Report: Tesla-Panasonic battery waste could lead to battery flaws

Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada [CREDIT - YouTube user California Phantom]Tesla's manufacturing struggles to build the Model 3 at its Fremont, California, factory have been well documented. The same can't be said for its partner Panasonic, as it struggles to build enough new lithium-ion batteries to power them. A report by Business Insider, quoting three current and former employees, says that the company scraps enough...

Musk aims to transform Tesla into self-driving robo-taxi company

2017 Tesla Model S testing at Consumer ReportsAt an investor presentation on Monday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk laid out plans essentially to transition the company from a traditional car manufacturer to an operator of self-driving “robo-taxis.” Musk reiterated a statement he made in January that all Tesla cars built since last month will have “feature complete” full...

Audi E-tron delays, EVgo Autocharge, Hyundai-Kia EV app: Today’s Car News

Car2Go Smart ForTwo Electric Drive in San DiegoRivian reveals the company plans six new models. Hyundai and Kia release an app to customize settings and performance for plug-in cars. Audi faces more battery delays for its long-awaited E-tron electric SUV. EVgo turns on the first non-Tesla fast chargers with one-step Plug'n Charge. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Rivian won't stop at a...

Report: Battery shortages lead to Audi E-tron production delays

2019 Audi e-tron first drive  -  Abu Dhabi UAE, December 2018Building electric cars is harder than it looks. According to a report last week in the Brussels Times, Audi is delaying the production of its planned E-tron Sportback and slowing production of its E-tron SUV following battery shortages from supplier LG Chem. The factory that builds the e-tron has cut back from eight hours of production a day to...

Smartphone-based customization coming to Hyundai and Kia electric cars

Hyundai-Kia smartphone-based EV performance settingsFully electric cars have a great potential to be customized and personalized, to a level that’s not entirely possible with gasoline models. Unlike anything with a tailpipe, EVs don’t have to go through reams of emissions-test paperwork every time some of the basic parameters are changed. Today, Hyundai Motor Group (which includes...

Charging network EVgo goes tagless, tests battery buffers at stations

EVgo 350-kw DC fast-charge station, Baker, Calif. EVgo announced earlier this week that it will be the first charging network—other than the Tesla Supercharger network, of course—to enable a feature for its DC fast chargers that doesn't rely on RFID tags or even credit cards to be activated. The charging network will roll out the ISO Plug&Charge standard on its CCS chargers used...