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By William Maley
Volkswagen is planning a lineup of electric vehicles which include a hatchback, crossover, and small van. But a new report says the German automaker has ambitions to launch an electric vehicle with a pricetag of about 18,000 euros (about $21,000).
Sources tell Bloomberg the model in question will be a subcompact crossover and begin selling sometime after 2020. According to Reuters, the model is currently known as "MEB entry". Volkswagen is planning a production volume of 200,000 vehicles that will take place at three factories. This vehicle hasn't been approved by Volkswagen's supervisory board. According to sources, a discussion on the vehicle is expected to take place during their next meeting on November 16th - the same meeting that is reportedly where a discussion on possible expanding their partnership with Ford is expected to take place.
Sources also mentioned another electric model, the I.D. Aero. The midsize sedan and wagon would be built at Volkswagen's Emden plant in Germany. Emden is currently home to the production of the European Passat sedan and wagon, but sources say production of the model would move to the Czech Republic in 2022. Having the Aero take the Passat's place would help keep jobs at Emden.
Volkswagen declined to comment.
Source: Bloomberg (Subscription Required), Reuters
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By William Maley
Volkswagen is planning a lineup of electric vehicles which include a hatchback, crossover, and small van. But a new report says the German automaker has ambitions to launch an electric vehicle with a pricetag of about 18,000 euros (about $21,000).
Sources tell Bloomberg the model in question will be a subcompact crossover and begin selling sometime after 2020. According to Reuters, the model is currently known as "MEB entry". Volkswagen is planning a production volume of 200,000 vehicles that will take place at three factories. This vehicle hasn't been approved by Volkswagen's supervisory board. According to sources, a discussion on the vehicle is expected to take place during their next meeting on November 16th - the same meeting that is reportedly where a discussion on possible expanding their partnership with Ford is expected to take place.
Sources also mentioned another electric model, the I.D. Aero. The midsize sedan and wagon would be built at Volkswagen's Emden plant in Germany. Emden is currently home to the production of the European Passat sedan and wagon, but sources say production of the model would move to the Czech Republic in 2022. Having the Aero take the Passat's place would help keep jobs at Emden.
Volkswagen declined to comment.
Source: Bloomberg (Subscription Required), Reuters
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By dfelt
What does everyone make of this photo?
Jalopnik story
According to Jalopnik, an anonymous tipster emailed in photo's of a key fob and clearly proved it is from Cadillac by flipping the fob over to show the Cadillac logo on the back. The interesting thing is that the new leader of Cadillac has been busy rolling back all of the former leaders car focused stuff and refocusing on CUVs. Yet when asked about a new Halo auto and if the mid-engine corvette could be used as a base, the response was we will have something much more interesting and special for Cadillac.
Now with that said, we get pictures of this fob which would show a frunk and trunk plus a retractable roof. Is it possible that Cadillac could go AWD EV Halo on us?
What do you all think is going on here? Is it the fob to an EV Halo car, Hybrid Halo car, Mid-Engine ICE Halo?
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By dfelt
Manufacturing Revamp?
GM spoke out a week ago about a national electric vehicle mandate that they were in favor of. Tesla has reported a bigger than expected profitable quarter and if you Bing or Google National electric vehicle mandate, the stories covering this is huge with more auto companies in favor than against.
GM, Honda and the State of California have all as of 10-26-2018 officially pushed back on Trump and his administration in regards to the U.S. fuel economy standards. The short story of what you can read at the bottom in the links is that they are saying the federal government should embrace a zero emission vehicle sales mandate nationwide with a program start date of 2021. Honda took it a step forward and said a nominal steady increase should continue on all auto's and not a freeze. To quote Mark Reuss, GM's executive vice president of global product development, "We know that we can do better than the Trump proposal. We know that the industry can do better than that." GM states that a nationwide program would put 7 million long-range electric cars on the road and slash 375 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 compared with existing zero-emission mandates in this country.
For details read the automotive news story as if really digs into the details of what is being called Faulty Modeling by the current administration and EPA. The story does quote the free-market Institute for Energy Research who says the existing standards are too aggressive penalizing suburban and rural consumers who are concerned about driving range and reliability. Industry uncertainty is very clear with some taking a big wait and see like FCA on one end and then GM, Honda and California on the other end saying the current administrations plan for revoking California's rule-making authority is flawed and should be scrapped.
To quote Reuss in regards to a national electric car program: "It will facilitate more makers to be able to really focus on development of electric vehicles more efficiently, and take the guesswork out of what we think may or may not happen. We're making bets on a lot of uncertainty, which is highly destructive to capital."
So what does this have to do with the title of "Fast Lane to EVs for GM? Some Think So!"
Green car report got a no comment from GM when asked about a number of changes going on including upcoming announcements in regards to the Hamtramck plant which currently builds the Volt and is under utilized. The potential spin-off of Cruise Automation and or Maven, their profitable third quarter report and more according to multiple sources they say.
To achieve the executive plan of Mary Barra of 20 new EVs by 2023 announced last fall GM is planning to make a series of manufacturing-location and development changes in motion to electrify it's fleet according to sources the story says. UAW and GM were in a give and take negotiations last year where the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CT6 and Chevrolet Impala were all on the possible kill off list as large sedans have struggled to sell in the current market lately. Some of these we know will continue on.
GM has been cagey about the role of Plug-in hybrids with the slow selling of the Volt especially compared to the Toyota Prius Prime with a lower plug-in range, yet demand for the BOLT on the other hand has been very strong as GM has announced plans to expand production at the plant this year. GM's plan to unveil new long range electric CUVs also show that major changes in manufacturing will have to happen. GM is pushing ahead with a all new electric vehicle platform that will cover compact to full size electric long range auto's including family-sized crossovers. They have announced their all-new battery pack that will go into generation 2 EVs that will break the $100 / kWh barrier for lithium-ion packs allowing for a range of scale for both the China and US market along with the rest of the global market.
This all comes on GM showing off their eCOPO Camaro that has an 800 volt battery pack very similar it would seem to the 800 volt pack that Porsche is using. This supports 700HP / 600 lb-ft of torque motors. Fast Charging that is 80% range in 15 min. it would appear that GM is embracing the future of automotive driving. Remember the Buick Enspire EV that has a 370 mile range battery pack, AWD with 550 HP with a 0 to 60 in 4 seconds.
Then keep in mind while these are for China only, it would not be totally out of line for GM to change their mind and bring the Buick Velite 6 plug-in hybrid and long-range electric auto to the US after manufacturing starts in China. The Velite name used in China for all Hybrid and electric Buicks is currently on the Volt 2.0 platform, but the Velite 6 will be based on GMs new Modular compact to full size platform according to the Fool story. Buick Velite plug-in Hybrid will have a 435 mile range with battery pack / generator combo as it will use the new high-performance ternary lithium-ion battery pack built in the new GM battery plant in Shanghai. GM currently will not say much more about the new generation battery packs only they will release more info at a later date, possibly at an American auto show.
Long story short, Motley Fool has a rare Double Down buy on GM stock with 20 new EV models for the global and US market, GM is showing true forward thinking that should place them well above other auto OEMs.
GM has a $10,000 award for naming of their new $1,000 electric bike they are putting into production for sale across the U.S.
According to GM the person responsible for naming this new foldable eBike will win $10,000 and all one needs to do is go to https://ebikebrandchallenge.com/call-for-entries to enter. You have till November 26th to enter. Nine finalist will win $1,000 each also. With the largest bike market being China, this totally makes sense for GM to get into and the U.S. as well as other markets will benefit from a bike that is assisted with electric drive to go nice and fast.
So with so much electrification going on, why would one not expect GM to do a massive change in their manufacturing of auto's as they move to embrace a 36 month revolutionary role out or electric vehicles, bikes and who knows what else.
Green Car Report Story Chicago Tribune Story on Mandate CNN National ZEV Mandate Story Automotive News story on Mandate Bing Search on Mandate Motley Fool story on Battery packs from GM U.S. Department of Energy PDF on GM's Li-Ion battery pack manufacturing eCOPO Camaro Media Release from GM GM eBike for Sale -
By dfelt
Bollinger Motors came onto the scene in 2017 with their 4 door AWD Sport Utility Truck. This truck designed on cad and then built and tested all over the US on road and off trail has proven itself so that the company has 20,000 plus reservation and growing for the 2020 production launch. Yet as they near engineering completion, they kept hearing from customers that asked if the truck could be built with a normal pickup size bed. Bollinger Motors Answer is the B2 Pickup Truck.
Built on the outstanding work done for their shorter B1 Sport Utility Truck, the B2 was developed on the same DNA, using the same AWD dual motor, hydropneumatic suspension, in-wheel portal gear hubs, 120 kWh battery pack, large frunk space, and patented pass-through door for long items.
B2 Pickup Truck Specifications:
Bed is 4' 1" wide x 5' 9" long - Internal cab tailgate down, the truck can carry full 4' x 8' sheets of plywood. Total of 72 sheets of 1/2" plywood can be hauled. Rear glass opens up to the top of the cab. Class 3 work truck (10,001 Gross Vehicle weight rating) 520 Horsepower 514 lb-ft of torque 0 - 60 MPH in 6.5 seconds 100 MPH Top Speed 9.4 Power / weight Ratio Geared Axle hubs Tire size LT285/70/R17 11.75" Vented Brakes 4-Wheel Anti-lock Inboard Brakes 120 kWh battery pack with a 200 mile EPA range (est) 70.2 MPGe (est) Level 1 & 2 J1772 charging Ports for 110 & 220 V power Level 3 CCS Port Charging (DC Fast) Regenerative Braking 4800 LB Curb Weight 45 / 55 Weight Balance Dimensions 118.8" Wheelbase 171.5" Length 77.2" Width (no mirrors) 89" Width (with mirrors) 72.7" Height 66.2" Front and Rear Track 52 degree Approach Angle 30 degree Break Over Angle 43 degree Departure Angle 4 Passenger 113 Cubic ft of Cargo Capacity 13' Internal Length Front to Rear (Liftgates Closed) 16' 4" Internal Length Front to Rear (Liftgates Open) 14 cubic feet Frunk Storage Capacity 13" wide x 14" high patented pass through to Frunk 24 2x4s fit through the Passthrough Electric AWD All Aluminum Body Capability 15" Ground Clearance 10" Wheel Travel Up to 20" Variable Ground Clearance 5001 LB Payload Capacity 7500 LB Towing Capacity Front and Rear Winch option Plow Capable
Bollinger Motors website
Additional info on the B1 was published here:
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