Volkswagen Group is planning six new European lithium-ion battery factories with a total yearly output of 240 GWh once they're all operational in 2030. It made the announcement on Monday at an online "Power Day" event, where it laid out the latest update to . In addition to the new factories, it will be moving to a common prismatic cell design in 2023 to drive down battery costs and is upping its investment in DC fast-charging infrastructure."E-mobility has become core business for us. We are now systematically integrating additional stages in the value chain. We secure a long-term pole...…Volkswagen Group is planning six new European lithium-ion battery factories with a total yearly output of 240 GWh once they're all operational in 2030. It made the announcement on Monday at an online "Power Day" event, where it laid out the latest update to . In addition to the new factories, it will be moving to a common prismatic cell design in 2023 to drive down battery costs and is upping its investment in DC fast-charging infrastructure."E-mobility has become core business for us. We are now systematically integrating additional stages in the value chain. We secure a long-term pole...WW…

Another day, another Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study looking at . Like the study we covered on Wednesday, this one also concerns adaptive cruise control (ACC), which uses forward-looking radar to control the distance to a vehicle in front of it (unlike old-fashioned cruise control, which will happily rear-end someone if you don't turn it off). Sadly, the findings are not encouraging. In its study, the IIHS found that drivers were much more likely to speed while using ACC.Back in the mid-'90s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF), logging 35,000 test miles...…Another day, another Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study looking at . Like the study we covered on Wednesday, this one also concerns adaptive cruise control (ACC), which uses forward-looking radar to control the distance to a vehicle in front of it (unlike old-fashioned cruise control, which will happily rear-end someone if you don't turn it off). Sadly, the findings are not encouraging. In its study, the IIHS found that drivers were much more likely to speed while using ACC.Back in the mid-'90s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF), logging 35,000 test miles...WW…

This week's news about the new US Postal Service truck contract, and , has been viewed by many as a missed opportunity. Thankfully, the news is better when it comes to electrifying another one of our public services—the school bus. On Thursday, Montgomery County—a wealthy Maryland suburb adjacent to Washington, DC—approved a contract to electrify its entire school bus fleet.School buses are an ideal candidate for electrification, given the frequent stops and the fact that the buses usually only run a couple of times each day. With more than 1,400 buses, the Montgomery County Public Schools...…This week's news about the new US Postal Service truck contract, and , has been viewed by many as a missed opportunity. Thankfully, the news is better when it comes to electrifying another one of our public services—the school bus. On Thursday, Montgomery County—a wealthy Maryland suburb adjacent to Washington, DC—approved a contract to electrify its entire school bus fleet.School buses are an ideal candidate for electrification, given the frequent stops and the fact that the buses usually only run a couple of times each day. With more than 1,400 buses, the Montgomery County Public Schools...WW…

On Sunday afternoon, and after a delay of several months caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Chevrolet revealed its newly facelifted Bolt EV. On the outside, the electric hatchback has a bold, new face. On the inside, there are new displays and new front seats. Chevy has even cut the price by more than $5,000, which means the 2022 Bolt EV starts at $31,995 .The automaker also debuted a second Bolt derivative, called the Bolt EUV. In effect, this is a stretched Bolt—it's almost 3 inches (75mm) longer in the wheelbase, and more than 6 inches (161mm) longer overall. However, the $33,995 Bolt...…On Sunday afternoon, and after a delay of several months caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Chevrolet revealed its newly facelifted Bolt EV. On the outside, the electric hatchback has a bold, new face. On the inside, there are new displays and new front seats. Chevy has even cut the price by more than $5,000, which means the 2022 Bolt EV starts at $31,995 .The automaker also debuted a second Bolt derivative, called the Bolt EUV. In effect, this is a stretched Bolt—it's almost 3 inches (75mm) longer in the wheelbase, and more than 6 inches (161mm) longer overall. However, the $33,995 Bolt...WW…

noticed that it's difficult to get ahold of and these days. In large part, that's due to an ongoing global shortage affecting semiconductor foundries. As it turns out, the problem is even more pronounced in the auto industry. In fact, it's getting so bad that a number of OEMs, including Ford and General Motors, have had to go as far as idling shifts and even entire factories.Ford had to stop production in Kentucky in December of 2020, and in January, it ordered a month-long pause at a German factory. Stellantis (the new company formed by a merger between Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot) around...…noticed that it's difficult to get ahold of and these days. In large part, that's due to an ongoing global shortage affecting semiconductor foundries. As it turns out, the problem is even more pronounced in the auto industry. In fact, it's getting so bad that a number of OEMs, including Ford and General Motors, have had to go as far as idling shifts and even entire factories.Ford had to stop production in Kentucky in December of 2020, and in January, it ordered a month-long pause at a German factory. Stellantis (the new company formed by a merger between Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot) around...WW…

On Monday, Ford and Google announced a new partnership that will see the automaker work with Google on in-car technology. Perhaps the biggest news is that Ford is switching to Android for its infotainment systems by 2023. That means future Fords will feature Sync systems that use Google Maps and Android's excellent voice recognition, as well as opening up the platform to third-party developers. Ford will also use Google Cloud for its connected services, and the two companies will collaborate "to create new experiences for customers."It has been a few years since we first knew that for...…On Monday, Ford and Google announced a new partnership that will see the automaker work with Google on in-car technology. Perhaps the biggest news is that Ford is switching to Android for its infotainment systems by 2023. That means future Fords will feature Sync systems that use Google Maps and Android's excellent voice recognition, as well as opening up the platform to third-party developers. Ford will also use Google Cloud for its connected services, and the two companies will collaborate "to create new experiences for customers."It has been a few years since we first knew that for...WW…

The annual 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway in Florida got underway on Saturday afternoon. And this year's race has been a pretty good one so far—although there are still nearly seven hours left to run as I write this. This year is the 59th running of a race that has become, unofficially at least, the start of the year's racing season for many. But on Friday, the 3.5-mile (5.6km) road course tried something new, when an electric racing car took to the track for some demonstration laps—the first time a racing EV has done so. With any luck, it may be a herald of things to come...…The annual 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway in Florida got underway on Saturday afternoon. And this year's race has been a pretty good one so far—although there are still nearly seven hours left to run as I write this. This year is the 59th running of a race that has become, unofficially at least, the start of the year's racing season for many. But on Friday, the 3.5-mile (5.6km) road course tried something new, when an electric racing car took to the track for some demonstration laps—the first time a racing EV has done so. With any luck, it may be a herald of things to come...WW…

On Thursday, Toyota reached a settlement with the US government over a decade of noncompliance with Clean Air Act reporting regulations. Under the law, defects or recalls that affect vehicle emissions equipment have to be reported to the Environmental Protection Agency.But, says EPA assistant administrator Susan Bodine, "[f]or a decade Toyota failed to report mandatory information about potential defects in their cars to the EPA, keeping the agency in the dark and evading oversight.  EPA considers this failure to be a serious violation of the Clean Air Act."Manufacturers are supposed...…On Thursday, Toyota reached a settlement with the US government over a decade of noncompliance with Clean Air Act reporting regulations. Under the law, defects or recalls that affect vehicle emissions equipment have to be reported to the Environmental Protection Agency.But, says EPA assistant administrator Susan Bodine, "[f]or a decade Toyota failed to report mandatory information about potential defects in their cars to the EPA, keeping the agency in the dark and evading oversight.  EPA considers this failure to be a serious violation of the Clean Air Act."Manufacturers are supposed...WW…

Rats that learn to drive are more able to cope with stress. That might sound like the fever-dream of a former scientist-turned-car writer, but it's actually one of the results of a new study from the University of Richmond. The aim of the research was to see what effect the environment a rat was raised in had on its ability to learn new tasks. Although that kind of thing has been studied in the past, the tests haven't been particularly complicated. Anyone who has spent time around rats will know they're actually quite resourceful. So the team, led by Professor Kelly Lambert, came up this...…Rats that learn to drive are more able to cope with stress. That might sound like the fever-dream of a former scientist-turned-car writer, but it's actually one of the results of a new study from the University of Richmond. The aim of the research was to see what effect the environment a rat was raised in had on its ability to learn new tasks. Although that kind of thing has been studied in the past, the tests haven't been particularly complicated. Anyone who has spent time around rats will know they're actually quite resourceful. So the team, led by Professor Kelly Lambert, came up this...WW…

This week should have seen the start of the New York International Auto Show, but despite its postponement, many of the automakers who would have attended are still showing off their latest new-and-shiny projects online instead. Most of Mercedes-Benz's headlines have come from embedded in its dash. I don't know about you, but I'm fast approaching burnout when it comes to huge screens in cars, so I'm far more interested in the details that Mercedes-AMG shared about its new performance hybrid system.In 2014, Formula 1 racing adopted a new set of technical regulations as the sport moved from...…This week should have seen the start of the New York International Auto Show, but despite its postponement, many of the automakers who would have attended are still showing off their latest new-and-shiny projects online instead. Most of Mercedes-Benz's headlines have come from embedded in its dash. I don't know about you, but I'm fast approaching burnout when it comes to huge screens in cars, so I'm far more interested in the details that Mercedes-AMG shared about its new performance hybrid system.In 2014, Formula 1 racing adopted a new set of technical regulations as the sport moved from...WW…