Electric Vehicles & Cars - Page 13

German automaker Audi will team up with Swiss team Sauber, with the partnership starting for the 2026 Formula 1 season. Audi's strategic move will allow the company to test new product developments without investing the extreme monetary requirements for a Formula 1 team from the ground up.

In late August, Audi confirmed it would jump into F1 as a power unit supplier - once F1 rules make it so electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels are introduced starting in 2026. The power unit has an electric motor, battery, control systems, and a combustion engine - and is already in development at an Audi Formula Racing facility.

The project also has more than 120 workers currently participating, according to Audi - and the Neuburg facility transition is currently underway. The buildings and technical infrastructure is expected in 2023, and the power unit tests will begin in F1 test cars starting in 2025.

Luxury automaker Lotus has shared confirmed pricing and specifications for its upcoming Eletre luxury hyper-SUV. The Lotus Eletre will be available in three different trims: Eletre, Eletre S, and Eletre R.

Full pricing details for all three trim models for UK and European markets:

Thousands of interested buyers have already secured deposits to ensure they have an Eletre trim to purchase, according to Lotus.

Japanese automaker Toyota has spiced things up a bit with the 2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback, including all of the safety and multimedia upgrades from the sedan model. Toyota promises "mischievous fun" able to complement the "stylish yet practical sporty machine."

The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback has 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm with 151 lb-ft. Peak torque at 4,900 rpm.

The 8-inch touchscreen featuring Toyota Audio Multimedia Standard is available for all models, with premium audio using an 800-watt JBL 8-speaker system is standard for the XSE grade. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are available to drivers and passengers - and rear-seat passengers have access to two USB-C ports - with a total of four throughout the vehicle. Both touch and voice activation controls will be provided.

South Korean automaker Kia announced the 2023 Niro EV crossover features an MSRP of $39,450, with two trim levels available. The Wind trim is the base model while the Wave trim will cost $5,000 more, and start with a price tag of $44,450.

The Niro EV features an all-electric powertrain with 201 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds.

Kia proudly promotes a 253-mile all-electric range, supported with a 64.8kWh battery - and an onboard power generator is able to power laptops, camping equipment, and other devices that owners might need while out exploring the world. It's possible to charge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 45 minutes.

Bentley Motors has confirmed production of the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) at the automaker's carbon neutral factory located in Crewe, England. The car was publicly unveiled in May, with Bentayga EWB customers already able to customize their purchase before it leaves the production factory.

The Bentayga EWB has a 4.0-liter 42-valve dual twin-scroll turbocharged V8 gas engine with 542 brake horsepower and 568 lb. Ft of torque. The vehicle has a 0-60 mph time in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph. There are no other engine options available for interested buyers.

The Bentley Bentayga EWB has a starting MSRP of $167,000.

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi presented its XFC Concept compact SUV at an event in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The car will be available in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The concept vehicle isn't a replacement for the Mitsubishi ASX, which is in European markets as a rebadged Renault Captur.

Mitsubishi included front panel straight lines and a spacious interior paired with a large trunk. It's noticeably more sculpted than what the Japanese automaker does with current car designs.

The mid-term elections in the United States could have a ripple effect throughout the electrical vehicle market. The Biden Administration has continued to promote clean energy efforts, though it's extremely likely oil and gas executives hope for the GOP to take back control of the House of Representatives.

If the GOP wins control in November, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has vowed to hold hearings related to the impact on automakers and the oil industry as the market transitions towards EVs. Here is what Sen. Graham said during a BMW event where the German automaker pledged $1.7 billion in his home state:

"Where do the battery parts come from? Where do the raw materials come from? Batteries become the new oil. South Carolina's going to become the Detroit of batteries.

The demand for semiconductors in vehicles remains a challenge for electric vehicle automakers as the year winds down. It's not just one sector in the changing auto market that requires semiconductors, because the chips are needed for autonomous vehicles, connected cars, and the push toward electrification.

The market is beginning to stabilize but the demand for EVs and other models that demand more semiconductors is only accelerating.

During Q1 2021, around 670,000 vehicles across the world were stuck in the production stage of assembly, according to IHS Markit.

Electric vehicle maker Rivian isn't satisfied just manufacturing passenger trucks and SUVs and has its sights set on creating electric-powered bicycles.

Rivian anticipates a multimodal approach to transportation will be beneficial and that's why there isn't a single focus on just developing consumer EVs.

Rivian's ambitions related to e-bikes aren't necessarily new, as the company has had a rather busy 2022 in preparation for the future. In January, the company filed a patent related to e-bike manufacturing, with CEO RJ Scaringe implying e-bikes could have a major role.

To meet the growing global demand for electric vehicles, there will need to be more than twenty times the amount of lithium mined than in 2021, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. At least 11.2 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent will be required to support energy storage and EV battery production.

In the short term, the market will need 2.9 million tons by 2032 - or the supply chain could face lasting problems. To put it in perspective, all of the lithium mined in 2021 would be enough to support a single month of demand by 2040, researchers indicate.

It can take upwards of five years to bring a lithium mining project fully operational. Benchmark has tracked only 40 lithium-producing mines in 2022 but warns at least 234 new mines will be needed by 2050. To help alleviate pressure to build new mines, recycling old batteries and process scrap could become a wise investment for automakers and companies to explore further.

Waymo plans to bring its autonomous ride-sharing service to Los Angeles, joining behind Phoenix and San Francisco as the company looks for more cities to partner with. When it comes to miles traveled, Waymo leads the way with autonomous miles completed anywhere in the United States.

Autonomous vehicles are becoming more prevalent, with automakers and tech companies partnering up to create safe, efficient vehicles to join regular drivers on the road.

There are high expectations for Waymo in Los Angeles:

Ride-share company Lyft is working towards an autonomous future where passengers are transported to and from their destinations in a self-driving vehicle. However, that doesn't mean drivers need to worry about job security just yet, as it'll be at least a decade before Lyft needs less drivers, according to John Zimmer, Lyft co-founder and president.

Since its launch, there have been over 112 million Lyft passengers that have taken over 3 billion rides while supported by 5 million drivers - so talk about autonomous has some drivers cautious about what lies ahead.

Lyft has reportedly completed over 100,000 autonomous rides so far, and that number is only increasing. Here is what Zimmer had to say regarding drivers and autonomous: "I can't imagine anytime in the next decade-plus where we would need any less drivers.

The Interstate 10 highway will soon have electric vehicle charging centers to serve EV heavy-duty and medium-duty electric trucks. TeraWatt Infrastructure has announced plans to ensure drivers from the Port of Long Beach - Los Angeles, California will be supported as they haul loads east towards the El Paso, Texas area.

Each charging station will be 150 miles apart from one another and will be less than a mile from a highway exit. Truck drivers will find multiple DC fast chargers, pull-through charging stalls, and on-site driver amenities while they wait.

The I-10 Electric Corridor will be spread across Arizona, California, and New Mexico - with multiple TeraWatt Charging Centers scheduled for construction. TeraWatt hopes this project will help entice companies to transition to zero-emission long-haul freight.

The auto industry is headed towards an electric vehicle future, but that doesn't mean there aren't safety issues causing alarm bells. Following Hurricane Ian, Florida firefighters have been tasked with putting out EV battery fires multiple times in hardest-hit regions.

Once saltwater hits a battery, the lithium-ion batteries begin to corrode, and that's where the problem begins.

These types of fires prove to be extremely difficult to fully extinguish as it's a constant flow of water to cool down and neutralize the battery. If that wasn't bad enough, there always is the possibility a fire reignites, even a couple of days after the initial fire.

The McLaren Formula 1 Team will bring digital advertising to its Formula 1 cars as part of an agreement with Seamless Digital. This is a rather curious announcement while McLaren becomes the first Formula 1 team to try it out, though it remains to be seen if other car manufacturers will jump onboard with the effort.

The platform will support rotating different advertiser brands on the cars. The two-display system around the cockpit will begin during today's practice sessions during the United States Grand Prix - and the advertising effort will continue throughout the rest of the race season.

McLaren wants this advertising effort to serve as another way to connect with fans and business partners willing to give it a try. Development into the digital panels has taken a few years, though aerodynamics and weight both were carefully considered as part of the project.

Elon Musk has revealed some new details about Tesla's upcoming vehicles, with the Tesla CEO saying that a new affordable vehicle is on the horizon.

During Tesla's Q3 2022 earnings call on Wednesday, which can be listened to above, Musk discussed that the primary focus of Tesla's vehicle development team is a new electric vehicle that is slated to be more compact than the current Model 3 and come in at a much more affordable price, roughly half the cost of the Model 3 and the Model Y. Furthermore, Musk said Tesla's new next-generation vehicle platform would be much smaller than the Model 3/Y, but he thinks it will exceed the production of all other vehicles combined.

Notably, Musk made a point of not mentioning any release dates or even a name for the vehicle but emphasized that it's a main focal point for the Tesla vehicle development team. This isn't the first time Musk has mentioned a Tesla vehicle with a price tag of approximately $25,000, as the Tesla CEO said back in 2020 at Tesla's "Battery Day" that a vehicle with such a price tag would roll out three years from now (2023).

Polish company Solaris Bus & Coach recently showed off its Urbino 9 LE electric bus during the FIAA 2022 conference in Spain. Solaris initially introduced the bus in late 2021, as the company continues to roll out electric-powered buses with a specific interest in Europe.

The new bus has a central traction motor with 220 kW peak power output, and the drive system has a maximum capacity of 350 kWh. The Solaris High Energy batteries are the latest generation of high-capacity batteries from Solaris, providing better range performance.

Depending on the configuration, the bus can support up to 73 passengers - with a maximum of 31 seats. Passengers can make use of USB chargers and use LED lighting while riding the bus.

Automakers are scrambling to build new factories focused specifically on electric vehicle production, or trying to retool current assembly lines. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is adapting to changing times as the big three Detroit automakers expand their efforts towards electric, with battery plants and production facilities spreading across the midwest.

GM auto workers started learning about EV manufacturing starting in 2015, with some employees training in South Korea. Although EV assembly closely mimics some gas-powered cars, including the installation of doors, brakes, tires, and seats - the lithium-ion battery that powers the engine and transmission powertrain comes with a bit of a learning curve.

Dealing with high-voltage electric cable connections and the like was another example of moving from ICE to EV production. Besides workplace training out on the line, GM also is using digital solutions so workers have training practice in a virtual environment.

Automakers from around the world are working to transition from internal combustion engines towards electric vehicles, though it's not the only alternative available. BMW believes hydrogen fuel technology will find its place in the marketplace, despite the EV trend fully underway.

As noted by Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Management Board at BMW, in a recent interview in England: "After the electric car, which has been going on for about 10 years and scaling up rapidly, the next trend will be hydrogen. When it's more scalable, hydrogen will be the hippest thing to drive."

EVs require a complex charging network, but hydrogen can be delivered from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic tanks able to supply fuel cells. "You could argue, well you also don't have access to hydrogen infrastructure, but this is very simple to do: It's a tank which you put in there like an old [gas] tank, and you recharge it every six months or 12 months," Zipse added.

South Korean automaker Hyundai will promote its eco-friendly fleet vehicles at the FIFA World Cup 2022 next month, as FIFA aims to go carbon neutral. The FIFA World Cup 2022 is scheduled to take place starting on November 20 and ending on December 18.

Hyundai's hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will be on hand alongside electric city buses. The automaker will also provide EV chargers and fleet services on-site, so vehicles are always fully charged and ready to go. There will be a total of 616 fleet vehicles available for use during the event in late November - 446 passenger vehicles and 10 electric buses, according to Hyundai.

The eco-friendly vehicles will be responsible for around half of transportation during the event.