New BYD sub-brand will produce components for clean energy vehicles


Chinese EV-maker BYD has launched a new sub-brand called FinDreams, which will produce core components for clean energy vehicles. FinDreams has five subsidiaries, which will specialize in different fields of auto manufacturing, including batteries and powertrains. Industry experts say BYD’s move is part of its global expansion strategy. “For the overseas market, the independent system… Read more »

Monthly EV market share in Germany tops 9 percent, led by Tesla Model 3


Germany, Europe’s largest auto market, has been slower than some of its neighbors to embrace EVs, but things seem to be changing fast. In March, plug-in vehicles accounted for a record 9.2% of the total auto market (as reported by CleanTechnica). The balance between pure EVs and PHEVs was about even. For the first time,… Read more »

Austin’s Park & Zoom buys more electric shuttle buses


Parking service company Park & Zoom, which services the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, has acquired three ZEUS 400 electric shuttle buses from Phoenix Motorcars. The recent purchase follows the acquisition of three ZEUS 400s in early 2019. The ZEUS 400 model has a range of up to 110 miles. Bill Kelley, General Manager of Park &… Read more »

BYD and Toyota to work together on EVs (for China, of course)


BYD and Toyota have established a 50/50 joint venture to conduct R&D for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). The new company will be headquartered in Shenzhen City, is expected to have around 300 employees, and is to begin operations in May 2020. “With the engineers from BYD and Toyota working together under the same roof, we aim… Read more »

RAND Boats launches new propulsion package for its Leisure 28 Electric


Electric boat manufacturer RAND Boats has launched a new propulsion package for its Leisure 28 Electric model. The new Leisure 28 Electric stern drive propulsion package features a 240 kW engine and modular Li battery pack with a capacity of 80-120 kWh, allowing for a top speed of more than 40 knots (+72 km/h) and… Read more »

Trump administration guts air pollution standards


As expected, the Trump administration has announced a rollback of federal fuel economy regulations, a move that some estimate will increase annual US carbon emissions by as much as 25 percent, as well as increasing fuel costs for consumers and putting the US auto industry at a competitive disadvantage. The administration says weakening the standards… Read more »

SEAT adapts windshield wiper motors to make ventilators


Spain has been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 virus. Now SEAT, the Spanish subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, has adapted an auto assembly line to manufacture ventilators. Since the emergence of the pandemic, SEAT has launched several initiatives to produce material and devices in high demand by hospitals, including ventilators. A team of engineers… Read more »

Oregon transit agency buys 11 New Flyer e-buses and 7 ABB chargers


Lane Transit District (LTD) in Oregon has ordered 11 New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE forty-foot electric buses, along with 7 ABB depot chargers. The purchase was supported by Federal Transit Administration Low or No- Emission funding. LTD has long been committed to sustainability. After receiving a silver level certification for the American Public Transportation Association’s sustainability… Read more »

Daimler Trucks adds more EVs to its Freightliner Customer Experience fleet


Daimler Trucks has launched six heavy-duty Freightliner eCascadia and two medium-duty Freightliner eM2 106 as part of its Customer Experience (CX) fleet. Fourteen customers from a variety of sectors will operate the test vehicles over a period of 22 months. The eCascadia is designed for local and regional distribution and drayage. At the start of… Read more »

Tesla to reduce operations in Nevada, build ventilators in Buffalo


Tesla plans to drastically reduce staffing at its Nevada Gigafactory due to the coronavirus crisis, the local county manager said on Thursday. “Tesla has informed us that the Gigafactory in Storey County is reducing on-site staff by roughly 75% in the coming days,” Austin Osborne said in a post on the county’s web site. A… Read more »