9 May 2018 | Updates Keep Arriving For Model 3, 20% Of Americans Say Next Car Will Be EV and Margot Robbie In Nissan Film
Tesla Adds New Interior Finish Option To S & X | Tesla Model X Sweeps AAA’s Top Green Vehicle Awards For 2018 | Model 3 Now Auto-Dims | Mercedes EQ C Spotted | Audi Targets 800,000 EV Sales By 2025 | Jaguar To Supply 200 Electric Vehicles For Chauffeur Service At Heathrow Airport | High Power Charging In All Forms With Proterra | 1 In 5 Americans Say They'll Buy An Electric Car | Electric Highway For Italy | Margot Robbie In Nissan Film
Wednesday 9th May 2018.
TESLA ADDS NEW INTERIOR FINISH OPTION TO S & X
- For those buying a new Model S or Model X, and you'd be forgiven for thinking Tesla only make a Model 3 if you're reading the headlines, there are some tweaks showing up in the configurator.
- CNET reports: "A new update that applies to every Model S and X interior is the addition of a darker finish on interior accent trim pieces. There's also a new "Oak Décor" finish available in conjunction with the "Cream Premium" interior. The automaker told Electrek that the interior changes will be implemented starting today, and vehicles currently in the preproduction process will be included in the shift."
- Electrek adds: "the Cream Premium and Black textile option (last two) are now being made unavailable for the Model S and Model X performance models."
TESLA MODEL X SWEEPS AAA’S TOP GREEN VEHICLE AWARDS FOR 2018
- Meanwhile, staying with those Teslas, AAA’s Top Green Vehicle Awards for 2018 has gone to the Model X in three categories. Teslarati report: "The all-electric SUV won the awards for Best Overall Green Car, Best Green Car Over $50,000, and Best Green SUV/Minivan. The Tesla Model S 75D earned AAA’s award for Best Large Car."
MODEL 3 NOW AUTO-DIMS
- And not to leave out the baby brother Model 3, there's a new firmware update to look out for. It's v8.1 and - round of applause - it's auto dimming lights. The option on the screen reads OFF, PARKING, ON or AUTO and then beneath that, AUTO HIGH BEAM. So it will adjust the lights according to its surroundings and ensure you don't dazzle oncoming drivers.
- There's also a toggle button on the screen to shift from streaming, to radio, to phone. Add that to the heated seats recently activated, and Automatic Emergency Braking.
MERCEDES EQC SPOTTED
- "The Mercedes-Benz EQ C has been caught waiting at a stoplight, which provided a great view of the upcoming electric crossover" according to an article by Motor 1. It comes from a minute long video posted on Youtube, and the car is in full camo. I must admit I did a double take because I would expect the SUV style of electric car to follow a common design language of having a short stubby front, or cab-forward as Jaguar’s design head honcho Ian Callum calls it, to maximise cabin space. However the shots which are supposed to be the EQC look make it look like a really long bonnet, or hood.
AUDI TARGETS 800,000 EV SALES BY 2025
- As major car makers look to the next 5 to 7 years, for building platforms and supply chains, Audi wants to sell 800,000 full electrics and hybrids per year, by 2025.
- Reuters say: "Audi declined to provide details about how many fully battery electric, and how many hybrid cars it will sell by 2025. Last year, it sold about 16,000 semi-electric vehicles and it still lacks a fully electric model in its lineup. The Ingolstadt, Germany-based brand, which delivered 1.88 million cars globally in 2017 currently offers three plug-in hybrid vehicles. In August, Audi will launch the e-tron sport utility vehicle, its first all-electric model."
JAGUAR TO SUPPLY 200 ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR CHAUFFEUR SERVICE AT HEATHROW AIRPORT
- 200 chauffeur-driven Jaguar I-PACE's will ferry passengers to and from the airport and, in the process, instantly create the largest chauffeur-driven fleet of electric vehicles in the UK. Heathrow already has one of the largest corporate electric vehicle fleets in the UK, and the highest density of charging infrastructure in Europe.
HIGH POWER CHARGING IN ALL FORMS WITH PROTERRA
- Maker of buses Proterra is getting in on the act of fast charging, with new solutions compliant with the latest standards up to 500kW, all buses using the CCS plug for charging.
- Some of the buses here in the UK use overhead charging too, in this case I think Proterra are talking about overhead conductive charging.
1 IN 5 AMERICANS SAY THEY'LL BUY AN ELECTRIC CAR
- "One in five Americans say they are likely to buy an electric car for their next new vehicle, according to a survey from AAA. That's up from 15% who said they were likely to buy an electric car last year." say CNN.
- The biggest reasons given were environment, then lower costs, and access to carpool lanes. And that's interesting because there was a survey earlier this year which surveyed existing EV drivers, and the Environment came further down the list of reasons they were driving them, with costs and performance at the top of the list.
ELECTRIC HIGHWAY FOR ITALY
- Italy is making a shift towards electrification, and the power company ENEL plans on installing 4,000 charging points across the country by 2022, 1,200 of which will be fast chargers.
- From Milan in the North down to Rome, drivers have chargers every 60mins of driving. Alberto Piglia, head of Enel's e-mobility unit, explained to CNN's Supercharged. "We know electric users like myself are mainly urban users, but we also want to move around for the weekends or travel around, so we've started to build infrastructure all around the country. Since last September people can go from Rome to Milan because we installed 30 charging points around the motorway. But we haven't stopped there because we are continuing to put infrastructure (so that) people are able to move around Italy"
- CNN continue: "Enel is investing between €100 million ($122 million) and €300 million ($366 million) in the project"
MARGOT ROBBIE IN NISSAN FILM
- And finally the Aussie actress Margot Robbie is the star of a new film for Nissan and the LEAF. Nissan said "[Margot] has composed an open letter to encourage people to make more sustainable energy choices. Margot, who performed the surfing sequence herself, is seen enjoying the early morning waves as she talks of creating a “better world for ourselves and everyone who comes after us”. Talking about the film, Margot said: “I hope I can play a small role in inspiring people across the globe to explore alternative forms of energy and make the switch to drive a better future for everyone. The point is, we can all make a difference and we don’t need to wait for others to do it for us.”
- Gareth Dunsmore, Electric Vehicle Director, Nissan Europe said: “Our LEAF and e-NV200 models are not only cleaner drives, they become mobile energy units too – the used batteries from these vehicles are put to good use as part of our xStorage energy storage solution which provides power to homes and even football stadiums across the world.”
I’d love to spread the word about electric cars so, if you can, share this somebody who might be interested.
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