Tag: ev

Xiaomi’s First-Ever Electric Vehicle ‘Modena’ Spotted Being Tested in Extreme Cold Conditions: Report

Xiaomi announced in 2022 that it would foray into the electric vehicle segment with the introduction of its first such EV scheduled for some time in 2024. According to a new report, the electric vehicle codenamed ‘Modena’ has been spotted being tested in snow and ice weather conditions in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, as suggested by leaked images revealed by the publication. According to the report, the Chinese manufacturer could be testing the electric vehicle’s battery performance in extreme cold conditions, and the effects of such conditions on the vehicle’s range.

According to the report by ArenaEV, Xiaomi’s upcoming and first-ever electric vehicle has been spotted being tested in extreme cold weather conditions in a location that is thought to be in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. The report, citing a Chinese blogger, also suggested that Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun had joined the Xiaomi test-driving team for this. The company executive has previously been spotted expressing his enthusiasm in pushing the electric vehicle project to its goal, added the report.

The company executive had previously also shared Xiaomi’s first progress report on the Xiaomi Pilot Technology project for autonomous driving. The company had pledged to invest RMB 3.3 billion (nearly Rs. 3,897 crore) and hired over 500 experts from around the world to develop the in-house autonomous driving technology.

Xiaomi is also expected to invest another RMB 2 billion (nearly Rs. 2,400 crore) in the second phase of the project which will include ten upstream and downstream enterprises in the autonomous driving field, under which Xiaomi is expected to be in charge of core sensors, core actuators, domain controllers, and more.

Xiaomi Pilot Technology project is working to build a fleet of 140 test vehicle in its first phase. According to the ArenaEV report, Xiaomi had earlier been using BYD Han cars as test vehicles for its Xiaomi Pilot Technology testing. However, recently, the company was spotted using its own vehicles for testing on Chinese roads, and this is when the codename Modena came into the picture, added the report.

The latest images suggest that the Xiaomi Modena electric vehicle is a sedan, and will feature an aerodynamic shape complimented by a long hood and swooping roofline that drops gently toward the back of the car. The images also suggest ubiquitous retractable door handles and LiDAR sensors on the roof of the vehicle.

The Xiaomi Modena is tipped to be made available in three variants, with the first two entry models utilising BYD LFP ”blade” batteries, while the top-end model is expected to feature a CATL Qilin battery. Meanwhile, infotainment on the Modena is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s latest 8295 chips which offer 30 TOPS of NPU computing power, added the report.

Xiaomi is expected to price the electric vehicle between $38,350 (roughly Rs. 31,20,500) and $51,650 (roughly Rs. 42,02,600), according to the report.

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Citroen India, Jio-Bp Partner to Facilitate Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Services

Citroen India on Friday announced a strategic partnership with Jio-Bp, a fuels and mobility joint venture between Reliance Industries (RIL) and bp, to build electric vehicle infrastructure and services across its network.

“Jio-Bp will install DC fast-chargers across Citroen‘s key dealership network and workshops across the country in phases,” Jio-Bp and Citroen India said in a joint statement.

These chargers will also be open to the entire universe of EV car customers to help boost EV adoption among consumers, according to the statement.

With the New Citroen e-C3 all-electric scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2023, the JV said this partnership would ensure Jio-bp’s charging infrastructure network is accessible via the My Citroen Connect app.

Jio-Bp currently operates a rapidly expanding network of EV charging and swapping stations under the Jio-Bp pulse brand.

The entire range of Jio-Bp pulse offerings can be accessed via its mobile app helps customers easily locate EV charging stations in their vicinity, and facilitates digital payments amongst others, the statement noted.

Driven by the vision to be among India’s largest EV charging networks, Jio-Bp said it was creating an electric mobility ecosystem that will benefit stakeholders across the EV value chain and was expanding its Jio-bp pulse-branded EV charging network by setting up charging facilities at multiple touch points within cities and major highways to ensure smooth intra-city and inter-city commutes for EV owners.

Operating under the brand Jio-Bp, Reliance BP Mobility (RBML) is an Indian fuels and mobility joint venture between Reliance Industries (RIL) and bp. RBML provides advanced mobility solutions and alternate fueling options to its customers such as electric vehicles (EV) charging points, and battery swapping stations (BSS).

 

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Auto Expo 2023: Tata Power to Set Up 25,000 EV Charging Points Across India Over Next Five Years

Leading EV charging solutions provider Tata Power on Friday said it has started a nationwide plan of setting up 25,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the country to support faster adoption of e-mobility over the next five years.

The company is showcasing its range of hi-tech electric vehicle charging solutions at the ongoing Auto Expo 2023 in Greater Noida.

A first-hand experience of the technology that is driving Tata Power’s widespread EV charging network — EZ Charge — was provided to the visitors, including one of the most downloaded mobile apps for EV charging — Tata Power EZ Charge, according to a statement from the company.

The app helps commuters find the nearest charging station, know the real-time availability of charging points, and receive updates on charging status, amongst many others, Tata Power said.

The company also said information about its Network Operations Center (NOC) was on display. The Centre helps in the effective operational management of charging stations across India.

Through its widespread presence in the EV charging space, the company said it provides over 3,600 public or semi-public chargers and more than 23,500 residential chargers. Tata Motors said many of these charging stations were also equipped with fast-charging technology and located at various strategic locations, such as malls, hotels, airports, and office complexes.

NOC is integrated with the online platform that supports Tata Power’s EZ Charge services, has a real-time communication link with all on-board chargers, and aids in the early detection of tech-related issues. The NOC additionally supports quick problem-solving, back-end system support, and proactive planning for charging infrastructure upkeep.

Tata Power also said it has been at the forefront of providing EV charging solutions across every nook and corner of the country, with charging solutions for homes, workplaces, fleet stations, public locations, and commercial junctions like e-bus charging depots.

Virendra Goyal, Head for Business Development, EV charging, Tata Power, said, “The demand for electric vehicles is steadily increasing in India therefore it is important to have a robust pan-India charging network.

He said the company is excited to present products and technologies, which make Tata Power India’s leading EV charging solutions provider. “We remain committed to playing a prominent role in helping Indian consumers consider sustainable mobility in the future,” he added.

According to Tata Power, its EV charging initiatives are in line with the government’s National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), which aims to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure using the latest technological platform along with easy access to charging points for electric vehicles.

In addition to a strong network in Delhi-National Capital Region, Tata Power’s EV charging network spreads extensively, with a presence in Mumbai, Goa, Surat, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru, among others, it added.

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Renault Said to Be Considering Making Mass-Market EV Version of Hatchback Car for India by 2024

Renault is considering building a mass-market electric vehicle in India, two people with knowledge of the ongoing review told Reuters, as part of a renewed push into a market where EV adoption is expected to grow quickly from a small base.

The study by Renault underscores how the French automaker is pushing ahead with electrification plans even as it extends unresolved negotiations with its partner Nissan Motor about investing in an EV unit it plans to carve out from its other operations.

It also points to the shifting perception of the auto market in India, which posted the fastest growth of any major market in 2022. EVs were on track to be less than 1 percent of car sales last year but the government has set a target of 30 percent by 2030 and has had recent success in attracting suppliers for international automakers, with a range of subsidies.

Renault is studying launching a made-in-India electric version of its Kwid hatchback, the people told Reuters.

The review will assess potential demand, pricing and the ability to build the EV with local components, said one of the people, adding that any launch would be late in 2024.

The move is part of a broader plan by Renault to rekindle sales in a country where the carmaker remains profitable despite selling fewer cars in 2022 than a year earlier, the person said.

Renault India declined to comment on product plans but said the company has a “strong focus on electrification globally” as part of the strategy outlined by CEO Luca de Meo and that “India is one of the key markets” for the group.

India is set to become the world’s third-largest market for passenger and other light vehicles, displacing Japan, according to a forecast by S&P Global Mobility. Industry-wide sales grew an estimated 23 percent to 4.4 million vehicles in 2022.

That is a contrast to the outlook for the United States, where the market is expected to remain below 2019 levels next year, and China, where demand is weakening.

Renault had been hoping to reach with Nissan in December on the terms of a carve-out for its EV unit, but discussions have been slowed over concerns by the Japanese carmaker on a range of issues, including protection for its intellectual property.

“India will play an important role in future projects of Renault-Nissan but local plans will not be finalised before a global deal on a restructuring of the alliance is reached,” said one of the sources.

In India, domestic carmaker Tata Motors, which dominates electric car sales, as well as foreign players like Stellantis, Hyundai Motor and SAIC’s MG Motor are lining up EV launches.

Renault already produces a version of the Kwid EV in China which is sold in that market as the City K-ZE and exported to France as the Dacia Spring. The Spring, the second most sold EV in France in 2022, has a range of 230 kilometres and a starting price of 20,800 euros ($21,869) before government incentives.

To qualify for incentives in India, Renault would have to build the car at its alliance plant in southern India and source components locally, the first person said. The India plant is majority owned by Nissan.

Nissan declined to comment.

Renault currently produces the Kwid hatchback, Kiger SUV and seven-seater Triber in India. Its sales fell 9 percent to around 87,000 units in 2022 and its market share dipped to just over 2 percent.

As a part of the India reboot, Renault also plans to invest in refurbishing and upgrading some of its major dealerships in big cities, the person said. The company said it has 500 sales outlets in India.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

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Kia India to Bring More EV6 Units in Country to Complete Pending Bookings

Kia India is looking to bring in more EV6 units into the country in order to cater to the pending bookings, the automaker said on Thursday.

The company said it has delivered 200 units of the EV6, which comes as a completely built unit (CBU), to customers till date.

This number is already twice the initially planned 100 units for the entire year, the South Korean automaker said in a statement.

“Now, the company is planning to further increase the total allocation of EV6 in 2022 and complete most of the pending deliveries within this year,” it added. The company had launched EV6 in the country in June this year, and the deliveries to customers began last month.

“At the launch of EV6, amid the very positive response received, we had promised our customers to bring in more units of the EV6, over and above the initially allotted 100 units for 2022. Going forward, our focus will be on completing the deliveries of all the existing and new bookings at the earliest,” Kia India Chief Sales Officer Myung-sik Sohn stated.

The EV6 is built on Kia’s dedicated EV platform, the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), and marks the beginning of Kia‘s journey into the EV space in the country.

The car comes with a driving range of up to 708 kilometres on a full charge (ARAI certified).

As part of its EV roadmap, Kia also plans to launch an India-centric EV by 2025 in the country.

 

 

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Tesla Said to Be Considering Exporting Made-in-China Electric Cars to US

Tesla is considering exporting made-in-China electric cars to the United States, two people with knowledge of the planning told Reuters, a reversal that would reflect the automaker’s deepening cost advantage at its Shanghai plant and slower demand from Chinese consumers.

Tesla has been studying whether parts made by its China-based suppliers are compliant with local regulations in North America, and if they are, could ship China-made Model Y and Model 3 cars for sale there as soon as next year, said the people, who declined to be named as the matter is private.

That could also open a channel for exports to Canada, one of the people said.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory has the capacity to produce 1.1 million electric vehicles per year after an upgrade earlier this year, making it Tesla’s most productive manufacturing hub.

The Shanghai plant makes Model 3 sedans and Model Y crossovers to sell in China and for export to markets including Europe, Australia and South East Asia.

Until recently, Tesla had been selling or shipping for export every vehicle it could produce in Shanghai, but inventory levels rose by their largest margin ever in October, according to data from brokerage CMBI.

In addition, factors including a cheaper yuan against the US dollar, lower raw material prices in China and the rise in Tesla and new-car prices in the United States have combined to make exports from China to the United States potentially cost competitive, the people with knowledge of the plans said.

The plan, if enacted, could create new complexity for US buyers. Under the terms of a new electric vehicle subsidy and production-incentive plan signed into law by US President Joe Biden, the incentive available for an individual vehicle could vary depending on whether it was imported.

It could also be politically contentious. Tesla has been widely seen as one of major beneficiaries of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which offers rebates of up to $7,500 (nearly Rs. 6 lakh) on EV purchases as part of a law intended to push automakers to reduce their reliance on China.

Tesla Chief Financial Officer Zachary Kirkhorn told investors last month that the automaker was “very well-positioned to capture a significant share” of the incentives offered under the IRA for EVs and batteries for energy storage.

Until now, Tesla’s strategy has been to build the cars it sells in North America at its plants in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas.

The California plant, Tesla’s first, produces the Model S, the Model three sedans and the Model X and Model Y crossovers. The Texas plant, which opened earlier this year, makes the Model Y and will produce Tesla’s upcoming Cybertruck.

Tesla is also ramping up production at a plant it opened in Berlin earlier this year. Output from the Berlin plant will reduce the need for some exports from China, one of the sources said.

At the same time, the price gap between Tesla cars sold in China and the United States has been widening, reflecting both higher US prices and new discounts in China.

In China, where CMBI analysts have warned of a coming “price war,” Tesla slashed the starter prices for Model 3 and Model Y in China by as much as 9 percent last month.

On Monday, it offered an additional rebate for buyers who take delivery this month and buy insurance from one of Tesla’s partners.

Tesla sells the Model Y for the equivalent of $49,344 (nearly Rs. 30 lakh) in China, compared to the US price of $65,990 (nearly Rs. 53 lakh). China-made cars face a 27.5 percent US tariff, while light-duty trucks face a 25 percent tariff.

China, the world’s largest auto market, imposes a 15 percent tariff on imported vehicles.

In 2018, before Tesla’s Shanghai plant was operating, Chief Executive Elon Musk had asked then-President Donald Trump to raise tariffs on cars imported to the United States from China in order to achieve “a fair outcome” where both sides had equivalent and “equally moderate” tariffs.

Tesla would not be the first US automaker to ship made-in-China vehicles to the United States. General Motors has imported the Buick Envision SUV and unsuccessfully petitioned for an exemption to 25 percent US tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

© Thomson Reuters 2022

 

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EU Electric Car Makers May Soon Have Level Playing Field With US EV Manufacturers For Subsidies: Details

European Union and US officials expect to reach an agreement that would grant EU companies, including electric car makers, the same status as US ones in the US market, to avoid what the EU calls discrimination against its producers by the US Inflation Reduction Act.

The EU says that while it allows government tax breaks or subsidies for purchases of US electric cars such as those made by Tesla, the United States makes such support conditional on the car, or parts of it, being made in the United States.

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, responsible for trade, is holding talks on Thursday and Friday with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on the issue.

“Last month Tesla model Y was the most sold car in Germany,” Dombrovskis told a news briefing.

“That would not have been possible without the un-discriminatory EU subsidy, while EU electric cars do not get a similar subsidy in the US, which is discrimination that we want to address,” Dombrovskis said.

EU car makers – like Volkswagen – are affected by the US legislation, which covers a host of other products.

He said the problem also concerned a wide range of goods from the “green economy” sector, including batteries, hydrogen, and renewable energy equipment.

“There is a willingness to engage on the US side on this,” Dombrovskis said.

“We hope we can resolve these issues before they become disputes,” he said, adding talks would focus on whether changes to the status of EU companies could be made through the implementation of regulations to the US law, rather than having to send the whole Inflation Reduction Act back to Congress for amendments.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, asked if the issue could be resolved, told reporters she expected the EU and U.S. would reach an agreement.

“On the strength of the EU-US relationship, I have every confidence we will work through this,” she said after a meeting with Dombrovskis.

© Thomson Reuters 2022

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Jio-Bp to Set Up Charging Network for Mahindra’s Upcoming E-SUV Launches

Jio-Bp, the fuel retailing joint venture between Reliance Industries and BP, will set up charging network for Mahindra’s upcoming e-SUV launches, the firm said Tuesday.

“Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), India’s leading SUV manufacturer, and Jio-Bp are strengthening their existing partnership with Jio-Bp setting up robust charging network for Mahindra’s upcoming e-SUVs launches,” it said in a statement.

Last year, the companies signed an MoU for exploring the creation of EV products and services, alongside identifying synergies in low-carbon and conventional fuels.

Reliance and BP joint venture is aggressively expanding its Jio-Bp pulse branded EV charging network by setting up charging facilities at multiple touch points within cities and major highways to ensure smooth intra-city and inter-city commuting for EV owners.

Starting with 16 cities, Jio-Bp will install DC fast chargers at the M&M dealership network and workshops across the country.

“With these chargers being open to the public, the partnership will benefit all stakeholders in the EV value chain,” the statement said.

M&M launched its first all-electric C segment SUV — the XUV400 at Mahindra Research Valley, Chennai, earlier this month.

The company also made rapid strides towards electrification by unveiling its Born Electric Vision with a range of world-class electric SUVs to be launched in the country in the next few years.

The group is supplementing the launch of electric vehicles with access to extensive fast-charging infrastructure.

“To this end, M&M has partnered with Jio-Bp to provide EV users with a wide, accessible and convenient fast-charging network,” it said.

Jio-Bp and M&M will together drive electric passenger car adoption in India and help expedite the country’s net-zero emission goals, it added.

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Hero’s First Electric Scooter Hero Vida Launched, Bookings to Begin From October 10

India’s Hero Moto, the world’s biggest motorcycle maker by sales, launched its first electric scooter worldwide on Friday as it looks to catch up with newer businesses that have taken the lead in the shift to cleaner transport.

Like some other legacy automakers in India, Hero has been a laggard in launching electric two-wheelers, giving startups such as Ather Energy, which is backed by Tiger Global, and Softbank Group-backed Ola Electric a first-mover advantage.

“While it may have been our wish to launch this product earlier than we have, we had to get it absolutely right for the greater good of everyone,” Chairman Pawan Munjal told reporters at the launch event in Jaipur.

India wants e-scooters and e-bikes to make up 80 percent of total two-wheeler sales by 2030, from about 2 percent today.

While sales are accelerating as people move away from gasoline scooters in the face of rising fuel prices, a recent spate of electric scooters catching fire have raised concerns over safety, jeopardising consumer confidence.

There are concerns this could derail growth of a sector that is key to the country’s carbon reduction goals.

Prices for Hero’s debut model, Vida Plus, will start at Rs. 1,45,000 rupees — higher than most electric scooters in India — and it will have a minimum range of 143kms on a single charge, similar to Ather.

The company has made a string of investments in electric vehicle startups. In September, Hero said it would invest $60 million (nearly Rs. 500 crore) in California-based Zero Motorcycles to jointly develop electric motorcycles. In January, it announced an investment of more than $56 million (nearly Rs. 460 crore) in Ather and in 2021 it partnered with Taiwan’s Gogoro for its battery sharing infrastructure.

Hero will start taking bookings on October 10 and deliveries will begin in December.

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NASA-Funded Technology for Future Missions May Charge EVs in 5 Minutes on Earth

A new NASA-funded technology for future space missions may charge an electric car in just five minutes on Earth, paving the way for increased adoption of such vehicles, the US space agency said.

Researchers at Purdue University, US developed the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE) to enable two-phase fluid flow and heat transfer experiments to be conducted in the long-duration microgravity environment on the International Space Station (ISS).

The new “subcooled flow boiling” technique results in greatly improved heat transfer effectiveness compared to other approaches and could be used to control the temperatures of future systems in space.

This technology can also have applications on Earth: It could make owning an electric car more appealing, the researchers said.

Currently, charging times vary widely, from 20 minutes at a station alongside a roadway to hours using an at-home charging station.

Lengthy charging times and charger location are both cited as major concerns of people who are considering electric vehicle ownership.

Reducing the charging time for electric vehicles to five minutes — an industry goal — will require charging systems to provide current at 1,400A.

Currently, advanced chargers only deliver currents up to 520A, and most chargers available to consumers support currents of less than 150A.

However, charging systems providing 1,400A will generate significantly more heat than current systems, and will require improved methods to control temperature.

Recently, the team applied the technique learned from the NASA FBCE experiments to the electric vehicle charging process.

Using this new technology, dielectric — non-electrically conducting — liquid coolant is pumped through the charging cable, where it captures the heat generated by the current-carrying conductor.

Subcooled flow boiling allows the team to deliver 4.6 times the current of the fastest available electric vehicle chargers on the market today by removing up to 24.22kWs of heat, the researchers said.

The charging cable can provide 2,400A, which is far beyond the 1,400A required to reduce time required to charge an electric car to five minutes, they said.

“Application of this new technology resulted in unprecedented reduction of the time required to charge a vehicle and may remove one of the key barriers to worldwide adoption of electric vehicles,” the researchers added.

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