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The Tesla Cybertruck will finally launch in production guise next week on November 30, exactly four years after the original prototype was first shown in public. Tesla will start customer deliveries of its first electric pickup truck next Thursday and will hopefully announce long-awaited details such as battery and drivetrain specifications, performance and range numbers, and pricing. Until then, new photos and videos of the Cybertruck continue to do the rounds online, including a new set of images that look very professional—so professional that we have a strong suspicion they are leaked official press photos of the Cybertruck. The photos…
Nissan plans to build electric versions for two of its best-selling crossovers in the UK. According to a new report, Nissan will build an electric Juke and Qashqai at its Sunderland factory. The report from Sky News Wednesday claims Nissan will announce the new electric crossovers on Friday. Citing industry sources, the report says Nissan plans to commit “hundreds of millions of pounds” and potentially over £1 billion ($1.25B) toward the project. One source said the government was likely to provide a significant guarantee. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt likely influenced the decision. The Sunderland factory already…
Ford announced it will resume construction on its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell plant in Marshall, Michigan, but the project will be significantly scaled down. Construction at the site was halted two months ago in the midst of intense contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union. Now that the UAW has ratified its contract with Ford, burdening the company with higher labor costs, the Blue Oval has announced that the Marshall battery plant will be significantly smaller than originally planned. “We are pleased to confirm we are moving ahead with the Marshall project, consistent with the Ford+…
In Europe and Asia, lots of people are realizing the benefits of electric bicycles when it comes to shuttling around the metropolis. While cargo bikes are cool, practical, and capable, not everyone needs the luggage space they offer. As such, lightweight fitness e-bikes are also very popular thanks to their style, simplicity, and practicality. Take, for example, this new e-bike from German brand Geos. The Geos e-bike flaunts a sleek, elegant, almost retro-inspired aesthetic accentuated by slim tubing and a streamlined geometry. It keeps everything very simple, so much so that it can very easily be mistaken for a non-electric…
Rivian fans have been waiting a long time for a lease program, and it looks like one is coming after all, albeit only for the R1T initially. As Tesla is getting ready to deliver the first Cybertruck pickup trucks to customers next week, it looks like Rivian is putting the final touches on its inaugural R1T leasing scheme. According to Rivian Forums (via Electrek), Rivian email subscribers have reported receiving emails from the company announcing that “leasing is coming next week for available R1T configurations in select states.” No further details are available at the moment, but we contacted Rivian for more…
Upcoming Competitiveness Improvement Project Workshop Will Prepare Attendees for Developing Competitive Proposals The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has issued a notice of intent under the Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP) calling for U.S. manufacturers of small- and medium-sized wind turbine technology to develop project ideas and teams in preparation for a 2024 request for proposals (RFP). NREL also invites interested parties to register to attend a three-day virtual workshop to learn about applying to CIP on November 28–30, 2023, at 12–2:30 p.m. MST. NREL has issued a Competitiveness Improvement Project notice of intent in advance of a 2024 funding solicitation. The project supports manufacturers of…
The U.S. EV market grew significantly in the first half of 2023, but the average EV buyer still has very strong credit, a new study found. The study, conducted by credit giant TransUnion with S&P Global Mobility, found that high average credit scores for EV buyers remained the norm between the second quarter of 2022 and the same period in 2023. So despite 5.6% growth in the U.S. EV market during the period studied, conclusions haven’t changed from a 2022 report in which TransUnion found that EV buyers have far better credit than buyers of internal-combustion cars. Genesis dealership in…
Stellantis and battery supplier CATL on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding that could pave the way for more affordable EVs in Europe. The non-binding memorandum outlines the supply of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells and modules by CATL to Stellantis for European production within an unspecific timeframe. The two companies are also considering a joint venture related to batteries, according to a Stellantis press release. LFP batteries have been touted by some automakers as a more affordable alternative to the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry used by many battery manufacturers. EV battery cost hasn’t fallen as much as…
MEPs of the European Union voted to adopt strict new rules regarding emissions from trucking and busses today, seeking a 90% reduction in total fleet CO2 emissions by 2040 — but there’s a big loophole involved. While initial planning from the EU Commission sought to categorize effectively all ICE trucks and busses as CO2-emitting, the EU Parliament has other ideas. Under the proposed rules adopted today, medium and heavy-duty trucks using biofuels and e-fuels will be exempt from fleet CO2 calculations, and in effect considered zero emission. Busses using biomethane will be similarly exempted. The change was adopted at the…
Pony.ai’s autonomous truck formation is led by an autonomous truck that leads the way for multiple L4 autonomous trucks. (Image credit: Pony.ai) Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony.ai recently received Guangzhou’s first autonomous truck formation driving test license, giving it permission to test in the southern Chinese city. Pony.ai announced the development in a press release today, saying that it will support its efforts to further scale up its autonomous trucking business for the transportation of bulk commodities in fleets. The fleet of autonomous trucks takes the form of the so-called “1+N,” with one autonomous truck leading the way for multiple…