The Weekly Round Up - EV News for August
Bringing you the EV news dominating the headlines in August.
Welcome to BookMyGarage’s EV Hub Weekly Round-Up, where we bring you the EV news that is dominating the headlines this week. With only the essential details about the week’s biggest news articles, we aim to keep you in the loop with all things EV.
August 27th
BMW Sales Overtake Tesla in Historic First
BMW’s sales surged by 35% compared to July last year, selling 14,869 units. Tesla’s sales, on the other hand, fell by 16%, to 14,561 units.
The numbers reflect a growing interest in BMW’s electric range, despite the current slowdown in the market.
Analysts suggest that Tesla’s recent decline in Europe could be linked to the public opinion of Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, and his outspoken support for Donald Trump in the upcoming US election.
GB News reported that a third of potential EV buyers are now less inclined to purchase a Tesla, and half of current Tesla owners would even consider selling their EVs due to Musk’s political endorsements.
Tesla is feeling the pinch worldwide, with their stock having dropped about 10% since the beginning of the year, and sales are also down in the UK and the US, as well as Europe.
Canada to Hit China With 100% Tariffs on EVs
China have been accused of subsidising their EV industry, which gives car makers around the globe an unfair advantage in the electric car industry.
The Canadian duties will come into effect on October 1st.
A Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said Canada's actions "seriously undermine the global economic system, and economic and trade rules".
"China urges the Canadian side to immediately correct its erroneous practices," they added.
The BBC reports Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying: "We are transforming Canada's automotive sector to be a global leader in building the vehicles of tomorrow, but actors like China have chosen to give themselves an unfair advantage in the global marketplace."
Canada will also impose a 25% duty on Chinese steel and aluminium, which will come into effect from the 15th of October.
Ford Scales Back EV Plans Amid Pricing Pressure
Ford have announced they are scaling back their plans for their EV line by scrapping plans for a large all-electric SUV and postponing the launch of their newest electric pickup.
The move follows a faltering in demand for electric cars, which has led to a price war between companies.
Ford says that the new timescale will allow for advantage to be taken of new technological advances, such as those in battery technologies and other areas. They expect prices to be lowed and ranges to increase.
The all-electric version of their hit vehicle F-150 pickup truck was launched in 2022 and was well received by Ford fans and EV fanatics alike.
Ford reported that they sold more than 50,000 electric cars since the start of the year, which is up by 60% year on year.
Production of the next EV pickup was due to begin in Tennessee next year, but the launch has now been pushed back to 2027.
The content for these articles were supplied by:
BBC
East Anglia Bylines
Links to these sources can be found in the body text.
August 20th
Coventry Club Site To Be Sold for £1M for EV Charging Station
The partially derelict site which once homed the Rowleys Green Working Men Site has been used for match day and event parking for the nearby Coventry Building Society Arena.
It was closed in 2011, and currently leased by a developer. Planning permission for a drive-through restaurant has been granted.
The WMCA has secured the funding for an EV charging station, which is set to have a restaurant and retail facilities, as well as 20 high-speed chargers.
The deal would involve the authority negotiating terms with the leaseholder to ‘alter the existing agreement to facilitate the development’.
The council’s cabinet is to meet on the 27th of August to discuss the plans.
Rivian Halts Amazon Delivery Van Production
A spokesperson for the manufacturer said that they expect to ‘recover all missed production’.
The specific part and supplier have not been named, and Rivian declined to comment on when the production stopped, and if it has resumed yet.
All of Rivian’s vehicles are produced in Normal, Illinois, and there is a second assembly plant has been planned and will be opened in Georgia.
The shortage will not affect other vehicles, including pickup models R1S SUV and R1T.
Amazon is aware of the shortage and does not expect it to have an impact on business.
ICE Drivers Could Face Fines of £100 For Parking in EV Spaces
Birmingham Live has reported that drivers could be fined for parking in ‘exclusive’ spaces reserved for electric vehicles.
This includes parking in an EV bay without charging your vehicle, even if it is electric, or parking your ICE vehicle in a charging bay.
In certain areas, such as Hounslow, some vehicle owners can get free parking permits for cars that produce less than 50g per km of CO2.
In other areas, such as specific boroughs of London, electric vehicle drivers can park for free.
The content for these articles were supplied by:
Reuters
BBC
Birmingham Mail
The Sun
Links to these sources can be found in the body text.
August 13th
Retail Price For 3yr Old EVs 8.5% Lower Than ICE Equivalent
Chris Plumb, EV specialist at Cap HPI, told Autocar that this is down to supply and demand, and how the EV market soared during the pandemic.
Four-year old cars are 14% cheaper.
The dip in used prices can also be attributed to incentives that are put in place by manufacturers. The UK’s zero-emissions vehicle mandate also adds pressure.
In an article published by Autocar last week, Plumb said: “For EVs three or four years old in the market and sitting below £20,000 at retail, so below £18,000 in trade, when we look at [how long they take to sell] from retail adverts, they are now comparable or faster than petrol.
"When you get up to sub-12 months old, there becomes a bit more of a challenge, and that’s the area of the market that’s a bit more fragmented.”
“I don't think there has ever been a better time to buy an EV, because of the new car discounts that we're seeing and how much value for money that going used offers.
“Some of these vehicles can't get any cheaper, so we might find that they increase in value over time as consumer demand increases."
You can read the full article on Autocar.co.uk.
New EV Milestone For China Met in July
Sales jumped 37% compared with July last year, building upon a 28.6% increase in June.
Three years ago, electric models made up only 7% of sales, compared to over 50% this July.
To put these numbers into perspective, electric and hybrid sales made up 18% of total vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2024 in the United States, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Assistant professor at George Washington University, John Helveston, says there are several factors to why China have adopted EVs at a higher rate than the West, citing Chinese first time buyers, advanced EV charging infrastructure, and China having the world’s most extensive high-speed railway making long distance travel more accessible.
You can read more on VOANews.com.
Vietnam Plans To Subsidise Electricity Prices for EV Charging Stations
The subsidy scheme is due to be submitted next month to the central government.
Vietnam plans to be carbon neutral by 2050.
The country currently has just over 150,000 EV charging points, most of which are owned and operated by Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast.
The statement detailing the scheme will ensure all urban areas in Vietnam will have public EV chargers, and a unified set of technical standards.
You can read the press release on Yahoo! Finance.
The content for these articles were supplied by:
Autocar
VOA News
China Passenger Car Association
Yahoo! Finance
Reuters
Links to these sources can be found in the body text.
August 6th
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Seek Views on EV Infrastructure
People in West Yorkshire have been invited to share their views on where the newest electric vehicle charging points should be located.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) have begun a public consultation and is encouraging locals to contribute.
A WYCA representative has said that the lack of reliable charging infrastructure in West Yorkshire was “a real barrier to more of us being able to switch to an electric vehicle’.
The authority is working alongside the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) programme, which is a grant funded by the local government to help install more chargers locally.
If you live in West Yorkshire, you can have your say and complete the survey here.
New Laws Could See Electric Battery Health Checks Introduced
The Labour Government have been called upon to accelerate plans to introduce battery health checks for new EVs.
Labour’s manifesto outlined how they would reinstate the original ban date of 2030 for the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, after the Conservative government pushed it back to 2035.
The plan aims to support second hand EV buyers by standardising information supplied on battery conditions.
This would involve ‘battery passports’, which aim to inform the driver the origins of the materials in the battery, as well as the recycled content and carbon footprint.
Attendees at the meeting of the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) last month highlighted the Government’s work to date on the United Nations Global Technical Regulation Number 22 on EV batteries (GTR 22).
Abdul Chowdhury, head of vehicle policy at the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles, said: "GTR 22 provides the requirement for a battery state of health monitor which is in an easily accessible manner, such as through the vehicle’s dashboard.
"It also details minimum performance standards for EV batteries, which have already been incorporated into UK regulations through the ZEV mandate's warranty requirements."
New Partnership Between Uber and BYD Revealed
Taxi giant Uber have partnered with Chinese EV Manufacturer BYD to add 100,000 new EVs to the Uber platform.
The agreement aims to focus on Europe and Latin America to begin with, with plans to expand further across the globe in the future.
Uber drivers will be able to access new BYD models at competitive pricing and financing options.
The partnership may also include discounts on vehicle maintenance and insurance, as well as charging reductions and lease options.
According to a press release on Uber Investor, Chuanfu Wang, Chairman and President of BYD, said: “Uber and BYD share a commitment to innovate towards a cleaner, greener world, and I am excited to work together towards that future.”
You can read the full press release here.
The content for these articles were supplied by:
BBC
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
GBNews
Energy Live News Ltd
Uber Investor
Links to these sources can be found in the body text.
Read More
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