Hacker News with Generative AI: Electric Vehicles

VW has overtaken Tesla as Europe's top EV seller (businessinsider.com)
Tesla has lost its crown as the top EV seller in Europe.
Chinese (car) firms almost double UK market share on electrified demand (autocar.co.uk)
Sales of cars from Chinese brands in the UK grew 88% in March, as brands including BYD, MG, Omoda and Jaecoo expanded their footprint here.
CATL: 1500km EV Battery, 520km in 5 Min Charge, Sodium-Ion Mass Prod 2025 (carnewschina.com)
Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) unveiled three battery technologies at its “Tech Day” event on April 21, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape between pure electric and hybrid vehicles.
Bezos-backed Slate Auto unveils affordable EV truck (nbcnews.com)
Slate Auto, a firm backed in part by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is unveiling a low-cost electric truck that can also change into an SUV.
A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen (theverge.com)
Ask just about anybody, and they’ll tell you that new cars are too expensive. In the wake of tariffs shaking the auto industry and with the Trump administration pledging to kill the federal EV incentive, that situation isn’t looking to get better soon, especially for anyone wanting something battery-powered. Changing that overly spendy status quo is going to take something radical, and it’s hard to get more radical than what Slate Auto has planned.
Bezos-backed Slate Auto debuts analog EV pickup truck (techcrunch.com)
A new American electric vehicle startup called Slate Auto has made its debut, and it’s about as anti-Tesla as it gets.
VW has overtaken Tesla as Europe's top EV seller (businessinsider.com)
Tesla has lost its crown as the top EV seller in Europe.
A $20k electric truck with manual windows and no screens? Meet Slate Auto (arstechnica.com)
In one of the strangest launches we’ve seen in a while, Slate Auto, the reportedly Jeff Bezos-backed electric vehicle startup, unveiled its first EV, the Slate Truck.
New-gen electric car battery promises 1500km range, 515km charge in five minutes (drive.com.au)
China’s CATL – makers of electric car batteries for brands including Tesla, BMW and Hyundai – has revealed a new revolutionary rapid charging, long-range battery tech.
Even Republicans are falling out of love with Tesla (economist.com)
Tesla's Remarkably Bad Quarter Is Even Worse Than It Looks (theatlantic.com)
Reality is catching up with Elon Musk.
Tesla profits drop 71% on weak sales and anti-Elon Musk sentiment (techcrunch.com)
Tesla’s flailing sales figures have put the company closer to the red than it has been in years, according to financial results released Tuesday, threatening one of its biggest advantages over other EV players.
Tesla Is Losing to Volkswagen's EVs in Europe (jalopnik.com)
For years, Tesla's overinflated share price has been backed by two things: The cult of personality around the company's CEO and not-founder, Elon Musk, and its position as the world's biggest electric automaker.
Offgrid Electric Car (joeyh.name)
Eight months ago I came up my rocky driveway in an electric car, with the back full of solar panel mounting rails. I didn't know how I'd manage to keep it charged. I got the car earlier than planned, with my offgrid solar upgrade only beginning. There's no nearby EV charger, and winter was coming, less solar power every day. Still, it was the right time to take a leap to offgid EV life.
CATL unveils new EV battery that charges as fast as pumping gas (electrek.co)
China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has unveiled its latest battery cell technologies, which charge as quickly as filling up a gas tank while potentially lowering costs without compromise.
Tesla odometer uses "predictive algorithms" to void warranty, lawsuit claims (arstechnica.com)
Tesla is facing a new scandal that once again sees the electric automaker accused of misleading customers. In the past, it has been caught making "misleading statements" about the safety of its electric vehicles, and more recently, an investigation by Reuters found Tesla EVs exaggerated their efficiency. Now, a lawsuit filed in California alleges that the cars are also falsely exaggerating odometer readings to make warranties expire prematurely.
China's CATL to mass-produce cheaper, more efficient sodium-ion EV batteries (scmp.com)
Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), which counts Tesla and BMW among its biggest clients, will mass-produce by the end of this year its Naxtra sodium-ion battery packs that would enable an electric vehicle (EV) to travel up to 500km on a single charge.
China's CATL claims to have overtaken BYD on 5-minute EV battery charging time (ft.com)
China’s CATL says it has overtaken BYD on 5-minute EV battery charging time
How Tesla is replacing the age-old CAN bus (notateslaapp.com)
According to a report from Reuters, obtained from three sources with inside knowledge, Tesla is delaying the launch of its more affordable model - the cheaper variant of the Model Y.
Tesla delays new 'affordable EV/stripped down Model Y' in the US (electrek.co)
Tesla has reportedly delayed the launch of its new “affordable EV,” which is believed to be a stripped-down Model Y, in the United States.
Electric Propulsion's Dirty Secret: Why Lithium Can't Fly (Or Float) Profitably (kumarletter.com)
Lithium propulsion for aircraft and boats is fundamentally unprofitable across the entire U.S. grid. The numbers don't lie: 60× worse energy density than jet fuel, 3.3× higher operating costs, 22% reduced asset utilization, and payback periods that consume 2/3 of the asset's lifespan. Anyone claiming otherwise is ignoring basic physics or hiding most of the energy and economic costs.
Beijing Pulls Further Ahead with Strict New EV Battery Safety Mandate (gizmodo.com)
China is introducing new regulatory standards for electric car batteries that will represent some of the strictest safety and testing requirements in the world.
Cybertruck sales drop by 50% in 2025 Q1 (yahoo.com)
Tesla is scaling down its Cybertruck production goals and transferring some workers to other production lines, Business Insider reported.
Tesla speeds up odometers to avoid warranty repairs, US lawsuit claims (yahoo.com)
Tesla faces a proposed class action claiming it speeds up odometers on its electric vehicles so they fall out of warranty faster, saving Elon Musk's company from having to pay for repairs.
Tesla odometer uses "predictive algorithms" to void warranty, lawsuit claims (arstechnica.com)
Tesla is facing a new scandal that once again sees the electric automaker accused of misleading customers.
Tesla Cybertruck is in crisis: new discounts and throttling down production (electrek.co)
The Tesla Cybertruck is in crisis.
Tesla makes its cars lie about their mileage, lawsuit claims (arstechnica.com)
Tesla is facing a new scandal that once again sees the electric automaker accused of misleading customers. In the past, it has been caught making "misleading statements" about the safety of its electric vehicles, and more recently, an investigation by Reuters found Tesla EVs exaggerated their efficiency. Now, a lawsuit filed in California alleges that the cars are also falsely exaggerating odometer readings to make warranties expire prematurely.
Tesla's Avoided Emissions Are Up to 49% Overstated, a Study Claims (carboncredits.com)
Tesla has established itself as a leader in the fight against climate change. It often emphasizes its role in cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by promoting electric vehicles (EVs).
Elon Musk shut down internal Tesla analysis showing Robotaxi would lose money (electrek.co)
According to a credible new report, Elon Musk has reportedly shut down an internal analysis from Tesla executives that showed the company’s Robotaxi plans would lose money and that it should focus on its more affordable ‘Model 2’.
Hydrogen vs. Battery Buses: A European Transit Reality Check (cleantechnica.com)
Two more hydrogen bus trial failures crossed my screen this morning, so I thought I’d share. Both are in Europe, but while one is in the capital of the EU, the other is across the Channel in the heart of the United Kingdom’s oil and gas industry. While I’m at it, I’ll provide a rundown on where all of the EU’s funding has gone, and what the constant refrains are.