Volkswagen Group (
VW) is planning to invest about €22.8 billion ($27.0 billion) throughout the world from 2018 to 2022 to support its emobility efforts. The primary focus will be on
Germany, which will account for investments totaling €14 billion ($17 billion) with a key initiative being the transformation of the
Zwickau plant into an emobility facility. In the first stage, VW will be concentrating on the series production of its future electric vehicles (EVs) based on its modular electric drive kit. In 2020, the
I.D., the first vehicle in the next generation of EVs will be launched.
(Source: Volkswagen)
Daimler is planning to invest 5 billion yuan ($755 million) in
China, jointly with its
BAIC Motor joint venture (JV) partner, for capacity to produce EVs and batteries. The JV aims to produce locally in China all-EVs under the '
EQ' brand by 2019. The first EQ vehicle expected to launch in China will be the '
EQC' battery-powered crossover sport utility vehicle.
(Source: Reuters)
Tesla has installed its
Powerpacks and connected them to the
Hornsdale Wind Farm in
South Australia -- ahead of its 100-day deadline. The battery will be energized shortly. The wind farm is located north of
Jamestown and is operated by
Neoen (
France-based).
(Source: CNBC)
Toyota Motor is planning to introduce EVs in
China and
India from 2020. The automaker will design its own EV for the Chinese market and is also considering selling vehicles developed by its local partners under its brand.
(Source: Bloomberg)
PPG
announced it has entered into a partnership with SiNode Systems to commercialize high-energy anode materials for battery applications in EVs. The 30-month project will enable the partners to rapidly develop and demonstrate anode materials that will store more energy than conventional lithium-ion battery materials.
(Source: PPG)
Volkswagen (
VW) has held discussions with producers and traders of cobalt at its headquarters. The purchase of the metal may not be as simple as initially perceived, as the automaker has since relaxed demands for offers at a discounted fixed price. VW is in "intensive talks" with producers of materials for EVs that also deal with transparency, compliance and sustainability in the commodities supply chain.
(Source: Bloomberg)
BMW is talking to suppliers of cobalt and other battery materials given the potential that stocks will run short and push already inflated prices higher. The sourcing of cobalt and other materials is "the most important" question the automaker has to address before it decides whether to produce its own battery cells, as it currently assembles battery cells.
(Source: Bloomberg)
At least four companies have publicly confirmed having placed preorders for
Tesla's electric truck (etruck).
J.B. Hunt Transportation Services,
Walmart,
Meijer and
Loblaw have each paid the $5,000-a-truck deposit price for the vehicles that will be available in 2019. Walmart preordered 15 of the Tesla
Semis, with five for its
U.S. operations and the other 10 for
Canada.
Loblaw has ordered 25 etrucks.
Ryder Systems is also planning to place an order for the vehicles.
(Source: Fleet Owner)
Volvo Cars
has signed a framework agreement with Uber to sell up to 24,000 autonomous driving compatible base vehicles between 2019 and 2021. The base vehicles are developed on Volvo's modular, in-house developed Scalable Product Architecture, which is currently used on its 90 series cars as well as on the XC60 midsize SUV. The non-exclusive agreement enhances the strategic partnership between Volvo Cars and Uber announced in August 2016
(Source: Volvo Cars)
Renault Samsung Motors unveiled its
SM3 Z.E. in
South Korea. The EV (which first appeared in 2013) has increased its range by 57% to 213 kilometres (132.3 miles) based on the Korean type approval cycle. The battery power has also been enhanced to 36 kilowatt-hours with no added increase in weight. The vehicle is capable of running for about 5 days on a single charge based on the average daily trip in South Korea of about 40 kilometres (24.8 miles) according to a
Korean Transportation Safety Authority report.
(Source: Renault Group)
Mahindra Electric has partnered with car rental firm
Zoomcar, wherein the former's twenty
e2oPlus vehicles will be deployed on the latter's platform. A larger financing arrangement between Zoomcar and Mahindra Finance will see the former obtain customised EV financing as well. Mahindra Electric is also offering fast charging services to Zoomcar's customers, with fast charging compatible vehicles.
(Source: Economic Times)
Rover Parking announced a partnership with
ChargeHub that allows an option for EV charging availability on its mobile app. The partnership provides users on both Rover and ChargeHub renting parking spaces the ability to provide and monetize for electric plug access.
(Source: Rover Parking and ChargeHub)
