Volvo to scrap diesel: The Swedish brand will no longer invest in the development of new diesel engines, CEO Hakan Samuelsson said in an interview with FAZ. He reasoned that the cost of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions is becoming too expensive but added that the technology would have a role to play until at least 2023 and later told Reuters that no firm decision is imminent. While Samuelsson may be careful, Volvo has long decided to invest in electrification and committed to offering a PHEV variant for each of its models. autonews.com, faz.net (original source, in German)
Toyota to produce batteries in USA? With a move to Li-ion technology and away from NiMH batteries upon Toyota, its subsidiary Primearth EV Energy said there are plans to set up a plant in the States. While the project is still in discussion, Toyota does want to produce its own batteries for both hybrids and electric cars and is also concerned about shipping the packs from Japan. Until such a production facility would be set up however, Primeearth is to expand its capacities in Japan, while Toyota will source batteries for its Li-ion Prius PHEV from Panasonic until 2020 at least. wardsauto.com
Daimler gets behind e-buses: A fully electric version of the Citaro bus is due to premier by 2018, Daimler confirmed at the Global Public Transport Summit in Montreal. Prototype testing is well underway and the German corporation has also instructed the Mobility Solutions unit of Daimler Buses to offer advice on e-mobility to public transport providers. greencarcongress.com, daimler.com
In-depth details of the Danish-Swiss supercar Elextra emerged and tell of two electric drives that deliver up to 500 kW to all four wheels. The 0 – 100 sprint is a 2.3 sec leap and the design team hopes for a range of 600 km. A 100 pieces small series is to start by 2019 for half a million euros each and will be build in Stuttgart – just at the doorstep of Elextra’s most likely rival, the Porsche Mission E. autocar.co.uk
Don’t Wait For Washington: Zero Motorcycles promises buyers of its electric two-wheelers to take over the 10 percent Federal tax credit if the Government fails to revive the programme by the end of the year. It offers buyers up to 1,869 dollars cash back if they buy an electric motorcycle. motorcycle.com
Price increase: Audi raised the price of its A3 Sportback e-tron by 600 dollars to arrive at a starting price of 39,500 dollars in the States. At least one gets a slightly more lux trim, too. insideevs.com, audiusa.com
Copy cat in reverse: Chinese Chery has filed a trademark complaint against Daimler’s use of the EQ label for green cars. Chery said it utilises the letter combination eQ since two years for certain new energy vehicles and obviously wishes to continue to do so. The case is now with China’s Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, which Chery hopes will bar Mercedes from using the name on the Chinese market. reuters.com
Subaru’s first EV by 2021: Fuji’ Heavy Industries’ auto division Subaru is readying its first electric car within the next four years, president Yasuyuki Yoshinaga revealed. Its premier plug-in hybrid model however, will not take that long and Subaru plans to launch it by 2018 already – first in the States. This focus may surprise as most carmakers look for growth in China but Yoshinaga believes the Chinese market to be over satiated. Following this westward orientation, Subaru is likely to move away from diesel too, but will keep its boxer engine, only it will be coupled with electric drives in the future. blick.ch (in German)
VW T-Roc electrified? First images of Volkswagen’s upcoming new T-Roc surfaced together with speculations that the compact SUV may see an electric e-T-Roc and plug-in hybrid T-Roc GTE variant too. Autocar reports that the electric propulsion may be borrowed from smaller Golf models. autocar.co.uk
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Check out the Elextra from behind and also from the front as new images of the Danish-Swiss supercar emerge. More infos on the electric lux sedan shall follow within the coming months. motor1.com
BMW launches China PHEV: BMW together with its JV partner Brilliance kicked off the Zinoro 60H for the Chinese market. The SUV PHEV is based on the BMW X1 and drives with 231 hp from the X1 xDrive25Le iPerformance. Electric range is at 60 km. More Zinoro models with (partially) electric propulsion shall follow. carnewschina.com
Peugeot revealed some details on its upcoming plug-in hybrid 508. It will incorporate design elements from the Instinct Concept and build on the EMP2 platform. Launch is due by 2018 as expected. autoexpress.co.uk
MAN trials e-trucks: Commercial vehicle maker MAN issued its roadmap to electrification. From November 2017, electric trucks will serve nine partners in Austria on a daily basis. If this real life trial is successful, a small series may be made in Steyr from late 2018. Furthermore, MAN plans to present a pre-series electric bus that shall go into production by the end of 2019. Full series production of electric trucks will then likely follow in early 2021. man.eu
Turbine hyper EV to go serial: Chinese Techrules confirmed its turbine-recharged electric car (TREV) for Geneva and will this time show the production-ready version. The 768 kW GT 86 is said to have a 2,000 mile range thanks to its turbine Rex. Expect 25 units before the year’s end. autocar.co.uk
Another electric supercar is headed for the Swiss show. All that is known of Elextra is its stated aim to make the 0 – 100 km in less than 3 sec and that it takes inspiration from “Italian supercars of the past.” Danish entrepreneur Poul Sohl and Swiss designer Robert Palm are looking for investors. motor1.com, elextracars.com
EV tyre: It will be the first appearance of Sumitomo brand Falken in Geneva and they bring a tyre made for electric and race cars to the show. The Ecorun A-A will go on sale Europe later this year and makes use of Advanced 4D Nano Design. tyrepress.com
Volvo to scrap diesel: The Swedish brand will no longer invest in the development of new diesel engines, CEO Hakan Samuelsson said in an interview with FAZ. He reasoned that the cost of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions is becoming too expensive but added that the technology would have a role to play until at least 2023 and later told Reuters that no firm decision is imminent. While Samuelsson may be careful, Volvo has long decided to invest in electrification and committed to offering a PHEV variant for each of its models.
MAN trials e-trucks: Commercial vehicle maker MAN issued its roadmap to electrification. From November 2017, electric trucks will serve nine partners in Austria on a daily basis. If this real life trial is successful, a small series may be made in Steyr from late 2018. Furthermore, MAN plans to present a pre-series electric bus that shall go into production by the end of 2019. Full series production of electric trucks will then likely follow in early 2021.