PHEVs won’t be part of Aston Martin’s line-up. That is, what CEO Andy Palmer said „Auto Express“. However, he made clear that Aston Martin will stick to its objective to electrify all of its models until 2025.
Read moreThe British manufacturer has unveiled plans for an own submarine, inspired by its hybrid hyper car Valkyrie. Besides that, Aston Martin mocks Dyson for its vision to develop a radical new EV model – by publishing a picture of its very first vacuum cleaner.
dailymail.co.uk
E-truck by diesel engine builder: Cummins, commonly known for its diesel motors, apparently got a sense for Zeitgeist and now presents its own electric truck. The AEOS is an 8 ton cab able to tow a 22 ton trailer. Its 140 kWh battery is said to last for 160 kilometres of heavy duty but Cummins offers an optional diesel range extender that expands the operation to 500 km. Still, Cummins seems serious and plans to begin production by 2019. Once the AEOS will hit the road a year later, the manufacturer targets a charge time of 20 minutes, Tesla style.
electrek.co, carscoops.com, forbes.com
E-bike sensors: Schaeffler has teamed up with NCTE to get a foot into the torque sensor market for electric bicycles. The cooperation shall lead to a joint portfolio that Schaeffler wants to market exclusively worldwide. The sensors measure the cadence or, the cadence frequency combined with torque.
greencarcongress.com, schaeffler.de
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www.evs30.org
Big in Japan: Aston Martin wants to open a new 500m pound Meta Technology site in Japan to strengthen its position in Asia. The office will be responsible for connecting with local firms specialised in electric powertrain and connected technologies, as well as growing Aston Martin’s dealer network.
autocar.co.uk
Battery price changes: Tesla has decreased costs for its top trim 100 kWh battery pack for both the Model S and X. They are now up to 5,000 dollars cheaper or rather cost the same as they did before the last price increase. Tesla claims it is passing cost efficiency improvements trough to customers.
electrek.co
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When certain manufacturers are asked when they will offer an electric model, most take a defiant approach. Aston Martin however, decided to bridge the waiting time with humour and presents its first ultra clean and extra light ZEV, the AMR-SB racer. P.s.: SB stands for soapbox.
autoblog.com
Aston Martin to limit RapidE: The British want to manufacture no more than 155 units of its all-electric RapidE from 2019. That is just one third of the amount announced initially. The reason is that Aston Martin quit its partnership (for this electric model) with Chinese company Le Eco due to the latter’s financial problems. Pre-orders with a down payment of 10 percent of the total 200,000 pounds shall be possible from August. The electric version of Aston Martin’s DBX is supposed to enter the market by 2019.
reuters.com
Pricing for Renault’s electric Kangoo: In Germany, net prices for the new Kangoo Z.E. with its 33 kWh battery start at 20,820 euros, the cheapest long version Kangoo Maxi is available for 22,820. For the first time, the French offer the battery for sale rather than lease only with its EV.
electrive.net
Seat to electrify its Cupra: The Spanish intend to create electric versions of its performance models called Cupra. So far, the Seat Leon is the only one existing as well in a Cupra version, but in 2018 an Ateca Cupra is to follow. Seat’s first EV model based on the MEB platform is due by 2019.
autoexpress.co.uk
No electrification of Kia’s Stonic: The Korean car manufacturer denies rumours claiming an electric twin of its compact crossover Stonic at launch. Marketing head Seo Bo-won stated that there won’t be a hybrid version neither. The explanation is that Kia seeks to delineate the Stonic from the Niro.
theinvestor.co.kr
BMW extends its U.S. factory: The Germans want to invest 600m dollars in Spartanburg, South Carolina and create 1,000 jobs over the next four years, BMW announced during its X3 model presentation. It seems likely, the planned X3 electric version will be made in Spartanburg from 2019, too.
motortrend.com, businessinsider.com
New electric bus for China: Shenzhen Wuzhoulong Motors has presented a 12 metre electric bus for the Chinese market. The Wuzhoulong F2 Felicity comes with a 250 kW drive from UQM and shall be particularly light and thus particularly energy-efficient.
greencarcongress.com, businesswire.com
Navya plans U.S. Production: The French manufacturer wants to erect an assembly facility for autonomous EVs in Michigan. It is there the first 20 units of its electric shuttle Arma shall come off the lines this year. Navya has worked together with the University of Michigan in order to test the Arma model in its simulated city dubbed Mcity since 2016, hence its decision to produce outside Europe.
greencarcongress.com, mlive.com, navya.tech
Aston Martin’s Valkyrie: The hybrid super sports car by Aston Martin and Red Bull may deliver 1,130 hp, according to unconfirmed information. 1,000 hp however come from a V12 engine, the rest is contributed electrically.
As reported, the battery system will be supplied by Rimac, the drive control by Bosch. The edition is limited to 150 regular units and 25 additional racing vehicles.
carscoops.com, roadandtrack.com
Hydrogen decoded: Scientists of the Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt (Empa) managed to decode the movement of H2 ions in crystals. Their results could help to choose more suitable materials for fuel cells and H2 storage in the future.
empa.ch
UK based BAE Systems teams up with QinetiQ as both seek to equip combat vehicles with electric mobility systems. The aim is to improve the vehicles’ fuel efficiency and to decrease their life-cycle costs. While BAE is an expert in the field of defence tech, QinetiQ contributes its electric drive expertise.
baesystems.com
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Fuel cell REx by Magna: The Canadians have an electric van concept on the stand in Switzerland that uses fuel cells to extend the range. Magna’s FCREEV is based on the Mercedes Viano with a 30 kWh fuel cell stack coming from Proton Motor. The battery holds 16 kWh and serves for about 70 km of the total range of 350 km. The concept is not scheduled for production but serves Magna as mobile shop front rather. While the company said it sees “big potential” in the future, prices for both fuel cells and batteries are too high to be competitive at present.
autonews.com, magna.com (in German)
Techrules presents the production-ready Ren with turbine range extender in Geneva as promised previously. The sports car delivers up to 960 kW and has a range of 1,170 km, according to its Chinese creators. Production is to start by 2018 in a limited run of 96 track versions that can be ordered now. The Ren has a six e-motor set-up and offers three battery options (14kWh, 25kWh, and 32kWh) as well as two different turbines. The company plans to use tech components of this rather showy car that was designed in Italy in future models that could range from SUV to small city cars.
autocar.co.uk, electriccarsreport.com
Aston Martin Valkyrie is the name Aston Martin and Red Bull chose for their hybrid racer, that was known AM-RB 001 before Geneva. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler took the opportunity to open rivalries on the spot when he considered Audi’s very own hypercar.
carscoops.com, autocar.co.uk (Audi)
Hybrid digger by BMW: John Deere developed an excavator with the support of BMW’s subsidiary Designworks. Their concept is called Fixstern Backhoe and is currently on display at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG show in Las Vegas.
autoblog.com, bmwgroupdesignworks.com
LG to break ground: Korean battery maker LG Chem plans to expand its Michigan facility this March to fulfil surging demand for EV batteries. The Holland facility produces cells and powerpacks for the Chevy Volt and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid among others. The 9,300 square meter addition will create 150 more jobs once it goes online in August.
mlive.com, wzzm13.com
Insights from a hybrid hype: Aston Martin names suppliers for its hybrid racer AM-RB 001 it is developing together with Red Bull. From Croatian Rimac comes the battery system and Bosch is on the controls for the drive. Only 150 road-going AM-RB 001s will be made, but Aston Martin will produce an additional 25 track-only versions. First deliveries are set to start in 2019.
electrek.co, astonmartin.com
Stronger does it better: The fun EV eRod by Kyburz just got even more fun. The eRod Race ist 150 kW more powerful than all other versions. Plus, the fun lasts for 220 km delivered by a 39 kWh battery pack. Costs are 88,000 CHR as DIY version and 107,000 CHF when complete.
auto-wirtschaft.ch (in German)
Ballard becomes ever bigger in China as it just made a 5 year deal with Chinese Broad-Ocean to produce and sell 30 and 85kW fuel cell systems in three strategic regions in China, including Shanghai. The contract is estimated to be worth 25m dollars in revenue to Ballard.
greencarcongress.com
Having sold 350,000 EVs, Renault-Nissan has reached yet another milestone. The Nissan Leaf alone sold more than 230,000 times and Renault also did its part, just recently having sold it 100,000th electric car to a man in Oslo.
greencarcongress.com, renault.com
Cadillac launch: The new Cadillac CT6 has been launched ahead of schedule in Berlin and will be travelling to mainland Europe on September 5th. It comes at a starting price of 73,500 euros, but it remains unclear whether the car will be offered in the U.K. A plug-in hybrid version is also in the works.
autocar.com
Autonomous Mahindra? Mahindra CEO Anand Mahindra told Autocar that the company plans to produce a range of autonomous electric cars by leveraging Mahindra’s many brands including Tech Mahindra. Further details remain unknown.
autocar.co.uk
Opel Ampera-e sighting: Chevy Bolt-inspired Opel Ampera-e has been spotted for the first time since teaser shots were released in February. The mildly camouflaged EV was found testing in Germany.
carscoops.com
Martin-Red Bull mashup: Aston Martin and Red Bull revealed their AM-RB 001 hypercar and granted exclusive access of the full-sized model to Autocar, who snagged some footage. An F1-inspired energy recovery system is harvesting kinetic energy from braking.
autocar.co.uk, youtube.com
Tesla in Taiwan: Tesla has opened a pop-up store in the Taiwanese capital Taipei. The shop will remain in the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store until August 31st, and a full-scale store is still to come. The Model S online design studio opened in the country last weekend.
electrek.co, chinapost.com.tw
Hybridised sports car: Future iterations of the Ariel Atom could use hybrid power. CEO Simon Saunders also told Autocar that a purely electric version would make sense, suggesting “the Atom will move with the times.”
autocar.co.uk
VW has to pay 14.7bn dollars to settle the diesel scandal in the USA. 2bn will fund ZEV infrastructure and initiatives over ten years. Most money (10bn) is to go into a funding pool for affected consumers, who will then have to choose between a buyback or emissions modification. The latter has to be approved by the EPA and CARB. If the court ultimately approves the ruling, it will be the largest consumer auto industry class action settlement in U.S. history. VW may face criminal charges still.
greencarcongress.com, dailymail.co.uk, vwcourtsettlement.com (check for eligibility)
Dreaming big: BYD aims to sell 1 million electric vehicles by 2020 and believes in an EV marketshare of 30% by 2025, assuming that growth is accelerating. Furthermore, BYD is to start a pilot with an elevated transit bus for up to 50,000 passengers in Shenzhen this September. The concept resembles the straddling bus and the Airbus would travel 5 – 10 metres above cars.
chinadaily.com.cn
Open fast-charging patents: Proterra released patents on overhead fast-charging technology for electric buses, following Tesla and Toyota in the hope to accelerate the industry. The technology that has been made available openly is called Single Blade Charging and access is royalty-free.
autoblog.com
Chinese Google car: Baidu, China’s equivalent to Google, gears up to mass produce driverless cars within five years time. Testing of the autonomous vehicles is under way and while nothing has been said about the nature of those cars, it seems rather obvious that they will be electric in one way or another.
news.xinhuanet.com
Similarly certain is that the super car by Aston Martin and Red Bull is to be a hybrid, Autocar reports. A model of the AM-RB 001 hypercar has been presented to the selected few already and is set for public debut on July 5. Working prototypes cannot be expected before spring next year though.
autocar.co.uk
Mining more sustainably: Paragon subsidiary Voltabox is to strategically cooperate with Joy Global to develop smart battery systems for the latter’s mining equipment. First deliveries are planned for 2017.
Truly desired: The hybrid sport car by Aston Martin and Red Bull has been sold out – even though production will not start until 2018 (we reported). All 100 planed units found a new owner during the Formula One race in Monaco. Apparently, there were even twice as many potential buyers as cars.
ibtimes.co.uk, itechpost.com
Wireless charger put to the test: Toshiba will test its inductive charging system under real life conditions in Japan from now until December. It will be used to charge an electric bus that services an 11 km route. Engineers estimate charging to take about 15 minutes for each direction.
phys.org, toshiba.co.jp
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Electric climb to the top: The MIT’s Electric Vehicle Team is working with Zero Motorcycles and other partners to take part in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb at the end of June. Named KOMMIT-EV, the team further developed the Zero FXS’ drivetrain and aerodynamics.
hybridcars.com, ppihc.com
Apple patents smartphone key: The company applied for a patent for its “Accessing Vehicles Using Portable Devices” technology. It would allow cars to be locked and unlocked using a smartphone, while access can be granted to others by sending an access code. Is this yet another clue in the iCar puzzle?
valuewalk.com
Codename AM-RB 001: Aston Martin and Red Bull’s planned hybrid sports car is said to be available as two variants: 99 units will be street legal, says Red Bull Adrian Newey. Another few units will be made especially for the race track.
autocar.co.uk
Bioweapon-defence put to the test: Tesla’s HEPA filter and “Bioweapon Defence Mode” are not just a marketing gag, as test have shown. A Model X was placed in a huge bubble with very pure air quality. In just two minutes, the pollution levels dropped so far that they could no longer measured.
greencarcongress.com
Compact e-motor from Down Under: Australian company Evans Electric has developed a new electric motor. The Axial flux asynchronous induction motor boasts 90 kW and 300 Nm of torque. Moreover, it is said to be 70 percent smaller as other electric motors with similar performance models.
electric-vehiclenews.com l
Electrification kit: The PowerDrive is Efficient Drivetrains’ latest developer kit for plug-in hybrids. It offers OEMs comprehensive framework to rapidly develop PHEVs and includes a high-efficiency drivetrain, vehicle control and telematics software, as well as and the training and support infrastructure.
greencarcongress.com
Automated cell production in Germany: The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wuerttemberg (ZSW) had built a pilot plant that now successfully manufactures automotive-grade lithium-ion cells. The PHEV 1 format standard cells were produced fully automatically at a high production rate. BASF, BMW, Daimler, Elring Klinger, Manz, Robert Bosch, Rockwood Lithium, SGL Carbon and Siemens are already pitching in to scale up the open technology.
solarserver.com
Red Bull Aston Martin racer: Both brands confirm they are working on the “next-gen hypercar” with the codename AM-RB 001. While famed F1 engineer Adrian Newey is involved in the project, nothing has been said about the drivetrain yet. Although a hybrid is more likely than an electric vehicle, Autocar suggests.
autocar.co.uk
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www.siemens.com/electriccar
Nissan & BMW to compete in Formula E? The two mayor manufacturers are in talks with existing teams to join the electric racing series as early as next season, Autosport has learned from inside sources. None would be directly involved in powertrain development at first, and Renault-Nissan has to approve.
autosport.com
16m pound for battery research: Dyson received a 16m GBP (23m USD) grant to develop new battery technology. The money is part of a fund earmarked to smarten up motorways and energy infrastructure. Founder Sir James Dyson intends to employ 5,000 researchers, engineers and designers on the Malmesbury site to invent new technologies.
techuk.org, westerndailypress.co.uk
Most clicked link on Thursday was the eMobility Advice Tool by fleet provider Alphabet, as advertised in yesterday’s newsletter.
alphabet.com/emobility-advice-tool
Taking shape: Hyundai teases its Prius fighter Ioniq further, releasing two more photos. The electric triple – the Ioniq will be offered as EV, PHEV and hybrid – will reportedly hit the market in Korea next month already. The European premiere is most likely set for Geneva in March 2016.
autocar.co.uk, carscoops.com, worldcarfans.com
Sino-British EV? The LeTV and Aston Martin cooperation might take the shape of a British-built China EV, Autocar predicts, quoting an inside source. The internet company’s first electric car may be build in the carmaker’s Gaydon facility. An official statement only speaks of “manufacturing consultation on new electric vehicles,” however.
autocar.co.uk
Sino-American EV: NextEV hired Padmasree Warrior, former head of technology at Cisco Systems, to lead the start-up’s U.S. operations as it takes on Tesla. The Chinese firm also counts ex Ford Managers Martin Leach among its ranks and has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Munich and San Jose.
bloomberg.com, fortune.com
Simply Sino EV: Four electric and hybrid models by JMC are to arrive on the Chinese market next year. The local manufacturer already launched the purely electric E100 in China and plans to annually produce 60,000 – 70,000 EV by 2020.
gasgoo.com
British Columbia joined the ZEV Alliance that aims for all emission free cars by 2050. After Quebec, BC is the second Canadian province to sign up. It has a network of a 1,000 EV charging stations and an incentive scheme in place since 2011. But with only 2,000 units on the road, EV uptake is still far from reaching critical mass.
biv.com
Hybrid pick up: Ford CEO Mark Fields revealed in an interview that the F-Series will be available as a hybrid variant before the end of the decade. The partially electrified pick up is one of the brand’s initiatives that also include electric bicycles and ride hailing and carsharing services.
npr.org via hybridcars.com
Mission E confirmed: The supervisory board of the Porsche AG gave the green light for the Mission E project. Porsche will build a production version of the all-electric concept car, first revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in September. The carmaker says around 700 million euros will be invested and more than 1,000 new jobs will be created at its HQ in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. The electric sports car will have a range of more than 500 km and should arrive at dealerships by 2020.
porsche.com, autonews.com, autocar.co.uk
Aston Martin partners with LeTV: The two companies have signed a MoU for the development of connected electric vehicles and smart vehicle technologies. Aston Martin’s first EV, the RapidE, will feature LeTV technology and will debut at the CES in January.
gasgoo.com
Tesla cancels Detroit appearance: The EV pioneer will not attend the Detroit Auto Show. The event is said to be too costly, especially since Tesla is not even allowed to sell its vehicles in Michigan.
detroitnews.com
SAIC-GM expands electric portfolio: The joint venture wants to introduce ten electrified models to the Chinese market by 2020. Scheduled for 2016 are the Cadillac CT6 PHEV, the Chevrolet Springo, which is based on the Chevy Volt, and the Buick D2JBI, an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV).
gasgoo.com
Lexus to debut LC500: Motoring reports that Lexus will finally reveal the car at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The Lexus LC 500 will also be available with a hybrid V6 powertrain (LC 500h), said to boast nearly 400 kW. Moreover, the drivetrain was redesigned to improve heat efficiency and fuel economy.
motoring.com
Audi gets new technical boss: Stefan Knirsch will replace Ulrich Hackenberg, whose head is the latest to roll following the VW diesel scandal. Since 2013 Knirsch worked as Head of Powertrain within Audi and will now need to help Audi enter the age of electric mobility.
greencarcongress.com, carscoops.com
BMW i5 plot thickens: BMW CEO Harald Krüger announced a new model joining the ranks of the electric i-series “soon,” as he spoke to German weekly Zeit. It will be bigger than the i3 and has been spoken of as i5 previously. Furthermore, the i3 will come with longer range next year.
handelsblatt.com (in German)
Aston Martin RapidE: The British carmaker officially unveiled a prototype of its adumbrated electric sedan. Already by 2017, the RapidE Concept could launch boasting 735 kW, especially with the help of investor ChinaEquity. Even Chinese president Xi Jinping graced the electric revelation.
autoexpress.co.uk, europe-autonews.com (ChinaEquity), youtube.com
Fall from grace? Consumer Reports used to be one of Tesla’s biggest supporters. Yet, it has taken back its unreserved recommendation following a survey among 1,400 Model S drivers, who said reliability does not match performance. Nonetheless, 97 percent of all buyers would buy a Tesla again.
consumerreports.org, forbes.com
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Electrified black cab: London Taxi Company of Coventry has revealed its TX5 plug-in hybrid. As the company is owned by Chinese Geely, president Xi Jinping stopped by for the presentation. Set for launch in 2017, Geely plans to produce around 36,000 units, also for export (we reported).
autocar.co.uk
Double recall: BMW is asking 923 i3 in the USA to return to the garage due to possibly faulty passenger airbags that will be replaced. At the same time, Toyota recalls 6.5 million cars worldwide, among them also models which are offered as hybrids, as it needs to fix a defect in the power window switch.
bmwblog.com, autoblog.com (BMW), auto-motor-sport.de, reuters.com (Toyota)
Has Apple played a part in the end of Mission Motorcycles? Potentially yes, although indirectly, Reuters suggests. Before bankruptcy, quite a few top engineers had left the electric motorbike builder for Apple. Mission Motorcycles had to give up last month (we reported).
reuters.com
New e-poch for VW: Volkswagen comes up with concrete measures in an attempt to disperse the smelly fumes of dieselgate. VW’s new product strategy includes increased electrification. The MQB platform will be redesigned to accomodate longer range PHEV, EVs and mild hybrids. Additionally, a ‘Modular Electric Toolkit’ (MEB) will be developed to become the standard architecture for electric passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. VW further confirmed to make the next-gen Phaeton electric only.
greencarcongress.com, worldcarfans.com, volkswagen-media-services.com
Aston Martin electrifies as it prepares the all-electric version of the Rapide with up to 735 kW, set for launch by the end of 2017, CEO Andy Palmer announced. It will be followed by an electric DBX.
bloomberg.com
Prius update: Toyota’s latest Prius will give consumers the choice between a lithium-ion or a new nickel-metal hydride hybrid battery. Optionally, the E-Four system turns the Prius into an AWD. Sales will start this December in Japan.
greencarcongress.com, toyota.co.jp
Turkish EV: Turkey has officially presented the first three prototypes of its national cars. While the models wear camouflage, it is apparent that the design was strongly “inspired” by Cadillac. Two versions are electric with one featuring a range extender. Production is planned for 2019.
hurriyetdailynews.com
A3 electrified: German Auto Bild previews the upcoming A3. By 2019 it will become available as a plug-in hybrid with 220 hp. A mild hybrid version is planned as well.
autobild.de (in German)
Electric two-wheeler: India’s Hero Electric has launched a new electric scooter. The E-Sprint reaches a top speed of 45 kph and claims a range of up to 80 kilometres in eco mode.
indianautosblog.com
Bosch batteries: Bosch is evaluating the potential of solid-state batteries and may set up its own battery factory if the technology meets expectations. The world’s largest automotive supplier plans to make the investment decision two years from now, Wirtschaftswoche reports. Bosch recently acquired Californian start-up Seeo (we reported).
wiwo.de (in German)
Red Bull supercar? According to Autocar, Red Bull CTO Adrian Newey is developing a pure electric road car in cooperation with Aston Martin. Following the launch in 2018, the vehicle could potentially also be offered as a hybrid variant with a V8 petrol engine. Mercedes-AMG is said to be looking into contributing to the project.
autocar.co.uk
Lamborghini plug-in: The Urus SUV with an estimated production start in 2018 is likely to be Lamborghini’s first plug-in hybrid to hit the market. A report by Auto Express quotes CEO Stephan Winkelmann, saying that an SUV is better suited in terms of the power-weight ratio to carry the extra battery weight than other car types.
autoexpress.co.uk
Mercedes expands in Tuscaloosa: Mercedes-Benz is investing a total of 1.3bn dollars in the expansion of its production plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 300 new jobs will be created in the process. The factory will i.e. serve as the production site for Mercedes’ next generation of SUVs, including hybrid variants.
greencarcongress.com
BYD Song photos: CarNewsChina.com shows pictures of the BYD Song, the plug-in hybrid version of the new BYD S3 SUV. According to the online news site, the car will feature an all-wheel drive and has an electric range of 70 km (43 miles). BYD is planning on launching the plug-in SUV by the end of 2015.
carnewschina.com
Brabus Tesla makeover: Brabus premiered its first customized Tesla Model S at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Brabus ‘Zero Emission’ branch offers various refinement options for bodywork and interior of the Model S. A fully customised P90D costs 205,768 euros and includes cup holders that can be set to cooling or heating, as well as a wireless smartphone charger.
autoevolution.com, autoblog.com, transportevolved.com
Olympic push: Toyota plans to introduce a number of new models in order to present its interpretation of future mobility as part of its sponsorship of the Olympic Games in 2020. In addition to the next-gen Prius, the i-Road, and the Mirai (which is said to receive a facelift in 2018), Toyota reportedly also plans to launch its Taxi Concept (first shown at the 2013 Tokyo motor show), fuel cell versions of the Lexus LS (2017) and Toyota Crown (2019) as well as a new hybrid minivan called Alphard (2020).
motoring.com.au
Electric duo: Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer confirmed to Automotive News that the British carmaker aims to launch an all-electric version of its Rapide in two years, followed by an electrified DBX crossover. The latter would be introduced around 2019 as a plug-in hybrid as well as an all-electric version.
autonews.com
E-Smart axed: Production of the Smart Fortwo´s current electric version has been discontinued, according to a Daimler spokesperson. The electric successor is scheduled for the end of 2016.
tagesspiegel.de (in German)
Big bets on Tesla: In a report published on Monday, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas increased the price target for Tesla Motors from 280 to a whopping 465 dollars a share. The analyst believes that the Californian electric car pioneer is uniquely positioned to dominate the emerging world of “shared mobility” and expects fully autonomous and shared electric cars to be launched within ten years from now.
bloomberg.com, forbes.com
FDG gets cash injection: Asia’s richest man Li Ka-Shing has bought a minority stake in the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery developer FDG Electric Vehicles. The China-based company sold a total of 800 million shares worth 368 million Hong Kong Dollars (49 million USD).
bloomberg.com, 4-traders.com
The cost of batteries could drop 35% by 2025, a recent analysis by Lux Research suggests. Li-ion batteries from manufacturers like Panasonic or Tesla could thus cost 172 dollars per kWh, while smaller scale manufacturers would still need to charge more than 200 USD/kWh.
finanznachrichten.de
Double standards: Every Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine in the U.S. will be equipped with AeroVironment’s charge cable ‘TurboCord Dual’ as standard. It enables Level 1 as well as Level 2 charging at 240-volt outlets.
greencarcongress.com, electriccarsreport.com
Electric Aston Martin made in USA? The British brand will open a second factory to build the electric DBX. CEO Andy Palmer called Alabama the “obvious choice,” but added that no decision has been made yet. The company believes that the electric Aston will mainly be sold in the U.S. and China.
autonews.com
Tesla goes free: The Model S is the first imported EV that will be exempt from the licence plate lottery in the Chinese city of Tianjin. That means, owners will be able to register the American electric car for free, which is already the case for all EVs manufactured in China.
carnewschina.com
Bare Bentley SUV: New pictures show the Bentayga with almost no camouflage. Bentley’s luxury SUV is said to also be available as a plug-in hybrid variant and is scheduled to arrive on the market in 2016.
autoexpress.co.uk
True cost of fossil fuels: A new IMF estimate reveals that every day, fossil fuels receive 10 million dollars per minute in subsidies, costing governments worldwide 5.3 trillion dollars a year. The costs include the impact that burning of oil, gas and coal has on humankind in terms of air pollution and health risk, as well as droughts and floods. The International Monetary Fund calls for the end of subsidies, saying it could become a “game changer” for countries and the climate.
theguardian.com
Golf plug-in with gullwing doors: VW used the annual Wörthersee festival in Austria to unveil the Golf GTE Sport. The concept features a plug-in hybrid drivetrain with two electric motors and a combined output of 400 hp, a carbon fiber body and gullwing doors. The Golf GTE Sport will most likely not go into serial production, however.
greencarcongress.com, autovolt-magazine.com, theverge.com
BYD e6 to get increased range: By the end of the year, BYD will offer its e6, often used as a taxi, with considerably more range. The 82 kWh battery pack features cells with an increased energy density and will allow the EV to go 250 miles (400 km) on one charge, while the weight of the car will only increase by 40 kilos compared to the current model.
electric-vehiclenews.com, insideevs.com
Aston Martin update: Auto Express reports that the serial production version of the all-electric DBX, introduced as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show, will have a range of more than 300 miles (480 km). The EV is said to become available in 2019 (we reported).
autoexpress.co.uk
Honda begins Shuttle sales in Japan: Honda Motor has launched its new, compact Shuttle, which is now available for sale across Japan. The station wagon is available in two hybrid variants, the Hybrid X and Hybrid Z. According to Honda, this is the first time that any station wagon in the 5-number size available in the market has a 4WD option.
automotiveworld.com, automotive-business-review.com
Job engine Zoe: Renault has added 100 jobs at its factory in Cléon, France. The reason is the production of the new electric motor R240, which will give the Renault Zoe 30 kilometres more range (up to 240 km) and will soon be delivered.
insideevs.com
Zero Motorcycles invests: The electric motorcycle maker is investing more than 2 million dollars in its research, development and production. Half of the money is provided by the California Energy Commission. Moreover, Zero announced that its complete model range is now also available in Italy.
electriccarsreport.com, prnewswire.com
Powerful impact: Tesla strikes again, unveiling its stationery battery packs that it hopes will lead the renewable revolution. The PowerWall for homes comes with either 7 kWh or 10 kWh and costs 3,000 or 3,500 dollars, respectively. For 25,000 dollars, businesses can purchase the PowerPack with a capacity of 100 kWh. Shipping will begin later this spring. Numerous international companies are already working with Tesla, such as EnerNOC and German LichtBlick.
chargedevs.com, transportevolved.com, greencarcongress.com (EnerNOC), greencarcongress.com (LichtBlick and others)
New Prius awaits: Toyota says it will end production of the current Prius plug-in hybrid this June. The 2016 generation will not be built before December, meaning the 2016 Prius PHEV cannot be expected before October next year and will possibly be in short supply until then.
transportevolved.com, insideevs.com
Aston Martin EV by 2019: Together, the two biggest shareholders of the British luxury carmaker will pay 200 million pounds (305m dollars) to make the electric concept DBX shown in Geneva a reality. The serial EV is set to launch in 2019.
electric-vehiclenews.com, automobilemag.com
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Semi-autonomous Audi: According to Autobild, the new A6 will come with automatic driving features up to a speed of 120 kph. Launching in July 2017, the new Audi will be made available as plug-in hybrid featuring a 90 kW electric motor, as well as a mild hybrid variant.
autobild.de (German original source), indianautosblog.com
Hybrid black cab: Geely-owned London Taxi Company announced that it wants to introduce a plug-in model of the iconic TX5 taxis. Combining an electric drive and petrol range extender, the black taxis are set to go on sale before 2018, and might be offered outside the UK as well.
autoblog.com
Via voucher scheme: Electric truck manufacturer Via Motors launched the ‘Drive Clean Chicago’ voucher programme, aimed at fleet operators and businesses in the Chicago area. When purchasing an electrified VTRUX vehicle, vouchers from 39,460 over 41,200 to 42,892 dollars apply.
electriccarsreport.com
Rapide update: The all-electric Aston Martin is becoming more concrete. It could be launched in two to three years and will be powered by a four-wheel drive, possibly delivering more than 700 kW. According to CEO Andy Palmer, a range of well over 200 miles could be expected.
autoexpress.co.uk
EV development aid: The Chinese government has taken steps to invest 4.2 billion yuan (681m dollars) in the development of the “new energy vehicle” industry in the country. Funds will begin being collected from 25 different enterprises starting this May.
autonews.gasgoo.com
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Electric racer: This is the fourth time Mugen will supply an electric motorbike for the TT Zero race. The new superbike is called “Shinden Yon” and is more powerful but also heavier than its predecessor. A 110-kW motor is said to push the 250 kilo bike across the finish line.
autoblog.com
Tender: Innovate UK and the Office for low emission Vehicles (OleV) want to invest up to 10 million pounds (15m dollars) in a consortium that will set up a pilot production of high-voltage batteries for electric vehicles. Companies can still apply to become part of the consortium until the 27th of May.
electricvehiclesresearch.com
Inductive charging in China: The Chinese Telekom ZTE wants to invest 3.5 billion yuan (568m dollars) to further expand the use of the technology. Until June, the company wants to add ten electric bus routes and work with car manufacturers to make EVs compatible with inductive charging technologies.
electriccarsreport.com
Elon twitters up the stock: It took just one tweet by Tesla CEO Musk to boost the confidence of fans and shareholders. On April 30th, the carmaker will launch a new product series that Musk says is not a car. It will probably be the announced in-home battery, but some seem more convinced that Tesla will be launching an electric motorcycle.
twitter.com, forbes.com, benzinga.com (e-motorcycle)
Electrified Rapide: Aston Martin seems to be thinking about offering an all-electric variant of its sports car Rapide. Quoting the carmaker’s new CEO Andy Palmer, the Wall Street Journal reports that the electric Rapide could hit the road in two to three years.
wsj.com
Hybrid supercar from India? Mean Metal Motors, an automobile start-up from India, says that it is working on the M-Zero sports car featuring a hybrid drivetrain. It would be the first of its kind from India. The design will definitely have heads turning.
malayalamlive.co, youtube.com (video)
BMW and Toyota may not go hybrid: According to Car and Driver, the jointly developed successors of the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra may not be offered as a hybrid variant, after all. Though it says that project “Silk Road” shows no signs of electrification, we are not ready to give up quite yet.
caranddriver.com, autoblog.com
National car project: Indonesia wants to develop and build an all-electric “national car.” Earlier this year, Indonesian firm PT Adiperkasa Citra Lestari and Malaysian automaker Proton Holdings Berhard had signed a MoU to collaborate on the project.
ens-newswire.com, paultan.org
Small electric bus from China: The Fulaiwo Polaris mini-mini bus was presented at the Shandong EV Expo in China last month. Its 1.5 kW electric motor and lead-acid battery allow for a top speed of 40 kph and 130 kilometers of range. It can apparently seat up to 20 children.
carnewschina.com
BMW i3 to become the iCar? The Bavarians are talking to Apple about a possible cooperation, German Auto Motor und Sport reports. Apparently, the i3 could become the Apple EV, or both companies could develop a new car altogether. However, BMW was quick to deny any plans of jointly developing an EV with the IT giant but does confirms that a dialogue is indeed on-going.
auto-motor-und-sport.de (rumours in German), reuters.com (denial in English)
Conti to court Apple: Meanwhile, automotive supplier Continental has expressed its interest in becoming a partner in the iCar project. Conti would be interested in acting as partner for Apple if the company decides to build a car, CEO Elmar Degenhart said.
europe.autonews.com, appleinsider.com
Aston Martin EV to get serious: As reported, the Brits brought the electric DBX Concept to Geneva. Now it looks like it is much more than a show car as Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer told Automobil Produktion that the electric Crossover might hit the market as early as 2018.
automobil-produktion.de (in German)
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Lower priced e-Golf: Volkswagen has announced a new trim line of its all-electric Golf in the US. The 2015 e-Golf Limited Edition will cost nearly 2,000 dollars less than its SEL counterpart at 33,450 dollars. Changes concern interior and exterior features like seats or lights.
greencarcongress.com, autoguide.com
Class 3 PHEV truck: Efficient Drivetrains (EDI) now offers a plug-in hybrid system for utility trucks. The system offers an all-electric range of up to 40 miles. The battery is further said to hold enough energy to operate work tools on-site or to act as power source in an emergency.
electriccarsreport.com
Seat SUV concept: In Geneva, Volkswagen’s Spanish subsidiary presented its 20V20 SUV. Set to launch by 2016, Seat said it is considering plug-in hybrid versions combined with TSI and TDI engines.
topgear.com, puregreencars.com, seat.com
Daimler plug-in van: Mercedes presented the ‘V-ision e’ concept in Geneva, a plug-in hybrid version of its V-Class MPV. It features the hybrid drive known from the C 350 e, with a system power ouput of 333 hp and an electric range of 50 kilometers. It is not yet clear if the V-series hybrid will go into production.
greencarcongress.com, carscoops.com
Aston Martin fully electric: The Brits have unveiled their first electric car, the DBX Concept at the Motor Show in Switzerland. It features four in-wheel drives which are powered by Li-S cells. While the DBX is far from being production-ready, it is a clear sign that Andy Palmer (formerly Nissan) is in the house.
autocar.co.uk, transportevolved.com, bloomberg.com
The Audi Tesla fighter has arrived as the German carmaker showcased the R8 e-tron in Geneva. Two electric motors with 170 kW each drive the sports car. The 92 kWh battery is said to last for 450 kilometres (280 miles). The R8 e-tron will be ready for orders this year, but delivery is set for 2016, an Audi spokesperson told electrive.com.
springerprofessional.de (in German)
Ford EV? Ford will go all electric, Automobile reports. The new model is said to offer more than 200 miles of range and might be presented already this year. It does remind us of GM’s Chevy Bolt…
automobilemag.com
VW plug-in coupé: Volkswagen presented its Sport Coupé Concept GTE plug-in hybrid in Geneva. It provides an outlook on a new VW design language which might be applied to the next Passat CC. The concept PHEV is powered by a 380-hp strong system that combines a TSI with two electric motors.
greencarcongress.com, caranddriver.com
New hybrid by Volvo: The V60 D6 Hybrid now has a younger brother, the V60 D5 Hybrid that offers 230 instead of 283 hp. The electric drive of the diesel plug-in hybrid delivers 50 kW and is powered by a 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, which allows for an all-electric range of 50 kilometers.
carscoops.com, autoblog.com, worldcarfans.com
German Tesla fighters: Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche plan to take over the electric luxury segment by 2018, German Auto Bild reports in its print edition and in an online report by its employee Georg Kacher. Under a program known internally as Ecoluxe, Mercedes is planning four new electric models to be built in a new plant. According to the reports, Porsche is working on the all-electric 717 with a range of 500 kilometers. BMW will issue the i5 while Audi is going to start with the Q6 e-tron.
presseportal.de (Autobild teaser in German) automobilemag.com (Details in Englisch)
Aston Martin hybrids? The British carmaker is preparing to generate between 100 million and 150 million pounds by issuing new shares or bonds, Reuters reports exclusively. The money is intended for new models including hybrids as part of a recovery strategy until 2020.
reuters.com
Vision to become true: Apparently, Mini is planning to create a production version of its electric roadster concept Superleggera Vision as patent drawings have surfaced on the world wide web. However, the sketches show a slightly less extravagant EV.
autoevolution.com, motorward.com
PayMeOn to acquire Prodeco: Already a minority holder, PayMeOn now signed a letter of intent to fully take over the American e-bike manufacturer Prodeco. Its e-bikes are mainly throttle-operated although a pedal-assisted version for the European market debuted at this year’s Eurobike show.
bike-eu.com
Grace period for Saab: The Swedish district court dealing with the restructuring of Saab-owner NEVS has granted the process another three months. NEVS now has time until March 2 2015 to reorganise its business. All 19 creditors apart from one have agreed.
saabplanet.com
Tesla goes big in Canada: Last week, the Californian carmaker opened a 45,000-square-foot Tesla Store in Montreal. It is the biggest outlet of all 60 stores in North America to date.
montrealgazette.com, cbc.ca
Review C300 BlueTEC Hybrid: Alex Grant takes Mercedes’ diesel-electric hybrid on the road and finds it to be a true hybrid not only by engine but by built, too. The system works effectively in both the city and on the motorway, but will not make a “a big dent in overall running costs,” Grant thinks.
evfleetworld.co.uk
It’s no secret that one can find the one or other copy of European technologies and designs in China. But this time, the Chinese improved the original, rebuilding Aston Martin´s Cygnet as the all-electric Dojo Pioneer.
carscoops.com
Chevrolet Sonic EV gets closer: GM global product chief Mark Reuss confirmed an all-electric model to complement the Volt and Spark EV when talking to investors. Company insiders later told Automotive News that it is the Sonic that is chosen for electrification and set to be introduced by 2017 with a range of 200 miles to compete with the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S.
autoguide.com, transportevolved.com
Hybrid Audi R8? Car magazine spoke to Audi’s head of development, Ulrich Hackenberg, who announced that the Audi R8 might be offered not only as a fully electric model, the R8 e-tron with 400 kilometres range, but also as a plug-in hybrid. The latter is indirectly shown already in the Lamborghini Asterion as both use the same platform.
carmagazine.co.uk
Kia and Hyundai are hedging similar plans as the two Korean carmakers plan to join the plug-in hybrid trend. For Kia it will be the K5 aka Optima which is said to be ready within the next year, while Hyundai is set to offer its Sonata with a pluggable technology already by early 2015.
koreajoongangdaily.com
Will the Tesla Model X be shown in January at the Detroit Motor Show? At least that is the news, which analysts from Goldman Sachs brought home from their recent visits to Tesla’s factory at Fremont. A production prototype might show up rather sooner than later.
insideevs.com
New deadline for Saab: Yesterday, a Swedish court allowed Chinese Saab-owner NEVS to take more time for the restructuring of the staggering carmaker. NEVS has until November 29th to develop a plan for the future of Saab and to find investors ready to believe in it.
saabsunited.com
The new head of Aston Martin, Andy Palmer, has begun gathering his men behind him as ex-colleague Simon Sproule is to become the British brand’s chief marketing officer. The two have been working together at Nissan before Sproule took his role at Tesla this April.
prweek.com, green.autoblog.com
