Research from Volkswagen Financial Services UK (VWFS) suggests that one of the main perceived barriers to owning an electric car might be caused by a modern obsession with needing fully charged personal devices.
The research shows that more than half of the British panic if they know the charge on their phone or laptop is low. VWFS extends this to electric vehicles and suggests range anxiety could be influenced more by human psychology than by scepticism about the UK’s public charging network.
The research found that three in 10 people (31%) believe there are not enough charging points in the areas where they live and work. However, with the average length of a car journey in the UK is less than 10 miles, Volkswagen suggests the concerns are more perceived than real.
“The research make for interesting reading at a critical time for the automotive industry,” said Mike Todd, CEO at Volkswagen Financial Services UK.
“With public charging stations being installed at supermarkets, gyms and elsewhere, frequent top-ups rather than big weekly charges are likely to be the best way forward for many, especially those without off-street parking.
Quentin Willson, former Top Gear presenter and founder of the FairCharge campaign, added, “We’ve seen an explosion in EVs in the last two years and electric cars will become the preferred choice for many.
“Many people don’t realise that EV batteries are completely different to the batteries in our phones and laptops and so we need to educate new adopters to think differently about battery life, reliability and charging,” Willson continued.
“Graze charging is now a thing, where people charge at home, top up at work, then again at the gym and also at the supermarket. I think charging anxiety really exists mainly among EV considerers as opposed to EV drivers.”
“I don’t know anyone who’s not completed a trip because they couldn’t find a charging station. We don’t have fuel pumps in our driveways. Even with our current infrastructure – which needs to improve – we can see that EV drivers are managing.”
Rolls-Royce is developing turbogenerator technology that could support hybrid-electric aircraft in performing longer-range, higher payload missions than those that use all-electric propulsion systems — a development, says Rolls-Royce, that could unlock new doors for eVTOL companies.
As part of Rolls-Royce’s electrical propulsion product portfolio, the company said it is developing turbogenerator technology, which includes a new small engine designed for hybrid-electric applications. The system will be an on-board power source that can be scaled to serve a power range of between 500 and 1,200 kilowatts. It will be used to either recharge batteries after take-off or power propellers directly, allowing aircraft to switch between power sources in flight.
Rob Watson, president of Rolls-Royce Electrical, said the company is aiming to be the leading provider of all-electric and hybrid-electric power and propulsions systems for the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry.
“As part of our strategy, we are looking at offering the complete sustainable solution for our customers,” Watson said in a press release. “This means extending routes that electric flight can support through our turbogenerator technology. This will advance hybrid-electric flight and mean more passengers will be able to travel further on low to net zero emissions aircraft.”
Watson said Rolls-Royce also plans to build on its existing network and offer maintenance services for electrical systems.
“Furthermore, Rolls-Royce Power Systems is able to offer mtu microgrid solutions to support fast-charging of electric aircraft and deliver reliable, cost-effective, climate friendly and sustainable power to vertiports,” he said.
Earlier this year, the company announced its partnership with Luxaviation Group to provide the charging and energy infrastructure for Luxaviation’s planned vertiport networks. Rolls-Royce had said it would also provide maintenance support services for electric aircraft, and digital solutions for Luxaviation’s vertiports.
The turbogenerator program is being led by Rolls-Royce engineers in Germany, Norway and Hungary, and is partly funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Last year, Rolls-Royce announced its intention of reaching net zero carbon emissions with all of its new products by 2023, and with all existing products by 2050.
Australia’s Victoria State government has announced that the state’s first fully electric bus depot will be charging 27 buses in Melbourne by early 2024 as part of its Zero Emissions Bus Trial.
The largest participant in the $20 million trial, bus operator Ventura, will install 15 charging units to power the electric buses at its converted Ivanhoe depot, with its first 12 electric trial buses due to enter the network in 2022.
By early 2024, the depot’s 27 electric buses will be operating on nine routes across the northern suburbs, transporting up to 10,000 people each week including to La Trobe University and Northland Shopping Centre. They will cover more than 1.2 million kilometres over a year.
Major works to convert the depot into being fully electric will involve constructing a new substation on-site and the installation of battery-management technology and charging units, with works set to begin in July and completed by November 2022.
The initiative will provide valuable insights into the challenges and issues involved with transitioning an entire bus depot to battery electric bus technology, ahead of other depots being built or converted in the coming years.
Six Victorian bus companies have been selected to trial two hydrogen and 50 electric buses across existing routes in Melbourne, Seymour and Traralgon, fostering vital partnerships between bus operators, manufacturers and energy companies ahead of the state’s major transition away from diesel buses.
Achieving zero emissions for buses is critical to Victoria meeting its legislated commitment of net zero emissions by 2050, with the government pledging that all new buses from 2025 will be zero emissions. A phased approach will enable the industry to prepare for the transition of about 4,000 buses to zero emissions.
British battery technology company Britishvolt has announced it is working on a larger format high-performance lithium-ion battery cell designed specifically for high-performance electric vehicles.
The 4690 format is to be developed and prototyped at the recently acquired EAS facility in Germany before being transferred to the UK for scale-up at the company’s Hams Hall facility in the Midlands ahead of large-scale production at the company’s Northumberland Gigaplant battery manufacturing facility now under construction.
Orral Nadjari, Founder and CEO of Britishvolt, said, “Britishvolt understands the importance of larger format cells, which is why our recent acquisition of EAS, of which the importance needs to be fully grasped by the market, and our scale-up facility in the Midlands will help us deliver 4690 cells that our customers require. Critically, we will be able to build these game-changing cells in a truly sustainable, low carbon way.
The 4690 cell development makes use of Britishvolt’s digital-twin simulation and modelling capabilities to drive engineering and bring technology to market quicker and more efficiently.
“We start with digital twin simulation modelling, exactly the same way we did with our 21700 cell development, and then move on to physical prototyping. This improves efficiency, reduces waste, lowers costs and makes us leaner and more agile. We can also tailor the length of the cell to suit specific applications. This is a unique Britishvolt proposition that will also help anchor the UK as a global battery leader and home to leading battery innovation. We are helping reindustrialise the UK.”
Graham Hoare, Deputy CEO and Global President of Operations at Britishvolt, added, “It’s great to be announcing the development roadmap of our 4690 battery technology. Britishvolt will be a leader in the most important race facing humanity and our planet – the race to net zero. We will be a positive force not just for our customers in helping them to achieve their decarbonisation goals, but also to those in the communities where we and our suppliers operate, ensuring that they too have a brighter future.
Earlier this year, Britishvolt signed memorandums of understanding with both Lotus Cars and Aston Martin. The work with Lotus Cars will see Britishvolt and the Norfolk-based car maker develop an electric sports car powered by Britishvolt cells and with advanced electric propulsion technologies developed by Lotus Cars. The collaboration with Aston Martin supports plans to launch the first battery electric Aston Martin in 2025.
Eve Air Mobility, the eVTOL subsidiary of Brazilian multinational aerospace manufacturer Embraer, has signed a letter of intent with Kenya Airways’ subsidiary Fahari Aviation. The deal includes a pre-order for up to 40 of Eve’s eVTOL aircraft, with deliveries expected to start in 2026.
The agreement will also see the groups form a working group to conduct joint studies to develop and scale the urban air mobility (UAM) market, as well as a business model for cargo drone operations in Kenya.
This recent partnership builds off of the eVTOL developer’s existing relationship with Fahari, when the two partnered last year to develop a UAM network for Kenya Airways’ customers.
“This is a new chapter of the Eve and Fahari Aviation partnership to strengthen both companies’ commitment to establishing the foundations that will sustainably support the ecosystem for urban air mobility in Kenya,” said Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve. “Last year, we announced a collaboration to develop operational models for Fahari Aviation’s key markets, and this announcement confirms that it is evolving successfully.”
Fahari Aviation is the unmanned aircraft systems division of Kenya Airways, with an initial focus on applying drone technology in training, operations, and traffic management. The division is also tasked with developing innovative and sustainable transportation solutions to carry out passenger services, aerial sightseeing, parcel delivery, and wildlife protection.
“Urban air mobility is the future of transport and we are honoured to be the champions of this in the region,” said Allan Kilavuka, group managing director and CEO of Kenya Airways. “The journey to realise the dream of eVTOL vehicles in Kenya is on course, and the partnership with Eve is a key achievement for us as part of the strategy to adopt new technologies as a growth strategy for the sustainable development of Africa.”
Data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) indicates that half of all charging points for electric vehicles in the EU are in either the Netherlands or Germany.
The gap between countries at the top and bottom of the rankings is massive. The Netherlands – the country with the most infrastructure – with 90,000 chargers has almost 1,600 times more charging points than the country with the least infrastructure (Cyprus, with just 57 charging points). Indeed, the Dutch alone have as many chargers as 23 member states combined.
When it comes to the distribution of infrastructure, there is a clear split between central and eastern European countries on the one hand and western European countries on the other. For instance, a sizeable country like Romania – some six times larger than the Netherlands – only has 0.4% of all the EU’s charging points.
Although there has been a strong increase in the number of charging points in the EU over the past five years (+180%), the total number (307,000) falls far short of what is required.
A recent study recommended that up to 6.8m public charging points would be required by 2030 to reach the proposed 55% CO2 reduction for cars – meaning that we need to see over 22 times growth in less than 10 years.
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) – proposed by the European Commission last year – is meant to help address the situation. However, its ambition level is completely insufficient, says ACEA.
“While some countries are powering ahead when it comes to infrastructure rollout, the majority are lagging behind,” stated ACEA Director General, Eric-Mark Huitema. “The stark disparities demonstrate the need for strong AFIR targets that are harmonised across all EU member states.
“We urge policy makers to reinforce AFIR so that it can achieve the aim of building up a dense European network of charging stations, spanning from north to south and east to west.”
EDI, Belgium’s leading installer of charge points for electric vehicles, has acquired Belgium solar panel installation company Go-Solar
The acquisition, says EDI – a contraction of Electric by D’Ieteren – offers motorists the opportunity to be both a producer and a consumer of green energy. D’leteren will now offer photovoltaic panels and batteries, alongside EV charge points.
Denis Gorteman, CEO of D’Ieteren says, “The acquisition of Go-Solar by EDI is a strategic operation which, by simplifying the customer experience through a complete offer, will contribute to promoting electromobility in Belgium. It contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of mobility and is directly in line with our mission to work towards fluid and sustainable mobility for all.”
Founded in 2008, Go-Solar is a family business active in the Flemish regions and the plan is to extend its activities to the whole country by capitalising on the business potential offered by its merger with EDI.
Nicolas Paris, CEO of EDI added, “Vehicles equipped with a charging socket should occupy a 50% share of new vehicle sales from 2025. By acquiring Go-Solar, we are seeking to make life easier for our customers by offering them a complete electrical ecosystem and relying on the recognised expertise, the quality of the teams and the reliability of the Go-Solar installations.”
Norway and the European Union have signalled an intent to cooperate on electric vehicle battery value chains and raw material supply following a visit to Norway by European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic.
In a joint statement Sefcovic and Norwegian Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre said “sustainable value chains for minerals, metals and batteries help decarbonise the economy, addressing strategic dependencies and boosting jobs and growth.”
The two sides also agreed to further discuss a rules-of-origin clause drawn up during the Brexit agreement between the EU and Britain, which Norway has said could hamper its battery industry.
The Brexit clause stipulates that electric cars produced and exported in either Britain or the EU from 2027 must contain batteries produced within either of the two, or face a 10% customs tax.
There are several large scale battery production and recycling plants planned in Norway, but under the Brexit clause, batteries produced in Norway would be subject to the 10% tax levy if used in cars manufactured in either the EU or Britain.
In a second agreement signed last week, the EU and Norway are to deepen their energy cooperation.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed it will adopt the Special Condition (SC) standards used by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as the basis for eVTOL certification in the UK.
Rob Bishton, CAA’s group director for safety and airspace regulation said, “The decision to adopt SC-VTOL as our certification basis will support UK manufacturers and enable them to easily access the global market for eVTOL aircraft.”
Special conditions allow manufactures and aviation authorities to develop safety requirements and provide a basis for approval as new eVTOL technology emerges. The CAA says harmonising these standards across nations helps maintain high levels of safety, reduces industry costs and avoids duplicating efforts.
In implementing these new standards, the agency said it will continue to collaborate with other aviation authorities to share approaches, lessons learned and safety insight. This includes continuing to work with the US Federal Aviation Administration to facilitate certification, smoothing the path for eVTOL developers to receive concurrent validation.
The CAA’s announcement was welcomed by eVTOL developers looking for a clearer path to certify in both regions. UK based eVTOL developer Vertical Aerospace said the news supports the company’s plan to obtain concurrent type certification in the UK and Europe and the decision will “enable swift validation of its VX4 aircraft worldwide.”
“The UK confirming these high standards is a pivotal and positive step toward building a world-leading zero emissions aircraft in Britain,” said Michael Cervenka, president of Vertical. “It is vital that passengers and the public have the same trust in eVTOLs as in today’s passenger planes, as we try to make flying faster, smarter, and greener.”
Korean car maker Hyundai has extended for three years its memorandum of understanding with French multinational tyre manufacturing company Michelin to develop next-generation tyres optimised for premium electric vehicles.
The new MoU supersedes an agreement originally established in November 2017 and will lead to “a new journey towards developing next-generation tyres”.
The collaboration has already resulted in an exclusive tyre for Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and the focus going forward will be on developing a real-time tyre monitoring system and increasing use of “eco-friendly” materials to 50% by weight, up from the current level of around 20%.
Next-generation tyres resulting from the collaboration will find their way onto Hyundai’s future premium EV models. New tyre technology is critical to meet the increased durability requirements resulting from the different performance characteristics and additional weight of electric vehicles particularly as the driving range of EVs increases.
The Group and Michelin also plan to conduct joint research to analyse tyre wear, load and road friction beyond the current standards of tyre temperature and air pressure. The new tyres are also expected to significantly improve ride comfort by reducing vibration and tyre noise generated at high speeds.
The signing ceremony took place at Hyundai’s Namyang Research Centre, attended by Bong-soo Kim, Vice President and Head of Chassis Development at Hyundai Motor Group, and Georges Levy, Executive Vice President of Automotive Original Equipment at Michelin.
Kim said, “This partnership will result in real innovations in tyre technology, solidifying Hyundai’s position as a leader in the smart mobility industry. By fully leveraging our mobility technology and Michelin’s tyre expertise, we are confident in our ability to achieve ground-breaking innovations in tyre performance.”
Levy added, “The association between Hyundai Motor Group and Michelin is founded on the same vision and on a shared passion for excellence, performance and innovation that have become increasingly essential factors as we rise to the mobility-related challenges we all face today.”
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that aims to provide $25 million in grants over two years to plan and build vertiport infrastructure for advanced air mobility (AAM) and future eVTOL operations.
The Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization (AAIM) Act is a starting point to addressing how vertiports could be paid for in the US. The bill is the result of advocacy efforts led by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), with the support of a broad group of aviation stakeholders.
“We applaud the House of Representatives for passing this important legislation, which will support the future of on-demand aviation,” said Ed Bolen, president and CEO of NBAA, in a press release. “The targeted investments outlined in this legislation will assist in creating new, innovative and sustainable air transportation networks throughout our country that will support hundreds of thousands of green jobs while also ensuring our nation’s global leadership in aviation.”
If signed into law, the bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to administer the grant program, prioritising eligible recipients, such as state and local governments, airport sponsors, transit agencies, port authorities, and metropolitan planning organisations that propose working with AAM entities in their application.
With the passage of the House bill, NBAA said it will work with its coalition partners to advance the legislation in the Senate.
Once the Senate approves, it can go to the president to be signed into law, after which time, an interagency working group will be established within 120 days, as stipulated in the bill.
The task force will also consult with various stakeholders, including aviation operators and manufacturers, airports, labour groups, state, local and tribal officials, consumer groups, and first responders.
Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) said, “The support of Congress will be instrumental in the emergence of AAM and its facilitation of additional transportation options, job creation, economic growth, further environmental sustainability, and advancement in aerospace technology.”
Anglo Indian Electric bus and commercial vehicle developer Arrival and Enel X, the electric mobility subsidiary of Italian energy giant Enel, have entered into a partnership to evaluate Arrival’s zero-emission battery electric bus.
The testing will be carried out at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy using Enel X Way’s advanced charging services and solutions. If the trials prove successful, Enel will include the Arrival Bus within its portfolio of global electrification solutions.
The partnership will enable Enel X to strengthen its offering to public transport authorities across the world, providing a major boost to reach Enel’s target of supplying and supporting more than 20,000 electric buses by 2030.
Enel X is the world’s largest supplier of e-bus solutions outside China and currently operates more than 3,200 e-Buses globally.
Francesco Venturini, CEO of Enel X, says, “The partnership with Arrival is another important step towards achieving our goals of electrifying public transport globally. Public transport authorities face significant challenges in making cities smarter and more sustainable, and by offering our public transport solutions together with our many years of global experience, we want to give solid support to make this a reality. Arrival’s Bus look very promising. They are a technologically advanced means of transport that, if integrated within our value offer, can potentially provide operators and end users with the best possible customer experience.”
Avinash Rugoobur, President of Arrival adds, “Our electric bus aims to set new standards in passenger experience while reducing costs for operators. By manufacturing our vehicles in local micro-factories, we are fostering a global green transition that is fair, bringing jobs to local communities, using local suppliers and building vehicles designed for local markets.”
Volvo Energy has acquired a ten percent stake in UK-based, second-life battery energy storage specialist Connected Energy with the aim of establishing a circular business model for returned batteries from Volvo Group electric vehicles.
In announcing the £4M investment Joachim Rosenberg, President Volvo Energy said, “There is a great deal of untapped potential in the second-life use of batteries. This forward-leaning investment aims to facilitate the scaling-up of second-life battery energy storage systems and further secure circular business opportunities for the forthcoming ramp-up in Volvo Group’s second-life battery returns.”
The aim is to minimise the environmental impact of the batteries that have powered Volvo Group vehicles. By repurposing the batteries, says Rosenberg “we obtain the full value from them – from a climate, environment and business perspective.”
Matthew Lumsden, CEO Connected Energy added, “We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome our new investor Volvo Energy on board and look forward to forging a path to increasing the sustainability of both electric vehicles and grid connected energy storage. Our collaboration will enable us to optimise the potential for battery reusage and ensure that the resources in the batteries are used effectively.”
Volvo Energy is one of five new investors, the others being Caterpillar Venture Capital, the Hinduja Group, Mercuria, and OurCrowd to join existing investors Engie New Ventures, Macquarie, and the Low Carbon Innovation Fund.
Italian performance car manufacturer Ferrari has told investors that electric and hybrid models should make up 80% of its sales by 2030 and it will lean on partners to make the shift to zero-emission driving.
“Everything we do will always focus on being distinctively Ferrari,” chairman John Elkann said as the company unveiled its new business plan. “Electrification will allow us to make even more unique cars.”
To reduce investments, Ferrari will use suppliers for components or software that are not crucial, such as an operating system, Chief Executive Benedetto Vigna said.
Ferrari’s challenge goes beyond just investing in electric models to deliver high performance. And standing out in the multitude of EVs coming to market that can all accelerate quickly could be tough.
Ferrari sells an emotional experience to wealthy customers centred on the throaty roar of its powerful engines. As it goes electric, Ferrari must ensure its high-net worth customers and investors are along for the ride.
Vigna confirmed Ferrari will launch its first electric model in 2025, one of 15 new models between 2023 and 2026.
Ferrari expects fully-electric cars will make up 5% of sales in 2025 and 40% in 2030. Hybrid models should rise to 55% of sales in 2025 from 20% in 2021, before dropping to 40% in 2030.
The Port of Rotterdam is supporting a trial in which green hydrogen will be produced from wind power at the Sif factory on the Maasvlakte, a man-made extension of Rotterdam’s giant Europort.
Sif, the Dutch fabricator of steel monopiles used as foundations for offshore wind turbines, is working on the AmpHytrite project with renewable energy consultants Pondera, construction and design consultant KCI The Engineers and GE Renewable Energy.
The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the project to establish the potential of producing green hydrogen at a full-scale offshore windfarm.
Green hydrogen is widely seen as the best option to transition the shipping industry away from fossil fuels.
The AmpHytrite trial is designed around three phases. The first is a feasibility study into offshore offgrid production of green hydrogen. The second involves developing and building a production unit near the Sif factory which will run exclusively on power generated by GE’s Haliade wind turbine and should produce 750 tons of green hydrogen a year. The third phase consists of scaling up the concept and applying it at full scale at a wind farm at sea.
The plans build on the findings of a previous feasibility study and are in line with the new hydrogen infrastructure and other projects planned by the Port of Rotterdam in its mission to achieve sustainability across the maritime industry.
Stellantis has released outline details of its on-going in-road inductive charging trials at the Arena del Futuro circuit in Chiari, Italy.
The programme, set up to assess the capability of Aleatica’s Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology, a system of inductive coils positioned under the asphalt that transfers energy directly to electric vehicles as they travel along the road.
The testing saw a modified Fiat New 500 travelling at typical highway speeds without consuming any of the energy stored in its battery. According to Stellantis the tests suggest the efficiency of the energy flow from the asphalt to the car is comparable to the typical efficiency of fast charging stations. Furthermore, measurements of the magnetic field intensity suggest there is no impact on the vehicle occupants.
Anne-Lise Richard, Stellantis’ Head of Global e-Mobility Business Unit said, “Working with this incredible group of partners, we have proven that inductive recharging technology can power our electrified future. These joint projects are exciting steps as we work to achieve longer battery lifespan, lower range anxiety, greater energy efficiency, smaller battery size, outstanding performance and lower weight and cost.”
At the event in Chiari, Stellantis also displayed a Maserati Grecale Folgore to announce Maserati’s upcoming involvement in the project. Folgore identifies the full electric version of Maserati, which will electrify its entire product range by 2025. The Grecale Folgore will be outfitted and run on the Arena del Futuro circuit to collect data and deploy a detailed performance analysis.
The Arena del Futuro inductive system is powered by direct current (DC), which offers a number of advantages over AC induction, namely: reduced power losses in the energy distribution process; guaranteeing a direct integration with renewable energy sources without the need to convert DC into AC; and using thinner aluminium cables for current distribution, aluminium being easier to source, half the price of copper, and lighter and easier to recycle in a circular economy business model.
DWPT is available in both dynamic and static inductive versions. In addition to applications on roads and motorways, it is also also suitable to support the electrification of transportation vehicles at other infrastructure hubs such as harbours, airports, and parking lots.
Michigan-based energy storage company Our Next Energy (ONE) has signed an agreement with BMW Group to incorporate ONE’s Gemini Dual-Chemistry battery technology into the BMW iX all-electric Sports Activity Vehicle.
The aim is to demonstrate the iX can achieve a 1000km range on a single charge and the prototype vehicle is expected to be ready by the end of the year.
Dual-chemistry refers to the battery containing cells optimised for power delivery and cells optimised for energy storage. The power delivery element, engineered from the “safest and most durable materials” are designed to meet the demands of daily driving. The energy storage element integrates anode-free cells, storing more energy in less space, while minimising the use of nickel, cobalt and eliminating graphite.
ONE says the technology reduces lithium use by 20%, graphite by 60% and minimises the use of nickel and cobalt. In doing so “it is creating more sustainable energy storage technology that can significantly reduce environmental impact.”
“We are thrilled to be working with BMW to demonstrate our Gemini long-range battery technology to consumers,” said Mujeeb Ijaz, founder and CEO of ONE. “As EV adoption grows, drivers are learning that real-world conditions can significantly reduce the performance of their batteries. Common situations like maintaining highway speeds, winter temperatures, climbing mountains, towing, or a combination of all four things present challenges to electric vehicles. We plan to pack twice as much energy into batteries, so EVs can easily handle long-distance driving in real-world conditions.”
“We are well-positioned to incorporate ONE’s IP into BMW’s SAV line,” said Jürgen Hildinger, BMW Group New Technologies Head of High Voltage Storage, “We are confident that given economic viability, this can lead to commercial opportunities and strategies to integrate ONE’s battery technologies into our future battery electric vehicle product line-up.”
BMW i Ventures is an investor in ONE and recently led a $65M funding round. Baris Guzel, partner at BMW i Ventures said “Our Next Energy is working to fundamentally reinvent the battery while focusing on sustainability, safety, and cost; three key factors which will help speed the development and adoption of battery electric vehicles.”
Florida-based eVTOL developer Eve Air Mobility has signed a letter of intent with UAE-based Falcon Aviation Services, a leading business aviation services operator in the Middle East and Africa region, to purchase up to 35 electric vertical take-off and landing eVTOL aircraft.
Falcon intends to use the craft for tourist fights in and around Dubai, with deliveries expected to start in 2026, after Eve receives type certification for its aircraft. In the meantime, the companies said they will work with local stakeholders and authorities to support developing a UAM ecosystem for the United Arab Emirates.
Captain Ramandeep Oberoi, Chief Operating Officer of Falcon, said, “We are ecstatic to partner with Eve and be the first operator of eVTOL in Dubai & the MENA region. The launch of this concept fully aligns with the Smart Dubai vision and will contribute to positioning Dubai as a global leader in sustainable Urban Air Mobility transportation. Falcon is actively engaged in Urban Air Mobility emergence and committed to delivering an effective and sustainable new urban transportation mode and providing the community with better and faster solutions. We are particularly proud to take a new step in the UAE, in a project that will be revolutionary for sustainable urban mobility.”
Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve added, “We are thrilled about partnering with Falcon and having the immense opportunity to enable the future urban mobility in the United Arab Emirates and launch eVTOL flights in Dubai. This is a massive challenge for both companies, which will help to position Dubai as a leader in the urban air mobility market. Eve’s global experience, which spans different regions across the globe, will surely benefit the achievement of this project”
Eve launched on the New York Stock Exchange last month, when it announced a pipeline of launch orders for 1,825 vehicles secured via non-binding letters of intent from 19 customers and investors including Azorra Aviation, Falko Regional Aircraft, Republic Airways and SkyWest.
Siemens has invested $25 million and acquired a minority stake in US wireless charging technology company WiTricity. The companies will primarily work together to drive adoption of global standards for wireless charging of electric passenger and light duty commercial vehicles, to enable interoperability between vehicles and infrastructure. In addition, both parties will collaborate to advance the technical development of wireless charging systems.
Siemens maintains that for autonomous vehicles to fulfill their promise key friction points such as charging will need to be removed. “Wireless power transfer will be the key technology to enable contactless automatic charging with least maintenance requirements and pave the way to an all-electric, fully autonomous mobility future,” it says.
The ultimate goal of the collaboration is to accelerate the development of wireless charging and together with OEMs and infrastructure partners ensure their cost-effective availability worldwide.
Markus Mildner, CEO of Siemens eMobility said, “Combining Siemens’ global footprint and EV charging portfolio with WiTricity’s innovative technology is the first step towards elevating our offering in the wireless charging space. This will speed up deployment of wireless charging technology, support standardisation, and advance public charging infrastructure with interoperable solutions for drivers’ convenience.”
Alex Gruzen, CEO of WiTricity added, “Wireless charging enables a driver to just park and walk away, returning to a charged vehicle. Wireless charging makes EVs more appealing for individual owners and more cost-effective for commercial operators. We are excited to partner with a leader like Siemens to help drive this new world of compelling solutions.”
Siemens will also become a technology license partner, benefitting from WiTricity’s deep know-how and decade-long collaboration with global automotive OEMs to develop proven, field-tested, interoperable wireless charging solutions.
A recent survey of more than 1,000 current and future EV owners interested in purchasing an EV in the next two years indicated that wireless charging was one of the highest-rated add-ons and a more preferred option to other amenities, including park-assist, performance, or premium audio packages.
Michigan based commercial vehicle developer Electric Last Mile Solutions has announced the company plans to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy case is where the bankruptcy trustee gathers and sells the debtor’s assets and uses the proceeds to pay creditors in accordance with the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.
The announcement follows the resignations in February of Jim Taylor, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, and Jason Luo, the Company’s founder and former Executive Chairman.
Following their resignations, the ELMS Board and the new leadership team under Shauna McIntyre as interim CEO and President, launched a comprehensive review of the company’s products and commercialisation plans. This included assessing the company’s planned product offerings, production plans, and certification processes, including the feasibility of meeting previously announced targets.
Based on the findings ELMS was forced to withdraw financial guidance and declare the company’s past financial statements unreliable. The compound effect of these events, along with a pending Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation initiated this year, made it extremely challenging to secure a new auditor and attract additional funding.
The Company says it “continued to work aggressively on raising new sources of capital, while working closely with advisors to assess and improve its liquidity position. Ultimately, the board determined, following a comprehensive review with the assistance of the company’s outside advisors, and upon the recommendation of the company’s management, that it is in the best interest of the company and the company’s stockholders, stakeholders, creditors, and other interested parties to file for Chapter 7 relief.”
Shauna McIntyre said, “I’m very disappointed by this outcome because our ELMS team demonstrated incredible determination to get our electric vans ready to meet the critical need for clean, connected vehicles that reduce carbon emissions from ground transportation.
“Unfortunately, there were too many obstacles for us to overcome in the short amount of time available to us. I could not be prouder of what our team has been able to accomplish under very challenging circumstances. This is a viable and essential technology, and I am confident that many of our talented employees will play a future role in this energy transition effort.”
“For the past several months, the ELMS board and the new ELMS leadership team have worked nonstop to address legacy financial, governance and operational matters at the company, and enormous progress was made, including towards vehicle certification” said Brian Krzanich, ELMS Board Chair and former CEO of Intel. “Therefore, it’s extremely frustrating that we must take this route, but it was the only responsible next step for our shareholders, partners, creditors, and employees.”
