23 Feb 2020 | ‘Tesla Killers’ Aren’t Killing Tesla

Episode 706,   Feb 25, 2020, 11:16 PM

‘Tesla Killers’ Aren’t Killing Tesla | Mattel Tesla Cybertruck | Musk Addresses Environmental Concerns As Forest Clearance For New Gigafactory Site Resumes | Audi E-Tron S Sportback Prototype Review: Dawn Of E-Quattro | Seat To Produce Hybrid Cupra Leon

Show #706

 

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Sunday 23rd February 2020. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story to save you time.

 

Thank you to MYEV.com for helping make this show, they’ve built the first marketplace specifically for Electric Vehicles. It’s a totally free marketplace that simplifies the buying and selling process, and help you learn about EVs along the way too.

 

From Pete Glass: Shell is converting a whole petrol station at the bottom end of Fulham Road to an all-EV charge stn. - quite a big site from satellite view. It's not the Fulham Palace Rd one.

 

Welcome to a new PRODUCER BOB RIEDLINGER

 

From RAJ BADWAL - I hope you and your family are well 😀 especially your baby. Very happy for you. I'm lucky enough to be the father of 2 amazing boys, ROHAN (age 4) and Myran (age 1).

 

Welcome to new Patreon PRODUCER STEVE HARPER

 

‘TESLA KILLERS’ AREN’T KILLING TESLA

"In the United States, the market seems to belong almost entirely to Tesla. The California carmaker’s Model 3 midsize sedan far outstripped sales of any other competitor in 2019. The next best-selling model that year was the Chevrolet Bolt, which sold a mere 16,000." says CNBC: "A slew of new models are scheduled for release starting in early 2020, and many are starting to offer specs competitive with what buyers can find on Tesla models. For example, Ford’s Mach-E Mustang electric crossover promises 300 miles of range in one configuration, close to the 322 miles on the long range version of the Model 3 sedan."

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/21/tesla-killers-arent-killing-tesla-at-all.html

 

Meanwhile from Electrek: "The Model 3 sold more than twice as many cars as all other manufacturers’ EVs combined. This made the Tesla Model 3 the third best-selling car overall in the state behind the Civic and Camry. This result is a move up from fifth place last year. With all three models combined, Tesla gained a whopping 72.8% of the all-electric vehicle market in California."

 

https://electrek.co/2020/02/23/tesla-model-3-outsold-other-evs-california-2019-combined/

 

MATTEL TESLA CYBERTRUCK

"Mattel announced yesterday it will offer radio-controlled models of the Tesla Cybertruck — one in 1/10 scale and another in 1/64 scale. Today on its website it says the larger version, which retails for $400, is sold out." writes CleanTechnica: " Tesla worked closely with Mattel to make the models as accurate as possible. How realistic is the Mattel offering? Well, it comes with a reusable “cracked window” vinyl sticker for the side window that shattered during the reveal last November. The company says the body can be removed to show the “interior and access [the] internal battery and drivetrain system.”"

 

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/02/22/mattel-tesla-cybertruck-model-comes-complete-with-broken-window-decal-sold-out-immediately

 

MUSK ADDRESSES ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AS FOREST CLEARANCE FOR NEW GIGAFACTORY SITE RESUMES

"Tesla's plans for a German Gigafactory are back on track following a court's decision to permit work to clear trees at the proposed site to continue." says ZDNet.com: "Planning permission is yet to be granted and so Tesla is clearing the site at its own financial risk.  Green League Brandenburg filed a complaint, raising concerns that felling the forest could impact water sources as well as local wildlife populations.  However, it seems that the German courts do not agree. As reported by Bloomberg, the appeals court has now ruled work can resume"

 

https://www.zdnet.com/article/elon-musk-attempts-to-calm-environmental-worries-over-new-german-gigafactory-site

 

AUDI E-TRON S SPORTBACK PROTOTYPE (2020) REVIEW: DAWN OF E-QUATTRO

"Forty years since the debut of Quattro all-wheel drive, Audi is gearing both Quattro and its high-performance S brand up for the era of high-performance electrification. It’s doing so with a new twin e-motor system on the rear axle, and a single motor on the front." according to Ben Barry for Car magazine: "Audi says the more powerful e-Tron S will be the first mass market vehicle to feature twin electric motors on the rear axle when it goes on sale later this year.

 

The benefit isn’t only 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds, but a more rear-biased driving experience. All told, that gives 496bhp and 717lb ft available in ‘boost’ mode for periods of eight seconds, but even if you can keep your foot pinned for more than eight seconds to deplete boost mode, there’s still an extremely healthy 429bhp. All the motors and the software are designed in-house by Audi." Price, TBC. Battery, TBC. On sale: TBC.

 

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/audi/e-tron-s/

 

SEAT TO PRODUCE HYBRID CUPRA LEON

"The Seat brand Cupra has presented its first model with plug-in hybrid drive. The Cupra Leon eHybrid will be launched this year as a five-door model and as a station wagon version with the addition of a Sport Tourer. The technology comes from the VW Golf 8 eHybrid GTE." reports Electrive: "In the Golf 8 the two variants are marketed as eHybrid and eHybrid GTE. However, Škoda and Seat are offering their Octavia and Leon models only with the 150 kW PHEV. The Czechs market the 180-kW drive as the particularly dynamic Octavia RS iV, while Seat recently founded the entire Cupra sub-brand for its sports models, bringing the Leon with the 180-kW PHEV under this brand."

 

https://www.electrive.com/2020/02/21/seat-to-produce-hybrid-cupra-leon/

 

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWERS

 

ALEX BANHENE

As you know I have only Zoe but I have paid for map updates on it. This to me is a perfectly normal transaction and one I was happy to do.

In my Opinion these items either need to be linked to your account and maybe even based on the subscription model all they need to be permanent additions to the car.

Because of that I would rather lease than buy a Tesla because at least I’d know where I’d be.

 

PETE LAWRENCE

As far as adding extra features via the app I would be happy with as long as it stays. By that I mean when I come to sell it 2nd hand I can sell it with the additional features I have purchased and not removed.  Not sure what the law is on your purchase rights but once you have bought it you normally own it. I can understand stopping features under health and safety for the eco system you are in like Tesla superchargers if there is a risk to their system. But for no other reason.

 

STEVEN BROOKS

I think EV options should definitely be more modular based on customer requirements. You should be able to pay for what you want when you want. So if I want to pay during the winter months for heated seats but not in the summer, this should be possible.

 

PETER MOONEY

I think it’s a great ideal. It gives you the opportunity to upgrade your car at some point in the future and how amazing would it be for the secondhand market. Knowing the features only need to be unlocked makes the car much more desirable.

 

DOUG VOWLES

The acceptability of paid upgrades depends on the implied (or stated) nature of the original sale.  In the case of Tesla, part of the brand’s appeal is the constant free upgrades to operating/electric systems in the car.  If Tesla started charging for OTA updates, their user base (who do all their FREE marketing for them) would scream bloody blue murder. But FSD is outside of that understanding.  You want it, you pay for it.  Heated rear seats weren’t in the package you paid for? Now you can have them if you pay for them. Although I’m not buying them, I appreciate being able to. 

 

JOHN HARCOMBE

I am happy to have basic car and pay for extras I want.

As more and more vehicles leased or on PCP finance between 1-4 years, I would rather pay a lower monthly subscription/ lease cost than say 300 for one item

they should offer you both buy or lease options

 

 

NEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK

The MYEV.com Question Of The Week…

 

How to persuade your friends, family and colleagues to buy an EV?

 

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