10 July 2019 | Mini Cooper SE Revealed, No Refresh For Tesla S/X and PHEV Could Be The Answer For Commercial Vehicles
2020 Mini Cooper Se Revealed | Tesla ‘Refresh’ Of Model S And X Isn’t Coming | Elon Musk Says Free Self-Driving Chip Upgrade Could Come To Older Teslas This Year | Toyota Covers A Prius In Solar Cells To Boost Its Range By 27 Miles | Trials Show Viability Of Hybrid Power For Commercial Vehicles |Watch Ford F-150 Electric Pickup Truck Drive Silently
Show #524
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Wednesday 10th July 2019. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story to save you time.
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2020 MINI COOPER SE REVEALED
"It might not have the same impact as the original Mini, but the new Cooper SE is an important model as it allows the BMW-owned brand to enter the electric era. It’s labeled as being the “first purely electrically powered premium small car” (what about the BMW i3?) and combines just about everything we like about the Mini with a zero-emissions powertrain." reports Motor1.com: "At the heart of the Mini Cooper SE is an electric motor located underneath the hood where you’d normally find a gasoline or even a diesel engine. It produces 135 kilowatts (181 horsepower) channeled to the front wheels promising to lend the car that go-kart feeling thanks to an “innovative driving dynamics system with wheel slip limiting close to the actuator.” the Mini Cooper SE goes from 0 to 60 kph (37 mph) in 3.9 seconds and needs 7.3 seconds to complete the 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) task. Interestingly, Mini says the all-electric hatchback can keep up the pace “effortlessly” with ICE-powered sports cars over the first 60 meters (nearly 200 feet). Flat out, it will do an electronically governed 150 kph (93 mph). Installed in the floor is a 32.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack with enough juice for 235 to 270 kilometers (146 to 168 miles). Mini points out the info about range “has already been calculated based on the new WLTP test cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes.” According to Automotive News, the electric hatch is estimated to have an EPA-certified range of 114 miles (183 km). To entice buyers, Mini will throw in a lot of standard goodies: LED headlights, two-zone automatic AC, 6.5-inch infotainment with navigation, and even auxiliary heating. At an additional cost, there’s a bigger 8.8-inch touchscreen, leather upholstery, along with a choice of four exterior and interior packages featuring different exterior finishes, wheel designs, seat upholsteries, and cabin trims."
https://www.motor1.com/news/358835/2020-mini-cooper-se-revealed/
And from InsideEVs: "It uses a T structure, with its 12 modules placed between the front seats and under the rear seats, where the gas tank would be in a combustion-engine Mini. If you remember the Mini E, the first true car Mini offered as an EV – even if only for leasing – it had only two seats. The space in the back was destined to the batteries. To protect the battery pack, the Cooper SE sits 18 mm higher than the regular one and that is the only difference in dimensions for the 3-door hatchback. To protect the battery pack, the Cooper SE sits 18 mm higher than the regular one and that is the only difference in dimensions for the 3-door hatchback"
https://insideevs.com/news/358842/mini-cooper-se-official-presentation/
TESLA ‘REFRESH’ OF MODEL S AND X ISN’T COMING
@elonmusk : "There is no “refreshed” Model X or Model S coming, only a series of minor ongoing changes. Most significant change in past few years was to use high efficiency Model 3 rear drive unit as S/X front drive unit. That went into production 3 months ago."
Simon at Teslarati says: "Musk’s recent updates on Twitter stand in contrast to rumors that have emerged over the past month. In early June, for example, speculations from a reported Tesla insider suggested that the company is preparing to release a refreshed Model S with three electric motors and a range that exceeds 400 miles per charge. These rumors, which were reported by Tesla owner-enthusiast Kim in YouTube’s Like Tesla channel, further suggested that the revamped Model S and Model X are currently undergoing testing in extreme heat in areas such as the Mojave Desert and Death Valley. "
https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-debunks-tesla-model-s-model-x-refresh-rumors/
ELON MUSK SAYS FREE SELF-DRIVING CHIP UPGRADE COULD COME TO OLDER TESLAS THIS YEAR
"Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the company will “most likely” start retrofitting its new, more powerful processing chip into older vehicles near the end of the year. The new FSD chip is the first to have been designed in-house." reports The Verge: "esla says it offers 21 times the performance of the Nvidia chips it replaces — a claim Nvidia disputes. The new chip has been shipping in Model S, X, and 3 cars since before its announcement, but soon it will be offered as an upgrade to half a million Tesla owners. The FSD chip upgrade will be offered for free to any Tesla owners who have paid for the company’s “Full Self-Driving” add-on package, which costs $6,000. In total, Musk estimates that there are around 500,000 cars that are compatible with the new chip, although not all of them will have paid for the package that will allow them to get the upgrade for free."
https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/8/20685873/tesla-fsd-chip-upgrade-2019-install-hw2-full-self-driving
TOYOTA COVERS A PRIUS IN SOLAR CELLS TO BOOST ITS RANGE BY 27 MILES
"Toyota is continuing to explore the idea of solar-powered cars, with the automaker recently announcing that it’s ready to begin testing its most advanced system to date." according to Digital Trends: "After partnering with Sharp, Toyota says it has succeeded in creating high-efficiency solar cells for a version of its Prius plug-in hybrid. Road trials later this month will assess the effectiveness of improvements in cruising range and fuel efficiency offered by its new and advanced solar technology. The enhancements mean that the new solar cells will be able to generate enough power — if parked in the sun for a day — to give it the vehicle an extra 27 miles of range, about seven times more than before."
TRIALS SHOW VIABILITY OF HYBRID POWER FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
"Trials by Ford Motor Company involving several construction firms and their suppliers have concluded that hybrid electric vans present ‘a practical, accessible solution’ for cleaner air in cities." says Contruction Index: "During the trial, 75% of the fleet’s mileage in Central London and 49% in Greater London was completed using pure electric power. The results highlight that even without a fully established electric vehicle charging network, the hybrid vans were able to dramatically reduce tailpipe emissions in the inner city, using the flexibility of a petrol range-extender to complete longer journeys when required."
US has more than 68,800 electric vehicle charging units
"As of May 2019, there were more than 68,800 Level 2 and DC fast charging units throughout the United States. Of that total, 16%, or approximately 10,860 units, were DC fast chargers" reports Green Car Congress: "California has the most EV charging units of any state at 22,620, which represents about a third of the nationwide total; however, there are 18 other states that have more than 1,000 Level 2 and DC fast charging units, combined."
https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/07/20190709-fotw.html
WATCH FORD F-150 ELECTRIC PICKUP TRUCK DRIVE SILENTLY
"The recently spotted test mule of a camouflaged Ford F-150 - suspected to be all-electric (with a fake exhaust pipe) or plug-in hybrid - was recently discussed by TheFastLaneTruck." picks up InsideEVs: "Spy photos obtained by InsideEVs reveal and independent rear suspension, while from the side profile we probably see battery packs. TFLnow's video contains a short clip (1:45) of the prototype driving silently through the intersection. It's the ultimate proof that this truck is electrified. Electric trucks are nearly upon us and when one finally arrives, it's sure to take the world by storm. Our money is on Rivian delivering its R1T electric truck before any other automaker, but maybe Tesla will be first with its pickup?"
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