Toyota will display a new compact urban electric car at the Tokyo motor show, ahead of a planned Japanese on-sale date in late 2020. The as-yet-unnamed two-seater is referred to as an ultra-compact battery electric vehicle (EV) and has been designed “for short-distance travel with limited impact on the environment”. With a claimed range of 62 miles, an “extremely tight” turning radius and a top speed of just 37mph, the model is aimed squarely at drivers in built-up urban environments, and more specifically the elderly. Charging time is a claimed five hours from a 220-volt power unit. Akihiro Yanaka, head of development, said: “We want to create a mobility solution that can support Japan’s ageing society and provide freedom of movement to people at all stages of life.” Toyota also notes the new model’s suitability for newly licensed drivers and city-based mobile businesses. The unveiling comes as the firm reshapes its business model to better promote the concept of mass electric car adoption. As part of the new strategy, Toyota says it will scrutinise “every step of the battery’s lifecycle, from manufacture through sale, resale or re-use to recycling, to maximise its value”, in response to widespread criticism that battery costs make even the most affordable EVs much more expensive than their conventionally fuelled counterparts. In the short-term, Toyota plans to introduce a new battery leasing scheme whereby used units can be swapped into pre-owned vehicles, broken down for spare parts or used in non-automotive power storage facilities as appropriate. It also claims to be developing its own EV charging stations and plans to launch an EV-specific insurance programme. Joining the two-seater on Toyota’s Tokyo stand will be the Walking Area BEV, designed for security patrols and airport luggage movements, the i-Road, a short-distance electric scooter designed for urban commutes and tourist functions, and the second generation of the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in concept
Origin: Toyota to launch ultra-compact EV and new battery strategy
battery
Battery runs empty in Tesla Model S police car in mid-pursuit
A Tesla Model S police cruiser ran out of battery in the middle of a high-speed pursuit, the Fremont, California police department has confirmed.Fremont officer Jesse Hartman radioed in that he was chasing down a felony vehicle but that his Model S cop car showed just six miles (10 km) of range before the battery would be empty, reports The Mercury News.Hartman asked his dispatch to have another unit take over as pursuit lead after suggesting I may lose it here in a second; other gas-powered cars picked up the chase only to drop it shortly after due to the suspects driving getting way too reckless. The Tesla, meanwhile, had to recharge in San Jose before heading back to the station.The department told Roadshow its unclear why the Tesla wasnt charged that particular day, and noted the car had been through roughly two full shifts when the chase commenced at 11 p.m. on September 20. Though this was only the EV police cars second pursuit, a representative for Fremont PD said it performed well, and that theyre overall thrilled with the Tesla as a cruiser.Even gas-powered police cars have run out of fuel on the job, the representative noted, and other units were able to pick up this particular chase anyway before terminating it.While the car usually comes back with 40 per cent or 50 per cent of its battery range remaining, perhaps this will work as a lesson to remind them to always top it off at the end of every
Origin: Battery runs empty in Tesla Model S police car in mid-pursuit
Williams reveals lighter yet longer-range EV battery module
Williams Advanced Engineering has developed a new type of lithium ion battery module that could make automotive battery packs up to 30 percent lighter and 37 percent more energy dense. The new module, unveiled at the annual Cenex low carbon vehicle event in Bedforshire, could have wide-reaching benefits if the tech is licenced to EV manufacturers. The innovation means a battery of the same weight as a conventional unit can deliver longer range without compromising power, or higher power without compromising range. A test battery using 16 modules has a storage capacity of 60kWh, produces peak power of 550kW for 20 seconds and peak regeneration of 550kW for 10 seconds. The Adaptive Multi-Chem module is in the development phase and, says Williams Advanced Engineering Technical Director, Paul McNamara, “we could be manufacturing in a small series of around 50 units in the next six to 12 months.” The pack is intended initially for use in high performance premium electric sports cars and the hope is that, as demand grows, the technology will trickle down into the mainstream. The modules could also see service in motorsport and aerospace where endurance and power combined with low weight are priorities. Lithium ion battery packs are usually made up of a single type of cell, each with the same chemistry, energy density and power output. Cells are arranged in modules and the modules are assembled into a complete pack. The Williams design uses two different types of cell chemistry arranged in two separate blocks within the module. Widely used Samsung 21700 30T cylindrical cells provide good energy density and more specialised high performance pouch cells from A123 systems provide the high power. The pouch cells provide the fast release of energy needed for strong acceleration and, as they become depleted, are topped up again from the energy stored in the Samsung cells. Each module has its own integrated, bi-directional DC/DC converter to control the process of energy transfer between the two types of cell. All the control software is written by WAE in-house, each module has a self-contained liquid cooling circuit and can be supplied to customers ready to assemble into battery packs. McNamara concedes that, because of the added complexity and integrated electronics “the cost will be higher than a conventional module but we hope to get economies of scale as number increase.” The new design draws from experience gathered in developing batteries for the Williams F1 team and latterly as sole supplier to the FIA Formula E race series, as well as involvement in a number of electric vehicle
Origin: Williams reveals lighter yet longer-range EV battery module
Lawsuit claims older Tesla’s battery capacities are being artificially lowered
You wouldnt know by looking at it, but this Tesla Model S P80D can drive itself A lawsuit recently filed by the owner of a Tesla Model S alleges the California EV manufacturer is artificially limiting the capacity of older Tesla models so it would avoid having to replace defective batteries, Reuters reports.Under the guise of safety and increasing the longevity of the batteries of the Class Vehicles, Tesla fraudulently manipulated its software with the intent to avoid its duties and legal obligations to customers to fix, repair, or replace the batteries of the Class Vehicles, all of which Tesla knew were defective, yet failed to inform its customers of the defects, the lawsuit alleges.It goes on to say that potentially thousands of owners of older Tesla models have had their battery driving ranges lowered by as many as 64 kilometres following a recent over-the-air software update. Plaintiff David Rasmussens 2014 Model S 85 says his battery capacity fell by about 8 kWh, but that he was told by Tesla the degradation was normal. Other owners have said their cars no longer charge to 100 per cent.The automakers defense notes the software update was made after a Model S caught fire in Hong Kong; the incident prompted Tesla to revise its charging and thermal management settings to help further protect the battery and improve battery longevity. The lawsuit counters that Tesla chose to go behind the backs of its customers and use software updates and throttling of the battery to avoid liability in the wake of these vehicle fires involving the overcharging of lithium batteries.Owners have also alleged the reduction in battery capacity has lowered the value of their
Origin: Lawsuit claims older Tesla’s battery capacities are being artificially lowered
Tesla updates its cars in wake of Shanghai battery fire
In April, a white Tesla Model S was caught on camera emitting smoke, before catching fire.@ShanghaiJayin / Twitter A catastrophic fire in a Tesla Model S last April was caused by a single battery module inside the vehicle, according to the automaker, which has revised its settings for better protection.On April 21, a Tesla parked in an underground garage in Shanghai spontaneously burst into flames. The incident was captured by security cameras and later shared on Twitter.According to Automotive News, Tesla posted on its Weibo social media channel in China that its investigative team conducted a probe and analysis of the battery, software, manufacturing data and vehicle history. The investigation concluded that there was no system defect, and the fire was caused by a single battery module located at the front of the vehicle. A module is made up of several battery cells joined together. Panasonic supplies Teslas cells but not its modules.The automaker said it sent over-the-air software updates to Model S and Model X vehicles to revise the charging and thermal management settings to help further protect the battery and improve battery longevity.NIO, a Chinese electric-car manufacturer competing with Tesla, has had three vehicle fires in China. One of them occurred at a NIO repair facility not long after the Tesla incident. Earlier this week, NIO posted on Weibo that it may have issues with some of its battery modules, and will recall 4,803
Origin: Tesla updates its cars in wake of Shanghai battery fire
Honda e range and battery confirmed
Honda e range and battery confirmed The Honda e will have a range of 125 miles on a charge Battery details have been announced for the forthcoming Honda e pure-electric citycar, with a 35.5 kWh battery giving drivers a range of 125 miles on a single charge. The Honda e is focusing on urban travel and an enjoyable driving experience. The relaively low range – by current mass-market standards – is tempered by the fact that the Honda e is designed primrily for travel around towns and cities, where a 100+ mile range is often ample. For driving enjoyment, Honda has confirmed that the e will be rear-wheel drive, opening up the front end for a tight turning circle. Elements throughout are made from aluminium, including parts of the suspension, to improve performance and efficiency. Short-overhangs, four-wheel independent suspension, and 50:50 weight distribution with a low centre of gravity add up to important elements when considering how Honda intends the e to be a fun to drive citycar. To charge, the Honda a will have a Type 2 CCS inlet, with a top-up on a 50 kW charger taking around half an hour to 80%. The battery will be water-cooled to make sure it remains in the optimum temperature, even with repeated rapid charging. The charge point is behind a glass panel in the bonnet, where there will be a quick-glance charge indicator. Honda reckons that a central charging port makes for easier use from drivers, rather than having a charging port to one side.
Origin: Honda e range and battery confirmed
EV battery projects awarded share of 23 million
EV battery projects awarded share of £23 million The latest round of Faraday Battery Challenge funding has been announced The government has announced which projects have been awarded a share of £23 million in funding from the Faraday Battery Challenge to develop batteries for electric vehicles. Companies leading the projects range from small designers to large automotive manufacturers, with the aim being to bring together the car industry and academia to make the UK one of the world’s leading R&D centres for EVs. Winners include mining consultancy firm Wardell Armstrong, which will work with experts at the Natural History Museum and mining firm Cornish Lithium to lead a new study looking to develop a UK supply of lithium, helping to meet the massive demand expected from the transition to electric vehicles. Also awarded funding are a Jaguar Land Rover-led project to maximise battery performance while maintaining safety, and a study looking into the use of artificial intelligence in battery manufacturing, led by materials technology company Granta Design. This £23 million investment forms part of the total £274 million that will be awarded to groups across the UK through the Faraday Battery Challenge, part of the government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). Faraday Battery Challenge Director Tony Harper said: “Across the three rounds of funding competitions we have now awarded a total of £82.6 million to 63 projects. This is a massive investment in business-led battery R&D in the UK, supporting innovative technologies and helping to build a UK supply chain that can compete on the global stage.”
Origin: EV battery projects awarded share of 23 million
Rivian will offer electric truck-to-truck battery charging
2019 Rivian R1T Electric TruckHandout / Rivian EV upstart Rivian is offering up another reason to get excited about its upcoming products. First there was the announcement the all-electric R1T pickup and R1S SUV will do more than 640 km on a charge and cost just $70,000. Then there was the Camping Special trim teaser that showcased some of the accessories that will come along with the outdoor-focused vehicles. And now, thanks to some candid comments from the usually rather reserved CEO, RJ Scaringe, in conversation with The Drive, there’s the news that Rivian’s first fleet will also offer vehicle-to-vehicle charging. We’d say that’s freakin’ cool! but at this point we’re almost scared to hype Rivian any further for fear of jinxing it. Though, the company may be beyond the powers of the jinx—Rivian recently received a US$500-million investment from Ford and similar contributions from Amazon. Scaringe also announced that auxiliary battery packs will also be made available, allowing off-road enthusiasts even greater range. You’re starting to get into the long tail of use cases, but even there we’ve designed the vehicle so you can have auxiliary battery packs,” Scaringe told The Drive. “You can also charge Rivian-to-Rivian, which is a neat thing. You connect the two vehicles and then I could hand you some electrons. That takes us to the limit, and of course you can always find a corner of the world where it won’t work, just like you can’t find a gas station in Antarctica. You won’t be able to find a plug in Antarctica, so there are natural limitations. Other topics covered in the interview include the “holy grail” of battery chemistry, the pace of change in the industry, how the company has extended range by improving aerodynamics in its products, and what it’s like to always be compared to Elon Musk. The R1T pickup and R1S SUV are on schedule to be on roads by the end of 2020.
Origin: Rivian will offer electric truck-to-truck battery charging
Audi recalls first electric vehicle in U.S. on battery fire risk
The 2019 Audi e-Tron, the luxury automakers first fully electric series-production model, will be in Canadian showrooms in the spring and pricing starts in the $90,000 neighbourhood.Audi Canada Volkswagens luxury brand Audi is recalling its first all-electric vehicle due to the risk of a battery fire. The company issued a voluntary recall of approximately 540 E-Tron SUV models sold in the U.S. because of a risk that moisture can seep into the battery cell through a wiring harness glitch, spokesman Mark Dahncke said. The company isn’t aware of any fires or injuries because of the flaw, which affects a total of 1,644 models, he said. The E-Tron, which went on sale in the U.S. in April, is Audi’s first fully-electric car and one in a wave of contenders from traditional automakers looking to challenge Tesla’s dominance of the segment. While electric vehicles are no more prone to accidents or fires than gasoline-powered cars – and might be less so, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – the lithium-ion battery technology that powers them is still evolving, and there is no consensus on safe system design. Audi said there have been five instances globally where a battery fault light turned on because of the moisture issue. It began contacting E-Tron owners in the U.S. last week, prior to a warning from federal safety regulators, and should have a repair available by August. “We are applying an abundance of caution as no such incidents have been reported globally,” the company said in a statement. Audi said it’s offering E-Tron owners loaner vehicles and an $800 cash card to cover gas or incidentals during the recall period, as well as free roadside assistance. There are still E-Trons unaffected by the recall available for sale, it
Origin: Audi recalls first electric vehicle in U.S. on battery fire risk
Volvo signs multi-billion dollar EV battery supply deal
Volvo has bolstered its electrified model roll-out by signing long-term deals with battery makers CATL and LG Chem in a move set to “ensure the multi-billion dollar supply of lithium ion batteries over the coming decade for Volvo and Polestar models,” said the car maker. Volvo announced in 2017 that, from this year, all of its new models would be electrified. It also wants 50 per cent of its global sales to be electric cars by 2025. This agreement with CATL of China and LG Chem of South Korea will help secure that goal, and comes ahead of Volvo launching its first electric car later this year, a zero-emission variant of the existing XC40 compact SUV. The issue of battery supply is crucial for car makers as the industry forges ahead with electrification: in the last 18 months, a number of manufacturers are understood to have faced supply shortages forcing electric vehicle delays. This deal covers battery supply for the next generation of Volvo’s larger models, such as the XC60 and XC90, which will be built on a new SPA2 platform as well as cars on the maker’s existing CMA platform used in smaller models such as the XC40 and Polestar 2. “The future of Volvo Cars is electric and we are firmly committed to moving beyond the internal combustion engine,” said Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo CEO. “Today’s agreements with CATL and LG Chem demonstrate how we will reach our ambitious electrification targets.” Volvo’s first battery assembly line will launch before the end of the year at Volvo’s plant in Ghent, Belgium where the electric XC40 will be built. Plug-in hybrid variants of the XC40 are already underway on the
Origin: Volvo signs multi-billion dollar EV battery supply deal
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