Audi

Germany Launches World-First Battery Pass Project

Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action formally announced its "Battery Pass" project and its eleven consortium members, including Circulor, the leading supply chain traceability provider, as the project's technology implementor. The announcement marks the beginning of a three-year, German-funded R&D project to develop core data specifications and technical standards for a "passport", as well as a standardized dataspace to manage batteries that are manufactured or placed into service in the European Union.

Countrywide Network of High Power electric Vehicle Chargers Complete

Extra MSA Group has partnered with Europe's leading high-power charging network IONITY to launch a complete network of high-power charging stations for electric vehicles, now available at all Extra MSA Group motorway service areas across the UK.

Not So Fast: EV Charging Rates Make a Difference

Charging speeds for electric vehicles (EVs) vary, from as little as 15 minutes using an ultra-rapid 350 kW charger, to as much as 24 hours when relying on a domestic wall outlet. Eventually, we could reach a point where recharging barely takes longer than filling up with fuel.

Nio (2022)

Nio Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells smart electric vehicles in China and Europe. The company offers five, six, and seven-seater electric SUVs, as well as smart electric sedans. It is also involved in a battery swapping service called Power Swap. Nio Inc. was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

Being a Motor Manufacturer in a Materials Crisis

The past two years have been extremely turbulent for many industries with production lines shutting down, chip shortages, and a host of general supply chain issues. Amongst the dismay, electric vehicles (EVs) have been a shining light. In 2021, sales of EVs globally grew by around 80% over 2020 which in turn was a growth of 44% over 2019.

SungEel HiTech

SungEel HiTech is a South Korean Li-ion battery recycler, founded in 2000.

Rare Earths in EVs: Problems, Solutions and What Is Actually Happening

EVs certainly mark the path to a more environmentally friendly future, but there are still concerns around the sourcing of certain components or materials within EVs. Electric motors literally drive EVs but rely heavily on rare-earth materials. Will EV manufacturers continue to rely so heavily on rare earths going into the future?

Bosch: Automotive Radar & LiDAR

IDTechEx spoke to Bosch about their radar and LiDAR sensor offerings at the ITS world congress 2021 in Hamburg. Here is a description of their technologies, pricing and highlighted trends.

Niebling

Niebling is an established German SME that offers precise high pressure forming equipment for in-mold electronics (IME) and film-insert molding (FIM). This profile is based on a presentation at the Elantas printed electronics day given in October 2021.

PolyIC

PolyIC produce capacitive touch sensors based on transparent conductive films, which can be integrated within 3D plastic parts. This update profile is based on a presentation given at the 'Elantas Printed Electronics Day' in October 2021.

Barriers Fall Unleashing Autonomous Cars in 2021

The new IDTechEx report, "Autonomous Cars, Robotaxis & Sensors 2022-2042", discovers that level 3 autonomous vehicle technology has been ready since 2017- so where are the autonomous vehicles? The answer lies in unclear liability rules, which have turned out to be a massive headache for automakers like Audi, Tesla, GM, Mercedes, and others.

Electric Cars Could Be Cheaper to Run Thank You Think

Electric vehicles can cost around half as much to run as petrol and diesel cars, says one of the UK's leading automotive finance companies. To mark World EV Day on 9th September, Volkswagen Financial Services UK (VWFS) has released data from its online EV-4-Me quiz, designed for consumers to discover how an EV would fit into their lifestyle, which shows that drivers can expect average annual running costs of £866* when behind the wheel of an electric vehicle. This is a whopping £711 cheaper than a comparable petrol car (£1,577 annual cost) and a substantial £640 less expensive than a diesel car (£1,508 annual cost). Volkswagen Financial Services UK's data insights team can also reveal that annual finance cases for electric vehicles are up 128% so far this year compared to the whole of 2019. Research conducted by Volkswagen Financial Services UK earlier this year found that 63%** of all people considering making the switch from combustion cars to an EV look into the running costs, so it is clearly an important topic. The UK government is due to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and Volkswagen Financial Services UK's findings are broadly reflective of the government's Advisory Fuel Rates (AFR)***. Rebecca Whitmore, EV Senior Product Owner at Volkswagen Financial Services UK, said: "It's great to see the growth of EV adoption in the UK, with more electric vehicles registered than diesel cars for the second month in a row in July this year. Presse | News | Prensa | Tisk | Imprensa | Prasa | Stampa | Pers | Пресса Under embargo until 00.01 on Thursday 9th September Electric cars could be cheaper to run than you think - and finance cases have more than doubled since 2019 "Our digital tools such as EV-4-Me and the EV&Me app are great places to start researching electric cars. "Our customer research tells us that customers really value the experience of an EV test drive, as of those who took a test drive in a recent study, 95% said that it was important in helping with their decision to purchase an EV. Our try before you buy proposition takes this one step further, giving customers a chance to experience what it's like to live with an EV before making the commitment to buy." How do we achieve more mainstream adoption of electric cars? As part of the Government's Road to Zero strategy, all new rapid charge points installed since spring 2020 should provide debit or credit card payment, to encourage greater EV uptake. Up until that point consumers were restricted to charging using the relevant provider's charge card or app. Mike Coulton, EV Consultant at Volkswagen Financial Services UK, said: "There are more than 25,000 charging points in over 15,500 locations across the UK^, but with multiple charge point operators (CPOs) asking motorists to sign up to their individual subscription or membership services to charge their EV, access can be an issue. This fragmented marketplace can make it difficult for individuals and business fleets looking to make the switch to EV, which is why a universal payment app, such as Volkswagen Financial Services Fleet's Charge&Fuel product, helps to ease this burden considerably. "When it comes to combating range anxiety, it is worth noting that the all-electric Volkswagen ID.3 Tour with its 77kWh battery can travel up to 340 miles on a single charge on the WLTP (combined) cycle, whilst cheaper variants with the 58kWh battery can still achieve 264 miles on the same cycle." Volkswagen Financial Services UK's research shows this aligns with the minimum mileage people would want an electric vehicle to travel without having to charge en-route to a destination. Volkswagen Financial Services UK data shows that 75% of people would expect their electric vehicle to travel up to 300 miles on a single charge. Mike Todd, CEO at Volkswagen Financial Services UK, said: "The case for making the switch to electric is getting stronger all the time and some of the anxieties that drivers may have around cost, range and charging are proving to be less of an issue as EV technology continues to evolve at pace. I think a big part of boosting mainstream adoption of electric cars is reminding people of how we actually travel in our everyday lives. "The average length of each car journey in the UK is fewer than 10 miles, and with public charging stations being installed at supermarkets, gyms and elsewhere, frequent top-ups rather than big weekly charges are likely to be the norm for many, especially those without off-street parking. One analogy I like to borrow is that charging an EV should be approached in the same way we top up a smartphone battery - something that's much easier if you have multiple chargers dotted around your house." For more information on whether switching to an electric car is the right move for you, visit Volkswagen Financial Services' dedicated EV hub: https://customer.vwfs.co.uk/vwfs-uk---electric-vehicles/is-an-ev-right-for-me-.html Try before you buy Volkswagen Financial Services UK is set to pilot a 'try before you buy' experience through its Rent-a-Car business at Johnsons Birmingham this month, where customers can test drive an electric Volkswagen ID.3 for up to seven days. The experience has been designed to give people considering switching to an EV an extended period to understand what driving an electric car is all about. Uniquely, if the customer then buys a new or used Volkswagen ID.3 from the retailer within 30 days they will get their full rental costs refunded. It's hoped this pilot will eventually be rolled out to all Volkswagen Financial Services UK Rent-a-Car locations. How can you finance an electric vehicle? People looking to make the switch to an electric vehicle can read about the Volkswagen Financial Services UK Lease&Care package, which has been designed to make switching to an electric vehicle simpler for customers. The flexibility of this finance plan means all servicing and car costs are covered in one easy, single monthly payment. This product is available across Volkswagen and ŠKODA EV models. For more information, head to: https://customer.vwfs.co.uk/car-finance-options/lease-care.html Similarly, consumers are invited to download the EV&Me app, which Volkswagen Financial Services UK created to demonstrate to customers how an electric or plug-in hybrid Audi or CUPRA vehicle could fit into their lifestyle. By analysing driving behaviour, the app can give insight into how many journeys can be driven without stopping to charge and the cost savings that come from the switch to electric. To find out more, click here: https://customer.vwfs.co.uk/vwfs-uk---electric-vehicles.html ENDS Note to editors: *EV-4-ME is designed to offer guidance on which fuel type might be most appropriate for you, based on your answers to the questions provided. It should not be relied upon solely to inform your buying decision. We advise speaking to your local dealer and carefully considering your personal circumstances before making a final decision. Running costs, predicted emissions, benefit-in-kind rates and Plug In Vehicle Grant calculations have been based on representative vehicles for each of the fuel types. The indicative running cost is an annual figure, based on the fuel costs for a given MPG or kWh/mile and servicing costs for a representative model of each fuel type, plus the London Congestion Charge savings based on your answers. The figure of £866 is based on a vehicle budget of up to £30,000, driving fewer than 10,000 miles annually and up to 30 miles daily, and does not take into account the London Congestion Charge. **The data for this study was collected in February 2021 and comprises responses from 259 EV considerers composed of a mixture of members of the public and customers. ***Data from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advisory-fuel-rates. Advisory fuel rates are the government's recommended rates for reimbursing employees' fuel costs while driving a company car on business. Currently, a diesel car driver can receive between 9p-13p per mile, whilst a petrol car driver can claim between 11p-19p per mile. However, an electric car receives just 4p per mile - roughly a third of what can be claimed for a petrol vehicle. ^Data from independent website www.zap-map.com Contact: Volkswagen Financial Services UK | PR Sam Balls Phone: +44 (0) 7385426618 Sam.balls@vwfs.co.uk https://customer.vwfs.co.uk/volkswagen-financial-services-uk/media.html Information for editors: Volkswagen Financial Services are a business division of the Volkswagen AG group of companies and comprise Volkswagen Financial Services AG along with its associated companies, Volkswagen Bank GmbH, Porsche Financial Services, and the financial services companies in the USA and Canada that belong directly or indirectly to Volkswagen AG - with the exception of the financial services of the Scania brand and Porsche Holding Salzburg. The key business fields embrace dealer and customer financing, leasing, the bank and insurance business, fleet management and mobility offers. Volkswagen Financial Services have a total of 16,558 employees worldwide, Volkswagen Financial Services report total assets of around EUR 225.6 billion, an operating result of EUR 2.8 billion and a portfolio of around 21.9 million current contracts (as at: 31.12.2020).

Legislative Barriers and Progress In Autonomy

This article explains the legislative landscape across major regions and summarise each regions progress and outlook and gives an update on the maturity of the robotaxi players and summarises the market entry in different regions.

Artificial Intelligence Detects What The Driver is Doing

Is the driver tired or even asleep? Cameras in the vehicle's interior can already monitor this. Especially in the case of automated driving, interior cameras are important and prescribed by law. A new system developed is the world's first to be able to use image data to draw conclusions about the driver's activity and analyze how quickly they would be able to take control of the vehicle.

Electrochaea GmbH

Electrochaea is a German growth-stage company that has developed a power-to-gas (P2G) process to convert renewable energy and carbon dioxide into pipeline-grade biomethane.

DuPont: EV Battery Materials

DuPont has a wide portfolio of thermal management and structural materials for EV batteries. Dr James Edmondson from IDTechEx interviewed DuPont to find out more about their portfolio and several applications in the EV market.

Key Trends That Are Turning Up The Heat In The EV Market

Within the EV market, increases are being seen in battery capacity, range, charging rates, wide bandgap semiconductors, and high-performance traction motors. Additionally, EV fires and related recalls have brought the concept of thermal runaway detection, prevention, and protection to the fore. All of these trends demand more effective thermal management systems, solutions, and materials.

Elaphe (2021)

Elaphe is a start-up based out of Slovenia making in-wheel motors primarily for automotive applications. IDTechEx caught up with Luka Ambrozic, Chief Marketing Officer at Elaphe.