BMW iX Revealed
BMW iX Revealed | Hyundai Will Have 10 Eco Models In The US By End Of 2022 | Hyundai unveils the new Kona Electric | New 82kWh battery packs confirmed in latest Tesla Model 3 builds | Volkswagen breaks ground on US lab for developing, testing of EV batteries | Volvo Trucks To Go Battery Electric, Hydrogen Fuel Cell By 2025 | Researchers show charging stations vulnerable to low-cost hacking
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On today’s podcast:
- BMW iX Revealed
- Hyundai Will Have 10 Eco Models In The US By End Of 2022
- Hyundai unveils the new Kona Electric
- New 82kWh battery packs confirmed in latest Tesla Model 3 builds
- Volkswagen breaks ground on US lab for developing, testing of EV batteries
- Volvo Trucks To Go Battery Electric, Hydrogen Fuel Cell By 2025
- Researchers show charging stations vulnerable to low-cost hacking
Show #928
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.
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BMW IX REVEALED
From Wikipedia: "In February 2011, BMW debuted its sub-brand, BMW i, to market the vehicles produced under Project i. BMW i vehicles were to be sold separately from BMW or Mini. The first two production models are the all-electric BMW i3, formerly called the Mega City Vehicle (MCV), and a plug-in hybrid called BMW i8, "
"The new flagship of the BMW i sub-brand heralds the advent of an all-new hallmark design language. The overall exterior dimensions of the iX are comparable to those of the X5, whereas the height is similar to that of the X6. The large-diameter aerodynamic wheels remind pretty much of the high-end X7 luxury SAV. The iX electric flagship is underpinned by the latest, 5th generation BMW eDrive platform, which is also found under the new iX3 and will also make its underneath the upcoming i4. The architecture comprises the two electric motors, the power electronics, the charging technology and the high-voltage battery." according to BMW blog: "Other key features making their world debut in the iX are the hexagonal steering wheel, the rocker switch for gear selection and the BMW Curved Display. lighweight, torsionally-resistant CFRP components are used in the construction of the vehicle’s passenger cell, for the body’s side, rear roof sections. The CFRP, thermoplastics and aluminum are also extensively employed in the architecture of the bodyshell and chassis, thus helping effectively to lower the overall kerb weight of the iX and stay true to the lightweight concept."
"This wouldn't be a major tech launch if it didn't also feature a 5G aspect and indeed, the iX will feature built-in 5G connectivity, which should make it among the first -- if not the first -- 5G-enabled production car. Ideally, that means higher bandwidth and lower latency when the car needs to connect to the BMW cloud" reports TEchCrunch: "But as we've all learned from recent phone launches, 5G is currently more of a buzzword than game-changing technology. What's maybe more important here is that it may enable new C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle to Everything) solutions that will allow vehicles to communicate with each other and nearby smartphones -- even without a mobile network."
"On improving the computing power of the iX, necessary as cars become more sensor laden and will eventually be mobile computers themselves when autonomous driving eventually arrives, BMW says it has developed the iX to process 20 times the data volume of previous models. As a result, double the amount of data from vehicle sensors can be processed." says Wired: "Even though cooling grilles are not necessary on EVs, BMW's polarising large vertical kidney grille remains, standing prominent at the front of the car, but now is completely blanked off. It now houses cameras, radar and other sensors hidden behind a transparent surface. Other design elements include super-slim headlights, flush-fitted door openers, frameless side windows, a tailgate with no separation joints that extends across the whole of the rear. Inside is a panoramic glass roof stretching over all five seats"
And don't call it a grille, it's an intelligence panel.
"its reduced, uncluttered and clear design language further accentuates the interior’s character of refined luxury. a curved screen – made of a 12.3-inch informational display and 14.9-inch control display – spans across the dashboard. these displays take center stage as the controls are stripped down to its essentials. an innovative rocker switch gear selection and touch controlled surface subdivided by feeler bars, are positioned on the center console. multifunctional buttons feature sparingly on the hexagonal steering wheel – a first for the Group’s series-produced vehicles. its track-inspired contour improves ease of access as well as the driver’s view of the curved screen." writes designboom
And as per Forbes: Digital elements only surface when summoned in what BMW is calling “shy tech” through the intelligent personal assistant and integrated smart fabrics. While, reduced mechanical elements, discreet air vents, hidden speakers and the curved floating flat screen display add to the sense of calm inside. Finally, the iX comes replete with its own electric engine note, composed by the celebrated composer Hans Zimmer."
And I'll give the conclusion to PistonHeads.com: "Apparently the body and flat floor are much slipperier than they look, with a quoted drag coefficient of just 0.25. Wind noise is said to be very low as a result. Certainly, that’ll matter a lot in a car expected to handle motorway use as well as city driving. When it launches next year, the iX will be a significant part of the EV mix; let's just hope for BMW's sake that its rivals haven't taken the prospective range even further down the road by then."
https://www.bmwblog.com/2020/11/11/world-premiere-bmw-ix-with-500-miles-electric-range-and-500-hp/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/bmw-announces-ix-next-gen-130003526.html
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/bmw-ix-revealed
https://www.designboom.com/technology/electric-bmw-inext-future-of-mobility-nextgen-11-11-2020/
https://www.pistonheads.com/news/general-pistonheads/bmw-ix-unveiled-with-500hp-373-mile-range/43359
HYUNDAI WILL HAVE 10 ECO MODELS IN THE US BY END OF 2022
"The Kona Electric, Sonata Hybrid / Plug-In Hybrid, and the Nexo Fuel Cell are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Hyundai’s eco-friendly offerings in the United States. There’s much more to come between now and the end of 2022 as the company aims to extend its green portfolio to 10 models." reports Motor1: "The product roadmap shows hybrid and plug-in hybrid derivatives of the Elantra will join the larger electrified Sonata in the sedan segment. As for crossovers, the all-new Tucson and Santa Fe facelift are both getting HEV and PHEV treatments, and chances are the Kona Electric facelift unveiled today in Europe is heading to North America. Interestingly, the product roadmap doesn’t show the Ioniq Hybrid / Plug-In Hybrid / Electric trio, but it does tease the future Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6.The Ioniq is now technically a Hyundai sub-brand and will eventually grow to include an Ioniq 7 SUV earmarked for an early 2024 release. All will ride on a newly developed Electric Global Modular Platform promising “fast charging capability and plentiful driving range.”"
HYUNDAI UNVEILS THE NEW KONA ELECTRIC
From the Press Release:
"The front with the new-look closed grille features a pure and clean design. This modern look is further enhanced by the new LED Daytime Running Lights, which emphasise the car’s wide stance. The front is complemented by an asymmetric charging port, a feature unique to the Kona Electric which makes a strong statement about driving electric. The new Kona Electric is 25 millimetres longer than the previous version. This ensures it has a dynamic appearance combined with a strong visual stance."
"For the first time, the new Kona Electric is equipped with a 10.25-inch digital cluster, while an optional 10.25-inch AVN screen is carried over from the last update. New Kona Electric customers can enjoy the new Bluelink® upgrade, which allows them to control their car with their smartphone or voice to make their drive more convenient and enjoyable. The app displays the vehicle’s range and battery state, as well as charging times, when plugged into different public or private charging points. Users can access an advanced battery management system in order to select charging times that best fit their schedule"
[NEW] Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)
[NEW] Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
[NEW] Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA)
[NEW] Safe Exit Warning (SEW)
[NEW] Rear Seat Alert (RSA)
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection (FCA-Ped)
Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC w/ S&G)
Lane Following Assist (LFA)
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
Intelligent Speed Limit Warning (ISLW)
Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
"However, under the surface some interesting changes might have happened. It seems that the Hyundai Kona Electric made in Europe not only gets its battery cells from LG Chem, but also from SK Innovation. At least it’s what was reported by some Korean media outlets when this model suffered from some battery fires. Both LG Chem and SK Innovation have supplied batteries for the Kona Electrics. According to industry officials, the 77,000 Kona Electrics under recall were made in Korea from 2018 to March this year." reports PushEVs: "SK Innovation is thought to have supplied batteries for 12,000 Kona Electric vehicles built at Hyundai Motor’s plant in the Czech Republic. These are not subject to the recall. This makes me think that currently the Hyundai Kona Electric no longer uses NCM 622 battery cells, instead it gets NCM 712 cells from LG Chem and NCM 811 cells from SK Innovation."
https://pushevs.com/2020/11/11/hyundai-unveils-the-new-kona-electric/
NEW 82KWH BATTERY PACKS CONFIRMED IN LATEST TESLA MODEL 3 BUILDS
"it appears as though Tesla was also able to increase the range in the LR and Performance variants by also increasing the size of the battery packs. According to a user on the tff-forum, a customer in Europe waiting for his LR Model 3 delivery has received his registration information, where it shows a new 82kWh battery." notes DriveTEslaCAnada: "The new battery pack is about a 4% increase from the previous generation 78kWh batteries. That number lines up pretty well with the news we reported on earlier this year that Panasonic had been able to increase the energy density of its existing cells by 5%. The first deliveries of the refresh Model 3 have already begun in both Canada and the US, but so far has been limited to the Standard Range Plus (SR+). Hopefully we see some Long Range and Performance variants delivered soon to see how the new battery performs, as well as if there is a change in charging speed."
VOLKSWAGEN BREAKS GROUND ON US LAB FOR DEVELOPING, TESTING OF EV BATTERIES
"Volkswagen of America marked the start of construction of its Battery Engineering Lab at its Chattanooga Engineering and Planning Center. The approximately $22-million facility will test and validate electric vehicle cells and battery packs for the North American region." says Green Car Congress: "The new lab will join Volkswagen Chattanooga’s under-construction 564,000 square-foot electric vehicle production expansion and 198,000 square-foot battery pack assembly facility to form Volkswagen’s hub for EV production and engineering in the region. Volkswagen will test and optimize Georgia-manufactured battery cells at the new lab. This testing will include batteries for the Volkswagen ID.4 all-electric SUV, scheduled to begin US production in 2022."
https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/11/20201111-vwlab.html
VOLVO TRUCKS TO GO BATTERY ELECTRIC, HYDROGEN FUEL CELL BY 2025
"Last week, Volvo Trucks announced that its full range of heavy duty trucks and haulers would be available with battery-electric drive trains as early as next year. The move is seen as a massive step towards eliminating fossil-fuel use throughout Europe, and a realization of Volvo’s commitment to be a fully “climate-neutral” company by 2040." says CleanTechnica: "Volvo Trucks is currently running real-world tests of battery-electric Volvo FH, Volvo FM, and Volvo FMX model heavy duty trucks and semis, as well as the more familiar (to US eyes, anyway) Mack-branded versions of these trucks. This news comes hot on the heels of Volvo Trucks’ announcement that it is buying 50% of Daimler Trucks’ hydrogen fuel cell business, and seems to indicate that the company is well beyond the exploratory phases of transitioning towards zero-emission vehicles."
RESEARCHERS SHOW CHARGING STATIONS VULNERABLE TO LOW-COST HACKING
"Researchers at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have demonstrated security vulnerabilities in the most common electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment, proving it is possible for hackers to disrupt charging using low-cost hardware and software." reports UtilityDive: "SwRI said it was able to perform three manipulations: limiting charge rates, blocking a vehicle from charging, and overcharging its battery. The vulnerabilities are concerning, but unlikely to slow EV adoption rates in the near term, according to experts. The project was designed to identify potential threats in common charging hardware as widespread EV adoption nears and more charging locatio...