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The world’s leading EV battery maker wants to make gas stations a thing of the past. On Wednesday, CATL revealed ambitious plans to expand its EV battery swap network with ten new models. By swapping batteries, EV drivers can get a fully charged pack within two minutes. That’s even quicker than filling up your gas tank.

With a commanding lead over the global EV battery market, CATL now has a new target as it looks to phase out gas-powered vehicles.

CATL announced plans to roll out 1,000 EV battery swap stations across China next year as electric models continue to gain market share. The initiative is designed to accelerate EV adoption by making it easier and more convenient to drive an electric car.

“As the market leader, we will join hands with our partners to create a sound ecosystem to achieve innovative breakthroughs,” CATL’s founder and chairman, Robin Zeng, said during a press briefing on Wednesday (via The South China Morning Post).

The battery giant said its new stations would enable EV drivers to swap batteries within 100 seconds. At that, you can gain a full charge faster than it would take to fill a gas tank.

CATL has been in the market since 2022 after launching EVOGO, its battery swap brand. However, initial plans called for smaller packs with the option of using more than one.

CATL-EV-battery-swap-plans
CATL signs strategic agreement with CITI Financial Leasing to develop “Chocolate Battery Swap” ecosystem (Source: CATL)

CATL updates plans to expand EV battery swap stations

With its new “Chocolate” SEB batteries, CATL is making it even easier. The new battery packs are a single unit designed for passenger car use. Zeng said “the most important thing” is the standardization of battery size. It has already secured over 107,500 orders for its Choco-SEB batteries from more than 30 companies.

Like different gasoline grades, CATL offers two new Choco-SEB batteries. The #20 pack is designed for A0 cars (small and hatchback models), while the #25 is built for larger A or B-class vehicles.

CATL-EV-battery-swap-plans
CATL founder and chairman Robin Zeng reveals new EV battery swap plans (Source: CATL)

Both packs will be available in LFP-based or NMC chemistry options. With a capacity of up to 42 kWh, CATL’s #20 LFP pack provides a CLTC driving range of up to 400 km (248 miles). Meanwhile, the #20 NMC battery pack, with a capacity of up to 52 kWh, can provide a range of up to 500 km (310 miles).

The #25 LFP pack, with a 56 kWh capacity, can travel up to 500 km (310 miles), while the NMC option, with a 70 kWh capacity, provides a range of up to 600 km (373 miles).

CATL-EV-battery-swap-plans
CATL’s new EV experience center (Source: CATL)

Pricing starts at 369 yuan, or about $51 per month (#20 LFP pack) for up to 3,000 km (1,864 miles). You can also opt for unlimited mileage for 469 yuan ($64).

The global battery leader revealed ten new EVs jointly developed with its partners that will use the new battery swap tech. These include several highly anticipated models like the GAC AION S, Wuling Bingo and Starlight, as well as SAIC’s Rising F7, Maxus Mifa 9, and Maxus Dana.

CATL plans to build at least 30,000 EV battery swap stations in the future. The first 1,000 will be built by CATL, and the following 10,000 will be developed jointly with its partners.

Several other companies in China, including NIO, are rapidly expanding EV battery swap stations across China. According to CnEVPost, NIO’s swap network now covers 18 of China’s busiest highways with 913 stations.

Source: SCMP, CATL

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Tesla Shanghai starts mass production of Model Y refresh in Jan, says local media

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Tesla Shanghai starts mass production of Model Y refresh in Jan, says local media

The refreshed Model Y, codenamed Juniper, expected to have similar features as the refreshed “Highland” Model 3, is will start mass production in China next month, according to local media.

The news was reported by local news site LatePost, and brought to the English world by CnEVPost.

The original report mostly discussed the departure of Song Gang, the former director of Tesla’s Shanghai factory, which we reported on earlier today.

But in addition to that, it said that mass production will begin on the new Model Y in January.

The refreshed Model Y has been expected for some time, and is expected to include many of the improvements of the 2023 Model 3 refresh. The headline features of that vehicle are a new front-end, more efficiency, and a quieter cabin. But there were a lot of other interior improvements as well (and one big de-provement, the deletion of steering column stalks).

And we know that it’s coming soon, because there have been plenty of sightings and leaks lately (including a 2-second video taken last week in San Jose). In October, Chinese social media said the refresh was about to enter trial production, and just days later we saw a photo of the refreshed Model Y outside the Shanghai factory.

Tesla Model Y refresh china

So it’s not surprising that more information would leak about upcoming production again.

The report also suggests that the rumored 6-seat Model Y will start production in Shanghai in the fourth quarter of 2025 – so it’s still quite a ways out.

As for delivery times, the report doesn’t specify when that might happen. But there may be some time to wait, especially here in the US.

When the Model 3 refresh first came out, it started deliveries overseas and then took about 5 months for deliveries to start in the US. If the Model Y is on the same schedule, it might not be seen in the US until halfway through the year.

In terms of official comment from Tesla, all we’ve heard is that there will be no Model Y refresh “this year” – but that’s over in two weeks, so the doors are wide open for the Model Y to enter the market any time now.

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Honda teases two 0 Series EV prototypes to be unveiled at CES and hit the global market in 2026

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Honda teases two 0 Series EV prototypes to be unveiled at CES and hit the global market in 2026

Honda announced it will be back at CES this year, unveiling the next phase of its new 0 Series line of EVs. At this year’s event in Las Vegas, Honda intends to unveil two prototype EVs based on the concepts that debuted a year prior. This will be our next look at Honda’s 0 Series progress as it looks to bring these two initial models to market in 2026.

While Honda is a household name in automotive and other motor-powered vehicles, its presence in the EV space has been limited but growing. The company currently sells the Prologue EV, built atop GM’s Ultium Platform, but it has yet to deliver US consumers an entirely bespoke model.

That era will begin with Honda’s upcoming 0 Series line of all-electric vehicles. We got our first public view of Honda’s new 0 Series design language during CES 2024 this past January when the Japanese automaker unveiled two EV concepts called “Saloon” and “Space-Hub.”

At the time, Honda said the two concepts represented a design precursor to Honda’s next-generation EVs. This past October, I visited Honda’s design center in Japan, where I saw the Saloon concept inside and out. I even got to test drive the automaker’s new 0 Series EV platform. However, it was implemented on an Accord body, so it was difficult to get a feel for how its upcoming bespoke models, like the Saloon, will drive.

Honda has previously stated that the Saloon will be one of two passenger EVs to hit the market in the 0 Series, and the automaker has taken the next step in that process, moving from concepts to prototypes, which it is now teasing ahead of their reveal at CES 2025.

  • Honda 0 Series

Honda to unveil two 0 Series prototypes, new tech at CES

Honda posted the two teaser images above today, along with the date and location of their official reveal at CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 7. According to Honda, these prototypes represent the next models in the Honda 0 Series, which are slotted to hit global market in 2026.

Honda has yet to share many more details about the EV prototypes, but they are clearly evolutions of the Saloon and Space-Hub concepts that debuted at least one year ago. It seems these two bespoke BEVs will be the first in Honda’s 0 Series lineup to hit the market and offer very different designs for consumers. Per the release:

In January at CES 2024, Honda premiered the Honda 0 Series and its ‘Thin, Light and Wise’ development approach. At CES 2025, Honda will provide further details on this approach with a focus on the ‘Wise’ value.

The “Thin, Light, and Wise” approach was at the core of all of Honda’s presentations and demonstrations during my five days in Japan earlier this year, and I learned a lot about the company’s goals and philosophy as it looks to catch up in a an exciting and ever-evolving global EV market.

That being said, the Honda team kept most of its cards to its chest and was extremely vague about what technologies that we were shown would actually make their way into bonafide production EVs. I found Honda’s unique production and assembly techniques most fascinating, especially since it was some of the only concrete tactics we could confirm.

Equipment like 6,000-ton megacasting machines—six of which will go into operation at Honda’s US production facility in Ohio—and Honda’s proprietary Constant DC Chopping (CDC) welding technology will help the automaker reduce the number of individual parts and overall vehicle weight while increasing passive safety performance.

In terms of the specs of Honda’s 0 Series EVs, however, we are still very much in the dark. In addition to unveiling its two EV prototypes, Honda said it would introduce a new vehicle OS and automated driving technologies that will be implemented in the 0 Series models. So, we will get more insight into what these future BEVs can do (finally).

At CES 2025, Honda will also provide an overview of the System on Chip (SoC) that will support the Honda 0 Series models and the Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV), which is “at the core of the ‘Wise’ value.” All eyes will be on the Honda booth on January 7, 2025, when we will follow up with a full recap.

Honda CES 2025 press conference details:
Date/Time: 
Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 10:30 – 11:00 AM (local time)
Venue: Honda booth (West Hall, booth #4640) at Las Vegas Convention Center
Livestreaming URL:
 https://youtube.com/live/3M87dqNbY3U                   

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Jaguar’s controversial $200,000 ultra-luxury EV spotted out in public [Video]

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Jaguar's controversial $200,000 ultra-luxury EV spotted out in public [Video]

Jaguar’s radical new EV has been the center of attention over the past few weeks. For better or worse, the British automaker is plowing ahead with plans to turn sales around with a new lineup of ultra-luxury electric models. As it prepares for a new era, Jaguar’s first EV, an electric 4-door GT, was just spotted in public. Check out the video of the controversial model below.

After unveiling its new Type 00 EV concept, Jaguar has seen more attention over the past month than it has in the past 20 years.

The company claimed the concept was “Jaguar at its best,” showing “an unmistakable, unexpected and dramatic physical manifestation” of the brand. It was unmistakable and unexpected to see the least.

Some loved Jaguar’s bold new design, while many teased the company. Even Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk and Lucid Motors had something to say. Musk wrote on X, “Do you sell cars?” while Lucid responded with a photo of its souped-up Air Sapphire luxury sedan.

Jaguar will stop building most models by the end of the year as it preps for a new all-electric luxury lineup. Although Jaguar Land Rover said the new EVs would cost over £100,000 ($130,000), prices will be even higher.

In an interview with The Sunday Times (Via EuroNews) earlier this month, CEO Adrian Mardell said that the new lineup will likely be priced around £150,000, or nearly $200,000.

With its official debut coming up, Jaguar’s first EV from the new lineup was spotted testing in public. The new video from KindelAuto reveals the 4-door test vehicle near JLR’s engineering center.

Jaguar’s new luxury EV spotted testing (Source: KindelAuto)

Despite the camouflage, you can see the prototype stays close to the Type 00 concept design with a fastback profile and “exuberant proportions.”

Jaguar will reveal its new 4-door EV GT in late 2025, with sales expected to follow in mid-2026. Based on its new JEA (Jaguar Electric Architecture), the company expects an EPA driving range of 430 miles (692 km) and up to 478 miles (770 km) on the WLTP cycle.

What do you think of Jaguar’s controversial new luxury EV? Can it survive the transition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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