Scooter Doll

Fresh ahead of first deliveries of its ROBO-01 AI powered electric car later this year, Baidu’s autonomous EV marque JIDU has begun touting its second model – the ROBO-02. The Chinese automaker officially unveiled the new robotic EV sedan at the Guangzhou Auto Show alongside some images you can peruse below. Notice anything missing from the exterior?

Hydrogen-electric plane developer ZeroAvia has come one step closer to performing the first test flight of its hydrogen electric plane equipped with a 600kW powertrain. The company has received a permit from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to takeoff soon.

Forum members are reporting a letter recently sent by Rivian detailing its plans to remove the Max Pack battery as a selectable option in its R1T configurator when paired with the Quad Motor drive system. As of today, the pairing is already non-selectable for new orders, but current Rivian R1T reservation holders will soon have to pivot to either a smaller battery or fewer motors.

General Motors (GM) shared yesterday that it has issued a recall on 140,000 Chevy Bolt EVs throughout the US and Canada. The recall addresses a potential risk of fire in the EV’s carpet after an accident. Here’s what we know so far.

This morning, Solid Power announced that long-time investor BMW Group is expanding an existing joint development agreement to license its technology in order to build its own solid-state batteries in Germany. Under the agreement, BMW will gain access to Solid Power’s battery research and development, cell design, and manufacturing expertise to expedite the technology alongside its partner. That being said, Solid Power isn’t licensing all of its technology.

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer AIR has shared its latest breakthrough in bringing a consumer-level electric aircraft to reality. The company has shared video footage of its flagship AIR ONE eVTOL successfully taking off, hovering, then transitioning to cruise mode. Check out the video below.

Elon Musk may think Lucid Motors could be on the verge of death as a company, but its latest tri-motor version of its Air sedan sure says otherwise from a speed standpoint. In a recent video you can view below, the team at Hagerty put the Lucid Air Sapphire up against the Tesla Model S Plaid and Bugatti Chiron in a drag race. As if that wasn’t enough, Sapphire took on a Ducati motorcycle head to head as well.

Solid-state battery manufacturer QuantumScape announced that its first 24-layer lithium-metal prototype sells to EV OEMs for testing. Referred to as “Sample A0,” these cells represent QuantumScape’s most impressive solid-state technology to date, and their delivery marks a key milestone in its journey toward full integration of energy dense, fast-charging cells into future electric vehicles.

The United States Treasury department announced it will delay its guidance in regard to the sourcing requirements for battery materials in order for EVs to qualify for federal tax credits. Beginning January 1, 2023, a slew of new requirements will still take effect, but the lack of battery guidelines could offer a brief window in 2023 where electric vehicle purchases that may not fit the pending battery sourcing requirements still qualify for some level of tax credits.

Porsche is delivering significantly faster home charging times to current Taycan owners by rolling out a new onboard charging unit that can be retrofitted into existing EVs for under $2,000. Combined with Porsche’s new AC home charger unit, Porsche owners can replenish their Taycan at speeds nearly twice as fast as their original setup.

A report filed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week has opened another investigation into GM’s robotaxi company Cruise. According to the filing, the NHTSA has received multiple reports of Cruise’s autonomous EVs blocking roadways and stopping abruptly, causing accidents with other drivers on roads.

The saga of Faraday Future and its flagship EV, now referred to as the FF91 Futurist, continues. The long-running, almost enigmatic startup has come out today and announced another fresh round of funding to keep the company going. Better yet, Faraday Future is targeting a start of FF91 production in March with deliveries to follow in April. However, a lot still needs to solidify financially before those EVs potentially… finally, roll off of the assembly line.

Less than a year after announcing its own lineup of EV-specific tires, Hankook has begun selling its iON evo all season tires in the US to support both sedans and SUVs. These new tires come in a variety of different sizes and should help reduce noise while simultaneously help maximize range.

Rivian’s online configurator now reflects a myriad of changes for new customers, including the absence of previous add-on options like a full-size spare tire. On a positive note, those who own or purchase Rivian R1T or R1S with the AWD quad motor and large battery pack, should see an increase in range. Rivian fans rejoice, additional range is always welcomed news.

Battery recycling specialist Redwood Materials has announced its next expansion in the US, which includes a new battery materials campus in Charleston, South Carolina. As Redwood’s Easternmost facility in the US, it joins the “Battery Belt” corridor growing between Michigan and Georgia.

As more and more consumers seek out new information while they mull the possibility of transitioning to an all-electric vehicle, a slew of commonly questions arise. “Can I take my EV through the car wash? How long will it take to charge? Where is all that electricity going to come from?” and most importantly today, “Will my EV lose range in winter weather?” The short answer is yes but probably not as much as you may think … Unless perhaps you own a VW ID.4. More below!

Lucid Group and Panasonic Energy announced they have entered into multi-year agreements that entail the latter supplying lithium-ion batteries to both the Lucid Air and Gravity SUV. Part of the agreement supports Panasonic Energy’s plans to expand outside of Japan and begin production at a new facility in the US.

US EV charging network Electrify America has announced an expansion of its complimentary charging perks with Kia that now includes its fastest production EV. New Kia EV6 GT customers in the US can now qualify for 1,000 kWh of free charging.

Luxury EV brand ZEEKR appears poised to be the next Chinese automaker to enter the US stock market by confidentially filing for an IPO. An influx of US cash could certainly aid the Geely Auto-owned brand in its plans to expand to Europe and North America, especially if it hits the $10 billion valuation it is reportedly seeking.

Nine months after outlining extensive plans to bring more EV models to Europe, Ford Motor Company shared its intentions to use the transition to rebrand itself under a new slogan – “adventurous spirit,” which represents American values like freedom, the outdoors, and of course larger vehicles. Whether consumers in Europe will embrace American heritage remains to be seen, but Ford’s EV technology could certainly help.

Volkswagen Group has shared a progress update outlining the development of its upcoming MEB+ EV platform. What was originally thought to be an upgrade to its current EV platform will actually arrive as the German automaker’s next-generation EV backbone. Volkswagen reaffirmed previous range improvements but also shared new details on upcoming models we can expect to see use this technology in the future. Here’s the latest.

Hours after posting its Q3 2022 results, Sono Motors CEOs and cofounders Jona Christians and Laurin Hahn offered a public statement outlining the financial struggles of its Sion solar EV program, which now teeters on the edge of being scrapped so the company can focus on its revenue-generating B2B solar technology business. Before it gives up however, the Sono team has launched a 50 day campaign called #saveSion which implores its community of reservation holders to commit to a solar EV purchase to help kick off a 12-month journey to get the Sion into production.

Hyundai Motor UK has shared pricing and performance specs for both Premium and Ultimate trims of the upcoming IONIQ 6 streamliner. All versions of the IONIQ 6 currently coming to the UK feature the larger 77.4 kWh battery, providing the most range. However, as you’ll see below, the starting pricing of the IONIQ 6 is higher to start, compared to what a 53 kWh version may cost in the US.

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has posted a revised season 9 schedule that now includes Portland, Oregon. Today’s approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council sets the stage (or circuit) for “The City of Roses” to host a Formula E event for the first time. The approved race also makes Portland the only stop in the US for Formula E this coming season. Check out the latest calendar below.