Musk Promises (Again) To Open Up Superchargers For All | 22 July 2021

Episode 1151,   Jul 22, 2021, 02:37 PM

Today’s big EV stories:
• New 2021 Kia EV6 boasts up to 328 miles of range
• Tesla plans to open its charging network to other EVs later this year
• 2022 Tesla Model Y begins RHD production
• Stellantis has 5 years to absorb 40% EV cost hike
• Lucid Motors plans to launch in Germany in 2022
• 41 percent of consumers say their next car will be electric
• Tennessee to add electric car charging in state parks
• Aston Martin DB11 and Vantage replacements will be ELECTRIC

Show #1151.

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Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Thursday 22nd July. It’s  Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.

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NEW 2021 KIA EV6 BOASTS UP TO 328 MILES OF RANGE

- Kia has confirmed more specifications for its new EV6 electric crossover, with the bespoke electric car to offer a maximum of up to 328 miles of range from a full charge. Kia EV6 prices start from £40,895, with first deliveries expected to arrive in October, while the range will consist of three trim levels of two drivetrains. Every UK model also comes as standard with the company’s long-range 77.4kWh battery, rather than the entry-level 58kWh unit offered in other markets.

- Thanks to the new E-GMP underpinnings, which features the latest 800-volt electrical architecture, the EV6 can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes, while maximum DC rapid charging capability stands at 239kW. As a world first, the EV6 also has the capability to transform a power feed from a more common 400-volt rapid charger to 800 volts thanks to a clever motor and inverter set-up, allowing the EV6 to charge at its maximum capacity.

- To help boost range the EV6 features six different regenerative braking settings. This includes completely off, modes 1 to 3, ‘i-Pedal’ – which allows maximum energy harvesting and brings the car to a stop without touching the brakes, allowing one-pedal driving – and an auto setting.

- The Kia EV6’s wheelbase is 2,900mm long despite the EV6’s relatively compact dimensions, pushing the wheels close to the model’s extremities to maximise space inside.

- Boot space stands at 520 litres, rising to 1,300 litres with the rear seats folded down. There are also an additional 52 litres of storage space at the front in rear-drive models

- Kia claims that with more than 35 percent charge left in the battery, the EV6 can also tow loads weighing up to 1,600kg, which is strong for an electric car.


Matthias Schmidt on Twitter:
- .@Daimler unveils details from its CO2 compliance busting new Mercedes S-Class PHEV.
EV only range ~100km
leading to lower BiK tax rate (just 7% pa in UK compared to ~37% for ICE)
CO2 average of 22-14g/km (WLTP) with a curb weight of ~2.4t 
= CO2 compliance golden ticket


TESLA PLANS TO OPEN ITS CHARGING NETWORK TO OTHER EVS LATER THIS YEAR

- Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) plans to open its network of superchargers to other electric vehicles later this year, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said on Twitter.The electric-car maker's fast charging network, with over 25,000 superchargers globally, has given it a competitive edge. Meanwhile, other carmakers have formed alliances or invested in startups for networks as they rush new electric vehicle entrants to market.

- "We're making our Supercharger network open to other EVs later this year,"

- Germany's transport minister said last month he was trying to convince Tesla to open its charging network to other carmakers to make it easier for drivers of electric vehicles to charge.

- President Joe Biden's administration late last month embraced a bipartisan Senate deal to spend $1.2 trillion on infrastructure projects, including $7.5 billion on electric vehicle infrastructure, including charging stations.


ELON MUSK: TESLA TO OPEN UP GLOBAL CHARGING NETWORK TO OTHER EVS LATER THIS YEAR

- Until now, there have never been any details about how or when the company would open up its Supercharger network of 25,000 chargers. Details are still slim. For instance, it’s unclear where it would initially open up, which automakers have reached agreements with Tesla and whether Tesla owners would get priority. However, Musk did finally attach a timeline of sorts by noting this would kick off before the end of 2021.

- Way back in 2014, Musk said he’d be willing to open up the designs in order to build a standard that can be used interchangeably across the industry.

- Tesla has its own connector, which means automakers would have to provide or sell an adapter to owners of its EVs to access the Supercharger network. It’s a different story in Europe. Tesla uses the CCS direct current connector in Europe, making this the most likely region for Tesla to open up first.


2022 TESLA MODEL Y BEGINS RHD PRODUCTION

- Tesla has commenced right-hand drive production of the 2022 Model Y, with initial examples destined for Hong Kong.
The Model Y – which is currently produced in the United States and China – will be sourced from the company’s Shanghai plant for the Hong Kong market, where it went on sale earlier in July ahead of planned deliveries in September.  With the heavily-related Model 3 now manufactured in China for the Australian market, it is likely versions of the electric SUV destined for Australia will also be sourced from China.


TESLA LOWERS THE PRICE OF ITS 'FULL SELF-DRIVING' COMPUTER UPGRADE

- After criticism from owners, Tesla has reduced the price of a computer update required for its new "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) feature, Electrek has reported. The hardware HW 3.0 update will now cost $1,000 rather than $1,500, a 33 percent drop in price. To get the feature, owners will have to pay a monthly subscription fee of up to $199 on top of that, or $10,000 all in one shot.

- Tesla famously said in 2016 that all its EVs produced going forward would have full self-driving hardware


STELLANTIS HAS 5 YEARS TO ABSORB 40% EV COST HIKE

- The maker of Jeep and Ram has five years to absorb the roughly 40% increase in costs that electrified vehicles represent before Stellantis NV could face restructuring and job cuts, CEO Carlos Tavares said Wednesday.

- It requires billions of dollars in capital investment and new talent: Stellantis said earlier this month it will spend about $35.5 billion by 2025 on electrification.

- Tavares didn't provide a figure for where the automaker stands on achieving the $5.9 billion in annual cost savings it projected from the merger. He, however, did say the company is ahead of its plans and could perhaps increase its expected cost savings in 2022.

- In China, it also has signed a deal with an unnamed partner to manufacture vehicles. Stellantis on Tuesday also validated an investment for solid state batteries, which it says will come to market in 2026, with an unnamed supplier.


LUCID MOTORS PLANS TO LAUNCH IN GERMANY IN 2022

- Lucid Motors plans to begin delivering its cars in Germany next year, as the new Country Manager Roberto Russo, confirmed to electrive. Also in 2022, the Air sedan is to arrive in other European countries too.

- Russo himself had announced on LinkedIn that he would become Lucid Motors’ Country Manager Germany with immediate effect.

- Russo, an e-mobility specialist, did not yet want to confirm exactly which versions of the Air will be offered in Europe. In 2012, he joined Tesla as sales manager for the European launch of the Model S


41 PERCENT OF CONSUMERS SAY THEIR NEXT CAR WILL BE ELECTRIC

- According to a new survey conducted by EY, 41 percent of consumers planning to buy a car say their next vehicle will be a plug-in. And they're mainly making that decision because of the environmental impact.

- EY surveyed 9,000 consumers across 13 countries

- The last time the firm conducted this survey, in September 2020, just 30 percent said their next car would be either a battery EV or plug-in hybrid EV.

- . In China, for example, 48 percent say their next car will be an EV, and only 43 percent say it will have an internal combustion engine

- In South Korea, 51 percent indicate that an EV will be their next vehicle. In Singapore, 53 percent want an EV, and in Italy, a whopping 63 percent said their next vehicle would be a plug-in.


TENNESSEE TO ADD ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING IN STATE PARKS

- Tennessee officials say they are partnering on an initiative to add electric vehicle charging stations at state parks.

- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation says it will team up with electric vehicle automaker and automotive technology company Rivian on the project that seeks to add charging stations at all 56 state parks.

- Charging will initially be free for drivers. Any future costs for drivers will depend on systemwide use to recover electricity costs.


ASTON MARTIN DB11 AND VANTAGE REPLACEMENTS WILL BE ELECTRIC

QUESTION OF THE WEEK WITH EMOBILITYNORWAY.COM

With chargers still being rolled out, should they automatically stop charging (and should the car release the cable) at 80%?

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