EU announces launch of battery alliance to boost cells for electric cars

European Union battery alliance announcementAs it stands today, Asia dominates the production of electric-car battery cells globally, with Japanese and Korean companies representing the bulk of the industry outside of booming Chinese makers. Europe, however, lacks a single major player in the fabrication and assembly of lithium-ion battery cells for cars that plug in. Now European leaders...

Tesla to build electric-car factory in Chinese free-trade zone: report

2014 Tesla Model S in ChinaChina is the world's largest car market, and the country plans to phase out sales of new vehicles with combustion engines in the future. Tesla makes and sells only electric cars, and it aspires to become a volume automaker, meaning China is key to its future. The Chinese government effectively requires carmakers to manufacture in the country to...

Mazda all but confirms rotary range extender engine for electric car

Rotary engineHow Mazda plans to integrate plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles into its range of increasingly efficient gasoline and diesel models is a topic that interests parts of the global auto industry. In 2019, the small Japanese maker will offer a combustion-engine technology never before achieved in production: a gasoline engine that can work...

Cummins buys Brammo electric-drivetrain group for future electric semi

Cummins Urban Hauler Tractor conceptCummins has long been known for its diesel engines, but the company recently revealed its first concept truck using an all-electric powertrain. The Urban Hauler Tractor debuted last month and Cummins said it previewed a production model that could arrive by the end of this decade. Now, the diesel-engine maker officially diversified its portfolio...

Volkswagen targets Pikes Peak with electric-car tech from future models

Teaser for Volkswagen’s entry for 2018 Pikes Pike International Hill ClimbThe next Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race is eight months away still, so a press release on a carmaker's entry into next June's event comes out of left field. But for Volkswagen, it's another small step to underscore its major commitment to battery-electric vehicles as its two-year-old diesel emission cheating scandal continues to...

Mercedes, Smart, Daimler trucks update electric-car, electrification plans

Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CellMercedes-Benz has already laid out its plans for a portfolio of electric and electrified vehicles, and now parent company Daimler has announced further strategy refinements for Mercedes-Benz and its other brands. The Smart brand will become all-electric, it said, while its commercial truck operations will continue to add electrified powertrains to...

Mercedes, Smart, Daimler trucks update electric-car, electrification plans

Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CellMercedes-Benz has already laid out its plans for a portfolio of electric and electrified vehicles, and now parent company Daimler has announced further strategy refinements for Mercedes-Benz and its other brands. The Smart brand will become all-electric, it said, while its commercial truck operations will continue to add electrified powertrains to…