Europe is looking catch up with the Asian Markets, with France and Germany saying on Thursday they would form an alliance to develop next-generation batteries in a bid to counteract Asia's dominance.
Mahindra Electric will be soon end the production of its fully-electric hatchback, the Mahindra e2o Plus. A company spokesperson told us that the main reason for phasing out the model is because the car doesn't meet the new safety norms that will come into play later this year in October 2019. Furthermore, Mahindra Electric is already working on a new electric hatchback - KUV Electric, which is slated to be launched later this year. Also, considering the low volumes of electric cars in the personal segment, the carmaker doesn't want two e-hatchbacks in the same space. Having said that, the company will continue to produce the e2o Plus for export markets like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Electric vehicle (EV) battery maker LG Chem said it has sued its South Korean peer SK Innovation in the United States for alleged theft of trade secrets.
Pininfarina has announced the introduction of its fully-electric hypercar, Pininfarina Battista, in the Middle-East market. Expected to be priced around $2 million (Rs. 13.95 crore approx.), the Italian marque's zero-emission electric hypercar was launched in Dubai.
As part of this collaboration, both the companies will also explore deployment of Mahindra electric vehicles in other cities. The joint deployment of electric vehicles will further reinforce the strong relationship between Mahindra and Uber.
The investment is subject to customary regulatory approval. Following Ford's investment, Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of Automotive, will join Rivian's seven-member board.
Mercedes-AMG models will be using an electrified V8 drivetrain in the future. The 4.0-litre V8 engine which powers a range of Mercedes-AMG cars will be coupled with a 48-volt electric motor which has been developed indigenously by the team. Initially, Mercedes was planning to use the new powertrain in the 63 engine only in the GLE and GLS SUVs. However, it will play a major role in the future as from 2021 all AMG cars will be launched with an electrified powertrain. Mercedes also believes that the share of electrified powertrains will be higher in the performance segments in 2025.
Increasing demand for electric vehicles in the United States over the next decade will create revenue opportunities for electric utilities that invest in greater grid capacity and offer EV charging and related services, according to a study released on Tuesday. The study, by the Boston Consulting Group, assumes a significant leap in consumer demand for electric vehicles, which continue to account for only a fraction of U.S. vehicle sales.
