16 June 2020 | Tesla Model S Becomes First 400-Mile Electric Vehicle
Model S Long Range Plus: Building the First 400-Mile Electric Vehicle | Tesla And Panasonic Agree On Three-Year Battery Deal | Rimac C_Two Prototype Production Speeds Up With Second Assembly Line | Electric cars to get green number plates | Spain's $4.2 Billion Aid Plan to Support the Auto Industry | Tesla Model Y Spotted In Holland | GM's Mary Barra optimistic on U.S. demand, China, EV profitability | BMW i8 Hybrid Sportscar Production Ends After Six Years
Show #811
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Tuesday 16th June 2020. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.
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MODEL S LONG RANGE PLUS: BUILDING THE FIRST 400-MILE ELECTRIC VEHICLE
The freedom to travel anywhere is critical to Tesla’s mission. Since the introduction of our 265-mile Model S in 2012, we’ve continued to revisit every aspect of the design to deliver the longest-range and highest-performance electric vehicles on the road.
Starting today, all North American Model S Long Range Plus vehicles have an official EPA-rated range of 402 miles, representing a nearly 20% increase in range when compared to a 2019 Model S 100D with the same battery pack design.
This significant achievement reflects Tesla’s obsession with efficiency and energy frugality, and is realized through several changes, both iterative and transformational, in core hardware and system architecture development by the Tesla engineering, design and production teams. These changes went into production earlier this year when we first started manufacturing Model S Long Range Plus at our factory in Fremont, California. All Model S Long Range Plus vehicles will receive the new 402-mile rating.
Significant Mass Reduction - Several lessons from the engineering design and manufacturing of Model 3 and Model Y have now been carried over to Model S and Model X.
New “Tempest” Aero Wheels and Tires - 8.5 inch-wide aero wheels reduce aerodynamic drag compared to the previous wheels on Model S Long Range, and when paired with a new custom tire specifically engineered to reduce rolling resistance, add a 2% improvement to overall range.
Increased Drive Unit Efficiency - Further improvements to the gearbox in our front permanent magnet synchronous reluctance motors shared with Model 3 and Model Y have resulted in a further increase of 2% more range while driving on the highway.
Maximizing Regenerative Braking - To bring the car to a stop smoothly, regenerative braking now works at a lower speed and deceleration rate.
THe Verge says: " On Tuesday, the EPA told CNBC that it approved the new range estimate after receiving data from Tesla gathered during an in-house test. EPA approved the new label value based on a review of the testing protocols and data submitted by Tesla and found it was complete and accurate. The improvements result in “a nearly 20% increase in range when compared to a 2019 Model S 100D with the same battery pack design,” Tesla says."
TESLA AND PANASONIC AGREE ON THREE-YEAR BATTERY DEAL
"Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) has entered a three-year deal with Panasonic Corp. (OTC: PCRFY) under which the Japanese battery maker will manufacture and supply lithium-ion battery cells at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada." reports Yahoo Finance: "The deal is effective from April 1, 2020, until March 31, 2023, and covers the terms of production capacity commitments by Panasonic and purchase volume commitments by Tesla over the first two years of the agreement. Last month Panasonic’s CFO, Hirokazu Umeda, said they were seeing “strong demand” for Tesla’s battery cells. Umeda signaled interest in expanding the Nevada factory. Panasonic and Tesla’s relationship has been worsening over the past years and the automaker is moving towards making its own batteries."
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-panasonic-agree-three-battery-051442193.html
Teslarati notes: "Ultimately, the company’s goal is to end a shortage of batteries and begin a massive production phase of lithium-ion cells that will keep up with the increasing demand for Tesla’s electric cars. After Elon Musk announced last week that it would bring its highly-anticipated Semi to “volume production,” it is evident that Tesla’s cell shortage is coming to a close, and the company is on the brink of price parity with gas cars."
RIMAC C_TWO PROTOTYPE PRODUCTION SPEEDS UP WITH SECOND ASSEMBLY LINE
"Rimac’s recently opened factory in Croatia will be a bit busier going forward. Today, the bespoke electric hypercar maker announced that adding a second production line is “the next stage in the development of the C_Two.” The new line will help the company accelerate C_Two prototype production, cutting the build time in half to around five weeks. This will eventually let the company build four production vehicles a month when operating at full capacity." according to MOtor1: "The automaker promised a stunning all-electric hypercar that’d develop 1,914 horsepower (1,427 kilowatts). Rimac continues to guarantee a top speed of 258 miles per hour (412 kilometers per hour) with a zero to 62-mph (100-kph) time of 1.9 seconds. A sprint to 100 mph (161 kmh) from a standstill will happen in 4.3 seconds."
https://www.motor1.com/news/429090/rimac-c-two-second-production-line/
SPAIN'S $4.2 BILLION AID PLAN TO SUPPORT THE AUTO INDUSTRY
"Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced a 3.7 billion euro ($4.2 billion) aid package for the hard-hit auto industry to promote the production and sale of cleaner cars." reports NY Times: "he Spanish government will spend 250 million euros on cash-for-clunker schemes to encourage drivers to buy new low-emission and electric cars in 2020. Drivers will get up to 4,500 euros to buy a new, cleaner car when they scrap a 20-year-old car. Dealerships will give up to 1,000 euros in additional discounts. Spain will spend another 100 million euros upgrading official vehicles and will let regional authorities spend 100 million euros of their budget surpluses to upgrade their own fleets."
TESLA MODEL Y SPOTTED IN HOLLAND
Hans: Who said that Model Y wouldn't be seen in Europe before 2021? Well, today at Supercharger Dordrecht. Will they speed this up too?
Dutch green test drive plates. User Martin notes that the Model Y could be a private car imported for other car makers or companies to rent out. Charging? Not on Superchargers? An adapater.
GM'S MARY BARRA OPTIMISTIC ON U.S. DEMAND, CHINA, EV PROFITABILITY
" General Motors Co's top executive struck an optimistic note on Monday about U.S. demand for new vehicles despite the coronavirus pandemic, and the ability to sell electric vehicles at a profit, especially in China." according to Autoblog: "Consultancy AlixPartners has predicted that major automakers face a "profit desert" as they invest heavily in developing electric vehicles despite consumers' ongoing preference for gas-guzzling cars, especially in the U.S. market. When asked about that prediction, Barra said, "We are very excited with the portfolio of EVs we have coming. We are going to continue on that path. We have a strong future ahead, and I don't see that desert."
https://www.autoblog.com/2020/06/15/gm-ceo-mary-barra-new-vehicle-demand-electric-cars-china/
BMW I8 HYBRID SPORTSCAR PRODUCTION ENDS AFTER SIX YEARS
"Nearly six years after its introduction in the international markets, BMW has decided to pull the plug on the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. The line’s termination was originally slated to be in April, which was delayed due to the shutdown of the plants due to the COVID-19 pandemic." says MSN Autos: The car’s final example rolled out of the factory, finished in a unique Portimao Blue, a one-off shade to commemorate its purpose. The car laid the foundation to our imagination of an ideal futuristic car that came with a radical design. It was powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine that worked in tandem with an electric motor to churn out a combined power of 374hp."
ELECTRIC CARS TO GET GREEN NUMBER PLATES
"Owners of electric cars across the UK will be able to fit their vehicles with green number plates from this autumn, a move that is set to both further raise the profile of battery-powered cars, and pave the way for future incentive schemes that will encourage the take-up of electric vehicles." reports Hugo at Auto Express: "Rather than being a fully green plate, EVs will have conventional white and yellow plates on their front and rear, but the plates will feature a green vertical flash on their left-hand side. The plates will, according to the DfT, allow local authorities to “design and put in place new policies to incentivise people to own and drive” electric cars. While details are thin on the ground, the Government suggests reduced parking rates or exemption from emission-zone charges are two incentives councils might consider."
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/104561/electric-cars-get-green-number-plates
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