Author: Green Car Online News

Nio becomes first Chinese automaker to go public in US

Nio Formula E race car, EP9, ES8 and Eve concept car
Electric carmaker Nio became the first Chinese automaker to go public on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

In August, the Nio [NYSE: NIO] announced that it hoped to raise $1.3 billion in its initial public offering. Trading in its opening day fell short of that at just over $1 billion.

DON'T MISS: Chinese electric carmaker Nio seeks public funding in US

The company planned to used the funds to develop future electric cars for the U.S. and Chinese markets and to develop self-driving software.

Nio currently sells an electric SUV, the ES8 in China, designed to compete with the Tesla Model X.

The ES8 sells for $65,000 in China, about half what a Tesla Model X costs, and has 220 miles of range and 644 horsepower.

CHECK OUT: Chinese electric-car startup Nio gets $1 billion in funding: report

Nio became one of the most promising Chinese automakers after it introduced the EP9 electric supercar in 2016, then put the ES8 SUV into production.

The company also builds a race car for the Formula E series and has plans for a second electric production car, a luxury sedan based on its Eve concept car.

Nio doesn't sell the ES8 in the U.S., but has an office in San Jose, California to work on self-driving technology and bringing its cars to the U.S.

All-wheel-drive Tesla Model 3 price hiked by $1,000

Tesla Model 3 bought [Photo by reader AH]
As Tesla continues to scramble to make the Model 3 profitable in time to begin making big debt payments in November, the company hiked the price of the all-wheel drive option on the car.

According to Tesla's online configurator, the price has increased from $5,000 to $6,000.

The change was first reported by Electrek on Monday.

Tesla factory screencap from SF Bay Area CBS video

Buyers interested in the all-wheel-drive Model 3 have been on a pricing roller coaster since the option was announced.

First, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk announced that it would cost less than the all-wheel-drive option on the Model S: $5,000. When the company began building all-wheel drive versions of the Model 3 in May, the option cost exactly $5,000. Tesla lowered the price to $4,000 in June, and raised it back to $5,000 in August.

READ THIS: Elon Musk announces Tesla Model 3 AWD, performance Model 3 specs

On Wednesday, the company also eliminated two of the Model 3's seven color options, Obsidian Black and Metallic Silver, Musk announced in a Tweet. Buyers who want those colors can still special order them at extra cost.

Solid Black is the only color that doesn't cost extra. Other colors add $1,500 to $2,000 to the price of a Model 3.

As the company works to ramp up production to a steady 6,000 Model 3s per week, the paint shop has reportedly been a major and consistent bottleneck on the assembly line.

It has also been a major safety concern in the Tesla factory, with fires reportedly requiring responses from local emergency officials repeatedly early in the summer. Reducing the complexity of color selection can make a major difference in reducing that bottleneck.

So far, Tesla has still not announced when it will offer the short range Model 3 at the car's originally advertised $35,000 base price.

Aston Martin Rapide E details revealed beyond battery tech

Teaser for Aston Martin Rapide E due in 2019
Led by former Nissan Leaf product planner Andy Palmer, Aston Martin plans to launch a new lineup of electric cars under its Lagonda brand.

As a trial balloon, it will launch an electric version of its four-door sports sedan under the Aston Martin brand, the Rapide E.

Now the company has released more details about the car beyond its 800-volt battery pack.

DON'T MISS: Aston Martin may be first with 800-volt charging

The company announced yesterday that the Rapide E will use a 65-kwh battery pack to deliver a range of about 200 miles.

The battery pack will use more than 5,600 cylindrical 18650 cells arranged in a proprietary pack sitting where the gas-powered Rapide's V-12 engine, transmission, and gas tank usually sit.

Two electric motors driving the rear axle will provide 601 horsepower and more than 700 pound-feet of torque.

Aston Martin Rapide E battery development

Aston Martin estimates 0-60 mph acceleration in less than 4 seconds and a 50-70 mph passing acceleration sprint in 1.5 seconds.

The car was engineered to maintain full power through a hot lap of the 12.8-mile Nurburgring test track in Germany, Aston Martin says it can maintain this level of performance on the street in more than short bursts.

Aston Martin is targeting similar handling performance as the gas version of the Rapide with revised spring and shock rates.

CHECK OUT: Aston Martin Lagonda Vision Concept shows electric car future for luxury sedan

As it announced specs for the Rapide E, Aston Martin announced that it will dedicate a new factory in St. Athan, Wales, as its hub for electric-car development and production.

“As our first all-electric production model, Rapide E will fast-track our knowledge and help us ensure the character and high-performance capabilities of our future EV models and enhance the unique qualities found in all Aston Martins as we know them today,” said Aston CEO Palmer. “Rapide E will also serve as a critical step on our path to relaunching Lagonda as the world’s first zero-emission luxury marque.”

The company plans to build just 155 examples of the Rapide E before launching into full electric production with an electric SUV from Lagonda scheduled to arrive in 2021.

Chevy recalls some Bolt EVs, Volts over supplier brake issues

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Chevrolet this week recalled three to four months worth of production Bolt EVs and Volt plug-in hybrids over a potential brake issue that could increase stopping distances of the small vehicles.

The recall affects 2018-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2018-2019 Volt models sold in the U.S. and Canada.

General Motors' filing with federal regulators doesn't specify the number of cars or say when owners should begin receiving mailed notices for the proposed fixes, and Chevrolet was unable to confirm those details immediately. Affected Bolt EVs were produced between March 27, 2018 and July 17, 2018 and affected Volts were produced between March 27, 2018 and June 20, 2018.

DON'T MISS: 2018 Chevy Bolts recalled to update battery software, prevent shutdowns

According to GM, rear brake pistons that were improperly chromed and tempered could leak and trap hydrogen gas in the brake lines and could lead to soft or spongy brake pedals.

The faulty brake systems could stretch braking distances of the affected models. Officials said drivers should notice the spongy brake pedal within 15 days of the vehicle's assembly. Dealers were instructed to bleed the brake system to relieve any trapped hydrogen gas.In its filing, GM said it was not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the defect.

CHECK OUT: 2019 Chevy Volt gets higher prices with more equipment

The defective brake pedals are part of a larger recall affecting Mercedes-Benz vehicles and could be related to a similar recall by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. German supplier ZF said it was aware of the issue, but in its filing GM said the supplier did not notify it that the issue could affect Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles.

GM issued the recall this week for more than 230,000 vehicles that also included Chevrolet Cruze, Equinox, Impala, and Malibu sedans and crossovers; GMC Terrain crossovers; Buick LaCrosse, and Cadillac XTS sedans.

Plug Power develops new hydrogen filling robot

Plug Power fuel cell
Filling up with hydrogen is not as easy as filling up with gas or plugging in an electric car—at least it's not yet.

To make it easier—and importantly, cheaper for businesses—Plug Power, a New York fuel-cell company, has developed a new robotic hydrogen filling station.

Plug Power GenFuel hydrogen filling station

The system is designed to work in warehouses where hydrogen-powered forklifts and other equipment can save time refueling. Plug Power says every additional second spent refueling can add up to $1,000 in costs annually for such businesses.

CHECK OUT: California now has 33 hydrogen fueling stations for 4,200 fuel-cell cars so far

Plug Power worked with the Center for Automation Technologies and Systems at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and the National Renewable Energy Lab to develop the fueling stations, using a $2 million grant from the Department of Energy.

The robotic fueling station isn't just about hydrogen-powered forklifts in warehouses, although that's expected to be the first application.

“Today, the technology can retrofit existing GenFuel sites supporting the more than 20,000 GenDrive fuel cells in the field,” said Dustan Skidmore, vice president of engineering at Plug Power. “In the future, the technology can be used in on-road fleet vehicles, autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), and self-driving passenger cars.”

READ THIS: FedEx and UPS burn less gas to deliver boxes

Plug Power built the fuel-cell that powers the nation's first fuel-cell FedEx delivery truck in upstate New York. The truck, converted to fuel-cell power by Workhorse, fills up with hydrogen at Plug Power's Latham, New York, headquarters and has accumulated more than 3,000 miles in testing.

BMW drops diesels in favor of plug-in hybrids

2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance
BMW is the latest automaker to eliminate diesels from its U.S. lineup, at least, and focus on plug-in hybrids and electric cars.

A BMW spokesman told Green Car Reports on Tuesday that it will drop diesels from its lineup for 2019.

“We're putting all our eggs in the PHEV basket,” said BMW spokesman Alexander Schmuck.

BMW currently sells five plug-in hybrid models in the U.S. Those include the 3-Series, 5-Series, 7-Series sedans, the X5 SUV, and the i8 coupe.

DON'T MISS: 2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid will have more range, 6 cylinders

Most of BMW's plug-in hybrids are designated by an “e” at the end of their model names, such as the BMW 330e, 530e, and X5 xDrive40e. Those models on the market today have only 14 to 16 miles of electric range, according to their EPA ratings.

Last week BMW revealed a new plug-in version of the X5 for 2021, the X5 xDrive45e, which may have up to 50 miles of electric range with larger batteries and a new engine.

Finding enough space for batteries has been a challenge in BMW's plug-in hybrids, but a company supplier recently showed a prototype BMW i3 with three times the battery capacity in the same footprint of the original, which could allow BMW to pack far more range into its plug-in hybrids.

CHECK OUT: Supplier tests compact 100-kwh battery pack in BMW i3

The new battery is expected to be used in the company's upcoming iNext electric sedan, which is due to be revealed at the end of the week.

The spokesman also said the upcoming X5 xDrive45e will use an inline-6, which will be easier for the company to meet California's SULEV clean-air standards.

Ford releases photo of electric not-Mach 1 SUV

2020 Ford electric SUV teaser
Ford released a teaser image of its hotly-anticipated 300-mile electric SUV, which it says will no longer be called the Mach 1.

The company previewed the car at a closed event in March, but wouldn't allow photographs or sketches.

The sketch released Thursday of the rear of the car hasn't evolved much from the design the company showed in March.

DON'T MISS: Ford's future 300-mile all-electric performance SUV: what we know

As promised, it is based on the looks of the Mustang, with a similar vertical three-bar taillight treatment below what appears to be sweeping, steeply-sloped hatch glass.

At the March event, Ford laid out the car's marketing brief as being an electric SUV with off-road performance and acceleration like the Ford F-150 Raptor.

In person, it comes off as something like a BMW X6, with Mustang styling front-and rear.

CHECK OUT: Ford teases Mustang-inspired electric SUV due in 2020

Although Ford considered naming the SUV Mach 1, after a high-performance version of the Mustang from the early 1970s, last month it backed away from that plan, citing resistance from Mustang aficionados.

Ford's styling approach to its 300-mile electric SUV mirrors, to some degree, Chevrolet's approach to its new Blazer, which borrows some front-end styling and trim from the sporty Camaro—only the Blazer won't be electric.

The Ford has been spotted testing around Michigan. Ford has confirmed that it will use a new modular electric architecture that the company has developed for a range of 16 electric and plug-in cars it plans to introduce by 2022. Some will be for the Chinese market. Ford has not said where it will sell its not-Mach-1 electric SUV outside the United States.

It is expected to go on sale as a 2020 model. By then, it should have plenty of competition among electric SUVs.

Everybody move up: Tesla shuffles executive ranks

2017 Tesla Model 3, in photo tweeted by Elon Musk on July 9, 2017
Late Friday evening, Tesla announced an executive reshuffling after a month or more of chaos within the company.

The blog posted to the company's website from CEO Elon Musk on Friday announced that the automaker appointed Jerome Guillen president of automotive operations. Guillen, whom Musk says was a key player in the construction of an additional Model 3 assembly line in a tent adjacent to the factory, will report directly to Musk and oversee all automotive and supply chain operations. His responsibilities could include the types of things analysts have said Musk needs a COO to do in running the day-to-day operations of the company.

Kevin Kassekert, who led the construction of the Gigafactory, has been promoted to “VP of People and Places”, which includes HR and facilities. Chris Lister will take his place as VP of Gigafactory Operations.

Felicia Mayo, an HR director, has been promoted to VP, along with Laurie Shelby, in charge of environmental health and safety and Cindy Nicola, in charge of recruiting.

Dave Arnold, who has worked in Tesla communications for several months, has been promoted to senior director of the department.

The move came a day after Musk appeared in a live webcast with entertainment host Joe Rogan in an interview that some deemed self-destructive and out of control. It was also a month after the CEO announced on Twitter that he had “funding secured” for a plan to take Tesla private, then rescinded the plan two weeks later.

Analysts have since called for Musk to take a leave of absence or step down.

DON'T MISS: Tesla's CEO Elon Musk announces company will stay public, abandons private push

It's not clear whether the reshuffling of executives goes quite that far, but it does address a vacuum that had been developing at the top of the company as several top executives have recently left.

On Tuesday, Chief Accounting Officer Dave Morton quit less than a month after taking the job; he started the day before Musk's privatization tweet.

“Since I joined Tesla on August 6th, the level of public attention placed on the company, as well as the pace within the company, have exceeded my expectations,” Morton said in his resignation letter. “This caused me to reconsider my future. I want to be clear that I believe strongly in Tesla, its mission, and its future prospects, and I have no disagreements with Tesla’s leadership or its financial reporting.”

The SEC reportedly launched an investigation into Musk's tweet, and investors have launched at least two lawsuits, including one on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.

READ THIS: Report: SEC investigating Musk tweet about taking Tesla private

On Friday, the head of Tesla's Human Resources department, Gabrielle Toledano, announced she would not return from a leave scheduled in June. The company has been embroiled in at least two whistleblower cases at its Gigafactory that former employees allege it mishandled materials, didn't investigate theft, and allowed a drug dealer to operate. Employees at both its Fremont, California, car factory and Reno, Nevada, battery Gigafactory, have been in “production hell,” according to Musk, working to ramp up production of the company's critical Model 3 sedan.

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

Two weeks ago VP of Communications Sarah O'Brien also announced her resignation.

All three positions play critical roles in advising the CEO on interactions with employees, the public, and regulators, three areas where Musk's behavior has been publicly called into question in the past two months.

Mercedes EQC, Ford electric SUV, more Chevy Bolt EVs, make your voice heard: The Week in Reverse

2020 Ford electric SUV teaser
Which upcoming SUV looks like a sports car?

What's happening to hybrid sales as electrics take off?

This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending Sept. 7, 2018.
2016 Nissan Leaf, Chevy Bolt EV at Drive Electric Week event, Los Angeles [photo: Zan Dubin Scott]

Friday, we noted the kickoff of National Drive Electric Week, the eighth year that electric car owners and enthusiasts have gathered to promote an electric car movement.

We also learned of a new battery construction technology that can triple the energy density of the battery pack in a BMW i3.

Volvo 360C concept

Thursday, Ford revealed the key sketch of its upcoming new 300-mile SUV, designed to look like a Mustang but perform like a Ford F-150 Raptor.

Volvo also showed its 360c concept for a self-driving car. The company says it can compete with short-haul airline routes with a reconfigurable living room setup inside.

2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC

Wednesday, we looked at a study by California car dealers that showed that electric car sales are cannibalizing those of hybrids. As more small electric cars have landed on the market, conventional gas-car buyers haven't turned to new hybrid SUV and pickup models in the same numbers.

No sooner had Mercedes-Benz introduced its new EQC electric SUV, than it had to correct a glaring oversight in the specs it published. With only a 200-mile electric range, the car wouldn't be competitive with other electric SUVs already on the market. The company says its target range rating in the U.S.is 279-miles.

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Tuesday, we covered GM's efforts to develop a faster-charging battery for future electric cars that can charge at up to 180 miles in 10 minutes of charging.

We also directed readers where they can make their voices heard about the EPA's proposal to gut fuel-economy increases.

Monday was a holiday.

On Sunday we brought news of a new off-road electric-car racing series that the founders of Formula-E are developing.

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Supplier tests compact 100-kwh battery pack in BMW i3

BMW i Vision Dynamics concept, 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show
Using new battery-pack architecture, BMW battery supplier Lion Smart has crammed triple the battery capacity into a BMW i3s.

Lion Smart's 100-kilowatt-hour battery gives the little city car a range of 435 miles on a charge, in the same footprint as the original battery pack.

Lion Smart has developed a modular battery-pack design that makes cooling more efficient and eliminates wiring inside the pack to reduce weight, size, and cost.

2018 BMW i3s

Within the same dimensions, a modular pack can be designed to produce 101 kwh at 400 volts, 98 kwh at 600 volts, or 106 kwh at 800 volts, depending on the sizes of the modules and how they're connected.

Lion Smart calls its modules supercells, which house cylindrical battery cells in a hexagonal arrangement. The company says the supercells can be adapted to any cylindrical cell format, including 18650s (used in Tesla Model Ses and Xes), or the latest 21700 design used in the Tesla Model 3. (Tesla refers to it as the 2170, or 21-70.)

Each cell has its own voltage and temperature sensor connected to and powered by that cell's poles.

A new cooling system uses a phase-changing coolant that converts from a liquid to gas if a cell overheats. That way it focuses cooling power on the individual problematic cell. Individual vents at each cell can bleed off the vapor.

Each cell also has its own fuse so that damaged or overheated cells can be clicked off-line individually without removing a whole module or dramatically reducing the capacity of the whole pack.

READ MORE: BMW reveals its self-driving, electric iNext vision for the future

Don't expect to see a 100-kwh battery pack in an i3 at a BMW dealership near you any time in the foreseeable future.

Lion Smart, though, says it has a contract with a customer to develop one of its modular packs for an upcoming product. The 435-mile range rating of the BMW i3 with the demo pack matches exactly the range BMW has quoted for its upcoming iNext electric sedan (based on its i Vision Dynamics concept car from 2017.) Coincidence? You decide.