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Discover Sono Motors’ vision of the electric car at Disrupt Berlin

New car makers have been popping up left and right. But instead of creating yet another Tesla-like company, German company Sono Motors is working on something completely new — a solar-powered car. That’s why I’m excited to announce that the company’s co-founder and CEO Laurin Hahn will join us at TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin. Sono Motors… Continue reading Discover Sono Motors’ vision of the electric car at Disrupt Berlin

Anchor Vans to expand car and van dealership

Anchor Vans is to expand its dealership on the A4 at Padworth, near Reading. It acquired a two- acre site adjacent to its existing three-acre Padworth site. Development work will begin later this year. The new space will provide a permanent location for the valeting department, an area for transporters to unload away from the… Continue reading Anchor Vans to expand car and van dealership

Industrial robots: Universal Robots sells its 25,000th collaborative robot

Collaborative robot manufacturer and pioneer Universal Robots has sold its 25,000th collaborative robot (cobot) since selling the first cobot in 2008. To commemorate the occasion, Universal Robots delivered the robot—which was sold to Kay Manufacturing—in a special gold-edition model. [Native Advertisement] Having sold 25,000 collaborative robots—which the company says is more than all its competitors… Continue reading Industrial robots: Universal Robots sells its 25,000th collaborative robot

MWCA: Verizon 5G Home coming to more cities

Verizon’s 5G Home service will be launching in many more cities, Verizon chief network engineering officer and head of wireless networks Nicki Palmer has told ZDNet, with the carrier showing off its “ultra wideband” network. Speaking with ZDNet during Mobile World Congress Americas (MWCA) in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Palmer said a 5G mobile service… Continue reading MWCA: Verizon 5G Home coming to more cities

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.

ABB’s Terra HPC can add 124 miles of range in 8 minutes

Swiss electronics giant ABB will launch what it claims is the world’s fastest EV charger at the upcoming Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle Event at Millbrook, Bedfordshire, UK. The Terra HPC (High Power Charger) can add 124 miles to a vehicle’s range in only 8 minutes. The company initially developed it for Electrify America, which is… Continue reading ABB’s Terra HPC can add 124 miles of range in 8 minutes

Chinese electric car maker listing on NYSE says its cars are faster and cheaper than Tesla’s

Brendan McDermid | Reuters
Chinese electric vehicle start-up Nio Inc's first employee Tianshu LI, and company's leadership team celebrate at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Opening Bell to commemorate the company's initial public offering (IPO) at the NYSE in New York, September 12, 2018.

Chinese electric car company Nio is listing shares on Tesla's home turf and wants to squeeze market share away from Elon Musk and the company in China.

Nio listed its shares Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange, and wants to expand into Europe and the United States, the company's chief financial officer, Louis Hsieh, said.

It has not been an easy journey toward the initial public offering, Hsieh said, partly due to trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Shares of Nio were up slightly Wednesday afternoon.

Chinese electric car company Nio makes its Wall Street debut
2 Hours Ago | 03:40

Still, there is plenty of upside, Hsieh said.

“We're telling investors the opportunity in front of Nio is huge,” he said. “China is 60 percent of the global market and growing even this year 80 percent a year even though the auto market is down.”

In addition, Nio is the only premium electric vehicle in China besides Tesla, and Nio's seven-seat SUV is a better product at a cheaper price than the Tesla Model X, Hsieh said.

“Ours comes in at less than half the price, better features, a faster car,” he said.

Nio is also coming out with a model that will be comparable to the Tesla Model 3 at about two-thirds the price, and that will have longer range and quicker acceleration.
Tesla was not immediately available for comment.

WATCH: Nio's electric car half the price of Tesla Model X in China

Nio's all-electric car is half the price of a Tesla Model X in China
8:36 PM ET Mon, 18 Dec 2017 | 00:52