Autonomous

WASHINGTON — All 50 states received final approval Sept. 27 to begin construction on a first nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations that places one roughly every 50 miles along interstate highways, part of the Biden administration’s plan to spur widespread adoption of zero-emission cars.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Pony.ai, a developer of self-driving cars based in China and Silicon Valley, will begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Tucson, with trained safety drivers behind the wheel, in a partnership with Pima Community College.

Battery upstarts are salivating over elements in the Inflation Reduction Act, particularly the tax credits for manufacturing components in the U.S.

Ford Motor Co. has begun construction of its $5.6 billion electric vehicle manufacturing complex in western Tennessee, the largest factory project in the automaker’s 119-year history.

Driverless technology company Torc Robotics and Schneider are preparing to launch a pilot program to further implement autonomous longhaul trucking, the companies announced Sept. 20.

HANOVER, Germany — Daimler Truck CEO Martin Daum said his company is pursuing a clean-energy strategy built around electric and fuel cell technology, setting aside natural gas as a component of the plan.

Nikola President Michael Lohscheller was beaming when he unveiled the U.S. startup’s fuel cell truck for the European market at the region’s biggest commercial vehicle show this week.

It was a bit surprising when Cruise, the autonomous vehicle startup that’s 80% owned by General Motors, said it planned to expand its robotaxi service to Phoenix and Austin over the next three months.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is jumping into solar energy production to power its maintenance and office buildings with a long-term goal: using solar-generated power to electrify portions of the toll road so electric vehicles can charge as they travel.

Tesla Inc. is plotting a potential lithium refinery on the gulf coast of Texas, a move that would bolster the company’s battery production efforts and further expand its footprint in the state.