E-Mobility

While Tesla made US$3.7 billion in Q4 and promised to make at least 1.8 million cars in 2023, Elon Musk warned that it could raise prices based on demand. Tesla also teased the cheaper Model 2 vehicle platform to be announced on March 1, and warned that the Cybertruck's summer launch will be followed by mass production only in 2024.

Xiaomi's upcoming first-gen car is reportedly coming along in testing ahead of its upcoming launch. The vehicle has allegedly been spotted in some new leaks that have drawn comparisons between it and a certain Tesla vehicle. However, according to a company executive, all is not as it appears.

If Senator Joe Manchin has his way with the newly proposed American Vehicle Security Act legislation, a lot of the electric vehicles that currently qualify for the US$7,500 of new EV tax credit will be left without subsidies. In it, Senator Manchin argues that EVs whose battery components are not made in the US shouldn't be getting subsidies.

Aventon has launched the Aventure.2 electric bike in the US. The fat tire bicycle has up to 1,130 W power from a 750 W motor for a top assistance speed of 28 mph (~45 kph). Compared to the older model, the e-bike has a built-in torque sensor. Plus, you can ride for up to 60 miles (~97 km) between charges.

Tesla will be expanding the 4680 battery production lines in its Nevada Gigafactory in order to have capacity enough for half a million electric vehicles. The US$3.6 billion Giga Nevada expansion plans would include the first mass production line for its Semi long-haul trucks, too.

Meizu is expected to make a comeback in the Chinese Android flagship smartphone market in 2023, possibly with the unique selling point of first-party integration with cars such as Geely's Zeekr1. Now, a new patent reportedly filed by the company may point to its iPhone-esque design, albeit with a very different camera hump.

Porsche Consulting, with its vast experience in designing sustainable automotive facilities, will guide the process of building Gigafactories for 3D-printed solid-state battery cells. Sakuu's innovative Swift Print technology allows precision layering of the solid electrolyte between the anode and cathode.

BMW is rolling out a new update affecting approximately 4.7 million vehicles. The latest software makes the Digital Key easier to share and activate and brings an app-based Remote Control Parking feature to several models. Other features include a new mobile operator for personal eSIM and an improved charging process for the iX.

Even after its deep price cuts, Tesla is still raking in record profits per vehicle according to a thorough production costs analysis. The Model Y, for instance, costs just US$39,393 to manufacture, all the while Tesla bumped its price back up to $53,490 in the US, maintaining a record US$14,000 gross profit per vehicle in the process and giving the competition a final notice.

The rather controversial trend is intended to teach drivers of a Tesla Model Y or Model 3, which is parked in a Supercharger spot but not plugged into the charger, a much needed lesson. The resulting idle fees can quickly add up as Tesla currently charges up to US$1 per minute.

Until the mass solid-state battery production stage which may still be a few years away, electric vehicles can take advantage of stopgap battery chemistry solutions like the recent low-cobalt cell discovery of Leclanché. It offers 20% higher energy density and is more nature-friendly to produce.

The first CCS-compatible Tesla Supercharger with a Magic Dock stall may pop up very soon at the Hawthorne station near Tesla's Design Studio in California. Previously, leaked subscription plan prices for non-Tesla owners who want to use the Supercharger network without lugging an adapter indicated a generous monthly charge as well as a PAYG option.

Thanks to various superlight components made from carbon fiber, the electric dirt bike and Surron competitor from the not particularly well-known Chinese manufacturer puts just a tad above 100 lbs on the scale. In conjunction with the 6,000-watt electric drivetrain, riding the Velimotor VMX08 on off-road tracks sounds like an absolute blast.

In Germany, Audi's court case against the aspiring EV manufacturer from China has now ended in a victory for the luxury automaker with the famous four rings. In addition to the ES7, Nio will have to rename the ES6 and ES8 so German buyers won’t confuse the all-electric SUV with the sporty Audi S6, S7 or S8.

The green EV credentials are under threat from a new MIT study that calculates future greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles with computers dedicated to autonomous driving tasks. Self-driving kits like Tesla's upcoming Hardware 4 upgrade could produce climate change emissions equal to or surpassing those of all current data centers combined if their power draw is not kept in check.

Graphite is often hailed as the ideal anode and, as such, may become one of the hottest manufactured commodities in the battery industry going forward. However, a Finnish company asserts that its new alternative compound is comparable, if not superior, and can be made using less energy. Furthermore, it can apparently be made using an abundant by-product of the forestry industry.

Volkswagen has unveiled a new smart air conditioning system, which it will use in the ID.7 electric saloon. The climate controls can be automatically triggered as you approach the car and will adapt based on weather conditions. The company also confirmed that the EV would arrive in China and Europe later this year and in North America in 2024.

The 'flying' but expensive Roadster 2 may have been put on the back burner as Tesla is now focused on winning back market share with 'mass electrification' instead. In the face of increased competition, Tesla may be planning to release its cheaper Model 2 first and then move to premium projects like the new Roadster.

The rather special conversions are carried out by an established British company that has already stretched the Ford Granada, Mondeo and cars from other manufacturers before it modified the Mustang Mach-E so it can meet the unique requirements of morticians.

Apparently, it only took a few days until the significantly reduced prices of the popular Model Y and other Tesla vehicles in the US triggered a sharp increase in demand, which is reportedly approaching record levels as buyers want to take advantage of the US$7,500 EV tax credit.

The US Department of Transportation has released the NHTSA agency's special crash investigation findings of the Model S-caused pileup in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day. The accident in the Bay Bridge tunnel has occurred with Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta mode active indeed, just as the driver claimed.

Dacia has launched the Spring Extreme with ELECTRIC 65 engine, which costs just €22,300 (~US$24,197) in France. The EV has a new 48 kW motor providing 65 hp and can travel for up to 305 km (~190 miles) on a single charge. The latest electric car from Dacia also showcases the new Extreme trim, which will also be available on other models.

The lithium-sulfur technology would allow an EV range on a charge in excess of 400 miles for a car that can currently cover 250 miles with a battery pack of the same footprint. LG is so confident in the viability of its Li-S battery research that it plans to overcome all technical challenges before mass production by 2027.

Bugatti and Bytech have unveiled the 2023 model of the collaboration’s e-scooter. The vehicle has a motor with 1,000 W peak power, allowing you to reach speeds up to 22 mph (~35 kph). Self-repairing tires help to protect you against punctures, and you can travel for up to 35 miles (~56 km) on a single charge.

Stealth Electric Bikes has launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for the Overlander electric bike. Two models, US and EU versions, are available. The more powerful Overlander R for the US has 800 W peak power, 110 Nm of torque and a 750 Wh battery. The less powerful EU version has a slightly larger 800 Wh battery.

The 2023 Cube Kathmandu Hybrid SLT 750 e-bike has been unveiled. The electric bicycle has a 750 Wh battery and 250 W motor from Bosch, delivering up to 85 Nm of torque. A smart system enables app controls, such as remotely locking the bicycle, and the model comes with an Integrated Carrier 3.0 luggage rack.

A rather unconvincing AWD Model Y has been available to buy in Tesla's stores at only two grand less than the base Model Y Long Range available online, yet with 50 miles shorter propulsion on a charge. Moreover, it comes with the 4680 battery pack which makes individual cells impossible to replace or repair on the cheap.

"The Legislature would be saying, 'If you don’t like our petroleum cars, well, we don’t like your electric cars,'" says a Wyoming state Senator about a largely symbolic resolution that looks to ban new EV sales by 2035. The move, according to the state's legislators, is meant to counter the federal EV adoption imposition and protect the local fossil fuel industry.

The controversial yoke steering wheel that Tesla now gives as an option for the Model X and Model S, instead of forcing it on customers, may transfer over to the Cybertruck as well. When Tesla's electric pickup launches in June or July, yoke steering will 'make sense,' claims Tesla's head of design.

From CES 2023 and beyond, auto makers have been hard at work putting out new EV models and concepts to wow their audiences. While Tesla has been a dominant force in the EV space for a long time, some of the recent EV releases and concepts make Tesla's designs look downright old-fashioned.

Future Tesla drivers who need Autopilot or FSD to perform better in winter or bad weather will be delighted to hear that Tesla may address the issue of Vision cameras fogging or freezing in the upcoming Hardware 4 upgrade kit. The cameras there, while reduced in number, may have fans and heating elements to prevent lens obstruction in adverse weather conditions.

Ford's battery partner in the BlueOval SK joint venture has demonstrated a battery technology that allows EV owners to charge the pack in 18 minutes. SK On achieved the feat by reducing the anode's resistance so that lithium ions can get in quicker and also using less adhesive all around.

After two years of rampant increases, Tesla is now beginning to directly lower the price of its bestselling electric vehicles in the US, too. The Model 3 and Model Y price cut move follows a similar global pattern, especially in China where the Model 3 price was recently reduced by the whopping 14%.

The US Department of Energy's EVs4ALL program, managed by its Advanced Research Projects Agency will be doling out $42 million in next generation battery research grants for 12 promising projects. Four of those grants will go to solid-state battery development carried out by US companies or educational institutions.

Tesla has now topped both the fuel efficiency and luxury vehicle sales rankings in the US, a feat that would have been unthinkable just a few years back. Deliveries of its expensive electric cars to buyers last year have managed to beat premium car juggernauts like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus.

Tesla has been granted big Austin Gigafactory expansion permits by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the majority of which seem to be referring to battery-making facilities. The Model Y with the cell-to-pack 4680 battery is assembled there, so there could be a huge production boost in that direction.

An exclusive footage obtained via a California Public Records Act freedom of information request details how the 8-vehicle pileup that a Tesla Model S caused on San Francisco's Bay Bridge over Thanksgiving happened. The footage jibes with the driver's claims about illogical FSD behavior in the fast lane.

Volkswagen now claims that it shipped nearly 24% more electric cars to customers in 2022 compared to 2021, doubling those sent to those in China and also growing those sent to the North American market. The ID.4 was found to be responsible for most of these shipments, and was also deemed the best-selling car in one market for the second year running.

Since there is little room left for increasing the Model 3 and Model Y production efficiencies, or for further component cost decrease, the recent round of Tesla vehicle price cuts is likely to be its last for a good while. Despite protests by recent buyers who got left out of the price adjustment, Tesla sold 10,000 units on discount day.

The culprit responsible for the Volkswagen ID.4 recall in the US is a 12-volt battery cable, which apparently rubs against the steering column and could possibly cause a short circuit and a fire if the resulting friction damages the cable’s insulation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to know why did Elon Musk say that Tesla will be removing the warning to hold the steering wheel while the car is in self-driving mode. On January 1, Elon Musk tweeted that the 'nag' may be nixed with the next FSD update.

Fiido has announced that it will start the new year with a new website, which comes with hints as to the launch of a whole new range of electric bikes, some of which may come in brand-first form-factors. They include one touted to come with a display of unprecedented upgrades; a first-gen mountain-style vehicle and something with "bigger wheels, bigger power and bigger adventure".

Zendure touts its SuperBase V as a full home power back-up solution thanks to its switch to "EV-grade" semi-solid state energy storage, as opposed to the lithium-based batteries of most conventional portable stations. It is rated to deliver 6.4kWh in its base-station mode, although it can scale up to 64kWh as a double unit with add-on Satellite Batteries.

The Tesla Model S Plaid managed to beat а Porsche Taycan Turbo S, a Lucid Air, and an electric Audi RS in real-life acceleration test done with a foot of rollout subtracted. The Model S Plaid has now become the fastest car ever tested in Motor Trend's 0-60 MPH vehicle acceleration rankings.

Rumors suggest that the first EV to be released by Xiaomi will be a medium sedan, available in two versions. According to the source, the first Xiaomi electric car will start between 260,000 and 300,000 yuan (~US$38,022 to US$43,870). The alleged options include an entry-level car with a 400 V platform and a more expensive 800 V model.

The Kia Niro EV Cargo has been revealed in the Netherlands. The electric vehicle uses a conversion kit to add parts, such as an aluminum coated load area and metal divider behind the front seats, transforming the Niro into a delivery vehicle. The Niro EV Cargo has up to 460 km (~286 miles) range and 255 Nm of torque.

Tesla car owners would no longer be able to count on their windows closing automatically as they lock the vehicle and walk away from it, neither could they use the remote closure and Vent modes from the app. The culprit appears to be a new overzealous regulation change in Section 5 of the federal vehicle safety standard.

While the Volkswagen ID.7 was obscured by distracting digital patterns during its official reveal earlier this week, two unofficial render images now provide a much better look at the potential design of the all-electric follow-up to the VW Arteon.