Fisker provides first look at $29,900 urban EV, confirms Ohio production

Good News Notes: “Fisker confirmed Thursday that production of its compact electric vehicle, the $29,900 Pear EV, will enter production in 2024 at the former GM plant in Lordstown, Ohio.  It’s not a niche affair, either. Fisker is going for volume with this one, with the aim to build a minimum of 250,000 units a year…

Heat pumps included in GM EVs could give them a real-world range advantage

Good News Notes: “GM confirmed Monday that it plans to include heat-pump technology in all of its current and upcoming Ultium-platform electric vehicles.  That includes the Hummer EV now being delivered and the soon-arriving Cadillac Lyriq, plus many more to arrive in the next several years. In them, the tech will help recover low-level waste heat in ways…

Li-Cycle to expand US battery recycling ‘Hub’ by 40% and provide LG with nickel for the next decade

Good News Notes: “To meet increasing market demand, lithium-ion battery resource recovery specialists Li-Cycle has announced plans to increase the processing capacity of an upcoming New York facility by 40%. In addition to expanding its US battery recycling footprint, Li-Cycle has also entered into a letter of intent with LG to create a closed-loop battery ecosystem. Li-Cycle…

In Los Angeles, Tesla’s rivals roll out larger, cheaper electric SUVs

Good News Notes: “Automakers chasing electric vehicle leader Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) revealed new, more affordable and larger electric sport utility vehicles at the Los Angeles Auto Show, racing into one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. market. Kia Motors (000270.KS) called out Tesla by name at the show, announcing that its upcoming electric crossover EV6 beat Tesla’s previous…

GM’s Ultium partners with Li-Cycle to expand U.S. EV battery recycling

Good News Notes: “General Motors announced Tuesday that its Ultium battery joint venture with LG Chem is partnering with Li-Cycle to expand America’s battery recycling capabilities, promising to return up to 100% of the valuable materials used in battery construction to the market for re-use.  “Our combined efforts with Ultium Cells will be instrumental in redirecting…

General Motors plans to exclusively offer electric vehicles by 2035

Good News Notes: “General Motors  wants to end production of all diesel- and gasoline-powered cars, trucks and SUVs by 2035 and shift its entire new fleet to electric vehicles as part of a broader plan to become carbon neutral by 2040, the company said Thursday. The company plans to use 100% renewable energy to power…

GM to hire 3,000 for tech jobs as part of EV push

Good News Notes: “General Motors Co. plans to hire 3,000 employees in engineering, design and IT to help push forward as a leading electric vehicle maker and to develop more in-car connected technologies, the automaker said Monday.  GM is battling its Silicon Valley competition for talent to be able to achieve its mantra of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero…

GM, Ford complete US contracts to build breathing machines

Good News Notes: “General Motors says it has finished making 30,000 medical breathing machines for the U.S. government to help treat coronavirus patients. The Department of Health and Human Services contracted with GM to build the ventilators at a converted auto electronics plant in Kokomo, Indiana, at a cost of $489.4 million. The machines were designed by…

GM-backed electric truck startup Lordstown Motors is going public

Good News Notes: “One-year-old Lordstown Motors will become a publicly traded company in an effort to bring its commercial electric pickup truck, the Endurance, to market. And it will do this with more support from General Motors than was previously known, according to financial filings. The startup plans to list on the Nasdaq stock exchange…