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VW breaks ground on first EV cell “gigafactory,” starts PowerCo battery business

Volkswagen Salzgitter EV cell factory groundbreakingVolkswagen officially broke ground Thursday on what it’s nicknaming SalzGiga—VW’s battery factory at Salzgitter, Germany, that will serve as a hub for global battery activities and vertical integration of the battery supply chain. With that, VW also formalized the name of the separate startup, called PowerCo, that will set up and…

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Nio hits 1,000 battery swapping stations, announces 500-kw fast-chargers for Europe and China

Nio battery stationChinese automaker Nio on Wednesday announced completion of its 1,000th battery swapping station. The announcement was part of Nio’s second annual Power Day presentation, where the automaker also announced an ambitious charging expansion plan. The latest station is also the first to be powered entirely by renewable energy, including solar and hydro…

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Tesla leads in EVs and BYD tops plug-in sales globally, but VW’s in the passing lane

BYD Han EVFor years, BYD sold the most plug-in vehicles of any other automaker—even Tesla. Tesla still leads in what we—and likely most shoppers—consider electric vehicles, however, despite a confusing set of recent headlines declaring BYD at the top in EVs. For instance, one prestigious financial publication declared: “Warren…

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Toyota EV tax credit sunset, Fisker Ocean One, “super iron” battery, Jaguar EVs: Today’s Car News

2022 Toyota Prius PrimeJaguar plans to shift its EVs upmarket. It’s time to put money down if you want to be one of the first with a Fisker Ocean. Could a boost to the LFP chemistry heighten its popularity? And if you want to take full advantage of the EV tax credit on Toyota and Lexus plug-in models, make plans now. This and more, here at Green Car Reports…

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China’s GAC reveals “super iron” LFP battery with 20% boost in energy density by volume

GAC GS8, 2018 Detroit auto showWhile other companies look to experimental solid-state batteries to boost energy density, Chinese automaker GAC is finding ways to improve existing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. GAC recently unveiled a “super iron” LFP battery, with a claim of 20% greater energy density by volume compared to conventional LFP cells, via microcrystalline…

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Report: Jaguar shift upmarket will start with trio of electric crossovers

2023 Jaguar F-Pace SVR Edition 1988Jaguar will revamp its lineup with a trio of electric crossovers scheduled to launch in 2025, according to a new Autocar report. The three new crossovers will use a common platform called Panthera, which was first mentioned by Jaguar Land Rover CEO Thierry Bolloré in an interview with the same publication earlier this year. With these new…

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Fisker starts pre-order process for Ocean One launch edition, asks for $5,000 down

2023 Fisker OceanFisker has asked for an additional $5,000 from reservation-holders to lock in a spot for the $68,999 Ocean One launch edition with a likely delivery in 2023. With the $250 reservation fee plus the $5,000 “pre-order deposit,” prospective buyers have a place saved in line for the One launch edition—essentially the first-year version of the…

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Chevy Bolt EV discount, Toyota tax-credit phaseout, EV market collapse: Today’s Car News

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSERetroactive discounts apply to the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV. Toyota likely hit the ceiling for the EV tax credit. Electric trucks could pull off the majority of fleet uses today at a cost advantage. Is the EV market on the verge of collapse over price pressures? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Toyota appears to have delivered the…

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Study: Electric pickups could replace nearly half of gasoline ones—with an ownership-cost savings

2022 Ford F-150 LightningPickup trucks are the bestselling vehicles in the United States, and many manufacturers are planning electric versions. That could help fleet operators reduce emissions and ownership costs, according to a new study from Geotab. Geotab is a company that sells vehicle telematics systems. In October 2021 it worked with Enterprise Fleet Management to…

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EV prices soar, as one exec warns of market “collapse” if they don’t get cheaper

Tesla charging (Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.)EV prices are soaring at a non-sustainable rate, one auto-industry executive warns. As noted by Autoblog, several automakers have raised prices on their electric models in recent months. Tesla has raised prices multiple times this year, and the GMC Hummer EV got a $6,250 price bump last week. Ford and Rivian have raised prices recently as well…