Author: Green Car Online News

ID Light feature inside VW ID 3 electric car communicates without clutter

With its first ground-up electric effort, Volkswagen chose to produce a car that is conventionally practical while embracing the high-tech approach taken with many EVs. One of the ID 3's unique features is an intelligent LED-based communication system designed to deliver alerts and status updates in a simple, easily interpreted manner.

The system is inspired by the LEDs you find on smart home devices. It illuminates in different colors and patterns for different notifications, and reacts to voice prompts with directional animations to indicate whether it is listening to the driver or passenger for additional input.

The LED strip is integrated with just about every vehicle system, including navigation, driver assistance features, infotainment and even the powertrain.

While it may sound like something out of “Independence Day,” the interplay is far more innocuous—not to mention productive. Per VW, strategic lighting design in a car's interior can lend it additional character. Long-time VW fans surely remember the company's use of light blue gauge illumination as a long-standing interior signature.

“For all its innovativeness, ID. Light functions intuitively by using familiar colours. This use of light, makes the vehicle more ‘personable’ and is a very simple and intuitive way of communicating,” says VW UX designer Valentina Wilhelm.

Volkswagen included some of the basic animations in a feature overview released Wednesday. Entry and exit are accompanied by animations reminiscent of a television being turned on and off. Door locking is indicated by an inward red animation; unlocking goes the opposite direction and appears in green. An upcoming turn is indicated by a blue effect running in the desired direction, and an emergency braking indicator is a full-width flash of red. Other notifications modes include incoming telephone calls and battery charge status.

The ID 3 will launch in Europe next year, and while it might eventually be brought to Canada, no U.S. distribution is likely. The first vehicle member of the ID family, a model to be called ID 4 (or ID 4X), hasn't yet been detailed, but look for ID models to share some common interface traits—and this might very well be one of them.

Volvo and Geely merging development for engines, still needed in hybrids

Volvo will offload its development of internal combustion engines to a new joint project with parent company Geely, the two companies announced Monday, allowing Volvo's in-house propulsion engineers to concentrate exclusively on electric powertrains.

While Volvo says it believes ICEs are here to stay for the foreseeable future, it is in the early stages of phasing out cars powered exclusively by fossil fuels. Hybrids will remain a part of Volvo's lineup, which means ICE development is still critical to the company's product plans, but that work doesn't necessarily need to be done by Volvo's engineers.

By the middle of the next decade, Volvo expects half its global sales to be EVs and the other half hybrids, the announcement said, and those hybrid engines will be supplied by the new joint operation. Both companies have already begun to spin off their ICE programs from their core operations in preparation for the merger, the announcement said.

This new business will bring roughly 3,000 employees from the Volvo side and 6,000 from Geely, the two automakers anticipate. Neither company plans to cut overall employment figures at all.

“Hybrid cars need the best internal combustion engines. This new unit will have the resources, scale and expertise to develop these powertrains cost efficiently,” said Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson, in the announcement.

Volvo's electrification push is well underway. The company already offers several plug-in hybrid models (though not all are sold in the United States just yet) and its first dedicated EV model, based on the new XC40 crossover, will make its formal debut later this month.

Geely is also pursuing electric cars; the company announced its first BEV for global distribution, the GE11 fastback, earlier in 2019.

The most powerful DC charging station in Europe (for cars) can deliver 400 kw

The energy company Repsol has opened what it says is the most powerful electric-vehicle charging station in Europe—and it happens to be in Spain, a part of Europe that’s so far been largely skipped over by the fastest charging.

Higher-power DC fast charging is what makes electric-vehicle road-tripping viable. And while 100- and 150-kw stations may charge vehicles with smaller batteries quickly enough, performance and luxury EVs are going to need higher-power charging.

That’s where new “ultra-fast” 350-kw stations come into play, led in Europe by the Ionity network, which is the equivalent of our Electrify America. Ionity is aiming to build 400 350-kw stations in Europe by the end of 2020 and already had more than 100 up and running by the middle of this year.

Those latest Ionity stations only go up to 350 kw. And while charging a big luxury EV’s battery to 80 percent in as little as 10 or 15 minutes sounds quick, some automakers already see an even higher-power future. For instance, Joachim Kramer, Porsche’s director for electrics and electronics in the Taycan, explained last month that while the carmaker is limiting Taycan charging to 270 kw, it may allow 400 or even 500 kw of charging power with larger, next-generation batteries.

Repsol fast-charging levels

The 400-kw station has been installed by Ibil, a charging network that is jointly owned by Repsol and the Basque Energy Board (EVE). It’s only the second ultra-fast DC fast charging station to be opened in Spain, located on the A8 motorway at the Ugaldebieta service station, near Bilbao, and has four 400-kw DC CCS fast-charge points.

All equipment at the facility has been sourced within Spain, and the stations integrate solar panels and energy storage to either reduce or eliminate emissions.

Ibil has a network that includes more than 1,700 charge points, of which 230 are publicly accessible

Pricing and more details for Polestar 2, Performance Pack version

Volvo's high-performance subsidiary confirmed more about pricing for the Polestar 2 this week, setting the stage for a showdown with the Tesla Model 3.

The all-electric Polestar 2 has its sights set on the Long Range variants of the smaller Tesla sedan, and thanks to this week's announcement, we now know they'll be very similarly priced in Europe, where the Polestar 2 is now available for order.

The biggest divide in EU pricing is in Germany, where the Polestar 2 will start at 58,800 euros (vs. 54,800 euros for the Model 3 Long Range AWD); the gap in The Netherlands and Belgium is a bit smaller (around 1,000 euros). In the UK, Polestar's 49,900-British-pound price tag is 2,000 pounds dearer than the Tesla's.

Those prices equate to $64,600 in Germany and $61,000 in the UK. That's not far from what Polestar has said about U.S. pricing—that it will cost $63,000 for the first year’s Launch Edition of the model, which will be eligible for the full $7,500 federal plug-in tax credit.

Some time after that, a base version is expected to join the lineup at $43k to $45k, or about $45,400 (39,900 euros) in Europe—or be available by subscription—but both of those things are more than a year out.

Polestar 2

The Polestar 2 will boast more than 400 horsepower and do 0-60 mph in less than five seconds. Those specs fall short compared to the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD Performance, which offers more than 450 hp and accelerates to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds.

While potential buyers may be disappointed by these shortcomings, it's important to note that the Polestar 2 is pretty much a by-the-numbers match for the Long-Range AWD variant of Tesla's small sedan, which offers a little over 400 horsepower and does 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. Both Tesla variants pack a 75-kwh battery pack, which yields a sliver of capacity to the Polestar 2's 78 kwh.

Polestar bundles three years of service and maintenance as part of its out-the-door pricing, which should provide peace of mind for early adopters. The launch markets for Polestar 2 will be Norway, Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. We won't see any versions of the Polestar 2 in the United States until late in 2020.

Polestar also outlined the new sedan's available Performance Pack, which includes 4-piston Brembo brakes, an adjustable suspension and 20-inch forged alloy wheels. The result, its engineers say, is “a car that wants to be driven.”

“We spent a lot of time obsessing over the finest details of the Performance Pack chassis set-up to find the car’s sweet spot; we call it the 'Golden Ride,'” said Chassis engineer Joakim Rydholm.

Polestar 2 pricing, Tata EV for India, commute times: Today’s Car News

India has a new domestic-brand electric vehicle on the way. The Polestar 2 electric car is priced for Europe, and we have a few more details about its Performance Pack. Commute times surge. And Spain claims what might be the speediest fast charger for cars—if only there were a car that could use it at its potential. This and more, today at Green Car Reports.

American commute times reached another record high in 2018. Although our cars might have become cleaner and more efficient, it’s a dark cloud that hangs over those gains.

Polestar, the electric-car brand that taps into resources from Volvo and Geely, has announced European pricing for its upcoming Polestar 2, which is shaping up to be the closest potential rival to the Tesla Model 3 yet. It’s also revealed pricing and more details regarding the Polestar 2 Performance Pack version.

India will soon have a home-grown affordable electric car: the Tata Nexon EV. With the same parent company as Jaguar and, likely, some technology-sharing between the companies, it could mean serious competition for other brands setting India as the next big market for electric vehicles.

Spain has hardly been a hub for DC fast charging and electric vehicles, however a charging network there is claiming the highest-power DC charging station—intended for cars and passenger vehicles—anywhere in Europe.

And Waymo is laying out the foundation for sending its self-driving cars out to the busy streets of Los Angeles—by having human drivers map out the streets of some portions of the city.

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Tata Nexon EV gives India an affordable domestic-brand electric car

With global automakers turning their hungry eyes to the Indian market, domestic manufacturer Tata is hoping to establish itself as a serious competitor in the EV segment with its new Nexon.

The Nexon is the first Tata to employ the company's modernized EV powertrain tech, dubbed Ziptron. This packages a 130-hp electric motor and a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack not yet detailed.

This level of sophistication is commonplace among current-generation electrics sold in most EV-friendly markets, but Tata will be the only Indian manufacturer offering a package like this for domestic consumption. Tata is, after all, the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover, and it likely has access to some of the engineering expertise that went into the Jaguar I-Pace, among several other EVs under development.

Tata says the Nexon will have a range of approximately 186 miles and offer what the company describes as “zippy” performance, fast charging capability and off-road durability. Tata also touts its adherence to the IP67 standard for water- and dust-proofing, which will be important for promoting it to rural customers.

“We are proud to announce that Nexon EV will be available for personal buyers in India from Q4 (Jan-Mar) FY19-20,” said Tata electric mobility president Shailesh Chandra in the company's announcement. “Powered by the cutting-edge Ziptron technology, Nexon EV promises to address the barriers that exist in the EV market today and will deliver a thrilling on-road performance, ensuring zero emission.”

When it debuts later this year, the Nexon will join Tata's smaller, less sophisticated Tigor EV and Mahindra's e-Verito (sold elsewhere as a Dacia). Mahindra also sold the small e2o EV in its home market from 2016 until earlier this year; it is no longer being produced.

The Nexon is expected to cost less than $25,000 in India. Its strongest competition will come from import nameplates, such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, and more competition will be joining the fray. Toyota plans to launch a range of EVs under the Suzuki brand starting in 2020.

Payment not accepted: Volta’s free DC fast charging network starts soon

A California-based company is taking the ad-supported model popularized by smartphone apps and applying it to the next generation of vehicle infrastructure with a nationwide network of free DC fast charging stations.

Volta announced last week that it will build 150 stations over the course of the next year, it said in its announcement. This first wave of installations will be built near retail hubs in partnership with local developers. The stations will house a mix of 50- and 100-kw chargers, the company said, and charging will be initiated and monitored via a free app.

“Our charger network is designed to intelligently expand the critical infrastructure needed for electric vehicle adoption, while inspiring the public to ditch gas and go electric,” said Volta Founder and CEO Scott Mercer.

Don't expect to plug in and enjoy an afternoon of free parking with a complimentary charge, though. The free session ends after 30 minutes, or as much as 175 miles of range (vehicle-dependent, of course). After that customers can either pay for additional juice or move on down the road.

While this may seem like an inconvenient limitation, the company points out that it could save customers as much as $1,155 per year in equivalent energy costs. Put another way: Free is free.

Volta's HQ is in San Francisco but the company also has a New York City office, which is encouraging for East Coast EV buyers and hopefuls who are often left out of early infrastructure pushes. In fact, the first station will open in Norwalk, Connecticut, later in October.

Free fast charging, Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid drive, gas and diesel bans: Today’s Car News

The number of nations looking to phase out internal combustion engines continues to grow. A U.S. company is moving ahead with a plan to provide fast charging for free. Tesla is signaling another stage of intent for developing its own battery tech. And we drive an important supporting model in Audi’s transition to electric. This and more today at Green Car Reports.

We briefly drove the 2020 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid, and found it to be a fine supporting character in the luxury brand’s lineup as it heads increasingly toward fully electric models.

Volta, the California-based company aiming to provide free DC fast charging that’s ad supported, reports that its first hardware will be up and running later this month.

Denmark has revived a proposal to ban gas and diesel vehicles, and it has an alliance with nine other countries to set timetables for sunsetting internal combustion. Meanwhile the UK is looking to accelerate its own bans.

Tesla has quietly acquired a Canadian battery manufacturer, and it’s the latest, strongest signal that the electric-car maker plans to develop its own future battery technology.

And the number of vehicle brands not considering a fully electric model is dwindling by the day. One such holdout up until now, Lamborghini, now appears to be on with fully electric. R&D chief Maurizio Reggiani told Autocar that Lambo is considering an electric GT with four doors and 2+2 seating—for which it would tap into expertise via its Volkswagen Group parent. Sounds a little like Taycan to us.

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Denmark proposes banning gas and diesel cars, UK might ratchet up timeline

The banning of diesel (and potentially gasoline) cars in mainland Europe and the UK appears to be accelerating as a Denmark-led coalition of 11 countries proposed an EU-wide ban on the sale of diesel- and gasoline-powered cars by 2040.

This is not the first time Denmark has called for a ban on internal combustion engine sales. A year ago, it proposed an internal deadline of 2030, but EU rules prohibited unilateral action. Denmark scrapped the plan, but echoes of it remain in this year'r proposal.

Danish Climate and Energy Minister Dan Jorgensen told Reuters that if the EU would not adopt the plan union-wide, he'd like the regulations softened so that individual countries could set their own timetables. Jorgensen hopes that more members will follow those in Denmark's existing alliance, which includes Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and five others.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Brexit divide, the UK government is exploring plans to accelerate its own bans. A new timetable being floated is even more ambitious than Denmark's, calling for an end to new ICE sales by 2035, says Driving.

The original timeline, announced in 2017, largely mirrored Denmark's new proposal to the EU. The existing UK plan makes allowances for hybrid vehicles, so it would not be a blanket ban on anything with an internal combustion engine.

Similar notions have been floated stateside. In 2017, a California legislator introduced a bill proposing a 2040 deadline for the elimination of new gasoline and diesel vehicle sales. Recently, California's authority to set its own emissions standards has become the target of the Trump administration, which is attempting to revoke the state's autonomy in regulating vehicle emissions and has even threatened to withhold federal highway funding in an ongoing power struggle that is likely to make its way to the Supreme Court.

Rivian subscriptions, MPG lessons, Ram EcoDiesel drive: Today’s Car News

We drive one of the highest-mileage light-duty full-size pickups. An analysis of fuel economy across the entire U.S. fleet points to how reality lags regulation. And Rivian is looking at subscriptions. That and more, here at Green Car Reports.

Comments from Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe suggest that the electric truck hopeful is considering a subscription service as a way of supplementing or replacing its direct-sales model. So far other automakers have had only mixed success with such ideas.

An analysis of U.S. vehicle fuel economy—across all vehicles still in use—finds that mileage has stagnated since the George W. Bush administration. There’s a good explanation why, and some serious implications for the future.

We loaded the the 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel up with people and gear—and diesel fuel—and drove 732 miles. Considering its heavy-hauling ability set, it’s one of the most fuel-efficient trucks you can get.

And Tesla has acquired DeepScale, a startup working on vision processing technology—and potentially of use to the automaker as it refines its Autopilot systems and works toward the release of Full Self-Driving Capability.