24 Mar 2020 | Polestar 2 Kicks Off Production In China Despite Coronavirus
EV Factory Closures | How Tesla Fought Coronavirus At Giga Shanghai | Polestar 2 Kicks Off Production In China Despite Coronavirus | Geely Has Plans To Sell Cars Online And Deliver Keys By Drone | Aston Martin Announces V6 Hybrid/Plug-In Hybrid Plans | Morgan Officially Pulls Plug On EV3, But Promises Future EVs | Finding Tesla Model Y tow hitch under the rear diffuser panel
Show #727
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Tuesday 24th March 2020. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story to save you time.
Welcome to a new PRODUCER TOMMASO TRINCHIERI
EV FACTORY CLOSURES
Electrive have a constantly updated tracker of factory and you can add Tesla to the list: "Tesla has confirmed that the Fremont plant will be closed as of today. Gigafactory 2 in New York State for solar roofs will also be temporarily closed. In both cases, a minimum operation is to be maintained, for example to ensure the supply of parts and supplies, but also the operation of the networked Tesla vehicles and the charging and energy infrastructure – “in accordance with the instructions of the local, state and federal authorities”."
Statement from Tesla: "In many locations, we are in the process of implementing “touchless deliveries” so customers can continue to take delivery of their vehicle in a seamless and safe way. Due to the unique over-the-air connectivity of our vehicles, customers are able to unlock their new cars at a delivery parking lot via the Tesla App, sign any remaining relevant paperwork that has been placed in their car, and return that paperwork to an on-site drop-off location prior to leaving. This method provides additional convenience and comfort."
https://www.electrive.com/2020/03/16/coronavirus-carmakers-to-shut-down-plants-across-europe/
HOW TESLA FOUGHT CORONAVIRUS AT GIGA SHANGHAI
And how is Tesla in China dealing with it? An article on EV Obsession says: "A Shanghai Lingang special area official told CGTN that starting on the first of February, they would go to the Tesla factory every day at 8am. The result of the rigor with which coronavirus was attacked in China led to the rapid containment of the virus and an equally rapid return to work. The video noted that as of February 22, there were zero confirmed COVID-19 cases in the greater Lingang Special Area. Also, 98.7% of enterprises with a production value of more than 100 million yuan have returned to work."
POLESTAR 2 KICKS OFF PRODUCTION IN CHINA DESPITE CORONAVIRUS
"Production of the all-electric Polestar 2 has just commenced at the company’s factory in Luqiao in China’s eastern Zhejiang province." repotrs CarScoops: "While many manufacturing facilities across China have been closed for weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Volvo employed a serious of stringent policies at its local sites to ensure its Chinese operations were not affected. For example, temperature screenings, thorough disinfecting process, and masks for every worker were some of the measures taken. Apparently, they worked, with Polestar saying not one member of its Chinese workforce has contracted the virus."
And according to Yahoo! News; “Polestar also isn't providing the exact number of reservations until it begins deliveries, which are supposed to start this summer in Europe, followed by China and North America. It was confirmed to TechCrunch that reservations are in the "five digits."
The Polestar 2, which was first revealed in February 2019, has been positioned by the company to go up against Tesla Model 3. (The company’s first vehicle, the Polestar 1, is a plug-in hybrid with two electrical motors powered by three 34-kilowatt-hour battery packs and a turbo and supercharged gas inline 4 up front.)“
https://www.carscoops.com/2020/03/polestar-2-kicks-off-production-in-china-despite-coronavirus/
GEELY HAS PLANS TO SELL CARS ONLINE AND DELIVER KEYS BY DRONE
"Geely launched a “proprietary online sales system” back in February, and since that time has already sold about 10,000 vehicles via the system. The system originally had buyers go to dealers to pick up their cars, but the revised system will deliver very-disinfected cars to people’s homes, and then give them the keys via drone" according to Jalopnik: "how, exactly, are you supposed to get your keys out of the bag without pulling that drone down into your face? Is there some kind of quick release thing we can’t really see from here? Can’t the drones have a little remote-actuated gripper that can let go and drop the keys into the customer’s hand, or something?"
https://jalopnik.com/geely-has-plans-to-sell-cars-online-and-deliver-keys-by-1842471531
ASTON MARTIN ANNOUNCES V6 HYBRID/PLUG-IN HYBRID PLANS
"Aston Martin disappointed us by ditching, or at least significantly delaying, its plans to produce and sell all-electric cars (including Aston Martin Rapide E and Lagonda EVs), but electrification is inevitable." reports InsideEVs: "The British company this week teased an all-new 3.0-litre V6 in-house designed engine (first since 1968 and Euro 7 compliant), which will debut in Valhalla in 2022. The top of the line versions of Aston Martin models with the new engine will be hybrids or plug-in hybrids, as the company probably will not be able to comply with emission requirements otherwise we guess."
"Confirmed today as a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6, the full powertrain will be electrified – an aspect that has been key to the engine’s development from day one. In parallel to the tests shown today, Aston Martin is developing a new range of hybrid systems that will ensure that the complete unit will become the most powerful in the Aston Martin range when on sale. The final power and torque figures for each application of this powertrain will be determined by the desired characteristics of each product it serves and confirmed at the time of launch."
https://insideevs.com/news/405907/aston-martin-v6-plugin-hybrid-plans/
MORGAN OFFICIALLY PULLS PLUG ON EV3, BUT PROMISES FUTURE EVS
"The plucky little Morgan EV3 wasn't long for this world, it seems. After four years of development, and a number of setbacks halting the project, Morgan is officially discontinuing the electric three-wheeler, a company spokesperson says in a new interview with Autoblog. But don't worry, the company isn't giving up on electrification entirely." says Motor1: “Morgan planned to build the production EV3 with a 21-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack good for 47-horsepower (35-kilowatt), and up to 120 miles (193 kilometers) of driving range. But ongoing issues with the company's battery supplier grounded the project for good, stemming from contract disputes dating back to 2018."
https://www.motor1.com/news/405727/morgan-discontinues-electric-three-wheeler/
FINDING TESLA MODEL Y TOW HITCH UNDER THE REAR DIFFUSER PANEL
"At last, the mystery of the Tesla Model Y tow hitch is solved, Brian from the i1Tesla YouTube channel shows us what is under the rear diffuser panel (presumably a trailer hitch cover plate) in his latest video" says xautoworld: "He put his Model Y on the lift and started pulling the cover off the diffuser (not recommended for non-technical owners), it is almost hollow inside and there doesn’t seem to be any mounting holes in this area, the crash bar is just right behind the diffuser cover, a couple of bolts on either sides might be useful for an aftermarket tow hitch."
https://www.xautoworld.com/tesla/model-y-tow-hitch-diffuser-panel/
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
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