Award given to Lotus for having “revolutionised and disrupted its sector” during the last year Ongoing enhancements to the brand, including new corporate identity and ‘For the Drivers’ tagline, singled out for praise Lotus CEO Phil Popham paid tribute to employees working tirelessly to take the brand to new levels of success (Hethel, UK –… Continue reading Tue 29 Oct 2019Lotus named as ‘Luxury Brand of the Year’ at prestigious Luxury Briefing Awards 2019Lotus has won the prestigious ‘Luxury Brand of the …
Tag: Aston Martin
New 2020 Aston Martin DBX: first undisguised spy shots
A fresh suite of images showing an uncamouflaged Aston Martin DBX have appeared on the Spanish website AutoPista, ahead of the car’s planned launch in early 2020. The pictures show the SUV’s styling in full, giving us our first look at its exterior brightwork and production-ready panelling. The styling of this leaked Aston Martin DBX… Continue reading New 2020 Aston Martin DBX: first undisguised spy shots
Car parts firm to shut with 125 jobs to be lost
A car parts firm has announced it will close in 2021, with the loss of about 125 jobs. Hi-Lex Cable System Company makes door and window parts and cables for cars at its plant on Baglan energy park. Management at the firm, which supplies Honda, Audi and BMW among others, said it did not anticipate… Continue reading Car parts firm to shut with 125 jobs to be lost
New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster set for 2020 arrival
Aston Martin has revealed the first official images of the new Vantage Roadster. The latest open-top Aston will go toe-to-toe with the Porsche 911 Cabriolet and the Audi R8 Spyder when it’s released in spring 2020. Ditching the coupe’s metal roof has altered the Vantage’s shape quite dramatically. Gone is the long, gentle slope of… Continue reading New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster set for 2020 arrival
Dyson cancels its electric car, refocuses remains toward solid-state batteries
Dyson, you might say, has gone back to the vacuum—and to many other things. But not cars.
In an update yesterday that now occupies what formerly was a teaser for the automotive project, James Dyson, the company’s founder, called the car they’d developed “fantastic,” yet explained that “though we have tried very hard throughout the development process, we simply cannot make it commercially viable.”
James Dyson
Dyson pointed to a decision by the company’s board to, as he put it, “propose the closure” of the project.
“I wanted you to hear directly from me that the Dyson Board has therefore taken the very difficult decision to propose the closure of our automotive project,” said Dyson, who added: “This is not a product failure, or a failure of the team, for whom this news will be hard to hear and digest. Their achievements have been immense—given the enormity and complexity of the project.”
The project had been a shocker from the start. The company, well-established for its vacuums, emerged two years ago with news that it was working in earnest on a complete electric car, one with solid-state battery technology, advanced materials, new motor tech, and innovative packaging.
Dyson Automotive Manufacturing facility – Singapore – rendering
Dyson drew executives from Aston Martin and Tesla, and just earlier this year poached Infiniti President Roland Keueger. The company was planning to build a huge test-track facility as well as an office building, specifically for the project, that could accommodate 2,000 people.
The company acquired solid-state battery tech company Sakti3, and then walked away from that technology in favor of another one it has reportedly developed internally. It was also working on its own motor technology, and its first product was shaping up to look a lot like a Tesla Model X rival, albeit with fewer frills.
Patent drawing for Dyson electric car due in 2021
James Dyson emphasized that it will continue to expand its facilities in Malmesbury, Hullavington, and Singapore, among others, which had all been linked to automotive operations.
“We will also concentrate on the formidable task of manufacturing solid state batteries and other fundamental technologies which we have identified: sensing technologies, vision systems, robotics, machine learning, and AI offer us significant opportunities which we must grab with both hands,” said Dyson.
Startup electric automakers: Be forewarned. It isn’t easy. But there might be some good solid-state battery opportunities, and motor designs available for licensing.
Dyson gives up making his electric car
James Dyson will not revolutionize the world of cars, and builders will always judge him high. The founder and boss of the group of household appliances announced Thursday in an email to employees of the group that he was putting an end to his project to build an electric car , launched two years ago.… Continue reading Dyson gives up making his electric car
Monday Morning Auto News, Oct 07, 2019
Monday Morning Auto News, Oct 07, 2019
Volvo and Geely to Merge Engine Operations in Electric Car Push – Bloomberg: Volvo and Geely to Merge Engine Operations in Electric Car Push Bloomberg
VW in talks to share its electric know-how – The Detroit News: Ford agreed earlier this year to use VW”s main electric-car platform for a high-volume car in Europe
Volvo and Geely to merge combustion-engine programmes – Autocar: Volvo engine New engine division will focus on hybrid development, while Volvo will push resour…
Week 4: As UAW GM strike takes its toll, workers vow they’re more committed than ever – Freep: Sounds of gospel music filled what was once the gymnasium in the old Gundry School, now a church with deep connections to GM’s factory workers.
Move to close training center emerges in midst of GM-UAW contract talks – Freep: Key issues remain on the table between GM and the UAW and one of those is the training center embroiled in part of a federal corruption probe.
Harley struggles to fire up new generation of riders with electric bike debut – CNBC: The bike costs nearly as much as a Tesla Model 3, and aims for a market that does not really exist: young, “green” and affluent first-time motorcyclists.
Mercedes-Benz sales soar to record on back of boost from China – FT: Mercedes-Benz sales soar to record on back of boost from China
Swedish EV firm NEVS to sell final new Saab 9-3 this month – Autocar: An unused crash test model from 2013 will be auctioned to raise funds for sustainable mobility res…
1964 Olympic cauldron returns ‘home’ to Saitama Pref. after touring disaster-hit areas – Mainichi: … diameter and weighs approximately 4 metric tons, was created by local metal worker Mannosuke Suzuki and his son Bungo, both now deceased.
Volvo, Geely to merge combustion engine operations – Reuters: Volvo, Geely to merge combustion engine operations Reuters
New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster: first images released – Autocar: V8-powered drop-top will take on the Porsche 911 Cabriolet with over 500bhp and a price tag around…
Analysis: How China is fuelling Volkswagen’s electric dream – Autocar: Volkswagen”s global ID models will be joined by China-only variants Volkswagen”s ambitious EV p…
Jobless claims up around U.S. amid GM strike – The Detroit News: As 46,000 walk picket lines outside GM facilities in 19 states, thousands laid off because of the strike are waiting for a call to return to work.
When harm comes from safety tech, what to do? – Automotive News: More than 800 motorists have lodged complaints about false positive incidents on Nissan Rogues with automated emergency braking systems.
FCA chief cleans up the messes of a legend – Automotive News: When Mike Manley was thrust into the role of CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in 2018 as his predecessor, Sergio Marchionne, lay dying, the …
V2X might speed progress on the road to autonomy – Automotive News: At the time, only Tesla appeared to be working towards “fake human” driving, by which I mean, relying on cameras/visible spectrum and using artificial …
Peugeot to ditch GTi badge? – Autocar: Peugeot to ditch GTi badge? NZ Autocar
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New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster: first images released
Aston Martin has released the first images of a new Vantage Roadster, in engineering prototype form, ahead of an expected launch in the coming months. The hardtop coupé variant of Aston’s Porsche 911 rival has been on sale in its current form since 2018, following its unveiling at the 2017 Los Angeles motor show, spearheading the… Continue reading New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster: first images released
Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer urged to shake up boardroom – The Times
Aston Martin is under pressure to shake up its board and bring in directors with more experience at listed companies after a disastrous first year on the stock market. The luxury car-maker’s shares have plunged 74% since it floated a year ago, hammered by weaker demand, supply-chain problems and a profit warning that exposed its… Continue reading Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer urged to shake up boardroom – The Times
Delphi teases 800V inverter for 2022 “high-performance vehicle”
Last week, in coordination with the Frankfurt auto show, Delphi Technologies announced it will be the first major supplier for the auto industry to produce an 800-volt inverter—a component that Delphi underscores is one of the enablers to allow 800-volt charging and effectively halve charging times compared to today’s 400-volt systems.
As Delphi outlines, with 800V systems, automakers have greater freedom, to either opt for smaller, lighter cables and connectors, harvest more power via regenerative braking, or go for ultra-fast charging.
And at least one more automaker is sold on it. Delphi says that it secured a $2.7 billion deal for volume production of the 800-volt inverter over 8 years with “a premier global OEM,” on the product launch of “a high-performance vehicle” in 2022.
Cadillac electric crossover SUV based on GM BEV3 modular platform
That brings up a long list of potential products. Some or all of the upcoming Porsche and Audi vehicles built around the Volkswagen Group’s premium electric (PPE) platform are expected to be 800-volt, and Hyundai’s Genesis electric luxury cars are expected to be built around an 800-volt architecture. GM’s BEV3 platform is expected to launch in a Cadillac, with premium EVs from Mercedes-Benz expected as well.
In electric cars, the inverter is the component that changes the direct current (DC) from the battery to alternating current (AC) to be used by the motor system. Although the battery pack is by far the most expensive component in electric cars, the inverter is one of the runners-up.
Delphi Technologies 800V inverter
Delphi’s component employs silicon carbide MOSFET semiconductors from the specialist company Cree. Delphi says its Viper power switch together with that helped create a product that is 40 percent lighter and 30 percent more compact than comparable inverters.
Porsche led one of the turning points toward 800V technology. It opted, in 2015, to undertake the development of an inverter, power systems, wiring harnesses, and various accessories all in-house because they didn’t exist then from so-called Tier 1 suppliers.
Outside of the very limited Aston Martin Rapide E and fully electric racing—in Formula E, most notably—800V tech has seen little implementation so far.
That’s clearly now due to change. Even electric-truck hopeful Rivian told Green Car Reports last year that it has conceived its 400V platform for a future 800V upgrade, likely around 2022.
Based on announcements such as this from Delphi, it’s safe to say that the change to 800V is happening—from the top of the market down, because it’s more expensive—and possibly a lot faster than previously anticipated.