23 Dec 2021 | Tesla Under Investigation For Video Game Distraction

Episode 1318,   Dec 23, 2021, 01:00 AM

Today’s big EV stories:
• The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 has gone on sale from £154,995
• Battery Update For '20-'22 Chevy Bolt EV, Bolt EUV Available
• Peugeot 208 and e-208 updated for 2022
• Tesla has submitted final documents for Gigafactory Berlin production approval
• Tesla is under investigation over the potential for drivers to play video games
• Tesla Model 3 Most Expensive Vehicle in U.S. to insure
• CATL launches cell production in new 60 GWh factory
• China's Gotion inks EV battery supply deal with unnamed US automaker
• Northvolt goes all out to meet 2021 launch goal
• Car Detailing Expert Examines The Rivian R1T's Build Quality
• Motorist caught keying £50,000 Tesla
• FDS extends record electric truck order - Just Auto
• Great Wall to launch budget Ora Cat electric hatch in Australia

Show #1318

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Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Thursday 23rd December. 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.

MERCEDES-AMG EQS 53 HAS GONE ON SALE FROM £154,995

- The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 has gone on sale in the UK ahead of deliveries starting in 2022.The first electric saloon to come from Mercedes’ performance division costs from £154,995 with a choice of two models available – Night Edition and Touring.

- In both models the EQS has a twin-motor powertrain that makes 649bhp and 950Nm of torque as well as providing all-wheel drive. The 0-60mph sprint takes 3.6 seconds and the top speed is 137mph, while the 107.8kWh battery promises up to 358 miles between charges.

- An optional Performance Package is available for the Night Edition, which decreases the 0-60mph time to 3.2 seconds and increases the top speed to 155mph.

- The Night Edition has more sporty-focused detailing on the outside, plus 21-inch alloy wheels, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, and sports pedals. At £8,995, the optional Performance Package increases performance as well as adding a ceramic composite braking system and carbon-fibre trim.

- The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 is on sale now with UK deliveries scheduled to begin in April 2022.


BATTERY UPDATE FOR '20-'22 CHEVY BOLT EV, BOLT EUV AVAILABLE

- All Chevy Bolt EV and Chevy Bolt EUV customers who have not yet received a new battery pack module can now update the onboard software to lift related parking and charging restrictions.

- the new software limits Chevy Bolt EV and EUV models to a maximum of 80-percent battery charge, and enables customers to charge their vehicle indoors overnight, use the vehicle with less than 70 miles of range, and park inside after charging.

- The new software was previously available for 2017 through 2019 Chevy Bolt EV and Chevy Bolt EUV models. Now, the software has expanded availability for 2020-through-2022 model-year vehicles. Customers are encouraged to reach out to their local Chevrolet dealer for more information on acquiring the software update.


PEUGEOT 208 AND E-208 UPDATED FOR 2022

- Peugeot has detailed another batch of updates for the 2022 model year of its 208 and e-208 superminis, following on from last month’s announcement of range-boosting tweaks for the EV version.

- The mild revisions come after an update to the e-208 electric supermini which is claimed to unlock as much as 15 miles of extra range. The inclusion of an interior humidity sensor and a more efficient heat pump helps cool and heat the cabin more efficiently, while a new gearbox ratio optimises range at higher speeds.


TESLA HAS SUBMITTED FINAL DOCUMENTS FOR GIGAFACTORY BERLIN PRODUCTION APPROVAL

- Tesla and others have now submitted all documents needed for the environmental approval that would allow Gigafactory Berlin to start production.

- Now the government has confirmed that the documents have all been submitted (via Reuters):

Tesla and relevant authorities submitted all the documents necessary for the approval process for its planned battery factory near Berlin, the environment ministry of the German state of Brandenburg said on Wednesday.

- Brandenburg Premier Dietmar Woidke has recently said that a decision for approval might instead come in early 2022.


TESLA IS UNDER INVESTIGATION OVER THE POTENTIAL FOR DRIVERS TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES

- The U.S. has opened a formal investigation into the potential for Tesla drivers to play video games on a center touch screen while the vehicle is in motion.

- In a document posted Wednesday on its website, the agency says the feature, called "Passenger Play," may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash.

- The probe, which covers all four Tesla models, the S, X, Y and 3, was opened "to evaluate the driver distraction potential of Tesla 'Passenger Play' while the vehicle is being driven." Investigators "will evaluate aspects of the feature, including the frequency and use scenarios of Tesla "Passenger Play."'

- The probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers about 580,000 electric cars and SUVs from model years 2017 through 2022.

- Tesla owner Vince Patton, who lives near Portland, Oregon, filed the complaint with the agency last month. In August, he was watching a YouTube video of a Tesla owner who discovered that he could now play a video game on his touch-screen while the vehicle is moving.

- Patton, who loves his car and says he has nothing against Tesla, worries that drivers will play games and become dangerously distracted.

- "NHTSA needs to prohibit all live video in the front seat and all live interactive web browsing while the car is in motion," Patton wrote in his complaint. "Creating a dangerous distraction for the driver is recklessly negligent."

- NHTSA already is investigating why Tesla's "Autopilot" partially automated driving system keeps crashing into stopped emergency vehicles, and it has inquired about why Tesla didn't file recall documents when it did an over-the-air internet update in an effort to address the safety problem.


TESLA MODEL 3 MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE IN U.S. TO INSURE

- A new study by QuoteWizard, an insurance price comparison website, reveals the most expensive “popular” vehicles to insure are also EVs: the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y respectively.

- The Model 3, which starts in the low $40K range, costs an average of $2,830 a year for full coverage. The Model Y isn’t far behind at $2,658.

- The average vehicle costs $1,255 to insure annually in the U.S., but several things factor into how much the end price is, including the age the vehicle, what you paid for it, engine size and what make and model it is.

- The “study’s” parameters are: ” from a leading insurance company for a 30-year-old male living in Seattle with a clean driving record. This sample driver has 50/100/50 coverage with $500 deductibles for both collision and comprehensive coverage.”


CATL LAUNCHES CELL PRODUCTION IN NEW 60 GWH FACTORY

- The Chinese battery cell manufacturer CATL has started production at its largest plant to date in Fuding near Ningde in Fujian province, which is to offer an annual capacity of 120 GWh when completed. The first phase, which has now started, is said to have a capacity of 60 GWh per year.

- The Fuding plant is CATL’s largest single project to date. To illustrate the scale: This battery factory alone has a planned capacity almost equal to the total installed capacity of all battery cell manufacturers in China in the first eleven months of 2021 – which was 128.3 GWh. According to current battery prices, 120 GWh would have a production value of over 100 billion yuan, or just under 14 billion euros.

- The company – like virtually all cell manufacturers – is on a huge expansion course. According to figures from the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA), CATL had an installed production capacity of 11.45 GWh in China in November, giving it a market share of 55 per cent. However, the company has already announced its own plants and production facilities of joint ventures with carmakers, which add up to 600 GWh.


CHINA'S GOTION INKS EV BATTERY SUPPLY DEAL WITH UNNAMED US AUTOMAKER

- Gotion will secure the number of batteries required by the customer, which expects to purchase no less than 200 GWh in total, from 2023-2028.

- Gotion High-Tech has signed a supply and localization agreement with a major publicly traded US auto company to supply the latter with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, the Chinese power battery giant said.

- But from the details of the announcement, there's a good chance the carmaker is Tesla.

- Gotion will export LFP batteries to the customer based on its demand through its battery production base in the Chinese mainland, the announcement said.

- These LFP battery products will be used in the customer's electric vehicle and other applications in the US and global markets,


NORTHVOLT GOES ALL OUT TO MEET 2021 LAUNCH GOAL


CAR DETAILING EXPERT EXAMINES THE RIVIAN R1T'S BUILD QUALITY


MOTORIST CAUGHT KEYING £50,000 TESLA


FDS EXTENDS RECORD ELECTRIC TRUCK ORDER - JUST AUTO


GREAT WALL TO LAUNCH BUDGET ORA CAT ELECTRIC HATCH IN AUSTRALIA


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