EDITOR'S CHOICE

Buckle Up for Some Juicy EV Stats, Courtesy of the International Energy Agency

25 May 2022 | Synopsis

"Public spending on subsidies and incentives for EVs nearly doubled in 2021 to nearly $US30 billion. A growing number of countries have pledged to phase out internal combustion engines or have ambitious vehicle electrification targets for the coming decades. Meanwhile, many carmakers have plans to electrify their fleets that go further than policy targets"

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Saudi EV Plant Likely to Be One of Three in Kingdom, Says Investment Minister

25 May 2022 | Synopsis

"United States-based EV maker Lucid Motors, which is more than 60% owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, plans to build its first overseas production factory in Saudi Arabia later this year. The plant is expected eventually to produce up to 150,000 vehicles a year."

Speaking at Davos, Falih did not reveal who the other plants might be built for.

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Britain's Smallest Electric Car Has a Surprisingly Big Price Tag and Short Range

24 May 2022 | Synopsis

"Citroen's new electric Ami has two seats, a top speed of 28mph and a range of 46 miles - and it will cost £7,695 from this summer...

"The 2.4-metre-long EV qualifies as a 'light quadricycle.'

"All versions are powered by a 6kW electric motor and a 5.5kW battery, which can be charged via a cable built into the passenger door frame."

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All-Electric Nissan Ariya To Embark on 27,000 KM Pole-to-Pole Adventure

24 May 2022 | Synopsis

"In preparation for the freezing Arctic and Antarctic conditions, Chris Ramsey's expedition Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE will be modified with a custom rugged exterior fit for the trek across extreme terrain with upgraded wheels, tires and suspension. A second, unmodified Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE will act as a support vehicle throughout the Americas."

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2022 Report Rates the US on EV Readiness: How Prepared is Your State?

24 May 2022 | Synopsis

"The top-ranking states are not necessarily the best locations for EV adoption, but rather the most prepared to handle an influx of new EVs today."

"No offense to The Magnolia State, but we did not expect to see it in the top 10, let alone the top two! As you can see from the data tables in the full LeasePlan EV Readiness Index, Mississippi by far has the lowest EV penetration in the US."

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New All-Electric Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider Shapes Up

24 May 2022 | Synopsis

It could be five years off, but the company is starting to consider electric spec that "can offer a battery size of between 87kWh and 104kWh and electric motors with power from 168bhp to 241bhp..."

"...the second of these would be used for a rear-drive Duetto, allowing engineers to then fit a motor on each axle to produce more powerful four-wheel-drive editions."

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The Truth Behind EV Sales in 2022

24 May 2022 | Synopsis

"Automotive companies including Volkswagen Group, Ford, Mercedes and even Tesla are struggling to meet customer demand given ongoing supply chain issues, battery availability, chip shortages and increased interest in EVs exacerbated by rising gasoline price...

"Manufacturing an EV is very different from manufacturing a vehicle that runs on an internal combustion engine. The supply chain, assembly line and design of an EV are different, and achieving scale seems to be the hardest part...

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Lunaz Upcycled Electric Garbage Trucks Are a Model for Reuse, Carbon Reduction vs. New

23 May 2022 | Synopsis

"Lunaz...starting with end-of-life Mercedes-Benz Econic garbage trucks, and rebuilding them as EVs - is also the world's first upcycled electric recycling truck.

"[C]onverted trash trucks are "dramatically cheaper" than buying a new electric truck..[saving] 80% of the embedded carbon (related to manufacturing) in opting for this sort of truck versus a new electric truck."

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Inside the Design of Zoox, Amazon's Quirky, Self-Driving Car

23 May 2022 | Synopsis

"First founded in 2014 and acquired by Amazon in 2020 for $1.2 billion, Zoox has spent nearly the last decade building an autonomous vehicle from scratch. Their goal is not to sell the car, but to build the rideshare service of tomorrow to challenge Uber and Lyft."

"Without being integrated into the body of the car, the pods --[estimated to be serviceable up to 400k miles] -- can easily be pulled out for repair, or upgraded as technology advances."

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These Cheap E-Bikes Are Taking Over The Streets

23 May 2022 | Synopsis

"With the recent rise in electric bike popularity and advances in technology, e-bike manufacturers have shifted their focus away from premium options and toward affordability, to reach budget-minded cyclists and commuters.

"All of this means that e-bikes are no longer just a rich man's toy, with a host of solid options now available for under $1,500."

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