Electric, Hybrid, Self-driving Vehicles & Lithium Batteries

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Nevada lithium mine will crush rare plant habitat US said is critical to its survival, lawsuit says

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Conservationists and an advocacy group for Native Americans are suing the U.S. to try to block a Nevada lithium mine they say will drive an endangered desert wildflower to extinction, disrupt groundwater flows and threaten cultural resources.

https://apnews.com/article/climate-lithium-mine-endangered-species-energy-nevada-2b61e65f6d06ec1e1517a03364c34d4f?

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? Bigger EVs are on way

The Kia EV9 GT (left), Cadillac Vistiq (top right) and Hyundai Ioniq 9. Photos: Kia, Cadillac and Hyundai It's a rocky moment for electric vehicles. But car companies have a tried-and-true solution: Make 'em bigger. Automakers are rolling out several three-row, family-friendly electric SUVs at the L.A. Auto Show, Axios' Nathan Bomey and Alex Fitzpatrick report. ? Why it matters: Many of today's EVs are sedans or crossovers. But American car buyers love big SUVs and trucks. Cadillac, Hyundai and Kia are all introducing new models with three rows of seats, designed mainly for families. ? The catch: The debut of these honking SUVs comes as early-adopter interest is waning. And President-elect Trump has signaled he'll likely pursue the demise of the federal EV tax credit. Plus they're expensive: The Cadillac Vistiq starts at $77,395.

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Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power

DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

https://apnews.com/article/hyundai-kia-electric-vehicle-recalls-loss-drive-power-383e78a62418ea355f00823d01350654?

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? $0 electric vehicle

Fiat displays its 500e model at the Detroit Auto Show last year. Photo: Nic Antaya/Bloomberg via Getty Images You can get an electric vehicle for very close to free, Axios' Nathan Bomey writes. Why it matters: The environmental benefits of EVs notwithstanding, demand for smaller vehicles remains muted — and regulations are causing some automakers to offer aggressive incentives to get them off the showroom floor. A Fiat dealership in Colorado is turning heads by offering a 27-month lease on a 2024 Fiat 500e for $0 per month and no down payment. ?️ Between the lines: Stellantis, Fiat's corporate parent, doesn't have many electric vehicles and likely needs to sell the vehicle to accumulate zero-emission vehicle credits, iSeeCars.com analyst Karl Brauer tells Axios. Once the cars are available for sale at dealerships, they're depreciating assets, and dealers have every incentive to sell them quickly.

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Smoke from fire at California lithium battery plant raises concerns about air quality

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A fire at the world’s largest battery storage plant in Northern California smoldered Friday after sending plumes of toxic smoke into the atmosphere, leading to the evacuation of up to 1,500 people. The blaze also shook up the young battery storage industry.

https://apnews.com/article/battery-storage-plant-fire-california-moss-landing-7c561fed096f410ddecfb04722a8b1f8?

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‘You can’t beat the future’: Electric vehicles on the rise in Central Florida

Orlando resident Tyriq Green bought an electric vehicle to bypass the gas pump and likes that he’s on transportation’s cutting edge.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/02/18/you-cant-beat-the-future-electric-vehicles-on-the-rise-in-central-florida/?

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Electric vehicle owners don’t buy gas. States look for other ways to pay for roads and bridges

States with aggressive climate goals are facing a conundrum. Electric vehicles can help reduce emissions in the transportation sector, but they also mean less gas tax revenue in government coffers. Read More.

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? 3 trends shaping future of mobility

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

Axios transportation correspondent Joann Muller launches a weekly newsletter today, Future of Mobility, on trends upending the automotive industry. Sign up here. Joann lays out three trends that will define the future: ? 1. Electric vehicles have grown to about 9% of all new cars sold in the U.S., but charging and affordability are still a hindrance. Even market leader Tesla is struggling. Sales have plummeted worldwide as controversy grows over Elon Musk's political activity. China's BYD might have changed the game, unveiling a new EV platform that can recharge in five minutes — about the time it takes to fill a gas tank. ? 2. Autonomous vehicles have had years of frustration and slow progress; only one company, Waymo, operates a real commercial robotaxi service today. ? 3. Software-defined vehicles started with Tesla, which pioneered the "computer on wheels" in 2012. The rest of the industry is taking a long time to catch up. Between the lines: Automakers lack systems expertise, which is why they're recruiting talent from Apple, Google and other tech giants.

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? Robotaxi review: Waymo in LA

After a day spent crisscrossing LA in a series of Waymo robotaxis, I can confidently say: I'm a convert, Axios' Joann Muller writes in her new Future of Mobility newsletter.

• Why it matters: Self-driving cars, which once seemed like science fiction, are now real, and you can hail a driverless taxi in a growing number of cities via Uber, Lyft or directly with Waymo.

? The big picture: Alphabet-owned Waymo is the clear leader in autonomous vehicle technology.

• Waymo One provides more than 200,000 driverless rides per week in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
• The company is targeting Miami and Washington, D.C., next. And making Waymo vehicles available on the Uber app, too, starting with Austin and, soon, Atlanta.

? Instead of renting a car during a recent trip to LA, I decided to take Waymos everywhere I could.

• I was out of luck getting to and from the airport. Waymo doesn't yet serve LAX and doesn't go on the highway.
• But it does provide 24/7 ride-hailing service across 79 square miles of the city, including Santa Monica, Hollywood and downtown.

? The robotic Waymo Driver accelerates and brakes gently, so it's possible to work in the backseat without getting carsick.

• It's cautious, but not to a fault. It'll drive through a yellow light — but it'll also slow for pedestrians and bikers.

One fascinating incident occurred when the car hit a pothole unexpectedly, causing a large thunk. The impact was severe enough that the car pulled over to assess the damage.

• A message on the rear seat display, and on my phone, advised me that remote specialists were monitoring the issue: "Our team is aware of the interruption to your ride. Please keep your seat belt fastened and remain in the car unless there's an urgent need to exit."

In less than 30 seconds, we were on our way again.

• Keep reading ...

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? Driverless trucks are here

Photo: Aurora Drivers along a 200-mile stretch of I-45 between Dallas and Houston should get ready for something new: the semi-truck in the next lane might not have anyone in the driver's seat, Axios Future of Mobility author Joann Muller writes. Why it matters: Autonomous trucking companies have been testing their fleets on Texas highways for several years, but always with backup safety drivers in the cab. Now one company, Aurora Innovation, says it's ready to go completely driverless, a key milestone that promises to reshape the trucking industry. The first autonomous truck is expected to roll down I-45 in the coming days, although Aurora officials declined to share any details. Keep reading ...

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First Tesla Robotaxis Hit the Road: Here's When You Can Try One

A small group of Tesla employees are testing the company's robotaxi service in Austin and San Francisco ahead of a public debut in June.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/first-tesla-robotaxis-hit-the-road-heres-when-you-can-try-one?

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? Uber adds new robotaxis

Volkswagen ID. Buzz robotaxis will be available on Uber, starting in Los Angeles. Photo: Courtesy of VW Uber plans to deploy thousands of autonomous Volkswagen minivans in cities across the U.S., Axios' Joann Muller reports. It's the latest in a series of global autonomous vehicle partnerships for Uber, which aims to blend robotaxis with human-driven vehicles on its network. What's next: Testing is expected to begin later this year, with the first commercial launch expected in Los Angeles in 2026, initially with drivers onboard for safety.

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? Self-driving trucks go live

Aurora's driverless truck merges into traffic on I-45 in Texas. Photo: Aurora Aurora Innovation says it has successfully launched a commercial self-driving trucking service in Texas — a milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry, Axios' Joann Muller writes. While driverless trucks on the highway may seem scary to some motorists, Aurora and other AV developers say the technology will make roads safer and help bolster a critical sector of the American economy, which often can't find enough drivers. ?After four years of testing with humans behind the wheel, Aurora pulled the driver for the first time last Sunday, on a route between Dallas and Houston — with a load of frozen pastries in tow. Go deeper.

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Amazon hopes to deliver 10,000 robotaxis annually with new factory, challenging Waymo

Amazon is gearing up to make as many as 10,000 robotaxis annually at a sprawling plant near Silicon Valley as it prepares to challenge self-driving cab leader Waymo. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is also vying to join the autonomous race. Read More.

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Robotaxi Launch

Tesla debuted its robotaxi service yesterday, releasing roughly 10 driverless Model Y vehicles in part of Austin, Texas. CEO Elon Musk says the rides will cost a flat share of $4.20 and hopes to ramp up to 1,000 vehicles within months.   Tesla is not Austin’s first robotaxi; Amazon’s Waymo is the industry leader, boasting over 250,000 paid trips weekly across Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Alphabet’s Zoox is available for employees and guests in Las Vegas and San Francisco. As with Waymo and Zoox, Tesla's pilot will have a driver accompanying the vehicles. The company will also monitor its robotaxi service remotely. The launch came as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill requiring autonomous vehicle operators to acquire a permit, beginning in September.   Tesla’s autonomous ride-hailing service is projected to become a $951B business by 2029, making up 90% of company earnings. Learn more about self-driving cars from 1440 Topics here.   ? Tesla's robotaxi (slowly) launches in Texas   A Tesla robotaxi in Austin yesterday. Photo: Tim Goessman/Bloomberg via Getty Images Tesla rolled out a limited version of its long-awaited robotaxi service in Austin yesterday, culminating what CEO Elon Musk described as "a decade of hard work," Axios Future of Mobility author Joann Muller writes. Why it matters: Autonomous vehicles represent a critical growth area for Tesla, whose electric vehicle sales have declined, in part due to blowback from Musk's political activity. ? Zoom in: A handful of social media influencers and Tesla investors were the first to ride without a driver in Tesla's taxi service, paying a flat $4.20 fee. A Tesla employee rode along in the front passenger seat as a precaution, although it was unclear whether the safety monitor could control the car from there. The service only operates between 6 a.m. and midnight, within certain "geofenced" areas in Austin. It also doesn't operate in the rain. Reality check: Tesla is still far behind Waymo, which launched its first driverless robotaxi rides to the public in 2020.

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Man vs. machine

Residents in Santa Monica, California, say the flashing lights, backup beeps and horns on Waymo robotaxis are keeping them up at night. They’re also vexed by the vehicles’ human attendants, who work in large lots located in residential areas and loudly vacuum the taxis between fares. After receiving numerous complaints, Waymo purchased quieter vacuums and limited the late-night use of the lot that was drawing the most complaints. However, some locals said the company — and the city — haven’t done enough. And since none of the current laws or regulations apply to these situations, a handful of folks are fighting back by protesting with standoffs.

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Autopilot Crash Award

Electric vehicle maker Tesla is liable for $243M in damages after a jury found Friday that the company's driver assistance technology was partly responsible for a fatal 2019 crash. Legal experts say the judgment, likely to be appealed, may set a significant precedent in cases involving self-driving technology.    In the accident in question, a Tesla Model S struck and killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and injured her boyfriend after running through a stop sign in Key Largo, Florida, at night. The driver said he had Tesla's Autopilot—a slimmed-down version of its full self-driving software, typically used on highways—engaged when he dropped his cellphone. The plaintiffs argued Tesla's claims about the feature's capabilities encouraged inattentive driving and that the company allows it to be used in areas the system is not designed for, such as rural roads.    See a video breakdown with dashcam footage of recent issues with Autopilot (via 1440 Topics).

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? Ford doubles down on EVs

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Ford's decision to invest $5 billion in a new family of electric vehicles might seem crazy at this point, given how much the political winds have shifted against EVs since President Trump took office. But widen the lens, and Ford's big bet is the only natural choice in the face of existential threats to its business, Axios Future of Mobility author Joann Muller writes. The big picture: More and more mainstream car buyers can't afford to buy a new Ford, which sells for an average of $56,000. At the same time, Chinese carmakers have figured out how to make inexpensive, high-quality, digitally advanced EVs, and they're quickly taking over the world. ? Reality check: Building affordable EVs profitably is harder without consumer tax credits and other EV-friendly policies killed by the Trump administration. Keep reading.

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New York City allows robotaxi company to test autonomous vehicles in Manhattan and Brooklyn

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City is allowing the robotaxi company Waymo to test a few of its autonomous vehicles in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn, officials said Friday as the technology picks up in popularity in other metro areas.

https://apnews.com/article/robotaxis-new-york-city-223146d22a4a4390a49fe60735c3dbf7?

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? Clean bus speed-bumps

Data: WRI. (Includes buses that are on the road or for which funding has been awarded.) Chart: Axios Visuals ⚡ A five-year push to replace diesel school buses with electric ones has stalled amid a federal funding freeze and the collapse of leading manufacturer Lion Electric, Axios Future of Mobility author Joann Muller reports. The Canadian company filed for bankruptcy in late 2024. Its new owners won't honor U.S. orders or warranties, leaving districts scrambling for service or reverting to diesel. ❌ Meanwhile, $2.3 billion in unspent federal funds is under EPA review after Trump rolled back clean-energy programs. ? Still, states are ramping up support, citing health and economic benefits of phasing out diesel buses. Go deeper.

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? Psychology of EV charging

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Behavioral scientists at Toyota are trying to nudge customers to build better habits for charging their EVs and plug-in hybrids, Axios Future of Mobility author Joann Muller writes. Why it matters: EVs and plug-in hybrids can't deliver their full climate benefit unless people charge them regularly and at the optimum times to avoid stressing the grid. ? Scientists at Toyota Research Institute's Human-Centered AI division developed a prototype app, ChargeMinder, that delivers just-in-time reminders about when to charge, while providing reinforcement with streaks, summaries and encouraging messages. Studies in the U.S. and Japan found that those nudges work. Go deeper ...

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? Consumers race to buy EVs

Data: Cox Automotive; Chart: Axios Visuals Sales of electric vehicles shattered previous records in the third quarter of this year, Axios' Ben Geman reports from new Cox Automotive data. Consumers raced to take advantage of EV tax credits before they ended on Sept. 30, as a result of the GOP's "one big, beautiful bill." ? By the numbers: EV sales were up roughly 41% from the previous quarter and almost 30% year over year, per Cox's data. And that doesn't include plug-in hybrids. ? Winners: Volkswagen, GM, Honda and Hyundai all saw significant sales growth in the July to September stretch. Tesla accounted for 41% of EV sales — still dominant, but losing market share. Go deeper ...

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? 1 for the road: Self-driving cop car

Photo: Policing Lab The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office is testing a new autonomous police vehicle that's being hailed as the first self-driving patrol vehicle in the U.S., Axios Miami's Martin Vassolo writes. The autonomous vehicle, donated by the law enforcement nonprofit Policing Lab, will initially be limited to appearances at community events before the agency considers it for broader use. How it works: The Police Unmanned Ground vehicle (PUG) Patrol Partner comes equipped with 360-degree cameras, real-time crime data integration, a license-plate reader and the ability to launch a drone from its roof. It won't be used in police chases, according to the Miami Herald. Its speed will be restricted and it won't be able to drive on highways. Read the announcement ..

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? GM's "eyes-off" self-driving car

The Cadillac Escalade IQ will be the first vehicle to feature GM's new "eyes-off" driving system. Photo: GM GM said yesterday it'll introduce an "eyes-off" autonomous driving system on a consumer SUV in 2028, Axios' Nathan Bomey writes. Why it matters: No major automaker has yet commercialized self-driving car technology that legally allows car owners to travel from place to place in their vehicle without keeping their eyes on the road. The system will debut on the Cadillac Escalade IQ electric SUV, starting with highway driving and eventually transitioning to include urban roads. "This allows you to do something else at that time, connect with others, catch up on work, your favorite TV show," GM chief product officer Sterling Anderson told Axios in an interview. Keep reading ...

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? Waymo's self-driving cars will soon be able to travel on freeways, without a human driver, in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. They've so far been confined to local roads with lower speed limits. Go deeper.

ps:This should be interesting!