E-Mobility

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.

SUPER73 has announced that it is working on its first ever motorcycle - however, like its current line of distinctive bikes, this C1X will be electric. The OEM touts it as a ground-breaking project in that it combines the best features of both vehicle types - with fast charging and LED lighting to boot. Its current prototype is backed to lead to a market-ready version in the near future.

Depending on where you live, the Chevrolet Bolt is either the cheapest or one of the cheapest electric vehicles available. Unfortunately, Chevrolet is discontinuing the Bolt and Bolt EUV at the end of 2023, meaning buyers will have to look elsewhere for an EV that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. A look at the competition shows why the US$27,000 Bolt has been such a hit.

J.D. Power recently released the April Automotive Sales Outlook report for the US, revealing a decline in electric vehicle market share between February and March 2023. EV adoption is still up slightly year-over-year, despite an increase in EV hesitancy thanks to a lack of charging infrastructure.

Chinese EV maker NIO has released its April delivery report, which reveals a staggering 31% year-over-year increase in EV deliveries. The company has delivered 37,699 vehicles in 2023, of which 6,658 were in April. During Q1, 2023, Tesla delivered 106,915 vehicles in China alone.

Tesla owners with the new 2023.12.1.1 software update can now answer or mute calls directly from the left scroll wheel, or take in Zoom meetings with video from the interior camera. The scroll wheel actions can now also be customized in all directions from the Controls > Display > Scroll Wheel Function menu in Settings.

Tesla appears to have suspended orders for its Model X and S vehicles in some right-hand-drive markets, with no indication of when availability will return. The auto maker has not made any public statements about why orders are suspended, but speculation suggests that recent price cuts are to blame.

The grip over battery raw materials and supply chain that China has results in 20% cost advantage before other efficient EV makers like Tesla, according to NIO's chief. He confirmed that NIO may launch its rumored Firefly mass market EV globally next year.

While the average Texan pays US$71 in annual gas taxes, electric vehicle owners in the Lone Star state will have to shell out US$200 per year if a Texas House bill is ratified by Governor Abbott. This record annual EV levy may be a harbinger of things to come for electric cars that have been exempt from road taxes despite their heavier weight.

Tesla's main competitor BYD reported 400% rise in profits compared to the same quarter last year and a gross margin very near to what Tesla reported for Q1. It just released its first mass market electric vehicle, the US$14,000 BYD Seagull that can go for more than 200 miles on a charge.

Daimler Truck North America, BlackRock and NextEra Energy Resources have partnered to create Greenlane, which will develop a charging network to power electric freight vehicles. The joint venture will invest over US$650 million in charging infrastructure along key freight routes. The network will also feature hydrogen refuelling stations.

The 2023 Kia EV6 is an ode to excess and something of a hit in the electric car community. There are a number of things that make the performance EV stand out in the growing electric SUV segment and make it a surprisingly well-rounded vehicle, especially given its comparatively high US$48,700 price tag.

MG has continued its foray into the EV space with the Comet, a car that aims to "keep it real" with a build and specs to match its relatively tiny price-tag. The 2-door vehicle supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but lacks amenities such as fast charging, heated seats or even particularly extensive range.

CrossCheck When Tesla announced the CyberTruck all those years ago, it set off an electric pickup revolution. Unfortunately, the US EV maker lost its early-mover advantage by postponing the actual production launch by almost five years. The projected 2023 launch means Tesla will have to compete against the likes of the Ford-F150 — currently the most popular electric pickup truck available.

Tesla's Automatic Emergency Braking safety system will be working at much greater speeds up to 200 km/h (about 125 miles per hour) with the newest 2023.12.1 update that also brought a much needed fix for the windshield wiper speed. Not only that, but Tesla will also let AEB control the brakes while driving in reverse, too.

The same electric vehicle with solid-state battery would weigh below the threshold for mechanical parking ban, according to Samsung's solid-state battery development team in a new presentation. While weight and safety are the biggest advantages, production costs are a major concern for now.

Toyota's future electric vehicles could use batteries from Tesla supplier LG, including cylindrical 4680-style ones. LG will form a joint venture over a 20 GWh battery factory in the US to serve Toyota's big vehicle electrification push, and make its EVs eligible for federal subsidies.

Tesla vehicle prices on the second-hand market are no longer in the freefall caused by Elon Musk's incessant cutting strategy and the federal tax credit bonanza. Model 3 and Model Y prices on the used car market have now stabilized, and they have ultimately dropped less than the tags of luxury automakers like Lexus or Mercedes.

There's a lot to love about electric vehicles, but some manufacturers seem to have taken the EV revolution as an opportunity to turn up the dial on some of the automotive industry's worst ideas. From misleading marketing and proprietary technology, to potentially dangerous in-vehicle distractions, there are a number of things that should probably be addressed.

Garmin has introduced the Varia eRTL615 as its first rear-view radar specifically designed for e-bikes. It can detect vehicles as far away as 150 yards (or 140 meters (m)), to alert the rider in a number of ways, smartphone alerts included. The latest Varia-series device also integrates a tail-light with four different lighting patterns, and plugs directly into a compatible bike for battery-independent power.

Electric vehicles have clearly boomed in popularity in the past few years, with many new companies and most established marques fighting to get a slice of the pie. With the market maturing, it seems more and more like EVs are the right choice for most car shoppers in 2023.

"Greater efficiency than a Prius, performance of a Porsche" is the tagline for Tesla's electric vehicles, and the bestselling Model Y has now become cheaper than the average new vehicle in the US even before the federal tax credits. Tesla also touts its efficiency, saying that the Model Y can go for the record 4 miles per kWh of battery capacity.

37 EV models, some of which are the most popular electric vehicles in the world's largest car market, will gain access to Tesla's Supercharger network, much to the chagrin of current Tesla EV owners in China. Electric vehicles from Tesla's frenemy BYD, as well as NIO, XPeng, Polestar, and others, will be able to top up at Tesla Superchargers.

CrossCheck Not everyone will be cross-shopping the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Ioniq 6, but the similarity in names makes it easy to think they're similar vehicles. The Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 are both built on the same platform, but there are three vital differences that might make you choose one over the other.

Tesla has fixed one of the most annoying issues about its bestselling Model Y and Model 3 EVs - the erratic windshield wiper behavior in automatic mode - by introducing good ol' physical wiper control. Its new software update finally lets drivers use button and scroll wheel to control the Model 3 and Model Y wiper speed.

ENGWE has discounted its new P26 e-bike in the US, UK and EU. You can save up to US$350 on the commuter model, with deals at the ENGWE store and Amazon. While the EU variant has a 250W motor for a top assistance speed of 16 mph (~25 kph), the US variant has an 800W engine delivering speeds up to 28 mph (~45 kph).

A power cell that can reportedly last for the lifespan of an 18-wheeler has been announced by the battery innovators from Northvolt. Created in cooperation with Scania trucks, the cell could eventually last 1.5 million kilometers before degradation sets in, or the life cycle of the big rig itself, replacing diesel as a fuel in the process.

Off-road motorcycles are almost a perfect application for electric bikes — precise throttle control, simplicity, and buckets of torque are boons on the trail, and the range demands aren't as high as road bikes. Yet, electric motorcycles aren't nearly as popular as electric cars. That said, here are some of the best electric options in the off-road world.

In a court ruling that sets a precedence for other car crashes with active Tesla Autopilot in the defendant's corner, the driver-assist feature has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Driver negligence was deemed the cause of the crash, and the jurors were adamant that the Model S gave plenty of indications it is not a self-driving car.

The Tesla Model 3 is one of the company's most popular cars, but there are still plenty of issues with the vehicle. Common owner complaints include build quality issues and ridiculously long repair wait times. Not to mention the company's controversial CEO, anti-right-to-repair policies, or the many recalls that Tesla has had to issue over the years. Fortunately you don't have to buy a Tesla to enjoy electrification.

The first electric cars with sodium-ion battery from CATL will be made by Chery, as BYD also readies its own Na-ion cells for mass production this year, probably in the Seagull. The cheap and safe sodium-ion batteries offer much longer lifespan but also lower energy density than lithium batteries.

Segway is now selling the KickScooter GT2P in the EU. The electric scooter has 1WD or 2WD options, producing a top speed of 70 kph (~43 mph) and a 0 to 48 kph (~30 mph) time of under four seconds. You can travel up to 90 km (~56 miles) on a single charge and control various settings via an app.

Yadea asserts that its ElitePrime is the best alternative to sitting in traffic with a motor estimated to be 140% stronger, and a battery capacity 23% greater, than the "average" electric scooter. Accordingly, it is hyped to go further and possibly faster, even 30-degree hills, compared to its rivals on the market. It has been released to Indiegogo at early-bird prices that might be a significant discount on its eventual retail price.

Falling lithium prices may translate into lower Cybertruck price when it launches in September indeed. Tesla confirmed it will decrease the production cost of the Cybertruck's 4680 battery by building its own lithium refinery on the Gulf Coast, as well as its own cathode facility at Giga Austin.

Acer has presented the ebii SmartBike, an E-bike with up to 110 km of range and advanced anti-theft protection. While Acer has now announced launch pricing for its new E-bike, the ebii SmartBike will not be orderable until September.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is now the cheapest electric SUVs one can get in the US with fast charging, as it became the first EV from a foreign automaker to qualify for the government's full US$7,500 tax credit. With it, the ID.4 Standard crossover model price goes just above US$30,000.

With the front of a Toyota Tundra, a RAM 1500 concept barn door at the back, and Tesla Cybertruck naming, GWM's new CyberPickup seems to poach a little bit of truck inspiration from everyone. With the exception of the crazy 6x6 drivetrain, that is.

In an auto show full of performance EVs and hulking electric off-roaders, visitors piled up to see the new BYD Seagull that offers up to 252 miles of range on a charge for just $14,000. The Seagull is powered by BYD's innovative blade battery packaging with iron phosphate cells, just like the Tesla Model 2 would be.

The world's largest EV battery maker just unveiled the promised condensed cell breakthrough that will lead to the highest energy density battery in mass production. At up to 500 Wh/kg, the new Condensed Battery features a number of innovations as it is meant for electric planes and high-performance EVs.

Tesla's base models now start from less than US$40,000, as an immediate reaction to the loss of the federal tax credit privilege. Built with Chinese LFP batteries, the RWD versions are ineligible for the full $7,500 subsidy amount, so Tesla cut prices for the sixth time in a short while.

Aside from the Tesla Model Y and Porsche Panamera, the top five of the most-recalled vehicles in the US also includes the three other EVs made by the American automaker, which supposedly will be affected by 14 times as many recalls as the average car.

MediaTek has announced that its flagship Dimensity line of mobile SoCs has gone Auto with a new range of computing solutions for next-gen vehicles. It challenges Qualcomm's latest offerings for the same industry pretty directly, purporting to cover the needs of the "smart cockpit" and connectivity on the road as well as automatic driver assistance systems (ADAS), delivered through the OEM's cutting-edge architecture.

The Toyota bZ Sport Crossover and bZ FlexSpace concept electric vehicles have been revealed. Images of the BEVs show interior details, including steering yokes and curved or holographic infotainment systems. Toyota has also suggested that the vehicles will feature intelligent driver assistance tools.

A Tesla confirmation has added the deadly fire truck incident to the list of situations during which the electric car's driver-assist functions like Autopilot may have been active at the time of the crash. The nighttimе incident resulted in the death of the Model S driver and first responders had to cut the EV to take it away from underneath the damaged fire truck.

Volkswagen has finally announced full specs, configuration options and launch dates for the ID.7 today (April 17, 2023). The all-electric sedan aims for the upper mid-range of the automotive market with a new power unit for increased output and torque, fast charging and a quality-focused interior with an enlarged infotainment screen and a Harman Kardon-tuned sound system.

Tesla's compact Model Y copy that will be its first cheap mass market electric car may be further ahead in the production planning stages than thought. The new Gigafactory in Mexico will have a whole new production line dedicated to its assembly which will start operations next year.

Tesla has resolved the 'pinching' windows NHTSA recall issue with a software update and some of the solutions are now activated on the server side. The Close Windows on Lock function as well as the Vent and Close options in the Tesla app are again active to allow control of your windows remotely.

When it saw the Ford F-150 Lightning last year, Tesla reportedly went back to the drawing board for the Cybertruck and tried to match Ford's big Mega Power frunk feature. While this has only been a rumor so far, now the Cybertruck's frunk has been snapped open in the wild to confirm it.

DiDi Global is one of the best-known sources of ride-hailing on Chinese streets. Now, it has announced its intention to give its service a next-gen overhaul by putting its own self-driving taxi on those roads in the near future. The vehicle's current concept integrates a lot of LiDAR, radar and cameras to deliver its autonomous functions.

In the final stage of testing before the Cybertruck launch in the summer, Tesla is going down to the minute details such as the performance of the giant single windshield wiper. The wiping monstrosity has been caught on video in a spray test against what looks like a small wind tunnel.