Category: Automotive

Israeli startup reinvents the wheel, by using it to contain car’s key components

Israeli startup REE has unveiled a “revolutionary” new design and look for electric vehicles, in which all of the classic components of the car — the motor, the steering system, the brakes and the suspension — are moved from under the hood into the wheels.REE’s approach, which will be officially presented on Wednesday at the TechCrunch Mobility event in San Jose, California, strategically places the motor, steering, suspension, drivetrain, sensors, brakes, thermal systems and electronics into the wheels.This allows manufacturers to use the same platform, or car framework, for different types of vehicle bodies.

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer Says V-12 Engine Can Survive Another Decade – The Drive

The charismatic CEO on leaving a mark, why V-12s can survive another decade, and how America is saving the manual transmission. Getty Images Aston Martin was teetering on the edge. Decades of listless stewardship had rendered the British marque impotent—even 007 himself swapped his traditional armed DB for something built in Bavaria. Five years ago,… Continue reading Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer Says V-12 Engine Can Survive Another Decade – The Drive

Efacec supplying 90 350-kW chargers in Central Europe

Charging network operator Allego has chosen Efacec to supply and install 90 ultra-fast chargers in Central Europe over the next two years. This contract is part of a larger project from an Allego-led consortium to create an ultra-fast charging network in Europe. As part of the deal, Efacec will supply the HV350, a cooled-cable 350… Continue reading Efacec supplying 90 350-kW chargers in Central Europe

Another Chinese Company Plans A European Battery Gigafactory

SVOLT Energy Technology plans a 20 GWh battery factory in Europe, possibly for German/French manufacturers. SVOLT Energy Technology, which in 2018 became independent from Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor, intends to build five lithium-ion battery plants by 2025. According to the company’s presentation, those plants will have a total battery capacity of 100 GWh within… Continue reading Another Chinese Company Plans A European Battery Gigafactory

BMW moves some engine production out of UK over Brexit fears

BMW Manufacturing of engines destined for South Africa plant is switched to Germany Engine production at BMW’s Hams Hall plant near Birmingham in 2015. Photograph: BMW press office BMW has moved some of its engine production out of the UK because of Brexit uncertainty. The carmaker said it had switched manufacturing of engines destined for… Continue reading BMW moves some engine production out of UK over Brexit fears

Tesla CEO Elon Musk pours cold water on fans waiting for Model S, Model X refresh

Elon Musk, co-founder and chief executive officer of Tesla Motors.Yuriko Nakao | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesTesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter Monday night that the company is planning “a series of minor ongoing changes” for its older Model S and Model X vehicles, but not a major refresh.
Musk's declaration follows the departure of Tesla's former vice president of production, Peter Hochholdinger, who oversaw Model S and X manufacturing during his tenure there. Hochholdinger has joined Lucid Motors, a would-be Tesla competitor that plans to ship its first electric vehicle next year. Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson was previously the chief engineer of Tesla Model S.
In May, Tesla employees told CNBC the company was then planning a Model S refresh that would potentially include a 400-mile range battery — a goal that Musk later nodded to during a shareholders' meeting, although he didn't say it would be for the Model S — and could use Model 3 seats. They also said Tesla was rejiggering its Fremont, California, factory to make way for the refresh and for production of its upcoming Model Y crossover.
While plans for the Model S refresh have been reined in, changes at the Fremont plant are underway, according to a passel of new filings with the City of Fremont.
Specifically, the filings reveal that Tesla aims to overhaul its body-in-white and paint facilities and equipment in Fremont before embarking on its next phase of electric vehicle production.
Musk promised that Tesla would deliver between 90,000 and 100,000 vehicles for the second quarter of 2019, and this time, his forecasting was right on target with Tesla reporting deliveries of 95,200 cars to customers for the second quarter.
A Tesla Model S is displayed during the London Motor and Tech Show at ExCel on May 16, 2019 in London, England.John Keeble | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesWaxing optimistic about demand in its production and deliveries report last week, Tesla stated:
“Orders generated during the quarter exceeded our deliveries, thus we are entering Q3 with an increase in our order backlog. We believe we are well positioned to continue growing total production and deliveries in Q3.”
However, the company did not specify if “orders generated” included those for vehicles besides their Model 3, S and X. Tesla has already begun taking orders for its Model Y, which is a crossover SUV, and for its electric Semi. It has a Roadster refresh and Tesla pickup in the works, as well.
None are in commercial production yet.
On its existing lines, Tesla produced a record87,048 electric vehicles during the second quarter of 2019. Tesla's earlier record was in the fourth quarter of 2018, when it produced 86,555 vehicles.
Company executives have repeatedly stated that Tesla expects to deliver at least 360,000 vehicles to customers in 2019, meaning they have to deliver 201,650 to hit their own guidance in the second half of the year.
That will require production to ramp significantly beyond previous levels.
WATCH: Elon Musk says Tesla will have 'robotaxis' on the road by 2020
VIDEO1:2601:26Elon Musk says Tesla will have 'robotaxis' on the road by 2020The Bottom LineFollow @CNBCtech on Twitter for the latest tech industry news.

The new Mini Electric has been a decade in the making

It’s nearly a decade since the field trials of the Mini E prototype in the UK. Loaned to selected members of the public (as well as in other countries including the US and Germany), it was an experimental car that lost its rear seats to make way for a battery pack.  Much of BMW’s interest… Continue reading The new Mini Electric has been a decade in the making