News

US-based ETCO, which manufactures electrical terminals and connectors, has launched a new line of heavy-duty locking ring terminals. ETCO’s BT-Series Heavy-Duty Battery Terminals are designed for high-voltage wiring in EV batteries, alternators and starters in automotive, agriculture and construction equipment, process control and trucking applications. The terminals are made from 0.06-inch thick brass or copper

Norway-headquartered Vianode, a manufacturer of synthetic graphite for battery anodes, has released the results of a life cycle assessment (LCA) of its planned industrial-scale production. A typical EV battery pack contains around 70 kg of graphite, which represents up to 40% of battery cell emissions, based on average present-day production. Vianode says the results represent

BMW has committed itself to electric mobility, and that committment extends to the automaker’s BMW M performance division. The BMW hot house has already introduced the i4 M50, i5 M60, iX M60, and i7 M70 M Performance models, but for the main course—i.e. a dedicated M car—it is exploring a major step up in performance.

As the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), a new charging standard for heavy-duty EVs, enters the final stages of standardization, automakers and EVSE manufacturers are busily putting the new system through its paces. Commercial implementations of MCS, which industry experts are calling a game-changer for electric trucks, are expected to begin later this year. The latest

Green Watt Power, a division of Powerland Technology, has added 8 new models to its Diamond Series of ruggedized, fully potted AC chargers, which are designed to serve low-voltage EV applications, including material handling, motorcycles, scooters, forklifts, golf carts and RVs. The EVC1000 Diamond Series supports charging of 72 V and 48 V Li-ion batteries

The Rivian R1T is aimed more at camp sites than job sites, but a patent filing from the automaker hints at a new feature that could enhance the electric pickup truck’s usefulness as a work vehicle. In a patent application filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in 2022, but only published

After decades of trumpeting “free trade,” and watching industry after industry decamp to China, the US government has apparently decided to draw a red line in front of the auto industry, and protectionism is back in style. US automakers are currently protected from Chinese competition by a 27.5% tariff. But will that be enough to

NovaCHARGE has expanded its cloud power management capabilities by introducing Virtual Circuit Technology (VCT) to distribute the load from EV chargers. VCT provides multi-level power management for utilities, fleets, multi-dwelling units, and any other location with limited available power to control the use of open standard OCPP-compliant chargers using ChargeUP, its charging platform management system.

Lamborghini overhauled the Urus for 2025 and added a plug-in hybrid powertrain in the process. The new Urus SE hybrid grade pairs the familiar twin-turbocharged V-8 with a single electric motor for a combined output of 789 hp. 2025 Aston Martin DBX Aston Martin also updated its DBX for 2025. The SUV is now being

Volvo Buses has debuted the Volvo 8900 Electric, a low-entry bus designed for city, intercity and commuter operations that builds on the success of the Volvo 8900, its diesel-fueled predecessor.  Using the new Volvo BZR Electric chassis, the Volvo 8900 Electric shares major components and subsystems with other models built on the Volvo Group’s common

A team from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology has used a formic acid-hydrogen peroxide system for selective leaching of lithium ions from spent lithium iron phosphate batteries. A paper on their process was published in the Journal of Power Sources. The team achieved optimal leaching conditions by single-factor optimization: formic acid concentration of 0.8

We drove the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO debuted, and the 2025 Nissan Frontier broke cover. It’s the Week in Reverse, right here at Motor Authority. We slid behind the wheel of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro for a first taste of next-gen off-road pickup. The latest Tacoma TRD

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular and affordable as the demand for clean and sustainable mobility grows. However, EVs have increasingly higher power levels that can have unsafe overcurrent situations. To address these challenges, EVs need reliable and efficient power distribution and protection solutions that can ensure safety, performance, and durability of the vehicles

Syrah Resources, an industrial minerals and technology company, has become an integrated natural graphite active anode material (AAM) supplier outside China, processing natural graphite from Syrah’s Balama Graphite Operation in Mozambique. The 11,250-ton-per-year AAM Vidalia operation in Louisiana is supported by high EV-driven demand internationally, the need for independent natural graphite AAM critical mineral supply,

More details have emerged on the McLaren P1 successor following a dealer meeting held earlier this month, Automotive News (subscription required) reported, citing dealer sources present at the meeting. The new hypercar will reportedly debut in the fourth quarter but won’t start deliveries until the first half of 2026. This means it will launch after

Milence, an EV charging joint venture of Daimler Truck, the TRATON Group and Volvo, has expanded its operations to the French and Swedish markets. In late 2023, Milence opened its first charging hub in Venlo, the Netherlands. Now the company has opened a charging hub in Heudebouville, 40 km south of the city of Rouen.

Battery manufacturer ZAPBATT has developed its Battery Operating System (bOS) in a strategic partnership with Toshiba, initially focused on Toshiba’s battery SCiB lithium titanium oxide (LTO) chemistry for integration across several applications, including EVs. ZAPBATT’s bOS is a battery management system, which enables the adoption of optimal battery chemistries without significant investment in battery infrastructure

Another company has surfaced with an electric conversion for the original Defender, but there’s a difference this time. U.K.-based Bedeo’s electric Defender uses in-wheel motors, which Bedeo has packaged as a retrofit kit that could potentially be used on any classic car. Bedeo specializes in adding electric powertrains to light commercial vehicles, but the company

US-based Sepion Technologies, which develops nanoengineered separator coatings and liquid electrolytes for EV batteries, has received UN/DOT 38.3 safety certification for its lithium-metal pouch cells. UN/DOT 38.3 is an essential certification required for manufacturers and suppliers involved in transporting and distributing lithium batteries by air, sea and land to ensure the safety of passengers, crew

German chemical manufacturer BASF offers a portfolio of engineering plastics that can be used in co-creation partnerships with the automotive industry to develop next-generation EV motors. BASF’s portfolio of thermoplastics offers high temperature and media resistance, mechanical strength, exact electric compatibility, high purity and tailored flame retardance. The range includes: Ultramid (PA: polyamide) Ultradur (PBT:

Tesla on Tuesday revealed an updated Model 3 Performance, which joins the rest of the refreshed Model 3 lineup, codenamed Highland. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Model 3 Performance boasts 510 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque, which Tesla says will get it from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds and on to a top speed of

Mercedes-Benz has announced that its Wallbox smart charger for overnight charging at home is now widely available across the US.  The unit delivers up to 11.5 kW when operated at 48 amps on a 240-volt circuit. It provides the typical range of smart-charging features through a phone app. The Wallbox is made by Amsterdam-based EVSE

Toray Industries, a Japanese performance chemical manufacturer, has developed an ion-conductive polymer membrane that it says delivers 10 times the ion conductivity of its predecessors. The new polymer membranes offer ion conductivity through hopping conduction. This mechanism enables lithium ions to traverse between interacting sites within polymer membranes, jumping across sites. The membranes remain non-porous.

Audi’s A5 family currently consists of coupe, convertible, and hatchback body styles, but a new A5 Avant wagon is expected to join the fray for the next generation. Avant is the name Audi uses for the wagon body style. Prototypes for the A5 Avant wagon have been spotted in the past, and a new test

Most popular mapping apps can show the locations of public EV chargers—but they lack important details, such as whether a station requires payment, and whether it is currently in service (EV-specific apps such as PlugShare provide much more detailed information). Now Google Maps has announced plans to upgrade the EV charger information it provides. The

US-based NovaCHARGE, which provides utility-grade EV charging solutions, has expanded its fleet management software to help effectively dispatch drivers and optimize off-site charging. NovaCHARGE Fleet Director combines vehicle management, a charging station locater, and worker management to efficiently dispatch drivers to move vehicles as needed, reducing costs by making use of existing offsite charging facilities

The first Lotus Formula 1 car will be among the featured lots at a Bonhams auction scheduled for May 10 in Monaco. The original Team Lotus dissolved in the early 1990s (other unrelated teams subsequently used the Lotus name), but it was once an F1 powerhouse, winning seven Constructors’ and six Drivers’ Championships with innovative

California-based EV and industrial charging equipment producer AMPURE has introduced, under the PosiCharge brand, a cloud-based data management platform, PosiLink, designed for electric material-handling fleet operations. AMPURE was formerly known as Webasto Charging Systems, and was acquired recently by Transom Capital Group. The company says its new software, which transitions from its legacy PosiNet platform,

The rollout of the Tesla Semi has been slower than EVangelists would have liked. The electric semi tractor was first unveiled in 2017, and officially entered production in late 2022. Since then, it has been deployed in limited numbers. Last October, it was reported that Tesla had built about 70 Semis trucks, which were being

Mercedes-Benz AMG continues to expand its redesigned GT Coupe lineup, this time with the addition of the first plug-in hybrid grade. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 S E Performance arrives at U.S. dealerships later this year as the most powerful version of the GT Coupe, boasting a maximum output of 805 hp and 1,047