Plus, stay tuned because later in the show I’ll tell you what Ford is saying about when Supercharger access will open for Mach E and Lightning owners
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 Friday 23rd February, I’m Martyn Lee 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 Expands Cybertruck Color Options with New Wraps
– Tesla introduces three additional color options for the Cybertruck through paint film wraps available in its online shop.
– The new colours are “slip grey,” “satin rose gold,” and “satin abyss blue,” priced at $6,000 for slip grey and $6,500 for the other two shades.
– Initially, only four Tesla service centre’s in California offer the installation of these coloured wraps.
– Previously available colours “stealth black” and “satin ceramic” white are priced at $6,000 each.
– The wraps are made from a urethane-based film, which Tesla claims is self-healing, offering protection against scratches and being more environmentally friendly than traditional vinyl wraps.
– Tesla had previously launched colored wraps for Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, with prices ranging between $7,500 and $8,000.
Lucid Motors Faces Increased Q4 Losses and Predicts Limited Production Growth
– Lucid Motors’ Q4 net loss expanded to $654 million, up from $473 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
– The electric vehicle manufacturer anticipates producing around 9,000 vehicles in 2024, slightly up from 8,428 units produced in 2023, amidst concerns over high interest rates affecting consumer demand.
– In Q4, Lucid delivered 1,734 units of its sole model, the Air sedan, a decrease from 1,932 units delivered in the corresponding period the year before.
– Throughout 2023, Lucid’s net loss surged to $2.8 billion from $1.3 billion in 2022, with revenue dipping to $595 million from $608 million.
– The company reported closing the year with approximately $4.78 billion in total liquidity.
– CEO Peter Rawlinson attributes the sales downturn to the current high interest rate environment.
– Lucid, significantly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, also noted a commitment from the Saudi government to purchase its vehicles.
– Lucid recently resolved production challenges related to the Air Pure rear-wheel drive, the brand’s most affordable sedan variant.
– In an effort to boost sales, Lucid reduced the price of the Air Pure by $7,500, setting the new starting price at $71,400, including shipping, alongside price reductions for higher Air trims.
Europe Trails in Battery Factory Equipment Supply
– Approximately 200 battery factories are either being constructed or planned globally, with a significant number located in Europe, reveals a study by Porsche Consulting and VDMA.
– The report indicates a gap for German and European machinery manufacturers to bridge against their Asian counterparts in the battery production sector.
– Asian manufacturers, particularly from China, dominate the market as the primary suppliers of battery factory production technology.
– Currently, only 8% of high-tech equipment in battery production facilities originates from Europe, a figure considered insufficient for influencing technical advancements or establishing a secondary hub for battery technology in the continent.
– The study suggests that European manufacturers need to secure at least a 20% market share to significantly impact the sector and support technological development.
– Despite technological capabilities being on par, Chinese companies have taken a lead by offering complete, turnkey solutions for battery manufacturing plants.
Honda Launches 2024 Prologue EV with GM Technology
– Honda introduces the 2024 Prologue, its first modern electric vehicle (EV), set to hit dealerships this spring, marking Honda’s entry into the EV market.
– The midsize SUV Prologue features a design that embodies Honda’s aesthetic, sharing several systems, including batteries, motors, and platform, with the Chevrolet Blazer EV due to a collaboration with General Motors.
– Despite GM’s challenges with the Blazer EV, including withdrawal from sales due to charging and system issues, Honda is optimistic about the Prologue’s launch.
– Honda has implemented its robust system of quality checks throughout the Prologue’s development and production process to ensure high standards.
– Unlike the Blazer EV, the Prologue boasts a unique exterior design, not sharing any body panels with the Blazer and sporting a sporty wagon-like profile.
– The vehicle offers both front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, with an 85 kWh battery providing up to 296 miles of range for FWD models and between 273 to 281 miles for AWD versions.
– Honda plans to introduce adapters for using Tesla chargers and is part of a coalition to expand DC fast charging infrastructure along major highways.
– Initially, the Prologue will be available in states adhering to California’s emission standards, with prices ranging from $47,400 for the FWD EX model to $57,900 for the AWD Elite model, excluding a $1,395 destination charge.
– The Prologue comes with standard features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice-recognition, and an app store powered by Google, providing advantages such as real-time charging stop calculations and battery preconditioning for efficient charging.
Škoda Achieves 200,000 Enyaq Family Production Milestone
– Škoda Auto celebrates the production of over 200,000 units of its Enyaq and Enyaq Coupé electric vehicles (EVs).
– The 200,000th vehicle, a white Enyaq Coupé Sportline, was produced on February 16.
– The Enyaq series, Škoda’s first built on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB), spearheads the company’s e-mobility initiative.
– In 2023, Škoda delivered 81,700 units of this all-electric SUV.
– Within the Czech Republic, the Enyaq and Enyaq Coupé hold a 25% market share of electric vehicles, leading as the most preferred electric series in Škoda’s home market.
– The Enyaq series also enjoys significant popularity in Slovakia with over 17% market share, and is a top-selling BEV in Estonia, Finland, Austria, and Switzerland.
– Upcoming Enyaq 85, 85x, and RS models will be equipped with more powerful and efficient electric motors on the rear axle and feature a new software update for a more intuitive user interface.
Ford Reveals Adapter for Tesla Supercharger Access
– Ford has introduced a J3400 to CCS adapter, allowing Ford EV owners to utilize Tesla’s Supercharger network.
– This follows Ford’s decision to adopt Tesla’s connector (NACS/J3400), signaling a shift towards a new standard EV connector in North America.
– The adapter briefly appeared on Ford’s parts website before being removed.
– The physical design of the adapter is described as compact, though specific charge rates were not provided.
– Tesla Superchargers offer up to 250 kW charging, but it’s unclear if the adapter supports this maximum charge rate.
GM Shifts Focus to Plug-In Hybrid Pickups Over Electric Vans
– General Motors has reportedly scrapped its plans for new electric vans and a compact electric pickup to focus on developing plug-in hybrid versions of its Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks.
– The decision affects the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, which were considered for electric versions based on GM’s BrightDrop electric delivery van technology.
– This strategic shift is part of GM’s broader adjustment, which includes the introduction of plug-in hybrids into the U.S. market, deviating from its prior commitment to an all-electric future.
– GM’s new direction involves a “crash program” for plug-in hybrid pickups, aiming to complement its existing full-size electric pickup offerings, the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV.
– The company’s Ultium platform, initially designed for fully electric vehicles, does not currently support the integration of plug-in hybrid or range extender technologies.
Ford Pro Observes EV Uptake Surge in Commercial Sectors
– Ford Pro’s CFO, Navin Kumar, reports a significant uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) over internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles within specific commercial customer segments, despite broader EV demand slowdown.
– State and local governments, along with small businesses, show a preference for the E-Transit over its gasoline counterpart, making up about half of Ford Pro’s U.S. business.
– In the last year, Ford Pro’s pretax earnings approximately doubled to $7.2 billion, with projections for this year ranging between $8 billion to $9 billion—surpassing earnings from Ford’s ICE vehicle segment, Ford Blue.
– A substantial portion of this revenue growth is attributed to software subscriptions, services, and parts, with software margins exceeding 50%.
– Currently, Ford Pro has around 500,000 customers subscribed to its software services, including rental fleets using telematics data and small businesses utilizing vehicle health tracking services.
Renault 4 EV Nears Production, Spotted in Snowy Tests
– Renault is reviving its classic models as electric vehicles, following up the Renault 5 EV concept with the upcoming Renault 4 EV.
– The Renault 4 EV maintains the conceptual design presented in Paris, blending nostalgic aesthetics with modern electric vehicle technology.
– It will utilize the CMF-BEV platform, like the Renault 5, suggesting potential shared features and performance aspects between the two models.
– Although details remain scarce, speculation suggests the Renault 4 could offer a more rugged, possibly crossover-like variant, featuring additional ground clearance and possibly an all-wheel-drive option.
– The platform is a collaborative effort, indicating future vehicles from Nissan and Mitsubishi may also adopt this electric foundation.
– Renault has yet to release specific details about the Renault 4 EV’s specifications, keeping enthusiasts and the industry in anticipation.
PREMIUM PARTNERS
PORSCHE OF THE VILLAGE CINCINNATI
AUDI CINCINNATI EAST
VOLVO CARS CINCINNATI EAST
NATIONAL CAR CHARGING ON THE US MAINLAND AND ALOHA CHARGE IN HAWAII
DEREK REILLY FROM NEVO.IE AND THE NEVO EV REVIEW IRELAND YOUTUBE CHANNEL
OCTOPUS ELECTROVERSE GLOBAL PUBLIC CHARGING MADE SIMPLE WITH ONE APP AND ONE MAP.
LEASEPLAN ELECTRIC MOMENTS PROVIDING ALL THE TOOLS AND GUIDANCE EV DRIVERS NEED
PARTNERS
RICHARD AT RSEV.CO.UK
JUKKA KUKKONEN FROM WWW.SHIFT2ELECTRIC.COM
RAJEEV NARAYAN
BATTERY REPORTS FOR EVS AT RECURRENTAUTO.COM
JAN TORE GJØBY
ADRIAN BOND
ALAN SHEDD
ALEX BANAHENE
ANDERS HOVE
ANDREA JEFFERSON
ANDREW LUOMA
ANDREW WANEK
ANDY NANCARROW AND LILIAN KASS
ASEER KHALID
BÅRD FJUKSTAD
BILL CALHOUN
BLAINE MCKINNEY
BLUNDERBUSS JONES
BRENDAN MCCARTHY AT NORTHFORK IRONWORKS
BRIAN OLEARY
BRIAN THOMPSON
BRUCE BOHANNAN
CHAD LANE
CHARLES HALL
CHRISTOPHER BARTH
C.J. BACKUS
COLIN HENNESSY AND CAMBSEV
CRAIG ROGERS
DAVID DYSART
DAVID FINCH
DAVID LARDER
DAVID MOORE
DAVID PARTINGTON
DAVID PRESCOTT
DC EV
ED CORTEEN
EDDIE RAGASA
ERIC HANSEN
ERU KYEYUNE-NYOMBI
FREDRIK ROVIK
GARY A HAMMOND
GENE RUBIN
GEORGE TORTAROLO
HEINRICH LIESNER
HELMUT SELKER
IAN ‘STILL WATERS UK’ BENJAMIN
IAN (WATTIE) WATKINS
IAN GRIFFITHS
IAN SEAR
JACK OAKLEY
JAMES PENFOLD
JAMES STORR
JIM MORRIS
JOHN SCHROEDER
JOHN VAN DEVOORT
JON AKA BEARDY MCBEARDFACE FROM KENT EVS
JON MANCHAK
JUAN GONZALEZ
KESTER SANDBACH
KEVIN MEYERSON
LAURENCE D ALLEN
LEE BROWN
LUKE CULLEY
MARCEL WARD
MATTHEW LONG
NATHAN GORE-BROWN
NATHAN KING
NATHANIEL FREEDMAN
NEIL E ROBERTS FROM SUSSEX EVS
OHAD ASTON
PAUL STEPHENSON
PETE GLASS
PETE GORTON
PETER & DEE ROBERTS
PETER RYNER
PHIL MOUCHET
PHILIP FORRESTER
PHILIP TRAUTMAN
RAYMOND ROWLEDGE
REALTORS CHOICE PHOTOGRAPHY
ROB FROM THE RSTHINKS EV CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE
ROBERT GRACE
RON HUNTER
ROOSEVELT WATSON
SEIKI PAYNE
STEPHEN PENN
STEVE JOHN
THE PLUGSEEKER’S EV YOUTUBE CHANNEL
THOMAS J. THIAS
TIMOTHY PHILLIPS
TOMER SHAHAF
TYLER VOSS