Monthly Archives: October 2023

How China’s EV Boom Caught Car Companies Napping

October 31, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, TeslaRepost

Auto execs in the US, Europe, and Japan never thought Chinese EVs were a threat. Now they’re coming to wipe the floor with their Western counterparts.

“You won’t believe what’s coming,” warned the title of a January 2023 video from the Inside China Auto YouTube channel. “Europe’s premium car makers aren’t ready for this,” warned another video from the same channel, uploaded in July.

Produced by Shanghai-based automotive journalist Mark Rainford, a former communications executive for Mercedes-Benz, the channel is one of several by China-based Western commentators agog at what they are seeing—and driving.

The channels tell salivating viewers that the tech-heavy yet keenly priced Chinese electric vehicles that have appeared on the domestic market since the end of the global pandemic will soon wipe the floor with their Western counterparts.

After a rough start, Tesla’s sales in China are booming. It may soon manufacture in Shanghai for the world’s biggest EV market

Auto executives in Europe, America, and Japan “didn’t believe China’s car companies could grow so fast,” Rainford told me. “That’s an easy mistake to make from outside the country. You see a lot of stories about China—they don’t hit home until you live here and experience it.”

Rainford worked at Mercedes-Benz for eight years—in the UK, Germany, and latterly China—and has lived in China, in two stints, for five years. He started his YouTube channel to cater to the growing interest in Chinese cars from overseas. His most popular video—“Think You Know Chinese Cars? Think Again.

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MG4 Extended Range Test Driven: The Best Value EV On The Market?

October 30, 2023Electric Cars, MG, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

MG has a reputation for producing great value cars. The MG ZS EV and its Long Range version drew a new line for affordability, followed by the MG5 EV and its Long Range version. In 2022, the MG4 EV set yet another benchmark. Now there’s an updated version of the MG4 called the Extended Range. It takes what was great about the original model and makes it even better. I spent the last week putting it through its paces.

The key thing about the Extended Range is a bigger battery – 77kWh gross (74.4kWh net) compared to 64kWh gross (61.7kWh net) for the MG4 Long Range. That has also been combined with an increased motor power, from 201hp to 241hp. This means that despite being 63kg heavier than the Long Range, the Extended Range is faster, taking just 6.1 seconds to reach 60mph, versus 7.5 seconds. Before the EV era, that would have been a sportscar level of performance. MG’s portfolion includes the even quicker MG4 XPOWER, which hits 60mph in a Tesla-challenging 3.7 seconds. But for an everyday hatchback, 6.1 seconds is more than adequate.

The performance of the MG4 Extended Range is somewhat secondary to its headline feature, however – the WLTP range that the larger battery enables, which is 323 miles. I managed to achieve about 280 miles in Normal (not Eco) mode about town, and about 240 miles on a 70mph motorway.

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“Electric cars must not become pawns in a divisive culture war”

October 27, 2023Electric Cars, FAQ, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

Andy Palmer sees the incorrect reporting of the Luton Airport fire as yet more evidence of the politically charged debate around electric vehicles

Those of us who have been in and around the automotive industry for long enough have witnessed the evolution of cars from mere means of getting from A to B, to symbols of innovation, status, and, more recently, pawns on a political chessboard.

The transition towards electric vehicles marks a significant development, not just technologically, but socio-politically too. The recent fire in a car park at Luton Airport, which was widely attributed as starting in an electric vehicle without any solid proof or evidence, is a prime example of the dangerous misinformation that underpins the political dialogue surrounding EVs. It was later reported by a number of media outlets that the fire was, in fact, caused by a diesel vehicle.

Despite that, the ‘electric vehicle fire’ narrative quickly became a trending topic in the public debate surrounding the adoption of EVs, with EV sceptics using it as an example of the ‘dangers’ posed by these vehicles. X, once known as Twitter, was pulsing with speculation that the fire had started from an electric vehicle, with some users pointing to previous, unrelated, fires associated with EVs as apparent evidence of this.

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Number of ultra-rapid charge points increase by almost 70% over a year

October 26, 2023Away From Home, Charging, Charging, Electric Cars, Ionity, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

New data from Zapmap suggests the number of ultra-rapid charge points in the UK has increased by 68% over the past year.

The number of slow chargers has risen by almost 68% as well, with the latest Zapmap figures showing there were almost 50,000 public charging devices installed as of the end of September.

Charging Hub with eVolt Rapid Chargers (Image: SWARCO eVolt)

This represents overall year-on-year growth of more than 43%, with higher-powered charging points having grown by over 40% since September 2022, while lower-powered devices display year-on-year growth of 44%.

Over the past year, 5,749 slow devices have been installed across the country, alongside 1,568 ultra-rapid devices.

The new figures also show that the number of high-power charging hubs in the UK has more than doubled since September last year.

The number of ultra-rapid charging hubs with six or more devices (excluding non-public Tesla devices) has also shown impressive year-on-year growth of 123%.

At the end of September, there were 196 locations across the UK with six or more ultra-rapid devices – up from 88 in September 2022.

“This is great news for electric car drivers,” said Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and chief operating officer at Zapmap.

“With almost 200 high-power charging hubs up and down the country, these latest figures should give electric car drivers the confidence to drive any length of journey in their EV.

“As we approach the October half term, having an additional 108 new charging hubs across the UK speaks volumes – and is a huge step up from last year.

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What is the ZEV Mandate?

October 25, 2023Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, PollutionRepost

New legislation being implemented in 2024 will require car manufacturers to meet targets for new electric car sales, which could result in big discounts being available…

In September 2023, the UK Government announced that the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars would be pushed back from 2030 to 2035.

However, at the same time, it confirmed that the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate that was previously only a proposal would be implemented from 2024. And this could mean that the transition to electric cars still happens quite quickly.

Here’s everything you need to know about the mandate – and how it could potentially save you a lot of money on an electric vehicle (EV).

What is the ZEV mandate?

The ZEV Mandate is a legal requirement for car manufacturers to meet targets for new EV sales in the UK.

This means that in 2024, 22% of cars sold by each manufacturer must be fully electric. This will then rise to 28% in 2025, 33% in 2026, 38% in 2027, 52% in 2028, 66% in 2029 and 80% in 2030.

The Government is still finalising the targets between 2030 and 2035. However, it’s rumoured that the mandate will rise to 84% in 2031, 88% in 2032, 92% in 2033, 96% in 2034 and 100% in 2035.

If car makers exceed their EV annual sales targets, they can bank allowances for use in future years or trade them with other firms that have fallen short. In 2024, manufacturers can borrow up to 75% of their annual target.

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BMW i5 first drive: The BMW 5 series goes fully electric (and we go hands-on)

October 24, 2023BMW, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

As with many other manufacturers, BMW feels the future is electric and is in the process of electrifying its entire offering. Following on from the i3 and the i7, the latest Bimmer to get the EV treatment is the highly popular BMW 5 series. And everything has gone pretty much as you would expect.

The rear-wheel drive i5 is a quick and punchy vehicle. Unlike previous gas-powered 5 series models, the phenomenal amount of torque generated by the i5’s electric motor keeps the sedan pinned to the road at almost any speed. If the standard vehicle and its sub-6 second 0-60 times aren’t enough for you, you can even opt for an M-package right out of the gate, adding a second motor, boosting power, and bringing all-wheel drive (“xDrive” in BMW parlance) into the mix. The M version has been named the M60 xDrive, nodding toward its four-wheel capability, while the basic electric model is the eDrive40.

Beyond the power train, BMW has added a lot to its new 5 series. A redesigned infotainment system keeps you on track, its upholstery has the potential to ease your conscience, and you’ll have an easy time keeping it charged.

BMW i5 performance: No alarms, and no surprises

The motor in the i5 eDrive40 produces 335 horsepower and can get the car from 0-60 in as little as 5.7 seconds.

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How Effective Are Electric Vehicles In Reducing Emissions?

October 23, 2023BMW, Electric Cars, FAQ, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Even in fossil-fuel-dominated grids, BEVs emit only about 50% of the CO2e of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
The research took into account lifecycle emissions, considering factors like manufacturing, maintenance, and operation in countries like China, the US, and Germany.
The emissions from BEVs will continue to decrease as nations transition to cleaner power sources, solidifying their position as a sustainable transportation option.

Battery electric vehicles (BEV) are the clear winner when trying to reduce emissions in the transportation sector, according to Rystad Energy research. Despite incurring higher emissions in the manufacturing process of electric vehicles and an enduring reliance on fossil fuel power generation in many countries, the positive environmental impact of switching to a BEV over the vehicle’s lifetime is unmistakable.

Our analysis shows that battery-powered vehicles contribute at most half the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of diesel or gasoline cars across their lifecycle, regardless of the country of operation. Even in countries where the power grid is dominated by fossil fuels, battery-powered cars emit about 50% of the CO2e of an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. As renewable sources replace coal and gas-fired generation, emissions related to the operation of BEVs could drop by 86%.

Our in-depth research of lifecycle BEV and ICE vehicle emissions considers every stage of the manufacturing process and the vehicle’s operation.

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The world needs cheap electric cars. That spells trouble for big carmakers

October 20, 2023Cost of ownership, Economy, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, PollutionRepost

In 1913, Henry Ford’s moving assembly line transformed carmaking. Ford’s groundbreaking innovation drastically reduced the time it took to assemble a car, enabling mass production and slashing vehicle prices.

More than a century later, carmaking is undergoing a similarly seismic shift. Only this time, Ford Motor Company (F) is scrambling to catch up, rather than leading the charge.

Electric vehicles represent a fundamental shift in the technologies and manufacturing processes that have turned Ford and rivals such as Toyota (TM) and Volkswagen into the biggest car companies on the planet.

Established automakers have been racing to adapt at an enormous financial cost, but are still miles behind Tesla (TSLA) and a crop of new Chinese competitors, including BYD and Xpeng (XPEV).

The world needs affordable EVs more than ever as electric cars will play a big role in hcelping countries cut planet-heating pollution. But can automakers in Europe and the United States — where governments are already planning to ban or limit the sale of new gas and diesel cars — deliver them?

“Ultimately, some of these car companies that have been the cornerstone of how we’ve thought about cars for the last 100 years will be a fraction of their size in future,” said Gene Munster, a managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management.

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New AutoMotive: Why we’re refusing to throw in the towel and get the UK back on track to 2030

October 19, 2023Buying/Leasing, Charging, Economy, Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, Hyundai, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, PollutionRepost

Last week, Rishi Sunak confirmed that he will reverse certain green targets. Amongst several policies that Sunak was willing to cut or delay, the phase out of petrol and diesel cars was put on the chopping block, with a confirmed five-year delay despite the [Conservative] government’s original target.

This move is not only unpopular with motorists, industry, and the wider public – it also raises economic concerns and threatens vital aspects of Britain’s industrial strategy moving forward.

From January 2018, no more new diesel taxis will be licensed in London

Electric vehicles are undeniably cheaper to run, contribute to improved air quality due to their lack of tailpipe emissions, and are increasingly preferred by drivers over their combustion counterparts. Our data at New AutoMotive shows that the UK could achieve an 85% electric vehicle (EV) market share by 2028 and is making consistent progress toward the goal of 300,000 public charge points. The UK is also the fifth best prepared nation for the EV transition, thanks to sensible and fact-driven policies implemented by Sunak’s predecessors.

Reacting to the news, the UK motor industry has criticised plans to water down policies. Kate Brankin, the chair of Ford UK, noted that the industry has already made considerable investments to meet the 2030 deadline, with a $50 billion commitment from Ford alone.

We were clear in our response that delaying the 2030 deadline would pull the rug out from under motorists and industry, and would deal a hammer blow to the UK’s leadership on climate change.

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A tyre company has been shortlisted for the £1m Earthshot prize

October 18, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Enso Tyres’ ultra-durable compound for EVs – which helps reduce tyre emissions – recognised in climate solutions competition

The automotive industry rarely makes environmental headlines for positive reasons. But here comes a rare ray of sunshine: a tyre company has been listed for the 2023 Earthshot Prize.

Enso, a start-up company specialising in tyres for electric cars, has been recognised in the ‘Clean Our Air’ category for its work in trying to reduce particulate emissions from tyres. Enso’s approach is simple – increase tyre durability to decrease emissions (presumably at the expense of grip, although the tyres are A-rated for wet grip, so maybe something truly innovative is afoot).

Already in use in some electric taxis and delivery vehicles, trials by Transport for London suggest vehicles using Enso tyres have 35 per cent less particulate matter emissions and travel 10 per cent further.

TopGear.com has already seen them in action, helping a Renault Zoe to set a hypermiling world record back in 2021. Drive an LEVC taxi? You can buy a set of Enso tyres for £299. The rest of us will have to wait longer: Enso is hoping to be in a position to manufacture a million tyres a year by 2026.

Figures from Imperial College London suggest tyres “emit six million tonnes of pollution each year and more airborne particulate matter than all tailpipes combined”.

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