VW Considers Importing EVs From China To Europe | 30 Oct 2021

Episode 1261,   Oct 30, 2021, 12:00 AM

Today’s big EV stories:
• Tesla places 45 GWh LFP battery order from CATL for 2022
• EV tax credit increase to $12,500 makes the cut in Build Back Better
• Amazon taps $2B climate fund to invest in three more startups
• BMW i4 Electric Car Already Sold Out Based On 2021 Allocation
• VW considers importing the ID.6 to Europe
• Amazon reveals 20% stake in electric-vehicle maker Rivian
• Electric Vehicle Service Costs 30% Lower Than Gasoline Vehicles
• Piaggio 1 electric moped review: the future of urban mobility?
• Pre-Production Rivian R1T Finishes Fifth in 2500 Kilometer Rebelle Rally
• Tesla’s China insurance registrations surge in Sept., exceeding totals of top 6 local startups

Show #1261

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Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Saturday 30th October. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.

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 PLACES 45 GWH LFP BATTERY ORDER FROM CATL FOR 2022

- Tesla has reportedly placed an order for 45 GWh worth of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), one of its key battery partners.

- Considering that the Model 3 SR+ is reportedly fitted with a 55 kWh battery and the Model Y SR is equipped with a 60 kWh pack, the 45 GWh order from CATL could correspond to nearly 800,000 vehicles

- LFP batteries are playing a larger role in Tesla’s operations. Apart from their use in the company’s Standard Range vehicles, the batteries are also being used for the company’s energy storage products. These include the Megapack, Tesla’s 3 MWh flagship battery storage unit that’s specifically designed for grid use.


EV TAX CREDIT INCREASE TO $12,500 MAKES THE CUT IN BUILD BACK BETTER

- It sounds like President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats have a deal on the president's multitrillion-dollar social spending bill, now known as the Build Back Better framework. The nearly $2 trillion in spending includes a much-talked-about boost for the electric vehicle tax credit from $7,500 to $12,500.

- On Thursday, the White House announced dollar figures and initiatives included in a package that "can pass both houses of Congress," it said. Specifically for the EV tax credits, the long-floated $12,500 for purchasing an electric vehicle is included as part of $555 billion earmarked to combat climate change. According to the White House, eligible EVs will need to be made in the US with union labor to qualify for the full $12,500 credit


AMAZON TAPS $2B CLIMATE FUND TO INVEST IN THREE MORE STARTUPS

- Amazon has dipped back into its $2 billion climate fund and invested in several startups, including one that is developing fast-charging technology for electric vehicles as part of the e-commerce giant’s broader effort to have net-zero carbon operations by 2040.

- Resilent Power, an Austin, Texas-based company, announced Wednesday it has closed a $5 million seed round, which Amazon participated in but did not lead.

- The startup has developed a solid-state transformer that enables multi-megawatt medium voltage fast charging at one-tenth the installation time. It’s also able to handle solar generation, energy storage, vehicle-to-grid and microgrid tasks. Resilient says its system is capable of charging up to 24 vehicles at a time. It can also connect direct current or alternating current sources to a medium voltage line on the grid, which is a handy feature that helps avoid costly upgrades to the distribution grid.


BMW I4 ELECTRIC CAR ALREADY SOLD OUT BASED ON 2021 ALLOCATION

- BMW has reported that it sold out the entire 2021 allocation of its new i4 electric car. The brand did the same with its all-electric iX Sports Activity Vehicle. BMW recently started i4 series production in Munich. According to a report by CarsDirect, the automaker made the EV available for preorder earlier this month, and it sold out quite quickly. The publication notes that deliveries of both the i4 eDrive40 and M50 trims are sold out.

- The preorder page for the i4 notes that the first deliveries for both trims are sold out. BMW expects to begin deliveries in June 2022.  Buyers had to pay a $1,500 refundable deposit to pre-order the i4. If they hadn't yet done so, they'll likely have to wait until next summer for a second wave of deliveries to materialize.


VW CONSIDERS IMPORTING THE ID.6 TO EUROPE

- VW could sell its seven-seat ID.6. electric SUV, which is produced in China for the local market, in Europe in the future. According to a media report, however, the MEB model will not be built in Europe – but imported from China to Europe for the first time.

- According to the portal Business Insider, around 15,000 ID.6s are to be imported to Europe per year.

- The ID.6 is the first MEB model developed specifically for the Chinese market. At 4.88 metres in length, the electric SUV sits well above the ID.4.

- Despite the transport costs, the margins on the ID.6 are expected to be significantly higher because production and labour costs are much lower in China. In a five-year cycle, up to 80,000 ID.6s are to be sold in Europe.


AMAZON REVEALS 20% STAKE IN ELECTRIC-VEHICLE MAKER RIVIAN

- Amazon on Friday announced a sizable stake in Rivian Automotive, a start-up developing electric vehicles, including the retail giant’s commercial delivery vans.

- As of Sept. 30, Amazon held equity investments “including preferred stock of Rivian Automotive, Inc. representing an approximately 20% ownership interest” that had a carrying value of $3.8 billion, up from $2.7 billion on Dec. 31, the company disclosed in an SEC filing. Amazon has invested more than $1.3 billion in Rivian to date, Rivian said in a separate securities filing earlier this month.

- Rivian said Amazon has some exclusive rights to Rivian’s electric delivery vehicles for at least four years and the right of first refusal after that. Amazon has ordered 100,000 vehicles by 2030. The company plans to have 10,000 new electric delivery vehicles from Rivian on the road as early as next year.


ELECTRIC VEHICLE SERVICE COSTS 30% LOWER THAN GASOLINE VEHICLES

- The average cost of repairs and maintenance for electric vehicles for three years of ownership is about 30% lower than vehicles with internal-combustion engines, according to data from research and consulting firm We Predict.

- total electric vehicle service costs for 36 months on the road average $514, vs. $749 for internal-combustion vehicles, or about 31% lower.

- Included in the We Predict cost calculations are maintenance, unplanned repairs, warranty and recalls, service campaigns, diagnostics, software updates, and warranty costs on factory-installed options, the company said. Other routine costs of ownership, such as gas, or recharging EV batteries, local and state inspections, seasonal tire changes, and insurance are not included.


PIAGGIO 1 ELECTRIC MOPED REVIEW: THE FUTURE OF URBAN MOBILITY?

- Whatever our first impressions, the Piaggio 1 looks like a real game changer for both Europe’s biggest bike manufacturer and the entire e-bike market. It's a diminutive electric moped with removable battery that comes in at just over £2k. Yes, that’s less of an outlay than many regular e-pedal bikes

- Piaggio is betting hard on Gen Z - eco conscious, tech-savvy urbanites who could be looking for that simple, safe and emission-free first bike. A ride with a user interface that’s more Tron than Triumph, and that plugs in to charge at home, just like an iPhone. This is mobility as tech, buying a motorbike like buying a new gadget.

- Acceleration is even and although the limited power is occasionally frustrating when overtaking buses (WIRED had to abort a few manoeuvres due to lack of power) or off ‘the lights’, navigating UK urban speed limits of 20 and 30mph is a breeze, there’s only so much throttle available.

- The Piaggio 1 is available for £2,500 (£2,011 with UK EV grant) from Piaggio, Scooter and Motoden. The Piaggio 1 Active is £3,000 (£2,411 with UK EV Grant).


PRE-PRODUCTION RIVIAN R1T FINISHES FIFTH IN 2500 KILOMETER REBELLE RALLY
  

TESLA’S CHINA INSURANCE REGISTRATIONS SURGE IN SEPT., EXCEEDING TOTALS OF TOP 6 LOCAL STARTUPS


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