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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 Wednesday 26th July it’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don’t have to.
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Chevrolet Bolt EV to Make a Comeback with Ultium Batteries
General Motors CEO, Mary Barra, confirmed the return of the Chevrolet Bolt EV during an earnings conference call. The announcement contradicts earlier reports that the Bolt was being discontinued after 2023.
The second-generation Bolt EV will be equipped with GM’s newer Ultium battery technology, promising enhanced performance and efficiency.
The Bolt EV, which was initially launched in 2017, was built on the BEV2 platform, developed in collaboration with LG. The Ultium platform, also a result of GM and LG Energy Solution’s partnership, is already being used in vehicles like the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer EV.
Despite a controversial battery recall in 2021, the Bolt EV saw its best sales year in 2022, with 38,120 units sold. The trend continues in 2023, with 33,659 Bolts delivered in the first half of the year.
The Bolt EV, known for its affordability and solid electric range, saw a price drop in 2023, bringing the MSRP down to $27,495.
The Orion Assembly plant in Michigan, where the Bolt is manufactured, was reported to transition to building electric trucks like the Silverado EV next year. However, the Bolt EV will continue production with its second generation, and I assume it’s there, but that wasn’t made clear either way.
The next-generation Bolt will incorporate GM’s Ultium and Ultifi technologies, which will allow the company to bring the model back to market more quickly and with significantly lower engineering expenses and capital investment.
The Chevy line up will include the Silverado EV, Blazer EV, and Equinox EV launching this year.
The Bolt played a significant role in GM’s second-quarter earnings report. The company announced plans for a next-generation vehicle and revealed an almost $800 million charge related to the Bolt recall due to a potential fire risk.
GM aims to produce 100,000 EVs in the second half of 2023 and improve on the 200,000 vehicle run rate in 2024.
Chevy Bolt accounted for nearly 14,000 of the 15,652 EVs sold in Q2), Barra stated that the supply chain is improving, and more EVs were in transit at the end of June.
In an opposite move than that seen by Tesla, GM plans to invest less in new products and cut operating costs by an additional $1 billion by the end of next year.
GM is struggling to increase production of its new electric car battery pack, Ultium, which is intended for the electric vehicles it plans to introduce over several years.
The company’s CEO described the delays as “disappointing” and attributed them to a supplier’s inability to deliver automated manufacturing machinery.
Investors are concerned about GM’s plans as electric vehicles are the fastest-growing segment of the auto industry and are a crucial part of Barra’s long-term strategy for GM.
Nissan Hits a Major Milestone with Over 1 Million EVs Sold Globally
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has announced that its global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have crossed the 1 million unit mark.
The Nissan LEAF, launched in December 2010, has sold over 650,000 units worldwide. The model is sold in approximately 50 markets, primarily in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, and has won numerous awards in multiple markets.
In 2022, Nissan introduced the Nissan Ariya, an all-electric crossover. Also in 2022, Nissan launched the Sakura, its first EV in the Japanese minivehicle market. The Sakura has received cumulative orders of 50,000 units.
Nissan plans to launch 19 EV models by 2030. The company also aims to launch EVs powered by all-solid-state batteries developed in-house by fiscal year 2028.
Cumulative EV sales by region are as follows: Japan (230,000), North America (210,000), Europe (320,000), China (230,000), and other regions (10,000), totaling 1,000,000 units as of June 30, 2023.
Jaguar’s Electric Rebirth Gets a £2.25 Billion Boost from JLR
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced strong first-quarter results and provided updates on its electrification plans, which are closely tied to Tata Motors Limited’s new UK battery factory.
JLR plans to launch a fully electric car by next year, with Tata’s new Somerset-based gigafactory playing a crucial role in supplying a new British-made range. The first Jaguar to be launched will be a GT, followed by two likely crossovers, released at a rate of no more than one per year after the initial car’s launch. The 4 door GT will be seen in 2024 for 2025 sales, have 430 miles of range, cost around £100k, be AWD and charge 200 miles in 15 mins. All three cars built on the Jaguar Electrified Architecture.
The production volume for the new range of three Jaguars will be around 50,000 cars per year, all built at a new dedicated area within JLR’s Solihull production facility.
As for Range Rover, the company will introduce a solely battery-powered Range Rover on sale later this year before its 2024 on sale date by the end of the year. Those will be based on teh MLA platform like the existing Range Rovers.
JLR’s CEO, Adrian Mardell, stated that the new battery factory would help secure a stable, competitively priced battery cell supply, enabling the company to deliver its strategic vision of a fully electric range of British electrified vehicles by 2030.
Volvo’s EX30 SUV
Volvo has unveiled the EX30 small SUV at the Classic Car Club Manhattan. The EX30, set to go on sale in the U.S. in summer 2024, boasts impressive specs: a range of up to 275 miles, 0-60 mph acceleration in as little as 3.4 seconds (fastest Volvo production car), and a base price of $34,950.
The EX30 is Volvo’s first small, fully electric SUV and will expand Volvo’s EV lineup to four models, joining the XC40 Recharge, C40 Recharge, and EX90 flagship.
The vehicle’s charging capabilities are also noteworthy, with the ability to charge from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes at 153kW peak. The EX30 is built with environmental considerations in mind, with 25% of its aluminum, 17% of its steel, and 17% of its plastic being recycled.
Despite being built in China, the EX30 is expected to compete with mainstream models like the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV, even without qualifying for federal tax credits.
The EX30’s interior features a tablet-style screen in the center of the dashboard. A soundbar across the top of the dash provides all the sound, designed to simulate surround sound without multiple speakers around the room.
The EX30 comes in two versions: a base 268-horsepower, rear-wheel drive model and a 422-hp all-wheel drive model. Both models have a 64 kWh lithium-ion battery with NMC chemistry.
Volvo Car USA created the Volvo Mobile Studio, a traveling version of its studios in New York, Los Angeles, Milan, Stockholm, and Shanghai.
Audi’s 2025 Q6 and SQ6 e-tron Driven
Audi has unveiled prototypes of the 2025 Q6 e-tron Quattro and its sportier SQ6 sibling in the Faroe Islands, marking a new era for Audi EVs. The upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron, an all-electric SUV, is expected to offer a range of up to 373 miles on a single charge and support charging speeds of up to 270 kW.
The two SUVs are electric alternatives to the gas-powered Q5 and SQ5, with similar dimensions but shorter front and rear overhangs and a longer wheelbase.
These models are the first Audis built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, co-developed with Porsche, marking a significant phase in the Volkswagen Group’s electric future.
The PPE platform, specifically developed for EV models, features an 800-volt architecture and uses next-generation motors. The battery, with an estimated 100kWh capacity and about 93.0 kWh useable, provides better energy density than pouch-type cells.
The Q6 and SQ6 e-trons debut new electric motors designed to be modular, more efficient, and quieter. The motors feature hairpin windings and direct oil cooling for the rotor and stator, resulting in a higher power density while reducing the need for rare-earth elements.
The flagship SQ6 model is expected to deliver 483 hp, with a boost mode that can increase this to 510 hp. It should be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds.
The Q6 e-tron features a unique design with thin LED headlights, a large faux grille, and a full-width LED light bar at the rear. It will be offered in both standard SUV and Coupe SUV styles.
Audi plans to officially unveil the Q6 e-tron before the end of this year.
Tesla Unveils Third V4 Supercharger in France, Open to All EV Brands
Tesla has launched its third V4 Supercharger station, this time in France. The station, which is situated near the A7 in the south, in Chasse sur Rhône, features eight stalls that are open to electric vehicles of all brands.
Just two weeks prior, Tesla had unveiled its second V4 Supercharger station, also located in France, next to the Ibis hotel in Clermont-Ferrand. This station has 12 stalls, including one pass-through for larger vehicles or vehicles with trailers. The world’s first V4 Supercharger site was unveiled in the Netherlands in March, consisting of 16 stalls.
The charging power of the V4 Supercharger is currently stated at 250 kW, but it’s unclear if this is the power limit. Many had anticipated that the new generation of Tesla charging stations would have a power of 350 kW. The charging piles have an extended charging cable to make charging accessible to all electric vehicles, regardless of the charging port location. They are now taller and have a solid body, without an open space inside, as with previous versions.
This development is a significant step in Tesla’s mission to make electric vehicle charging more accessible and efficient, not just for its own vehicles, but for all electric vehicles.
UK Holds Steady on 2030 Gasoline Car Ban, Eases Some Green Measures
The UK government reaffirmed its commitment to banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
Some measures aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of residential homes will be relaxed, according to senior government minister Michael Gove.
The decision to stick with the 2030 ban comes amidst concerns from the EV industry and environmentalists about potential backtracking.
The specifics of the green policies to be relaxed were not detailed but likely to be connected to heating and weaning ourselves off gas boilers in favour of Heat Pumps
The move is part of the UK’s broader strategy to combat climate change and transition to a more sustainable economy.
Porsche Commits To Formula E Until 2026
Porsche has extended its commitment to Formula E, the world’s first electric racing series, by two years, ensuring its involvement until at least the end of 2026.
The company originally entered Formula E in 2019 with a five-year plan, which has now been extended ahead of the London E-Prix on 29 and 30 July.
The extension aligns with the current third-generation racing cars (Gen3) like the Porsche 99X Electric, making Porsche the first manufacturer to commit to Formula E for the entire Gen3 era.
The Gen3 race cars feature a new unit chassis and more powerful electric drive systems from Lucid. Manufacturers develop the rear-axle electric drive system and software, while the car itself and the battery are unit components.
For the first time, Gen3 race cars also have an electric motor on the front axle, used solely for energy recovery as a generator, not for all-wheel drive.
Porsche is on the verge of winning the title in the current season, with Jake Dennis from the Andretti-Porsche customer team leading by 24 points after his victory in Rome.
Texas Puts a Price on Electric: New Registration Fee for EVs
Texas is set to implement an additional fee for electric vehicle owners during their vehicle registration.
The new regulation, Senate Bill 505, was passed by the Texas Legislature during the 88th Regular Session.
The bill introduces a $200 annual fee for electric vehicle registration renewals and a $400 fee for new electric vehicle purchases for the initial two-year registration period.
The new fee will be collected on electric vehicle registrations processed on or after September 1, 2023, in addition to the standard vehicle registration fees and any tax due for the vehicle.
Texans can renew their vehicle registration up to 90 days prior to expiration.
The revenue collected from the fee will be deposited into the state highway fund to help pay for roadway construction and maintenance projects.
The Mystery of the Missing Power
And now for the strangest news story of the day.
This article says fleets are reporting that they cannot account for up to 15% of the electricity used to charge electric vehicles (EVs), and the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is now investigating these discrepancies.
The article claims the AFP is working to understand what is causing the apparent electricity loss.
Let’s look at the basics of electrical energy. The energy loss during EV charging can be attributed to several factors, including the on-board charger, charging cable, charging power, and the EV battery itself. The on-board charger, which converts AC power into DC, is the primary contributor to energy loss. This conversion process generates heat, which is energy loss. The efficiency of on-board chargers typically ranges between 75% and 95%. Energy loss also occurs in the charging cable due to resistance. The shorter the cable, the lower the resistance, and thus, the lower the energy loss. Charging power also affects energy loss. Higher power generates more heat, leading to more energy loss. Using a thicker charging cable can help reduce this heat and, therefore, the energy loss. The conversion of electrical energy into chemical energy in the lithium-ion battery also leads to energy loss. Most EV batteries have a thermal management system to reduce this energy loss. Additional factors such as the ambient temperature can also affect energy loss. For instance, the battery needs to warm up before it starts charging on a cold day, which requires some energy. On hot days, most EVs have a cooling circuit to reduce the battery temperature, which also consumes some energy.
So I don’t think fleets need to go looking for the mystery electricity thief, they just need better information about charging.
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