Hyundai to spin off IONIQ as an EV-only brand, and launch three new EVs by 2024


Hyundai has launched a new brand called IONIQ, which will be dedicated to battery-electric vehicles. The company plans to introduce three new IONIQ EVs over the next four years. Hyundai Motor Group (which includes the Kia and Genesis brands) aims to sell one million BEVs by 2025, representing a 10 percent share of the global… Read more »

Tampa, Florida secures federal grant to deploy four electric buses


The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), which serves the Tampa, Florida, metropolitan area, has secured a $2.7-million federal grant to buy four electric buses, which are expected to be in service in two years. The federal grant will cover half the total project cost, which also includes underground wiring and charging stations. HART and… Read more »

Octillion Power Systems debuts new EV battery-leasing plan


Octillion Power Systems, a Tier 1 supplier of EV energy storage systems, has announced a new demonstrator battery-leasing program for fleet customers. Under the program, participating fleet operators will be allowed to source batteries through a five-year lease-to-own program, with no up-front payment. The goal of the demonstration program is to collect data on battery… Read more »

Lucid Air demonstrates 500-mile range


Lucid Motors has announced independent verification of a 517-mile range for its upcoming Lucid Air luxury sedan. The tests were conducted by FEV North America in Auburn Hills, Michigan, using the EPA’s Multicycle Test procedure. This appears to be a new record for a passenger EV, handily besting the 402-mile range of the 2020 Tesla… Read more »

Seat Cupra el-Born: a hatchback so hot, it’s electric


Seat, a Spanish brand owned by the Volkswagen Group, has unveiled the production version of a new electric “hot hatch,” and car guys are salivating. The Cupra el-Born, first shown as a concept last year, is built on VW’s MEB platform. It boasts an aggressive design, and a sporty and minimalist interior. “Besides the attention… Read more »

New report analyzes real-world performance of 100 e-buses in hot and cold weather


How does the weather affect the performance of electric buses in real-world operation? Telematics specialist ViriCiti looked into that question, analyzing over 100 e-buses in the Netherlands over the course of several seasons and months. ViriCiti gathered, anonymized and analyzed data from 79 12-meter buses and 27 18-meter buses active across 7 cities in the… Read more »

Nikola receives order for 2,500 electric refuse trucks


Zero-emission truck startup Nikola has secured an order for at least 2,500 electric refuse trucks (expandable up to 5,000) from Republic Services, the second-largest solid waste hauler in the US. Nikola says on-road testing is “likely to begin in early 2022,” and deliveries will begin in 2023. The new trucks will use Nikola’s Tre powertrain…. Read more »

New guidebook describes best practices for transit agencies deploying zero-emission buses


The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), a non-profit transportation advocacy group, has released a new Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses. The guide, authored by CTE staff members Meredith Linscott and Amy Posner, highlights key considerations for deployments of zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure. The guidebook is designed to educate transit agencies on… Read more »

Optimal Electric Vehicles introduces the S1LF Low-Floor Shuttle Bus, featuring batteries from Proterra


Indiana-based Optimal has been providing engineering services to automotive OEMs for over 33 years. The company’s Engineering group has focused on EV system design since 2015. Now Optimal Electric Vehicles, a derivative firm, has joined the EV manufacturing game with its new electric S1LF Low-Floor Shuttle Bus. The S1LF integrates a quasi-purpose-built Ford E450 chassis… Read more »

GM releases a little more info about its electric Hummer pickup


Love it or hate it, the electric Hummer is coming. GM recently released some more information about the battery-powered behemoth, including photos of the prototype vehicle being assembled, along with its battery pack. The Hummer EV will use GM’s new Ultium modular battery architecture, which is to be manufactured in a joint venture with Korean… Read more »