E-Mobility

Owners of old Model S and Model X electric vehicles have filed a lawsuit in San Francisco over claims that forced software updates have had negative effects on the performance of the batteries in their vehicles. The updates in question allegedly cut the range on several older Tesla units by up to 20%, causing some to seek out expensive battery replacements. Other owners turned to third parties to restore the original battery range, presumably by flashing an older firmware onto the vehicle's computer.

Tesla is nearing a production run of its new 2023 Model 3 facelift with more streamlined headlights and bumper design as well as a more minimalistic interior. It has applied for taking out some of the present Fremont production lines, indicating that the new Highland refresh launch may be fast approaching.

Ford has launched the E-Tourneo Courier, pitching it as a "multi-activity vehicle" with "distinctive SUV-inspired looks." The E-Tourneo Courier is a five-seater minivan with a 100 kW front-wheel-drive electric motor and DC fast charging. Ford's new electric SUV-minivan will be available from 2024 in Europe, but there's no word yet on US availability.

The Kia EV6 GT has come out on top in a race comparing it to some of its high-performance contemporaries, including the electric Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and ICE BMW M4X Competition. The ~US$62,000 Kia EV6 GT managed to outperform all of its competition, consistently reaching 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds. The EV6 GT seems to be a good alternative to the notably absent Tesla Model Y Performance, claims a 0-60 times of just 3.5 seconds.

The launch dates and pricing of the Decathlon Rockrider E-EXPL 700 and 700S electric mountain bikes have been announced. The bikes, announced in October, feature a 70 Nm motor and 630 Wh battery, with the 700S having a full suspension system. The first new model will arrive later this month, with prices starting from €2,499 (~US$2,719).

The Vietnamese auto company VinFast has announced that all stock of its new VF8 all-electric SUV for sale in the US has now landed in its new market. They come in 2 Eco and Plus SKUs, rated for up to 293 miles of (WLTP) range per charge and 402 horsepower respectively. They will start at just under and over US$50,000 respectively, with additional leasing options.

Samsung has pegged electric vehicles and their batteries as the next growth engine for the company, and may have wiggled into Tesla's supply chain with the Cybertruck's high-res camera set. Samsung's chairman Lee reportedly met with Elon Musk at its semiconductor research center in Silicon Valley last Wednesday.

Even in 2025, electric cars with modern 800V powertrains and fast charging systems will be few and far between, says an industry report. EVs like the KIA EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq will only represent a bit over 12% of the total then, from just 2% now.

An interview with Jeep's CEO has revealed that an all-electric Jeep Wrangler is coming soon to conquer the electric off-road scene. Previously, the Jeep Wrangler Magneto concept vehicles have exemplified just how adept an all-electric Jeep Wrangler could be. The only catch is that we'll have to wait until 2027 for the production Wrangler EV to land alongside the handful of electric models the brand has already released.

The Chinese government has forced Tesla to issue its largest recall in the country so far. The recall in question addresses accidents allegedly caused by driver confusion that seems to be linked to Tesla's one-pedal driving mode — a problem that could be resolved via an OTA update. All of the brand's vehicles in China seem to be subject to the recall, which goes into effect on May 29, 2023.

Honda has announced the e:Ny1 electric compact SUV for the European market. The Japanese marque bills the e:Ny1 as a fun, dynamic ride with a practical range. The e:Ny1 is Honda's second electric vehicle in Europe, serving as a larger alternative to the urban Honda e.

After the massive March and February price drops across the entire Tesla lineup, some of the company's US models have received a price increase, albeit a small one compared to the recent US$10,000 price cuts. The only Tesla to escape the moderate price increases is the Model 3. The Model S and X will cost US$1,000 more, while the Model Y sees a much smaller US$250 increase.

Volkswagen has now announced that its impending ID.7 electric sedan is also coming in GTX form. The newer variant is backed to debut with all-wheel drive and even more performance than the original vanilla model can get out of its platform. It is also slated to stand out with design tweaks that reflect the "intelligent sportiness" of its new suffix.

One of the first Cybertruck VIN numbers that roll off the conveyor belts at Giga Texas this fall will go to one lucky winner of Tesla's newly minted raffle. It is offered as part of Tesla's referral program and allows multiple entries.

Urtopia has unveiled the Chord and Chord X e-bikes in Europe. The electric bicycles have smart features, including a built-in control panel for navigation, fingerprint unlock and an accompanying app. The standard model has a top assistance speed of 20 mph (~32 kph) and up to 120 km (~75 miles) range.

The stalkless steering wheel with capacitive buttons from the Model S refresh is apparently coming to the 2023 Model 3 facelift, too. The car has been snapped with a drone camera over at the Fremont factory and this time part of the interior is clearly visible as well.

Subaru recently released its 2022-2023 financial results in which it revealed that by 2026 its electric lineup will grow to four crossover models. Subaru and Toyota have thusfar been very late to the electric vehicle party, and the pair may lose revenue as a result. Subaru intends to sell 200,000 electric vehicles per year by 2026, with an additional 200,000 units per year of production starting in 2028.

Tesla owners are complaining that the service technicians that work on their cars on unrelated matters are removing the radars that their cars came with. They cite reasons as varied as power consumption or water ingress for the service bulletin from Tesla that mandates they remove the parts from customer vehicles.

The 4680 battery production facilities that Tesla is building or expanding to make enough cells for the Cybertruck received a new sense of urgency as Panasonic said its own 4680 manufacturing start may be delayed with 6 months. Panasonic is now scheduled to begin mass 4680 cell production by next September.

Cybertruck? More like Cyber stuck. The custom Cybertruck Elon Musk drove to Tesla's lithium plant unveiling appears to have gotten stranded in the mud on the side of a rural Texas road shortly after the event. Images of the recovery's aftermath reveal that the truck had to face some very adverse conditions to get out.

In addition to very low winter temperatures, battery-powered vehicles may also run into issues when they are operated in extremely high ambient temperatures. Therefore, Tesla has now shared an interesting video on YouTube that shows the rigorous testing of the Model Y and its other electric vehicles in the UAE.

The expensive high-performance 150 kWh battery with hybrid solid-liquid electrolyte that NIO originally announced with its powerful ET5 and ET7 electric sedans is nearing release and will be used in more of its vehicles. NIO has filed to use the semi solid-state battery in an electric SUV, likely the EC7, too.

Tesla was forced to deny a report that it will start production of the 2023 Project Highland Model 3 refresh on June 1 at the Shanghai Gigafactory. Meanwhile, BYD outed a facelift of the Model 3's main competitor - the Seal sedan - that is cheaper and offers more range bang for the buck.

Decathlon has released the 2023 Rockrider E-ST 100 e-MTB in the EU. The bike has the same battery and motor as its predecessor, assisting you at speeds up to 25 kph (~16 mph). Upgrades include Bluetooth connectivity from the handlebar-mounted control panel and a 0.6 kg (~1.3 lbs) reduction in weight.

ENGWE has launched the L20 e-bike in the US and Europe. The US model has a 750W motor and a top assistance speed of 25 mph (~40 kph), while the UK/EU model has a 250W motor for a 25 kph (~16 mph) top speed. Both models can travel up to 90 miles (~140 km) between charges.

One of the best sellers in Romania and slated for arrival in the UK next year, the Dacia Spring is now facing some charging unit-related issues. Over 1,700 units could be affected by what seems to be a software bug that could cause a dashboard alert and, in the end, prevent the car from starting.

Hyundai's N Vision 74 Rolling Lab has apparently received the go-ahead for production. A Korean news publication claims that Hyundai will announce its production intentions on May 27. The retro-inspired N Vision 74 was a big hit with fans when Hyundai unveiled the concept car back in 2021, and it took a lot of inspiration from the 1974 Pony Coupe.

Alpine has shared details about its A290_ẞ (A290_beta) compact hot hatch that is set to launch in 2024 and compete with the likes of the Golf GTI, Abarth 500e, and Mini Cooper SE. The A290_ẞ is a dual-motor front-wheel-drive sporty hatchback concept based on the Renault 5, but with a few unique design cues and a central driver's seat.

Fisker's Ocean crossover has received a major makeover thanks to 33-inch wheels, a suspension upgrade, and underbody protection for improved off-road performance. The package will be available for any all-wheel-drive Ocean SUVs by the end of 2023.

FREEDARE has announced that it will bring its new option in electrified mobility to Indiegogo later in May 2023. The start-up describes it as "the world's first smart fat tire e-bike", which seems to mean the multi-terrain IP5X two-wheeler comes with battery management, theft detection and route-planning via its own smartphone app. Its range, comfort and early-bird prices are also now being hyped ahead of its debut.

The DTRe Stella electric flat-tracker motorcycle features an 11 kW motor and is available as both a street version with all the necessary road-going equipment and a stripped-back, dirt-ready version for weekend fun. A 3 kW external charger takes the batteries on the Stella to 100% in just over an hour. Topping out at just 101 kg (~223 lbs), the Stella is aimed squarely at the weekend warrior rather than the daily commuter.

The VanMoof S4 and X4 e-bikes have been revealed; the bicycles are launching in the US and EU in May and will arrive in the UK in June. The new models have a top assistance speed of 20 mph (~32 kph) and can travel up to 87 miles (~140 km) on a single charge. You can control various features via an app, and anti-theft tools include GSM location tracking and a rear wheel lock.

Tesla is releasing the latest FSD Beta v11.4 update to employees and Elon Musk said that the changes are so numerous that it should really be called v12. The FSD Beta v12, however, will be 'end to end AI,' while Tesla is mulling an FSD trial option.

Tesla's investments in Texas just grew with the largest refinery for EV battery-grade lithium in North America. Elon Musk rode the Cybertruck to announce the long-rumored refinery on the Gulf Coast, and said that it will be ready to make lithium for the batteries of one million electric vehicles next year.

Qualcomm has announced that it intends to augment its vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology by acquiring the company Autotalks, a company with "expertise" in the same area. The chip-maker intends to enhance its Snapdragon Digital Chassis chips with new safety solutions, which might find buyers such as Volkswagen.

The first Fisker Ocean electric SUV has been delivered just weeks after the company started to ramp up production. Fisker plans to produce over 40,000 units of its Ocean SUV in 2023, just two years after the unique electric vehicle was announced in 2021.

The 33-year-old Adam Michael Fresquez approached the shooter sitting in his Tesla at a full Supercharger station, and was first maced then shot several times after an altercation. Upon leaving the scene in another Tesla, the perpetrator called 911 and turned himself in, but an investigation if the argument was over a charging stall is still ongoing.

Tesla's Gigafactory in Berlin has started production of new Model Y versions, both in terms of battery supplier, and when it comes to the colors the electric SUV is available in. The Midnight Cherry Red Model Y has made a cameo, as is a standard range version with the safer BYD blade LFP battery.

Ford will open up orders for the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck on May 9, 2024. No reservation will be required, and customers can place an order online or at their local Ford dealership with a deposit securing the order. Not all is rosy, though, as Ford has sold out of the 2023 F-150 Pro trim, and dealership allocation is limited.

The specs for the leaked 2024 Mini Cooper Electric have been officially announced, and range numbers for Mini's exciting hot hatch have almost doubled. In contrast to the previous Cooper's 145-mile rating, the 2024 Cooper SE's 248-mile range is very promising.

Whenever the topic of electric vehicles comes up, fledgling automotive brand Tesla is bound to make an appearance. The company has made a name for itself in the last decade or so by delivering practical electric vehicles that many thought impossible. As Tesla grew, though, it made some errors that could easily have spelled disaster for any other car maker.

A new Twitter teaser from Tesla shows the Model S Plaid ripping around a track, reaching speeds in excess of 200 mph. The Model S Plaid launched with a top speed of 163 mph that was later upped to 175 mph via the addition of Track Mode. Previously, Elon Musk revealed that the only way to safely get the Plaid to its originally promised 200 mph limit was with ceramic brakes.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has completed its updated tests on the 2023 Rivian R1S and given the vehicle its Top Safety Pick+ award. It is the only large luxury SUV to receive the award in 2023 so far. The Rivian R1T received the same award earlier this year, as did the Tesla Model Y.

A report from Germany indicates that Giga Berlin will soon start producing Model Y units furnished with batteries from BYD. There have been a number of rumours and leaks indicating that Tesla and BYD were working together to bolster Tesla's supply chain, despite the competitive nature of the automotive industry. Tesla has had notoriously long wait times

April 2023 saw changes to US federal tax incentives for EV buyers. Although it still offers up to US$7,500 in tax credits, there are limitations on weight, MSRP, and country of assembly that dramatically reduced the number of qualifying vehicles. Here are three EVs that qualify for the updated 2023 clean vehicle credits.

Tesla has re-introduced the Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive Model 3 Long Range on the US design page. Changes to the vehicle's rated range and pricing make for a confusing package that makes the Model Y look particularly good.

Fisker just announced a partnership with battery provider Ample that aims to produce Fisker vehicles powered by Ample swappable batteries, starting with business and fleet customers. The partnership aims to deliver its first Ample-powered Fisker Ocean vehicles by the first quarter of 2024. Tesla, on the other hand, seems to have forgotten about battery swapping altogether.

The total battery capacity that EV makers gobbled up globally has reached the whopping 133 GWh in Q1, and BYD is now the second largest battery maker after it widened a lead with Tesla's supplier LG. That's an year-on-year increase of nearly 40% in installed EV battery capacity compared to the same first quarter.

Ford accepted the Tesla EV price war challenge and cut the Mustang Mach-E tag for the second time as it expects US$3 billion in losses this year while it scales up its electric vehicle production. Unlike GM, it will keep the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto infotainment systems support in its vehicles.