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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 18th 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.
BMW Group Brands to Use Tesla Charging Tech in North America
– BMW revealed plans to incorporate Tesla’s charging port and the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its electric models in the U.S. and Canada, effective from 2025.
– Starting early 2025, BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce EV drivers with CCS charge ports can utilize Tesla Supercharger stations by means of an adapter.
– Current BMW EV offerings in the U.S. are the i4 hatchback, i7 sedan, and iX SUV. The 2024 BMW i5 hatchback is on the horizon.
– Next year, a new wave of Mini Cooper and Countryman EVs is slated for launch, targeting the 2025 model year. Additionally, the 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre electric coupe will make its debut later this year.
– The three brands under the BMW Group umbrella—BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce—are set to use NACS port as their default charging technology in the U.S. and Canada from 2025 onward.
– In tandem with this development, BMW highlighted its concurrent pledge with six other car manufacturers to establish a fresh EV charging network in North America. This forthcoming network is poised to cater to EVs equipped with either CCS or NACS. Furthermore, it’s engineered to support peak-rate 800-volt charging and the NACS V4 standard.
https://evne.ws/3S5kclDport-us-and-canada
GM Delays Second Factory for EV Truck Production
– General Motors (GM) has decided to defer the opening of a second production factory for its electric pickups until the end of 2025. The Silverado EV Work Truck is currently being manufactured at GM’s Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly. This facility also accommodates the production of the GMC Hummer EV.
– The GMC Sierra EV will commence its production at the Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly in the upcoming year. The retail variants of the Silverado EV are set to commence production at Factory Zero by the close of this year.
– GM initially intended to kickstart the manufacturing of electric pickups at another Michigan-based facility, the Orion Assembly, situated just north of Detroit. This particular facility is the current production site for the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. However, with the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV scheduled to end production by this year’s conclusion, the Orion Assembly will not promptly transition to producing the trucks.
– Workers from the UAW (United Automobile Workers) associated with the Orion plant will have the chance to shift their work base to Factory Zero during the hiatus in production at the Orion facility.
– Originally, GM had a target of producing 400,000 EVs by the close of 2023. This objective was later postponed to mid-2024.
– Ultium Cells LLC, a collaboration between LG and GM, currently operates one facility in Lordstown, Ohio. Two more locations in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and Lansing, Michigan are in the works.
– Between December 2021 and September 2023, GM managed to deliver a total of 2,071 GMC Hummer EV pickups.
– By the end of 2025, Ford is preparing to accelerate its next-gen electric pickup production, referred to as Project T3, from a significant new facility in Tennessee.
2024 Nissan Leaf Secures Federal EV Tax Credit
– The 2024 Nissan Leaf has secured a federal EV tax credit worth $3,750. This credit, which is 50% of the maximum $7,500 incentive, can be utilized for any 2024 Leaf models acquired and put into use before the end of 2023.
– The Leaf’s eligibility was under scrutiny for some time due to rule changes under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Nissan clarified that the Leaf’s qualification for this $3,750 credit is because of its “battery content”, given that both the car and its battery pack are manufactured in Smyrna, Tennessee.
– It remains unspecified why the Leaf didn’t secure the full $7,500 credit. It’s suspected that certain IRA mandates, possibly those about sourcing battery components, weren’t met by the Leaf.
– Nissan didn’t suggest that this credit applies to the 2023 Leaf models, confirming that the 2024 model’s assembly location wasn’t altered.
– For 2024, Nissan has upped the Leaf’s price tag by $340, settling it at $29,235 including destination fees. Apart from this, the vehicle remains unaltered from its predecessor.
– On the technical side, the Leaf continues to be the only Nissan EV employing the CHAdeMO standard for rapid charging during travels. In contrast, Nissan’s Ariya crossover uses the Combined Charging Standard (CCS). However, Nissan’s upcoming EVs are expected to feature the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector.
Kempower’s 1.2MW Charging System: What You Need to Know
– Kempower is innovating with the development of its MCS (Megawatt-Charging System) product.
– The system combines two 600 kW power supply units, achieving a cumulative output of 1.2 megawatts.
– To maintain a compact setup at parking spaces, the technology is primarily housed in the power supply units, which are positioned a few meters away.
– In conventional setups, two 600 kW units can cater to multiple HPC satellites designed for EVs. However, Kempower’s MCS approach merges the power from both 600 kW units for a single satellite.
– The singular satellite comes equipped with a liquid-cooled MCS charging plug, which facilitates the transfer of the entire 1.2-megawatt power to the EV being charged.
– Despite anticipation for the new megawatt charging system’s European debut in early 2024, the definitive megawatt charging standard is yet to be finalized.
– Given that Daimler Truck projected the unveiling of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 around mid-2025, Kempower’s planned Q1 2024 MCS product release sparks curiosity.
BYD’s SEAL Sedan: Australia’s Cost-Efficient Answer to Tesla’s Model 3
– BYD introduces the SEAL electric sedan in Australia, aggressively priced at AUD 49,888, marking it around $12,000 less than Tesla’s Model 3.
– SEAL orders have commenced, priced at AUD 49,888 (equivalent to roughly USD 32,000) excluding on-road charges. To contrast, Tesla’s Model 3 starts at AUD 61,990.
– SEAL’s offerings mirror the Model 3’s with three available versions: Dynamic RWD, Premium RWD, and Performance AWD.
– The most affordable Dynamic variant boasts a 150 kW electric motor, teamed with a 61.44 kWh Blade battery. This combo is anticipated to deliver a 460 km (286 miles) WLTP driving range. Depending on the registration’s state or territory, the on-road price tag falls between $50,554 and $54,210.
– Charging the BYD SEAL is efficient, supporting up to 150 kW DC fast charging. Impressively, a 30% to 80% charge takes just 26 minutes.
– Every SEAL model comes fitted with a 15.6″ infotainment system and a 10.25″ display. Moreover, they accommodate Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, dual phone chargers, and a panoramic glass sunroof.
– Additional advanced features distinguish the Premium variant, while the Performance model gets a boost with Frequency Selective Damping shock absorbers. The car also includes Intelligence Torque Adaption Control (ITAC) to enhance driving dynamics.
– Prospective customers can customize and order their cars immediately, with the first round of deliveries anticipated before Christmas 2023.
Citroën’s e-C3 SUV: Competitive Pricing Targets Chinese EV Market
– Citroën, under Stellantis, launches the e-C3 SUV, an affordable electric vehicle priced at 23,300 euros ($24,540).
– Assembled in Slovakia, the e-C3 is set to hit the market in the second quarter of 2024.
– Size-wise, the e-C3 aligns with the current C3 city car but stands slightly taller and less rounded in design.
– The advertised price doesn’t factor in potential state subsidies that could be up to 5,000 euros.
– Notably, the average price for European electric city cars is around 30,000 euros.
– Stellantis employs its “Smart Car” platform, previously used in India, for this project. This choice distinguishes it from the four other EV platforms the group is developing. Expect to see up to seven Stellantis models adopt this platform, possibly including the upcoming Fiat Panda.
– The e-C3 showcases a modest 320 km (199 miles) range, attributing this to its more affordable LFP battery tech sourced from China.
– A combination of 90% of components from cost-effective countries and the affordable battery tech could potentially reduce the e-C3’s price to around 20,000 euros for the lesser-range model.
– The base model, which might qualify for France’s “social leasing” program at 100 euros per month, forgoes an infotainment screen but supports mobile phone connectivity.
– Last year, the Citroën C3 dominated 11% of Europe’s city car market. Since its debut in 2002, over 5.6 million units have found owners.
Tesla’s Gigafactory Bolsters Travis County Economy
– Tesla recently updated the Travis County commissioners about its economic contribution in Central Texas.
– Since its opening in southeast Austin the previous year, the Gigafactory has, by the end of 2022, facilitated over 15,000 jobs within Travis County. This includes those directly employed by Tesla and positions within its extended supply network.
– On average, Tesla offers a salary of $74,000 to its employees.
– The vast workforce at the Gigafactory is attributed to its immense size, which is a staggering 50% larger than the Pentagon, ranking it as the second-largest factory structure globally.
– The Gigafactory in southeast Travis County is the production site for Tesla’s much-anticipated Cybertruck. After prolonged waiting periods, the initial Cybertruck was finally produced last month. Customers might be able to get their hands on this vehicle later in the year.
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