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Peugeot’s first FCEV is ready: the e-Expert Hydrogen van

Joris Van Roy Posted On December 21, 2021

Last week the first hydrogen-powered Peugeot has rolled off the production lines: the e-Expert Hydrogen van. The latter is the peer of the Opel Vivaro-e and the Citroën Jumpy on hydrogen light vans that get fuel cells from Symbio, the joint venture between Faurecia and Michelin. The vehicles combine a fuel cell and a battery to offer a range of more than 400 km.

The Peugeot e-Expert Hydrogen is based upon the electric version of the van. The latter is built first at the Hordain-site (Nord, Hauts de France) and finished in Germany at the Opel’s Russelsheim site, which has become Stellantis’ competence center for hydrogen.

Michelin startup

The first vehicles will be delivered to Michelin’s startup Watèa providing a subscription model that offers fleet owners a subscription model for zero-emission vehicles and a complete ecosystem of services. The FCEV van is deliverable in two versions, Standard and Long, with the same 6,1 m³ load capacities as its diesel siblings and haulage capacity of 1 000 kg.

The Peugeot e-Expert Hydrogen gets a 10,5 kWh lithium-ion battery, which allows driving 50 km on pure battery power and can be plugged in to charge like the BEV version. The battery, situated under the front seats, can deliver dynamic peak power when required, for example, at start-up, and under acceleration.

Increased range

The most significant advantage of the fuel cell version is an increased range of more than 400 km and the possibility to refuel in less than three minutes. The battery-electric version offers ranges of 230 km (50 kW battery) or 330 km (75 kW), respectively.

Energy / Mobility / Product / Top Stories Today

The perfect car for the ‘urban jungle’?

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 21, 2021

We don’t know yet if it’s completely serious, but Citroën continues to reshape its small electric city car, Ami. There’s already a cargo variant and now it’s getting an off-road look. It’s unclear whether Citroën wants to produce the Offroad Ami or if they are testing the waters.

Many car manufacturers have already referred in their marketing blabla to the so-called ‘urban jungle’, usually to defend that their SUV, in contrast with many competitors, is suitable for city streets. However, this version of the tiny Citroën Ami could well be the ultimate answer to the ‘problem’.

Not a car

The concept shown by Citroën has been named My Ami Buggy Concept. It has rough tires and a panoramic roof but no doors. The latter is not considered a handicap but stands for “completely liberated” in today’s marketing communications.

Samuel Pericles, the designer of My Ami Buggy, sees it as follows: “My Ami Buggy is a proposition in line with the philosophy of Ami, which is not a car. Therefore, we have looked for inspiration in the world of construction games for the fun and functional side and industrial design for ergonomics and aesthetics.”

After short consideration, Citroën may as well start offering the Ami. The micro EV has found some success in sales and is now also offered in an Opel-renamed version in Germany, for example.

The Ami is particularly attractive due to its low price point. Gross sales prices start from €6 000+ or a monthly leasing rate of €19,99. As mentioned, there’s already a cargo version set for launch in 2022 in the UK and other markets. So will the urban jungle finally also be conquered?

Industry / Product / Public transport / Top Stories Today

NMBS/SNCB orders 98 new double-deck carriages from Alstom

Hilde Van Raemdonck Posted On December 21, 2021

Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB has ordered 98 additional M7 double-deck vehicles from French train manufacturer Alstom. The order is part of a general agreement signed in 2015 for the delivery of 1 362 M7 carriages of which NMBS/SNCB already ordered 747.

The M7 carriages will be assembled at Alstom in Bruges, on the former site of Bombardier, and in Valenciennes (France). The knowledge center in Charleroi is responsible for the traction system and the national and European signaling systems.

€268 investment

The double-deck trains can reach a speed of 200 km per hour max, and comply with the new ETCS safety system, the European standard for the safety of trains. They’re also compatible with the existing M5 and M6 double-deck trains. The new order represents a €268 million investment.

The new generation of double-decker trains, or ‘M7’ for short, offers more comfort to passengers and is equipped with the latest software and extra safety provisions. The ceilings in the new double-deckle trains, with a powerful engine that runs smoothly over two hundred km/hour, are higher.

More space for bicycles and baby buggies

In December last year, NMB/SNCB announced an order of 200 additional M7 double-deck carriages from Bombardier in Bruges. At that time, the production site in Bruges was building 355 M7 carriages, of which some 40 were already delivered.

There’s more room for luggage, and the new carriages will pay more attention to passengers with limited mobility like wheelchair users. 130 of the carriages will be ‘autonomously accessible’. Another 68 carriages would offer space for bicycles and baby buggies. The first deliveries of that order were planned for 2024 and represented a €450 million investment.

Environment / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today / Transport / Weekly Newsletter

Nikola delivers its first battery-electric Tre trucks in US

Joris Van Roy Posted On December 21, 2021

American electric truckmaker Nikola has finally delivered its first two battery-electric Tre trucks in the US in a pilot project with Southern California trucking company Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI) at the Los Angeles harbor. Two FCEV trucks for the project are to follow later. Nikola’s Tre truck is basically a European-built Iveco.

This is the first tangible result in the US for the much-hyped start-up founded by now 39-year-old Trevor Milton, who had to step down in September 2020, as he and his company got caught in a storm accused of fraud and misleading investors. Last year was rather one of losing one ‘mega deal’ after another.

TTSI operates a fleet of about 2 000 trucks in the Port of Los Angeles, with major retailers such as Amazon and Target as clients. It wants to add 30 more battery-electric trucks next year, followed by 70 fuel cell trucks later in 2023.

California: zero-emission trucks for all ports

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed in September 2020 an executive order that all heavy-duty trucks transporting containers to and from California ports must be 100% zero-emission by 2035. In the Port of LA alone, 12 000 freight trucks are operating today.

The BEV Nikola Tre features a 480 kW (645 hp) motor and 753 kWh battery capacity, providing it with a range of 350 miles (563 km). The FCEV is projected to have a 500-mile range (804 km).

Built in Ulm with Iveco

The Nikola Tre, initially meant for Europe, is based on Iveco’s S-WAY platform and is jointly produced with Nikola in Ulm, Germany. The site in Ulm is Iveco’s chassis engineering hub that is to become ‘a leading hub for fuel-cell technology’ of the group. Nikola delivers the electric drivetrain for the truck.

According to a previous press release, the initial Nikola Tre for the US customers is produced in Germany. Nikola’s production plant in Coolidge, Arizona, is still under construction. Yet it started the first pre-series production of Nikola Tre BEVs, to be ramped up to 2 400 trucks a year in 2022, and 20 000 in 2023.

Fuel cells from Bosch or GM

The hydrogen version of the Tre will follow in 2023, using for Europe the S3 fuel cell stacks developed by Bosch with Swedish PowerCell. Bosch used to have a 6,4 percent share in Nikola but reduced it to 4,9% later when the media storm took share prices down.

Eventually, General Motors would work with Nikola supplying its Hydrolec fuel cell systems and eventually its Ultium battery systems for the BEV trucks in the US. But since the intended mega-deal with GM smashed to smithereens, it remains relatively silent except for a new letter of intent for delivering fuel cells, which is still under review.

Mega-deal canceled

In December last year, General Motors announced its withdrawal from the mega-deal with Nikola to become a shareholder and co-develop and build the latter’s Badger pickup. As that project was only viable with an established carmaker’s help, Nikola decided to ditch the Badger and refund people who preordered it.

In that deal, General Motors was to get an 11% ($2 billion) equity stake in newly issued common stock from Nikola in exchange for specific in-kind contributions. Those would have started with the engineering, homologating, validating, and manufacturing of the Nikola Badger pickup.

Ultium batteries

And this would come both as a battery-electric (BEV) and fuel cell (FCEV) version. The final version of the Nikola Badger was initially to make its public debut between December 3 and 5, at the Nikola World 2020 event in Arizona, where the company is based, but never materialized.

The deal with GM also would extend to Nikola’s Class 7/8 heavy-duty semi-trucks, with GM supplying its Hydrotec fuel cell technology and Ultium batteries for the Nikola One, Nikola Two, and Nikola Tre (outside of Europe), and the electric off-roader NZT. The trucks’ battery-electric versions should become available in 500 kWh, 750 kWh, and 1 000 kWh configurations.

25 BEV Tre trucks for Hamburg

Later that month, Nikola started to further slide down the slope after announcing that a mega-deal for 2 500 battery-electric garbage trucks was abandoned. Nikola would develop refuse trucks based on the electric Tre for Republic Services, one of America’s biggest waste collection companies, with an option of up to 5 000 units later.

There was some good news for Nikola in Europe, though, as it could announce in September of this year a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Hamburg Port Authority in Germany to deliver 25 BEV Tre trucks in 2022.

Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

NIO’s ET5 sedan to take on Tesla Model 3 and BMW 3 in China

Joris Van Roy Posted On December 20, 2021

Chinese electric carmaker NIO has presented its most affordable model so far, the ET5 sedan, at the NIO Days in Suzhou, Shangai’s neighboring city. The 4,7 m full electric, all-wheel-drive sedan with a range of choice between 550 and 1 000 km and the swappable battery will sell over there at 328 000 yuan (€45 572).

By renting the 75 kWh battery at 980 yuan (€136) monthly, the list price drops to 258 000 yuan (€35 846) for the basic model. NIO already started selling in Norway this year but announced to expand in Europe to the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark next year. By 2025 it wants to be present in 25 countries and regions worldwide.

Appealing design

The NIO ET is a sleek-looking sedan with a drag coefficient as low as 0.24, featuring a complete glass roof and almost the same specifications as the company’s flagship ET7. NIO’s fifth production model has an appealing design for Western buyers.

No wonder, as the design team in Münich is staffed with people who earned their ‘wings’ with Daimler and BMW like Director External Design Oliver Samson and Vice-President of Design Kris Tomasson. Being Head of Exterior Design for BMW i at that time, the latter joined NIO in 2015 to set up the Munich design center.

Tesla Model 3 challenger

Being just slightly longer than the Tesla Model 3 or the popular BMW 3-Series and with a price tag that can compete both with the electric competition like Xpeng’s P7 or Geely’s Zeekr 01, as the classic ICE (Brilliance) BMW 3 or Audi A4 in China.

With its 75 kWh battery pack, the ET5 equals the range (556 km) of Tesla’s basic Model 3 (550 km), both according to the new CLTC standard, China’s light-duty vehicle test cycle. The latter is roughly 19% more ‘optimistic than the former NEDC.

Ranges up to 1 000 km (CLTC)

But with the 100 kWh long-range battery pack, the ET5 promises a (CLTC) range of over 700 km and with a 150 kWh battery which is to come later, even more than 1 000. Prices for the 100 kWh version start at 386 000 yuan (€53 630) or with the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) formula at 258 000 yuan (€35 846) with a rental fee for the battery of 1 480 yuan (€205) per month.

In China and in Europe, starting in Norway, NIO batteries are owned and leased by the new third-party battery asset management company, called Weineng Battery Asset Company that was set up with China’s biggest battery manufacturer, CATL. As a result, consumers can have their battery pack swapped and upgrade or downgrade to different packs (70, 100, or 150 kWh) as needed.

NIO has acquired CE & TÜV certifications for the NIO Power Swap Station, its DC Power Charger up to 180kW, and NIO’s AC wall box called ‘Power Home’. As a result, it now can roll out its battery-swapping service and charging infrastructure in all EU member states, starting with four stations in Norway.

So far, NIO has already installed more than 700 swapping stations in China and expects, by the end of 2022, to have in total over 1 300 Power Swap stations.

Industry / Mobility / Product / Sharing / Top Stories Today / Weekly Newsletter

Crédit Agricole and Stellantis create new big player in operational leasing

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 20, 2021

The Crédit Agricole daughter C.A. Consumer Finance and car manufacturer Stellantis have decided to make their partnership evolve and together create a pan-European leader in operational leasing. In addition, C.A. Consumer Finance would take over 100% of the capital of FCA Bank and Leasys Rent, with the ambition of making it a Europe-wide player in car financing, leasing, and mobility.

Over the past 15 years, C.A. Consumer Finance and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have jointly developed a significant player in automotive financing: FCA Bank. In the wake of the merger between FCA and PSA to form Stellantis, CA Consumer Finance and Stellantis have entered into exclusive negotiations to redefine the focus of their cooperation.

Top five

C.A. Consumer Finance and Stellantis would create a pan-European leasing company bringing together Leasys (314 000 managed vehicles as of year-end 2020), the leasing subsidiary of FCA Bank, and the market leader in Italy, and Free2Move Lease (369 000 operated vehicles as of year-end 2020). This leasing business has historically covered the PSA brands.

This exclusive partnership between C.A. Consumer Finance and Stellantis would allow them to become one of the top five players in Europe immediately. This new multi-brand leasing joint venture, equally owned by C.A. Consumer Finance and Stellantis, would serve all customers, both companies and individuals, in ten European countries.

The Leasys leasing platform would be the foundation on which this new player would be created, with the contribution of Free2Move Lease, drawing on the teams’ professionalism and expertise. The two partners aim to develop a fleet of over one million vehicles by the end of 2026.

Stéphane Priami, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole S.A. and CEO of C.A. Consumer Finance, explained: “This new player would serve the Crédit Agricole Group’s ambition to take key positions in car leasing activity, the fastest-growing segment with the greatest potential in the automobile market which is undergoing a profound change and facing evolving habits.”

“It would also contribute to Crédit Agricole’s strategic plan by meeting customers’ need for simplicity through an all-inclusive and innovative offer, and by supporting them in their energy transition through easier access to more environmentally friendly vehicles,” he added.

New Europe-wide player

In parallel, C.A. Consumer Finance would launch a Europe-wide player in car financing, leasing, and mobility by assuming a 100% ownership of FCA Bank and Leasys Rent.

This new entity would have three main development areas: the consolidation of the white label agreements and joint ventures currently managed by FCA Bank, and the gain of new ones; the pursuit of new agreements with all other players in the market (dealers, distribution groups, rental companies, etc.) in markets such as passenger vehicles, utility cars, motorbikes, leisure cars; and the short-term rental, subscription and mobility activities currently operated under the Leasys Rent brand in Europe, with more than 500 Mobility Stores¹ all of which offer electric charging stations.

C.A. Consumer Finance aims to make this company one of the leading players in the market in Europe, mainly through modern and innovative solutions and white label offers, with a target of € 10 billion in outstandings by 2026.

In 2023

The relevant agreements between Stellantis, Crédit Agricole S.A., and its subsidiary C.A. Consumer Finance could be signed in the first quarter of 2022 upon completing the information and consultation procedures with staff representative bodies regarding this plan.

The proposed transactions should be completed during the first half of 2023 once the required authorization has been obtained from the relevant anti-trust authorities and market regulators.

Private lease is booming

“Long-term renting and leasing is going to develop; we’re all sure of that,’ confirms Priami. “People will move from car possession to car use. Electrification also plays a role here. People will hesitate to actually buy more expensive electric vehicles.”

Long-term renting or leasing was already preferred for a long time by companies; now, there is a growing number of individual buyers getting attracted by private leases. A survey in France by the ICDP cabinet recently underlined that the car dealer of tomorrow would deliver more and more leased vehicles. The number of leased cars would almost double in the Hexagone by 2025.

Meanwhile, the big players are organizing themselves. A few months ago, ALD Automotive (a daughter of Société Générale) and LeasePlan (Europe’s number one in leasing) were sniffling at each other in view of extended collaboration.

Another big player, Arval (a BNP Paribas daughter), saw his fleet grow by 6,4% in 2020, despite the pandemic, and now has a fleet of 1 381 555 vehicles. “Our objective in the long term is to compete with those giants,” concludes Priami. “We want to take our place in an activity where we weren’t sufficiently present yet.”

Energy / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today / Weekly Newsletter

Ford wants to build 600 000 EVs by the end of 2023 (update)

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 17, 2021

Ford has revealed a few more details about its updated projection to achieve an electric vehicle production of 600 000 units annually within 24 months (by the end of 2023).

As we understand, it does not mean 600 000 BEV produced globally in 2023, but that the rate, at least in December 2023, will be at 50 000 BEVs per month.

The high demand for electric cars has prompted the company to reconsider its strategy and instead of launching more models, first improve the availability of the existing ones. Key models in this strategy are the Mustang Mach-E and the F 150 Lightning pickup.

Mustang Mach-E

Ford has announced a significant increase in production for its all-electric Mustang Mach-E. By 2023, Ford wants to achieve an annual output of more than 200 000 units of the electric car. That would be three times as many as were produced in 2021.

“It’s hard to produce the Mustang Mach-E fast enough to meet the incredible demand, but we are sure going to try,” CEO JimFarley wrote on Twitter. He was citing a production target of ‘200 000+ units’ for 2023.

This is for North America and Europe only, meaning production from the Cuautitlan plant in Mexico. For China, the Mustang Mach-E is built locally with joint venture partner Changan, so these vehicles are not counted in Farley’s statements.

F-150 Lightning

According to Jim Farley, Ford’s new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (part of the Ford Rouge Center) in Dearborn, Michigan, was expected to produce 80 000 units of the F-150 Lightning pickup per year in 2024 (up from 40 000 previously).

But considering the demand (close to 200 000 reservations, frozen for the moment but soon an open order bank) it’s not enough. Currently, Ford plans to double the Ford F-150 Lightning output again at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, which will require a significant investment (a couple hundred million) for a bigger building. As we understand, the new target is now 160 000 annually.

600 000 in 2024?

If one starts adding up the numbers, 160 000 Ford F-150 Lightning and 200 000 Ford Mustang Mach-E, plus some noticeable five-digit number for the Ford E-Transit (produced separately in North America and Europe), it will probably exceed 400,000.

Then there is Ford’s EV project in Europe, based on the Volkswagen MEB platform (at least one car). The first model – a small crossover/SUV is expected in 2023. This European electrification plan assumes 600 000 MEB-based EVs over six years, starting in 2023, which indicates 100 000 per year on average.

Postpone other EVs?

In order to create the capacities in Cuautitlan for the increased Mach-E numbers, Ford apparently has to adjust the production planning for the Mexican plant.

According to information from the specialized magazine Automotive News, the US manufacturer apparently wants to withdraw the planned production of two electric SUV series from Mexico. The all-electric Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator are to be built at another location yet to be determined. This could be significantly later than originally planned, late 2024 instead of mid-2023.

Automotive News refers to a Ford document that was apparently sent to suppliers. The models developed under the code names CDX746 and CDX747 are to go into series production as the U759 and U760, with a planned start of production in December 2024.

The new planning for the two electric SUVs had been foreshadowed: Lisa Drake, COO Ford North America, had already spoken about the considerations in an interview last week. “We had previously contemplated building an additional electric vehicle down there in Cuautitlan but our first priority right now is to scale production of the Mach-E given that demand,” Drake said.

“Our production system is very flexible by design, and we’ll utilize multiple North American plants as we build out our future North American line-up,” she added. The Ford executive did not hint at where the Explorer and Aviator might be built.

Battery production

While Ford is apparently optimistic about having enough batteries for the significant production expansion of the Mustang Mach-E (the cells are made by LGES in Poland), battery shortage is the reason for the temporary reservation freeze on the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup.

“We’ll get the semiconductors, that’s a matter of prioritizing the battery-electric vehicles over the internal combustion engine vehicles,” Farley told US broadcaster CNBC. “The issue is batteries. That’s what we have to solve.”

Ford plans to use cells from SK Innovation for the F-150 Lightning, to be produced at a factory in the US state of Georgia. In the meantime, Ford and SKI have agreed to set up a battery joint venture, BlueOvalSK, with a production capacity of 60 GWh. However, the production of its own battery cells will not start before 2025 – until then Ford will have to rely on purchased cells.

Meanwhile, in the US, Ford has raised the price of the Mustang Mach-E by $1 000 to $3 000, depending on the variant, as part of the move to the 2022 model year.

Energy / Europe / Industry / Product / Technology / Top Stories Today / Weekly Newsletter

Lightyear wants an affordable solar car by 2025

Piet Andries Posted On December 17, 2021

Is it driving on sunshine for less than € 30 000 within a few years? That’s the new target for Dutch start-up Lightyear, a specialist in solar cars. The news breaks shortly after the company secured the necessary fundings for its pioneering car, the One (pictured above), which will be offered for a retail price of about € 150 000.

It seems that the brand wants to move fast into the mass market since the more affordable car is set to go on sale in 2024 or 2025 at the latest. Due to the woos concerning chip shortage, the company doesn’t want to get hooked on a precise date.

By subscription

The plans about the new car were referred to when the directors of the company announced a commercial deal with Dutch leasing and fleet company LeasePlan this week. The latter ordered a batch of 5 000 models of the forthcoming Lightyear Two. They will be offered to its customers on a monthly subscription basis. It is referred to as the first solar subscription service worldwide.

Not too many details on the cheaper model were released. But it is clear that it will be based on the technology of the One, which is being prepared for assembly by Valmet in Finland.

Very frugal

The Lightyear One, which will be in Leaseplan’s portfolio as well, is a trailblazer in aerodynamics (a path that is also followed by Mercedes with the soon to be unveiled EQXX). It has a long sweeping roofline, a surface that is maximized for capturing solar energy while reducing drag at the same time. The hood is also completely covered with solar panels, amounting to 5 square metres in total.

According to the official statement, the One can cover 725 kilometers (WLTP) on a single charge. It has in-wheel electric motors on every corner. The specifications don’t mention the size of the battery pack, but it is supposed to be significantly smaller than usual. Due to its streamlined design, the One has a very frugal consumption of no more than 8,3 kWh per 100 kilometers, according to WLTP.

Lightyear says the panels are sufficient to cover the daily commute of the majority of European drivers and claims you can drive for months without charging.

TIME Magazine

Lightyear was founded in 2016 by alumni of Solar Team Eindhoven. As students, the company members competed in four World Solar Challenges, of which they won three. Next to their cars, Lightyear also produces solar roofs for automotive applications. They tested them on Teslas, for example.

Two years ago, the Lightyear One was heralded by TIME Magazine as one of the “100 Best Inventions.” In 2020, Lightyear won the “Rising Star” and “Most Disruptive Innovator” Award of the Technology Fast 50 program organized by Deloitte.

Energy / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

Audi invests € 18 billion in EVs

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 17, 2021

According to the newest planning round, Audi wants to invest € 18 billion in electrification alone from 2022 to 2026. In the planning round a year ago, Audi had put the investment in electrification for the years 2021 to 2025 at € 15 billion.

The Ingolstadt company always concludes its planning round shortly after the VW Group. Last week, the mother holding decided to invest € 89 billion in future technologies such as electromobility and digitalization. For the first time, these future technologies account for more than half of the total investments in the Group.

A direct comparison with Audi is difficult. While the Group had summarised the future technologies, Audi highlights the investments in electrification and hybridization with € 18 billion, without digitalization. With € 37 billion in total investments in R&D and production machinery until 2026, electrification now accounts for 48%.

20 electric models in 2025

On the way to a full-electric future – the last combustion engine is to be sold in 2033 – Audi has issued a new interim target. By 2025, the company wants to have more than 20 fully electric models in its range.

However, this figure has to be considered with precaution. The Q4 e-tron and the Q4 e-tron Sportback count as independent models, as do the Audi e-tron GT and the Audi RS e-tron GT, for example.

“The current round of planning reflects our accelerated future trajectory, says Audi CFO Jürgen Rittersberger. “Based on this investment planning, the focus of our advance payments until 2026 is quite clearly on consistently implementing the roadmap with a comprehensive product offensive of fully and partially electric models.

“The rate of change in our society is rapidly increasing,” adds Audi CEO Markus Duesmann. “For that reason, we are accelerating our transformation to climate-neutral mobility. For us, a sustainable business model is quite clearly a matter of approach and responsibility.”

In the statement, Audi also mentions its increasing investments in charging infrastructure. It refers to expanding the Ionity network from 1 500 to 7 000 HPC points by 2025. By 2030, Audi wants to sell 3 million cars; last year, it sold some 1,7 million.

Energy / Industry / Opinion / Product / Top Stories Today

BMW i7 is next BEV to come

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 16, 2021

The development of the BMW i7 is entering its final phase with a test program under extreme road and weather conditions. The electric motors, all-wheel drive, and high-voltage battery prove their performance and reliability under maximum loads. The car is currently tested in the world’s extreme weather regions.

Currently, it’s primarily hot-region testing that takes place on test tracks and public roads all over the world. The development engineers “primarily verify the performance and reliability of the electric motors, the all-wheel-drive, and the high-voltage battery under maximum stress due to high temperatures, unpaved roads, dust generation, and large differences in altitude,” says a press release.

Endurance

For example, this involves mountain driving with trailers and a downhill drive with a fully charged drive battery that can no longer absorb recuperation energy. The most extreme scenarios for energy management and power electronics are simulated to see where the limits are and where remaining bugs have to be cured.

The endurance tests in the heat are not only intended to test the powertrain components, as fundamental faults so close to the presentation would be an enormous challenge but, above all, to safeguard them.

The components of the fifth generation of e-drives at BMW have already undergone numerous test drives, as they are already used in the iX3, iX, and i4. Nevertheless, for each vehicle model, it must be tested anew whether cooling and durability are also given with the respective arrangement of the components – hence the tests at extremely high outside temperatures, permanent sunlight, and dryness.

Life cycle simulated

“Within a firmly defined test program for the prototypes, loads are simulated that correspond to the challenges faced by a production vehicle during a complete product life cycle,” BMW explains.

“Supported by sensitive measurement technology onboard, experienced test engineers register every reaction of the electric motors, the high-voltage battery, the drive control, and the integrated cooling system as well as the charging technology and energy management to weather and road-related influences.”

Besides the electric and drive components, other parts such as the onboard electronics or the air-conditioning system are, of course, also tested during hot-landing trials. In addition, the developers can once again check the behavior of the materials used in the interior.

The hot and the cold

Some weeks ago, BMW had already published pictures and impressions of the winter testing of the i7 in Arjeplog, Sweden. It is equally important to know everything about the cold behavior of the drive components and especially the electric parts, also particularly sensitive to extreme cold.

At the same time, work was also carried out there on tuning the drive and suspension systems. According to BMW, the development engineers can “fine-tune the control systems particularly sensitively” on the large patches of ice and snow-covered roads with low grip.

When all goes well, BMW hopes to launch the purely electric i7 in 2022 together with other model variants of the new BMW 7 Series. In the press release, the i7 is announced as the only full-electric luxury sedan. Indeed, rival Mercedes doesn’t have a pure electric version of its recent S Class, but the statement completely denies the presence of the EQS, already on the market. Apparently, the people at BMW don’t consider the latter as a luxury machine. We think they are mistaken.

Product / Technology / Top Stories Today

Mercedes-AMG’s electric top-sedan open for ordering

Joris Van Roy Posted On December 16, 2021

Mercedes-Benz has opened in Germany ordering for its AMG electric flagship, the EQS 53 4MATIC+, for prices starting at 152 546,10 euros. And that’s only the beginning as “numerous options allow prospective customers to equip the all-electric sports saloon very individually”. In Belgium, prices, which will be higher, without doubt, will be revealed next week.

To ‘ease the pain’ of the list price for the owners of this electric AMG, charging is free for the first year with ‘Mercedes me Charge’ at any IONITY fast-charging station in Europe. But with a WLTP range of 529 to 586 km, you’ll get a long way unless you’re using the total 560 kW (750 hp) potential too enthusiastic. Then the 23,9-21,5 kWh/100 km WLTP combined consumption figures won’t apply.

AMG Sound Experience

The car has AMG-specific electric motors at the front and rear axles and a fully-variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive. It is equipped with rear-axle steering as standard. Those missing the classic V8 performance sound in an electric vehicle can set the ‘AMG Sound Experience’ to two flavors: ‘authentic’ or ‘performance’. The sound system creates a unique sound with the help of special speakers, a bass actuator, and a sound generator.

With the basic version, you have a total electrical output of 484 kW (658 hp) and a whopping 950 Nm under your right foot. With the optional Dynamic Plus package, the maximum output increases to 560 kW (761 hp) in ‘Race Start mode with boost function’. At that moment, torque is 1 020 Nm.

Four-tenths of a second

For that extra money, you’ll win four-tenths of a second in sprint time from 0 to 100 km/hour being 3,4 seconds instead of 3,8 seconds. Not bad for a car that weighs 2 655 kg. And AMG allows you to go all the way to 250 km/hour (limited) instead of 220 in the standard version.

At the wheel, you have the choice of five driving modes: ‘Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual’. That sets parameters such as drive and performance characteristics, suspension settings, steering, AMG Dynamics, and AMG Sound Experience modified to suit the selected driving mode.

Charging in 19 minutes

The high-voltage battery has a usable energy content of 107,8 kWh and, says AMG, contains only 10% cobalt as a ‘major advance in sustainability’. According to the official internal specs, charging can be done at up to 204 kW DC, which should allow you to ‘top off’ the battery in 19 minutes.

EV-database.com foresees 32 minutes to charge from a 57 to a 452 km range. Charging at home on an 11 kW wall box should take you instead 11 hours and 45 minutes to go from zero to 565 km range.

Numerous options

And for those who still have some money to spend, the possible options to individualize the car are numerous. Besides the Dynamic Plus Package already mentioned, you can opt for the AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system on the front axle for shorter brake distances, for instance.

A virtual ‘track engineer’, called AMG Track Pace, is a software package that permanently records more than 80 vehicle-specific data. It lets you set track record times, indicating in green or red whether you’re improving your driving style or not in the next lap.

Legislation / Mobility / Product / Road safety / Top Stories Today / Weekly Newsletter

Smartphone manipulation by driver becomes third degree offense

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 15, 2021

The Mobility Commission of the Belgian federal Parliament has given the green light for more stringent rules (and higher fines) concerning the use of electronic devices (like smartphones) behind the wheel.

“The current legislation dates back to the pre-smartphone era,” says MP Joris Vandenbroucke (Vooruit). “We definitely have to actualize the definition in the highway code.”

30+ deadly victims

How many people die in traffic due to (mis)manipulation of the smartphone is not really known. Some very conservative estimations speak of 30 deaths; others say at least 50 and probably even more. In addition, at least 2 500 people get injured through these device-related accidents.

The rules to regulate this matter are born in a time when everyone had a Nokia 3310,” says MP Jef Van den Bergh (CD&V). That’s why he has elaborated with MP Vandenbroucke a new legislative proposal to regulate things better.

One talks about a ‘mobile device with a screen’ in the new regulations. A driver is not allowed to “use, hold or manipulate” such a device while driving. Just holding it in hand is already an offense, even when it isn’t used.

At the same time, it’s not allowed to keep such a device in your lap or to put it on the dashboard, central console, or passenger seat. “The phone, iPad, or whatever must be clicked in a holding device,” explains Vandenbroucke. “Using your smartphone as a GPS and putting it in your lap or on the passenger seat is not permitted.”

Third-degree

As of now, an infringement of these new rules will be considered an offense of the third degree, meaning that the fine to be paid will rise from € 116 to € 174 for a single offense. According to Vandenbroucke, “the tens of deaths caused by smartphone use are a good reason to strengthen the rules.”

The proposal has been voted positively in the Mobility Commission. All governmental parties and the N-VA voted in favor, PVDA voted against it, and Vlaams Belang abstained. The proposal must be ratified in a plenary session to become official. The plan is that it will come into effect in March of 2022.

Energy / Environment / Hydrogen / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

Has Toyota yielded in favor of EVs?

Piet Andries Posted On December 15, 2021

On a podium floor flooded with EVs, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda addressed the media on Tuesday to outline the new EV plans of his company. The Japanese car manufacturer is accelerating its efforts.

A boosted total investment of 8 trillion yen (€31 billion) is foreseen to get 30 EV models in the overall line-up by 2030. On top of that, Lexus turns fully electric by then (at least in North America, Europe, and China).

Previously announced targets were 15 Toyota and Lexus models with battery power by 2025. Doubling that amount in the showroom means that the group’s plants will assemble 3,5 million BEV cars, roughly 30% of Toyota’s global production, by 2030.

Impressive line-up

Toyoda was flanked by more than a dozen EV models in his showroom of the future. They ranged from city cars, small LCV models for last-mile solutions, SUVs, a baby Land Cruiser, a zero-emission successor to the MR2, and even a Lexus sports car that seemed to be the LFA of times to come, which Toyoda confirmed. Impressive is the least you could say.

Far from every car was presented in detail. Officially, it was only announced that the bZ4x would get a little brother. While Lexus will get its own version of the bZ4x, called the RZ.

No binding agreements

With an “EV for everyone” on show, one would think that the Japanese car manufacturer has finally yielded in favor of the electric car. Initially, it took a rather lukewarm stance in the matter. For example, the company turned down several invitations for signing a binding agreement on a ban for producing ICE cars.

But even now, a closer look unveils that the ICE technology isn’t vanishing for the biggest car manufacturer in the world. The most important carmakers are aiming at 50% BEV production in 2030. Not a third, like Toyota.

In his speech, Toyoda explained: “It is not us but local markets and our customers who decide which options to choose. As for why we try to keep so many options, in terms of business management, one might think it’d be more efficient to focus on fewer choices.”

Developing continents

In contrast to a rival like Volkswagen, Toyota’s business experiences a more substantial exposure in developing countries that will struggle decisively more with the energy transition. For those regions, it wants to hold on to internal combustion engines, although in more advanced versions than today.

And there will be multiple hybrid options, too, of course. Bear in mind that this is also one of the reasons why Lexus will be only fully electric in certain parts of the world by 2030.

Keep the workforce

More precisely, Toyota also still intends to invest in the hydrogen conversion of ICE, next to e-fuels. As such, it can make old-school technology emission-free and, more importantly, keep a significant amount of the workforce on board that has been working with conventional engines in the past.

Toyota is not the only Japanese car manufacturer to persist in developing the internal combustion engine. Mazda, Subaru, Yamaha, and Kawasaki joined in the plans as well.

Energy / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

BMW plans increased involvement in China

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 15, 2021

The BMW Group is planning a more extensive involvement in China. According to a media report, there will be an increase in shares in the BMW-Brilliance joint venture and several electrified models. However, unlike the iX3, those newcomers won’t be built for the global market.

The German newspaper Handelsblatt, referring to group circles, says that the group wants to exercise an option in the first quarter of 2022 that secures it a further 25% in the Chinese joint venture with Brilliance for €3,6 billion.

BMW already held 50% of BMW-Brilliance and was one of the first to take advantage of the fact that the Chinese authorities now admit foreign companies having a larger stake than 49% in Chinese (co-owned) companies.

Two important models

BMW is also preparing the production of two important models in China. First of all, the production of the X5. This large SUV, currently built at the US plant in Spartanburg (also as a PHEV), will be partly relocated to China.

The BMW XM recently presented as a powerful PHEV concept from the company’s sporty M-daughter is to be built there in return to keep the Spartanburg plant working at full capacity. However, whether the aggressively designed super-SUV will be able to compensate for the lost volumes of the X5 is considered relatively unlikely.

The reason for this move has to be the high demand for the X5 in China. With local production, BMW wants to be able to adapt the model series to Chinese requirements better.

The second new model to be produced over there, according to Handelsblatt, is the electric version of the 3 Series. This car is to be offered only in China; in Europe, there will be the i4. While a BMW spokesman confirmed the plans for X5 production in China to the press agency DPA, he did not want to comment on the ‘speculations’ about an electric 3 Series for China.

But there is more than speculations. The BMW electric 3 Series is already listed on the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) website. New models must be registered with the MIIT before production begins.

The vehicle shown there has a closed radiator grille (similar to the iX3) and a length of 4,87 m. This suggests that the electric vehicle model is based on the long-wheelbase version of the 3 Series, unique to China.

The power output is stated on the MIIT page as 250 kW, which corresponds exactly to the basic variant of the i4, the eDrive 40, or the single-motor rear-wheel-drive version. However, the MIIT release does not contain any information on the battery size or the range.

Mobility / Product / Road safety / Top Stories Today

Brussels Fix My Street app extended for less mobile people

Luc Joris Posted On December 14, 2021

The Fix My Street app, which allows you to report nuisances and defects on Brussels’ public roads and footpaths, has been expanded.

From now on, pedestrians and people with reduced mobility can also report their specific problems. As announced by the Brussels Mobility public service, this update is part of the Good Move regional mobility plan.

The street belongs to everyone

People with reduced mobility will now be able to report, for example, a problem with traffic lights, tactile paving, or pedestrian inconvenience. In this way, the regional and municipal services can act more proactively in the event of accessibility problems.

The British MySociety’s FixMyStreet inspired the concept, and the Fix My Street app will have some additional applications for this. “The aim is to make public space as accessible as possible to everyone,” said Dimitri Strobbe, director of maintenance at Brussels Mobility to Belga news agency. “In particular for people with reduced mobility, among other things by lowering the curbs and installing guidelines.”

The regional Good Move mobility plan aims to prioritize pedestrians by renovating several sections. Brussels Mobility has already announced that around 100 junctions should be upgraded by 2022. All the 19 municipalities of Brussels are involved. In 2020, more than 70 000 traffic incidents of all kinds were reported.

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Harley-Davidson goes separately IPO with LiveWire

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 14, 2021

The almost mythical motorcycle manufacturer, Harley-Davidson, has decided to put its electrical division LiveWire separately on the stock market via a Spac. LVW, as it will be symboled, is planned to come on the New York Stock Exchange in the first half of next year.

Harley-Davidson is a legendary manufacturer, created in 1903, but it saw its traditional, aging clientele dwindle and not be replaced by younger customers. Instead, those preferred other (sorts of) bikes and also showed to be more sensitive to environmental issues.

Hence the creation of a full-electric motorbike concept in 2014 and the launch of LiveWire as a separate sub-brand that focuses exclusively on electric motorbikes. For the manufacturer, it was an opportunity to clearly profile itself in a growing market that is entirely different from its typical customer base.

With LiveWire, Harley wanted to launch a brand that can sail an autonomous course, but with the existing Harley dealer network to support it for distribution and service. Now, the company goes for the next step to IPO on its own.

Going IPO

The Initial Public Offering is supposed to bring in $545 million to be invested in new products and the improvement of the production and distribution facilities. LiveWire also wants to expand across the world, as it is only present in Europe and the US for the moment.

By going IPO separately, “Livewire can be an agile and innovating company and at the same time benefit of the important production and distribution capacities of its strategic partners, being Harley-Davidson and the Taiwanese bike manufacturer Kymco,” declared Jochen Zeitz, Harley Davidson’s CEO.

The Spac to be used is AEA-Bridges Impact Corp. (Abic), known as IMPX on the New York Stock Exchange. Once the transaction is finalized, it will be LVW. Harley-Davidson will have 74% of the LiveWire shares, the Abic investors some 17%, and the Abic founders and Kymco some 4% each.

Last Monday, the course of Harley-Davidson on the New York Stock Exchange took off by 19% at the opening, saddling down at a +7% in the middle of the day. The stock market value of the future LiveWire is estimated at $1,77 billion, almost one-third of the value of the mother company Harley-Davidson.

Same logic

A troubled Harley-Davidson is following the same logic as other (car) manufacturers did lately. Being frustrated by the boom of everything ‘electric’, with Tesla as the example to follow, many manufacturers are launching some of the electric parts of their companies independently on the market.

A recent example is Volvo that went IPO itself but will launch its full-electric sister Polestar independently via a Spac. According to previsions, Polestar should have approximately the same value as Volvo itself when it goes IPO next year.

And just now, Volkswagen communicated its plan to go IPO with its battery department independently, under a separate name in an independent company.

Energy / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

The ID. California to be Volkswagen’s electric camper

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 13, 2021

Volkswagen has also confirmed an all-electric leisure vehicle, the ID, as part of its new round of planning. California. It will be produced by the commercial vehicle division in Hanover in the future and will be an electric camper based on the VW ID. Buzz.

From next year on, this ID. Buzz is to be produced in Hanover in a cargo and passenger version. The electric camper on its basis will only be offered three years after the start of production of the ID. Buzz, i.e. from 2025.

California

The name ID. California is, of course, based on the well-known California campervans; the current model is still based on the T6 and will continue to be built on this basis. The T7 introduced this year switches to the MQB platform and should thus better meet the demands and requirements of private customers – for example, in terms of driving comfort, but also the plug-in hybrid now offered. But since the utility value is somewhat reduced, the Transporter and California will continue to be built on a T6 basis.

Regarding the ID. Buzz, no final data regarding load space and payload are known yet. However, with the now decided production, VW Commercial Vehicles seems to be sure to be able to derive a camping and motorhome based on the MEB van.

Details about the ID. California have not yet been disclosed by VW Commercial Vehicles. The electric camper is likely to get a small integrated kitchen and built-in cupboards in the usual style of the combustion models.

The bench seat in the back can be converted into a bed for two people. However, the ID. Buzz offers a little less space than a T. Converted into marketing-speak, this means that “the ID. California should be a little snugger”. At least there should be some room for improvement: a pop-up roof with more sleeping options is considered a set feature.

Hanover

Preparations for MEB production at the commercial vehicle plant in Hanover were completed in summer 2021. Production of the ID. Buzz derivatives will not remain the only EV production there.

The aforementioned planning round has also confirmed that the Artemis Audi will be built in Hannover and at least the bodywork for the corresponding Bentley. In addition, MEB axles will be assembled in Hanover in the future.

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Diess stays at VW, getting €89 billion for investments

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 10, 2021

Volkswagen has decided to keep CEO Diess at the helm and further electrify its European locations as part of its new planning round. 89 billion euros will be invested in future technologies such as electromobility and digitalization alone over the next five years.

This means that for the first time, more than half of the total investment would be in future technologies, as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Hans-Dieter Pötsch, indicated right at the beginning of the press conference; 56% instead of 50% in the previous planning round.

“The financial starting point is extremely solid and robust,” said Pötsch. “Among the central points we have decided on is the complete electrification of the European locations.”

Diess stays, Brandstätter comes in

The supervisory board meeting also decided on a comprehensive reorganization of the group’s executive board. According to Pötsch, this is a “personnel and structural reinforcement” “to be prepared for the next phase of the transformation”.

The personnel decisions have turned out as follows: Herbert Diess remains Chairman of the board but has to hand over some of his responsibilities. VW brand chief Ralf Brandstätter will join the group’s management board and take over responsibility for the China business from August 2022.

He will be succeeded as CEO of the VW core brand by Skoda boss Thomas Schäfer. It is not yet known who will succeed him in Mlada Boleslav. In addition, Manfred Döss will take over the Integrity and Legal Affairs department from Hiltrud Werner.

Former Deutsche Börse board member Hauke Stars will take over the newly created IT department, and Audi’s board member for marketing and sales, Hildegard Wortmann, will in the future also be in charge of sales at the Group level. In addition, the contract with Gunnar Kilian, who is responsible for Human Resources and Truck & Bus and runs until April 2023, will be extended by several years.

According to Pötsch, Diess will pay “even more attention” to the software subsidiary Cariad to develop future profit pools. Diess will also retain responsibility for the volume group in the group, including strategy, validity, design, and communication, at least until next summer. Pötsch described Diess as the “engine of change”.

Diess himself stated at the press conference that he feels strengthened by the new appointments to the board. “I cannot complain about a lack of responsibility,” said Diess. “Now we are further strengthening the Executive Board and will consistently focus on transformation.”

Wolfsburg

Commenting on the dispute, particularly about the Wolfsburg site, Diess said: “For a long time, I was worried that we were not tackling the change consistently enough. Now we have decided on a comprehensive package, we won’t recognize Wolfsburg in ten years,” said the CEO. “I am now much more confident that we will manage the transformation and the competition. And that we will recognize the new competition, we have made sure of that.”

The package for Wolfsburg does not just include the production of the flagship electric vehicle ‘Trinity’, which will be built at a new plant near the current factory site from 2026. “Mrs. Cavallo has personally lobbied for an electric vehicle to be produced in Wolfsburg before then,” said Diess, referring to works council chairwoman Daniela Cavallo.

Cavallo got her way: partial production of the ID.3 will start in 2023 (with deliveries from Zwickau), followed by full production in 2024. This means that the ID.3 will also be manufactured in a second plant in addition to Zwickau. “This plan will allow the Group to service additional market volumes that Zwickau alone would be unable to handle due to the good long-term capacity utilization forecasts,” the company adds.

This could be bad news for Audi Brussels. Just recently, there were rumors about the Audi Q4 e-tron to be also built in Brussels to relieve Zwickau. However, as the ID.3 moves partly to Wolfsburg, Zwickau will probably have enough production capacity to keep Q4 e-tron production there.

In total, Volkswagen will invest €21 billion in the Lower Saxony plants as part of the planning round from 2022 to 2026 – one billion euros of which will go to the Trinity plant alone. In addition, two billion will be invested in the battery factory in Salzgitter.

The MEB component production in Salzgitter and Braunschweig and Kassel in Hesse, will also be expanded. In addition, the sites are preparing for the production of components for the SSP platform.

Neckarsulm

Audi’s Neckarsulm site is also being electrified: The E6 is to be built there – presumably the production version of the PPE-based electric car A6 e-tron shown as a concept in April. And as already confirmed by Audi boss Markus Duesmann: The Q8 e-tron will be built at the Brussels plant as the successor to the e-tron quattro.

Porsche is likely to build its second electric model, based on the Artemis project, in Leipzig, as Diess mentioned two electric vehicle models for the Saxony site. So far, only the electric Macan successor has been confirmed there.

In the Spanish plants, as expected, VW is aiming to produce small electric cars at the Martorell plant. In addition, electric SUVs are to be built in Pamplona; Diess did not specify brands or concrete models at the press conference. However, both locations are still “under review”, a decision also depends on funding commitments.

25% BEVs in 2026

With all these measures, 25 % of all Volkswagen cars built worldwide will be already battery-electric by 2026, “according to plan”, as Pötsch emphasized. Diess forecasts an operating return on sales of eight to nine percent for 2025/2026 – in 2021, with around nine million vehicles, the company will end up “at the upper end” of the margin range of 6 to 7,5%, he said.

There was no mention of possible job cuts at the press conference or announcements. However, Diess, satisfied with the results, adds: “We can only manage this transformation of the century if we work efficiently.

But Diess is not the only one who is satisfied. “Looking at the planning round, I can state with satisfaction: the transformation is in full swing at our sites,” says works council member Cavallo in her statement. “Volkswagen is serious about transformation and is setting the course for it.”

Smooth out the folds

Cavallo nevertheless warns of a lean period, not only in the current year but also in 2022. “In 2021, we will not build 400 000 vehicles in Wolfsburg,” says Cavallo. “Semiconductors will also be a problem in 2022. So the planning round is really something to behold. It shows exactly the right course. But the coming months will be tough.”

Has the management dispute now been settled? At the works meeting in November, Cavallo had sharply criticized Diess and above all reproached him for his “fascination” with Tesla and Elon Musk. However, at least on this point of conflict, Diess appears to have reformed somewhat. He did not mention the word Tesla at the press conference, even when asked directly. Instead, he spoke of ‘an American manufacturer building a plant near Berlin’.

Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

BMW thinks of Saturday shifts to tackle high demand for i4

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 9, 2021

BMW plans to introduce Saturday shifts at its Munich plant in the first quarter of 2022 to keep up with the high demand for the new i4 electric model. The waiting time for the electric sedan is currently said to be around nine months but could soon climb to a year.

The news comes from the German publication WirtschaftsWoche citing company circles. The Munich-based company wants to take countermeasures by introducing additional shifts. When asked by the business magazine, BMW is said to have referred to the high flexibility of its production system.

The company explains: “We are therefore in a position to expand the volume, for example by adding additional shifts, and thus to meet the gratifyingly high demand.” However, the plans for the coming year have not yet been finalized, so that no details can be given.

i4 deliveries started

A week ago, BMW reported that it had handed over the first examples of the all-electric i4 to customers. Since the end of October, the electric sedan has been in production at the BMW plant in Munich.

The model is an electric sedan the size of a BMW 3 Series, with which the core of the BMW model range is to be electrified. The i4 was launched in November alongside the flagship iX SUV.

The i4 is the first fully electric car to be produced in Munich. Also manufactured in that plant are the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the BMW 3 Series Touring – both with combustion engines and hybrid drive – and the BMW M3 and the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé.

Five BEVs as of now

The i4 and iX duo reinforces BMW’s all-electric range. That consists of the i3, the i4, the Mini SE, the iX3, and the iX. In the coming years, fully electric versions of the new 7 Series, X1, and the high-volume 5 Series follow.

As related ambitions, BMW is working on targets of producing all-electric cars at every German plant by 2022 and having at least one all-electric model on the road in 90% of today’s market segments by 2023. By 2030, the BMW Group wants to increase the share of fully electric vehicles in its global sales to at least 50%.

Industry / Product / Road safety / Top Stories Today / Weekly Newsletter

Renault Zoe flunked in new Euro NCAP test

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 9, 2021

This week the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) released its latest tests of new vehicles, some brand new, others retested after a long time or a face-lift. In the latter category, the Renault Zoe scored disappointingly low this time, and the Dacia Spring didn’t do well either.

When Zoe appeared on the market almost ten years ago, the car was also tested by EuroNCAP (in 2013) and received five stars. Meanwhile, the assessment tests have been altered and become more severe. As a result, the Zoe now gets zero stars, which has happened only three times since the program exists.

Secretary-General of EuroNCAP, Michiel van Ratingen, was severe in his comment on Renault: “Safety has become collateral damage in the group’s transition to electric cars.” And he continues: “Not only do these cars not offer any significant active safety as standard, but their occupant protection is worse than any other vehicle we have seen for many years.”

Euro NCAP was particularly pointing at the side airbag, which performed worse than eight years ago. And of course, criteria have been strengthened about practically everything, from passive safety elements to warning systems and driving aids (ADAS).

In a reaction, Renault assured that the Zoe is a safe vehicle and fulfills all legal security standards. The company stresses that it does its utmost best to comply with the ever more stringent regulations. The question of the side airbag was not mentioned.

Other products

Of course, among all the cars tested in 2021 were other Renault products. Unfortunately, some didn’t achieve much better performance. For example, the new Dacia Spring, also a BEV, received one star and two other Dacia, the Logan and the Sandero Stepway, two stars (out of five as a maximum).

This has a lot to do with the fact that low-cost brand Dacia doesn’t include many safety items as standard equipment. The Renault Kangoo, for example, received four stars, in line with competitors like the Fiat 500e, the Hyundai Bayon, the Opel Mokka, or the Citroën C4.

In a conclusion, one could say that the Renault Zoe has been betrayed by his age, while the Dacia Spring pays the price for being the cheapest EV on the market. Structurally based on a car (the KZ-E) made for the not so stringent Chinese market and robbed from all ‘superfluous’ safety systems to keep the price under control, one has to expect disaster in the fields that matter here.

Many five stars too

Of course, there are also many cars, usually much more expensive, that get a full five-star assessment. In a press release yesterday, BMW was boasting about the excellent score of its new electric flagship iX. The expensive car scored well and got a special mention for its side airbag, but it wasn’t the best on the test.

The Mercedes EQS electric flagship also scored very well, but there were ‘good pupils’ in all classes. Noticeable good scores were obtained by cars like the Audi Q4 e-tron, the Genesis G70 or G80, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, or the Polestar 2, which could be expected, but others also scored well, despite being a lot cheaper.

We’re thinking about the new Nissan Qashqai, the Lynk & CO 01, the Nio ES8, and the family members Skoda Enyaq iV and VW ID.4 as outstanding examples of more affordable cars.

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Peugeot electric-only in Europe from 2030

Félix Bouland Posted On December 9, 2021

In an interview with media Automotive News, Peugeot CEO Linda Jackson confirmed that the brand will be fully electric by 2030. However, the boss draws the line to Europe, as Peugeot’s line-up for international customers will still feature internal-combustion engines (ICE).

The French brand will follow its Stellantis stablemates DS, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and Opel in their transition to a full-electric future as the mother group switches to the new STLA scalable electric platform.

Electric-only in Europe

“As we move on to the new platforms, STLA Small, Medium, Large, by 2030 in Europe, all of our models will be electric. But I still have to make sure I maintain internal-combustion offerings for my international customers”, declared Peugeot CEO Linda Jackson, reported by Automotive News Europe.

Peugeot isn’t alone in shaping its fully electric future. Stellantis stablemates will also transition by 2024 (DS and Lancia), 2027 (Alfa Romeo), or 2028 (Opel). Other brands have already announced their similar ambitions, such as Ford (2030), Jaguar (2025), Volvo (2030), and GM (2035).

100% electrified by 2024

However, it is essential to decipher the language used by French brands to announce their electric future. As DS Automobiles CEO, Béatrice Foucher recently told newmobility.news: “all DS products launched after 2024 will be fully electric. But other plug-in hybrid or petrol cars launched before that date will still be on sale, and the average product life is seven years”.

Therefore, we can easily deduce that Stellantis will continue to sell PHEVs even after its brands have become “fully electric”. This will be on par with CEO Carlos Tavares’ goal of low-emission vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) accounting for 70% of sales in Europe by 2030.

Currently, Peugeot’s line-up is 70% electrified, including fully electric and plug-in hybrid versions for nearly all its models. Only the tiny 108 city car, due to die soon, and the 5008 family SUV aren’t available with an electrified offering. As per the CEO’s word, all models will be electrified by 2024. By then, the all-electric 308 will have arrived, and so will the next-generation 3008, full-electric, and with ICE (also hybrid).

Energy / Mobility / Product / Public transport / Top Stories Today

World’s first: fleet of electric sightseeing buses in Brussels

Luc Joris Posted On December 9, 2021

Due to the pandemic, the Brussels tourist buses have been at a standstill for a while. However, Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB and the French urban transport company RATP Dev will be rerunning them this winter, bringing out the world’s first fully electric fleet of sightseeing buses.

This winter, two electric buses will be running in Brussels on two routes for people to discover the city’s main attractions. In the summer of 2022, that may be expanded to six. If demand is high, that number can be increased.

Ecological commitment

“Brussels residents are proud to be the first to take the fully electric versions of the iconic buses”, says Brussels Minister of Mobility, Elke Van den Brandt (Groen). “Everyone will be able to visit our beautiful region in an environmentally friendly and quiet bus”.

“With this electric fleet for sightseeing activities, we are taking another step forward in our ecological commitment”, says Brieuc de Meeûs, CEO of MIVB/STIB. The operation of the tourist hop-on-hop-off double-decker open-roof buses has been entrusted to TOOTbus, a subsidiary of RATP Dev, which also runs public transport in Paris.

TOOTbus is also a new online platform, with mobile services and an app. You can track the route of the buses live, listen to podcasts and find a wealth of information about the places of interest. The buses have been in service since 26 November. They were launched at the traditional and always much-anticipated Winter Pleasures.

Energy / Industry / Product / Technology / Top Stories Today

VW announces three battery-related partnerships

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 9, 2021

Volkswagen Group has started an extensive electrification program, and batteries (among others) are a key factor here. That’s why it has concluded three new partnerships with Vulcan Energy Resources (lithium supplies), Umicore (cathode materials), and 24M Technologies (new technologies for battery production).

Almost all car manufacturers are looking for collaborations to ensure they don’t get stuck when the production of EVs comes in full flow. Renault and Stellantis already signed an agreement with Vulcan Energy, and only yesterday BMW announced its trilateral agreement on semiconductors for lighting purposes.

According to Volkswagen, the partnerships are independent of each other. Still, they serve a common goal: “The industrialization of battery technology and the volume production of even more sustainable, cutting-edge batteries,” the German company states.

In-house production

All three partners contribute to Volkswagen’s planned in-house development and production of battery cells. The company already cooperates in these areas with solid-state battery specialist QuantumScape, the Swedish company Northvolt, and the Chinese manufacturer Gotion High-Tech.

The mining and refining project in the German Upper Rhine valley by Vulcan Energy is one of the most important projects for lithium extraction in Europe. It promises to be much less pollutant than the actual mining industry in Australia and South America.

The American start-up 24M Technologies has links with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and wants to industrialize a new procedure to optimize cost in future battery production.

Umicore

With the Belgian materials specialist Umicore, VW wants to create a joint venture providing cathode materials for the battery cells of the car manufacturer. The joined production is planned to start in 2025 with a capacity of 20 GWh per year and raise this to 160 GWh ten years later, enough to propulse 2,2 million BEVs.

The VW Group is still aiming at building six gigafactories for battery cells in Europe, and it has an alliance with Swedish Northvolt and Gotion High-Tech to achieve this.

We will still keep other clients and other markets,” says the recently appointed CEO of Umicore, Mathias Miedreich, “but this agreement means access to an important part of the demand for cathode materials in Europe, just what e need in our aim to be a world leader when it comes to clean mobility.”

“Our deal with Umicore allows us to create an advanced supply chain where we share concerns about raw materials responsibility and sustainability,” comments Thomas Schmall, parts director at VW. Later on, other activities like refining and recycling batteries are also planned.

Meanwhile, the share value of Umicore dropped by 9% yesterday. It has issued lower benefit forecasts because it’s suffering from the semiconductors shortage and from the fact that it produces cathodes with a high cobalt content.

Given the problems with the latter rare earth material, most manufacturers are now asking for cathodes with a high nickel content and far less cobalt. The joint venture with VW concerns the nickel-dominated cathodes. The ratio between the three rare earth materials (nickel/manganese/cobalt) shifts from 4/3/3 to 6/2/2 or even 8/1/1 in the newest batteries.

The deal with Volkswagen is undoubtedly a winning combination in the long term. Still, for now, the benefit of the cathode department Energy & Surface Technologies (E&ST) within Umicore is disappointing: € 135 million against € 328 million for the catalyst department and almost € 600 million for the ‘old’ recycling department in Hoboken (Antwerp). Hence the sharp reaction of the stock market.

“We didn’t react fast enough on the changes in the market,” says Miedreich apologizing. “Car manufacturers now want batteries with a far higher nickel content in the cathodes.”

Mobility / Opinion / Product / Top Stories Today

Worldwide survey: only 33% believe SUVs pollute more

Félix Bouland Posted On December 8, 2021

In a recent worldwide survey conducted by the Cetelem Observatory on the popularity of SUVs, it emerges that sales are expected to continue growing. Out of the 11 000 web respondents from 17 different countries, only 33% consider that SUVs pollute more, and 29% of them say their next purchase will be an SUV. For current owners, value for money is the main reason, followed by interior space and the perception of safety.

Currently, SUVs represent 45% of the worldwide automotive market. Despite being criticized for their added weight and fuel consumption compared to a standard hatchback, the market share of these high-riding vehicles is expected to continue growing.

“Ineffective argument”

The Cetelem Observatory survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive from 3 to 20 September 2021 among 11 000 internet users from 17 different countries worldwide. Having studied the results, Director Flavien Neuvy concludes that the most crucial criticism of SUVs is considered a weak argument.

On average, 33% of respondents believe that SUVs pollute more, yet 29% consider such a vehicle their next purchase. Worse still, the pollution argument falls behind those who think it’s a fashion statement (43%) or a desire to get noticed (34%).

SUV vagueness

It has to be noted that the argument stating that SUVs pollute more than regular cars has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Indeed, it is true for those high-riding, gas-guzzling off-roaders, but the gap is much smaller for crossovers or compact SUVs, which dominate the market.

The study points out that vagueness, detailing that while one in two consider a Range Rover as an SUV, only one in four do the same for a Peugeot 3008 and only 16% for a Renault Captur.

“Value for money”

There is a definite gap between SUV owners and others. The latter believes it is a fashion statement, and even 41% of them think the sale of SUVs should be limited. On the other side, owners justify their choice by stating the value for money (72%), the spacious interior (28%), the feeling of safety (26%), and the added comfort (23%) of SUVs.

In recent years, the electrification trend has helped push the growth of SUVs. Indeed, car manufacturers not only create an electric SUV because it will sell – even if it is a significant part of the argument – the high-riding body also helps to hide the battery. According to Cetelem Observatory Director Flavien Neuvy, the electrification of SUVs could counterbalance its negative image.

Industry / Product / Technology / Top Stories Today

Jeep Wrangler only as PHEV in Europe

Gert Verhoeven Posted On December 8, 2021

Jeep has an update ready for its most legendary model, the Wrangler. As a sign of the time, the American 4×4-manufacturer also delivers a plug-in hybrid version (4xe) which got some adjustments for the model year 2022. With its 17 kWh battery, this Jeep should have a pure electric range of 50 kilometers.

And on the Belgian and, by extension, most Western European markets, this will be the only version offered. By 2025, Jeep wants 70% of its lineup to have a (partially) electric drive. Because CO2 emissions and the accompanying taxes on a conventionally (ICE) powered off-road vehicle are now skyrocketing, an alternative drive such as this plug-in hybrid version offers an attractive solution.

New features

The drivetrain itself will not be renewed with these adjustments for the model year 2022. There will mainly be adjustments in the area of driving aids. For example, features such as a headlight assistant, a forward-collision warning system, and adaptive cruise control with an active stop function will be standard. There will also be an updated range of body colors and improved connectivity with the Uconnect system.

How does it work?

The Wrangler’s engine line-up consists of a two-liter gasoline engine mated to a specific eight-speed automatic transmission. The gasoline engine is assisted by a belt-driven electric motor that also functions as a generator.

This limits the consumption of the combustion engine because when a lot of power is required (starting, acceleration), the electric engine joins in. A second electric motor is integrated into the gearbox. The latter has eight speeds and is made by ZF. This engine is capable of driving the Wrangler purely electrically as well.

Full electric mode

The electric motors draw their energy from a battery with a capacity of around 17 kWh, which should enable a driving range of up to 50 km on a pure electric power basis. The battery can be recharged by the motor/generator connected to the combustion engine via a belt drive.

This battery can be recharged on a wall box or at a charging station (single-phase) with a maximum charging power of 7.4 kW.

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How Stellantis wants to become the automotive Microsoft

Piet Andries Posted On December 8, 2021

Software is the new gold in the automotive industry. Stellantis Group has unveiled its digital ambitions and wants to generate 4 billion euros by 2026 from software products and subscriptions. These revenues are expected to fivefold (20 billion euros) by the end of the decade.

Replacing the old system of making money through the options on a car by offering customers software applications, gradually turns car companies into tech providers with similarly high margins. Immense growth is expected in the field of connected vehicles.

Stellantis is rolling out three AI platforms alongside strengthening its collaborations with three already signed big names in the industry to meet these goals.

Open-sourced

The first is called STLA brain. As of 2024, this new software platform enables over-the-air updates and subscriptions. Think of RAM owners getting more payload, Alfa customers paying for a more engaging drive or receiving more horsepower (within the restrictions for emissions compliance). It comes as open-sourced, in contrast to the current closed system.

STLA SmartCockpit builds around human-interface environments for cars, jointly developed with Apple’s assembly partner Foxconn. Its primary task is to shape ultra-modern but diverse digital landscapes for the interiors across its eleven brands.

Lastly, there’s AutoDrive. This entails an earlier agreement from 2017 with BMW on developing an architecture for autonomous drive. Stellantis also has a project with Google subsidiary Waymo in this field. For its professional branches, they will work on autonomous commercial vehicles.

Microchips

A second preliminary agreement with Foxconn arose in the wake of Software Day, where the digital plans were announced. With the Taiwanese company, the car group will develop four families of microcontrollers, which should suffice to cover 80 percent of its car production.

The deal is supposed to protect better against shortages as experienced today, while it leverages Foxconn as a supplier of semiconductors in the automotive industry. Its know-how mainly lies in microcontrollers for consumer electronics.

In May of this year, both parties agreed to work together on the above mentioned smart cockpit technology under a new company called Mobile Drive. A jointly developed EV primarily for the Chinese market is expected. in a later phase

Energy / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

BMW Group delivers one-millionth electrified car

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 7, 2021

The BMW Group just celebrated the delivery of its one-millionth electrified vehicle. The future plans are that the second million will arrive in two years and that delivery of 2 million fully electric vehicles will be reached in 2025.

Pieter Nota, board member responsible for Customer, Brands, and Sales, handed over the milestone vehicle, a BMW iX xDrive40, to its owner at BMW Welt on 6 December. “The delivery of our one-millionth electrified vehicle marks a milestone in our transformation,” said Nota.

“Thanks to our steadily growing product range, we are setting ourselves ambitious sales targets, in particular for fully-electric vehicles: in 2022, we aim to double this year’s sales. By 2025, the BMW Group will have delivered around two million fully-electric vehicles to customers. We expect at least one out of every two BMW Group vehicles sold to be fully electric by 2030,” Nota continued.

Ten million BEVs in ten years

Over the next year, the BMW Group will expand its electrified product line-up to include fully-electric versions of the BMW 7 Series and BMW X1. In addition, the high-volume BMW 5 Series will be added to the electric portfolio in 2023.

The successor to the Mini Countryman and the all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre will follow. By 2023, the company aims to have at least one fully-electric model on the roads in about 90 percent of its current market segments. Over the next ten years or so, the BMW Group plans to release a total of about ten million fully-electric vehicles onto the roads.

The ‘Neue Klasse’, which is uncompromisingly geared toward electric drive trains, will significantly contribute to these sales volumes from the middle of the decade onward.

The Mini product range will be exclusively all-electric by the early 2030s, and Rolls-Royce will be an all-electric brand from 2030 on. Furthermore, all future new models from BMW Motorrad in the field of urban mobility will also be fully electric.

Charging infrastructure

The successful ramp-up of electromobility will, of course, depend on the swift and comprehensive expansion of charging infrastructure. BMW Group wants to make a vital contribution to this. “Electromobility needs holistic thinking and implementation. That is why we don’t just offer our customers highly attractive electrified cars; we also make sure charging is easy and convenient. Our commitment spans the entire value chain: from compelling products and services through strategic investments, all the way to building our own company charging infrastructure,” says Dr. Andreas Aumann, head of Strategic Product Management at the BMW Group.

With BMW Charging and Mini Charging, the group provides customers access to more than 250 000 charging points. It also offers various home charging solutions with its wall boxes.

With the pan-European high-power charging network Ionity – in which the existing shareholders and new investor BlackRock additionally invest a total of 700 million euros for network expansion – the roaming partner aggregator Hubject and the strategic mobility provider Digital Charging Solutions GmbH, the BMW Group claims to hold a stake in three companies that will play a vital role in the continued ramp-up of electromobility.

With more than 5 000 charging points, the BMW Group also operates one of Germany’s most prominent company charging networks.

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CLEPA: ‘All-electric can cost half a million jobs in Europe’

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 7, 2021

A study by PwC for the European association of automotive suppliers (CLEPA) shows that the actual electrification policy can cost up to half a million jobs in Europe. The association urgently calls for accompanying measures to attenuate the consequences.

“There’s certainly a risk if we are focusing exclusively on electric vehicles,” says Sigrid de Vries, secretary-general at CLEPA. “Hundreds of thousands of jobs are in danger.”

Other jobs

Of course, the electrification process can lead to other jobs, including software development and the production of batteries and their accessories. According to the same study, this would compensate for a few hundred thousand jobs, reducing the net loss of jobs to 275 000.

“But this presumes the creation of a competitive European battery industry, capable of competing with the Asian giants,” CLEPA points out. “And the new activities will not necessarily be deployed at the same places or in the same companies,” underlines the Brussels-based lobbying group.

3 000 companies

CLEPA represents some 3 000 companies in Europe, employing some 1,7 million people (compared to 1,2 million working directly for car manufacturers). Notorious members are companies like Bosch, Continental, Faurecia, Valeo, ZF, etc.

Of course, many of these companies are also involved in this electrification process. However, they still demand “a regulatory frame that is open to all possible technical solutions, like hybrid technologies, green hydrogen, and sustainable and renewable alternative fuels.”

“We are sure we can reconcile the preservation of our jobs and the necessary reduction of CO2 emissions to fight climate change,” CLEPA insists. Where the development of alternative fuels is concerned, the NGO Transport & Environment just released a warning that those so-called e-fuels aren’t performing well regarding emissions compared to ordinary fossil fuels.

Less freedom of movement

“Where car manufacturers have the capacity to stop or delocalize certain activities to compensate for the loss of work in the engine manufacturing area, the car suppliers have much less freedom of movement,” CLEPA remarks.

“We are tied through long-term contracts to the car manufacturers and among our members are thousands of specialized smaller businesses (SMEs) with less access to capital to invest in the transformation of their business models,” de Vries concludes.

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Mazda 2 Hybrid is the brand’s first self-charging hybrid

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 6, 2021

The new Mazda 2 Hybrid, on sale in Europe from spring 2022, brings self-charging, full hybrid powertrain technology to the Mazda model range for the first time. The manufacturer got a serious helping hand from big brother Toyota for this introduction.

In fact, the drivetrain is the same as the one in the Toyota Yaris Hybrid launched last year and elected Car of the Year in 2021.

Full hybrid

So, like the Yaris Hybrid, the Mazda 2 Hybrid is a self-charging, full hybrid that combines a 1490 cc, 68 kW/93 hp three-cylinder petrol engine with a 59 kW/80 hp electric motor for a total system power of 85 kW/116 hp.

Mazda’s hybrid will accelerate from 0-100 kph in 9,7 seconds and has a top speed of 175 kph. It returns WLTP combined cycle fuel economy of 4,0-3,8 l/100 km and CO₂ emissions of 93-87 g/km (depending on wheel size and other details).

During everyday driving, power allocation is adjusted between the petrol engine and electric motor for optimum performance and the best possible fuel efficiency. During deceleration and under braking, kinetic energy is recovered as electrical energy for storage in the high-performance battery.

Toyota link

The new Mazda2 Hybrid is the latest outcome of a long-standing collaboration between Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation. It will be an OEM model supplied by Toyota Motor Europe and added to the Mazda 2 European line-up as Mazda’s own brand vehicle.

In the related press release, Mazda states that this is a highly significant car for Mazda in the context of the company’s commitment to fulfilling the objectives laid out in ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030’, its long-term vision for technological development.

Specifically – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement – Mazda aims to reduce corporate average well-to-wheel CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2030 and, by accelerating the electrification of its fleet, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Energy / Product / Technology / Top Stories Today

VAB family car 2022: choosing between ratio and design

Gert Verhoeven Posted On December 3, 2021

Mobility organization VAB has just announced the winners of the ‘VAB Gezinswagen van het jaar 2022’ family car election. The three winners were the Dacia Sandero Stepway, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5, each in their specific category.

The jury, consisting of automotive journalists and families, made a remarkably rational choice for the ICE cars, a result strengthened by the fact that the kilometer cost of each car was also taken into account in the total rating.

The election is clearly gaining in maturity because never before did the organization have so many participants. With 38 candidates, this is the largest version in over three decades.

Thanks to a vigorous corona policy, the organization was able to allow the event to go ahead so that both journalists and families could make the necessary test drives in the area of the Zolder circuit, where the event was held.

Momentum

Journalists were able to see a diverse range of 15 electric vehicles, and for the first time, many Chinese brands were represented, such as Aiways, Seres, DFSK, Faw, and others. The enthusiasm with which manufacturers participate in this event is also increasing.

This is not illogical at a time when the Brussels Motor Show is no longer being organized for the second year in a row. In short, VAB is organizing a platform in difficult times that all partners increasingly value.

The award is also starting to enjoy a modest international reputation, as car manufacturers now mention the title at European press launches of new models and are referring to it in their advertisements.

Three juries

The editors of New Mobility News are members of the jury in this Belgian car election, which was organized for the 35th time this year by mobility club VAB.

What is interesting about this competition is that the jury consists of three elements: you have professional automotive journalists who weigh in for 30% of the votes, families who get the last word with 50% of the votes, and a TCO ranking that weighs in for 20%.

The latter TCO is calculated for the private buyer and, in contrast to the TCO calculations that are commonplace in the fleet sector, it opts for a depreciation period of eight years, the average rate at which private individuals replace their family cars.

TCO

The TCO is an interesting element in the jury because a rational element such as the purchase price and the operational cost (consumption) also determine the winner. For example, a manufacturer who wants to impress the jury members by providing fantastic equipment will lose points because more capital has to be written off in the TCO calculation.

On the other hand, a brand that enters a more expensive (but fuel-efficient) motorization may score better because the (actual) running costs are lower. With rising energy prices, this element is becoming increasingly important.

Rational choice

Traditionally, there were three categories of family cars. Compact models with a maximum price of up to €22 000, large family cars with a price tag of up to €34 000, and electric vehicles that had to stay under €60 000.

In the smallest family car category, the members of the jury chose the Dacia Sandero Stepway because it offers an incredible value for its price. It has the necessary equipment, without the superfluous. Moreover, Dacia has a bi-fuel car that runs on both gasoline and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), which makes it very economical to drive.

When it comes to large family cars, the journalists and the families apparently also chose with the budget in mind. The choice fell on the Toyota Corolla estate with a hybrid powertrain that, just like the Dacia, is extremely economical to run.

The new Renault Arkana came in second, and a remarkable third place went to the Suzuki Swace, which is technically the brother of the laureate, the Toyota Corolla.

Incidentally, this is the second year in a row that families have opted for a classic estate car (in 2021 the Skoda Octavia combi won). It remains to be seen whether this will also be a break from the trend of consumers choosing more expensive SUV models (because of their higher weight and consumption).

EV market is maturing

This year’s electric category was not only very diverse but almost all new products on the market (under € 60 000) were represented within the 15 candidates. It is the first time this category had so many participants, which also indicates that the market for 100% electrically powered models is gaining maturity.

Notable newcomers here were the Aiways U5 and the Seres 3, both Chinese products from brands that are new to the Belgian market. Among the electric models, the futuristic-looking Hyundai Ioniq 5 won, but here, too, a ‘budget model’ came an honorable second.

The very affordable Dacia Spring (less than €18 000) came in second. It was, of course, the leader in kilometer costs, and the professional jury also appreciated the compact car because it brings electromobility into the financial reach of a very wide audience.

In the end, it was beaten by the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which was more popular with families because of the space it offers and its striking design. The Volkswagen ID.4 achieved an honorable third place.

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Mercedes-Benz invests €60 billion in electric future

Félix Bouland Posted On December 3, 2021

German luxury car and van manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has announced an important 60 billion euros investment plan for 2022 to 2026. Following the separation with Daimler Truck, the former Daimler Group aims at going all-electric by the end of the decade, wherever market conditions allow.

“Our goal is technological leadership in the automotive luxury segment and the area of premium vans while remaining committed to our ambitious margin targets. Mercedes-Benz has what it takes: a clear strategy, a highly qualified and motivated team, as well as strong support from the entries Supervisory Board,” declared Ola Källenius, CEO of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG.

All-electric by decade’s end

This Thursday, Mercedes-Benz announced that the Supervisory Board had endorsed the 2022 – 2026 Business Plan. The group aims at investing 60 billion euros for the transition into “a software-driven and emission-free future”, as it puts it in a recent press release.

This important investment follows the 70-billion-euro injection announced last year for the 2021 to 2025 period. However, the Daimler Group has been separated from its truck division since then. Under the name Daimler Truck, the latter is becoming an independent entity and will enter the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on 10 December.

EVs and autonomous technology

Mercedes-Benz also announced that while there are plans to reduce fixed costs, investment in research and development, the expenditure for the electrification of the product portfolio, digitalization, and autonomous driving will remain at a high level.

Mercedes adds that it plans to use standardized battery platforms and scalable vehicle architectures to reduce the costs of vehicles. Furthermore, such as the rest of the industry, Mercedes-Benz expects the proportion of battery costs to decrease significantly during the decade.

Product / Top Stories Today

Tesla Cyberquad: kids want one for Christmas, but they can’t

Piet Andries Posted On December 3, 2021

Do you remember the unveiling of the Cybertruck two years ago, when there was a Cyberquad in the load bay? Well, Tesla has now cautiously launched a smaller version of the futuristic quad in its shop this week. It’s actually being offered as a toy for kids.

The Cyberquad costs about 1 675 euros ($1 900) and is a Tesla. It is, of course, fully electric. It can’t be supercharged, though. You need to plug it in at a domestic socket, after which it takes five hours to refill the lithium-ion battery pack.

From 8 years and up

Fear of your kids getting lost with it seems ungrounded. A full charge takes the Cyberquad over a distance of 20 kilometers, and the top speed of 16 km/hour is manageable for less experienced or younger drivers. Technically, Tesla’s toy ATV is equipped with disc brakes, suspension, and some seriously cool looks.

The Cyberquad carries an age disclaimer of 8 years and up. Theoretically, more adventurous parents can ride with it as well – it’s not thát small – but they can’t weigh more than 68 kilograms, which might be a tough limit to meet.

There’s a hitch

We know it’s a great idea to park one under the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, shipping takes 2-4 weeks, while the shop section mentions that the product is already “out of stock”. Europe is not listed as an available shipping destination.

And oh, there’s one hitch. There’s not a factory for it yet. So father and son (or mother and daughter) need to assemble the 18 parts it is made of by themselves.

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Ghent misses out on Volvo’s giga-factory for batteries

Hilde Van Raemdonck Posted On December 3, 2021

The die is cast: car manufacturer Volvo is not going to build a gigantic battery plant in Flanders. That is what Volvo’s international headquarters have confirmed. The reason for the decision is unclear, though. The company did not reveal where the ultimate production unit will be built. Only two Swedish sites remain on the shortlist.

Earlier, Volvo announced that it will only build fully electric cars as of 2030. It will already increase the part of electrically-powered passenger cars by half by 2025; the other half will be hybrid vehicles. Both vehicle types need batteries.

Like many other car manufacturers, Volvo wants to be less dependent on (primarily Asian) battery producers. That is also why the company signed a joint venture with Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt beginning this year. Volvo already assembles the battery pack for its first full-electric models in Ghent.

Top three

The planned joint battery factory was intended to produce batteries for about 400 000 electric cars a year, and provide production plants worldwide. The giga-factory would have generated about 3 000 new jobs in Flanders.

The Flemish region had arrived in the top three possible locations. Flanders was a likely candidate, as was Göteborg (Sweden) and another site in Sweden. In the meantime, we know that our country has been removed from the shortlist.

Dealbreaker

Volvo used three crucial selection criteria: the availability of green energy, the price of this energy, and the presence of sufficient workers. The latter favored Flanders; green energy, on the other hand, could have been a dealbreaker, since Volvo intends to operate fully climate-neutral by 2040.

Volvo and Northvolt originally considered some fifty locations to build the production plant and finally selected three. Flanders would have been a logical choice, given the proximity of Volvo Car Gent, where Volvo builds about 200 000 electric vehicles a year. Today, the Volvo production unit in Ghent is one of the most important industrial employers in the Flemish region, with about 7 000 staff members on the payroll.

Climate / Europe / Hydrogen / Industry / Product / Technology

Toyota’s product show is not an all battery-electric future

Piet Andries Posted On December 3, 2021

Toyota’s idea of our electric future is not just about battery-electric cars. That was the bottom line of the Kenshiki (translated as ‘Insight’) forum held in Brussels on Thursday. The brand showcased the new production model Corolla Cross Hybrid, some European premieres, and further outlined its path toward carbon-neutrality in Europe by 2035.

Alongside the European debut of the all-electric bZ4x and limited-run sports car, the GR86 – vehicles that we previously got to see – the company’s take on the future put an undeniable accent on hydrogen.

Fuel cell 2.0

The Japanese company remains a strong believer. As of January 2022, its second-generation fuel cell will be produced. It will also be assembled in Zaventem. The new modules now come in two forms (cube and rectangular), work more efficiently, and the stack has a higher density than before. It will not be solely used for cars. Toyota is also building it for third partners.

Toyota believes that Europe will be a crucial adopter for hydrogen, which explains why it starts production locally.

The toolbox

The company brought along a version of its successful rally car, the Yaris GR, emitting only water vapor to make its stance on hydrogen a bit more exciting. Engineers had transferred the powertrain from the Corolla Sport, which competes in the Japanese Super Taikyu Race Series with a combustion engine running on hydrogen. Together with some other Japanese brands, the company wants to promote racing on alternative fuels.

That’s fitting because Toyota outlined at the Kenshiki forum once more why it didn’t sign the treaty at COP26 to end sales of combustion engines by 2040. Gill Prat, TMC Chief Scientist, explained: “While Toyota is committed to making millions of Battery Electric Vehicles available to customers, the way to reduce the most net carbon emissions globally is to use every item in our toolbox, including Hybrid Electric, Plug-in Hybrid Electric, Battery Electric, and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles […].”

In other words, the diversity of markets worldwide will still demand a myriad of powertrains in the future.

Fifth-generation self-charging hybrid

The all-new Corolla Cross showcased Toyota’s expertise in hybrid drivelines. The SUV version of its compact car introduced the fifth generation of the self-charging hybrid powertrain (HSD), with now a 40% lighter lithium-ion battery assisting the 2.0-liter combustion engine. It will be made available as a front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, while total system output has been boosted to 197 hp.

As for electric vehicles, Toyota expects that by 2030 the sales mix will be a minimum of 50% in Western Europe, with the capacity and capability to increase further should customer demand go even higher.

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Jaguar into ‘hibernation’ for 3 years?

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 1, 2021

Apparently, the British/Indian car manufacturer Jaguar has decided to hibernate for the next three years. Between now and 2025, no new Jaguar will arrive on the market. Instead, the current recently revised models will remain for sale in a less abundant portfolio.

No factory will close its doors, but cost cuts on all levels will also mean that some people will have to leave, even though the personnel already has been reduced from 42 000 to 35 000 the past years.

All-electric, high-end

Jaguar has already committed itself to becoming fully electric in 2025. The recently appointed CEO Thierry Bolloré announced a ‘Reimagine plan’ last year and has now changed its target completely.

Instead of competing with premium brands like Audi, BMW, or Mercedes, Jaguar wants to return to its fundamentals, with more elitist luxury models evoking yesterday’s prestige.

“Bentley sells between 10 000 and 12 000 cars per year, Jaguar sold 90 000 last year, but its aim was 200 000,” says the automotive consultant Inovev. “The Coventry-based company has noted that its aim for higher volumes hasn’t worked. Apparently, there was a lack in sophistication, model renewing and even reliability when compared with the German big three.”

Jaguar has now clearly chosen to avoid a so-called progressive transition. It will not develop plug-in hybrids anymore of its existing models and the XJ electric project has been abandoned.

Even the common electric platform with Land Rover is gone and Jaguar seems to be searching for a new all-electric platform coming from outside. It makes speculations about the possible sale of the brand raise their head again.

What about clients and dealers?

This radical choice of the top management worries the dealers, of course. Belgian Philippe Robbrecht, now the boss of JLR France, stays optimistic. “Right now, our order book in the Hexagone is well filled and we sell more than a year ago.”

Philiipe Dugardin, president of the JLR dealers in France, is less confident. “This is a violent decision and we will have to count on the aid of the manufacturer. I have no problem returning to the real luxury segment, but we will have to establish what dealer organisation will be behind it.”

Of course, there are very few single Jaguar dealers and the others can thrive on the ever-raising sales figures of Land Rover. There is a strong interest for the Defender and the very recently introduced 5th generation of the Range Rover, despite a serious price hike.

In stark contrast with its sister company, Land Rover will launch 6 electrified models in the next 4 years and also continue to surf on the positive wave the introduction of cars like the Evoque and, recently, the new Defender has created.

Resurrection needed

Jaguar had build up a nice portfolio and registered a certain success, but maybe chasing big volumes wasn’t the right way to go. Nobody knows what putting everything on ice during at least 3 years will do to the image of the brand and the spirit of its fans.

A brand like Alfa Romeo is still suffering severely from its recent drawbacks and lack of innovation and will have to work hard to come to former success levels again. Jaguar has to be careful for not ending in the same dead end street.

There are, of course, examples of the opposite. The also iconic and English Mini brand has reinvented itself after years of interruption by choosing another and higher market position, under the wings of BMW.

No doubt that the marketing strategists at JLR have been looking in that direction when they decided to halt the silent and slow bleeding and go for a new start again after a period of introspection.

Product / Technology / Top Stories Today

BMW M’s most powerful model ever is a PHEV-SUV

Piet Andries Posted On December 1, 2021

BMW gave its performance branch M Motorsport a birthday present at Art Basel’s 2021 Miami Beach show on Tuesday. By the end of 2022, the year in which the sports arm turns 50, its catalog will feature its own exclusive model rolling off the assembly line in the U.S. plant of Spartanburg.

Moreover, when the Concept XM (well, hi there Citroën!) becomes a reality, it will be the most powerful model ever that M put its badge on.

Traditionally, the M department addresses already existing BMW models. However, this time, it receives a model in its own right, for the first time in its history since the legendary M1 from the late seventies.

New territory

If that’s a cheer for die-hard fans remains to be seen. While the Concept’s style is overtly expressive, the XM is, in fact, an SUV – not a vehicle type blending effortlessly with the values of a sportscar division.

Moreover, the XM will only be on offer with a PHEV powertrain. This is even newer territory for the M brand, which currently concentrates strictly on six and eight cylinders running on gasoline. Conservatively serving adrenaline, indeed.

So, the XM breaks molds for the M division. “It underlines the ability of BMW M GmbH to break with established conventions and push boundaries to offer fans of the brand the ultimate driving experience,” explains Franciscus van Meel, Managing Director BMW M GmbH.

The looks of the car are prophetic. Especially the front, with its peeping headlights and superlarge illuminated kidneys, flags the new facia for the X range. So it will appear on future BMW models as well. The style of the Concept will coincide pretty closely with the production model, as is usually the case with the brand.

Record output

The time has come for BMW’s coveted sports brand to make a move to electrification gradually. So when the XM comes to market, it will feature an electrically assisted V8, pushing peak output to 750 PS and delivering 1 000 Nm of torque. That’s a record for any M – and any BMW.

Details on the size and capacity of the battery and the electric motor are clarified. But the estimation of the purely electric driving range is 80 kilometers. So the battery capacity should at least be around 25 kWh.

With assembly planned for the American site in South Carolina, the XM sits on the same CLAR architecture as the large X7. However, it is worth noting that the latter has no plug-in hybrid version.

Energy / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today / Weekly Newsletter

Audi Q4 e-tron also to be built in Brussels?

Tony Verhelle Posted On December 1, 2021

According to media sources, Audi wants to build its Q4 e-tron electric SUV, produced in Zwickau, also in Brussels, from November 2022 due to high demand. The final decision will be made at the VW planning meeting on 9 December.

The original news came from the German specialized magazine Automobilwoche which was referring to company circles. The Q4 e-tron and the Q4 e-tron Sportback are currently built together with other models based on the same MEB platform.

The Audi Q4 e-tron, the Cupra Born, the VW ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5 are all built at the ‘electric’ VW plant in Zwickau, Saxony. Only the Skoda Enyaq is produced as an MEB model at Skoda’s main plant in Mlada Boleslav.

High demand

As demand for all these MEB products is generally high, the Volkswagen brand has already put the Wolfsburg plant up for discussion for overflow production of its electric cars. And Audi is apparently also considering building the Q4 e-tron in a second plant in the future.

According to the report, the choice is said to have been made against the Neckarsulm combustion engine site and in favor of the all-electric Belgian plant in Brussels.

Since 2018, Audi has been building its first electric car, the e-tron quattro, and later its Sportback offshoot in Brussels. Unlike the MEB model Q4 e-tron, the larger Audi SUV is still based on the MLB Evo combustion engine platform.

The batteries for the e-tron quattro are also assembled in Brussels. However, it is not yet known whether Audi will do the same for the Q4 e-tron or whether the MEB battery packs will be delivered pre-assembled.

Although the final decision has still to be made on 9 December, Audi boss Markus Duesmann has confirmed a few weeks ago that the new Q8 e-tron flagship will be built in Brussels as of 2026.

Relief

The Audi employees in Brussels are a bit worried about what is going to happen in the intermittence between the phasing out of the actual e-tron and the venue of the Q8 e-tron. So for Brussels, the overflow production of the Q4 e-tron would be a great relief.

The plant had probably also bid to produce Audi’s Artemis flagship sedan but lost out to the VW Commercial Vehicles Hanover plant.

If the information from Automobilwoche is correct, Brussels has prevailed against the German Audi plant in Neckarsulm, where they were also hoping to produce an electric vehicle model.

Energy / Product / Top Stories Today / Transport / Weekly Newsletter

ICCT: Electric trucks can achieve TCO parity with diesels in this decade

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 30, 2021

An ICCT study (International Council on Clean Transportation) on the total cost of ownership (TCO) of long-distance tractor-trailers in seven EU countries shows that battery-electric trucks (BET) can achieve TCO parity with diesel tractor-trailers during this decade.

The research covered seven European countries, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, which accounted for more than 75% of truck sales in the European Union in 2019.

The analysis considered retail vehicle price, financing and residual value, registration and ownership taxes, electricity and diesel costs, maintenance costs, road tolls, battery replacement, and charging infrastructure costs from a first-user perspective over a 5-year analysis period.

TCO parity

From a first-user perspective, the analysis finds that BETs can achieve TCO parity with diesel tractor-trailers during this decade for all the considered countries without any additional policy support.

However, there are substantial differences across countries, mainly driven by the disparities in electricity and diesel prices, road tolls, and the currently implemented policy measures.

Specifically, BETs operating in Germany, France, and the Netherlands can reach immediate TCO parity with diesel tractor-trailers in 2021–2022. In contrast, other countries witness delays in parity time until the middle of the decade.

Regulations can help

According to the study, regulatory support can eliminate the current TCO gap between BETs and diesel tractor-trailers. These include purchase premiums, road tolls exemptions, and carbon pricing.

While some of these policies have already been adopted in the countries studied, others are active policy developments that have not yet been adopted.

“To close the cost gap and accelerate the deployment of BETs in Europe, policymakers should implement the Eurovignette Directive into national law as expeditiously as possible,” says the study.

“In addition, extending the European Emissions Trading Systems to include transport and instituting tax discounts for renewable electricity would also accelerate the cost of ownership parity,” the study adds.

Short case-study: the Netherlands

Let’s look a little bit more in detail into the results for the Netherlands. First, the study shows that TCO-parity will be achieved as soon as the purchase premiums (already announced for 2022) become effective.

The governmental measures include a purchase premium (up to 40% of the difference in purchasing price between a BET and a diesel truck. Without the incentives, TCO-parity is already achieved in 2024 because of the low prices for electricity and the high cost of diesel in the Netherlands.

Other measures that can accelerate the price difference between the two in favor of BETs are lower road tolls, other fiscal incentives, and investments in infrastructure.

To conclude, the study also has some recommendations. First, as already mentioned, the Eurovignette Directive (CO2-tax of 0,08-0,16 €/km) can effectively compensate for the external (emission) effects of diesel trucks.

Apart from that, the ‘Fit for 55’ EU-plan proposes to include buildings and transport into the ETS (Emission Trade System). Currently, only Germany already has such a system for transport: € 25/ton CO2-equivalent in 2021, climbing to € 55/ton CO2e in 2025).

The implementation of such a system in the Netherlands, for example, would bring TCO-parity one year closer. It would be more effective in the long term because the study also specifies that purchase premiums may be very effective, but they are also very expensive. Subsidies in this bracket have to be well defined and should extinct after time.

Conclusion

Overall, the ICCT study indicates that parity in total cost is also much nearer in the transport sector than previously thought. However, the speed with which this parity is achieved during the coming decade is still largely dependent on the authorities taking supportive but temporary measures.

Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

Musk turns down €1 billion and starts Berlin proof production

Piet Andries Posted On November 30, 2021

There’s no Tesla without constant enigma. Another big question mark has arisen, now that Elon Musk officially declined 1 billion euros of subsidies from the German state for constructing the planned Gigafactory for battery production near Berlin. Though the European Commission and the German parliament had approved of the support, Tesla’s boss pulled the trigger on the offer.

Dropping the funds doesn’t affect plans to erect the Gigafactory, according to Tesla. The plant, to be built in the surroundings of Berlin, is needed to supply the nearby factory of Grünheide, which has commenced proof assembly as of Monday.

On Twitter Musk explained that it’s always been his opinion that all sorts of subsidies should be abolished and that it should apply to the oil and gas business in particular. He further noted that for some reason governments don’t act that way.

Spying on high-tech

Still, only speculation can explain why Elon Musk turned down the investment money. Because if it was not on a par with the corporate ideology, no company would have filed for it in the first place. One possible explanation is that Musk didn’t approve of the government becoming a stakeholder, looking over his shoulder and spying on the battery high-tech.

Or it might be that some conditions weren’t met. The state of Germany put the lights on green only for the production of so-called state-of-the-art battery technology which couldn’t be found elsewhere. But Tesla’s Giga 5 factory in Austin Texas will outpace its German counterpart.

Production starts at Grünheide

At the factory of Grünheide (Berlin) the first batch of Tesla cars, not intended for commercial use, was assembled as a runner-up to customer production by the end of the year. This put an end to a delay of half a year.

In its first phase, the plant will churn out a thousand models a week, gradually ramping up production over the course of next year. Eventually, the output can reach half a million units per year, divided over Model 3 and Model Y.

Still not all permits

The deadline for production at Grünheide has been pushed forward several times due to problems with permits. The province of Brandenburg still has to hand over some of them, which is expected to happen over the coming days. The construction of Tesla’s first European factory hasn’t been without hitches. Green opponents denounced deforestation and problems with water shortage.

Energy / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

Nissan aims at 50% electrified with solid-state battery in 2030

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 30, 2021

The Japanese car manufacturer Nissan aims at a 50% part of electrified vehicles in its sales for 2030. At the same time, it wants to become a leader in battery production and technology, with new generation solid-state batteries in production as of 2028.

Nissan, a partner in the Alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi, is doing better lately. After two catastrophic years with significant losses, it has raised its benefit forecast for 2021/2022. Nissan foresees a net benefit of 180 billion yen (€1,4 billion) at the end of March 2022 (end of the fiscal year) thanks to new models arriving and raising demand for cars worldwide.

23 electrified models

To reach its 2030 targets, called ‘Ambition 2030’, Nissan wants to introduce 23 new electrified models, of which 15 will be fully electric. Twenty of them will reach the market five years from now. At that moment, it already wants 75% of its European sales electrified, against 55% in Japan and 40% in China. Nissan is a bit more prudent in the US, foreseeing 40% of electric sales for 2030.

“There is an imminent and unavoidable challenge of climate change that urges us to deploy this new vision,” Nissan CEO Makoto Ushida explains. For the next five years, Nissan wants to invest 2 000 billion yen (€15,6 billion) in this electrification process.

“That’s two times more than what we have spent between 2010 and 2020,” Ushida underlines. Nissan wants to become climate-neutral by 2050.

Carefully ambitious

With this ‘Ambition 2030’ plan, Nissan stays on the careful side of the electrification specter. The number two Japanese manufacturer was a pioneer introducing the electric Leaf already in 2010. Still, it has been overtaken by Tesla and a bunch of other ‘classic’ manufacturers, who have engaged themselves much firmer into electrification.

By doing so, it is following the path of its big Japanese competitor Toyota, which has confirmed its belief in hybrid cars just recently and foresees 100% electrified vehicles (including hybrids) in Europe in 2030 but wants to reach 100% in China and 70% in the US only in 2035.

Solid-state

Nissan wants also to (re)become a key player in battery technology and production. That’s why it’s planning to build a 35 GWh gigafactory for batteries near its Sunderland plant (Northern England) in collaboration with Chinese partner Envision AESC. AESC was a former Nissan daughter and battery manufacturer, sold to Envision in 2018.

It’s a type of integrated factory that Nissan wants to replicate in its other key markets worldwide. By the end of 2028, Nissan electric vehicles should all be equipped with Nissan batteries, preferably solid-state. To achieve this, Nissan is also talking to another Chinese battery giant, CATL. In 2026, Nissan wants to have a battery production capacity of 52 GWh, growing to 130 GWh in 2030 thanks to four gigafactories.

The solid-state technology – where the current liquid electrolyte is replaced by a solid material like a polymer or a ceramic – gives higher performance for a reduced cost (Nissan aims at €66 per kWh in 2028). It’s safer also and doesn’t need the use of critical rare earth materials like cobalt.

Nissan wants to build a ‘pilot factory’ near its Yokohama headquarters (southwest of Tokyo) and plans to recruit 3 000 new engineers for R&D on electrification. This plant and a prototype solid-state battery should be ready in 2024.

Aviation / Product / Top Stories Today

Flying version of Renault 4 for its 60th birthday

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 29, 2021

To conclude the celebrations for the 60^th anniversary of Renault 4, the carmaker has decided to team up with motion design hub TheArsenale to create a futuristic show car, AIR4, a reinterpretation of this iconic model.

2021 marks the 60^th anniversary of the Renault 4L, a car that has sold more than 8 million units in over 100 countries for more than 30 years. To celebrate its 60^th anniversary, Renault has been holding a year of celebrations consisting of several initiatives.

To wrap it up, the brand decided to join forces with the ground-defying design hub TheArsenale to create a show car that gives a futuristic and offbeat reinterpretation of 4L.

The air is the new road

Renault has partnered with TheArsenale on this truly unique project. The result is AIR4, “a symbol of independence and freedom, born out of the realization that traffic is compounding, lives are grinding to a halt, and the world above us is unhampered.” Thus, AIR4 claims the air as the new road of the future.

TheArsenale stands by the assumption that the icons of car culture are eternal. This vehicle is the first product from TheArsenale’s ‘road to air’ division, which envisions the future transport network to be in the sky.

AIR4 is the brainchild of Patrice Meignan, CEO and Founder of TheArsenale, who sought to create a new kind of vehicle that provokes emotion, establishes brand identity, and offers pleasure.

Reinterpretation

Design-wise, AIR4 has resulted in a reinterpretation of the retro icon by TheArsenale, far from the modern car design language. The vehicle, entirely made of carbon fiber, maintains the same lines and contained mass of the original 4L, yet presenting new dynamic capabilities.

The rigidity has been completely revised to include new concepts such as thrust or lift, which required hours of calculations and tests. Drawing on generative design techniques using artificial intelligence, TheArsenale’s engineers were able to test terabytes of data to improve and fine-tune the designers’ ideas, even before starting the first real-world trials.

No wheels

To drive around, AIR4 has no wheels. Instead, it features four two-blade propellers, one at each corner of the vehicle. The chassis sits in the middle of the rota frame, and the ‘driver’ can access and take a seat in the utilitarian cabin of the vehicle by lifting the reimagined Renault 4 shell, which is hinged at the front.

From a technical standpoint, AIR4 is powered by lithium polymère batteries with a total capacity of 90 000 mAh. The vehicle counts on a horizontal top speed of 26 m/s, with a 45° inclination during flights, and up to a maximum inclination of 70°.

It can fly as high as 700m with a take-off speed of 14 m/s, restrained at 4 m/s for safety reasons, and landing velocity of 3 m/s. Last but not least, AIR4 offers a maximum vectorial thrust of 380 kilograms.

After its digital presentation last Friday, AIR4 will go on public display from Monday 29 November until the end of the year in the center of Paris at the Atelier Renault on the Champs Elysées, alongside other historical versions of the Renault 4.

Beginning 2022, AIR4 will hit the American ground in Miami and then New York before making an even longer trip to Macau.

Energy / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

Mercedes launches EQS 350 ‘basic’ model

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 29, 2021

The full-electric Mercedes EQS limousine can now also be ordered in Germany as a base model for less than 100 000 euros. The electromotor in the rear produces 215 kW, the battery capacity is 90 kWh, suitable for a range of at least 530 km (WLTP).

Following the EQS 450+ and EQS 580 4MATIC variants with the large 108 kWh battery, which have been available to order since August, now comes the EQS 350 with 90 kWh battery, now available in Germany from € 97 806 euros.

90 kWh and 215 kW

The manufacturer had announced the smaller 90 kWh battery from the outset, with ten modules instead of twelve as in the 107,8 kWh version. Only the larger battery was available at the market launch.

The new battery comes with an energy content of 90,56 kWh, which should allow a WLTP range of between 529 and 638 kilometers, depending on equipment, aerodynamics, and weight. The WLTP consumption is between 16,4 and 20,0 kWh/100km.

The electric motor installed in the rear produces 215 kW and accelerates the EQS to 100 km/h in 6,6 seconds, top speed is 210 kph. As yet, there is no further confirmed information on the powertrain.

Normally, it is also the six-phase permanently excited synchronous motor, which comes to a lower peak power due to the lower performance of the smaller battery.

Only in Germany? Presumably not

The market launch of the EQS 350 was discovered by the German edition of InsideEVs by chance when they looked up the WLTP consumption of the EQS in a PDF price list for another article.

The technical data listed here come from the configurator. For example, the maximum DC charging power with the smaller battery is 170 kW (instead of 200 kW for the large battery), AC charging remains at 11 kW.

The EQS 350 weighs some 2,4 tons; the payload is 520 kg. The towing capacity is 750 kg.

At the launch of the EQS, EQ head Starzynski already mentioned the smaller battery variant. According to him, it will only be offered in some markets for the time being. Which countries that may be, except for Germany, hasn’t been communicated yet.

Energy / Industry / Product / Technology / Top Stories Today

Nio and Shell join forces on battery charging and swapping

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 26, 2021

Chinese electric car manufacturer, Nio, and European petroleum company, Shell, have entered into a strategic partnership to collaborate on charging and battery swapping facilities in China and Europe.

The agreement is for Nio and Shell to construct and operate battery charging and swapping facilities. Nio and Shell plan to jointly install 100 battery swap stations in China by 2025, and build and operate pilot stations in Europe from 2022.

Existing network

For Shell, the deal offers the benefits of Nio’s already existing and relatively extensive network of fast-charging stations, battery swapping stations, and destination chargers in China. For Nio, the European part of the deal is particularly interesting for its further expansion.

The Chinese electric car company will not only have a partner with attractive locations for possible battery exchange stations in Europe; as part of the agreement, Shell’s charging station network in Europe will also be available to Nio users.

Nio is already delivering its vehicles in Norway as the first European market and is also planning battery swap stations there. This has not yet been confirmed for the rest of Europe, but the first step for battery swapping stations has already been certified by TÜV.

Right now, US start-up Ample is also targeting Europe to introduce its battery-swapping technology through an extended partnership with Uber. The ride-hailing company wants half of the kilometers driven in seven EU cities to be electric by 2025.

Extended cooperation

Beyond the specific infrastructure projects, Nio and Shell have also agreed to explore opportunities for further cooperation in battery asset management, fleet management, membership systems, home charging services, advanced battery charging, and exchange technology development, along with the construction of charging stations in China.

“We believe that the cooperation between Nio and Shell will bring better services and experiences to electric vehicle users worldwide,” said Nio founder and CEO William Li.

István Kapitány, Global Executive Vice President of Shell Mobility, adds: “This means we’ll offer Shell Recharge high-speed charging at Nio locations and make battery swapping available at convenient Shell locations. We will also be offering Nio customers our best home and business charging solutions.”

For Nio, it is not the first cooperation with an oil company: it operates 21 battery swap stations and 19 fast chargers at gas stations with the Chinese oil company Sinopec and further battery swap stations at gas stations of the Chinese oil company CNPC.

The time is indeed ripe for such a move: earlier this month, the Chinese government announced that it is investing heavily in battery swapping infrastructure.

Product / Top Stories Today

New bold Kia Niro is ready for 2022 launch

Piet Andries Posted On November 25, 2021

Kia has unveiled the second iteration of the Niro on Thursday in its hometown Seoul on the first day of the biannual Mobility Show. The new model takes on some bold design clues of the Habaniro concept as a statement for Kia’s more sustainable product development. The commercial debut for the new Niro is planned for next year.

Though Kia hasn’t specified any details on the powertrains, expectations are that the focus will shift more on the part-time and fully electrified versions. Hence, the show model wears the number plate ‘Niro EV’.

The first generation of the Niro offered plentiful powertrain options, ranging from gasoline to diesel, all sorts of hybrids, and battery-electric. The Korean brand will still be using a mixed platform that can take battery packs as well as combustion engines.

Greenzone Drive Mode

An interesting innovation on the Niro is a smart powertrain switch called Greenzone Drive Mode. Taking clues from driving data and the navigation system, the PHEV model can switch automatically to electric drive. An advantage for drivers living in or frequenting low-emission zones.

As with the Sportage, the Niro is dressed to impress. It follows Kia’s new design language, Opposites United, and retains its blended form of a cross-over without four-wheel drive. The classic Tiger Nose grille featured on so many Kia’s has more or less disappeared. Though the brand rather says that it has ‘transformed’.

The most striking part is the darkened C-pillar. The Korean brand claims that it actually helps aerodynamics. Probably through its narrowing shape. And, clearly, the versions relying on electric propulsion could prove beneficial for emission-free autonomy.

Recycled finishing

It is not easy to look past those daunting looks, but it’s exactly there where a lot of progress has been made. In the interior, where a two-spoke steering wheel is supplemented by a clean dashboard and an easily accessible infotainment screen, the roofline is made of recycled wallpaper, with seat upholstery from Bio Pu with Tencel, which is processed from eucalyptus leaves.

So, the Niro is catching up with the trend set by so many EVs to adopt recycled finishing. For example, the door panels are colored using water-based paint that doesn’t contain any benzene or other polluting chemicals.

Energy / Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

Mercedes launches electric EQB in Europe (update)

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 25, 2021

Mercedes-Benz is going further on its path to electrification. End of the year, it will introduce the electric version of the GLB, the EQB, on the European and Chinese markets. Now, prices for the German market have been revealed, starting from 55 311,20 and 57 988,70 euros for the all-wheel-drive versions that come to market first. The front-wheel-drive could follow later.

In Europe, the two all-wheel-drive variants offered are the EQB 300 4Matic with 168 kW and the EQB 350 4Matic with 215 kW output. There are two different motors in the AWD versions of the EQB, an asynchronous motor on the front axle and a newly developed permanently excited synchronous motor on the rear axle.

The power demand between the front and rear axle is regulated up to 100 times per second, focusing on the rear motor to optimize consumption. This is why there is an asynchronous motor on the front axle: as it will often be running idle, it produces only low drag losses.

A range of over 400 km

Both AWD variants use a battery with 66,5 kWh of usable energy. According to Mercedes, the WLTP consumption of the two all-wheel-drive vehicles is the same, so the range is also equal for both versions: 419 kilometers.

Other variants should follow, including a longer-range version. However, the manufacturer has yet to say whether this will be a front-wheel-drive model like the EQA (an EQB 250) with the same 66,5 kWh battery or a variant with a larger battery capacity.

A three-phase onboard charger is installed for AC charging, and Mercedes quotes a charging time of just under 6 hours. The maximum DC charging power is 100 kW. As the smaller EQA 300 4Matic has a towing capacity of 1 800 kilograms braked, a similar figure is expected for the EQB, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Spacious

The EQB is based on the GLB ICE model and has the same dimensions, with a wheelbase of 2,83 m and a length of 4,68 m. The car has no frunk under the long front bonnet.

With its angular body and almost vertical rear window, the EQB should offer plenty of space in the interior. Very suitable for families, Mercedes emphasizes. That’s why there is a choice between a seven-seater ( boot capacity from 465 to 1 620 l) and a five-seater (495 to 1 710 l).

The EQB, which was presented in April at the Shanghai motor show, will be launched in Europe and China at the end of this year, followed by the market launch in the USA in 2022.

Prices in Germany and Belgium

The Mercedes EQB is now available to order in its home country. The prices for the German market have been revealed. At the start, the two all-wheel-drive variants EQB 300 4Matic with 168 kW and EQB 350 4Matic with 215 kW output are available, with list prices starting at € 55 311,20, and € 57 988,70 respectively.

For a limited period after market launch, the EQB is available as a well-equipped Edition 1 (for an extra cost of € 8 520,40 in Germany). In view of the relatively high prices, the vehicle is only subsidized with the reduced environmental bonus. Till the end of the year, the subsidy including the innovation bonus will amount to € 7 975. Since the innovation premium of 2,500 euros will normally be abolished from 1 January 2022, the EQB will then still be subsidized with € 5 475.

The prices in Belgium are quite a lot higher, but that’s also because the car is only available in a Luxury Line outfit or AMG Line dress. The first version costs € 63 041 for the EQB 300 4Matic and € 66 913 for the 350 4Matic. An AMG outfit costs an extra € 3 872.

AWD version for S Class PHEV

Mercedes now offers its S-Class PHEV also with an all-wheel-drive. The S 580 e 4Matic is available with a short and long wheelbase and can be ordered as of now. The performance data of the drive (110 kW electric motor, 270 kW from the combustion engine) do not change.

While a fully electric range of over 100 kilometers according to WLTP is possible for the rear-wheel-drive, Mercedes does not specify a pure electric range for the AWD. As the power consumption is higher (21,9-25,5 kWh/100km instead of 20,2-22,0 kWh/100km for the RWD), the S 580 e 4Matic will likely have a lower full electric range.

For the first time, the S-Class will be available with a leather-free interior. The seats are then upholstered in fabric. Door trim, instrument panel, center console, and steering wheel rim are in ‘Artico’ imitation leather. Price on request.

Autonomous driving / Product / Technology / Top Stories Today

Lightning-fast charging Xpeng G9 is coming (update)

Piet Andries Posted On November 25, 2021

Chinese car brand Xpeng has unveiled its fourth model. The G9 is an all-electric high-end luxury SUV, sitting on top of its portfolio that can charge at 480 kW. The car will, of course, be available for the domestic market, but it’s the first time that the manufacturer has developed a vehicle specifically for export.

And after Norway, in 2022 it will come to the Netherlands first with Sweden and Denmark following. The latter was confirmed by Xpeng’s Vice-Chairman Brian Gu in an interview with American channel CNBC. In the long-term Xpeng wants to make half its return on the home market, the rest internationally.

The G9 should obtain top results in crash tests from the European Union. And oh, it charges like lightning, at record-breaking DC charging of 480 kW (with 800 volts). That’s more than double of Kia’s latest, the EV6 or the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

SUV version of P7 sedan

The G9 was unveiled at Auto Guangzhou and could be interpreted as the SUV version of the P7 sedan. It sits on the same platform, called Edward, but introduces its new XPower 3.0 powertrain. That features record-breaking DC charging.

With this architecture, the battery pack of 80 kWh can regain 200 kilometers in just five minutes. The only drawback is that there are currently no fast-chargers available in Europe with such a high peak output. Ionity and Fastned currently provide up to 350 kW, with Swiss ABB claiming the fastest charger at 360 kW.

But it’s more ready for the future of charging than any other EV on the market today, while Xpeng is rolling out its own piles supplying 480 kW (only in China, where the company has the largest charging infrastructure of all domestic brands).

Sensors from DJI

The top version of the P9 gets two electric motors for all-wheel drive, delivering 430 hp and 655 Nm of torque. Reaching 100 km/hour shouldn’t take more than five seconds, while the range is estimated at 500 kilometers, according to WLTP.

Since the P9 offers the latest hardware and software Xpeng developed, it comes with Xpilot 4.0. It’s an advanced version of automated driving, which is already under development for version 5.0.

Updating won’t be an issue since it occurs over the air. Notable fact: the lidar sensors come from DJI, the company famous for producing professional and household camera equipment.

Designed for abroad

Xpeng has not yet shown the inside of the car. So it remains to be seen how the SUV deals with infotainment and connectivity. A 5G antenna will be standard. The vehicle also has a Gigabit Ethernet communications architecture, making it ready for big data transfer, fast connections with other cars, and speedy updates.

From a design point of view, the company underscores that it took foreign taste as a guideline. It has resulted in a sleek-looking body, with big 21-inch wheels, small headlight clusters, and flush door handles. The latter boosting aerodynamics, which is always helpful for range.

Debuting in the US

Xpeng cautiously launched itself on the European market. As an all-electric brand, it landed in Norway first, from where it gradually wants to expand its business all over the continent. The G9 should join the line-up in the second half of 2022. It is set to launch the brand in the States as well, but a specific date has not been communicated.

Industry / Product / Top Stories Today

Leasys to offer ‘penalty-free’ monthly car subscription in Italy

Joris Van Roy Posted On November 23, 2021

It looks like the success of the Lynk & Co month-to-month (M2M) subscription model is starting to work as an ice-breaker to open up new possibilities for the car subscription market. Leasys, a subsidiary of the FCA Bank and part of the Stellantis group, just adapted its Be Free EVO offer in Italy, giving the freedom to end subscriptions without a penalty from month one on.

Leasys calls it a ‘smart long-term subscription’. It’s all digital, and there are five models available. The offer includes the all-electric New Fiat 500, the Opel Corsa-e (€389 per month), the hybrid Jeep® Compass 4xe (€479), and two ICE models, the Opel Corsa (€279), and the Fiat 500X (€379).

1 500 km per month included

Subscription prices are guaranteed for two years. Prices include 1 500 km a month, all other expenses like insurance and maintenance included except fuel or electricity, and fines. Starting from €79 per month extra, you can add another 1 500 km. There is a so-called ‘Super Cover’ insurance that eliminates the deductible due in the event of damage, total or partial theft, and fire, and you can add an additional driver.

Lynk & Co offers in Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy only one model, the Lynk & Co 01, at €500 per month without any long-term commitment and an entry fee. According to its Belgian CEO Alain Visser, it already signed up more than 30 000 members in less than a year.

Getting a car in 48 hours

Leasys lets you buy a ‘voucher’ for the desired car first at Amazon or one of its Mobility Stores, starting at 199 euros but promises no further down payments. The company says that all it takes is paying the first month’s fee to get your car within 48 hours.

So far, there is no word about expanding the offer outside Italy. Apparently, you have to be an Italian resident with a legal Italian fiscal code and driver’s license. “Access with a credit card only. The new ‘Ready to Go’ formula was designed by Leasys to rent a car for up to 24 months with the flexibility of a short-term rental,” the website states.

“A registration voucher purchased on Amazon or at the Leasys Mobility Store guarantees access to a no down payment subscription program with a fixed fee for the duration of 24 months and the possibility to go out whenever you want without penalties.”

A new frontier of mobility

“Be Free EVO represents the new frontier of mobility, an ideal synthesis of the increasingly popular trends of disownership, the subscription economy, and sustainability: it is estimated that by 2025, global revenues from leasing and rental will reach $500 billion,” said Giacomo Carelli, CEO of FCA Bank Group and Chairman of Leasys.

“FCA Bank and Leasys have embraced these trends, launching a subscription product that combines innovation and maximum flexibility, but with peace of mind for the customer. Long-term rental has never been so smart, digital, and easy,” Carelli adds.

Sharing among members

The new Leasys offer seems so far to come closest to the Lynk & Co model. However, the latter still goes way further by allowing its subscribers to share their car with other ‘club members’ at an hourly or daily rental feel they determine themselves. The latter lets them ‘mitigate’ the rental cost for themselves.

There are other subscription models out there, like Care by Volvo, Lexus One, or Sixt+. Still, all of them are far less flexible with penalty fees when canceling your subscription earlier than foreseen in the contract, like in classic leasing. They are generally more expensive, growing even more costly as you want more flexibility.

Industry / Product / Technology / Top Stories Today

Rivian and Ford drop plans to co-develop EVs

Félix Bouland Posted On November 22, 2021

On Friday, American electric car newcomer Rivian and giant Ford Motor Company have announced that they will no longer co-develop an electric vehicle or share a platform. However, Ford remains a major stakeholder in Rivian (12%).

Back in April 2019, Ford announced a partnership with Rivian to develop and produce an all-new battery electric vehicle (BEV), backed with an equity investment of $500 million. In early 2020, the American giant announced that the vehicle would bear the Lincoln logo, before canceling those plans.

Grown apart

“When you compare today with when we originally made that investment, so much has changed: about our ability, about the brand’s direction in both cases, and now it’s more certain to us what we have to do. We want to invest in Rivian – we love their future as a company – but at this point, we’re going to develop our own vehicles,” declared Ford CEO, Jim Farley, in an interview with Automotive News.

The situations of both companies have very much changed since the parentship agreement was signed. The massive investment from Ford came seven months before the launch of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, a model that has proven to be successful as production numbers for 2021 have already exceeded the excepted 50 000 units per year. Furthermore, Ford has already taken nearly 200 000 deposits for the electric F-150 Lightning.

‘Mutual decision’

Rivian, for its part, has just delivered the first 156 units of its R1T pickup and demand is growing fast. In addition to that, the newcomer had a very successful IPO and is now valued at $99,9 billion. For context, Ford is valued at $77 billion.

“As Ford has scaled its own EV strategy and demand for Rivian vehicles has grown, we’ve mutually decided to focus on our own projects and deliveries. Our relationship with Ford is an important part of our journey, and it remains an investor and ally on our shared path to an electrified future,” declared Rivian in an emailed statement.

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Fisker presents production-ready Ocean in three flavors

Joris Van Roy Posted On November 22, 2021

At the Los Angeles Motor show in its hometown, American electric carmaker Fisker presented its now production-ready version of the Ocean SUV last week, in three flavors and starting at $37 499 before incentives. For that price, you’ll get the basic two-wheel-drive Sport with a 200 kW (268 hp) engine and an estimated EPA range of 250 miles (400 km).

Fisker always said the Ocean would be available on a subscription model, too, with no long-term commitments. That ‘Flexee Lease’ offer materializes under the form of a $379 (€330) monthly fee for the cheapest Sport, but only after an initial ‘activation downpayment’ of $2 999 (€2 618), 30 000 kilometers yearly are included.

Waiting until 2024 for the most affordable?

Production of the Ocean at Magna Steyr in Austria is scheduled for November 2022, but for the most affordable version, production will only start one year later, in November 2023.

The two other versions are all-wheel drive, the Ultra ($49 999) and Extreme ($68 999). The latter also offers a ‘Hyper’ performance mode and an Off-Road driving mode, besides the basic ‘Earth’ and ‘Fun’ modes.

They’ll get the so-called Hyper Range battery packs – NMC batteries from CATL instead of cheaper LFP batteries for the same Chinese supplier – offering ranges from 340 to 350 miles respectively (547 – 563 km). These two feature dual engines with a combined output of around 400 and 405 kW (540 and 550 hp), with acceleration figures of 3,9 to 3,6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/hour.

The first 5 000 vehicles produced in Austria will be a special series, the Ocean One at 68 999 dollars (€60 236), packed with all possible features of the most powerful version. But, sorry guys, they are already ‘booked’ all.

Swiveling touch screen

Inside the Ocean’s most visible feature is the 17,1 ‘Revolve’ screen that can swivel from portrait mode for driving into landscape or ‘Hollywood Mode’ for viewing a movie while parked only.

The interior of the five-seat SUV is ‘entirely vegan’ using recycled materials like old T-shirts for the dashboard or fishing nets for the floor mats. Those fishing nets, we already heard from Lynk & Co, where the recycled material is called Econyl and used for the seats.

On the most expensive versions, the Extreme and One, the (sliding) SolarSky roof with integrated solar cells, could supply up to 1 500 miles (2 400 km) of extra range a year, if you’re lucky to live in a sunny country like California, for instance.

What’s more important is the Ocean’s ability to power up other EVs, your home electric appliances, or sell back power to the grid (V2G), which Fisker baptized PowerCar, PowerHouse, and PowerGrid.

All about design

The sleek design, both external and interior, shows this SUV is all about design in the first place. No wonder, as the Chairman – CEO and co-founder of the company is the designer himself, with already a worldwide reputation. According to his design team, the big boss is a designer himself allows for faster production decisions.

Henrik Fisker (56) is a Danish-American automotive designer who gained worldwide appraisal for his cars, like the BMW Z8 or the Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage. In 2007, he started Fisker Automotive and created the Fisker Karma, a gorgeously looking car that was one of the first premium plug-in hybrids globally.

Unfortunately, Karma wasn’t a big commercial success, so Fisker left his company in 2013. In 2016, he tried again, founding Fisker Inc. together with his daughter. He received numerous prizes and awards.

Goliath.com named him “one of the ten greatest car designers in automotive history”, writing that he has created “some of the modern masterpieces in the automobile industry”. Until now, he hasn’t proven himself as a businessman as he has been designing cars, but, like Elon Musk, the man is convinced that he has a mission to persuade people to drive an electric vehicle.

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Genesis unveils GV70 SUV, its third BEV

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 22, 2021

Hyundai Group’s luxury brand Genesis has unveiled an all-electric version of its GV70 SUV. The electrified GV70 is Genesis’ third BEV, following the G80 and GV60. The newcomer will be available exclusively with an all-wheel drive.

With the GV70, Genesis’ announced electric car trio for Europe should be complete. Shortly after the launch of the G80 electric sedan, the South Korean carmaker announced that two more electric models would follow.

One of them would be built on a platform exclusively for EVs. This model is the e-GMP electric car GV60, and the third model, again on a mixed platform, will now be the GV70.

The GV70 combines two electric motors, each with 160 kW of power and 350 Nm of torque on the front and rear axles. Genesis puts the system output at 360 kW in boost mode, the combined torque at 700 Nm.

Disconnector Actuator System

Like the models on a dedicated electric platform, the GV70 features the Disconnector Actuator System (DAS) – a clutch that mechanically disconnects the motors depending on the driving situation.

With the DAS, the GV70 can switch between two-wheel and four-wheel drive. It also has an SUV-specific ‘e-terrain’ mode, which should make driving on changing surfaces easier.

There are no details yet on the battery capacity. However, the range in the CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) is said to be 500 kilometers, while the Korean certification system for electric cars puts it at around 400 kilometers.

Thanks to the 400/800 V multi-fast charging system (like in the Ioniq 5 or the Kia EV6), up to 350 kW charging power is possible. The GV70 also has the familiar V2L function, which means it can operate external power consumers with up to 3,6 kW.

The power specifications already released differ slightly from those of the G80 sedan, which is also based on a mixed platform. The latter has two electric motors with 136 kW each, the battery – also with 800 volts – has an energy content of 87,2 kWh.

The GV70 will be produced in the USA from the beginning of 2022 as the group’s first electric model over there. However, Genesis didn’t specify yet when and at what price the electric GV70 will be launched on the European market.

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IG Metall and Stellantis have reached an agreement (update)

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 18, 2021

The influential German car union IG Metall and Stellantis have reached an agreement on Wednesday/ They were on a collision course because Stellantis wanted to reorganize Opel completely.

The union feared dismantling the coveted co-management typical for the German industry. “The planned transfer of the Eisenach and Rüsselsheim plants into the Stellantis Group has been avoided,” says the press release from IG Metall.

Stellantis studied the possibility of making independent entities of the Opel plants in Rüsselsheim (near Frankfurt) and Eisenach (east of Germany). “To reinforce the cooperation and the flexibility within the production chain,” said an Opel spokesman a month ago to AFP.

Another structure

Once they’d been independent, the plants would have been linked directly with a Stellantis entity, “in the Netherlands, for example.” Stellantis is the overarching company based in Amsterdam, erected and functioning under Dutch law as the fruit of a fusion between FCA and PSA.

“This project threatened the Opel brand, the factories, the workers, and the entire sense of co-management,” says IG Metall in the press release. “What Opel was announcing had no economic sense,” said Uwe Baum, head of the works council.

“What they want is to get away from co-management,” he added. “This dismantling was destined to weaken the cooperative management, a cornerstone of the German economic model which works very well.”

Opel justified the move by saying that “Stellantis organizes the production in so-called clusters to reach a maximum and efficient use of capacities and to be sure that all plants can produce cars from all brands within Stellantis.”

No essential changes for now

Rüsselsheim is where it all began for Opel, and today the plant occupies 2 100 workers. The plant in Eisenach has 1 300 employees and has been independent between 1990 (after the German reunion) and 2013.

At the moment, Eisenach has been closed till the end of the year due to the chips shortage. However, in its press release, Stellantis indicates that the plant will restart in the first week of January and produce a new SUV.

The site will have its own jurisdictional entity but stays part of Opel, just like the historic Rüsselsheim plant. “The working conditions for all the employees stay unchanged, and the collective agreements remain in effect,” Stellantis has declared.

“The dismantling of Opel has been avoided, and the jobs are assured,” rejoices Jörg Köhlinger, regionally responsible for IG Metall. “Co-management has been guaranteed. This is a great achievement.”

Autonomous driving / Product / Technology / Top Stories Today

Kia and Hyundai showcase future electric SUVs in LA

Piet Andries Posted On November 18, 2021

At the Automobility motor show in Los Angeles sister companies Kia and Hyundai each unveiled their vision of a future large all-electric SUV. The Kia EV9 (see picture below) and the Hyundai Seven are separate concepts, but they build very strongly on the same technology and ideas.

Coach doors and a long wheelbase put a lot of accent on the inside, where the designers have tried to attract the attention of American customers with a grand interior space, filled with luxury and clever arrangements.

Same architecture

In both models the design language is very sturdy, underlining the big proportions very typical of a North-American SUV. While designer Karim Habib at Kia has opted for a more rugged, muscular look, the Hyundai style outlines the passenger compartment a tad more, even resulting in a tail design reminding of the Codatronca technique. For Hyundai, the Seven will be offered in the Ioniq range, the Kia files under the EV family.

These slight differences in approach are also reflected in the wheelbase. While both concepts sit on the same E-GMP architecture (Electric Global Modular Platform) the Hyundai offers fractionally more space than the Kia (3,2 versus 3,1 meters).

Living rooms on the move

Entry to the passenger compartment happens in both SUVs through oppositely opening pillarless coach doors. Both cars have pivoting seats on the inside. Hyundai, however, went one step further and has not only turned the seats into sofa’s but also transformed the third row into a bench, stretching all over the trunk. Your SUV becomes a living room.

In the front, a wide-screen layout is seen in both models, though the most remarkable feature is the pop-up steering wheel. Hinting clearly at autonomous driving, the Korean brands refer to the classic steering wheel as a standalone subsystem, only present when needed. That’s, of course, still very visionary.

Kia has developed different modes for the interior. In Active Mode the car is moving and the layout remains very classical. In Pause mode, the seats swivel for a more interactive decor, and in Enjoy mode the third row is turned with the tailgate opened so that the passenger can experience the view.

No inductive charging

Neither manufacturer has released any specifications on the battery, nor the power of the electric motors – supposedly two – so that remains very conceptual as well. For the charging Kia and Hyundai state that the Seven and EV9 can be fast-charged up to 350 kW, enabling a refill from 10-80% in 20-30 minutes.

On top of that, the EV9 has hood vents acting as solar panels. Somehow, we would have expected inductive charging, as seen on the GV60 from sister company Genesis.

Entry to the passenger compartment happens in the Kia through oppositely opening pillarless coach doors /Kia

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Van Hool builds double-deck electric coach for US

Joris Van Roy Posted On November 18, 2021

Belgian bus and tour car maker Van Hool has presented the TDX25E Astromega, its first double-deck coach, targeted to the US market. It offers a range of 500 km for 69 passengers, 18 on the lower deck, 51 on the upper deck. Apparently, demand for double-deck coaches is nowhere as high as in America.

The electric double-deck coach further develops the CX45E electric coach with the same technical underpinnings and a similar range of 310 miles or 500 km. The first one of 22 of these was shipped last December to Van Hool’s longtime partner in the US, ABC Bus Companies, which sold them nationwide.

The TDX25E double-deck coach shares the same drivetrain specs but offers a larger passenger capacity of up to 69. Its diesel sibling with a 12,9 liter DAF engine can seat up to 88.

Van Hool showed the CX45E for the first time at Busworld Europe in October 2019. The ‘American style’ electric tour bus has a Siemens motor delivering 310 kW continuously. The peak output is 360 kW, and the top speed is 114 km/hour.

676 kWh battery pack

A 676 kWh battery pack from Proterra promises a range of up to 500 km, depending on the type of terrain it is used on and the weather conditions. Van Hool says it’s not intended for the long ranges as such, but will be more likely being used by its American clients to bring employees daily from home to work and back. It can be charged at 125 kW, needing around five hours this way.

Van Hool started building double-deck coaches in 1982, with the first ones shipped to the US in 2007, which is Van Hool’s second-biggest market after its home market. Meanwhile, Van Hool delivered some 3 500 double-deck coaches in 19 different countries, CEO Filip Van Hool says in the press release.

11 000 buses and coaches in the US

Van Hool has been working for 34 years with local American distributor ABC Bus Companies and has an estimated 11 000 buses and coaches driving on the US roads. Most of the buses Van Hool builds are intended for Europe and the US market.

In January 2018, it announced it plans to set up a copy of its Macedonian mega-factory in Tennessee in the US to build city buses for public transport. But the pandemic threw a monkey wrench in the works.

Worst crisis in 75-year existence

The electric coaches are all built at the Koningshooikt (Lier) factory in Belgium and shipped via Zeebrugge. For the 2 650 employees in Lier, the demand from the US is welcomed, as half of them have been forced to sit at home technically unemployed since the outbreak of corona.

According to spokesman Dirk Snauwaert in Gazet van Antwerpen, Van Hool is facing the worst crisis in its 75-year existence due to the pandemic and demand for buses and coaches dropping to levels never seen before.

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Polestar wants double market share by 2023

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 17, 2021

The Swedish-Chinese electric car brand Polestar (part of the Geely Group) aims at increasing its annual sales to 290 000 vehicles by the end of 2025. The plan: expansion in existing and new markets and the introduction of three new models.

By the end of 2023, Polestar would like to be present in 30 markets – currently, there are 14. In the first half of 2022, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Israel will be the first markets added to the portfolio.

Polestar gave some details in the margin of its planned US IPO via a merger with SPAC Gores Guggenheim to underpin its growth ambitions.

Expansion, with a focus on the US

At the moment, Polestar has 86 retail locations across its 14 markets, up from 40 a year ago, with recent additions in New York City and Boston. Expansion is expected to continue rapidly in the US: 25 locations are planned by the end of this year.

“We have grown tremendously since we started our full-scale activity in 2020, underpinned by organic market expansion, strong interest in our award-winning Polestar models, and benefits from post-pandemic retail tailwinds,” says Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar.

“We look forward to further accelerating growth by expanding our global presence and continuing to innovate our product portfolio,” he adds. Concerning the latter, Polestar had recently confirmed some details about the upcoming models.

Two SUVs and a sedan

The first is the Polestar 3, an electric SUV, which will be built in the US along with the upcoming electric Volvo XC90. It is expected in 2022 and has a target range of 600+ kilometers. In terms of price, the Polestar 3 will be similar to, for example, a Porsche Cayenne or an Audi e-tron.

The Polestar 3 is named a ‘Luxury Aero SUV’. In 2023, it will be followed by another electric SUV, the Polestar 4, which is supposed to be a ‘Premium Sport SUV’. The targeted range here is also 600+ kilometers. In terms of price (and presumably dimensions), the Porsche Macan (also electric by then) is the reference.

To stay with the Porsche comparisons: a comparable model to the Panamera will be launched in 2024. The Polestar 5 is described as a ‘Luxury Sport GT with four doors’.

With the Polestar Precept, the Swedish-Chinese brand had already shown a sedan-like study; it is most probable that the Polestar 5 will have some features taken over. Here too, there is a targeted range of 600+ kilometers.

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Electric start-up Rivian valued at $99,9 billion after its IPO

Félix Bouland Posted On November 12, 2021

American electric pickup truck and SUV manufacturer, Rivian, has had a strong entry to Wall Street on Wednesday following a successful IPO. The start-up company, which delivered its first 156 cars, is now valued at 99,9 billion dollars, exceeding Ford’s and GM’s valuation. Backed by the likes of Amazon and Ford, the manufacturer’s IPO allowed it to raise 11,9 billion dollars.

Still relatively new on the market, Rivian has managed to gather interest from investors in a way nobody had seen since Tesla. The manufacturer based in the USA hopes to disrupt the market with its R1T pickup and R1S SUV, offering class-leading power, range, and capability.

Valued at $100 billion

Before Wednesday, Rivian had announced the pricing of its initial public offering (IPO), setting the common stock at $78 per share. With initial plans to sell 135 million shares, Rivian had to increase the amount to 153 million due to the impressive demand from investors.

On Wednesday, the market was hungry for Rivian shares, with a price at the closure of $100,73. Taking into account the stock options and convertible shares, this represents a capitalization of 99,9 billion dollars. This exceeds the valuation of bigger and older carmakers, such as Ford ($77 billion) and GM ($86 billion). Rivian’s IPO is sure to bring at least $11,9 billion for the company’s future projects.

156 pickups delivered

Despite the growing interest, Rivian is still relatively new. This month, it delivered its first 156 R1T pickups, mostly to employees. Assembled in an old Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois, the electric truck with a range of up to 500 km can tow up to 5 tons, and is sold for $67 500.

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Subaru’s first BEV is a poorly disguised Toyota

Piet Andries Posted On November 12, 2021

This is the Solterra, Subaru’s first battery-electric vehicle that marks the start of goodbye to the brand’s famed boxer engines. If you experience a deja vu from the picture, that’s because the car is almost a mirror model of the recently unveiled Toyota bZ4x.

Subaru, which is partly owned by Toyota, worked together with its stakeholder to develop the compact SUV. Don’t expect an electrified XV. At Subaru, the architecture is called e-SGP (e-Subaru Global Platform), but the module and its tech are intrinsically the same as Toyota’s e-TNGA platform (electric Toyota New Global Architecture).

Like its sister model, there’s only one battery on offer (71,4 kWh) with either one or two electric motors of 80 kW each, though the output of both powertrains is quite similar.

In the field of AWD

As such the model will be available as front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive when it hits the market in mid-2022. The first model offers a range of 530 kilometers, the latter 460 kilometers. Heralded for its all-wheel-drive technology, Subaru underlines that its greatest contributions to the joint project were exactly in this field.

With maximum DC charging power at 150 kW and an optional AC charger of 6,6 kW, the Solterra possesses the same charging times as its sister model. It takes half an hour to fill the battery from 0 to 80% in the first case. It seems likely that the three-phase charging of the bZ4x will be made available as well, particularly in Europe, but that remains to be confirmed.

Carbon copy

Subaru didn’t even follow its own path for the outside dimensions nor the interior design. Except for a slightly different facia and a twist in the styling of the rear lights, the Solterra is basically a carbon copy of the bZ4x. Wheelbase, roof, spoiler in the back, black plastic plates on the bodywork, you can easily swap between both.

The cockpit is dominated by a large infotainment screen. Outside Europe, the Toyota bz4x is available with steering-by-wire in the form of a yoke-style steering wheel. However, there’s no trace of such in the Solterra as of now.

Skepticism

The official debut is planned for the 2nd of December. Regardless of its offspring, the Solterra is a crucial start for the Japanese brand that wants to cut its CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030.

It’s also important for partner Toyota to further broaden its all-electric strategy, which has been lagging behind, through ‘sub-brands’ like Subaru.

Though Toyota is catching up, the company still holds skepticism toward the switch. At COP26, it didn’t sign the charter that binds car manufacturers to sell only emission-free vehicles by 2040. One of Toyota’s directors of the board stated that “there are many ways to become CO2 neutral. We need to look at the particular situation for each region and every country.”

It seems the company has a hard time abandoning its beloved hybrid technology, it has been pioneering for over 15 years..

As a small brand, Subaru will be hugely dependant on Toyota’s EV strategy. Due to the enormous investment, it seems unlikely that it will develop its own BEV vehicle. The question remains if the brand will be able to maintain its idiosyncratic and unique reputation in car building under those premises.

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Q8 e-tron will be built in Brussels

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 12, 2021

During the celebration of the 8th millionth car produced in the Audi car manufacturing plant in Forest (Brussels), Audi CEO Markus Duesmann confirmed that the Q8 e-tron will be built in Brussels as of 2026.

The decision still needs to be confirmed by the supervisory boards of Audi and the VW Group. Still, usually, that’s a formality if the Audi management has already decided on such matters.

The new electric flagship SUV from Audi will start being built in Brussels in 2026. At the moment, Audi’s first BEV, the e-tron, has been coming from the line in Brussels since 2018. It is available as a standard SUV and a coupé derivative called Sportback. Its model life (a face-lift is due in 2023) is foreseen until the Q8 takes over.

Worries about the transition

The worker unions are worried about the transition period between the current e-tron and the coming Q8 e-tron. However, Peter Kössler, board member responsible for production, is confident that the e-tron will still be attractive in the following years.

“Of course, I can’t predict the future either, but normally the e-mobility will continue to grow. A lot will depend on the rolling out of adequate charging infrastructure. With the two-shift pattern the factory is running on, capacity is fully used.”

The Q8 e-tron will be based on the new e-platform PPE that VW Group will use all over its brands, so the fact that other models from other brands could be made in Brussels is technically feasible.

“But, as I said, we’re completely occupied now, despite the chip shortage that has cost us production volume and, in my opinion, will still last through 2022,” Kössler adds. “We mustn’t forget that the transition to the new platform and model will also cost time, a lot of investments, and training. But I’m very confident that the people in our Brussels factory are fully capable of reaching the next step in our ‘strategic manufacturing depth’.

The area where the Brussels Audi factory is situated is fully used; there’s no space anymore for physical expansion. That’s why Audi has chosen to build big premium models here, with a healthy profit margin. Most probably, this won’t change in the future.

Key factory

In his speech, Audi CEO Duesmann stressed that the relatively small Audi Brussels factory had been a key player in the energy transition at Audi. “The consequent rebuild of our product portfolio to electromobility is the biggest challenge in our history. Brussels is a frontrunner in these; in our other facilities, we build further on the Brussels experience.”

In the Brussels factory, there is not only the assembly of the e-tron (some 40 000 units per year), but the battery modules are also assembled on-site into the battery packs that go into the cars. Lately, the people at the plant have developed high-tech analytic software for high voltage batteries called BattMAN.

Factory CEO Volker Germann pointed at the role of the personnel in this success story. They’ve shown themselves very open-minded and studious in this all-important transition to electromobility. At the moment, there are 3 000 people employed in Forest, where 115 000 e-trons have already been produced, making it the best-sold electric premium SUV in Europe.

Brief history

The plant in Brussels has a long history. The first car coming off the line in 1949 was a Studebaker. At the time, it was interesting to start assembly plants in Belgium to avoid high import taxes. That’s what the D’Ieteren family also did, importing Studebakers and Packards from over the ocean and becoming Volkswagen’s spearhead in Belgium.

In 1965, the last of 21 675 Studebakers made in Brussels rolled of the line, and the factory was adapted to build the Beetle and its Transporter derivative. In addition, some thousand Porsche 356 cabriolets (same platform) were also made in Forest.

In 1970, the D’Ieteren-owned plant was sold to Volkswagen AG, and some ten years later, the new VW success story, the Golf, takes over in Brussels. Some 4 million units of this universal best-seller were made in Brussels, with other models like Passat, Polo, Lupo, and even Seat in the margin.

2006 is the culmination year of a brooding social conflict in Forest for years, and finally, the VW board throws in the towel. Some 7 000 jobs are at stake. Then, a year later, Audi comes in, refurbishing the whole factory to produce the small A1 and saving some 2 600 jobs.

But at Audi, they are also aware that building a small mass product like the A1 is probably not the best thing for Brussels. So, as the production of its successor moves to Spain, Audi Brussels becomes the pilot plant at Audi for the electric transition.

Once again, the factory is completely reorganized, and the skilled workforce is trained to the maximum. The plant started the production of Audi’s first BEV in 2018, and it has been a success until now. The future will tell if the plant will continue to play a leading role in the manufacturer’s energy transition.

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BMW CE 04 kicks off all-electric urban mobility future

Joris Van Roy Posted On November 10, 2021

BMW Motorrad has started in Berlin the serial production of its all-electric maxiscooter CE 04, both in the consumer version as the police version. “All future new models from BMW Motorrad in the area of urban mobility will be 100% electric,” confirms Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad.

For a starting price of 12 490 euros, the BMW CE 04 maxiscooter features a permanent-magnet liquid-cooled synchronous motor of 30 kW (41 hp) and an 8,9 kWh battery suitable for a range of around 130 kilometers. Top speed is limited electronically to 120 km/hour. An 11 kW (15 hp) version is also available for drivers with an A1 license.

Three driving modes

There are three driving modes: ECO for a maximum range, RAIN with limited acceleration, brake regeneration for maximum traction on a slippery underground, and ROAD with full performance.

The CE 04 accelerates in 2,3 seconds from 0 to 50 km/hour. A fourth, Dynamic mode, is optional with full power and more intensive regenerative braking. ABS and ASC (Automatic Stability Control) are standard. DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) and ABS Pro, and the eCall options come at an extra cost.

Fast-charging in 65 minutes

The maxiscooter gets a 10,25 inch TFT color screen on which a large navigation map can be shown, besides all necessary information for the driver. Through the BMW Motorrad Connected App, several functions are available on a smartphone.

Charging at home can be done with the standard Mode 2 cable with Schuko-plug. At 2,3 kW, that takes 4 hours and 20 minutes. With the optional fast-charger and plugged in a BMW Walbox or public charger, it can be done at 6,9 kW for a 0 to 80% charge in 65 minutes.

Reducing CO2 emissions with 80%

The electric motor is fully assembled at the Berlin Plant. Actually, it is the same motor as used in the BMW 225xe Active Tourer en MINI Countryman Plug-in Hybrid. The housing of the high-voltage battery is produced locally, while the battery cells – the same as used in the iX – are delivered by the BMW plant in Dingolfing.

At the start of the series production of the BMW CE 04, the Berlin plant announced a reduction in CO2 emissions in production by 80% and energy consumption by 25% by 2030 (versus 2019).

155 000 motorbikes per year

All BMW motorbikes and scooters are exclusively made in the district of Spandau in Berlin since 1969. The factory, employing 2 000 people, expands over 230 000 square meters, and here 155 000 motorbikes and scooters and their engines, running gear, and drive components are produced every year.

That is 25 models in the Sport, Tour, Roadster, Heritage, Adventure, and Urban Mobility classes. The latter is to become 100% electric starting with the CE 04 and all future models.

Industry / Product / Services / Top Stories Today

Cardoen goes for second-hand

Tony Verhelle Posted On November 10, 2021

Car supermarket Cardoen is changing course and aiming much more at the second-hand market. With the installation of ‘The Reconditioning Center’ in Wilrijk (Antwerp), it will now focus on selling good second-hand cars and less on new stock cars.

Cardoen is following the example of its French parent company (since 2018), Aramis Auto (owned for more than half by Stellantis), which has already initiated the same scheme in France (first) and other European countries. In the Hexagone, Aramis Auto already sold more than 80 000 cars that had been reconditioned on their premises.

Reacting to the market

Because of the chip shortage and other possible problems, it is hard to find new cars nowadays, and also Cardoen is feeling this in its relentless search for (less expensive) stock cars.

On the other hand, demand for second-hand cars is booming, especially by individual buyers. “We saw this changing trend already in our sales,” says co-CEO Ivo Willems. “Until recently, only 15% of the cars leaving our showrooms were second-hand; at the moment, it’s already near to 50%.”

Ivo Willems foresees a continuous growth of the second-hand market and refers to the soaring prices of new cars lately, also caused by the switch to electrification. “Our typical customers can’t afford an electric car yet,” Willems continues.

“They enter the showroom with a certain, limited budget to spend and choose the car that suits them best. Thus, a large offer of top-quality ‘reconditioned’ second-hand cars is a big expansion of their choice.”

Ten-year warranty

To emphasize the quality of its new reconditioning center and attract even more clients, Cardoen is expanding its warranty to an impressive ten years, for new (stock) and second-hand cars.

Of course, the latter are selected ones. They can’t have more than 100 000 km behind the wheels, they must be younger than six years, and accident-free. Cardoen asks for a one-off premium of €549 for the ten-year warranty.

The key to this audacious proposal is, of course, the reconditioning center. The second-hand cars bought by Cardoen are scanned thoroughly there and repaired when necessary. Technically, they have to be impeccable, body-wise (bumps, paint, etc.), they are reconditioned in stages: less ‘pristine’ ones are cheaper than almost new ones.

200 extra jobs

In the center, some 6 000 to 7 000 cars can be reconditioned in one year. “That is if we stick to one shift,” says Willems. “More shifts are possible if things go well.” Willems hopes to create 200 extra jobs by 2025 with this new scheme. Currently, Cardoen has 16 car ‘supermarkets’ in Belgium, employing 250 people throughout the country.

Cardoen’s mother company, Aramis Group, has just published its annual results. In the release, they boasted on the record number of sales of reconditioned second-hand cars. In the figures, Belgium is mentioned as having realized a turnover of €193,8 million for Aramis Group.

For years, ‘supermarket’ Cardoen was the big enemy of the Belgian car importers. But steadily, the official importers have been looking at sales formulas going in the same direction.

Just recently, Cardoen has even become a member of the importer federation Febiac. Being the sole channel through which the Chinese carmaker Aiways is sold here, Cardoen is now also officially a car importer.

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