14 Sep 2019 | Toyota Follow Tesla’s Battery Lead, Audi Explains e-tron Low Range and ID.Crozz Becomes ID.4
Toyota Using Tesla-Style Panasonic Batteries For China Hybrids | Series Version VW ID.Crozz To Become ID.4 | Volvo Becomes First Car Manufacturer To Offer Plug-In Hybrid Versions Of Its Entire Model Range | Audi Explains The E-Tron’s Low Range | Tesla Is Installing A Solar Array At Fremont | UK Government Pledges Over £500 Million For Green Technology Investment | Ford Makes Big Electric Push In Europe With New Launches
Show #580
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Saturday 14th September 2019. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story to save you time.
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TOYOTA USING TESLA-STYLE PANASONIC BATTERIES FOR CHINA HYBRIDS
"Toyota Motor Corp has started using the same type of battery that Panasonic Corp designed for Tesla Inc in some of its plug-in hybrids sold in China, sources familiar with the matter said." reports Reuters: "Toyota is using Panasonic’s cylindrical batteries in its new Corolla and Levin plug-in hybrid sedans launched in China this year, one of the people said. The batteries are the same size as those that Panasonic makes for Tesla. The move reflects Toyota’s efforts to secure stable supplies of high-quality batteries amid the accelerated global shift to electricity-powered cars."
Reuters continues: "Toyota is believed to have ordered about 50,000 of the cylindrical batteries, pushing Panasonic’s battery plant in Osaka to full capacity, the Nikkei said. Panasonic has been the exclusive battery cell supplier for Tesla, but the U.S. electric vehicle maker is in advanced talks with South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd as it seeks to diversify sources of the key component."
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-toyota-batteries-china
SERIES VERSION VW ID.CROZZ TO BECOME ID.4
"With the ID.3 just out, Volkswagen had further announcements to make at the IAA and said the VW ID. Crozz concept will be called ID.4 once it hits the markets in series. The model is destined for the US first next year and will be the first MEB-based model in the USA." writes electrive: "VW debuted the ID. Crozz at the LA Auto Show in 2017 as a Tiguan-sized electric SUV. However, the study is more reminiscent of an SUV coupé in the style of a BMW X4 or Mercedes GLC coupé. The debut of the series version is set for spring 2020, apparently, however, expect the production model to have a more conservative body shape, closer again to a Tiguan than the X4. At the IAA, VW is showing a heavily camouflaged SUV in a slightly fogged glass box, called “The Next ID” according to the registration number. The rear is steeper here and indeed reminds of a conventional compact SUV, albeit with a significantly longer wheelbase and thus different proportions."
https://www.electrive.com/2019/09/14/series-version-vw-id-crozz-to-become-id-4/
VOLVO BECOMES FIRST CAR MANUFACTURER TO OFFER PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSIONS OF ITS ENTIRE MODEL RANGE
Volvo reaches an important milestone in its powertrain electrification programme with the debut of the new T5 Twin Engine hybrid system in the multi-award-winning XC40 SUV.
The introduction makes Volvo the only manufacturer to offer plug-in hybrid versions across its entire product range, while the XC40 T5 Twin Engine is also the only plug-in hybrid car in the premium compact SUV segment.
The T5 Twin Engine marries Volvo’s efficient new 1.5-litre three-cylinder 180hp petrol engine with an 82hp electric motor in a hybrid system that delivers 262hp, making it the most powerful powertrain in the XC40 range.
The compact, energy-dense lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 10.7kWh, enabling exhaust emissions-free electric-only driving of up to 28.6 miles (provisional data), according to driving conditions and battery charge levels.
The new T5 Twin Engine joins two diesel and three petrol powertrains in the XC40 range, with an all-electric model joining the line-up next year to provide a truly comprehensive choice.
AUDI EXPLAINS THE E-TRON’S LOW RANGE
"Amidst discussions on electric car battery technology and Tesla’s lead in the EV segment as a whole, Audi has provided some details explaining why its first all-electric SUV, the e-tron 55, only has an EPA-rated range of 204 miles per charge despite its 95 kWh battery. According to the German carmaker, a lot of it has to do with safety. " reports Simon for Teslarati: "The information about the e-tron’s battery and range were related to Jalopnik auto journalist Mack Hogan, who remarked on Twitter that Tesla holds a large lead in the EV market due to its vehicles’ superior performance and range. In response to the journalist’s tweet, the German automaker provided explanations about the e-tron’s range. Audi noted that the e-tron 55’s battery is built to handle serious abuse, and this is a key reason why range had to be sacrificed for the sake of preserving the pack’s long-term durability. This could be seen in the e-tron 55’s cooling system, which individually monitors and cools individual battery pack modules to keep them operating at optimum temperatures. These aggressive and redundant cooling systems ultimately add weight and consume power. Audi does not allow customers to access the e-tron’s full 95 kWh battery, walling 12% of the vehicle’s pack and leaving drivers with a useable 83.6 kWh. Despite having a pack that’s only slightly larger than the e-tron 55’s 95 kWh battery, the Model X Long Range is capable of lasting 325 miles per charge. That’s 38% more range for a battery that’s only 5% bigger. "
https://www.teslarati.com/audi-explains-etron-low-range/
TESLA IS INSTALLING A SOLAR ARRAY AT FREMONT
"Tesla is working on some upgrades to its Fremont factory, including installing a new solar array, the first at the factory, and a new 24-stall Supercharger station." says electrek: "It turns out that Tesla made other building permit applications in the last few weeks for interesting upgrades to the factory. One of those is a new solar array on the roof of the factory. Despite the fact that Tesla is a solar installer, the company has sometimes been slow to install solar power at its own locations. This is in addition to a new structure to test its solar roof tiles at the Fremont Factory. Recent building permit applications show that Tesla is still working on that. Also, another permit application that Tesla filed a few weeks ago shows that Tesla is working on a new Supercharger station at the factory"
https://electrek.co/2019/09/11/tesla-solar-array-fremont-factory-new-supercharger/
UK GOVERNMENT PLEDGES OVER £500 MILLION FOR GREEN TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT
"The Treasury has launched a £400 million fund to expand Britain’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with the first £70 million allocated for 3,000 more charge points." according to Intelligent Transport: "A review is currently underway to explore the provision of charge points across major road networks, meaning drivers could charge their car whilst stopping at service stations. This investment complements £1.5 billion of support which is hoped to encourage the use of electric vehicles and make cleaner vehicles more accessible to everyone. £31.5 million has been allocated for research into pioneering technologies to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and £22 million to research new kinds of air pollutants and minimise their effects on public health."
Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “It is fantastic there is already a rapid charge point at almost every motorway service station, and now more charging stations than petrol stations. But I want to see thousands more charge points installed across the UK.”
FORD MAKES BIG ELECTRIC PUSH IN EUROPE WITH NEW LAUNCHES
"Ford Motor Co said on Tuesday it would launch eight electric vehicles in Europe this year, a key step in its target of achieving a majority of its overall sales from electric cars by the end of 2022. The launches include electric variants of the Kuga and Puma SUVs and the Mondeo sedan. The automaker also plans to launch nine other electric vehicles by 2024 in Europe, including a new Mustang-inspired electric SUV next year." according to Autoblog: "The automaker unveiled the models at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, and said it would partner with six leading energy suppliers across Europe to provide home charging wall box installation services. The carmaker, like its rivals, has been facing stagnant demand and rising costs as it invests billions of dollars in electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles in efforts to boost sales."
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