Saturday, September 22, 2018

Hyundai Motor enters MoU with H2 Energy for 1,000 heavy-duty fuel-cell trucks and renewable hydrogen

Hyundai Motor Company has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Swiss hydrogen company H2 Energy (H2E). Beginning in 2019 and over a five-year period, Hyundai Motor and H2 Energy will provide 1,000 heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks and an adequate supply chain for renewable hydrogen.
Hyundai-fuel-cell-truck-sep2018-e2e-2
The fuel cell electric truck is being developed according to European regulations. It features a new 190 kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two fuel cell systems connected in parallel, also a feature of NEXO. It is expected to deliver a single-fueling travel range of approximately 400 km (249 miles), and in order to secure sufficient range, eight large hydrogen tanks are being compactly installed, utilizing areas such as between the cabin and the rigid body.
The fuel cell electric truck features a distinctive design. It is presented in a simple and clean design which is also aerodynamically efficient, and features a spoiler and side protector.
The front grille symbolizes hydrogen through geometric shapes, giving the vehicle a unique and powerful look. The vehicle emanates an eco-friendly look with a blue color application and a bold side body graphic on the container, which also visualizes its dynamic character.
The supply of a fleet of fuel-cell electric trucks to H2 Energy marks Hyundai Motor’s first expansion of its FCEV leadership into the eco-friendly commercial vehicle sector. Hyundai introduced the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell electric vehicle, the Tucson Fuel Cell in 2013, and released NEXO FCEV this year.
The MOU signing ceremony took place in the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 exhibition’s convention center and was attended by key individuals from each company, including Hyundai Motor’s Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Division, In Cheol Lee, as well as Chairman of H2E, Rolf Huber.
H2 Energy is a company specializing in the production and supply of renewable hydrogen in Switzerland, with business subsidiaries in Germany, Norway and Austria. The company is experienced in the roll-out of an optimized hydrogen ecosystem, which focuses on commercial viability for all stakeholders.
H2 Energy plans to make Hyundai’s fuel cell electric trucks available to its Swiss customers starting with the dedicated members of the Swiss H2 Association, which includes several refueling-station operators, retailers and other customers focusing on eco-friendly innovative solutions for logistics and goods distribution.
To cater to growing opportunities in the sector, Hyundai plans to diversify its fuel cell electric commercial vehicle line-up. Currently under development is the medium-sized fuel cell electric truck (Payload: 4~5 ton) which can be used in the public services domain such as vehicles used for cleaning.
Hyundai Motor also introduced fuel cell electric express buses during the PyeongChang Olympics in South Korea last February and is currently conducting a pilot operation with fuel cell electric buses in South Korea’s major cities, whilst reviewing plans for mass production by 2020.
Domestically, FCEV taxis and car-sharing services are operating on public roads in Ulsan and Gwangju.
Hyundai Motor began the first fuel cell electric vehicle lease in the United States, also supporting its wider transport industry, including FCEV taxis, and car-sharing services to further support the spread of eco-friendly technology usage.

Posted by enigmatic at 2:52 PM 0 comments
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Zero Electric Motorcycles Coming to a PD Near You

Last week, Zero motorcycles took a massive step towards the mainstream when it became the first electric motorcycle brand to receive a GSA listing. GSA listings–, or: General Service Administration listings– help to facilitate the purchase of given vehicles (example: Ford Crown Vic) by federal, state, and local government agencies.
Granted, there’s more to government buying decisions than GSA listings. Still, it’s a big step, and the Gas 2 favorites at Zero deserve their victory lap. Check out the official press release, below, along with a video from the Monterey, California PD putting a Zero through its paces from 2013. Once you’ve done that, let us know what you think of Zero’s chances of coming to your PD in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

    Zero Makes the Big Time with Entry to GSA

    Zero Motorcycles, the global electric motorcycle sales and innovation leader, today announced that it is the first electric motorcycle brand to be listed on General Services Administration (GSA). This facilitates a streamlined procurement process for federal, state, and local government agencies, allowing them to obtain the vehicles they need quickly and easily under pre-negotiated terms and prices.
    The GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government through its online ordering system, GSA Advantage!, offering billions of dollars worth of products, services and facilities that federal agencies need to serve the public.
    “With more than 125 law enforcement and military customers in the U.S. currently using Zero motorcycles, we are happy to be included on GSA as it makes Zero’s Authority models even more attainable for government agencies,” said Kevin Hartman, fleet and authority sales director, Zero Motorcycles. “Knowing that many agencies prefer utilizing GSA, taking this step is a reflection of Zero’s strong commitment to continuing to work with U.S. government agencies.”
    In order to ensure a seamless approval process, Zero partnered with Fedharmony to leverage its existing GSA contact. Fedharmony helps ease the federal procurement process by partnering with in-demand suppliers to add hard-to-find products to GSA.
    “Zero’s electric motorcycles are an ideal addition to our portfolio of unique vehicles for emergency responders and the military,” said Scott Smith, president, Fedharmony. “We have had a high level of interest in these bikes and we are happy to help make electric options even more easily accessible to federal agencies.”
    Zero Authority Motorcycles are now listed on the U.S. GAS Schedule 23V and available for purchase online on GSA Advantage!. Purchases can be made directly on GSA Advantage! or customers can issue a request for quotation (RFQ) through the GSA electronic ordering system.

Zero Motorcycle | Monterey Police Dept


Source | Images: Zero, via Ride Apart; Monterey PD
Posted by enigmatic at 2:14 PM 0 comments
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Friday, September 21, 2018

Tesla has Moved from “Production Hell” on to “Delivery Hell”



It seems like nothing comes easy for Elon Musk these days. Ol’ Musky himself has now publicly said that Tesla has “gone from production hell to delivery logistics hell” as it rushes to get examples of its Model 3 sedan into (increasingly impatient) customers’ hands.


This delivery hell seems to have struck Tesla on two fronts. The first, obviously, is the car delivery front– a problem that seems to have been building up since 2016 when Musk, during an earnings call, warned investors TSLA’s existing delivery system would not be able to handle the expected production. “The delivery of the cars is where the investment is needed,” he said. The second, though, would have been less obvious, if not for the guys at Electrek and Seeking Alpha. Simply: it’s parts delivery.
Tesla’s inability to support its existing customers’ cars hasn’t been sufficiently reported, in my opinion. Which is to say that, IMO, people seem to be willing to “forgive” Tesla for parts delays and production quality issues that would drown a more established carmaker like Ford or VW in negative press. Musk’s solution to the problem is to bring body repairs in-house. It’s not clear how, exactly, that will speed parts deliveries, however– but maybe I’m just being negative. Check out the tweets, below …


… then let me know what you think of Tesla’s latest trip through its various hells in the comments section at the bottom of the page. Remember: you get double points for claiming the ICE is dead and referring to Elon Musk as “a real-life Tony Stark”. Enjoy!

Source | Images: Megan Gale, via Jalopnik.
Posted by enigmatic at 4:11 PM 0 comments
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Saturday, September 15, 2018

Volkswagen Group expands production in China; four new factories opened; SUVs and electromobility

With the opening of three new FAW-Volkswagen vehicle plants at three locations—in Qingdao, Foshan and Tianjin—as well as the Volkswagen FAW Platform Tianjin Branch component plant, the Volkswagen Group is strengthening its localization strategy in China.
DB2018AU02242_medium
With the opening of a second vehicle production plant in Foshan, a mega plant has been built at the South Chinese location. In addition, vehicle and component plants in Tianjin, northern China, were bundled at a single location. Together with the existing gearbox plant, further synergies will be used there to increase production efficiency.
All four new factories significantly increase the flexibility of Volkswagen Group China to react more quickly to customer needs. At the recently opened FAW-Volkswagen factory in Tianjin alone, more than 300,000 SUVs will roll off the assembly line each year, thus forming the basis for Volkswagen Group China’s SUV campaign.
With an annual production capacity now of 600,000 vehicles per year, the Foshan plant plays a pioneering role in the Volkswagen Group’s electrification strategy (“Roadmap E”). In Qingdao, too, electrified vehicles will be able to roll off the assembly line alongside cars with combustion engines in future.
We continue to expect the car market in China to develop positively. Volkswagen Group China will continue to grow accordingly. With the total market size of around 24 million cars sold, growth rates in the lower single-digit percentage range in the vehicle market already mean growth rates of several hundred thousand vehicles per year. That is why we kicked off our SUV and electric mobility campaign in China in 2018, so that we can respond to the needs of our Chinese customers even better than before. At Volkswagen we strive for continued success in this important market.
—Professor Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China
In late August 2018, Volkswagen Group opened its new FAW-Volkswagen plant in Tianjin. SUV models, including plug-in hybrid versions, are produced here for the Volkswagen and Audi brands. Production capacity of the plant will be 1,200 units per day and 300,000 per year. In late June, Volkswagen FAW Platform Tianjin Branch opened a component plant to produce chassis for a variety of Audi and Volkswagen SUV models.
The opening of a second FAW plant in Foshan marks a significant milestone for the Roadmap E electrification strategy in China. Owing to the plant expansion in June 2018, annual production capacity in Foshan has increased from 300,000 to 600,000 vehicles. In addition to new SUV models from Volkswagen and Audi, the vehicles currently manufactured on the MQB platform are gradually being electrified. Moreover, by 2020, production of modular electric drive matrix (MEB) vehicles as well as MEB battery systems is set to commence here.
We want to make a significant contribution to electrifying the Chinese passenger car market. Around 40 different electric vehicle models are to be produced in China by 2025.
—Jochem Heizmann
Production of Volkswagen models at the FAW-VW plant in Qingdao commenced in late May. This flexible manufacturing facility allows for MQB models with internal combustion engines as well as electric drive systems to be built on the same production line. FAW-Volkswagen will also produce battery systems for the MQB platform there.
The Volkswagen Group now has over 23 production sites in China and 123 worldwide.
The Volkswagen Group founded its first joint venture in China in 1984: SAIC Volkswagen, in which the Volkswagen Group holds a 50% stake. In 1985 the first Chinese series production model, the Santana, rolled off the assembly line here. Four years later, an additional joint venture followed with FAW-VW in Changchun. A third joint venture to develop and produce an electric vehicle was added together with China’s manufacturer JAC in summer 2017, in which the Group also holds a 50% stake.
The Volkswagen Group is represented in China with 12 brands and has delivered more than 35 million vehicles with its joint venture partners FAW (FAW-Volkswagen) and SAIC (SAIC VOLKSWAGEN) since entering the Chinese market in 1984. Volkswagen Group China has more than 100,000 employees at 34 Chinese production plants in 23 locations.
In 2017, approximately 3,000 dealers (with 330,000 employees) sold 150 different Volkswagen Group models totalling 4.18 million vehicles in the People’s Republic of China – this represents an increase of 5.1% as compared to the previous year. As of August 2018, the Volkswagen Group holds an 18.3% share of the Chinese passenger car market.
Posted by enigmatic at 3:21 PM 0 comments
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Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for September 2018

2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid



























This month's best deals list includes a newcomer among plug-in hybrids. That could be a great thing for buyers who want the best deal along with the latest technologies.
Our partners at CarsDirect.com, now focus the list of best deals on models that are widely available, not "compliance cars" available only in token quantities in select locations.
Experts expect regulatory changes this year to bring a wider selection of electric and plug-in models to states outside of California. New models are also expected to arrive with longer-range batteries, as well as some electric SUVs. 
Some buyers may be better off waiting for those longer range electric cars and SUVs.
For those who need a car now, or who just want a more efficient hybrid, plug-in, or conventional car, read on.
2018 Nissan Leaf
2018 Nissan Leaf





















Electric car
The Nissan Leaf is the granddaddy of modern electric cars. As such, it often offers the best deals among widely available electric models.
This month, lessees interested in a Leaf can drive home a base S model for $219 a month for three years and 36,000 miles, after putting down $3,979 at signing.
That represents a huge $10,025 lease discount (the same as last month). Counting the up-front payment, that amounts to an effective cost of $330 a month, about $70 less than a Chevy Bolt EV.
California buyers and current Leaf owners may be eligible for even steeper discounts.
The deal isn't quite as good on higher trim levels. The Leaf SL gets only an $8,400 discount. The Leaf deals end Oct. 1.
2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid drive, Napa Valley, Caifornia, Dec 2017
2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid drive, Napa Valley, Caifornia, Dec 2017




























Plug-in hybrid
With deals on the Chevy Volt expiring early this month, the best plug-in hybrid lease deal goes to a newcomer, the Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid.
Along with the Volt, the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid has among the longest electric range of any plug-in hybrid.
For September, lessees in eight Northeastern states that follow California emissions standards can lease a Clarity Plug-in Hybrid for $209 a month for 36 months, with $2,299 due at signing. That gives customers an effective cost of $273 a month.
For those who'd rather buy, Honda is offering 0.9 percent financing for up to 60 months in those states, or for 36 months elsewhere.
2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid
2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid























Hybrid
The most affordable hybrid is also a mainstay among hybrid models: The Ford Fusion Hybrid.
The best deal on the Fusion Hybrid is focused on buyers, rather than lessees.
Ford has extended its $3,000 cash back, plus an interest-free financing offer. That financing runs for six years, which is becoming increasingly rare for such a discount. For comparison, the Toyota Prius is only eligible for a $1,000 rebate, with no financing rate discount.
Buyers have to finance through Ford Motor Credit to get the cash back as well as the free financing, so the deal won't work for buyers who pay cash. The good news is, this deal actually makes it cheaper to finance.
2018 Hyundai Elantra
2018 Hyundai Elantra




























Fuel-efficient gas car
The Hyundai Elantra takes the prize for the most affordable fuel-efficient car, joining the Fusion Hybrid as one of the few models available with zero percent financing for 72 months along with cash back.
In the Elantra's case, the cash discount is only $1,000, but it's still a rare bargain to come with free financing.
Buyers can also choose a larger $2,500 rebate without the free financing, but Cars Direct's analysis shows that buyers can save $23 and get two extra years to pay off the car by taking Hyundai's financing with the lower discount.
Posted by enigmatic at 2:51 PM 0 comments
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