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Jim Hunt

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #150 on: June 09, 2019, 11:58:35 AM »
Neven should be interested in this. Once I have time to upload the full video you'll note a reference to working with Sono Motors.

Meanwhile we're disrupting the disruptors!

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silkman

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #151 on: June 09, 2019, 12:29:13 PM »
Jim,

Keep us posted on this. It has to be the way to go.

Meanwhile, I just completed a 500 mile round trip to Edinburgh, my longest foray to date in my i3. The upside was recognising the delight of the fantastic Lakes and Borders countryside whilst driving economically in the slow lane. The downside was my increasing frustration with roadside charging facilities in the UK. A 50% failure rate at Ecotricity CCS roadside chargers North of Preston was irksome to say the least.

We've a long way to go before we've got even the basic infrastructure in place to satisfy the average driver.

Keep up the good work!

Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #152 on: June 09, 2019, 02:23:15 PM »
Funny, that the ad doesn't say "Audi gone electric"...

Because they haven’t, not really...  ;)   Which I’m sure is your point.

But it fits with their quirky ad that says “Maybe you’re not ready for an electric car,” while showing ways that you are.  I think they realize they need creative ways to draw attention to the e-tron, since the car’s features aren’t much to crow about.
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b_lumenkraft

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #153 on: June 09, 2019, 02:47:44 PM »
Correct, that's my point. And the ad about 'are you ready' is comedic. Makes the watcher wonder, 'Is Audi ready?'.

Jim Hunt

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #154 on: June 10, 2019, 12:06:54 PM »
Keep us posted on this. It has to be the way to go.

Agreed. Here is the inimitable Bobby Llewellyn's review of the Sono Motors Sion:



We Drive Solar are in close contact with the Sono team, and the Sion is designed "from the ground up" to use AC V2G technology. The "secret weapon" is not quite so secret any more!

Quote
Keep up the good work!

We intend to!
« Last Edit: June 10, 2019, 12:19:18 PM by Jim Hunt »
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SteveMDFP

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #155 on: June 10, 2019, 03:41:35 PM »
Keep us posted on this. It has to be the way to go.

Agreed. Here is the inimitable Bobby Llewellyn's review of the Sono Motors Sion:

We Drive Solar are in close contact with the Sono team, and the Sion is designed "from the ground up" to use AC V2G technology. The "secret weapon" is not quite so secret any more!

Quote
Keep up the good work!

We intend to!

Interesting video, great concept.  Some of us have no garage for home charging, but have modest daily mileage needs.  Solar charging would be totally adequate for someone like me.  Top speed isn't "sexy," but more than adequate for sane drivers. 

b_lumenkraft

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #156 on: June 10, 2019, 04:22:49 PM »
Audi etron is potentially hot stuff, fire recall

https://insideevs.com/news/353790/audi-recall-e-tron-charging-water-fire/amp/

(i wouldn't usually post this, because it's the equivalent of a sack of rice falling over in China, but since those things get posted when it's about Tesla, here i go)

Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #157 on: June 10, 2019, 04:47:18 PM »
Audi etron is potentially hot stuff, fire recall

https://insideevs.com/news/353790/audi-recall-e-tron-charging-water-fire/amp/

(i wouldn't usually post this, because it's the equivalent of a sack of rice falling over in China, but since those things get posted when it's about Tesla, here i go)

The fledgling i-Pace is also having difficulties:
Quote
2019-2020 Jaguar I-Pace: Recall Alert | News | Cars.com
https://www.cars.com/articles/2019-2020-jaguar-i-pace-recall-alert-403454/
Vehicles Affected: Approximately 3,000 model-year 2019-20 Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles
The Problem: If the regenerative brake system fails, there will be an increased delay between when the driver brakes and when the vehicle decelerates, increasing the risk of a crash.
The Fix: Dealers will update the software to reduce the delay for free.
What Owners Should Do: Jaguar will begin notifying owners July 1. Owners can call Jaguar at 800-637-6837, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit its website to check their vehicle identification number and learn more.
Need to Find a Dealer for Service? Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find your local dealer. To check for other recalls, and to schedule a free recall repair at your local dealership, click here: Jaguar I-Pace
« Last Edit: June 11, 2019, 01:13:44 PM by Sigmetnow »
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magnamentis

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #158 on: June 10, 2019, 05:21:01 PM »
this is the first and only electric car concept where is no need to ask every once and then:

why not this too, why not that way etc. the concept for a start is perfect and flawless and once
when there will be better batteries available and 4-wheel drive for the mountains above the fog where solar charging makes more sense than most valley-dwellers know, this is about how
EVs should be at the current stage of technology.

obviously this will be perfect for all Mediterranean and other sunny places where a nice rest for a meal can bring you back home ;) (charging time wise in bright sunshine)

i'm exited to see this happen and hope for a soon production launch to give them the diserved benefit before the big players are going to copy and steal their incentive away from them.

Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #159 on: June 10, 2019, 05:28:13 PM »
Quote
Bonnie Norman (@bonnienorman) 6/8/19, 9:36 AM
1/ I love this old series of @pluginamerica Drive Electric commercials.
https://twitter.com/bonnienorman/status/1137352806354939904

——
While the numbers will vary from month to month, half of all cars sold in 2019 in Norway will probably be fully electric, the head of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association (NEV) said.
Tesla boom lifts Norway's electric car sales to record market share
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1RD2BB

——
Electrify America now has 120 charging stations at Walmart stores, plans to expand further
All Electrify America chargers at Walmart locations feature 150 kW and 350 kW DC fast chargers.
https://electrek.co/2019/06/06/electrify-america-walmart-charging-120/

—-
Quote
ValueAnalyst (@ValueAnalyst1) 6/8/19, 1:22 PM
Missed this one:
FCA announced after its third straight monthly U.S. sales decline that it’s going to shift to quarterly reporting. The company is taking after GM, which made the switch a year ago, and Ford, which followed suit beginning in January.”
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1137409476561166337

—-
Quote
Tesla New York (@TeslaNY) 6/9/19, 8:19 PM
Fiat's U.S. Dealers → “Fiat entered May with nearly six months of inventory ... the most in the industry ... In the first five months of 2019, sales have plunged 39%.” autonews.com/sales/fiats-us… $TSLA pic.twitter.com/w7L7HavzS6
https://twitter.com/teslany/status/1137876866105323521
< Don’t be surprised if FCA goes bust in 2020. This is why they want to merge
Red bar graph below.

——
“Without new regulations, we will not meet the one million units … it will be fewer than a million.”
Toyota Plans To Lose To Tesla — Just 1 Million Electric Vehicles By 2025
Quote
Tesla plans to sell 1 million BEVs per year by 2021, at least 4 years ahead of Toyota. Even Volkswagen expects to reach that goal in 2022. Toyota is essentially admitting defeat at this point. …
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/06/08/toyota-plans-to-lose-to-tesla-just-1-million-electric-vehicles-cumulative-by-2025/
Graph below

< Sales numbers are the best survey one can make...!
Quote
ValueAnalyst (@ValueAnalyst1) 6/8/19, 10:16 AM
Yes, and traditional OEMs see sell-through rates even though we see only what they sell to dealers, so @Toyota is already witnessing the likely double-digits drops in their ICE sales due to Model 3 Standard demand surge this summer.
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1137362772730294272

——
UK Manufacturers and others stockpiled for an April Brexit… which has been delayed to October. Doubtful the industry will pick back up to normal in the interim.
UK economy hit by 'dramatic' fall in car output
A "dramatic" fall in car production and an easing of stockpiling by manufacturers meant the economy shrank in April, official figures show
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48579630
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #160 on: June 11, 2019, 01:17:11 PM »
Audi etron is potentially hot stuff, fire recall

https://insideevs.com/news/353790/audi-recall-e-tron-charging-water-fire/amp/
...

The fledgling i-Pace is also having difficulties:
Quote
2019-2020 Jaguar I-Pace: Recall Alert | News | Cars.com
https://www.cars.com/articles/2019-2020-jaguar-i-pace-recall-alert-403454/
Vehicles Affected: Approximately 3,000 model-year 2019-20 Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles
The Problem: If the regenerative brake system fails, there will be an increased delay between when the driver brakes and when the vehicle decelerates, increasing the risk of a crash.
...

What’s particularly noteworthy about these failures is that they are EV-related, illustrating that despite their decades of ICE manufacturing experience, OEMs cannot match Tesla’s EV expertise (and won’t for years, if ever).  Also, as shown by the headlines below, that in the public’s mind, EV = Tesla, and the e-tron and I-Pace are still unknowns.

Quote
Don't Bet Against Elon (@SteveHamel16) 6/10/19, 5:13 PM
Why is @Tesla in the title of this article?

"Audi and Jaguar are recalling their Tesla rivals after realizing their batteries were at risk of catching fire"
#Pravduh

businessinsider.com/audi-jaguar-re…
https://twitter.com/stevehamel16/status/1138192491633696769
< To be fair, if the headline has said e-Tron and iPace recalled, the avg Business "insider" wouldn't know what they were talking about.  The word "Tesla" is synonymous with electric car, which should worry ICE OEM's.

Tesla Model Y Rivals From Audi, Jaguar Recall Vehicles For Safety Concerns
https://www.ibtimes.com/tesla-model-y-rivals-audi-jaguar-recall-vehicles-safety-concerns-2799512
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #161 on: June 11, 2019, 04:21:21 PM »
Hydrogen station explodes, Toyota halts sales of fuel cell cars, is this the end?
Jun. 11th 2019 9:28 am ET
Quote
A hydrogen refueling station exploded in Norway on Monday and the company operating the station has suspended operation at its other locations following the explosion.

Now, Toyota and Hyundai are both halting sales of fuel cell vehicles in the country. ...
https://electrek.co/2019/06/11/hydrogen-station-explodes-toyota-halts-sales-fuel-cell-cars/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #162 on: June 11, 2019, 06:32:54 PM »
U.S. Auto Dealers use “floorplan loans” to buy inventory.  They pay back the loan plus fees when a car is sold.  At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.
Lenders now allege that dealerships sold vehicles without repaying the bank for floorplan loans, known as selling out of trust.

Auto dealers across U.S. face lender lawsuits, store closures
Quote
Dealers and dealership groups across the country in recent months have faced lender lawsuits, store closures and even the loss of their entire businesses after allegedly selling vehicles out of trust.

The lender said that during a routine audit April 29 at Northwoods Auto, which operates as Northwoods Nissan, it discovered that the dealership had sold eight vehicles out of trust and failed to pay the captive nearly $274,000.  Nissan Motor Acceptance said in court filings that it believes the dealership is insolvent, has no way to repay it for vehicles sold out of trust and may file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The lender, in its complaint filed in Hillsborough County, Fla., said it entered into agreements with the dealership in May 2018 for a $3.5 million new-vehicle floorplan line and in September for a $3 million used-vehicle floorplan line. By January, the dealership had allegedly defaulted on the loans and had overdrafted operating accounts, according to court records.
...
Republic, in court filings, said that after Jan. 31, it learned the dealership had sold or financed 72 vehicles but didn't repay the more than $1.9 million due. A later audit found seven vehicles missing. Republic sought payment of nearly $5.7 million in loans on May 3. …
https://www.autonews.com/dealers/auto-dealers-across-us-face-lender-lawsuits-store-closures?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

—- Probably means absolutely nothing:
Quote
Bonnie Norman (@bonnienorman) 6/10/19, 10:03 PM
Le scandal! New cars filling THREE levels of Daly City parking garage. Alert the #ParkingLotTruthers.
https://twitter.com/bonnienorman/status/1138265361944416256
Photos at the link.
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rboyd

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #163 on: June 11, 2019, 09:52:39 PM »
Hydrogen station explodes, Toyota halts sales of fuel cell cars, is this the end?
Jun. 11th 2019 9:28 am ET
Quote
A hydrogen refueling station exploded in Norway on Monday and the company operating the station has suspended operation at its other locations following the explosion.

Now, Toyota and Hyundai are both halting sales of fuel cell vehicles in the country. ...
https://electrek.co/2019/06/11/hydrogen-station-explodes-toyota-halts-sales-fuel-cell-cars/

There was this big airship called the Hindenburg that was full of hydrogen ... never a very safe gas to play with. This is like watching the Betamax producers trying to keep an idea alive after VHS has already taken over the market (millennials may need to google this). The problem for Toyota and Hyundai is that they kept investing in hydrogen fuel cells and got left behind in the EV space. Think what Toyota could have done if they had poured more investment in the Prius etc. Seems they have started to get the message .... but ...

Toyota unveils images of upcoming all-electric cars, accelerates EV plans by 5 years

Quote
Toyota announced that it is accelerating its electric vehicle plans by 5 years and partnering with new battery makers to secure supply as it unveiled images of upcoming all-electric cars.

However, the automaker’s electrification plan is still heavily focused on hybrids instead of all-electric vehicles.
During a briefing with the press this week, Toyota Executive Vice President Shigeki Terashi said that the automaker plans for half of its global sales to be electrified vehicles by 2025 – 5 years ahead of previous plans.

Some automakers refer to “electrified vehicles” when talking about electric vehicle plans and they are generally using the term to talk about the mix of hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and all-electric (BEV) vehicles.

Historically, Toyota has looked down on all-electric vehicles and been focusing on hybrids.

Terashi’s talk was titled “Aiming to Popularize BEVs”, but it was clear that the Japanese automaker is still focused on hybrids and fuel cell vehicles.

https://electrek.co/2019/06/07/toyota-electric-car-images-accelerate-plan/

Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #164 on: June 12, 2019, 03:15:20 AM »
Change is hard.

Quote
ValueAnalyst (@ValueAnalyst1) 6/11/19, 12:23 PM
One thing that surprised me in 2019:
Model 3's supposed competitors didn't crash; they failed to even take off.
Leaf Plus... Kona Electric... etc.
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1138481884747489282
GIF at the link:  failing to take off. ;)

Quote
ValueAnalyst (@ValueAnalyst1) 6/10/19, 7:49 PM
"Toyota won't be abandoning the trademark hybrid technology pioneered in the Prius."

Prius sales sank 39% in 2019.

https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1138231664549797889
[Sales data image at the link.]
< Ruroh, gonna need some regulatory credits.
- I know a guy...

Quote
ValueAnalyst (@ValueAnalyst1) 6/11/19, 10:52 AM
"'We see continued and even increasing demand for hybrids on our vehicles,' said Mark Grueber, @Ford’s consumer-marketing manager. 'As we see the overall market moving from sedans to utilities and trucks, our focus is going to be on offering hybrids on those body styles.'"
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1138458975488368641

Prius sales are falling, but hybrids are more popular than ever
https://www.twincities.com/2019/06/03/prius-sales-are-falling-but-hybrids-are-more-popular-than-ever-3/

Toyota pulls forward electrification plan, eyes solid-state battery next year
https://techboostdaily.com/2019/06/toyota-pulls-forward-electrification-plan-eyes-solid-state-battery-next-year-2/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #165 on: June 12, 2019, 05:55:13 PM »
Burning hydrogen is invisible.

June 1, 2019:  Hydrogen explosion shakes Santa Clara, California neighborhood
Quote
"The tanker truck was in the process of being fueled and it began to leak and there was a large hissing noise. The workers on site tried attempted to shut down the valve of the line that was fueling one of the trucks," said Battalion Chief for Santa Clara Fire Dept., Drew Miller.

It took firefighters an hour and at least three aerial master streams to put out the fire. The biggest challenge? Hydrogen is invisible.

"They were also using thermal imaging cameras from different vantage points to make sure that the hydrogen wasn't burning even after it appeared that it was shut down," said Miller. ...
https://abc7news.com/amp/hydrogen-explosion-shakes-santa-clara-neighborhood/5326601/
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b_lumenkraft

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #166 on: June 13, 2019, 01:45:32 PM »

kassy

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #167 on: June 13, 2019, 03:11:50 PM »
That one is about half cars/motorcycles scooters and such. Not quite sure if they have a similar date for cars there.
Þetta minnismerki er til vitnis um að við vitum hvað er að gerast og hvað þarf að gera. Aðeins þú veist hvort við gerðum eitthvað.

Tom_Mazanec

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #168 on: June 13, 2019, 06:03:36 PM »

Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #169 on: June 13, 2019, 09:32:27 PM »
Breaking:
Florida law lets autonomous vehicles drive without humans
By Associated Press June 13, 2019 at 12:15 PM EDT - Updated June 13 at 12:41 PM
Quote
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Self-driving vehicles will be able to operate in Florida without a human on board under a bill signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis signed the measure on Thursday at a test track for autonomous vehicles in Auburndale. The governor says he wants companies testing the vehicles to move to Florida.

The new law takes effect July 1. It will allow self-driving cars without humans on all roads as long as the vehicles meet insurance and safety requirements outlined in the new legislation.

Current law allows self-driving vehicles if a person is in the car as backup. The new law also exempts operators inside self-driving cars from laws that ban texting while driving and other potentially distracting activities.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/2019/06/13/florida-law-lets-autonomous-vehicles-drive-without-humans/
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rboyd

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #170 on: June 13, 2019, 10:45:53 PM »
A year ago, China’s electric vehicle sales grew 126%. Now they’re at 2%

Misleading headline, as in May 2018 EV sales spiked over 100% y-o-y, then the growth level fell back the following months. There may well be a spike in sales this year in June as there is a big cut in EV subsidies at the end of the month. In May 2019 EV's had a 5.45% share of the Chinese light vehicle market.

https://qz.com/1641512/chinas-electric-vehicle-sales-grew-126-a-year-ago-now-theyre-at-2/

The Chinese government is making it easier to get licenses for EV's versus ICE's, a big deal in most major cities where there are severe restrictions on new licenses to limit congestion. This may help offset some of the cut in subsidies from the end of June

Quote
Jia Xinguang, executive director of China Automobile Dealers Association, a government-based industry group, thinks the same. He told Chinese financial publication Yicai (link in Chinese) that rather than canceling the restrictions of all purchase limits, cities like Beijing could allocate more of the total quota available to NEVs. This year the city is giving (link in Chinese) 60,000 license plates to NEVs and 40,000 to traditional fuel cars.

https://qz.com/1639488/china-bars-cities-from-limiting-electric-car-purchases/.


Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #171 on: June 15, 2019, 09:50:22 PM »
VW raising cash using its truck unit.  Article’s video mentions the  joint efforts with Ford in EVs and autonomy.

VW to float 10% of truck unit, seeks to raise 1.9 billion euros
Quote
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Volkswagen aims to raise up to 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) by listing truck unit Traton, it said on Friday, scaling back earlier ambitions to list up to a quarter of the unit by opting to float a 10% stake.

The German carmaker said in a statement that the offering would be priced at 27-33 euros per share, which Jefferies analysts said valued Traton at a slight discount to industry peers but at a premium to Swedish competitor Volvo.
...
Management denies that a Navistar deal is in immediate prospect, but such a move would fit with a broader pivot by the leading European carmaker towards the United States to balance its reliance on China, where it sells half its cars.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-traton-ipo/volkswagen-to-float-10-of-truck-unit-seeks-to-raise-1-9-billion-euros-idUSKCN1TF0K6
« Last Edit: June 15, 2019, 10:34:20 PM by Sigmetnow »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #172 on: June 17, 2019, 09:36:24 PM »
Meet The New 2019 Renault ZOE With 52 kWh Battery And 100 kW Motor
https://insideevs.com/news/355173/2019-renault-zoe-52-kwh-pack/

Electric van:  Nissan Received More Than 10,000 e-NV200 (40 kWh) Orders Since 2018
Over 20,000 Nissan e-NV200 were already delivered.  Nissan celebrates 10,000 orders placed for the e-NV200 van and Combi passenger variants in Europe, since the introduction of the 40 kWh battery version in February 2018.
https://insideevs.com/news/354883/nissan-10000-e-nv200-40-kwh-since-2018/amp/

Volkswagen Confirms Sales Of e-Golf In Canada In 2020
https://insideevs.com/news/354954/volkswagen-confirmed-sales-e-golf-canada-2020/amp/

VW announces ID battery warranty of 70% capacity for 8 years, confirms disappointing charge rate
125kW may be acceptable for a compact sedan, but VW is saying that will be the charging capacity for all ID vehicles.
https://electrek.co/2019/06/17/vw-id3-battery-warranty-charge-rate/

How BMW is trying to spark plug-in hybrid sales
Quote
Plug-in hybrids have drawn flak in some environmental circles because even though they are designed to be driven using electric power, many are not.
BMW is determined to improve the vehicles' image. One big motivation? BMW must sell more plug-in hybrids so it can bring down its emissions and comply with European regulations.
Its approach: Make consumers more aware of the vehicles' benefits.
Challenged with Europe's mandate to cut fleet carbon dioxide emissions, BMW has launched a pilot program in Rotterdam, Netherlands, to encourage plug-in hybrid drivers to switch off their combustion engines and use battery power while driving in a downtown area….
https://www.autonews.com/sales/how-bmw-trying-spark-plug-hybrid-sales
< That's why the Chevy Volt got the Hold mode on Euro market: to enable saving the battery range until you enter an ICE restriction zone.

—-
Officially, MSRP of the Chevy Bolt is unchanged.  But after the federal tax credit decrease, GM dealers are offering discounts up to 10 and 11 thousand dollars.
Deep Discounts On Chevy Bolt - Up To $11,500 Off MSRP
https://insideevs.com/features/354296/deep-discounts-on-chevy-bolt/

—- Electric lawnmowers are taking off in a big way this summer in the U.S.
Quote
Earl of Frunkpuppy (@28delayslater) 6/16/19, 9:13 AM
8) best gift. I’m now an electric lawnmower owner. #FathersDayWeekend
https://twitter.com/28delayslater/status/1140246099288055808
Quote
Brian Kruhlak (@BrianKruhlak) 6/16/19, 9:18 PM
Officially done with ICE......unless you count my wife’s Prius. ...
https://twitter.com/briankruhlak/status/1140428363749658624
(Box with e-mower at the link.)

——
Domino's Testing Autonomous Pizza Delivery in Houston
https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/dominos-testing-autonomous-pizza-delivery-houston
Later this year.
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #173 on: June 17, 2019, 09:42:12 PM »
EVs as % of new car sales in Norway
Quote
Thematica (@Thematicafunds) 6/16/19, 12:30 PM
Electric Vehicle market share in Norway
2008: 0.22%
2009: 0.15%
2010: 0.31%
2011: 1.32%
2012: 3.24%
2013: 5.89%
2014: 13.34%
2015: 21.08%
2016: 26.64%
2017: 37.07%
2018: 46.42%

Source: IEA
https://twitter.com/thematicafunds/status/1140295588577251329

—-
London looks to install as many as 50,000+ EV charge points by 2025
https://electrek.co/2019/06/17/london-ev-charge-points-2025/
 
—-
While not committing to a launch date, Barra says she doesn't regret the 2019 target: "It's a rallying cry. And I think it's been motivational."
Exclusive: GM CEO Mary Barra on the race to be first with self-driving cars
https://amp.axios.com/general-motors-ceo-mary-barra-self-driving-cars-23f23d13-3fb8-413c-85a0-0edfbb9ca4df.html
(Hunh. When Elon Musk says the exact same thing, all we hear is cries of “Liar!” and “Fraud!”)

——
Porsche thinks you'll want your next car to be electric
Electric cars will soon be common on American roads, even Porsche thinks so. American consumers are about to adopt electric cars on a large scale.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/06/17/porsche-predicts-american-consumers-adopt-electric-cars-column/1287505001/

——-
Polestar says it qualifies for separate $7,500 federal EV tax credit from Volvo parent
Quote
Electric car maker Polestar will qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit, and the company says it will do so separately from parent company Volvo. This would ensure both Polestar and Volvo could both sell 200,000 EVs before the credit begins to phase out. Let’s see how this works…
https://electrek.co/2019/05/03/polestar-ev-tax-credit/
From the comments:  VW Group’s  Audi, Porsche, and VW each get 200,000 credited cars.
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #174 on: June 17, 2019, 09:49:18 PM »
Illusions
Alex Voigt
Quote
Everybody who believes he has no illusions does actually harbor illusions, and that includes me. Unfortunately, it was not an illusion when I predicted in my articles last year that German automakers are not able to manufacture a car like a Tesla — otherwise, we would have seen it already. Such a vehicle is yet to arrive, and that’s not an illusion.

The latest efficiency tests of the Audi e-tron compared against others, as well as the released specifications of the Daimler EQE, confirm my darkest nightmares about the abilities of the highly praised German engineering world with respect to battery technology and all that belongs to it.

Some illusionists in the German auto industry not only risk their own jobs and companies, but also risk the economic welfare of Germany — in irresponsible and dangerous ways. That’s the only reason why I feel it to be my duty to write this article, others before it, and maybe a few more. …
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/06/15/illusions/

—-
Quote
Quote
ValueAnalyst (@ValueAnalyst1) 6/15/19, 1:37 PM
In case anyone is still questioning where @edmunds interests stand... They are, literally, paying ad dollars to promote a drastically inferior product with misleading statements: …
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1139950048454692864
(At the link: Pics of Edmunds-sponsored Twitter ads claiming Audi’s 204 mile range is not important, because it charges fast.)
- They cater to dealerships
< I bet the Audi’s batteries don’t last long

Quote
Quote
Alex (@alex_avoigt) 6/16/19, 4:17 PM
VW confirmed today to have paid so far as a result of Dieselgate to lawyers and consultant fees of €1.77bn ($2bn)
??? wait - that's likely about 1 Gigafactory in China?!
https://twitter.com/alex_avoigt/status/1140352707657719808
- This is just for lawyers and consultants the VW group contracted directly. Its includes Audi as well as Porsche... still counting.
< Does that include settlement costs?
- Nope
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Bob Wallace

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #175 on: June 17, 2019, 11:09:17 PM »
Illusions
Alex Voigt
Quote
Everybody who believes he has no illusions does actually harbor illusions, and that includes me. Unfortunately, it was not an illusion when I predicted in my articles last year that German automakers are not able to manufacture a car like a Tesla

(snipped)


I really want to see some major car manufacturers selling large numbers of good, reasonably priced EVs but they let themselves fall into a deep hole by not taking EVs seriously enough a decade ago.  They've recently learned that one does not just slap some batteries and an electric motor on wheels and produce a state of the art EV.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2019, 09:06:13 AM by Bob Wallace »

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #176 on: June 18, 2019, 05:07:56 PM »
“A dramatic fall in car sales means that Subaru Norway must terminate its employees and cut wages and other costs.”

Quote
Tesla Driver  (@M_xalher) 6/17/19, 4:36 PM
Norway Subaru sales «plummeting», «down 66%» in 2019 due to «lack of EVs».
«Mazda down 45% last three years»
«Ford sales down 50% last 10 years».
Tesla «to the top» of sales statistics, after «trebling sales in 2019».

(Business daily Finansavisen)
https://twitter.com/m_xalher/status/1140719790585208833
Image of article (Norwegian) at the link
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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #177 on: June 20, 2019, 07:02:19 PM »
Porsche's CEO predicts the turning point for EVs is coming quickly.

https://electrek.co/2019/06/18/porsche-ceo-props-tesla-evs-coming-us/

Quote
Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Porsche North America, penned an opinion article called ‘Porsche thinks you’ll want your next car to be electric’ in USA Today, the largest publication by circulation in the US.

In the piece, the executive lays the case for “electric cars to soon be common on American roads.”

The CEO wrote:

“Tesla has made inroads, but now I believe we are approaching a turning point. In coming years we will see more widespread adoption as volume producers including General Motors, Nissan, and VW join with premium brands like Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche to launch numerous battery-only models. As more Americans experience the instant power and sporty handling that electric cars provide, more will want this new generation of electric vehicles.”

Zellmer noted that the increasing deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure is rapidly making EVs more convenient to own in many markets.

With improving technology and infrastructure, the CEO sees more compelling all-electric options hitting the market and consumer demand rising.

Quote
When an automaker that just not so long ago was really reticent to go all-electric is now saying those things in the opinion section of a major general publication, it should help convince some naysayers to at least open themselves to the possibility of considering an electric car as their next vehicle.

Bob Wallace

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #178 on: June 20, 2019, 07:39:45 PM »
Porsche is part of the VW auto manufacturing group.  The recent comments from Porsche's CEO leads me to having more hope that the VW group will be the first very large car manufacturing group/company to become major manufacturers of electric vehicles. 

We need one very large company to start moving strongly toward EVs to put a deep, visceral fear into the bellies of all other car manufacturers.  Tesla has shown the way but cannot grow rapidly enough to kill the ICEV quickly.  We need the majors onboard ASAP.

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #179 on: June 20, 2019, 07:55:33 PM »
VW sells 40%+ of their cars in China (plus probably a hell of a lot of Porsches to rich Chinese), so they are getting the message loud and clear that their have to go EV otherwise their business will be dead in China in a few years. Plus the new regs in the EU.

I worry about BMW, although they sell 50% of their cars in China so should also be getting the message loud and clear. Great cars to drive (I have a 228i full disclosure) but will not be buying another ICE car that will rapidly collapse in value a few years from now. I hope BMW management get with the program asap. Their current plans are quite disappointing:

- E-MIni in 2019 and E-X3 in 2020, but both on "transitional platforms", why the hell would I want to buy a "transitonal platform"
- Then start the "new platform" E's in 2021 to 2025

So at least 2+ more years before getting any mainstream BMW EV's, by that time China could be at 20% EV market share with many competitor EV models and the "dont buy an ICE because you wont be able to resell it" meme going mainstream.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/news/industry-news/bmw-unveils-electric-car-plans-for-2021-andbeyond/article37703938/

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #180 on: June 20, 2019, 08:52:35 PM »
BMW teases Mini Electric, opens pre-orders in some markets
Quote
The automaker has now confirmed that the unveiling is going to happen on July 9 and they are opening pre-orders in 5 markets: Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway.

They are also keeping track of interest from potential buyers via email in the US, UK, Italy, and Spain.
...
BMW hasn’t released a lot of specs for the Mini Electric, but it is expected to be equipped with a similar powertrain as the BMW i3.
...
The new electric car from the German automaker group is expected to go into production in the UK and China. It will be available in Europe by the end of the year.
https://electrek.co/2019/06/20/bmw-teases-mini-electric-opens-pre-orders/
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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #181 on: June 20, 2019, 09:00:46 PM »
 
Quote
both on "transitional platforms"

Running that through the Bob Translator we get

"Let's throw some sort of compliance EV together and get on with building real cars. Give the job to those two engineers who aren't all that good. That will waste the least amount of money."

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #182 on: June 20, 2019, 09:15:30 PM »
The Bob translator works fine.

Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #183 on: June 23, 2019, 10:03:54 PM »
Had to double-check the date.  Yes, these are new emissions recalls. >:(

June 22, 2019
Daimler to recall 60,000 Mercedes diesels in Germany over emissions
Quote
(Reuters) - Daimler must recall 60,000 Mercedes diesel cars in Germany after regulators found that they were fitted with software aimed at distorting emissions tests, the Transportation Ministry said on Saturday.
The model affected is the Mercedes-Benz GLK 220 produced between 2012 and 2015.
Daimler confirmed that the recall was ordered on Friday but said that it would appeal against the decision while continuing to cooperate with regulators.
The ministry said that it was expanding its investigation into further models.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1TN0E8
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #184 on: June 27, 2019, 03:36:07 PM »
I usually post Tesla stuff over in the Tesla thread.  But the contrast among recent EV news items is striking:

California, Canada sign memorandum to advance cleaner vehicles, fuels
Quote
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Canada and California on Wednesday said they had signed a memorandum of understanding to advance cleaner vehicles and fuels.
The most populous U.S. state and Canada said they will work together "to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles like electric cars" and share technical information and best practices in regulating cleaner fuels, as California does today though its Low-Carbon Fuel Standard. ...
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1TR2IN

Large carmakers including VW, FCA could face 2021 EU emissions fines: study
Quote
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Volkswagen and FiatChrysler could face penalties of up to 1.83 billion euros ($2.08 billion) and 746 million euros respectively, if they fail to meet the European Union's emissions targets set for 2021, according to AlixPartners. …
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/large-carmakers-including-vw-fca-094518787.html

———
BMW shows no desire to make own batteries in electric push, frustrating German govt
https://electrek.co/2019/06/26/bmw-no-batteries-german/

Tesla is developing the means to start producing its own battery cells: sources
Quote
Tesla is reportedly working on developing a means to produce its own battery cells for its electric vehicles and energy storage products. This update, which was related by several former and current Tesla employees to CNBC, provides yet another sign that the Silicon Valley-based company is looking to become as independent and vertically integrated as possible.

According to the publication’s sources, Tesla is currently conducting some of its battery cell research at a “skunkworks lab” located in the company’s Kato Road facility, which is situated just a few minutes away from the Fremont, CA factory, where the Model S, 3, and X are produced. …
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-maxwell-original-battery-cells-production-sources/

———
European car lobby cuts 2019 sales forecast to 1% fall
Quote
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe’s automotive lobby on Thursday cut its forecast for passenger car registrations this year to a 1% fall from a 1% rise, blaming slower growth and business concerns over Britain’s impending exit from the European Union. …
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-vehicleregistrations/european-car-lobby-cuts-2019-sales-forecast-to-1-fall-idUSKCN1TS1GR

Tesla To Expand In Ukraine And Eastern Europe, Says Musk
Quote
Tesla’s presence in Eastern Europe is almost negligible at present. It’s another story in Western Europe where Tesla is currently the number one luxury car brand for the electric vehicle (EV) and combustion motor segments.

Tesla sold 19,482 Model 3s in Western Europe in the first quarter. The former top selling EV in Europe, the Renault Zoe, only sold 11,049 in Q1, while the Nissan Leaf sold 10,315 EVs. The Model 3’s dominance is even more remarkable given it only became available in Europe in February. Some analysts now expect the Model 3 to end 2019 as the top-selling electric car model in Western Europe.

With Tesla entrenched in Western Europe, the only direction left to go to is east. Tesla is finally expanding towards Eastern Europe in response to pleas from the few Tesla owners in this region.
…When asked in a tweet about expansion in Eastern Europe in general in 2020, Musk tweeted back “probably sooner.” …
https://www.ibtimes.com/tesla-expand-ukraine-eastern-europe-says-musk-2803317
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #185 on: June 27, 2019, 03:42:26 PM »
Florida: Starsky Robotics reaches self-driving milestone
Quote
On the morning of June 16, a self-driving truck operated by Starsky Robotics cruised along the Florida Turnpike at 55 mph without a human aboard, a milestone in efforts to usher in an autonomous era of transportation.
Starting at a rest stop along the turnpike in Okeechobee, Fla., the truck departed and drove for 9.4 miles under its own control, all while everyday motorists simultaneously used the same stretch of road unaware of the landmark development occurring in the adjacent lane. ...
https://www.autonews.com/mobility-report/starsky-robotics-reaches-self-driving-milestone

Nvidia and Volvo join forces on driverless trucks
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nvidia-and-volvo-join-forces-on-driverless-trucks-2019-06-18

———
Arnold Schwarzenegger resurrects ‘undercover’ character in electric vs gas cars sketch
https://www.teslarati.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-electric-vs-gas-cars-tesla-video/
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Bob Wallace

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #186 on: June 27, 2019, 07:36:52 PM »
Starsky has an interesting approach to driverless trucking.  It's driverless on the highway with humans driving remotely when the truck leaves the highway.  There might be an intermediate step where human drivers meet the truck at the end of a long stretch of highway driving, climb in the cab, and drive the truck to its destination. 

Highway driving is far easier to automate.  Tesla could apparently do that part of the job a few years back.


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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #187 on: June 28, 2019, 04:22:13 AM »
Market Snapshot: Average electric vehicle range almost doubled in the last six years

https://www.neb-one.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/snpsht/2019/06-04lvrglctrcvhcl-eng.html

Quote
While electric vehicle (EV) sales in Canada have been increasing, range anxiety remains one barrier to further adoption of EVs. Range anxiety is a consumer concern about how far an EV can be driven on a full charge. EV range has been increasing significantly. Between 2013 and 2019, the average EV model range increased from 219 km to 386 km. Battery technology improvements are the main driver of the EVs’ increasing range. The figure below compares the average EV model’s range for each class of vehicle
I am an energy reservoir seemingly intent on lowering entropy for self preservation.

Bob Wallace

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #188 on: June 28, 2019, 06:57:17 AM »
Market Snapshot: Average electric vehicle range almost doubled in the last six years

https://www.neb-one.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/snpsht/2019/06-04lvrglctrcvhcl-eng.html

Quote
While electric vehicle (EV) sales in Canada have been increasing, range anxiety remains one barrier to further adoption of EVs. Range anxiety is a consumer concern about how far an EV can be driven on a full charge. EV range has been increasing significantly. Between 2013 and 2019, the average EV model range increased from 219 km to 386 km. Battery technology improvements are the main driver of the EVs’ increasing range. The figure below compares the average EV model’s range for each class of vehicle

That's a bad way to look at EV range.  Don't give the average.  Or at least include the range that makes up the averages. 

The article states that mid-sized EVs average 393 km / 235 miles of range.  But the Tesla 3 Long Range, which is a mid-sized car, has a 523 km / 325 mile range.  By listing only the average range readers are left believing that there's not an EV with enough range for them yet.

Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #189 on: June 29, 2019, 04:26:36 PM »
"For e-Soul, which will have delivery start in July / August, Kia previously estimated that there should be between 1,500 and 2,000 cars to Norway this year. That number is also adjusted down to about one tenth."

Kia halts BEV deliveries in Norway, high demand but battery shortage:

Kia notifies full brake in the deliveries of both e-Niro and e-Soul for the rest of the year
And maybe next year too.
Quote
While Tesla pumps out cars in Norway, the competitor Kia struggles with the deliveries of both e-Niro and upcoming e-Soul.
Now they report in an email to waiting customers that they only envisage being able to deliver between 150 and 250 e-Niro and between 200 and 250 e-Soul this year.

- E-Niro and e-Soul are two very good cars that have had great interest around and demand for - throughout Europe. Demand is far greater than what the factory has foreseen, and they cannot produce enough cars. This is mainly due to the lack of batteries.

Remember the Ampera-e?  That’s the European version of the Chevy Bolt that GM was going to sell under its Opel brand.  Then GM sold Opel to the PSA group.  Then the plan for GM to sell the cars to Opel fell through.  PSA eventually arranged to make the Ampera-e available — but customers in Norway aren’t buying; at least not at the suggested price.
Quote
Opel has struggled to get rid of the Ampera-e in 2019 version at the price they wanted.
Earlier this year, however, Opel announced that they had around 1500 cars available for new sales this year , but after the interest was poor they had to adjust the price by NOK 40,000 .
There are still apparently cars left for delivery in 2019, at a price of just under NOK 370,000 including delivery.

Meanwhile,
Quote
Tesla has in turn recently rounded 10,000 deliveries of Model 3 in Norway so far in 2019.

https://www.tek.no/artikler/kia-varsler-full-brems-i-e-niro-leveransene-resten-av-aret/468828
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #190 on: June 29, 2019, 04:37:34 PM »
BMWSales plunging, profit below goals, a hiring freeze, and the CEO may soon be gone.
(From translations:)

Quote
By 2022 to save twelve billion euros. The construction of a new plant in Hungary announced in 2018 was postponed indefinitely in mid-May. At the beginning of June, for the first time in years, the Executive Board imposed a hiring deadline across the Group - which can only be exceptionally bypassed in the case of "shortages". On Thursday evening, the company responded to the Handelsblatt information. There is currently no hiring freeze, a spokesman said on request of the dpa.

Sales problems, profit slump, austerity programs - for many BMW employees this is unfamiliar sound. The shock waves go through a company whose self-image is similar to that of the neighboring FC Bayern Munich - with a slight tendency to arrogance. But while the footballers continue to play ahead, BMW falls behind. …
https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/autokonzern-machtpoker-bei-bmw-krueger-muss-um-seinen-chefposten-bangen/24500412.html
   
Poor ICE sales, and no company BEV buy-in.  No one wants a BMW EV.  The company sees no way out.
“One of Europe’s most active environmental lobby groups, Transport and Environment, attacked European car companies for their lack of BEV models on sale compared to the US and China as automotive CO2 numbers climbed 1.6 percent in two years and accused them of holding back BEV models until 2021 for profit reasons.”
BMW Says European Customers Aren't Demanding EVs
Quote
Battery-electric vehicles are unwanted in Europe and fuel-burning cars have at least 30 years left, BMW claimed this week.
The day a European Environment Agency report showed Europe’s automotive CO2 contributions had risen for the second year running, BMW’s chief engineer insisted there was no demand for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and that nobody was asking for them.

BMW is planning to build 25 new plug-in models by 2025, but that includes both BEVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) as Europe’s most prominent EV innovator backtracks on the technology.

“There are no customer requests for BEVs. None,” BMW’s director of development, Klaus Frölich, told a shocked round-table interview in Munich on Tuesday. “There are regulator requests for BEVs, but no customer requests.”

“If we have a big offer, a big incentive, we could flood Europe and sell a million (BEV) cars but Europeans won’t buy these things,” Frölich insisted.
“From what we see, BEVs are for China and California and everywhere else is better off with PHEVs with good EV range.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltaylor/2019/06/27/bmw-says-european-customers-arent-demanding-evs/

BMW manager: "There is no demand for electric cars in Europe"
“BMW's development manager, Klaus Fröhlich, said earlier this week that he believes that the internal combustion engines will live for 30 years….”
 https://www.mestmotor.se/recharge/artiklar/nyheter/20190628/bmw-chefen-et-finns-ingen-efterfragan-pa-elbilar-i-europa/
« Last Edit: June 29, 2019, 04:43:39 PM by Sigmetnow »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #191 on: June 29, 2019, 05:06:56 PM »
Market Snapshot: Average electric vehicle range almost doubled in the last six years
...

EV Range is a hot topic these days.  But it is often misstated — purposely, or not.

Quote
Quote
Edmunds (@edmunds) 6/21/19, 7:14 PM
EV range anxiety is still a thing, even though it's certainly less of an issue than it was just a few years ago. Here's how our best electric cars you can buy today stack up on range. edmu.in/BestEVs
Infographic below.
Quote
Vincent (@vincent13031925) 6/23/19, 12:40 PM
EV Range anxiety is not a thing for Tesla owners if you guys @edmunds put up the correct info:
Model S is 370 miles, not 335 miles.
Model X is 325 miles, not 295 miles.

Highly recommend you guys to make a correction from this article, maybe a honest mistake right?
https://twitter.com/vincent13031925/status/1142834824186490880

—-
Ford Fusion Hybrid: maybe a few blocks at low speed on electricity alone.
Text image below.
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/114295006176625868
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Bob Wallace

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #192 on: June 29, 2019, 08:09:13 PM »
And what a weird chart.  It puts a median range EV at the top and the longest range EVs at the bottom. 

One should not have to study a graphic to figure out the information contained. 

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #193 on: June 29, 2019, 08:59:09 PM »
I figured that the designer of the chart didn't want casual viewers to know that Tesla cars were the best out there.  See recent posts in Tesla thread above and below mine.
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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #194 on: June 29, 2019, 11:33:27 PM »
I figured that the designer of the chart didn't want casual viewers to know that Tesla cars were the best out there.  See recent posts in Tesla thread above and below mine.

A Range bar chart that was accurate and easy to read would embarrass many brands!

Quote
Both @edmunds and @KelleyBlueBook cater to dealerships, so it’s not surprising that they are dragging their feet in showing that @Tesla Model S depreciates $25,000 less than @MercedesBenz S Class in the first five years. Customers will vote them out with their wallets.
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1134825010579824640

Quote
ValueAnalyst (@ValueAnalyst1) 6/1/19, 11:51 AM
#Pravduh
It's been *NINE MONTHS* since @Tesla Model 3 earned a perfect 5-star @NHTSAgov safety rating, but @KelleyBlueBook still doesn't show it!
Who are they protecting? pic.twitter.com/sg70AYQ4iX
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1134850060875915264
- MORE LIES!!!
"For charging at home, installing a level-2 station is a must, as charging your Model 3 from a regular household outlet could take a week or longer."
WHO ARE THEY PROTECTING? pic.twitter.com/Zmo0vVBpe2

Here’s Edmunds welcoming the delayed Silverado turbodiesel:
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1143668946375192576

And rating the BMW i3 the same as a Tesla:
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1143668216184676353

I can’t find the link at the moment, but they also sponsored ads on Twitter featuring a Tesla-FUD-filled article in the NYT.
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Bob Wallace

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #195 on: June 30, 2019, 12:19:29 AM »
I've only recently become aware of how large a hornet's nest Tesla has poked with their sharp stick. 

Tesla is disruptive or may soon be disruptive to the oil industry, the traditional car manufacturing industry, the car dealers, car insurance companies, taxi companies, truck/taxi/delivery drivers, and even car based media.   I suppose the immense amount of FUD thrown at Musk and Tesla is understandable.

And the BMW driver who just caught going out of his way to 'key' a Tesla suggests that people who bought an ICEV for performance and as a status booster may be another source of Tesla-resistance.

Oh, I left out the gas peaker business.  Tesla and other battery storage systems are on route to put gas peakers out of business.

And sister-company SpaceX has taken lots of money away from Russia.   Wonder who Boring Co. will piss off....

Tom_Mazanec

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #196 on: June 30, 2019, 12:40:02 AM »
My town of Twinsburg is putting in a charging station.

Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #197 on: June 30, 2019, 03:11:00 AM »
Quote
God (@TheTweetOfGod) 6/28/19, 6:45 PM
The answer to the question "Can people really be that stupid?" is always yes.
https://twitter.com/thetweetofgod/status/1144738624425975808

ValueAnalyst (@ValueAnalyst1) 6/29/19, 10:14 AM
Millions of people bought diesel cars since the emissions scandal.
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1144972508724178944

Timmy O' Toole (@timmyotoole23) 6/29/19, 10:29 AM
And lost 70% in residual value for example a 2016 fully loaded BMW 530d Diesel with 4300 Kilometers!!!! for 29K € ... that’s a 80k car and now practically worthless pic.twitter.com/iM2FrFWlk2
https://twitter.com/timmyotoole23/status/1144976180040392704
- I have more but to sum up ... what’s the Englisch word ... .... graveyard full of new Diesel cars zero mileage for half the price ...
- Only gets worse when the Diesel (inner city) bans are getting fully implemented! Buy 1 and get one Diesel for free! I’m serious it’s that bad why the German car manufacturers still holding on to the Diesel engine is beyond me! Desperation? Toyota and Volvo dropped it in 2016
VA: City bans get fully implemented in 2020 or 2021?
- Depends on the city Stuttgart 2020 parts of Hamburg already Madrid inner city already but green parties are on the upswing so this could happen very fast!
< Hamburg was forced to ban diesel cars from two roads.  Stuttgart was forced to ban euro4 diesels and has to evaluate weather to ban diesel5 diesels from next year.

<< Diesel and petrol vehicles will QUICKLY become pariahs when HEALTH of our children considered. London pollution tax added to congestion tax already independent.co.uk/news/education…

Air pollution: Two-thirds of teachers would support banning cars near schools, survey finds | The Independent
Children are most exposed to dangerous fumes on school run and in playground, according to Unicef UK report
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/air-pollution-school-car-ban-roads-gates-drop-off-pick-up-teachers-survey-sustrans-a8837836.html
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #198 on: June 30, 2019, 04:08:06 AM »
U.S.:  Gas station gridlock at the start of a pre-holiday weekend.  (Also, some states have a gas tax rise set for Monday.) 
Home EV charging FTW!

Video clip at the link: passing a very crowded gas station.
Quote
Lisa (@TeslaLisa) 6/28/19, 8:57 PM
Happy Birthday Elon!
And thank you and Tesla for allowing me to avoid this hell today. (The lines extended to the street!).
@elonmusk @Tesla #ModelX pic.twitter.com/FN4KVXn7YZ
https://twitter.com/teslalisa/status/1144771717660905472

California gas tax rises another 6 cents a gallon Monday
https://apnews.com/40d5b7c0f7f0477f99da060dbd41168d

Ohio legislature approves 10.5 cent gas-tax increase, 19 cents for diesel on July 1 (paywall)
https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190402/ohio-legislature-approves-105-cent-gas-tax-increase-19-cents-for-diesel

Quote
Michael (@ElectroCar) 6/29/19, 7:26 PM
In Illinois, it will double to 38 cents on July 1. It will also be tied to inflation so it will go up every year. That's one way to get people to buy an EV.
https://twitter.com/electrocar/status/1145111310688051200
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #199 on: July 01, 2019, 02:44:47 AM »
Ford slashes 20% of European workforce, reveals future as leaner operation
Ford Motor Co. promised Thursday to stem the bleeding of its overseas operation with 12,000 confirmed job cuts, six factory closures or sales, shift reductions at its assembly plants in Saarlouis, Germany, and Valencia, Spain, as well as a leaner management structure and marketing and sales operations.  The business will be redesigned “for profitability, efficiency” with more electric vehicles in Europe, according to a news release issued from Germany.

“Our future is rooted in electrification.”
Quote
Pressed on financial projections, Rowley was cautious, noting that Ford lost $400 million in Europe in 2018. While the company is hoping for better, it can't promise a profit in 2019….
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2019/06/27/ford-job-cuts-europe/1581367001/

“Gone are the days when we only redesign the business every 10 years and then we’re stable.”

A restructuring was announced months ago, causing much worry among Ford employees over the intervening time.  CEO Hackett had been brought in from outside the auto industry to revamp the company, but the slow pace of his changes may defeat any rescue attempt.
Quote
Jon Gabrielsen, a market economist who advises automakers and auto suppliers, echoed Krebs and voiced concern about the pace of the restructuring.

“In all my life I have never seen a Band-Aid pulled off so slowly in a restructuring. Someday, when someone goes in and studies the excruciatingly long period of angst and anxiety for Ford employees, as this process will have dragged on, this will be found to have been at least two years of zero forward progress, followed by many years of major recalls for mistakes made due to all the time people were distracted and distraught, and followed by all the people moved to jobs they had no experience in.”


From February:  Anxiety builds among Ford employees. Hackett says that's fair, but he's confident
Quote
The company lost money in 2018 everywhere in the world except North America. Losses included $1 billion in the region that includes China, the world’s largest auto market.

In an example of culture clash, some employees said they were alarmed that the CEO had to ask when the company gets paid — upon dealer delivery or consumer purchase. (It's the former for the automaker.)

“I don’t think anybody knows what’s going on, even in Ford. Seriously,” said John McElroy, longtime industry observer and host of "Autoline After Hours."
"Everybody expected that, by this point, there would be clear plans with hard metrics with real numbers behind them. Instead, there’s this very amorphous nondescript talk about smart cities and mobility. The financial community can’t figure out how this is going to pay off for Ford in any way.”

“I don’t think Hackett has a whole lot more time,” McElroy said. “If people within Ford have no clue of where they’re going or a clear path, if the financial community doesn’t have a clear path, if the supplier community and dealers don’t have a clear path, I don’t see how he survives. Everybody is talking about them, especially people within the company. When you talk to senior-level people in the company, especially privately, there’s a concern they don’t have a clear vision of where they’re going.”

“Ford has not taken the drastic steps that GM has in exiting unprofitable markets globally, reducing costs, and presenting a plan of action that relies on something other than selling more SUVs and trucks. When it comes to the future of mobility, Ford’s lack of specifics on strategic vision is killing investor confidence.”
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2019/02/22/ford-hackett-restructuring-layoffs/2859058002/

——-

June 28, 2019: examining the effect of a looming GM plant closure.
Michigan voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Time will tell if auto plant closures and economic hardship sway voters to turn to Democrats in the next election.
Michigan town prepares for auto plant to close as Democratic candidates debate labor issues
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michigan-town-prepares-auto-plant-close-democratic-candidates-debate-labor-n1024376
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.