Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

Coastalwatch

I wasn't sure quite where to place the article below as it is just as relevant to the G&E thread as well. But either way I guess we shouldn't be too surprised of further emission standards cheating by companies other than VW.

I perhaps ought to add, should it prove to be the case!

Ironically it was the VW dieselgate affair that encouraged me to seek alternate means of energy generation. Having discovered they existed and available without creating toxic fumes either, a whole new way of life has been created.

I can only say it's been like a breath of fresh air since

Toyota truck arm should face emissions cheating investigation, says ex-minister

A former minister has called on the government to investigate whether a subsidiary of Toyota has sold trucks with emissions-cheating devices in the UK.

Hino Motors, a subsidiary of the Japanese carmaker, revealed in March it had manipulated emissions and fuel economy figures for certain diesel vehicles sold in Japan.

Theresa Villiers, the Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet and former environment secretary, has written to the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, to demand an investigation into whether Hino sold vehicles equipped with “defeat devices” allowing them to emit illegal levels of air pollution.

Under legislation introduced after Volkswagen’s “dieselgate” scandal, the government can investigate a manufacturer if there is reason to believe that a vehicle could put public health at risk and can force the firm to take corrective action.

In the letter to Shapps, seen by the Guardian, Villiers said: “The question must be asked: was Hino’s emissions cheating in Japan an isolated incident, or was Hino also falsifying emissions data in other markets, such as the UK?

“Similar questions are being asked in the US, where Toyota has been found in breach of the Clean Air Act several times for failing to report defects that interfere with pollution controls on its vehicles.”

Hino has been contacted for comment. Toyota declined to comment.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/13/toyota-truck-arm-emissions-cheating-investigation-hino

michaels

Martyn1981 said:

Forgot about this 'new' car. Skim read the article and all of the stats look perfectly reasonable.

New Smart #1 SUV available to order in December 2022

From launch the #1 is installed with a 66kWh battery, for a claimed headline range of up to 440km (273 miles). It’s likely that more affordable, smaller battery options will be available in time, too. 

With 150kW rapid charge capability, the 66kWh car’s battery can be topped up from 10-80 per cent in less than 30 minutes, while plugging in to a 22kW AC charger will return a 10-80 per cent charge in around three hours.

The battery feeds a single rear-mounted motor, producing 268bhp and 343Nm of torque - and while Smart hasn’t outlined a 0-62mph time it has confirmed a top speed of 112mph. Weighing 1,820kg, the #1 should be able to cover the benchmark sprint in less than seven seconds.

At 4.27 metres long the #1 is the largest Smart ever, highlighting that the brand will expand beyond its city car roots into more larger segments. Unlike the four-seat Concept #1, the production #1 is a full five-seat SUV, and it places an emphasis on practicality as well as style. 

This points to the #1 starting from around £32,000 in base form, with the Launch Edition commanding a premium when it goes on sale in December this year. Customers will be able to order their car entirely online or through a physical dealer network, with each car arriving with an 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty for the electric powertrain.

So another Chinese MG ZS competitor.

Grumpy_chap

michaels said:

So another Chinese MG ZS competitor.

Are SMART still tied up with Mercedes?
If so, and if the size is similar to the MG ZS, will this be a "downgraded" version of the EQA?

Martyn1981

Been talked about many times, but truck trailers with PV have taken a small step forward.

Sono Motors Signs Agreement For Solar-Powered Refrigerated Trailers

The trailer, covered in solar panels, will be used to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of integrating solar panels into this high volume transportation segment. The testing process is designed to validate the company’s energy and fuel saving estimates, which are based on internal calculations that include weather and system efficiency assumptions.

The solar panels will provide the cooling unit with up to 9.8 kW of electricity, which will save between 3,400 and 8,400 liters of fuel per year and keep about 9 tons of carbon dioxide per trailer out of the atmosphere compared to a diesel-powered cooling unit. “This partnership is a huge step for Sono Motors, since we open up a completely new industry for our highly flexible and proprietary Sono Solar technology,” says Laurin Hahn.

michaels

Grumpy_chap said:

michaels said:

So another Chinese MG ZS competitor.

Are SMART still tied up with Mercedes?
If so, and if the size is similar to the MG ZS, will this be a "downgraded" version of the EQA?

Think Polestar, a bit of 'european design' for a Chinese engineered and built car from Geely.  Didn't MG allegedly have a UK design studio before they closed it down?

JKenH

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/autocar-awards/autocar-awards-2022-kia-ev6-electrifies-competition

JKenH

Autocar Awards 2022: Fiat 500 wins best small car

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/autocar-awards/autocar-awards-2022-fiat-500-wins-best-small-car

JKenH

Autocar Awards 2022: Skoda Enyaq iV takes best family car

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/autocar-awards/autocar-awards-2022-skoda-enyaq-iv-takes-best-family-car

JKenH

Autocar awards 2022: Mercedes-Benz C300e wins best hybrid

Although a PHEV the C300e has an electric range of 68 miles and a BIK rate of 8% and at £46,000 may be an attractive option for those who want to take advantage of cheap home charging  for most of their journeys without the worry of having to find a public charger on a longer trip. It may suit a company car driver who pays for their own fuel for commuting but is reimbursed by the company for business trips. Also a practical choice if you need to tow a caravan or car trailer.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/autocar-awards/autocar-awards-2022-mercedes-benz-c300e-wins-best-hybrid

Martyn1981

Thought I'd post this as I was shocked at my own reaction, going so quickly from wow great news (as a shareholder and Tesla owner) to 'blimey that's bad' as the total dominance of the US BEV market by Tesla, shows just how far behind the market there is.

But ..... Ford's BEV pickup truck is ramping up now, and GM have started selling the Bolt again (with massive price cut), so perhaps, just perhaps, the US will follow the European adoption curve, just two years behind. Subject of course to the usual gigantic caveat - supply?

Tesla Model Y = 1 Out Of Every 3 New EVs Registered In US In 2022

New EVs registered in the US rose from 2.2% of all new vehicle registrations in Q1 2020 to more than 5.1% in Q1 2022. The first quarter of 2022 was another record quarter for Tesla by several measures, such as revenues, vehicle deliveries, operating profit, and an operating margin of over 19%.

Other automakers are boasting in the media about their upcoming threat to the Tesla EV dynasty. Then again, it’s been 5 years since Tesla started launching its mass-market Model 3 and Model Y. Together, the 3 and Y accounted for 62.8% of new EV registrations in the quarter, while Tesla’s 4 models together captured 71.7% of the EV market.

It is the Tesla Model Y, which is manufactured at two Tesla US factories, that accounted for nearly 1 out of every 3 new EVs registered in the US during Q1, 2022. Those numbers were released in the recent Experian Automotive quarterly roundup last week, which culled out state registration data.