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 Thursday 12th October, 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.
Tesla Achieves 20M 4680 Cell Production at Giga Texas
– Tesla marks a notable achievement: 20 million 4680 battery cells produced at Giga Texas.
– Remarkably, this figure was doubled in less than four months, given the 10 million cell production announced in June 2023. These 4680 battery cells come with impressive specs:
– Contains five times more energy than previous cells
– Delivers a 16% hike in range
– Offers six times more power
– A reduction in cost: cuts the dollar per kilowatt-hour by 14%
– However, 2021 wasn’t smooth sailing for Tesla concerning this cell. The company encountered challenges ramping up large-scale production, delaying its entry to the market. Fast forward to February 2022: Tesla proudly reported the production of 1 million 4680 cells at their Fremont location.
– Post the Giga Texas launch in spring 2022, the focus shifted to local cell production.
– Tesla’s future plans? The upcoming Cybertruck will be powered by these 4680 cells.
– On the delivery front: while Elon Musk mentioned that full-scale Cybertruck production is slated for 2024, initial deliveries are expected in 2023.
Ford & SK On Boost Wages at Upcoming EV Battery Plants
– Ford collaborates with SK On in a joint venture titled BlueOval SK. They’re set to enhance salaries at their upcoming EV battery manufacturing facilities located in Kentucky and Tennessee.
– This wage hike aims to placate the currently striking autoworkers.
– Newly proposed wage structure:
– Maintenance technicians and associate maintenance technicians can anticipate hourly wages between $24 and $37.50.
– The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is pressing for the integration of existing and forthcoming joint EV battery factories into the four-year master agreement with car manufacturers.
– UAW’s demands aren’t unprecedented: GM has already acceded to such conditions.
– UAW’s President Shawn Fain confirmed last week that GM incorporated EV battery production tasks into the union’s nationwide master agreement with them.
Cadillac Ventures into Europe with Direct Digital Sales
– GM positions Cadillac at the forefront of its renewed push into the European market via direct sales.
– Historical context: In 2015, 45 Cadillac dealers in Europe sold only 781 cars.
– Cadillac confirms a comprehensive comeback to Europe, kickstarting in Switzerland.
– Notably, there won’t be any physical dealerships this time. Customers can buy the Cadillac Lyriq directly from the company.
– This direct buying process is facilitated through a new, quick digital buying experience.
– Expansion plans in sight: Cadillac Europe hints at a return to five more European countries in the upcoming years. Yet to be disclosed: Specific car models slated for sale in these additional markets.
Svolt Energy Scores Massive Battery Deal with BMW
– Svolt Energy, once a part of Great Wall Motor, has now partnered with BMW as an additional battery supplier alongside CATL and Eve Energy.
– The company will provide BMW with roughly 90 GWh of battery capacity in Europe, with a whopping deal value of approximately $13 billion (or RMB 96 billion).
– At the start of this year, BMW was on the hunt for suppliers to fulfill a 160 GWh battery need. The remaining 70 GWh demand for China is set to be distributed between CATL and Eve Energy.
– Although BMW had previously unveiled battery supply ties with CATL and Eve Energy in September 2022, Svolt Energy’s emergence as a new supplier took many by surprise.
– Svolt Energy has strategic plans in the pipeline: Initial establishment of two cell production lines explicitly for BMW. Additionally, they’ll create related battery module and pack production infrastructures.
– The cells Svolt Energy is set to deliver to BMW are uniquely their “short blade cells”.
– These cells are intended for BMW’s next-gen platform exclusively for electric vehicles.
– They’ll be used in a CTP (cell to pack) configuration.
– Starting 2025, BMW has plans to integrate cylindrical cells into its upcoming models.
– This shift to the sixth-generation lithium-ion cell offers significant advantages:
– Energy density will see a boost by over 20%.
– Vehicle range will potentially increase by up to 30%.
– Charging speeds are expected to ramp up by nearly 30%.
2024 Skoda Enyaq: Upgraded Charging, Enhanced Specs, and Extended Range
– Skoda has rolled out significant updates in engineering, design, and specifications for the 2024 Enyaq.
– There’s been a reshuffling in the naming convention:
– Enyaq 80 is now dubbed Enyaq 85. The all-wheel drive variant, previously the 80x, has been renamed to 85x.
– Notably, the Enyaq 60 remains untouched in terms of naming. The Enyaq 60, armed with a 58 kWh battery, now boasts a WLTP combined range of 249 miles, which is an uplift of 3 miles.
– For the 85, 85x, and vRS versions, while the battery remains at 77kWh, the range has been expanded. The most notable increase is for the Enyaq Coupé vRS. It now gets an extra 16 miles, taking its total WLTP range to a commendable 340 miles.
– The vRS, with its twin motors, now dishes out a robust 340 PS. This allows it to zip from 0 to 62mph in a mere 5.5 seconds. With this improvement of 1.0 second, it has earned the title of the “fastest accelerating production Skoda ever.”
– A notable feature for EV enthusiasts: both the all-wheel drive versions have been upgraded to support charging at a powerful 175 kW.
Renault’s EV Unit Ampere Targets $10.5B Valuation
– Renault intends to split its new EV division, Ampere, from its primary entity by November 1, 2023, as part of its pre-IPO actions.
– The anticipated value of the new EV business, as cited by Renault CEO Luca de Meo, stands at a hefty €10 billion ($10.47 billion).
– Ampere’s moniker honors André-Marie Ampère, the esteemed French physicist and mathematician.
– In addition to this monumental move, Renault is undergoing a structural shuffle, introducing five distinct divisions encompassing: electric vehicles (EVs), internal combustion engine (ICE) assets, the Alpine sports-car label, financial amenities, and groundbreaking mobility and recycling ventures.
– There’s an ambitious road ahead: Renault has set its sights on a complete transition to electric vehicles by 2030.
– The French government, holding a significant 15% stake in Renault, underscores the importance of maintaining the top-tier EV segment within the nation.
– Further endorsing Ampere’s potential, Nissan, Renault’s enduring alliance partner, is set to inject a substantial investment reaching up to $663 million.
BMW Unveils Specs for 2024 iX2 Electric Variant
– The iX2’s powertrain is derived from the iX1, with both vehicles sharing a 64.8-kWh battery setup. This system facilitates a motor on each wheel axle, producing a combined horsepower of 313 and torque of 364 pound-feet. Notably, these figures incorporate BMW’s “temporary boost effect” that momentarily elevates the output.
– On the WLTP cycle, the iX2’s range is projected between 259 and 279 miles when equipped with its default 17-inch aerodynamically tailored wheels. For comparison, the iX1’s range is gauged between 257 to 272 miles.
– Both vehicles have an identical electronically regulated top speed of 112 mph. However, the rear-wheel-drive variant of the iX2 boasts an estimated range of 296 miles. This suggests that if the iX2 can maintain superior efficiency using just the rear axle, it might exceed 300 miles as per the WLTP cycle.
– Both the iX1 and iX2 share similarities in charging rates too. With a peak charging capacity of 130 kW, the battery can recover from a 10% to 80% state-of-charge within a brief 29 minutes. When linked to a Level 2 wall box, a complete charge from a depleted battery takes approximately 6.5 hours.
– Further insights, especially specifics on the rear-wheel-drive version, about the 2024 iX2 series will be unveiled as its 2024 launch date approaches.
Stellantis Chooses Indiana for New EV Battery Facility
– Stellantis recently unveiled plans to establish its second electric vehicle battery manufacturing site in Kokomo, Indiana. Interestingly, this location already houses another battery plant by the company.
– Both these establishments in Kokomo are collaborative efforts with South Korean firm, Samsung SDI.
– The forthcoming facility, labeled “StarPlus Energy,” signifies an additional investment of $3.2 billion by the company. This move is poised to generate approximately 1,400 employment opportunities, with operations projected to commence in 2027.
– When considering both Kokomo-based plants, the total capital infusion surpasses $6.3 billion, leading to the creation of 2,800 jobs. The initial facility is expected to be operational by early 2025. It’s worth mentioning that last year, the estimated budget for the first plant was announced to be $2.5 billion, a figure that could potentially rise to $3.1 billion over time.
– Apart from the U.S., Stellantis is also expanding its EV battery production footprint to Windsor, Ontario, and has several facilities underway across Europe.
Nissan’s US EV Sales Skyrocket to Best in 9 Years
– Nissan’s electric vehicle (EV) sales in the US have seen a massive growth of 376% year-over-year, totaling 6,074 units for Q3 2023.
– This is the best quarterly EV sales performance for Nissan since Q4 of 2014. While this doesn’t place them at the top among BEV manufacturers, it’s an optimistic indicator for Nissan, which had experienced a long period of uninspiring EV sales.
– Leading the charge is the all-new Nissan Ariya which has sold 4,504 units in this quarter, overshadowing the sales of the once-popular Nissan Leaf.
– In the cumulative sales for 2023, Nissan has moved over 15,503 electric vehicles in the US. This marks a 74% increase compared to the previous year and accounts for 2.4% of the company’s overall sales.
– Taking a broader look, since December 2010, Nissan has sold upwards of 193,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the US. For a brand that once spearheaded the EV market, this tally might seem underwhelming. Highlighting their past glory, in 2014 alone, Nissan sold more than 30,000 Leaf units, a record that remains unbeaten for them this year.
UK Surpasses 50,000 Public EV Chargers
– Data from Zapmap reveals the UK now boasts over 50,000 public charging stations.
– The 50,000th charger, an ultra-rapid unit, was set up by MFG at a service station in Weston-super-Mare.
– This accomplishment highlights significant strides in the expansion of the nation’s charging infrastructure. Specifically, Zapmap’s recent stats disclose a 68% increase in ultra-rapid charge points since September 2022, paralleled by a similar boost in slow chargers.
– This 50,000 charger landmark in October closely trails the 40,000 benchmark achieved in February 2023. 30,000 chargers in February 2022, 20,000 in September 2020, and 10,000 way back in August 2018.
– Projecting forward, and given the current rate, Zapmap anticipates the UK could hit a whopping 100,000 chargers by August 2025.
– The public charging grid has expanded by an impressive 43% over the past year alone.
– It’s essential to note that these public charging units are just one piece of a multifaceted puzzle. Charging habits are influenced by individual lifestyles. While a significant number prefer home charging, others utilize street chargers, destination points, or en-route stations.
– Addressing a barrier to EV adoption, the perceived and actual scarcity of charging stations is indeed a major concern. The hope is to eliminate obstructions in planning and grid infrastructure to ensure rapid achievements of such milestones in the forthcoming years.
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