Electric Vehicles – Page 3 – Automotivetry.com – Motor Sports, Exotic Cars, and Everything In Between

German EV Subsidies Sextuple In 2020 As More Buyers Embrace Electrification

Germany, whose automotive industry is going all-in on EVs, has had to pay out six-and-a-half times more in electrified vehicle subsidies than it did in 2019.

The government paid out more than 652 million Euros in subsidies this year. By comparison, it paid out just 98 million in 2019. According to Reuters, these figures were obtained by the Reinische Post from the Federal Office for Economics and Export Control.

The newspaper reports that buyers have applied for a subsidy for a total of 229,951 vehicles. Although that’s a sharp increase from 2019’s 73,081, it doesn’t account for the full rise in Germany’s payouts. Indeed, increased funding for tax breaks for electrified vehicles introduced in July helped the payouts reach their 2020 heights.

Although the credits doubtless played a role in a number of Germans’ decision to buy electrified vehicles, a slew of new EVs, such as the VW ID.3, that were launched this year probably helped, too.

Increases in hybrid adoption outpaced increases in EV adoption, though. While the number of applications for EV subsidies rose from 51,000 to 126,000 (increasing by 250%) the number for hybrids skyrocketed from 22,000 to 103,000 (nearly 470%).

The German government is more than happy about the increase on EVs and hybrids and is confident that the number of electrified vehicles being purchased will only increase in 2021. Indeed, the new breaks for buyers will go on until at least 2025. Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier said: “In 2020 we made a significant leap forward in electromobility in Germany. The main reason for this was the introduction of the innovation bonus in July, with which the federal government doubled its funding for the purchase of an electric car.”

Meanwhile, the demand for new hybrids and EVs is being recognized by the industry. Volkswagen, for one, just announced that it will be installing 750 new charging points around Germany in 2021.

“We need significantly more charging points in Germany and Europe if electric vehicles are to establish themselves quickly,” said VW’s head of e-mobility, Thomas Ulbrich. “For that reason, all players from the fields of politics and industry must continue their efforts in the coming year.”

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Explore The 2021 VW ID.4 With The Help Of Augmented Reality

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VW has launched a special online tool using augmented reality prior to deliveries of the all-electric 2021 ID.4 kicking off in the United States.

Dubbed the VW Showroom, the tool allows shoppers to use their phone to place an ID.4 somewhere in your home, driveway, or anywhere else for that matter. Users of the app are able to walk around the vehicle as they would in a real showroom and can view it from all angles.

In addition, the AR technology allows you to choose between six exterior colors for the ID.4, including red, blue, black, white, and two shades of grey/silver. There are also two different wheel designs that can be chosen. You can also take a virtual tour of the VW’s interior, although there are no areas of customization in the cabin.

Volkswagen says it took an international team of 17 people three months to develop the tool. In addition to the ID.4, it can be used for the new 2022 Taos, which is heading to the United States next year as a rival to the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Kia Seltos.

VW’s U.S. range for the ID.4 starts out with the Pro model that’s available from $39,995 and comes standard with an 82 kWh battery pack that drives an electric motor with 201 hp and 228 lb-ft (309 Nm) of torque. The next step up in the range takes shoppers to the ID.4 1st Edition which has the same powertrain but is better equipped and available from $43,995.

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China’s Xpeng Raises $2.16 Billion In New Share Sale

Chinese electric car manufacturer Xpeng has raised $2.16 billion from an upsized share sale.

According to a statement from the company, it recently sold 48 million American depositary shares at $45 a piece, representing a 7.6 per cent discount on its share price as at close on Tuesday, November 8. Auto News reports that the car manufacturer could raise as much as $2.48 billion if it chooses to exercise an over-allotment option to sell an additional 7.2 million shares.

Watch Also: The Xpeng P7 Can Put On A Pretty Cool Light Show

Xpeng raised $1.5 billion in its U.S. IPO in August, debuting at $15 per share. Like a number of other electric car manufacturers that went public this year, the company’s shares skyrocketed in price in the weeks after its IPO, reaching a $74.49 high on November 23.

In the months after going public, Xpeng has unveiled two interesting new vehicles. The first is a flying ‘car’ concept that was unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show back in September. Dubbed the Kiwigogo, it can carry two passengers and fly at an altitude between 5 meters (16.4 feet) and 25 meters (82 feet).

This flying concept resembles a large drone and features eight propellers and a capsule-like frame. It is being developed by Xpeng Heitech, a technology unit owned by Xpeng Motors founder and chief executive He Xiaopeng.

More recently, Xpeng unveiled the P7 Wing Limited Edition, a special variant of its all-electric sedan that’s been equipped with Lamborghini-style scissor doors.

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Tesla Model S Performance Can’t Keep Up With Porsche’s Taycan Turbo S

Next year, the Tesla Model S ‘Plaid’ will start to reach the hands of customers but for now, it is the Porsche Taycan Turbo S that’s proven itself to be the most accelerative electric sedan currently on sale.

In what is the most comprehensive test between the flagship Model S Performance and the Taycan Turbo S to date, DragTimes headed out to the quarter-mile to put the duo through their paces. The results were close but it was the Porsche that claimed victory.

During the first run, the Porsche leaps out of the box slightly quicker than the Tesla and is able to stretch out its lead as the two EVs run down the quarter-mile. In the second race, the driver of the Tesla jumped the start and ran a 10.563 quarter-mile, still behind the Porsche that recorded a 10.393-second quarter-mile. The third and final race almost perfectly mimicked the first race as it was the Porsche that got the better launch and stretched out a commanding lead.

To ensure the two were evenly matched, both were brought to the drag strip on trucks and each had 100 per cent charge before the first race.

According to the YouTuber, the Porsche recorded a best 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 2.35 seconds while the Model S Performance recorded a best time of 2.34 seconds. However, thanks to the two-speed transmission of the Taycan Turbo S, it proves to be too much as the speeds increased. The Porsche is also said to have performed more consistently throughout the day of filming.

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NHTSA Investigating Possible Front Suspension Failure In 115,000 Teslas

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a formal investigation into approximately 115,000 Teslas with a possible front suspension issue.

According to the NHTSA, it has received 43 complaints about 2015-2017 Model S and 2016-2017 Model X vehicles related to faulty front suspension parts that can damage the tires. The safety regulator says that 32 of the complaints it has received involved failures that occurred during low-speed parking maneuvers, while 11 occurred while driving. A further eight complaints have been made over the same issue.

In February 2017, Tesla actually released a service bulletin describing a manufacturing issue that could see the front suspension fore links fail. If this were to happen, the tire could contact the wheel arch liner.

News of the NHTSA’s investigation comes just four weeks after certain Model S and Model X EVs built at Tesla’s Fremont factory and exported to China were recalled due to two separate suspension defects that could result to damage to both the front and rear suspension following large impacts, Reuters reports.

On November 20, a class-action lawsuit also related to Model S and Model X suspension issues was filed against Tesla in the U.S. District Court in California. It asserts that defects can see front and rear suspension control arm assembly components failing prematurely.

In June and July, the NHTSA also opened an investigation into touchscreen failures on 2012-2018 Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles, as well as a separate probe over a battery cooling issue with early Model Ss.

Nissan Could Join The Electric Truck Bandwagon With A Titan EV

The electric truck craze shows no sign of slowing down as a new report is indicating Nissan is eyeing a Titan EV.

According to sources who talked to Bloomberg, Nissan is in discussions with Hercules Electric Vehicles about the possibility of buying electric powertrains for use in the Titan. The publication went on to say Nissan would be willing to share parts for use in Hercules’ own electric pickup known as the Alpha.

While details are hazy, the Alpha is slated to have four electric motors that produce a combined output of 1,000 hp (746 kW / 1,014 PS). This will reportedly enable the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in four seconds, before hitting a top speed of 120 mph (193 km/h).

Also Read: 2020 Nissan Titan Debuts With More Power, New Tech And Revised Styling

The Alpha also promises to have a torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system, “zero radius turning” and a range in excess of 300 miles (483 km). Speaking of the latter, it’s slated use Worksport’s TerraVis solar tonneau cover to help charge the vehicle when parked in the sun.

While the sources cautioned the “talks are ongoing and could still fall apart before a deal is signed,” it’s interesting that Nissan is considering an electric Titan in the first place. A perennial also-ran, Titan sales have fallen in the United States for three conservative years and totaled just 31,514 units in 2019. 2020 is shaping up to be even worse as Nissan has only moved 19,403 units in the first three quarters of the year.

Given that trucks from Ford, General Motors and Ram outsell the Titan by hundreds of thousands of units, it’s hard to see why Nissan would even bother. However, a partnership with Hercules could allow them to offer an electric Titan relatively cheaply when compared to developing the model from scratch.

Audi RS E-Tron GT Teased Before Pacing The Field At 24 Hours Of Spa

Audi has showcased a prototype of the RS E-Tron GT ahead of its public debut leading the field during the formation lap at the 24 Hours of Spa next weekend.

The German car manufacturer has teased its upcoming E-Tron GT on a number of occasions in recent months, but this is the first time it has previewed the flagship RS model. There are no apparent visual differences between this RS prototype and lesser E-Tron GTs, but under the skin, there will be changes.

As with lesser E-Tron GT variants, the RS model will use the same platform as the Porsche Taycan, but whereas the Porsche only two electric motors, some reports claim the RS E-Tron GT will have three, two at the rear axle and one at the front. These motors will reportedly combine to produce approximately 700 hp, allowing the EV to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3 seconds.

Powering the three electric motors will be a 95 kWh battery pack that will offer a range of approximately 250 miles (400 km).

“The Audi R8 and the RS e-tron GT prototype with its expressive design stand for sportiness in the present and the future, both on the road and in racing,” head of Audi Sport customer racing Chris Reinke said about the prototype’s presence at Spa. “The fascinating Audi RS e-tron GT prototype is the ideal basis for a promising concept with electrified drives in GT racing, as announced by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation with the GTX World Tour.”

“The Audi RS e-tron GT prototype is the first all-electric high-performance model from Audi and the next icon in the RS model portfolio,” added director of sales & marketing at Audi Sport Rolf Michl. “With it, we are heralding a new era of the two letters RS at Audi.”

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UK To Reportedly Ban Internal Combustion Engines By 2030

The initial plan, as far as the UK was concerned, was to ban the sale of all internal combustion engine vehicles (including hybrids and even plug-in hybrids) by the year 2040.

A faster transition to 2035 then became feasible, but not without some backlash from within the industry. It was just two months ago that SMMT CEO Mike Hawes spoke about how concerned the industry was whether or not they could meet a 2035 deadline.

Well, if you thought that was tough, wait until you start getting ready for 2030, which is how soon the UK is now reportedly looking to enforce its internal combustion ban, as reported by Autocar.

This report comes just as UK sales of electric and hybrid cars overtook those of diesel-powered vehicles between April and June of this year, with 33,000 new EVs and hybrids registered, compared to 29,900 diesel cars – this serves as an indicator that the Britain’s new car buyers are ready to leave internal combustion engines behind.

“2030 is an ambitious but achievable date by which to phase out the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles, one that would give a new lease of life to the UK car industry whilst combating climate breakdown and cleaning up the air that dangerously pollutes so many of our towns and cities,” said Labour minister Matthew Pennycook.

“But as well as accelerating the phase-out, the government must also set out a credible plan to get there – one that backs the low-carbon jobs and industries of the future and ensures that workers and communities are properly supported in the transition to a fairer and cleaner economy.”

Our take

Even if the UK does enforce an internal combustion engine ban this decade, that doesn’t mean your gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle will suddenly be worthless. The ban is only applicable to brand new cars, so if you own a used model, you’ll still be able to use it to get around, although we imagine the government will tax you for it pretty heftily.

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McLaren 720S Spider Vs. Porsche Taycan Turbo S: Can The Supercar Beat The Electric Super Sedan?

Ever since deliveries commenced in 2017, the McLaren 720S quickly made a name for itself in the drag racing world, as it was the car to beat in a quarter mile sprint.

Countless vehicles, some with more power than Woking’s machine, have fallen victim to the 720S over the years. The question is, can it add the Porsche Taycan Turbo S to this list?

Watch Also: McLaren 720S, Lamborghini Huracan, Ferrari 812 And Ferrari 488 Pista Engage In Battle Royale

The Taycan Turbo S benefits from the instant torque of the two electric motors that put out 774 lb-ft (1,050 Nm), with a 750 HP (761 PS / 560 kW) peak output, enabling a 161 mph (260 km/h) top speed and a 0-62mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration of 2.8 seconds. In the right hands, the Taycan Turbo S is a 10-second car, although one with spacious and comfortable back seats and a generous boot space.

At its lightest, it tips the scales at 5,060 lbs (2,295 kg), whereas the dry weight of the 720S Spider, which was the one raced in this video, is 2,937 lbs (1,332 kg). The Macca has a twin turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that pumps out 710 HP (720 PS / 530 kW) and 568 pound-feet (770 Nm). Thus, it needs 2.9 seconds to sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) and can reach a top speed of 212 mph (341 km/h).

So, the British supercar has the weight advantage, but the Porsche is more powerful and, thanks to its electric powertrain, quicker off the line. All things considered, then, this is a drag race that could be anyone’s game.

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Peugeot 108 To Bite The Dust? The City Car Might Be Replaced By A Tiny Crossover

With the A-segment not as popular as it used to be, automakers are looking at different ways to maximize their profits. Skoda, for one, has killed the Citigo, and now it appears that another model could get the ax: the Peugeot 108.

Entering production since 2014 alongside its siblings from Toyota and Citroen, the Aygo and C1, respectively, the city car is approaching the end of its life, and it seems that the French firm isn’t interested in building g a direct successor. Instead, it could allegedly turn it into a tiny crossover, possibly named the 1008.

Watch Also: Review Says Peugeot 108 is a Competent but Not Class Leading City Car

Slotting under the 2008 subcompact crossover, it could be based on the same CMP platform, Caradisiac reports without quoting any sources. A range of petrol engines might be offered, starting with the 75-horsepower PureTech for the entry-level version, while diesels will not be available at all.

Peugeot could also go after the likes of the upcoming Dacia Spring with an electric version. Believed to be in the pipeline, it will supposedly pack the electric motor from the e-2008, where it makes 136 HP and is powered by a 50 kWh battery pack that gives it a 193-mile (310-km) range in the WLTP cycle.

Expected with five doors and seating for up to 5, although with some concessions due to the small size, the 1008 will allegedly be around 4,150 mm (163.4 in) long, or 150 mm (5.9 in) shorter than the second-gen 2008, and if the French outlet is right, then it should arrive in late 2021 or early 2022.

We reached out to Peugeot for an official statement, and will update this post with additional information when we hear back from them.

Note: 2010 Peugeot HR1 Concept pictured below

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