People in Singapore may now book an electric cab as local taxi company Strides Taxis takes delivery of 15 electric cars. The China-made MG 5 vehicles are the first of a total of 300 models to arrive in the city-state by the end of the year.
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As the British government cuts the Plug-in Car Grants, first carmakers react. Renault UK will top-up the new PiCG of £3,000 by £500 for all Zoe orders placed before 31 March 2020.
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BYD to build e-buses in Ecuador: The Chinese manufacturer continues its worldwide expansion and is en route to start operations in South America. Supported by Ecuador’s government, BYD agreed to invest 60m dollars in a facility that will make up to 300 electric buses a year with the help of 300 workers. Ecuador already generates 95 percent of its energy from hydro-electric power plants and recently ordered 30 electric taxis, the e6 from BYD, to drive guests around the City of Loja.
cleantechnica.com
Tesla founder seeks new path: Martin Eberhard was among Tesla’s originators before he fell out with Musk in 2008. Eberhard has taken his own steps into the market now and is behind InEVit, a start-up that wants to build electric car components to sell to various OEM, Electrek learnt. Joining him is Heiner Fees, a former Bosch engineer that holds multiple patents related to energy storage, which is another field InEVit sees itself “inevitably” involved in, according to its trademark application.
electrek.co
Low cost Mercedes EV: Less than 300 dollars is the leasing price of Mercedes’ B-class ED in the USA, where Daimler lowered prices considerably. For the 2016 series, prices start at 289 dollars, while the latest electric drive is available from 299 dollars.
mbusa.com, pushevs.com
MG’s compact SUV will be electrified from 2019 but its conventional base is now on display in London. The British SAIC subsidiary plans to produce the MG XS from the end of 2017 and to offer PHEV and all-electric versions around two years later alongside other electrified models.
autoexpress.co.uk
Heavy duty recuperation: Wrightspeed and AxleTech International joined forces to develop regenerative braking systems for range-extended electric trucks. The drivetrains will come from Wrightspeed and integrate AxleTech’s axle in a custom-housing that is exhibited this week.
trucks.com
Electric refuse truck: Though not range-extended (yet) this latest model from Peterbilt Motors manages a range of 100km with its 300 kWh battery. Plus, the electric garbage truck has it 70 kW charger on-board, so nothing is wasted with this Model 520 currently on show in New Orleans.
ngtnews.com
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VW specifies I.D. production plans: In 2019, the German carmaker is to kick off serial production of its I.D. concept in Zwickau (Saxony), as announced. The Sächsische Zeitung has further details about VW’s first electrified model based on the MEB platform. Thus, the preparations for production will begin by mid-2018, before the lines start to roll in late 2019. However, sales won’t start before 2020. VW calculates with a production investment of 300m euros and an output of 300 I.D.’s daily.
sz-online.de (in German)
MG’s future electric line-up: Within the next few years, the British SAIC brand intends to bring 4 electrified vehicles to the market – in both PHEV version as well as all-electric. Specifically, MG works on two new crossovers, the compact model MG 3 and a replacement for the mid-range sedan MG 6. Top-of-the-end model of its new line-up shall be an electric sports coupe that was recently presented in Shanghai and is to enter production in 2020.
autocar.co.uk
BYD plans to install an industrial park in Yinchuan in order to concentrate production capacities of its electric mobility units. The park shall be developed on 66 hectare and serve to manufacture EVs for both, road and rail traffic. While investment volume amounts to approximately 20bn Yuan (2.6bn euros). Further specifications, e.g. on time schedule, are yet to be delivered.
news.xinhuanet.com
WKW to invest 1.1bn in Germany: The Chinese supplier is about to raise 1.1bn euros through its subsidiary Delon Automotive in order to install a EV facility in Saxony close to the German-Polish border. The company wants to produce high-end EVs for the European as well as the Chinese market. Details about the time have not been revealed.
europe.autonews.com
Do we see soon a H2-Lexus? Rumour had it, that the next Lexus luxury sedan LS could feature fuel cell tech from Toyota’s Mirai. But a new trademark registration now indicates that rumours transformed to plans. At least, the patent’s title “LS-FC Concept” suggests a concept car may be on the way.
motor1.com, autoguide.com, tsdr.uspto.gov
First BYD bus rolls in L.A. County: Chinese manufacturer BYD has delivered the first model of its fully electrified articulated buses in the States. The 18 metres long vehicle can seat up to 60 people and shall reach up to 275 miles (440 km) thanks to a 547 kWh battery pack. The bus will serve the public transport company AVTA in Los Angeles County and is the pioneer of 13 more ordered BYD buses.
electrek.co
Quotas work wonders: China got VW to hurry its electrification and seems to have the upper hand with the upcoming tougher quotas. Volkswagen now wants to make an electric car for the masses together with JAC no later than 2018 – two years before EVs sitting on the MEB platform are scheduled. The JV’s first EV will be under a new brand name. In China, VW also hopes to deploy its new energy vehicles to ride-sharing partner Didi but the groups overall sales strategy for its largest market speaks of 400,000 PEV by 2020 and 1.5m electrified cars by 2025.
nytimes.com, autonews.com
Nio likes it big: The young brand hits the floor in Shanghai with its electric SUV ES8 that can take seven passengers. Performance data is sparse but Nio equipped its EV with two electric motors and wants a swappable battery pack. A production version is to be shown before the year’s end with on-sale starting soon after. Furthermore, Nio has opened the order books for what it calls its flagship supercar. The EP9 however, will only be made ten times for a price of about 1.5m dollars each.
autocar.co.uk, greencarcongress.com
BYD’s Dynasty: Shanghai just saw the debut of the all-electric SUV concept by the Chinese manufacturer. The Dynasty has been designed by Wolfgang Egger, formerly Audi but production is not planned. Also on display at the BYD booth are the electric and hybrid Song EV300 and Song DM.
autocar.co.uk, carscoops.com, electriccarsreport.com
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Baden-Württemberg Pavilion – Boosting Future Mobility 34 exhibitors will proudly present the accumulated know how of the German Southwest in the Baden-Württemberg Pavilion at the Hannover Messe from 24 to 28 April 2017 under the slogan “Boosting Future Mobility”. On more than 600 m² exhibition area, you will be able to get first-hand experience of the latest innovative products and key competences such as energy storage, charging infrastructure, precision components, subassemblies, novel test benches and mobility software. Come and visit us at hall 27. e-mobilbw.de (PDF)
Citroën crossover PHEV: The C5 Aircross that has been revealed in China will be Citroen’s first plug-in hybrid model and shall launch this autumn first in China and then in Europe by 2018. The PHEV couples two electric motors with a petrol-engine to 300 hp and an electric range of 60 km.
autocar.co.uk, autonews.com
Butterfly doors are not the only fancy the MG E-Motion EV sports at the show in Shanghai but the best news is that MG is actually looking to build the electric sports coupe by 2020 for below 30,000 pounds. Its electric drive has been developed in house and the concept claims a 310 mile range.
autocar.co.uk
VW turns on the light for a threesome as it teases its third I.D. concept ahead of Shanghai. The I.D. Crozz – VW trademarked the name but nothing is official – is a coupe-SUV that will follow on from the I.D. hatch and I.D. Buzz microbus. Rumour had it there might be a fourth I.D. model due in September at the IAA but no update has been given yet. For the I.D. Crozz, VW confirmed an all-wheel drive, which makes a two electric motor set-up likely. As all I.D. models, it will sit on the MEB platform and should manage a range of around 550 km.
autoexpress.co.uk, volkswagen.com
Audi is about lights too, LEDs in this case but not necessarily illuminating. All that is revealed in this latest teaser video is that the carmaker will bring a new e-tron concept to Shanghai. Hopefully, it is not an SUV again this time but maybe the i3 fighter CEO Rupert Stadler recently hinted at rather?!
youtube.com, carscoops.com, motor1.com
Ford ends Focus Electric production: The Focus Electric will not be made in Europe anymore as Ford ends its production at its plant in Saarlouis. The carmaker claims low demand, only 61 units were sold in Europe last year. If someone wishes to buy however, Ford will continue imports from America.
electrive.net, autonews.com
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Baden-Württemberg Pavilion – Boosting Future Mobility 34 exhibitors will proudly present the accumulated know how of the German Southwest in the Baden-Württemberg Pavilion at the Hannover Messe from 24 to 28 April 2017 under the slogan “Boosting Future Mobility”. On more than 600 m² exhibition area, you will be able to get first-hand experience of the latest innovative products and key competences such as energy storage, charging infrastructure, precision components, subassemblies, novel test benches and mobility software. Come and visit us at hall 27. e-mobilbw.de (PDF)
Qoros plans concrete: The K-EV Concept is Qoros latest study in electric and most of all luxurious driving to debut in Shanghai. The lux limousine utilises the Koenigsegg drive-line also used in the Koenigsegg Regera super hybrid. Market entry for the Qoros K-EV is set for 2019.
auto-motor-und-sport.de, greencarcongress.com
Electric supercar concept: British MG will present its E-Motion in Shanghai, a sports car coupé with an all-electric power source. The SAIC-owned company said the model makes the 100 kph in under four seconds while claiming a range of roughly 500 km. Production is uncertain at this point.
autocar.co.uk, autoexpress.co.uk, carscoops.com
Bolt available nationwide: GM has issued a lease across the US of A for its latest electric car. The price is 329 dollars per month for three years with 3,809 dollars due at signing. The deal is valid until May, 1 for now.
insideevs.com, greencarreports.com
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Toyota’s fuel cell vehicle has just been presented revealing some ground-breaking figures. In April 2015, The FCV will first debut in Japan before it goes on sale in the US and Europe a few months later. The price for customers in Japan is set at about 7 million Yen (69,000 dollars). The FCV is said to go as far as 700 kilometres on one tank filling on the Japanese cycle.
bloomberg.com
Ferrari is going hybrid: The EU requires any carmaker to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent by 2021 – that also applies to luxury carmakers like Ferrari. Vittorio Dini, responsible for engine technology at Ferrari plans to reach that goal through hybridisation of its V12 models.
autonews.com, greencarreports.com
Toyota is Korea’s sole supplier of hybrids, or almost as it holds a marketshare of 97.1 percent of all imported hybrids. That is a total of 2,558 vehicles the Japanese manufacturer sold in the Asian country this year. Already in 2012 and 2013, Toyota has been equally successful in South Korea.
businesskorea.co.kr
Electric MG review: Autocar was allowed to drive MG’s EV concept on the Silverstone circuit. The electric mini car is based on the Roewe E50 and is already being sold in China. Apart from the rather confined space, Autocar was impressed but only sees a future for the mini MG if it is offered notedly cheaper than its competitors VW E-Up and Nissan Leaf.
autocar.co.uk
Premium hybrid competition: Auto Express has compared the Mercedes S300 hybrid with the Lexus LS 600h. While the Lexus beats Mercedes “hands down for performance,” in the end the reviewers got lulled in by the luxury a Mercedes’ S-class has got to offer.
autoexpress.co.uk
Suzuki to save some fuel: The Japanese maker of small cars has announced plans to introduce ‘gas-electric hybrid technology,’ but it won’t be more than a mild hybrid. Suzuki hopes however, to go full-hybrid sometime in the future.
economictimes.indiatimes.com
Anniversary EV: MG is celebrating its 90th birthday by showing a concept of an electric car. The MG Dynamo has been created at the parent company’s HQ (SAIC) in Longbridge and is currently on display at SMMT’s offices in Westminster, UK. The concept has been developed to help the company understand Europe’s demand for a pure electric small MG.
smmt.co.uk
High quality fuel cells: The Japanese National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and the Chinese Southeast University (SEU) signed a memorandum of understanding to design new platinum-free electro-catalysts based on graphene for premium fuel-cell electrodes.
greencarcongress.com
The devil is in the detail: New research on lithium-iron-phosphate batteries suggests, that scientists might have been wrong to use the Butler-Volmer equation all along. Instead, cell performance might be dependent on the speed electrons move between the electrode and its carbon coating.
scientificamerican.com, green.autoblog.com
