E-Mobility

Tesla touts its first Cybertruck electric pickup as 'durable and rugged enough to go anywhere,' and that claim has now been put to tests that are sometimes too extreme.

Thanks to the recent off-road update, the Tesla Cybertruck now has the ability to lock front and rear differentials, making it a beast for high-traction pulling. In a recent tractor pull event, the Cybertruck emerged victorious in the 2500-class, dominating diesel-powered pickup trucks.

CheckMag I spoke with Brian R Lyons of TMNA Toyota Motor Corp North America about the implementation of Linux in Toyota and Lexus infotainment systems. Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) is a version of Linux being used by several automotive manufacturers.

Electric bicycle maker, Velotric, is running a sale on a number of its e-bikes. The Velotric Packer 1 is on sale for 22% off during the sale. The electric cargo bike features a 750 W custom hub motor and a 25 mph (ca. 40 km/h) top speed.

BYD is preparing to enter the Canadian electric vehicle market, which could significantly impact the sector and attract federal scrutiny due to potential tariffs on Chinese EV imports. Lobbyists for BYD have registered with federal and Ontario governments to advise on market entry and tariff issues. Although the launch details remain unclear, BYD has been meeting with Canadian dealers and plans to introduce passenger EVs in Canada soon.

Paraplegic Kevin Piette has walked with the Olympics 2024 torch while wearing the Wandercraft Atalante X exoskeleton. The 36-year-old exoskeleton pilot had an accident 11 years ago that left him unable to use his legs. Piette is an exoskeleton pilot working at Wandercraft to help develop assistive technologies for the disabled.

Tesla might be on the way to match the 4680 battery production costs that its own suppliers are able to achieve by mastering the pivotal dry electrode production method.

Over 1.8 million Tesla cars in the United States are said to be incapable of detecting whether the front hood is snapped into place fully or not, posing a safety risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) disclosed this information on Tuesday, July 30 highlighting the importance of installing the software update that fixes the issue ASAP.

Outdoor gear maker Arc-teryx and startup Skip have unveiled the MO/GO exoskeleton trousers, which use powerful motors and carbon fibre braces to boost leg strength while hiking on inclined terrain or climbing stairs, relieving up to 30 lbs (13.5 kg) of weight. Weighing just 7 lbs, MO/GO runs for over 3 hours or 5-6 miles. Although still in final development, it can be pre-ordered now and will cost $5000 upon launch.

The South Pasadena Police Department expects that the move to an all-electric patrol car fleet will save taxpayers $400,000 per car over a 10-year period on gas alone.

A major investigation that involved taking apart salvaged Tesla FSD computers and hacking their chips to extract raw Autopilot data reveals how questionable self-driving system decisions can lead to deadly accidents.

Tesla has posted a render of the future Semi Factory along with a photo of the current stage of the construction of this cutting-edge facility. The company had previously stated an intention to start mass production of the Semi electric truck in 2025.

Lead Tesla Cybertruck engineer, Wes Morrill, has revealed that the upcoming range extender for the vehicle must be installed by Tesla technicians for safety reasons. This means it will not be a portable accessory that owners can easily install or remove whenever they want. While the range extender will significantly increase the car’s range, there is little doubt that the benefits come with certain trade-offs.

When personal electronics OEM Xiaomi launched its first ever electric car, it conservatively predicted that it would be able to ship 100,000 of them by the end of 2024. Now, the company is said to believe that it will hit that target far earlier than it imagined, even though it has just taken one of its vehicular production lines offline.

Tesla started selling dedicated microphones for in-car karaoke sessions and now offers multicolor ambient lighting retrofits to willing owners of select vehicle batches made in Giga Shanghai.

With Tesla's stock down 12% since the earnings reveal, Elon Musk's big bet on robotaxis and a ride-share service may not pay off, according to NIO.

Tesla's FSD v12.5 update for the Cybertruck now has a rollout timeframe - sometime in August. Confirmed by Elon Musk on July 28th during an X takeover event livestream, v12.5 will upgrade autonomous driving with a single neural network for city navigation and enhanced driver monitoring. Beyond core features, the update has some user-centric improvements like climate control, headlights, and entertainment.

Although the Tesla Cybertruck has been lambasted for its shorter range when towing heavy loads, the electric pickup truck fared quite well in a torturous towing test at altitude that pushed the Ford F-150 Tremor with the 3.5L Ecoboost engine to its thermal limit.

BYD has initiated the delivery process for its luxury electric vehicle, the Yangwang U9. Priced at 1.68 million yuan ($), the U9 has impressive performance specifications, including a top speed of 309.19 km/h (mph) and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 2.36 seconds. The vehicle's interior has sleek carbon fiber accents. To address potential delivery delays, BYD has implemented a points-based compensation system.

Green Navy's Prometeo, first appearing in a June 7 press release, is the first catamaran in Europe to be powered by electro-hydrogen propulsion. This vessel marks a key step towards decarbonizing maritime transport. By combining electric propulsion with hydrogen fuel cells, Prometeo offers zero-emission, silent, and efficient operation. The catamaran is designed for both passenger and cargo transportation and is expected to be commercially available in spring 2025.

The Cybertruck is made of stainless steel and needs specialized products to clean its surface, including to remove the tiny so-called 'rust' spots that sometimes form on it.

Huawei's liquid-cooled supercharging technology performed impressively in extreme temperatures. Rigorous testing in the Turpan region (China), known for its intense heat, showcased the system's ability to maintain low noise levels while achieving high charging efficiency. The technology's advanced cooling system and precise temperature control algorithms are key factors in its success, Huawei claims.

The Trek Slash+ features the same aggressive geometry, high-pivot suspension, and top-notch equipment that makes the regular Slash such an iconic enduro race machine, but packs a quiet, lightweight, 50 Nm motor and 580 Wh battery for hours of pedal assist. Contrary to DJI's new powerful, lightweight eMTB, the Slash+ is meant to still feel like a regular mountain bike but open doors to longer trail days.

The viral trend of wrapping Supercharger guns in wet towels, presumably to increase their charging rate, has now been disproved by Tesla, and it warns against the practice.

Samsung has been shipping its solid-state battery with high energy density to electric vehicle makers, but warns that it will first land in more expensive models. It is also ready to deliver other promising battery technologies.

Tesla says that it has managed a dramatic increase in 4680 battery production, possibly saving the project from potential cancellation. The controversial Cybertruck is currently Tesla's only EV that runs on 4680 cells, but a successful 4680 production ramp could mean cheaper Model Y and Model 3 EVs down the line.

While Tesla can't homologate the Cybertruck for sale in Europe, some enterprising buyers have found a way to modify it to comply with local registration standards.

Porsche seems to have made significant gains in range for the 2025 Porsche Taycan. The EV now offers more than 300 miles on a single charge thanks to higher capacity cells and other efficiency improvements.

Tesla claims it has almost completed the development process of the next-gen Roadster EV, despite nearly seven years having passed since the electric sports car was announced. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, says the company is still working on additional features, and that the car will be “something special,” adding that it should enter production “next year.”

Cybertruck owners may have to wait for the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) option to land on their vehicles, as Elon Musk confirmed Tesla is pushing the v12.5 update to the Model Y first.

Navee’s Electric Scooter S60 is now available via third-party retailers in some EU countries. According to the brand’s website, the scooter’s design was inspired by Tesla’s Cybertruck. Features include a powerful motor, dual suspension and an accompanying app for journey information and controls.

Boasting a team of former Lyft, Apple, Google, and Facebook engineers with experience in autonomous technology projects, Vayu Robotics has just introduced the world's first on-road delivery robot that takes advantage of AI foundation models with affordable passive sensors instead of a LIDAR system.

During Tesla's earnings call, Elon Musk seemingly pulled forward the release of a 'more affordable model,' previously known as the Model 2. The launch has now moved from an alleged Q4 2025 timeframe, to the first half of next year.

While Elon Musk said that Tesla will have to make the Cybertruck design inferior to get it approved for sale in Europe in 2025, some enterprising owners have found ways to register the American version there already.

Decathlon has reduced the price of the BTWIN LD 920 E Electric City Bike, featuring an automatic transmission. The model is currently discounted in countries including the UK and the EU, though there are some issues with stock levels. Features of the model include an Owuru motor, suspension fork and various connectivity options.

Tesla's Cybertruck has come to Fortnite and Rocket League and can be had for free in Fortnite after a series of quests. It is destined to get into vehicular mayhem despite its 'bulletproof' stainless steel body.

Decathlon has listed the new Neomouv Allegria 2 e-bike in one European country. The model has many of the same features as the original version, though the battery is now integrated into the bike’s frame. Other features include a mid-mounted motor, a handlebar-mounted LCD and many accessories.

On a mission to showcase the kind of work pickup that Tesla's Cybertruck could be, one farmer has been using its 123 kWh battery output to operate a plasma cutter and weld rusty pipes.

Farasis Energy just announced a breakthrough in battery tech, successfully testing cells designed to last a staggering million miles over 15 years. Numbers such as these exceed industry standards. The company's NCM chemistry and rigorous testing claims to deliver exceptional performance and longevity — something that commercial electric vehicles can greatly benefit from. These cells are already being mass-produced for high-end EVs.

Tesla has increased prices for the Model S and X EVs in North America. The price increase has hit the Canadian Model S the hardest as the electric sedan has noted more than double the increase of its US counterpart when taking into account the current exchange rate.

Tesla has a whirlwind of deals and promotional incentives going on at the moment, mostly designed to boost Q2 shipments.

Ferrari tested the drivetrain of its first SUV on the Levante chassis of its Maserati subsidiary, and is now spotted doing the same with its first pure electric vehicle that is expected to cost north of $500,000.

From Hell's Gate for demonstration of the locking differentials' abilities, to pressurizing the battery for a speedy river crossing, the Cybertruck Off-road Mode gets a thorough overview.

The most recent test of a Tesla-powered VW Bug built to tackle Pikes Peak sees the lightweight custom EV attack a drag strip with all 738 HP from its dual Tesla Model S P100D motors. After all is said and done, the electric Beetle was able to complete a 1/4-mile in under 11 seconds, with 0-60 mph times of under 3 seconds.

Yesterday, in the Lei Jun Annual Speech 2024, Lei Jun (the Xiaomi CEO) announced the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype as a light-weight high-performance vehicle which is scheduled to enter production in 2025. He also said Xiaomi is aiming to have the fastest 4-door EV in the next 10 years.

It looks as though Volvo's flagship electric SUV, the EX90, will be missing some major features when deliveries start, including quality of life features, like Apple CarPlay, Plug & Charge, and bidirectional charging functionality. It's unclear when the features will arrive on the EX90.

Tesla's pricey Cybertruck currently can't take advantage of the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) option, and will only be getting FSD with the 12.5 update that is now testing at Chuck’s Unprotected Left Turn.

Every color of the Model 3 Performance can now fit in the tax credit eligibility bracket with Tesla's new FSD purchase deal.

The BYD Seal impressed the American EV enthusiast with its high-quality interior, which can supposedly compete with the luxury that is offered by the Model S and not the similarly priced Tesla Model 3.

Ford appears to be developing a hub-motor driven F-150 Lightning to challenge the Cybertruck's recent rise to popularity. Spy photos of a heavily camouflaged F-150 Lightning reveal what appears to be a set of hub motors and a heavy payload, indicating a possible Lightning Super Duty.