Vietnam’s Richest Man Backs Battery-powered Automobile Aiming to Make Inroads in the U.S. by John R. Quain
August 19, 2022
Introduction:
(The National) A man in a day-glow jacket waves us ahead with a green flag, and we stamp on the accelerator, the trees zipping by on closed stretch of bitumen on Hon Tre Island off the coast of Vietnam.
The SUV, a pre-production VinFast VF 8, spins up to more than 120kph before we hit the end of the road.
While the test drive was a little too fast with only a dash of fury, it demonstrates the company's high aspirations for the vehicle, the ultimate destination of which is the US market by year's end.
It is an audacious goal for a five-year-old car maker, but VinFast has deep pockets.
It is backed by parent company Vingroup, which operates a network of shopping malls, resorts, real estate interests and amusement parks in Vietnam, with revenues of $4.7 billion last year.
caltrek’s comment: This is another one of those I know I am in the future moments. When I came of age, the U.S. was extracting itself from a war in Vietnam that it had “lost” against a Communist government. Anybody else see the irony here?
California is Ready to Drag the Rest of the U.S. into the EV Age
by Andrew J. Hawkins
August 24, 2022
Introduction:
(The Verge) California is poised to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles — a far-reaching policy that is likely to reverberate throughout the rest of the country and the world.
On Thursday, the California Air Resources Board will issue the new rules that were first rolled out by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2020, which would require 100 percent of new cars sold in the state to be free of carbon emissions, according to The New York Times.
The rule would phase in over time, with 35 percent of new passenger vehicles sold by 2026 and 68 percent by 2030. California says that over 16 percent of new car sales were “zero-emission vehicles” in 2022 — up from 12.41 percent last year and 7.78 percent in 2020.
“It’s ambitious, it’s innovative, it’s the action we must take if we’re serious about leaving this planet better off for future generations,” Newsom said in a statement. “California will continue to lead the revolution towards our zero-emission transportation future.”
California’s stance on new car sales is extremely consequential given the state’s status as a standard bearer for clean air regulations. To date, 14 other states have adopted its progressive zero-emission vehicle program for passenger vehicles, which was launched in the early 1990s and has spurred automakers to develop hybrid and fully electric cars. California is also one of the largest markets for car sales in the world, with nearly 15 million registered vehicles on the road and 1.85 million new vehicle registrations in 2021.
Nanotechandmorefuture wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 9:52 am
Btw what does the crying cat mean? I kept seeing cats as memes or cats in general here and there growing up. What is that? Some sort of intel or something meaning?
It doesn't mean anything serious, it's a funny yet relatable picture. If someone shoved a microphone in my face and expected me to talk unprompted, I'd probably start crying, too
Not to derail the thread too much but no way. I'm starting to realize the cat thing may not be as innocent as I think it is. Please DM if you want to continue the conversation more. I consider it sinister even if others may find it funny at some level
GM Venture Starts Building Battery Cells at New Ohio Factory August 31, 2022
Introduction:
DETROIT (AP via Courthouse News) — General Motors said Wednesday that a new electric vehicle battery plant built in Ohio has started producing cells, which could help customers get federal tax credits.
The joint-venture plant near Warren, Ohio, is focused on training as it prepares to ramp up manufacturing. A spokeswoman for the venture said it is producing cells but they are not yet being shipped. They'll go into vehicles with GM's Ultium batteries, which currently include Hummer EVs, Chevrolet Silverado EV pickups and the Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV.
Eventually, though, the plant should help GM's EVs meet requirements to qualify for a $7,500-per-vehicle federal tax credit.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act recently signed into law, electric vehicles and their batteries must be manufactured in North America to get the credit. Battery minerals must be mined or recycled on the continent as well, or half the tax credit would be lost. And the batteries can't have any components from China, another difficult hurdle.
The requirements are designed to build a North American supply chain for EVs so the country isn't reliant on China and other overseas countries.
Startup Adden Energy Granted Technology License from Harvard to Scale Innovative Fast Charging Lithium-metal Battery Technology for Commercial Deployment September 2, 2022
Introduction:
(EurekAlert) Harvard’s Office of Technology Development has granted an exclusive technology license to Adden Energy, Inc., a startup developing innovative solid-state battery systems for use in future electric vehicles (EVs) that would fully charge in minutes. Adden Energy has closed a seed round with $5.15M in funding led by Primavera Capital Group, with participation by Rhapsody Venture Partners and MassVentures.
The license and the venture funding will enable the startup to scale Harvard’s laboratory prototype toward commercial deployment of a solid-state lithium-metal battery that may provide reliable and fast charging for future EVs to help bring them into the mass market.
Developed by researchers in the lab of Xin Li, PhD, Associate Professor of Materials Science at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the lab-scale coin-cell prototype has achieved battery charge rates as fast as three minutes with over 10,000 cycles in a lifetime, with results published in Nature and other journals. It also boasts high energy density and a level of material stability that overcomes the safety challenges posed by some other lithium batteries.
Adden Energy was co-founded in 2021 by Li, along with William Fitzhugh, PhD ’20, and Luhan Ye, PhD ’22, both of whom contributed to the development of the technology as graduate students in Li’s Harvard lab. Fred Hu, PhD ’93, founder and Chairman of Primavera Capital, is also a founder of Adden Energy.
The startup aims to scale the battery up to a palm-sized pouch cell, and then upward toward a full-scale vehicle battery in the next three to five years. “If you want to electrify vehicles, a solid-state battery is the way to go,” said Li, who is a scientific advisor to Adden Energy. “We set out to commercialize this technology because we do see our technology as unique compared to other solid-state batteries. We have achieved in the lab 5,000 to 10,000 charge cycles in a battery’s lifetime, compared with 2,000 to 3,000 charging cycles for even the best in class now, and we don’t see any fundamental limit to scaling up our battery technology. That could be a game changer.”
OutfuckingRAGEOUS
Remember when the total number of EVs worldwide a decade ago wasn't even half of that?
Global passenger plug-in electric car sales do not disappoint and, considering that the overall car market is down, look very promising.
According to EV-Volumes data, shared by Jose Pontes, some 778,092 new passenger plug-in electric cars were registered in July, which is 61% more than a year ago.
That's one of the best monthly results and the best first month of a quarter. Compared to the overall market, plug-ins hold 14% of the market (including 10% for battery-electric cars).
It's amazing that one in ten new cars is already 100% electric and the segment is expanding at a healthy pace against all challenges.
Meanwhile, conventional hybrids are down year-over-year for the fourth consecutive month. Is this what prompted Toyota to invest more in BEV battery production?
And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future
Investors Prove that Insurtech Isn’t Dead, Thanks to E-bikes and Pre-fab Homes by Mary Ann Azevedo
September 19, 2022
Extract:
(TechCrunch) The ways in which we live and get around have evolved over the past few decades.
For example, sales of e-bikes are outpacing sales of electric cars in the U.S., according to recent research. And, pre-fabricated and manufactured homes are gaining in popularity as housing shortages persist globally.
It appears that their popularity is no fleeting trend. The Light Electric Vehicle Association predicts that over 1 million e-bikes will be sold in the U.S. in 2022. Research indicates that the global e-bike market will surge to nearly $41 billion by 2030, a big jump from being valued at US$ 17.56 billion in 2021.
…
Boundless Rider is a new insurance company founded specifically to serve riders of motorcycles, e-bikes and power sport vehicles. The Boston-based startup recently closed on $4.75 million in a seed funding round led by American Family Ventures, with participation from The Cross Country Group, SiriusPoint, and Belmont Capital. The company also previously raised $2 million in pre-seed funding that was never announced publicly.
…
“E-bikes can get very expensive. They are highly portable and get stolen often,” he (co-founder of Boundless Rider Blair Baldwin) said. “Many go up to 28 mph or even faster and there is a real liability in case something goes wrong – if there’s damage to a bike, or a replacement is needed, or if one creates an accident that hurts somebody else.”
New York state to adopt California 2035 EV rules
Source: Reuters
Sept 29 (Reuters) - New York state plans to adopt California's rules approved in August that would require all new vehicles sold in the state by 2035 to be either electric or plug-in electric hybrids, Governor Kathy Hochul said on Thursday.
Hochul said in a statement that she has directed a state environmental agency to propose and finalize rules adopting California's plan setting yearly rising zero-emission vehicle rules starting in 2026 that phases out gasoline-only new car sales by 2035.
The agency will hold a public hearing before the rules are finalized.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted its rules after Governor Gavin Newsom issued a 2020 executive order directing the move. CARB said the rules will reduce smog-causing pollution from light-duty vehicles by 25% by 2037 and result in 9.5 million fewer conventional vehicles sold by 2035.
Taiwanese Electric Two-wheeler Maker Gogoro Secures U.S. $345 Million Loan by Eric Chang
October 4, 2022
Introduction:
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Electric two-wheel maker and battery swapping infrastructure provider Gogoro inked a US$345 million (NT$10.7 billion) loan last week with a group of ten syndicated banks.
The five-year credit facility agreement is being led by Mega International Commercial Bank Co., according to a regulatory filing cited by TechCrunch.
The facility consists of two term loans and one revolving facility that will be used to pay off an existing loan, purchase energy cells for its swappable batteries, support working capital, and be used on Gogoro Network operations in Taiwan, the filing said.
The loan comes with a two-year extension option, and if Gogoro continues to meet carbon reduction goals, a facility rate discount will be applied, per the filing.
Last month, Gogoro announced it had launched its e-scooters and battery swapping system in Tel Aviv by partnering with Metro Motor and Paz Group from Israel. The company also announced in September that it had been chosen for a sandbox pilot in Singapore.
Zerova Technologies, a new Taiwan-headquartered subsidiary of Phihong, made an energetic debut at this week's eMove360° Europe show in Berlin. The company previewed a prototype 480-kW charger that promises to make EV charging more convenient than ever by slashing charging time to 10 minutes. Those who don't have the full 10 to spare can zap nearly 100 miles (160 km) of battery power into their cars in less than half that time. The new Four Gun Charger can also charge four vehicles at the same time from a single unit.
Designed for both passenger car and commercial fleet charging, Zerova's new Four Gun Charger packs some serious ultra-charging power into a compact footprint, featuring independent left and right chargers on front and back of a single body. Each charger features a 16.4-foot-long (5-m) cable to aid in the logistics of parking and charging four separate vehicles. The charger supports CCS-1, CCS-2, CHAdeMO and GB charging standards and includes a digital screen designed to run advertisements.
The 10-minute full charge is based on a vehicle with a 75-kWh battery pack so vehicles with larger packs would take longer. Zerova also estimates the charger would add 93 miles (150 km) in less than five minutes, allowing some drivers to quickly power up and complete their journey before plugging in for a more complete charge at their destination.
The price of charging an electric car using a public rapid charger is now more expensive than filling up with diesel according to data gathered by Parkers. The soaring price of wholesale gas and electricity has forced up the cost of charging a typical electric car, with £10 of charge taking you less far than the same amount of diesel.
This rise in EV charging begins to bite just as petrol and diesel prices are finally beginning to fall. Despite the spiralling costs of using public electric car chargers, the long-term consideration of an electric car is still very much on many drivers’ minds.
The RAC says that the average price per kilowatt hour (kWh) of a UK rapid charger is 63.29p, but it can cost a lot more. Osprey announced in August 2022 prices on its rapid chargers to £1 per kilowatt hour. Tesla charges an average of 77p/kWh for non-Tesla drivers (according to Zap-Map), and the second largest rapid network, Gridserve, charges 66p/kWh.
BMW investing $1.7B in S Carolina as automaker shifts to EVs
Source: AP
By TOM KRISHER and JEFFREY COLLINS
GREER, S.C. (AP) — BMW will invest $1 billion in its sprawling factory near Spartanburg, South Carolina, to start producing electric vehicles and an additional $700 million to build a electric-battery plant nearby.
The German automaker’s announcement Wednesday reflects its commitment to transitioning to electric-vehicle production in North America, in line with similarly ambitious plans by other major automakers.
The investment in the 7-million-square-foot vehicle factory in Greer, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, would add an unspecified number of jobs to the more than 11,000 workers there.
The battery plant, to be built in nearby Woodruff, will employ 300, the company said, with hiring to begin within a few years.
Employees work in the battery assembly hall at the BMW Spartanburg plant in Greer, S.C. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. BMW's sprawling factory near Spartanburg, will get a $1 billion investment, and the German automaker will spend another $700 million to build a battery plant nearby as it begins the transition to electric vehicles in the U.S., the company announced Tuesday, Oct. 18. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
GOP seizes on voter hesitancy to attack EVs as costly to US
Source: AP/By HOPE YEN and MATTHEW DALY
WASHINGTON (AP) — Heading into next week’s midterm elections, many Republican candidates are seeking to capitalize on voters’ concerns about inflation by vilifying a key component of President Joe Biden’s climate agenda: electric vehicles.
On social media, in political ads and at campaign rallies, Republicans say Democrats’ push for battery-powered transportation will leave Americans broke, stranded on the road and even in the dark. Many of the attack lines are not true — the auto industry itself has largely embraced a shift to EVs, for instance, and some Republican lawmakers are quick to cheer the opening of EV battery plants in the U.S. that promise new jobs.
But political analysts say the GOP messaging exploits voter hesitancy on EVs that may have put Democrats on the defensive at a time when Americans are especially feeling a financial pinch. EVs cost $65,000 on average, a fact GOP candidates cite.
More than two-thirds of Americans say they are unlikely to purchase an electric vehicle in the next three years, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Democrats are twice as likely to say they plan to purchase one as Republicans, 37% to 16%, respectively.
Tesla's Third Largest Shareholder Calls For the Ouster of Elon Musk as CEO
Source: The Observer
KoGuan Leo, an Indonesian billionaire and the third-largest individual shareholder of Tesla, is calling for the electric carmaker’s CEO, Elon Musk, to step down as much of his attention is focused on Twitter lately.
“Elon abandoned Tesla and Tesla has no working CEO,” Leo tweeted on Dec. 14. “Tesla needs and deserves to have working full-time CEO.”
Leo proposed Tesla’s board of directors appoint a professional manager, someone similar to Apple CEO Tim Cook, as Musk’s replacement.
“Tesla is 19 years old, ranked 4th with 2.4 percent allocation in S&P,” he said in another tweet. “Elon was the proud father, Tesla has grown up. An executioner, Tim Cook-like is needed, not Elon.”
After 2026, all new orders of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle will be EV only.
By Collin Woodard
Published 15 minutes ago
The United States Postal Service announced today that its delivery vehicles are going electric. Of the more than 60,000 Next Generation Delivery Vehicles that the USPS intends to order by 2028, at least 45,000 will be EVs. And starting in 2026, it will exclusively order electric NGDVs.
The NGDV isn't the only vehicle the Post Office uses, though. As part of its plans to buy a total of 106,000 new vehicles to replace its aging 220,000-vehicle fleet, at least 66,000 will be electric by 2028. The total investment is expected to cost about $9.6 billion.
USPS initially only planned to order 5,000 electric delivery vehicles but announced in March that it had increased that number to 10,000. Then over the summer, it announced that it planned to increase its EV orders once again. According to the release, the Post Office was able to boost the number of electric NGDVs due to an additional $3 billion in funding allocated to it in the Inflation Reduction Act.
In a statement, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said:
The $3 billion provided by Congress has significantly reduced the risk associated with accelerating the implementation of a nationwide infrastructure necessary to electrify our delivery fleet. While most of the electric vehicle funding will continue to come from Postal Service revenues, we are grateful for the confidence that Congress and the Administration have placed in us to build and acquire what has the potential to become the largest electric vehicle fleet in the nation.
