Month: April 2025

 

Kia is back at it — this time with a sleek new sedan that’s 100% electric.

Say hello to the 2026 Kia EV4, the brand’s first-ever all-electric global sedan, revealed at the company’s EV Day event in South Korea.

What Makes the EV4 Stand Out?

Unlike Kia’s previous electric SUVs like the EV6 and EV9, the EV4 brings a lower, sportier profile and a design that turns heads. It’s a compact electric sedan that feels like a blend of retro and futuristic — boxy in shape, but clean and modern where it counts.

Some quick highlights:

• Estimated range: Over 300 miles

• Expected pricing: Around $35,000

• Launch date: End of 2025

• Interior: Minimalist, driver-focused, and built for comfort

And yes, it’s coming to the U.S. market.

Built on the Same Platform as the EV6

The EV4 shares the same E-GMP platform that powers the EV6 and EV9, but with a twist. It’s built for efficiency, not just performance. Kia says it’s targeting people who want a stylish EV that fits into their daily life — and their budget.

While full specs haven’t been released yet, we know it’ll offer single- and dual-motor options, and most likely support ultra-fast charging — a signature of the E-GMP platform.

A Bold Move Into the Electric Sedan Market

Kia is stepping into new territory here. The EV4 will go up against the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Polestar 2 — but at a price point that could seriously shake things up.

And for drivers who’ve been waiting for a more affordable, non-luxury EV with some real design flair? This might be it.

The EV4 isn’t just another electric sedan — it’s a signal that Kia is aiming for mass appeal in the EV space. It’s got the looks, the projected range, and the price tag to back it up.

We’re looking forward to seeing how it performs once it hits the streets.

Learn more details: Electrek

Upfit UTV, a Fox Factory subsidiary that produces purpose-built custom vehicles, and OMI, a specialist in electric powertrain engineering, have partnered to introduce off-highway vehicles with OMI’s Fusion-Drive hybrid powertrain.

This collaboration combines Upfit UTV’s distribution network with OMI’s three decades of expertise in automotive electromechanical innovation.

“OMI Fusion-Drive pairs the power and range of combustion engines with the instant acceleration, precise throttle response and quiet operation of electric motors,” says OMI. “This makes it ideal for defense missions demanding stealth and reliability, heavy-duty work in agriculture and construction, and recreational off-roading such as rock crawling with smooth control.”

“OMI Fusion-Drive lets us deliver game-changing performance for off-road vehicles,” said Justin Smith, CEO of Upfit UTV. “The combination of power, adaptability and advanced technology ensures we’re meeting the needs of even the most demanding applications.”

OMI Fusion-Drive’s scalable design allows installation without chassis modification across a range of vehicle models.  OMI’s pre-integration and platform-level optimizations reduce cost, weight, and space, helping OEMs and upfitters cut development time.

The first platform to feature OMI Fusion-Drive will be the Polaris Ranger 1500, which will be available in diesel and gasoline versions, and is designed for heavy-duty tasks in defense, agriculture and commercial applications. These vehicles are slated to hit the market in Q1 2026.

Source: Upfit UTV

Liebherr, a German-Swiss equipment manufacturer based in Bulle, Switzerland has introduced a new permanent magnet electric motor specifically for use in off-highway equipment.

The motor offers the same power density as a hydraulic version, but the use of a permanent magnet electric motor will eliminate the need for the installation and maintenance of multiple hoses and other components required by hydraulic systems, which will lower overall machine weight as well, according to the company. The motor features an oil-cooled design developed specifically for use in battery- and diesel-electric traction drives. This will allow for quick installation and simplified electrification of existing hydraulic drive concepts, Liebherr said.

Liebherr was presented with an innovation award on the eve of the opening of the Bauma trade show in Germany. The innovation award recognizes groundbreaking developments in five categories within the construction, construction materiel and construction machine industries. The award for “digitalization” was given to Liebherr for a product called Liebherr Autonomous Operations, which works with multiple product offerings including the Liebherr S1 Vision 140-ton autonomous hauler the company is developing.

Liebherr has production sites in over a dozen countries, including Australia, Ireland and the United States, and its main production facilities and origins are in Germany. The company was founded by Hans Liebherr in 1949. Liebherr, when he opened a production site in Killarney, Ireland, found that the local hospitality industry was virtually nonexistent in the area and that the simple guesthouse he had planned to build would not suffice. He therefore took lakefront property he had acquired for a factory and built his first hotel, the Europe. The company now owns six hotels, including three in Austria.

Source: Liebherr

Dana Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems, a designer and manufacturer of propulsion and energy management systems, has announced various new products intended to enhance efficiency and sustainability across its Spicer drivetrain solutions during the bauma 2025 trade fair in Munich.

The company is now offering fully electrified drivetrains alongside its hybrid and internal combustion models.

“Today, we’re accelerating the shift to clean energy technologies,“ said Craig Price, President of Dana Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems.

The company’s new product lineup includes the Spicer eSG001 e-Transmission, a TM4 motor and inverter, high-efficiency axles and the SpicerAPC400 controller for compact wheel loaders.

Compact wheel loaders are employed for a variety of purposes including general construction, material handling, snow removal and landscaping.

Late last year, the company also introduced Dana Certified Reman, a remanufacturing program available in Europe, North America and China, which remanufactures drivetrains utilizing recycled materials and minimizes energy and water consumption during production.

Source: Dana

Tesla has big plans for 2025.

Elon Musk recently said that by the end of the year, some Tesla vehicles will deliver themselves to customers—no driver needed.

That means a new customer could order a Tesla… and the car would drive itself from the factory to their home.

It sounds like the future.

But not everyone at Tesla thinks it’s a good idea.

What’s the story?

Behind the scenes, Tesla’s own team ran the numbers on the Robotaxi program. According to reports, the math didn’t work.

They said it might not make money. The business model just wasn’t solid—yet.

Elon didn’t agree.

Instead of slowing things down, he shut down the internal review and decided to move forward with the Robotaxi rollout.

What is the Robotaxi?

It’s Tesla’s idea of a fully self-driving vehicle. No steering wheel. No pedals. Just an electric car that can pick people up, drop them off, and drive itself 24/7.

It’s supposed to change the way people think about owning or using a car.

Tesla is planning to unveil the Robotaxi design on August 8, 2025.

What’s the problem?

Making it actually work is the hard part.

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software has improved, but it’s still in beta. It’s not fully autonomous yet.

Even when the tech gets there, there are other challenges:

• Local laws and regulations

• Insurance and liability

• Charging and cleaning between rides

• Making enough money to cover the costs

And now, we know that even Tesla’s own team is skeptical about whether it will be profitable.

Why does this matter?

Tesla fans are excited by bold ideas. But they’re also smart. They want to know that the tech is safe, the plan makes sense, and the future is actually within reach.

This story shows the tension between big dreams and real data.

Elon’s pushing ahead—and fast. But if the numbers don’t add up, could it backfire?

Or is this just another example of Musk going with his gut… and being right?

We’ll find out soon.

What do you think?

Would you ride in a Tesla Robotaxi?

Do you think it can really work by 2025?

Let us know in the comments—and check out our latest Model 3 upgrades while you’re here. You don’t need a Robotaxi to level up your ride.

Minviro, which provides lifecycle assessments (LCAs) for businesses in the energy transition, has found that the SINANODE silicon anode technology developed by OneD Battery Sciences for EV batteries can reduce carbon emissions and resource consumption compared to conventional anode materials.

When SINANODE-enhanced graphite is processed in North America or Europe, it can improve anode performance while reducing the cost and carbon footprint of EV batteries, establishing a competitive local supply chain, according to the report.

OneD is currently licensing SINANODE to industrial partners in the EV battery supply chain, aiming to facilitate faster market adoption at lower risk by leveraging the manufacturing capabilities of established industry players.

“The findings from this LCA position SINANODE as a sustainable solution to improve the environmental impact of graphite anodes in lithium batteries by enhancing conventional graphite material with silicon nanowires,” OneD stated.

Source: OneD Battery Sciences