Battery costs rise, Nissan EV ‘ambitious’, future Toyota EV and PHEV Prime: Car News Today
Which petrol giants team up to swap batteries?
Which automakers have shifted their focus to hydrogen internal combustion?
Here’s our look back at Reverse Week — right here at Green car report—For the week ending December 3, 2021.
By far, our biggest collection of stories of the week stemmed from some recent time with Toyota executives in the United States — and questions about their plans to develop vehicles. How’s your electricity over the decade. The point of it: Don’t expect Tesla’s range numbers — or prices — like Toyota plans to make an affordable game with electric cars, potentially saving the most long-range EVs for Lexus, its luxury brand. Lexus got its first look at RZ crossover SUV, as the RZ 450e is branded in the US and arrives later in 2022. While specs are yet to be revealed, we point to the company’s recent distinction that Lexus EVs will offer plenty of performance and range while Toyota EVs will focus on affordability.
Teaser for Lexus RZ to launch in 2022
And then in the second part of the Toyota electrification plan application process, we looked at whether future Prime plug-in hybrid, which, like the rumored Highlander Prime to follow, will offer more range and performance than the RAV4 Prime.
Nissan once again has master plans for more electric vehicles. On Monday, they unveiled their Ambition 2030 plan, calling for 23 electrified models and 15 all-electric models that year, including products from both the Nissan and Infiniti brands. However, there aren’t any product updates that could come sooner, after Ariya. But it does include plans to have solid-state batteries ready by 2028 and reveal several concept cars that are in the early stages. It also offers a glimpse into the future for electric performance cars with Single Chair concept Ariya. Decided not to craft?
Teaser for Polestar 3 coming in 2022
Polestar offers a first look at a lightly camouflaged one Polestar 3 electric SUV.
Last week, Kia provided the first look at a The redesigned second-generation Niro, will again be offered in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions. Kia has yet to reveal how the specs of these models have changed, but it is expected to arrive in the US in the 2023 model year.
Mercedes-Benz Project Maybach concept
Mercedes-Benz provided an unusual mashup — Maybe Bond meets Mad Max — in Project Maybach off-road coupe concept, featuring rugged markings, classic long-top roadster styling and a luxurious interior. Meanwhile, from a much more serious division of the company came Mercedes’ Vision EQXX concept, which is slated to launch on January 3 and is the company’s most efficient EV yet, includes a battery pack that delivers a 20 percent jump in energy density.
Hyundai recently revealed a coordination home energy ecosystem called Hyundai Home and integrated solar energy, charging and storing energy. Look for a US release in 2022 — and it looks to be a great fit alongside the Ioniq 5.
Home page Hyundai
Nio and Shell have cooperation for both charging station and battery swap, in Europe and China. Shell’s European charging network will be available to drivers of the Chinese carmaker’s EVs, which have already arrived in Norway and are coming soon to the rest of the continent.
A group of Japanese vehicle manufacturers, including Subaru, Mazda, Toyota, Kawasaki and Yamaha, have teamed up to expand the use of hydrogen internal combustion engine on two- and four-wheeled vehicles.
Muscle Car and Dodge EV Platform – Stellantis EV Date 2021
One worrying trend we need to keep an eye on is part of the volatility in supply chains and materials. Advances in the affordability of electric vehicles depend in part on the continued decline in battery costs. While they have dropped to new yearly lows in 2021, they on track to grow in 2022—Possibly delaying the $100/kwh (package base) milestone that is considered the threshold for EV affordability relative to gas vehicles. And the CEO of Stellantis, which includes Jeep, Ram and Dodge, among other brands, now has big plans for electric vehicles but warns it will be expensive. He declared Higher costs for EVs are “off-limits” for what the industry can sustain and it cannot be completely passed on to the consumer.
Meanwhile, for some good news: A poll commissioned by the nonprofit group Coltura shows that majority of US voters support electric car sales mandate for 2030 in their respective states. It shows stronger support among blacks and Hispanics, with “generational urgency” behind it suggesting younger Americans are more in favor of electric vehicles.
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