6 stories tagged arizona on EV Digest.
A new facility in Arizona is set to begin operations, focusing on recycling rare earth elements crucial for manufacturing electric vehicle motors and other advanced technologies. This initiative aims to establish a vital domestic source, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains and bolstering the U.S. EV industry's material independence.
Waymo has opened up its next-generation Ojai robotaxi service to all users in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. This move provides Americans with a rare opportunity to experience a Chinese-made electric vehicle, as the Ojai is manufactured by Zeekr, a brand not otherwise available for purchase in the U.S.
Waymo, Google's autonomous driving arm, has reportedly accumulated close to a thousand fully assembled Ojai robotaxis at its Mesa, Arizona facility. This significant stockpile, with over two-thirds already converted and ready for deployment, underscores the company's readiness for a substantial expansion of its driverless services. The accumulation points to Waymo's increasing capacity to scale up its autonomous fleet.
Tesla has signed a long-term power purchase agreement with ContourGlobal for 1 terawatt-hour per year of renewable energy. This significant deal powers Tesla's Sterling Project and is sourced from a large solar-plus-battery storage facility in Arizona. The agreement represents one of the largest corporate renewable energy PPAs from a single plant in the U.S.
A group of teenagers riding in a Waymo robotaxi in Phoenix startled the autonomous vehicle operator by drinking alcohol and firing toy guns from the windows. The Waymo vehicle safely pulled over and stalled for authorities after the remote operator alerted police to the passengers' behavior. This incident highlights ongoing discussions around monitoring and managing passenger conduct in autonomous vehicles.
EVelution Energy is establishing a solar-powered facility in Yuma County, Arizona, dedicated to producing battery-grade cobalt sulfate. This domestic production site aims to bolster the North American EV battery supply chain by processing significant quantities of cobalt hydroxide feedstock annually. The plant underscores an effort to localize critical mineral processing for electric vehicle batteries.
