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 20 January, I’m Martyn Lee and I go through every EV story so you don’t have to.
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TESLA CYBERTRUCK SEIZED BY BURY POLICE
On Thursday night, police in Bury took a Tesla Cybertruck into custody. The Greater Manchester Police’s Transport Unit shared a photo of the over three-ton vehicle parked outside a Morrison’s supermarket, surrounded by police cars. They noted that while the driver lives permanently in the UK, the Cybertruck is registered and insured in another country.
Currently, Tesla Cybertrucks cannot be driven on UK roads due to safety concerns, as they have not completed essential safety tests. The Greater Manchester Police stated, “The Tesla Cybertruck is not road legal in the UK and does not hold a certificate of conformity.” They highlighted serious safety issues for other drivers and pedestrians in the event of an accident with the Cybertruck.
The driver was reported, and the vehicle was seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act. To get the vehicle back, the owner must show proof of ownership and proper insurance, which may be difficult to provide.
https://evne.ws/42muJ1g
BT GROUP ORDERS UK’S LARGEST ELECTRIC VEHICLE FLEET
BT Group has made a significant move by ordering about 3,500 electric vehicles (EVs), marking the largest commercial EV order in the UK. This acquisition aims to support the improvement of the country’s broadband and mobile networks. By 2026, when this order is completed, BT Group will have the largest fleet of EVs in the UK, totaling nearly 8,000 vehicles.
BT, the parent company of Openreach, which is the top wholesale broadband provider in the UK, also operates the second-largest commercial vehicle fleet in the country, consisting of over 27,000 vehicles used by engineers across the nation. Currently, BT has around 4,300 electric vehicles as part of its strategy to reach net-zero emissions by March 2031. This latest order is part of a broader initiative to acquire 6,000 new vehicles, with more than half of them being electric.
https://evne.ws/4arfJkt
RECYCLING CAN CUT EUROPE’S EV MINERAL IMPORTS BY 25%
A new study shows that recycling can help Europe reduce its need for imported minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries by up to 25% by 2030. Research from Transport & Environment (T&E) indicates that materials taken from old batteries and production waste could allow for the production of around 2.4 million EVs in Europe by 2030.
However, T&E warns that both the EU and the UK need to ensure that recycling projects, which are currently in danger of being canceled, are secured to unlock this potential.
The findings suggest that recycling could provide 14% of the lithium, 16% of the nickel, 17% of the manganese, and 25% of the cobalt needed for EVs in Europe by 2030. These numbers could rise, making it possible for the region to nearly meet its cobalt needs domestically by 2040. Julia Poliscanova from T&E stated that efficient recycling could greatly lessen Europe’s reliance on imported critical metals, allowing for the local production of millions of clean EVs.
Recycling battery materials would also reduce the demand for mining new ores. The research estimates that recycling EV minerals in Europe could prevent the need to create 12 new mines around the world by 2040. This includes four mines for lithium, three for nickel, four for cobalt, and one for manganese. This change would also help reduce environmental damage to water, soil, and biodiversity caused by mining activities.
In terms of carbon emissions, recycling in Europe could cut the carbon footprint of lithium sourcing by nearly 19% compared to the process of extracting it in Australia and refining it in China, mainly due to Europe’s cleaner energy sources. However, to fully benefit from these economic and sustainability opportunities, Europe needs to grow its recycling industry, as almost half of the announced recycling capacity in the region is currently uncertain or on hold.
https://evne.ws/4aGxVHb
STELLANTIS CANCELS LARGER BATTERY FOR RAM 1500 REV
Stellantis has decided not to offer a bigger battery option for the Ram 1500 REV electric truck, which was initially planned to achieve a range of 500 miles. According to Mopar Insiders, the company has told suppliers to stop working on this extended range version. A spokesperson for Stellantis explained that the choice to focus on the Ramcharger was due to what customers want.
Now, the Ram 1500 REV will come with a 168-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery, expected to provide a maximum range of 350 miles. This range is less impressive compared to rivals like the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra EV and Rivian R1T. However, the Ram 1500 REV does support 800-volt charging, which Stellantis claims can add 110 miles of range in just 10 minutes using a 350-kilowatt (kW) CCS connector.
The Ram 1500 REV has faced delays. The original goal for a 500-mile range was announced at the 2023 New York auto show, and the truck was highlighted in a Super Bowl ad. It was first set to launch in 2024 as a 2025 model, but that was pushed back to the first half of 2025 for quality reasons. Ultimately, Stellantis has now postponed its release to 2026.
In contrast, Stellantis is proceeding with the hybrid Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which will launch in the first half of this year. This model will have a 92-kWh battery combined with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine, offering 145 miles of electric-only range and a total of 690 miles when using both power sources. The Ramcharger aims to match the performance, towing, and payload abilities of the REV, providing a new option in a market that is increasingly focusing on electric trucks.
https://evne.ws/42n0pDw
NEW VAUXHALL FRONTERA SUV AVAILABLE FOR ORDER
Vauxhall has started taking orders for the new Frontera SUV, which comes in both electric and petrol hybrid options at the same price.
The Frontera Electric has a 44kWh battery and can travel up to 186 miles on a full charge, according to WLTP standards. A Long Range version, which can go 248 miles on one charge, is expected to be released in 2025.
The starting price for both the electric and 100hp hybrid models is £23,495. The electric version can also be leased for £349 per month, requiring an initial payment of £349.
Vauxhall is also launching a package called Electric All In for electric vehicle buyers. This package includes eight years of roadside assistance for emergency charging, 10,000 miles of free home charging, a £500 contribution for an Ohme home wallbox or public charging credit, and six months of access to connected services.
https://evne.ws/40rZLC5
PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC TRUCKS IN ILLINOIS
Illinois is preparing to improve its electric vehicle charging options with a $100 million federal grant to create 14 public charging stations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. These charging stations will be placed along important trucking routes to ensure they are easy to access.
The charging network will include 345 ports, allowing up to 3,500 trucks to be charged each day. The main locations for these stations will be in the Chicago area, Springfield, and also in places like Metro East and the Quad Cities.
Medium- and heavy-duty trucks play a big role in pollution, causing 21% of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation while making up only 5% of all vehicles. The Environmental Protection Agency has pointed out that diesel exhaust poses health risks, leading to asthma and other respiratory issues, especially in children and the elderly. They have labeled diesel exhaust as a likely cause of cancer.
Work on these truck charging stations, which may use solar power and battery systems, is expected to start within the next two to three years.
https://evne.ws/3WtK2kC
UK BICYCLE INDUSTRY GROWS IN B2B LOGISTICS
The UK bicycle industry has encountered various difficulties recently, but the business-to-business (B2B) logistics segment is doing well. Amazon’s electric cargo bikes are close to reaching a significant milestone, having traveled nearly one million miles. Since 2022, the company has made over 150 million deliveries in the UK using electric vans and cargo bikes. In line with its sustainability goals, Amazon delivery workers have cycled more than 900,000 miles on electric cargo bikes across the country.
Amazon is expanding its electric delivery services in cities, recently launching electric cargo bikes in Belfast and Norwich, in addition to the existing fleets in London, Manchester, and Glasgow. So far, over 500,000 customer delivery routes have changed from gasoline-powered vehicles to zero-emission alternatives. Furthermore, since 2022, Amazon drivers have covered more than 19 million miles using electric vans.
https://evne.ws/42qqcL0
TESLA REDUCES MODEL Y PRICES BEFORE UPDATE
Tesla has lowered prices for the Model Y in North America as it prepares to release an updated version soon. The new Model Y is already being produced at Giga Shanghai, and Giga Berlin has also started making the updated model, suggesting that the launch in Germany and other parts of Europe is near.
Although there are no new production updates from Giga Texas or the Fremont factory, Tesla is offering significant discounts on current Model Y vehicles in Canada and the US. These price cuts indicate that Tesla is getting ready for the new Model Y’s arrival in North America. The company has previously used this pricing strategy before launching updated models. Since the Model Y is Tesla’s best-selling vehicle, the company likely wants to announce the refresh soon to avoid hurting sales. As a result, buyers interested in the existing model can find good deals right now.
https://evne.ws/40p08NU
VW’S $5.8 BILLION INVESTMENT IN RIVIAN
Volkswagen is investing $5.8 billion in Rivian to help with software, rather than trying to fix its own software division, Cariad. This choice shows VW’s strategy and recognition of current difficulties. Rivian, which needs money, has recently changed its production plans. It is now producing fewer vehicles in Georgia and focusing more on its factory in Illinois. The company is losing a lot of money, claiming it loses as much as the price of a Honda Accord with every truck it sells.
Last year, Volkswagen started a joint venture called Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies (RVWGT) to work together more closely. In an interview with Der Spiegel, VW CEO Oliver Blume said the partnership will go beyond just sharing software. He noted that they might share vehicle parts and combine buying power, which could help Rivian, especially since Rivian had to cut its production target by 18% because of a mistake with suppliers.
Rivian has also received $6.6 billion from the Department of Energy to build its factory in Georgia, indicating it might need less help from Volkswagen in the future.
https://evne.ws/42pBdwm
SKODA SUPERB ADDS PLUG-IN HYBRID OPTION
The new fourth generation of the Skoda Superb will offer a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) option. This vehicle can drive up to 120 kilometers on electric power alone, based on the WLTP testing cycle.
It features a 25.7 kWh high-voltage battery located under the rear seats. The car uses a permanent magnet motor that works separately from the internal combustion engine. This motor can either start or work alongside the engine. In “E” mode, the electric motor has a maximum output of 85 kW and takes the place of the regular alternator.
Charging the battery can be done with DC fast charging at speeds of up to 50 kW. This allows the battery to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 26 minutes.
https://evne.ws/42o5Dil
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