Mercedes and BMW to jointly launch a new charging network, China
BMW and Mercedes-Benz have formalized a collaborative agreement to establish a joint venture in China, operating on a 50:50 partnership basis. The primary objective of this venture is the development of a rapid and high-end charging infrastructure within the country. Anticipated to commence operations in 2024, the initial charging stations will be a precursor to the comprehensive network scheduled for completion by 2026. Envisaged as a significant deployment, the initiative aims to introduce approximately 1000 high-power charging points, with a broader scope of around 7000 charging points, catering to the general public in China. Source
Nissan is going fully electric with three iconic models and three gigafactories
Nissan has formally declared its ambitious initiative, revealed yesterday, to convert its manufacturing hub in the UK into a comprehensive 100% electric facility dedicated to producing three innovative electric vehicles. Termed the EV36Zero project, this transformative endeavor entails a substantial €3 billion investment, signifying a pivotal advancement in the global shift toward electric automobiles. Makoto Uchida, President and CEO of Nissan, conveyed his enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing, "Dynamic electric vehicles constitute a cornerstone in our pursuit of carbon neutrality. As we expedite the development of electric iterations of our core European models, we propel Nissan towards a transformative era, poised to redefine the landscape for both our company, the industry, and our valued customers." This proclamation builds upon Nissan's pledge to exclusively manufacture all new vehicles in Europe as fully electric and achieve a complete electric passenger car lineup in Europe by the year 2030. Source
BYD celebrates 6 millionth electrified car
BYD recently celebrated a milestone, producing its 6 millionth New Energy Vehicle (NEV), specifically the Bao 5 model from the Fangchengbao sub-brand. Expressing gratitude to contributors, they claims the distinction of being the first automaker to achieve this feat. It took BYD 13 years to reach 1 million NEVs, with the 3 millionth produced last November and the 5 millionth in August this year. Now, a little over three months later, BYD has hit the 6 million mark, showcasing impressive growth in the New Energy Vehicle sector. Source
EVs are more than 1/3 of luxury vehicle market, US
Leveraging data from Wards Intelligence, the EIA discovered that the combined sales of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles (EVs) reached 15.8% of light-duty vehicle sales in the third quarter of 2023, a notable increase from 12.3% and 8.5% in the same periods of 2022 and 2021, respectively. Specifically, the third quarter saw a robust performance with EVs, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids collectively constituting 17.7% of vehicle sales, driven by gains in each category. Non-hybrid internal combustion models are the only powertrain type consistently declining in sales. Notably, the average transaction price for EVs dropped by 5% in the third quarter to $50,283, bringing them within $3,000 of the market's average vehicle price. This includes a 24% reduction from the peak prices observed in spring 2022. Wards classified over 90% of nationwide EV sales as luxury models, a category that comprised less than one-fifth of total light-duty vehicle sales. Source
CATL to deliver electric skateboard in 2024
CATL, a prominent Chinese battery manufacturer, has achieved a breakthrough by integrating batteries, electric motors, and crucial components into a unified platform called the CATL Integrated Intelligent Chassis (CIIC). This advancement targets cost reduction, weight minimization, and energy efficiency in electric vehicles (EVs), all while optimizing passenger space. CATL has collaborated with Hozon Auto, a Chinese EV manufacturer with the Neta brand, to introduce the CIIC skateboard chassis. The partnership focuses on co-developing CIIC-powered models, with the inaugural launch scheduled for the third quarter of 2024. Source