Here are some of the trending news topics in the automotive and mobility markets from around the world. We will be curating three interesting pieces of news from the automotive industry and providing insightful summaries to give our readers a better understanding of the latest developments in this field.

By presenting the most significant information in a concise and accessible format, we aim to provide an engaging and informative reading experience.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy learning about the exciting happenings in the world of automotive technology!

1. Sweden is building the world’s first permanent electrified road for EVs to charge while driving

Sweden will be the first country in the world to build an “E-motorway” (power-feeding highway) that allows EVs to feed power while driving.

By 2025, the E-motorway will first be laid on a 20-kilometer section of the E20 line connecting Sweden’s major cities, Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö, and will be extended to 3,000 km by 2035.

Over the years, Sweden has tested three power feeding solutions: overhead wires for heavy-duty vehicles (catenary system), charging coils installed under the asphalt of the road (inductive system), and charging rails for electric trucks (conductive (above ground) system), but the E20 The power supply method has not yet been decided.

It is believed that if the road is electrified, not only will the driving range of EVs be extended, but the smaller battery packs will make EVs more affordable.

2.Ford partners with Tesla to give customers access to EV Superchargers

Starting next year, Ford EV owners in the U.S. will have access to Tesla’s 12,000 Supercharger stations via Ford’s mobile app.

The partnership was announced by Ford CEO Jim Farley and Tesla CEO Elon Musk in a live stream on Twitter Spaces.

Farley also announced that Ford’s next-generation EVs will be built with Tesla-style charging ports, rather than the CCS chargers used by most other EV manufacturers, including General Motors, Audi, and Rivian. Tesla charging stations outnumber CCS stations in the US.

Existing Ford electric vehicles will use adapters to access Tesla’s Supercharger.

Last November, Musk invited other EV manufacturers to build vehicles that use Tesla’s charging ports, and Ford became the first major automaker to accept Musk’s offer.

3. British consortium to invest $9 billion in Indonesia mining, EV batteries, minister says

A British consortium (consortium of companies) that includes Swiss mining giant Glencore plans to invest about $9 billion in Indonesia’s mining and EV battery sector, Indonesian Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced on March 31.

Indonesia, which has the world’s largest nickel reserves, is eager to develop related industries with the ultimate goal of producing batteries and vehicles for the world’s largest EV manufacturers.

The ministry revealed that the British consortium includes companies such as Glencore, Indonesia’s state-owned mining company Aneka Tambang (ANTM), materials company Umicore, and energy company Envision Group.

Toto Nugroho, chief executive officer of state battery company Indonesia Battery Corporation, said the investment is expected to help Indonesia enter the British and European markets.

The Indonesian government has banned the export of unprocessed nickel ore after 2020, while trying to attract global EV manufacturers such as Tesla and China’s BYD Group.