Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Yesterday
Beginning this fall when its next-generation BlueCruise 1.2 active driver assist rolls out, Ford is introducing three new features, including hands-free lane changes. The American automaker says it has bolstered its Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) team to improve BlueCruise and ActiveGuide for Ford and Lincoln drivers. That being said, current drivers will have to wait to experience these new hands-free features.
Electrek will be on site at Micromobility America in the San Francisco Bay area next week, checking out all the latest and greatest updates in the big world of little vehicles.
Ride-share veteran Uber Technologies has announced a long term partnership with autonomous vehicle developer Nuro, whose zero-occupant EVs will deliver food to Uber Eats customers around the US. The ten-year deal will kick off this fall in Texas and California before expanding further.
Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, are being called out again for their lack of progress with battery electric vehicles and decarbonization efforts. Greenpeace, a nonprofit organization promoting a sustainable future, released a new study finding that Japanese automakers lag behind their peers.
In March, electric vehicle battery startup StoreDot said it would produce battery cells that will be able to achieve a charge of 100 miles of range in just five minutes. The Israel-based company has delivered: It’s now shipping production-ready “100in5” EV cell samples to its strategic EV OEM partners and potential customers.
Adding to its expanding lineup of high-end electric bikes, Bianchi has just unveiled its new flagship electric gravel bike: the Bianchi e-Arcadex.
Tesla announced that it is going to let people vote on Supercharger locations as it is expanding its network at an increased pace.
Segway’s Ninebot ZING C9 electric scooter is made with younger riders in mind. It only engages the motors when your young ones reach 1.9 MPH, which means it won’t start going until they’re ready for it to. On top of that, it’ll reach speeds of up to 11.2 MPH and travel for 6.2 miles, all without a single drop of gas or oil. It’s seeing the first discount we’ve tracked down to $198 from its normal going rate of $270, making now a great time to pick it up. We also have a wide selection of Tesla and e-bike discounts in today’s New Green Deals, so you won’t want to miss that either.
Head below for other New Green Deals that we’ve found today and of course Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.
Trucks offer a unique driving experience, combining the ability to haul massive loads (like boats, trailers, or any of those fun toys) with a spacious interior fit for a king. Now, they are getting an upgrade as several EV trucks hit the market in 2022. Check out the bestselling electric trucks below, and then at the end, learn what models you will be able to get your hands on in 2023.
Magna Steyr – an Austrian-based contract manufacturer owned by Magna International – recently shared aspirations to enter the US market and produce vehicles in a climate-friendly facility in North America. The facility overseas currently manufactures the Jaguar I-Pace and will begin production of the Fisker Ocean in November. Based on revised terms for US federal tax credits, could a move by Magna happen?
Tesla is ramping up hiring for its Megafactory in California, where it aims to produce 40 GWh of Megapacks per year.
EV start-up Mullen Automotive has announced the purchase of a controlling interest in Bollinger Motors for $148.2 million in cash and stock. As the new majority owner, Mullen has already shared intentions to use the cash to resume Bollinger’s halt to B1 and B2 electric truck production while continuing to pursue the development of class 3-6 medium-duty electric trucks.
Volcon Powersports, maker of off-road electric motorcycles and e-UTVs, has officially entered the electric bike market with its first street-legal EV, the Volcon Brat. The news follows the company’s slow drip campaign that teased its launch over the last few weeks.
Jeep, the rugged SUV maker, says it will be releasing four new all-electric EV models in the US and Europe by the end of 2025. The move comes as part of the automaker’s plan to hit 50% electric vehicle sales in the US by 2030 and 100% in Europe.
North American EV fast-charging network Electrify America has introduced a new labeling system to more easily differentiate its charging levels for consumers. Additionally, the latest generation of Electrify America DC fast chargers will include a new “Balanced” technology in which power is evenly distributed to multiple EVs at once in order to maximize speeds and deliver at least 150 kW of “ultra-fast” charging. Could this set a new standard for all EV charging networks in North America?
Rivian and Mercedes-Benz announced today that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a joint venture to produce an electric van together.
When it comes to scooters, Razor is as much of a household name as it gets. But forget the classic, shiny Razor scooters you’re used to. The company is coming in hot with a whole new type of two passenger, big-wheeled electric scooter for adults. Meet the Razor EcoSmart Cargo.
General Motors has shared a slew of new information about the upcoming 2024 Chevy Equinox EV, outlining pertinent details for each of its trim levels, including range and standard features. What’s most promising about the all-electric compact SUV is that GM is still saying it will start at a price around $30,000. The company is hoping to convince a number of consumers to go all-electric.
Dongfeng has unveiled what is being referred to as a “Hummer EV knock-off,” and it features its own impressive four-electric-motor powertrain and crab walk.
September 7
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Sono Motors is trying its damndest to stay at the top of everyone’s news feed this week. In addition to announcing it has received over 20,000 reservations for its upcoming Sion solar EV, Sono Motors has announced a new partnership for retrofit solar implementation on city buses. Additionally, car subscription platform FINN has upped its previous Sion reservation up to 12,600 units, bringing Sono’s demand for solar electric vehicles up over 32,000 units.
The Canadian government has confirmed that it is talking with Tesla (TSLA), along with other automakers, about building an electric vehicle factory in the country.
Good news for Nissan LEAF owners: The automaker is approving its first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charger for its LEAF model, meaning owners can now sell energy back to the grid. Sending energy back to the grid from your EV can help reduce utility costs during peak usage.
Kia Europe has announced a new partnership with encore Deutsche Bahn to reuse former EV batteries to create scalable energy storage systems. The prototype has already been implemented in Germany using Kia Soul EV batteries and marks the start of the automaker’s Europe-wide initiative.
Bring your electric bike and join Electrek’s group ride in Salt Lake City this weekend
Come join us for a fun electric group ride in Salt Lake City this weekend, where we’ll be heading out on a morning cruise together!
Trim your trees with SKIL’s 10-inch cordless 40V electric pole saw at $159 in New Green Deals
When it comes time to trim trees around your property ahead of winer snow storms, a pole saw is likely your go-to option. Right now, we’re taking a look at an all-electric SKIL brushless 40V cordless 10-inch pole saw that’s on sale for $159, which is a $40 discount from its normal $199 going rate and comes within $10 of the best price that we’ve seen. We also have a wide selection of Tesla and e-bike discounts in today’s New Green Deals, so you won’t want to miss that either.
Head below for other New Green Deals that we’ve found today and of course Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.
Global contract manufacturer Magna International has agreed to produce and scale a fleet of autonomous delivery robots for silicon valley-based robotics company Cartken. The robots are being built at a Magna facility in Michigan and will soon offer autonomous last-mile deliveries to businesses around the world.
I test drove the VW ID Buzz, an electric minivan and the latest VW electric vehicle. It’s a fun new EV with character and that is going to provide a ton of utility for families, and maybe even some special use cases.
Nio (NIO) released its Q2 earnings Wednesday morning as the Chinese EV maker enters a critical stage of development. With competition rising and the auto supply chain still in shambles, Nio’s losses are widening as it introduces several new EVs to the market.
Final turbine installed on France’s first offshore wind farm, with Macron pushing hard on renewables
Installation of all 80 offshore wind turbines off the west coast of France has been completed, with France’s first offshore wind farm scheduled to be up and running by the end of the year. The Saint Nazaire site will produce enough power to cover 20% of total electricity consumption of the Loire-Atlantic, or around 700,000 people.
A new full-suspension fat-tire electric bike is promising high performance for a relatively low price. The newly released model is known as the KKBike K26 S.
Tesla continues to receive accolades for its safety ratings, with the Model Y receiving the top safety rating from Euro NCAP and Australia’s ANCAP.
September 6
Google Maps letting you specify EV, hybrid, and other engine types for more fuel-efficient directions
Google Maps can now provide the “most fuel-efficient route” possible if you specify your car’s engine type, while eco-friendly routing is coming to all of Europe.
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Although it has only explored 1% of its 55,000 acre site in Canada, carbon-conscious mining company Snow Lake Lithium believes it can enable a massive domestic supply of the chemical element to EV automakers when it begins commercial mining. The company expects its all-electric mine to source enough lithium to power up to 500,000 EVs in North America each year, which could prove vital in the US as the automotive industry shifts its supply chains domestically in order to qualify for revised federal tax credits.
London-based SolarBotanic Trees officially launched its “solar tree” prototype today, and the company wants to use it to power EV charging stations first.
The experts in portable and solar energy solutions continue to demonstrate why BLUETTI is the name to beat. After wowing us last summer with one of the most powerful modular power stations ever made, BLUETTI is pushing the limits of mobile energy once again with the new AC500 portable power station. Combined with several B300S expansion batteries, this modular system can deliver over 18,000Wh of energy. You’d have to make a serious effort to use up all that capacity.
Tesla is pushing a new software update that includes an improved Theater Mode. It’s a small change, but it will provide a much smoother experience when using streaming platforms inside Tesla vehicles.
Yamaha is at it again with a new mid-drive motor for electric bikes, this time launching the updated Yamaha PWseries S2 drive unit. It’s everything you’d expect from a new motor update, with more power and torque in a smaller and lighter package.
Tritium has a rich history of designing and building DC fast chargers for the EV industry. The EV charging manufacturer announced Tuesday it raised up to $135 million in new funding to help it work through its backorders while boosting production ability.
Foldable solar panel with 20A power station charger, more now $140 in New Green Deals
With fall on the horizon, you might be planning some outdoor adventures with the family. If those trips plan to take you off-grid for an extended period of time, then be sure to have this 120W foldable solar panel in the trunk in case it’s needed. With a built-in 20A LCD solar charge controller and 10 various DC adapters, it’s ready to plug into just about any portable power station. On sale for $140, you’re saving $40 from its normal going rate and enjoying a new all-time low that we’ve tracked. We also have a wide selection of Tesla and e-bike discounts in today’s New Green Deals, so you won’t want to miss that either.
Head below for other New Green Deals that we’ve found today and of course Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.
Italian luxury automaker Maserati has shared the latest update in becoming an all-electric brand by taking comedian Sebastian Maniscalco for a spin in its new GranTurismo Folgore EV. Check out video footage below offering the first glimpse of this Maserati EV in action, as its designers share some of its specs before production begins next year.
We got a glimpse of an all-electric off-roading and motorsport future with a Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck charging a Taiga Orca electric jet ski.
A new Proterra-powered electric transit bus is set to hit the roads in 2023. Proterra announced a new partnership with Eldorado National California (ENC) for the next generation of electric transit buses.
Solar EV manufacturer Lightyear has welcomed another fresh round of investment capital to help get its first vehicle – the Lightyear 0 – into production this year while furthering development of its second SEV, the Lightyear 2. The €81 million (~$80M) round is led by Invest-NL, who funds businesses and projects that are working to make the Netherlands more sustainable and innovative.
I’ve been eyeing the Zugo Rhino electric bike for a while now, especially the version in that trippy color-changing indigo paint job. I finally got the chance to test out not one but two of them when the company let me put some good honest miles on the step-over and step-through variants of the Zugo Rhino.
Having spent some fun saddle time on both of them, I can tell you that the bikes give you exactly the type of ride you’d expect just from looking at them – a powerful and fun joyride that is somehow equal parts relaxing and exciting.
Elon Musk is signaling that Tesla is ramping up Powerwall production and will finally increase the availability of the home battery pack.
