Renault and Nissan Seek a Tie-Up With Mitsubishi
The deal would include cooperation on electric vehicles, the companies said, adding that they are also looking to produce two new sedan models under the Mitsubishi brand.
Tesla plans ‘giga factory’ for EV battery pack manufacture
Tesla Motors is considering plans to create a "giga factory" to manufacture electric vehicle battery packs for the automaker's consumption, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said.
Musk said Tesla's long-term ambitions to build 500,000 electric vehicles annually could chew up the vast majority of current lithium ion battery supplies globally for all industries, including computers and cell phones.
Musk said the Tesla plant would be "something comparable to all lithium ion production in the world, in one factory."
Musk declined to give a timeframe for the plant, but with the smaller Gen III cars slated to arrive in 2017 with a $35,000 price point, Tesla production should ramp up rapidly.
"If we were to produce 500,000 cars, we need cell capacity commensurate with that. That might be more, or at least on par with, all lithium ion production in the world today. We're in the process of figuring that out. There might need to be some giga-factory built," Musk said in a conference call with analysts.
Musk foresees such a plant that would take "raw materials to finished packs, with partners, in North America.
"Raw materials are not an issue. I would not worry about lithium supply. The main constituents, by weight, are nickel, cobalt, aluminum, then lithium," Musk said, adding that the plant would be, "a green factory, a lot of solar power. No toxic elements are going to come out of this plant."
Tesla recently inked a deal with Panasonic to update and expand their 2011 arrangement to now supply nearly 2 billion cells over the course of four years.
The Tesla Model S due in Australia mid 2014
Speaking in Dublin, Tesla Motors founder Elon Musk said that a right-hand-drive version of the Model S, appropriate for the roads of England and Ireland, as well as for Australia, should be ready for production by the end of March 2014.
It is understood that Tesla has scheduled an initial production run of 500 Model S cars bound for right-hand-drive markets, including the UK, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. Tesla has told buyers it expects Australian deliveries of right-hand-drive Model S sedans to begin sometime between March and June.
Tesla already has an Australian presence, with a store and service centre in Sydney, although neither is open to the public. The workshop functions to serve existing Tesla Roadster owners in Australia,
Tesla has been inviting Australian applications for Model S purchases for some time; securing a vehicle from the general production run requires a refundable AU$6,000 deposit, while ordering a top-spec Signature model won't leave you with any change from AU$40,000.
BMW says they won’t add SUV to ‘i’ range
BMW has announced an SUV will not be added to the recently introduced "i" range of frugal models.
The Bavarian marque has already started work on future "i" models but none of these include an SUV.
BMW introduced it's first EV earlier this year with the launch of the i3 available as a full electric car or with a range-extending engine. At IAA in Frankfurt this past September the lineup was expanded with the unveiling of a sportier i8 plug-in hybrid which reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.4 sec.
BMW has already trademarked all nameplates from i1 to i9 and even if each designation will be covered, none of the added cars will include an SUV. These are the words of i3's project manager Roland Kowalski who added the BMW i philosophy is "about an urban concept for megacities." The third "i" model could be an i5 sedan or a crossover providing more room compared to the i3 and go up against the Tesla Model S.
BMW are are also planning to have a plug-in hybrid version of their entire model range.
Nissan LEAF best selling car in Norway for October
The Nissan Leaf has for the first time claimed the number one spot in Norway's passenger car sales chart. In October, the zero emission family car out sold all of its internal combustion engine, hybrid and electric rivals, taking almost 6% of the total passenger vehicle market.
Nissan's second generation LEAF, which was launched earlier in the year, continues to lead the way in zero emission mobility. The Nissan LEAF consistently performs outstandingly in the Norwegian market, the undisputed electric car capital of the world, taking fourth in the sales charts for 2013 to date with over 3% of the market.
Jean-Pierre Diernaz, Nissan Europe Director of Electric Vehicles, is delighted with the latest Norwegian success, commenting: "We have had incredibly strong sales this year in Norway and with the introduction of the new Nissan LEAF in the middle of 2013, we have seen that level not just maintained, but exceeded. To get the number one spot is an extraordinary sales performance, even for the world's best selling electric car, but to be number four in the charts for 2013 so far is something we are incredibly proud of. We continue to be successful in the main Norwegian cities, but the majority of our growth is coming from rural areas, which shows is the breadth of the Nissan LEAF's appeal."
Norway has been the centre of the electric vehicle market in Europe for some time, with a package of incentives including zero VAT and zero road tax for electric vehicles as part of efforts to improve air quality for all citizens.
Jacek Gorski, Nissan Nordic Europe Managing Director believes the success is because the car fits Norwegian customers' needs, commenting: "It is no surprise that we are beating even our April record of second position with the new Nissan LEAF, we knew that that latest version was an even better fit to the Norwegian lifestyle. The increased boot capacity, five seats and standard quick charging make it a great family car. In addition, our engineers have designed a Nordic pack including battery heater, just for the Nordic region, to maintain customer satisfaction even in our very cold winters."
October 2013 Sales in Norway
Position
|
Model
|
Sales
|
Percentage
|
1
|
Nissan LEAF
|
716
|
5.6
|
2
|
Toyota Auris
|
679
|
5.3
|
3
|
Volkswagen Golf
|
646
|
5.0
|
4
|
Skoda Octavia
|
540
|
4.2
|
5
|
Toyota Yaris
|
446
|
3.5
|
6
|
Volvo V40
|
319
|
2.5
|
7
|
Toyota RAV-4
|
300
|
2.3
|
8
|
Mazda CX-5
|
299
|
2.3
|
9
|
Volvo V70
|
291
|
2.3
|
10
|
Suzuki SX4
|
277
|
2.1
|
2013 January to October Car Sales in Norway
Position
|
Model
|
Sales
|
Percentage
|
1
|
Volkswagen Golf
|
6239
|
5.3
|
2
|
Toyota Auris
|
3982
|
3.4
|
3
|
Mazda CX-5
|
3950
|
3.3
|
4
|
Nissan LEAF
|
3755
|
3.2
|
5
|
Toyota Yaris
|
3656
|
3.1
|
Daimler wants to expand cooperation with Tesla
Daimler would like to expand its cooperation with Tesla Motors, a top Daimler executive said on Thursday.
"I told my guys, go back to Tesla and look for other opportunities" to work together, Bodo Uebber, Daimler's chief financial officer, said at a press briefing. "We want to look for more cooperation."
Tesla is supplying electric motors and batteries to Daimler for its Smart Fortwo EV and the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class EV that goes on sale next year in the United States and Europe.
"We could use more" from Tesla, Uebber said, without providing specifics. Daimler holds a 4.3 percent stake in Tesla, which also provides EV components to Toyota Motor Corp.
Uebber said Daimler, which just launched its new CLA compact sedan and is preparing to add a second model, the GLA compact crossover, in early 2014, is already reviewing plans for its next generation of small vehicles, due around 2018.
Daimler is discussing "different strategies" for building the next-generation compacts in Mexico with partner Renault-Nissan , "but no decision has been made," Uebber said.
He said the CLA, the GLA and at least one more derivative in 2015 from the company's MFA modular platform were crucial to Daimler's growth, especially in the United States and China.
"We are a late comer" to the small premium segment, he said, but "we need compact cars to get a broader, younger customer base."
Subaru to reveal Viziv Evolution Plug-In Hybrid Concept @ Tokyo Motor Show
The Subaru Viziv Evolution concept, which was exhibited at the 2013 Geneva show, will be revealed at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show in a closer to production form.
The Viziv Evolution we saw in Geneva utilized a diesel-hybrid set up, whereas this iteration is a plug-in hybrid that employs the same 1.6-liter DIT boxer engine in the Levorg concept.
The overall design carries over, though, with the engine connected to a continuously variable transmission, one electric motor up front and two additional electric motors connected to the rear wheels.
Technology is a big component of the innovative all-wheel drive Viziv Evolution concept, which will also come with a new autopilot system that previsions the future of fully-autonomous vehicles.
Major Specifications
1 front motor,
2 rear motors
Wheelies: The Cash for Clunkers Edition
The Brookings Institution finds that Cash for Clunkers wasn’t worth its weight in gold, and N.H.T.S.A. reports reduced traffic fatalities in 2013. Tesla Superchargers Enables Free Travel Between San Diego and Vancouver
Tesla Motors today announced the opening of the West Coast Supercharger Corridor, energizing a network of stations that enable Model S owners to travel for free between San Diego, California and Vancouver, British Columbia.
With stations along U.S. Highway 101 and Interstate 5, the West Coast's key routes, cities and destinations are connected by Tesla Superchargers. Model S customers can drive between San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver for free with minimal stops. More than 99 percent of Californians and 87 percent of Oregon and Washington owners are now within 200 miles of a Supercharger.
Tesla Superchargers are substantially more powerful than any other charging technology in the world, capable of charging Model S 20x faster than most public charging stations. Superchargers deliver up to 120 kW DC (Direct Current) power directly to the Model S battery, providing half a charge in as little as 20 minutes. Superchargers are strategically placed along major highways connecting city centers. Stations are located where customers want to stop, near amenities like roadside diners, cafes and shopping centers, so owners can stop for a quick meal while their Model S charges for free.
This morning in San Diego, two Model S will embark on a 1,750 mile #DriveFree road trip to Vancouver powered only by Tesla Superchargers. The journey will take them through Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Sacramento, Mt. Shasta, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, with stops at popular destinations such as the Santa Monica Pier, Monterey Bay and the world famous Pike Place Fish Market. Throughout the trip, Tesla will be hosting owner and media events and providing real time updates from the road on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Panasonic Agree to Supply Tesla with 2 Billion Battery Cells
Panasonic Corporation and Tesla Motors today announced that the two companies have reached an agreement in which Panasonic will expand its supply of automotive-grade lithium-ion battery cells to Tesla. With this agreement, the two companies update and expand their 2011 arrangement to now supply nearly 2 billion cells over the course of four years. The lithium-ion battery cells purchased from Panasonic will be used to power the award winning Model S as well as Model X, a performance utility vehicle that is scheduled to go into production by the end of 2014.
This agreement builds upon a multi-year collaboration between Panasonic and Tesla to develop next-generation automotive-grade battery cells and accelerate the market expansion of electric vehicles. Panasonic’s cells combined with Tesla’s proven EV battery expertise have already enabled more than 130 million customer miles driven in Tesla Roadsters and Model S.
“This expanded agreement with Panasonic is important to Tesla as we continue to increase the pace of production,” said Tesla Co-Founder and CEO Elon Musk. “We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Panasonic, and I’m confident that this partnership will continue to be an integral part of Tesla’s success for years to come.”
Together, Panasonic and Tesla have developed a next-generation battery cell technology that provides the highest energy density and best performance cells in the market. Panasonic’s cylindrical cell is a customized technology designed specifically for optimizing electric vehicle quality and life. These cells are integrated by Tesla into the battery pack in a way that enables an industry-leading range of approximately 265 miles for the Model S.
“We are extremely proud to be a strategic partner of Tesla,” said Yoshihiko Yamada, president of the Automotive & Industrial Systems Company, an internal company of Panasonic. “Panasonic will increase its production capacity of lithium-ion battery cells to supply Tesla’s growing needs as it expands its production of EVs.”
