19 Sep 2019 | Mercedes EQB Looking Almost Ready, Skoda’s Suberb PHEV and Future BMW 7 Series With 120kWh Battery
Mercedes EQB Spied Looking Almost Ready For Production | Mercedes-Benz Is Playing It Safe With Batteries And Driving Range | Skoda Starts Serial Production Of Superb Iv Plug-In Hybrid | Tesla “Smart” Summon Will Be Available On Older Model S And Model X With Hardware 2.0 | Tesla Says Model S Plaid Could Record 7:05 Nurburgring Lap Next Month | Future BMW 7 Series EV To Have 670 Hp, 120 Kwh Battery | Air Pollution Particles Found On Foetal Side Of Placentas – Study
Show #585
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Thursday 19th September 2019. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story to save you time.
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MERCEDES EQB SPIED LOOKING ALMOST READY FOR PRODUCTION
"Mercedes-Benz’ current range of all-electric vehicles for the masses consists of just two models. These are the EQC mid-size crossover and the EQV, a zero-emission people mover that was revealed in Frankfurt earlier this month. Another green model with a three-pointed star logo is currently under development and these are its first spy photos we can share." reports Motor1 who are always first to get spy shots: "Meet the Mercedes EQB, basically an all-electric version of the GLB crossover, which should become a relatively more affordable option for the customers than the EQC. In these shots, it’s seen testing on public roads together with another GLB prototype and trying to hide its exterior design. Judging by these photos, the EQB is in the advanced stages of development – it’s wearing its production body and lights, and – most likely – the final powertrain configuration is already underneath the skin. Speaking of the powertrain, word on the street is the EQB will offer a range of up to 310 miles (500 kilometers) at a single charge, but will probably lose the seven-seat cabin layout of the regular GLB."
It does have a bit of the eSoul about it!
https://www.motor1.com/news/371735/mercedes-eqb-spied-testing/
MERCEDES-BENZ IS PLAYING IT SAFE WITH BATTERIES AND DRIVING RANGE—FOR THE LONG HAUL
"With the launch of the Mercedes-Benz EQC earlier this year for Europe, some seized on the fully electric luxury crossover’s driving range as a sign the brand just wan't keeping up." says Green Car Reports: "The EQC hasn’t yet been rated for range by the U.S. EPA (or arrived here yet) but with 80 kwh of usable rated capacity it’s expected to slot in for the U.S. at 10-20 percent less rated range than the 293-mile Europe’s WLTP cycle indicates—and with fewer miles per kwh than the Tesla Model X, which ekes 325 miles from about 95 kwh of usable capacity."
According to Jochen Hermann, the head of eDrive development at Daimler AG: "“We don’t think it’s necessary to go for, let’s call it the last mile within the battery, I’d rather have something reliable, safe, and offer charging opportunities. Safety is number one within Mercedes—and safety also means reliability, quality, and long-term performance."
SKODA STARTS SERIAL PRODUCTION OF SUPERB IV PLUG-IN HYBRID
Today, the first SUPERB iV rolled off the line at the SKODA AUTO Kvasiny plant. The new SKODA SUPERB iV plug-in hybrid is made exclusively in Kvasiny, where it is built on the same production line as SUPERB variants that are driven solely by a combustion engine.
In the SUPERB iV, a 1.4 TSI petrol engine and an electric motor deliver a combined power output of 160 kW (218 PS). The all-electric range is up to 56 km in the WLTP cycle (35 miles); up to 930 km can be covered when combined with the petrol engine.
InsideEVs adds: "Just like the Superb is directly related to the Passat, the Superb iV is directly related to the Passat GTE (the 2nd model evolution) with the same 13 kWh battery and up to 56 km (34.8 miles) of all-electric range under WLTP test cycle. Market launch of the Superb iV is scheduled for early 2020 with sedan and combi versions."
TESLA “SMART” SUMMON WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OLDER MODEL S AND MODEL X WITH HARDWARE 2.0
"Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the highly-anticipated “Smart Summon” feature will be available for all Autopilot vehicles with hardware 2.0 and above. The announcement comes just nine days after Musk said that the Summon software was “almost perfect“." writes TEslarati: "After Tesletter posted V10 release notes regarding “Smart” Summon on their official Twitter, a follower asked Elon Musk whether owners operating under Hardware 2.5 would have the capability to experience a feature on Tesla’s driving-assist software that will allow a vehicle to find its owner through the Tesla app. Musk replied, clarifying that the newly released “Smart” Summon will operate normally with all vehicles running at least Hardware 2."
So that's cars made from October 2016 onwards.
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-smart-summon-wide-release-autopilot-hardware-2/
TESLA SAYS MODEL S PLAID COULD RECORD 7:05 NURBURGRING LAP NEXT MONTH
"Tesla has made a lot of noise after bringing a couple of Model S prototypes to the Nurburgring for development of its new “Plaid” powertrain – and to chase down the Porsche Taycan’s electric sedan record. Earlier this week, it was reported that the “chassis prototypes”, as the company calls them, had lapped the circuit in 7:20." says CarScoops: "However, the electric car manufacturer doesn’t appear satisfied with that. In fact, it went as far as tweeting that the Model S Plaid may be able to record a 7:05 time when it returns to the German circuit for more testing next month ."
FUTURE BMW 7 SERIES EV TO HAVE 670 HP, 120 KWH BATTERY
"BMW’s plans regarding electrifying its range are picking up speed with a new CEO at the helm. We reported a while back that BMW is planning on launching a fully electric version of the 7 Series under the i7 moniker. Today, new reports coming in from Munich seem to confirm the electrification of the 7 Series." reports BMW Blog: "There are rumors around two versions of the BMW i7: the standard version and an i7S. The latter will have more range and will be more powerful, as you might expect. According to our info, the i7S will have a power output of around 670 HP and a 120 kWh battery. With these figures, the expected range in WLTP tests should be around 600 km (360 miles)."
https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/09/18/rumor-future-bmw-7-series-ev-to-have-670-hp-120-kw-battery/
AIR POLLUTION PARTICLES FOUND ON FOETAL SIDE OF PLACENTAS – STUDY
"Air pollution particles have been found on the foetal side of placentas, indicating that unborn babies are directly exposed to the black carbon produced by motor traffic" writes Damian Carrington in The Guardian: "It found thousands of the tiny particles per cubic millimetre of tissue in every placenta analysed. The link between exposure to dirty air and increased miscarriages, premature births and low birth weights is well established. The research suggests the particles themselves may be the cause, not solely the inflammatory response the pollution produces in mothers. A comprehensive global review concluded that air pollution may be damaging every organ and virtually every cell in the human body. Nanoparticles have also been found to cross the blood-brain barrier and billions have been found in the hearts of young city dwellers."
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