‘Autonomy’ is a new offer in California where TrueCar founder Scott Painter offers Tesla Model 3 cars for a monthly flat rate. The new venture has acquired about 100 vehicles from Tesla and has ambitious expansion plans.
The US specialist Newport Convertible Engineering offers a convertible conversion for the Tesla Model 3. The costs for this conversion is at least $29,500, but Model 3 owners can also go all-in and get an electric power top for $39,500.
Those competing in the Pwn2Own contest at the CanSecWest conference in Vancouver, Canada usually have the task of hacking a device, generally a computer. If they can breach the devices security measures, they get it for free. This year a Tesla 3 is up for grabs.
Book tip: The Model 3 isn’t even available yet, and there is already a short e-book about the EV. “Getting Ready for the Model 3” outlines some BEV basics, the features the newest Tesla will come with, puts some speculations into perspective and list production dates. amazon.com (free download) via greencarcongress.com
Review: Hybrid Cars got behind the wheel of the seventh generation Chevy Volt (2017 model) and loved it. Also because compared to other plug-in hybrids, the Volt is a range extended electric vehicles. Meaning, as long as there is juice in the battery, it will stay in EV mode. youtube.com via hybridcars.com
Video tip: To promote the beauty of electric mobility, Nissan took its 30 kWh Leaf along the scenic route across Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Scotland and France. It’s also nice to watch if you are looking for some of that holiday feeling. youtube.com via insideevs.com
Reading tip: Matthew DeBord form Business Insider argues that Tesla needs to stop improving its existing models and start focusing more on the Model 3. He argues that “a need for speed doesn’t matter at all to the mass market.” businessinsider.de
Click tip: Images from a sultry Tesla Model 3 prototype photo shoot in the Marin Headlands of California are making their way into circulation including some fan photos that have surfaced on Imgur. The silver prototype has also been spotted outside of Tesla’s Fremont factory. imgur.com (photo shoot), electrek.co (silver)
Research tip: A Lux Research study expects the battery market for plug-in vehicles to reach 10bn dollars in 2020 and anticipates that 90% of that demand will be driven by only six companies: Tesla, BYD, Volkswagen, General Motors, Renault-Nissan, and BMW. greencarcongress.com, luxresearchinc.com
Reading tip: Despite people lining up for a car they will not get for another two years, Bloomberg says Tesla cannot afford any delays when it comes to the Model 3. For once, these buyers may not be willing to wait for their car as long as early adopters did for the Roadster or Model S, and in the U.S., the 7,500 dollar subsidy per EV will expire before long. bloomberg.com
Video tip: Headed for a holiday? Toyota shows that the new Prius can tow a trailer to fit all your belonging. The towing arm is detachable, so no need to sport a hitch unless you need to pull something. youtube.com via toyota.co.uk
How to get a Model 3: Tesla released information on the reservation procedure for its Model 3. A deposit of 1,000 dollars or euros and pounds respectively earns a place on the waiting list and can be done in store or online. Tesla owners will get priority while orders will be fulfilled by region, starting in the U.S. followed by Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and markets with right-hand drive. electrek.co, insideevs.com, teslamotors.com
ix35 Fuel Cell successor: Hyundai readies a new FCV for market entry already by next year, Autocar learns. The ix35 FCV successor would target consumers and with a production run of 10,000 – 15,000 units over a four year period, “as many as possible” shall make it to the UK, Hyundai says. autocar.co.uk
GM gears for growth in China: General Motors announces its 5-year strategy for Asia, where it plans to issue ten hybrid and electric cars before the decade’s end. Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and Baojun are the brands GM wants to push electrically with models like the Caddy CT6 PHEV. autocarpro.in, greencarcongress.com
— Text Ad — Electromobility powered by Siemens – Siemens is presenting its drivetrain solutions for hybrid and electric cars on the “Vehicle Show Electromobility” in Bad Neustadt a.d.S on 16th and 17th. Find Siemens at the fairground of the demo city for electromobility and take a glance on the latest innovations. www.siemens.com/electriccar
Daimler pick-up plug-in? Mercedes is eyeing the pick-up truck market as it prepares to show a 4×4 concept in Paris this October. Auto Express reports, the new model could come under the name of X-class and might even be a hybrid. autoexpress.co.uk
Mysterious EV brand? Edison Destiny claims to be “building yesterday’s future tomorrow” but has produced nothing more than a teaser website so far. Yet, its name does ring bells and strongly suggest that here another EV maker named after an inventor might get ready to roll. edisondestiny.com via digitaltrends.com
Video tip: This is Silicon Valley at its best – a Model S is summoned via the Apple watch. Welcome to version 3.0 of the Remote S for Tesla’s app that does not even require the key fob anymore. youtube.com via ibtimes.com
Reading tip: Tesla was wrong to focus on the Model X instead of the Model 3, finds Colin Moreshead from Auto Blog. To him, the EV maker has ventured too far from its initial mission to use income from the luxury end of the market to introduce an affordable model. autoblog.com
Click tip I: Designer James Stumpf of Stumpf Studio draws his take on the Tesla Model 3 and accompanies his vision of the economy Tesla with the right ad. It may be conservative, but it is pretty utilitarian, too. insideevs.com
Click tip II: Scott Lawrence Lawson, maker of the i3 Owners Map, delivers a heat map of i3 ownership in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, the Bavarian EV is hottest in urban areas on the West Coast with a few hubs along the East Coast as well. insideevs.com
Video tip: Meet EVA, the electric cab designed for Singapore by Munich’s Technical University together with Singapore’s Nanjang TU. Under the name of TUM Create, the teams have developed an EV that charges within 15 minutes and drives up to 200 kilometres in tropical climate (we reported). youtube.com
Research tip: A new report by Frost & Sullivan sees sales volume for on-board chargers grow from 300,000 units today to over 2.2 million devices by 2020. 3 – 3.7 kWh will remain the choice of a majority of OEMs (62%), however, 6 kWh on board chargers are gaining momentum. frost.com (report, charges apply) via greencarcongress.com
Click tip: Before the real thing has even become available, a rendering of the Tesla Model 3 appeared and actually looks pretty sleek, especially at the rear. auto-moto.com (in French) via insideevs.com