05 June 2020 | Tesla Launches Model Y Configurator in China
Mercedes-Benz EQS Prototype Spotted At A Charging Station | Rivian Files Trademarks for "R1V" & "R2X” | Tesla Is Hiring For Insurance Program In The UK | Tesla Launches Model Y Configurator in China | Caverion now service partner for Ionity in five countries | From Powerwall to power-panels: Span CEO claims ‘breakthrough’ for home batteries | How to go electric with maximum benefit | Pandemic Shows a Low-Carbon Future in Dire Need of Batteries
Show #800
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Friday 5th June 2020. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.
Thank you to MYEV.com for helping make this show, they’ve built the first marketplace specifically for Electric Vehicles. It’s a totally free marketplace that simplifies the buying and selling process, and help you learn about EVs along the way too.
MERCEDES-BENZ EQS PROTOTYPE SPOTTED AT A CHARGING STATION
"Sometimes you can spot unique vehicles at the IONITY chargers. One of the MINI Cooper SE drivers in Germany recently spotted two all-electric prototypes of Mercedes-Benz EQS at an IONITY fast-charging station in Gruibingen. Both were covered during charging (also the dashboard) and then uncovered right before departure." reports InsideEVs: "The EQS looks pretty good (although still in camouflage) and as an electric EQ equivalent of S-Class, might be the most direct Tesla Model S competitor up to date.It remains unknown how fast the EQS will charge at the IONITY - for sure not slower than the Mercedes-Benz EQC (150 kW), but it might be higher. The market launch of the EQS is expected in 2022 with 500 km (310 miles) of WLTP range."
Also...fake exhaust pipes.
https://insideevs.com/news/426754/mercedes-benz-eqs-prototype-seen-charging/
So why not just embrace it? Which Mercedes-Benz did. "Mercedes-Benz has revealed the first official picture of a production EQS electric car although it features a camouflage wrap." reports Electrek: "Now it remains to be seen if Mercedes-Benz also toned down the specs of the EQS because they announced some quite impressive ones when unveiling the concept. The automaker talked about a 100 kWh battery pack enabling “up to 700 km” of WLTP range, which should result in over 350 miles of EPA-rated miles. Mercedes-Benz also mentioned that the EQS would be capable of charging at up to 350 kW, which would be a new industry-leading charging capacity."
RIVIAN FILES TRADEMARKS FOR "R1V" & "R2X"
Even though production hasn't started yet Rivian is looking to the future by filing trademark applications with the EUIPO for "R1V" and "R2X".
According to the filings the trademarks are for areas such as "Land vehicles and parts and fittings therefor, namely, structural parts and powertrain components in the nature of electric motors, gearboxes and axles; motor vehicle bodies". Which makes sense since the R1V is likely going to be the name for the Amazon Delivery Van.
But what makes it even more interesting is that they also mention "all terrain vehicles (ATVs)" and "bicycles". Maybe we'll get an ATV that can fit in the back of the R1T?!
https://www.rivianownersforum.com/threads/rivian-files-trademarks-for-r1v-r2x.579/
TESLA MODEL Y FACTORY SHELL IN CHINA’S GIGAFACTORY SHANGHAI IS COMPLETE
"Over the past few months, Tesla China has been hard at work ramping the production of the Made-in-China Model 3 and the construction of the site’s Model Y factory, known otherwise as the Phase 2 zone. Activity in Phase 2 has been impressive, with the buildout of two large structures (dubbed in the EV community as Phase 2A and 2B) progressing every week." says Teslrati: "Now, a recent report from Chinese media outlet Global Times has revealed that the factory shell for Gigafactory Shanghai’s Model Y facility (Phase 2A) has been completed. The buildout of the Model Y facility’s shell took less than five months. Elon Musk has stated that the Model Y will likely outsell the Model S, Model 3, and Model X combined. Considering the size of the crossover market and China’s auto market as a whole, such a statement is barely an exaggeration."
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-y-factory-gigafactory-shanghai-completed/
TESLA IS HIRING FOR INSURANCE PROGRAM IN THE UK
"Tesla is hiring for a Program Manager in the insurance and underwriting field in the UK. The job location is in London and is a full-time position. That seems to indicate something that will make Tesla owners and future owners quite happy." reports CleanTechnica: "It appeals that Tesla wants to develop motor insurance products for customers in the UK and plans to enhance their ownership while lowering the cost of ownership just as it has done in California. One of the key responsibilities that Tesla wants this future new employee to do is forget the standard products that the market has offered for centuries. Tesla wants to develop auto insurance that is worthy of the 21st century and made just for Tesla owners — the company wants its insurance to represent it fully. Just last year, Tesla launched its insurance in California. While Warren Buffet criticized this branching out and said that Tesla would struggle, it seems that Tesla knows what it’s doing. This is because Tesla is laser-focused on the needs of its customers. So far, California is the only state with Tesla Insurance."
TESLA LAUNCHES MODEL Y CONFIGURATOR IN CHINA
Tesla’s Shanghai-built Model Y is now available for configuration.
Tesla launched the configurator this week, offering the Long Range AWD and the Performance versions of the Model Y. While no delivery date is provided, production is expected to begin in 2021.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk kicked off China’s Model Y at an event in January.
More signs the Model Y won't be exported to China and Europe.
CAVERION NOW SERVICE PARTNER FOR IONITY IN FIVE COUNTRIES
"innish company Caverion and the high power charging joint venture Ionity have entered into an international service partnership. Caverion is responsible for the maintenance and service of transformers at Ionity’s HPC stations for electric vehicles in Norway, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia." says electrive: "The new service contract is not the first cooperation between the Finnish company and Ionity. Caverion is currently installing new charging stations for Ionity in Norway and Sweden."
https://www.electrive.com/2020/06/03/caverion-now-service-partner-for-ionity-in-five-countries/
FROM POWERWALL TO POWER-PANELS: SPAN CEO CLAIMS ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ FOR HOME BATTERIES
"A former Tesla head of products has said that his new start-up’s redesign of the humble electrical panel offers “breakthrough interaction with home batteries,” and can streamline both labour and component costs of energy storage installations." according to Energy Storage News: "Span CEO Arch Rao was leader of the product team at Tesla as it launched its own Powerwall home energy storage system in 2015. Claiming to have reinvented the home electrical panel, Span’s panel enables monitoring and controls that are aimed to enable better use of today’s modern, connected devices, including transparency for the backup functions that batteries can serve. As well as enabling the easy and controllable addition of solar, storage and EV charging to home electrical systems, the company wants the panel to act as a “digital interface for your entire home,” perhaps mirroring the way that the Nest thermostat has been successful in adding functionality, transparency and control to home climate control. Indeed, Matt Rogers, co-founder of Nest, is part of the leadership team at Span investor Incite."
HOW TO GO ELECTRIC WITH MAXIMUM BENEFIT
"With the right grid connection, the right technology and the right partner, organizations can turn their depots into intelligent energy hubs, where vehicle fleets can charge quickly, efficiently and cost effectively." says ABB.
Charge flexibly and smartly
By varying the rate of charging for each vehicle and at the same time using a charging-schedule that, when possible, optimizes charging times to access lower electricity rates, fleet operators can cut their power costs by more than 50 percent
Optimize site performance with load-control technology
In some sites, electric vehicles may not represent the only significant load on the electrical infrastructure. Many sites are not yet optimized, or even capable of coping with the heavy demand generated by a whole fleet of EVs.
Invest in energy storage
Another way to benefit from lower energy costs is to use on-site energy storage. This is particularly useful for fleet operators with vehicles in use throughout the day, some of which cannot feasibly be on site to charge at times when the electricity tariffs are lowest.
Generate energy on site
Cut costs by using solar power plus energy storage and other forms of electricity to generate power on site.
Invest inelectrical infrastructure that’s futureproof
Protect the returns of any EV investment by making new infrastructure future-proof.
https://www.abb-conversations.com/2020/06/the-future-of-mobility-is-here/
PANDEMIC SHOWS A LOW-CARBON FUTURE IN DIRE NEED OF BATTERIES
"Coronavirus has exposed a lack of investment in the big batteries crucial to unlocking solar and wind power. A drop in energy demand caused by the pandemic has left European grids overloaded with green electricity, raising the threat of blackouts and underlining the need for energy storage in a low-carbon energy system." wqrites Bloomberg Green: "For decades, power markets have been designed around demand and ensuring there is enough supply to fulfill peak consumption. Slowly the focus is changing to how to control an oversupply when it’s sunny or windy. And with renewables having priority feeding into the grid, they have more influence over how the system is managed. For battery owners, swings in prices when renewables hit the grid could be a major opportunity. Batteries can charge up when solar and wind generation is plentiful and market rates are low, and then sell power to the grid when prices are higher. With enough capacity on the system, buying and selling from battery operators could ultimately help ease the price swings."
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Critics say EVs are on the for the rich, so what do you view as ‘affordable’ prices?
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