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Over 75,000 Porsche Taycans become 2023 models with big software uPdate

As the pace of automotive development speeds up, improvements to many areas of a car occur much faster than before. During the period of one generation of a model, there can be many technical changes which can enhance performance or efficiency. In the past, carmakers might wait for the next generation to incorporate these changes as they might involve changing hardware, which can be costly and time-consuming.

With modern cars having many more electronic systems, the process of updating doesn’t have to wait so long. New software can be loaded into the system ECUs and the car can be updated right away. That’s what Porsche will be doing with the more than 75,000 Taycan electric sportscars now in use around the world. And instead of incremental updates, it is making one comprehensive update that will make all those cars similar in software status to the 2023 model year. It’s just like the updates you get for your smartphone which sometimes introduce new or improved features.

Improvements in many areas
Depending on when their vehicle was delivered and the specific features, owners will benefit from an increase in powertrain efficiency as well as new functions and improvements in the Porsche Communication Management (PCM), Porsche Connect and assistance systems. The uPdate also includes the option of having additional functions and equipment unlocked after purchase (known as ‘function on demand’ or FoD), an approach now being market-tested by some carmakers.

“This campaign will allow our customers to benefit from the continuous further development of the Taycan. We have extensively optimized the model series in almost every respect since 2019,” said Kevin Giek, Vice-President Model Line Taycan, during a media briefing online two days ago. “New functions have been added and others have been revised or tweaked to further enhance the customer experience.”

The uPdate is free for owners but they have to bring their Taycan to an authorized Porsche service centre. It’s probably too extensive for an over-the-air (OTA) update which would not require the visit, but Mr. Giek said that this uPdate will enhance the OTA capability of all Taycan models. Presumably, that means that later updates can be broadcast to owners so they don’t need to go to the service centre.

The precise scope of the uPdate, and the duration of the service centre visit, will depend on the model year. Since the car was launched in 2019, many improvements have been made and for the older cars, more software may need to be updated.

Main uPdates at a glance
Powertrain: While in the ‘Normal’ and ‘Range’ driving modes in all-wheel drive models, during partial load operation, the front electric motor is almost completely disconnected and de-energised. While coasting and at a standstill, both axles are free of drive torque. The electric freewheel reduces frictional drag losses which can increase the range.

The all-wheel drive indicator is now shown as an energy-flow indicator in the central display. This makes the current operating status of the drives easier to see. The energy recuperation strategy has also been optimized. The automatic recuperation setting is retained even when the driver changes the driving programme.

Thermal management: The battery packs are sensitive to temperatures and operate at their best within a certain temperature range. The new software will enable better conditioning of the battery pack, especially at low outside temperatures. This will enable the Taycan to be rapidly charged more frequently overall and over a wider range of battery charge levels. The waste heat from the electrical components is used even more than before for this conditioning. For those Taycans of the 2020 and 2021 model years, the improvement will be in greater range and shorter charging times.

Porsche Communication Management (PCM) and Porsche Connect: These systems get new functions, a colourful tile design on the start screen, and even greater ease of use. For the 2020/2021 models and up to mid-February 2022 production, the uPdate optimizes the voice control and integrates the Spotify app. Android Auto is also available wirelessly.

Charging stations can be filtered and selected in the navigation system based on charging capacity. Drivers of 2021 Taycan with a head-up display will also have an optimized view of the navigation map, among other elements. The display contents have been expanded, presenting additional information. For all Taycan models prior to the 2023 model year, the on-board operating instructions can now also be used via voice control.

Assistance systems: The uPdate will adjust some systems to support the driver in even more situations. For example, the sensors of the ParkAssist function will work with a greater range. The search for available parking spaces has been improved as well, so that even smaller spaces are offered to the driver as an option.

Onboard charger retrofit
The 22 kW onboard charger has now become available for retrofitting as an extra-cost offering. With up to 22 kW of charging capacity, the more powerful variant charges the battery significantly faster. In Europe and North America, the retrofit also includes activation of the Plug & Charge function. This enables convenient charging and payment without a card or app. As soon as the charging cable is plugged in, the Taycan establishes encrypted communication with the Plug & Charge-compatible charging station. The charging and payment processes then start automatically.

“An exercise as big and comprehensive as this one has never been done before for any of our combustion engine models. Following this uPdate, anyone driving a Taycan from early in the car’s production run will be pleasantly surprised by how much has developed on the vehicle side since then,” said Mr. Giek, adding that, internally, Porsche refers to this as the ‘uPdate’ (with a capital ‘P’) because the 2023 model year, which started in July 2022, bears the letter ‘P’.

Porsche Taycan Driven by Karamjit Singh – Behind The Scenes Story

Aptera plans to start producing solar-powered cars by end of 2022

Sunshine has energy which can be converted into electricity. With that energy source shining down on our planet daily for around 12 hours, it would seem that we should make use of it to power the many different types of modern equipment that we use today. And that is already happening with solar panels collecting sunshine which is converted to electricity for industrial use as well as things like water heaters in homes.

Now that there is this rush towards electrification of cars, why not use solar energy which is unlimited – and costs nothing? Manufacturers are spending billions in developing electric vehicles and surely they would have been able to come out with solar-powered cars by now. After all, they can even use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity which is then used to power cars.

Why are there few solar cars?
The problem is that the technology is still not advanced enough to generate the amounts of electricity constantly to keep a car running. Maybe in the Star Trek age another 250 years in the future, a small solar panel will be enough to power a car indefinitely but at this time, an array of solar panels on a medium-sized car would need around 8 days to fully charge a battery pack of 70 kWh. So it’s a technological issue that is keeping development of solar-powered cars at a snail’s pace for now.

But there are many ongoing efforts and such cars are ‘just around the corner’. In fact, by early 2023, one company might be able to start delivering solar cars to people who have booked one. The company is Aptera, a car company that started in 2005 in California, closed down and was revived in 2019 with a plan to make a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) that also uses solar power primarily, and a battery pack as a range-extender.

The idea of using solar power as a supplementary energy source for cars is not new. Companies like Toyota and Hyundai have put small solar panels on the roofs of some models for additional electricity to power ancillary equipment.

Up to 1,600 kms range
Aptera’s solar electric vehicle (sEV) will require no charging for most daily use and the company claims that it can cover up to 1,600 kms per full charge if the battery pack is used as well. This is achieved with its ‘Never Charge system which uses 180 cells on diamond-shaped solar panels covering 3 square metres of the car’s body. These can collect sunshine to convert to as much as 700W which would be good for 64 kms of driving per day. Those 64 kms of essentially free range are collected by over 3 square metres of solar panels on the bodywork.

2023 Aptera Solar Electric Vehicle — A section of the solar cell array that covers 3 square metres of the vehicle’s bodywork.

If you’re just driving around town daily, then you really would not need to recharge. But for longer distances, then there is a battery pack which has stored electricity to provide the extra range required. And Aptera says that recharging can be done with a household power supply, though how long it will take is not mentioned.

Propulsion is by 3 liquid-cooled in-wheel electric motors (two in front, one behind) that can give an acceleration time of 3.5 seconds from 0 to 96 km/h and a top speed claimed to be almost 180 km/h. For stability, there will be all-wheel drive and vectorized torque control.

Three wheels, instead of four
To maximize use of the electricity available, the sEV has to be as light as possible, requiring less energy to move. In fact, having three wheels instead of four is partly due to saving weight. At between 818 kgs to 1,000 kgs, the vehicle is said to weigh 65% less than other EVs on the market today. Aptera’s engineers have also used many different example to reduce energy loss, and by eliminating the fourth wheel, the contact point for friction and potential energy loss is lessened.

The body is built with ultra-lightweight composites and its arched shape mimics the physics of an eggshell to create a safety cell that is claimed to be much stronger than steel.

Aerodynamic efficiency of 0.13 Cd
Besides light weight, the other important factor is aerodynamic efficiency or how slippery the shape can be so that wind resistance is minimized. Less energy will be needed to overcome the wind resistance so performance will be better and at the same time, the energy saved can be used for extending range.

The aerodynamic form of the vehicle, which has a Cd of 0.13, is inspired by nature. The teardrop-shaped central body allows air to flow around it to ‘follow & copy’ that shape. This means airflow contacts the body at a certain angle around the front wheel area, as the air is being bent around the tapered nose. The wheel covers are tapered inward and the rear is tapered outward, making the overall shape more aligned with the main bodywork.

At the single rear wheel, the story is different. The wheel is positioned at the centreline of the vehicle and optimizations were applied to the bodywork in front of the wheel. Guiding the air in such a way that it avoids hitting the exposed part of the tyre, providing gains in terms of aerodynamic efficiency.

Intelligent cabin packaging
The sEV is a small vehicle and seats only two. However, intelligent packaging has ensured that those two people can carry a lot of gear or a lot of shopping from the supermarket. The layout has both occupants side by side, rather than in a tandem position like a motorcycle (as some solar vehicles have been designed). Much of the thinking behind the interior has been with manufacturing simplicity and flexibility in mind.

As would be expected, there are storage areas for the stuff we all carry these days as well as things like wireless charging pads. Environmentally-conscious materials are used, such as biodegradable and plant-based leather, recycled PET and 3D knit materials, bio-based plastic thread and recycled felt.

Pricing to be from US$29,500
Aptera is confident of moving into the production phase by the end of this year as it has received US$40 million (about RM178.3 million) in crowdfunding and commitments. It has also been accepting $100 (RM446) deposits from interested customers (it says there are already 25,000 reservations) and expects to price their first solar vehicle from US$29,500 (about RM131,500).

Free sunshine helps Proton save up to RM5.85 million on electricity costs

Formula E Season 8/Round 12: New York City E-Prix

Formula E was in New York City this week for Round 12 and it was also the fifth year that the all-electric single-seater series was in the city fondly known as ‘The Big Apple’. The Brooklyn Street Circuit has served as the racetrack on 8 occasions in the past and season titles have been decided by e-Prix in the shadow of Manhattan’s skyline.

This year, for Round 12 of the ABB Formula E World Championship Season 8, it was Antonio Felix da Costa who led lights-to-flag to bring home his and DS TECHEETAH’s maiden win of the season. Chasing him across the finish line was Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes EQ Formula E Team), eating away at the points advantage of ROKIT Venturing Racing’s Edoardo Mortara at the top of the standings.

The Portuguese driver sprinted away from Julius Baer Pole Position and fended off the attentions of contenders early on before Vandoorne applied the pressure later in the race. However, the Mercedes-EQ driver could find no way through, to challenge da Costa and beat him to the chequered flag.

Vandoorne’s second spot was more than enough for one of Formula E’s most consistent scorers to leave the city with a smile on his face – especially with Drivers’ World Championship leader Mortara managing just a point at 10th spot, after a brake-by-wire issue in qualifying had marooned him at the back of the grid.

Jaguar TCS’s Mitch Evans wound up third, holding on to a mid-race half-spin as he tried to break into the top three by Alexander Sims (Mahindra Racing). The Jaguar TCS driver hit a bump in the Turn 6 braking zone and just managed to catch a huge sideways slide to keep it out of the wall. Fortunately, he dropped only to fifth and, by the end of the race, had fought his way back to third ahead of Sims.

Evans’ team mater, Sam Bird was able to scrap to fifth position from 16th on the grid. His impressive drive reignited their Teams’ World Championship push. Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns rounded out the top six in the Audi-powered racing car, with Nyck de Vries, the other Mercedes EQ drive, in seventh.

With just 4 rounds left, Vandoorne is back at the top of the Drivers’ World Championship, now with an 11-point margin to prior leader Mortara. Evans is 5 points further back in third with Jean-Eric Vergne (DS RECHEETAH) unable to score again.

The race
With the summer sunshine a change from the rain of the day before, da Costa fired away to an advantage of almost a second over Sims and Vandoorne. The Porsche of Andre Lotterer failed to get away at all, with the pack squeezing to avoid contact and the German sliding to 11th.

Come Lap 5, the chasing pack, led by Sims, had closed in on da Costa to within half a second while Vandoorne followed the same distance back just ahead of his teammate de Vries. Dan Ticktum in the NIO 333 Racing was the big mover in the early stages, up to 11th and a gain of 6 spots by Lap 7 with some very fast laps.

Just one mandatory ATTACK MODE activation for Round 12, and Ticktum was the first to blink. The leaders waited for one another to jump first – and it was de Vries and Sette Camara who went for it on Lap 11. The top two went through the loop a lap later and Vandoorne was able to jump them both to briefly take first.

Bird was another climber in the opening third of the race. The Jaguar driver had started from 16th position and had made it as high as eighth by Lap 13, before Dennis swept after taking his 30 kW ATTACK MODE boost.

On Lap 16, an error from de Vries saw his Silver Arrow 02 sideways and the door open for Evans behind. The Kiwi took his chance and crucially sat right behind fellow title challenger Vandoorne in fifth spot. The top five sat one behind the other with leader da Costa heading Sims, Vandoorne, Evans and de Vries, all within two seconds. Frijns was the next man back after dispatching Dennis with a regulation pass up the inside at Turn 1 on Lap 21.

Vandoorne was next to spy an opportunity, catching second-placed Sims out at Turn 6 with a rapid switch to the inside of the Mahindra on Lap 23. A lap later at the same spot, Evans tried to make it back by de Vries for fourth after the Mercedes-EQ had jumped him at the hairpin last time around. Evans almost lost his car over a bump on the brakes but produced an amazing piece of car control to hold on and, more importantly, also staying fifth.

Inside the last 10 minutes plus one lap, the field started to bunch back up again – the top 10 split by just 6 seconds. On Lap 30, de Vries got caught at the same bump as Evans had a couple of laps earlier while trying to make it beyond Sims for third and slipped wide at Turn 6 to hand fourth back to the Jaguar driver.

Unbelievably, on the very next lap, de Vries hit the same spot while defending from Bird, with the sister Jaguar able to profit and pinch fifth – an astonishing climb from fifth on the grid at lights out. Heading into the final couple of minutes, da Costa still had control and was eager to capture a first win of Season 8. Vandoorne couldn’t make FANBOOST count but behind Evans was able to dispatch Sims with a smart move at Turn 6 – after which his team said energy would now need conserving. Two positions gained after that big save.

With two laps to go, di Grassi got turned around at Turn 7 causing a bit of a traffic jam. In that mix, Vergne fell from the points to 19th position, which could prove costly in the championship battle. One point, minimum, slipping through his fingers.

From there, da Costa was able to bring it home for a first win for the Portuguese and DS TECHEETAH this season. Vandoorne followed for a strong haul and Jaguar’s third and fifth-placed finish, with Evans winding up third and Bird fifth had the British team’s mechanics jumping for joy.

After New York City, the series goes back across the Atlantic Ocean to London for another two rounds at the end of the month. The season-closing rounds will be held in Seoul, Korea, on August 15 and 16.

Porsche Taycan plays important role in Formula E as Official Safety Car

Beam e-scooters offer a practical solution for ‘first and last mile’ transport in cities

Back in the 1970s, as traffic congestion in many cities increased, the idea of ‘park and ride’ was promoted. Motorists were encouraged to park their cars at bus stations or train stations and use public transport to travel into the city. This would reduce the number of vehicles on the restricted road network within the city and thereby reduce congestion.

The idea works to varying degrees in different cities. Where the public transport is efficient and desirable, many will ‘park and drive’ as it would make sense. However, there are places where the public transport system may have a network that is not comprehensive enough, and people find it inconvenient to get to stations or get from stations to their destination.

This is where a solution to cover the ‘first mile’ and ‘last mile’ is necessary. One solution offered by Beam Mobility is the share e-scooter service that is now available in Malaysia. The service is said to solving the everyday issue of completing first and last mile journeys when using public transport.

The e-scooters, which are for a single person, are for use within the city and apart from being useful for motorists entering the city, it would also be good for tourists and urban dwellers who want to get around without having to sweat it out.

Complementary service
Beam’s service thus complements the existing public transport ecosystem, reducing dependency on private vehicles. In a recent poll among micromobility riders in May 2022, almost 50% of the 1,800 Beam riders surveyed said that access to e-scooters for the ‘first or last mile’ of a journey had made them more likely or much more likely consider using public transport as an option for long journeys rather than using cars or ride-hailing services. This attitude flows into real behaviours, with 77% of regular riders saying they always, usually, or sometimes use an e-scooter to connect to or from public transport.

The surveys illustrate that Malaysians urban dwellers and visitors are open to the possibility of shared e-scooters operating in their city, with just 9% of the 1,544 interviewees saying they felt any degree of negativity to the idea. This number halved once the safety features, convenience, and environmental benefits of shared e-scooters had been explained to them.

Environment-friendly too!
Apart from being an easier and quicker way to move around, the Beam e-scooters are also good for the environment. According to the company, for every 10 kms that an e-scooter travels, it can save 2.65 kgs of carbon dioxide emissions which a car would generate over the same distance.

Anyone should be able to use an e-scooter and Beam incorporates technology to ensure users’ safety. Underneath the e-scooter’s sturdy aircraft-grade aluminium chassis is an efficient electric powertrain with a high-grade IoT (Internet of Things) communications device. The battery packs that are used for the e-scooters are certified to the very highest standards of fire safety as well.

User-friendly features include Beam’s proprietary virtual parking technology which encourages proper use and return of e-scooters, while its speed-limiting technology (capped at 25 km/h) keeps users from going too fast – even when riding downhill.

No worries about restricted areas
You may have read news reports about e-scooters being banned but this only applies to certain areas. The public can still use them in other areas and with the geofencing technology in each e-scooter, users will not stray into restricted zones. If they do, there will be an alert sound and if no action is taken the e-scooter will stop (the operations team will also be aware).

Using a smartphone app, the various locations where the e-scooters can be collected can be found. Like rental cars, they have to be returned to designated locations. The charge is 60 sen a minute, which is paid using a credit card. If the user does not return the e-scooter to a designated spot, there will be a penalty charge.

The Beam app for smartphones shows where e-scooter parks are for collecting and returning them. The QR code on the e-scooter unlocks the machine for use.

“Beam’s e-scooters are built for convenience and to encourage people to opt for greener commutes within the city centre. With its growing availability in key transit points and destinations around the Klang Valley, the ability to quickly hop on and off an e-scooter to travel door-to-door in minutes gives Malaysians an easy and convenient solution to the first and last mile challenges of public transport usage. Moving between places that are too far for a comfortable walk, and too short a distance to drive, is solved with our e-scooters,” said Taty Azman, Head of Public Affairs, Beam Mobility Malaysia.

Toyota Mobility Foundation’s CATCH offers two solutions to address Kuala Lumpur’s mobility and city planning challenges

Meeting the growing need for skilled and qualified personnel to maintain BMW EVs

With the government encouraging the switch to electric vehicles (EVs), we will be seeing more of these zero emission vehicles in use nationwide. As such, there will be a growing need for qualified personnel in the aftersales industry. However, because of the different nature of EVs, new skills are necessary as skills and experience with combustion engines are not so suitable.

As such, BMW Group Malaysia is cultivating highly skilled experts in the field through its internationally recognised BMW High Voltage Expert Certification programme. Conducted at the BMW Group Regional Training Centre in Malaysia, the programme offers training for the servicing and repair of the most advanced BMW i vehicles worldwide.

To qualify as a BMW High Voltage Expert, the prospect must already be an existing BMW High Voltage Technician, who must first undergo a pre-selection process which includes a knowledge assessment and an interview. The prospect would also need to obtain first aid certification and undergo a full body check-up. Next, they are put through 15 days of intensive training, with the requirement of passing 2 theory exams and four practical exams to proceed to the next stage. This is followed by a final theory exam and practical demonstration under live high voltage to secure the certification which is completed in another 10 days.

More than just selling EVs
BMW Group Malaysia’s initiative in this area is to be expected as the company has been selling an increasing number of EVs and electrified vehicles. And it has not only been selling them but also ensuring that proper supporting services are available for owners.

In addition to creating a bigger EV landscape in Malaysia, BMW Group Malaysia is also working with partners to broaden the charging network. To ensure a fair and standardised experience for all EV owners in Malaysia, BMW Group Malaysia has released an official pricing structure for BMW i Charging facilities across the country.

Supporting the electric future
“At the BMW Group, we have always believed that the future is Electric. Since BMW Group Malaysia first introduced BMW i to the country back in 2015, we have envisioned a Malaysia where electric mobility is fully embraced and have been working hard to that end. We understood the obstacles faced by Malaysians in adopting EVs, such as range anxiety, which we have been alleviating by rolling out EV infrastructure across the country. At the same time, service and repair are also important points of consideration, ensuring that BMW i owners have greater peace of mind when it comes to the ownership of their BMW electric vehicles,” said Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

For BMW Group Malaysia, the BMW High Voltage Expert Certification is an important pillar in supporting the development of a mature ecosystem in Malaysia where EVs can thrive. As more BMW i vehicles are being introduced on Malaysian roads, greater accessibility to BMW certified experts ensures that the Premium Electric Ownership Experience is met at the highest standards for all owners of BMW i vehicles.

BMW Group Malaysia provides official pricing structure for BMW i Charging facilities nationwide

Hyundai IONIQ 6 ‘Electrified Streamliner’ launched in Korea

These days, there’s a new electric vehicle (sometimes even more than one) being launched or previewed every month and the technical aspects sound pretty much the same. The technologies to are generally similar with each company having some advancements of its own to shout about.

So with the new IONIQ 6, Hyundai Motor seems to skirt the technical parts and instead draws attention to the inside of the first sedan in its EV sub-brand. The interior of the ‘Electrified Streamliner’ is developed to serve as a comfortable and personalized ‘hideaway’, providing a unique and distinctive experience for drivers and their passengers.

“IONIQ 6 is designed and engineered to seamlessly enhance our daily lives as space to awaken your potential,” said Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice-President, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Customer Experience Division, Hyundai Motor Company. “The innovative interior is meticulously thought out as a cocoon-like personal space, enhanced with the latest technologies to create a safe, fun, and stress-free driving experience. The spacious interior, with sustainability and usability at its heart, once again represents a step forward for electric vehicles, in line with the values of our customers.”

The cabin takes advantage of the E-GMP (the Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform) which allows an extremely long 2950 mm wheelbase, supported by a choice of 20-inch or 18-inch wheels. The E-GMP supports a streamlined body with an overall length of 4855 mm, 1880 mm width and 1495 mm height, which puts it in the D-segment.

A modular touchscreen dashboard integrates a 12-inch full-touch infotainment display and 12-inch digital cluster that houses advanced technologies for an enhanced digital user experience that can be customized to meet their needs. The infotainment system provides real-time travel radius mapping based on the current state of charge, while connected car services help search and plan the best route to include a charging station along the way.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto bring favourite smartphone apps to the widescreen display. For those without compatible smartphones, there’s also Bluetooth multi-connection support available. Two devices can be paired at the same time — one for phone calls and one for music streaming.

The premium Bose sound system’s 8 speakers, including a subwoofer, are strategically placed throughout the vehicle for a high-quality listening experience. Complementing this is a ‘spaceship-like’ sound with a sound texture that changes based on the vehicle’s driving status. How this will be received by the occupants of the car remains to be seen. Perhaps the new generation of car-buyers brought up in the digital age will appreciate such sounds!

The optional Relaxation Comfort Seats in the first row promote leisure by simply adjusting the seat angle. In addition, all of its seats are specifically-manufactured for all-electric models, and they are approximately 30% thinner than those in other conventional models, providing more space for passengers.

Dual Colour Ambient Lighting allows a driver to customize the look and feel of the interior space by selecting from a spectrum of 64 colours and 6 pre-selected themes. The Speed Sync Lighting mode adds emotion to the driving experience by changing the brightness of the interior lighting in the first row based on the car’s travelling speed.

The IONIQ 6’s personalized driving experience is further enhanced by the EV Performance Tune-up system. This allows the driver to freely adjust steering effort, motor power, accelerator pedal sensitivity and driveline mode. Drivers can create a variety of different combinations with just a few button clicks to meet their individual needs.

Of course, we still need to tell you something about the technical aspects and here, the powertrains are varied. Customers can choose a long-range 77.4-kWh battery with 2 electric motor layouts, either rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD). The top-of-the-line dual motor set-up is an AWD option producing a combined power output of 325 ps/605 Nm, with a claimed 0 to 100 km/h of 5.1 seconds.

Hyundai Motor claims an impressive energy consumption rate of under 14 kWh/100 kms, with the 53-kWh standard battery pack, 18-inch tyres and RWD. It supports 400V and 800V charging infrastructures and with a 350 kW charger, the recharging time from 10% to 80 percent is said to be within 18 minutes. A fully charged battery pack should be good for over 610 kms.

The IONIQ 6, like the IONIQ 5, is also able to function as a mobile power station to charge electric devices. This would be ideal not only for camping but also when there is a disruption to power supply. In addition to the external power outlet, there is a second outlet under the back row seat which can be used for charging laptops, phones and other devices.

This EV Is Hyundai Motor’s first model to offer the Over-the-Air (OTA) Software Updates for various controllers. This allows owners to upgrade the car’s controllers for electric devices, autonomous driving, battery, maps (and more) without having to go to a service centre. As such, the systems will be kept up to date and optimised.

In the Korean market, the IONIQ 6 is priced between 55 million – 65 million won (about RM185,000 – RM218.000). Production is to begin production in the third quarter of 2022. Sales are expected to begin before the end of the year with exports to selected markets starting in early 2023.

Hyundai to use new Integrated Modular Architecture for all future BEV models

High-tech Li Auto L9 EV SUV goes on sale in China

China’s car market is so huge and so diverse that keeping track of all the manufacturers can be difficult. Every so often, a new name pops up and has already progressed into production with new models. The impetus brought on by the country’s focus on New Energy Vehicles brought forth a number of new players, and among them is Li Auto Inc. which came into existence in 2015 and is already listed on NASDAQ (the stock exchange in New York City).

Li Auto has so far completed development of two models – the Auto ONE and L9. The L9 is the flagship model and made its online debut last month, appearing in showrooms in China last week. Online pre-orders are said to number more than 30,000 customers and the first units are expected to be delivered from the end of August 2022. Pricing starts from RMB459,800 (about RM303,310).

*More than 30,000 orders within 72 hours of making debut online.*

The L9 is a large full-size SUV with space for 6 within. Its 5218 mm long body with a clean and simple design sits on an in-house developed platform which supports a dual-motor 300 kW/620 Nm powertrain with all-wheel drive. Fitted with a new-generation NCM lithium battery storing 44.5 kilowatt-hour, a range of between 180 – 215 kms is claimed.

There is also a range-extender system powered by a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine with maximum thermal efficiency of 40.5%. Coupled with a low drag coefficient and high motor efficiency, the L9’s with range-extender in use is said to be able to reach between 1,100 – 1,315 kms. It can also supply up to 3.5 kW of electricity for external use if needed.

Proprietary autonomous technology
The L9 also has the company’s self-developed autonomous driving system called Li AD Max with enhanced functionality bolstered by upgraded perception capability and data processing power. The perception hardware includes one forward 128-line LiDAR, six 8-megapixel cameras, five 2-megapixel cameras, one forward millimetre wave radar, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Together, the coverage is 360 degrees for detection of both vehicle surroundings and distant objects. In addition, there is a ‘sentry’ mode that monitors both the inside and outside of the vehicle through interior 3D ToF transmitters and exterior cameras.

To handle the increased processing needs resulting from the large number of sensors, the Li AD Max is powered by dual Orin-X chips with 508 TOPS of computing power and real-time, efficient processing of fusion signals. The dual processors provide fallback redundancies for each other, ensuring more stable operation of the autonomous driving system. In addition, the system is optimized to recognize and react to common accident scenarios, with features designed to identify and evade risks in advance and help prevent accidents.

Domain-based vehicle architecture
This SUV is one the first production models that deploys NXP’s S32G automotive network processors on its chassis system. The family of NXP S32G vehicle network processors marks a significant turning point in how vehicle architectures are designed and implemented, transforming the automotive industry to a high-performance domain-based vehicle architecture and providing software with minimal complexities and enhanced security and safety.

Adopting the S32G processors, there is an extra layer to the performance experience. The S32G processors not only provide ASIL D MCU and MPU performance with application-specific network hardware acceleration but also offloads processors to provide services with deterministic network performance necessary for the car to respond to the sophisticated real-time driving circumstances.

The S32G processors also embed high-performance hardware security acceleration, along with Public Key Infrastructure support for trusted key management enabled by its Hardware Security Engine (HSE). The firewalled HSE is the root of trust supporting secure boot, providing system security, and protecting against side-channel attacks, a crucial element in autonomous vehicles.

Smart cockpit
Within the SUV is a pioneering 5-screen 3-dimensional interactive mode which works with a head-up display (HUD) and interactive safe driving screen to present key driving information to the driver. The interactive screen, which is located above the steering wheel, adopts mini-LED and multi-touch technology, enabling easier interactions. The other 3 screens are large 15.7-inch 3K automotive-grade OLED screens that can be used for entertainment.

The L9’s smart cockpit is supported by a computing platform composed of two Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive-grade 8155 chips, which ensures the smoothness and responsiveness of its 5-screen 3-dimensional interactions.

China to end subsidies for New Energy Vehicles after 2022

Rosberg X Racing takes second victory of Extreme E Season 2 in Island X-Prix II

Following the first round of the NEOM Island X-Prix on the island of Sardinia in Italy last week, the second round of the same event this weekend saw Rosberg X Racing (RXR) taking a with a late overtake to secure their second victory of Extreme E Season 2. X44 finished second and Genesys Andretti United Extreme E third after ABT CUPRA XE were disqualified following a safety infringement.

With team owner Nico Rosberg watching his team’s progress, a superb pass by Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky on ABT CUPRA XE’s Jutta Kleinschmidt sealed the win. Ahlin-Kottulinsky, and team-mate Johan Kristoffersson, who headed the standings prior to the double-header on the island off the coast of Italy, now have a lead of 37 points ahead of their nearest challengers No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing, with X44 now up to third.

RXR also scored maximum points from Round 3, with the quickest combined time in the Continental Traction Challenge adding 5 points to their tally, bringing their total overall to 80 points.

“It is such a pleasure for me to work with this team. It reminds me of my F1 days. It’s been a great team effort with everyone giving their best and being at the height of their game. Both drivers have been performing at an incredibly high level. Johan was the star of Race 1 in NEOM. Mikaela was the star of this weekend with her speed and incredible pass for the win through the water during the last lap. I couldn’t be prouder, said former F1 world champion Rosberg.

“It was a phenomenal weekend for us, starting with a good qualifying and we were also very fast in the super sector. The car felt amazing all week and we have got to thank the team for that. They worked very hard, and it paid off. My run was smooth, but Nasser was incredibly fast, so I just tried to stay as close as possible to him to give Mikaela the best possible basis for her run, and she made good use of it with a fantastic move. It’s a team achievement that we can all be proud of,” added Kristoffersson.

The scene was set for a thrilling climax to the double-header as ABT CUPRA XE’s Al-Attiyah lined up in the favoured number 2 spot between Timmy Hansen (Genesys Andretti United Extreme E) and Sebastien Loeb (X44). On the other end of the start line, Kristofferson was joined by Carlos Sainz (ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team), following their dramatic collision in last round’s Final. In that incident, RXR received a 30-second penalty that pushed the team from first to third.

As the teams set off, Sainz (father of the Ferrari F1 driver) experimented by taking his electrically-powered ODYSSEY 21 down the furthest possible lane on the right, away from Kristofferson’s car. The Spaniard’s gamble did not pay off, and he came out at the back of the pack as the cars merged into the single lane.

Meanwhile, Al-Attiyah stayed on the preferred line which proved the better one as he surged to the front of the group. Kristofferson kept the ABT CUPRA car in sight, followed by Loeb. After the 3 leading cars was Hansen holding fourth as he chased them along the rough and muddy course.

The ABT CUPRA XE driver picked his lines well and opened by a gap of 5 seconds, which was the same gap that Kristofferson had with Loeb. Further back, Sainz’ car had a problem and the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE car dropped off the back of the pack and eventually come to a stop out on track.

It was still a 4-way battle as the leading cars entered the Switch Zone until disaster struck for ABT CUPRA XE. During the mandatory driver switch, Jutta Kleinschmidt failed to properly buckle her seatbelt as she entered the car. This would later lead to the team’s disqualification from the Final, after they finished second on the course. ABT CUPRA’S loss of the lead occurred when an incredible overtake was done by from RXR’s Ahlin-Kottulinsky in the closing stages of the race.

ABT CUPRA XE’s disqualification also promoted X44 into second and secured Genesys Andretti United Extreme E the third place, their first top three finish of the season. It was a huge boost for both teams after a difficult start to the Sardinian double-header.

No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing scores first victory in Extreme E series in Italy (w/VIDEO)

Production of the BMW i3 EV has ended after 8½ years

BMW’s experience making electrically-powered vehicles (EVs) goes back 50 years when it replaced a number of 1602 cars with an electric motor. The 1602e was developed specially for use during the 1972 Olympics that were held in BMW’s home city of Munich in Germany. Its main role was to lead long-distance runners without blowing unhealthy exhaust fumes in their faces.

*The 1602e produced for use at the 1972 Olympic Games was BMW’s first EV.*

In the years that followed, the company continued with R&D on EVs with a number of models shown to the public, run on public roads and largely used in real-world testing. The urgency to ‘electrify’ the range was not evident yet so attention was instead given to developing other technologies like EfficientDynamics.

In 2013, BMW began its era of electrification that continues to this day when it introduced the i3 as the first volume-produced model with a fully electric drivetrain. The i3, manufactured at the Leipzig factory, was a pioneer in many different ways. It had an independent architecture consisting of a drive module as an aluminium chassis, which carried the e-drive, the suspension and the high-voltage battery pack as well as a passenger cell made of carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). This module was referred to as the ‘life module’.

BMW’s fifth generation eDrive technology that is used in the latest BMW and MINI EVs can trace its origins to the i3. The high-voltage battery pack developed for the model has also undergone continuous development since 2013, doubling its storage capacity while retaining the same installation space. In its final form with a cell capacity of 120 Ah and a gross energy content of 42.2 kWh, the final version of the i3 could travel up to 307 kms on a single charge.

In addition to its electric drive, the i3’s eco-balance stemmed from the choice of materials fully geared towards sustainability and resource-conserving production. It was the first BMW Group model to receive an ISO certificate issued by independent auditors at the time of its market launch, confirming its optimised environmental performance throughout its entire life cycle.

Partly recycled raw materials were used for its outer skin made of thermoplastics. The plastic used in the interior contained 25% recycled material. The textiles used for the seat surfaces were made entirely from recycled fibres, with the door panels of kenaf fibres. Eucalyptus wood from certified cultivation in Europe served as the raw material for parts of the instrument panel.

After a production run of 250,000 units (sold in more than 74 countries), production of the i3 has ended, bringing an era to close. But the farewell is also linked to the start of a new chapter in electric mobility. In a seamless transition, further e-drive components will be manufactured at the Leipzig factory and from 2023, the next generation of the MINI Countryman will be manufactured at the same location.

In the 8½ years that the i3 was on sale, it achieved a significantly higher market share in the EV segment in many markets than the BMW brand in the area of conventionally powered cars. It also succeeded in attracting additional target groups in the premium mobility offers from BMW. In the early years, more than 80% of all buyers were new customers for the BMW Group.

Many i3 owners were ‘early adopters’ and reported being impressed by the reliability, low energy and maintenance costs. They reported that the brake pads did not need replacing even after more than 250,000 kms – because a large part of the deceleration power was provided by recuperation. The long-term quality of the battery pack was also praised as there was only a negligible reduction in range even after long running times. The BMW Group took this positive experience as an opportunity to increase the maximum mileage associated with the 8-year warranty period for the battery pack, extending it from 100,000 kms to 160,000 kms at the beginning of 2020.

BMW i3 EV 2022 — To commemorate the end of i3 production, BMW produced a HomeRun Edition (below) with extra features and a Frozen paint finish from BMW Individual for the first time. Only 10 units of this special edition were produced, making it a very exclusive i3. Customers who had bought the HomeRun Edition were invited to witness the completion of their cars in the assembly hall.

BMW’s new i3 is a fully electric 3-Series sedan only for China

No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing scores first victory in Extreme E series in Italy (w/VIDEO)

Last year, the Extreme E all-electric off-road series was largely dominated by the Rosberg X Racing (RXR) team owned by former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg. This year, in its second season, the series may see stronger rivals although it was still RXR that won the opening round in Saudi Arabia in February.

The second round – dubbed the NEOM Island X Prix – was held on the island of Sardinia in Italy. This is a double-header event which marks Extreme E’s European destination for Season 2. Sardinia provides a completely contrasting landscape to the other rounds, providing a harder compact surface with many rocks and bushes plus riverbeds, meaning drivers have many natural obstacles to navigate.

No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing took a maiden victory as the RXR team was penalised for Johan Kristoffersson’s collision with Carlos Sainz Snr. that took the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team out of the race.

Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price inherited their first win in the stop-start event final that also saw XITE ENERGY Racing claim a first top-three finish. During the race, a red flag was waved following a big accident for ACCIONA | SAINZ as RXR’s Kristoffersson collided with Sainz Snr. in the early stages.

It was the Spaniard who managed to edge in front of the pack from the start as the teams’ racing lines merged. But as the course narrowed, Sainz Snr. collided with Kristoffersson and was sent into a roll. This brought out the red flag at the end of the first lap and, ultimately, a 30-second penalty for the championship leaders.

Sainz Snr. managed to walk away from the accident, while Kristoffersson continued in the race despite substantial damage to his ODYSSEY 21. He received a full check-up in hospital as a precaution and was cleared and released the same day.

Amongst the chaos, LeDuc found himself in second place on track for No.99 GMC Hummer EV, ahead of XITE Energy Racing’s Timo Scheider and the trailing Hedda Hosas in the JBXE car as the teams entered the Switch Zone.

In similar fashion to the Desert X Prix Final, the race restarted for a 1-lap shootout, with the 4 teams released at intervals that matched how they had entered the Switch Zone. No.99 GMC Hummer EV’s Price began her chase of RXR’s Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky in pursuit of that elusive maiden victory for her team.

Despite missing bodywork from the front of her purpose-built vehicle (which is the same for all the teams), Ahlin-Kottulinsky extended the lead given to her by teammate to cross the line on track in first. However, following a Stewards’ investigation, RXR was demoted to third, giving victory to No.99 GMC Hummer EV, while XITE Energy Racing has their best series result to date.

Even with the penalty, Nico Rosberg’s outfit still leads the championship with 50 points after two rounds. His drivers once again secured the extra 5 points for going quickest in the Continental Traction Challenge. No.99 GMC Hummer EV are now their nearest challengers, 13 points behind.

“If you look at the numbers, we went from first in practice, to last in qualifying – and back to first as the race winners. It was a rollercoaster ride… I don’t know how to put it into words… but we all did our job today. We have a great GMC HUMMER EV team where everyone works so hard. We’re ready to take this success and apply it to the next race this weekend.” said LeDuc.

GMC is a division of General Motors and is participating in the Extreme E series with Chip Ganassi Racing to showcase the all-electric Hummer EV which was unveiled in October 2020. The Extreme E championship is for vehicles powered only by electricity and a specially-developed all-electric vehicle inspired by the Hummer EV will be used.

GMC’s association with Chip Ganassi Racing will be for a number of years. The event regulations specify that there must be one male and one female member, and both must also perform driving duties. To meet this requirement, the team has off-road racers Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price.

“I can’t think of a better fit than showcasing the look of GMC’s HUMMER EV in Extreme E with Chip Ganassi Racing,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors US Vice-President, Performance and Motorsports. “Both GMC HUMMER EV and the Extreme E series are designed to be revolutionary – to challenge perceptions of electric vehicles and to showcase their true capability.”