Aptera is a recently resurrected startup that aims to deliver the first-ever solar-powered electric vehicle to the mass market. The company showcases a three-wheeled prototype that’s extremely efficient and is mostly powered by solar panels. The most important thing to note is that Aptera plans to actually produce this prototype, although the funding part is a bit tricky. The vehicle… Read more…
Toyota Exec: ‘We Are Aware’ Of Negative bZ4X Feedback
But Toyota’s working on it, too, as it develops next-generation EVs in the U.S.—and hybrids as well. Read more…
EVs And PHEVs Accounted For Nearly Half Of Volvo’s Global Sales In 2024
The automaker’s U.S. EV sales dropped sharply, but PHEV sales increased by nearly 70%. Read more…
Ascend Elements to increase US lithium carbonate production
US battery materials manufacturer Ascend Elements is commissioning a new lithium carbonate recovery line at its battery recycling facility in Covington, Georgia in 2025 to start producing 99% pure lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) recovered from used lithium-ion batteries. The company plans to produce up to 3,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually. Its Hydro-to-Cathode direct precursor… Read more…
WEX partners with Qmerit for EV charger installation at fleet drivers’ homes
Global commerce platform WEX has formed a partnership with EV charger installation provider Qmerit to streamline the installation of chargers at the homes of commercial fleet drivers. Qmerit will provide end-to-end home EV charging installation and integration services from its national network of more than 23,000 electricians. WEX EV At-Home provides access to WEX’s fleet… Read more…
Lucid (LCID) Gravity SUV will use new Panasonic EV batteries to unlock +450 miles range
Lucid (LCID) confirmed that its new Gravity SUV will provide up to 450 miles of EPA-estimated driving range. Powered by Panasonic’s high-performance EV batteries, Lucid promises the Gravity is “a groundbreaking new class of SUV.” Here’s what you need to know about Lucid’s new EV. Read more…
Tesla is under investigation for ‘Actually Smart Summon’ crashes
Tesla is under investigation by NHTSA over reported crashes involving ‘Actually Smart Summon’, Tesla’s driverless system for parking lots. Read more…
Hyundai is selling vehicles on Amazon? ‘You’re gonna need a bigger cart’
How about a new EV with your next Amazon order? As the first brand to sell vehicles on Amazon, Hyundai says, “You’re gonna need a bigger cart.” Hyundai is now selling cars directly on Amazon, including popular EVs like the IONIQ 5. Here’s how you can snag one. Read more…
ZEEKR to deliver multiple EVs in 2025 with NVIDIA Thor tech, including a US model for Waymo
Chinese EV Automaker ZEEKR is marking its third consecutive presence on the display floors of CES. During this year’s event, ZEEKR began teasing at least three new models scheduled to launch in 2025, some of which will feature an NVIDIA DRIVE Thor-based smart driver domain controller. In addition to those codenamed models, ZEEKR is also planning to launch another NVIDIA DRIVE Thor-equipped EV called “RT” in the US to be used by robotaxi developer Waymo. Read more…
BMW’s New Panoramic iDrive Adds More Screens, But With A Twist
I checked out BMW’s new Panoramic Vision display which will be featured in the upcoming Neue Klasse models. Is it a game-changer? Read more…
Sony and Honda’s $89,900 Afeela 1 unveiled in Las Vegas
At the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show, Afeela, the electric vehicle brand born from a partnership between Sony and Honda, unveiled a near production-ready version of its inaugural car, the Afeela 1. This midsize liftback, first teased at the CES last year, promises an array of cutting-edge technology and impressive specifications. The Afeela 1 will make its debut in two trims:… Read more…
EVs don’t need to charge as quickly as gas cars fill up, US consumers say
Long charging times and lack of available public charging stations have been cited as major roadblocks to EV adoption in countless studies and surveys, but a new survey of U.S. consumers conducted by Deloitte indicates that attitudes may be changing. While it included about 31,000 responses from thirty different countries, the survey found that… Read more…
Hongqi launches Tiangong 08 all-electric SUV, priced from $32,730
The Tiangong 08 measures 4,925 mm in length and has a starting price range of RMB 239,800 ($32,730) to RMB 339,800.
The SUV is available with three battery pack options and a CLTC range of 520 km to 730 km.
BYD Hefei sets sail as NEV maker’s 3rd car carrier joins fleet
BYD Hefei set sail today, the second for BYD as owner and the third in its fleet.
The first vessel in BYD’s fleet, BYD Explorer No. 1, entered service in January 2024, and the second vessel, BYD Changzhou, entered operation in December 2024.
Tencent and CATL caught in the US political crossfire
The US Department of Defense decided to add two major Chinese companies, Tencent and CATL, to its list of “Chinese military companies.” This designation is not an outright ban, but it will create significant hurdles for these companies in the US market. Tencent is known for its messaging app WeChat, and its prominent role in the gaming industry. It owns… Read more…
RoboSense unveils EM4 LiDAR with world’s most laser channels
RoboSense unveiled its new EM4 LiDAR with 1,080 laser channels, saying it’s the world’s first LiDAR with more than 1,000 channels.
The EM4 has detection range of up to 600 meters and can increase the response time of smart driving systems by up to 70 percent.
Zeekr releases Nvidia Thor-based smart driving kit at CES 2025, to deliver Waymo-customized cars in US this year
Zeekr will launch a large SUV this year that will feature the Nvidia Drive Thor-based smart driver domain controller.
It will begin delivering mass-produced Zeekr RTs to Waymo for further testing this year in preparation for a future public robotaxi launch.
Insurance registrations of major car brands in China in 2024: Nio 205,300, Xiaomi 136,800, Tesla 659,400
For the full year 2024, Nio had 205,300 insurance registrations in China, ranking 5th among new car-making brands and 8th among premium brands.
Tesla was 659,400 units, ranking 4th among premium brands behind Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.
China EV insurance registrations by brand for week ending Jan 5: Nio 3,000, Onvo 2,300, Tesla 5,500, BYD 36,500
Major EV makers all saw a significant drop in insurance registrations in China last week, as deliveries are usually slow at the beginning of the month.
Xpeng overtook Li Auto at No. 1 in the new brands list for the first time.
Porsche Macan 4 real life winter test
In the latest video, the YouTube channel Car Explorers takes the new electric Macan 4 on a winter road trip from Stockholm to Dalarna, providing a comprehensive review of its performance, features, and overall driving experience. The Macan 4 is one of the hottest electric SUVs on the market and there’s no shortage of interested buyers that will benefit from… Read more…
