E-Mobility

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.

Volkswagen has hinted at the possibility of a new class of electric vehicle to be at least part-assembled alongside the existing ID.3 at the marque's major Wolfsburg plant in Europe. 22,000 of the facility's production crew will receive the training necessary to do in the course of a one-day session that incorporates in-house, escape room-based techniques.

When accounting for the US$7,500 new EV federal subsidy, the Tesla Model 3 is now the whopping US$12,500 cheaper than the average new vehicle sold in the US, electric or gas-powered. Even without the government's tax credit, however, the gap between Tesla's car prices and other new vehicles has never been wider.

The F-150 Lightning battery maker reportedly insists that the fire which forced Ford to halt production has been a one-off incident and not an inherent flaw in the manufacturing process that would require deeper investigation. SK On is increasingly worried that giving Ford more access to its battery technology may result in poaching it and go against the Korean government's trade secret guidelines for its EV industry.

A teardown and description of Tesla's upcoming Hardware 4 (HW4) computer has leaked online revealing improved Exynos SoCs, added camera connectors, and references to the new Phoenix radar. A new infotainment board that includes a custom AMD CPU and AMD GPU is also seen. The HW4 sports a completely different form factor, which means it cannot be retrofitted into current Tesla cars.

The long-awaited single-stack update of Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta software that merges city and highway Autopilot driving is rolling out to employees. The FSD Beta v11.3 release notes have been outed, and they include some pretty intriguing new features.

The rumor mill has produced more intriguing details on the electric model variant of the popular VW Tiguan, which will supposedly stick closer to the design of the regular combustion model instead of adopting the design of the automaker's original electric SUV, the Volkswagen ID.4.

The NHTSA will have to add another deadly accident with a Tesla Model S driver slamming into a parked emergency vehicle to its ongoing investigation. It recently found issues with Tesla's self-driving system that may cause speeding or running stop signs, resulting in a major recall for an OTA update.

Heybike's "most advanced" new e-bike has a fairly standard 750W motor, foldable form-factor, augmented with hydraulic front-fork suspension and disc brakes with "excellent stopping power." Then again, it also has the in-built connectivity rated to track its location if necessary via its own app. The Tyson is currently available to pre-order online.

The new electric Golf should cost about US$24,000 before government subsidies and will be a nimble hatchback instead of the initially planned ID.2 crossover form factor. VW may try to wiggle the iconic Golf name into the production version title somehow when the redesigned Tesla Model 2 competitor lands in 2025.

Berkshire's Charlie Munger said that their investment BYD is so far ahead of Tesla in terms of EV sales in China that it is 'almost ridiculous,' and those tepid sales there are starting to bite. CATL is extending an offer to cut battery prices in half to its main customers, and Tesla is not among them.

Tesla has acknowledged FSD Beta software issues that may cause crashes with some 2016-2023 Model S/X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles, and is issuing a recall notice to fix them. According to the NHTSA, FSD Beta may act erratic on intersections and cause speeding as well.

A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for the LUCIIDA motorized wheel conversion kit is underway. The kit includes a rear wheel with an integrated 250 W motor and an LCD screen. The motor provides a top speed of 32 kph (~20 mph), and the battery allows you to travel up to 130 km (~81 miles).

An F-150 Lightning that caught on fire while sitting in a quality control holding lot was the reason Ford suspended the electric pickup truck's production earlier. A Ford spokesperson confirmed the fire incident and said the company's engineers have identified the problem and are working to augment the battery production process.

The White House's pressure on Tesla and Elon Musk in particular to unlock its charging network for other electric vehicles has worked, it seems, as it just announced that Tesla will have at least 7,500 of its piles made accessible to other EV brands. This includes both existing and brand new chargers across the 50 states.

The short video clips shared on Twitter give an intriguing insight into the manufacturing process of the Tesla Model Y at the Gigafactory Berlin, which is where more than 1,000 employees and numerous gigantic machines build the sought-after electric SUV.

At the worst period for charging reliability last year, nearly 40% of EV charging attempts across the US resulted in failure says a new study, while the number for the whole of 2022 was 20%, up from 15% in 2021. On the whole, one in five electric vehicle charging sessions didn't go through last year, as chargers were plagued by vandalism and software or hardware glitches.

Ford is looking to make electric vehicles cheaper by using the more affordable LFP battery chemistry that Tesla equips its standard-range Model 3 and Model Y with, but will build the cells itself in a new factory in Michigan. This way Ford will also benefit from the federal subsidies for made-in-US batteries, driving down the price even further.

The new CEO of Toyota Koji Sato announced its management team today and revealed that the future of the company hinges on electrification, interactive cars, and localized options. The first vehicles with the new purely electric platform will come in 2026 as Lexus models.

The craziest feature of the pre-production Ram 1500 REV electric pickup that was unveiled with a Super Bowl ad seems to be the frunk. While that was part of the concept Ram 1500 Revolution teased not long ago, none of the other futuristic new designs and features seems to have made it to the production version and the electric truck will look much like the ICE model.

Sales of Tesla vehicles peak right after its rivals air their Super Bowl ads extolling the virtues of electric cars, even though Tesla never advertises on its own. At Sunday's Super Bowl, however, longtime Tesla critic Dan O'Dowd will be launching the first attack ad against Tesla's self-driving claims.

NIO's ET5 electric sedan costs about US$38,000 when the battery is leased, and the upcoming 150 kWh battery pack with solid-state electrolyte that NIO developed together with WeLion is almost as expensive as the whole car. That is why NIO plans to lease the 620-mile battery for summer trips instead of selling cars with it.

When the US government unveils the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program's subsidy requirements next week, Tesla will be left out of its US$7.5 billion budget if other electric vehicles can't use its Superchargers. Tesla's request that it should qualify if a Supercharger station also has CCS stalls was never seriously considered by the government which now demands direct compatibility of each subsidized unit.

Tesla has made it into the storied J.D. Power vehicle reliability report for the first time, but the good news stops here. With 242 issues per hundred vehicles reported, it sits way above the industry average of 186 problems and can actually be ranked 28th out of the 32 brands tested.

While the American EV maker is not particularly known for its build quality, it took about a week for Tesla to indirectly acknowledge the apparent manufacturing defect as it has now bought back the practically brand-new Model Y of a disappointed customer from New Jersey.

Oukitel has announced the release of its latest portable generators of the new ABEARL line. Its P5000 Pro variant features "huge capacity" 5,120 watt-hour (Wh) LiFePO4 batteries, an output of up to 8,000W and high-speed charging options (solar included). It will be crowd-funded from February 3, 2023 with the potential for "unbelievable" early-bird offers.

Installed battery capacity of electric vehicles sold last year reached half a terawatt-hour for the first time, and there is a reshuffle in the world's biggest EV battery makers ranking. CATL is still king, buoyed by the Model 3 and Model Y LFP cell bonanza, but there is a new number two now.

After finding the camera-based parking system for object detection active on older Tesla models equipped with ultrasonic sensors, now a new Model 3 without USS has been caught measuring close distances only with its camera kit. This time around, it was a test Model 3 produced this year without any ultrasonic sensors installed in the factory.