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 Monday 25th September, Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don’t have to. We go live at 5pm UK, that’s Midday Eastern. Patreon supporters get the episodes as soon as they’re ready and ad free. You can be like them by clicking here.
Detroit Show Ends with EV Ride Buzz
The Detroit auto show culminated on Sunday with a noticeable surge in attendees. The main attraction, the Powering Michigan EV Experience, saw enthusiasts line up to experience electric rides on a vast track, reminiscent of a football field. Leading automakers Ford and Tesla amped up the buzz by offering unique street course rides. Adding to the excitement, visitors had the choice of diverse indoor rides, and kids gleefully navigated a special track in toy Jeeps.
2024 Kia Niro EV Pricing Revealed
As Kia America ushers the 2024 Niro EV into its second generation’s sophomore year, it has priced the battery-electric subcompact crossover at a starting tag of $40,925, a modest $180 increase from the prior year, inclusive of the $1,325 destination charge. While this cost points to the base “Wind” trim, those eyeing the feature-laden “Wave” trim can expect to shell out $45,925. One of the standout additions to this year’s model is the dual-level cargo floor, enhancing its utility. Powering the Niro EV is the trusty 64.8-kilowatt-hour battery paired with a front axle permanent magnet synchronous motor, delivering 201 horsepower. Impressively, it retains its EPA-estimated range of 253 miles. Notably, the “Wave” trim comes equipped with a V2L inverter, a versatile tool allowing the Niro EV to power other electronic devices and even other electric cars.
https://insideevs.com/news/688046/2024-kia-niro-ev-base-price-is-40925-usd-nears-46k-usd-top-trim/
PEUGEOT E-308 Hits UK Market at £40,050
PEUGEOT has rolled out its newest electric addition, the E-308, now available for orders in the UK at a starting price of £40,050. Marking the brand’s entry into the all-electric C-segment, the E-308 is powered by a 115kW (156hp) electric motor paired with a 54kWh battery, ensuring an impressive range of up to 257 miles according to WLTP standards. Notably, every model is equipped with a standard heat pump for enhanced efficiency and comfort, as well as an 11 kW three-phase charger.
https://electriccarsreport.com/2023/09/peugeot-e-308-now-available-to-order-in-uk-priced-from-40050/
BYD’s Dolphin EV Makes a Splash in North America
BYD has expanded its footprint in the North American market by launching its affordable Dolphin electric vehicle in Mexico. This unveiling is particularly significant as it marked the 500,000th Dolphin EV rolling off the production line. The move to bring the Dolphin to North America comes after its successful debut in Japan, where it posed as a robust contender to Toyota. The Dolphin isn’t BYD’s first foray into the region. It joins an impressive lineup that includes the Han sedan, Tang SUV, and the Yuan Plus electric SUV which premiered in June. The Dolphin EV is priced at a competitive MXN 539,990 (about $31,000). It boasts a 70 kW electric motor powered by a 44.9 kWh BYD Blade battery. For the European audience, BYD offers an option to upgrade to a beefier 60.4 kWh battery.
https://electrek.co/2023/09/22/byds-affordable-dolphin-ev-north-america/
Energy Department Funds $325M for Extended Battery Storage
The Energy Department has earmarked $325 million for batteries capable of turning renewable solar and wind energies into consistent power sources. This significant investment is set to benefit 15 projects across 17 states. The overarching goal is harnessing battery storage to retain surplus renewable energy, which can be used during periods without sunlight or wind. States experiencing a surge in solar and wind energy adoption, notably California, New York, and Hawaii, are particularly keen on these extended storage solutions.
One standout initiative involves Xcel Energy teaming up with Form Energy, a long-term battery manufacturer. Together, they’re launching two 100-megawatt battery systems at former coal plant locations in Becker, Minnesota and Pueblo, Colorado. Beyond demonstrating the scalability of these technologies, these projects will offer insights for utilities on long-term storage strategies and potentially lead to cost reductions in the sector.
Toyota’s “Hybrid EV” Campaign Sparks Controversy
In a bid to highlight its diverse range of vehicles, Toyota recently unveiled its “Electrified Diversified” marketing campaign. While this initiative emphasizes Toyota’s array of offerings—from battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell to plug-in hybrid and hybrid powertrains—the company controversially labels them all as “EVs”. Toyota posits that they’re providing a rich spectrum of electrified options for consumers, ensuring there’s a suitable choice for everyone. However, this broad classification has not gone unnoticed. Public advocacy group, Public Citizen, has taken issue with Toyota’s approach, accusing them of creating confusion by conflating hybrids with pure EVs. According to the group, labeling vehicles with combustion engines as ‘EVs’ misguides consumers, as the general understanding of an EV is a vehicle that’s solely electric, without tailpipe emissions.
Japan’s EV Charging Network Lags Behind
Japan’s electric vehicle (EV) market faces a conundrum. Despite having a plethora of charging stations, the demand for EVs remains limited, making it challenging for these stations to turn a profit. According to Gogo Labs, there were around 22,500 standard and 9,700 high-speed charging ports available by August’s end. Alarmingly, the installation rate of new chargers has been waning, mirroring the country’s stagnant EV market. In fact, in fiscal 2020, the total number of ports saw its first decline. With EVs accounting for a mere 2% of domestic car sales, there’s an evident oversupply of charging facilities. This saturation means that operators, who typically profit from the difference between what drivers pay and electricity costs, often find it hard to justify their investments. Furthermore, Japan’s charging infrastructure seems technologically behind. About 60% of their high-speed chargers deliver less than 50 kilowatts, whereas chargers in regions like Europe and the U.S. can offer up to 350 kW. Compounding the issue, many of Japan’s stations possess only a single port, leading to potential bottlenecks at peak times, especially on busy routes.
Swedish Electric Boat’s Record-Breaking Voyage
Swedish electric boat manufacturer, Candela, has supercharged its C-8 model by integrating the robust 69 kWh battery from Polestar 2, also adopting its essential DC charging components. This enhancement propelled the C-8 to establish a new record, covering a staggering 777 km in just 24 hours. Notably, the boat needed frequent recharging, each averaging 18 minutes, refilling the battery from 13% to 66%. During this span, the boat’s electricity consumption totaled 615 kWh, costing merely €120, whereas a conventional gasoline boat would have drained about 750 liters of fuel, setting one back around €1400.
Navigating at an average pace just above 17 knots, the C-8 demonstrated its capability to undertake prominent routes, such as a day’s round trip from London to Amsterdam or a swift journey from Stockholm to Finland in a mere 13 hours. Enhancing its efficiency, the C-8’s hydrofoils lift it above water, reducing energy consumption by an impressive 80%.
Northvolt’s Voltpack was instrumental in this achievement. This on-the-go battery storage solution, accompanied by a 281 kWh system and a Plug DC charger, ensured rapid DC charging for the C-8 during its journey, epitomizing innovation in energy storage.
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