E-Mobility

A cost breakdown analysis of Tesla's recent announcement that it is removing the ultrasonic sensors on all of its cars pegged the savings at about U$114 per car together with the integrated circuits. That's more than US$100 million in annual savings per million vehicles, but relaying solely on Tesla Vision comes with its own set of problems.

The Vinghen Ti 1, an electric push-bike, is currently crowdfunding on Indiegogo. The vehicle is similar in appearance to a scooter. The bicycle comes with a 250 W motor as standard, with a 16 mph (~25 kph) top speed, but an optional 500 W engine provides speeds up to 18 mph (~29 kph).

Decathlon has revealed its new LD500E electric bicycle, now available in countries such as France and Germany. The urban bike is suitable for longer journeys, with up to 115 km (~71 miles) of assistance range. A 250 W motor provides up to 45 Nm of torque, plus the bike has a built-in USB port to charge gadgets on the go.

New electric vehicle registrations were on the rise in the US during the first eight months of 2022 and there is now a new top 2 EV maker to trail Tesla. Hyundai managed to beat Ford for the second place, though the Mustang Mach-E still remains the third bestselling EV in the US after Tesla's models.

Honda is positioning its first all-electric SUV for the North American market - the Prologue - as a natural transition from the just-announced 2023 CR-V hybrid. The Prologue will be larger than the CR-V, with more interior space and a signature new made-in-LA design.

With almost 3,000 more registrations than the venerable Volkswagen Golf, the Tesla Model Y has become the best-selling car in Germany just a few months after the production of the electric SUV has started in Tesla's new Gigafactory Berlin. Furthermore, the Tesla Model 3 remains very popular in Europe's second most-populated country.

The production of the Toyota bZ4X electric vehicle has restarted after the company paused it due to an issue with the hub bolts. The problem led to the recall of many units earlier this year, and manufacturing of the EV has been on hold for several months. The SUV has up to 317 miles (~510 km) range and starts from US$42,000 in the US.

Even if by 2030 virtually all sales are of electric vehicles, the total of new electricity demand they will add to the global grid would be in the 11%-15% range by 2040. That includes electric cars, buses, or trucks, too, dispelling the myth that the grid won't survive a rapid electrification of global transport.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the 'biggest ever economic development project in Northern Michigan' will be a Gotion battery factory. The US$2.36 billion investment comes hot on the heels of the government's 'Made in America' EV subsidy plans.

NASA has achieved a breakthrough in its solid-state battery research aimed at electricity-powered transportation. NASA's solid-state battery stacks all of its cells in one casing, reducing weight and increasing the energy density twice compared to that of Li-ion batteries in the typical electric car.

The salt water-triggered corrosion in electric cars such as the Tesla Model X can ultimately lead to dangerous and unexpected fires, which is why officials in Florida are now drawing attention to this important issue. Florida firefighters will further receive special training that teaches them how to put out EV fires quickly and safely.

Apple has finished restructuring its Project Titan car team, and may reassemble is electric vehicle project as soon as this year. The Apple Car's manufacturing plans reportedly moved from a partnership with legacy automaker to iPhone-style outsourcing, so the fresh team may be formed with the new blueprint in mind.

Tesla's second Megacharger station with its proprietary Semi truck charging standard is being built on the Pepsi premises in Modesto. Unsurprisingly, that's exactly the customer that Elon Musk said will be getting the first Tesla Semi deliveries on December 1.

Among other parts, Manhart's tuning kit for the Tesla Model 3 Performance contains a carbon front spoiler and H&R sport springs. These may not improve the electric sedan's performance, but they can certainly give one of the best-selling EVs in the world a sportier and more unique look.

Elon Musk says that Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y vehicles with iron phosphate LFP batteries can be safely charged to 100% and, in fact, it is even recommended for better range estimation. It seems that said range can be underestimated by tens of miles, too, as one Model 3 experiment showed.

A crowdfunding campaign for the Boost by La Vita e-bike conversion kit is live. The kit includes a rear-wheel mounted motor, battery and smart display. The engine can assist you at speeds up to 15.5 mph (~25 kph) for around 50 km (~31 miles). You can configure settings on the handlebar display or in an accompanying app.

An OTA update for the OKAI EB50, or Ranger, electric bicycle has been launched. The new software allows the motor to assist you at speeds up to 31 mph (~50 kph); while the update officially provides a top speed of 28 mph (~45 kph), users have reported the higher performance.

The Ibis Oso e-mountain bike has been launched. The bicycle has a full-carbon-fiber frame to reduce its weight; the model weighs 53 lbs (~24 lbs). Oso notes that this is the first bike to feature its upper-link suspension dw-link platform. The eMTB is powered by a Bosch Performance Line CX motor, with an accompanying battery and display.

After the South Korean automaker did not provide any exact figures regarding the range and consumption during the official presentation of its new electric sedan, these all-important specifications are now available and highlight the impressive efficiency of the Hyundai Ioniq 6.

Unlike NIO, Buffett-backed BYD priced its electric vehicles higher in the West than in China and it still managed to score a huge 100,000 EV order by rental car juggernaut SIXT. The fleet will be delivered in batches, just like Tesla's US$4.2 billion deal with Hertz for the same amount of electric cars.

The popular YouTuber with a focus on electric cars claims that Volkswagen is letting its drivers down because of the many annoying software bugs and issues in the VW ID.4 have not been resolved with an update nearly two years after the EV's official launch.

Unlike the legendary 911, which will transition to a hybrid architecture before going all-electric, the upcoming electric variants of the small Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman are expected to replace their combusting predecessors right upon their release in 2025, which may not be to the liking of old-fashioned fans of these world-famous German sports cars.

Tesla is preparing to launch its own EV-tailored car diagnostics and error reporting system as an alternative to the widely established OBD standard. It will reportedly use South Korea as a launch pad about a year from now, and expand its EV self-diagnostics standard use globally from there.

As part of a limited restoration project, the British company Charge Cars plans to equip 500 units of the sleek first-generation Ford Mustang from the late 1960s with a modern electric drivetrain, which comes with four motors and a respectable top speed of 150 mph.

The average interest rate to finance a Tesla vehicle has climbed to 4.74% at the beginning of Q4. Car loan interest rates are usually less affected by the Federal Reserve's monetary policies, yet have still started to rise significantly, catching up with Tesla's financing offers as well.

After Europe, Tesla has both raised Supercharger pricing and narrowed off-peak hour windows in California. Citing energy costs, Tesla increased Supercharger pricing there to $0.65 per kWh at 'select' locations, hitting parity with a gas car consumption at US$6 a gallon.

The highly regarded Bavarian automaker is prepping the BMW i4 eDrive35 for its November launch in Germany, and the most affordable model variant of the sleek electric sedan will come with slightly less power and a shorter range than the more expensive BMW i4 eDrive40, which currently starts at US$55,900 in the US.

Bianchi's new e-Vertic series includes a wide range of e-bikes, from full-suspension electric mountain bikes to practical city bikes for commutes in urban settings, which come with a range of up to 96 miles.

Now available via Indiegogo, the Dragonfly Hyperscooter features full-tilt steering and 4-wheel dual independent damped suspension, two 550 W motors, and a total peak power of 1,650 W to all wheels for a top speed of up to 25 mph. The price tag reads 1,750 GBP for DF and 2,100 GBP for the DFX variant (US$1,878 and US$2,254).

Tesla's sales and delivery chief claims that its second-hand EV business is 'as big as some publicly traded used car retailers you’ve definitely heard of' and theirs are multibillion enterprises. That's 'despite no Super Bowl commercials or wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men,' he added.

The Fiido X may be one of the most successful e-bikes that started out on a crowd-funding website. Nevertheless, the OEM has announced that it will be releasing a new version for 2022. It is rated to offer a new zero-power mode, as well as improved security features, a new handlebar with a new screen and other new, possibly quality-enhancing, tweaks.

The IO eMobility One electric bicycle has been unveiled. The bike has a 250 W motor and a single gear, using a torque sensor to automatically adjust the assistance power up to a top speed of 25 kph (~16 mph). You can ride for up to 100 km (~62 miles) on a single charge and charge your smartphone on the go via a built-in USB port.

The 2022 Bergamont E-Trailster Expert electric mountain bike is a new vehicle with a Bosch motor. The bicycle also has a 625 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery and Bosch Purion display. RockShox suspension parts are fitted alongside Schwalbe tires on the 24.9 kg (~54.9 lbs) pedelec.

Carver has released a new e-mountain bike in Germany, the Drift E.510. The pedelec has a 135 km range (~84 miles), thanks to a Bosch PowerTube battery, and a top speed of 25 kph (~16 mph) with up to 85 Nm of torque. The bicycle has various Shimano parts and weighs 24 kg (~53 lbs) overall.

ENGWE has announced the limited edition Engine Pro Aurora e-bike. Only 100 units will be available with the Diamond Green colorway. The bike has up to 75 miles (~121 km) of range on a single charge and can assist you at speeds up to 24 mph (~39 kph). Plus, the company is running a giveaway To celebrate the launch, with ten e-bikes to be won.

Instead of downgrading their software to an earlier version with the latest FSD Beta 10.69.2.2 build, newly qualifying Tesla owners would simply have to wait for the 10.69.3 update. Elon Musk promised to roll FSD Beta to all with 80+ Safety Score points automatically, or more than 160,000 drivers in the US and Canada.

One self-described 'concerned citizen' is producing a short film aiming to promote his efforts to raise awareness about distracted driving in Tesla vehicles. The project will be giving US$100 to at least 75 social media personalities to record a short denouncing Tesla's Autopilot mode.

The new S4 charging stations are strategically located in major cities and can bring a G9's 96kWh battery to 80% in just 15 minutes, adding more than 300 miles of extra range. XPeng plans to have 2000 such ultrafast charging stations by 2025.

GMC's electric pickup truck with 1,000 horsepower compensates its rather disastrous efficiency with an enormously large battery capacity of 212 kWh, which results in a fairly impressive range at 70 mph according to a recent highway range test conducted with the sought-after Hummer EV.

Xiaomi has claimed that it can have its first electric car on the market by 2024. Now, one of its latest patents hint at the latest step in achieving this goal. The OEM's dedicated EV division has invented what could be its answer to systems such as Tesla's Supercharger facilities.

The Cowboy electric bicycle is currently on offer. European customers can save €700 (~US$678), while those living in the UK can get £500 (~US$543) off the typical retail price. You can connect your smartphone to the e-bike via Bluetooth, enabling smart features such as Auto Unlock and Theft Detection.

The Vässla Pedal electric bicycle has been revealed. The pedelec has a single gear with a torque sensor to adjust the motor assistance to suit your needs automatically. The e-bike has a top assistance speed of 25 kph (~16 mph) and can travel for up to 100 km (~62 miles) between charges.

BYD will use its Europe Product Premiere event on September 28 to showcase the electric cars planned to arrive on the continent shortly: the Tang, Han and Atto 3. The vehicles feature DC fast charging and a range of up to 521 km (~324 miles). Plus, the EVs will be readily available to European customers thanks to its production volume.

Stellantis has confirmed its plans to double the number of Fiat New 500 electric vehicle units it produces this year compared to last year. However, CEO Carlos Tavares has also stated that the company is facing parts shortages, which has put this target at risk. The electric 500 remains popular in Europe, second only to Tesla vehicles.

The US Department of Energy has found the University of Michigan's ceramic ion conductivity breakthrough so promising, that it fronted it with nearly $11 million for a new research hub. There, the four-year grant will be used to develop solid-state EV batteries using ceramic instead of lithium ions.

A problem with Tesla's automatic window reversal system is affecting 1.1 million Model 3, Model Y and Model S/X cars. Since the windows may start pinching a hand or other obstacle before they reverse down, Tesla will issue an OTA fix in November.

After the discontinued Audi R8 e-tron did not appeal to too many buyers back in 2015, a true electric successor to the powerful German coupe is rumored to launch in 2025. Supposedly, it could be based on one of Porsche's sophisticated EV platforms that will also power the upcoming generation of the successful Taycan.

Two relatively cheap but capable electric vehicles just launched in China as if a harbinger to the era of affordable e-mobility. Compared to the Model Y, the XPeng G9 starts from just $44,000, while a $26,000 EV by a state-owned automaker goes after the Model 3.

After a two-year stint in Korea, Tesla's CCS adapter plug has finally made it to US soil and Tesla is selling it for US$250 to qualifying buyers. Those consist of 'most newer Tesla vehicles' built after October 2020.