Tesla plans to invest 4.5 to 6.0 billion US dollars in 2021 and 2022 respectively to expand its production capacities for electric cars and batteries. This was revealed in a statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Volvo Trucks North America was awarded $21.7 million in grants to deploy 70 VNR Electric trucks in Southern California for regional freight distribution and drayage. Deliveries are to begin next year, with the order expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2022.

In California, the California Energy Commission (CEC) has just approved a $384 million plan for critical investments in clean transportation to boost the adoption of zero-emission vehicles.

Mullen Technologies – the Californian-based startup that plans to sell Chinese-designed electric cars in the United States – has returned with new plans. Now there is a different first model and production plan. And not for the first time in the company’s history.

Tesla told workers at its factory in Fremont, California, that an employee “maliciously sabotaged” part of the plant last month and was fired after an internal investigation, according to a memo seen by Bloomberg.

Throughout California, communities can now purchase battery-electric shuttle buses and vans from Lightning Systems on a new cooperative purchasing contract through the California Association for Coordinated Transportation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that from 2035 only emission-free cars may be sold in the state. By 2045 every new commercial utility vehicle will have to be emission-free.

Hyundai has announced plans to sell hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks in the United States by 2022. The Korean company has confirmed its focus on H2 fuel cell for commercial vehicles, aiming to increase global FCEV sales yearly to 500,000 units in 2030.

The San Diego-based vehicle-to-grid (V2G) specialist Nuvve and electric school bus manufacturer Blue Bird have announced the launch of Blue Bird’s ‘Vision Type C’ and ‘All American Type D’ electric school buses compatible with Nuvve’s V2G technology across the USA.

The solid-state battery specialist and Volkswagen partner QuantumScape went public on the US stock exchange. The company has agreed on a merger with the investment company Kensington Capital Acquisition. The shares will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “QS”.

BYD is taking part in a statewide contract that will allow American transit agencies to leverage California’s purchase power to buy BYD e-buses made in Lancaster, California. The agreement includes three models offered at competitive conditions.

Southern California Edison has got the green light for an expansive electric car charging infrastructure programme that will add about 38,000 new chargers throughout the utility’s service area in California over the next four years.

In an online meeting between Berlin and Los Angeles, Carrie Hampel interviewed Hubject’s Senior Director of Corporate and Business Development Barton Sidles about the new Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

In June, Tesla applied to the city of Fremont for permission to build a second floor in its battery production plant called Tera. A new drone video now shows that the expansion is already in full swing.

The Californian environmental authority CARB has now concluded five individual agreements with car manufacturers for voluntary CO2 reduction in the US state. The emission target supersedes the levels promoted by the Trump administration.

The Californian eMobility start-up Canoo (formerly Evelozcity) has now officially announced its IPO. The company has entered into a definitive agreement with the investment firm Hennessy Capital Acquisition to merge for the purpose of an IPO.

One of the new giant casting machines has arrived at Tesla’s main factory in Fremont, California. The machine is designed to cast the rear frame of Model Y in a single piece possibly before the end of the year. In Germany, changes are afoot at the Giga Berlin construction site.

Karma Automotive, the Californian branch of Chinese EV supplier Wanxiang, is being sued by VLF Automotive. The Michigan-based company filed a lawsuit against Karma in the California Supreme Court in June.

Southern California Edison announced plans to electrify every passenger car and small-to-midsize SUV in their fleer by 2030. The electric utility company will also electrify 30% of their medium-duty vehicles and pickup trucks, 8% of their heavy-duty trucks and 60% of their forklifts.

Tesla is building another tent structure at the Fremont plant to produce more Model Y. The end of this month will see a major upgrade including a short shutdown of the factory. Meanwhile, there are contradictory data on the number of coronavirus infections at Tesla.

The California Energy Commission has granted funding of around 2.6 million euros to CleanSpark and ReJoule. The companies will use the funds to advance their research into the second-life of batteries, the latter delivered by Ford.

California now requires manufacturers to sell a gradually increasing proportion of electric trucks, vans and pickup trucks from 2024 onwards until 2035. By the year 2045, every new commercial vehicle sold in the US state should have zero-emission propulsion.

More details about Tesla’s largely secret Roadrunner project to produce its battery cells have become apparent through a document now published by the city of Fremont. Tesla has applied for permission to build a second floor in its battery production plant Tera.

ZeroAvia, which specialises in electric aircraft propulsion systems, has now completed the maiden flight of a six-seater battery-electric aircraft at Cranfield Airport as part of the HyFlyer project supported by the British government.

There is now a provisional date for Tesla’s Battery Day when the Californian company will be presenting the details of their cell production and will include the presentation of a “cell production system”.

Stefan Krause, founder and first CEO of the Californian e-mobility start-up Canoo (formerly Evelozcity), has left the company. Krause had already retired from the board last year.

Tesla has set its sights on a particular plot of land for its planned next US plant near the Texas capital Austin. US media reports that the electric car manufacturer has already bought land in Travis County were, however, later corrected by Elon Musk on Twitter.

GenZe, the US subsidiary of the Indian car manufacturer Mahindra specialises on electric scooters and electric bicycles. GenZe is on the verge of collapse and Mahindra plans to dissolve the subsidiary within the next six months, reabsorbing the intellectual property rights for various other projects.

A new startup called Archer has been born in California in the field of electric flight taxis. Archer can count on solvent investors, as well as developers from well-known companies in the race for dominance in the field of electric drones.

The Californian city of Pasadena is opening the Marengo Charging Plaza at 155 E. Green Street. The Plaza is now home to a total of 44 chargers including 24 Superchargers installed by Tesla and 20 fast chargers installed by the City of Pasadena.