Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

Coastalwatch

Oh Nick, I do sympathise with you regarding touch screens and varifocals, although to be fair I get on well with the latter. It's just the touch screen and bumpy roads I struggle with, so do my best to avoid it's use in such instances. Fortunately the Leaf's screen is small enough that I can rest a finger off the active part, in an attempt to steady the hand, while touching the active part with another digit. Doesn't always work but does at least give me chance, appreciating that with a screen of Tesla proportions it might not work so well, if at all!

QrizB

Martyn1981 said:

Yeah, too many models is going to cripple legacy, as they need profits to transition.

Legacy auto don't really have 20+ models, though' there's 4 or 5 of them, but with different bodywork that makes them look different. It's marketing rather than engineering.

Taking Dacia as an example (an easy one), they have four current models - Sandero, Logan, Duster and Jogger - but they're all fundamentally the same vehicle.

Martyn1981

S Africa starts testing BEV minibus taxis, and Dutch ICE sales halve in 5yrs, but will they bounce back?

First Minibus Electric Taxis Are Coming To South Africa

In most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, private operators of small buses usually carrying between 16 to 25 passengers and in some cases, up to 35 passengers, are the main commuter transport providers. These minibuses usually run on informal schedules, and sometimes, their routes are also not fixed. These ubiquitous privately-owned minibus taxis in sub-Saharan Africa carry more than 70% of daily commuters. In Kenya they are popularly known as Matatus, in Zimbabwe they are called Emergency Taxis (ETs) or Kombis, and in South Africa they are known as Taxis.

A number of viable electric minibus taxi models from various markets have been identified, the first of which will be on South African shores by the end of the year. The acceptance and practicality of the model will be extensively tested with taxi owners and drivers, in order to identify the use-cases and conditions where a electric taxis would make the most sense.

Dutch BEV Market Up 82%, Fossil Fuel Vehicles Down 16%

The Dutch battery electric vehicle (BEV) market is slowly recovering. It is up 82% in the first half of 2022 compared to the first half of 2021, thanks to 29,428 registrations. At the same time, the internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) market is down 16% to 124,280 registrations.

Martyn1981

Short article, small question, but massive potential.

The answer, IMO is yes. China has some smaller BEV's that would work well in S. Africa. But bigger picture - China's ginormous selection of small and cheap BEV's, whilst questionable for Europe given our rules, regs, and safety requirements, would work excellently in many parts of Africa and India, and other parts of Asia. And presumably would improve where necessary over time, as the car market matures.

Could The South African Market Be Ripe For China’s Small City EVs?

From the above estimate, the selected Chinese small EV models could land at price points that are fairly competitive in this class. The lower total cost of ownership (TCO) associated with EVs will make these small EVs even more appealing, especially in these times of record high petrol prices.  If only we could get these kinds of EVs in South Africa sometime soon!

Martyn1981

Vid from Undecided, looking at new battery tech, raising the question that 'even newer' developments such as Lithium Sulphur, may actually supersede solid state batteries in terms of weight, cycle life, safety, cost etc before solid state batteries get up to speed.

Basically, things are moving fast, so enjoy the ride.

Is This Solid State Battery Breakthrough Too Late?

CKhalvashi

Martyn1981 said:

Short article, small question, but massive potential.

The answer, IMO is yes. China has some smaller BEV's that would work well in S. Africa. But bigger picture - China's ginormous selection of small and cheap BEV's, whilst questionable for Europe given our rules, regs, and safety requirements, would work excellently in many parts of Africa and India, and other parts of Asia. And presumably would improve where necessary over time, as the car market matures.

Could The South African Market Be Ripe For China’s Small City EVs?

From the above estimate, the selected Chinese small EV models could land at price points that are fairly competitive in this class. The lower total cost of ownership (TCO) associated with EVs will make these small EVs even more appealing, especially in these times of record high petrol prices.  If only we could get these kinds of EVs in South Africa sometime soon!

I have to agree with you completely, and wouldn't be surprised if this is the next batch of Chinese 'investment' to go into Africa, probably as a partnership with a local government somewhere utilising Chinese workers and that country's debt and a port or two thrown in as security on the 'loan' for good measure.

Good market opportunity if you can get it.....

Martyn1981

As a certain cigar chomping member of the A-Team once said - "I love it when a plan comes together".

Nice to see electric vehicles in mines (as well as remote mines now using more and more RE generation). All part of the virtuous circle, helping to reduce the CO2 'bill' for some raw materials.

23 machines bought here, and swappable batts too.

Glencore Places Order For Battery-Powered Mining Vehicles

Glencore is one of the largest mining and raw materials companies in the world. Its Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations division has recently placed an order with Sweden’s Epiroc for a full fleet of battery-electric mining equipment for use at the Onaping Depth Project in Ontario, Canada. The nickel and copper mine is located below the existing Craig mine and is being developed to start production in 2024. The order also includes the capability for advanced automation solutions, including remote control. The new mine in Ontario is in response to the loss of nickel from Ukraine as the result of Russia bloody and brutal assault on that country.

shinytop

Martyn1981 said:

As a certain cigar chomping member of the A-Team once said - "I love it when a plan comes together".

Nice to see electric vehicles in mines (as well as remote mines now using more and more RE generation). All part of the virtuous circle, helping to reduce the CO2 'bill' for some raw materials.

23 machines bought here, and swappable batts too.

Glencore Places Order For Battery-Powered Mining Vehicles

Glencore is one of the largest mining and raw materials companies in the world. Its Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations division has recently placed an order with Sweden’s Epiroc for a full fleet of battery-electric mining equipment for use at the Onaping Depth Project in Ontario, Canada. The nickel and copper mine is located below the existing Craig mine and is being developed to start production in 2024. The order also includes the capability for advanced automation solutions, including remote control. The new mine in Ontario is in response to the loss of nickel from Ukraine as the result of Russia bloody and brutal assault on that country.

BEVs have been around in mines for at least 70 years    

http://www.raggyspelk.co.uk/washington_pages/selections1/usworth_coal_to_wardley.html

More milk float than Tesla but still ...

shinytop

https://www.thedrive.com/news/turkeys-newfound-cache-of-rare-earths-could-supply-the-worlds-evs-and-more

I think this is good news for the EV industry?  If it's true that is.  There's a better article in the Times today but it's paywalled. 

Grumpy_chap

shinytop said:

https://www.thedrive.com/news/turkeys-newfound-cache-of-rare-earths-could-supply-the-worlds-evs-and-more

I think this is good news for the EV industry?  If it's true that is.  There's a better article in the Times today but it's paywalled. 

Even better would be research and development of energy storage device that doesn't require precious and limited material to be mined.  Finding more of this material probably delays the time that a sustainable energy storage device is reality.