Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

Martyn1981

Bigger than the average BEV:

Ellen, Denmark’s First Electric Ferry, Passes All Tests With Flying Colors

Ellen, Denmark’s first all-electric ferry, entered revenue service in September last year. The electric ferry trial was supported by the Horizon 2020 program funded by the European Union, so of course the backers wanted to know if Ellen met all the program criteria. The results are now in and the answer is a resounding yes. After 10 months in service, the electric ferry has met or exceeded all expectations. In addition, it has proven that electric propulsion costs less than diesel power.

An electric ferry is a lot like an electric car. It costs a little more in the beginning but pays for itself with reduced fuel and maintenance costs over its lifetime. Reduced carbon emissions are a welcome bonus as well.

JKenH

Tesla competitor Nikola Corp sees market value soar past car giants Ford, Fiat Chrysler 

http://worldnewsnetwork.co.in/tesla-competitor-nikola-corp-sees-market-value-soar-past-car-giants-ford-fiat-chrysler-nkla-f-fcau-business-insider/

EVandPV

South Wales preferred location for 4,000 new job huge electric car battery plant

www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/south-wales-preferred-location-4000-18406521

Martyn1981

Obviously great news for Tesla, but also for the bigger picture, as it shows that BEV's can be profitable

Tesla Model 3 SR+ Reported To Have 39% Gross Margin In China

A few more details on the made-in-China Tesla Model 3 with cobalt-free lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries have surfaced, as well as some financial speculation.

We’ve already covered some of the information on Tesla’s use of LFP batteries from CATL in its China-made Model 3 Standard Range Plus. The LFP prismatic cells should help the batteries last longer, they are extremely safe, and pricing appears to be highly competitive.

Some specs of the Tesla Model 3 made with the LFP in China include a max speed of 140 mph, 291 miles of range, 12.6 kWh energy used per 100 km, and a motor power of 202 kW. PushEVs notes that on the WLTP test cycle, the range should be around 218 miles. The energy density is 125 Wh/kg.

Just a thought, but that shows the lower energy density of these cheaper batts, as I think Tesla are typically around 250Wh/kg. Also goes to show why the share price of Nikola has soared so much, as their battery specs are vastly superior at 500Wh/kg, far higher than the latest records set in the lab at 350Wh/kg, and done without even having a battery factory nor lab.

JKenH

Martyn1981 said:

Obviously great news for Tesla, but also for the bigger picture, as it shows that BEV's can be profitable

Tesla Model 3 SR+ Reported To Have 39% Gross Margin In China

A few more details on the made-in-China Tesla Model 3 with cobalt-free lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries have surfaced, as well as some financial speculation.

We’ve already covered some of the information on Tesla’s use of LFP batteries from CATL in its China-made Model 3 Standard Range Plus. The LFP prismatic cells should help the batteries last longer, they are extremely safe, and pricing appears to be highly competitive.

Some specs of the Tesla Model 3 made with the LFP in China include a max speed of 140 mph, 291 miles of range, 12.6 kWh energy used per 100 km, and a motor power of 202 kW. PushEVs notes that on the WLTP test cycle, the range should be around 218 miles. The energy density is 125 Wh/kg.

Just a thought, but that shows the lower energy density of these cheaper batts, as I think Tesla are typically around 250Wh/kg. Also goes to show why the share price of Nikola has soared so much, as their battery specs are vastly superior at 500Wh/kg, far higher than the latest records set in the lab at 350Wh/kg, and done without even having a battery factory nor lab.

How do Nikola achieve those figures?

Martyn1981

Extracts from this week's Carbon Commentary newsletter:

1, Battery barges. Finnish marine power company Wartsila and its partners will set up a network in the Netherlands that will enable electric inland barges to load and offload containerised battery packs. Barges will use the electricity and then swap the container for a fully charged equivalent at the next charging location. While on the shore, the batteries will be used for grid stabilisation. The ships will pay for the electricity and the rent of the container. The first customer will be Heineken for a route between a brewery and the coast. (Thanks to Thad Curtz).
 
2, Long-life EV batteries. Industry leader CATL said it would be selling a battery with a 2 million kilometre life. This compares to the 150,000 kilometres usually thought to be the likely life of an EV power pack. It says it will charge a 10% premium for the product, which is probably to be incorporated first in the Tesla cars made in China. The product also appears to contain little or no cobalt. A 2 million kilometre life has advantages that will include the possibility of reuse in a second or third car at the end of life of an EV. 2 million kilometre batteries should mean that the demand for recycling will be much less than expected. (Thanks to Marcus Simmons)

5, EVs in Europe. Electric vehicle continued to gain share in almost all countries in Europe, even as the total numbers of cars sold remains at its very low level. In the UK, pure battery vehicles took a 12% slice of the market and hybrids a further 4%. Sales were up 20% year on year. The increase in sales left EVs only just behind diesel cars for the month of May. In Norway, electric vehicles took almost two thirds of the market, up from under half a year ago. The Netherlands saw EVs win 14% of sales, even though volumes were down. The suspicion persists that manufacturers - other than Tesla – are holding back EV availability in European markets to ensure that they only just meet the EU’s requirements for average emissions across their entire range. One well-informed automotive industry publication saw the dangers of this, suggesting this tactic leaves a large gap for Chinese manufacturers to happily fill. One Chinese brand captured 10% of the UK’s EV market in the first quarter of the year. 

10, EV charging at petrol stations. As part of its unexpectedly large green stimulus, Germany is demanding that all petrol/gasoline stations incorporate EV charging. My past experience suggests that this is a mistake. EV charging and the tight layout of most refuelling locations, particularly in cities, are highly incompatible. The safety requirements of having powerful electricity sources close to flammable liquids impose expensive costs. The right location for powerful chargers are where drivers actually want to spend an hour recharging their vehicles. This means outside supermarkets, restaurants or gyms, not in the often polluted and unpleasant surroundings of a gas station. 

chrisgeller

Martyn1981 said:

Obviously great news for Tesla, but also for the bigger picture, as it shows that BEV's can be profitable

Tesla Model 3 SR+ Reported To Have 39% Gross Margin In China

A few more details on the made-in-China Tesla Model 3 with cobalt-free lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries have surfaced, as well as some financial speculation.

We’ve already covered some of the information on Tesla’s use of LFP batteries from CATL in its China-made Model 3 Standard Range Plus. The LFP prismatic cells should help the batteries last longer, they are extremely safe, and pricing appears to be highly competitive.

Some specs of the Tesla Model 3 made with the LFP in China include a max speed of 140 mph, 291 miles of range, 12.6 kWh energy used per 100 km, and a motor power of 202 kW. PushEVs notes that on the WLTP test cycle, the range should be around 218 miles. The energy density is 125 Wh/kg.

Just a thought, but that shows the lower energy density of these cheaper batts, as I think Tesla are typically around 250Wh/kg. Also goes to show why the share price of Nikola has soared so much, as their battery specs are vastly superior at 500Wh/kg, far higher than the latest records set in the lab at 350Wh/kg, and done without even having a battery factory nor lab.

Anyone know how 39% GP compares to other cars? Would have though their fixed costs could still be considerable.

JKenH

While looking for info about Nikola batteries I came across this;

However, if, for example, there is a shortage of battery production facilities in 2025, then the best option would be to combine electric batteries with plug-in hybrids. Suppose that 88 kWh of battery power will be available by then. A large SUV can make good use of that. But it can also be used to build 10 Toyota Prius plug-in hybrids. These are 50% electric, which equates to 5 fully electric cars compared to 1 large electric SUV. 

https://innovationorigins.com/tomorrow-is-good-many-people-see-nikola-as-the-new-tesla/

I seem to recall the much missed and prescient GA suggesting much the same thing.

Martyn1981

chrisgeller said:

Martyn1981 said:

Obviously great news for Tesla, but also for the bigger picture, as it shows that BEV's can be profitable

Tesla Model 3 SR+ Reported To Have 39% Gross Margin In China

A few more details on the made-in-China Tesla Model 3 with cobalt-free lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries have surfaced, as well as some financial speculation.

We’ve already covered some of the information on Tesla’s use of LFP batteries from CATL in its China-made Model 3 Standard Range Plus. The LFP prismatic cells should help the batteries last longer, they are extremely safe, and pricing appears to be highly competitive.

Some specs of the Tesla Model 3 made with the LFP in China include a max speed of 140 mph, 291 miles of range, 12.6 kWh energy used per 100 km, and a motor power of 202 kW. PushEVs notes that on the WLTP test cycle, the range should be around 218 miles. The energy density is 125 Wh/kg.

Just a thought, but that shows the lower energy density of these cheaper batts, as I think Tesla are typically around 250Wh/kg. Also goes to show why the share price of Nikola has soared so much, as their battery specs are vastly superior at 500Wh/kg, far higher than the latest records set in the lab at 350Wh/kg, and done without even having a battery factory nor lab.

Anyone know how 39% GP compares to other cars? Would have though their fixed costs could still be considerable.

I don't know how it compares to other cars, but I seem to remember Elon/Tesla making quite a song and dance about 'lessons learned' helping to half the CAPEX of the Chinese TM3's v's the US factory. Similar claim used to suggest that the US TMY production would also have a significantly lower CAPEX than the original TM3.

chrisgeller

chrisgeller said:

Martyn1981 said:

Obviously great news for Tesla, but also for the bigger picture, as it shows that BEV's can be profitable

Tesla Model 3 SR+ Reported To Have 39% Gross Margin In China

A few more details on the made-in-China Tesla Model 3 with cobalt-free lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries have surfaced, as well as some financial speculation.

We’ve already covered some of the information on Tesla’s use of LFP batteries from CATL in its China-made Model 3 Standard Range Plus. The LFP prismatic cells should help the batteries last longer, they are extremely safe, and pricing appears to be highly competitive.

Some specs of the Tesla Model 3 made with the LFP in China include a max speed of 140 mph, 291 miles of range, 12.6 kWh energy used per 100 km, and a motor power of 202 kW. PushEVs notes that on the WLTP test cycle, the range should be around 218 miles. The energy density is 125 Wh/kg.

Just a thought, but that shows the lower energy density of these cheaper batts, as I think Tesla are typically around 250Wh/kg. Also goes to show why the share price of Nikola has soared so much, as their battery specs are vastly superior at 500Wh/kg, far higher than the latest records set in the lab at 350Wh/kg, and done without even having a battery factory nor lab.

Anyone know how 39% GP compares to other cars? Would have though their fixed costs could still be considerable.

Found a nice analysis with the answer to my own question.
https://stockdividendscreener.com/auto-manufacturers/gm-and-tesla-automotive-revenue-and-gross-margin-comparison/
Short answer - it's very good. High teens/20% seems more typical