Author: Green Car Online News

Toyota and Panasonic to jointly make electric-car batteries, explore solid-state tech

Panasonic Li-Ion EV battery
Toyota has been a laggard in the race to transition to electric cars. The company was an early leader in fuel-efficient hybrids, but has since focused on developing fuel-cell vehicles, and executives have expressed skepticism about electric cars and lithium-ion batteries.

Now in an effort to accelerate its move to electric cars, the company may be pairing up with the largest manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells in the world for electric cars, Panasonic. Panasonic also supplies batteries for Tesla, built at the giant Nevada Gigafactory that the two jointly own.

CHECK OUT: Lithium-ion vs. nickel-metal hydride: Toyota still likes both for its hybrids

The Nikkei Asian Review reported Sunday that the two companies plan to set up a joint battery manufacturing plant in 2020 to produce batteries for more than 5.5 million electric cars. Reuters followed with another report of the venture, citing a source of its own.

Under the venture as it's been reported so far, Toyota will own 51 percent of the factory, and Panasonic will own the rest. Batteries produced at the factory will supply not only Toyota but also companies that have signed on as partners with Toyota to develop electric cars. These include Mazda and Subaru.

Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota and Kazuhiro Tsuga, President, Panasonic

Honda also sources electric-car batteries from Panasonic, and Nikkei reports that the companies hope that they can also sell the new batteries to Honda.

READ THIS: Panasonic says solid-state batteries are still 10 years off

Toyota and Panasonic will also reportedly work together to develop next-generation solid-state lithium-ion batteries, which are expected to provide increased range with less weight and cost for electric cars. They could also be less flammable to improve safety.

Toyota has been working to find other chemistries that would be useful for electric cars. It announced in 2017 that it plans to put solid-state battery tech into a production vehicle in the early part of the next decade.

DON'T MISS: VW is planning to build 15 million electric vehicles

The two companies signed an agreement in 2017 to explore the tie-up that Nikkei reported this week.

Toyota has set a goal to sell 5.5 million electric cars by 2030. That still lags behind Volkswagen, the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota. Volkswagen has announced plans to build 10 million vehicles a year by 2027.

More about Byton, tamer BMW electrics, Toyota batteries, more chargers: Today’s Car News

Byton M-Byte concept
BMW says it plans to make its electric cars look more mainstream to move beyond sales to early adopters. Toyota and Panasonic could be teaming up to produce electric-car batteries and solid-state technology. And Maryland approves plans for 5,000 electric-car chargers to attract more electric cars to the East Coast. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

The three electric cars that Byton is developing are designed more to appeal more to passengers than drivers, the brand's chief engineer told Green Car Reports. Other than their 48-inch cross-dash screen and advanced interface, they'll take advantage of off-the-shelf EV parts from top suppliers.

BMW says its upcoming electric cars won't stand out as much, with more conventionally attractive styling to appeal to more mainstream buyers.

Toyota might be teamed up with Tesla-supplier Panasonic to develop and build new batteries for electric cars, as the world's largest automaker begins its transition to electric cars.

In an effort to attract more electric cars, Maryland has approved a plan for the state's utilities to install 5,000 new electric-car chargers, including Level 2 chargers and Level 3 DC fast chargers along highways.

Google Maps has announced that the software will now display speed-limit information in Android Auto to help drivers keep track between signs as they use the system's navigation function.

Finally, after setting a world's record climbing Pike's Peak, Volkswagen plans to take its electric ID R race car to the famous German Nürburgring race track to challenge the lap record there.

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Tesla layoffs, US-built VW electric car, an electrified Detroit: The Week in Reverse

Cadillac electric crossover SUV based on GM BEV3 modular platform
Which Chinese automaker showed an electric minivan in Detroit?

What upcoming SUV will underpin a new “elegant” electric from Lincoln?

This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending January 18, 2019.

Last week, the CES show in Las Vegas was something of a disappointment for visitors looking for the latest in electric and self-driving car technology. The Detroit auto show, long a staple of big horsepower and heavy iron, provided the jolt for electric car fans that CES lacked, with several new-car introductions.

2020 Ford Explorer, 2019 Detroit auto show

Ford showed a hybrid version of its redesigned, top-selling Explorer for 2020. Following the show, the company revealed that it is working on an all-electric version of its top-selling F-Series pickup.

Cadillac gave a glimpse of its upcoming electric SUV for 2022 about which it revealed details in an investor conference last week.

GAC Entranze concept, 2019 Detroit auto show

Chinese automaker GAC revealed a new electric minivan concept that it says could be one of the first cars from a Chinese automaker to arrive in the U.S. in 2020.

Nissan revealed a new high-riding luxo-sedan concept, the IMs. It shares some details with last year's IMx concept, an electric crossover SUV expected to arrive in production form next year.

Infiniti QX Inspiration SUV concept, 2019 Detroit auto show

The company's luxury brand, Infiniti, also introduced a new electric concept, the QX Inspiration, that previews a new sporty crossover SUV due to arrive as part of the brand's electric transformation.

And Nissan discussed how it might position its new e-Power series hybrid system that's likely to also drive Infinitis in the U.S.

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric

In the North American car, truck, and SUV awards announced at the show the Hyundai Kona, including the Kona Electric, defeated the Jaguar I-Pace for the utility vehicle of the year award.

More automakers than usual made news at industry conferences immediately following the show, including Volkswagen, which announced that it will expand its factory in Tennessee to build electric cars for the U.S. and will partner with Ford to build light pickups and vans for overseas markets, in a deal that is expected eventually to encompass shared electric cars.

Volkswagen charging at VW Elli charging station

Separately, Volkswagen also announced that it will follow Tesla into the power business, with a new lineup of products and services. The effort is called Elli and it will sell electric-car chargers, manage renewable energy, and more, aimed at electric car customers.

Lincoln revealed that it will adapt a version of Ford's upcoming high-performance electric SUV into an “elegant” electric crossover vehicle.

Comments from General Motors President Mark Reuss suggested that the company is not planning any new hybrids to replace the Chevrolet Volt when it ends production in April, even though it is one of the best-selling plug-in cars in America.

2020 Hyundai Ioniq [2020 Euro-spec model]

Detroit also wasn't the only place where new cars were revealed this week. Hyundai showed a refreshed version of its Prius-fighting Ioniq lineup in Europe.

And we brought you a roundup of details about how Audi and Mercedes-Benz have smaller electric SUVs in the works to follow their upcoming mid-size offerings.

No week seems complete without news from Tesla, the EPA, or Faraday Future, either. Tesla announced it will lay off 7 percent of its workforce, about 3,200 people, even as it continues to try to build more Model 3s. The company also began selling a new portable charger that will deliver 40 amps at 240-volts.

NEVS 9-3 concept, 2017 CES Asia

After burying the hatchet with Faraday Future, the startup automaker's lead investor announced that it will invest in the Chinese company building electric conversions of the last Saab 9-3 in China.

Finally, as EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler headed to Capitol Hill in the midst of the government shutdown for confirmation hearings as the agency's permanent head, Colorado poked the bear with its announcement that it plans to join California in requiring automakers to sell electric cars there.

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More cars, fewer workers in Tesla’s latest layoffs

2017 Tesla Model 3, in photo tweeted by Elon Musk on July 9, 2017
Tesla, it seems, is not out of the woods yet, despite selling almost 250,000 electric cars last year.

Even as the company continues to try to ramp up production of its most popular and affordable Model 3, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Thursday evening that the company will lay off another 7 percent of its full-time employees. “We grew by 30 percent last year, which is more than we can support,” he said.

The layoffs are expected to hit about 3,200 workers. In a public letter to employees, Musk also said the company will only keep the most critical temps and contractors.

DON'T MISS: Leading the way: Tesla trounces luxury competitors in year-end sales tally

The move comes after Tesla laid off 9 percent of its workforce last June even as it scrambled to reach Musk's long-standing production target of 5,000 Model 3s a week.

While Tesla has begun cranking out enough Model 3s to overtake most other luxury automakers, it still hasn't reached the magic 5,000-cars-per-week number over time. In the fourth quarter, Tesla built about 4,700 Model 3s per week—and that's of course including a new line assembled last year in a tent in the factory parking lot.

Tesla Model 3 all-wheel drive Performance rolls off a new assembly line in a temporary structure

Musk has said the company needs to reach a volume of 5,000 Model 3s per week for five to six months before it can afford to sell the base, $35,000 version of the car, which may have a shorter-range battery pack, no Autopilot, no glass roof, no power seats, and a non-leather interior.

The company originally had a waiting list of over 400,000 depositors who planned to buy the Model 3. After selling almost 146,000 in 2018, many of those depositors have not yet submitted an order for the car, indicating that they may be waiting for a cheaper version.

Tesla met them halfway in November with the introduction of a Mid Range model with an estimated 264-mile range that sells for $45,200 to start.

CHECK OUT: Tesla reports profit, explains $46k Model 3 Mid Range model, hints about leasing

Federal plug-in vehicle tax credits for Tesla buyers have also begin to wind down after Tesla sold its 200,000th car last July. Through June, U.S. buyers will be eligible for a $3,750 tax credit; later in 2019, it will drop to $1,875. Tesla cut prices across the board by $2,000 to make up for the $3,750 drop in the tax credit.

Next month, it plans to begin selling the Model 3 in Europe to make up for an expected sales drop in the U.S.

READ MORE: Tesla eliminates 9 percent of its workforce, cutting costs

In announcing the layoffs, Musk acknowledged that the company will have to continue to ramp up Model 3 production. “Tesla will need to make these cuts while increasing the Model 3 production rate and making many manufacturing engineering improvements in the coming months,” he said in the letter announcing the layoffs. “Higher volume and manufacturing design improvements are crucial for Tesla to achieve the economies of scale required to manufacture the standard range (220 mile), standard interior Model 3 at $35,000 and still be a viable company.”

Following the layoffs and restructuring last June, Musk set an even higher target for Model 3 production of 6,000 cars a week for the company to remain profitable.

In the same letter, Musk said he expects the company to eke out a smaller profit in Q4 than it did in Q3. That could be because the company had a large debt payment come due in November, and is facing more debt payments in the coming year.

Smaller electric SUVs coming from Audi, Mercedes-Benz

2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC
German luxury automakers Audi and Mercedes-Benz plan to be in the vanguard in launching new electric SUVs in 2019.

For the U.S, the long-awaited Audi e-tron quattro is slated to roll out by June, while the Mercedes-Benz EQC is planned to go on sale in early 2020.

Under intense sales pressure from Tesla, the stalwart German brands are not resting on their laurels.

READ MORE: Volkswagen details the foundation for 10 million electric vehicles

Both brands are planning to introduce smaller electric SUVs that could both end up at the Geneva auto show in March.

Mercedes is developing a smaller SUV based on an updated version of its B-class hatchback architecture. Called the EQB, the smaller electric model is expected to compete directly with the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Lexus NX, according to a report in Autocar U.K..

CHECK OUT: It's a long(er) story? 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC scraps 200-mile range estimate

The EQB will be based on the new GLB SUV, which will include gas and plug-in hybrid models as well as the electric EQB.

It will be slightly larger than Mercedes' existing GLA SUV, as well as somewhat larger than the B-Class Electric Drive (or B250e) that was sold through 2017. The report says the car will have a range of up to 310 miles from a 60-kilowatt-hour battery.

DON'T MISS: Electric cars from Audi, Porsche: Explaining platform magic

The plug-in hybrid version is expected to have an electric range of 62 miles, backed up by a 2.0-liter gas engine driving the front wheels. The drive system will use an electric motor housed with the transmission to provide clean power to the front axle, and an electric motor on the rear axle to provide all-wheel drive.

In late 2020, Audi is planning to introduce an electric crossover that's a size smaller than the e-tron quattro, to compete with Tesla's upcoming Model Y small SUV. It's expected, based on various hints from the automaker's executives, to appear at the Geneva auto show and be one of the most “premium” vehicles based on Volkswagen's MEB modular electric-vehicle platform.

Tesla layoffs, Hyundai Ioniq updates, Mercedes-Audi SUVs: Today’s Car News

Tesla Model 3 all-wheel drive Performance rolls off a new assembly line in a temporary structure
The Hyundai Ioniq hybrid and plug-in hybrid Prius-fighters are already set for a refresh. Mercedes-Benz and Audi are working on smaller electric SUVs. And Colorado took the first step to require electric cars to come to the state. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

Even amid sales of almost 150,000 vehicles in 2018, Tesla will lay off about 3,200 workers in an effort to maintain profitability, CEO Elon Musk announced in an open letter to employees Thursday evening. The move comes despite continued efforts to boost production of the Model 3.

Hyundai is bringing a wide range of updates to its Ioniq hybrid and electric lineup earlier than expected, including a bigger center screen and soon, potentially, a bigger battery.

Audi and Mercedes-Benz are already working on smaller follow-up models to their upcoming mid-sized electric SUVs. The new and potentially more affordable electric luxury SUVs could appear at the upcoming Geneva auto show, in March.

Colorado's new governor took the first steps to bring the mid-American state into the ranks of those that require electric cars to be sold there, following California and other coastal states.

Four more Audi executives in Germany were indicted in the United States on charges stemming from parent-company Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal. The four are unlikely to face trial, however, since Germany does not extradite its citizens,

Finally, Michigan became the fifth state to allow new-technology digital license plates on its roads. The plates, which can display ads when a car is parked and automatically renew their registration without a trip to the DMV, were legalized in California, Arizona, Florida, and Texas last year.

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Ford confirms future all-electric F-Series truck, holds details close

2019 Ford F-150
All-electric isn't just for cars anymore.

Ford Group Vice President for Marketing and Sales Jim Farley confirmed that the company will build an all-electric version of its top-selling F-Series pickup. “We're going to be electrifying the F-Series—battery electric and hybrid,” he said at a presentation at the Deutsche Bank Global Automotive Conference in Detroit on Wednesday, according to a report in the Detroit Free Press.

The company is racing announcements from Tesla and Michigan-based startup automaker Rivian, which are each expected to introduce their own electric pickups in 2021. Rivian showed its R1T to the public at the LA auto show in November. Tesla has not yet revealed even a concept of its promised pickup.

DON'T MISS: Ford to electrify most SUVs, promises to pass Toyota in hybrids

Ford Chairman Bill Ford alluded to an electric F-Series possibility months ago. In a statement last September, he said, “When it comes to building the best trucks in the world, we never rest. Whether they're gas, diesel, hybrid—or when the time comes fully-electric—we will ensure they power the world in a sustainable way.” It now looks like that time may be coming closer.

This is the first time that a Ford executive has confirmed in front of a large group of financial analysts representing Ford's investors that the company plans to build a fully electric version of the truck.

As the best-selling individual vehicle in America, racking up more than 909,000 sales in 2018, no vehicle could do more than the F-Series to usher electric cars from sales to early adopters into the garages of mainstream buyers, especially if it arrives in the highest-volume half-ton model, the F-150.

The company did not reveal timing for the electric truck. “We are constantly looking at new ways to better serve our truck customers, from materials to features, to propulsion systems,” said company spokesman Mike Levine. “We are not specifying timing. We don't have any other details to share at this time.”

CHECK OUT: Ford F-150 Hybrid Pickup Truck By 2020 Reconfirmed, But Diesel Too? (2015)

One of the vehicle's chief rivals, however, the Rivian R1T, is expected to debut with up to 400 miles of range, fast charging capability at 160 kilowatts—and a $70,000 price tag. To sell in significant numbers, an electric F-Series would have to be competitive with those specs.

Ford is also planning to build a 300-mile off-road-capable electric crossover SUV in 2020, but it has revealed few other details about that vehicle either.

While the timing and other details remain to be answered about an all-electric F-Series, there's one electrified F-150 that's better-defined at this point: the F-150 Hybrid. Ford confirmed last year that it will also build a hybrid version of the F-150 in 2020 with a power take-off to run tools or camping equipment. Look for more details about that one soon.

Tesla unplugs its latest home wall charger

Tesla plug-in Wall Connector with NEMA 14-50 plug
Tesla owners can now take their chargers with them.

After six years of selling High-Power Wall Connectors that buyers had to have hard-wired into their homes, Tesla is finally catching up with aftermarket suppliers of home charging stations by offering models with plugs that can be plugged into the wall.

This simplifies installation, whether owners need to have an electrician install an appropriate 230-volt garage outlet or whether they already have one.

READ MORE: eMotorWerks lays groundwork for vehicle-to-grid charging

The new charger can deliver up to 40 amps, or 9.6 kilowatts, for all Model S, Model X and Long Range Model 3s. Mid Range Model 3s and planned Standard Range cars will only charge at 32 amps, or 7.6 kw.

That should be enough to replenish up to about 40 miles per hour of charging on long-range cars. That's notably slower than Tesla's standard Wall Connector, which can operate at up to 80 amps if the house they're connected to has enough juice to support that.

eMotorWerks JuiceBox wall mount charging Tesla Model X

The Tesla charger uses a four-pin NEMA 14-50 wall plug, similar to other 40-amp EVSE wall chargers.

The advantage is that drivers can pull the charger off the wall and take it with them for faster charging on trips—as long as they're staying someplace that has the requisite 14-50 wall plug. Such plugs are commonly used for electric ranges and shore power for large recreational vehicles. More practically, it also makes it easier to take the charger along when owners move, rather than start over with a new setup.

DON'T MISS: Report: Home electric-car chargers vulnerable to hackers

Electrical code in most jurisdictions in the U.S. requires outdoor charging stations to be hard-wired, so the new plug-in wall connector can only be used inside a garage.

Teslas also come with a portable 110-volt charge-cord, which can plug into any outlet, but can take days to fully charge a Tesla's big battery. Tesla is marketing its new Wall Connector With 14-50 Plug as an alternative to the standard 110-volt charge-cord set. It sells for $500, the same as the hard-wired wall connector.

Ford Mustang–inspired electric crossover will spawn “elegant” Lincoln EV

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2019 Lincoln Nautilus, 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show
Ford’s Lincoln luxury brand is going to get a roomy, “elegant” electric model within the next few years, according to Ford’s North American president, Kumar Galhotra, who disclosed the product plan during an Automotive News World Congress presentation this week.

The Lincoln electric vehicle, which Galhotra didn’t say is a sedan or crossover, will be based closely on the Ford-brand crossover that’s being developed on an accelerated time frame around a focused ‘Team Edison’ product group in Detroit.

DON’T MISS: Long-range Cadillac SUV to lead GM's next electric-car push, in 3 years

For that project, Ford is targeting a range in the vicinity of 300 miles, off-road ability, and performance inspired by the Ford Mustang—specifically its higher-performance variants like the Mach 1, a nameplate that has been been floated for the vehicle or a version of it, but has now been rejected.

Keeping to cost targets has reportedly been an emphasis; on the Ford side this model is expected to cost less than $50,000.

“It's not so much if we're going to be aggressive or not,” said Galhotra, according to Automotive News. The emphasis of the Lincoln version will be “understated, quiet luxury.”

CHECK OUT: VW, Ford plan to cooperate on electric cars; they just won't say how

It sounds quite different than the strategy announced by General Motors this past week. GM revealed plans to make Cadillac its lead brand for electric vehicles, with a fully electric crossover on the way within three years. Models for GM's more cost-conscious brands might continue to be on other platforms.

2020 Ford electric SUV teaser

The Ford SUV is expected to arrive in mid-2020. If the Lincoln were to follow, building on some of the development of the Ford, it could arrive as soon as 2021—potentially ahead of the Cadillac EV.

READ MORE: 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid signals the start of a big electrified push

Ford’s Lincoln brand has been through several abrupt changes in design direction—and a change to a lettered naming strategy and back—just since the start of the century. But those changes arguably didn’t make a significant difference in how tech-savvy shoppers see the brand. A fully electric model that performs as well as a Tesla but offers a more lavish, traditional luxury vehicle interior could provide the brand with a much-needed pivot-point.

2020 Lincoln Aviator

Lincoln also needs a fully electric model in order to have some offerings for those who shop for sustainability with their luxury. While the Aviator will have a plug-in hybrid variant, none of the other Lincoln models are shaping up to be that energy-efficient.

Let’s hope by then that people even think to look to Lincoln for an electric vehicle.

Electric Ford F-Series, Lincoln crossover, Tesla charger, Chinese minivan: Today’s Car News

2018 Ford F-150
Ford plans to build an all-electric F-series truck. Lincoln's making electric “elegant.” Tesla has released a new portable Level 2 home charger. And Chinese automaker GAC showed a U.S.-designed concept at the Detroit auto show. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

At a meeting with investors following the Detroit auto show Ford Global Vice President for Marketing and Sales Jim Farley said, “We're going to electrify the F-Series,” specifying, “battery electric and hybrid,” in a presentation to investors.

The company's Lincoln luxury division, meanwhile, announced that it plans to build its own more “elegant” version of Ford's upcoming high-performance 300-mile electric SUV—the one Ford says it may no longer call the Mach 1 in deference to classic Mustang enthusiasts. If Lincoln is already working on its luxury version, it would arrive as soon as a year after the Ford.

Tesla released a new portable home wall charger that's half as fast as its hard-wired chargers but can easily be unplugged from the wall to bring along on trips or move to a new location.

At the Detroit auto show, Chinese automaker GAC showed an electric minivan that could be the first car it imports to the U.S. in 2020. The company is already working on setting up its own dealer network.

Fans of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid may be interested to see spy shots of the redesigned Highlander expected to go on sale later this year as a 2020 model.

Finally, several automakers are rolling out payment relief programs for federal works who are furloughed or working without pay.

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