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Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are automobiles powered wholly or primarily by electric motors drawing energy from rechargeable battery packs, rather than internal combustion engines. The technology encompasses battery electric vehicles, which run entirely on electricity, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, which combine electric propulsion with a conventional engine. Electric vehicles convert stored electrical energy into mechanical power with significantly higher efficiency than petrol or diesel engines, typically achieving energy conversion rates above 85% compared with around 30% for combustion powertrains. Adoption has accelerated since the early 2010s, driven by improvements in lithium-ion battery energy density, falling battery costs, stricter emissions regulations and expanding charging infrastructure. Major automotive markets including the European Union, China and California have announced phase-out dates for new internal combustion engine sales, typically between 2030 and 2040. Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, reducing urban air pollution, though their overall environmental footprint depends on the carbon intensity of electricity generation and battery production. Range anxiety, charging time and upfront cost remain barriers to mass adoption, although newer models increasingly offer ranges exceeding 400 km and rapid charging capabilities. Traditional manufacturers including Volkswagen, General Motors and Ford have committed tens of billions of dollars to electrification programmes, while specialist producers such as Tesla have demonstrated the commercial viability of premium electric models. The shift to electric propulsion is reshaping automotive supply chains, with demand growing for battery materials including lithium, cobalt and nickel, and declining for components such as gearboxes and exhaust systems.

Electric Vehicles News


India flag
India to soon unveil incentives for lithium, nickel processing with $313m outlay, sources say
Updated 2 hours 47 minutes ago By: Reuters

India's federal Ministry of Mines is expected to shortly unveil a policy with incentives to process lithium and nickel with an outlay of around 30-billion rupees ($313.48-million), according to two... 


 	Wood Mackenzie Head of Copper Research, Charles Cooper
Copper Demand in an Electrifying and Digitising World
Updated 5 hours ago

Investment in electricity grids is set to become the single most important driver of copper demand over the coming decades, underpinning growth from renewable energy, electric vehicles and... 


SFA (Oxford) CEO Henk de Hoop.
Platinum investment demand broadening to minor PGM metals, SFA (Oxford) points out
3rd June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The strong ongoing investment demand for platinum is broadening to the minor platinum group metals (PGMs) such as ruthenium and iridium, SFA (Oxford) CEO Henk de Hoop pointed out on Wednesday June... 


CTL drilling in Cornwall
Cornish Tin & Lithium discovers more larger-than-expected lithium resources in Cornwall
3rd June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Cornish Tin & Lithium (CTL), formerly Cornish Tin Limited, a company focused on the discovery and development of high-grade tin and hard-rock lithium resources in Cornwall, has announced... 


ECA Southern Africa regional director Eunice Kamwendo
UN ECA launches large-scale project to strengthen SADC critical minerals value chains
3rd June 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has launched a €15-million regional project to strengthen environmentally and socially responsible critical minerals value chains across the Southern... 


Rare earths drill core
Viridis secures preliminary offtake agreement with multinational chemicals company
1st June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Having announced its intention to only supply offtakers in the Europe and the US with rare earth materials earlier last month, ASX-listed Viridis Mining and Metals has secured a letter of intent... 


Syrah processing plant
Tesla drops threat to scrap graphite supply deal with Australia's Syrah Resources
1st June 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's Syrah Resources confirmed on Monday that electric vehicle maker Tesla has withdrawn a notice of intent to end their graphite supply deal over an alleged quality default, accepting the... 


Viridis drilling at Colossus project
Brazil rare earths miner Viridis to sell to US, European buyers, not China, CEO says
29th May 2026 By: Reuters

Australian rare earths miner Viridis Mining and Minerals is in advanced discussions with potential offtake buyers in Europe and the US for its Colossus mine in Brazil's Minas Gerais state, CEO... 


The above image depicts one of Zizwe's undergrounf mining operations
Integrated approach optimises operations
29th May 2026 By: Lynne Davies

By ensuring continuous material flow and reducing bottlenecks between the pit, stockpiles and processing plant, an integrated on-site materials handling approach plays a critical role in optimising... 


CHARGING AHEAD: This month, Zero Carbon Charge launched two off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the Johannesburg–Durban N3 corridor. The company says that a typical EV can charge from 20% to 80% within half an hour, depending on vehicle size and battery configuration. Both locations offer complimentary WiFi, restrooms, and on-site farm stalls. The company is now planning to roll out similar stations on the N1 corridor.
CHARGING AHEAD
29th May 2026

This month, Zero Carbon Charge launched two off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the Johannesburg–Durban N3 corridor. The company says that a typical EV can charge... 


Photo of Terence Creamer
Big and small pictures
29th May 2026 By: Terence Creamer

Much has been written in recent weeks about the geopolitical factors now driving the energy transition. Particular attention has been given to how the attack on Iran by the US and Israel, which... 


The case for EVs strengthening as diesel volatility increases – Everlectric
29th May 2026 By: Irma Venter

The economics of diesel vehicles have become increasingly unstable, says Everlectric chief commercial officer Paul Plummer. “For years, the debate around electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa has... 


Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field, in Germany
Vulcan reaches financial close on $3.9bn Lionheart lithium hydroxide monohydrate plant
28th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Vulcan Energy has achieved financial close on the €2.2-billion, or $3.9-billion, funding package required to fund construction of the zero-carbon Lionheart lithium and renewable-energy... 


Codelco and SQM's lithium joint venture project in Chile
Codelco, SQM budget $3bn for lithium project in Chile
27th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

Chilean mining companies Codelco and SQM are budgeting $3-billion to deploy new extraction technologies at their lithium joint venture in the Atacama Desert. The companies' Novandino Litio... 


An SQM mine
SQM boosts lithium guidance as earnings top estimates
27th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

Chilean copper miner SQM reported a sharp increase in first-quarter profit and raised its lithium sales forecast, betting that robust demand from battery storage systems will keep the market... 


Drill core samples from Wishbone Gold
Wishbone plans drilling for newly acquired Silver Lake in Q3
26th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Aim-listed Wishbone Gold is exercising its exclusive option to acquire the Silver Lake high-grade silver project, in the Carnarvon basin of Western Australia. To exercise the option to acquire... 


BHP's Jimblebar operation
BHP reportedly cuts green push in iron-ore segment, media report says
26th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

BHP Group is allegedly pulling back on key decarbonization projects in its Western Australian iron-ore operations, slowing a climate strategy the miner had once positioned as central to its... 


Mt Marion lithium mine
MinRes, Jiangxi Ganfeng to invest $351m in Mt Marion lithium project
26th May 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's Mineral Resources (MinRes) said on Tuesday it has reached a final investment decision, alongside its joint venture partner Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium, to invest about A$490-million... 


Fortsecue's 190 MW solar farm at Cloudbreak
Fortescue starts latest 690 MW solar farm build at Turner River
25th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Australian iron-ore miner Fortescue has started construction on its 690 MW Turner River solar farm, in the Pilbara, which marks the final solar installation required to deliver the company’s Real... 


Lhyfe taxi refuelling.
As costs drop, hydrogen energy sovereignty is being grasped
22nd May 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Following South Africa’s Northam Platinum reporting earlier this year that thousands of hydrogen-powered trucks are doing the rounds in China, France’s Lhyfe added on Monday, May 4 that by the end... 


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pqt: 0.086s - ct: 0.844s - 275pq - 2rq
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