Scooter Doll

International express shipper DHL just announced plans to expand its “Green Fleet” in the US. It plans to do so with the help of EV manufacturer Lightning eMotors. After a successful pilot run of nine EV vans, DHL Express will acquire 89 more from Lightning eMotors this year.

As the first days of spring are officially upon us, we focus our spotlight on GreenPower Motor Company. This EV manufacturer designs, builds, and distributes purpose-built zero-emission shuttles, cargo, and transit buses. From purpose-built mini-buses to wireless charging and Level 5 autonomous technologies, GreenPower has a lot of clean innovation going on.

In a press release this week, solid-state battery manufacturer QuantumScape announced it’s seeking additional funds to expand its QS-0 pilot line. The company plans to use the funds to double the size of the originally announced pilot line. QuantumScape will use this pilot line to manufacture prototype cells for its partner Volkswagen Group and other potential automakers.

In an unconfirmed letter to the Commander in Chief, two US Senators from California urged the administration to follow their state’s lead in establishing a phase out date for gas-powered vehicles. Furthermore, President Biden and his team are maneuvering how to reimplement vehicle emissions rules eased by the previous administration.

During its annual press conference, Cupra announced it will launch its Tavascan electric SUV concept into production in 2024. The Tavascan will be the Cupra’s second consumer EV after the Cupra Born begins production at the end of this year.

Auto manufacturer Geely plans to launch a new premium EV brand called Zeekr in China. Zeekr will exist as a separate brand and marketing strategy under the Geely umbrella. The automaker reportedly hopes to develop premium vehicles like Mercedes-Benz to compete with the likes of Tesla.

Lucid’s astute forum members have uncovered news the automaker may or may not want the public to see yet. Patent images of Lucid Motors’ upcoming Gravity SUV were uncovered in a filing with the EUIPO.

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn recently revealed it is considering its Wisconsin facility to produce its first electric vehicle. The international electronics juggernaut is strategizing for contract manufacturing of electric vehicles in North America. The company’s president recently told the media that Foxconn is debating between its Wisconsin facility or one of its plants in Mexico to produce EVs for clients.

The collaboration with Dolby will integrate Atmos in the Lucid Air’s new 21-speaker Surreal Sound system. As the first vehicle to ever feature Dolby Atmos sound, Air drivers will experience an immersive listening experience. Furthermore, the speaker system will provide enhanced audio safety features.

Electric Last Mile Solutions (ELMS) is a commercial EV startup based in Detroit. Its focus on last-mile deliveries centers around its flagship EV, the Urban Delivery. In a press release today, ELMS announced it has received over 45,000 non-binding pre-orders for its Urban Delivery EV. Furthermore, it plans to begin production later this year.

In a press release today, ElectraMeccanica ($SOLO) announced the site for its US-based assembly facility. The facility plus an engineering technical center will be in Mesa, Arizona. The confirmation puts a bookend on a year-long search that began in February of 2020. With this news, Arizona is quickly becoming a new hub for electric vehicle manufacturing.

Israeli EV startup REE Automotive, just unveiled its new approach to drive components and platforms. Named REEcorners, these proprietary systems fuse all of the vital parts of an EV together between the chassis and wheel. Combined with its modular EV platforms, REE Automotive sees its technology as a cornerstone for the future of electrified mobility.

Self-driving startup Voyage announced it has been acquired by Cruise, a larger autonomous driving company. The California-based company previously made breakthroughs in self-driving technologies by transporting senior citizens around their communities. Voyage looks to pair its previous research with Cruise’s substantial resources to expand self-driving services to all.

It’s a fresh new week, and you know what that means. You get to peruse another article on an up-and-coming EV manufacturer. This week we’re in London, home to Volta Trucks and its zero-emission commercial fleet vehicle.

The Dutch EV startup Lightyear has announced the closing of a new funding round of $48 million. The EV manufacturer specializing in solar paneled roofs made the announcement via a press release today. The new investment is Lightyear’s largest financing to date. It will use the funds to support growth toward the first customer deliveries of its Lightyear One exclusive series car.

Lucid Motors just released a video of CEO Peter Rawlinson taking the upcoming Air sedan for a test drive. It was the first time the Air appeared in public without camouflage. The test drive Air is a release candidate EV built at Lucid’s AMP-1 facility in Arizona. Rawlinson test drives the Lucid Air around the San Fransisco area to validate its dynamics before it begins full production.

Details of a fully-electric pickup truck from EV startup, Canoo ($GOEV) leaked today. The images and features were scheduled to be unveiled during the Motor Press Guild’s Virtual Media Day (VMD). This new truck is the third vehicle to sit upon the company’s proprietary multi-purpose platform. The new pickup truck is loaded with unique features and components that utilize every inch of that platform.

Rivian’s CEO RJ Scaringe Tweeted a video of himself surrounded by R1S electric SUVs. In the video, he explains how the second and third-row seats fold down and shares perspective of how much room future drivers will actually have.

Luxury automaker Aston Martin has committed to building two battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the UK, beginning in 2025. The two BEVs in development will be a sports car and an SUV. With hybrid models in the pipeline as well, Aston Martin is inching toward EVs within a faster adapting automotive market.

EV charging network ChargePoint and automaker Polestar announced what they call a “charging partnership.” The first product of the collaboration will be an integrated charging app for the Polestar 2 EV.

Kia has just offered the public a first glimpse at its upcoming EV6 hatchback. The next-generation BEV will be the first Kia donning the “EV” prefix, and the first to sit upon its dedicated E-GMP Platform. According to the automaker, the EV is the first developed under a new design philosophy built specifically around the company’s keen focus on electrification.

We embark on a new week and a fresh focus on another up and coming EV company, Arrival. The UK-based automaker offers a unique and efficient approach to electric vehicles from production through delivery. Its pipeline for manufacturing, assembly, and software keeps footprints concise and minimalistic while others are going bigger and bigger. These are some of the many reasons Arrival is an EV company to watch.

The recently announced investment from the Government of Canada includes zero-emissions public transit and school buses. The full $2.75 billion will be funded over the next five years starting in 2021. The Government of Canada expects the investment to promote jobs and economic recovery in a net-zero emissions future.

Japanese industrial manufacturer Hitachi Zosen has developed a solid-state battery claimed to harness one of the highest capacities in the industry. Additionally, the Osaka-based company states this new solid-state battery can operate under a larger range of temperatures. It will soon be tested in industrial machinery and space.