This is our review of 2024, where we recapture the most popular articles month by month.
January: ProLogium Opens the World’s First Giga-level Solid-State Lithium Ceramic Battery Factory
The year started with the news that the Taiwanese solid-state battery cell manufacturer ProLogium inaugurated its Taoke solid-state lithium ceramic battery facility, marking a significant milestone in the battery industry.
A highlight of the event was the unveiling of 106Ah solid-state battery manufactured with high-silicon anode at the facility, designed for electric vehicles. ProLogium not only showcased its proprietary manufacturing technology for solid-state batteries but also highlighted the commercial viability of the next-generation battery structure.
February: BYD SEAL U PHEV SUV makes European debut at Geneva Motor Show
Chinese biggest EV maker BYD presented the BYD SEAL U DM-i with Super DM (Dual Mode) Technology to European consumers for the first time at Geneva International Motor Show 2024.
The BYD SEAL U DM-i D-Segment plug-in hybrid SUV, is the first BYD vehicle in Europe to use the brand’s highly advanced Super DM Technology that prioritises electric driving with ultra-low fuel consumption and energy efficiency.
March: Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX delivers groundbreaking energy efficiency on electric journey from Riyadh to Dubai
On its third long-distance road trip over 1,000+ kilometers, the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX demonstrated that even the Arabian Desert is no obstacle to energy efficiency.
On a challenging route profile encompassing busy city streets and open desert, the pioneering test vehicle delivered electric power consumption of 7.4 kWh/100km (8.4 mi/kWh). This equates to an equivalent of around 0.9 l/100 km or 282 MPGe for a petrol-fuelled vehicle. In ambient temperatures of up to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), the VISION EQXX beat its own previous best by a considerable margin.
April: Felo TOOZ electric motorcycle promises insane 724km range
Thailand based electric motorcycle manufacturer Felo and its parent company Smartech have unveiled a new electric touring motorcycle packed with cutting-edge technology at the 45th Bangkok Motor Show.
Dubbed the Felo TOOZ, the near-future electric touring bike grabs attention with its impressive specs. It has an impressive range of 450 miles (724 km) per charge and a top speed of 125 mph (202 km/h) from a 35 kWh battery pack.
May: The all-new Volkswagen California camper van goes all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid
Volkswagen has revealed the seventh-generation of its iconic California camper van.
A new feature for the California is the new plug-in hybrid drive (eHybrid) with a system output of 180 kW (245 PS). The New California is the first MQB model from the Volkswagen Group to combine a plug-in hybrid drive with the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.
The plug-in hybrid drive allows the New California to be temporarily transformed into an electric vehicle for everyday use.
June: 2025 BMW X3 revealed with improved plug-in hybrid system
Boasting greater sporting appeal, visual impact and versatility than ever, the new BMW X3 assumes the mantle of talented all-rounder for everyday use, leisure activities and trips away in the brand’s core segment.
The portfolio of powertrains comprises not just highly efficient petrol and diesel engines, but also a latest-generation plug-in hybrid system that enables the new BMW X3 30e xDrive to achieve an electric range of 81 – 90 kilometers (50 – 56 miles) in the WLTP cycle.
July: Farasis Energy Unveils Breakthrough in Million-Mile Battery Technology
Farasis Energy proudly announces the successful testing of its revolutionary battery cells, marking a significant milestone in the quest for a million-mile battery—a feat achieved by only a few companies worldwide.
Achieving a million-mile battery requires cycling the cell over 5000 times, a process that takes 24 to 36 months of accelerated testing.
August: BMW Overtakes Tesla in European EV Sales For First Time
BMW led the EV brand ranking in July, with a 35% year-on-year increase This was a strong performance compared to Tesla, which recorded a 16% year-on-year decline. While the Tesla Model Y and 3 both continue to dominate, they have recently lost ground.
The Model Y was no longer Europe’s best-selling vehicle and landed in ninth position in July’s overall vehicle ranking. BMW’s latest models – including the iX1, i4, and i5 – performed well in July, while the new iX2 registered more than 1,300 units. Registrations of BMW’s electric models are clearly outpacing those of its Mercedes and Audi counterparts.
September: China is First Country to Sell Over a Million Electric Vehicles in a Month
China sold over one million EVs in August 2024, breaking the previous record set in December 2023 by 70,000 vehicles. EV sales in China were 33% higher (January 2024 – August 2024) compared to the same period last year.
The Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) market has grown by 13% but PHEV sales had another record month and has grown by 74% YTD.
October: U.S. EV Sales Hit Another Record in Q3 2024
EV sales in the U.S. continued their upward trajectory in the third quarter of 2024, reaching new heights in both volume and market share. Despite a slight slowdown in year-over-year growth, EV sales increased by 11% compared to the previous year, with an estimated 346,309 EVs sold during the quarter. This represented a 5% increase from Q2 and a significant milestone for the EV industry.
The EV market share also reached a record high of 8.9% in Q3, up from 7.8% in the same period last year.
November: Rivian receives $6.6 billion conditional loan approval from DOE to build Georgia EV plant
Rivian Automotive has received conditional commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program for a loan of up to $6.6 billion (including $6 billion of principal and approximately $600 million of capitalized interest) for construction of the Rivian’s next facility in Stanton Springs North.
This loan provides significant funding for production of the company’s midsize platform, which underpins the R2, a midsize SUV, and the R3/R3X, a midsize crossover.
December: Electrogenic Unveils ‘Plug-and-Play’ EV Conversion Kit for Mazda MX-5
Electrogenic has unveiled its latest game-changing ‘plug-and-play’ electrification kit: a cost-effective and fun package that converts the Mazda MX-5 (Miata) to clean, punchy, all-electric power.
To create the package, an MX-5 was 3D scanned, with the battery assembly precisely tailored accordingly. The resulting conversion kit packages 42kWh of brand-new, OEM grade batteries under the bonnet in the space vacated by the 1.8-litre in-line four.
The converted MX-5 delivers 150+ miles of range in real world driving and can CCS rapid charge in just one hour.
