Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

JKenH

Tesla sales are soaring following the price cuts.

https://carnewschina.com/2023/01/17/tesla-orders-spiked-500-in-some-cities-in-china-after-the-price-cut/



https://electrek.co/2023/01/17/tesla-tsla-unprecedented-demand-stores-hitting-new-records/

At least there now seems to be some acknowledgment that Tesla needed to increase sales to mop up excess capacity. Electrek (often criticised for being anti Tesla) pointed this out last week.

The Tesla spokesperson tried to claim the price drop was due to “a partial normalization of cost inflation”:

At the end of a turbulent year with interruptions to the supply chain, we have achieved a partial normalisation of cost inflation, which gives us the confidence to pass this relief onto our customers,

Electrek’s Take

I am happy to see Tesla vehicles being much more accessible, but I honestly don’t know who is buying this explanation.

Let’s be honest, Tesla is significantly slashing prices right now because it has to. It needs to increase demand to match its new production capacity.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6072181/battery-electric-vehicle-news-enjoying-the-transportation-revolution/p513

Martyn1981

Beware the title, the ferry will be crossing part of an ocean, with a range of about 100 nautical miles. But you've got to start somewhere.

But this part sounds very promising:

Although swapping for electric propulsion requires a significant redesign, Clifford says the company would replace 500 tons of equipment and fuel tanks with 400 tonnes of batteries to maintain its light weight.

The world’s largest electric ferry can take you and your closest 2000 friends across the ocean

Electric power is flexing its muscles again as the world’s largest electric ferry – capable of carrying 2,100 passengers and their vehicles – is set for delivery in two years.

World’s largest electric ferry set to sail

Incat Tasmania, an Australian manufacturer of high-speed craft (HSC) ferries, is ready to deliver the 148-meter (485.5 feet) Utility Ro-Pax ferry, which will be the world’s largest electric ferry.

Designed by Revolution Design and built by Incat, the ferry is powered by two electric motors (5 – 9.6 MW) beneath the hull. The vessel can carry up to 2,100 passengers and 226 vehicles at up to 25 knots for a max range of 100 n.m.

shinytop

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64248564

An innovative and pragmatic way to de-carbonise heavy diesel plant or a cynical attempt to prolong the use of fossil fuels?  

Martyn1981

Article on Germany's EV sales for last year. Nothing too important, but one paragraph jumped out at me, and I thought it was interesting and good news - all about the diversification of the market:

Regarding the final 2022 table, and comparing with previous results, the most immediate thing that appears before our eyes is that the market has diversified significantly. In 2019, the Renault Zoe won with 9% share and the models outside the table had 20% of the total market. In 2021, the Tesla Model 3 won with 5% share, with the models outside the top 20 representing the majority (52%) of all registrations. Now, the Tesla Model Y won the best seller race with 4.3% share, while the models below the 20th position represented 55.3% of sales.

31% Of New Vehicle Sales Plugin Sales In Germany In 2022!

The German automotive market has opened the gates to plugin vehicles. December set a new monthly record, with an amazing 171,000 registrations. Plugin vehicles (PEVs) scored an amazing 55% share (32% BEV) of the auto market in December. The full-year 2022 numbers ended at over 823,000 registrations and 31% share (18% BEV), which is a nice 5% jump over the country’s 2021 result.

JKenH

Martyn1981 said:

Article on Germany's EV sales for last year. Nothing too important, but one paragraph jumped out at me, and I thought it was interesting and good news - all about the diversification of the market:

Regarding the final 2022 table, and comparing with previous results, the most immediate thing that appears before our eyes is that the market has diversified significantly. In 2019, the Renault Zoe won with 9% share and the models outside the table had 20% of the total market. In 2021, the Tesla Model 3 won with 5% share, with the models outside the top 20 representing the majority (52%) of all registrations. Now, the Tesla Model Y won the best seller race with 4.3% share, while the models below the 20th position represented 55.3% of sales.

31% Of New Vehicle Sales Plugin Sales In Germany In 2022!

The German automotive market has opened the gates to plugin vehicles. December set a new monthly record, with an amazing 171,000 registrations. Plugin vehicles (PEVs) scored an amazing 55% share (32% BEV) of the auto market in December. The full-year 2022 numbers ended at over 823,000 registrations and 31% share (18% BEV), which is a nice 5% jump over the country’s 2021 result.

I wonder to just what extent the surge in registrations in Germany is related to the reduction of backlogs by Tesla and the changes to the EV incentive scheme effective 1 January 2023. 

This graph below from Inside EVs shows more measured growth earlier in the year and Inside EVs warn that the massive growth at the end of 2022 might not be carried over into 2023.

The reason behind such a surge is in big part related to the reduction of incentives for BEVs (from €6,000 to €4,500 for models under €40,000, and from €5,000 to €3,000 for models under €65,000) and elimination of incentives for PHEVs (up to €4,500), from January 1, 2023. It heralds an upcoming slowdown in early 2023, especially for PHEVs.

https://insideevs.com/news/630785/germany-plugin-car-sales-december2022/

I also wonder if the EU will respond at some point to Biden’s favouring of domestic U.S. EV makers in the IRA.

Martyn1981

Impressive numbers for California in 2022 as BEV sales expand, but the rest of the US is moving slowly. Total US sales are at 5.8%, and that number is flattered by the BEV's sold in California. Probably closer to 4% for the other 49 states.

California ZEV Sales Near 19% Of All New Car Sales In 2022

California announced the latest data showing the state’s accelerating transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and ZEV market dominance — 18.8% of all new cars sold last year in California were ZEVs and 40% of ZEVs sold in the U.S. are sold in California.

Coastalwatch

With this announcement will we finally see a change in emphasis for the brand.

Koji Sato to take over as new Toyota CEO

Even for analysts in Japan, the announcement’s timing came as a surprise, as did the nature of the leadership change. Reuters quotes an analyst who suspects that Toyoda, as chairman of the board of directors, will continue to be heavily involved in the operational business, so for Sato, this will be “a kind of apprenticeship”.

It was not only Toyoda’s unresolved succession that had recently caused disgruntlement among investors. Toyoda’s strategy of focusing for a long time on hybrid cars and fuel cell vehicles instead of battery-electric drives has also come under increasing criticism given global market developments.

https://www.electrive.com/2023/01/26/koji-sato-to-take-over-as-toyotas-new-ceo/

JKenH

Coastalwatch said:

With this announcement will we finally see a change in emphasis for the brand.

Koji Sato to take over as new Toyota CEO

Even for analysts in Japan, the announcement’s timing came as a surprise, as did the nature of the leadership change. Reuters quotes an analyst who suspects that Toyoda, as chairman of the board of directors, will continue to be heavily involved in the operational business, so for Sato, this will be “a kind of apprenticeship”.

It was not only Toyoda’s unresolved succession that had recently caused disgruntlement among investors. Toyoda’s strategy of focusing for a long time on hybrid cars and fuel cell vehicles instead of battery-electric drives has also come under increasing criticism given global market developments.

https://www.electrive.com/2023/01/26/koji-sato-to-take-over-as-toyotas-new-ceo/

Already happening?

Toyota Said To Develop EV-Only Platform Just As CEO Steps Down

https://insideevs.com/news/633449/toyota-said-to-develop-ev-only-platform-just-as-ceo-steps-down/

Or maybe not quite yet?

One Toyota executive, who asked not to be identified, said the automaker was headed for a period of "cloistered rule," referring to the period in Japan's history when a retired emperor continued to call the shots.

https://www.asiaone.com/money/lexus-chief-take-over-toyota-founders-grandson-steps-down

Martyn1981

Coastalwatch said:

With this announcement will we finally see a change in emphasis for the brand.

Koji Sato to take over as new Toyota CEO

Even for analysts in Japan, the announcement’s timing came as a surprise, as did the nature of the leadership change. Reuters quotes an analyst who suspects that Toyoda, as chairman of the board of directors, will continue to be heavily involved in the operational business, so for Sato, this will be “a kind of apprenticeship”.

It was not only Toyoda’s unresolved succession that had recently caused disgruntlement among investors. Toyoda’s strategy of focusing for a long time on hybrid cars and fuel cell vehicles instead of battery-electric drives has also come under increasing criticism given global market developments.

https://www.electrive.com/2023/01/26/koji-sato-to-take-over-as-toyotas-new-ceo/

Yes. Lately he's tried several spin arguments, such as he's part of the 'silent majority' that don't think BEV's are the solution - Toyoda, silent!

And that he's just trying to offer a range of products, as BEV's may not be the solution for everyone. That may sound reasonable, in a good faith discussion, but since Toyota have largely ignored BEV's, which will provide the majority of vehicles in the future, whilst pushing PHEV's, as demand drops, and HFCV's which are simply impractical on a cost and energy basis ..... me thinks he's talking from the other side of his face. Their Lexus brand could have gone BEV heavy, even head to head with Tesla, a decade ago.

We also have Nissan now confirming they judged the BEVolution wrong, but in fairness to them, they really helped to get it rolling, and their Ariya is apparently a very good vehicle.

Nissan CEO: EV adoption in the US progressing faster than expected

Nissan Motor Co. CEO Makoto Uchida acknowledged that the market for electric vehicles is growing faster than anticipated in the United States. He also noted that Nissan will invest $250 million in its powertrain facility in Decherd, Tennessee. The facility will support the electrification of the company’s American lineup.

Uchida did not provide a timeline for the $250 million investment or specify what it will be used for. However, he stated that the investment is part of Nissan’s increased efforts to promote electric vehicle adoption in the United States. 

“The world is accommodating EVs much faster than we thought in the past… The electrification ratio in each market will probably grow faster than we thought,” Uchida said in an interview with Automotive News.

Uchida stated that the growing popularity of electric vehicles is actually being driven by an increase in competition and the availability of more electric cars in the market. He also highlighted the role of regulations and government incentives in creating a favorable environment for the adoption of electric cars. Uchida specifically cited tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act as a factor that could support long-term demand for EVs.

And let's not leave Honda out:

Electric vehicle laggard Honda signals it’s finally getting with the program on EVs

Japanese automaker Honda has finally decided to try and catch up with the electric vehicle transition, announcing wholesale changes to its organisation including new divisions focused on EV production and strategy.

The about face, from a company that generates a fraction of one per cent of its overall sales from electric vehicles, comes after a significant decline in its overall car sales over the last three years, and a substantial fall in its market value

Probably best to ignore Mazda!

Mazda says its first electric car is not so bad for buyers who also have a second car for long distance

JKenH

Meanwhile

Tesla Confirms Next-Gen Vehicle Platform Is Under Development

https://insideevs.com/news/633424/tesla-nextgen-platform-under-development/