Friday, December 08, 2023

UK / EU
Carmakers get three years EV tariff delay



06 Dec 2023



Carmakers have been granted a three-year delay to “rules of origin” tariffs for electric vehicles (EVs) being sent from and to the UK from the European Union.

Following Brexit, carmakers had a deadline of 2024 to source 45% of a car from within the UK or EU and 60% of EV battery components or face a 10% export tariff.

European carmakers have been fierce critics of the rules, which are aimed at Chinese-sourced vehicles and products, saying it would damage their EV sales more.

Sources quoted in the Financial Times stated that Brexit commissioner Maros Sefcovic had an eleventh-hour change of heart about the proposal and decided instead on a delay.

Most EV batteries currently come from China and politicians in both the EU and Britain are concerned about the prospect of a flood of cheap Chinese EVs that would stifle the industry here before it had a chance to develop properly.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of UK car industry body the SMMT, said of the EU's proposal: "Such an extension would avoid damaging tariffs on the very vehicles we need consumers to buy, allow UK and EU manufacturers to compete with the rest of the world and, crucially, give the European battery industry time to catch up.”

Both Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan have announced major investments in battery factories in the UK recently.

Morgan’s XP-1 hints at future electric sports car
2023/12/07

British sports car firm Morgan, known for its long-bonneted, bug-eyed nostalgic cars with lively handling, has its sights on retro-electric mobility. Morgan/dpa

British sports car firm Morgan has revealed a new prototype that shows its "ongoing development" of electric cars.

Produced over 12 months, the XP-1, standing for "experimental prototype" is based on Morgan’s Super 3 three-wheeler, and has been produced in-house at the firm’s factory in Malvern, Worcestershire.

Morgan’s first venture into electric cars came in 2016, when the firm revealed an "EV3" concept car at the Geneva Motor Show, but no production car ever materialised and it has remained very quiet about the topic of electrification.

However, Morgan is now signalling its intent to produce electric cars with the new prototype. The firm says that it’s "not intended for production," but rather is being used as a test bed to develop the driving characteristics and powertrains of electric Morgans. It will also be used to help train the firm’s employees on electric cars.

The XP1 also uses Morgan’s first in-house powertrain of any type, with the firm previously using engines from the likes of Ford and BMW to power its cars.

Morgan says lightness is a "key requirement" of this new EV, and that the XP-1’s weight is "comparable" to that of the petrol Super 3 this car is based on, which weighs just 635 kg. A small 33kWh battery is used, with reports suggesting the XP-1 could manage around 241 km of range from a charge.

"We are immensely proud to be sharing XP-1 with the world and showcasing some of the first-class engineering that takes place behind the scenes at Morgan," Matt Hole, chief technical officer of the Morgan Motor Company, said.

"As we embark on our electric journey, this prototype will become a focal point of the engineering and design process, providing a wealth of insight and helping to build up our in-house EV capability."

The firm says that updates about the progress with the XP-1 will be announced over the "coming months".

The XP1 uses Morgan’s first in-house powertrain of any type, with the firm previously using engines from the likes of Ford and BMW to power its cars. Morgan/dpa

A small 33kWh battery is used in the XP-1 prototype, with reports suggesting the XP-1 could manage around 241 km of range from a charge. Morgan/dpa

© Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH



Fiat revives the 500e with a new version to be sold across the US
TESLA VS THE ITALIAN JOB
2023/12/06
Fiat is selling its new 500e as "a modern, tech-forward take on a beloved classic" and believes it has what it takes to bring small European electric mobility to the US. 
Stellantis/dpa

Stellantis NV's first battery-electric vehicle available for retail customers across North America goes on sale in the first quarter of 2024 with a starting price of $32,500 plus a $1,595 destination fee.

It's the Fiat 500e, a previous version of which was sold in California and Oregon last decade, and this time the company actually wants customers to buy it.

The iconic minicar built in Italy returns to the US market after the automaker ended production of the Fiat 500 and its electric version in 2019 in Mexico. Former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV CEO Sergio Marchionne famously asked customers not to buy the previous 500e, "because every time I sell one it costs me $14,000."

But now, EVs are being produced at larger rates in Europe, even if they're still in the early adopter phase in the United States. Their sales growth here is slowing, prompting a pullback in EV investments in the industry. Fiat's goal isn't volume here, its CEO Olivier François previously said, but to target wealthy, urban buyers mostly on the coasts with a zero-emission, fun-to-drive car.

The focus will be on online sales, such as through metaverse showrooms. The brand is employing alternative retail models like subscriptions and rentals like through Stellantis' Free2move car-sharing platform. Sneaker drop-like buzz cars will seek to maintain appeal with limited editions. Plus, sales will help offset emissions created by volume gas-powered SUVs and trucks.

“The 2024 500e is a modern, tech-forward take on a beloved classic, delivering a host of new safety features, while remaining fun to drive and true to its roots," François said in a statement. "Try not to smile when you drive this car.”

Fiat has been down to just one vehicle in its U.S. lineup: the 500X subcompact SUV. US sales are down 46% year-over-year in the first nine months of 2023 with just 144 of the crossovers being sold in the third quarter.

The 500e returns initially with the 2024 Fiat (500e) RED, a collaboration with the (RED) project from U2 frontman Bono and activist Bobby Shriver in conjunction with The ONE Campaign, a nonprofit focused on eradicating extreme poverty and preventable diseases. Stellantis in 2021 announced a partnership to offer special-edition Jeeps and Fiats to help fund more than $4 million for pandemic relief efforts over three years. World AIDS Day was Friday.


A sale of this red exterior edition of the two-door, four-seater 500e will trigger a donation to the Global Fund to support prevention, treatment, counseling, testing education and care services to communities in need.

The vehicle has an estimated range of 149 miles from a 42 kilowatt-hour battery. A Level 2 charger can bring it up to a full battery in 4 hours and 15 minutes, while a DC charger can do the job in 35 minutes.

Unlike the previous 500e that had a range of 84 miles, the new model was built on an EV-dedicated platform. It's also wider and longer. It produces 118 horsepower, 162 pound-feet of torque and can reach 60 mph in 8.5 seconds.

There are three driving modes: normal, range that actives one-pedal driving for the best regenerative braking performance and sherpa that maximizes energy efficiency such as by limiting the top speed to 50 mph.

Inside is a red dashboard with an insert, rounded 7-inch digital cluster and two-spoke steering wheel that pays homage to the original 1957 Fiat 500. The vehicle has a 10.25-inch center screen with Uconnect 5. Seats are made from recycled materials.

Each vehicle will come with a home charger box system or charge credits through Stellantis' EV charging network, Free2move Charge. Fiat fans also will be able to buy a Fiat Pass membership to secure their vehicle, be in the know about future product and access the brand's blockchain-powered Web3 community.

© Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH

OK THESE ARE MINI COOPERS BUT YOU GET THE IDEA

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