Amazon today became Stellantis’ first commercial customer for the new Ram ProMaster Battery Electric Vehicle launching in 2023. The merger between FCA and PSA expects the long-term agreement with Amazon to help them put thousands of BEV ProMasters on the road every year.
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The new 14-brand car company Stellantis has given more details about its electrification plans. These include four platforms for electrified models and more battery factories.
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The Center of Automotive Management (CAM) has analysed the innovative strength of 32 car manufacturers looking at 291 innovations in the field of electric mobility. Tesla remains by far the top innovator in the technology field but is tracked by VW.
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Fiat Chrysler plans to invest 755 million zloty (around 166 million euros) in its plant in Tychy in southern Poland to produce hybrid and electric cars for Jeep, Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands starting next year.
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and NewMotion announce a new partnership for FCA’s business clients that will gain access to NewMotion’s entire charging ecosystem. The partners will roll out the service in twelve European countries, starting with France, Germany and the UK.
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The Chinese automotive group SAIC has joined the Volkswagen Group’s CO2 pool in the EU with its brands MG Motor and SAIC Motors Europe. This is according to an official document of the European Commission.
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The planned merger of the car companies PSA and FCA under the name Stellantis will apparently be able to rely on three electric car platforms. In addition to the existing platforms eCMP and eVMP, according to a new report from Italy, a base developed by FCA will also trade for larger electric cars.
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Jeep is expanding its range of electrified models with the Wrangler 4xe with plug-in hybrid drive, which will be available in Europe, China and the US in early 2021. The Wrangler 4xe follows the Renegade 4xe and Compass 4xe partly electric vehicles that are already available for order.
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The planned merger of the car companies PSA and FCA under the name Stellantis has apparently already led to a decision about sharing vehicle platforms: According to an article in the Spanish media, FCA is abandoning its developments for B-segment vehicles.
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After Jeep opened pre-orders for the ‘First Edition’ PHEV versions of the Renegade and Compass vehicles in February, Jeep is now giving full details of the complete model range for the two part-time electric vehicles.
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has launched a joint Vehicle-to-Grid project with Engie EPS at its Mirafiori plant in Turin. In the first phase, 64 bidirectional charging points will be installed, which will grow to include capacity for over 700 electric vehicles in the final stage.
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Fiat Chrysler intends to test vehicle-to-grid technology with a fleet of 600 to 700 electric cars. The carmaker has now signed a letter of intent with the Italian energy supplier Terna.
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has concluded two charging infrastructure cooperations for future electric cars and plug-in hybrids of the Group. Enel X will provide for the installation of charging stations in Italy, while Engie will roll-out infrastructure in 14 other European countries for FCA.
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Renault and Fiat Chrysler negotiate a merger to form one of the world’s largest car manufacturers. In the midst of talks, the French government, which has a 15% stake in Renault, has already some conditions though.
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Fiat Chrysler Automotives will purchase CO2 credits from Tesla to help it hit carbon dioxide goals and avoid hefty fines in the US and Europe. The cost of this greenwashing is estimated at close to two billion euros.
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Fiat-Chrysler is readying their Melfi plant in Italy to accommodate the making of the Jeep Renegade plug-in hybrid. They scheduled pre-production to start next year, about a year ahead of the market launch in 2020. It is also the beginning of FCA’s wider e-offensive.
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The era of Sergio Marchionne is nearing its end, but before the head of Fiat-Chrysler quits his job next year, he wants to ready all brands for an electrified future. His 5-year plan calls for a move away from diesel and into electric and hybrid models.
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Alfa Romeo is developing a coupé version of its Giulia car with a hybrid motor, which is set to be released next year. The company plans two different motors, which will feature tech similar to the KERS used in Formula 1 racing.
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Fiat Chrysler wants to phase out all diesel models over the next four years, according to a report by the Financial Times. This includes all passenger cars made by FCA labels Fiat, Chrysler, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Jeep.
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Google’s subsidiary for self-driving technology, Waymo, says it has ordered “thousands” of autonomous vans based on FCA’s Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. They will join the existing Waymo fleet by the end of 2018.
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The off-road vehicle manufacturer wants to create a PHEV version of every model launched from 2020, reports Autocar referring to CEO Mike Manley. Already this year, the brand introduces mild hybrids in all of its series. An all-electric Jeep model is likely to come, too – but rather beyond 2020.
autocar.co.uk
Fiat Chrysler considers a technical partnership with its South Korean rival Hyundai, according to a statement of CEO Serio Marchionne. The company shall be particularly interested in Hyundai’s H2 respective fuel cell systems.
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Fiat mulls electric mobility: Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne seems now ready to consider a fully electric vehicle in his line-up. “I think that to use one of our potential cars as an experiment in this area is interesting,” he said. A small city car for the European market and a Tesla-fighter in the form of an electric Maserati are apparently in the pipeline.
bloomberg.com, autoblog.com
Bye-bye diesel: Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller is questioning the technology and whether the company “should invest more money in further developing the diesel,” he told German Handelsblatt. Peter Mertens from Volvo is asking himself that same question, saying that the Swedes will have to “think twice or three times about it,” since electric mobility could be financially competitive in the next two years. A new era might be upon us.
spiegel.de (Volkswagen; in German), automobil-produktion.de (Volvo; in German)
Cheap EV for China: Nissan and Dongfeng will launch an affordable electric model in the country this summer. It is said to be 30 percent less expensive than the Venucia e30, the Chinese variant of the Nissan Leaf. According to Nikkei, thanks to subsidise, the newcomer will cost just as much as a petrol-car.
nikkei.com
E-SsangYong update: First specs about the just recently announced EV from South Korea have been released. The E-XIV 300 will apparently boast a 150 kWh electric drivetrain, which could be supplied by BMW. LG will deliver the 43 kWh battery pack that will hold enough energy for 300 km on one charge. A range extender is also up for discussion.
automobil-produktion.de (in German)
Hybrid Porsche wins Le Mans: The Germans drove to the top place on the podium in their 919 Hybrid during the 24-hour race in north-western France. It long looked as though Toyota might be victorious, until the Japanese needed to stop just minutes before the end of the race, due to a technical defect.
autoblog.com, gizmag.com
Solar Impulse 2 takes on Atlantic: The solar-powered airplane has begun its most difficult leg of its circumnavigation of the world. Taking off from the New York, the Solar Impulse 2 will cross the Atlantic on its way back to Europe. The flight will take four days and nights, after which the plane will set down in Seville, Spain.
bbc.com, solarimpulse.com
Leaving the scandal electrically: VW CEO Matthias Müller presented the company’s “Strategy 2025” yesterday, according to which VW is planning more than 30 (!) all-electric models by 2025 that will account for 25 percent of sales. That translates to about 3m EV sold per year. Moreover, the manufacturer wants to venture into the battery-making business, though nothing definite has been announced so far.
bloomberg.com, autocar.co.uk, marketwatch.com
Mini and RR ready for the future: After BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce presented their futuristic concepts under the name “Vision Next 100” in time for BMW’s 100th anniversary. Both concept cars are purely electric and autonomous, and are said to be able to drive to charging stations on their own.
autocar.co.uk (Mini), autocar.co.uk (RR)
Q5 as pure EV? Audi will open a new factory in Mexico on September 30th, where it is planning to also manufacture an all-electric version of its Q5. The electric Q6 e-tron SUV, announced for 2018, will, on the other hand, be built in Brussels.
autonews.com
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Future ahead – e-mobil BW shows e-mobility competence in Canada: At the renowned 29th Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS) in Montréal, e-mobil BW will be presenting Baden-Württemberg’s electric mobility capabilities at the German Pavilion and as part of the conference programme. As one of the hosts of the EVS30, e-mobil BW will also be inviting international experts to visit Stuttgart in 2017. www.e-mobilbw.de (PDF)
Honda Accord Hybrid hit the shelves: The 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid is now available in the U.S. for 29,605 dollars – 300 dollars more than the 2016 version. The new model year boasts 212 hp, about 8 percent more than last year’s, while fuel economy increased roughly 4%.
autoblog.com, carscoops.com
Cash injection: Canadian province of Ontario will provide Fiat Chrysler with 80m Canadian dollars in funds to upgrade its assembly plant in Windsor and to support an R&D project at another facility in the city. An official announcement is said to follow on Wednesday.
windsorstar.com, cnbc.com
Upgraded Leaf arrives: Nissan’s best-selling EV is available with 30 kWh battery in Europe. Prices start from 28,060 euros. Apart from more range (up to 250 km), the Leaf features more connectivity, i.e. enabling drivers to pre-heat the battery. Nissan demonstrates the power of the specially engineered Nordic Pack in a video, where it literally defrosts its new Leaf.
automotiveworld.com, carscoops.com, nissan-europe.com, youtube.com (Nordic Pack)
New Energy investment: Eight Korean corporations, among them Hyundai, Kia, LG, and Samsung, are pooling investments in the new energy sector. About 5bn of the 6.7bn dollars raised will be used to develop electric vehicles. The rest of the money goes to solar power, smart grid applications and the like.
businesskorea.co.kr
China EV for the U.S.: 2050 Motors presents its second EV for the USA. Different from the Ibis, which has been dubbed a Tesla clone, the e-Go is a compact EV that also uses carbon for its body. 2050 Motors claims a 200 mile range and is currently looking to start manufacturing in the Las Vegas area.
reviewjournal.com
U.S. hybrid for China: Fiat Chrysler plans to offer an HEV in China, which will soon be followed by a PHEV version. Potential candidates for hybridisation are the Jeep Wrangler, GrandCherokee, and Patriot.
autonews.gasgoo.com
Sheep in a wolf’s clothing: A fierce Prius styling comes from Wald International. The latest teaser shows a more aggressive looking hybrid, as the Sports Line includes a new front bumper, a revised grille, and a front lip spoiler. The motor is likely to stay as it is.
worldcarfans.com
Green role model: Following a trial in the German city of Stuttgart, Daimler’s top managers are from now on required to drive (partially) electric. To keep the C-level moving, Mercedes will spend 30m euros to increase EV charging opportunities at its locations. From 2017, Ola Källenius will take over as head of development. Meanwhile, CEO Dieter Zetsche has been re-elected to stay on board until 2019.
daimler.com, motoringresearch.com
VW to electrify China: Volkswagen has laid out a three-step strategy to electrify the Chinese market by investing 4bn euros per year. In the current phase, plug-in hybrid and electric models are being imported. Next, PHEVs will be produced directly in China, starting with the Audi A6. The last phase will see VW models based on the MQB platform be built in China before 2020. At the same time, the MEB platform will be developed together with JV partners SAIV and FAW. Overall, China will see up to 15 VW PHEV and EV models within the next three to five years.
autonews.gasgoo.com, news.xinhuanet.com
Iconic concept: Italian Icona presents an electric city car study dubbed Neo. Inspired by Shanghai’s asymmetric architecture, the Neo sits four people. Weighing only 720 kg and with 21 kW in-wheel motors, Icona says the car will have a top speed of 75 mph and a city range of 93 miles.
gizmag.com, youtube.com
Hybrid Jeep: Fiat Chrysler confirmed plans to hybridise the upcoming Jeep Wrangler. However, the 2018 model will only be a mild-hybrid, while a full hybrid can only be expected by 2022. FCA does not act out of conviction, admitting that it simply has to meet regulations.
motorauthority.com, worldcarfans.com
Bagging it: Toyota USA is recalling about 5,000 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h built in 2016, due to faulty airbags for the driver’s knee. If found faulty, Lexus will replace the airbags free of charge.
carscoops.com, corporatenews.pressroom.toyota.com
Breaking ground: Kandi has started the construction of a new facility in Haikou in Hainan province. Once finished, the site will have an annual production capacity of up to 100,000 electric vehicles.
money.cnn.com
Putin pushes for EV: Russia’s president Vladimir Putin urged the country’s car industry to modernise by pushing production towards electric cars by 2025. At the moment, there is no import tariff on electric cars. Still, there use is not widespread in the vast country.
bellona.org
Fiat Chrysler to be electrified: The manufacturer hedges plans for a plug-in mini van, Mike Duhaime, Chrysler’s chief of electric drives, said. Furthermore, Fiat-Chrysler is working with Qualcomm to present inductive charging technology soon.
wardsauto.com
Innovation truck: Supplier ZF will present its ‘Innovationstruck’ with a hybridised transmission at next week’s IAA for utility vehicles. The truck is said to be controlled via a tablet computer and can shunt electrically. Also at the IAA, company KSPG presents its heat pump system for electric and hybrid utility vehicles which is said to save up to 60% of energy usually used for temperature regulation.
zf.com, automobil-industrie.vogel.de (KSPG, in German)
Li-Sulphur cathode: General Motors’ Global Research & Development Centre has developed a new polymer-coated carbon-sulphur core-shell structure for cathodes of Li-S batteries which promises better cycling stability and coulombic efficiency.
greencarcongress.com
Nuclear power for EVs? Missouri University developed a water-based nuclear battery which they say might also be used in EVs. The cells are based on betavoltaic (energy through radiation) and are built with the isotope strontium-90. The battery is long-lasting and safe, at least according to the researchers.
electric-vehiclenews.com, missouri.edu
Most clicked Link on Wednesday was Ford’s announcement for the updated C-Max to be shown at Paris Motor Show. Meanwhile, Ford has released the final images.
greencarreports.com (yesterday’s teaser), greencarreports.com (revealed C-Max)
