Electric cars?

[SirRumpole]

And it still has the overwhelming majority of passenger transport provided by cars,

Public transport has a place but it’s the equivalent of running this forum via articles in a print edition newspaper. All OK as long as your investments are buy and hold index funds or within the top 10 stocks but that’s where it ends.

Biggest problem with public transport in Australian cities is it assumes everyone wants to go to the CBD when in practice that’s a destination of diminishing relevance to which plenty have zero need to visit.

A far more typical transport journey is to a shopping centre or it’s taking the kids to play sport or it’s taking the dog to the vet or it’s visiting friends in another suburb. Public transport fails at all of those.

It has a place certainly but it’s not an alternative to cars outright or even for the majority. Cars and PT are both here to stay.

Transport of all types is being diminished by technology, eg zoom meetings, online ordering, general working from home arrangements, internet banking etc.

You can look at houses with virtual tours these days, which will eliminate a lot of those you don't like and you just travel to the ones you do.

I can see private public transport operators feeling the squeeze as time goes on, and governments will probably be running PT at a loss or more of a loss than they are now.

People will still want cars for recreation and as you pointed out , public transport is not usually an option unless you want to travel lost distances.

 

[sptrawler]

And it still has the overwhelming majority of passenger transport provided by cars,

Public transport has a place but it’s the equivalent of running this forum via articles in a print edition newspaper. All OK as long as your investments are buy and hold index funds or within the top 10 stocks but that’s where it ends.

Biggest problem with public transport in Australian cities is it assumes everyone wants to go to the CBD when in practice that’s a destination of diminishing relevance to which plenty have zero need to visit.

A far more typical transport journey is to a shopping centre or it’s taking the kids to play sport or it’s taking the dog to the vet or it’s visiting friends in another suburb. Public transport fails at all of those.

It has a place certainly but it’s not an alternative to cars outright or even for the majority. Cars and PT are both here to stay.

Very true smurf, also in Australia we tend to have sprawling cities, therefore low population density makes facilitating people very difficult.
In countries that have high population densities like Singapore, Japan etc it works very well and the patronage is huge.
Also affluence plays a part, in countries where vehicles are considered a luxury the public transport is usually overcrowded, again using Singapore, only the well off own vehicles.

Hyundai i30 Price in Singapore Starts From $128,999 - $128,999 | Oto

Hyundai i30 Price starts at $128,999 in Singapore. Check out i30 Latest Promotions, DP & Monthly Installment and more at Oto SG.

www.oto.com.sg

About $134,000 aussie

In Australia most people who are able to obtain a license, actually buy a car and can afford to run it.

Getting back on thread, I have been informed the E.V should be here by the end of the month, that will be a seven month wait.?

 

[Knobby22]

Spot on Knobby, I love going to Melbourne and using the public transport system, it is terrific.

With electric bikes, just bought the wife a new one for her birthday, it wasn't cheap but as usual you get what you pay for.

The first electric bikes we bought are hub drive and really not that pleasant to use, they are either on or off, when it comes to power.
The latest ones are Shimano centre drive, which works on torque assist, it is a much more natural and pleasant power delivery, you hardly notice the assist the harder you press the pedal the more the assist cuts in and it is seamless.

So I would definitely recommend if anyone was thinking of buying an electric bike, to go and try all the options, as the differences are quite pronounced.

Thanks for the advice SP.
Am thinking of getting one as a bike track is being upgraded that will take me into the CBD once finished, maybe faster than driving

 

[sptrawler]

Thanks for the advice SP.
Am thinking of getting one as a bike track is being upgraded that will take me into the CBD once finished, maybe faster than driving

Definitely a great way to travel, we love them.
Find the electric scooters are better on public transport, the bikes are a bit bulky.
But find the electric bikes are great for getting around town and local shopping etc, yesterday we went to chemist wharehouse about 24km round trip, no problem at all the wife used 1 bar on her battery, 5 bars is a full charge. She is 5'9" and 65kg's so smaller person would use less, but I think she could get about 100km on a full charge using eco boost.
Definitely the center drive is the way to go IMO, it just really suits cycling, makes it a really pleasurable experience. All the fun, the exercise and minimal sweat.
If you don't want to pedal, then hub drive PAS is the go, but get a big battery because when you don't pedal they get through the battery charge fairly quickly.

 

[JohnDe]

Mercedes getting desperate?

Amazon-Backed Rivian And Mercedes-Benz Are Partnering To Make Electric Vans

Rivian, the electric vehicle startup backed by Amazon, and Mercedes-Benz are forming a joint venture to make battery-powered vans in response to increasing demand for cleaner commercial vehicles.

As part of the agreement, the companies will share investment costs to produce large electric vans that will be sold under both the Mercedes-Benz and Rivian brands. The joint-venture company they’re forming will also set up a factory in Europe at an existing Mercedes-Benz site within a few years. The factory will aim to build vehicles based on the electric vans both companies currently produce.

The companies didn’t share details of the cost and timing of their venture.

“We are sharing investments and technology because we also share the same strategic ambition: accelerating the electrification of the van market with sustainable and superior products,” Mathias Geisen, who leads the Mercedes-Benz Van unit, said in an emailed statement.

The move comes as Rivian, which already supplies electric delivery vans to Amazon, works to scale up production after a rocky start this year owing to supply chain disruptions. The Irvine, California-based company, which also counts Ford as an investor, is the best-funded automotive startup in U.S. history. It saw its market cap surge after going public last year, becoming one of the world’s most valuable automakers, before a slow production start triggered a stock selloff earlier this year.

The partnership with Mercedes “gives Rivian added credibility in the (European) marketplace and should enable it to leverage Mercedes’ established supply chain and manufacturing footprint in Europe, providing the OEM a short-cut to entering a new market with a very credible partner,” Deutsche Bank equity analyst Emmanuel Rosner said in a research note.

Production of R1T pickups and R1S SUVs at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois, plant has improved this year, along with output of electric vans for Amazon. The company expects to build 25,000 vehicles this year. In December 2021 it also announced plans to build a second plant in Georgia, a $5 billion facility that will have capacity to produce 400,000 vehicles annually when it opens in 2024.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says the company stands to gain from the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act, which has new incentives for buying electric vehicles.

“The commercial segment, in particular, will benefit from the strong incentives for fleet operators to electrify and our (Rivian Commercial Van) platform has been developed for a wide range of applications,” he said in the company’s earnings call last month.

Rivian shares jumped nearly 11% on the news to close at $36.88 in Nasdaq trading on Thursday.

 

[sptrawler]

Germany getting nervous about the cost of electricity and the knock on effects for E.V's, luckily they have already put in place legislation to effectively ban ICE engines.

Soaring energy costs could threaten future of electric cars, experts warn

Industry bosses in Germany say high costs are having an impact on vehicle production and sales

www.theguardian.com

According to the automobile economist Stefan Bratzel, the development is an immediate threat to the industry.

“The electricity price explosion could end up being an acute danger for vehicle transition, and we need to be damn careful about it,” he told German media.

“If electric cars become more expensive to use, the surge in electric mobility is in danger of collapsing, because hardly anyone is going to buy an electric car,” Bratzel, who is also founder of the Center for Automotive Management (CAM), said. He and other electric car advocates are now calling on the German government to ensure that the electricity price remains under the price of petrol, which they say is crucial to the future of electric cars.

Electric cars are losing their charm,” Helena Wisbert, director of the Duisburg-based Center for Automotive Research, wrote in a recent commentary for the economic daily Handelsblatt.

State subsidies of electric cars are set to halve to €4,500 (£3,900) from 2023, while buyers of plug-in hybrids, who currently receive a €6,750 payment towards them, will no longer be supported. The overall pot of money available is to be capped at €2.5bn, enough to cover bonuses for just 400,000 electric cars – less than 1% of the cars on German roads.

One suggestion that could be relatively swiftly implemented would be to increase the vehicle tax on diesel and petrol cars. Currently electric cars are not eligible for vehicle tax. They are also able to use bus lanes and parking places unavailable to non-electric cars.

 

[JohnDe]

Electric vehicle demand to drive windfall for lithium miners, say Macquarie and Barrenjoey​

Lithium miners are set for an earnings windfall amid a growing demand for electric vehicles and significant supply challenges.

“The key limiting factor to greater adoption remains the development of raw materials, particularly lithium,” Mr Lawcock said.

“We think the market expects a surge in supply in 2023, which we would expect to be more tilted towards year-end and into 2024.”

Electric vehicle sales globally continue to outpace combustion vehicle sales, with China up 117 per cent in the year to July and Europe up 32 per cent in the year to June.

Mr Lawcock acknowledged the market was concerned about “rapidly slowing global economic momentum and the impact on aggregate raw materials demand”, but tipped strong electric vehicle growth would drive demand.

“While lithium is not immune, we think that electric vehicles can grow sales in an otherwise contractionary or sluggish auto market,” he said.

Macquarie notes lithium carbonate supply remains tight in China due to logistic challenges caused by lockdowns and says its preference for Australian-based lithium producers remains unchanged with Pilbara Minerals and IGO its key picks.

HAYDEN JOHNSON​

 

[Value Collector]

Germany getting nervous about the cost of electricity and the knock on effects for E.V's, luckily they have already put in place legislation to effectively ban ICE engines.

Soaring energy costs could threaten future of electric cars, experts warn

Industry bosses in Germany say high costs are having an impact on vehicle production and sales

www.theguardian.com

According to the automobile economist Stefan Bratzel, the development is an immediate threat to the industry.

“The electricity price explosion could end up being an acute danger for vehicle transition, and we need to be damn careful about it,” he told German media.

“If electric cars become more expensive to use, the surge in electric mobility is in danger of collapsing, because hardly anyone is going to buy an electric car,” Bratzel, who is also founder of the Center for Automotive Management (CAM), said. He and other electric car advocates are now calling on the German government to ensure that the electricity price remains under the price of petrol, which they say is crucial to the future of electric cars.

Electric cars are losing their charm,” Helena Wisbert, director of the Duisburg-based Center for Automotive Research, wrote in a recent commentary for the economic daily Handelsblatt.

State subsidies of electric cars are set to halve to €4,500 (£3,900) from 2023, while buyers of plug-in hybrids, who currently receive a €6,750 payment towards them, will no longer be supported. The overall pot of money available is to be capped at €2.5bn, enough to cover bonuses for just 400,000 electric cars – less than 1% of the cars on German roads.

One suggestion that could be relatively swiftly implemented would be to increase the vehicle tax on diesel and petrol cars. Currently electric cars are not eligible for vehicle tax. They are also able to use bus lanes and parking places unavailable to non-electric cars.

It’s weird that you don’t see similar headlines about the future of ICE cars when oil prices skyrocket.

Electricity prices rise and suddenly the EV future is gloomy, but people seem to accept the price of Oil rising as just par for the course.

A major benefit of the EV route, is that with a modest investment in solar panels, an EV owner can make their own fuel, regardless of what the market price is.

 

[SirRumpole]

It’s weird that you don’t see similar headlines about the future of ICE cars when oil prices skyrocket.

Electricity prices rise and suddenly the EV future is gloomy, but people seem to accept the price of Oil rising as just par for the course.

The engineering of ICE vehicles changed a lot since the 1970's oil crisis.

The Yanks started building more compact cars , very few of these still around.

 

[Value Collector]

With Europeans scrambling to install as many solar panels as they can, And the solar industry booming as Russian gas is switched off, I think EV’s will boom.

People with solar want Ev’s, people with Ev’s want solar, they reinforce each other.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/08/24/...r-power-russia-gas-crisis-intl-hnk/index.html

 

[sptrawler]

It’s weird that you don’t see similar headlines about the future of ICE cars when oil prices skyrocket.

Electricity prices rise and suddenly the EV future is gloomy, but people seem to accept the price of Oil rising as just par for the course.

A major benefit of the EV route, is that with a modest investment in solar panels, an EV owner can make their own fuel, regardless of what the market price is.

Yes I think the article is more about giving the European E.V sector a bit of a leg up, over this energy cost spike period, the EU car manufacturers must be finding it tough at the moment with energy costs.

 

[Value Collector]

Yes I think the article is more about giving the European E.V sector a bit of a leg up, over this energy cost spike period, the EU car manufacturers must be finding it tough at the moment with energy costs.

In 2 years the opposite problem might exist.

Europe might find itself in a massive electricity glut as the natural gas gets switch on, right as all the additional renewable projects being pushed through now come online.

 

[sptrawler]

BMW to start and source the batteries similar to the Tesla 4680's.

BMW touts ‘technology leap’ of longer-range, faster-charging batteries

BMW will partner with CATL and Eve Energy to source the round cells in Europe and China, with the search for partners in North America still ongoing.

www.mining.com

BMW AG plans to buy electric-vehicle batteries from six new factories to be set up and run by companies including Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. and Eve Energy Co. as the world’s biggest luxury-car maker attempts to overhaul its supply chain.

Two plants each in Europe, China and North America will produce round lithium-ion cells that enable longer ranges and faster charging than the prismatic cells BMW currently uses, the company said Friday. At roughly half the cost, the technology is meant to bolster BMW’s planned “Neue Klasse” EV platform and follows Tesla Inc., which has been using a cylindrical shape for some time.

​

“We are approaching an enormous technology leap,” Frank Weber, BMW’s development chief, told reporters. He added that BMW’s suppliers have agreed to produce the cells with renewable energy only and partly use recycled cobalt, nickel and lithium to cut production-related carbon emissions by as much as 60%.

BMW will partner with CATL and Eve Energy to source the round cells in Europe and China, with the search for partners in North America still ongoing. The two American factories will be erected in a free-trade zone in the US, Canada or Mexico, BMW said. Each facility will have an annual production capacity of as much as 20 gigawatt-hours.

BMW said it has already awarded purchasing contracts worth a double-digit-billion-euro amount to CATL and Eve Energy. Part of the batteries are coming from CATL’s planned 7.3 billion euro ($7.3 billion) facility in Hungary that’s also due to supply Mercedes-Benz AG. Eve Energy will build and operate a second plant to make round cells in Europe.

Weber said Neue Klasse’s entry-level models may also use lithium iron-phosphate batteries, which are cheaper and don’t require nickel or cobalt, but offer less energy density and are heavier than the new round cells. The line’s top EVs will have a range of as much as 800 kilometers (497 miles) and charge from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes, he said.

 

[JohnDe]

The engineering of ICE vehicles changed a lot since the 1970's oil crisis.

The Yanks started building more compact cars , very few of these still around.

View attachment 146740

I don't think that you have visited the US lately. I was there in 2017, the big 1970's style sedans are gone but roads are full of big Utes (pick-ups) and SUVs. A lot of Camry sized cars around, though the Camry of the 1980's was a lot smaller to the Camry of today.

"Cars are getting bigger to match Americans’ desire for more space. In 2019, the Big Three U.S. automakers collectively began to abandon the small car and sedan segments because of decreasing market share. This means that more trucks, SUVs and crossovers fill Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler showrooms as these brands forecast increased demand for larger vehicles.​

However, SUVs aren’t the only large vehicles on U.S. roads. Average car size across the board is increasing.​

The country’s most popular car (the Toyota Camry), pickup truck (Ford’s F-150) and SUV/crossover (Toyota’s RAV4) each have multiple design generations and more than 25 years under their belts. Notably, these vehicles see consistent size increases each time they’re redesigned. As industry sales leaders, they set an example for other cars to follow: Bigger size means bigger demand."​

Large vehicles dominate U.S. auto showrooms and highways alike. SUVs and crossovers are extremely popular: Together, they command around 50% market share for all passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. Automakers’ decisions to eliminate sedans from their lineups directly reflects this statistic — and may cause disaster for other drivers and pedestrians by putting larger, heavier vehicles on the road.
We surveyed more than 1,500 Americans to determine their feelings on vehicle safety. The results paint a clear picture of the shift in tastes and preferences: Americans staunchly prefer larger vehicles that cost less to insure and make them feel safer overall. We found that:

• Americans feel safest in SUVs compared to other vehicles.
• Women felt 3.5x safer in SUVs than pickup trucks compared to men.
• Men were nearly twice as likely to feel safest in pickup trucks compared to women.

Below, we’ll dig deeper into the story of average car size and how it always seems to be increasing. We’ll also explore our survey findings and discuss whether SUVs pose a threat to pedestrians and drivers of smaller cars, and whether Americans really trust the pickup trucks they drive.

Average car size varies by vehicle type​

Many factors lead to design changes that increase a vehicle’s length, width or height. Passenger space and cargo room will add length to a car, while safety features like side airbags and lane departure sensors can stretch a vehicle’s width beyond the size of average parking spaces.

Average car length​

According to Car Roar, the length of the average car is 14.7 feet, approximately the length of a Nissan Versa sedan. Vehicle length grows to accommodate more passengers, more cargo space, or a larger engine. Check out the numbers on the shortest and longest vehicles available:

• The shortest passenger car available in the U.S. is the Chevrolet Spark at just under 12 feet long.
• The longest passenger car available in the U.S. is the long-wheelbase version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, stretching almost 20 feet long.
• The longest noncommercial vehicle is the Ford Super Duty line of full-size pickup trucks, which measure over 22 feet long.

Average car width​

According to VEHQ, the average width of a car is 5.8 feet.
Vehicle widths usually vary due to aerodynamic performance or added safety features. Here are some fast facts on vehicle widths:

• The most narrow vehicle is the Chevrolet Spark at 5.2 feet wide, making it the vehicle with the smallest footprint in the U.S.
• The widest vehicle outside the ultra-luxury segment is the exceptionally aerodynamic Tesla Model X, measuring 7.4 feet wide with mirrors unfolded.
• The widest noncommercial vehicle title goes to the Ram 3500 with dual rear wheels, a heavy-duty pickup truck that measures an astonishing 8.7 feet wide without its mirrors.

Average car size is growing to match demand​

One major difference between the American automobile market and international markets is that American cars are built bigger. We’re not just talking about pickup trucks and lift kits, though; if you compare product offerings from the same manufacturer, you’ll find smaller vehicle variants in Europe, South America and parts of Asia, while the U.S. (and China, the world’s largest car market) are privy to much larger options.

How much is the average car size increasing?​

Cars are getting bigger to match Americans’ desire for more space. In 2019, the Big Three U.S. automakers collectively began to abandon the small car and sedan segments because of decreasing market share. This means that more trucks, SUVs and crossovers fill Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler showrooms as these brands forecast increased demand for larger vehicles.
However, SUVs aren’t the only large vehicles on U.S. roads. Average car size across the board is increasing.
The country’s most popular car (the Toyota Camry), pickup truck (Ford’s F-150) and SUV/crossover (Toyota’s RAV4) each have multiple design generations and more than 25 years under their belts. Notably, these vehicles see consistent size increases each time they’re redesigned. As industry sales leaders, they set an example for other cars to follow: Bigger size means bigger demand.

SUVs are more desirable than ever — but at what cost?​

We surveyed more than 1,500 Americans to hear their thoughts on safety when it comes to vehicle size. It turns out bigger is usually better, or at least it’s preferred: As an occupant, 50% of all respondents felt safest in SUVs compared to cars or pickup trucks.
Americans who prefer SUVs might be interested to know that they’re the most likely passenger vehicle segment to roll over in an accident. Rollover accidents account for one-fifth of all fatal crashes in the U.S., so even large SUV drivers should exercise extreme caution on the road and avoid driving recklessly.

Only 23% of Americans feel safest when riding in a car, and it’s not hard to imagine why. Drivers of cars might experience limited visibility around them as larger vehicles create blind spots in their mirrors. And according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), driver deaths in small cars are about twice as likely as larger ones, regardless of vehicle age. Even when small cars fare well in crash safety tests, they’re not likely to perform as well in accidents with heavier vehicles.
Does this mean that drivers of small cars should trade them in for SUVs? Not necessarily — the global popularity of SUVs is complicating efforts to regulate fuel emissions.
Congestion tolls are in the works for New York City and other major U.S. metros, and can easily be adapted to charge by vehicle size, as is the practice in Paris, London and other European cities. This means it could cost you as much as $20 to drive an SUV into a city’s center districts, not to mention the heavy pedestrian traffic you’d have to contend with.

Pedestrian safety: compromised in an SUV world​

Crash safety standards reveal that accidents involving SUVs and pedestrians are trending in the wrong direction. Fatal pedestrian accidents involving SUVs increased 81% from 2009 to 2016, and the IIHS estimates that SUVs are still twice as likely as cars to kill pedestrians in an accident.

Many SUVs have high hoods that can throw a pedestrian forward in a collision, causing severe injury or death. To adapt to new regulations and to reduce safety risks, some manufacturers have changed their designs to make their SUVs safer for pedestrians and small cars. Regardless, SUVs still pose significant dangers to pedestrians.What does this mean for pedestrians as automakers pump more SUVs off assembly lines and into dealerships? Pedestrians should be cautious in the presence of vehicles or a roadway — always cross at a crosswalk, and avoid using headphones or a phone when near moving vehicles.

Pickup trucks: popular but seen as untrustworthy​

While SUVs are enjoying a recent sales spike, pickup trucks are perennially the most popular vehicles in the country.
Despite their rampant popularity, most people don’t feel as safe in pickup trucks as in other vehicles. This could be due to the illusion of a more compromised vehicle because of their open beds, or because pickups are notoriously dangerous in collisions with small cars.

We found that, while similar numbers of men and women drive pickup trucks, men were far more likely to feel safest as pickup truck occupants. In fact, only 16% of women feel that pickup trucks are the safest vehicle choice. Only time will tell if new electric vehicles in pickup truck guise will prove safer for small cars and pedestrians, but America’s infatuation with trucks is not likely to end soon.
Pedestrians and drivers of smaller cars must exercise caution around larger vehicles that might have trouble seeing them. SUV and pickup truck drivers should know their vehicles and be well aware of their blind spots, and should drive safely and defensively. Minor dings can carry hefty price tags on heavy, expensive vehicles, and avoidable traffic accidents are sure to raise the cost of your insurance premiums.
IHS Markit projects new SUV sales will continue to eat into the market share of cars, while pickup trucks will hold steady. If this pattern continues, the majority of vehicles on the road will be utility vehicles in a few years. Regardless of the vehicle you drive, or if you drive one at all, always keep an eye out for road hazards, dangerous drivers and exceptionally large vehicles.
Methodology
This study was conducted for The Zebra using Google Surveys. The sample consisted of no fewer than 1,500 completed responses. Post-stratification weighting has been applied to ensure an accurate and reliable representation of the total population. This survey was conducted in May 2021.

 

[sptrawler]

I don't think that you have visited the US lately. I was there in 2017, the big 1970's style sedans are gone but roads are full of big Utes (pick-ups) and SUVs. A lot of Camry sized cars around, though the Camry of the 1980's was a lot smaller to the Camry of today.

​

Yes the cars have grown in size with the average size of humans increasing, I had a mini Cooper S in the 1970's, the wife and I and two kids plus the gear for the kids fit in no problems. Now when I see a mini, I wonder how we did it.
Then the wife reminds me I was 10stone 6lbs back then 66kg, now I'm 86kg.

 

[SirRumpole]

I don't think that you have visited the US lately. I was there in 2017, the big 1970's style sedans are gone but roads are full of big Utes (pick-ups) and SUVs. A lot of Camry sized cars around, though the Camry of the 1980's was a lot smaller to the Camry of today.

"Cars are getting bigger to match Americans’ desire for more space. In 2019, the Big Three U.S. automakers collectively began to abandon the small car and sedan segments because of decreasing market share. This means that more trucks, SUVs and crossovers fill Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler showrooms as these brands forecast increased demand for larger vehicles.​

However, SUVs aren’t the only large vehicles on U.S. roads. Average car size across the board is increasing.​

The country’s most popular car (the Toyota Camry), pickup truck (Ford’s F-150) and SUV/crossover (Toyota’s RAV4) each have multiple design generations and more than 25 years under their belts. Notably, these vehicles see consistent size increases each time they’re redesigned. As industry sales leaders, they set an example for other cars to follow: Bigger size means bigger demand."​

Yeah, hamburgers and fries and their effects are tough to fit into compact cars.

 

[sptrawler]

Twiggies acquisition of Williams might actually be on a winner, as companies try and rationalise costs to transition to E.V's.

Williams Advanced Engineering: Australian-owned company reveals 1650kW electric hypercar chassis

Williams Advanced Engineering has unveiled the basis of a new 1650kW electric hypercar, with the Australian-owned firm targeting established car makers as its key clients.

www.drive.com.au

UK-based firm Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) – owned by Australian iron ore mining company Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) – has revealed a new electric hypercar platform, set to enter production in 2024.
Williams Advanced Engineering is a former subsidiary of the Williams Formula One racing team, and was acquired by FMG earlier this year for $310 million.
The WAE EVR is a ready-built electric-car platform which car makers of any size can purchase from the engineering company, rather than investing in the development of their own bespoke architectures – similar to the company's EVX platform revealed last year.

The EVR’s modular platform has been developed to cater for various hypercar configurations, from open or fixed-roof layouts to track-only machines.
According to WAE, the EVR can be purchased in either rear- or all-wheel drive layouts, with the latter developing up to 1650kW from its four electric motors.
Williams Advanced Engineering claims the EVR is capable of accelerating from zero to 100km/h in less than two seconds – providing the company which uses the platform can keep the vehicle's kerb weight below 1800kg.
Mounted in the middle of the EVR’s lightweight composite chassis is an 85kWh lithium-ion battery, delivering a claimed driving range of more than 450km with the ability to fast-charge in less than 20 minutes.
Williams Advanced Engineering is the supplier of the batteries used in Formula E, the world's premier open-wheel electric racing series.
The UK engineering firm is also developing a hydrogen-powered variant dubbed the EVR-H, with the car’s fuel cell designed to drop in place of the existing battery pack.

 

[JohnDe]

EVs Catching On Faster Than Expected; Ford Telling Dealers to Cut Costs​

0:08 Russia Threatens EU Industrial Base
1:02 Ford Tells Dealers to Cut $2,000 In Delivery Costs
1:53 Honda To Reveal Smart ADAS
3:13 Lincoln Corsair Gets Mid-Cycle Refresh
4:17 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Brings Wicked Performance
5:05 VW ID.5 Concept Made by Apprentices
6:34 Geometry M2 EV Debuts in China
7:09 EVs Catching on Faster Than Expected

 

[JohnDe]

Germany getting nervous about the cost of electricity and the knock on effects for E.V's, luckily they have already put in place legislation to effectively ban ICE engines.

Soaring energy costs could threaten future of electric cars, experts warn

Industry bosses in Germany say high costs are having an impact on vehicle production and sales

www.theguardian.com

According to the automobile economist Stefan Bratzel, the development is an immediate threat to the industry.

“The electricity price explosion could end up being an acute danger for vehicle transition, and we need to be damn careful about it,” he told German media.

“If electric cars become more expensive to use, the surge in electric mobility is in danger of collapsing, because hardly anyone is going to buy an electric car,” Bratzel, who is also founder of the Center for Automotive Management (CAM), said. He and other electric car advocates are now calling on the German government to ensure that the electricity price remains under the price of petrol, which they say is crucial to the future of electric cars.

Electric cars are losing their charm,” Helena Wisbert, director of the Duisburg-based Center for Automotive Research, wrote in a recent commentary for the economic daily Handelsblatt.

State subsidies of electric cars are set to halve to €4,500 (£3,900) from 2023, while buyers of plug-in hybrids, who currently receive a €6,750 payment towards them, will no longer be supported. The overall pot of money available is to be capped at €2.5bn, enough to cover bonuses for just 400,000 electric cars – less than 1% of the cars on German roads.

One suggestion that could be relatively swiftly implemented would be to increase the vehicle tax on diesel and petrol cars. Currently electric cars are not eligible for vehicle tax. They are also able to use bus lanes and parking places unavailable to non-electric cars.

This may help answer some questions -

EVs are going mainstream... Are we ready for it?

Across the world EV adoption is increasing, but in some regions either markets, or infrastructure are struggling to keep up. Arthur D. Little, a large business consulting firm looked at EV readiness across the world, comparing them all to a benchmark state of it being as easy to buy and live with an EV as it is to live with a conventionally powered vehicle. So - are we ready for mainstream EVs or are we lagging behind? Kate finds out...

 

[Smurf1976]

One suggestion that could be relatively swiftly implemented would be to increase the vehicle tax on diesel and petrol cars.

Trouble with that is it's a kick straight in the face to lower income earners especially.

I wouldn't call myself a socialist but some balance is needed. People do need to be able to afford it and many won't be driving an EV this side of 2035 at the earliest.

I'm firmly of the view that existing ICE cars ought remain fully usable, without politicians coming up with artificial costs and so on, for the remainder of their lifespan for that reason.