Electric cars

[NeilT]

My fault, should one exist, is rather that I took you at your word.
Terry

Or did not understand or research the vehicle in question.

Most of my controls are on a central console, below the gear lever and have an lcd display which requires you to look at it to verify the setting you just set.  There is little tactile feedback and the controls I mainly adjust are fan and climate. Both minimal feedback and requiring visual supervision.

As you actually have to look down below the dash to verify them it means you take your eye off the road.  I have very wide vision, can detect movement in both wing mirrors and the rear view without moving head or eyes, yet when I adjust these controls my vision is almost entirely off the road.

A tesla screen would be far better.

Fortunately and as I stated, I rarely have to change them much.

[Sigmetnow]

Terry,
VW is putting “digital cockpits” in their new car designs.  So even they agree with Tesla’s approach.

“The digital cockpit will operate using both touchscreens and intuitive voice commands.”
https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/3/21162796/volkswagen-rename-idcrozz-id4-electric-compact-suv-range

What Tesla did was to remove many of the intuitive tactile controls provided by VW (and every other manufacturer)...

And this is exactly what VW is doing — omitting buttons and knobs from their new models.  As the quoted article states!

...then herald this removal as an advance, rather than as a cheaper, less safe alternative.

And this is exactly what VW is doing.
Your anti-Tesla bias blinds you from seeing this is happening throughout the industry. Wake up!

Tesla also offered faux leather seats as an improvement over leather.

Tesla offers vegan leather due to years of customer and shareholder requests for non-leather alternatives in its cars.  Responsibility and Sustainability — the same reasoning why the thin piece of wood (used in one of the dashboard veneer choices) comes from sustainable forests, rather than rare woods used by other manufacturers.  VW in particular has a storied history of cruelty to animals, and human deaths from their products’ emissions, so of course animal slaughter is no problem for them.  Other OEMs have a mixed history on the subject.

[Sigmetnow]

Oil Prices Are Tumbling, But Global Electric Vehicles Will Be Just Fine, Says UBS
Because fuel will remain expensive in China, and Europe has the CO2 compliance mandate.
March 11, 2020

While lower oil prices could “undermine the comparative advantages” of EV over standard combustion cars, notably in the U.S., that may not be the case when it comes to the world’s two biggest EV markets — China and Europe.

For starters, gasoline prices in China are tied to global crude prices, but only within the $40 to $130 range and under $40 those drivers really don’t see gasoline much cheaper than around Rmb7/Liter ($1), said Hummel.

“Strategically, the Chinese government aims to develop a globally competitive auto industry in the EV era, and we believe continuous efficiency gain and cost cut along the EV supply chain is much more predictable than oil price fluctuations,” said the analysts.

UBS said the EV market has been weak after a subsidy cut in the middle of last year, but their data reveal a two-month backlog for Tesla, which has just entered the Chinese market.

As for Europe, the biggest driver of EV in the next two years will be carbon dioxide compliance that requires auto industry to lower CO2 emission to 95g in 2021 from more than 120g in 2019, said UBS. After a recent chat with German auto lobbyists, they cite a risk that the new EU commission will further lift those targets from -37.5% by 2030 to -50% to 55%. That is all in a bid for Europe to be CO2 neutral by 2050.

UBS recently raised its EV global sales forecast, driven by Europe growth.
“Our conviction remains unchanged in the multiyear migration to electric vehicles led by Europe and China,” the analysts said. Globally, they said the best-positioned are Tesla, Volkswagen, Toyota and some leading Chinese original equipment manufacturers like GAC and Geely.

https://www.barrons.com/articles/electric-vehicles-will-not-suffer-from-weak-oil-prices-says-ubs-51583933642

—-
Fiat Chrysler Temporary Idles Some Italian Factories to Implement Coronavirus Measures
The company will try to maintain production while controlling the virus's spread.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is temporarily halting production at some of its factories in Italy and will make changes to production methods in response to the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country.

FCA, formed from the merger of Italian automaker Fiat and U.S. automaker Chrysler, has extensive operations in Italy. Many are in and around Fiat's traditional home city of Turin, not far from the epicenter of the epidemic in northern Italy.

FCA said that four of its factories will be shut down for a few days each in order to implement production changes that will allow workers to be stationed further apart, to reduce the possibility of transmitting the virus.
…
The company said that is stepping up virus-control measures at all of its Italian facilities, including intensive disinfecting of work and rest areas and increasing space between workers.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/11/fiat-chrysler-temporary-idles-some-italian-factori.aspx

[Sigmetnow]

VW’s Lamborghini shuts Italian factory amid coronavirus outbreak

Italian supercar maker Lamborghini is halting production for nearly two weeks as parent Volkswagen Group looks to limit the impact on its operations from the coronavirus crisis that has spread across the globe.

Lamborghini will temporarily close its plant in Italy, which has been hit hard by the viral outbreak, until March 25, the company said Thursday in an emailed statement. All of the brand’s cars are manufactured at its headquarters plant on the outskirts of the northern Italian city of Bologna.

“This measure is an act of social responsibility and high sensibility toward our people, in the extraordinary situation in which we find ourselves right now,” Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali said in the statement. “We continue to monitor the situation in order to react rapidly and with the right flexibility, in collaboration with our people and in order to restart with energy in the right moment.”

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday ordered all shops in the country to close except for grocery stores, pharmacies and few others until March 25. The government said factories can continue operating, but only with “precautions.”

Lamborghini’s second largest market for its supercars is China, where the virus originated and demand for vehicles has plummeted in the wake of the epidemic. Last year, it delivered 770 vehicles in greater China -- including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau -- which was second only to its 2,374 deliveries in the U.S. …

https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/vws-lamborghini-shuts-italian-factory-amid-coronavirus-outbreak

—-
Volkswagen Says Tesla Has 10-Year Start in Electric Cars

BERLIN (REUTERS) - United States electric car manufacturer Tesla has a 10-year start on rivals when it comes to building electric cars and software, Thomas Ulbrich, the Volkswagen brand's board member for electromobility said on Thursday.
"Tesla is an impressive manufacturer," Ulbrich said. "It is a motivator for us. Tesla has 10 years more experience. But we are very quick in catching up."

https://www.usnews.com/news/technology/articles/2020-03-12/volkswagen-says-tesla-has-10-year-start-in-electric-cars

——
Tesla Model 3 vs BMW i4: How hubris is killing a potential ‘Tesla Killer’

... Yet despite having just one key pure electric car in its lineup, BMW has put a lot of effort in convincing the auto industry that it is taking electric vehicles seriously. Concept after concept was unveiled to much fanfare, but so far, none of the company’s fancy vehicles like the iNext have a legitimate release date. ...

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-vs-bmw-i4-hubris-kills-tsla-killer/

[Sigmetnow]

Carmakers from VW to PSA Close Factories on Virus Pandemic

European carmakers from PSA Group to Volkswagen AG are shutting down production across the region as health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and border restrictions snarling trade hurt their ability to run plants and get supplies.

Peugeot maker PSA said Monday it will gradually close all European production sites this week starting with Mulhouse in France, citing “serious” Covid-19 cases near some sites, supply disruptions and a sudden decline in auto markets.

At VW, a spokesman said by phone that restricted access to sites, particularly in hard-hit areas like Italy and Spain, have complicated the movement of parts and finished cars. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV is also winding down output at some of its factories.

VW, the world’s largest automaker, said impact from production stops, including in Spain and at its Lamborghini site in Italy, are starting to ripple out to plants including its U.S. factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Earlier Monday, Fiat Chrysler said its Italian unit and the Maserati brand would suspend production in Europe. Renault-Nissan has halted output at its Barcelona site in Spain as well.

The PSA factory halts will include plants in France, Spain, Germany, the U.K., Poland, Portugal and Slovakia, and will be carried out between March 16 and March 19, according to the statement. They coincide with a tightening of confinement measures by European governments including a shutdown of many stores, schools and restaurants in France.

European countries including Germany have tightened border controls to stop the spread of the coronavirus, though they’ve so far allowed goods to traverse freely. Governments across Europe have restricted internal movements, while many workers are staying home, slowing the pace of output.
VW’s plant in Portugal started measuring the temperature of truck drivers at factory gates.

After the Portuguese government’s decision to close schools VW’s factory moved to use “down days” flexibility tool to allow workers to assist their families without losing compensation. With absences expected from the night shift of March 16 the site suspended Monday’s production shifts, according to a statement. ...

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vw-faces-production-snarls-virus-103104126.html

[Sigmetnow]

Tesla Daily (@TeslaPodcast) 3/17/20, 9:58 AM
#VW to halt production at European factories, likely for a few weeks.

“Given the present significant deterioration in the sales situation and the heightened uncertainty regarding parts supplies to our plants, production is to be suspended in the near future...” - Diess
https://twitter.com/teslapodcast/status/1239913986369478657
< If they produce less ICE cars, and then still sell as many Evs as they are projecting, it might help them avoid fines. Closing at them moment might be advantageous on multiple levels.

Volkswagen prepares to halt production at European plants, likely for a few weeks
March 17, 2020

Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess this week announced plans to suspend production at European factories over COVID-19 fears. The news will impact a number of prominent makes under the umbrella of the world’s largest car maker (by sales).

Plants in Spain, Portugal and Italy will be suspended before the end of this week, with VW’s native Germany and other European countries getting ready to follow suit. Production suspension is expect to last two or three weeks, per Reuters. Of course, these numbers are always subject to flux, depending on how the remainder of the pandemic plays out.

“Given the present significant deterioration in the sales situation and the heightened uncertainty regarding parts supplies to our plants,” Diess said, “production is to be suspended in the near future at factories operated by Group brands.”

A number of automakers have run into major supply issues, as China was the first country to be hit by the outbreak. In many cases, however, production has begun to ramp back up, as authorities in the country had taken dramatic actions to stem the spread of the virus. As of earlier this week, some 31 of the 33 VW factories are up and running in the country.

Production continues at many U.S. plants, though executives are monitoring the situation and looking to adjust production schedules. Other automakers, including Fiat Chrysler, PSA Group and Renault, announced the shutdown of European plants earlier this week. In addition to issues of employee health and safety, travel restrictions have made it untenable for many factories to continue production. …

https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/17/volkswagen-prepares-to-halt-production-at-european-plants-likely-for-a-few-weeks/

——

Honda Will Briefly Idle Its North American Factories Amid Coronavirus Epidemic
The automaker's planned 6-day pause in manufacturing is due to an expected slump in demand.

Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC) said Tuesday that it will suspend production at its North American factories for six days in an effort to adjust to an expected drop in demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

All of the automaker's assembly plants in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will suspend production on March 23; the current plan is for them to restart production on March 31. The engine and transmission factories that supply those plants will shut down for the same period.

Honda said that all employees would continue to receive full pay through the shutdown period. …

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/18/honda-will-briefly-idle-its-north-american-factori.aspx

[Tor Bejnar]

All these ("temporary") factory closures reminds me of all the unexpected low sales of gassy cars this past year.  I say, lucky automakers.  [Yes, there is some snark in the parenthetical.]

[TerryM]

All these ("temporary") factory closures reminds me of all the unexpected low sales of gassy cars this past year.  I say, lucky automakers.  [Yes, there is some snark in the parenthetical.]

Doing the right thing doesn't need to be 100% destructive. I know that some were planning to use the shutdown to deep clean their facilities & most are increasing employees loyalty by offering generous packages to those idled.


It's going to be rough for everyone, but those seen as being proactive in the fight against CV19 will gain valuable kudos.


Stay Healthy
Terry

[Sigmetnow]

The car market in France has collapsed in March.  The only bright spot:  EVs, particularly Tesla, whose sales are up 330% from the same period a year ago and now constitutes about 2% of the market.

Coronavirus, WLTP... le marché auto s'effondre en mars 2020
https://www.autoplus.fr/actualite/Immatriculations-ventes-Coronavirus-WLTP-economie-1547406.amp.html

Coronavirus, WLTP ... the auto market collapsed in March 2020

Even before the official closure of car dealerships, new car sales this March are already plummeting 30%.
…
As of March 16, the plunge reached -30%.  Only 3,200 new cars were registered yesterday, against an average of 5,290 since the beginning of the month and 6,800 since January 1!

 Up to -67% decrease
 The most distressed generalist brands: Opel (-67%), Dacia (-57%), Volkswagen (-44%), Seat (-44%), Skoda and Citroën (-42%), Ford (-40%  ).  Others are doing much better like Mini (-3%), Kia (-6%), Toyota (-10%), Peugeot (-12%), Hyundai (-19%), Renault (certainly at -  24% but with a market share of 22.7%).

 Some rare others manage to progress thanks to the strong deliveries of hybrid or electric vehicles at the beginning of the month: Mitsubishi (+ 15%), DS at + 28%, Porsche at + 84% and especially Tesla at + 330%.  The American specialist exceeds 2% of the March market, doubling DS and tailgating Fiat!

 We bet that in the coming weeks, the balance sheets will collapse much more.  Because even if the workshops remain open, making it theoretically possible to deliver cars already ordered, their transport is now blocked (confinement requires) and, one after the other (PSA, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen ...), the manufacturers are announcing  the closure of their factories. …

H/t:  @TeslaLobby,  https://twitter.com/teslalobby/status/1240052701217656832

[Sigmetnow]

General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler to temporarily close all US factories due to the coronavirus

The companies bowed to pressure from union leaders and employees who called for protection from the pandemic that's spread to more than 212,000 people in nearly every country across the globe.
…
Fiat Chrysler said it will cease operations at its plants across North America "progressively from today through the end of March."
…
All together, the closures would affect 25 final-assembly factories and 150,000 union workers, according to the UAW and each automaker. General Motors has 11 factories, followed by Ford's eight factories and Fiat Chrysler's six. …

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/03/18/general-motors-ford-and-fiat-chrysler-to-close-all-us-factories-due-to-the-coronavirus-sources-say.html

[Sigmetnow]

From Feb. 28, 2020
China gets back to work — sort of — as number of new COVID-19 cases wanes

Over 43% of small and midsize enterprises in China’s manufacturing sector had resumed production as of Wednesday, Zhang Kejian, deputy minister of industry and information technology, told state media. This is crucial for these smaller firms, as many said in a recent survey that they could survive for only one to two months on their savings.

Toyota Motor Corp. TM, +1.69% has restarted production to some degree at all its China plants, the company said Tuesday. And that’s good, because the Chinese people are driving again, according to measurements of traffic congestion and the Baidu Migration Index, which showed that more than 60% of people have returned to their workplace areas in China’s 100 biggest cities. The government has even chartered a number of planes to carry returning workers, the state outlet CCTV reported. …

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-gets-back-to-work-sort-of-as-number-of-new-covid-19-cases-wanes-2020-02-28

Jonathan Ferro (@FerroTV) 3/17/20, 6:28 PM
China getting back to work
FedEx says...
-Demand rebounded more than expected
-65-70% of small business operating again
-90-95% of large manufacturers operating

https://twitter.com/ferrotv/status/1240042395598807040

[Sigmetnow]

March 19
Ford Borrows $15.4 Billion To Weather Effects Of Coronavirus
It’s also suspending dividends.

Ford announced today that it’d be borrowing a total of $15.4 billion to help the Dearborn-based automaker weather the economic uncertainty from the novel coronavirus. The announcement comes just a day after the company announced it’d be suspending production at its North American manufacturing sites through March 30 to protect its workforce and slow the spread of COVID-19. Ford is also suspending its dividend.

The $15.4 billion is a part of the $35 billion in liquidity the automaker noted it had at the end of last year. Suspending its dividend also allows Ford to continue investing in new models. The automaker is amid a massive restructuring, cutting sedans, refocusing on trucks, SUVs, and crossovers, and investing in autonomous and electric vehicles. The automaker’s next big debut is the Bronco, which Ford said would arrive sometime this spring.

Ford also announced a payment relief program for potential customers. It’s called the “Built to Lend a Hand” program and can offer eligible new-car customers up to six months of payment relief with three months paid by Ford and another three months of deferred payments. Ford says the program is for people buying 2019 and 2020 models, though it excludes 2020 Super Duty pickups. ...

https://sports.yahoo.com/ford-borrows-15-4-billion-165821351.html

Ford’s market cap is just over $17 billion.

[Sigmetnow]

Have a chuckle at Richard Hammond’s first attempt at an EV road trip.

Richard Hammond goes on a road trip in a Tesla Model X

[Sigmetnow]

Automotive News (@Automotive_News) 3/19/20, 3:48 PM
Toyota, VW, Subaru join other automakers suspending production dlvr.it/RSC4Bk

https://twitter.com/automotive_news/status/1240726749534552064
Article at the link.

—-
Toyota extends North America production shutdown through April 3

(Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp said on Thursday it will extend a planned two-day shutdown of all North American plants through April 3 as the spread of coronavirus continues.

The largest Japanese automaker said Wednesday it planned to close facilities on March 23 and 24 but said it will now reopen its plants on April 6.

Separately Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) said it is closing its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant on Saturday and will reopen late on March 29. VW said it would use the time to conduct additional cleaning and to “assess future production plans and market developments.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-toyota-idUSKBN2163Q1

—-
Edit:  Added:

Truckmaker Volvo to put all 20,000 Swedish staff on temporary lay off-scheme

STOCKHOLM, March 20 (Reuters) - Truckmaker AB Volvo said on Friday it would put all its 20,000 staff in Sweden on short-term temporary lay off-scheme starting next week as it plans to close it’s whole production system in the country. ...

https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-ab-volvo-idUSFWN2BD0KC


—-======
Meanwhile, China gets back to work:

Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai Production Capacity Has Exceeded Pre C19 Breakout, 91% Recovery Rate

"We have exceeded 91% recover rate since March 6th 2020, and the current production capacity has exceeded the level before the Coronavirus breakout." said by Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai spokesperson. Tesla Shanghai GigaFactory, which has resumed work on February 10, Tesla is also one of the earliest large-scale enterprises in China to resume production.


At present, Shanghai's automobile industry, integrated circuits and smart manufacturing and other traditional and key industries have basically resumed work. The latest data shows that a total of 8 OEMs and more than 600 parts and components companies in Shanghai 
have resumed their normal productions. The rate of return to work for major integrated circuit manufacturers has exceeded 99%. Nearly 100 smart manufacturing projects and pilot demonstrations have undertaken the overall return rate of enterprises Over 96.5%, 
the biopharmaceutical industry is close to 100% resumed.

https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/tesla-gigafactory-shanghai-production-capacity-has-exceeded-pre-c19-breakout-91-recovery-rate

[Sigmetnow]

Volkswagen To Close Few Factories For Above Two Weeks Over Coronavirus Concerns
Mar 21, 2020

(RTTNews) - German carmaker Volkswagen AG said on Saturday that most of its factories close for two weeks, in some regions for three as a measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

"The spread of the virus is unlikely to have stopped in several weeks. So we have to be prepared to live with the threat for a long time - until effective medication or vaccination becomes available," Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess said in a LinkedIn post.

On Friday, Volkswagen said it will temporarily close its factories in Mexico's Puebla and Guanajuato states to slow down the spread of coronavirus. The shutdowns will take effect on March 30 and extend through April 12, the company's Mexican unit said.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/volkswagen-to-close-few-factories-for-above-two-weeks-over-coronavirus-concerns-2020-03-21

——

James Stephenson (@ICannot_Enough) 3/20/20, 8:25 AM
1/
Oliver Blume, Porsche Chairman and CEO, on a Bloomberg TV telephone interview this morning, discusses closing factories, dealerships in the U.S., and postponing investment in future electric vehicles:
...
10/
“And especially from New York, from California, that our dealerships are closing and we haven’t got the sales like in the last months in the U.S. and so I think the situation is very serious and we have to decide step-by-step what will happen in the market in the U.S.”

https://twitter.com/icannot_enough/status/1240977792793292800
Thread at the link. They need to “analyse” over the coming weeks whether “some” of their EV investments need to be postponed.

—-
Canadian dealers call for government assistance during coronavirus outbreak
March 20, 2020

The call for action comes as Canadian auto dealers adjust to new realities in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, as some provinces force non-essential businesses to close and as consumers stay home.

CADA — like their counterparts in the U.S. — has advocated for auto dealers to be designated as essential businesses, saying auto repair and parts service are critical to ensuring the health of the country’s transportation infrastructure. New-vehicle sales, however, are expected to plummet in the coming weeks as consumers stay home or hold off on new-car purchases.

Canadian Black Book in a Wednesday forecast said the best-case scenario for the Canadian auto sector involves the “resumption of normal activities over the summer with no major drop in consumer confidence,” leading to a 10 percent year-over-year drop in new-vehicle sales. In the event of a recession, Black Book expects sales declines of between 25 percent and 40 percent, depending on the severity of the economic crisis.
…
However, when customers make appointments to bring in their vehicles for servicing, they are questioned about whether they were on vacation and did they self-isolate, he said.
“My priorities are the health and safety of our employees, their families and our customers and their families.”

Like other dealerships, Ridgehill Ford is offering pickup and delivery service for customers, although “most people are saying ‘we’re looking for a break and getting out,’” Zimic laughed.

https://technewsgadgets.com/2020/03/canadian-dealers-call-for-government-assistance-during-coronavirus-outbreak/

——
General Motors Will Help Build Ventilators to Battle Covid-19
Mar 21, 2020

Iconic American auto maker General Motors is joining forces to build ventilators in America’s battle with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company said Friday evening that it was leveraging its logistics, purchasing, and manufacturing expertise to assist health-care equipment maker Ventec to increase output.

“With GM’s help, Ventec will increase ventilator production,” said Ventec Life Systems CEO Chris Kiple in a joint news release. “By tapping their expertise, GM is enabling us to get more ventilators to more hospitals much faster. This partnership will help save lives”

“We are working closely with Ventec to rapidly scale up production of their critically important respiratory products to support our country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said GM CEO Mary Barra in the same news release. “We will continue to explore ways to help in this time of crisis.”
…
General Motors shares are down about 50% year to date, worse than the comparable drops of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 over the same span.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/general-motors-will-help-build-ventilators-to-battle-covid-19-2020-03-21

—-

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 3/21/20, 2:22 PM
Just had a long engineering discussion with Medtronic about state-of-the-art ventilators. Very impressive team!
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1241430035627565056

Earl of Frunkpuppy (@28delayslater) 3/21/20, 2:25 PM
@elonmusk Need some ventilators for the media folks freaking out about your corona tweets

—-
Auto Industry Ready To Manufacture Ventilators, But It’s Not That Simple
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/03/20/auto-industry-ready-to-manufacture-ventilators-but-its-not-that-simple/

[TerryM]

^^
On the 18th Musk tweeted that "Based on current trends, probably close to zero new cases in the US too by the end of April."


Is this the reason he keeps questioning the need for ventilators?
It worked in China, but when China told Musk to shut down - He Shut Down!
Terry

[Sigmetnow]

Elon Musk: Should Have 1000 Ventilators Next Week, + 250,000 N95 Masks For Hospitals Tomorrow
— CleanTechnica Exclusive
March 21st, 2020 by Zachary Shahan

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an American oncologist and bioethicist who is senior fellow at the Center for American Progress as well as Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, said on MSNBC on Friday, March 20, that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told him it would probably take 8–10 weeks to get ventilator production started at his factories (he’s working on this at Tesla and SpaceX).

I reached out to Musk for clarification on that topic and he replied that, “We have 250k N95 masks. Aiming to start distributing those to hospitals tomorrow night. Should have over 1000 ventilators by next week.” With medical supplies such as these being one of the biggest bottlenecks and challenges at the moment in the COVID-19 response in the United States (as well as elsewhere) — something that is already having a very real effect on medical professionals and patient care — the support will surely be received with much gratitude. That said, while there has been much attention put on the expected future need for ventilators, very few places reportedly have a shortage of them right now. In much greater need at the moment are simpler supplies like N95 masks, which must be why Tesla/SpaceX is providing 250,000 of them.

Dr. Emanuel also said in the segment of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” he was on that we probably need 8–12 weeks (2–3 months) of social distancing in the US in order to deal with COVID-19 as a society. However, he also expects that the virus will come back and we’ll basically have a roller coaster of “social restrictions, easing up, social restrictions, easing up … to try to smooth out the demand on the health care system.” ...

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/03/21/elon-musk-should-have-1000-ventilators-next-week-250k-n95-masks-for-hospitals-tomorrow-cleantechnica-exclusive/

[Sigmetnow]

Also Porsche, BMW, Volvo
Volkswagen tests ventilator output as carmakers join coronavirus fight

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German carmaker Volkswagen said on Friday it was joining other manufacturers around the world to explore using 3D printing to make hospital ventilators to combat the coronavirus.

Governments are enlisting automakers including Ford (F.N), General Motors (GM.N), Ferrari (RACE.MI) and Nissan (7201.T) to ramp up production of ventilators and other equipment they are short of to treat the fast-spreading disease.

In a statement, Volkswagen said it had assembled a task force, was testing materials and checking supply chains to see how it can use 3D printing to help manufacture hospital ventilators and other life-saving equipment.

“Medical equipment is a new field for us. But as soon as we understand the requirements, and receive a blueprint, we can get started,” Volkswagen said, adding that prototype components had been printed and its Skoda arm was included in the project.

A spokesman said the Wolfsburg-based, multi-brand company, which has more than 125 industrial 3D printers, was in close contact with governments and other authorities to assess needs.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-volkswagen-ventila/volkswagen-tests-ventilator-output-as-carmakers-join-coronavirus-fight-idUSKBN2172VH

——

As COVID-19 spreads, truckers need to keep on trucking
Big rigs are rolling, truck stops adapting to demand for hospital equipment.. and TP.
3/21/2020
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/03/as-covid-19-spreads-truckers-need-to-keep-on-trucking/

[Sigmetnow]

GM accelerates 'Project V' to build ventilators in Indiana

GM said on Monday that work at its Indiana plant, which makes small electronic components for cars, is part of the effort to expand ventilator production. Sources said the GM-Ventec project is known internally as “Project V.”

As part of the effort to boost ventilator output from Ventec, GM has arranged for the supply of 95% of the parts needed to build the ventilator and is seeking to source the remaining 37 necessary parts, according to an email to suppliers from Shilpan Amin, GM’s vice president of global purchasing.

The goal of the venture is to build up to 200,000 ventilators, said people familiar with the plans who asked not to be identified. …

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-autos-ventilators-idUSKBN21A2Y4


——-
Charge your car at any lamppost in London’s first ‘Electric Avenue’
Mar 23, 2020

Sutherland Avenue in the London borough of Westminster is the first street in the United Kingdom to have its lampposts converted into charging stations for electric vehicles. Over the next few weeks, a further two adjoining streets will be fitted with charging stations.
This project is the result of a study carried out by the German company Siemens. It revealed that more than a third (36 %) of British motorists plan to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle as their next car. Although two out of five people (40 %) added that a lack of recharging points discouraged them from doing so. This makes it the biggest factor deterring motorists from buying an electric or hybrid vehicle. …

https://innovationorigins.com/charge-your-car-at-any-lamppost-in-londons-first-electric-avenue/
 
“I have seen the future, and it is light-pole charging.” 
- Talking Tesla

[Sigmetnow]

Alex (@alex_avoigt) 3/24/20, 11:46 AM
Owning a BEV is added Safety
Italy is closing Gas Stations
The advantage of having a BEV is now more obvious than ever. You simply charge at home and stay independent, flexible and safe.

https://twitter.com/alex_avoigt/status/1242477783978139654

(ANSA) - Rome, March 24 - Italy's petrol stations will start closing down from Wednesday night because they are unable to ensure protection from the coronavirus or "the economic sustainability of the service", sector unions said Tuesday.
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/business/2020/03/24/petrol-stations-to-start-closing-wed_f139beeb-9662-4b29-8535-c39586776ec1.html

[Sigmetnow]

Polestar 2 starts production in China
March 25, 2020

Volvo-owned Polestar gave the entire automotive industry a small glimmer of hope by announcing it has launched production of its second model, the aptly-named 2, in a facility located in China. The announcement comes as numerous car factories in the United States and Europe are shuttered to slow the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Launching production in Luqiao, a coastal city located south of Shanghai, was easier said than done because China idled its industrial sector in early 2020 as it battled against the deadly coronavirus outbreak. The nation’s entire supply chain was disrupted for weeks on end but the Polestar team managed to quickly overcome these significant challenges and begin building the 2 right on schedule. “This is a great achievement and the result of huge efforts,” affirmed company CEO Thomas Ingenlath.

Polestar released five images to illustrate how the 2 comes to life. It’s built by mask-wearing workers in a clean, well-lit factory that also manufactures Volvo models for the local market and cars designed by Lynk & Co, another one of the automakers under the Geely umbrella. The company hasn’t revealed how many examples of the 2 it hopes to build annually, but it was developed as a relatively high-volume model aimed at premium electric sedans like the Tesla Model 3. In contrast, the 1, its first car, is a plug-in hybrid coupe limited to 1,500 units globally.

If the 2 looks familiar, it’s likely because it is related to the 40.2 concept Volvo introduced in 2016. It’s built on the same CMA platform as the XC40, but it is only available with a twin-motor electric powertrain whose output checks in at 408 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. Electricity is stored in a 78-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack stuffed under the passenger compartment. Polestar quoted a 275-mile driving range and a 3,300-pound towing capacity. The latter figure is surprisingly high for an electric car in this segment of the market.

The first examples of the 2 will be sent to the European market in the summer of 2020; Polestar singled out big electric car markets like Norway, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Holland, and Belgium as its landing points on the Old Continent. It will begin building cars for the Chinese and American markets a little bit later in 2020. The first United States-bound examples will be delivered to reservation holders in California and in Washington.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/polestar-begins-production-of-the-electric-2-in-china/

[Sigmetnow]

GM and Ford’s EV production plans for the US have leaked, and they are a joke

It appears that Tesla will remain the only serious electric car maker in the United States for quite some time. This is because despite the grand gestures and proclamations of an electric car-centric future from American automakers General Motors and Ford, the two companies’ actual production plans for North America are still centered on large, internal combustion-powered vehicles.

According to detailed production plans from GM and Ford that were viewed by Reuters, the two biggest American automakers will be making 5 million petrol-powered SUVs and pickup trucks in 2026, and only 320,000 electric vehicles. That’s just about 5% of Ford and GM’s combined vehicle production in North America, and less than Tesla’s output in 2019 from its one factory in Fremont, CA.

Putting it mildly, a production target of 320,000 electric vehicles in 2026 is a joke. Both companies, after all, have been insisting that they are all-in on an electric car push. Earlier this month, GM CEO Mary Barra announced a $20 billion project to bring a million EVs to market by the middle of the 2020s, though most of these vehicles will be sold in China. Ford is the same, with Executive Chairman Bill Ford stating that the company is “all-in” on an electric car push.

If GM and Ford’s production plans for North America are any indication, it appears that a lot of these optimistic EV-centric statements may be just that: statements, and nothing more. According to data from AutoForecast Solutions, GM and Ford’s North American production of SUV models will outpace traditional cars by over 8:1 in 2026. Among these SUVs, 93% will be petrol-powered.

Reuters noted that AutoForecast’s data is based on planning information provided to suppliers by the carmakers themselves. Interestingly enough, Ford and GM executives did not dispute the accuracy of the data when they were interviewed by the publication. ...

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-gm-ford-ev-production-plans-leaked/


The Reuters article:
Factbox: Ford and General Motors' electric vehicle plans
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-emissions-suvs-lineup-factbox-idUSKBN21D1LT

[Sigmetnow]

This dealer went from selling used gas cars to used EVs, and even new Teslas

J.N. Auto, a long time independent car dealer in rural Quebec, made the transition from selling and servicing used gas vehicles to used electric over five years ago, and even more recently to being one of the largest independent retailers of brand new Tesla Model 3s anywhere on the planet. Here’s the story of how an independent used car dealer took on new EV sales absent a franchise agreement. ...

https://electrek.co/2020/03/28/this-dealer-went-from-selling-used-gas-cars-to-used-evs-and-even-new-teslas/

[Sigmetnow]

March 31
Ford postpones reopening 'key' plants due to coronavirus pandemic

Less than a week after Ford Motor said it would restart production at “key” plants in North America beginning in early-April, the company has postponed those plans as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the U.S.

Ford on Tuesday said it is delaying the restart of a car plant in Mexico as well as four truck, SUV and van plants in the U.S. ” to help protect its workers.” The company declined to provide a new timeline for reopening the plants. …

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/31/ford-postpones-reopening-key-plants-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic.html

—-
Former GM executive Bob Lutz on impact of coronavirus on the auto industry
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/03/31/coronavirus-impact-auto-industry-squawk-box.html
“It’s time to reduce fixed costs..., probably put some future products on hold....”
“In a few months, the number of cases will go down and demand will come roaring back.”

(But, will those potential customers have jobs to return to?  )

—-
Louisiana, U.S.
Dealerships Allowed To Stay Open In State-Mandated Shelter In Place Order
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/03/25/dealerships-allowed-to-stay-open-in-state-mandated-shelter-in-place-order/

—-
Mercedes-Benz EQV Undergoing Winter Testing Ahead Of Launch

The Mercedes-Benz EQV is ready for winter. It will launch in the second half of 2020
Mercedes-Benz EQV 300 specs:
   •   up to 405 km (250 miles) of range (provisional figure); 417-418 km (based on NEDC)
   •   100 kWh battery pack (90 kWh usable) …

https://insideevs.com/news/406078/mercedes-eqv-undergoing-winter-testing/
Image below:  two versions of the all-electric Mercedes van.  [Note the charge port door impinges upon the driver door.  ]

[Sigmetnow]

Automaker Q1 sales reports reveal coronavirus' effects
April 1, 2020 11:27 a.m. PT

Analysts expected it, but we finally have hard numbers to show a deep decline in automotive sales in the first quarter of 2020. While things hummed along through January, and mostly February, any positives quickly met the eraser in March as stay-at-home orders and shutdowns swept over the US in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Below, you'll find sales results for every automaker reporting them for Q1. We'll continue to update this story as automakers release their results. For those looking for ways to safely pursue car buying amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a guide to every automaker offering home delivery.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Sales of all FCA's brands combined resulted in a 10% decline year over year. The automaker sold a total of 446,768 vehicles between Jan. 1 and March 31, compared to 498,425 vehicles during the same period last year. The automaker noted "strong momentum" in January and February, but March dashed any positive gains.
Chrysler sales slipped 5%, and even Jeep wasn't immune to the slowdown. The crown jewel of FCA posted a 14% drop in sales. Dodge was down, too, with a 20% decline. Fiat saw a steep dive at 49% (not as much related to the COVID-19 outbreak), while Alfa Romeo sales fell 14%.
It wasn't all bad news, though. Ram sales grew 3% overall, and Ram trucks, specifically, saw sales rise 7%. Chrysler Pacifica sales also grew 5%.
General Motors
GM's four brands posted a total decline of 7% in Q1. Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac each posted sales declines as March turned into a reckoning month for automakers. Chevy fared best with a sales decline of 3.8%, while Buick posted a larger decline of 34%. GMC sales dropped 5% and Cadillac sales fell 15.8%. Total vehicle sales were 618,335 in Q1 2020 compared to 665,840 the same time last year.
A few bright spots are also present for GM. Chevy Silverado sales jumped 33% and the GMC Sierra saw posted a gain of 27% year over year. As the Chevy Blazer also flowed into dealers, sales increased 632% year over year, though availability was limited at this time last year.
Hyundai
At Hyundai, the South Korean brand posted a Q1 sales decline of 11%. March told a more drastic picture with a 43% decline in sales. The brand noted sales actually increased in January and February, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed pause on any momentum. Sales, in total, dropped to 130,875 vehicles from 147,585 vehicles this time last year. To help drum up some consumer confidence, Hyundai reinstalled its Assurance Job Loss Protection Program for new customers. Those who purchase a new Hyundai will receive up to six payments on the brand in the event the customer loses their job.
Infiniti
Nissan's luxury brand posted a sales decline of 25%, though its QX50 posted its best sales ever in January and February. Sales of the model rose 16% in Q1, though every other model posted a sales decline.
Mazda
The Japanese automaker does not report sales results quarterly, and in its monthly report, March sales year over year dropped 42%. Every model posted deep declines, save for the CX-30 -- a new vehicle in Mazda's lineup. The latest crossover found 2,242 homes in March, which is far more than the somewhat comparable CX-3.
Mitsubishi
Like Mazda, Mitsubishi issues monthly sales reports -- not quarterly. Still, March was not kind to the small Japanese automaker. Sales dropped 52% year over year with just 9,394 cars sold last month. In March 2019, the automaker moved 19,599 cars.
Nissan
The automaker, which has struggled in recent months before the COVID-19 pandemic, posted a company-wide sales decline of 30%. The only models to post a gain were the Murano SUV, which saw sales increase by 34%, and the Kicks, up 11%.
Porsche
The German sports car maker said sales dropped 20% in Q1 this year. It's a tough time as Porsche launched its first electric car, the Taycan, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began to wreak havoc on the traditional car buying process. The brand said it sold 221 Taycans in Q1.
Volkswagen
The Volkswagen brand followed the industry trend and posted a 13% sales drop in Q1 and sold about 10,000 fewer vehicles than this time last year. Two rather odd bright spots emerged, however. Golf R sales skyrocketed 448%. That's not a typo. Golf SportWagen sales also rose 36%. VW killed the SportWagen at the end of last year, so it may be last-minute buyers getting their wagon fix.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/automaker-q1-sales-coronavirus-effects-covid-19-hyundai-porsche-fca/

[NeilT]

I'm pretty sure nobody considered Q1 2019 delivery figures to be a bonus for Tesla.  Yet that is looking likely to be the case as Tesla is likely to have a YOY increase in deliveries in 2020.  Something I do not believe will be matched by any other auto manufacturer.

[Sigmetnow]

Ford's First-Quarter Sales Fell 12.5%; Rougher Waters Lie Ahead
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/04/02/fords-first-quarter-sales-fell-125-but-rougher-wat.aspx

Ford explores ‘Cash For Clunkers’ stimulus plan, a potential boost for US-made EVs
https://electrek.co/2020/04/02/ford-cash-for-clunkers-stimulus-plan-a-us-evs/

—-
Bolt sales up 36% in Q1 compared to last year, as GM EV tax credit disappears

Chevrolet increased Q1 2020 sales of the Bolt EV by 36.1% compared to a year ago. The rise in purchases of the all-electric Bolt defied the gravity of a dismal quarter for overall Chevrolet sales. With help from attractive discounts and incentives, Chevy sold 5,873 Bolts — an amount that could make it the second most popular EV in the US.

To achieve decent Bolt sales, GM aggressively pushed the Chevy Bolt electric car in March with a discount of up to $10,000, and with leases starting at $199 a month. Check local dealers for heavily discounted inventory.

The company might have to step up discounts even further, considering that March was the last month that GM EVs could still qualify for a federal tax credit. In Q1, the credit for the Bolt was available at $1,875. As of April 1, the consumer credit goes to zero, due to the 200,000 EV limit for the federal incentive.

A new challenge is historically low gas prices, which undermine the price advantage for fueling an EV for some consumers. Soule commented:
   At current gas prices, it costs less to fully charge a Bolt EV than it would to fill up a tank of gas.
We found that even at $1/gallon, Electric is usually cheaper than gas.

Meanwhile, Nissan sold about 1,960 units of the Leaf electric car in the US in the first quarter, which is down 27% compared to a year ago. However, sales of the Leaf in Nissan’s home market were up by about 60% this year through February.

Chevrolet sales across its entire vehicle lineup decreased by 3.8% in Q1. Other GM brands were also down. Buick, Cadillac, and GMC sales dropped by 35%, 16%, and 5%, respectively.

This week, Electrek reported that General Motors is delaying the launch of the new and improved version of the Chevy Bolt from this year to 2021 due to business impacts from the pandemic. The vehicle updates, which include more comfortable seats and the availability of adaptive cruise control, will now come with the 2022 model-year Bolt.

https://electrek.co/2020/04/03/bolt-sales-up-36-in-q1-compared-to-last-year-as-gm-ev-tax-credit-disappears/

—-
Volkswagen extends E-Golf production until September, according to VW internal document

Volkswagen needs to increase its output of electric cars to meet CO2 regulations in the EU. But reportedly, the company continues to work through software problems with its upcoming new ID.3 EV model expected this summer. Now an internal VW document reveals that production of the E-Golf, VW’s current but discontinued best-selling EV, will be extended through about September. Customer deliveries in Europe will be pushed until the end of November.
…
The report also indicated the VW is offering generous discounts on the [E-Golf] to bring the price below €25,000 ($27,000). The company began dropping the E-Golf’s price, by about €4,000, a year ago.

Last week, VW told Electrek that the market launch for the ID.3 is on schedule for summer 2020. But the company added that production would start slowly with the first units to be vetted by employees before getting turned over to customers. VW wrote:

The production of the ID.3 1ST started (as scheduled) with only a few units, and when we will be approaching the launch, production will be severely ramped up.

The next stage will be supplying vehicles for the pre-bookers. Our objective is to simultaneously deliver the 30,000 ID.3 1ST vehicles to customers in all pre-booking markets in Europe in time for the launch in summer 2020.
…
Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper last week cited internal sources declaring that VW is struggling to get the necessary software expertise to resolve its issues. And that it held a private meeting with Daimler to possibly develop a common operating system.

VW also last week trumpeted brisk sales of the pure electric version of the e-up! minicar, claiming to have 20,000 orders on hand. That’s another potential sign of the company shifting some focus from its new EVs to the electric models currently on sale.

In the US, the all-electric ID.4 crossover is expected to go on sale by the end of this year. …

https://electrek.co/2020/04/04/volkswagen-extends-e-golf-production-until-september-according-to-vw-internal-document/

—-
U.S.: EPA official forgets Tesla and new EV makers in scathing criticism of 'unattainable' emissions standards
April 2, 2020

On Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency announced the SAFE standards that will take the place of the Obama-era Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules, which required about 5% annual improvements in fuel efficiency every year from carmakers.

Under the CAFE rules, the EPA noted that automakers would have been required to sell cars and light trucks with an average fuel efficiency of about 54 miles per gallon in 2026 model cars. With the current administration’s SAFE rules, vehicles could simply average about 40 miles per gallon by 2026 to meet the new standards. …

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-ev-makers-vs-epa-trump-standards/

Ford and GM may desperately want a few more years of “big and dirty” vehicle sales in the U.S., but Europe and China (and increasingly North America) want cleaner cars, right away.  ICE sales are shrinking across the board, while Tesla produced 33% more of its pure EVs YoY in Q1, and delivered 40% more.

—-
Meanwhile:
Korea plans thousands of fast EV charging at gas stations, now 76 and counting
https://electrek.co/2020/04/03/korea-plans-thousands-of-fast-ev-charging-at-gas-stations-now-76-and-counting/

[Sigmetnow]

Struggling auto giants try to support each other through the transition to EVs:

April 7, 2020
Honda is partnering with GM to develop EVs and no one even notices

Honda are well known for making small, economical, and supremely reliable family cars, a trait which is rarely attached to GM or any of its subsidiaries. However, it seems as though Honda has decided to partner with GM to provide the basis for the Japanese automaker's upcoming line of EVs.

The new GM-powered cars will be released starting in 2024 and reportedly “will be engineered to support Honda’s driving character.”

Honda will also offer GM’s hands-free advanced driver-assist technology, known as Super Cruise, and the Detroit automaker’s OnStar safety and security services in the two all-electric vehicles. …

https://drivetribe.com/p/honda-is-partnering-with-gm-to-J-b-9ZuRRqOxejfAHiKqsg

Reminiscent of this from July 2019:
Ford, VW confirm plan to expand collaboration to include autonomous and electric vehicles
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/12/ford-vw-confirm-plan-to-collaborate-on-autonomous-electric-vehicles.html

And Toyota, who spent too much time, effort and money championing fuel cells, now looking for help from BYD:
BYD, Toyota Enter Agreement to Jointly Develop Battery Electric Vehicles Discussions to start with developing vehicles and onboard batteries
https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/28913709.html


But some still cannot see a way forward:
VW, Porsche, and Mazda cling to internal combustion, citing benefits of biofuels
https://electrek.co/2020/04/07/vw-porsche-and-mazda-cling-to-internal-combustion-citing-benefits-of-biofuels/

[Stephen]

Struggling auto giants try to support each other through the transition to EVs:
.....
....
But some still cannot see a way forward:
VW, Porsche, and Mazda cling to internal combustion, citing benefits of biofuels
https://electrek.co/2020/04/07/vw-porsche-and-mazda-cling-to-internal-combustion-citing-benefits-of-biofuels/

In terms of climate change and reducing CO2 levels, I am technology agnostic.  I don't care how they do it.  If (and it's a big if) they can do it by producing synthetic fuels that remove CO2 from the atmosphere as they are grown or created, then that's fine by me.  I understand that this is an electric car thread and that synthetic fuels are not a way forward for electric cars.  But to suggest that they are not a way forward for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is churlish.

[blumenkraft]

Where would we possibly get all this biofuel from? Where is all that land for the crops? Where are all the refineries for biofuel? How would this possibly scale?

On the other hand, it's easy to build a wind turbine and the electrical infrastructure is already here to charge electric cars.

[Stephen]

Where would we possibly get all this biofuel from? Where is all that land for the crops? Where are all the refineries for biofuel? How would this possibly scale?

On the other hand, it's easy to build a wind turbine and the electrical infrastructure is already here to charge electric cars.

You are presuming that only corn or sugar cane could be the source.  There's a lot of research into diesel oil from algae.  The advantages being that it does not require good farmland or even fresh water (outback Australia or the Sahara would be fine).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel
https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Collections/ANACC/Algae-bioproducts/algae-biofuels

My question for you is How do we transition to this wonderful electric future?  What ahppens to the billions, or even trillions invested in ICE vehicles?   I doubt if there will ever be enough energy density in a battery to run an aircraft the size of a 747. 

We cannot just flick a switch and go from ICE to batteries.  There must be a transition phase.

[blumenkraft]

There's a lot of research into diesel oil from algae.

Does it work on a large scale? Where are those algae producing reactors fueling millions and billions of cars? Again, can it scale? We don't know! How long does it take to scale? We don't know!

You can't answer this question with an unknown.

It is known though that electricity is able to scale very fast.

We cannot just flick a switch and go from ICE to batteries

Who sais something about flipping a switch? It will take at least a decade to make the transition to electric cars. Or even longer.

Time is of the essence here.

[swoozle]

...   I doubt if there will ever be enough energy density in a battery to run an aircraft the size of a 747. 

Completely irrelevant when we're talking about electrifying the automobile.

But also shows a lack of awareness of how technology progresses in every field, including electric energy storage.  Current technology lithium ion batteries are not the pinnacle of battery storage technology.

[KiwiGriff]

Electric cars are better than ICE.
Less pollution in densely populated places unlike diesel.
Better acceleration and driving dynamics.  Tesla has manged to make such a dent in the premium sector not because of virtual signaling greenies but because they compete and win in a direct comparison. 
ICE has very nearly reached the limits of the technology.
Modern batteries and electric transport is at the beginning of its technology curve. 

[Sigmetnow]

“Never” is an extremely long time.  And “battery” can evolve to mean something quite different than what exists today.

Here are two examples of medium-sized electric planes flying today, from the Aviation thread:

https://www.engadget.com/2019/12/11/commercial-electric-airplane-test-flight-harbour-air/

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/The-Secret-Behind-Rolls-Royces-E-Plane.html


==============

Back to car companies and the transition(?) to EVs:

"We now estimate Ford and GM only have 15-17 weeks of liquidity under shutdown conditions before they hit their minimum cash levels."
GM downgraded at Deutsche Bank, citing liquidity concerns from COVID-19-related shutdowns
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/gm-downgraded-at-deutsche-bank-citing-liquidity-concerns-from-covid-19-related-shutdowns-2020-04-08

——-
Tesla announces pay cuts, furloughs, and aims to get back to production by May 4

   •   Under furlough, you remain an employee of Tesla (without pay) and retain your healthcare benefits. You will not report to work until the furlough ends and you are directed to return by management, which we expect to be May 4.  …

https://electrek.co/2020/04/07/tesla-pay-cuts-production-may-4/

[Iain]

Joule Unlimited was able to make liquid fuels from CO2 and sunlight, but they were not able to make it at a low enough cost to compete.

It would only be a second use of the CO2, from e.g cement works, FF power stations, not a substitute or capture.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joule_Unlimited

[Sigmetnow]

”If there is a delay from VW, that is likely to make a big hole in BEV sales for the year.”

Electric Cars Fight Off Coronavirus Attack In Europe As Regular Auto Sales Tank

Battery-electric car sales in Europe are holding up well, even as regular internal combustion engine (ICE) demand crashes around them, but forecasters are scaling back much stronger pre-coronavirus predictions.

Projections may yet take a hit if the year’s most important battery electric vehicle (BEV) launch - Volkswagen’s designed-from-the-ground-up to be electric ID.3 – is delayed beyond its promised summer debut date. Delays in software development had threatened that launch, but VW said it still expects an August start to sales.
...
2020 was supposed to be the year when European BEV demand finally accelerated into an unstoppable high gear. These sales are crucial because of European Union (EU) regulations, forcing manufacturers to ratchet up the number of electric cars, with massive fines for those failing to do this. But despite the horrendous market conditions in Europe, where sales of regular ICE vehicles in April might be barely perceptible and most forecasts now reckon overall sales for the year may be down about 20%, BEVs are holding up well.

According to consultants LMC Automotive, BEV sales in Western Europe in March rose to 47,000, up from 37,000 in the same month last year.
…
Meanwhile, the slowing of demand has been a short-term godsend for sales of the Audi e-Tron and Porsche Taycan, according to investment bank Berenberg.

Berenberg analyst Asad Farid said car makers like Audi, Porsche and others would have struggled to meet battery demand as they ramped up production. …

https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2020/04/12/electric-cars-fight-off-coronavirus-attack-in-europe-as-regular-auto-sales-tank/

No mention of Tesla at all…. 

[Jim Hunt]

Assuming that he hasn't cancelled his Sono Sion order Neven in particular will be interested in this breaking news:

https://twitter.com/V2G_EVSE/status/1250078540751613954

We are a "wallbox manufacturer" and have had AC V2H over ISO 15118 waiting by the wall in our car park since last summer:

http://V2G-EVSE.com/2019/06/10/ac-vehicle-to-grid-technology-arrives-in-the-united-kingdom/

All we need is a compatible EV OEM! When can we begin interoperability testing?

[Sigmetnow]

A small study in the UK:

The question we asked was, ‘Have the effects of the current COVID-19 lockdown made you change your mind about buying an electric vehicle?’

Motorists reconsider EV switch in the wake of Covid-19

Government-enforced lockdowns around the world, due to Covid-19, are without doubt making life difficult for many, but they are also having a dramatic positive impact on people’s awareness of the benefits to the environment, reports Venson Automotive Solutions.  45% of people surveyed by Venson confirmed that the radical improvement on air pollution across the globe as a result of the demobilisation of transport, has made them reconsider their electric vehicle (EV) ownership plans.  A further 17% said it reaffirmed the decision they had already made to make the switch to an EV.

Of the 45% of motorists who are now reassessing their EV options, 19% said their next company car or private purchase would be an EV, with the remaining 26% confirming they intend to become an EV driver in the next 5 years.  In an EV attitudes survey conducted by Venson in July 2019, 41% of people said they were considering moving to an EV, but 31% said that they wouldn’t for another 10-15 years, confirming the intention by many to play their part in protecting the environment has since accelerated. …

https://www.venson.com/Media/ViewNews/177

Study: Pandemic lockdowns are encouraging more consumers to buy electric cars
https://electrek.co/2020/04/09/study-pandemic-lockdowns-are-encouraging-more-consumers-to-buy-electric-cars/

And they didn’t even ask whether “fueling” at home versus sharing a public petrol station was a factor.

[TerryM]

Jim
Any idea on how V>Grid would affect OEM battery warranty?


Terry

[Jim Hunt]

Nissan are happy to allow V2G.

I don't know about Sono though. Perhaps we could ask Neven after his gets delivered?

[Neven]

Nissan are happy to allow V2G.

I don't know about Sono though. Perhaps we could ask Neven after his gets delivered?

I still hold a reservation, but not my breath for the Sion to be delivered.

[Sigmetnow]

Nissan are happy to allow V2G.

I don't know about Sono though. Perhaps we could ask Neven after his gets delivered?

I still hold a reservation, but not my breath for the Sion to be delivered.

Neven, do you hold out hope for the (troubled) VW ID.3 in Europe?

[Neven]

I hope VW goes bankrupt. That's my only hope for VW. 

[Sigmetnow]

I hope VW goes bankrupt. That's my only hope for VW. 

LOL!

[NeilT]

I still hold a reservation, but not my breath for the Sion to be delivered.

I hadn't really had a look at the Sonos Sion but I had a dig around today.  It would appear to me that Sonos is really a design company.  Rather than a traditional manufacturing company as such.  Granted a whole load of different EV's are manufactured by third parties in Austria.  However the Sion is supposed to be being manufactured in Sweden by another company.

At the same time the two cars classified as prototypes appear to be built on top of two i3 bases with custom bodies.  Well according to Reddit.

This would mean that the proposed V2V power and OTG power would not be possible until Sonos produced the software/hardware to provide the feature.

The Sion is now scheduled for fall 21 manufacture start and spring 22 first deliveries.

I must admit I'm wondering if it will ever happen.  It has the feel of top end phones which couldn't last a day being provided with reverse charging capabilities.  An interesting feature but with very limited application.

I would love to see the vehicle go into production so we can see just how useful the solar cells are.  Unfortunately I suspect that feature will go the way of the plug in battery trailer I found on the Internet.  It was to be a product but the market outgrew it.  Just as Tesla battery swaps never really happened in volume.

At least a vehicle of this type would have driven down the price of the competition.

[Neven]

I hadn't really had a look at the Sonos Sion but I had a dig around today.  It would appear to me that Sonos is really a design company.  Rather than a traditional manufacturing company as such.  Granted a whole load of different EV's are manufactured by third parties in Austria.  However the Sion is supposed to be being manufactured in Sweden by another company.

At the same time the two cars classified as prototypes appear to be built on top of two i3 bases with custom bodies.  Well according to Reddit.

It's Sono, not Sonos (which is/was a company that built electric trikes, I believe). And the i3-thing is a persistent myth. The bases of the cars were built by Roding, a company that builds protoypes and concept cars.

The Sion is now scheduled for fall 21 manufacture start and spring 22 first deliveries.

I must admit I'm wondering if it will ever happen.

Me too. There have been lots of promises, but very few updates, culminating in last December's fund-raiser (because they couldn't find investors who shared their ideals and vision). I pledged 3000 euros, even though I was quite sure it was money thrown away. When they then extended the ending date of the fundraiser and finally reached the 50 million euro goal, I decided not to follow up on my pledge. My 500 euro reservation still stands, though.

By the time the car is built, if it gets built, it will probably be too late. But we'll see.

[NeilT]

Sorry Neven, I have sonos devices and just tend to type the wrong word.  I worked for 19 years on lotus Notes and am unable to type note on its own without thinking very carefully.

As for the i3 base?  There are those who claim either way, personally I wonder about Roding doing a 2 car run of a full design and the possible cost. It is highly unlikely that they created everything from scratch, so I would expect some level of cross manufacturer bleed in.

On the other hand, 2021 is sufficiently far away to allow for the development of the components required.

[Sigmetnow]

Lucid Air goes 400-miles in SF to LA roadtrip on single charge

American electric car startup Lucid Motors drove its “Lucid Air” prototype from its headquarters in Silicon Valley to Los Angeles and back, an 800-mile journey, on just two charges.

https://www.teslarati.com/lucid-air-400-mile-range-sf-la-roadtrip/

—-
Byton M-Byte ramping up at China plant, still on track for 2021 US arrival

Pre-production examples of the Byton M-Byte electric crossover have begun rolling off the assembly line at the startup's Nanjing, China, factory, the company confirmed on Tuesday.

Byton plans to launch the M-Byte in China later this year, and reports that it resumed activity at the plant on February 11. Spokesman Dave Buchko confirmed to Green Car Reports Tuesday that plans are moving along for U.S. production to come from this same plant in the latter part of 2021.

Byton has been working on rougher prototypes since the first half of 2019. Pre-production vehicles are typically used for final testing and regulatory certification. The build process also gives automakers an opportunity to iron out an issues related to production. Appearance of pre-production vehicles generally means an automaker is close to putting a new model on sale.

These vehicles are Pilot Production, according to Byton, meaning they'll be used for durability and crash-testing. ...

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1127812_byton-m-byte-ramping-up-at-china-plant-still-on-track-for-2021-us-arrival

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EV production starts to come back online in Europe, US still in question

After weeks of being idle, auto factories producing electric cars in Europe are resuming production. Hyundai and Audi plants were the first to open, with Daimler expected to begin output next week. EV plants in China have been online for several weeks, but the plan for US production is still up in the air.
…
Electrek reached out to GM about the timing for Chevy Bolt production to resume in Michigan. A GM spokesperson replied:
   We will resume production on the Chevrolet Bolt EV when it is safe to do so.
No other information was provided.

https://electrek.co/2020/04/14/ev-production-starts-to-come-back-online-in-europe-us-still-in-question/

—-
As of Friday (April 17), the US Department of Homeland Security now includes auto manufacturing, distribution and sales as essential workers.

Tesla Fremont Factory Reopening Imminent As Homeland Security Sets New Guidelines For Essential Auto Workers

Tesla Fremont Factory’s May 4 reopening could be imminent now that an agency from the US Department of Homeland Security has set new guidelines for essential workers.

According to Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, specific auto workers are now deemed essential. The new guidelines will affect the future operations of Tesla’s Fremont Factory during the second quarter, specifically its Model Y production, sales, and deliveries.

“Workers critical to the manufacturing, distribution, sales, rental, leasing, repair, and maintenance of vehicles and other transportation equipment” were listed as essential by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the third version of its guidelines for pertinent employees released on April 17, 2020. “Clarified language to include vehicle manufacturers…” said a press release from CISA.

https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/tesla-fremont-factory-model-y-deliveries

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Toyota to cut production in Japan in May as coronavirus squeezes demand

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) on Wednesday said it will cut production of finished vehicles by 40 percent in Japan in May as demand shrinks around the world because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The measures, which will cut production to 79,000 vehicles for the month, include suspending production on some days and reducing shifts form two to one at some plants, the company said in a press release.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-toyota-idUSKCN21X1QK

[Sigmetnow]

Oh, the irony! Auto dealers have fought Tesla’s direct sales model tooth and nail for a decade, arguing that only in-person sales through independent dealerships could provide consumers with the service they deserved.  Now, after a few weeks of economic lockdown, an increasing number of dealers are embracing the Tesla model themselves.
 
Tesla’s online sales model may soon become the norm

In Michigan, dealers were crying the blues for a month, as most vehicle sales were prohibited. Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s recent “stay home” order has cleared the way for them to get back to work….  However, showrooms must “remain closed to in-person traffic.”

When the coronavirus crisis ends, will it be back to business as usual for dealerships?  Maybe not. “We’re seeing a fundamental change in the way cars will be sold,” said Doug North, owner of a Ford dealership and Chairman of the North American International Auto Show. “This pandemic is going to create some permanent changes.” ...

https://evannex.com/blogs/news/tesla-s-online-sales-model-may-soon-become-the-norm

Article includes a ten-minute Autoline video interview with the Consumer Reports writer who studied the phenomenon.