Electric vehicles

[Malcolm]

In the north

What does electric vehicle ownership look like in the subarctic? (msn.com)

[Jaydee]

 

[Jaydee]

The environmental costs of EV batteries that politicians don't tend to talk about

Some fear the transition to EV batteries isn't without environmental consequences

 

Along with the massive recent manufacturing investments in electric vehicle (EV) technology and talks of a greener, decarbonized future, there are some not-so-green problems. 

In its latest New Energy Finance report, Bloomberg News predicts there will be some 730 million EVs on the road by 2040. The year before, Bloomberg predicted half of all U.S. vehicle saleswould be battery electric by 2030. 

In Canada, too, there's talk of a big economic boost with the transition to EVs — including 250,000 jobs and $48 billion a year added to the nation's economy through the creation of a domestic supply chain. 

Governments have already invested tens of billions into two EV battery manufacturing plants in southwestern Ontario. However, they come with the environmental dilemma of what to do with the millions of EV batteries when they reach the end of their life. 

Dead battery dilemma

"The rules are non-existent," said Mark Winfield, a professor at York University in Toronto and co-chair of the school's Sustainable Energy Initiative. "There is nothing as we talk to agencies on both sides of the border, the federal, provincial, state levels.

The NextStar EV battery plant in Windsor, Ont., is shown under construction this summer. ( Patrick Morrell/CBC)

"In the case of Ontario, the answer was actually that we we have no intention of doing anything about this."

When asked for its response, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks did not return a request for comment from CBC News.

Winfield said the fact there is no public policy on the disposal of EV batteries is concerning because a number of the chemicals and components used to make EV batteries, such as cadmium, arsenic and nickel are listed as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and simply can't be thrown into a landfill. 

 

 

Battery packs for electric vehicle are set to be produced in the millions in our region with new plants coming to Southwestern Ontario. But what happens when those batteries die and there is waste to deal with? Mark Winfield is a professor at York University who is sounding the alarm on the fact there is currently no clear plan. He joins host Colin Butler with more.

"You would think given the nature of of these products and also the scale of the potential looming problem, as you know, when the EV sales move into the tens of millions and every one of those ultimately is going to result in an end-of-life battery. One would have expected regulators to be a little bit of further ahead of the curve."

Critical minerals come with costs

The environmental costs of a greener future in transportation don't stop at dead batteries. If the country carries through on its plan to build a home-grown supply chain for the critical minerals needed to make EV batteries, it could mean the development of a vast tract of unspoiled nature in Ontario's north. 

 

To get the critical minerals necessary to build EV batteries, Canada will have to develop the Ring of Fire, a deposit of minerals discovered in Ontario's far north in 2007 — one that happens to be in the middle of an environmentally significant area called the Hudson's Bay Lowlands.

"We're talking about a huge wetland," said Dayna Scott, a professor with the Osgoode Law School at York University and the school's research chair in environmental law and justice in the green economy.

"The largest intact boreal forest remaining in the world and also a massive carbon storehouse." 

A lot of people who are interested in buying an electric vehicle don't want to see themselves as caught up in an ongoing process of Indigenous dispossession.- Dayna Scott

In the Hudson's Bay Lowlands, there are an estimated 35 billion tonnes of carbon, acts as a major stopover for billions of migratory birds and is home to wolverines, caribou and lake sturgeon — all considered endangered, or species at risk by the federal government. 

For years, Scott has studied the social, environmental and legal implications of bringing development to the Hudson's Bay Lowlands and its effect on the rights and interests of remote Indigenous communities there.

• Inside the battle over Ontario's Ring of Fire

"They hold the inherent jurisdiction to be the decision-makers for those lands. They also hold a right of free, prior and informed consent, which comes from international law. That means [governments] need to get the consent of all of the communities that are going to be impacted by this major irreversible change to their way of life."

The Indigenous communities fall under the James Bay Treaty, or Treaty 9 and while some favour development, others are opposed.

To curry their favour, those for and against development are both using climate and the environment to justify their cause, Scott said.

 

Afternoon Drive8:42The switch to electric vehicles not without environmental consequ

With tens of billions being invested in electric vehicle plants in both Windsor and St. Thomas, little attention is being paid to the environmental costs of decarbonizing the transportation sector. Dayna Scott is a law professor who has been studying the overlapping jurisdictions and claims of climate justice in Treaty 9 territory, where the "ring of fire" and Hudson's Bay Lowlands lie. Scott joins host Colin Butler to discuss.

She said those who want to mine critical minerals in the area argue that would lead to a reduction in emissions and save the planet, while those who want to leave the area untouched argue destroying one of the world's largest carbon sinks by developing it would only undo all those emission reductions from EV batteries. 

While it's impossible to tell who's right, Scott said governments need buy-in from every First Nation in the Treaty 9 area or any development would be open to litigation — some rarely mentioned at news conferences or funding announcements about the upcoming switch to Canadian-made EV batteries. 

"A lot of people who are interested in buying an electric vehicle don't want to see themselves as caught up in an ongoing process of Indigenous dispossession," Scott said. "If people did have to confront at what cost we are going to get these minerals, do we want to do it over Indigenous People's objections?

"I think that would give a lot of people in southern Ontario pause, probably."

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/dead-ev-batteries-environmental-cost-critical-minerals-1.7042384

[deicer]

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61108

U.S. electric capacity mix shifts from fossil fuels to renewables in AEO2023

The U.S. power grid nearly doubles in capacity from 2022 to 2050 to meet increasing demand for electric power, and most newly built capacity will be from renewable energy technologies, according to most cases in our Annual Energy Outlook 2023 (AEO2023). Declining capital costs for solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage, as well as government subsidies such as those included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), result in renewables becoming increasingly cost effective compared with the alternatives when building new power capacity. Economic growth, paired with rising electrification in end-use sectors, results in stable growth in U.S. electric power demand through 2050.

[Airband]

Future site of building sold for pennies on the dollar and converted to Canada's largest self-storage facility in a mega case of buyer's remorse.

[Leeroy]

Ev's won't work for everyone in the current state of the industry, but things change.

We have one EV, it is 100% charged by the house, the house is 100% solar on an annual basis. Want to add an EV truck, but can't stomach the prices.

Not trying to sell the whole EV thing, there are major issues, but in my opinion, EV's can work quite well in the urban areas of Canada.

[Airband]

1 hour ago, Leeroy said:

Ev's won't work for everyone in the current state of the industry, but things change.

Not trying to sell the whole EV thing, there are major issues, but in my opinion, EV's can work quite well in the urban areas of Canada.

Agreed, but let the market determine what works best for an individual - where, when and what price.

[Malcolm]

51 minutes ago, Airband said:

Agreed, but let the market determine what works best for an individual - where, when and what price.

If you live in a rural or non urban cluster there is / will be a def. downside. If you want to drive across Canada on you vacation, again a def. down side, if you live in a condo, townhouse or an apartment...... again a def down side. 

[Malcolm]

 

InsideEVs Global

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Considering EV Ownership: To Level 2 Charge Or Not To Level 2 Charge?

 

 

 

Grizzl-E video review© InsideEVs

They’re more expensive to install, but they charge oh-so-fast compared to a wall outlet. 

Michael Bettencourt is a long-time EV owner, both of BEV and PHEV vehicles, and automotive journalist whose vehicle reviews have specialized in EVs and plug-in hybrids for the past 10 years. We’re following Michael in a new series about the experience of EV ownership, in the short and long term. 

In this brave new world of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), one of the key differences of EV versus regular car shopping is that where you live, and in particular your overnight parking situation, can often dictate what type of EV is best for you, or at least be a major influence on your vehicle choice.

For us, our family’s situation was an ideal scenario to jump into early BEV ownership, both now and even back in late 2011: living in a suburban home, being a two-car family with a garage and driveway, and having a younger child prone to car sickness that disincentivized longer road trips. We can easily park our leading-edge (for the time) 2012 Nissan Leaf in the driveway as we have for the past 10 years.

Like many folks who regularly see freezing winter temperatures, our garage was full of bulky items that had long banished our vehicles to the driveway, even if it meant regular snow and ice scraping come winter. Our single-car garage housed bicycles, lawn equipment, shovels, winter tires, and the overall detritus of suburban life that piled up to a point where it seemed inconceivable to fit a vehicle in there anymore.

Check out ERange EV Tires to combat range loss

Cleaning out the garage to make room for both the EV and the electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) – often called the charging station – was easily one of if not the toughest part of becoming an EV owner. For us, this happened months before actually becoming an EV owner, ironically.

It's conceivable now for families to consider jumping straight into full battery-electric ownership and giving up on gas station visits cold turkey. There are some caveats to that, however, so here are the key considerations if you’re debating whether or not to stick with the common-but-oh-so-slow Level 1 charging method or invest in a faster Level 2 charger for your new electrified chariot.

You Don’t Need A Garage, But It Really Helps

If you own or rent a home with a garage or any overnight parking space, life with an EV becomes much simpler straight away. There’s no wrangling with a condo board or landlord to install even a basic 120-volt outlet to charge your EV at night. 

This type of Level 1 charging with a common household plug is what some folks use to charge their EVs, thus avoiding hundreds of dollars in install fees for a Level 2 charger. It could even become thousands of dollars if there is no room left in the electrical panel or it needs to be upgraded to handle the higher load.

 

Level 1 portable charger© InsideEVs

Level 1 charging, though, is the least expensive EV charging option, where you can use the cord that comes standard on most EVs (outside of the Kia EV6 and all Teslas as of mid-2022) to plug into a standard three-prong outlet.

But it’s not ideal, from a safety or a convenience perspective, no matter if you’re looking at a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or full-on BEV.

EV Tires Are The Hot New Thing:

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That’s because Level 1 charging adds only four to five miles of range per hour of charging. This means you can only add about 40-80 miles of range while charging overnight, and it’s painfully slow to charge when you’re running around and want a quick top-up before your next errand, practice, or visit. On a long-range BEV with a big battery (70+ kWh), a 12- or even 24-hour charging period may not even be enough for a full charge, especially in cold winters. 

And safety-wise, while trickle charging is not unsafe, it does generate a lot of heat for a regular outlet.

Thus, it’s always preferable to have a licensed electrician come in and install a more powerful 240-volt, UL-certified Level 2 EV charger. From a cost perspective, most certified Level 2 EVSEs run between $300 and $900, depending on how smart and feature-rich you’d like them, and they can often be rolled into your car payment as a dealer accessory. 

 

United Chargers Alpha Level 2 Smart Charger© InsideEVs

Where the most cost variability comes in is with the installation: If your panel is in or near your garage, the labor cost for the installation could be less than the EVSE itself. If it’s at the opposite end of the house, and you have to run wires from your basement panel through your walls and ceiling, it could run many times that smart EVSE cost.

Being able to warm and cool your parked EV in your garage is one of the modern joys of EV living. It’s even better when you can use grid power for this and leave with a full or nearly full battery. Trickle charging on a 120-volt outlet simply can’t provide enough power to do this and charge the car when temperatures dip close to or below freezing. A Level 2 charger, however, has no trouble doing both at the same time.

Apartment-Dwellers and Condo-Owners Have It Rougher

At the opposite end of the ease-of-EV-ownership spectrum are condo owners and those living in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) without a regular (or any) parking spot. Not being able to install a Level 2 EVSE themselves, these folks must either petition the building management to install Level 2 chargers, settle for using a slower 110-volt outlet for charging (if they can find one), or rely entirely on our nation’s incomplete and iffy DC fast charging network.

 

Some ambitious cities now offer a growing number of on-street L2 chargers meant for overnight EV charging, placing them in residential urban neighborhoods. Prices vary, but in the city of Toronto for example, an overnight charge currently costs a flat fee of $3 from roughly 10pm to 8am. The program aims to give an overnight charging option to EV owners without a garage.deEVs

Other options for these garage-less EV owners include workplace charging, though from my experience the paid L2s offered at my former office were pricey and therefore barely used until the network operator went under. If workplace L2s are not available, there are some new EVs that come with two or three years of free DC quick charging at Electrify America stations (the VW ID.4 most commonly) that would make a three-year lease worth considering.

Just please don’t sit on busy chargers past an 80-percent state of charge if other folks are waiting, especially if you don’t need the full range of your car right now. This is Public Charger Etiquette 101 and is non-negotiable.

 

tesla-supercharger-v3-initiatis-i-work-in-milan (Those: https://insideevs.it/news/520384/tesla-supercharger-ricarica-300-kw/)© InsideEVs

If you’re open to older used EVs, some early Tesla Model S and Xs included free lifetime charging at their coveted Supercharger networks. Also, there may be some free government-sponsored public chargers available near you, but most of them are slower L2 chargers. It’s hard to beat free, though, whether sponsored by the government or granted through private industries.

As mentioned, paying to regularly use a DC quick charging station is also possible, but it's a pricey option. Considering the state of reliability of our fast-charging infrastructure in North America, buying a BEV and depending only on this type of charging should be considered a last resort.

In the end, whether you’re considering a PHEV or BEV or both, it’s worth taking stock of what works best with your own living situation, driving patterns, and local public charging infrastructure. This adds another layer of key research on top of comparing roominess, value, tech and drive feel, but welcome to the wise EV buyer’s age.

[Malcolm]

E-bike sparks blaze aboard TTC Line 1 subway car, sends 2 people to hospital on New Year's Eve

Paramedics said two adults were taken to hospital with injuries. The Line 1 Sheppard-Yonge subway station was evacuated and service suspended between Finch and Lawrence stations until just after 4 p.m.

The Sheppard-Yonge subway station, seen in a file photo, was the scene of an e-bike fire aboard a train just after 3 p.m. on Sunday

A man in his 30s has been taken to hospital after his e-bike sparked a fire aboard a Sheppard-Yonge TTC subway car on New Year's Eve.

A dramatic video of the fire posted on X by Joe Warmington shows flames aboard the train car and smoke on the subway platform as TTC staffers shout "everybody get out!" 

Just after 3 p.m. Toronto police and fire crews responded to calls of a working fire on a Line 1 subway train. On arrival, they found an e-bike on fire inside the train and brought it out onto the platform, Toronto Fire told the Star. 

Toronto Fire later confirmed the blaze occurred on a northbound train sitting in the station, on the lead car of the train. 

The owner of the e-bike sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital, police confirmed.

Paramedics said two adults have been taken to hospital with moderate injuries.

The subway was evacuated with service suspended between Finch and Lawrence stations and shuttle buses were brought in to service the stretch of Yonge Street.

The fire was extinguished "relatively quickly," Toronto Fire said. 

After subway e-bike blaze, Toronto fire chief shares tips to avoid battery fires

Lithium ion battery fires increased nearly 90% in 2023: Toronto Fire

 

 

After subway e-bike blaze, Toronto fire chief shares tips to avoid battery fires

Lithium ion battery fires increased nearly 90% in 2023: Toronto Fire

CBC News · Posted: Jan 02, 2024 1:32 PM MST | Last Updated: 8 hours ago

 

E-bike battery fire engulfs Toronto subway car

 

12 hours ago

Duration2:02

An e-bike powered by a lithium ion battery aboard a Toronto subway caught fire and quickly spread into the surrounding subway car, injuring one person. As the number of these devices increases, fire chiefs say these types of fires are becoming much more common.

Toronto's fire chief is sharing safety tips to avoid fires sparked by lithium ion batteries after a subway train was evacuated when an e-bike caught fire on Sunday. 

A man suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the fire at Sheppard-Yonge subway station around 3 p.m. Sunday, which filled several subway cars with smoke. No one else was injured and trains were moving through the station again about an hour later.

The fire was filmed by bystanders and shared on social media. Lithium ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that pack enough energy to power small electric vehicles. 

Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg told reporters Tuesday that the battery ignited into a "significant and aggressive fire" only seconds after it started to emit visible gasses, which is typical of the battery type.

Pegg says fires started by lithium ion batteries increased significantly in 2023. In 2022, there were 29 fires in Toronto started by lithium ion batteries, in 2023 that number increased to 55 — a nearly 90 per cent increase. He noted the batteries are safe when used properly, but their failure can pose an immediate risk to people in the area.

"We have already experienced both loss of life and critical injuries as a result of these fires here in Toronto," Pegg said.

Lithium ion fires were a growing concern prior to Sunday's subway fire. In October, the Office of the Fire Marshal told CBC Toronto it has also noticed an increase in lithium ion battery fires provincewide. At the time, CBC Toronto spoke to experts who explained how people can best avoid a fire sparked by their battery.

Asked if the TTC might crack down on lithium ion powered vehicles being brought on trains following the fire, a spokesperson said the transit agency will determine next steps after it has a clearer understanding of what happened Sunday. 

• Have an e-bike or e-scooter? Here's how to avoid a dangerous battery fire

• Toronto pumps brakes on bid to legalize e-scooters, new report expected in 2024

"We are examining similar incidents of e-bike fires that have occurred on transit systems in North America and Europe," spokesperson Adrian Grundy said in an email. 

Pegg says the fire department has created an internal working group that has developed operational policies for responding to these types of fires. The department is also developing a safety campaign that will launch in 2024. 

What to do if you own a lithium ion battery

For those with lithium ion batteries in their devices, Pegg shared the following fire safety tips: 

• Only use batteries and charging cords that are designed and approved by the device manufacturer. 
• Do not charge a device under your pillow, on a bed or a couch.
• Avoid overcharging devices and unplug it when it reaches 100 per cent charge. 
• Do not place batteries in direct sunlight or leave them in hot vehicles. 
• Store them away from anything that can catch fire. 
• Avoid crushing, bending or dropping a device or charge. 

Pegg also said people should stop using a battery if the following happens:

• Any odour is coming from the battery.
• The colour or shape of the battery has changed.
• Abnormal amounts of heat coming from the battery. 
• Any leaking or noise coming from the battery.

Union calls for more staffing in light of fire

ATU Local 113, the union that presents 12,000 transit workers across Toronto, said in a statement issued Tuesday that the fire could have been much worse if the train had been partially or fully in the tunnel at the time of the fire because it had a single crew member. 

If the train was in the tunnel, the crew member would have been cut off from passengers by the flames, the union said. That would mean they would have evacuated themselves through the front of the train while passengers were left cut off and unassisted by trained personnel. 

"When and if passengers were able to evacuate themselves they would be going into a tunnel filled with smoke and with a live electrified third rail," according to the union.

Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg says lithium ion battery fires increased drastically in 2023 from the year prior. (Ken Townsend/CBC)

In light of this, the union is calling on the TTC to have two people operate trains on Line 1, as is the case on Line 2. If there were two operators and the fire happened in the tunnel, one operator on either end would likely be able to help passengers, the union  says. 

Stuart Green, a TTC spokesperson, says the agency is continuing to engage with union partners on practical safety improvements. Green said having one train operator is a global subway best practice and has been proven to reduce operator injuries by protecting them from safety risks. 

"We disagree with the assertion that [one person train operation] played any role in this incident," Green said.

[Malcolm]

Another issue that is being ignored by all, .....  if your only parking is on the public road and is on the road side of a public walkway (sidewalk) most cities have bylaws that say you can not string an extension cord across the walkway to your car.

Just some examples:

Unsafe chargers being installed across Toronto as electric vehicle boom continues | CityNews Toronto

Toronto discourages electric car use by denying on-street chargers, driver says | CBC News

Winnipeg drivers mad over $100 extension-cord tickets | CBC News

Confusion over extension cord bylaw clarified - CentralAlbertaOnline.com - Local news, Weather, Sports, and Job Listings for Central Alberta, including Lacombe, Red Deer, Ponoka.

[Malcolm]

Mostly fact based and not political....... However.....

Who benefits most from Canada's ambitious EV targets? Maybe China

Federal government set national target of 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035

Mark Gollom · CBC News · Posted: Jan 10, 2024 2:00 AM MST | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

Visitors check China's BYD ATTO 3 at the IAA motor show in Munich, Germany. Analysts suggest there could be unintended consequences for setting EV sales regulations, that China and its auto manufacturing base could come out the winner, all at the expense of Canada's auto industry. Matthias Schrader/The Associated Press (Matthias Schrader/The Associated Press)

Flavio Volpe, head of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, believes the recent electric vehicle targets set out by Canada's environment minister also carried this pointed message to Canada's domestic auto industry: "Let them eat cake."

Volpe says he has come to this conclusion because he believes those goals, which include a national target of 100 per cent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, cannot be met.

• Do you have questions about Canada's plan to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035? Send an email to ask@cbc.ca.

He accused the government of not caring whether those cars are domestically built or come from China, regardless of the impact it may have.

"Which is a very damaging proposition to Canadian industry and Canadian interests," Volpe said.

• The federal government wants Canadians to switch to electric vehicles. Are they interested?

• Canada lays out plan to phase out sales of gas-powered cars, trucks by 2035

He and other analysts suggest there could be unintended consequences for setting such targets and warn that China and its auto manufacturing base could come out the winner, all at the expense of Canada's auto industry.

CBC News asked the environment ministry about concerns that the government's EV targets will only help to serve China's EV auto manufacturers while having a significant negative impact on Canada's auto manufacturing base.

WATCH | How Canada plans to stop sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035: 

 

Canada's plan to phase out gas-powered car and truck sales by 2035

 

22 days ago

Duration2:04

The federal government is laying out its final plan to phase out new, gas-powered passenger vehicles by 2035, with gradually increasing targets for manufacturers to meet.

Targets are obtainable, ministry says

In response, the ministry said that the government's EV targets are being complimented with "multiple measures" to ensure that Canada benefits from the transition to electric vehicles.

"Indeed, the manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles, their components, including batteries and the acquisition and refining of the critical minerals they need, represent huge opportunities that are already paying dividends for the Canadian economy," it said in an emailed statement.

• Canada needs hundreds of thousands of public EV charging ports. Who is going to build them?

• His electric vehicle battery died. One year later, he's still waiting for a replacement

The government is building on its record of being a destination of choice for investments throughout the vehicle supply chain, and has secured $34 billion in investment in the battery and automotive supply chain, the ministry said.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has said industry should have no problem meeting these targets, and during the mid-December announcement noted that the Canadian marketplace is already experiencing "a rapid shift toward zero-emission vehicles."

WATCH | 'Canadians want to buy electric vehicles,' says environment minister: 

 

'Canadians want to buy electric vehicles,' says environment minister | FAST

 

21 days ago

Duration6:14

Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault on Power and Politics regarding his government's new regulations to increase the number of electric vehicles in Canada.

Recent data shows a growth in electric vehicle sales. According to a Statistics Canada report this month, new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) made up 12.1 per cent of all new motor vehicles registered in the third quarter. That represented an increase from the third quarter of 2022, when ZEVs were 8.7 per cent of all motor-vehicle registrations

Meanwhile, Joanna Kyriazis, a senior policy advisor with Clean Energy Canada, said provinces like B.C. and Quebec have exceeded EV sales goals.

She said those who are skeptical of Canada meeting its 2035 targets are not giving the domestic auto industry enough credit. 

"The first requirement under the federal policy is 20 per cent by 2026," she said. "We're going to blow past that."

Fast EV transition may open market to China

Yet Niel Hiscox, president of Clarify Group Inc., a Canadian-based automotive research and advisory firm, said even with the best will, and all the investment in the world, legacy automakers would still be challenged to reach those targets.

"So there's a potential that the need for fast transition actually opens the market for the Chinese manufacturers in a way that a slower approach might not."

Car manufactures in North America have set different targets for EV sales. GM, for example, said it will transition to all electric by 2035, but "are going to be led by the customer," according to recent comments from CEO Mary Barra.

Honda is aiming for 40 per cent of its North American sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2030. There have also been reports that the Japanese automaker is considering making an $18.4 billion investment to build electric vehicles in Canada.

WATCH | Honda to meet with federal government: 

 

Japanese media report Honda looking at investing $18.4B to build an EV plant in Canada

 

2 days ago

Duration1:36:39

Jan. 8, 2024 - CBC News has learned the Honda Global team will be in Canada to meet with federal government officials. For more, we speak to Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association. Plus, pro-Palestinian protests on a highway overpass in Toronto are sparking backlash. Jewish leaders say the protests are deliberately targeting a prominent Jewish neighbourhood and warn of rising antisemitism. We speak to Noah Shak, vice president of countering antisemitism and hate at the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

Ford Motor Company is also hoping that electric vehicles make up half of its sales by 2030. But some manufacturers have cut back on production on some electric vehicles. 

Canada's targets are somewhat more ambitious than those in the U.S. 

In 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order mandating that 50 per cent of new cars be EVs by 2030. Canada's plan calls for 60 per cent to be EVs by that year. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that by 2032, two thirds of new vehicles sold should be electric.

Bill Ford, executive chairman of the Ford Motor Company, speaks during the official launch of the Ford F-150 electric truck at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, in April 2022, in Dearborn, Mich. (Carlos Osorio/The Associated Press)

Canadian targets 'ridiculously optimistic'

"If the Canadian government is absolutely committed to that target, it is not going to come through any domestic base production," said Mark Barrott, an automotive industry expert with the Michigan based consulting firm Plante Moran. 

He called Canada's 100 per cent target "ridiculously optimistic" and said it will "open a door for the Chinese to come in."

Part of the solution would involve the Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, based in the southern China tech hub of Shenzhen, which recently dethroned Texas-based Tesla Inc. as the top global seller of electric cars in the last three months of 2023. 

It's part of a wave of Chinese electric car exporters that are starting to compete with Western and Japanese brands in their home markets, bringing fast-developing technology and low prices.

• Honda, federal government to meet this week as reports emerge of possible EV plant deal

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"All the BYD cars we're going to import, or Tesla models there from Shanghai that we're going to import, we're going to directly benefit the Chinese objective for global market domination in EVs," Volpe said.

Other Chinese EV exporters include NIO, Geely Group's Zeekr and Ora, a unit of SUV maker Great Wall Motors.

"The main concern for global automakers is the influx of cheap Chinese EVs into their home markets and other major markets before they can produce EVs at lower costs," Jing Yang, the director of China corporate research at the U.S.-based credit rating agency and corporate analysis firm Fitch Ratings, recently told The Associated Press. 

Though Canada does import some EVs made in China, most are from Tesla's Shanghai plant, seen here on Sept. 26, 2023. (Liu Ying/Xinhua/The Associated Press)

China has mostly ignored Canadian market, so far

Canada does import some EVs made in China, but those are mostly from U.S. entrepreuneur Elon Musk's Tesla, which has a large plant in Shanghai. But for the most part, Chinese manufactured cars have not yet entered the North American market.

Along with geo-political tensions, many North American consumers perceive Chinese vehicles to be of lesser quality than those from manufacturers in North America, Europe or Japan, Barrott said.

LISTEN | The race to lure EV production to Canada: 

 

Ontario Morning9:43The plan to bring more E-V production to Canada.

There are reports that Honda is considering a new electric vehicle plant in Canada... an $18 billion investment that could land next to its current plant in Alliston. We checked in with an electric vehicle expert about the race to lure E-V production to Canada.

He said Chinese vehicles would also face issues complying with North American safety standards. As well, one of the most significant barriers of entry to the U.S. market is that finished vehicles from China are subject to a 25 per cent tariff. 

Although Chinese cars don't face the same tariffs in Canada as they do in the U.S., China has mostly ignored the Canadian market so far, making successful inroads in Europe, and likely waiting until it finally zeroes in on the U.S., Hiscox said. 

• Your questions about Canada's plan to embrace electric vehicles, answered

He said Canada's high EV target could cause Chinese exporters to take notice of the Canadian market. "If you're BYD or you're NIO, you look at it and you say 'Oh, their government has now said they have to go EV.' 

"There's a period of time where those [legacy] brands that have had the market so far cannot fill the need at the price point it's going to take to really drive adoption." 

[Malcolm]

Hertz says it's selling 20,000 EVs, in part because they're too expensive to repair

• Hertz plans to sell off 20,000 electric vehicles from its rental fleet. 
• The company said the cars repair costs were a factor in its decision. 
• Rental companies still need to update their processes for EVs, one reporter found.

Hertz is selling a massive chunk of its electric-vehicle fleet, it said Thursday, citing higher repair costs.

 

The company plans to sell 20,000 cars, or about one-third of its electric fleet, which includes Teslas, Chevrolet Bolts, Volvos, and more. Many are already up for sale online — some at a steep discount, as is usual when rental firms dispose of vehicles. 

In a filing on the decision, Hertz said repair costs were a factor in its decision.

"While direct operating expenses per transaction day, excluding collision and damage, will be flat for the quarter and down for the year, expenses related to collision and damage, primarily associated with EVs, remained high in the quarter, thereby supporting the Company's decision to initiate the material reduction in the EV fleet," the company said.

Hertz said the reduction would help its earnings for 2024, but shares nosedived by as much as 6% in premarket trading Thursday following the announcement. 

The car rental giant made a splash with its EV announcement in 2021, with grand plans to help EVs go mainstream. "It's a combination of data and also mindset," CEO Mark Fields said at the time. 

 

Related video: Hertz to sell 20,000 EVs from U.S. fleet for gas-powered vehicles (CNBC)

 

News alert just out from car rental company Hertz.

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But the auto market has changed dramatically in the years since, as a pool of EV early adopters dries up, leaving consumers (hit hard by skyrocketing interest rates) stuck with just a few expensive models to choose from and virtually no used market as an alternative. 

Even at Hertz, the integration of EVs appeared to be rocky at times. In October, Hertz was already warning of higher repair costs.

And in December, a Business Insider reporter learned the hard way that rental processes for EVs were lacking.

[Malcolm]

Ex-firefighter explains just how hard it is to extinguish a lithium battery fire

 

 

Neil Pedersen served as a firefighter for more than 30 years and retired in 2019 (Picture: Neil Pedersen)© Provided by Metro

An ex-firefighter has spoken out after an electric bus was engulfed in flames in south London this morning.

Neil Pedersen, 55, from Staffordshire, who served as a firefighter for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue for more than 30 years, warned there could be a ‘tsunami’ of electric vehicle fires in the future.

The Met Police declared a critical incident after the blaze in Wimbledon, south London, at 7am this morning which TfL will investigate.

It is fires like these that prompted Neil to set up Fire Containers Ltd and the International Road Rescue and Trauma Consultancy (IRRTC) following his retirement in 2019.

Fire Containers Ltd assist emergency responders by designing and developing the world’s first patent Electric Vehicle Containment Unit (EVCU).

This has a built water supply which recirculates water for continual cooling against highly flammable lithium batteries.

His role is now about teaching the next generation of firefighters about the risks associated with electric vehicles and ways around dealing with these fires with the IRRTC.

 

A critical incident was declared by the Met Police following the blaze (Picture: Shutterstock)© Provided by Metro

 

The bus was eventually towed off after hours of delays for Londoners (Picture: Alamy Live News)© Provided by Metro

How are lithium battery fires put out?

Neil warned Metro: ‘There could be a tsunami of electric vehicle fires if action is not taken soon.

‘This is because they are basically chemical fires that spread from cell to cell and create a domino effect where water is useless against a blaze.

‘Firefighters have to use 10 to 15 times more water to tackle an EV fire over a petrol or diesel vehicle because of hazardous flammable toxic gasses it gives off from the lithium batteries.

 

Related video: Dramatic video shows e-bike lithium-ion battery catching fire and exploding, burning down store (FOX News)

 

 

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‘Water is useless against these toxic gases and turns to steam.

‘What’s more, lithium batteries are on the bottom of electric vehicles and are hard for firefighters to tackle so this is where the EVCU comes in handy.’

But there is a problem because only Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and West Midlands Fire and Rescue have adopted EVCUs according to Neil.

With 20 million electric vehicles expected on the UK’s roads by 2032, up from 1.2 million in 2023, this poses a problem for fire services up and down the country.

The sale of electric vehicles outstripped diesel and petrol car sales in 2023 which Neil says will equate to more fires on the UK’s roads.

 

The bus burst into flames on a busy street (Picture: Facebook)© Provided by Metro

 

The area was cordoned off with a 25m metre perimetre (Picture: Shutterstock)© Provided by Metro

What could have caused the electric London fire?

Addressing today’s fire in London, Neil said: ‘It’s most likely that today’s electric vehicle bus fire in London was caused by an electrical fault and may not be linked to the lithium batteries if the fire started at the back of the bus.

‘This is because lithium batteries on electric buses are on the top of the front of the bus rather than the back.

 

‘But as the sale of electric vehicles continues to increase, fires like these are only going to become more common.

‘On average it takes firefighters four hours to extinguish EV fires and this is because of their lithium batteries and on average costs £1million an hour each time traffic is held up because of a burning vehicle.’

Have electric bus fires happened before?

The Wimbledon bus fire is not the first time an EV fire has caused chaos in London after a Potters Bar bus depot fire in 2019.

And there are safety concerns about a new Edgware EV bus garage proposed in north London.

Neil added: ‘The problem is that millions of electric vehicles are due to be sold with lithium batteries.

‘The way to prevent this is investment in new technologies to replace these highly flammable batteries.

‘Right now toxic gases are highly dangerous to the health and safety of firefighters on the ground as well.

‘These fires are virtually impossible to stop and until then we face an increase and likelihood of more.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

[mo32a]

BC will need to buy power by 2026

 

https://globalnews.ca/news/10217271/bc-energy-supply-warning/

[Jaydee]

[Malcolm]

If you have the coins and are going to purchase an EV , the information in the following article may be of interest.

The optional extras your next electric car needs to have and why 

[Jaydee]

https://tnc.news/2024/01/15/cbc-praises-evs-as-best-as-alberta-extreme-cold/

 

“ Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer highlighted the odd timing of CBC’s article in a post to X.

“While the Alberta govt asks people not to charge their electric cars, due to the extreme cold straining the grid, CBC publishes this article. Brilliant. $1.3 billion of your tax dollars ladies and gentlemen, he said.

Alberta’s Minister of Energy, Brian Jean, also expressed his disbelief amid the crisis.

“Another home run from CBC. Is this parody?” he asked in a post to X. “

[deicer]

Full article for context.  And what does Alberta's lack of foresight and planning have to do with Saskatchewan?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/electric-cars-best-vehicle-frigid-temperatures-advocates-say-1.7082131

Electric cars 'the best vehicle' in frigid temperatures, Sask. advocates say

Sask. may be in a deep freeze, but EV drivers say they stay toasty warm

With the federal government planning to phase out sales of new gas-powered vehicles during the next decade, many drivers question how they will fare on cold Prairie days like this week's.

But two electric car enthusiasts who chatted with host Leisha Grebinski on CBC's Blue Sky this week say they love driving their vehicles in the winter.

"It heats up faster than any gas car I've ever had. It's more reliable," said Tyler Krause, who sits on the board for the Saskatchewan Electric Vehicle Association and founded the Tesla Owners Club of Saskatchewan.

"You know, there's no starting of the car. It's always just kind of on, right? It's like a phone, basically, or a computer on wheels."

The major downside in winter is the loss of driving range in really frigid temperatures, Krause said. His Tesla Model 3 can generally travel 500 kilometres on a single charge in the summer, but on cold winter days that decreases to around 300 kilometres, he said.

With the charging infrastructure that has come online in the last few years in the province, that's still enough to feel confident leaving town, he said.

Matthew Pointer, a founder of the Saskatchewan Electric Vehicle Association who also drives a Tesla Model 3, said he finds his electric vehicle to be a much better driving experience in the winter than a gas car.

"I believe that an electric is the best vehicle in these temperatures, just because it's a simpler car. It's taking care of itself even if I'm not thinking about it," he said.

"I can leave my vehicle unplugged overnight to –40, fire up the app on my phone, preheat the car, heated steering wheel, heated seats.… Basically I hop in the car, everything is defrosted, toasty warm and away I go."

Both Pointer and Krause acknowledged that battery-electric vehicles like theirs won't work for all drivers in the province, including anyone who has to travel long distances regularly — particularly in areas of the province with very little charging infrastructure, like northern Saskatchewan.

But plug-in hybrid vehicles, which are included in the federal government's mandates, are a good option, Krause said. They can be driven like a gas vehicle, but still give drivers some of the benefits of going electric, such as lower fuel costs.

Fuel savings vary from car to car, but Krause said that for a car with an average-size battery (about 70 kilowatt-hour), charging from zero to 100 per cent will cost about $10 when charged at home at an electricity rate of about 14 cents/kWh.

Pointer said the cost savings of driving an electric vehicle for five years are "insane." He and Krause have both calculated they have saved between $25,000 and $30,000 over five years in fuel and maintenance. The upfront cost of longer-range electric vehicles can still be a barrier, they acknowledged.

One thing they'd like to see more of in Saskatchewan is small towns with charging stations. Since a charging session takes longer than a fill-up at a gas station, towns should consider the benefits of having visitors wandering the downtown while they wait, he said.

"Reinvigorate your main street by putting an electric vehicle charger to encourage business in your restaurants, local shops and recreational activity areas," Pointer said.

[Malcolm]

26 minutes ago, deicer said:

Full article for context.  And what does Alberta's lack of foresight and planning have to do with Saskatchewan?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/electric-cars-best-vehicle-frigid-temperatures-advocates-say-1.7082131

Electric cars 'the best vehicle' in frigid temperatures, Sask. advocates say

Sask. may be in a deep freeze, but EV drivers say they stay toasty warm

With the federal government planning to phase out sales of new gas-powered vehicles during the next decade, many drivers question how they will fare on cold Prairie days like this week's.

But two electric car enthusiasts who chatted with host Leisha Grebinski on CBC's Blue Sky this week say they love driving their vehicles in the winter.

"It heats up faster than any gas car I've ever had. It's more reliable," said Tyler Krause, who sits on the board for the Saskatchewan Electric Vehicle Association and founded the Tesla Owners Club of Saskatchewan.

"You know, there's no starting of the car. It's always just kind of on, right? It's like a phone, basically, or a computer on wheels."

The major downside in winter is the loss of driving range in really frigid temperatures, Krause said. His Tesla Model 3 can generally travel 500 kilometres on a single charge in the summer, but on cold winter days that decreases to around 300 kilometres, he said.

With the charging infrastructure that has come online in the last few years in the province, that's still enough to feel confident leaving town, he said.

Matthew Pointer, a founder of the Saskatchewan Electric Vehicle Association who also drives a Tesla Model 3, said he finds his electric vehicle to be a much better driving experience in the winter than a gas car.

"I believe that an electric is the best vehicle in these temperatures, just because it's a simpler car. It's taking care of itself even if I'm not thinking about it," he said.

"I can leave my vehicle unplugged overnight to –40, fire up the app on my phone, preheat the car, heated steering wheel, heated seats.… Basically I hop in the car, everything is defrosted, toasty warm and away I go."

Both Pointer and Krause acknowledged that battery-electric vehicles like theirs won't work for all drivers in the province, including anyone who has to travel long distances regularly — particularly in areas of the province with very little charging infrastructure, like northern Saskatchewan.

But plug-in hybrid vehicles, which are included in the federal government's mandates, are a good option, Krause said. They can be driven like a gas vehicle, but still give drivers some of the benefits of going electric, such as lower fuel costs.

Fuel savings vary from car to car, but Krause said that for a car with an average-size battery (about 70 kilowatt-hour), charging from zero to 100 per cent will cost about $10 when charged at home at an electricity rate of about 14 cents/kWh.

Pointer said the cost savings of driving an electric vehicle for five years are "insane." He and Krause have both calculated they have saved between $25,000 and $30,000 over five years in fuel and maintenance. The upfront cost of longer-range electric vehicles can still be a barrier, they acknowledged.

One thing they'd like to see more of in Saskatchewan is small towns with charging stations. Since a charging session takes longer than a fill-up at a gas station, towns should consider the benefits of having visitors wandering the downtown while they wait, he said.

"Reinvigorate your main street by putting an electric vehicle charger to encourage business in your restaurants, local shops and recreational activity areas," Pointer said.

Your are confusing personal commentary 

Quote

But two electric car enthusiasts who chatted with host Leisha Grebinski on CBC's Blue Sky this week say they love driving their vehicles in the winter

with reality of supply coupled with some breakdowns.

About 81% of electricity in Saskatchewan is produced from fossil fuels –approximately 40% from natural gas, 41% from coal, and a very small amount of petroleum in remote off-grid communities.

The Crown corporation responsible for Saskatchewan's power grid says it does not believe it will need to take emergency action like Alberta did this weekend, amid frigid temperatures and surging demand for power.

McGregor stressed that the maximum capacity on any given day can fluctuate due to a variety of reasons, such as a coal or natural gas facility being taken offline for repairs or a lack of solar or wind power being generated.

[deicer]

38 minutes ago, Malcolm said:

Your are confusing personal commentary 

 

The quote from Scheer brings up Alberta's problems. So as a politician, it isn't personal commentary.  Even Alberta acknowledges they are behind in modernizing.

https://www.alberta.ca/modernizing-albertas-electricity-system

As cold snap strains Alberta grid, province’s energy debate with Ottawa back in focus - The Globe and Mail

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/10/03/opinion/alberta-must-modernize-its-electricity-system

All while Saskatchewan had no problems and even provided power to Alberta.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskpower-says-alberta-s-power-grid-issues-not-a-concern-in-sask-amid-frigid-temperatures-1.7084024

https://regina.ctvnews.ca/saskatchewan-provides-power-to-alberta-during-shortage-1.6725352

 

[Malcolm]

 

What Are Solid-State Batteries?

Story by Andrei Nedelea  • 2h

QuantumScape Solid-State Battery© InsideEVs

Solid-state batteries are, on paper, superior to the lithium-ion batteries most commonly used in EVs, but they're not ready to take over yet.

Electric vehicles are great, but they would be even better if they didn’t have to lug around a big and very heavy battery pack. Making EV batteries smaller, safer, and more power-dense are top priorities for all manufacturers, but each is a challenge in its own right, and we’ve only seen incremental advancements over the last decade or more.

 

The lithium-ion batteries that are in most EVs today can be traced back to a concept introduced in 1991, and they were developed primarily for use in consumer electronics such as laptops. Through incremental improvements, they became good and cheap enough to be the go-to solution for automotive traction batteries. However, even though billions are being poured into battery research today, the limitations aren’t easy to overcome, and automakers are looking for a breakthrough solution that will fix all the problems of lithium-ion or the newer lithium polymer (LFP) batteries.

Solid-state batteries might be the breakthrough that the industry is looking for, but it’s still unclear when they will reach production vehicles. They are already used in small devices such as smartwatches and even medical implants, but we’ve not seen them used in many larger applications yet.

But even once the technical issues are ironed out, there will still be the issue of solid-state battery cost. They are expected to be around three or four times more expensive than lithium-ion batteries.

Why Are Solid-State Better EVs Than Lithium-Ion Or LFP?

Solid-state batteries can be over twice as energy-dense as current lithium-ion batteries. This means an EV’s battery pack would require fewer battery cells for the same capacity, and the pack would be lighter, thus improving the vehicle’s range, performance, and handling. The pack would also be physically smaller, so it wouldn’t have to take up the entire bottom of the car, thus allowing for improved interior use of space and more room for passengers or cargo.

 

With designs like the solid-state lithium-metal battery, the cells themselves are shorter, so even in a battery pack where the cells are placed vertically, you can still make the pack thinner.

Electrolyte degradation due to repeated thermal cycles caused by charging a lithium-ion battery pack is one way current EV batteries lose capacity over time. Solid-state batteries have a much more stable electrolyte, so they should last much longer while maintaining more capacity.

Another advantage of solid-state batteries is that they can potentially charge quicker and not get damaged when regularly fast-charged to 100 percent. Current lithium-ion batteries like to be kept between 20 and 80 percent state of charge for the longest possible life, but this would not be a requirement with solid-state.

[Malcolm]

19 minutes ago, deicer said:

The quote from Scheer brings up Alberta's problems. So as a politician, it isn't personal commentary.  Even Alberta acknowledges they are behind in modernizing.

The article quoted in your original post had nothing to do with "Scheer"  and does not even mention Scheer. but rather sang the praises of 2 EVA owners in Sask.

 

 

[Malcolm]

More re solid state batteries:

Mercedes-Benz Isn't Sure Sold State Batteries Are Really Worth It 

Mercedes-Benz Isn't Sure Sold State Batteries Are Really Worth It (msn.com)

Mercedes EQS Critical Materials© InsideEVs

Plus, the market gives Tesla a reality check, feds launch investigation into Fisker over loss of braking and GM's Ultra Cruise has an uncertain future.

It's a cold, snowy day here in my northeastern slab of the U.S., which means that EV owners are probably experiencing a bit of decreased range in the blistering weather today. Too bad we don't have the benefits long-promised by solid-state batteries, am I right?

Well, that might not be as important as the industry originally thought, at least not according to Mercedes-Benz. Welcome to Critical Materials, your daily briefing on all things EV and tech. Today, we're talking about those solid-state batteries, plus Tesla's absolutely hellacious first few weeks of 2024, and Fisker's federal probe into the 2023 Ocean. So put on your sweater and crank up the heat, because we're getting ready to sweat this one out.

30%: Mercedes-Benz questions the need for solid-state batteries

 

Mercedes-Benz Charging Stall With EQS SUV© InsideEVs

Solid-state batteries are all the rage right now. Every automaker is working to commercialize the fast-charging tech by making it more energy-dense—but that investment might not be worth it, at least not according to Mercedes-Benz.

Markus Schafer, the Chief Technology Officer at Mercedes, discussed this very topic in a recent interview with the UK's Autocar. According to Schafer, the advancements in lithium-ion batteries, namely the energy density, have put the two opposing battery technologies in "a head-to-head race."

 

Toyota and other automakers have been dumping money into solid-state tech in hopes of having a breakthrough in the commercialization of the tech. That includes Mercedes' most direct competitor, BMW. On paper, it seems great: charge quickly, hold lots of power in a lightweight package, and potentially less battery degradation over time. But the faster charging, specifically, has become a moot point, according to Schafer:

[Consumers] think about the one trip they have to do each year [that requires more range] and this is not rational. People think only of their one winter ski trip or summer drive to Italy.

Automakers and charger manufacturers have been vastly improving charge rates. In fact, most modern Hyundai EVs capable of utilizing 800-volt charging architecture can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 18 minutes. Essentially, enough time to step out of the car at a convenience store, stretch your legs, use the bathroom, and grab a snack. And that's without a solid state battery.

 

Related video: Mercedes unveils fully autonomous vehicle (Fox Business)

 

 

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Schafer says that this tech still has a "long, long development time" while battery suppliers are improving the density of lithium-ion cells in real-time. But that doesn't put solid-state out of the question. The winner of this race is something that Schafer, admittedly, cannot predict.

60%: The market gives Tesla a harsh reality check: competition is here

 

Tesla Model 3 Highland charging© InsideEVs

Tesla's stock price has been on a steady decline since the start of the new year. To the automaker's credit, however, 2023 was great for investors, with the share price more than doubling in just a few months.

But 2024 is an entirely different beast, and Tesla is now facing its worst start to any year—a 12% hit—in its history since it went public in 2010. It is what Bloomberg is calling a "reality check," and boy, is it early in the year to get one of those.

 

Specifically, Tesla has lost more than $94 billion in market valuation in just 16 days. And it's no secret why that's happening—there's been a slurry of less-than-stellar news for the brand in that time too. Hertz is dropping a ton of Teslas onto the used market for cheap after it actualized higher than anticipated repair costs, certain trims and models have lost the federal tax credit, plus, competition is mounting and the race to the bottom has seemingly accelerated.

Tesla also lost the global EV crown to BYD for the final quarter in 2023. The American automaker warned in Q3 2023 that it expected EV sales to slump, a time when it was already in a level race with BYD to take the worldwide throne for most EV sales. As it turns out BYD ousted Tesla the following quarter, with its year-over-year sales soaring by more than 60%. Granted, Tesla still beat BYD in total sales for the year, but that single quarter is all BYD needed to make a statement clear across the industry: competition is here.

But it's not just about cars. Tesla has long staked its long-term financial success in autonomous tech, like its Full Self-Driving software suite, robotaxis, and (most recently) robots.

The problem is that Tesla hasn't delivered on this tech. FSD has been a continual beta and even lost some key features when it stripped the ultrasonic sensors from its cars. Tesla has also been promising a fully autonomous, cross-country drive since 2017. If it happened, the company hasn't been vocal about it. CEO Elon Musk also boasted about the company aiming to have one million robotaxis on the road... by the end of 2020. But, hey, Optimus can fold a shirt (just not autonomously).

 

The market loss is a subtle reality check for Tesla. Competition is coming for the EV space, and, like the rest of consumer goods, it's innovate or stagnate. Consumers are going towards bright-and-shiny, while Tesla is losing its customers from a combination of an aging fleet and poor service experiences.

90%: Fisker Ocean under federal investigation for braking loss complaints

 

2023 Fisker Ocean© InsideEVs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) has opened a probe into Fisker after nine braking-related complaints were filed with the agency.

According to NHTSA, the feds have received nine consumer complaints about braking performance in the 2023 Fisker Ocean. Specifically, the investigation says that the Ocean will display a partial loss of braking when it hits low traction surfaces, and the vehicle doesn't alert the driver that the loss is occurring.

An excerpt of the investigation's text is below:

The complaints allege a partial loss of braking over low traction surfaces, without alerting the driver. This results in a sudden increase in stopping distance. Some complaints allege that while braking over a low traction or bumpy surface, the vehicle may exhibit an intermittent loss of blended braking function (a combination of the service brake system and regenerative braking). One of the complaints alleged a crash and injury.

The nine braking complaints represent about half of all grievances lodged with NHTSA for the 2023 Ocean. Other complaints include a door failing to open, a hood unintentionally opening on the road, and issues with the car's gear shifter. The braking complaints make up more than 0.2% of delivered vehicles in the U.S. (approximately 4,000 of the 4,700 total deliveries), which is a fairly large representation of a problem percentage-wise for NHTSA—hence the investigation.

 

Fisker is already in a hard spot financially. A recent report from the Wall Street Journal identified Fisker as one of seven EV startups that had just "weeks" of cash left on hand. While this investigation is just preliminary, it could lead to a potential recall, which isn't great news for a company not well-off financially.

100: Did automakers bet too much on self-driving?

 

GM Ultra Cruise Image© InsideEVs

Just like Tesla's slow progress on FSD, General Motors appears to be struggling with autonomy as well. It's no secret that Cruise, GM's self-driving arm, has had its struggles, but now that appears to be spreading to the brand's hands-off partially-automated driving assistance feature, Ultra Cruise.

A recent report by CNBC suggests that GM is planning to shutter the Ultra Cruise platform and instead fold its more advanced automated driving features under one umbrella (Super Cruise). While that makes sense from a branding and marketing perspective, one has to question if the lack of progress was one reason for the change.

Have automakers bitten off more than they can chew for automated driving? Or have the timelines been just way too aggressive to solve the problem safely? Let us know in the comments.

[Malcolm]

No matter what, it will go ahead! 

Northvolt begins felling thousands of trees to build ‘green’ battery factory

By Dan Spector  Global News

Posted January 16, 2024 5:28 pm

WATCH: Construction work has begun to cut down thousands of trees at the future site of a massive new factory for electric car batteries on the south shore. A growing citizen movement remains upset about the lack of transparency surrounding the construction of the Northvolt facility. It will soon see the light of day thanks to billions of dollars in government subsidies. 

Work has begun to cut down thousands of trees on the future site of a massive new factory for electric car batteries on the South Shore.

A growing citizen movement remains upset about the lack of transparency surrounding the construction, which is being made possible thanks to billions of dollars in government subsidies.

“We are very disappointed to see that things are starting  on the site,” Simon Bouchard, a spokesperson for the Comité Action Citoyenne Northvolt, a coalition of concerned citizens posing questions about the project.

On Monday, Northvolt started cutting down over 10,000 trees on a massive vacant lot south of Montreal to make way for its new manufacturing facility. About 8,700 live trees will be felled, as well as around 5,400 dead ones. The Swedish company says along with a local organization, it will replant 24,000 trees in the area.

orthvolt got the green light from the province last Tuesday to begin the first phase of developing the sprawling tract of land. It obtained final authorization from the city of Saint-Basile-le-Grand on Friday.

“Yes, we’re building green cars, but if we have to destroy a significant part of the environments to do green cars, are we in the balance of things really doing something useful, or we just destroying something that we need to replace it by something we don’t really need?” wonders Bouchard.

Citizens with the Comité Action Citoyenne Northvolt hoped Saint-Basile would help hold up the project.

“We’re not allowed to refuse a permit if the person or the entity who requested the permit meets all the requirements and regulations for it,” said Olivier Cameron-Chevrier, a Saint-Basile-le-Grand city councillor.