Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

Martyn1981

Some news items that jumped out me, weirdly two items both about Ford E Transits, and battery swopping scooters for Italy/Europe.

UK: DPD Ordered 1,000 Ford E-Transit Electric Vans

The first Ford E-Transit will be delivered this month, and once all enter service, the DPD UK fleet will have over 2,500 electric vehicles.

According to the press release, the company has ordered the 3.5t long-wheelbase version with 12.4 cubic meters of load space and a 135 kW electric motor. The battery pack is 68 kWh (usable).

In the case of DHL Express, the order includes a 4.25t version with a payload of approximately 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs) and a range of 140 miles (225 km).

Ford Reveals E-Transit Custom Electric Van For Europe

Ford has revealed its all-new, all-electric E-Transit Custom model, which is scheduled to enter series production at the Ford Otosan facility in Kocaeli, Turkey in the second half of 2023.

The outgoing generation of the Ford Transit Custom was Europe’s best-selling van. Ford says that with the E-Transit Custom, it intends to set a new benchmark in Europe’s one-tonne van segment.

According to the manufacturer, the Ford E-Transit Custom van (there will also be a passenger version), is designed from the ground up and brings a no-compromise all-electric architecture to offer a target WLTP range of up to 380 km (236 miles), full towing capability of up to 2,000 kg, DC fast charging and Pro-Power Onboard feature to provide exportable power for tools, lights and devices while on site. More details are promised to be announced in September.

KYMCO set to bring its battery-swapping electric scooters to Europe, upping arms race

The latest salvo in a battery swapping electric scooter arms race will see Taiwanese scooter giant KYMCO enter Europe via Italy with its Ionex electric scooters.

KYMCO’s Ionex battery swap system competes directly with Gogoro’s battery swap system, though Gogoro outnumbers KYMCO by over 10:1 in its domestic market.

Privately-owned electric scooters that allow riders to more affordably purchase the scooter without batteries and then pay a low monthly subscription fee for access to battery swapping stations have so far failed to penetrate Europe to the degree they have in Asia. KYMCO hopes to change that and is bringing its electric scooters to Italy where they will be distributed by KMI di Padana Sviluppo, according to moto.it.

Martyn1981

Just another silly post about popping to get kitty litter. So today it was 350Wh/m on the way up, 178Wh/m on the way back (down), and a trip average of 263Wh/m, which I think is pretty reasonable. Return trip weighing 180kg more.

Side note, wood pellets are in extremely short supply now due to loss of supply from Ukraine (and Russia), Could be a tough winter for some. Cost today was 50% higher than a month ago.

Something I noticed today as the roads were busier, was a number of cars having to use their brakes (at around 70mph) on a long downhill section of dual carriageway, to control speed. Brings home the benefits of regen.

Coastalwatch

Martyn1981 said:

Just another silly post about popping to get kitty litter. So today it was 350Wh/m on the way up, 178Wh/m on the way back (down), and a trip average of 263Wh/m, which I think is pretty reasonable. Return trip weighing 180kg more.

Side note, wood pellets are in extremely short supply now due to loss of supply from Ukraine (and Russia), Could be a tough winter for some. Cost today was 50% higher than a month ago.

Something I noticed today as the roads were busier, was a number of cars having to use their brakes (at around 70mph) on a long downhill section of dual carriageway, to control speed. Brings home the benefits of regen.

Cheers Mart, how about a silly response! Maybe they were all EV's on regen. At least I assume brake lights are on in that case!

JKenH

I was quite surprised by this comment by Zachary Shahan who many CleanTechnica followers will realise is effectively CT’s editor and quite pro Tesla.

Zachary Shahan Community Manager  Matthew2312 • 2 hours ago • edited

Yes. Several years ago, there was murmur of Tesla using shadow Autopilot from cars without it activated in order to improve how cars with Autopilot activated acted in those locations. Alas, that theory was far ahead of what Tesla was doing and is still doing. I get the idea of trying to learn generally, but it seems that without the ability to learn from local data/experience, FSD is going to really struggle. Solving a problem generally every time there's an issue driving correctly or smoothly is just going to lead to a see-sawing problem, imho. Going to finally write that piece up today. ...

It seems to me that Tesla is years away from real FSD/robotaxi quality.

https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/14/tesla-full-self-driving-beta-how-close-to-level-5-autonomy-readers-chime-in/

orrery

Yes, a simple application of the 80/20 rule: if we are 80% of the way to FSD, then we have expended 20% of the effort. The last 20% will take 80% of the work.

JKenH

Shell is working on new formulations of battery fluids as a key component in an important next step in battery development for lighter, longer-range and more affordable electric cars.

Direct cell cooling would unseat indirect cooling, the industry’s current favourite for mid-priced and premium models, with their pumped, radiator or air-conditioning based water/glycol system.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-environment-and-energy/why-shells-oils-and-fluids-are-still-vital-electric-car

Martyn1981

Bit of UK news.

£200 Million Boost To Rollout Of Hundreds More Zero-Emission HGVs

The world’s largest fleet of zero emission HGVs will take to UK roads through plans to achieve cleaner air and greener jobs, while helping to keep costs down on consumer goods. Transport Minister Trudy Harrison revealed over £200 million of government funding will be injected into an extensive zero emission road freight demonstrator programme, at Logistics UK’s Future Logistics Conference this morning (12 May 2022).

CKhalvashi

Martyn1981 said:

Bit of UK news.

£200 Million Boost To Rollout Of Hundreds More Zero-Emission HGVs

The world’s largest fleet of zero emission HGVs will take to UK roads through plans to achieve cleaner air and greener jobs, while helping to keep costs down on consumer goods. Transport Minister Trudy Harrison revealed over £200 million of government funding will be injected into an extensive zero emission road freight demonstrator programme, at Logistics UK’s Future Logistics Conference this morning (12 May 2022).

Another prime example of how to test new technology for cars, as to achieve a full electric fleet this is an area where a 3-400km (say 350 for arguments sake) motorway range and 40-50 minute charge time will be essential, to then scale this technology down for cars.

That, with a £50k car will be the point where there's likely no looking back for BEV car sales for everyone IMO. As I can see at the moment, Tesla are currently closest to this with the TM3, but still only about half way.

Martyn1981

CKhalvashi said:

Martyn1981 said:

Bit of UK news.

£200 Million Boost To Rollout Of Hundreds More Zero-Emission HGVs

The world’s largest fleet of zero emission HGVs will take to UK roads through plans to achieve cleaner air and greener jobs, while helping to keep costs down on consumer goods. Transport Minister Trudy Harrison revealed over £200 million of government funding will be injected into an extensive zero emission road freight demonstrator programme, at Logistics UK’s Future Logistics Conference this morning (12 May 2022).

Another prime example of how to test new technology for cars, as to achieve a full electric fleet this is an area where a 3-400km (say 350 for arguments sake) motorway range and 40-50 minute charge time will be essential, to then scale this technology down for cars.

That, with a £50k car will be the point where there's likely no looking back for BEV car sales for everyone IMO. As I can see at the moment, Tesla are currently closest to this with the TM3, but still only about half way.

Hiya. I may be misunderstanding that. Are you saying 350km (about 216 miles of range) and able to charge in 40-50 mins for cars, but that Tesla's 3 is only half way to that?

The reason I ask is because the long range can do 300 miles+, and charge to 80% (about 240 miles) in 20-30mins at a V3 supercharger, the standard range should do about 250 miles. I'm not au fait with too many other makes and models, but I'm pretty sure there are quite a few others with similar ranges and charging speeds, certainly within the 40-50 min mark.

No offence meant, I strongly suspect I'm combining the two paragraphs incorrectly and misunderstanding your conclusion.

JKenH

orrery said:

Yes, a simple application of the 80/20 rule: if we are 80% of the way to FSD, then we have expended 20% of the effort. The last 20% will take 80% of the work.

There is further comment on Tesla’s FSD in this CT article should anyone be interested.

https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/15/does-the-tesla-full-self-driving-approach-have-a-see-saw-problem/