Jun 1, 2017 - 07:46 am

Geely, Havelaar Canada, Dubuc Motors, Renault, Opel.

PEV platforms by Geely: Volvo’s Chinese patron is working on two novel architectures for both plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. First to utilise the base will be a compact PHEV SUV and an electric car with a 500 km range. Expect the new high end models around 2020.
gasgoo.com

Surprise guest: An electric pick-up truck concept from Canada was unveiled in Ontario. Its maker Havelaar Canada, itself unknown, hopes to join the likes of Tesla as well as Workhorse, who too look to electrify this American icon of transport. Havelaar’s Bison E-Pickup features AWD and is said to last for 300 km on a charge. A development partnership with the University of Toronto has them look at all aspects of EV technology but production is unclear. Over at Workhorse however, they ponder to expand manufacture to include private consumers in the W-15 plug-in hybrid pick-up pool. Interest may be expressed via their website.
electrek.co (Bison), autoblog.com (Workhorse)

More news from Canada tell of tomahawks not bisons as Dubuc Motors aired a specc for its electric racer amidst confirmation of production by 2018. Four electric motors toss the Tomahawk along with a combined force of 1,356 Nm. 600 km may be well within reach of the 100 kWh battery and the Canadian company plans to produce a few thousand units. Crowdfunding for the animated vehicle remains open.
newswire.ca, invest

Renault’s Zoe is bound for Australia after the firm’s local branch successfully applied for approval. With access granted, the small but best-selling dame might make an entry soon but low incentives make for a difficult market. South Korea has more favourable EV conditions and so PSA ponders to ship the Zoe from Europe over there from 2019 to keep the local Renault Samsung SM3 Z.E. company.
caradvice.com.au (Australia), koreaherald.com (Korea)

Ampera-e open to Swiss: GM’s electric model is en route to the Alps and buyers in Switzerland pay a minimum of 41,900 Swiss francs. Dealers will take charge of the first units by Q3 2017 and have reserved the second biggest volume of Ampera-E in Europe. Only real numbers Opel/ Vauxhall would not state. Order books have previously been opened in the Netherlands and Germany, while Norway already collected the first charge.
gm.com

May 19, 2016 - 09:18 am

Tesla, Camal, Fairchild, Dubuc Motors.

Battery cell diversification? Faced with growing demand, Tesla is allegedly looking to into forming new strategic partnerships for the supply of battery cells on top of its current deal with Panasonic. According to Korean media, Tesla has had talks with LG Chem, Samsung SDI and SK Innovation.
koreatimes.co.kr

EV news from Italy: Italian design studio Camal presented the Bold Concept all-electric motorcycle, said to go from zero to 60 mph in less than three seconds. Speaking of fast, the concept is fitted with an onboard charger capable of fast-charging.
rideapart.com

Fairchild introduces new IGBTs: It is the latest addition to the portfolio of automotive-grade semiconductor solutions for hybrids, EVs, PHEVs. The IGBTs and diodes are ideal for traction inverters.
businesswire.com

Going the distance: Dubuc Motors says it reached a range of 370 miles (595 km) on one charge with its all-electric Tomahawk. The sports car is said to be unveiled in 2017, as the company just secured another 5m dollars in funding.
cleantechnica.com, prnewswire.com

Feb 1, 2016 - 09:07 am

EV incentives, BMW, Volkswagen, Tesla, Dubuc Motors, Kia.

EV incentives in Germany: After much debate, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken matters into her own hands. She will meet with executives of VW, Daimler and BMW on Friday to discuss whether carmakers could co-finance a 5,000 euro buying incentive. Moreover, the government will decide on a purchasing quota for EVs for government fleets by 2017, while Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks announced a funding programme for electric buses due to begin this year.
spiegel.de (in German), zfk.de (buses, in German), reuters.com

New BMW PHEV in March: The Bavarian manufacturer will launch the 225xe van and 330e sedan in Europe on March 5th. The limousine is priced from 43,500 euros, on par with a comparable ICE. The 225xe comes at a price of 38,700 euros and is thus about 1,500 euros cheaper than a petrol-powered model.
automobilwoche.de (in German), autocar.co.uk (225xe reviewed), autocar.co.uk (330e reviewed)

BUDD-e by 2020: Volkswagen’s electric van concept that was presented at CES is likely to make it into serial production, Dr. Volkmar Tanneberger, head of electronic development at VW, told Car Magazine. Sitting on the MEB platform, its edgy styling will also inspire another electric car. Audi, too, is considering an electric successor of its A2, as well as four more electric models utilising the MEB architecture.
carmagazine.co.uk

Tesla Model 3 updates: Elon Musk says pricing for the Model 3 in the UK will start at 30,000 GBP or less. The EV will first be presented in March. Tesla meanwhile denied rumours that a Model Y will introduced at the same time, but confirmed that Jim Keller is to act as vice president to further develop the Autopilot hardware. Keller previously worked for AMD and Apple.
techradar.com, electrek.co, electrek.co (Jim Keller)

Crowdfunded electric sports car: Canadian Dubuc Motors turns to crowdfunding to realise its Tomahawk electric sports car. The company is seeking 25m dollars and plans to start selling its own EV from next year.
carscoops.com, business.financialpost.com, startengine.com (campaign)

Kia Niro sales: The South Korean carmaker aims to sell 65,000 units of its dedicated hybrid per year. It will first launch in South Korea this year and will then make its way to Europe, China and the U.S. A plug-in hybrid variant is to follow next year.
koreaherald.com

Dec 3, 2014 - 11:19 am

Germany, Dubuc Motors, Zero, Dreamliner, Haima, Greenwheel, Ather.

No investment, no EVs: Germany’s national platform for electric mobility NPE presented its progress report to the government yesterday. It states that no more than 500,000 EVs will be on Germany’s streets by 2020 instead of the planned 1 million, if the country does not invest more. NPE suggests i.e. to offer a tax break for EVs sold as company cars and to increasingly support research and development.
zeit.de, autobild.de, welt.de (articles in German)

Electric sports car from Canada: Dubuc Motors unveiled its “Tomahawk” which is said to go from 0 to 60 mph in three seconds and to feature a top speed of 140 mph and a range of 275 miles. Dubuc is now seeking investors for the production and plans to offer the Tomahawk for “under 100,000” dollars in 2016.
newswire.ca, angel.co, dubucmotors.com

New electric motorcycles underway: Zero Motorcycles announces that it has entered full production of its 2015 model line. The first shipments are now in transit, with all North American dealerships receiving the new models by the end of January. European delivery is scheduled for February 2015.
insideevs.com, prnewswire.com

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Investigating Dreamliner incidents: Battery fires in Boeing’s pride and joy (we reported) were the result of inadequate design and testing, U.S. investigation authority NTSB concludes. A short circuit in one of the battery’s eight cells triggered a runaway failure that engulfed the entire power pack. The NTSB blames Boeing as well as battery maker GS Yuasa and the Federal Aviation Administration FTA.
usatoday.com, bloomberg.com, wsj.com

New EVs from China: In April, Chinese manufacturer Haima will introduce an all-electric version of its model Aishang at the Shanghai Auto Show and launch it on the Chinese market around the same time. Meanwhile, Greenwheel EV has presented its Hummer-inspired Jummer EV.
carnewschina.com (Haima), carnewschina.com (Greenwheel)

Ather gets first million: The Indian start-up has collected one million dollars for the development of its high-speed electric scooter. It is said to hit a maximum speed of 75 kph and to be 20 percent lighter than current petrol scooters. Moreover, it can supposedly be “charged up over a lunch break”.
thehindu.com, vccircle.com