Hyundai and Kia join Ionity network The ultra rapid EV charging network welcomes Hyundai Motor Group The Hyundai Motor Group has become a new shareholder in the Ionity pan-European ultra-rapid EV charging network. The latest addition to the joint venture sees both Hyundai and Kia brands represented. The Korean group joins the BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, Daimler AG and the Volkswagen Group as shareholders, as the network continues its roll-out along the major routes across Europe. Hyundai and Kia have some of the market’s best EVs on sale, with long-driving ranges easily possible. Real world ranges for models like the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia e-Niro, and forthcoming Kia Soul EV are between 250 and 300 miles on a charge, and all use the CCS charging standard that is found on Ionity charge points. These units can charge at up to 350 kW – though no vehicle on sale currently can accept such a charge. Instead, a number of the newest EVs can take a charge at between 100 kW and 150 kW. Ionity CEO Michael Hajesch said: “Hyundai Motor Group brings significant international experience and know-how with a full strategic commitment to e-mobility. The participation of new investors in Ionity is a clear signal of trust indicating that the work of our young company is already bearing fruit.” Launched by motor manufacturers, the Ionity joint venture always said that it was open to new groups coming in to the network to aid in expansion. The Hyundai Motor Group is the first newcomer to join the network. Find Ionity points on Zap-Map – there are three locations in the UK already, with more being worked on.
Origin: Hyundai and Kia join Ionity network
join
Canada and California join up on vehicle emissions standards
A worker inserts a probe into the tailpipe of a car while performing an emissions test Canada has signed an agreement with California to tackle vehicle-borne pollution even as that state battles President Trump in the courts over tailpipe emissions.Catherine McKenna, Canadas Minister of Environment and Climate Change, signed a new cooperation agreement for cleaner transportation with Mary Nicols, chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).Uniquely among the U.S. states, California has the ability to set its own vehicle emissions standards, an authority dating back to the 1960s when it fought the smog that blanketed Los Angeles.Other states can choose to follow them, or to follow federal standards, which are not as stringent. Currently, fourteen states follow California regulations, along with the District of Columbia.The agreement is a commitment for Canada and California to work together on their respective regulations, in an effort to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) pollutants coming from vehicles.The Canadian governments goal is for all light-duty vehicles sold in the country to be 100-per-cent zero-emission by 2040. With Canadas current regulations, 2025 model-year light-duty vehicles will burn up to 50 per cent less fuel, and emit 50 per cent less greenhouse gases, than vehicles built in 2008.California requires that automakers have zero-emission vehicles as a growing proportion of their sales, with the goal of 5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2030. One in ten new vehicles sold in California is a plug-in car, and the state accounts for half of all plug-in hybrid cars sold in the United States.The two will also share information on cleaner fuels. Canada is developing a Clean Fuel Standard intended to cut 30 million tonnes of emissions in 2030, the equivalent of retiring 7 million vehicles.California is currently suing the U.S. federal government, after Trump said last summer that the state would no longer be allowed to set its own standards. Trump is also trying to roll back federal standards set under Barack Obama in 2012, which require vehicles to improve in fuel efficiency each year through 2025. Canada aligned with the United States on Obamas stricter 2012 regulations, but is now reviewing that commitment in light of Trumps attempt to scrap the rules.In a statement, the David Suzuki Foundation, based in Vancouver, said that joining with jurisdictions like California in maintaining strong regulations is the right direction for Canada and puts the U.S. federal government, which is trying to weaken standards, on the wrong page.But the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) said that aligning with a single state runs counter to the benefits of a single national standard with the United States. It said that while the Canadian new-car sector is committed to fuel economy improvements, Any movement away from a harmonized approach will hinder choice and increase costs for Canadian
Origin: Canada and California join up on vehicle emissions standards
Toyota and Subaru join forces to create rival to Tesla Model X
A prototype render of a new BEV platform to be co-developed by Subaru and ToyotaSubaru Toyota and Subaru said early June they’ll join forces once again to create a new Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) platform that will underpin midsize and large passenger vehicles for each brand, though they will also jointly develop an SUV that uses the platform. World markets are undergoing a tectonic shift, with electric vehicles and hybrids gradually expanding their market share. To get new their zero-emissions technologies up to speed as fast as possible, Toyota and Subaru have again partnered together, hoping to draw from both companies’ expertise in order to create an effective BEV platform. Traditional hybrids have worked well in the past for both brands, but this is the first time either will step into the world of fully-electric vehicles. Building a pure EV requires the batteries are essentially part of the body, which necessitates a new platform for both Toyota and Subaru. Following this agreement with Toyota, Subaru will now shift its existing BEV development resources to this new joint project, the automaker said in a statement. Within this new framework, Subaru will continue its efforts to create an attractive BEV SUV for our customers, while improving efficiencies in terms of engineering, development, purchasing, and other areas through the new joint project. Toyota and Subaru first started a working partnership in 2005, and are now creating a deeper connection with the development of this new platform. The first fruit this partnership bore was the BRZ/GT86 sports car, which has been a hit with
Origin: Toyota and Subaru join forces to create rival to Tesla Model X
BMW and Jaguar Land Rover will join forces on electric-car technology
A Jaguar I-Pace having its battery removedJaguar BMW and Jaguar Land Rover will collaborate on their next generation of electric cars, following similar moves by other automakers that have teamed up to share the burden of developing the expensive new technology. Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, will cooperate on BMW’s fifth generation of electric drive technology, the companies said in a statement on Wednesday. It forms the backbone of a BMW electric model offensive set to start next year with the introduction of an electric X3 sports utility vehicle. The move follows Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ proposal last week to merge with Renault, creating the world’s third-biggest automaker. The deal would bring the Italian-American automaker into a global alliance that includes Nissan, maker of the pioneering Leaf, and Mitsubishi Motors. The world’s largest automaker, Volkswagen, and U.S. rival Ford are cooperating on building vans, a project that could extend to autonomous cars or sharing production platforms. The need for record spending on the technology coincides with a time of low profit and stagnating sales. BMW is currently working through a US$14 billion savings plan, while Jaguar is undergoing a 2.5 billion-pound savings program of its own and cutting 4,500 jobs. The carmakers will form a joint team of experts in Munich that will develop power units together. Both companies will still produce drivetrains in their own factories, they said in the statement. BMW was an early entrant into the electric-car market with the i3 hatchback, which began production in 2013, though sales haven’t taken off. Jaguar started deliveries of the all-electric I-Pace last year, one of a crop of premium SUVs being launched by traditional carmakers to take on the Tesla
Origin: BMW and Jaguar Land Rover will join forces on electric-car technology
Jaguar Land Rover and BMW join forces to develop electrified vehicles
Jaguar Land Rover and BMW have announced they will collaborate on the development of next-generation technology for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The two firms will jointly develop electric drive systems, otherwise known as EDUs, in a move which Jaguar Land Rover and BMW hope will significantly lower the cost of development in an area of growth that has been incredibly costly to car makers in recent years. This new alliance is one of many currently underway in the industry as manufacturers seek to make electrified vehicles more profitable. Most recently, Ford announced a $500m investment in EV start-up Rivian. No timeframe has been given for when the first fruits of the collaboration will be seen, but it’s likely to be in the next three to four years. Similarly, no volume expectations have been announced but given the need for economies of scale, it is set to be substantial. Both firms are ramping up their electrified line-ups. Jaguar Land Rover will launch a plug-in hybrid Evoque and Discovery Sport in the next 12 months, while BMW will introduce the electric iX3 next year, closely followed by the i4, an electric equivalent to the 3 Series. The announcement comes just weeks after Jaguar Land Rover reported a £3.6billion loss over its financial year amid persistent rumours of a possible takeover by PSA Group, a deal which has yet to be confirmed. The collaboration, which includes joint investment in research and development, engineering and procurement stems from both the success of Jaguar’s electric I-Pace and BMW’s long-established expertise, having built EDUs in-house since it launched the i3 in 2013. Jaguar Land Rover and BMW will work together to develop the EDUs with both developing systems to “deliver the specific characteristics required for their respective range of products,” said the statement. The EDUs will be made by JLR and BMW at their respective plants. For JLR, this will be the Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton, which was confirmed as the home of the firm’s global EDU production earlier this year. There is not yet word on where BMW will build its EDUs, but there has been widespread reports that BMW is expanding its manufacturing base in Hams Hall, in the Midlands, which would mean it was in close proximity to JLR’s facility. The financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Jaguar Land Rover said the move supports “the advancement of electrification technologies, a central part of the automotive industry’s transition to an ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared) future”. Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover engineering director added: ““We’ve proven we can build world beating electric cars but now we need to scale the technology to support the next generation of Jaguar and Land Rover products. It was clear from discussions with BMW Group that both companies’ requirements for next generation EDUs to support this transition have significant overlap making for a mutually beneficial collaboration.” BMW is yet to elaborate on its plans as part of the agreement. This is not the first meeting of Jaguar Land Rover and BMW. In 1994, BMW bought Land Rover but had limited successs so sold it to Ford in 2000. Ford later sold the brand to Tata Motors in
Origin: Jaguar Land Rover and BMW join forces to develop electrified vehicles
All about car 