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Plagued by Parts Shortage and EV Demand Uncertainty, GM Prepares for Layoffs

Automotive giant General Motors is preparing for layoffs at its assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri. Although the layoffs will be temporary, the majority of the workers at the plant will be affected, according to a letter sent to employees by the plant’s executive director and the local UAW representative. GM’s Wentzville plant builds the company’s Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size trucks, as well as the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. The latter two are some of GM

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Parts shortage is the latest problem to hit General Motors production

General Motors will temporarily lay off workers at its Wentzville assembly plant in Missouri. According to a letter sent to employees by the head of the plant and the head of the local union, a shortage of parts is the culprit, and as a result the factory will see "a temporary layoff from September 29-October 19." The plant is about 45 minutes west of St Louis and employs more than 4,000 people to assemble midsize pickup trucks for Chevrolet and GMC, as well as full-size vans. Not every employe

What Are Ebike ‘Classes’ and What Do They Mean?

Over the past few years, electric bikes have skyrocketed in popularity (conscious decision not to use the word exploded there), with some estimates saying that ebike sales in the US grew tenfold over the last decade. Whether you are in the market for your first ebike or are borrowing one from your local lending library, you might be wondering what an ebike’s class denotes. There are three designations of ebikes in America—Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3—that are defined by a small handful of char

Chinese EV players take fight to legacy European automakers on their home turf

Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng speaks to reporters at the electric carmaker's stand at the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany on September 8, 2025. Arjun Kharpal | CNBC Germany this week played host to one of the world's biggest auto shows — but in the heartland of Europe's auto industry, it was buzzy Chinese electric car companies looking to outshine some of the region's biggest brands on their home turf. The IAA Mobility conference in Munich was packed full of companies with huge stands showing off thei

The Free Ride for EVs in the Carpool Lane Is Coming to an End

A rough year for electric vehicle adoption just got a little rougher for owners in some parts of the US. Starting next month, EVs will no longer be able to ride in the fast lane in California, after the US federal government and Congress failed to reauthorize a popular program that has given hybrid and electric vehicles access to state carpool lanes—and worked to promote the sale of electrics for more than 25 years. Under the program, California drivers with qualifying electric, plug-in hybrid,

Ram ends EV pickup truck plans

The all-electric Ram 1500 REV pickup truck is dead. Long live the extended-range Ram 1500 REV (once called the Ramcharger). Stellantis, the parent company of Ram, said Friday that it will no longer develop a battery-electric full-size pickup. The company cited low demand for full-size battery-electric trucks as the primary reason, according to a statement sent to TechCrunch and posted on its website. “As demand for full-size battery-electric trucks slows in North America, Stellantis is reasses

Stellantis cancels Ram 1500 REV as electric truck demand dims

is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Stellantis announced that it was discontinuing its Ram 1500 REV electric truck, citing slowing sales of heavy-duty electric trucks. The name plate, however, will live on. Stellantis said that it was renaming its Range-Extended Electric

MotoE, the electric bike world championship, is going on hiatus due to lack of interest

The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) and MotoGP are putting the MotoE electric bike world championship on hiatus following the 2025 season. The organizations cite a lack of viewership and an electric performance motorcycle market that "has not developed as expected." "Today we announce the suspension of the FIM MotoE World Championship," FIM President Jorge Viegas said in a statement. "Despite all the best efforts to promote this innovative category together with (MotoGP rights holde

Arc gets its first major order for electric tugboats worth $160M

If you’ve heard of Arc Boats, the Los Angeles startup founded in 2021 by former SpaceX employees, it’s likely because you’ve seen its sleek sport boats. But the company’s also been pushing into the far less glamorous world of tugboats, and now has its first big order worth $160 million. The company announced Wednesday it has signed a contract of that value with Curtin Maritime, a tug and barge operator. The new hybrid-electric tugs are expected to hit the waters around the Los Angeles port in 2

The Download: AI’s energy future

In May, MIT Technology Review published an unprecedented and comprehensive look at how much energy the AI industry uses—down to a single query. Our reporters and editors traced where AI’s carbon footprint stands now, and where it’s headed, as AI barrels towards billions of daily users. We’ve just produced a short video to accompany that investigation. You can read the original full story here, and check out—and share— the full video on YouTube here. AI is changing the grid. Could it help more

Gasoline vs. Electric Cars: A Plug-In Hybrid Can Give You the Best of Both Worlds

Despite the growing popularity of traditional electric vehicles, not everyone is ready for one. There's another option that's a good first step for many drivers: plug-in hybrids. "A plug-in hybrid is the gateway drug for EVs," says Amelia Dalgaard, an automotive expert known online as the Motorhead Mama. That's because plug-in hybrids address the range anxiety that stops some car buyers from going full-EV at first. Plug-in hybrids let you drive on battery power for a limited distance, with a

Gasoline Vs Electric Cars: A Plug-In Hybrid Can Give You the Best of Both Worlds

Despite the growing popularity of traditional electric vehicles, not everyone is ready for one. There's another option that's a good first step for many drivers: plug-in hybrids. "A plug-in hybrid is the gateway drug for EVs," says Amelia Dalgaard, an automotive expert known online as the Motorhead Mama. That's because plug-in hybrids address the range anxiety that stops some car buyers from going full-EV at first. Plug-in hybrids let you drive on battery power for a limited distance, with a

Chinese EV maker Xpeng eyes global launch of mass-market Mona series in 2026

Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng speaks to reporters at the electric carmaker's stand at the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany on September 8, 2025. Xpeng plans to launch its mass-market Mona series in overseas markets next year in a move that will boost competition with its Chinese rivals and established automakers in the electric vehicle arena. In a wide-ranging interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng said the company's international expansion is moving faster than he expected and signaled

Rimac introduces its take on solid-state batteries for electric vehicles

Rimac Technology has unveiled a new battery pack platform for electric vehicles that uses only solid-state batteries. The company has been an EV supplier for notable car brands including Aston Martin and Koenigsegg, as well as making electric supercar Nevara . Rimac collaborated with ProLogium and Mitsubishi Chemical Group on the product, which it claims will offer a lighter, safer and more energy-dense EV battery. It introduced this tech, alongside new composite and hybrid battery EV developmen

Chinese EV maker Xpeng eyes global launch of mass-market Mona brand in 2026

Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng speaks to reporters at the electric carmaker's stand at the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany on September 8, 2025. Xpeng plans to launch its mass-market Mona brand in overseas markets next year in a move that will boost competition with its Chinese rivals and established automakers in the electric vehicle arena. In a wide-ranging interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng said the company's international expansion is moving faster than he expected and signaled,

Tesla Wants Out of the Car Business

Elon Musk still makes some of America’s best electric cars. Earlier this summer, I rented a brand-new, updated Tesla Model Y, the first refresh to the electric SUV since it debuted, in 2020. Compared with even just two years ago, when the Model Y became the world’s best-selling car, many companies make great EVs now. Some of them have the Model Y beat in certain areas, but for the price, the Tesla is still the total package. Now, imagine how good Teslas could be if Musk apparently wasn’t so bor

Porsche’s insanely clever hybrid engine comes to the 911 Turbo S

Today, Porsche debuted a new 911 variant at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, Germany. It's the most powerful 911 to date, excluding some limited-run models, and may well be the quickest to 60 mph from a standing start, dispatching that dash in just 2.4 seconds. And it's all thanks to one of the most interesting hybrid powertrains on sale today. Rather than just bolting an electric motor to an existing 911, Porsche designed an entirely new 3.6 L flat-six engine, taking the opportunity to ditch t

Should a Plug-In Hybrid Be Your Next Car? Here's How to Decide

"A plug-in hybrid is the gateway drug for EVs," says Amelia Dalgaard, an automotive expert known online as the Motorhead Mama. That's because plug-in hybrids address the range anxiety that stops some car buyers from going full-EV at first. Despite the growing popularity of traditional electric vehicles, not everyone is ready for a fully-electric car. And luckily, there's another option that's a good first step for many drivers: plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids let you drive on battery power f

This Electric Shaver Is Made From Aircraft-Grade Aluminium, Because Why Not?

Nothing says “premium” like aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, am I right? I guess. I don’t know, it sounds fancy and it looks fancy, too, which makes Laifen’s new electric shaver, the T1 Pro, the swankiest electric shaver I’ve seen all day. The T1 Pro, which was announced at IFA 2025, is apparently crafted with “a single block of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy,” which makes this over-engineered shaver both light and very durable, according to Laifen. Powering this thing is what Laifen describes a

Honda teases its first full-size e-motorcycle with fast charging

Honda is preparing to announce its first electric motorcycle with fast charging, based on a new teaser video the company shared on Instagram. The video shows off the new e-motorcycle on test rides in Europe and teases the date, September 16, when Honda will presumably introduce it. Plans to expand Honda's lineup of electric motorcycles have been in the works since at least 2022, when the company announced it would release "10 or more" e-motorcycles by 2025. The new motorcycle is under a wrap of

GE Aerospace to invest $300M in Beta Technologies to pair up on hybrid-electric power

GE Aerospace is taking a sizable stake in electric aviation company Beta Technologies, with the pair teaming up to build a hybrid-electric turbogenerator for next-gen aircraft. GE will also invest $300 million, pending regulatory approval, under a strategic deal announced Thursday. The new partnership comes as hybrid solutions gain momentum in the advanced air mobility (AAM) space, a catch-all term to describe the next generation of aviation concepts like eVTOL, hydrogen, and so on. Aircraft ma

GE Aerospace to invest $300M in Beta Technologies, pair up on hybrid-electric power

GE Aerospace is taking a sizable stake in electric aviation company Beta Technologies, with the pair teaming up to build a hybrid-electric turbogenerator for next-gen aircraft. GE will also invest $300 million, pending regulatory approval, under a strategic deal announced Thursday. The new partnership comes as hybrid solutions gain momentum in the advanced air mobility (AAM) space, a catch-all term to describe the next generation of aviation concepts like eVTOL, hydrogen, and so on. Aircraft ma

Should the Company Trucks Go Electric? Depends on When You Charge

Should the company switch its trucks, cars, and vans to electric? It’s a question that plenty of businesses operating fleets of vehicles—in industries like delivery, health care, cable companies, and utilities—are thinking through. Eighty-seven percent of fleet operators polled by Cox Automotive last year said they were expecting to bring aboard some battery-powered vehicles in the next five years. Their top concerns weren’t that different from everyday drivers’: Businesses aren’t sure how to k

Porsche's New Cayenne Will Charge Itself Like No Other EV

Table of Contents Porsche's New Cayenne Will Charge Itself Like No Other EV Those who closely follow electric cars will have heard whispers of wireless charging for a while now. And if you're not an EV aficionado, you've probably wondered why it hasn't happened. Well, that's all about to change. Porsche announced on Thursday that it's rolling out wireless charging on the upcoming all-electric Cayenne later this year. The goal is to put an end to wrangling thick and bulky charging cables. Inste

Volkswagen to make EVs more affordable, starting with the ID.Polo and a new SUV

It’s official. Volkswagen is shaking up its EV naming strategy. After confirming the ID.2 will launch as the ID.Polo, Volkswagen promises its new family of entry-level EVs “will make electric driving more affordable than ever.” The ID.Polo is just the start with an electric T-Cross and much more coming soon. Meet the Volkswagen ID.Polo Volkswagen is reviving some of its most popular nameplates for its next-generation electric vehicles. Starting with the ID.Polo next year, Volkswagen will begin

BougeRV Electric Foldable Wagon Review: Haul Smarter, Not Harder

Table of Contents BougeRV Electric Foldable Wagon Review: Haul Smarter, Not Harder I've used my fair share of hand trucks, dollies and carts over the years. But it wasn't until recently that I got to try out an electric, foldable wagon from BougeRV. Given how much time I spend covering micromobility, this $400 wagon didn't feel too far off my usual territory. What's the difference between the BougeRV and a regular wagon? Simply put, it has a battery-powered motor to do the heavy lifting for yo

Porsche Is Set to Be the First Electric Car Maker to Deliver Wireless Charging Later This Year

Table of Contents Porsche Is Set to Be the First Electric Car Maker to Deliver Wireless Charging Later This Year Those who closely follow electric cars will have heard whispers of wireless charging for a while now. And if you're not an EV aficionado, you've probably wondered why it hasn't happened. Well, that's all about to change. Porsche announced on Thursday that it’s rolling out wireless charging on the upcoming all-electric Cayenne later this year. The goal is to put an end to wrangling t

Comic Sans typeball designed to work with the IBM Selectric typewriters

YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T PRINT THIS! Update, July 7 2023: Dave Hayden took the resin-printed typeball concept and improved on it greatly. I'm extremely grateful that he took on all the hard work of iteratively going through and dialing in the perfect values to make a functional ball, and I'm pleased to think I contributed in some way to his achievements. ----------------------------------------- This is a Comic Sans typeball designed to work with the IBM Selectric typewriters that take 88-c

Finnish City Inaugurates 1 MW/100 MWh Sand Battery

Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe There are more ways to store energy than just using batteries. Some are using fire bricks, particularly for process heat for industries that rely on high heat in manufacturing. Others propose an arrangement of massive concrete blocks that move up and down like the weights of a giant grandfather clock, converting kinetic energy to potential energy and back again. In Finland, two intrepid engineers began experimenting with

Physically based rendering from first principles

Physically based rendering from first principles In this interactive article, we will explore the physical phenomena that create light and the fundamental laws governing its interaction with matter. We will learn how our human eyes capture light and how our brains interpret it as visual information. We will then model approximations of these physical interactions and learn how to create physically realistic renderings of various materials. Chapter 1: What is light? We are all familiar with li