Aptera details, Civic Hybrid, Polestar 2, Tesla Gigafactory boost: The Week in Reverse

Which automakers are reportedly considering converting to cylindrical cells for future EVs?

Which EV manufacturers does Uber partner with for ride-hailing vehicles?

This is a recap of Reverse Week (Green Car Report) for the week ending Friday 27th January 2023.

Tesla has announced a $3.6 billion expansion of its battery ‘Gigafactory’ in Nevada. This will allow Semi and the company’s new format of his 4680 battery cells to produce 100 gigawatt hours per year. That’s enough American batteries for 1.5 million small cars. Say. The expansion represents some impressive manufacturing gains due to increased battery output from the smaller facility versus the current 35+ gigawatt hours. And, as pointed out, that’s more power than Tesla needs for the Semi.

In response, Tesla teased that some future Tesla products in development may be revealed as part of its updated product plans announced on March 1. Cell is available.

The Aptera Launch Edition solar EV, which was unveiled in detail a little over a week ago, offers 400 miles of range on battery power, with the potential to increase distance from the sun by up to 40 miles per day. The company also said that the first version didn’t yet feature fast charging to use the Tesla NACS standard, but the company has since changed course on that.

Audi on Thursday unveiled the final and most American of its four self-driving-focused “Sphere” concepts. The Active Sphere Concept is an off-road-ready electric crossover that can transform into a small pickup for gear needs. Level 4 self-driving, suicide doors, and ‘mixed reality’ interfaces may not be in production anytime soon, but this ‘master of transformations’ may have future potential in the line-up.

Polestar is seeking 300 miles of range for the 2024 Polestar 2 as part of the switch from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive single-motor models. Various other improvements have been made to the battery, drive system and technology feature set.

Honda has confirmed that the Civic Hybrid is slated for 2024 as a sedan and hatchback. But look no further than his CR-V fuel cell future that uses his plug-in hybrid technology.

Formula E’s 3rd generation race car incorporates technology from the manufactured Lucid Air. His car’s front motor unit, which allows significantly higher brake recuperation, is essentially a scaled-down version of Lucid Air’s motor and, in Formula E, is key to making racing more exciting this year. He’s one.

Lightyear, likely signaling serious financial difficulties, has announced that it has halted production of the Lightyear 0 solar EV due to financial troubles. Instead, the company says it’s leaning toward the mass-produced Lightyear 2.

EV range in cold weather can be a problem, but heat pumps are part of the solution. Tesla recently detailed what sets its unit apart from others, and goes so far as to claim that its design works well in very cold weather, something other products lack.

Federal EV tax credit rules mandated by last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allowed companies leasing EVs to claim deductions of up to $7,500, regardless of the price cap. This has already led to government-subsidized luxury EV leasing and is controversial, but will almost certainly apply to imported luxury EVs as well.

GM is reportedly exploring the possibility of cylindrical cells for future EVs. The report doesn’t suggest a sweeping change in format like BMW hinted last year, but the use of the joint venture’s large pouches his cell will purportedly create economies of scale for the company. It will be an amazing turnaround. LG is now backed by federal funding across its lineup.

Ford has filed a patent for a new type of magnetically coupled EV charging connector. But it’s not inductive charging. Use magnets to align and secure physical conductors. Is it a bit like the MagSafe connector we use for Apple products?

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the rise of wind and solar in the U.S. energy mix will curb coal and natural gas, making EVs cleaner in the next few years.

Uber is reportedly working with automakers to design EVs specifically for ride-hailing and delivery services. This may mean something optimized for low speeds to reduce cost.

Dedicated Toyota EV platforms like Hyundai’s E-GMP are reportedly given the green light to make mass-produced EVs competitive in terms of cost, range and efficiency. . However, it may not arrive until 2028 when we see sufficient demand.

And a much broader range of vehicles destined for the U.S. market now qualify for the EV tax credit, thanks to Treasury Department guidance (or more precisely, lack of guidance), which delayed domestic procurement requirements until March. rice field. With that and the lease loophole, Sen. Joe Manchin apparently introduced a bill calling for him to delay the EV tax credit until it can comply with the rules enacted.

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