EDITOR'S CHOICE

GM President Nixes Talk of Future Volt, No More Hybrids

15 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

Mark Reuss'..."message could hardly be clearer, GM plans on focusing on pure battery electric cars...and not "waste" resources building plug-in hybrids.

"Hybrids are just countermeasures to an ICE...You can't spend money to force the customer to carry around extra stuff they may not need.

"Or, you can spend your money on getting the real answer, which is providing the customer a zero emissions, sustainable, affordable solution."

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Toyota Compact Cruiser EV Wins at 2022 Car Design Awards

15 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

"...the off-road EV...won a 2022 Car Design Award, held at the ADI Design Museum in Milan, Italy, during the city's Design Week...Toyota was also nominated in the Production and overall Brand Design categories, but those went to the Ferrari 296 GTB and the Polestar lineups, respectively."

"Toyota says the Compact Cruiser was inspired by a "first-generation" Land Cruiser..." No word on performance specs, production schedule or pricing.

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Automakers and Climate Activists Agree on Need for Congress to Extend Electric Vehicle Tax Credits

15 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

"The CEOs of General Motors, Ford, Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV and Toyota Motor North America signed a joint letter to [Congressional leaders] requesting that the current cap on tax credits be lifted completely and replaced with a time-based limit. The current $7,500 federal income tax credit...phases out after a manufacturer sells 200,000 EVs."

"So far, only Tesla and GM have exceeded the 200,000 electric vehicle threshold..."

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Ford Issues Stop-Sale of Electric Mustang Mach-E Crossovers Due to Potential Safety Defect

14 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

Ford...said potentially affected vehicles include 2021 and 2022 Mach-Es that were built from May 27, 2020, through May 24, 2022, at the automaker’s Cuautitlan plant in Mexico.

"The problem involves a potential overheating of the vehicle’s high voltage battery main contactors, which is an electrically controlled switch for a power circuit. The issue can lead to a malfunction that could cause the vehicle not to start..."

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Cute Electric Bubble Car Gets Official Pricing Ahead of Imminent Production

14 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

"Three Microlino 2.0 series editions were announced last year, followed most recently by the launch of the first 999 vehicles to go into production at the company's...manufacturing facility in Turin, Italy...each come with a 12.5-kW motor and 10.5-kWh battery for a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) and a per-charge range of up to 177 km (110 miles)...

"...prices will start from CHF 14,990 including taxes or roughly € 12,500 excluding VAT."

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GM Will Officially Reveal Chevy Blazer EV on July 18th

14 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

"GM first teased electric versions of its Blazer and Equinox SUVs last year. But while the automaker has said it aims for the Equinox EV to start at $30,000, it has yet to set similar pricing expectations for the Blazer.

"The imminent arrival of the Equinox EV and Blazer EV would put Chevy at the forefront of GM’s $35 billion push to electrify its entire lineup by 2040."

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Scania Launches Its Regional Long-Haul Electric Truck

14 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

Scania says that its 4×2, or single-axle, tractor...624 kWh of batteries installeD...can expect to achieve up to 350 km (217 miles) in range, with an average speed of 80 km/hour (50 mph) on highways. The company notes that range will of course vary with weight, configuration, and topography.

"The truck will achieve full charge in less than 90 minutes – half the length of a driver’s mandated 45-minute rest period for every 4.5 hours..."

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In-road Inductive Charging Tests Demonstrate Unlimited EV Range

14 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

"[Stellantis]...has built and tested a charge-as-you-drive system - a loop of road in Italy with wireless EV charging coils embedded under the surface, so that electric cars can charge as they drive and unlock unlimited range.

"When active, the coils send power to vehicles passing overhead, provided that they've been fitted with a receiver. Interestingly, at this stage it appears the energy is sent straight to the motor..."

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This New All-Electric Motorcycle Will Add a Dose of Style to Your Off-Road Adventure

14 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

"Triumph announced its first battery-powered model... Ducatti is hard at work on one of its own.

OX Motorcycles of Spain offers their version called Patagonia. It "is powered by a rear-mounted 11-kW in-hub motor connected to a removable 72-volt battery pack. Ox says that this setup the bike can reach a top speed of 68 mph, which is respectable. What isn’t, though, is a range of 100km (62 mi)."

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Toyota Courts Harsh Criticism from Large European Pensions

13 Jun 2022 | Synopsis

"From Anglican priests to Swedish asset managers, Toyota Motor Corporation is fielding increased criticism for its lack of investment in electric vehicles.

"In our view - and in the view of many other investors - the lobbying work undertaken by Toyota Motor has given the company a global laggard status on climate action within the auto sector...

[European pension] "funds holds hundreds of millions of dollars in shares of the automaker."

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