Electrek

Solid-state battery developer QuantumScape has provided further evidence that it’s the real deal in eventually achieving scaled cell production that could one day enable EV modules that are safer, charge faster, and go farther. In the YouTube video below, QuantumScape explains the design of its FlexFrame battery cell, which expands and contracts… similar to a beating heart.

The wireless charging experts at Ideanomics’ WAVE division want you to remember that high-speed inductive EV charging is ready for prime time – even in extremely cold weather conditions.

Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD) got the single largest order of electric school buses to date from the second-largest public school system in the US.

BYD’s answer to the Tesla Model Y is expected to begin rolling out in the first half of the year. Ahead of its official launch, the BYD Sea Lion 07 electric SUV’s specs have been revealed.

Would you drive this off-road Genesis EV on your next ski trip? Genesis unveiled the X Snow Speedium EV concept, giving us a sneak peek into the brand’s future design.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that solar and wind will lead US power generation growth for the next two years in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook.

A bunch of Tesla vehicles were unable to charge at Supercharger stations across Chicago amid an extreme cold wave.

Finally bring home an EV charger for the garage now that this level 2 ChargePoint Home Flex offering is down to $397. It comes joined by the last day to save $699 on one of our favorite cargo e-bikes, as the Aventon Abound e-bike hits $1,500, as well as all of today’s other best new Green Deals – including a batch of new e-bike and so much more.

Head below for other New Green Deals 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.

If you were waiting for a smaller, cheaper Toyota electric car, you may have to keep waiting. Toyota has no current plans to launch a cheap EV despite demand building.

Volvo Trucks has become the first commercial truck OEM in the UK to qualify four different models for the Government’s £25,000 plug-in grant on new registrations.

Mazda is the latest automaker to announce that it will adopt NACS, Tesla’s open-source charging standard.

It’s going to Mazda’s very few EVs access to Tesla Superchargers.

After dropping Tesla, global rental car giant SIXT says it will buy up to 250,000 vehicles from Stellantis for its fleets in North America and Europe.

Ford is gearing up to build the first electric Explorer models in Europe this summer. The first Ford Explorer EVs are now expected to reach customers in August. Ford also expects to begin production of its second EV in Europe by the end of 2024.

Hydrogen-electric plane aviation technology developer ZeroAvia is exploring a form of energy-dense fuel to develop aircraft that can refuel faster and potentially fly farther. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with hydrogen tech startup Verne to co-develop the plane integrations.

Despite all the doom, gloom, and wishful thinking from the anti-EV crowd, the numbers paint a narrative of swift expansion in the commercial EV and ZEV (Zero-Emission Vehicle) markets. CALSTART’s latest figures reveal a remarkable 250% growth in the zero-emission heavy truck market.

Swedish lithium-ion battery producer Northvolt has raised an additional $5 billion, firmly locking in its position as one of Europe’s best-funded startups and recipient of the largest-ever green loan from the EU. The company is adding that cash to its pot of $13 billion in equity and debt to expand operations across the world.

This is a special episode of the Electrek podcast in which we dive into Elon Musk’s comments from last night requesting a 25% stake in Tesla in order to advance AI at the company, which he himself described as an AI/robotics company.

A new collaboration between three different companies will see US-produced battery cells that could soon lead to fireproof e-bike batteries.

Ram unveiled its first electric vehicle for the US on Tuesday – the Ram ProMaster electric van. The new Ram ProMaster EV offers up to 162 miles of city driving range and an array of new features.

Star-crossed startup Lightyear has finally thrown in the towel on attempting to bring its long-promised solar EVs to market – at least one donning its own badge and design language. The startup’s founding CEO, Lex Hoefsfloot, has been replaced as the born-again startup pivots toward solar panel development to be implemented on other companies’ vehicles. That, frankly, is just not as sexy.

Volkswagen has been trying to develop solid-state EV batteries with US startup QuantumScape for years, pouring millions into the startup, with the dream that VW Golf EVs would zip along with long ranges and charge in minutes, but that hasn’t happened – not yet anyway. Now Reuters reports that the automaker is in talks with France’s Blue Solutions.

London’s ambulance service already has 42 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles in its emergency fleet, but now it’s adding 12 bright, shiny all-electric ambulances designed by Ford for emissions-free first response – and the first full-service electric ambulances in the city. London is pouring some $39 million into “greening up” its emergency vehicles.

Stellantis has decided to temporarily lay off some 2,250 workers at its Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy. More than half of the affected workers handle production of its all-electric pint-sized Fiat 500e, Stellantis’s first all-electric vehicle to launch in the US. Another 1,000 workers producing Maserati models will also be affected by the layoffs.

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.