21 May 2019 | Tesla Cuts Price Of Model S & X, Audi Q5 With 14kWh Battery and Chevy Volt Marketing Was Ultimately A Fail
Tesla Cuts Base Price Of New Model S And Model X Vehicles | Audi Q5 55 Tfsi E Quattro Debuts With Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain | Shell Launches E-Fluids To Optimise Electric Vehicle Performance | Honda's Adorable Electric Car Is Officially On Sale | BYD Delivers Electric Buses To Japan | Efacec Launches 2nd Generation Fast Charger For Electric Vehicles | Chevy Volt Marketing Confusion: Explaining Phevs Is Hard
Show #478
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Tuesday 21st May 2019. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story to save you time.
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.
TESLA CUTS BASE PRICE OF NEW MODEL S AND MODEL X VEHICLES
- "Tesla significantly reduced the base price today of its newly upgraded Model S and Model X vehicles that launched just a month ago. With the changes, Tesla also brought back a ‘Standard Range’ option for both vehicles – an option that has been on and off the configurator over the past year. For Model S, it started at $78,000 and it offers a range of 285 miles on a single charge and for Model X, it starts at $83,000 and the range is 250 miles. Now just a few weeks later, Tesla updated its online configurator to reduce the price of each model by $3,000 and $2,000 respectively" writes Fred Lambert for Electrek.
- Tesla came back with a statement and by the sound of it, I don't think they would have put it as first item on today's podcast! Tesla said: “Like other car companies, we periodically adjust pricing and available options. These pricing changes represent a reduction of about 2% to 3% in Model X and S prices. Last week, we raised US Model 3 prices by 1%. By any reasonable standard, these small changes are not newsworthy.”
- A comment from Guy Hall: "Two buyers getting the same price on car from dealerships is about as likely as paying the same price for your airline ticket as the person sitting next to you. Price adjustments from dealerships and manufacturers are frequently going on behind the curtain. At least Tesla's changes are transparent and in the open. I would take transparency over arguing with the dealership hoping I get a fair price. You could argue that the transparent pricing could affect your resale value, though keep in mind it could go either way."
https://electrek.co/2019/05/21/tesla-price-model-s-x-changes/
AUDI Q5 55 TFSI E QUATTRO DEBUTS WITH PLUG-IN HYBRID POWERTRAIN
- "Following the launch of the E-Tron Quattro and the China-only Q2 L E-Tron, another Audi is getting an electric motor. Unlike the other two, the new Q5 TFSI E Quattro (not the best name, right?) retains the combustion engine to form a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It combines a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine that develops 248 horsepower (185 kilowatts) and 273 pound-feet (370 Newton-meters) of torque with an electric motor rated at a peak output of 141 hp (105 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm)." reports Motor1.com: "Audi says the plug-in hybrid setup enables the midsize luxury SUV to offer a combined output of 362 hp (270 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm). The electrified muscle grants the Q5 with a sprint to 62 mph (100 kph) in only 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph (239 kph), which isn’t half bad given the vehicle’s size and the relatively small four-cylinder engine.That zero-emissions range is guaranteed by a lithium-ion battery pack with a 14.1-kWh capacity stored underneath the trunk’s floor. It takes only two and a half hours to fully charge the batteries through a 400 V/16 outlet while from a household socket it needs approximately six hours."
https://www.motor1.com/news/350614/audi-q5-tfsi-e-quattro/
SHELL LAUNCHES E-FLUIDS TO OPTIMISE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PERFORMANCE
- Shell has launched a new range of fluids specifically designed to work in battery electric vehicles (EVs). These E-Transmission Fluids, E-Thermal Fluids and E-Greases will make battery EVs perform better and be more efficient. This is part of Shell’s ongoing drive to support electric mobility and offer more and cleaner energy solutions for our customers.
- Shell is continuing to explore how to serve the world’s increasing number of EV drivers, both on our forecourts and beyond. Shell has been working closely with automotive and component manufacturers to engineer these “first fill” fluids that effectively and efficiently meet a broad range of battery EV performance requirements. These products are targeted at the growing number of automotive manufacturers who are building EVs.
- E-Fluids will help battery EVs reduce their lifecycle emissions and extend their lifespans due to their ultra-low viscosity properties which increase vehicles efficiency, and outstanding ageing properties which exceeds conventional oils. Shell has also produced a range of fluids, Shell Helix Hybrid, which are designed to work specifically with hybrid vehicles.
HONDA'S ADORABLE ELECTRIC CAR IS OFFICIALLY ON SALE
- "It’s been a long time in the making, but reservations are finally open for the Honda e – the Japanese brand’s cutesy little urban EV – and we couldn’t be more excited. We were first introduced to Honda’s baby back in 2017 when it was shown to the world as the Urban EV Concept, and like first-time parents we instantly fell in love. That was a tough act to follow, but when we saw it for the second time as the E Prototype in Geneva this year we were not disappointed. " writes Greg Potts for TopGear: "Honda had 24,000 expressions of interest after that unveiling – around 6,000 of which came from the UK.vNow known as simply the Honda e, there’s still no word on a final price, but expect to pay between £25k and £30k for a range of 125 miles, rear-wheel drive and the ability to fast charge to 80% battery capacity in 30 minutes. This is very much designed to be a city-dwelling run-around."
- Honda said "We are delighted to be offering a reservation option to our customers in select European markets for the first time with the Honda e. The Honda e in prototype form has received an overwhelming response and with over 25,000 registrations of interest across Europe, customers now have the opportunity to secure priority status to order the model"
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/hondas-adorable-electric-car-officially-sale
BYD DELIVERS ELECTRIC BUSES TO JAPAN
- "China's new energy vehicle manufacturer BYD has delivered its electric buses to Japan's Oze National Park, the Shenzhen-headquartered company said Monday." reports China.org.cn: "The J6 model of the bus, specifically designed for Japan and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, has a compact body to enhance accessibility on Japan's narrow streets and a low floor designed to cater to the aged society of Japan. It was the fourth time that BYD has delivered electric buses to Japan, the company said, noting that at present, one in every three electric buses in Japan's public transport market is provided by BYD. As of March 2019, BYD has a global reach boasting sales of over 50,000 electric buses in more than 50 countries and regions, as well as 17,000 units sold domestically."
http://www.china.org.cn/business/2019-05/21/content_74805404.htm
EFACEC LAUNCHES 2ND GENERATION FAST CHARGER FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
- Efacec has just given a new step in the electric mobility field with the development a new fast charger for electric vehicles, called QC45 Generation 2. This charging station is the 2nd generation of the company’s fast charger bestseller, with significant improvements in software and hardware domains. The official presentation of this product will take place on May 21st in Lyon, France, at the EVS32 Fair.
- With close to 4.000 fast charging equipment spread across five continents, mostly on the European and American continents, Efacec invests in the continuous evolution of its products to meet the current and future needs of the user of EV.
- But with DC power up to 50 kW, is that future proof?
CHEVY VOLT MARKETING CONFUSION: EXPLAINING PHEVS IS HARD
- "Automakers have had difficulty explaining the unique benefits of owning a plug-in hybrid. The Volt very quickly became the best selling plug-in vehicle in the United States. It held this title until it was finally de-throned by the Model 3." reports InsideEVs: "According to Autotrader’s Michael Harley, Chevy marketers were never able to properly educate consumers. “Overall, marketing and advertising for the Volt needed to focus on education as much as it did traditional selling. (...) A lack of a proper customer perception played a very large role in the demise of the Chevrolet Volt." Chevrolet marketing director of cars and crossovers, Steve Majoros, says GM focused too much on the technical aspects instead of showing the “promise of what Volt delivered.” That being a cleaner, more environmentally friendly driving experience."
https://insideevs.com/news/350574/chevy-volt-confusion-phev-consumers-videos/
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