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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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
Strategic transport partnership: Mercedes and courier Hermes have finalised their previous agreement to make deliveries emission free. Hermes wants to deploy 1,500 electric Mercedes Sprinters and Vitos, first in Stuttgart and Hamburg but later nationwide. At the signing ceremony, they further detailed the deal. It includes plans for infrastructure for logistic hotspots, where the batteries assembled in Daimler subsidiary Accumotive’s new facility will be charged. The electric drives have been specifically developed by Mercedes to electrify its van business, which will also receive another 150m euros over the next few years. daimler.com, electrive.net (in German)
Jeep offensive: The outdoor brand wants to offer hybrid versions of most of its eight models, FCA CEO Marchionne announced. The leap into electric terrain is to take place within the next 2-3 years, so it looks like the Yuntu PHEV, displayed in Shanghai, was more than just a concept to test the waters.
marketwatch.com
Lambo likes it large: The Urus SUV by Lamborghini will have 650 hp under the hood. A first production run will see an initial 1,000 units hitting the road next year but Lambo plans to scale up to 3,500 pieces annually. By 2019, the Urus will also come as PHEV variant featuring the same V8 engine.
autonews.com
Spyder up close: The upcoming roadster BMW i8 has been caught on camera and bared almost all, or at least parts of its convertible new side. The innards of the super hybrid are expected to be stronger comes 2018, when a 380 hp engine will be combined with a bigger battery pack.
carscoops.com
Korea gets Kia Niro PHEV: Kia has begun to serve its local market, where it launched the dedicated plug-in hybrid as planned. The Niro went on sale for 33m Won (about 27,000 euros). Europeans will have to wait until autumn for the PHEV and Kia has scheduled an all-electric version for 2018.
yonhapnews.co.kr
Changan too bets on domestic buyers and just announced an electric version of its compact SUVs CS15, that will launch in China later this year. The Changan CS15 EV entails 55 kW and has a said range of up 300 km.
carnewschina.com
4 in 5 victories of this year’s Formula E racing series went to Swiss Sébastien Buemi. The Renault pilot just scored again at the ePrix in Monaco, where he overtook Lucas di Grassi (Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport) and Nick Heidfeld (Mahindra Racing).
electricautosport.com, youtube.com (highlights)
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GM’s electric strategy for China: In the following three years, the American car giant intends to launch at least ten EV and PHEV for the Chinese market, said GM’s China CEO Matt Tsien in the course of the Shanghai Motor Show. He thus joined the rest of the carmakers in their electric promises made in the light of expected new energy quotas by the Chinese authorities. GM calculates with a sales potential of 150,000 electrified vehicles until 2020 and up to half a million until 2025. First aim is to start production of an all-electric model in the Asian-Pacific region within the next two years.
detroitnews.com, apnews.com
Is this Audi’s EV no. 3? Rumours about a new luxury heavyweight above the A8 are persistent and have received some extra fuel through Auto Zeitung. The report speaks of a possible A9 that might emerge 2020 under the label C e-tron – thus being the third in Audi’s electrical line-up. Although sources are missing, the article assumes that the four-door coupé will be based on Q6 and Porsche’s Mission E and could be launched in three versions with 265, 320 or 400 kW.
autozeitung.de (in German)
Mercedes with updated S-Class: The German carmaker has face-lifted its top-of-the-line sedan. The updated version of its S-Class is supposed to hit the roads in July and will be available as well as PHEV version with a battery capacity of 13.3 kWh and an onboard 7.2 kW charger.
greencarcongress.com, hybridcars.com
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Serial style of I-Pace at the IAA: Jaguar wants to unveil the production version of its I-Pace in September at the IAA before starting sales next year, Auto Express has learnt. The final design of Jaguar’s first EV shall correspond to 80% to the concept car presented in Los Angeles last year.
autoexpress.co.uk
Jeep shows plug-in: The Yuntu Hybrid has been revealed in Shanghai and was designed for China. Still no details on the actual drive of the seven-seater PHEV have been released.
motor1.com
Tesla recalls 53,000 Model S and X as they are equipped with a faulty gear in the parking brakes. According to the carmaker, the issue was caused by a third-party supplier and could end up in problems to release the parking brake. The recall affects vehicles launched between February and October 2016.
electrek.co, insideevs.com, teslarati.com
Tesla model update: Elon Musk has kept Twitter busy these days as he pronounced the Semi-Truck ready for presentation this September. Together with plans for a pick-up within the next 24 months and ideas like the Model Y or the mini-bus being kept afloat, the Tesla count has risen to eight EVs in total by now. While half are at concept stage at the most, the Tesla boss has confirmed the unveiling of the final production Model 3 this July.
Semi-Truck, Model 3 July, All 8 models, insideevs.com
Hyundai H2 lux SUV in NYC: Genesis has taken off the veil of its GV80 fuel cell concept at the New York International Auto Show. The Korean premium brand’s SUV carries Hyundai’s hydrogen technology under the hood but as part of a plug-in set-up.
insideevs.com, greencarcongress.com, electriccarsreport.com
Clarity: Honda has made its green car trio complete at the New York show, where it revealed its the plug-in hybrid and electric variants alongside the already available Clarity Fuel Cell. Together they shall bring Honda sales of 75,000 Clarity vehicles in the first four model years in the States alone.
electriccarsreport.com, greencarcongress.com
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Bentley to borrow from Porsche? It looks like the Mission E may not be exclusive to just one VW luxury brand but could make it into an electric Bentley, too. While the Brits have not made any definite announcement, they did eye the tech Porsche is currently developing for its electric model, Automotive News reports. After all, a sporty drive would suit the two-seater EXP 12 Speed 6e EV Concept Bentley just displayed in Geneva and Volkswagen is looking into synergies wherever it can.
autonews.com via carscoops.com
Sino-Swedish synergies are also what Volvo seeks for its first ever EV. The Geely-owned carmaker said it will utilise the same factory in Chinese Luqiao, that shall also make Lync’s 01 and the Volvo XC40. The Swedes aim for a price below 40,000 dollars, hence the production abroad that is to start by 2019. The outreach is global however and Shanghai will show if the electric model will indeed be build from the ground up as has been suggested.
autoblog.com, carscoops.com, hybridcars.com
Jeep teases electrification: In the run-up to Shanghai, Jeep has released first sketches of what may be called the Yuntu EV in both China and the rest of the world. The SUV is a plug-in hybrid and the first attempt by the off-road brand to go electric, at least a little bit.
carscoops.com, hybridcars.com
Volkswagen’s future plans: VW announced that it will build a pilot battery factory in Salzgitter, Germany, while extending EV production from its facility in Wolfsburg to Dresden and Zwickau. Electric motors will be built in Kassel. At the same time, the carmaker says it will cut 30,000 jobs, but agreed with labour unions to create 9,000 new ones in the field of electric mobility.
greencarcongress.com, autonews.com
Magna to build I-Pace: Last week, it was all speculation. Now Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth confirmed that the Graz production specialist Magna Steyr will manufacture the recently unveiled electric SUV I-Pace. Those looking to own one, need to plan with a price tag of 70,000 to 80,000 euros.
autonews.com
Next C-class with 100 km electric range? The next generation of Daimler’s mid-range sedan could get a plug-in hybrid drivetrain from 2020, Auto, Motor und Sport reports. An all-electric variant is reserved for the EQ line-up, but the PHEV version should allow for 100 km of electric range.
auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German)
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Honda FCV starts at 369 dollars/month: The Japanese announced the leasing price for its Clarity Fuel Cell, which will become available in California at the end of the year. With a three-year contract and 2,499 dollars down payment, the FCV will cost 369 dollars per month. That includes 20,000 miles per year, 15,000 dollars worth of hydrogen fuel, and other goodies.
greencarcongress.com
Jeep electrifies two SUVs: The new edition of the 2018 Grand Wagoneer could be available as a plug-in hybrid, as well as share some components with the next Jeep Wrangler, which will also be electrified. Car and Driver even speculates that the vehicles could be fitted with the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV drivetrain.
caranddriver.com
Velite with Volt technology? The especially for China designed Buick Velite Concept with plug-in hybrid technology was now unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show. While technical data about the drivetrain was kept under wraps, it is possible that it will share its drivetrain technology with the Chevy Volt.
hybridcars.com, gmauthority.com, motorauthority.com
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Hybrid Jeep in 2017? Jeep is working on its new Wrangler for 2017 and is considering a hybrid variant, though no decision has been made yet. And Jeep seems to care less about saving petrol than about adding initial torque by adding an electric motor and optimising the crawl ratio.
autoexpress.co.uk
BYD Tang in the starting blocks: The Chinese manufacturer is introducing its hybrid SUV Tang on its home market. The 354 hp strong vehicle is said to offer an all-electric range of up to 85 km and comes with a price tag of around 250.000 yuan (40,200 dollars), after green-car subsidies.
carnewschina.com
CCS included: BMW now offers its i3 with CCS rapid-charging capability as standard in the U.S. – an upgrade that still costed 700 dollars in 2014. Heated seats are also standard now. On the other hand, the price of the base MSPR went up by 1,000 dollars. Meanwhile, Volkswagen announced that all future plug-ins in the U.S. will come with CCS quick charging as standard.
insideevs.com (BMW), transportevolved.com (VW)
AMG super hybrid in the making? After speaking to AMG head Tobias Moers, Motor Trend is speculating that a hybrid hypercar to take on the Porsche 918, LaFerrari and McLaren P1 could be in the pipeline. Moers’ lips remained sealed and the speculations unconfirmed.
motortrend.com
Bosch eBike Systems kicks off in the U.S.: The German-based company is ready for a new adventure, opening the U.S. headquarters for its e-bike business division in Irvine, California. The Bosch Group launched its e-bike unit in 2009 and now holds large market shares in Europe and Japan.
bike-eu.com, bicycleretailer.com
