Learn Electric Cars

Hyundai Ioniq 6 N To Be A Meaner Avatar Of The Ioniq 5 N

The Korean auto giant is reportedly working on the fire-breathing iteration of the low-slung electric sedan. After gathering positive reviews from industry experts for the Ioniq 5 N, Hyundai is gearing up to launch the Ioniq 6 N. The Korean car marque is evidently excited about the performance versions of its Ioniq electric vehicle range. Having gained massive prominence, the Ioniq 5 is already available with the N badge, the first EV to wear it, while the Ioniq 6 could follow by 2025. Hyundai wants to ensure that performance enthusiasts don’t miss out on the fun as the industry transitions from coal-burning IC engines to electric cars. You might also like: Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Starts At $66,100 – How Does It Compare To The Rivals? Hyundai Ioniq 6 N The test mule has been spotted by hawk-eyed automobile aficionados multiple times now. The latest case comes from somewhere in Germany. It makes sense to test in Deutschland at the iconic Nürburgring track. By the looks of things, the electric monster will borrow most elements from the regular Ioniq 6. However, there will be a few aspects to enhance the performance. This ranges from aesthetic and aerodynamic components to mechanical modifications. Some of the most visual alterations include the likes of wider tracks, fender extensions, red brake callipers, an upgraded braking system, an extension of the rear spoiler and more. Furthermore, there will be an aggressive body kit in the production model. Still, these spy images give us a clear clue as to what the final product will look like. Notably, Hyundai could also deploy its Active Skirts technology to enhance aerodynamics even more. Hyundai Ioniq 6 N – Specs Albeit there are no official announcements from the Korean carmaker, it should be safe to assume that the Ioniq 6 N will borrow the powertrain from the Ioniq 5 N. Hence, we could see the dual-motor AWD version which could produce 641 hp of peak power for 10 seconds using the N Grin Boost function, just like the Ioniq 5 N. In regular settings, this mill will churn out a still impressive 601 hp and 770 Nm of peak power and torque. Powering the electric performance sedan will be an 84 kWh battery. To take things to a whole new level in terms of driving engagement, the Ioniq 6 N could take advantage of the N e-shift function which mimics an 8-speed automatic transmission to give the jolts experienced during actual gear shifts in IC cars by regulating motor torque. On top of that, it will also get the N Active Sound+ mode which imitates the sound of Hyundai’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. The overall aim is to bring the driving engagement and feel as close to orthodox performance vehicles as possible. You might also like: Hyundai Plans To Launch A Mini Electric SUV And Electric Van Learn Electric Cars Says It is clear that Hyundai is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to developing electric cars, hybrid cars, hydrogen cars as well as ICE cars. Since the exact path to the future of mobility is not certain just yet, Hyundai is active in all major categories. When the time comes, they can pivot and concentrate on any single route. It is quite commendable how Hyundai is able to juggle all these alternatives to ensure that it caters to all sorts of potential customers. For now, let us see how soon we get to experience the Ioniq 6 N in the flesh. Source

Tesla Autopilot Death Lawsuit Settled Before Trial Started

Tesla Settles Autopilot Death Lawsuit Hours Before Trial Started

25 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

The case about the death of a 38-year-old former Apple employee back in 2018 due to Tesla’s Autopilot was about to go before the jury for hearing. In a rather shocking turn of events, Tesla settles the notorious lawsuit over the death of a former Apple engineer, Walter Huang, while using Autopilot. This took place in 2018 on a San Francisco Bay Area highway. He was travelling in his Tesla Model X with Autopilot ON. The details of the settlement are still under secrecy. Tesla said that it agreed to settle this case to end years of litigation. Note that Huang’s family had filed the lawsuit in 2019. You might also like: Tesla Eyeing Indian Factory With Capacity Of 500,000 EVs Tesla Settles Autopilot Death Lawsuit The aim of this lawsuit was to hold Tesla responsible for exaggerating the capabilities of Tesla’s self-driving technology. Many cases against Tesla Autopilot have been filed, highlighting the ambiguity in the way Tesla promotes and advertises its semi-autonomous driving capabilities. Note that Walter Huang was allegedly playing a game on his iPhone during the crash. However, the Autopilot had been working for 18 minutes prior to the accident. This was revealed by the investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). During the time of the unfortunate event, the vehicle was at a speed of 71 mph (114 km/h). The report also mentions that just 7 seconds before the crash, the Autopilot “began a left steering movement” and sped up. That is what ultimately caused the vehicle to hit the concrete barrier on the side of the highway. Walter succumbed to his injuries on the spot. We must also mention here that the NTSB report, after collecting the telemetry data from Apple, suggested that there was “possible user interaction”. Still, Huang’s family fought this finding because the report also cited “limitations” in Tesla’s Autopilot software which potentially contributed to the crash. Remember, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched investigations into more than 950 crashes involving Tesla cars where Autopilot was claimed to be used. There are more than 3 dozen probes into crashes which resulted in 23 fatalities so far. Finally, Tesla decided to settle, at least, this case before it ever made it to the jury room. You might also like: Tesla Clocks 6 Million Lifetime Sales, 1 Million In Last 6 Months Learn Electric Cars Says Autonomous driving technology is constantly in the news for various reasons. While we understand the need and appeal, the implementation will be much harder than one would expect. We have to take into consideration the potential issues with not just the technology itself, but with the mentality of how people perceive, and ultimately use it. That is something no one can predict. Hence, even if we reach a point where the technology reaches its zenith and behaves perfectly (aka Level 5 Autonomous Driving Technology), we can never be sure about how car owners abuse it. That is something that policymakers, as well as car companies, will need to think about prior to declaring any car capable of autonomous driving without human intervention. We shall be watchful of how things pan out in this regard in times to come. Image Source

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in China

US Tells China Not To Flood Its Auto Market

21 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was on a 4-day trip to China’s southern city of Guangzhou and capital Beijing. In the recent trip of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to China, the US was concerned about China about to flood the market. China, as we all know, is the manufacturing capital of the world. Its over-production capabilities have resulted in flooding the international markets. Fearing the dominance of EVs, the US is staying vigilant to not let Chinese carmakers into its territory. The EV war between America’s Tesla and China’s BYD has been going on for quite some time now. In the last quarter of last year, BYD overtook Tesla for the highest EV sales worldwide between the September to December period. That was the first time Tesla lost its top spot. However, in Q1 of 2024, Tesla regained the pole position. Still, the concerns regarding Chinese EVs flooding international markets, including the USA, at cost-effective prices are a threat to many countries. You might also like: Tesla Eyeing Indian Factory With Capacity Of 500,000 EVs US Tells China Not To Flood Its Auto Market Yellen mentioned that the massive Chinese government support more than a decade ago had led to below-cost steel flooding the global market, which “decimated industries across the world and in the United States”. She told a news conference at the US ambassador’s residence that, “I’ve made clear that President Biden and I will not accept that reality again.” She held the meeting with her Chinese counterparts Vice Premier He Lifeng and Premier Li Qian for a total of 11 hours. Yellen said she was especially worried about China’s weak household consumption and business overinvestment, “imbalances” she said were “aggravated by large-scale government support in specific industrial sectors.” Needless to say, the Chinese officials countered this allegation. China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao called the fears of overcapacity “groundless”. Premier Li told Yellen earlier that Washington should view the matter of production capacity “objectively” and from a “market-oriented” perspective. Beijing had expressed its “serious concerns” to Yellen about the US sanctions, tariffs and restrictions. The two countries have also agreed to open channels for further talks on excess capacity. You might also like: Toyota Hilux Electric Pickup To Enter Into Production By 2025 Learn Electric Cars Says This is a geopolitical situation where the overproduced and underpriced Chinese EVs and other products are threatening to take over various international markets. We have seen how Chinese electric cars are slowly expanding their global footprint. Moreover, they are offering great products with the latest technology, cheaper batteries, and exhilarating performance at incredibly attractive prices. That has been China’s approach since the inception of its globalization. The USA’s concerns are understandable since there would be too much dependency on one country. That has, unfortunately, been the case for the longest time. For instance, the EV battery raw materials and manufacturing largely take place in China. This is similar to the world’s most semiconductor chips being produced in Taiwan. During lockdown, the entire world reeled under the effect of this. Hence, too much dependence on one country for anything is not ideal in today’s world. Every major country is, therefore, focusing on local manufacturing. Utilizing its own resources, technology and labour is the best way to approach the future to become self-reliable. But then again, we live in a world of global connectivity, both physically and digitally. Hence, isolating a single nation won’t be easy. In any case, let us keep an eye out for further developments in this case.

91.5% of All Cars Sold in Norway in March 2024 Were Electric

27 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Norway is well on its way to banning the sales of petrol cars by as early as next year! Norway has displayed exemplary practices in embracing electric cars, boosting sales and banning petrol and diesel cars in the next few years. We know that Norway has been ahead of the entire world in terms of EV adoption for a long time now. You would be surprised to know that in March 2024, the BEVs sold in Norway comprise of 91.5% of all new car sales in the country. Out of these, 89.3% were BEVs, 5.7% were hybrids (HEV), and 2.2% were plug-in hybrids (PHEV). Shockingly, there were only 2% cars which had a diesel engine. Intriguingly, the sales of petrol cars were almost negligible. That has to be one of the most unique sales distribution charts you’ll see in this modern world. You might also like: Ford Hits Pause On Electric Pickup Plans, To Focus On Hybrids Instead Norway Electric Cars Sales Norway is one of those nations, where EVs from the USA and China sell together. The Chinese carmakers include the likes of BYD and Xpeng. Apart from that, there are other major car marques including Tesla, Toyota, VW, Hyundai, Nissan, Honda and more. Hence, there are tons of options for the buyers to choose from. This has led to a situation where the country has 700,358 BEVs on the road and 776,003 petrol cars. By the end of this year, it is possible that the total BEVs will outnumber the petrol cars. Additionally, there are a total of 339,724 hybrid cars on Norwegian roads. However, there is still some time for BEVs to overtake diesel cars – 1,068,929. But it is clear that the sales of petrol cars are negligible and are unlikely to grow going foward. Hence, BEVs can overtake petrol car sales by the end of 2025. Let us also take a look at the top 10 BEVs sold in Norway in March 2024. Model Sales Tesla Model Y 1,987 Toyota bZ4 759 Hyundai Kona 257 VW ID.Buzz 244 Toyota Proace 234 MG 4 230 Tesla Model 3 220 Nissan Leaf 199 Hyundai IONIQ 5 190 Nissan Arya 161 Top 10 Highest-Selling EVs in Norway in March 2024 You might also like: Tesla Eyeing A $3 Billion Indian Factory With Capacity Of 500,000 EVs Learn Electric Cars Says Norway has set a classic example of how to embrace EVs fully. In all fairness, the government of Norway was extremely persuasive in convincing people to switch to electrified vehicles. That becomes clear from their enticing incentives for EVs. This includes free tolls, free parking, and tax exemptions for EVs while increasing the taxes on ICE cars. Apart from that, the small country has over 5,600 fast chargers throughout its area. Finally, the country produces over 90% of its electricity from hydroelectric power and almost all the rest comes from wind power. Hence, it is not just about EVs and EV infrastructure, but the country completely shifted to renewable sources of energy across the board. With such normalization of electric transportation and green energy generation, no wonder over 91% of all new car sales in the country come from electric powertrains. Image Source

Tesla Eyeing Indian Factory With Capacity Of 500,000 EVs

32 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Elon Musk has been trying to enter the Indian market for a couple of years but the 100% import duty was a huge hurdle. The Indian factory of Tesla might soon become a reality which could have an annual capacity of 500,000 EVs. The recent EV policy of the government of India to reduce the import duties on premium cars from over 100% to 15% has created a buzz among interested parties. On top of this list was Elon Musk’s Tesla. It was in talks with the Indian government for the past couple of years, seeking a reduction in import tariffs. However, the Indian government had unequivocally clarified that it is willing to do so only if the foreign carmaker is prepared to set up local manufacturing with a minimum investment of $500 million. With the new EV policy, the import taxes are just 15%. Hence, Tesla is sending out officials to India to look for the ideal location to set up a factory which could incur a cost between $2 billion and $3 billion. You might also like: Tesla Reclaims Title Of World’s Largest EV Maker With Q1 Sales Tesla Plans Indian Factory With 500,000 Capacity This won’t be the first time Tesla will be sending out officials to India. There were many reports last year suggesting that the American EV maker was already scouting for Tesla headquarters in Bangalore, Karnataka. Apart from that, the officials were present to have dialogues behind closed doors with the Indian government officials to hurry with this EV policy. Now that it is finally here, it is Tesla’s turn to keep its end of the promise. The Indian automobile industry is the 4th largest in the world, behind only China, the USA and Japan. Hence, Tesla understands the importance of this burgeoning marketplace. This is especially crucial since the EV demand, in top developed countries like the USA and China, is dwindling. In fact, the industry is anticipating a slower growth this year. In such a scenario, expanding its footprint across diverse nations like India, the Middle East, South East Asia and parts of Europe seems logical. Tesla’s $25,000 EV A crucial part of Tesla’s future plans is the much-talked-about ~$25,000 EV. It is very much possible once manufacturing shifts to a country like India. In India, Tesla is closely evaluating regions like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to set up the production facility due to the already existing automobile infrastructure in these regions, the availability of OEM suppliers, and proximity to the ports in order to flood the neighbouring markets with Made-in-India EVs. Once Tesla commences its operations here, many auto ancillaries will also be attracted. This would increase the foreign investment in India significantly. In return, the government of India will extend enticing subsidies and incentives to Tesla to sell their vehicles in the country. In that way, the local economy will get a boost with this investment, and Tesla will be able to manufacture its EVs are affordable prices to compete with tons of newcomers in various new markets in this part of the world. Hence, it will be a win-win for both stakeholders. You might also like: Tesla Clocks 6 Million Lifetime Sales, 1 Million In Last 6 Months Learn Electric Cars Says Tesla, just like many other international companies with varied backgrounds, is ideally trying to shift operations from China to India. While that is a big deal, choosing India makes sense otherwise too. In order to expand its global footprint, having a base in one of the biggest automobile markets in the world is prudent. Even though the EV demand in China and the USA is slow, the Indian and its neighbouring markets are still at a nascent stage. There is a ginormous room for growth, at least for the next few years. Let us see how fast Tesla can capture the Indian market and commence production there.

Four Electric Pickup Trucks Range Comparison

4 Electric Pickup Trucks Driven Until They Died – Tesla, Ford, Rivian, Chevy

16 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T and Chevrolet Silverado EV electric pickup trucks were put through their paces until they tapped out! 4 electric pickup trucks – Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T and Chevrolet Silverado EV, were driven until they died. There is always a difference between the advertised range and the real-life range of EVs. In a bid to test which EV was the closest to the ideal range, a prominent automobile expert team decided to perform an intriguing experiment. Having the security of a mobile DC fast charger, they drove the EVs till the batteries got empty. The results were intriguing, to say the least. You might also like: Mercedes VISION EQXX Drives 1,010 km On Single Charge, Still Has 309 km Range Left 4 Electric Pickup Trucks Tested For Range This experiment comes from Out of Spec Reviews on YouTube. In order to make this test fair, there are some ground rules. These include: With these conditions, the test commenced from Welling, Colorado in the direction of Nebraska until the 55% SoC. With 55% battery, the drivers must turn around. Since they had a mobile DC charger, they stayed on the highway until the electric pickup trucks came to a complete halt. You might also like: All-New Audi Q6 e-tron Quattro Revealed With New Platform Time For Result After the entire journey, it was time for the results. The Tesla Cybertruck emerged victorious by over-achieving 304 miles (489 km) against the claimed 301 miles (484 km). On the other end of the spectrum, the Ford F-150 Lightning performed the worst, driving only for 282 miles (454 km) against the claimed range of 320 miles (515 km). Rivian was close to its advertised range by displaying 345 miles (555 km) against 352 miles (566 km). Lastly, the Chevy Silverado EV showcased a range of 434 miles (698 km), while its ideal range is 450 miles (724 km). Range Test Claimed Range Achieved Range Tesla Cybertruck 301 mi (484 km) 304 mi (489 km) Rivian R1T 352 mi (566 km) 345 mi (555 km) Chevrolet Silverado EV 450 mi (724 km) 434 mi (698 km) Ford F-150 Lightning 320 mi (515 km) 282 mi (454 km) Results 4 Electric Pickup Trucks – Specs The Tesla Cybertruck in this competition comes with a tri-motor AWD configuration. It runs on 35-inch all-terrain tires. On the other hand, the Rivian R1T has a dual-motor AWD non-performance setup with a larger battery. In essence, it is meant to demonstrate maximum range. Then we have the Ford F-150 Lightning also with the extended-range battery. Finally, the Chevy Silverado EV comes with a gargantuan 215 kWh battery pack, aimed at providing the maximum range. You might also like: Taycan Turbo GT Becomes The Most Powerful Porsche Ever Learn Electric Cars Says There are tons of moving variables while calculating the range of an electric car. But in order to compare the range figures of two EVs, it is imperative to define the rules and set some basic standards to which every EV must adhere. The YouTubers have taken great care to make this comparison as fair as possible. The aim is not to test the real-world range of the EVs but how close they are to their claimed range figures under ideal and similar circumstances.

EVs Cheaper to Produce Than Gas Cars by 2027

EVs To Be Cheaper To Produce Than Gas Cars By 2027 – Study

12 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

An interesting study from Gartner reveals some insightful findings pertaining to the production of EVs and gas cars. A latest Gartner study reveals that it will be cheaper to produce EVs than gas cars by 2027. Now, EV sales are at an all-time high across the globe. It has been the case for a couple of years now. Even though some reports are suggesting that in some corners of the world, the demand has been lower than anticipated. Still, overall the sales are up. In fact, apart from the biggest markets like the USA and China, the demand is surging exponentially. This includes nations like Brazil, India, Thailand, Turkey, etc. You might also like: Next-Gen EV Batteries From Korean Giants To Be Unveiled At InterBattery 2024 EVs Will Be Cheaper To Produce Than Gas Cars The cost of EVs comprises primarily of batteries. These can be upto around 40% of the total cost of an electric car. While with time, the EV battery prices are going down, the manufacturing costs of the overall EVs are also slated to come down in the immediate future. This report says that its analysis was driven by “innovations that simplify production costs such as centralized vehicle architecture or the introduction of gigacastings that help reduce manufacturing cost and assembly time.” You must’ve heard about gigacastings and gigapresses in relation to Tesla. In fact, the latest Cybertruck is a direct outcome of that manufacturing technique. Many other legacy carmakers like Ford are also experimenting with it. Therefore, it is certain that the future of EV production will incorporate this technique. Gigapresses are able to churn out large single pieces of vehicle underbodies. This enables streamlining production and reduces the work of robots, in turn, boosting the efficiency of production. Pedro Pacheco, Vice President of Research at Gartner said, “This (the new technology) means BEVs will reach ICE cost parity much faster than initially expected, but at the same time, it will make some repairs of BEVs considerably costlier.” You might also like: 1,300 hp BYD YANGWANG U9 Is Ready To Redefine Electric Supercar Segment Downside Of Gigacastings While it is a modern method to improve production capacity and efficiency of manufacturing, it brings a pertinent issue along. In fact, even Gartner expects that the average cost of repairing an EV body and battery after a serious accident could rise 30% by 2027. Gartner stated that this could render vehicles involved in collisions more susceptible to being declared a total loss, as the repair expenses might exceed the residual value. The elevated costs associated with repairing electric vehicles are already a source of worry for prospective purchasers. Gartner warned that there might be a negative reaction from consumers if decreases in production expenses lead to elevated repair costs. Moreover, Gartner anticipates that approximately 15% of electric vehicle companies established since the previous decade will either be acquired or go bankrupt by 2027. These are some concerning findings by the market research firm. Pacheco mentioned, “This does not mean the EV sector is crumbling. It is simply entering a new phase where companies with the best products and services will win over the remaining.” You might also like: Study Shows EVs Can Be More Cost-Effective Than ICE Cars In Some Locations Learn Electric Cars Says Now these are some intriguing facets to the entire EV scenario. On the one hand, companies want to adopt modern techniques to boost production and efficiency of their manufacturing plants. On the other, the increase in repair costs could prove to be detrimental to the overall EV ownership experience for the customers. At this point in time, that could put off a lot of potential EV buyers. Therefore, while the cost of EV manufacturing could go down in the coming years, carmakers need to come up with innovative measures to ensure that customers don’t suffer from high ownership costs. Otherwise, what would be the point of low initial costs of EVs if the owners will then have to suffer due to high repair costs in the long run? Let us keep an eye out for further developments in this space. Image Source

5 Helpful Tips To Maximize EV Range In Winter And Snow

19 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Driving EVs in snowy winters can be immensely challenging. Therefore, it is great to know a few tricks and tips to ensure minimal impact of the cold on your EVs. In this blog post, we shall offer 5 crucial tips to maximize your EV range during winter and snow. Driving an EV can be worrisome anyway due to the lack of adequate charging infrastructure and range anxiety. However, things exacerbate further during the peak winter season when the temperatures drop significantly below 0 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, all Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to extreme temperatures. You would’ve noticed this with your smartphones and laptops too. As a result, EVs tend to offer considerably lower range on a single charge during adverse weather conditions. Still, there are a few measures that EV owners could adopt in order to minimize the impact of snow or extremely low temperatures on their EVs. You might also like: Study Shows EVs Can Be More Cost-Effective Than ICE Cars In Some Locations 5 Tips To Maximize EV Range In Winter & Snow Preheat Battery One of the most effective methods to tackle the issue of low range during winter conditions is to pre-heat the battery. Some modern cars come with a heat pump which ensures that the temperature of the battery remains in an optimal range. Also, while the electric car is plugged in, the battery of the car gets in a perfect temperature range even before the owner commences the drive. In that way, the battery won’t draw additional power to do this task of maintaining its optimal temperature. AC Temperature Yet another way to reduce the power consumption of the EV battery during harsh cold is to use the heat produced by the car to warm the cabin. Most people crank up the blower to the maximum in order to heat the cabin space. However, a slightly more nuanced and prudent technique is to use heated seats and steering wheel to keep yourself warm. That will consume much less power from the battery, in turn maximizing the range. Obviously, your EV needs to have this function from the factory. You might also like: 1,300 hp BYD YANGWANG U9 Is Ready To Redefine Electric Supercar Segment Tires A significantly underrated aspect while calculating the range of EVs is the tires. In fact, we feel that car owners don’t pay enough attention to tires in general. In the case of snow or harsh winter conditions, generally, the tire pressure drops. That leads to a situation where higher power is needed to move the car. Hence, more battery is consumed in the process. Therefore, you must ensure that the tire pressure in your car is appropriate at all times. Also, it helps to use dedicated snow tires. Speed Unlike ICE cars where high speed means high engine efficiency, the range of EVs deteriorates exponentially as the speed increases. This is due to higher wind resistance and drag coefficient. The battery gets depleted at a higher rate at high vehicle speeds. Therefore, driving at moderate speeds can boost the overall range of EVs substantially on a single charge. Eco Mode Finally, if your EV comes with drive modes, it is advisable to use Eco mode to maximize range. In peak winters or snowy conditions, you wouldn’t want exquisite performance and high-speed scenarios with your EVs anyway. Therefore, switching to Eco mode will limit the power produced by an EV, in turn, saving the battery from getting empty quickly. Hence, it is a great way to use the drive modes in an EV. You might also like: EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along? Learn Electric Cars Says Extremely low temperatures slow down the reaction inside an EV battery. That is the reason why charging EVs becomes extremely slow, while the battery loses range rapidly. There are many parts of the world where the temperatures get way below 0 degrees Celsius. Arguably, the most prominent market is Norway where around 82% of total EV sales in 2023 were electric cars. Norway experiences one of the harshest winters in the world. Still, due to the aforementioned practices, they are able to navigate their way to ensure that using EVs remains practical and feasible. Hence, it is possible to use EVs effectively even in harsh winters with proper planning.

Study Shows EVs Can Be More Cost-Effective Than ICE Cars In Some Locations

18 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

A study by the University of Michigan deep dives into various aspects of EV ownership to arrive at a tangible conclusion. As per the latest study by researchers at the University of Michigan, interesting facts come to light with regard to just how cost-effective EVs can be in comparison to ICE cars. The debate about the ownership costs of electric and gasoline cars has been going on for a while now. Granted, there are a multitude of moving variables in this equation. Still, we can start with a few generalizations to comprehend the entire picture. Now, ownership of EVs is a multi-faceted phenomenon. It consists of myriad factors including the initial purchase cost, fast-charging and home-charging habits, location, incentives by the central and federal governments, cost of electricity, daily usage, climate conditions, driving mannerisms, service costs, battery replacement costs, etc. Still, EVs have been around for long enough to incorporate all these aspects into our calculation to develop an effective hypothesis. Taking all these dimensions into consideration, the researchers at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability achieved some intriguing revelations. You might also like: EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along? EVs vs ICE Cars – Who Is More Cost-Effective? This study took into account 14 cities in the United States of America and analyzed the cost of ownership associated with gasoline, hybrid and electric cars. Published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology, their research reveals that while gasoline vehicles are typically cheaper to buy initially, electric vehicles prove to be more cost-effective in the long run due to reduced maintenance, repair, and fuel expenses. Whether an electric vehicle will become financially equivalent to a comparable gasoline vehicle depends on various factors, including the location of vehicle operation, charging and driving habits, as well as the size and range of the vehicle. The key findings were: Role Of Location The study concluded that location can prove to play a bigger role in calculating the actual cost of ownership of any car than you would imagine. In the 14 cities examined, the total ownership cost of an electric midsize SUV fluctuated by $52,000—representing nearly a 40% variation—over the vehicle’s entire lifespan. New York City and Detroit incurred the highest insurance expenses. Among gasoline vehicles, refuelling proved most costly in San Francisco and Los Angeles, while it was least expensive in Houston and Dallas. Conversely, charging electric vehicles proved most expensive in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Boston, but least expensive in Atlanta, Chicago, and Cleveland. You might also like: Are EVs Really More Troublesome Than Non-Plug-In Hybrid Cars? Vehicle Type And Battery Size The other key aspect of ownership of cars is the vehicle and battery size. In all 14 cities examined, small and low-range electric vehicles are more affordable than gas vehicles of similar size. However, larger, long-range EVs tend to be pricier compared to their gasoline counterparts, while midsize EVs may achieve cost parity in certain cities. Charging Parameters Arguably, the most direct factor to calculate the cost of EV ownership is the charging process. Various charging habits significantly influence the total cost of ownership. When compared to utilizing public charging stations, home charging reduces lifetime expenses by an average of $10,000, with potential savings reaching up to $26,000, even after factoring in charger installation costs. In numerous cities, time-of-use electricity rates are available, providing discounted rates for overnight vehicle charging—a vital aspect for prospective electric vehicle owners to consider. Incentives And Subsidies Finally, many governments across the globe, are lending financial aid in order to promote mass EV adoption. That is the main attraction for the fence-sitters to go for an EV today. In the US, federal incentives, including the $7,500 federal tax credit, play a crucial role in hastening the break-even point between electric vehicles and gasoline vehicles. In certain cities, federal incentives can be supplemented with several thousand dollars in state and local incentives. Senior Author, Gregory Keoleian said, “Our findings show that electric vehicles can be cost-competitive with gasoline vehicles for the 14 cities we studied across the US. In addition to charging cost advantages for electric vehicles over gasoline fueling costs, there are lower maintenance and repair costs.” Lead author Maxwell Woody concluded by saying, “The cost difference between electric and gasoline vehicles depends on many individual and regional factors. Right now, an EV is less expensive for some users in some locations but there are strategies that both users and the government can take to make EVs less expensive for more users and in more locations.” You might also like: Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality? Learn Electric Cars Says It is quite obvious that there is still a long way to go before we can truly fathom the EV ownership cost in its entirety. Nevertheless, with EV sales at an all-time high, it makes sense to invest some time to analyze the data which is available to us at the moment. Sure, things are bound to evolve in future. Still, at this point in time, we must consider various scenarios to see if this electric metamorphosis seems feasible and sustainable for the mass public. At least with such studies, many aspects come to the light for everyone to consider and analyze. Hence, the question of whether EVs are more cost-effective than ICE cars can only be answered relatively at the moment.

EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along?

28 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Many legacy automobile companies are backtracking on the ambitious plans to go full electric either toward the end of this decade or sometime in the coming decade. The ‘electric’ plans of legacy car makers to have a 100% EV portfolio in the coming years are beginning to look overstated. In the heat of the moment, the last couple of years witnessed auto giants jumping onto the EV bandwagon without any reservations. They wanted to transform their entire production facilities and portfolios to strictly offer electric cars in the coming decade. However, Toyota was never convinced about this idea. In fact, it has been receiving a lot of flak for it in recent times. The Japanese auto giant has been immensely bullish on hybrid and hydrogen cars. Interestingly, many legacy car marques initially thought of skipping the hybrid powertrains, citing them a waste of resources and time when the end goal was to ultimately go for complete electrification. But in just a couple of years, car companies are beginning to think that the sales might not keep rising exponentially for a sustained period. Mercedes-Benz is the latest legacy luxury carmaker to join this fray and announced that it might continue to offer its ICE cars for longer than previously thought. You might also like: Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality? Plans Of EV Makers Too Ambitious? According to the latest Reuters report, Mercedes-Benz announced it’s pushing back its plan to switch to electric cars by five years. It promised investors it will continue to improve its traditional petrol engine cars. This makes Mercedes-Benz the latest car company to admit that people aren’t buying electric cars as quickly as expected. Now, Mercedes-Benz predicts that half of its cars will be electric or hybrid by 2030. This is five years later than what they said in 2021. Back then, they wanted half of their cars to be electric by 2025, with most of them being fully electric. Ola Källenius, Chairman and CEO at Mercedes-Benz said, “It is almost like we will have a new lineup in 2027 that will take us well into the 2030s.” This is a clear indication that the German luxury carmaker had overestimated the popularity and mass EV adoption. You might also like: Are EVs Really More Troublesome Than Non-Plug-In Hybrid Cars? Carmakers Who Are Reconsidering Their EV Plans There are some eminent names on this list. For instance, Ford had been cutting the production of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. Moreover, reduced interest from the customers and dealers for the famed Mach-E has been detrimental in Ford having to reconsider its EV production plans. Another American auto giant, GM has also been re-assessing the situation. GM CEO, Mary Barra is also acknowledging that hybrids might be the way forward, at least in the near future. She remarked, “Deploying plug-in technology in strategic segments will deliver some of the environmental benefits of EVs as the nation continues to build its charging infrastructure.” Automobile giants like Volkswagen also wanted to skip the entire hybrid route to offer EVs directly. Recently, even Volvo announced that it will be pulling future investments from its popular EV company, Polestar. It was only firms like Stellantis, Toyota, Hyundai Motor Group (including Hyundai, Kia and Genesis), who are incorporating hybrid cars into their portfolios across many international markets. They feel that the path to complete electrification will pass through hybrid powertrains. You might also like: Top Reasons For High Interest Rates On EV Loans Learn Electric Cars Says These news reports might be a bit confusing since the overall EV sales in 2023 has been significantly higher in contrast to 2022. However, we must understand that while the overall sales is increasing quite rapidly, the long terms goals are looking bloated and over-ambitious. It is not like electric cars are not selling. In fact, with the constant development of EV charging infrastructure and enticing incentives from governments all over the world, EVs are gaining prominence. With time, even the prices of the electric cars are going doing due to the mass availability of Lithium-ion batteries and huge volume production. But the anticipated sales figures for the end of this decade or the middle of the next decade might not come to fruition. It would be intriguing to witness if hybrid cars provide a better intermediary foundation to facilitate mass EV adoption by the end of the next decade with revised plans from auto makers.

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