Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

Martyn1981

This isn't new news, as the plan has been around for a while, but BMW ending ICE production in Germany, is still a big milestone.

However, it's not all sunshine and roses, as engines will be built elsewhere, such as the UK, and it looks like a clever move by BMW to protect jobs in Germany, where they can concentrate on BEVs/motors. [Note this is about motors and engines, not vehicles.]

BMW Ends Combustion Engine Production In Germany

It may not be the biggest EV news of the month, but it’s got to be one of the strongest symbols of the EV transition. One of the most iconic brands in the century-long optimization of automobile engines for sporty driving, with its own tagline being “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” BMW has ended the production of combustion engines in its home country of Germany.

That said … BMW has moved engine production to Austria and the UK, so it’s not like the company has ended that segment of its business just yet. Still, with pressure from unions in Germany to make sure BMW’s auto workers have jobs in the future, it was clever of the company to get out of the engine production business sooner than later in its home country, and to prioritize EV production there instead.

JKenH

EV order increase thanks to 'better lead times and discounts'

New orders for electric cars through salary sacrifice are on the increase because of shorter lead times, a wider range of new models and growing manufacturer support, says Fleet Evolution.

The Tamworth-based salary sacrifice and fleet management specialist, has seen electric vehicle (EV) orders rise by a third this autumn among its existing customer base, compared to the same period last year.

“EV orders are up by over 30% this autumn even if you exclude orders from new customers,” said Andrew Leech, managing director and founder of Fleet Evolution.

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/ev-order-increase-thanks-to-better-lead-times-and-discounts

JKenH

In a first, EV new car registrations surpass diesel in Europe

Between January and October, 1.23 million electric vehicles were registered in the European Union, compared with 1.22 million diesel-powered vehicles. EVs accounted for a market share of 14.2% in October, up from 12% in the same month last year. According to the EAMA, the year-to-date share now stands at 14%, “surprising diesel’s cumulative share for the first time.”

https://electrek.co/2023/11/21/in-a-first-ev-new-car-registrations-surpass-diesel-in-europe/

Martyn1981

Some nice Nissan news. Looks like the UK is trying to compete and offering the necessary incentives to keep Nissan, and see some expansion.

Nissan to build three new electric car models at Sunderland plant

Nissan will build three new electric car models at its plant in Sunderland as part of a £2bn investment by the Japanese manufacturer.

The factory will produce three separate crossover models, yet to be named, and the decision will require a third “gigafactory” to supply batteries. That could mean the next-door battery supplier, AESC, will go ahead with previously announced plans to build a third “gigafactory”, subject to negotiations.

The carmaker said the total investment in the Sunderland area, including the battery factories, will reach £3bn, after £1bn was previously pledged. Nissan will invest £1.1bn in the latest phase, and the rest of the £2bn is expected to come from the battery supplier once it is confirmed.

Nissan did not reveal the size of the government subsidy for its investment, although it is understood to be significant in return for assurances that battery production will remain in the UK.

Martyn1981

And some potentially sneaky moves by the EU.

A couple of months ago the EU said it would investigate Chinese EV imports to assess how much financial support they get, as this might affect competitiveness for EU manufacturers. Seems fair and sensible to me?

Next they quickly announced they would not be including Tesla in the sample. Again seemed fair to me, I assumed it was because Tesla doesn't get the potential support, that the EU is checking on.

But then I heard that Tesla had thrown all of their toys out the pram, and the pram into the nearest canal. Weird?

So ..... it seems that excluding Tesla, the single largest importer of EV's to the EU from China, from the study, is unusual. But the chances are, that any penalty decided upon, based on the other imports, will apply to all Chinese EV imports, including Tesla.

Basically, including Tesla, might water down the overall impact, and perhaps suggest that Tesla shouldn't be penalised. But excluding Tesla, increases the impact (from the chosen test subjects), if benefits are found, and Tesla would probably be subject to the penalties, if that's what is decided upon.

Tesla is furious it’s not in EU’s Chinese subsidy probe. Here’s why

BRUSSELS — For once, Elon Musk isn't front and center, and he isn't happy about it.

His electric car company Tesla has been excluded from the European Commission's list of companies that are being examined in a probe of Chinese subsidies for electric vehicle companies as the bloc tries to shield itself from a growing flood of Chinese imports.

The Commission reaffirmed its provisional sample choice in a final decision on Friday.

Tesla is by far the biggest exporter of electric vehicles from China into Europe, so wants to be involved in the EU's subsidy investigation. If it is excluded, its lawyers argue, the U.S. electric vehicle giant could find itself unfairly targeted by countervailing duties imposed on the basis of Chinese subsidies awarded to other companies.

michaels

EU car manufacturers trying to have their cake and eat it.  This is not what Tesla hoped for when they made their huge investment in Germany.

Martyn1981

Yeah, looks like the EU and legacy auto, are starting to get nervous. Can't blame them though, China is supporting EV's, and the US has the huge IR Act, but the decision to exclude Tesla MIC cars does looks suspicious. Maybe Tesla will accelerate the expansion of Giga Berlin, and install a TM3 line, to reduce the need to import MIC cars?

I wonder how the UK/Nissan news will go down, if the UK incentives are seen as tipping the scales.

Grumpy_chap

Martyn1981 said:

Maybe Tesla will accelerate the expansion of Giga Berlin, and install a TM3 line, to reduce the need to import MIC cars?

Maybe Elon will do the exact opposite...

Martyn1981

The 'good' news, looks like battery prices will continue to fall again, now that the news is full of stories of falling lithium prices. This article covers the other main reasons, why BEV sales and prices should improve:

Here Are Three Reasons Why Electric Cars Will Soon Be Less Expensive

Despite all the gloom and doom,  EV sales are on the rise with more than 1 million electric cars and trucks expected to be sold in the US this year — 9% of the passenger car market, according to Atlas Public Policy. That share is still well behind other countries, with EVs reaching 33% of sales in China and 35% in Germany in the first three months of 2023, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance data.

The 'bad' news, looks like the stories about VW were true, even the brand chief has admitted they aren't competitive:

Volkswagen to reduce headcount at 'no longer competitive' VW brand

BERLIN, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) 10 billion euro ($10.9 billion) savings programme will include staff reductions, managers told staff on Monday as brand chief Thomas Schaefer warned that high costs and low productivity were making its cars uncompetitive.
The German carmaker is in the midst of negotiations with its works council over a cost-cutting scheme at its VW brand, the first step in a group-wide drive to boost efficiency in the transition to electric cars.

And the 'ugly' news, as Tesla gets ready for the launch event of the Cybertruck later this week:

Tesla spotted building a fleet of over 25 Cybertrucks ahead of the launch

Tesla has been spotted building a decent-size fleet of over 25 Cybertrucks at Gigafactory Texas ahead of the launch event on Thursday.

After a lot of anticipation, years of waiting, and some delays, Tesla is finally going to deliver the Cybertruck at an event on November 30. That’s this upcoming Thursday.

Exiled_Tyke

Another nice positive myth-buster for arguments against EVs.  

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/01/do-electric-cars-have-problem-mining-for-minerals