Which automaker is reportedly contemplating a pivot to cylindrical cells for future EVs?
Which EV maker is Uber partnering with for a automobile particularly for ride-hailing?
This is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending Friday, January 27, 2023.
Tesla introduced a $3.6 billion enlargement of its Nevada battery “Gigafactory” that it says will produce the Semi plus the corporate’s new-format 4680 battery cells at 100 gigawatt-hours yearly—sufficient U.S.-made batteries for 1.5 million light-duty autos, Tesla says. The enlargement factors to some spectacular manufacturing features, with the scaled-up battery output to come back from a smaller facility versus as we speak’s 35+ gigawatt-hours. And, as we identified, that’s extra output than Tesla wants for the Semi.
Artist’s impression of upgraded Tesla plant close to Reno, Nevada
To that, Tesla teased that a number of future Tesla merchandise beneath growth could be revealed as a part of an up to date product plan introduced March 1, with some to be powered by the 4680 cells, however CEO Musk emphasised that new merchandise have to be made when and the place cells can be found.
The Aptera Launch Edition photo voltaic EV detailed simply over every week in the past will supply a spread of 400 miles on battery energy plus the potential for as much as 40 miles of added vary per day from the solar. The firm additionally famous that in its first model it wouldn’t but characteristic fast-charging—to make use of the Tesla NACS normal—however since then the corporate has achieved an about-face on that.
Aptera Launch Edition
Audi on Thursday revealed the final, and most American, of its 4 “sphere” ideas centered on automated driving: The Activesphere idea is an off-road-capable electrical crossover that may remodel to a small pickup as wanted for gear. Although its Level 4 automated driving, suicide doorways, and “mixed reality” interface may not make it to manufacturing quickly, this “master of metamorphosis” might have a future within the lineup.
Audi Activesphere idea
Polestar is in search of a 300-mile vary for the 2024 Polestar 2, as a part of a change of its single-motor mannequin from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive. There are numerous different enhancements to the battery, drive system, and expertise characteristic set.
Honda confirmed that the Civic Hybrid is due as a sedan and hatchback in 2024—doubtless, to be aggressive, with a mixed gas economic system round 50 mpg. But don’t search for something utilizing plug-in hybrid tech outdoors of the upcoming CR-V Fuel Cell.
2023 Honda Civic
The Gen 3 race automobile for Formula E takes tech from the manufacturing Lucid Air. The race vehicles’ entrance motor unit, which permits vastly increased brake recuperation, is actually a scaled-down model of the motors within the Lucid Air—and in Formula E, it’s one of many keys to serving to make the races extra thrilling this yr.
Lightyear, doubtless signaling a deep degree of economic misery, introduced that it has stopped manufacturing of the Lightyear 0 photo voltaic EV, as a result of monetary points. Instead it’s leaning ahead to the mass-production Lightyear 2, it says.
Cold-weather EV vary is usually a downside, however warmth pumps are a part of the treatment. Tesla lately detailed what distinguishes its unit from the remainder, and it goes as far as to assert that its design performs properly in very chilly climate the place others fall quick.
Tesla Model Y with warmth pump
Federal EV tax credit score guidelines afforded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) final yr now permit a credit score of as much as $7,500 to be claimed by corporations leasing EVs no matter any value cap. That’s already led to some government-subsidized luxurious EV leases that, controversially, will virtually definitely apply to some imported luxurious EVs, too.
GM is reportedly mulling the potential for cylindrical cells for future EVs. Although the report doesn’t counsel any all-out shift in format like what BMW signaled final yr, it might be a shocking flip for an organization that’s mentioned it should attain economies of scale through the use of large-format pouch cells, from a three way partnership with LG now backed by federal funds, throughout its lineup.
Comparing 4680 vs. 2170 – Panasonic
Ford has filed a patent for a brand new kind of magnetic-coupling EV charging connector. It’s not inductive charging, although; it makes use of magnets to assist align and safe bodily conductors. Sound a bit just like the MagSafe connector you would possibly use for Apple merchandise?
According to knowledge from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the rise of wind and photo voltaic in our nation’s power combine will choke off coal and pure gasoline—making EVs cleaner, even over the subsequent couple of years.
Uber is reportedly working with automakers to design EVs particularly for ride-hailing and supply companies. That might imply ones which are optimized for decrease speeds, to assist lower prices.
Arrival Car prototype
The inexperienced gentle has reportedly been given to a devoted Toyota EV platform—like Hyundai’s E-GMP—that would make mass-production EVs aggressive on value, vary, and effectivity. But it may not arrive till 2028, when it sees adequate demand.
And because of Treasury steering—or, extra precisely, the dearth thereof—that delays home sourcing necessities to March, a a lot wider swath of U.S.-market autos are actually eligible for the EV tax credit score. That and leasing loopholes seem to have led Senator Joe Manchin to introduce a invoice in search of to delay the EV tax credit till the enacted guidelines could be adopted.
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