Details of Aptera, Civic Hybrid, Polestar 2, Tesla Gigafactory boost: The Week in Reverse
Which automaker is said to be considering switching to cylindrical cells for electric vehicles in the future?
Which electric car maker is Uber working with to create a vehicle specifically for ride-hailing?
Here’s our look back at the Reversal Week—right at the Green Car Report—for the week ending Friday, January 27, 2023.
Tesla has announced a $3.6 billion expansion to its Nevada battery plant “Gigafactory,” which it says will produce the Semi plus the company’s new format 4680 battery cells at 100 gigawatt-hours. every year — enough US-made batteries for 1.5 million light vehicles, Tesla said. The expansion points to some impressive manufacturing benefits, with scaled-up battery output coming from a smaller facility than the more than 35 gigawatt-hours available today. And, as we pointed out, that’s more output than Tesla needs for the Semi.
Artist’s impression of an upgraded Tesla factory near Reno, Nevada
About that, Tesla teased that some Tesla’s future products are in development could be revealed as part of an updated product plan presented on March 1, with some to be powered by 4680 cells, but CEO Musk stressed that new products need to be created when and where cells are available.
The Solar Aptera EV Launch Edition details just over a week ago will offer a 400-mile range on battery power plus the ability to add up to 40 miles of additional range per day from the sun. The company also notes that in the first version, it didn’t have fast charging yet — to use Tesla’s NACS standard — but since then, the company has made changes to that.
Aptera Release Version
Audi on Thursday unveiled the final and most American concept of four autonomous driving-focused “ball” concepts: The Operation concept is an off-road capable electric crossover that can transform into a pickup truck when gearshifts. While Level 4 autonomous driving, suicide doors, and “mixed reality” interfaces may not be in production anytime soon, this “transformation master” may have a future in the lineup. .
Audi’s Activesphere Concept
Polestar is looking for a 300 mile range for the 2024 Polestar 2, as part of the single-engine transition from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive. There are many other improvements to the battery, powertrain, and tech feature set.
Honda confirms that Civic Hybrid launched in sedan and hatchback form in 2024—competitive, with a combined fuel economy of around 50 mpg. But don’t look for anything that uses plug-in hybrid technology other than the upcoming CR-V Fuel Cell.
Honda Civic 2023
Gen 3 racing car for Formula E takes technology from Lucid Air production. The race car’s front engine unit, which allows for much higher brake recovery, is essentially a downsized version of the engine in the Lucid Air—and in Formula E, it’s one of the keys to life. Racing this year becomes more interesting.
Lightyear, likely signaling deep levels of financial distress, announced that it has stop production Lightyear 0 solar EV, due to financial problems. Instead, it’s aiming for the mass-produced Lightyear 2, it said.
EV range in cold weather can be a problem, but heat pump is part of the remedy. Tesla recently detailed what differentiates its device from the rest and even claims that its design works well in very cold weather, where others don’t.
Tesla Model Y with heat pump
Federal EV tax credit rules provided by last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) now allow EV rental companies to claim a credit of up to $7,500 regardless of the price cap. That has led to some government-subsidized luxury electric car rental contract that, controversially, will almost certainly also apply to some imported luxury electric vehicles.
GM is said to be considering the possibility Cylindrical cells for electric vehicles of the future. While the report doesn’t suggest any full-blown format change like what BMW signaled last year, it would be a surprising turnaround for a company that says it will achieve. economies of scale using large format pocket cells, from a joint venture. with LG now backed by federal funds, across its entire product line.
Compare 4680 with 2170 – Panasonic
Ford has filed a patent for a new type magnetic coupling EV charging connector. However, it is not inductive charging; it uses magnets to help align and secure the physical conductors. Sounds a bit like the MagSafe connector you might use for Apple products?
According to data from the US Energy Information Administration, the rise of wind and solar in our nation’s energy mix will strangle coal and natural gas—make electric cars cleaner, even in the next few years.
Uber is reportedly working with automakers to design Electric car for ride-hailing service and delivery service. That could mean devices optimized for lower speeds to help cut costs.
Prototype car arrives
The green light was given to a dedicated Toyota EV platform—like Hyundai’s E-GMP—could make mass-produced electric vehicles competitive in terms of cost, range, and efficiency. But it may not arrive until 2028, when it sees enough demand.
And thanks to Treasury guidance—or, more accurately, a lack of guidance—delaying domestic sourcing requests to March, a large chunk of US market vehicles are now eligible. get the EV tax credit. That and the rental loopholes seem to have prompted Senator Joe Manchin to recommend a bill seeking to defer EV . tax credits until the promulgated rules can be followed.
_______________________________________
