autoevolution
 

Cristian Agatie

Contributor
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As a child, he grew up among tractors and heavy machinery and was covered in grease from tip to toe most of the time. It was a tractor that he drove for the first time and when asked what he’d become, he candidly replied: “tractor operator”. Later on, he drove all kinds of vehicles, from heavy trucks to off-roaders, all outside of public roads until he got his driving license.

He did not become a tractor operator, as you can tell already. Instead, he got interested in journalism and pursued a career finding stories for local newspapers and radio stations. But the first love is never forgotten, so when presented with the chance, he seized it and became a motor journalist in 1995.

Having found the perfect job to mix his passion for cars and journalism, he couldn’t help exploring other areas, like science, computers, and mobile devices. He took stints working for a computer magazine for a couple of years, and it was then that he had his first contact with new media. But cars always remained his passion, so he returned to motor journalism when Auto Bild started its local branch. Later, he became an internet junkie, and moving online felt only natural.

In the meantime, he also became obsessed with technology, electric vehicles, batteries, and whatnot, so he writes a lot about those. He found autoevolution a fertile ground for exploration and so he discovered his passion for RVs and campers, but also solar panels and new energy solutions.
2025 Rivian R1S/R1T and the Most Important Changes Introduced for the Refreshed Models
2025 Rivian R1S/R1T and the Most Important Changes Introduced for the Refreshed Models

8 Jun 2024, 21:34 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rivian has announced the much-hyped refreshed R1 models that it's been talking about for the past year. The 2025 R1T and R1S sport subtle design changes but have been completely overhauled underneath the skin. Here are the most important chang...

 
Toyota Finds Solution To Rejuvenate Used Li-Ion Batteries, It's Game Over for ICE Vehicles
Toyota Finds Solution To Rejuvenate Used Li-Ion Batteries, It's Game Over for ICE Vehicles

7 Jun 2024, 21:18 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Li-ion batteries used in electric vehicles are designed for long service life but will eventually lose capacity and need replacement. A group of researchers at Toyota Central R&D Labs in Japan found a simple way to reverse the aging process and...

 
Rivian Steps Up Its Software Game and Offers Advanced Connectivity With the R1 Refresh
Rivian Steps Up Its Software Game and Offers Advanced Connectivity With the R1 Refresh

7 Jun 2024, 16:40 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rivian has always been praised for its timely software updates, with many comparing it to Tesla, the pioneer of over-the-air updates. With the 2025 R1T and R1S launch, the EV startup has significantly improved its software and is preparing to launc...

 
Rivian Is Betting Big on Autonomous Driving With Its Upgraded Autonomy Platform
Rivian Is Betting Big on Autonomous Driving With Its Upgraded Autonomy Platform

7 Jun 2024, 10:39 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rivian has stepped up its software game with the launch of the refreshed R1S and R1T, aiming to catch up with Tesla. The new Autonomy platform introduces features that mirror Tesla's Enhanced Autopilot, but it can also evolve thanks to end-to-...

 
Video Showing Tesla Cybertruck Steer-by-Wire Lag Splits the Internet in Two
Video Showing Tesla Cybertruck Steer-by-Wire Lag Splits the Internet in Two

6 Jun 2024, 17:12 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / One of the Tesla Cybertruck's highlights is its unique steer-by-wire system. Tesla claims it responds quicker to the steering wheel movements, making the truck more agile. However, a recent video shared on social media shows the Cybertruck...

 
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Lists His Truck for $77,000, Changes His Mind the Next Day
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Lists His Truck for $77,000, Changes His Mind the Next Day

6 Jun 2024, 13:51 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla hoped to turn the Cybertruck into North America's best-selling electric pickup truck. Even if it succeeds, the market for electric pickup trucks might not be big enough to justify the money invested into the Cybertruck. The electric pick...

 
Tesla Released FSD V12.4.1 to Employees, but Customers Have Already Lost Patience
Tesla Released FSD V12.4.1 to Employees, but Customers Have Already Lost Patience

6 Jun 2024, 12:37 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla made significant progress with its Full Self Driving software in May when Elon Musk offered details about FSD V12.4 and subsequent versions. However, the update failed to materialize due to some unexpected bugs. Now, Tesla has released a new ...

 
DMV Data Reveals That Tesla Cybertruck Production Is Not Ramping Up As Expected
DMV Data Reveals That Tesla Cybertruck Production Is Not Ramping Up As Expected

6 Jun 2024, 09:57 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / In January, Tesla dismissed claims that the limited 4680 cell output might be holding back Cybertruck production. Three months later, it revealed that it builds roughly 1,000 trucks per week, which seems like a respectable figure considering the ea...

 
Rivian Will Race a Refreshed R1T Truck at Pikes Peak, the Prototype Reveals New Details
Rivian Will Race a Refreshed R1T Truck at Pikes Peak, the Prototype Reveals New Details

5 Jun 2024, 14:17 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rivian prepares to start selling the refreshed R1 lineup, with an official announcement expected on Thursday. The EV startup will run a refreshed R1T at Pikes Peak to mark the sales debut, hoping for a new victory. The prototype revealed new detail...

 
Tesla Cybertruck vs. RAM 3500 Tug-of-War Still Raises a Few Questions
Tesla Cybertruck vs. RAM 3500 Tug-of-War Still Raises a Few Questions

5 Jun 2024, 11:47 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tug-of-war is such a truck thing to do, and the Cybertruck was no exception. A few days after Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck in 2019, Elon Musk tweeted a video of the Cybertruck tug-of-war against a diesel Ford F-150. However, the video has been con...

 
Musk Accused of Hijacking Nvidia AI Chips Destined for Tesla Data Center, CEO Explains Why
Musk Accused of Hijacking Nvidia AI Chips Destined for Tesla Data Center, CEO Explains Why

4 Jun 2024, 17:06 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / A new scandal is brewing involving Elon Musk, as a recent report shows that the Tesla CEO told Nvidia to ship thousands of AI chips to X and x.AI instead of Tesla. Musk has an explanation for this move, but this doesn't mean it will be easy to...

 
More Rivian R1 Refresh Pictures Reveal Intriguing New Details Ahead of the Official Launch
More Rivian R1 Refresh Pictures Reveal Intriguing New Details Ahead of the Official Launch

4 Jun 2024, 15:04 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Two days before the rumored launch day of the refreshed R1 models, Rivian is not shy about using the vehicles as rolling billboards. As social media posts reveal, people encountered R1 refresh prototypes in various locations. A new set of pictures ...

 
Tesla Finally Turns On Support for Matrix-LED Adaptive Headlights in the US and Canada
Tesla Finally Turns On Support for Matrix-LED Adaptive Headlights in the US and Canada

4 Jun 2024, 09:05 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla unexpectedly announced support for matrix-LED adaptive headlight functions in the US, Canada, and Mexico with the software update 2024.20. The move has irked FSD users, who can't update their cars to this software version. Tesla has ...

 
Tesla Did a Lousy Job, So Cybertruck Owners Are Fixing the Loose Roofline Trim Themselves
Tesla Did a Lousy Job, So Cybertruck Owners Are Fixing the Loose Roofline Trim Themselves

3 Jun 2024, 18:30 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Tesla Cybertruck remains a hot commodity, forcing Tesla to speed up manufacturing with little regard to quality control. New owners reported build-quality issues, including detaching body panels when the bolts that fasten them become loose. One Cyb...

 
Japanese Car Industry in Shambles As Toyota, Mazda, Admit to Faking Safety Tests
Japanese Car Industry in Shambles As Toyota, Mazda, Admit to Faking Safety Tests

3 Jun 2024, 15:42 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / The Japanese auto industry is shaken by a new scandal after Toyota, Mazda, and Yamaha have been discovered to have faked their safety data. Deliveries of six models, including three manufactured by Toyota, have been halted. This is the second safet...

 
Cybertruck Rodeo 2024 Caravan Looks Like an Alien Invasion, Trucks Got Properly Abused
Cybertruck Rodeo 2024 Caravan Looks Like an Alien Invasion, Trucks Got Properly Abused

3 Jun 2024, 14:24 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Cybertruck owners across the US gathered in Gatesville, Texas, to mark the six-month anniversary of Tesla's electric pickup truck. Over 75 Cybertrucks and 500 people attended the event to meet one another, show off their trucks, and abuse them...

 
2025 Rivian R1S Strikes a Pose Next to Its Older Sibling, Offering Comparison Opportunity
2025 Rivian R1S Strikes a Pose Next to Its Older Sibling, Offering Comparison Opportunity

3 Jun 2024, 10:50 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Rivian is rumored to announce the 2025 R1S and R1T models this week, and new information surfaced in the past week. For the first time, we get to see the refreshed R1S alongside the 2023 model, offering a great opportunity to see what's change...

 
Driven: 2025 Porsche Taycan – Thrifty Doesn't Mean Boring for This Entry-Level Luxury EV
Driven: 2025 Porsche Taycan – Thrifty Doesn't Mean Boring for This Entry-Level Luxury EV

1 Jun 2024, 22:38 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Porsche refreshed the Taycan for the 2025 model year, and the updates transcend the optics, leaving deep marks on its performance. Even the entry-level Taycan with rear-wheel drive is a mean machine thanks to a healthy tech infusion and meaningful ...

 
Innovative Water-Based Battery Has Almost Twice the Energy Density of Classic Li-Ion Cells
Innovative Water-Based Battery Has Almost Twice the Energy Density of Classic Li-Ion Cells

31 May 2024, 22:38 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / Aqueous batteries are much safer than traditional Li-ion cells but generally have a lower energy density. However, a team of researchers in China invented a new water-based battery that is almost twice as energy-dense as traditional Li-ion cells. ...

 
China To Ban One-Pedal Driving Mode That Was Widely Blamed for Tesla SUA Crashes
China To Ban One-Pedal Driving Mode That Was Widely Blamed for Tesla SUA Crashes

31 May 2024, 15:33 UTC · By: Cristian Agatie / The owners have appreciated Tesla's one-pedal driving mode, although the feature was often blamed for confusing drivers and leading to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) crashes. Chinese authorities forced Tesla to make the Creep stopping mo...

 

Stories by Cristian Agatie