Elon Musk recently indulged in a tweetstorm about trade rules in China, which he says are hindering Tesla’s ability to compete in the market. “The current rules make things very difficult. It’s like competing in an Olympic race wearing lead shoes,” Musk wrote. However, he also said that “China has already shown a willingness to… Read more »
Battery-electric bus builder BYD has received an order for three K9S electric buses from Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s Capital Area Transit System (CATS), which operates 29 bus lines and provides over 2 million rides annually. The new e-buses will go into operation later this year. BYD’s K9S has a range of 150 miles and a capacity… Read more »
Tesla’s Model 3 is breaking new ground in all kinds of ways. I’m pretty sure no new vehicle in history has ever been so difficult for members of the news media to get hold of. Unlike other automakers, Tesla provides very few review vehicles to the press – even the handful of favored media outlets… Read more »
A recent analysis by mining and metals consultancy CRU finds that demand for aluminum, driven by increased production of plug-in vehicles, is set to skyrocket by the year 2030. Demand will reach nearly 10 million metric tons, a tenfold increase over 2017 levels. According to CRU, demand for “primary aluminum-intensive extrusions and rolled products will… Read more »
Volkswagen says it has lined up 20 billion euros ($25 billion) worth of battery supplies to support a significant increase in EV production over the next few years. The world’s largest automaker will equip 16 factories to produce EVs by the end of 2022, compared with the three it has today. VW says it plans… Read more »
Photo: AxleTech e4000 Electric Axle Sponsored by AxleTech Today, AxleTech is absolutely, positively, but not exclusively, electric. And, they’ve rebranded themselves. The 100-year old company – which traces its roots back to the original Rockwell International – has, for most of its history, provided advanced powertrain systems, axles, brakes, components and aftermarket parts for heavy-duty and defense… Read more »
FlixBus, which operates a network of long-distance buses in Europe, plans to test electric buses on some of its routes. Beginning in April, the first Flix-E-Bus will begin test operations on the route between Paris and Amiens, France. A second Flix-E-Bus will hit the road between Hessen and Baden-Württemberg, Germany, this summer. Long-distance buses are… Read more »
Ford wants us to know it hasn’t given up on hybrids and EVs, even though it hasn’t updated its existing plug-in models since 2013. That was the message from several company execs at a recent press event in Dearborn. Ford will introduce hybrid versions of five of its SUV models by 2020, and produce seven… Read more »
Mary Barra says GM plans to boost production of its Chevrolet Bolt in response to strong demand, and called on Congress to expand the federal EV tax credit. “We feel tax credits should be expanded so our customers continue to receive the benefit going forward,” Barra told an energy conference in Houston. “We believe in… Read more »
Workhorse Group (NASDAQ: WKHS) has received a $7-million repeat order for all-electric delivery trucks, to be deployed by “a major delivery company in the San Diego area.” Workhorse all-electric trucks are powered by Panasonic batteries, and deliver a 100-mile range. According to Workhorse, its e-trucks can improve fuel efficiency from an average of 5.5 MPG… Read more »
