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Enable me a quick second to toot my very own horn!

Downey’s Dream Vehicles, a brand new actuality TV present that mixes vehicles, local weather change, the way forward for mobility, startups and Robert Downey Junior, premiered June 22 on HBO Max. I had the chance to seek the advice of on the present and — plot twist — find yourself in a few episodes too (albeit briefly).

I do hope you test it out; and never simply because I labored on it. The present explores concepts and options for decrease our carbon footprint. I’m joyful to say, it doesn’t boil down to purchasing a $58,940 EV, which was the typical worth in March 2023, based on Kelley Blue Guide.

OK, we could soar into the information of the week! Vamos.

Need to attain out with a tip, remark or grievance? E mail Kirsten at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com. You can also ship a direct message to @kirstenkorosec. 

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Micromobbin’

Simply after we thought shared micromobility firms couldn’t iterate much more on e-scooter design, Bolt has gone and accomplished it once more.

Bolt (the European one, not the one which mysteriously disappeared) launched its sixth-generation e-scooter; and this one is filled with all of the tech. What stood out to me was the IoT module with laptop imaginative and prescient expertise that permits the scooter to detect pedestrians and sidewalk driving. As soon as once more, scooter ARAS for the win.

A couple of different notable options, contains an audio alert that claims “thanks” to individuals who choose up a fallen scooter, a parking system and switch indicators. And 70% of the aluminum comes from recycled sources.

Bolt will begin deploying about 1,000 of those scooters in Lisbon, Riga and Tallinn by the top of July 2023.

In different information …

Chook mentioned its increasing its providers in Vienna, Austria after being awarded a brand new three-year allow.

Bosch eBike Programs is defining the software-defined e-bike. The corporate simply launched a spread of latest connectivity options for the 2024 mannequin yr to individualize the driving expertise, together with a brand new premium subscription that options and alarm and bike lock and a management unit that doubles as a customizable show display.

Cycle has dropped a brand new cargo e-bike, the 20Fifty, designed particularly for supply. It’ll be obtainable from July as a subscription beginning at €129.00 per 30 days, together with upkeep service and insurance coverage.

Suppose you wish to purchase your child an e-bike? Simply don’t. Right here’s why.

Indian startups, not legacy OEMs, are those main the electrical two-wheeler revolution (paywall).

New York Metropolis is now letting electrical micromobility autos into parks. This bit of reports coincides with the growth of the e-scooter program into Queens.

Zoomo has partnered with EAV to carry EAV’s cool-looking cargo e-bikes to the Zoomo platform. Zoomo affords e-bike subscriptions to couriers, to EAV’s inclusion within the platform is a large stage up.

 — Rebecca Bellan

Deal of the week

Let’s speak about loans. And boy, this can be a large one.

I’m speaking about Ford (and its battery manufacturing accomplice SK On) touchdown a $9.2 billion mortgage from the U.S. Division of Vitality. The funds will probably be used to construct three battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee which can be anticipated to start manufacturing in 2025.

Ford isn’t the one firm to obtain a conditional mortgage from the DOE to spur extra clear power — and particularly battery — manufacturing in america. Final yr, a three way partnership between Basic Motors and LG Vitality Resolution acquired a $2.5 billion mortgage to construct three battery factories within the U.S.

Battery supplies and recycling startup Redwood Supplies has additionally acquired a $2 billion mortgage.

Different offers that received my consideration this week …

BorgWarner agreed to purchase the electrical hybrid methods enterprise section of Italy-based Eldor Corp. for €75 million ($80M).

Cargobot, a Miami-based digital freight firm, raised $6 million in a Sequence A spherical led by BPBI with continued participation from its majority investor Complete Administration 2 Inc.

Guardian Agriculture, an agricultural eVTOL firm, raised a $20 million in a Sequence A spherical led by Fall Line Capital.

Rivian acquired Iternio, the corporate behind ABetterRouteplanner, a preferred route-planning app utilized by EV drivers. Monetary phrases weren’t disclosed.

Tesla plans to amass a German-based firm known as Wiferion that sells wi-fi charging methods for autonomous cellular robots and autonomous guided autos, The Robotic Report mentioned, citing an unnamed supply.

Notable reads and different tidbits

ADAS

Tesla shareholder and advocate Ross Gerber together with critic Dan O’Dowd recorded video of a journey in a Mannequin S utilizing its so-called Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta software program. The plan, I presume, was for Gerber to persuade O’Dowd, a billionaire who has known as for a ban on the product, that FSD was protected. Welp, on this video you may see that didn’t occur and now it’s making its means round Twitter and different social media.

Particularly, the car runs a cease signal and Gerber takes over, stopping a crash with one other car (and please readers, as somebody who has repeatedly examined FSD, don’t try to argue it wasn’t engaged. It’s clear).

My query: will this video add momentum to efforts to manage or prohibit the usage of FSD or will it merely fade into the ether?

Autonomous car tech

Cartken says its sidewalk bots have surpassed greater than 25,000 month-to-month deliveries. The corporate additionally mentioned that it has reached new ranges of autonomy that require “mainly no intervention” and that make robotic supply worthwhile.

Cruise developed (and now launched) an Android app to assist its robotaxi service. Apparently, greater than 20% of individuals on its waitlist are Android customers.

Kodiak Robotics signed a deal with Loadsmith, a market that connects shippers and carriers, to place 800 Kodiak-equipped vans on its platform. Reminder: In Might 2022, Loadsmith secured 350 autonomous vans by way of TuSimple, however canceled its order a number of months later.

Parallel Area, a San Francisco-based startup, launched a brand new API known as Information Lab that offers machine-learning engineers management over dynamic digital worlds to simulate any situation.

TuSimple retains ramping up in China. The corporate mentioned it accomplished a collection of totally autonomous semi-truck runs on public roads in China and not using a human current within the car and with out human intervention.

Electrical autos, batteries & charging

China’s CATL signed a deal with Bolivia to faucet the nation’s lithium reserves.

Helixx is utilizing Siemens’ open digital platform to design a highly-automated ‘manufacturing unit in a field’ that may be constructed wherever to assemble smaller, low-cost EVs, beginning in giant Asian cities. Cautious, Helixx. Sounds a bit like Arrival’s microfactory plan.

Hyundai outlined an up to date EV plan throughout its investor day, together with plans to spend about $28.1 billion over the subsequent decade on electrification, together with $7.45 billion for batteries. The corporate additionally mentioned it would launch a brand new EV platform that can change the one at present on the Ioniq 5.

Fisker kicked off deliveries within the U.S. prospects by handing over 22 autos Fisker Ocean One launch version autos to prospects.

Tesla’s North American Charging Normal (NACS) is gaining extra floor. Rivian grew to become the most recent automaker to undertake NACS, following comparable strikes by Ford and Basic Motors. State governments are additionally getting on board. Texas mentioned it would require EV charging firms to incorporate Tesla’s North American Charging Normal (NACS) and the Mixed Charging System (CCS) customary as a way to qualify for a state program to impress highways by way of federal funds. And, it appears like Washington is perhaps subsequent.

Volkswagen had a battery breakthrough. TC reporter Tim De Chant digs into the main points and explains what it means for the automaker and business.

Gig financial system

Uber is doubling its promoting efforts. The ride-hail big is partnering with Omnicom Media Group in a knowledge collaboration that mixes Uber’s mobility and supply insights and viewers information with Omnicom’s working system.

In-car tech

Google is going through elevated scrutiny in Germany because the nation’s antitrust watchdog considers banning the corporate’s automotive providers unit from bundling navigation and different in-car providers.

OK, Forcite isn’t engaged on “in-car” tech, per se. However the startup has developed a sensible helmet that integrates with an app and sometime perhaps even the motorbike itself. Contributor Tim Stevens has the within story on the corporate and the way it’s looking for the success that one-time Indiegogo darling Skully squandered.

Polestar fashioned a three way partnership with Xingji Meizu, a cell phone and client electronics firm, to construct an working system for Polestar vehicles bought in China. In the remainder of the world, Polestar built-in Google’s Android Automotive OS into autos to energy its infotainment methods.

Stellantis and Hon Hai Expertise Group (extra generally referred to as Foxconn) created a three way partnership known as SiliconAuto that’s devoted to designing and promoting semiconductors to provide the automotive business, together with Stellantis, beginning in 2026.

Folks

Chemix, the Silicon Valley battery developer, employed Praveen Sharma, a former Tesla operation chief, as its Chief Working Officer.

Einride employed Henrik Inexperienced to move up its autonomous applied sciences division. Inexperienced beforehand served as chief expertise officer and chief product officer at Volvo Vehicles.

Grant Goodale, who co-founded of trucking market startup Convoy with Dan Lewis, is leaving his government place and can transition to an advisory position.

Lin-Hua Wu, the previous VP of worldwide communications at Google, was employed as senior vp and chief communications officer at GM.

What’s in my driveway

Picture Credit: Kirsten Korosec

I sometimes take a look at EVs and plug-in hybrids — and generally ICE autos if it has compelling tech. What’s in my driveway this week? The 2023 Mercedes EQE 350+ SUV.

Did you even know that the EQE had an SUV model? Effectively now you do. Mercedes has the flagship EQS, the EQS SUV and the EQE sedan. The EQE SUV form of slots within the center as a compact SUV.

The outside is a bit meh for me (cute blob is what one neighbor mentioned). And don’t even get me began on the $650 non-obligatory illuminated operating boards that efficiently received in my means each time I stepped into or out of the EV. (Mercedes tells me the operating boards do enhance effectivity).

Nonetheless, the inside and efficiency of the EQE SUV is the place this car actually shines. Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system is without doubt one of the higher in the marketplace and it retains enhancing. And evidently discovering and navigating to EV chargers in navigation has additionally improved!

One new merchandise value flagging: the EQE SUV can be geared up with an ADAS system that can mechanically change lanes with out driver intervention. Simply don’t anticipate it to ever go on the correct.