is available for both mixed fuel and all-electric fleets to streamline their operations as well as lower their total cost of ownership, easing the transition to electric mobility, the company said in its press note on October 26. According to C...

German electric-vehicle maker Next.e.GO Mobile plans to build three new microfactories in Europe and US over the next few years as it looks to expand the production footprint of its small electric cars, according to a news report published by Reuters on October 20. The report cited company CEO Ali Vezvaei, who spoke to Reuters in an interview ahead of its public listing on October 20. Next.e.GO Mobile already has a manufacturing plant in Germany and an upcoming factory that is slated to comme...

A leading electric vehicle charging network provider, ChargePoint, is scaling up the production of the North American Charging Standard (NACS)-compliant EV chargers. In a press note issued on October 19, the company said that it is rolling out the NACS connector support for its AC and DC charging solutions, with much of the lineup to be delivered in November. It plans to begin delivering cable conversion kits for existing DC fast chargers to its customers from November, thereby offering Tesla...

British oil and gas company BP announced October 26 that its electric vehicle charging business BP Pulse has made a $100 million order to Tesla to acquire ultrafast-charging hardware units from the EV maker. While this is the first time that Tesla’s ultrafast EV chargers will be installed in an independent network, BP aims to expand the BP Pulse public network across the US on the back of this deal with Tesla. According to the press note issued by BP, the rollout is planned to begin in 2024...

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The UK government has passed new regulations that will ensure transparent pricing across electric vehicle charging stations, according to a press note issued by the UK Transport Department on October 25. The regulations are also aimed at ensuring that a large proportion of new public EV charging stations offer contactless payment options to the customers. These regulations, which were approved by the members of the UK Parliament on October 24, are expected to provide millions of EV drivers wi...

BMW has started producing the samples of its new cylindrical battery cells at its Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre (CMCC) in Parsdorf, Germany, the carmaker announced October 26. The cylindrical battery cells measure 95 mm tall and have a diameter of 46 mm. BMW said that these new battery cells will be used in its upcoming all-electric Neue Klasse models from 2025. BMW added that its CMCC facility in Parsdorf enables it to span the whole cell value-creation process. The know-how of batter...

British luxury-car marquee Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plans to produce electric vehicles at its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Nitra, Slovakia, as part of the company’s Reimagine Strategy that will see the launch of at least nine new EVs by 2030, the company confirmed October 26. The plan was disclosed by JLR’s Executive Director of Industrial Operations Barbara Bergmeier on the sidelines of the fifth anniversary of the company’s plant in Slovakia on October 26. Notably, JLR has c...

Contemporary Amperex Technology GmbH (CATL), the German subsidiary of the leading Chinese battery-maker CATL, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS are jointly developing models that can predict the lifetime of batteries, according to a press note published by the institute on October 23. The mode, which is being developed at the industrial site in Erfurter Kreuz, Germany, aims to serve as a basis for optimized battery production. The cooperation, which s...

US-based electric vehicle charging network operator EVCS announced October 24 that it has been awarded $1.88 million from the California Energy Commission's (CEC's) Reliable, Equitable, and Accessible Charging for multifamily Housing (REACH) program. EVCS said that it will use the funds to install two DC fast chargers and 245 Level 2 chargers at multiunit dwellings in Southern California, Calif. These EV charging points are aimed at serving low-income and disadvantaged communities, the compan...

The Netherlands-based electric vehicle charging network operator PowerGo plans to install about 1,600 public charging points for EVs in Denmark over the next two years, the company announced October 19. PowerGo said that it has won 16 tenders for the installation of public EV charging stations in Denmark so far. “The latest won tenders are located in the municipalities of Glostrup, Haderslev, Næstved, Rudersdal, Varde, Ballerup, Hillerød, Thisted and Vallensbæk, involving a tot...

Berlin-based battery as a service (BaaS) provider Swobbee has signed a framework agreement with French energy major TotalEnergies to cooperate on the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for light electric vehicles (LEVs), Swobbee announced October 25. Soon after the agreement between the two companies was signed, the first Swobbee station was installed and put into operation at the TotalEnergies gas station at Schöneberger Straße 17 in Berlin-Tempelhof, Germany, the comp...

Allego NV, a leading European public electric vehicle ultrafast-charging network, has partnered with Go’on Gruppen A/S, which is one of Denmark’s largest fuel retailers, to set up 168 fast-charging ports with exclusive access to all 185 of Go’on’s existing stations across the country, Allego announced October 20. According to the press note, Go’on has positioned its fueling stations in smaller cities throughout Denmark, where gasoline fueling stations are less ubiquitous and el...

Electric vehicle charging point operator (CPO) Zero Carbon Charge (ZeroCC) plans to install over 100 ultrafast EV charging stations across South Africa, starting with the rural areas, according to a news report published by Motor Mouth on October 22. It said that these EV charging stations will be able to provide an 80% charge in just 20 minutes and will be powered by renewable energy, making them 100% independent of the grid. The report stated that ZeroCC plans to set up a network of...

The government of Hungary plans to launch an electric vehicle adoption policy with a potential outlay of €156 million in November, according to a news report published by Hungary Today on October 20. The policy will support the adoption of electric cars by equally focusing on the development of a cross-country EV charging network as well as offering incentives to consumers on buying EVs. The report stated that the announcement was made by the Hungarian government’s Minister of Foreign Aff...