Day: October 27, 2021

New Range Rover SUV will be available with an all-electric powertrain in 2024

2021-10-27 / Robert Vinet

2022 Range Rover

Land Rover’s new Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA-Flex) can accommodate internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and 100 percent electric powertrains.

This new fifth-generation Range Rover will be available in 2022 with a choice of mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains and four, five or seven-seat interiors across standard and long wheelbase body designs. A pure-electric Range Rover – the first all-electric Land Rover – will join the line-up in 2024.

Every Land Rovers nameplate will be available with pure-electric propulsion by the end of the decade, helping Jaguar Land Rover achieve net zero carbon across its products, operations and supply chain by 2039.

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Mercedes expects entry-level EV customers will accept less range

2021-10-27 / Robert Vinet

Gabrielle Coppola, Bloomberg »

Mercedes-Benz will shift to cheaper but less powerful batteries to contain soaring prices for some metals in its range of entry-level models.

The world’s biggest luxury-car maker will use lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for its next generation of models like the EQA and EQB from 2024 and 2025, Chief Executive Officer Ola Kallenius said in an interview in Atlanta.

The chemistry avoids using pricier nickel-based batteries that deliver performance and range in models like the EQS, the electric version of its flagship S-Class. Kallenius is betting consumers will accept shorter driving ranges for cheaper models as prices for key materials rise.

“We think there will be a lot of urban-oriented customers that don’t need the E63 AMG,” Kallenius said, referring to Mercedes’ performance sedan. “For those entry-level positions, in the future, we’re looking at” lithium-iron-phosphate batteries.

Daimler Truck and BP to deploy 25 ‘green’ hydrogen refuelling stations across the UK by 2030

2021-10-27 / Robert Vinet

Daimler Truck AG and BP Advanced Mobility Limited announced plans to work together to introduce a hydrogen network, supporting the decarbonization of UK freight transport. They intend to pilot both the development of hydrogen infrastructure and the introduction of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell trucks in the UK.

Under their memorandum of understanding (MoU), BP will assess the feasibility of designing, constructing, operating and supplying a network of up to 25 hydrogen refuelling stations across the UK by 2030.

These stations would be supplied by BP with ‘green’ hydrogen – generated from water using renewable energy. Complementing this, Daimler Truck expects to deliver hydrogen-powered fuel-cell trucks to its UK customers from 2025.

WSJ Opinion » US Taxpayers are subsidizing the Hertz Tesla purchase

2021-10-27 / Robert Vinet

Wall Street Journal Opinion »

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he isn’t giving Hertz a discount on the reported $4.2 billion order. But he doesn’t need to because the House reconciliation spending bill includes a 30% tax credit for “qualified commercial electric vehicles.”

The text doesn’t clearly define what is a “qualified commercial electric” vehicle, but our sources say Hertz’s Teslas would likely make the cut. The credit could save Hertz $1.26 billion and make a Tesla almost as cheap for Hertz to buy as a Toyota Camry.

Hertz plans to install thousands of electric-vehicle chargers, which could also be eligible for taxpayers subsidies. The House spending bill extends a 30% tax credit for the installation of EV charging stations through 2031, which is on top of the $7.5 billion appropriation for stations in the separate Senate infrastructure bill.

Uber drivers can now rent Teslas from Hertz for less than the cost of buying or leasing

2021-10-27 / Robert Vinet

Bloomberg »

Hertz Global Holdings Inc., fresh off a blockbuster order for 100,000 Teslas, reached an exclusive agreement to supply Uber drivers with electric vehicles and signed up Carvana Co. to dispose of rental cars it no longer wants.

Taken together, the deals represent a trifecta of aggressive and innovative initiatives with the potential to upend the car-rental business and hasten the transition to greener fuel sources. The car order on Monday, the largest-ever for EVs at $4.2 billion, was such as watershed moment that it propelled Tesla Inc.’s valuation past $1 trillion.

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Under the agreement with Uber Technologies Inc., drivers for the ride-hailing giant who previously had to provide and maintain their own EVs will be able to rent one of 50,000 Teslas from Hertz instead. The program, which starts Nov. 1, is an alternative to buying or leasing, and many drivers may find it more appealing.

Reuters »

Uber drivers can rent a Tesla through Hertz starting on Nov. 1 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Washington DC, with the program later this year expanding to cities nationwide, the ride-hail company said in a blog post.

The Tesla rentals, consisting mostly of the electric vehicle company’s Model 3 sedan, will be available exclusively to Uber drivers and start out at $334 a week, including insurance and maintenance. Uber said the rental cost would drop to $299 per week or lower as the program expands in the coming year.

Elsewhere » Car & Driver / The Verge / Axios