February 2020: Monthly Electric Vehicle News Roundup

1. TATA POWER JOIN HANDS WITH PRAKRITI E-MOBILITY

Tata Power has joined hands with EV cab operator Prakriti E-Mobility (an app-based EV taxi service provider) to line up 50 charging stations for electric vehicles in a phased manner. The two Tata Group companies, Tata Power and Tata Motors, will jointly fund 30 slow chargers and five fast chargers over a period within the capital, Delhi-NCR. Tata Power is going to be liable for designing, installing and managing the charging stations near the Delhi airport, Gurgaon and north Delhi. The companies have opened the primary fast charger at Jasola, southeast Delhi. This partnership will boost the general EV ecosystem. Tata Power already targets a network of over 100 charging points across public, captive areas, residential and company segments.

2. AMAZON HAS ORDERED 100,000 EV’s

Amazon prime packages might arrive in an electric Amazon van at the end of 2021. The company has already announced that it ordered nearly about 100,000 vehicles from Rivian, the electric vehicle maker, for delivery purposes. It will help Amazon to achieve its goal of being carbon neutral by 2040. Amazon can also continue to progress its transportation work. According to the report, Amazon delivers nearly 2.5 billion packages per annum. It is now ranked in one of the largest packages delivery in the US. In 2021, the new proposed vans will start operating to deliver its packages. The company also showed off the design for the upcoming electric vehicles.  It is designed with various improved features.

3. In January E-Cars grab 44% of market share in Norway

Electric cars have accounted for a market share of 44.3% in Norway’s new car sales in January. It has been reported from the data of the Norwegian Road Federation; the share amount has been rising in each year as a progressive manner, but falling in short of the 50-60% range the industry forecast for 2020. In January 2019, electric cars made up sales of 37.8% within the Nordic country. The number rose in subsequent months to an overall 42.4% market share at the year-end. As it aims to end the sale of combustion-engine cars by 2050, oil-producer Norway has exempted taxes on battery-powered vehicles, which are levied on those running on petrol and diesel vehicles.

4. BPCL TO PROVIDE SUPPLIES OF SWAPPABLE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited has launched an ‘e-drive initiative’ for grabbing opportunities from electric vehicles. According to the business model, fleets of three-wheelers, referred to as ‘e-rickshaws,’ are deployed, having no maintenance cost. The rising pollution, increasing disposable incomes, and rapid urbanization would drive future mobility in India. The three-wheelers are powered by two batteries. At the time, when the charge drains, it might be delivered to the BPCL outlets to get replaced with fully charged ones. The cost of two batteries to run one e- rickshaw has an amount of Rs. 60,000, which is borne by the BPCL. As, the usage fee for drivers is between Rs 350 and Rs 400 for one swap of two batteries, so the twin Li-ion batteries provide a variety of 50-55 km. Electric vehicles are expected to disrupt the present auto component ecosystem.

5. Toyota and Panasonic will collaborate on Launching to Make Electric Car Batteries

Toyota Motor Corp. and Panasonic Corp. will launch to make a new generation of batteries for electric vehicles. The 2 companies have cooperated on battery research since 1996. The venture will start to work on prismatic batteries. They can able to sell to other automakers. In the new business, Toyota will own 51%, while Panasonic owns 49%. Last year, Toyota and Chinese EV manufacturer BYD formed EV batteries in China. The partnership is vital for Panasonic, which has been the exclusive battery supplier to Tesla. Toyota targets to grow production of electric vehicles to account for half its global sales by 2025. The cost of EV batteries is falling. By 2024, it is predicted that batteries will reach cost parity with traditional gas-burning engines.

6. HUMMER IS COMING BACK AS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Hummer is making a comeback. GM is reviving the Hummer brand as an EV. The electrical vehicle is going to be revealed in May, with production beginning in late 2021.A hefty load of cultural baggage is carried by the Hummer. Production of the GM Hummer ramped up as GM was shutting down its EV1 electric program. GM heavily promoted the Hummer. Getting inspired by Tesla, car makers are making electric vehicles, highlighting performance, not efficiency and eco-friendliness. Now, the whole market goes to electrification. So the possibility is that it’ll make GM a Hummer-sized pile of cash.

7. FLEET VEHICLES ARE INCREASINGLY GOING ELECTRIC

As electric cars grow in popularity and visibility, the scooter company Lime announced to plan for completely remove gas- and diesel-powered vehicles. Lime is one of the legendary companies that manufactures electric vehicles. It promotes an eco-friendly alternative to driving. The sale of electric vehicles to companies is simpler than selling one to a private car owner. It takes a longer time to charge a battery than to refill gasoline in the tank. The priority is common for the drivers who very rarely drive long distances. Another obstacle is that there is no mass-production electric pickup yet in the U.S. market. Now, most of the companies are expressing their interest in electric fleets. So, the automakers have to catch up with demand.

8. PENETRATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN INDIA TO REMAIN BELOW 5% TILL 2025

The penetration of electrical vehicles within the country is probably going to stay low. It would remain at 3-5 per cent till 2025. According to ICRA, higher prices of EVs compared to its combustion engine, because of the inadequate public charging infrastructure. The typical car realisation in India is low compared to markets of US and China. With technological advancements and benefits of economies of scale, lower battery prices of EVs may end over a 10-12 years. Government support is an important factor to support the expansion of EVs within the country.

9. Godrej Tooling gears up India’s electric vehicle revolution

Because, they are lightweight but strong, Godrej Tooling has created a variety of advanced automotive dies in Indian automotive industry. The aim is to gearing up for restricted fuel norms and increased electrification. Now, the company has been focusing on electric vehicles, especially in the two-wheeler. It has necessitated the development of new engines, battery boxes, and high strength metal sheet tools. Godrej Tooling has been working on adapting to the changes for one year. The company has used manufacturing to develop dies for components with a complex geometry. It requires accuracy to meet higher functional needs.

10. M&M PLANS TO SUPPLY AND EXPORT EV POWERTRAINS

India’s largest electric vehicle maker, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M) is exploring partnerships with global manufacturers by sales volume, to jointly develop electric vehicles. M&M has made a separate business unit of electric vehicle (EV) business a separate unit. It has also set up a base for developing and manufacturing such vehicles at Bengaluru. M&M plans to export EV power trains to other EV producers. Now, it is important to have a partnership to make electric vehicles commercially viable and it will be developed by a well-engineered platform.

11. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez offers a long-shot plan for electric-vehicle charging stations

The Democratic congress woman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pushed the Green New Deal aims to build a national network of high-speed chargers for electric cars. She said that the bill of EV Freedom Act that would establish a network of chargers along public highways within five years. To reduce reliance on carbon fuels, the transportation industry must be transformed. Ocasio-Cortez proposed measures to shift the nation away from fossil fuels. It opens the door for electric vehicles as well as accessible to everybody.

12. Amazon & Rivian Planned To Design 3 Bespoke Last-Mile Delivery Vehicles

Amazon is trying to improve sustainable operations in the transportation fleet around the world. Sustainability is at the forefront that provides the back story to build electric trucks. Amazon is the new one in the parcel delivery business. The company initially opted for a fleet of diesel-powered vans for its Amazon Prime package deliveries. Amazon dropped a few hundred million dollars into the electric vehicles start-up Rivian. In evaluating a variety of electric vehicle options to reduce carbon footprint, Amazon’s transportation team spent 18 months. Numerous iterations and scale models process enable Amazon to build the perfect electric solution.

13. BMW unveils new aero wheels that will debut on the iX3 electric SUV

BMW is going to launch its new aero wheels the iX3 electric SUV. Other upcoming electric cars, like the iNext, and i4 also be available next year. This year, BMW is preparing a series of new electric cars starting with the iX3. All the new electric vehicles of BMW’s are going to have an aero wheel option. It enables a better aerodynamic performance and increases range without adding more batteries. BMW claims that the new wheels are lighter. These reduce drag by 5% as compared to the wheels on a gas-powered BMW X3. The wheels will also be coming to the iNext and BMW i4, in 2021, are customizable. They might look different on these upcoming new vehicles.

14. KIA: 11 EV models & 500,000 Annual EV Sales By 2025

Kia and Hyundai are more serious about electric vehicles than other automakers. They have been ahead in EV design and range. Kia has good EV designers and developers as well as talented engineers who know how to design efficient vehicles. Kia mentions the term “ecofriendly vehicles,” which includes everything except a fully fossil-powered vehicle. The Plan S strategy of Kia outlines its shifting from combustion engine vehicles towards one centered on electric vehicles. Kia Motors will plan to invest a total of US $25 billion by the end of 2025. Kia Motors aims to establish leadership in vehicle electrification and diversify its business.

15. Volkswagen Showcases electric vehicle Models

German auto major Volkswagen unveiled electric vehicle ID. CROZZ, and Race Polo model at the Auto Expo in Noida. These are the true representation of Volkswagen’s capabilities in developing electric vehicles. Both also represent the innovative technologies of the company. VW group is planning to invest 33 billion euros in the development of electric vehicles. The ID. CROZZ is delivering power of 225kw with a top speed of 180km/hr. On the other hand, the Race Polo is powered by a 1.8 liter petrol engine with a peak power of 230 hp with six-speed transmission. The battery of the car can be charged in 39 minutes up to 80 percent, which covers a range of 500 km.

16. Volkswagen Plans To Launch an Electric Vehicle Passat

Volkswagen is planning to launch a new electric vehicle, the Passat. America’s chief operating officer of Volkswagen said that the Passat has a finite lifespan. He also added that during this Passat reaches the end of its lifecycle, its successor will never feature an internal combustion engine. The changeover could occur in 2020. The car is nearly a decade old. It isn’t as good as the European variant. Sales of the US-spec Passat have risen from selling 117,023 units (2012) to just 14,123 in last year. The concept had a 111 kWh lithium-ion battery, feed two electric motors. The important concept is, it travels in the New European Driving Cycle up to 413 miles (665 km) on a single charge.

17. Climate Scientist Opted the Toyota Prius Prime Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Man-made heat is a contribution is the cause of Global Warming.  The Toyota Prius Prime is the top-selling electric vehicle in America. It is one of the most energy-efficient cars. It is the top-selling EV, which is affordable in America. The Prius has a range longer than any battery. It has a higher MPGe rating than others. It was an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV).  In Hybrid mode (using gasoline), the MPG rating is 65 to 75. One can start with a full battery and drives over 300 miles with 85 MPGe. The benefits of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are if considering from a climate perspective and our children’s perspective, this is a fantastic car.

18. The Netherlands Supports Citizens Up To $4,400 for Buying New Electric Vehicles

The Netherlands supports greener forms of transport by providing monetary value towards the cost of a new electric vehicle (EV). This offer is for both new and used car buyers. If a resident lives in the Netherlands, buys a new electric car after July 1 of this year, he or she is eligible to receive €4,000 ($4,425) towards its cost from the government. If a resident buys a used, second-hand electric vehicle, the person could be eligible for €2,000 ($2,211). The main aim of this is to lower the end of the market and to get drivers into less expensive greener alternatives. The car must meet government standards, to get eligible for the used EV subsidy.