Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

1961Nick

NigeWick said:

Martyn1981 said:

ID2 press release. Looks very promising, certainly not small, only about 8in shorter than an ID3, and a couple of inches less in height. Cracking underfloor storage in the boot, and a range est of ~280 miles, but I'm not sure if that's standard, or max version (higher price). If it comes out at €25k, I doubt they could build them fast enough.

Edit - Target release date 2025.

"I'm not sure if that's standard, or max version (higher price)." Indubitably the higher price and I'm not sure VW will still be making vehicles then with their financial (debt) woes.

Pricing will probably be similar to the MG4 with an entry level range of 300km @ €25K & a 450km version at €30K. It'll need to be good because the target release date of 2025 is likely to collide with the Tesla Model 2 which will be available in vast quantities from launch... and will probably be slightly cheaper.

Martyn1981

NigeWick said:

Martyn1981 said:

ID2 press release. Looks very promising, certainly not small, only about 8in shorter than an ID3, and a couple of inches less in height. Cracking underfloor storage in the boot, and a range est of ~280 miles, but I'm not sure if that's standard, or max version (higher price). If it comes out at €25k, I doubt they could build them fast enough.

Edit - Target release date 2025.

"I'm not sure if that's standard, or max version (higher price)." Indubitably the higher price and I'm not sure VW will still be making vehicles then with their financial (debt) woes.

Yeah, 280 miles is a lot for that price. Wonder what it will start at range wise, probably decent, especially for city driving.

Can't work out how VW/VWG will do. They really are moving fast, but at the same time, far slower than ideal, having got rid of Herbert Diess. Delaying the Trinity program till end of decade, which Diess hoped could match Tesla's production speed (circa 2021), is a little alarming. I still think this comes down to VWG only needing to run faster than their competition, not the lion bearing down on them.

Also not great being the second/third most indebted company in the world, doesn't help, but I understand it's not 'bad' debt (mostly lease based), whereas the number one company (also automotive, and starts with a T) isn't quite as good. But what's a couple of hundred $bn between friends.

NigeWick

1961Nick said:

Pricing will probably be similar to the MG4 with an entry level range of 300km @ €25K & a 450km version at €30K. It'll need to be good because the target release date of 2025 is likely to collide with the Tesla Model 2 which will be available in vast quantities from launch... and will probably be slightly cheaper.

I am hoping the small Tesla will start production next year. I expect it will have gigapress front and back, 4680 LFP structural battery pack and the new build system to keep production cost right down.

Coastalwatch

It seems the MG continues to pick awards on a regular basis, so apologies if similar posts have appeared previously. Have to confess to being rather puzzled that neither Hyundai, Kona, Tesla or VW feature in the top seven!

MG4 EV is ‘UK Car of the Year 2023’

Another award, another electric car is the winner. The MG4 EV has been named UK Car of the Year 2023, with the all-electric hatchback being judged to be the best new car on sale in the UK today.

The MG4 was praised for its design, quality, and outstanding value for money - recognizing that the new fully electric hatchback puts zero emissions motoring within reach for more people than ever.

The ‘UK Car of the Year’ title is the fifteenth major award achieved by the MG4 EV in the last six months, including four overall Car of the Year titles and the recent ‘Best Family Car’ title received during the UKCOTY semi-final last month. The model has also received recognition from Euro NCAP, achieving the maximum five-star safety rating following a rigorous testing process.

The MG4 was designed in Marylebone, London, and is manufactured in several countries. MG is the fastest-growing car brand in the UK.

https://www.drive-electric.co.uk/news/mg4-ev-is-uk-car-of-the-year-2023/?utm_campaign=1258497_DE Retail News 20230318 RESEND&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Fleetdrive Management Ltd T/A Drive Electric&dm_i=5JJ3,QZ29,CU4QR,3CS9O,1

michaels

NigeWick said:

1961Nick said:

Pricing will probably be similar to the MG4 with an entry level range of 300km @ €25K & a 450km version at €30K. It'll need to be good because the target release date of 2025 is likely to collide with the Tesla Model 2 which will be available in vast quantities from launch... and will probably be slightly cheaper.

I am hoping the small Tesla will start production next year. I expect it will have gigapress front and back, 4680 LFP structural battery pack and the new build system to keep production cost right down.

Are Tesla going to introduce a PC style 48v rail DC system in their cars virtually removing the wiring harness in one fell swoop?

Grumpy_chap

Coastalwatch said:

It seems the MG continues to pick awards on a regular basis, so apologies if similar posts have appeared previously. Have to confess to being rather puzzled that neither Hyundai, Kona, Tesla or VW feature in the top seven!

MG4 EV is ‘UK Car of the Year 2023’

The MG4 was very impressive when we saw them recently.

I think the way the COTY works is that there are categories and the over winner has to have won a category in the first instance.  Looking at the category winners for this year, it might be that "value" was a strong factor.  There is a Kia in the list (if that was what you intended to type where you wrote "Kona"):

Best City – Toyota Aygo X

Best Family – MG4

Best Large Family – Dacia Jogger

Best Crossover – Kia Niro

Best Large Crossover – Range Rover

Best Coupé – Toyota GR86

Best Performance – Lotus Emira

I think the methodology also requires the car to be a new model within the past 12 months to be eligible.  I am not sure, though, no doubt the detailed methodology can be found online somewhere.

NigeWick

michaels said:

Are Tesla going to introduce a PC style 48v rail DC system in their cars virtually removing the wiring harness in one fell swoop?

You'll have to ask them. But, I am sure they will be doing everything possible to bring manufacturing costs to a minimum so they can have lower prices than others and still make a decent profit.

1961Nick

michaels said:

NigeWick said:

1961Nick said:

Pricing will probably be similar to the MG4 with an entry level range of 300km @ €25K & a 450km version at €30K. It'll need to be good because the target release date of 2025 is likely to collide with the Tesla Model 2 which will be available in vast quantities from launch... and will probably be slightly cheaper.

I am hoping the small Tesla will start production next year. I expect it will have gigapress front and back, 4680 LFP structural battery pack and the new build system to keep production cost right down.

Are Tesla going to introduce a PC style 48v rail DC system in their cars virtually removing the wiring harness in one fell swoop?

It's highly likely that 48v architecture will be introduced with the gen 3 platform. The investor day event explained that Tesla were well placed to do that because of the amount of vertical integration within the organisation - If suppliers couldn't make 48v components, they would begin by designing & making their own in house. 

Coastalwatch

It's great to read the article below and while many of us have been aware of the process for a number of years to now learn a factory recycling batteries on an industrial scale has received environmental approval in Germany must surely be something to celebrate.

How many times have the old cliche's been repeated of what happens to EV batteries at the end of life and that the planet will soon run out of lithium can now be laid to rest as a result.

Fortum starts up battery recycling plant in Germany

In Germany, Fortum’s local recycling subsidiary Fortum Battery Recycling has received environmental approval under the Federal Immission Control Act. It will now recycle traction batteries from electric vehicles in Kirchardt (Baden-Württemberg) in southern Germany.

The newly opened recycling centre in Kirchardt is already operational and can receive and process batteries or production rejects. The site can handle more than 3,000 tons of batteries per year. Fortum Battery Recycling uses a combi­nation of mechanical and hydromet­al­lur­gical technologies to recycle the battery materials. According to the company, “95 per cent of the valuable metals from the battery’s black mass can be recovered. ”

https://www.electrive.com/2023/03/17/fortum-starts-up-battery-recycling-plant-in-germany/

michaels

1961Nick said:

michaels said:

NigeWick said:

1961Nick said:

Pricing will probably be similar to the MG4 with an entry level range of 300km @ €25K & a 450km version at €30K. It'll need to be good because the target release date of 2025 is likely to collide with the Tesla Model 2 which will be available in vast quantities from launch... and will probably be slightly cheaper.

I am hoping the small Tesla will start production next year. I expect it will have gigapress front and back, 4680 LFP structural battery pack and the new build system to keep production cost right down.

Are Tesla going to introduce a PC style 48v rail DC system in their cars virtually removing the wiring harness in one fell swoop?

It's highly likely that 48v architecture will be introduced with the gen 3 platform. The investor day event explained that Tesla were well placed to do that because of the amount of vertical integration within the organisation - If suppliers couldn't make 48v components, they would begin by designing & making their own in house. 

Almost more important that the voltage would be replacing the current massive harness with effectively just a power wire and a 'lan cable' - or even some sort of bluetooth/zigbee/wifi set up.  In terms of reduced weight, cost and build complexity the win would be enormous.