The Weekly Round Up - EV News for February
Bringing you the EV news dominating the headlines in February.
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.
February 27th
UK Scientists Harness Microwave Energy to Extend EV Range
Researchers at the University of Birmingham are developing an energy storage solution named ‘e-thermal bank’ to improve EV performance.
Professor Yongliang Li leads the project, where scientists combine a chemical heat pump with microwave energy for heating or cooling, to enhance cabin temperature control and minimise energy consumption.
This can be used as a secondary energy source for EVs, which can be charged at charging stations. If the microwave energy is used to power secondary energy sources, more energy can be used for range, meaning EVs will be able to travel further.
Chair in Thermal Energy Engineering at Birmingham’s School of Engineering, Professor Li said: ‘Heating and cooling the EV cabin requires considerable energy and is the most significant contributor to EV range reduction. We aimed to offload these thermal management tasks to a microwave driven process.
‘We predict that by replacing conventional HVAC and possibly a small portion of the battery pack, e-Thermal banks would provide efficient cabin temperature control and a range extension of up to 70%, at a lower cost than increasing battery capacity.’
The University of Birmingham Enterprise has filed a patent application, so that the e-Thermal bank system and method will remain their property and are actively seeking commercial partnerships for licencing or co-development.
Chinese EV Company BYD Bid To Rival Ferrari with $230,000 Electric Supercar
BYD have introduced their newest high-end electric vehicle, which they believe will rival supercar brands Ferrari and Lamborghini.
The Yangwang U9 is going to be sold initially exclusively in China and has a top speed of 192mph – starting at the cool price of 1.68 million yuan ($233,450). The car can do 0-60mph in just 2.36 seconds and has a unique suspension system which enables it to drive on three wheels, and even ‘jump and dance’.
You can watch the teaser trailer for the car below.
BYD recently overtook Tesla as the biggest EV seller globally. The brand is run by CEO Wang Chuanfu, a 53-year-old businessman who began his career as a government researcher on rare earth metals which are critical to batteries and electronics. It is said his net worth is $14.8 billon.
VinFast Begin Construction of EV Facility in India
Work has begun in Thoothukudi City, Tamil Nadu in India for an EV manufacturing facility based in Vietnam.
The VinFast facility is set to spread across 400 acres and be responsible for an annual production capacity of 1,50,000 units. It is thought to create as many as 3500 jobs.
The project will cater to the Indian domestic market, as well as serve as an export hub for several other markets. The ‘Make in India, Make for World’ initiative aligns with the Indian’s governmental vision to make India a global hub for the automotive market.
VinFast was only established in 2017, and already has presence in leading markets such as the US.
CEO of VinFast India, Pham Sanh Chau, said, VinFast’s groundbreaking ceremony for its plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, is a significant stride towards sustainable and green motility in India. By establishing an integrated electric vehicle facility, the company’s commitment to job creation, green transportation, and strategic partnerships solidifies VinFast’s position as a major player in the electric vehicle industry.’
February 21st
Tesla Cybertruck Owners Complain of Rusting
Tesla’s new Cybertruck is reportedly rusting already, despite them only being owned by customers for a short amount of time.
Owners have flocked to one online forum, Cybertruckownersclub.com, to post photos of their trucks flecked with orange spots of rust over the exterior of the vehicle, after driving it in the rain.
According to one poster, a Cybertruck advisor did mention that the vehicles rust in the rain and will require ‘buffing out’.
Stainless steel is not usually used as an exterior material for vehicles as is it is difficult to mold. Due to the Cybertruck’s angular design, the material was used in the production, and was said to ‘reduce dents, damage, and long-term corrosion,’ according to the official Tesla website.
The Cybertruck was first teased to the public in 2017 and were distributed to buyers in December last year. There has been more than 2 million reservations for the vehicle, and while a large percentage of these will not translate into sales, it means they are sold out until 2027.
Vauxhall Team Up With Tesco to Offer Free EV Charging
Car manufacturers Vauxhall are offering a year’s worth of free EV charging credit at UK Tesco supermarkets for those who purchase one of their new electric vehicles.
In partnership with Tesco, the carmakers will provide free access to PodPoint chargers across 619 stores around the country.
The incentive comes from Vauxhall’s ‘Electric Streets of Britain’ initiative, which is designed to increase accessible charging to support the 40% of UK households without a driveway.
‘While the charge points are accessible for all electric vehicle drivers, new Vauxhall customers who purchase an electric Vauxhall car or van direct from a Vauxhall retailer or through our online store will be able to benefit from one year’s worth of free charging credit when visiting Tesco,’ says the manufacturer’s website.
The site also says that ‘Tesco stores are found within a 10-minute drive for over 70% of the UK population, allowing greater ease and convenience for electric vehicle drivers across the UK.’
Premium Chinese EV Brand HiPhi Halts Production for Six Months
Shanghai-based EV makers HiPhi announced a six-month production halt following an internal meeting on February 18th, with immediate effect, according to a local media outlet.
Employee salaries prior to February 18 will be paid as usual, and employees who remain with the company will receive basic salaries, according to Jiemian News.
HiPhi was founded in 2017, and targets the premium EV market in China, and has operations centres in Munich and Oslo, as well as Advanced Technology R&D Centres in both Tokyo and China.
The company builds ‘on the fundamentals of connectivity and focusing on user experience, HiPhi redefines the future smart mobility experience with advanced technologies based in modern luxury.’
Rumours began circling social media in October last year that there would be employee layoffs, which the company responded to by calling the situation ‘normal staff turnover’.
On October 25th, management delivered verbal notification of lay offs to some executives from every department.
Their vehicles start at a price of RMB 500,000, which is equivalent to £55,028.43. Their least expensive model, the HiPhi Y, launched on July 15th of 2023 for RMB 339,000 (£37,319.17), with hopes to appeal to a larger audience.
February 14th
Ford Announces Shift in EV Strategy
Automotive giants Ford have announced that they are rethinking their strategy when it comes to EVs, amid a massive investment into transitioning away from ICE vehicles.
Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, said that the company needs to make changes to ensure drivers want electric cars, and have a reliable infrastructure. The company previously confirmed plans to delay, or cut, $12billion (£9.5billion) from its spending targets for EVs.
Farley says there has been a ‘seismic’ change in the previous six months in relation to brands charging for electric vehicles.
“One of the things we’re taking advantage of in taking some timing delays is rationalising the level and timing of our battery capacity to match demand and actually reassessing the vertical integration that we’re relying on, and betting on new chemistries and capacities.
“We're going to focus those large EVs on geographies and product segments where we have a dominant advantage like trucks and vans.”
Ford’s F-Series truck achieved more than 700,000 sales in 2023 across the United States, making it the best-selling truck for the 47th consecutive year. A total of 24,165 F-150 Lightning trucks – the electric counterpoint - were sold in the US last year, a significant jump of 55 per cent.
South Africa Signs Deal to bring 480 Ultra-Fast EV Chargers to the Country
South African firm Zero Carbon Charge have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shanghai Magic Power Tech Co. Ltd, a Chinese energy storage systems manufacturer, to build and import the first-of-its kind integrated ultra-fast systems for 120 renewable charging stations.
The off grid charging stations will be solar powered and will be able to charge any electric vehicle at its maximum charging rate.
Zero Carbon Charge’s Co-founder and Director, Joubert Roux, said: “The first batch of the high-power chargers is expected to arrive in South Africa before July which means that – pending regulatory approvals – we are on track to have our full network of 120 solar-powered charging facilities operational by September 2025.”
Zero Carbon Charge said that the South African Government has underestimated the strain EV’s will place on the current national Eskom grid. According to projected EV sales, demand on the grid will be far greater than what can currently be catered for.
Construction for these solar powered sites started three months ago, and plan to have the full network completed and fully operational by September 2025.
Tesla Releases Models In Chile – And They’re More Affordable Than Expected
American EV Giants Tesla have opened its first South American shop in Chile this month. Located in Parque Arauco, a high-end mall in Chile’s capital Santiago, Chileans are able to now purchase Models 3 and Y.
Chile has also joined in with the target to only sell electric vehicles in 2035 – though the adoption is still low in South America, most likely down to the high price point associated with EVs.
The price points have been revealed: $39,900.000 Chilean peso for the Tesla Model 3, and $42,900.000 Chilean peso for the Model Y - $42,000 and $45,000 USD respectively.
In the first 5 months of 2022, Chile saw a 344% increase in EV sales over the same period the previous year. Although the figure is still low in comparison to European and Chinese standards, it does show that the country is looking to move towards an electrified future.
February 7th
Rollout of EV Charge Points to be Accelerated, says Department For Transport
New measures to support EV drivers have been launched this week, from the government’s ‘Plan For Drivers’. The plan includes grants and new proposals to increase charging point numbers.
In Nottingham, a grant which provides 75% of the cost to buy and install charging points will be eligible for schools in the Nottinghamshire area, as part of a plan for greener schools. The grant is paid for by the Department for Transport and is a part of the Workplace Charging Scheme. It is available for state-funded schools, nurseries, and academies to provide more charge points for staff and visitors.
The government is also delivering a £381 million LEVI fund (Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund) to local authorities. The first payments have been approved to 3 local authorities, from East Sussex to North Yorkshire, as well as two London boroughs.
Technology and Decarbonisation Minister, Anthony Browne, said: ‘We’re getting on with delivering our Plan for Drivers, and this latest set of measures will mean EV owners everywhere benefit from easier and more convenient access to charge points.
‘This government has already spent over £2 billion to ensure a smooth switch to EVs, and we’re committed to supporting drivers as we transition towards net zero in a proportionate way that doesn’t burden working people.’
One Million EVs Officially Sold In the UK since 2002
All time electric vehicles sales reached 1,001,677 units by the end of January.
71,984 EVs were purchased by private buyers in 2023, making up 23% of the total private purchases last year. Businesses also added to their fleets with 242,703 electric cars, up from 178,294 the year before.
SMMT figures also show that 20,935 electric cars were registered in January this year, a 21% year on year rise.
The company expects to see one in five new cars registered this year to be pure battery electric. This is due to the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, a law which states that mainstream car makers (those who sell more than 1000 vehicles per year) to sell an increasing share of zero emission models each year. For 2024, the requirement is 22% of their sales being made from electric models.
Mike Hawes, the trade body’s chief executive, described the ZEV mandated as the 'single most important mechanism to deliver the UK's net zero commitment'.
Ethiopia set to Become the First Country to Ban ICE Vehicles
The country’s Transport and Logistics Minister, Alemu Sime, announced last week that automobiles cannot enter Ethiopia unless they are fully electric.
Details were limited, but he has announced that, “a decision has been made, that automobiles cannot enter Ethiopia unless they are electric ones.”
The move comes after the European Union approved a law banning the sale of brand-new ICE vehicles in its member states from 2035. The EU joined several other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Japan, India, and other nations in setting a date for the ban.
Worries surround the plan based on the limited EV charging infrastructure. Sime further explained that efforts to establish charging stations for EVs is a top priority. He offered that the nation’s inability to access foreign exchange resources has caused to its inability to afford to continue importing petrol and diesel.
Read More
The Weekly Round-Up: January
Bringing you all the latest EV news from around the world for the month of January.