Tag Archives: EVs

News

Stellantis Gives Old EV Batteries a New Mission: Powering Mobility for All

Stellantis is proving that an electric vehicle battery’s life doesn’t end when the car does. Through its circular economy arm, SUSTAINera, the automaker is repurposing high-voltage packs for “second-life” duty—and one of the most compelling examples yet isn’t powering a car, but helping people move in an entirely different way.

Meet AVATHOR ONE, an electric mobility device designed for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility. Instead of relying on freshly built batteries, AVATHOR ONE runs on modules reclaimed from Stellantis EVs. The packs are collected in Turin, tested, and re-engineered by INTENT S.r.l., a local system integrator. The result: compact 1.4- or 2.8-kWh units that drive the device’s electric heart, backed by a modern battery management system.

Think of it as recycling meets inclusivity. “A second life for batteries, a new freedom of mobility for people,” is more than a slogan here—it’s a practical example of how automakers can merge sustainability and social responsibility without compromising technology.

The project is a local ecosystem done right. Stellantis supplies the used EV batteries. INTENT breaks down, repacks, and reintegrates them. Avathor, a Turin-based startup, builds the device itself, while legendary design house Italdesign shapes the product from its 2019 concept (the WheeM-i) into the market-ready AVATHOR ONE. The collaboration officially launched in April and has already been showcased globally—first at Expo 2025 Osaka, and next at the upcoming Salone Auto Torino.

And AVATHOR ONE isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s part of a much bigger Stellantis strategy to wring maximum value out of its EV batteries. Beyond mobility aids, SUSTAINera has partnered with utilities and battery integrators on large-scale energy storage, including ENEL X’s PIONEER project at Rome Fiumicino Airport. That installation—the largest of its kind in Italy—stores renewable energy, cuts CO₂ emissions by an estimated 16,000 tons over a decade, and shows that repurposed car batteries can scale well beyond niche applications.

The goal is nothing less than a 360-degree approach to EV battery life: Reuse, Repurpose, Remanufacture, and Recycle. In other words, keep these high-voltage packs working as long as possible before they hit the shredder.

For Stellantis, that strategy is both a business model and a statement. The company has seen “second-life” battery demand surge over the last three years, and it’s investing heavily to keep the momentum. If AVATHOR ONE is any indication, the payoff won’t just be measured in carbon savings—but in freedom of movement for people who need it most.

Source: Stellantis

News

Volkswagen at IAA 2025: A True VW Reset with Affordable EVs, a Fresh Naming Strategy, and a Reinvented T-Roc

Volkswagen is using the spotlight of IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich (September 8–14) to do more than just show off new sheet metal—it’s rolling out a brand reset. Under the banner “True Volkswagen,” the company is signaling a sharper focus on its roots: clean, instantly recognizable design, solid quality, smart packaging, and that trademark balance of performance and value. And it’s doing so with one of the broadest product offensives we’ve seen from Wolfsburg in years.

The headliners? A wave of new EVs that put affordability and familiarity front and center. After three years of development, Volkswagen will reveal the ID. Polo and its hotter sibling, the ID. Polo GTI, albeit still wrapped in camouflage. These two hatchbacks anchor VW’s push into the small-car EV space, a segment the brand knows better than almost anyone.

Joining them is the ID. CROSS Concept, a near-production compact SUV that previews a bread-and-butter model aimed squarely at the heart of Europe’s (and likely America’s) crossover craze. Perhaps the biggest attention-grabber, though, is the ID. EVERY1: an entry-level EV with a target price of just €20,000. Volkswagen says this model will make EV ownership more accessible to the masses—a move that could put serious pressure on Chinese automakers currently dominating the affordable EV scene.

This new lineup also comes with a naming strategy overhaul. Legacy VW nameplates like Polo and Golf won’t vanish; instead, they’ll live on as electric models under the ID. umbrella. The ID. Polo is just the first example of that transition.

But Volkswagen isn’t ready to leave combustion behind. Alongside its EV showcase, the brand is rolling out updated versions of its most successful gasoline-powered models. Munich visitors will see the new-generation T-Roc, one of Europe’s best-sellers, which joins the recently refreshed Tiguan, Tayron, and Passat in VW’s growing ICE portfolio. For enthusiasts, the Wolfsburg team is also bringing some flash: the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE, a special-edition performance EV with styling and performance cues that suggest Volkswagen hasn’t forgotten how to have fun.

Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer summed up the brand’s ambitions:

“Our goal for the next five years is clear: By 2030, we want to establish ourselves as the leading high-volume manufacturer for pioneering technology. At the IAA 2025, we will be demonstrating that we are ready to deliver on this now.”

The takeaway? Volkswagen is trying to reclaim its position as the people’s carmaker in an EV world. From an affordable €20K EV to a reimagined T-Roc and a fresh take on naming, the IAA 2025 lineup makes one thing clear: Wolfsburg is betting that a mix of familiar names, fresh design, and real-world affordability will carry it into the next decade.

Source: Volkswagen

NEW CARS

2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC EV: Luxury SUV Meets 800-Volt Tech and 483 hp

For years, the Mercedes-Benz GLC has been the brand’s sales superstar, topping global charts and securing its spot as the three-pointed star’s bread-and-butter SUV. Now, it’s entering a new era. Starting in the first half of 2026, the GLC will be offered in an all-electric version—the first of a new, dedicated EV family from Stuttgart. And if early specs are anything to go by, this isn’t just a GLC with batteries. It’s a clean-sheet rethink of what a midsize luxury SUV should be in the electric age.

Electric-First, Legacy-Intact

Built on a fresh platform designed from the ground up for electrification, the new GLC promises sharper performance, more cabin space, and charging speeds that could embarrass some smartphones. Yet Mercedes insists it hasn’t forgotten the SUV’s core appeal: everyday usability, comfort, and that hard-to-define sense of luxury the GLC has always delivered.

Case in point: despite the EV packaging, this GLC actually gains interior room compared to its gasoline counterpart—up to 47 millimeters more rear legroom and 17 millimeters of added headroom. Cargo space doesn’t disappoint either, with 570 liters in back and a bonus 128-liter frunk up front. Oh, and it tows up to 2.4 tons. That’s proper family-hauler versatility.

Power and Range to Match Ambition

At launch, the flagship GLC 400 4MATIC will offer a hefty 360 kW (483 hp) and as much as 713 kilometers (443 miles) of range on a charge (provisional figures, of course). An 800-volt system underpins charging speeds—Mercedes claims up to 303 km (188 miles) in just 10 minutes. Future variants will broaden the lineup, but Mercedes is clearly leading with its best shot.

Tech Brain, Luxury Heart

Inside, the cabin takes on a futuristic yet inviting atmosphere. The showstopper is the all-new 99.3 cm (39.1 in) MBUX Hyperscreen—the largest Mercedes has ever installed. It stretches across the dash in a single, seamless glass panel, paired with ambient lighting and even an optional panoramic roof embedded with 162 tiny illuminated stars. The vibe is less “crossover SUV” and more “digital lounge with wheels.”

Mercedes is also pushing sustainability with an optional Vegan Package—certified by The Vegan Society—making it the first automaker to offer a fully certified vegan interior. Whether that’s a genuine shift in consumer priorities or a clever marketing hook remains to be seen, but it’s a bold industry first nonetheless.

A Supercomputer on Wheels

At the center of the electric GLC is MB.OS, Mercedes’ new AI-driven operating system. Think of it as the car’s brain: a system capable of processing 254 trillion operations per second while integrating everything from infotainment to automated driving. Over-the-air updates mean the SUV evolves with time, potentially gaining features years down the road.

Mercedes is even teaming up with Google and Microsoft to make the in-car assistant conversational, context-aware, and (supposedly) as helpful as your best friend. Whether drivers will actually want to chat with their GLC remains an open question, but the ambition is clear: this isn’t just a car, it’s meant to be a digital companion.

Comfort, Capability, and Control

Luxury SUVs live or die by their road manners, and the GLC leans heavily on proven S-Class tech. Standard air suspension, optional rear-axle steering, and a new One-Box brake system with seamless regenerative capability all aim to blend comfort with agility. In Mercedes’ own testing, energy recovery happens in 99 percent of everyday braking—enough to noticeably stretch real-world range.

And for those weekend getaways, the GLC packs Terrain Mode and even a “transparent bonnet” function that stitches together camera feeds to give a virtual view of what’s under the SUV’s nose. It’s a neat party trick that may actually prove useful on gravel roads or tricky parking ramps.

The new electric GLC isn’t just another EV in a crowded segment—it’s Mercedes staking a claim for leadership in midsize luxury crossovers. With competitive range, dazzling tech, thoughtful design touches, and the promise of true Mercedes comfort, it looks every bit the successor to the brand’s global bestseller.

The question now is whether buyers—many of them longtime fans of the gas-powered GLC—are ready to embrace the shift. If Mercedes has its way, the GLC will continue to be its volume leader, only this time without burning a drop of fuel.

Source: Mercedes-Benz