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Ford is pausing work on a new, $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan, even as the transition to electric vehicles has become a major sticking point in a United Auto Workers strike against automakers Ford, GM and Stellantis. No final decision has been made on whether the plant will, ultimately, become operational, said Ford spokesman T.R. Reid. If completed, the plant will be located on a 950-acre site in southern Michigan near the town of Marshall. Ford’s plans were to employ 2,500 people when the plant opened for production in 2026. Ford had had announced plans for the...

The average cost of second hand electric cars is plummeting by a “phenomenal amount” as they sit for “months on end” without any buyers. Research by online motor marketplace, AutoTrader, revealed the average price for a used EV has dropped by 21.4 per cent this month, compared to a year ago. Marc Palmer, the head of strategy and insights at AutoTrader, told MailOnline: “The used market will now be slower to mature. There will be fewer new EVs registered and fewer used cars coming to market. “There will be sections of the public, especially those who are sceptical, who will...

Electric vehicle (EV) sales are up, but that may come with unintended—if not lethal—consequences. EVs pose many problems that are not well-known including potentially dangerous conditions in commercial parking garages and the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries used by EV's. Electric vehicles are becoming more prevalent, and being scrutinized for their potential dangers, even when they are not being driven. In July of this year a cargo ship caught fire off the Netherlands' coast after 3,500 new vehicles caught fire while in transport. One crew member was killed, and investigators said "the fire started in the battery of an...

A $4 billion Panasonic electric vehicle battery factory in De Soto, Kansas, will help satisfy the Biden administration’s efforts to get everyone into an EV. It also will help extend the life of a coal-fired power plant. Resource Adequacy Panasonic broke ground on the facility last year. The Japanese company was slated to receive $6.8 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act, which has been pouring billions into electric vehicles and battery factories as part of its effort to transition America away from fossil fuels. The Kansas City Star reports that the factory will require between 200 and 250 megawatts of...

ithium deposit found in northwest US may be the world’s largest Shamefaced Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm confirmed Thursday that her staff hogged an electric car charging station during a summer trip, leading to law enforcement getting involved. Granholm, 64, was on a four-day road trip from North Carolina to Tennessee with a traveling caravan of electric and nonelectric vehicles when a member of her advance team used a gasoline-powered car to reserve a charging spot, angering a family that had been waiting in line. “Yeah, I’ve seen the reports,” Granholm told Rep. Scott Franklin (R-Fla.) when he asked during...

When I first covered the ARK Zero electric microcar, its specs and pricing sounded too good be true. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” I quipped. Well I guess now I have to believe it, as the company says it has begun making deliveries and shared its first on-road photos. According to the company, initial deliveries of the ultra-budget vehicle have begun in the UK and France. Priced at just £5,995 (approximately US $7,500), the UK-based ARK Zero is likely the most affordable electric microcar in the west. Technically classified as a quadricycle, it is designed to fulfill the...

America’s electric-vehicle drivers are increasingly unhappy with public charging, as problems that include glitchy or inoperable equipment seem to be getting worse, not better. Now the U.S. government plans to launch a $100 million effort to try to tackle the reliability issue and make public charging less annoying and more consistent. The funding aims to repair and replace thousands of old or out-of-commission chargers that are contributing to a roll-of-the-dice sensation among EV drivers, who never know what they might find. Around one in five attempts at charging at a public station outside of the Tesla network is a bust,...

Ford was supposed to be able to build 600,000 electric vehicles (EVs) this year. Then, it wasn’t. The date was pushed back to the end of 2024. Now, Ford may be unable to sell all those EVs, even if it hits that production number. Too few people want an F-150 Lightning, Ford’s electric flagship. (These 15 cars hold their value the longest.) According to Bloomberg, Ford has raised production of the hybrid F-150, a watered-down version that helps save gasoline and the environment. Jim Farley, Ford CEO, says he is surprised by the demand for the hybrid version. He failed...

Five cars have been destroyed after a lithium-ion battery exploded at Sydney Airport on Monday night. Key points: A detached EV battery has been confirmed as the source of the fire Fire and rescue crews attended the scene under the control tower at Sydney Airport Authorities have monitored the battery overnight in case of a spark-up Fire and Rescue NSW and the Aviation Rescue Firefighting Service battled the blaze which broke out under the control tower on the southern end of Airport Drive in Mascot. Firefighters confirmed sparks spread from a detached lithium-ion battery from a luxury car to four...

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm embarked on a four-day road trip in an electric vehicle this summer and faced a few issues, including trouble locating chargers, long downtimes as batteries slowly refilled, and even having the police called on her. Granholm drove from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Memphis, Tennessee, in an attempt to draw attention to the billions of dollars the White House is pouring into green energy and clean cars, according to a report by NPR. The U.S. Secretary of Energy even made passionate town hall stops along the way, advocating for reshaping Americans’ lives by transitioning from...

A lithium deposit discovered in a volcanic crater along the Nevada-Oregon border may hold up to 40 million metric tons of the rare metal — possibly the largest ever in the world, which could have a massive impact on the electric vehicle industry, according to a new study. The deposit hidden within the McDermitt Caldera is estimated to hold between 20 million and 40 million metric tons, which would be nearly double the current record of about 23 million metric tons found over the summer beneath a Bolivian salt flat, researchers reported in Science Advances. It would also greatly boost...

When Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm set out on a four-day electric-vehicle road trip this summer, she knew charging might be a challenge. But she probably didn't expect anyone to call the cops. Granholm's trip through the southeast, from Charlotte, N.C., to Memphis, Tenn., was intended to draw attention to the billions of dollars the White House is pouring into green energy and clean cars. The administration's ambitious energy agenda, if successful, could significantly cut U.S. emissions and reshape Americans' lives in fundamental ways, including by putting many more people in electric vehicles. Granholm approaches a charging station to charge...

American truckers have issued a warning about the Biden administration's plans to reduce air pollution by cracking down on heavy-duty vehicle emissions, saying that President Biden's proposed policies will crush the supply chain and put the American food supply at risk. Under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which aims to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants by enacting stringent new regulations on heavy-duty vehicles and machinery, businesses will be subjected to unattainable standards which will result in high inflation and put trucking companies out of business, American trucking officials warn. Mike Kucharski, vice president and co-owner of JKC...

25 refrigerators.That’s how much the additional electricity consumption per household would be if the average US home adopted electric vehicles (EVs).Congressman Thomas Massie - an electrical engineer - revealed this information while discussing with Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation, President Biden’s plan to have 50% of cars sold in the US be electric by 2030.The current and future grid in most places will not be able to support each home running 25 refrigerators—not even close. Just look at California, where the grid is already buckling under the existing load.Massie claims, correctly, in my view, that the notion of widespread...

So you got yourself a brand new, $70,000 subsidized electric vehicle (EV), and everyone on your block is envious. Quiet, non-polluting, cheaper to operate than a gas-powered vehicle, right? That’s not entirely accurate. The grim fact is, you better pray your EV never breaks down. The electric vehicle manufacturers sort of forgot to train the necessary number of mechanics to service your beautiful new car, leaving you with repair costs that will be through the roof. It seems like too obvious a detail to overlook. And it’s going to blow up the EV industry once a couple of millions of...

Munich, GERMANY — The IAA in Munich, Germany is one of Europe’s most high-profile auto shows. And it was dominated by Chinese electric car firms looking to expand their presence on the continent and challenge incumbents from BMW to Ford in the new era of battery-powered vehicles. Chinese start-ups and players had some of the biggest stands at the event with high-profile press conferences and vehicle launches, underscoring their intention to make a splash in the European market. China, the world’s largest EV market, has seen a tidal wave of electric car companies pop up in the last few years,...

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has appointed 24 new members to his Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity. "Cars are the weal link in our transportation system," he explained. "They are a major contributor to global warming and perpetuate systemic racism. Equity requires that they be phased out and replaced with superior alternatives." The Secretary hastened to clarify that "electric vehicles (EVs) are a bridge to an automobile future, not a permanent alternative. Let's face it, EVs aren't that great. They cost more to own and operate, are less convenient and versatile than gasoline-fueled vehicles, and are not especially environmentally friendly. The...

Ford is retiring three internal combustion engine models – the Escape, Edge and Transit Connect – to make room for new electric vehicles. Legacy automobile companies that have been producing internal combustion engine vehicles for decades have been addicted to their gas-powered models as electric vehicles began to make their mark over the past dozen or so years. Those companies have slowly begun to make commitments to transition to all-electric, but some have been changing at a snail's pace. General Motors (GM) - Get Free Report rolled out its Chevy Spark EV in 2013 before launching its popular Chevy Bolt...

Ford’s CEO apparently got complaints from electric vehicle (EV) owners during his recent cross-country road trip. While on his journey, Jim Farley drove one of the company’s electric pickup trucks, Fox Business reported Friday, noting he called the act of charging the vehicle “pretty challenging.” “It was a really good reality check of the challenges of what our customers go through and the importance of fast charging and what we’re going to have to do to improve the charging experience,” Farley stated in a video clip posted Sunday:

Energy providers could have the option to switch off home EV charging stations remotely to reduce pressure on Queensland’s electricity grid.The proposal is part of the Australian state’s Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM), which provides a framework for the grid’s operation.Section 8 of the QECM proposes that EV charging equipment may be limited or switched off by operators Ergon Energy and Energex (distributed network service providers or DNSPs) if it has an output of more than 20 amps—a standard domestic single-phase EV charger uses 32 amps.The use of such “demand management” schemes is largely unique to Queensland and is also...