Global EV adoption surpasses 5% in 23 countries
Joining the ranks of early adopters, which include the United States, China, and most of Western Europe, are five newcomers: Canada, Australia, Spain, Thailand, and Hungary. Notably, India, the third-largest car market globally following China and the United States, witnessed a remarkable surge with EV sales doubling within just six months, reaching 3% of total sales in the last quarter, as reported by Bloomberg. This remarkable growth in EV adoption has primarily occurred over the past year, with five additional countries crossing the 5% EV sales threshold—considered a tipping point for mass adoption—compared to the previous year. The report also highlights a substantial 55% increase in median EV sales during the last quarter compared to the same period a year ago. In the United States, EV adoption varies regionally, with a surge in a select number of states, prominently led by California, where EVs accounted for 15% of the vehicle market last year. Source
Ride1Up enhances low-cost electric bike
Ride1Up has introduced a noteworthy addition to its popular Ride1Up Roadster V2 Gravel Edition electric bike—a thumb throttle. This new feature is likely an optional accessory, providing riders with the flexibility to pedal or operate their e-bikes in pure Class 3 mode, which caps the bike's speed at 24 mph (38 km/h). Riders can choose to use the throttle selectively, particularly for navigating steep hills or starting on inclines, or simply ignore it. The throttle-enabled option comes at a slightly higher price point, retailing at US $1,345, while still maintaining its position as one of the most cost-effective Gates belt-drive e-bikes available in the market. Source
Tesla Model 3 Highland now available
After much anticipation, Tesla has unveiled the refreshed Tesla Model 3, also known as „Project Highland”, which is now available in select markets. Initially launched in left-hand drive (LHD) European countries with Tesla presence, as well as the Middle East, here is a brief list of the countries where the Model 3 Highland is currently available for order, along with estimated delivery times:
- Europe: October
- Middle East: October
- China: Q4 2023
- Australia & New Zealand: January 2024 - March 2024
- Malaysia: Late 2023
- Japan: December 2023 - March 2024
- UK and Ireland: Not yet available
- Canada: Not yet available
- US: Not yet available
- Singapore: Not yet available
- Korea: Not yet available
In an interesting development, Tesla has reportedly canceled orders for the Model 3 Performance in Australia following the launch of the facelifted Model 3. The new Model 3 Long Range offers an impressive 0-62 mph acceleration time of 4.4 seconds, making it a compelling alternative, albeit 1.1 seconds slower than the Performance variant. Source
New EV battery cells will be made with recycled metals, USA
A collaborative effort between global battery manufacturer BASF, Florida-based graphene energy storage company Nanotech Energy, lithium-ion battery recycling firm American Battery Technology Company (ABTC), and Ontario-based TODA Advanced Materials is set to revolutionize the creation of electric vehicle (EV) battery cells. Together, these entities are working on establishing a domestic closed-loop system for lithium-ion EV battery cells that will incorporate recycled metals. Daniel Schönfelder, Senior Vice President of Battery Base Metals and Recycling at BASF, succinctly expressed the initiative's significance, stating, "This enables BASF and Nanotech to produce lithium-ion batteries with locally recycled content." Commercial production of this closed-loop cycle is slated to commence in 2024. Source
Ford adds Apple Maps EV routing to F-150 Lightning
The integration of Apple Maps EV guidance into Ford's electric vehicle lineup continues to expand. Although not entirely new for Ford EVs, this feature is now being introduced to the Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck. This development follows its prior availability on the Ford Mustang Mach-E last spring, covering models from 2022 and 2023, and select 2021 models based on the Sync 4A infotainment system's software version. The addition of Apple Maps allows F-150 Lightning drivers to select it as their preferred navigation option, offering guidance on EV charging locations based on vehicle and battery data from connected iPhones via CarPlay. This integration enhances the EV driving experience by seamlessly incorporating charging points into the navigation route. Source