Headlines and links from all the news, including things we didn’t cover in depth here on EVmeme this past week.
Stellantis Invests In Wind Tunnel Tech for Wheel and Tire Aero
Stellantis has unveiled its Moving Ground Plane technology, a $29.5 million investment. The upgraded wind tunnel is part of the company’s research and technical center in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It will be able to measure airflow resistance from wheels and tires, which account for about 10 percent of real-world aerodynamic drag.
BLM Issues Final Permit for Ioneer Lithium-Boron Project
The Bureau of Land Management has issued the final permit required for Ioneer to begin construction at Rhyolite Ridge in Nevada. This will become the first U.S. lithium project approved as part of government efforts to accelerate domestic critical mineral production. Construction is planned for 2025.
Eramet Suspends ReLieVe Battery Recycling Project
Europe’s Eramet has suspended its ReLieVe recycling project, citing the lack of a solid and sustainable economic model for electric vehicles in Europe. The battery recycling project began in 2018.
Scout Unveils Production-Intent Concept SUV and Pickup Models
Scout Motors has unveiled two production-intent concept vehicles, the Traveler SUV and Terra truck. Both designs include battery-electric and extended-range electric drivetrains. The vehicles were designed in Michigan and will be manufactured in South Carolina. Scout is owned by the Volkswagen Group.
Cadillac Confirms 2026 Lyriq-V Will Be First EV To Have V-Series Badge
Cadillac has confirmed that the upcoming Lyriq will have the V-Series performance badge as the first electric vehicle in the automaker’s history to do so.
Oxa Unveils Autonomous Ford E-Transit Van and Minibus
Oxa has installed its Driver software into a Ford E-Transit van and minibus. These experimental models are now driving on roads in both the U.S. and UK. These are the first mass-production models to be converted to autonomous by Oxa.
Mopar Introduces Plymouth GTX Electromod and Ram Sport Truck Concepts
A 1967 Plymouth GTX Electromod Concept is powered by a concept Mopar “e-Crate” propulsion package envisioned from the upcoming Charger EV. Ram has both a 2500 Power Wagon concept and a Ram 1500 RHO with high-impact exterior graphic designs and Mopar accessories.
Ford Shipping NACS Adaptors to EV Customers
Ford has begun shipping NACS (Tesla) charging adaptors to EV buyers who purchased a Ford EV with a standard J1772 plug. These allow Ford models to be used at Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada.
Suzuki, Toyota Furthering Cooperation on EVs
Suzuki Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation will further their collaboration in the supply of a battery electric vehicle SUV model. This new model will be produced at Suzuki Motor Gujarat in India beginning in Spring of 2025 and launch worldwide.
Hyundai Unveils Hydrogen FCEV Concept
Hyundai has unveiled its new INITIUM hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle concept. It is a preview of an upcoming production FCEV, Hyundai says, that will unveil next year. The concept furthers the company’s 27 years of hydrogen technology development.
Nissan Announces 1.5M Units for e-Power Vehicles
Nissan has announced that the cumulative production of its e-Power vehicles has surpassed 1.5 million units as of the end of October. The e-Power system is Nissan’s small-capacity gasoline engine and lithium-ion pack with an electric motor. It’s a range-extended/plug-in hybrid design. Vehicles with the powertrain will come to the U.S. and Canada in 2026.
Walmart Deploying Chevrolet BrightDrop Vans for InHome Delivery Service
Walmart has adopted the Chevrolet BrightDrop electric van for its InHome delivery service in major U.S. markets. Four hundred of the vans will be deployed to support growth of the retailer’s new direct delivery service brand.
Aptera Completes First Function Test of Production-Intent Vehicle
Aptera Motors has reached a milestone in the development of its solar electric vehicle with a successful first drive of its production-intent model. The vehicle will continue to be used in real-world validation and testing.
Volvo Trucks Launches Next-Gen Safety Systems to Protect Pedestrians, Cyclists
Volvo Trucks is introducing two safety systems that focus on protecting pedestrians and cyclists. These active safety systems include the Active Side Collision Avoidance Support, an evolution of a current system to make it active rather than passive, and Volvo’s Collision Warning with Emergency Brake, which now better detects both pedestrians and cyclists.
Stellantis Provides 12 Ram ProMaster Electric Vans to Battery Workforce Challenge Teams
The Battery Workforce Challenge, a collegiate competition, will include 12 new Promaster electrics as part of the partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, Stelantis, and the Argonne National Laboratory. College students will use the vans as a base to compete in the next BWC.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.