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Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily, your trusted source of EV information. It’s Tuesday 25th July it’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don’t have to.
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Stellantis and Samsung SDI Gear Up for Second U.S. Battery Plant
Stellantis and Samsung SDI, the South Korean battery maker, have announced plans to open a second joint-venture plant in the U.S. to manufacture electric vehicle batteries. The production is set to start in 2027. This will be the second under their existing StarPlus Energy joint venture.
The exact location of the plant is still under review, and details about the investment and the number of employees will be announced later. The plant is expected to have an initial production capacity of 34 gigawatt hours (GWh).
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares stated that the new facility will contribute to the company’s ambitious target of offering at least 25 new battery electric vehicles for the North American market by the end of the decade.
Stellantis, whose brands include Peugeot, Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, and Opel, plans to achieve 100% electric passenger car sales in Europe and a 50% car and light truck electric mix in the U.S. by 2030. To achieve this, the company aims to secure about 400 GWh of battery capacity.
In 2021, Stellantis announced plans to invest $35 billion into EV production and software globally through 2025. The second U.S. battery plant will be the sixth to support the company’s goals.
In May 2022, Stellantis and Samsung SDI announced an investment of more than $2.5 billion to build their first joint battery plant in Kokomo, Indiana, U.S., set to open in the first quarter of 2025 with an initial capacity of 23 GWh, eventually rising to 33 GWh.
Stellantis’ other proposed battery plant, the NextStar joint venture with LG Energy Solution, had been stalled until earlier this month due to issues with the Canadian government. As of July 5, the project was back on track, with the plant due to start production in 2024, ramping up to an annual output of more than 45 gigawatt-hours.
The delay in the LG joint venture project has not yet been reported to affect the timeline for the launch of upcoming EVs, potentially including the Ram 1500 REV electric truck, a Dodge electric muscle car, and a Jeep Recon that could act as a fully electric “brother” to the Wrangler.
Samsung SDI cells have been used in Stellantis’ U.S. EV lineup before. The original Fiat 500e that arrived for limited U.S. sale a decade ago was equipped with cells from Samsung SDI.
In addition to the three battery plants planned for North America, Stellantis is also building battery plants in France, Germany, and Italy.
Mercedes Prepares to Unveil an Entry-Level EV
Mercedes is set to preview a future entry-level model with a new concept car at the Munich motor show in September.
The new concept is expected to be a successor to the new CLA, which has been spotted testing ahead of its 2025 launch with an electric drivetrains.
By 2025, Mercedes-Benz plans to offer an EV in every market segment. The new concept will join the Vision EQXX and Vision One-Eleven, both of which are designed to preview technology for future models.
As part of its Electric First strategy, Mercedes will introduce three other ‘entry luxury’ models over the next three years and simplify its compact car line-up from seven to four models. The combustion-powered A-Class will eventually be phased out.
The new concept aims to provide a “vision for class-leading innovation, design, and digital experience” and will draw on insights from the EQXX, which was able to travel 747 miles from Stuttgart to Goodwood on a single charge during testing.
BYD and FAW’s Milestone: First Battery Pack from New Changchun Factory
BYD and FAW have manufactured the first battery pack at their new factory in northeast China.
The factory is not yet fully operational, with series production set to begin in September 2023.
Construction of the new production facility, designed for an annual capacity of 45 GWh, began in February 2022.
The joint venture, FAW FinDreams New Energy Technology plans to manufacture blade batteries at the plant.
The production of the first battery pack is a significant step in tuning the production line and lays the groundwork for the start of production in September.
The Blade battery, an in-house development by BYD, is named for its unusual format: the pouch cells are very long and resemble a sword blade. These elongated cells, produced exclusively with LFP chemistry, are installed in the battery packs across the direction of travel.
The joint venture aims to create a strategic base for NEV power batteries in the Northeast region and accelerate the use of green technology in the local and nearby areas.
BYD is China’s largest maker of NEVs and the country’s second-largest maker of power batteries.
GRIDSERVE Secures Over Half a Billion Pounds in Green Financing
GRIDSERVE, a sustainable energy business, has secured the largest debt raise to date globally for a privately-owned charge point operator. This move demonstrates the market’s confidence in the transition to electric mobility and GRIDSERVE’s mission to deliver net zero transport quickly and on a large scale.
The green infrastructure financing facility comprises £326 million in committed loan facilities, with an additional £200 million uncommitted accordion facility for future assets, totaling £526 million. This financing will cover the company’s full Sun-to-Wheel ecosystem, including the refinancing of its existing and future electric vehicle charging Super Hubs and Electric Forecourts®, as well as related infrastructure like operational solar and battery projects.
This funding will allow GRIDSERVE to accelerate the upgrade and expansion of its UK network, which is projected to include the installation of more than 500 new Electric Super Hubs nationwide. This expansion will deliver over 3,000 new High Power charge points with class-leading speeds of up to 350kW, capable of providing 100 miles of charge in only 5 minutes.
The financing will be undertaken under GRIDSERVE’s Green Finance Framework, which has been certified “Dark Green” by S&P Global’s Shades of Green (formerly CICERO), making it the first officially designated green loan for EV charging infrastructure in the UK.
Cornwall Services Welcomes New Electric Super Hub
Cornwall Services, located near Saint Austell, has opened a new Electric Super Hub, making it easier for electric vehicle owners to charge their cars during their summer holidays. The hub features six High Power, 350kW-capable EV chargers, and six Low Power, 22kW-capable AC chargers.
The new hub is part of GRIDSERVE’s efforts to overcome challenges related to grid capacity and connection. The company has installed a solar canopy that generates energy directly for the EV chargers and a 1MW battery storage system that stores energy from the solar panels.
GRIDSERVE has also submitted planning permission to build a solar farm adjacent to Cornwall Services. The proposed solar farm would directly connect solar energy to the battery and chargers, providing enough zero-carbon energy for four million miles of EV driving.
The press release says Cornwall Services welcomes more than 1,000 vehicles and their occupants every month during peak summer. I reckon it does 1000 cars a day, so perhaps hey mean 1,000 ELECTRIC cars a month. That would be 30-35 a day, seems low but could be right.
Honda E to Have No Successor as the Brand Pivots to SUVs
Honda has decided not to introduce any small-sized cars like the Honda E in the foreseeable future, shifting its focus to the more popular SUV models instead.
The company’s current lineup of seven models includes four SUVs – the Honda CR-V, the smaller Honda ZR-V, Honda HR-V, and the new electric e:Ny1, which was launched last week as Honda’s first electric SUV in Europe.
Despite the success of its smaller hybrid hatchbacks, the Civic and the Jazz, Honda has confirmed that it will follow market demands. Rebecca Adamson, head of cars for Honda UK, stated that there won’t be more cars the size of the Honda E.
The company is banking on the new e:Ny1 electric SUV, which joins the firm’s EV lineup alongside the smaller Honda E. Honda expects the e:Ny1 to account for 22% of its UK sales by the end of 2024, equivalent to around 7,500 cars.
UK’s Exceptional Talent Plays a Crucial Role in Polestar EV Development
The development of the Polestar 5, a ground-breaking electric vehicle, is taking place at MIRA, where the close proximity between design-engineering and those developing the cars has allowed for rapid iteration. The project, which is barely four years old, already has a true validation prototype built at Polestar’s new Chongqing plant in China.
The UK R&D team, which is 500-strong and growing, is headed by Pete Allen and includes people from F1, specialists from motorsport, and many premium niche manufacturers. The team is focused on instilling a feeling of “sports car heritage” in the Polestar 5.
The Polestar 5 is distinct from every other Polestar model, requiring a new approach to its development. The team is developing a mass-market performance car from scratch, focusing on getting the rates, geometry, and tyre characteristics matched up with the stiffness of the platform for real-world duties.
The Polestar 5 will not rely on active anti-roll bars, rear-wheel steering, or complicated air suspension to meet its dynamic goals. Instead, it will use a passive suspension system, which, when done well, can provide a sense of purity.
The team aims to deliver a car that offers second-row comfort and a front-row feeling of the car shrinking around the driver. The extent to which they succeed in this ambitious project will only become clear once the car is available for test drives.
Genesis and Samsung Collaborate to Equip the New GV90 Electric SUV with Advanced Tech
Genesis, Hyundai Motor Group’s luxury vehicle division, is developing its largest electric SUV to date, the GV90. The vehicle will feature cutting-edge technology and software, thanks to a unique collaboration between Hyundai and Samsung.
The GV90 is part of Hyundai’s next-generation models, which will feature a new dedicated platform, batteries, and production capabilities. These developments are part of Hyundai’s KRW 109.4 trillion ($85B) investment over the next decade.
The new Integrated Modular architecture (IMA) will replace the current E-GMP models. The IMA platform is designed to cover a wide range of vehicle classes, from small and large SUVs to pickup trucks, along with the flagship models of the Genesis brand.
The Genesis GV90 will mark the first time that Hyundai Motor Group will use Samsung Electronics semiconductors. In addition, Samsung Display will supply the OLED, another first for Hyundai.
Hyundai aims to become a top three EV producer by the end of the decade, with the Genesis GV90 marking a new era for the brand.
Hyundai Motor Group’s Next-Gen Electric Vehicle to Achieve 700km Range
Hyundai Motor Group is planning to introduce a next-generation electric vehicle (EV) platform as early as 2025. The new EV will be equipped with a high-capacity 113.2kWh battery and a 450kW motor, which are considered the highest levels in the industry.
The new EV, codenamed ‘GT1’, will be the first vehicle to feature Hyundai’s next-generation EV platform ‘eM’. It will be an E-segment (mid-size) sedan model, succeeding the K8.
With a battery capacity of 113.2kWh, the GT1 is expected to achieve a driving range of over 700km on a single charge. This range is significantly higher than the current leading EV models, including the Mercedes-Benz EQS (107.8kWh), Tesla Model S (100kWh), and Kia EV9 (99.8kWh).
The GT1 will also feature a high-performance motor with a maximum output of 450kW, surpassing the 430kW of Kia’s high-performance model, the ‘EV6 GT’.
Hyundai’s new ‘Integrated Modular Architecture’ (IMA) approach is behind the standardization and modularization of key EV components, including the battery and motor. The IMA approach will be applied to all future Hyundai EVs, starting with the GT1.
Georgia DOT to Test Mileage-Based Taxes for Electric Vehicles
The Georgia Department of Transportation is launching a pilot project to test a new form of transportation tax aimed at electric vehicle drivers. The department is seeking 150 volunteers to participate in this federally funded initiative, which will replace gasoline and other motor fuels taxes with a tax based on the number of miles driven.
This approach has already been adopted by three states – Washington, Oregon, and Utah – while at least four others are conducting pilot projects to evaluate the concept. The issue of equity was highlighted earlier this year when the General Assembly debated and subsequently passed a bill imposing an excise tax of 2.84 cents per kilowatt hour on electricity used to power EVs starting in 2025.
Toyota Struggles in China as Japan’s EV Hesitancy Takes a Toll
Toyota Motor, Japan’s largest automaker, is facing challenges in China, the world’s biggest EV market, leading to layoffs at its joint venture with China’s Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC). The layoffs come as Toyota struggles to compete in China’s rapidly transitioning auto market.
The joint venture’s factory in China, which employs around 19,000 people, produces models such as Toyota’s first EV, the bZ4X, alongside the Camry and Levin models. Despite a price cut, Toyota’s bZ4X model has failed to gain traction in China’s competitive EV market.
The market share of Japanese automakers in the region has fallen from 20% last year to 14.9% in the first half of 2023.
Mitsubishi Motors has also announced the indefinite suspension of its operations in China after a drastic fall in sales. The decline in sales correlates with China’s booming EV market, fueled by clean energy incentives and other government initiatives.
The lack of electric vehicle models from Japanese automakers to compete with domestic automakers has led to a decrease in sales. Chinese brands accounted for 53% of the market through the first half of the year as domestic EV makers like BYD, NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng continue to grab market share.
Transimage Breaks New Ground: First Chinese Company to Secure International Order for Sodium-Ion Batteries
Chinese tech company, Jiangsu Transimage Tech, has secured an order for sodium-ion batteries from a globally recognized German automaker. This makes Transimage the first Chinese company to announce an international order for sodium-ion batteries.
The order was placed by a subsidiary of the automaker that is responsible for its global battery business, including global battery plant operations, battery technology development, and vertical integration of the value chain.
The order signifies recognition of Transimage’s sodium-ion battery technology level, production capacity, and quality control system. However, the order involves a relatively small quantity and amount of sodium-ion batteries.
As of the end of March, Transimage had a sodium-ion battery capacity of 4.5 GWh. Its factories have achieved mass production but are still in the capacity-climbing stage.
HiPhi to Begin Deliveries of HiPhi Y on July 29, Secures 2,000 Firm Orders in Past Week
Chinese premium electric vehicle (EV) maker Human Horizons’ HiPhi brand is set to begin deliveries of the HiPhi Y in China on July 29. HiPhi Y received 2,000 firm orders and over 50,000 purchase intentions in the past week.
A significant percentage of these customers were previously owners of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi vehicles, particularly Mercedes-Benz.
The HiPhi Y, launched on July 15, is currently available in four variants with starting prices ranging from RMB 339,000 ($47,060) to RMB 449,000.
The two least expensive versions are powered by a single motor with a maximum power of 247 kW, a battery pack capacity of 76.6 kWh, and a CLTC range of 560 kilometers.
In 2050, There May Still Be 1 Billion Combustion Vehicles on the Road
Despite the rapid shift to electric vehicles (EVs) and the growth of EV sales at 55% per year, it is projected that up to 1 billion combustion vehicles will still be on the road globally by 2050. This prediction comes from leading analysts, even as California and the EU have both banned the sale of new combustion vehicles after 2035.
The persistence of combustion vehicles will likely exacerbate extreme weather conditions, funnel more than $1 trillion a year in revenue to the oil industry, and provide major automakers with more time and resources to transition to EVs.
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