Volvo presented its first battery-electric car, based on the compact SUV XC40. The model aptly named Recharge uses much technology from the Polestar 2, but it will be almost a year before the car is on the road.
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The Volvo and Geely electric car subsidiary Polestar has published the final list prices for Polestar 2 in European countries where the Tesla Model 3 competitor will be launched. In the UK, for example, the base price is 49,900 GBP.
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The notoriously underserved electric car market in Australia can look ahead to a better 2020. Volvo and Polestar are planning to bring two electric cars and a PHEV to the continent in 2020. Besides, Mini is readying the all-electric Cooper for entry as well.
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Volvo’s electric car subsidiary Polestar opened its first production facility today. At the new facility in Chengdu, China, the 441 kW Polestar 1 PHEV coupe is manufactured for China and export markets.
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The Volvo Car Group has signed long-term contracts with CATL and LG Chem to ensure battery supply for the next generation of Volvo and Polestar electric models over the next decade. The orders are worth several billion dollars.
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Polestar has established a new R&D centre for future electric vehicles in Coventry, England. At the new British location, the Volvo electric brand will initially employ around 60 engineers to support the development of vehicles beyond the Polestar 3.
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The fully electric Volvo subsidiary Polestar has qualified for the $7,500 federal tax credit in the USA separately from their mother company, meaning that each will be allowed to sell 200,000 vehicles before the credit runs out.
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The Volvo subsidiary Polestar has officially launched its first volume production model. Two electric motors with a combined output of 300 kW power the Polestar 2 EV that has a battery capacity of 78 kWh, which should enable a WLTP range of 500 km.
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Volvo is currently holding talks with Chinese and US investors to generate additional capital for its Polestar electric car brand. Meanwhile, the subsidiary has announced that the Polestar 2, the brand’s first all-electric model, will be officially presented on February 27.
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Polestar has released a first teaser photo of their first all-electric model, which is to be fully unveiled “in the coming weeks”. In addition, Volvo’s performance brand has released the first performance data of the Polestar 2.
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Volvo’s electronic performance brand Polestar has finally begun making their first vehicle, the Polestar 1, which they had introduced a year ago. Yesterday, Polestar announced having completed 34 of the electric supercars in Sweden – as a handmade series for testing.
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Volvo’s electrifying performance branch Polestar has revealed details on their first all-electric models. The Polestar 2 is shaping up to be particularly interesting as pricing and sizing will set it right on par with the Tesla Model 3.
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Volvo’s all-electric performance brand Polestar is driving their global expansion. A new subsidiary in the States has found a new leader. Gregor Hembrough is to lead Polestar Automotive USA Inc. building on 25 years of experience in the automotive industry.
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Volvo is launching a new electrified performance offer called Polestar Engineered, specifically developed for its upcoming 60 Series plug-in hybrid cars. The package tweaks the wheels, brakes, suspension and engine control unit for higher performance and better fuel economy.
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The Swedish brand is advancing its transition into a premium plug-in label fast as Volvo aims for fully electric cars to account for half of its total sales by 2025. This builds on their plans that new models released from 2019 will be electrified in some form.
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Polestar 1, the first model to be made by Volvo’s EV label, is now available for pre-order in 18 countries. When placing their reservation, potential customers can use a configurator to visually render their purchase.
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As of the 1st of March, August Wu is the new president of Polestar in China. As the new president, he will be responsible for the electric Volvo subsidiary, and will be tasked with popularizing the brand in the Chinese market.
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The Volvo EV brand Polestar has begun construction of a new headquarters located in the Swedish Torslanda, near Gothenburg. They plan to finish construction by September 2018.
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Demand for Volvo’s dedicated arm for premium plug-ins, Polestar, is on the up. After receiving thousands pre-orders for its first model, a 600 hp PHEV, Polestar is mulling to increase production. Also, very competitive pricing for the Polestar 2 has been released.
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Hans Pehrson has been made Head of Research and Development and Electric Propulsion Strategy at Polestar. Pehrson has worked for over 30 years within the industry, and also on the first electric car of Volvo, the C30.
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Volvo’s performance label Polestar has announced the initial markets for the launch of its premier performance plug-in. The Polestar 1 PHEV will be offered through so-called Polestar Space outlets.
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Bloodhound, the British 1000mph jet and rocket-powered land speed record challenger, is planning to convert. The rocket motors may soon be supported by an electric motor and talks with Polestar are underway.
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Shortly after having been established as brand for electric cars, Volvo subsidiary Polestar has kicked off construction works for its production facility in the Chinese city of Chengdu. Opening of the plant is scheduled for mid-2018.
Weiterlesen
Fine fuel cell concepts: Toyota will showcase hydrogen concepts at its home run in Tokyo this November. One is the Fine Comfort Ride, itself a carrier of not only fuel cell technology but autonomous driving capability as well. Its drives sit in the wheels and a load of hydrogen is said to last for a 1,000 kilometres while the sleek mini van can transport up to six persons. Also on display in Japan’s capital will be the Sora, Toyota’s first ever fuel cell bus that is set to go on sale next year. More than a 100 Sora are also booked to chauffeur visitors during the 2020 Olympics around Tokyo and will likely leave a lasting impression with their LED lights and stereoscopic shape.
carscoops.com, toyota.co.jp (Fine-Comfort Ride), carscoops.com, toyota.co.jp (Sora)
Polestar part 2: 640 million euros have been freed by Geely and Volvo to bolster their electric Polestar label. And that is only for the first phase which includes setting up production in Chengdu China. Five all-electric models are scheduled for launch throughout 2021, following the Polestar 1 PHEV (we reported).
electriccarsreport.com, media.volvocars.com
Is this the Leaf SUV? Could be, after all it is expected to make an entrance at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. A short teaser film evokes a sense of silhouette but is otherwise dubbed to outline “the future of Nissan Intelligent Mobility.”
youtube.com via insideevs.com, autoblog.com
No credits for Model 3: Supercharging was never supposed to be free for those opting for the economy Tesla or at least not entirely. Turns out, that fast-charging will cost from day one as the annual credit of 400 kWh Model S and X users get nowadays won’t apply to the Model 3. The credit translates to about 4 – 5 full charges or 1,500 kilometres so future Model 3 drivers better hope for that new CCS plug we mentioned a few days ago.
electrek.co
Faster charging and more range are the two outstanding features of Zero Motorcycles’ 2018 series. Batteries now come with 10 percent more capacity and there is the option for a range-extending Power Tank that can deliver a city range of more than 200 miles. New too is the 6kW Charge Tank that increases charging time at a standard household outlet sixfold.
motorcycle.com, carolenash.com
Van Hool goes exquisite with its first 24 metre electric bus powered by IMC technology from Kiepe Electric. The EXQUI.CITY T that is on show at the Busworld in Belgium can thus hook on the overhead wire where available but also roam freely on battery power.
automotiveworld.com, knorr-bremse.de
Polestar 1 arrives: Volvo revealed the first model of its now wholly electrified label Polestar, which is taking the lead in the Swedes’ e-offensive. The Polestar 1 is a Grand Tourer Coupé for four. Driven by the 600 hp plug-in hybrid system, it boasts an electric range of 150 kilometres, which places it almost in the realm of a range-extended EV. No wonder the premium model forebodes the upcoming all-electric Polestar 2, designed to rival Tesla’s Model 3. A purely electric SUV, the Polestar 3, has been lined-out too. But first things first and so the Polestar 1 mass production will commence in China from 2019.
autonews.com, autoexpress.co.uk, autocar.co.uk
News from production hell: Tesla is experiencing massive problems as it tries to bring Fremont up to volume production speed reportedly. The reasons however appear manifold and rumours range from the EV maker simply having overestimated its abilities to more concrete difficulties with welding the steel chassis of the Model 3 (the Model S and X are made of alloy). Some light has been shed by an Oppenheimer analyst, who puts the blame on a “small number of suppliers failing to deliver on time.” Bear in mind though that he is a shareholder himself. More noteworthy info was deliberated by Tesla supplier Polytec, that said Tesla may start making the Model 3 in Europe at Magna in Austria.
carscoops.com (welding issue), electrek.co (supplier issue), insideevs.com (move to Magna)
Daimler to split up three-way: The German corporation is looking to reorganise itself and at the moment three companies are likely: one for Mercedes-Benz cars and vans, another trucks and buses, and a third for financial services. The decision is far from final though as neither managers nor the board or shareholders have approved the plan yet. Ultimately the split would make it easier for Daimler to sell of parts of its business and the carmaker reasons such changes would help to adapt to a fast-paced environment. In any case, seeing such changes through is likely to take years of both planning and negotiations with stakeholders although Daimler aims at 2019.
carscoops.com, daimler.com
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Mazda is going ahead with its range-extending rotary engine of which first plans appeared in March this year. Mazda’s head of engine design, Mitsuo Hitomi now confirmed that the rotary will be utilised for the brand’s premier EV due by 2019. It will the sit side by side the all-electric variant.
autonews.com
Navya teases the world debut of another autonomous EV set at November, 7. The French have not handed out much information but it is likely to be based on the existing shuttle Arma, maybe a bigger brother this time.
techau.com.au, navya.tech
Cummins acquires Brammo: Their first electric truck has not been in this world longer than two months and Cummins already progresses on the path to electrification. It has now taken over Brammo, formerly known for electric motorcycles and now specialising in batteries.
greencarcongress.com, electrek.co, businesswire.com
VW I.D. to cost much less than Model 3: Volkswagen’s I.D. shall swing buyers with a price 7,000 – 8,000 dollars below the price of Tesla’s Model 3, currently listed at 35,000 dollars (approx. 31,000 euros). That is at least what VW’s chief strategist Thomas Sedran said at the Automobil Forum in Munich, thus confirming what Herbert Diess, head of VW’s brand management, mentioned already a few days ago, that Volkswagen is going to stop Tesla at the 30,000 euros limit. In order to put its prices that low, the German carmaker calculates with decreasing battery costs until market entry by 2020.
automobil-produktion.de (in German)
Car lobby sends letter to China: The country’s plans for an EV sales quota are worrying the lobby. Thus, the four biggest automotive industry associations have sent a letter to Beijing, begging it to rethink the plans. Reuters quotes the German WirtschaftsWoche which published parts of the letter. In detail, the four associations from the States, Europe, Japan and South Korea demand to change some fundamental criteria of the quota and to postpone it by at least 3 years. Given however that even Chancellor Merkel failed to bring about relief, it seems unlikely that China will be particularly impressed.
reuters.com
Grohmann cancels all clients except Tesla, that had acquired the German engineering specialist that is now Tesla Grohmann Automation. Previously expected “termination talks” with up-to-now clients BMW and Daimler are almost completed. Both OEMs confirmed the upcoming end of the business relation. Meanwhile Grohmann is about to finish last preparations to supply a new production unit to Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada.
automobilwoche.de (in German, paywall)
Ford plug-in van due by 2019: Ford updates its Transit Custom van and says it will launch a plug-in hybrid, too. First trials with the PHEV model are going to take place later this year with fleet clients in London, as announced as the Transit is the UK’s best-selling commercial car.
automotiveworld.com, media.ford.com
Polestar’s 600 bhp Coupé at the IAA? Volvos performance brand will offer electrified sports cars under its own logo, we recently learnt. The first model could already go on display at the IAA in September. Most probably the audience will see a coupé equipped with a 600 bhp plug-in hybrid drive.
autocar.co.uk
42,573 electrified vehicles of BMW and Mini have been sold in the first half of 2017. That are 80 percent more than during the same period last year. Plus, with 51,725 EVs and PHEVs having been made already, Munich is confident to reach its sales target of 100,000 electrified cars in 2017.
press.bmwgroup.com
Hydraulic-hybrid rubbish truck: RunWise is the first lorry of its kind. It features a series hybrid system, able to use hydraulic pressure to power the vehicle. While the engine charges the high-pressure hydraulic system when driving, the lorry will then collect the garbage at your home almost silently.
greencarreports.com
Optimising the Volvo V60 D6: Polestar, the Volvo tuning company, developed an upgrade for the plug-in hybrid, increasing power output by 15 hp to 298 hp and 670 Nm, making it the most powerful Volvo diesel car out there. Unfortunately, it is the combustion engine that is upgraded, not the electric motor.
greencarcongress.com, puregreencars.com
Hybridising the Chevy Camaro: As part of the third edition of the ecoCAR challenge, GM and the U.S. DOE will hand a Chevrolet Camaro to each of the 16 participating universities. The goal is to implement an electric-hybrid system without having to alter the design or performance of the iconic vehicle.
hybridcars.com
Introducing Elco Motor Yachts: The New York-based company used to build electric- and gasoline-powered ships in the first half of the century, and now focuses on providing electric drivetrains for marine use, suitable for yachts of up to 50 feet long. A smart move, considering that market for electric boats is expected to grow 150% between 2013 and 2023.
greencarreports.com