E-Mobility

An Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for the ADO Air ultra-light folding e-bike will soon launch. The bicycle can fold in half and weighs only 16 kg (~35.2 lbs). A 36 V battery provides up to 100 km (~62 miles) range on a single charge, and a 37 Nm motor powers the bike. Other features of the Air include an integrated IPS display and an app for remote controls.

The Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT autonomous driving system has become the first to receive SAE Level 3 certification in the US. The technology will be available in 2024 S-Class and EQS Sedan models, with approval currently only in Nevada. The system can increase or decrease the car's speed, steer, react to road signs and detect hazards.

Electric vehicle models made by Kia and the Chinese SAIC where about as efficient in winter as Tesla, whose Model S won the cold weather driving range test. While Tesla's Model S covered the longest distance on a charge during that particular winter test in Norway ever, its range loss was larger than on some Chinese models in the testing group.

Elon Musk recently said that Tesla's biggest competition will come from a Chinese automaker as they 'work hardest, smartest' and even before the affordable Model 2 is announced, NIO already has direct competitors in mind. NIO has now picked sites for both the US$15,000 Firefly and US$25,000 ALPS EVs.

Alleged images of Xiaomi's inaugural EV have leaked. Tipped for a Q1 2024 launch, the Xiaomi is expected to arrive as the Modena, despite the images showing the device as the Xiaomi MS11.

Despite following Tesla's Model S first respondents manual to the letter, firefighters from the Sacramento Metropolitan District still had to put out its 'spontaneously' flaming battery with 20 times the amount of water needed for an ICE vehicle. Tesla does warn in its instructions that up to 8,000 gallons may go towards extinguishing a burning EV.

Volkswagen sees its main competitors in the electric vehicle market emerging from China, just as Elon Musk noted during the Q4 conference call with investors. VW won't participate in the EV price war that Tesla started, confirmed its CEO Oliver Blume, as it has 'trust in the strength of our products and brands.'

Fiido has announced that it will start 2023 by breaking into a number of brand-first e-bike and scooter types. The company has also revealed some more information on these new models, its new "heavy-duty" Titan flagship and M31 "E-MTB" included. They will be joined by the seated Q2 and Kidz push-bike.

The veracity of Elon Musk's self-driving Tesla car statements is now being examined by the Security and Exchange Commission in a potentially criminal investigation. The SEC move comes hot on the heels of several other federal and state probes into Tesla's Autopilot ability and its marketing.

New details about the 2024 Kia EV9 electric vehicle appear to have been leaked in a customer survey. The report suggests that the EV would range from 220 to 290 miles (~354 and 467 km), depending on the trim level, with the price starting from US$56,000. The range-topping trim could have 400 hp and a 0 to 60 mph (~100 kph) acceleration time of 5.2 seconds.

The Ctrl-Bar is an accessory for Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, bringing physical buttons to the electric vehicle. The gadget attaches to the bottom of the central screen, providing scroll wheel heating controls and four programmable buttons to activate heated seats, Defrost Mode and other features without taking your eyes off the road.

Polestar has revealed the 2024 Polestar 2 electric vehicle. Upgrades to the EV include a more extended range of up to 635 km (~395 miles) and more powerful 220 kW motors with 490 Nm of torque. A facelift brings the SmartZone to the front of the car, housing the front-facing camera and radar sensors. Other upgrades include faster charging speeds and more Driver Awareness features as standard.

It now costs less to travel 100 miles in a legacy gas-powered vehicle from the midrange category than charge an electric car in the same price bracket. When accounting for the direct energy costs, a common ICE vehicle can be driven for one hundred miles cheaper than a midrange electric car, thanks to the recent drop in the price of gas.

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.