Author: Green Car Online News

Reports: Tesla working to develop its own batteries

Unlike other electric automakers, Tesla has long had a lock on its own battery supplies through an exclusive deal with Panasonic and the companies' jointly owned battery Gigafactory in Nevada.

Now the company is working to develop its own batteries at a skunkworks near its main car factory in Fremont, California, according to multiple reports, including CNBC.

As increasing numbers of established automakers ramp up production of electric cars, supplies of batteries and the materials to make them have grown scarce in recent months, and Tesla has expressed concern about obtaining enough raw battery materials to meet production targets for its electric cars.

CEO Elon Musk has said that battery supplies from Panasonic were a constraint on production of its popular Model 3.

In May, Tesla bought Maxwell Technologies, a San Diego company that builds ultra-capacitors that can fill some of the needs for lithium batteries in electric cars at lower cost by charging and discharging quickly. Some observers also noted they could provide a bridge to solid-state battery technology. Musk has also long said he believes supercapacitors are superior to lithium-ion batteries.

The CNBC report cites multiple current and recent employees who say that Tesla has set up a skunkworks a few blocks from the Fremont factory, to work on the project.

It notes that Musk is trying to move as much of Tesla's operations in house as possible to insulate the company from possible disruptions outside its control, Tesla is also seeking new battery suppliers in China for the cars it plans to build at its new factory there. Musk has said that factory will start production on some Model 3s by the end of this year.

It's not clear how close Tesla may be to producing its own batteries, but at a Technology Day in May where it revealed its self-driving plans, Musk told investors to watch for two things from Tesla: its self-driving features, and its efforts to lower the cost of batteries for its cars. He said at the time he wasn't willing to “let the cat out of the bag” yet on the second effort.

BMW Motorrad sketches out what’s next: electric motorcycles

While quite a few startup companies have been building electric motorcycles for years, established motorcycle manufacturers have been slow to join the fray. The much-anticipated Harley Davidson Livewire, for instance, isn't yet out but is due in August.

On Tuesday, BMW Motorrad, the company's motorcycle division, at last announced its intent to join the electric motorcycle crowd, with a concept electric motorcycle called the BMW Vision DC Roadster.

It's designed to evoke images of BMW's more traditional motorcycles, with circular cooling fins sticking out the sides like the cylinder jugs on BMW's classic flat-twins. An upright battery is mounted longitudinally between the driver's knees, somewhat where a conventional bikes fuel tank might be, but deeper. BMW didn't specify the battery capacity or any range target.

Again harking to tradition, the Vision DC Roadster uses a longitudinally mounted motor, underneath the battery, connected to a shaft drive.

As a concept, the Vision DC Roadster has a cafe-racer stance, with laid-down front forks and a very high seat and tail. The vestigial signature LED headlight almost disappears ahead of the driver.

BMW came early to developing electrically-powered cars, introducing the advanced i3 and i8 in 2014, but it has been slower to begin work converting its two-wheeled lineup.

The electric motorcycle market grew a few years ago with Lightning, Alta Motors, and Zero, but with more big players like BMW and Harley Davidson, among many, it's a sign that it's taking off. Now with BMW considering broad outlines of an electric motorcycle, the scales may be tipping. We're looking at you, Honda!

Volkswagen says its battery supplies are secure

Despite its plans to become the biggest EV-maker in the world by 2023, Volkswagen says it won't be affected by the tightening battery supplies that have roiled the industry, including Audi, the company's Volkswagen Group partner.

VW plans to build up to 3 million all-electric vehicles a year by 2025 and plans to produce 22 million EVs in total by 2027. It has secured $50 billion in battery contracts with Korea's LG Chem, Samsung, and SK Innovation, as well as China's CATL for battery supplies. VW also invested 1 billion euros in Swedish startup battery supplier Northvolt, which plans to build the largest battery factory in Europe.

“I can confirm that for the first years of our plan, a sufficient supply of cells has been contractually secured,” said Thomas Ulbrich, VW board member in charge of electric mobility. “We have the contracts so no one is going to stand there and tell us 'we are not going to supply you any more,'” he told Automotive News Europe (subscription required.) He confirmed that plan runs through 2023.

After that, he said, “You will likely see us permanently in negotiations for cells for the next three to five years.”

In May, Bloomberg reported that Samsung cut its supply agreement with Volkswagen over disagreements about timing.

As automakers around the world ramp up their production of electric cars, mining for battery chemicals has not kept pace. And Volkswagen, as one of the world's largest automakers making the transition from building gasoline and diesel cars to focusing on electrics, has become ground zero for concerns over battery supplies. Volkswagen's plans alone call for more than 300 gigawatt-hours of battery capacity over the next 10 years, which outstrips the total global supply.

Volkswagen ID Vizzion Concept

Hyundai has expressed concern over battery supplies as waiting lists for its Kona Electric stretched for over a year in Europe due to battery shortages.

Tesla, too has said that supplies of raw materials for batteries are one of its major concerns for the future, and has said that production constraints from its battery supplier, Panasonic, have held up production of its mass-market Model 3.

The U.S. has put battery materials such as lithium and cobalt on its list of critical minerals to be developed in the U.S. to shield the country from competitive supply concerns.

Ulbrich took one parting shot at battery suppliers in his comments about Volkswagen supplies. “They probably hoped to maintain an oligopoly for a very long time,” Ulbrich said. “That's not possible.”

BMW accelerates EVs, VW secures batteries, Rivian plans more gear: Today’s Car News

BMW accelerated its electric-car plans by two years. Volkswagen says its battery supplies are secure. Rivian reveals more plans for lifestyle gear. And our readers weigh in on electric Hummers. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

At an event in Germany on Tuesday, BMW announced that it is pulling forward its plans to electrify its products by two years and focusing more on pure electric cars.

Despite shortages of batteries and battery materials beginning to roil the EV industry, Volkswagen, the automaker with the largest-scale plans for EVs says its contracts will guarantee it has enough batteries through 2023.

Rivian confirmed that it has more plans for accessories to fit in the R1T pickup's “gear tunnel” and that it intends to make smaller, more affordable models in the future.

Results from last week's Twitter poll show that GCR readers broadly support GM reviving the Hummer brand in all-electric form.

An Apple patent reveals a system to allow remote-control drivers to take over autonomous cars to get to a hospital faster in a medical emergency.

Finally, new headlights earned the 2019 Hyundai Tucson a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.

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Regional discounts can make electric cars a steal

In some places, you almost can't afford not to buy an electric car.

Adding regional incentives to state and federal incentives can cut the price of some electric cars nearly in half and make them cheaper than some used cars or the most basic of new gas models. Consider that electric cars never need gas or oil changes, and buyers can come away with lower monthly costs than just buying gas for an older car.

These state and regional incentives—along with occasional special fees charged on electric-car buyers—can make or break the purchase of an electric car.

The best example currently is in Denver, incentives from a local dealer and utility company pile onto the $5,000 Colorado tax credit, and federal tax credits to cut as much as $19,500 off the purchase price of a Nissan Leaf. That's more than the base MSRP of a Honda Fit, a Hyundai Elantra, or a Mazda3.

As in Denver, local energy companies often play a big part in such discounts. Xcel Energy, a local Colorado utility, has partnered with Tynan's Nissan in Aurora to offer the program. Xcel and Tynan each kick in a $3,500 cash incentive, which, combined with the Colorado state tax credit and the $7,500 federal tax credit, can get buyers into a base Nissan Leaf for as little as $11,665.

Payments on a five-year loan at 5 percent interest could be as little as $220 a month. That's less than some Denver drivers may pay for gas every month.

Colorado is working hard to spread electric cars among its population to improve air quality in the region. Denver may be the most compelling place to buy a Nissan Leaf, but other regions also offer compelling deals.

– Buyers in nearby Fort Collins, Colorado, offers buyers a $9,000 group-purchase discount on top of state and federal tax credits that can make Leaf purchases even cheaper than in Denver.

– Connecticut offers electric-car buyers a $3,000 state tax credit, and some state utilities add thousands more. Norwich Public Utilities offers a $1,000 rebate for those who buy or lease a new or used electric car.

– Oregon offers a tax incentive of $2,500, which buyers can add to a $3,500 rebate on Nissan Leaf purchases through the local utility Portland General Electric.

– State, county, and municipal tax exemptions in Seattle can add up to more than $2,500 per car.

No matter where you live, it's worth seeking out these local discounts and incentives. They can make choosing an electric car even more affordable.

Porsche reveals insurance program: At ease, Taycan electric-car buyers

By the time the 2020 Porsche Taycan launches late this year, Porsche owners in three states will likely be able to choose a new kind of per-mile insurance offered through the sports-car brand.

Especially for those planning to make a leap to the Taycan, it could amount to some peace of mind. For those new to electric cars, insurance can often be a bit of a rude awakening.

Yes, in terms of maintenance, energy costs, and wearable items like brake pads, EVs are cheaper and involve less hassle. But wildly varied electric-vehicle claims rates have left insurers to take a conservative tack with EVs, resulting in some steep rate hikes. The most noteworthy of those was in 2017, when AAA looked at its own data and that from the insurer-funded Highway Loss Data Institute and, despite stellar safety ratings, decided to raise rates on the Tesla Model S and Model X by 30 percent.

2013 Tesla Model S crash test by NHTSA (Image: crashnet1 Youtube screen grab)

Tesla, which recently started offering leases, will soon also launch its own insurance product in which it might share data from its vehicles and Autopilot sensors.

The Porsche insurance program, administered in partnership with Mile Auto and Porsche Financial Services, doesn’t involve the collection of the vehicle’s location, or when and how it’s driven. Mile Auto’s solution simply involves submitting a photo of the vehicle odometer at regular intervals.

“No other information is collected from the vehicle or customer,” Porsche Financial Services assured Green Car Reports.

Porsche Taycan prototype

Although the timing of the program is perfect for those electric-vehicle concerns, Porsche says that the program was developed independent of the Taycan launch. It will cover the Taycan as well as every Porsche model going back to the 1981 model year.

Porsche Financial Services is the captive finance provider for Porsche as well as Bentley, Lamborghini, and Bugatti.

There’s one big “if” to this program: So far, you need to be in Illinois and Oregon this year, although Porsche aims to offer it in a third state by the end of the year. Rollout of the program to more states remains under evaluation; but given Porsche's plans to embrace electric with more models in the near future, it's an extra bit of assurance.

Hyundai rides on top with new double-decker electric bus

If converting city buses to electric power is one of the most effective ways to reduce harmful pollution from particulate matter and nitrogen oxides in cities an even more effective way is to double the number of people they can carry.

London has begun converting its iconic double-decker buses to electric models made by China's BYD, and now Hyundai plans to jump into the fray with a new bus that can carry 70 passengers—not quite double what a regular bus can carry but about 1.5 times the capacity, Hyundai says.

The company introduced its new double-decker at the Land, Infrastructure, and Technology Fair in Korea last month.

READ THIS: First all-electric London double-decker bus in service; made in China by BYD

Hyundai says it has a range of about 188 miles and can fully recharge its liquid-cooled 384-kilowatt-hour in an hour and a quarter.

Its primary motivation comes from a 321-horsepower motor on the independently-sprung drive axle as well as a smaller motor to recover electricity on the third axle.

The bus is 42 feet long and just over 13 feet tall. The third axle also steers to give the bus more precise steering in tight maneuvers.

DON'T MISS: California to transition to 100 percent electric buses by 2040

It can accommodate 11 passengers seated on the main floor, including two “fixed-in-space” wheelchairs, and 59 more passengers on top. The floor on the bottom slides out for wheelchair access.

In a page from its recent automotive releases, Hyundai notes that the new bus will include electronic stability control, automatic emergency braking, and automatic lane assistance—perhaps even more important safety features for carrying 70 people, almost 60 of them six feet in the air.

CHECK OUT: LA gets first double-decker electric city bus

“The double-decker electric bus is an environmentally friendly vehicle optimized for global eco-friendly trends,” said ByoungWoo Hwang, Head of Commercial Vehicle Advanced Engineering team at Hyundai Motor. “This will not only ultimately improve the air quality, but also contribute greatly to easing commuting hour traffic congestion by accommodating more passengers.”

Los Angeles has also introduced its first electric double-decker bus on a commuter route from Pasadena to downtown.

Electric Jaguar XJ flagship to compete with Tesla Model S

Jaguar Land Rover plans to launch its new flagship with a jolt. At a recent investor day, the company said its new flagship XJ sedan will launch first as an electric model, likely in 2020. Models with gas engines are expected to follow.

The automaker previously announced it will offer electric and plug-in hybrid versions of every model it sells by 2025. The new XJ is expected to be the first of those models based on a new modular architecture designed to accept both electric and gas platforms.

The electric XJ will likely have a 90.2 kilowatt-hour battery with a targeted range of 292 miles, according to Nick Miles, JLR's head of product engineering, as presented at the investor day. That range is likely on the somewhat optimistic new European WLTP driving cycle.

The new “Modular Longitudinal Architecture” is unrelated to the platform underpinning Jaguar's electric I-Pace, which is built at a Magna-Steyr contract manufacturing facility in Austria. The XJ and vehicles on its modular MLA platform will be built at Jaguar's home factory in Solihull, England.

2020 Land Rover Range Rover

The new platform will also underpin two new SUVs from Range Rover, a new flagship Range Rover in 2021 and a new Range Rover Sport a year later, according to a report in Automotive News Europe (subscription required.) Both Range Rovers will be offered with plug-in hybrid powertrains, and at least one of Range Rover's four models will include a fully electric option.

Both the Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport currently include plug-in hybrid options, but they're based on an older platform, one not shared with Jaguar. The new plug-in hybrid models are expected to achieve a slightly longer electric range.

The MLA platform is expected to replace five platforms the company currently uses, but may not be the company's only electric architecture. Outgoing design head Ian Callum told Automotive News that the I-Pace platform is also likely to continue to underpin new, updated electric models.

Electric Jaguar XJ, hybrid airplanes, more driving, fewer Chinese EV makers: Today’s Car News

Americans driving more miles could cancel out emissions progress. Airbus looks to build hybrid airplanes. China puts restrictions on who can build electric cars in the world's largest EV market. And Jaguar plans to launch its new flagship XJ sedan as an electric. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

Jaguar Land Rover plans to introduce its next-generation Jaguar XJ flagship sedan first as an all-electric model, with gas engines following later. The company also plans a new electric Range Rover along with plug-in hybrids.

As the EPA proposes to roll back increases in emissions standards, new data from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows that Americans are also driving more miles every year, limiting the effectiveness of any fuel-economy increases.

European aircraft-maker Airbus is developing a new hybrid version of one of its most popular airplanes, which could have a single jet engine and a couple of electric motors for takeoff boost.

China, the world's largest EV market, has too many electric carmakers, according to the government. New restrictions designed to weed out marginal electric carmakers will require companies that build electric cars in China to achieve critical mass and have significant financial assets.

Another electric-car startup isn't aiming directly at Tesla, though it could take away some of the company's Silicon Valley spotlight. Drako Motors is developing a 1,200-horsepower, 206-mph supercar called the Drako GTE.

Finally, in first drive of the new light-duty Chevy Silverado diesel pickup our partners at The Car Connection averaged 34 mpg, which is pretty impressive for a full-sized pickup meant for towing.

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Mack plans to send electric trucks to the garbage dump

A lot of ink, pixels, and synapses get spent trying to figure out how to make heavy duty electric trucks that can travel 500 to 1,000 miles in a day and get a fast enough recharge before heading back to work.

Recent studies have shown a far more effective way to reduce pollution is to supplant short-haul machines that spend most of their time in city centers, spewing black smoke every block as they stop and start for pickups and deliveries.

City buses have been particularly effective. Beyond that, the next logical step could be garbage trucks, if truckmaker Mack has a say.

At the Las Vegas Waste Expo earlier this month, the American subsidiary of Volvo trucks rolled out the Mack Electric LR, a new line of trucks made for the dump. It follows on parent-company Volvo's electric garbage truck which rolled out last year.

Mack plans to begin testing the new trucks with the New York City Sanitation Department next year. The department operates more than 2,200 garbage trucks of various sorts to clear the streets of trash, debris, and snow. A typical trash route might be only 30 miles in a day, but takes all day with stops and starts—exactly when a diesel truck is less efficient.

The new electric trucks use two electric motors producing a combined 496 horsepower and 4,051 pound-feet of torque at 0 rpm. Mack says they use 600-volt lithium-manganese cobalt batteries and electric drive systems to boost power and charging speeds, though Mack did not disclose the battery capacity or range. With short, stop-and-go routes, range may not be the big issue anyway.

Using step-down converters, the trucks have two additional electrical systems, a typical 12-volt system to run the truck's lights and accessories, and a 24 volt system that takes power from the main battery to run the hydraulics for the compactor and the dump system, which may use as much juice in a day as driving the miles needed to cover the trucks' routes.

At the end of the day, the trucks can connect to 150-kilowatt DC fast chargers before starting in all over again the next morning.

The New York Sanitation Department also rolled out an electric street sweeper concept at this year's New York Auto Show.