E-Mobility

Tesla is bringing back the Park Assist option that disappeared when it removed the ultrasonic parking sensors from its new vehicle batches to save US$114 per car on the kit. Unfortunately, the new parking helper that works via the Tesla Vision camera set seems to only be available to those who paid for the FSD Beta add-on.

Tesla vehicles with the new Hardware 4.0 FSD kit have much wider field of view for less creeping at unprotected turns as the repeater camera can see almost 90 degrees to the side. The new kit comes just in time for the wider FSD v11 update release that is rolling to the general Tesla driving public this weekend.

Himiway has revealed its 2023 electric bicycle line-up. The three new models are the Pony, the Rambler and the Rhino. The Pony is a mini folding bike, and the Rambler is a commuter model. The range-topping Rhino is an electric mountain bike with a range of up to 100 miles (~161 km).

Samsung, which counts VW, GM, BMW, and Volvo among its EV battery clients, will start work on the trendy LFP and solid-state battery technologies. The LFP cells will be pivotal for the move to cheap mass market electric vehicles like the VW ID.2all or the Tesla Model 2.

The first Supercharger station with the new taller stalls with longer cable that facilitates charging of all electric vehicle makes and models is already operational. Despite being housed in V3 cabinets, the new stalls can deliver 615A current at 1000V DC as they offer more ergonomic parking bay placement.

Volkswagen is getting back to its roots as the people's car company with a cheap and compact US$26,400 mass market ID.2ALL electric vehicle. With the price of a Polo but the size of a Golf, the hot hatch will be able go for 280 miles on a charge when it is released in 2025.

The next generation of Tesla Superchargers will have design advantages before the current crop of V2 and V3 Superchargers. The first stalls will become operational this month and they reveal much longer cables and better parking bay placement or charging non-Tesla vehicles.

Kia will be releasing the first big mass market electric SUV with three rows of seats in the US later this year and the EV9 just got detailed further. It will be priced around US$60,000 for the long-range version, while the middle row of seats can rotate 180 degrees to face the last row.

While Volkswagen said it will sit out Tesla's EV price war, it now started to cut the tag of its electric vehicles and just announced the most expensive electrification strategy of all major automakers. The EV shift will cost it up to US$190 billion in new model development, autonomous driving software, and battery factories.

A new generation of Tesla console display awaits those who purchase its first electric Cybertruck pickup, report insiders. It will be larger than what Tesla uses now, and it will also equip the Cybertruck with a big powered frunk similar to what the Ford F-150 Lightning offers now.

ENGWE has just introduced the new M20 as its first cruiser-style electric bike. The fat-tire two-wheeler boasts a hub motor with a max power output of 1000 watts (W) and a max speed of 28 miles per hour (mph). It is also rated for a max range of 94 miles, albeit only in its top-end dual-battery configuration.

The 'paid hardware upgrade' needed for the Tesla Model S to hit its advertised 200 MPH top speed turned out to be its US$20,000 Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit indeed. With it, a Model S Plaid managed and surpassed the highest speed that Tesla promises, breaking a racing circuit record in the process.

The Audi electric mountain bike powered by Fantic has been unveiled. The e-bike has a 250 W Brose motor with up to 90 Nm of torque and a 720 Wh Fantic battery. For off-roading, the bicycle has Vittoria tires and a full suspension system. Plus, you can view information about your ride on a built-in display.

The new 'high-visibility' glass roof of the Tesla Model S lowers its center of gravity further as it is lighter than the previous option. It is also 5x more transparent, while with the new color for the Model S Tesla widens the gamut of red hues for its electric vehicles.

The top 5 most popular electric vehicles in the US that account for 70% of sales have an average range on a charge of 309 miles, the highest globally. This allows American drivers to reach 30% further on an average EV road trip compared to other countries.

Fiido is offering its fans the chance to buy one of its e-bikes with "time" alone. In other words, participants in this deal can stack up coupons for select models by logging routes and their duration online. This "environmentally conscious" promotion runs from now until later in March 2023.

The next generation of affordable electric cars by Hyundai and KIA will be powered by the same batteries that Tesla uses for its standard range Model 3 and Model Y. The cheaper LFP packs will be delivered by CATL in a first for Hyundai.

Tesla has ultimately decided on using its new 4680 battery in the Cybertruck rather than go for Panasonic's 2170 cells and it is working with Asian companies to lower their cost and increase the energy density. Currently, the 4680 pack has similar energy density to the 2170 ones, but a new high-nickel version is on the way.

Although the exact technical specifications of the electric motorcycle have not been revealed, the sleek concept bike named "Zero SR-X" sports an impressive design that illustrates the rather exciting future of battery-powered two-wheelers.

Although the technical upgrades for the 2024 model year are relatively minor for the most part, prospective buyers of the Hyundai Kona Electric will probably enjoy the refined drivetrain with up to 20 extra horsepower and 23 miles of additional range per charge.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Wednesday that Tesla's Autopilot may have been active during a fatal fire truck accident that happened last month, The NHTSA has now launched an official investigation, adding the crash to an already open list of incidents involving Tesla cars and parked first responder vehicles.

Salcomp is an electronics manufacturer associated with the 5W power brick that once shipped with every new iPhone. Now, the company has announced that it is moving into alternative areas, including the supply of components for solar- and hydro-powered electricity generation, as well as chargers for electric cars. To that end, it will reportedly aim to double its India-based manufacturing workforce by 2026.

Two incidents of low-mileage Model Y steering wheel detaching have prompted the NHTSA to leap into action and launch an investigation into Tesla's manufacturing process. Both Tesla Model Y vehicles have apparently been delivered without the steering wheel bolts and were held only by material friction.

Yet another European battery factory may fall victim to President Biden's federal tax credits for made-in-US packs, this time a VW project. Instead of building it in Eastern Europe, VW ran the numbers and concluded that it will be better off collecting US$10 billion in US government subsidies for it.

Cheaper electric cars built on Tesla's next generation vehicle platform will be mostly self-driving, divulged Elon Musk before an investor conference. It didn't become clear if he meant the US$25,000 Model 2, or the eventual Robotaxi after it, or how will Tesla address the FSD controversies before it.

Tesla scaled down its Giga Berlin battery production plans drastically in favor of US-based installations as the Inflation Reduction Act's EV subsidies of US$0.35/kWh are just too good of a deal to pass up on. A recent analysis shows that 2/3 of the planned EV battery projects in Europe are at risk of never happening because of the billions in US tax credits.

With its next generation of Superchargers, Tesla will not only be providing faster 350kW charging output, but they could be made much more ergonomic to use by other electric vehicles, too. The V4 Supercharger stalls will evidently be taller, with much longer cable and larger pit stops thus helping to prevent the kind of diagonal parking sometimes needed to reach the port of non-Tesla EVs.

After trimming the price of its bestselling Model Y and Model 3 vehicles, now it's time for Tesla to cut the tags of their performance counterparts in its portfolio. The fast Model S sedan is getting a US$5,000 price adjustment, while the Model X is down US$10,000.

Tesla will announce the vehicle assembly plans for its new Gigafactory in Mexico in three months when it starts building it, according to local officials. The size of Giga Nuevo León will be nearly twice that of Giga Texas and Tesla may finally reveal if it plans to make the Model 2 there as is rumored.

Two apparent prototypes of the 2024 Porsche Taycan facelift have been spotted during a winter drive in snowy Sweden, which is where the rumored top trim with a peak output of 1,000 electric horsepower might have been put to the test.

The all-electric model variant is expected to debut in two years' time and may also feature a more modern fastback design, which would be a significant change for the rather traditional style of the performance sedan. Either way, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is supposed to remain the automaker's most desirable car according to its CEO.

Tesla just asks not to park diagonally as a carryover advice from the European app section. Starting predominantly with New York, Tesla has officially allowed access to its Supercharger network to other electric vehicles. There is now an instructions video on how to charge your non-Tesla car at its stalls with the new combined NACS/CCS connector, but Tesla warns that the process may be slower.

Volkswagen has now previewed its ne ID.3 with promises of upgraded design and 'smart car' attributes made in line with "the wishes of our customers”. Accordingly, its exterior and its aerodynamics are touted as "sharper", while its interior may get softer (and even more sustainable). However, and possibly most importantly, its infotainment system overhaul is rated to take the most cutting driver feedback into account.

Toyota stripped a Tesla Model Y down and came away impressed with the 'work of art' engineering on the inside. A Toyota exec said that Tesla's cost management is unsurpassed as there is barely anything redundant that doesn't belong there or doesn't serve a needed function.

There will be a new Model Y next year with updated design and fresh interior decoration, as well as powertrain enhancements. The mid-cycle Tesla Model Y upgrade is called 'Project Juniper' internally, but it will come about a year after Tesla releases the new 'Highland' Model 3 this September.

The Segway Ninebot Gokart PRO will shortly launch in Europe. The electric vehicle has a top speed of 40 kph (~64 mph) and can travel up to 25 km (~16 miles) between charges. The go-kart has a built-in Bluetooth speaker, and various elements can be adjusted to suit your height.

The Segway E300SE Launch Edition e-scooter was revealed at MWC 2023. The vehicle has a 10 kW peak power motor allowing you to ride at speeds up to 105 kph (~65 mph). Dual batteries enable you to travel up to 130 km (~81 miles) on a single charge, with the option to extend your range with a third power pack.

The Xiaomi Digital Car Key feature was revealed at MWC 2023. The tool, developed in partnership with Google and BMW, will allow you to control various BMW cars from a Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Xiaomi 12 smartphone. Features include locking, unlocking and starting your vehicle and the ability to share your key with friends.

The average Tesla Model 2 selling price is expected to be US$27,000 before subsidies, say industry analysts. The length of a Model 2 could be 4m, or 15% shorter than the current Model 3, too. To arrive at its projected US$21,600 production price, it could also be 30% lighter and with 25% smaller battery, which would result in a similar range on a charge as the Model 3.

Qualcomm asserts that drivers and passengers will be just as connected and entertained as they would be at home in a oneday car powered by its second-gen Snapdragon Auto 5G modem. It integrates a multi-core CPU as well as potentially enhanced bandwidth so that it can run apps independently for applications such as gaming or streaming. The new modem also boasts satellite connectivity and C-V2X for greater assurance in terms of positioning and safety.

The Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra was revealed at MWC 2023. The new model has a 70 km (~43 miles) range and a 25 kph (~16 mph) top speed thanks to a 940 W peak power motor. Improvements on its predecessor include dual suspension, a wider deck and taller handlebars for a more comfortable ride.

From the hands of American workers being too big to operate battery equipment machines made in Asia, to the need to retrain them how to make things after years of production outsourcing, Panasonic had a hard time creating a Tesla battery factory in the US. Its next cell plants, however, are already planned to scoop the government's tax credits.

The creative destructors from Munro Live have sussed Tesla's upcoming HW 4.0 computer that will do all the autonomous driving calculations in its new or upgraded models. Unfortunately, while the engineering talent at Munro found the new HW 4.0 design to be more efficient than before, that also means it can't be retrofitted to existing cars in a simple board swap.

NIO has rolled a new feature to some of its electric vehicles that allows them to use certain smartphones as their keys. The feature is available on a certain number of devices from the brands OnePlus, OPPO and Vivo only, some high-end models such as the Find N2 foldable flagship included.

The first generation of mass-produced sodium-ion batteries has been installed in a production electric car for the first time. The model is part of VW's joint venture Sehold brand in China and can cover 157 miles on a charge with the Na-ion battery that is much cheaper and safer than its lithium counterparts.

While Tesla's factory in Buffalo, NY is mired in workplace controversies, it still churns out US-made Superchargers and the first one meant to grab the federal nationwide EV charging network subsidies has now been installed near it. It is of the leaked 'Magic Dock' variety with a CCS adapter on top of Tesla's NACS connector, just as rumored.

Himiway has announced two limited edition models of its Zebra fat-tire electric bicycles for the US. The new California and Florida versions feature bright colors and designs representing each area. Only 400 units of the special edition e-bikes are available, with the same 750 W motor and 80 miles (~129 km) range as the standard model.

The German tuning company Irmscher has made a bunch of noticeable changes to the exterior as well as interior of the Tesla Model Y, but in terms of performance, the electric SUV and its sophisticated drivetrain remain untouched.

Hyundai revealed a surprise 54kWh battery option for its new Ioniq 6 and the US prices for all of the electric sedan's trims, battery, and motor options. The base Ioniq 6 AWD model costs nearly US$5,000 less than the equivalent Tesla Model 3, for instance, before any EV tax credits.

The maximum 16-inch ground clearance of Tesla's Cybertruck has been put to the test in new video from its assembly space, the Texas Gigafactory. The Cybertruck will come with adaptive air suspension which, together with the generous approach and departure angles, will give it more than enough off-road capability.