Scooter Doll

Former Apple engineer Xiaolang Zhang has pleaded guilty to trade secret theft after being accused of stealing information surrounding Apple’s self-driving technology. Zhang would go on to work for XPeng Motors in China, which has publicly stated it has zero involvement with Apple or Zhang’s case.

According to a recent Weibo post, EV automaker NIO is testing its latest generation of battery swap stations in China. Due to record temperature across the country causing energy blackouts, NIO has explained that some of its swap stations already have the technology equipped to act as “virtual power plants” supplying energy back to the local grid during peak hours.

Chinese automaker NIO has moved one step closer to delivering its long-promised ET7 sedan to markets in Europe, as the first batch of all-electric sedans has set sail from a port in China. NIO documented the loading of the EVs before they begin popping up in markets like Germany, and more. Check it out.

Porsche AG is sharing ambitious goals for one of its upcoming EVs as the German automaker slowly but surely transitions toward an all-electric range of sports cars under the Volkswagen Group umbrella. If and when Porsche’s all-electric version of the Macan makes it into production, the automaker expects to reach a production output to match its current combustion version.

0-60 mph in under two seconds, quarter mile in under nine, and a top speed over 200 mph. Lucid Motors continues to bolster its flagship Air EV by unveiling the new tri-motor Sapphire model at Monterey Car Week today.

Available next year, this new version is touting performance specs to solidify it as one of the fastest production EVs on the planet.

EV automaker Polestar continues to make headway toward becoming a major contender in the market. With a fiscally favorable first half of 2022 and an arsenal of novel EV models in its pipeline, the Polestar has announced its sporty O₂ roadster concept will become its latest production model, donned… wait for it… the Polestar 6.

Back in 2019, when Rivian was just another EV startup, it delivered a tidal wave of virality by teasing “tank turn,” in which a shiny new R1T pickup drove in, spun in place, then drove off. A recent patent shows that Rivian may be developing a similar mode, called “front dig mode,” that turns more tightly and may be easer for EV drivers to use. It’s probably just as likely to destroy a bunch of precious trails though.

US public charging network EVgo has announced a new supply agreement with global energy solutions provider Delta Solutions for 1,000 fast charger piles capable of charge outputs up to 350 kW. This news is particularly relevant because some of those 1,000 piles will be deployed by EVgo on the nationwide network recently announced by GM and Pilot Company / Flying J.

EV freight technology company Einride has announced what feels like a match made in heaven. The autonomous and connected electric truck maker will provide sustainable, plant-based meat company Beyond Meat, with a number of electric freight vehicles to support its shipping network as part of a five-year plan to scale the sustainable operations across Beyond Meat’s entire US operations.

Chinese EV automaker XPeng Motors has shared additional details of its upcoming G9 SUV – a vehicle it is pegging as the “world’s fastest-charging mass-produced EV.” We’ve also have our first glimpse of the G9 interior, which will feature XPeng’s Xopera immersive media system. As a result, nearly 23,000 people have reserved the upcoming SUV in the first 24 hours.

Modular transportation developer REE Automotive has debuted the P7-B, a novel Class 3 box truck designed and built by REE to target the most in-demand vehicle type in the commercial segment. The truck sits atop REE Automotive’s P7 cab chassis and is powered by the company’s proprietary REEcorner technology.

Solid-state battery manufacturer Solid Power has posted its financial results for Q2 of 2022, highlighting significant revenue increases compared to 2021 as well as continued progress to deliver 20 Ah silicon anode cells to automotive partners like Ford and BMW. Additionally, Solid Power intends to begin production of EV-scale solid-state battery cells for internal testing this coming quarter.

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor has announced its next steps in previously laid out plans to expand EV sales to markets in Europe. Beginning with Germany, Great Wall has recruited the services of Emil Frey – the EU’s largest car dealer group to help distribute vehicles from the Ora and Wey marques.

Foxconn has signed its first contract manufacturing agreement since acquiring a Ohio facility from Lordstown Motors. In addition to building EVs for Lordstown and Fisker Inc., Foxconn will now also be manufacturing advanced, driver optional electric tractors and battery packs for Monarch Tractors.

American EV startup Canoo shared its latest report outlining its results for Q2 of 2022 as it continues to fight to stay out of the red in a race toward production. Canoo is now reporting another big loss for the quarter. And, although it has $1 billion in its sales pipeline, only a minority percentage of those commitments are binding under contract.

During its inaugural partner’s conference in Shanghai, autonomous-centric robotic car brand JIDU shared details of its lofty production expansion goals overseas. Furthermore, the CEO of parent company Baidu, said JIDU’s autonomous driving technology will “lead the Tesla generation.”

Following a less than stellar Q2 financial report last week, Lucid Motors is diverting the public’s eyes to a shiny new exterior design add-on for the Air sedan called “Stealth Look.” This darker, sportier design replaces thirty-five exterior components on the Air and will come as a choosable option to compliment any of the five color options currently available.

Mazda has reported its sale numbers for July, which exhibit an overall decline compared to a year ago. What’s even worse, Mazda sold less MX-30 EVs than the number of seats some people have at their dinner tables. As a compliance EV with dozens upon dozens of better options available, the MX-30 is becoming a prime example of how negligible compliance EVs are in the growing market.

Recent news out of London affirms previous statements from UK-based EV start-up Arrival – which has said it plans to cut at least one-third of its costs amid waning cash flow in order to get production of its electric Van over the starting line. The company aims to begin generating revenue off the Arrival Van before circling back to the development of its two other electric vehicles, the Bus and Car.

Just a couple weeks after first teasing the public with shadowy images of its second EV model, Zeekr has shared several more images of its luxury multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). While many here in the states would call this a glorified minivan, the ZEEKR 009 will join a growing segment of luxury MPVs in China.

Past will meet future at Bonhams’ “Quail Auction” later this month, as an all-electric one-of-one Ferrari Testa Rosa J will be auctioned off with proceeds to support local youth in California. This 2022 EV is a scaled reproduction built and donated by The Little Car Company as a nod to one of the most iconic cars in Ferrari history. Check it out.

We have officially passed the halfway marker for the 2022 fiscal year, and those quarterly reports are starting to roll in. Fisker’s Q2 update came this morning, showcasing a decent appetite for its flagship Ocean SUV, alongside some updates to the progress of the next two Fisker models to follow.

For over a year now, I have been planning a trip up the coast with my parents to San Francisco. What a perfect opportunity to test out the new Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance! Lucid Motors lent me its latest EV, and we were off in search of coastal views, some Chicago Cubs wins, and a genuine test of how the Grand Touring Performance would handle a 450-mile road trip north. Here’s how it went.

Despite dwindling inventories of BEVs due to supply chain constraints and legacy automakers still playing catchup in BEV production, the demand for electric vehicles continues to rise… and Tesla isn’t the only pony in the race anymore. That being said, Tesla remains the “Nap” in EV sales, but the rest of the market is starting to catch up.