Electric Vehicles Archives

Nissan to invest £1 billion in establishing Electric Vehicle (EV) Hub as a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem

The auto industry is accelerating towards electrification of products, ultimately leaving behind the combustion engine that has been blamed for causing pollution of the environment and bringing on climate change. However, unlike previous transitions, this one is a radical one that calls for a change in the ecosystem of the industry. The existing ecosystem has evolved over 100 years around the combustion engine and now, with electrification, manufacturing processes and supply chains need to be changed.

Different carmakers are taking different approaches and Nissan will make a total investment of £1 billion (about RM5.82 billion) in establishing a flagship Electric Vehicle (EV) Hub as a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem. To be known as Nissan EV36Zero, the core of this hub will be at its 35-year old manufacturing complex at Sunderland in the United Kingdom.

The transformational project has Envision AESC, a global player in world-leading battery technology, and the Sunderland City Council as partners. Made up of three interconnected initiatives, Nissan EV36Zero brings together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production, setting a blueprint for the future of the automotive industry.

“This project comes as part of Nissan’s pioneering efforts to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the entire lifecycle of our products. Our comprehensive approach includes not only the development and production of EVs, but also the use of on-board batteries as energy storage and their reuse for secondary purposes,” said Nissan President & CEO, Makoto Uchida. “The experience and know-how gained through the project will be shared globally, enhancing Nissan’s global competitiveness.”

Building on Nissan’s historic presence in Sunderland, the projects represent 6,200 jobs at Nissan and its UK suppliers, including more than 900 new Nissan jobs and 750 new Envision AESC jobs at its new smart, low-carbon battery plant. Longer-term, the transformational project modernises and expands Nissan’s EV production capability in the UK.

Envision AESC will deploy integrated AIoT smart technology to monitor and optimize energy consumption, manufacturing and maintenance at its new gigafactory, enabling it to rapidly increase production and provide batteries to power up to 100,000 Nissan electric vehicles a year.

New-generation electric crossover
As part of the investment, Nissan will invest up to £423 million to produce a new-generation EV in the UK. Utilising the Alliance CMF-EV platform, it will be designed for global markets with forecasted production capacity of up to 100,000 units to be installed.

Next-generation EV batteries
Envision AESC already owns and operates Europe’s first battery plant in Sunderland, established in 2012 for the localisation of Nissan LEAF battery production. The factory’s UK team therefore has 9 years’ expertise of supplying batteries to the Nissan LEAF and eNV200, having produced enough cells, modules and packs to power over 180,000 electric vehicles in 44 countries, meeting global benchmark levels of quality, performance, safety, reliability and cost.

Supporting this new model allocation, Envision AESC will invest £450 million (about RM2.62 billion) to build the UK’s first gigafactory on the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, adjacent to the Nissan plant, powered by renewable energy and pioneering next-generation battery technology. This new plant will increase the cost-competitiveness of EV batteries produced in the UK, including through a new Gen5 battery cell with 30% more energy density which improves range and efficiency. It will also make batteries cheaper and EVs more accessible to a growing number of customers in the future.

Used battery packs have second life
There are also plans for a 1MW battery storage system using second-life Nissan EV/Envision AESC batteries, which will also allow for excess energy generated during daylight hours to be captured and used at another time, helping to balance demand on the grid.

Nissan EVs as mobile power supply units in disaster areas (w/VIDEO)

The National Vaccination Program in Malaysia is free of charge.

Nissan EVs as mobile power supply units in disaster areas (w/VIDEO)

Croatian carmaker Rimac Automobili takes control of Bugatti from Volkswagen Group

While the Volkswagen Group is unwilling to sell off Lamborghini (which is in the group via Audi), it has divested its stake in Bugatti and Croatian carmaker Rimac Automobili is taking a controlling stake in the French supercar company. However, rather than referring to it as an acquisition, it is described as ‘combining forces’ since the move will see the creation of a new company known as Bugatti Rimac.

Porsche and Hyundai shareholders as well
As part of the deal, the restructured Rimac Group will be the major shareholder with a 55% stake. Mate Rimac, the founder, will retain his original 37% shareholding in the Rimac Group with Porsche holding 24%, the Hyundai Motor Group having 12% and the remainder of 27% held by other investors.

Rimac’s business of development, production and supply of battery systems, drivetrains and other electric vehicle (EV) components will be handled by Rimac Technology, a newly formed company which will be fully owned by the Rimac Group. Rimac Technology will remain an independent company working with other global carmakers.

*Some of Rimac’s clients which draw on its expertise in electric vehicle technology and component production.*

Founded in 2009 as one-man garage
Rimac Automobili is a rather young company in the industry, having started in 2009 from a one-man garage. In that short period, his company has grown at ever-increasing speed, specializing in EVs and becoming a consultant for some companies wanting to develop such vehicles but preferring to let a more focussed outfit handle the work.

*Bugatti was established in 1909, a hundred years earlier than Rimac.*

As CEO of the Rimac Group, 33-year old Mate Rimac will lead the new company and run both Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Technology. Bugatti and Rimac will both continue as separate respective brands, retaining existing production facilities and distribution channels. Bugatti Rimac will develop the future of both Bugatti and Rimac vehicles by joining resources and expertise in R&D, production and other areas.

*During the 2015 season of the all-electric single-seater Formula E series, Rimac provided its Concept One prototype (right) for use as the Race Director’s Car.*

Going to a new level
Commenting on the development, Rimac said: “This is a truly exciting moment in the short, yet rapidly expanding history of Rimac Automobili. We have gone through so much in such a short space of time, but this new venture takes things to a completely new level. Rimac and Bugatti are a perfect match in terms of what we each bring to the table. As a young, agile and fast-paced automotive and technology company, we have established ourselves as an industry pioneer in electric technologies.”

“We have just launched our latest hypercar – the Nevera – to universal global acclaim. So I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am by the potential of these two incredible brands combining knowledge, technologies and values to create some truly special projects in the future,” he added.

2021 Rimac Nevera – the 412 km/h hypercar from Croatia

PROLOGUE SUV will start new electric era for Honda in North America in 2024

In April this year, Honda announced that by 2040, it will sell only fully electric vehicles (not even hybrids), a bold move that will end its relationship with the internal combustion engine much loved by Soichiro Honda.

While different regions may move at different speeds along the road to electrification of their vehicles on a national basis, advanced markets like North America are likely to start having a higher proportion of electric vehicles (EVs) in the coming years.

New BEV series for North America
Honda will therefore be focussing on products for that market and has announced that it is working on a new series of high-volume battery electric vehicles (BEV) to introduce in North America in early 2024. The range will be known as PROLOGUE and will be led by an all-new SUV and herald the new electrified era for the company.

The carmaker already has a range of electrified vehicles on sale, but these are mostly with hybrid powertrains, apart from the Clarity which uses hydrogen fuel cell technology to generate electricity for powering the car.

In addition to the Prologue, the company will introduce an all-electric model under the Acura brand as well. Acura currently has hybrid models as well, including the 573-bhp NSX and the new all-electric model will be a SUV as well.

*GM Ultium platform and battery pack (below).*

GM’s Ultium platform for EVs to be used
Both the Honda and Acura vehicles will utilize the highly flexible global EV platform powered by Ultium batteries developed within the strategic partnership with General Motors. The platform will be engineered to support Honda’s driving character. As part of the agreement to jointly develop electric vehicles, Honda will incorporate GM’s OnStar safety and security services into its new SUVs, seamlessly integrating them with HondaLink.

Production of the SUVs will combine the development expertise of both companies, and they will be manufactured at GM plants in North America. In the second half of the decade, Honda also plans to launch a new series of EV models based on a new e:Architecture, with development led by the Japanese carmaker. These new models will be launched in North America first, followed by other regions.

Honda’s EV History
Though EVs have grown in prominence in recent times, Honda has been involved in developing and producing such vehicles for almost 25 years. In 1997, it introduced the EV Plus, a small electrically-powered hatchback which was the first BEV from a major automaker to use nickel-metal hydride batteries instead of heavy lead-acid batteries.

Honda EV Plus 1997 — *EV Plus was produced between 1997 and 1999.*

After the limited production of the EV Plus, Honda came out with the Insight in 1999. This was one of the first volume-produced hybrids in the market. The FCX came out in 2002 and it was the industry’s first commercialised vehicle using fuel cell technology that was originally developed for the space program. The FCX was succeeded by the Clarity in 2017.

*First generation of the Insight, one of the early volume-produced hybrids. This unit was driven from Thailand to Singapore in January 2001 to demonstrate the high fuel efficiency.*

*FCX – the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) which was commercialised.*

“We know customers who have a good experience with a hybrid vehicle are more likely to buy a battery electric vehicle in the future,” said Dave Gardner, Executive Vice-President of American Honda. “Our strategy is focused on introducing a higher percentage of hybrids in core models in the near term, making a committed effort to achieve higher volume leading to the introduction of our Honda PROLOGUE.”

Honda will stop selling models with combustion engines from 2040, range to be fully electric

All-electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning revealed

It’s not surprising that Ford will start selling an electrically-powered truck from early 2022, the new version of the F-150 range which is to be called the Lightning. After all, it’s been making pick-up trucks since 1917 and over more than 100 years of making such vehicles, it has built up vast experience. Now, it is using all that experience plus new EV technology to continue the journey forward.

“For both Ford and the American auto industry, F-150 Lightning represents a defining moment as we progress toward a zero-emissions, digitally connected future,” said Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company. “F-Series is America’s best-selling truck for 44 years, the backbone of work across the country, and a trusted icon for generations of customers. Now we are revolutionizing it for a new generation.”

The F-150 Lightning is one of the outcomes from the company’s more than US$22 billion global electric vehicle plan to lead electrification in areas of strength. Other fully electrified models developed in recent times have been the Mustang and Transit.

Pricing for the new electric truck will start from US$39,974 (about RM165,550) before any incentives (in the USA) and can rise to US$52,974 (about RM220,000) in versions equipped with the extensive range of features, technology and accessories.

Most aerodynamic F-150
The F-150 Lightning is the most aerodynamic F-150 ever developed. While it started from the current F-150, it has improvements like newly shaped running boards, a sculpted bonnet to reduce drag, and grilles that replace air intake holes with a smoother, textured surface. Even more functional design delivers optional enhanced 360-degree Zone Lighting, which can light up a specific zone or the entire area around the vehicle.

The electric platform unlocks new capabilities as well – such as being a mobile power generation that can supply electricity to power an entire home. Besides providing electrical power when camping, it can also be valuable when in disaster-struck area where emergency power supplies are needed. The added advantage is that the F-150 Lightning will also have the capability to travel through all kinds of terrain, just like other Ford trucks.

The powertrain has dual in-board motors expected to generate the equivalent of 563 hp with up to 1,050 Nm of torque available from almost standstill. That’s more torque than any F-150 have ever offered and will give a claimed 0 – 60 mph (96 km/h) time in the mid 4-second range.

Two battery pack choices
There will be two choices of next-generation lithium-ion battery packs for the F-150 Lightning: a standard-range pack targeting 370 kms and an extended-range pack 480 kms. As with other EVs, charging time depends on the type of charging equipment used. Ford is the only automaker to offer an 80A charge station as standard equipment, allowing owners to recharge easily at home. This system takes advantage of the only dual onboard charging system on an electric truck in the industry for even faster home charging.

With this approach, the F-150 Lightning adds an average range of about 50 kms per charging hour, fully charging an extended-range pack from 15% to 100% in about 8 hours. With a 150-kW DC fast-charger, up to 87 kms of range can be available in 10 minutes and from 15% to 80% will take about 41 minutes, it is claimed.

Considering the sort of conditions that the aluminium-bodied F-150 Lightning will be used in, ‘Built Ford Tough’ has never been more important as the battery pack cannot be damaged. Rugged underbody protection keeps it safe, with metal skid plates shielding both the battery pack and inboard motors from. The battery pack itself is secured inside waterproof casing surrounded by crash-absorption protection and has been tested at temperatures as extreme as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Huge front storage area
Just as front-wheel drive with transverse engine orientation liberated space that could be allocated to the cabin, the electric powertrain allows for a versatile, high-tech mega power dedicated storage space that’s secure, lockable and easily accessible by a powered open and close system. This spacious area under the bonnet will have 400 litres of volume and can take 180 kgs of payload. It is water-resistant and has 4 electrical outlets, 2 USB chargers and a drainable floor that can double as a food and beverage container. With 2.4 kW of power, there’s enough capability to plug in power tools, TVs, laptops, speakers, crockpots and more.

Talking of payload, a feature called Onboard Scales uses the front boot space sensors to estimate payload and tell customers how much they’re hauling. And since payload can impact range, Onboard Scales is integrated with Intelligent Range to help ensure an accurate estimate.

Smart and connected
Like the Ranger, the F-150 Lightning is packed with intelligent features, combining advanced digital technologies with proven engineering know-how. As part of the optional Ford Co-Pilot360 technology, BlueCruise allows for true hands-free driving on more than 160,000 kms of pre-qualified divided highways in North America, – with more Hands-Free Blue Zones to come in the future.

Owners will find that, like their smartphone, the software running certain systems can be updated without going to the service centre. Ford Power-Up software updates will come over the air and improve performance, update existing features or even add all-new functions and capabilities. The majority of updates will be completed in under 2 minutes and whenever the owner chooses.

SYNC gets more advanced
Making its truck debut on F-150 Lightning is SYNC 4A – the latest version of Ford’s interface supported by a 15.5-inch touchscreen and designed to adapt to driver behaviour. SYNC 4A employs natural voice control, cloud-connected navigation and wireless access to favourite services with connectivity that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

“It really is the smartest F-150 we’ve ever made,” said Darren Palmer, General Manager, Battery Electric Vehicles, Ford Motor Company. “F-150 Lightning offers an immersive touchscreen, giving our customers all the info they want in an instant – a real-time view of where they’re going, what they’re hauling or how much real-world range they’ve got banked. And with Ford Power-Up software updates, the experience is only going to get better.”

Ford wins both 2021 Green Car of the Year and Green Truck of the Year Awards

Italdesign and Williams Advanced Engineering offer complete range of services to design and develop high-performance EVs

*Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my for more information.*

Henry Ford believed in his company owning and managing every aspect of making cars – including even owning the plantations of rubber trees that provided rubber for his cars. But as the years went by, specialisation began and while carmakers focussed on designing and manufacturing cars, some activities were also farmed out to other companies. Design, for instance, was sometimes done by external consultants more specialised in the work, notable Italian studios like Pininfarina, Ghia and ItalDesign being among them.

In the 21^st century, as the whole idea of making cars changes with the transition to electric vehicles, there are many newcomers (especially in China) who want to get into the game. Some of these have experience in other types of manufacturing, eg batteries or mobilephones, but no experience in engineering cars. For them to gain that experience as the global players did will take too long; today’s companies do not have the luxury of time to learn themselves as the market is so competitive.

So the answer has been to commission companies that specialise in certain areas. In fact, Chinese companies have been doing this, not just for design but also for powertrains. There are top-notch engineering consultancies in Europe like Lotus Engineering that can develop a car on par with any experienced manufacturer – and even the established ones sometimes ask Lotus to help.

Manufacturers sometimes ask experienced design studios to propose designs for future models. This was the EMAS hybrid concept for Proton by Italdesign Giugiaro which was displayed at the 2010 Geneva Motorshow.

So there’s a growing business in offering a full range of services to develop cars and Italdesign has formed a partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) to provide such services to those who want to produce and sell high-performance EVs. WAE is the technology and engineering business that was established by Williams F1. It takes technology originally developed for Formula One cars and adapts it for commercial applications.

Combining a state-of-the-art composite electric vehicle rolling chassis from WAE with turn-key vehicle development services from Italdesign, the joint venture will enable both newcomers and customers to benefit from the expertise of two global leaders in EV engineering and vehicle design, supporting them in the creation of a range of upper premium EVs from high performance GTs, crossover and sedans.

The foundation of this new venture is WAE’s innovative EV architecture – a new rolling chassis which distils WAE’s expertise in electrification, light-weighting, innovative chassis structures and vehicle and system integration into one advanced architecture known as ‘EVX’.

Differentiating itself from other EV platforms currently in the market, EVX integrates the battery pack casing with elements more commonly perceived as part of the body structure. Front and rear chassis structures mount to the carbonfibre composite case and crash loads can be transferred via internal reinforcements to the integral side sills.

The resulting higher profiled cross section achieves much of the torsional stiffness needed to deliver the full potential of the platform. These two design philosophies reduce reliance on the upper structure, which then gives greater design freedom for a variety of ‘top hats’.

Starting from WAE rolling chassis, Italdesign’s Engineering Team then complete the vehicle architecture adding safety systems, structures, and UX devices to constitute the modular platform that will be the base to build-up several different high-performances vehicles.

The innovative modular platform is ready for customisation by the Italdesign styling team who will shape the final vehicle to match the brand’s requirements in terms of marketing positioning, design direction etc. As well as being a structural component of EVX, the platform can accommodate wheelbases from 2900 mm to 3100 mm, with customers able to choose rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive layouts.

Combining recycled composite materials with aluminium, EVX is lightweight and sets new standards for static and torsional stiffness. With class-leading performance and mass targets, EVX will provide the perfect basis for tomorrow’s electric vehicles, supporting a flexible range of powertrain options with outstanding aerodynamics and safety performance.

Majoring on high performance, reduced time to market, flexibility and affordability at low-to-medium volumes, the new platform is capable of supporting production runs up to 10,000 units, up to 500 of which could be manufactured by Italdesign at its facilities in Italy.

WAE was the original supplier of batteries to all participants of the FIA Formula E World Championship cars in 2014, a relationship that has been revived for the 2022-23 season. WAE also supplies battery systems to ETCR and Extreme-E and has considerable experience in high-performance electrified road car programmes stretching back more than a decade.

“We are delighted to join forces with Italdesign on this exciting and timely joint collaboration” said Paul McNamara, Technical Director at WAE. “Demand for high performance electric vehicles is continuing to show considerable growth but to date, there has not been a complete EV production solution. This unique relationship brings together state-of-the-art EV rolling chassis technology with one of the world’s leaders in vehicle body engineering.”

Production-ready Nissan GT-R50 by ItalDesign makes debut on track

Shell and Porsche team up to provide first cross-border high-performance charging network in Southeast Asia

Motorists in Europe who own electric vehicles can drive across the continent, confident that they will be able to recharge their vehicles in different countries. On the Asian continent, that same capability may take a while to realise but a start has been made by Shell and Porsche Asia Pacific in the Malaysian Peninsular. The two companies have partnered to make road trips in electric vehicles (EVs) between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang a possibility.

This initiative is the first cross-border high-performance charging (HPC) network in Southeast Asia which will drive the future of electric mobility in the region starting from one of the world’s busiest international land border crossings at the Sultan Iskandar Building and Woodlands Checkpoint at the southern tip of the peninsular. While it is not possible to do so with current travel restrictions between the two countries, the two companies are gearing up for the time when the borders will reopen, and motorists will be able to travel again across the Causeway and Second Link.

Through this partnership, 6 Shell stations will be equipped with 180 kW direct-current (DC) chargers, offering the highest charging capacity currently available in Singapore and Malaysia. The first 4 stations will be ready during the second half of 2021 and the remaining two by the first half of 2022.

The chargers come with two CCS Type 2 charging connectors, allowing a single vehicle to be charged at up to 180 kW, or two vehicles to charge simultaneously at up to 90 kW each. The sites will be integrated in the existing Shell charging networks, comprising 18 Shell Recharge 50 kW fast charge points at Shell stations and 87 Greenlots public charge points in Singapore, as well as 18 ‘Reserve + Shell Recharge’ charge points in Malaysia. Furthermore, they will complement the established 175 kW high-performance chargers available at all Porsche Centres in Malaysia, as well as the growing ‘Porsche Destination Charging’ network at selected hotels, airports, sports clubs, and other lifestyle venues.

As electric mobility starts gaining momentum in Singapore and Malaysia, the network will enable smooth, convenient, and reliable electric road trips between the two countries. Once launched, the chargers will be available for all EVs that utilise the CCS Type 2 charging connector, which is widely used across both countries, with Porsche customers enjoying special rates at Shell Recharge.

Shell’s new 180kW high performance chargers are equipped to charge EV’s such as the Porsche Taycan from zero to 80% battery capacity in around 30 minutes, providing up to 390 kms of extra travel distance. The petroleum company is also offering additional benefits to Porsche customers such as reserving the HPC points in Malaysia in advance using their mobile app, and preferential prices for food and beverages at the Shell Select shops.

“Customers are at the heart of everything we do,” said Shairan Huzani Husain, Cluster Managing Director, Mobility Malaysia and Singapore, Shell. “We have been investing in building EV charging infrastructure to reduce range anxiety for our customers and this initiative is one of many examples of Shell providing solutions catered to our customers’ need for cleaner energy solutions. In 2019, we introduced EV charging in Singapore and in 2020, we introduced solar-powered retail stations in Malaysia. Now EV customers across the borders can experience Shell Recharge, and also recharge themselves with drinks and snacks at our Shell Select shops.”

Porsche Centre Ara Damansara 2020 — *The Porsche Centre at Sime Darby Motors City complex in Ara Damansara, Selangor which is part of the charging network.*

The charging network complements the locations and retail formats for current and future Porsche enthusiasts in Malaysia, such as the newest Porsche Centre Ara Damansara as well as the upcoming Porsche Centre Johor Bahru, which are designed to foster brand experience and exclusivity.

The ASEAN markets hold strong potential for Porsche to unlock and we see an opportunity to shape electric mobility in the region. Our high-performance network across Singapore and Malaysia will serve as a lighthouse project for other countries to follow,” said Matthias Becker, Vice-President Region Overseas and Emerging Markets of Porsche AG.

Click here to know more about Taycan and other Porsche models and services in Malaysia.

Porsche’s all-electric Taycan fully revealed, priced from RM632,000

Nissan makes long-term commitment to ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

Given its strength in EV technology, it’s not surprising that Nissan has announced a long-term commitment to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship series. The carmaker, which joined the all-electric single-seater series in season 5 as the only Japanese manufacturer, will participate to the end of season 12 which will take place during 2025 and 2026.

“Nissan’s commitment to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship shows the strength of the all-electric racing series and its pursuit of success in the next phase. The new Gen3 cars will be faster and more powerful, and this constant evolution of racing performance that we continue to see in Formula E is great for the fans and the sport,” said Olivier and Gregory Driot, team principals of Nissan e.dams, added this joint statement:

The Gen3 era of the championship begins in season 9 – the 2022-23 season – and will feature even faster cars. Gen3 will bring performance and efficiency benefits including more powerful, lighter cars, faster charging and cost controls, all increasing the competitive and unpredictable racing Formula E has become known for.

In the first two seasons in Formula E, Nissan focused on its ’Phase One – road-to-track’ technical objectives, which took experience and learnings from the LEAF EV to develop the performance of the Nissan e.dams race car.

In its debut season, Nissan e.dams was the best qualifying team in the championship while, in its second season, the team powered to second place in the teams championship.

As the team races in the current 2020-2021 season 7 and looks toward the future, it embarks on ‘Phase Two – track-to-road’ of its technology transfer goals, where the technically fast-moving championship will help Nissan showcase features that aim to encourage consumer adoption of its EVs.

“We’ve achieved great results during our first two seasons and renewing our long-term commitment to Formula E is a key step,” said Tommaso Volpe, Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director. “We entered the sport with a ‘road-to-track’ technical transfer approach, and by extending our racing program through the Gen3 era, we have the opportunity to close the circle with ‘track-to-road’ technical transfer. We believe that, as one of the most global manufacturers involved in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, this sport is the perfect platform to promote our expertise in electrification and demonstrate our commitment to more sustainable mobility solutions.”

As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations and the life-cycle of its products by 2050, Nissan intends to electrify all-new Nissan vehicle offerings by the early 2030s. The company aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the racetrack and road for better electric vehicles for customers.

“Nissan’s vision for cars goes far beyond simply modes of transport,” said Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s Chief Operating Officer. “We aim to design and build electric vehicles that transform the way communities connect and move, and inspire us all to work towards a sustainable society. For Nissan, Formula E helps us bring excitement, energy and the environment to the forefront as we deliver this vision of the future to an ever-growing, new, young and diverse audience.”

The first races of the 2021 season took place in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, as a double- header event at the end of February, where Formula E raced for the first time as an FIA World Championship. It was also Formula E’s first night race, with the cars racing under floodlights. Nissan e.dams took 14 team championship points away from the event.

Season 7 of Formula E opens in Saudi Arabia with first-ever night races

Volkswagen’s Trinity project to produce more capable electric cars by 2026

Volkswagen has been rolling out is all-electric ID. range of vehicles but by 2026 – that’s just 5 years away – the carmaker will go further with its electric vehicles. This will be the outcome of Project Trinity which will see an electrically powered sedan that will set new standards in terms of range, charging speed and digitisation. It will also have autonomous driving capabilities higher than what is currently available.

The project name ‘Trinity’ is derived from the Latin ‘trinita’ and stands for the ‘tri-unity’. Accordingly, Trinity stands for three crucial themes: a newly developed electronics platform with state-of-the-art software, the simplification of the supply structure, and fully networked and intelligent production at the main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany.

*The all-electric Volkswagen ID. family is already appearing in showrooms.*

“Trinity is a sort of crystallisation point for our ACCELERATE strategy, a lighthouse project, our software dream car,” said Ralf Brandstatter, CEO of the Volkswagen brand. “The newly developed vehicle architecture will set standards in terms of range, charging speed – charging as fast as refuelling – and digitalisation.”

Greater autonomy, less driver involvement
In addition, Trinity will make autonomous driving in the volume segment possible for many people. By the planned start of volume production in 2026, Trinity will already reach Level 2+ and be technically ready for Level 4. With this level, human interaction is not required so the driver does not have to maintain a view of the road ahead or surroundings. It is expected that the artificial intelligence will be advanced enough to assess more complex situations, and take action to avoid an accident. This is already available now with Automatic Emergency Braking but the driver still needs to give attention.

Autonomous driving for more people
“We are using our economies of scale to make autonomous driving available to many people and to build a learning neural network. In this way, we are creating the conditions for the continuous exchange of data from our vehicle fleet – for example, on the traffic situation, on obstacles or on accidents,” said Mr. Brandstatter. “Trinity thus gives people time and saves them stress. After a long highway trip, you arrive at your destination relaxed – because you have been driven by a ‘chauffeur’ to your vacation or to your home after work. Trinity therefore becomes a kind of ‘time machine’ for our customers.”

With the production of the new model, the Wolfsburg plant will become a showcase for state-of-the-art, intelligent and fully networked production processes. “We will completely rethink the way we build cars and introduce revolutionary approaches. Digitalisation, automation and lightweight construction play an important role here,” added Mr. Brandstatter.

Future vehicle models such as Trinity will be produced with considerably fewer variants, and the hardware will be largely standardised. The cars will then have virtually everything on board and customers will be able to activate desired functions ‘on demand’ at any time via the digital ecosystem in the car. This will significantly reduce complexity in production.

New business models
By developing the automobile into a software-based product, Volkswagen is creating the conditions for new, data-based business models. Entry barriers to individual mobility are to be lowered while, at the same time, offering even more attractive usage packages.

Volkswagen intends to generate additional revenue in the usage phase – for charging and energy services, for software-based functions that customers can book as needed, or for automated driving. “In the future, the individual configuration of the vehicle will no longer be determined by the hardware at the time of purchase. Instead, customers will be able to add functions on demand at any time via the digital ecosystem in the car,” Mr. Brandstatter predicts.

Kia aims to achieve leadership position in EVs

Like many other carmakers, Kia Motors knows that the future is electric. Tougher regulations in Europe and America and growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in China are forcing manufacturers to develop and launch electrically-powered vehicles as quickly as possible.

For Kia Motors, the future direction includes a global EV business strategy that aims to put the brand in a leadership position. To achieve this, Kia will launch a diverse range of dedicated BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) and partner with EV charging companies worldwide.

*Kia is already selling all-electric models such as the Niro (left) and Soul.*

100,000 BEVs already sold
“Kia has sold more than 100,000 BEVs worldwide since the introduction of our first mass-produced BEV in 2011, the Kia Ray EV, ” said Kia President & CEO Ho Sung Song. “Since then, we have started to introduce a range of new BEVs for global markets and announced plans to accelerate this process in the years ahead. By refocusing our business on electrification, we are aiming for BEVs to account for 25% of our total worldwide sales by 2029.”

Under Kia’s ‘Plan S’ strategy, announced at the start of 2020, the brand plans to expand its BEV line-up to 11 models by 2025. Over the same period, it is aiming for BEVs to account for 20% of the brand’s total vehicle sales in advanced markets such as Korea, North America and Europe.

The first of seven BEVs, code-named ‘CV’, will be revealed in 2021. It will be the brand’s first dedicated BEV, destined for many regions globally.

*The Imagine concept by Kia is a proposal for an all-electric future sedan.*

Transition to electrification
Kia Motors’ ‘Plan S’ is a mid to long-term future strategy that has a focus on BEVs and mobility solutions. It calls for a company-wide transformation which will see a new design philosophy embracing progress, diversity and a rich composition of contrasting elements.

Kia is innovating its vehicle planning, development and production to actively reflect diverse customer needs from the product planning stage. To respond to market demands, there will be diverse product types, with a range of models suitable for urban centres, long-range journeys, and performance driving. Its new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) will enable engineers to develop vehicles with best-in-class interior spaciousness.

Aftersales services
In addition, Kia Motors plans to expand its global aftersales infrastructure for EVs. In its home country, there will be more dedicated EV work bays at service centres, ricing from 600 in 2020 to 2,000 by 2023. There are plans to develop in-house programs to train EV maintenance professionals.

Kia Motors sees the expansion of electric charging infrastructures as a pre-condition for the popularization of EVs and continues to explore activities worldwide to improve charging accessibility for drivers. In Korea, its business activities will directly lead to the construction of a charging infrastructure.

Worldwide, Kia is setting up more than 2,400 EV chargers in Europe and around 500 in North America, partnering with its dealer networks. It plans to continue to increase its charging infrastructure in line with the growing market for EVs.

VR technology enhances vehicle development processes for Hyundai and Kia

30 years ago, Mercedes-Benz already had a practical EV based on the 190 model

For the past few years, Mercedes-Benz has begun its transition towards electrifications, creating the EQ range for a new line of electric vehicles (EVs). While R&D relating to EVs has accelerated in the past 10 years, the carmaker was already exploring electric propulsion 30 years ago.

In May 1990, it exhibited a 190 (W 201) model that had been converted to electric drive in the innovation market section at the Hanover Fair. “In this way, the Mercedes 190, which in terms of length and weight comes closest to the requirements of an electric vehicle, is an ideal battery test vehicle. The main objective is to assess the functional suitability of all the components in realistic situations with all the vibrations, accelerations and temperature fluctuations experienced in everyday operation,” explained the brochure issued at the time.

A mobile laboratory
The company made a fleet of electric 190s which were used to test different drive configurations and battery systems. The energy storage devices tested were mainly sodium-nickel chloride or sodium-sulphur high-energy batteries which had a significantly higher energy density than conventional classic lead-acid batteries. However, the working temperature of both systems was around 300 degrees C. which wasn’t so good.

The following year, Mercedes-Benz displayed a more advanced car at the Geneva Motor Show. This prototype with electric drive had an individual 16 kw/22 hp electric motor to drive each wheel. Total power output was 32 kW/44 hp and the energy came from a sodium-nickel chloride battery. Regenerative braking – a feature in many of today’s EVs and hybrids – returned energy to the power pack during braking actions.

A particular advantage of the concept was the elimination of weight-intensive mechanical components, so the additional weight compared to a production model with a combustion engine was only 200 kgs. It was still a substantial amount of extra weight, largely due to the battery pack.

From 1992 onwards, there was a large-scale field trial which ran for 4 years, funded by the German government. The aim of the exercise was to test EVs and energy systems, including batteries, in everyday practice. A total of 60 passenger cars and vans from several brands were involved.

100,000 kms in 1 year
The pioneering 190s were driven by various participants in the trials and these included taxi drivers who used them in daily life. There were hardly any problems and one of the Mercedes prototypes achieved a peak usage rate of around 100,000 kms in 1 year.

The results provided the engineers with new insights into battery service life, the number of possible discharge and charge cycles, range, energy consumption and reliability. In the following years Mercedes-Benz would apply the electric drive concept to other passenger models.

Mercedes-Benz EQC — *The first fully-electric Mercedes-Benz production model – the EQC. Its powertrain (below) was developed with the data gained from R&D activities since 1990.*

All the knowledge gained by the R&D teams in the 1990s contributed to the comprehensive knowledge pool of vehicle development on which engineers draw in developing today’s vehicles. In fact, some of the engineers who worked on the electric W 201 prototypes are still active in the company’s EV development and are involved in the latest projects.

Mercedes-Benz EQ Range unveiled in Malaysia

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