ElectriClub

Български електромобилен клуб

November 17, 2018

November 16, 2018

November 15, 2018

  • Dark days ahead as EU Commission discloses intention to impose duties превод на български
     

    The Commission has sent the disclosure document for the anti-dumping proceedings to all interested parties, including the European Collective of Importers of Electric Bicycles. This document does not hold a final decision yet, but outlines what the Commission intends to do.

    In the disclosure document, the Commission is announcing the imposition of anti-dumping duties as listed in the table at the end of this article.

    With that, the Commission intends to accept EBMA’s request to withdraw registration and therefore not to pursue the retro-active collection of duties. However, this will only be 100% confirmed when the final Regulation on the case is published.

    Provisional duties will be collected from 18 July onwards, but only to the level of proposed duties, which is lower than the provisional duties.

    All interested parties can send comments to the Commission on this disclosure document until 12 o’clock on 26 November.

    The Collective of European Importers of Electric Bicycles will comment on the content of this disclosure document upon careful analysis. However, the Collective already wishes to state now that if the Commission is to go ahead with the proposed anti-dumping duties, this will exacerbate the damage already done to European importers and mark the start of dark days for the whole European electric bicycle sector and for all EU citizens who are using or intend to use an electric bike.

    The disclosure document is here: https://bit.ly/2Drh6C6

    Company Anti- dumping duty
    Bodo Vehicle Group Co., Ltd. 60,1%
    Giant Electric Vehicle (Kunshan) Co., Ltd; 21,0%
    Jinhua Vision Industry Co., Ltd and Yongkang Hulong Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. 10,9%
    Suzhou    Rununion    Motivity Co., Ltd. 63,2%
    Yadea Technology Group Co., Ltd 38,9%
    Other co-operating companies in the anti-dumping investigation which also co- operate but were not sampled in the parallel anti-subsidy investigation (Annex I) 24,7%
    Other co-operating companies in the anti-dumping investigation, but not cooperating in the parallel

    anti-subsidy investigation (Annex II)

    		 17,4%
    Non-cooperating companies in the anti-dumping investigation, but cooperating in the parallel

    anti-subsidy investigation (Annex III)

    		 70,5 %
    All other companies 63,2%

     

November 14, 2018

November 13, 2018

  • Road Test: 2019 Jaguar I-Pace превод на български
     

    A Premium Brand Bursts into the EV Market

    The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace is the prestigious British marque’s first step into the electric motoring future. As a crossover, the new vehicle is perfectly positioned to compete in the premium EV realm.

    The obvious competition here is Tesla, an all-electric premium vehicle manufacturer. But other European brands, notably Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, are jumping in, too. The i-Pace just won Germany’s Car of the Year award, so it has a head start.

    Three days left me wanting to spend more time in the Jag EV

    I got to spend three days with a pre-production vehicle, and it was not only a pleasure to drive, but attracted a lot of attention, too. While driving the car with a colleague on beautiful and winding Skyline Boulevard in the San Francisco Peninsula hills, a Mercedes-Benz driver began to follow us. When we stopped for a scenic photo-op, he ran over, very excited. He was surprised to find out that the beautiful car was an EV. Later that day, a man waved at me at a stoplight. I rolled down the window and he said, “That’s an electric vehicle, isn’t it?” I said “yes,” and he said, “I thought so.”

    Not Old-Fashioned

    In a brilliant Yulong White, the i-Pace is truly a crossover, not an old-fashioned boxy SUV. Its proportions are dramatic, with a short hood appropriate to an EV’s smaller space requirements but also dramatically styled with a classic Jaguar grill and intensely staring headlamp pods.

    The grill is solid black plastic—for show only. Perhaps the designers felt the car wouldn’t look enough like a Jaguar without it. Also black on my car were exterior styling accents and bold 20-inch alloy wheels.

    The sides and window greenhouse look car-like, but the high roof means a generous rear cargo capacity. Fold the seats down and remove the cargo area cover and you can handle a big load.

    The i-Pace employs two electric motors, one at each axle, which generate 394 horsepower and a mighty 512 pounds-feet of torque. Power comes from a 90-killowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery that gives the I-Pace a very usable 234 miles of range, per the EPA. After charging, however, I saw larger numbers than that. At Level 2, 240-volt charging, it takes about 13 hours to fill the big battery, but quick charging to 80 percent cuts that down to 45-90 minutes, depending on whether it’s 50 or 100 kW.

    Other EPA figures include MPGe ratings of 80 city/72 highway/76 combined. Compare these numbers to other EVs.

    All-Wheel Drive Standard

    All-wheel drive is part of the action, perfect for getting to that little cabin on weekends. I would hesitate to take my i-Pace on rugged terrain, but AWD gives it some cred when competing with its Land Rover cousin and other luxury crossovers.

    2019 Jaguar I-Pace

    This is the view most will see

    Technology is great, but the driving experience is what Jaguars are all about. With abundant horsepower and the wondrous instant torque that EVs bring, the i-Pace charges forward with genuine enthusiasm. The 4,868-pound car blasts from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. While that’s not quite the amusement park thrill of a Tesla in Ludicrous Mode, it’s definitely fast and fun.

    As an EV, the i-Pace lets you use one-pedal driving to accelerate as well as slow down and stop. You can easily set it to a more “normal” style, but one-pedal is the best way to get the most out of an electric vehicle. The Jaguar releases the regen at a couple of miles per hour, just before coming to a stop, requiring the brake pedal at stoplights—like a Tesla, but unlike a Chevrolet Bolt EV in Low or the new Nissan Leaf with e-Pedal selected.

    Different Driving Modes

    Choose from three different drive modes—Comfort (the default), Eco, or Dynamic. Eco mode is great for maximizing range by changing the electronic accelerator map and adjusting the energy the climate control system uses. Dynamic mode increases suspension stiffness and steering wheel weight and feedback, while sharpening accelerator pedal response and turning the gauges a sporty red.

    2019 Jaguar I-Pace

    Different driving modes are at your fingertips

    I used Dynamic mode while on the curving back roads, and it made the tall, heavy car feel light on its feet. I spent my commute time in Comfort mode, which was indeed comfortable. The car feels firm, but not harsh, and stable and smooth at all speeds. If I owned the i-Pace, I’d likely choose Eco for commuting, but with a three-day window, I wanted maximum response from this athletic ride.

    The interior is what you’d expect from Jaguar, but is thoroughly up-to-date. My car’s color scheme was a dramatic Ebony and Mars Red. I didn’t see woodgrain anywhere, but the silvery accents were tasteful. The steering wheel spokes are dramatic billet-quality pieces that look rich and custom. The transmission buttons are tucked onto the left branch of a dynamically structured console running down the dash to the armrest.

    The Meridian Surround Sound System provided exquisite musical entertainment. Production vehicles will connect to your Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Once I figured out how to store my preset SiriusXM favorites, it was easy to get exactly what I wanted from the premium sound system

    The interior features ambient lighting all over the place, from the ceiling to the doors to the console and the floor. You can customize the color from about a dozen compelling shades.

    The Shape of Jaguar’s EV

    Although this pre-production vehicle didn’t have everything in final form, the shapes and surfaces were lovely and felt great. I noticed that there was no stitching on the dash, which may change in production, but it amounted to a clean, unpretentious look.

    2019 Jaguar I-Pace

    The Jag screen

    The information panel on the dash is integrated into a single flat screen that is much wider than the image. The touch system was responsive, and provided access to multiple screens by swiping across, as on an iPad. There are many ways to customize the driving experience, which owners can explore at their leisure.

    The air suspension lets you raise and lower the i-Pace to suit your needs. Normal is just that—higher than a regular car. You can also raise it for an Off-road setting or lower it to the Access setting—easing entry and exit for shorter-legged folk. My friends found this feature highly amusing.

    I was surprised when I lifted the hood. The entire area is shrouded, except for a couple of access points and an approximately one-cubic-foot “frunk” about large enough for a day backpack.

    Goodies at a Price

    The official base price of the i-Pace is $70,450 (including $995 destination charge). For now, you can also opt for the i-Pace First Edition, starting at $85,900, which is packed with special features. My test vehicle base-priced at $80,500 and totaled out at $89,310, including many options, some of which may be part of the First Edition, and all of which made it an extraordinary experience.

    2019 Jaguar I-Pace

    Goodies add to the looks and performance of the I-Pace

    Selected goodies included the wonderfully supportive bucket seats with heating and cooling and 14-way adjustment—driver and front passenger both got three position presets. A bright head-up display showed speed, speed limit and other information. Four-zone climate control gave rear seat passengers their own temperature dials. The white paint added $575. The black wheels and adaptive lighting were on the list, as was a cabin air ionizer, much appreciated during a smoky period from California wildfires.

    On a surprising note, the i-Pace is assembled in Graz, Austria, from 74 percent Polish parts, including the motors. Vehicles today are highly complex, with parts sourced from around the world. This is the new normal.

    There is a big upside and no downside to owning and driving the new electric i-Pace. As Jaguar’s first EV, it paves the way for the brand to bring out more offerings in the next few years. Jaguar has invested in training its sales and service people to understand how EVs need to be sold and serviced. They also plan to invest $1.5 billion in the United States over the next five years on new facilities and enhanced owner experiences.

    For now, if you drive one, you will attract a lot of attention and have a ball, while lowering your carbon footprint.

    [See image gallery at www.cleanfleetreport.com]

    Related Stories You Might Enjoy—Jaguar’s Challengers on the Path to Electrification

    Flash Drive: 2019 Jaguar I-Pace

    News: Audi Debuts the E-tron Electric EV

    News: Mercedes-Benz Introduces Its First Full EV

    News: BMW Shows Off the iNext

    Disclosure:

    Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.

    Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.

    The post Road Test: 2019 Jaguar I-Pace appeared first on Clean Fleet Report.

November 12, 2018

  • How Stan Lee Made Me Who I Am превод на български
     

    When I heard that Stan Lee passed away, I immediately decided to shoot a video about what it meant to me. Surprisingly, it was one of the hardest things I’ve done in a long time. Why was that? It’s probably because Stan Lee helped make me the man I am. I’m normally talking about clean […]

    The post How Stan Lee Made Me Who I Am appeared first on 300MPG.org.

  • News: UPS Begins Cargo eBike Test in Seattle превод на български
     

    One-Year Test Uses Electric Cargo Bikes

    While we usually approach the electrification of automobiles from the auto industry perspective, we sometimes forget that companies other than car makers are also innovating with electricity to update and improve their vehicles. One such company is the United Parcel Service.

    But, while Brown is going green in many ways, the delivery companies’ latest program will open a whole new method of eco-friendly package delivery for the men and women in shorts.

    UPS cargo eBikes

    A new small, electric Brown machine

    Recently, UPS announced that it would be launching a new delivery program in Seattle using electrified delivery tricycles. These UPS cargo eBikes (which look a bit like UPS tuk-tuks) will be used for deliveries in and around the Pike Place Market and downtown areas in Seattle.

    While not massive, the cargo eBike has a detachable container that can hold up to 400 pounds in its 95 cubic-feet of space. Exact specifications for the eBike’s electric drivetrain was not announced, however drivers should be able to easily navigate Seattle’s hilly terrain using pedal power, electric power or a combination of both.

    “[The cargo eBike will] be able to make deliveries to areas conventional delivery trucks can’t access directly and currently require that trucks be parked on the periphery for long periods of time,” UPS announced in its press release.

    Universary To Evaluate Test

    The UPS cargo eBike program is being launched as a one-year test, which will be monitored by the University of Washington Urban Freight Lab. The UWUFL will evaluate reliability, design and integration into Seattle’s infrastructure over the next year. Ideally, the program will see improved first delivery attempts and shortened “dwell time,” both of which should reduce traffic congestion and pollution.

    While Seattle might not seem like the most obvious city in which to launch the eBike program, it is a bit of a homecoming and “return to its roots” for UPS; which was founded in Seattle in 1907 as a bike messenger company.

    If the test program goes well, we could be seeing more cargo eBikes in cities all around the country. This new program is another push to increase the already sizeable fleet of all-electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, ethanol, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and propane vehicles currently used by UPS.

    The post News: UPS Begins Cargo eBike Test in Seattle appeared first on Clean Fleet Report.

November 11, 2018

  • EasyJet тества 9-местен електрически самолет догодина превод на български
     

    В този блог: Прогрес и в един от най-трудните сектори за електрифициране – самолетния транспорт.

    Новото в това направление идва от easyJet, чийто изпълнителен директор обяви, че "електрифицирането на полетите се превръща в реалност". В подкрепа на това твърдение компанията ще тества девет-местен електрически самолет през 2019 г.

  • News: GM’s Next EV has Two Wheels превод на български
     

    General Motors Moves More Deeply into E-Mobility

    With the Volt plug-in hybrid and the Bolt EV already in Chevy showrooms, what’s next for GM on the electric vehicle front? How about an electric bicycle?

    GM just released photos of two lightweight eBikes, due out next year. Clean and simple looking, they come in two forms. One folds, with an integrated handle for easy carrying. These could be the solution for getting the last mile from the train station to work or home, or for running local errands. Surely, they’d fit easily in the back of either of Chevy’s EVs.

    GM eBike

    General Motors drops two wheels off its next EV

    Hannah Parish, director of General Motors Urban Mobility Solutions, the organization charged with the project, comes well prepared for the job. She formerly was Marketing Director, North America, for Cycling Sports Group, owner of Cannondale, Schwinn and GT.

    “As an avid cyclist and urban commuter, I know how great it feels to get where I’m going easily and show up sweat-free,” Parish said. “We blended electrification engineering know-how, design talents and automotive-grade testing with great minds from the bike industry to create our eBikes.”

    Name the Bike

    In a clever twist, GM is asking people to name the eBike brand. Send in your name ideas to www.eBikeBrandChallenge.com by 10 a.m. EST on Monday, November 26. The winner receives $10,000 and nine runners-up will take home $1,000 each. Winners will be announced in early 2019. I wonder if they’ll get a free eBike, too?

    The new eBikes use a mid-drive motor with a traditional chain drive over a toothed belt and employ front and rear hydraulic disc brakes. The battery is mounted just above the motor, which should provide a low center of gravity.

    GM eBike

    A foldable bike will be available

    There’s little in the way of specs yet, so we don’t yet know how fast it’ll go, or how long a charge will take or last. GM hasn’t released any pricing or availability dates yet, either. In fact, we don’t even know where—or how—the bikes will be sold.

    What’s old is new again—GM has some origins in the two-wheeled world. Some of GM’s earliest automotive brands began as bicycle companies in the 1890s. In 1908, General Motors absorbed the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company, which was founded as a bicycle maker in 1897. It later became GMC. Louis Chevrolet, co-founder of the brand that carries his name, was a champion bicycle racer in France.

    Next year, the most affordable GM electric vehicle will hit the streets. I’m looking forward to giving it a test and writing a review. Now where’s my helmet?

    Ford’s Already Got Bikes on the Road

    While the GM eBike is a clever approach to the market, it’s hardly the first foray for automakers into electric two-wheelers–or two-wheelers in general. Ford’s shared eBikes launched earlier this year (2018) in San Francisco and the blue bikes can be found all over the city.

    It should also be noted that a variety of car companies offer on- and off-road bikes, manual and electric, from Daimler’s Smart to Lamborghini. But these bikes are typically at a premium level and not really related to their core auto business. GM and Ford appear to be trying to carve out a different niche for ebikes as a part of a broader mobility system. Hold on, because we doubt this will be the last word in this arena.   

    The post News: GM’s Next EV has Two Wheels appeared first on Clean Fleet Report.

November 10, 2018

November 09, 2018

November 08, 2018

  • Dutch MEP van de Camp warns Commissioner Malmström: duties will harm Commission’s credibility превод на български
     

    In a letter directly addressed to EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, Dutch MEP Wim van de Camp expresses very serious concerns about the ongoing anti-dumping investigation on e-bikes from China and requests the Commission to reexamine its approach on the matter.

    The full letter is below:

    To: Ms. Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade

    Subject: Duties on e-bikes imports from China are misplaced

     

    Dear Commissioner Malmström,

     

    As you krnow we have always been strong supporters of the Commission’s efforts to combat the harmful effects of Chinese subsidies which lead to overcapacity and occasionally to notable abuses in the form of dumping. Steel, aluminum, ceramics, and chemicals are all examples of where the Commission has rightly taken a strong stance in defense of European industry.

    However, we are concerned that the Commission’s ongoing anti-dumping investigation against the import of electric bikes from China is misplaced, and not only harms consumers, SMEs and the EU’s own climate and clean mobility policies but undermines the credibility of the antidumping instrument.

    E-bikes are a win-win success story for Europe. They are eco-friendly and help reduce carbon emissions. They provide health benefits for all type of consumers, who otherwise would not be encouraged to ride a conventional bike. They alleviate traffic congestions, and are in line with the increasing number of bicycle lanes in many of our European cities. Their benefits for the environment, consumers, and importers are clear.

    Virtually all e-bike components, just like the assembled e-bikes themselves, come from China . There is minimal distinction between “Chinese” and “European” manufacturers. European SMEs design e-bikes here and have them manufactured in China, for the benefit of their European customers.

    Furthermore, this is a highly popular up-and-coming sector, with considera le market growth as e­ bikes become affordable. Sales and profits are growing. It is difficult to conceive, without stretching the bounds of credibility, how European vendors are suffering an injury due to Chinese imports.

    As such, we believe that any sort of anti-dumping duties will harm consumers but more importantly the Commission’s credibility. We would thus kindly request the Commission to carefully reexamine its approach on the matter.

    We remain at your disposal should you wish to discuss these matters further.

    With kind regards,

    Ing. W.G.JM (Wim) van d Camp

    Member of the European Parliament
    Coordinator of the EPP TRAN Committee
    CDA/ EPP Group

  • How Track Mode Works превод на български
     

    Electric powertrains have numerous advantages over internal combustion engines. In addition to low cost of ownership, energy efficiency, and near silence, they also offer unparalleled responsiveness. Since the introduction of Tesla Roadster in 2008, we’ve exploited the immediate availability of motor power and torque to achieve unprecedented straight-line performance, making the car’s forward acceleration a pure extension of the driver. With Track Mode, which is designed specifically for use on closed autocross circuits and racetracks, our goal was simple: use that same motor power and torque to make cornering on the track feel just as natural as forward acceleration.

    Undefined
  • Compact crossover: Kia Stonic reviewed превод на български
     
    Kia Stonic

    Kia Stonic
    Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    Good: Neat styling, comfortable, well equipped
    Bad: Disappointing economy from the 1.0 petrol engine
    Price: £16,295 to £20,495 before options

    Kia has chosen a strange name for its new compact crossover, though I suppose Stonic is not quite as odd as Cee-apostrophe-d. No doubt the sound will stick in the ears a little less as time passes.

    Read more »
  • Announcing Robyn Denholm as Tesla’s New Board Chair превод на български
     

    Tesla’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Robyn Denholm has been appointed as Chair of the Tesla Board, effective immediately. So that she will be able to devote her full attention to the Tesla Chair role, Robyn will be leaving her role as CFO and Head of Strategy at Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications company, once her six-month notice period with Telstra is complete. Robyn will be serving as Tesla Chair on a full-time basis.

    Undefined

November 07, 2018

  • Bike Europe incorrectly announces anti-dumping duties! превод на български
     

    Bike Europe’s announcement of 79% anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duties on China e-bikes is MANIFESTLY INCORRECT.

    In an article published on the Bike Europe website today, the trade magazine states the European Union has the intention to impose “an overall combined anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duty of 79.3 percent on the import of e-bikes made in China“. This is absolutely incorrect and not true.

    The European Commission has indeed issued a DRAFT proposal but only for the anti-subsidy case, NOT for the anti-dumping case. This draft holds no statements about imposing anti-dumping duties and certainly no intention of 79% duties. It only informs all interested parties of a draft decision to impose countervailing duties of a maximum of 16.4% and the reasons for this. All interested parties now have a set period to argue for or against this draft, upon which the Commission must take a final decision by January 2019 at the latest.

    The Commission will publish a similar draft for anti-dumping duties but this is expected toward the end of November, early December.

    LEVA-EU finds it extremely regrettable that Bike Europe has so far not responded to the association’s request to either correct the article or to remove it from the website so that the incorrect information would not cause any further unnessary chaos and panic among Chinese and European companies that have already been damaged very severely by the proceeding itself. LEVA-EU also finds it extremely regrettable that this article is simply based on incorrect conclusions drawn from an MLex article, instead of on double-checking the facts with the interested parties.

November 06, 2018

November 05, 2018

November 04, 2018

  • News: Chevy eCOPO Camaro is a Nine-Second Drag Car Powered by Sunshine превод на български
     

    Answering the Question: How Fast Can an Electric Camaro Go

    In some ways, it’s quite unfortunate that automotive manufacturers are first, and foremost, a business. As Elon Musk has recently been discovering, a manufacturer can’t keep making what it wants to make, it has to make what its customers want to buy. Because of this, most exciting concept cars are left at just that: a concept. As in a ‘We could make this cool car, if we thought anyone would buy it” car.

    At this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas, however, Chevrolet debuted a car that does not appear to have been created for Mr. Ben Franklin—the Chevrolet eCOPO Cmaaro.

    Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro

    The eCOPO Camaro can light ’em up

    The car in question is based on the recent, limited edition, drag-strip-ready COPO Camaro; which Chevy debuted earlier this year. The one they brought to SEMA, however, ditched the seven-liter V8 for a pair of electric motors with a claimed power rating of more than 700 horsepower and 600 pounds-feet of torque.

    What makes the eCOPO (yes, another brilliantly creative EV name) so interesting, is how Chevy went about creating it. Unlike most other EVs of the moment, the two BorgWarner electric motors put their power through a traditional Chevy Turbo 400 automatic transmission and light up the rear tires through an “old school” solid rear axle.

    Crate EV Motors?

    Similarly, the batteries–of which there are four 200-volt modules–are located around the original structure of the car; two replace the back seats and two are in the trunk. This means that what Chevy has created with their eCOPO could be the beginnings of the first EV crate motors.

    Chevrolet eCOPO Camarao

    Ready to have some electric fun

    What’s exciting about this way of building EVs is that, potentially, any car could be converted to run on wind and solar power. Currently, if you love your 1995 M5, but also love the idea of EVs, you’re a bit out of luck. What Chevy could be providing is the ability to update any car that has wheels and a transmission that can handle massive electric torque. For those who are worried that EVs will kill the world of performance modification, this could be the answer.

    Equally as exciting, those of you who can count may have realized that the battery pack of the eCOPO totals 800-volts; double what most current EVs have. This higher voltage battery (which should also be featured in some upcoming Porsche models as well) allows for much faster battery recharge. In fact, charge times could drop to as little as 10-15 minutes.

    Total range for the eCOPO, and other technical specs have not been officially released yet, but as long as it can go more than a quarter-mile between charges, who really cares?

    The post News: Chevy eCOPO Camaro is a Nine-Second Drag Car Powered by Sunshine appeared first on Clean Fleet Report.

November 03, 2018

November 02, 2018

  • News: BMW iX3 All-Electric Crossover Spotted превод на български
     

    Concept Version Starts To Look More Like ICE Brethren

    BMW has a new all-electric vehicle coming, and it’s a small crossover called the iX3. It debuted as a concept car at the April 2018 Beijing Auto Show.

    Recent spy shots of the apparently near-production BMW iX3 show camouflaged bumpers and front end, but it looks familiar—and less dramatic than the concept. Presumably under the camo lives a smoother, more wind-cheating shape. Aerodynamic wheels will be fitted.

    BMW iX3

    Less concept, more ease of production

    The iX3 is the first i-series car to be a version of an existing model, in this case, the X3. As the first of 11 all-electric BMWs coming in the next few years, it will be easy-to-assemble alongside non-electrics rather than being a totally separate model, like the i3. 

    Preliminary Specs

    Preliminary specs for the fifth-generation eDrive technology include a motor putting out 270 horsepower (200 kW) and a 70-kWh battery. Thanks to 150 kW fast-charging, you should be able to fill an empty battery in 30 minutes—plenty of time to do it during lunch. The car is expected to have a 249-mile range, based on the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) used in Europe.

    The new drivetrain boasts a denser, more powerful battery as well as a motor that uses no rare earth materials.

    The iX3 will be built at BMW’s Shengyang plant in China and is expected to arrive in the U.S. in 2020 (although that was before all of the recent tariff spats). By then, it’ll have plenty of company: The Jaguar I-Pace, Audi E-tron Quattro, and Mercedes-Benz EQC.

    More Electric News

    Flash Drive: 2019 jaguar I-Pace

    Event: World Premiere of the Audi E-tron

    Event: BMW Vision iNext Reveal

    News: 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC Debuts

    The post News: BMW iX3 All-Electric Crossover Spotted appeared first on Clean Fleet Report.

November 01, 2018

October 31, 2018

  • News: Daimler Breaks Ground on New EV Battery Plant in Alabama превод на български
     

    To Source Battery Packs In-House

    Mercedes-Benz is one of the brands that will be taking part in the dramatic electrification—several electric truck models are already on the road; they’ll be joined by the Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV from Daimler (parent company for Mercedes-Benz cars and a portfolio of trucks) in a year. All those electric vehicles need batteries.

    Daimler battery plant

    With more Mercedes plugging in, Daimler opted to build its own battery plant

    Earlier this month, Daimler broke ground on its new electric-vehicle (EV) battery factory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The factory represents part of Mercedes-Benz’s latest $1 billion investment into its Tuscaloosa facilities.

    The new facility will be used to produce battery packs for a wide range of upcoming Mercedes-Benz hybrid and electric vehicles, both in North America and Europe, and should be operational in 2019.

    Export-Oriented Plant

    “The widely export-oriented Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa is a high-tech production facility with a successful history and an exciting future in terms of our brand in the United States,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain. “We aim to play a pioneering role in the development of e-mobility and are well prepared to accomplish this mission.”

    Daimler battery plant

    The Alabama plant could supply batteries for the upcoming EQC

    Since 1995, more than $6 billion has been invested in the Tuscaloosa plant, however this newest contribution is a clear statement by Mercedes-Benz that it is investing heavily in an electric future (at lease that is the image they are going for). Currently the plant produces three SUVs (the GLS, GLE and GLE-Coupe as well as the C-Class sedan.

    While official details have not been released, the battery packs created at the new factory will most likely be used in Daimler’s new EQ vehicle lineup. The EQ platform (somehow standing for “Electric Intelligence”) will be featured in all Mercedes-Benz EVs over the next few years; the first of which will be an SUV called EQC.

    A direct competitor for the Tesla Model X, as well as the soon to be massive EV SUV segment, the EQC is expected to go on sale sometime in 2020.

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    The post News: Daimler Breaks Ground on New EV Battery Plant in Alabama appeared first on Clean Fleet Report.

October 30, 2018

  • 62 кВтч батерия за новия среден вариант на Tesla Model 3 превод на български
     

    В този блог: Новият вариант на Tesla Model 3 със среден капацитет на батерията вече е в производство.

    Според блога electrek, човек от компанията е споделил точният капацитет на батерията – същата като във версията с най-голям пробег, но с по-малко клетки.