Electric Vehicles Archives

Project Titan: Apple Car Set To Launch Soon?

In the realm of autonomous and electric vehicles, the Apple Car, a project that has seen its fair share of twists and turns, stands out as a technological and automotive marvel in the making. Here’s a comprehensive overview of what we know so far about Apple’s ambitious foray into the automotive industry.

Project Titan: The Genesis

Originating in 2014, “Project Titan” marked the inception of Apple’s ambitious venture into the automobile domain. Initially focusing on a fully autonomous electric vehicle, the project has undergone numerous transformations over the years, ranging from shelving plans to reviving and scaling down the vision.

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BYD Rolls Out 5 Millionth New Energy Vehicle

BYD is no stranger to the electric vehicle (EV) game. It has continually been at the forefront of technical developments since its founding in 1995. BYD’s status as a market pioneer for electric vehicles has been cemented by innovations including the Blade Battery, DM-i Super Hybrid System, e-Platform 3.0, CTB Technology, e4 Platform, and the DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, which have raised the bar for the sector.

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Ford Kills The Fiesta, Replaces It With Electric SUV

Ford will stop producing its best-selling Fiesta model as soon as next week as it transitions to an all-electric future. In order to create Ford’s new electric Explorer SUV at its Cologne, Germany, plant, the compact car will be decommissioned.

On July 7, 2023, the last Fiesta model will leave the factory for the European market. The Fiesta generation is coming to an end in favour of an electric future after 47 years and eight generations.

The step was taken after the American manufacturer declared it would transition to an entirely electric brand in Europe by 2030 and offer nine EV models by 2024. Ford and Volkswagen partnered together in 2020 to speed up electric vehicle (EV) production in the area with intentions to use VW’s MEB platform to introduce its own line of electric vehicles.

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Toyota’s New Tech Will Boost EV Sales, More Electric Models Coming Soon!

Executives at Toyota Motor seem more assured than before in their capacity to produce and market millions of electric vehicles.

Hiroki Nakajima, chief technology officer of Toyota, said during a daylong series of technology briefings last week at Toyota’s research facility that’s close to Mount Fuji, that consumers switching from hybrids to fully electric vehicles are giving the world’s largest automaker a good indication of where the market will be in three years.

Toyota will meet its objective to sell 1.5 million battery-electric vehicles by 2026, he assured, adding that “development and production will be ready when there is demand for 1.5 million units.”

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Mr Bean Loved EVs But Now Feels Duped

Car manufacturers are now moving towards a “greener” future by producing electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce global CO2 emissions. However, if you look beyond what comes out of the vehicle’s exhaust system, there is a bigger picture to consider, as explained by Rowan Atkinson.

Some may already know that Atkinson is a gearhead with a degree in electrical and electronic engineering, along with a subsequent master’s degree in control systems. He has owned multiple classic and legendary cars such as the BMW 328, McLaren F1, 2002 Acura NSX-T, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977), and more. Initially, he had a love for EVs when he purchased his first electric hybrid 18 years ago and his first pure electric car nine years ago. However, he believes that EVs, while wonderful mechanisms, lack soul—a sentiment we wholeheartedly agree with.

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Charging Facilities For EVs In Ipoh Underutilized Due To Low Number Of EVs

In order to accommodate more users of electric vehicles, Ipoh City Council (MBI) has installed a number of EV charging stations throughout the city.

Additionally, the action is in accordance with the Federal Government’s desire for more individuals to choose environmentally efficient vehicles. The D.R. Seenivasagam Park, Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreational Park, the Ipoh Tourist Information Centre, and the MBI headquarters were the four areas where the charging stations had been installed.

Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin claims that there are no charges for drivers who use these four places to charge their electric vehicles. Even though there aren’t many electric cars in the city now, the charging stations are still necessary. Because there are so few electric cars on Ipoh’s roads, these charging stations are currently under utilised.

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New Joint Venture Between Honda and GS Yuasa To Build Battery Factory in Japan

Being able to develop electric vehicles (EVs) is a vital expertise for carmakers as the industry speeds towards electrification of its products. However, just as vehicles with internal combustion engines are useless without liquid fuel, EVs will not run without electricity. The electricity can come from various sources – even the sun – but what’s more important is being able to store the energy.

That’s where batteries come in and currently, there is much focus on the development of batteries for EVs, with the technology advancing very quickly. As we have seen with the shortage of microprocessors disrupting vehicle production globally, a shortage of batteries would also mean EVs cannot leave the factory, even if the vehicle is completed.

For this reason, the major carmakers have looked for ways to secure supply of batteries for coming years as demand for EVs increases rapidly. The biggest companies have established their own subsidiaries to develop and manufacture batteries, setting up factories around the world to ensure that different regions are covered.

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Mitsubishi To Sell Only EVs and Hybrids by Mid-2030s

The Japanese automaker has announced a new strategy to keep up with the electric competitive market by strengthening its electrification approach.

By the middle of the following decade, Mitsubishi plans for hybrid and electric vehicles to make up all new automobile sales.

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Mercedes-Benz To Develop Global High-Power Charging Network

In order for electric vehicles (EVs) to be more readily adopted, not only do they need to cost less but the issue of the charging network has to be addressed. The liquid fuel network around the planet where you can find somewhere to refuel – in the desert or in the jungle – is the product of 100 years of development but charging stations are very recent. In fact, it’s only during this decade that the charging network has accelerated as more EVs began appearing on roads.

Ideally, governments should build the infrastructure but it is a costly exercise, so they are leaving it to the industry players to make the investments. On their part, governments typically offer incentives (like tax exemptions) to buyers to reduce the cost of purchasing an EV. So it is up to the carmakers to either build a network themselves or partner companies in the power supply business.

At CES 2023, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will launch a high-power charging network in key markets that include North America, Europe and China, starting with the USA and Canada this year. The aim is to have the full network in place before the end of the decade, when Mercedes-Benz intends to go all-electric wherever market conditions allow.

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BYD SUV And MPV Electric Vehicles To Be Distributed By Sime Darby Motors Malaysia

Automotive brands from China are not new to the Malaysian market and were already selling their products 20 years ago, mainly in the commercial vehicle sector. In recent years, perhaps encouraged by the partnership Geely was able to form with DRB-HICOM in Proton, more brands are making their appearance.

Among them will be BYD Automobile (BYD stands for ‘Build Your Dreams’), which will be distributed by Sime Darby Motors (SDM) Malaysia. The two companies have formalized the partnership with the signing of a Distribution Agreement which also involves PT. BYD MOTOR INDONESIA.

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