San Francisco Startup Ample Develops an EV Battery Swap Station that Can Replace Any Electric Vehicle Battery in Under 10 Minutes

San Francisco startup Ample unveiled its new EV battery swapping station this week, which can remove and replace an electric vehicle’s battery modules in under 10 minutes autonomously using robotics. Ample’s modular battery swapping technology acts as a drop-in replacement for the vehicle’s original battery design, so it can work with any make or model.

General Motors is Looking to Build a Second Electric Vehicle Battery Plant in the U.S.

General Motors is looking to build a second battery plant in the U.S. with its South Korean battery partner LG Chem, citing people familiar with the company’s plans, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the report, the two companies are close to an agreement to build a new EV battery plant in Tennessee. The automaker announced in Oct 2020 that it will invest $2 billion in its Spring Hill, Tennessee Manufacturing facility to build fully-electric vehicles.

Tesla to Migrate its Driver Profile Data to a Cloud-based Platform Ahead of the ‘Tesla Network’ Launch

Industry reports suggest that electric automaker Tesla Inc. is in the process of transferring its individual driver profiles and personalized vehicle settings to a cloud-based platform that will be used as part of a planned ride-hailing service using Tesla's connected vehicles.

China’s Tesla Challenger Xpeng Launches 3 New EV Variants Powered by Cobalt-free, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Batteries

​Chinese electric vehicle startup and Tesla challenger Xpeng Inc announced today that it's expanded its product offerings by launching three new versions of its fully-electric P7 sedan and X3 SUV in China powered by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Volkswagen’s New ID. Family of EVs Will Receive Over-the-Air Updates Every Three Months

German automaker Volkswagen intends to be a digital leader in the automotive industry, transforming itself into a full-service provider of software, hardware and digital services for its future vehicles, the company announced on Wednesday. The automaker’s future models will support over the air (OTA) software updates.

Tactile Mobility Announces the First-of-its-Kind ‘Virtual’ Tire Tread Depth Measurement Solution

Tactile Mobility, a virtual sensing technology company, announces the first-of-its-kind “virtual sensing technology” which can determine a tire’s tread depth using sensors already installed in the vehicle. The company recently announced a commercial collaboration with the BMW group to implement its virtual sensors in BMW vehicles.

China’s Tech Giant Baidu Registers a New ‘Intelligent EV Company’ with Automaker Geely

Chinese tech giant Baidu Inc, which is the equivalent of Google in China, is launching a new “intelligent EV company” with automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely), the parent company of automaker Volvo. The joint venture will focus on “New Energy Vehicles” (NEVs), which in China include fully-electric and plug-in hybrid models.

Volvo Cars Announces it Will Only Offer Fully-Electric Vehicles by 2030

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars announced on Tuesday that it will transition to fully-electric vehicles by 2030. The company will electrify its entire model lineup, replacing all of its internal combustion engine models by then. In the interim, Volvo aims for hybrid models to make up 50% of its offerings by 2025. Volvo’s transition to becoming a fully electric car company is part of its ambitious plan to address climate change, buts its also a way to adapt to a changing auto industry.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Issues a Guidebook to Help Automakers Source Chips Amid Global Shortages

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a handbook to automakers that includes a list of common automotive semiconductors and their demand to ensure better management of the automotive chip supply. The guidebook lists of over 1,000 items that are in high demand by Chinese automakers and is designed to better facilitate the communication between automakers and chip suppliers.

Here's What We Know About the Refreshed 2022 Hyundai Kona EV

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co announced a redesigned 2022 Kona EV for the North American market. The restyled Kona electric crossover includes a substantially redesigned exterior and cabin space. The all-new Kona Electric will also come with an updated suspension setup, which according to Hyundai, improves the EV's ride and handling.

Electric-Performance Brand Polestar to Open 15 New U.S. Retail Showrooms in 2021

​Polestar, the new dedicated electric-performance car brand owned by Volvo Cars and its parent company Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely), announced that it’s expanding its retail presence across the United States with plans to open new retail showrooms in 15 cities by the end of 2021.

Consumer Reports Looks to Help Consumers by Introducing Green Choice Designation

Not interested in looking up every review Consumer Reports has written and finding the perfect green vehicle for you? The Toyota Prius, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, and Tesla Model 3 are four of the top 10 vehicle Consumer Reports recommends that are also green choices.

Tesla Model Y Standard Range Disappears From Site, Still Available to Purchase

The Tesla Model Y Standard Range’s disappearance closely resembles what the electric automaker did with the “$35,000 Model 3,” which means a lot of consumers may not know that the vehicle is available for purchase.

2022 IONIQ 5 Kicks Off Hyundai’s Major EV Push

The all-new IONIQ 5 is based on the Hyundai 45 concept and is the first vehicle from the new IONIQ sub-brand, leading the way forward for the automaker’s 23 EVs that are coming in the future.

Michelin Launches the Pilot Sport EV, the First High-Performance Tire Designed for Electric Vehicles

​French tire manufacturer Michelin has launched a new high-performance tire called the Pilot Sport EV that is specifically designed for electric vehicles. The Pilot Sport EV is the first Michelin tire engineered to meet the specific handling and range requirements of electric sports cars, such as the Tesla Model S, Model 3 and Porsche Taycan.

Nissan Announces a 'Major Breakthrough' in Thermal Efficiency With its New e-POWER Hybrid Technology

Automaker Nissan Motor Corp announced what its calls a “major breakthrough” in engine efficiency with it’s e-POWER technology. Unlike a conventional hybrid vehicle setup, Nissan’s e-POWER technology uses a small gasoline engine that serves as a “dedicated electricity generator” for the vehicle’s electric powertrain.

XPeng Motors Valued at Over $8.4 Billion Files for U.S. IPO, the Company is Backed by Alibaba and Xiaomi

As existing shareholders continue to increase investments in EVs and related technologies, new participants are optimistic about China's growing electric vehicle market. As a result, electric vehicle startup XPeng Motors has strong financial backing and stamina for future development. The company has cash reserves of 8.2 billion yuan (US$1.19 billion), and is ramping up its investment in R&D.