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Trump’s tariffs stall US battery momentum as China powers ahead

US battery storage tariffs

China has reclaimed the No. 1 spot on BloombergNEF’s annual Global Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Ranking, bumping Canada to second place, as its low electricity prices and strong infrastructure gave it the edge in 2024.

The report ranks 30 countries based on how well they’re positioned to build a secure and sustainable battery supply chain, and this year’s reshuffling says a lot about where the market’s headed.

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I bought a $390 electric bicycle directly from China. Here’s what showed up

Some of my regular readers may remember that I backed a risky-looking Indiegogo campaign for an ultra-low-cost electric bicycle that sounded almost too good to be true. I clearly advised readers against it, but I figured it might still be interesting to take on the risk myself to see what would happen.

This is the culmination of that story.

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Xiaomi SU7 Ultra gets its groove back with all 1,548 hp available NOW

Xiaomi backtracks on SU7 Ultra’s performance restrictions after owners’ outcry

The tire-blistering SU7 Ultra has been the Xiaomi brand’s flagship super sedan since its launch, but a controversial software setting has limited the car to “just” 900 hp in regular driving – resulting in an outcry from owners who ponied up for the big boy numbers. With its latest software update, that missing 648 hp is back on tap!

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We got a rare opportunity to drive on public roads in China and tested out a bunch of ZEEKR EVs [Video]

Seth and I recently traveled to China to attend the Shanghai Auto Show and used the opportunity to travel to Hangzhou with ZEEKR and test drive most of the automaker’s EVs. Even better, ZEEKR helped us acquire temporary driver’s permits in China, enabling us to test EVs like the new 007 GT on public roads. Read on and check out my full video below

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Here’s some of the coolest, sleekest (and furriest) EV tech we saw at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show

Shanghai Auto Show

As we’ve been briefly mentioning the past month or so, we got an opportunity to attend the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show in… you guessed it, Shanghai. Aside from taking place in an event center larger than many cities in the US, this annual event featured some of the most advanced tech we’ve ever seen and a glimpse into the future of electric mobility, as well as some of the strangest yet entertaining design and presentation.

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VW ID.UNYX 06 gets next-gen software, LFP batteries, and $20,560 price tag

Volkswagen launches ID.UNYX 06 SUV starting from 20,560 USD

If you thought Tesla was having a bad time in China before, it just got worse. Volkswagen has released an updated version of its ID.UNYX 06 electric crossover in China with a freshened interior, upgraded software, and a starting price equivalent to just $20,560 that’s bound to steal even more sales from Tesla’s slow-selling Model Y.

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Smartphone manufacturer Foxconn plans to bring two EV models to the US

Foxconn US

Remember Foxconn? It’s been years since we’ve spoken the name, so it was a big surprise that the automotive division of the behemoth electronics manufacturer would be one of the first Chinese (technically Taiwanese) brands to come to the States. A Foxconn executive recently detailed a full offensive of new BEV models in the works, two of which will hit the US market and one as early as late 2025.

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I went deep into NIU’s electric moped factory in China. Here’s what I saw

On my most recent trip to China, I had the pleasure of visiting NIU’s factory and showroom to see the wide range of electric mopeds, scooters, e-bikes, and more produced by one of the world’s leading smart electric mobility companies. As an electric mobility journalist and enthusiast (and as an owner of my own NIU e-moped since 2020), it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to peek behind the curtain and see where the magic happens.

And now after such an eye-opening visit, I’m even more excited to share that experience with you!

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With 600 mile range and $9K price, maybe it really SHOULD be the new Model 2

SGMW’s Wuling Hongguang EREV with 1,000 km range opened pre-sale at 9,500 USD

The SGMW Wuling Hongguang EV offers Chinese car buyers five or seven-seat configurations, 300 km of range (that’s about 185 miles to you and me), and a $9,600 price tag – but it’s the 1000 km EREV version that would take the US by storm in 2025.

Context: this is an opinion/satire piece, so get that out of the way and have some fun.

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Xiaomi shows off battery safety tech – by dropping fruit off a 6 floor building

Xiaomi CEO drops watermelon from 6th floor to demonstrate SU7 Ultra battery safety

Xiaomi is building some of the best, most capable high-performance electric cars in the world right now – and Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun wants you to know that they’re among the safest, too. To prove it, he’s wrapping a watermelon in the company’s “bulletproof” battery armor and dropping it off a six-storey building.

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EU Commission opens probe as to whether China provided BYD with unfair subsidies for its EV plant in Hungary

BYD production Europe

The European Union Commission has reportedly opened a preliminary probe investigating whether China provided unfair subsidies to support Chinese EV automaker BYD in establishing a new production facility in Hungary. This news comes one day after China delayed a decision on BYD’s planned production facility in Mexico, demonstrating growing trade tensions between countries worldwide.

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Chinese authorities delay approval for BYD’s pending EV plant in Mexico amid fears of the technology leaking into the US

BYD Mexico

Booming global EV automaker Build Your Dreams (BYD) has hit a snag with the Chinese government, which has delayed the green light to build a new plant in Mexico amid fears that proprietary technology in the southern part of North America could more easily make its way into the United States

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