VOLVO SET TO BEGIN SALES OF ITS ELECTRIC SEMI IN 2019

Forget waiting for your pre-order to be filled, because Volvo’s all electric commercial trucks are ready to go. To try to drive that marketing point home, the Swedish company announced that sales of its first all-electric truck- as well as deliveries to customers- will begin in 2019.

It’s pretty much understood that the automotive future is definitely electric, and that fact seems to be best understood by the makers of big trucks. It makes sense, since trucking companies are, perhaps, the entities that are the most sensitive to fluctuation in fuel price.
As such, big players like Cummins– as well as “wannabe” big players like Tesla- have been pushing hard to get in on the heavily subsidized racket market.

You can check out the company’s official press release, included in its entirety, below. Read it, then let us know how you think their electric trucks compare to Tesla’s in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Premiere for Volvo Trucks’ First All-electric Truck


Volvo Trucks now introduces its first all-electric truck for commercial use – the Volvo FL Electric for urban distribution and refuse operations, among other applications. Sales and series production of the new model will start in Europe next year. With this introduction Volvo Trucks takes the lead in solutions for electrified goods transport in cities.
“We’re immensely proud to present the first in a range of fully electrically-powered Volvo trucks ready for regular traffic. With this model we are making it possible for cities that aim for sustainable urban development to benefit from the advantages of electrified truck transports,” says Claes Nilsson, President Volvo Trucks.
With better air quality and less noise in the city, it is possible to plan for housing and infrastructure more freely than at present. An electric truck without any exhaust emissions can be used in indoor terminals and environmental zones. Their low noise level creates opportunities for doing more work at night, thus reducing the burden on the roads during the day.
There is considerable market interest in electric trucks. Many potential customers have questions about the opportunities generated by the new technology and how it can impact their operations.
“In order to make the transition secure and smooth, we will offer holistic solutions based on each customer’s individual needs regarding driving cycles, load capacity, uptime, range and other parameters. Such a solution may encompass everything from route analysis and battery optimisation to servicing and financing. Volvo Trucks works closely with several suppliers of charging equipment. The aim as always is to offer customers high uptime and productivity,” says Jonas Odermalm, head of product strategy at Volvo Trucks.
Backing the Volvo Trucks offer is the company’s accumulated expertise in electrified transport solutions. Sister company Volvo Buses has sold more than 4000 electrified buses since 2010. The technology used for propulsion and energy storage in the Volvo FL Electric has been thoroughly tried and tested from the outset and is supported by Volvo Trucks’ far-reaching network for sales, service and parts supply.
“From experience we know how important it is that cities, energy suppliers and vehicle manufacturers cooperate in order for large-scale electrification to become a reality. With attractive incentives, agreed standards and a long-term strategy for urban planning and expansion of the charging infrastructure, the process can go much faster,” explains Jonas Odermalm.
Volvo Trucks believes that it is essential to take a holistic view of electrification of the transport sector to handle the ongoing challenges in areas such as electricity generation and batteries.
“For instance, in order to ensure that raw materials for the batteries are extracted in a responsible way, the Volvo Group works with the Drive Sustainably network, which has a special function that monitors this issue. The Volvo Group is also involved in various projects where batteries from heavy electric vehicles get a second lease of life, reused for energy storage. All the questions about handling of batteries have not yet been solved, but we are working actively both within the Group and together with other actors to drive development and create the necessary solutions,” says Jonas Odermalm.
The first trucks in the FL Electric range are now entering regular operation with customers in Gothenburg, the home of Volvo Trucks.

Source | Images: Volvo Group.

AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS WILL HIT SWEDEN’S ROADS LATER THIS YEAR

Swedish tech startup Einride does not have the fame (or government subsidies) that Tesla has, nor the experience in car manufacturing of established automobile brands like Volvo. Yet, if the company succeeds in carrying out its ambitions, it is going to have a driverless truck in operation way before any of the established carmakers do. No less importantly, it will have an electric drivetrain.

There are solid reasons to believe Einride is not merely boosting its progress to lure investors. The best signifier is that it has partnered up with multinational grocery behemoth Lidl. Last October, Einride released a statement explaining how it is going to support Lidl in its transition towards electric and autonomous transport. The supermarket chain has a goal of reducing its emissions by 40% in Sweden by 2035. The company already switched to lower-emission fuels such as biodiesel, but now wants to go all the way down to zero. That’s where Einride comes in.

Founded in 2016, Einride has developed the T-pod, an electric truck that is not just able to operate autonomously, but does not even feature a driver’s seat. Without the cabin, more space is left for the drivetrain and freight. Powered by a 200 KWh battery, it can cover approximately 125 miles or 200 km on a single charge. Over that distance, it has space for 15 standard pallets, equal to 160 sq ft or 15 m2. Its maximum weight will be around 20 tons, and it will be sold at roughly $150,000 per unit.

The company plans to start a pilot program using the T-pod by the third quarter of 2018. The vehicle will be driving around the city of Halmstad on the Swedish west coast, carrying actual Lidl products and driving through actual Swedish traffic. However, at first the T-pod will be monitored at a distance by a human driver, ready to take over the wheel when required. Total autonomy, at least at the start of the pilot, not yet been reached, but Einride plans to slowly decrease human involvement, going from 1 to 10 trucks per remote driver.

Einride Electric, Autonomous Commercial Truck

Still, the T-pod makes for an interesting proposition. As long as the distance is not too large, companies can now operate a vehicle at eventually drastically lower labor costs. Additionally, the maintenance and fuel costs associated with wielding a traditional combustion engine are eliminated.

Furthermore, the T-pod is to be conceived of as one cog in a much larger wheel. Using a network of hubs from which the pods operate, the 200 km range suffices to sustain a huge, highly automated logistics system.

As Einride’s own timeline indicates, we are still some time away from large scale adoption of autonomous, electric trucking. By 2020, the company wants to have built 200 vehicles, and this might turn out to be rather ambitious for a firm that, by then, will exist less than 5 years. But looking into the longer term, Einride has bolder plans. It aims to have 40% of Swedish road transport carried out by its own vehicles as of 2035. That is optimistic, given the advancement competing car brands will have made. Production of Tesla’s Semi for example, a highly autonomous electric truck, is slated to start in 2019. Einride is still a company to keep a close eye on. If it manages to fulfill its promise and gets its autonomous electric truck into commercial operation before the end of this year, it does have a strong position to take up larger swaths of the trucking market in the near future.

By Rogier van Rooij, originally published by Cleantechnica

VIA MOTORS ENTERS JOINT VENTURE W/ VOLVO, GEELY

Founded by industry “favorite” Bob Lutz, electric truck-builder Via had big plans. Back in 2015, the company had plans to sell 50,000 new vehicles by 2018– which, I mean, just didn’t happen. As recently as August of last year, in fact, Via was still talking about putting an electric pick up on the road “within two years“. But, before you write Via off completely, consider the following: they just got a massive cash boost from Volvo’s parent company, Geely.

In the near term, Via will get access to Volvo’s advanced Drive-e engines and hybrid batteries, bringing their new trucks that much closer to series production. Geely and Volvo, in exchange, will gain access to Via’s real asset- its proprietary control software designed specifically for commercial vehicle use.

Which- I mean, I guess that’s something?

Geely seems to think it is, anyway. You can check out the official Geely/Via Motors press release, below, then let us know what you think of Lutz’ latest news (and Geely’s judgement) in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

22 January, 2018 – Orem, Utah — In line with Geely’s corporate global vision of producing the safest, most environmentally-friendly and most energy-efficient “New Energy Commercial Vehicles,” VIA Motors International, Inc., a leader of electric and hybrid drive systems offering a range of extended range (eREV) and EV commercial vehicles, today announces that it has completed an exclusive agreement with China based Zhejiang Geely New Energy Vehicle Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Commercial Vehicle Group.
The parties have agreed to co-develop a medium duty extended range electric truck, which incorporates VIA’s industry leading proprietary vehicle software and systems control technology, for launch in China and the Americas in 2019.
Mr. Nathan Yu Ning, Zhejiang Geely Holding Vice President of International Business and Executive Advisor to the Board said “Geely selected VIA Motors due to the company’s advanced commercial vehicle software and control systems technology, specifically developed to meet the demanding duty cycle and performance requirements of commercial vehicles”.
“I believe that range extended hybrid drive systems are a leading technology for the next 5-10 years and the co-developed truck will utilize proven technology such as a Volvo engine for the range extender. VIA Motors provides technology plus an engineering and management team that can support GCV to accelerate to be global leading commercial vehicle company and assist the introduction of GCV Trucks into North and Latin America through our newly formed joint venture,” continued Mr. Yu.
“VIA Motors is honored to partner with Geely Commercial Vehicles. This agreement allows VIA to execute our strategy with the launch of an expanded portfolio of advanced drive systems and vehicles,” commented Peter Guile, CEO of VIA Motors. “We are excited to be working with our new global partners to electrify the future of the world’s working vehicles,” he continued.
“Geely is the ideal strategic partner for VIA Motors, as the fastest growing global vehicle company, with a demonstrated commitment to the electrification of their portfolio of award winning vehicles.” commented Bob Lutz, Chairman of VIA Motors and former Vice-Chairman of GM. “The alliance between Geely and VIA Motors combines technology, access to their industry leading suppliers, and a mutual entrepreneurial spirit dedicated to accelerating the global adoption of extended range electric commercial vehicles.” further commented Mr.Lutz.

Source | Images: Geely, Via Motors.

ANNOUNCEMENT: EVERY TOYOTA WILL BE ELECTRIFIED AFTER 2025

Volvo has committed to offering an electrified version of every car in its lineup from 2019 on. Tesla is 100% electric, anyway, showing even more commitment to the coming electric future. And, if there was any doubt left in your mind that it is going to be electric- not CNG, not ethanol, not hydrogen fuel cells, and not even hybrid- that is going to win this war, consider this: Toyota will offer an electric version of every model it sells from 2025.

That’s right. A mere three years after giving up on battery electric vehicles to focus its attention on hybrids and hydrogen, Toyota seems to have done an about-face. USA Today is reporting that “Toyota could become Tesla’s next big headache” after a December 18th announcement from the Japanese automaker that it has plans to offer “an electrified option” for every one of its Toyota and Lexus models.

Sure, the fine print actually reads that “electrified options include all-electric, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell, or hybrid,” but this is from a company that, in 2015, had a head of R&D who said stuff like, “The cruising distance is so short for EVs, and the charging time is so long. At the current level of technology, somebody needs to invent a Nobel Prize-winning type battery.”

That was then, it seems. As for now, it looks like Toyota wants to be a little more “Tesla competitive” in the coming years. At least when it comes to PR, anyway.

What do you guys think? Is the company that spent twenty years leading the hybrid cause to the mainstream finally ready to get behind electric cars, or is this just a shameless grab for attention in a world that has already decided it’s not going to buy into Toyota’s proposed hydrogen future? Let us know what you think in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Source | Images: Toyota, via USA Today and Inside EVs.

600 HP Hybrid Super Car: Polestar 1 Revealed

Earlier today, Polestar launched its very first model. It’s called the Polestar 1, and it is a real statement of intent that Polestar will be taking the fight directly to Tesla, BMW, and Mercedes-AMG.

Putting cars like the Tesla Model S, BMW’s 6 series, and Mercedes-Benz’ S class squarely in its crosshairs is a bold move. Polestar is seems to have the goods, though, packing 600 electrified horsepower and nearly 740 lb-ft of torque into a lightweight carbon body shell and putting that power to the ground via all four wheels.

Acceleration, according to Polestar, should be on par with other cars in its class, even as its 90 mile all-electric range will set it apart from the German gas-guzzlers. The Volvo-derived, 2.0 liter four-cylinder gas engine under the long hood, meanwhile, sets the Polestar 1 apart from Tesla’s EV-only options. Options which- much as Tesla fans might wish to deny it- still induce range-anxiety in the general public’s mind.

You get ZERO points for guessing that I’m going to get some comments from the “Ew- internal combustion! Tesla will build 400,000 cars next year!” crowd. LOL!

Anyway- in addition to the Polestar 1 hybrid, the company also announced the shape its next two models would likely take. Those will be both more accessible than the flagship Polestar 1- which, itself, will only be offered through an innovative subscription program to prevent buyers from “flipping” the extremely rare cars- and fully electric. In fact, ALL future Polestar models will be EVs. The Polestar 2 will reach volume production in 2019, and is expected to be based on Volvo’s next-generation S60 model. Next, Polestar plans a larger, SUV-style EV that will be called Polestar 3, which will likely use the Geely SPA platform that underpins both Lynk & Co. and Volvo XC60 SUVs.

While you wait for those, check out 31 official press photos and the official Polestar press release, below. Of course, we fully expect to hear what you think of this new brand/model in the comments section at the bottom of the page. Have fun- and play nice!

Polestar Unveils its First Car – the Polestar 1 – and Reveals its Vision to be the New Electric Performance Brand

 

Polestar 1 brakes

Polestar Unveils its First Car – the Polestar 1 – and Reveals its Vision to be the New Electric Performance Brand

Polestar, Volvo Car Group’s performance brand, has today revealed its future as a new standalone electric performance brand. Polestar confirmed plans for its first three models, a new purpose-built production facility in China and a customer-focussed route to market that will set a new industry benchmark for performance vehicles.

Polestar also unveiled the 600hp Polestar 1, the company’s first car, which is set to roll off the production line in mid-2019. Polestar’s technology and product offering benefits from synergies and economies of scale enabled by the Volvo Car Group, helping Polestar to accelerate design, development and production processes at fraction of the time it takes other new entrants.

Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer of Polestar said; “Polestar 1 is the first car to carry the Polestar on the bonnet. A beautiful GT with amazing technology packed into it – a great start for our new Polestar brand. All future cars from Polestar will feature a fully electric drivetrain, delivering on our brand vision of being the new standalone electric performance brand”.

Polestar 1 in Black

The Polestar 1 will form a halo for the future Polestar brand. The Polestar 1 is a two-door, 2+2 seat Grand Tourer Coupé with an ‘Electric Performance Hybrid’ drivetrain. An electric car supported by an internal combustion engine, it has a range of 150kms on pure electric power alone – the longest full electric range of any hybrid car on the market. Its output of 600hp and 1000Nm of torque places the car firmly in the performance car segment.

The Polestar 1 is based upon Volvo’s Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) but approximately 50% is new and bespoke, created by Polestar’s engineers. To reinforce its dynamic driving characteristics, Polestar 1 benefits from a host of new technologies, all aimed at making it a true driver’s car. Polestar 1 is the world’s first car to be fitted with the all-new class-leading Öhlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CESi) advanced chassis technology. A carbon fibre body reduces bodyweight and improves torsional stiffness by 45%, as well as lowering the cars’ centre of gravity. Additionally, Polestar 1 uses a double electric rear axle which enables torque vectoring. This supports the driver with precise acceleration on each wheel to keep the maximum road grip and maintain speed while cornering.

The Polestar 1 will be built in the state-of-the-art, purpose-built Polestar Production Centre in Chengdu, China. Currently under construction, it is due for completion in mid-2018.

Polestar will also move away from today’s traditional ownership model. Cars will be ordered 100% online and offered on a two or three year subscription basis. The zero-deposit, all-inclusive subscription will also add features such as pick-up and delivery servicing and the ability to rent alternative vehicles within the Volvo and Polestar range, all incorporated into one monthly payment.

The flat rate subscription means that having a Polestar car becomes a hassle free experience for the customer. This is facilitated by Phone-As-Key technology. It allows the owner to share a virtual key with a third party, and also enables access to a host of other on-demand features. This concierge service ensures that the customer only needs to focus on the enjoyment of driving.

All future cars from Polestar will have a fully electric powertrain. Polestar 2 will start production later in 2019 and will be the first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) from the Volvo Car Group. It will be a mid-sized BEV, joining the competition around the Tesla Model 3, and with consequently higher volumes than Polestar 1. The initial phase of the Polestar product roll out will then be completed by the subsequent arrival of a larger SUV-style BEV, the Polestar 3, which will create a modern expression of electric performance and driving dynamics.

The ordering and configuration of Polestar cars will be conducted online via a Polestar app or online portal. However, Polestar also recognises that customers still want to physically engage with the brand so Polestar will open a network of Polestar Spaces around the world. This is where future Polestar customers can interact with products and the brand. Polestar Spaces will be standalone facilities and not within existing Volvo retailer showrooms.

The order books for the new Polestar 1 open on 17 October 2017, with Polestar able to take expressions of interest from prospective customers immediately.

Source | Images: Volvo Cars.

Electric Volkswagen ID Buzz Due In 2022

The Volkswagen Microbus is an iconic vehicle that just oozes beach vibes. Here in California, it is synonymous with surfing and the ’60s and has a cult following even to this day. For that reason, it was impactful that VW CEO Dr. Herbert Diess chose California as the place to announce the return of the VW Minibus. He related as much to the crowd in Pebble Beach, California. “The Microbus has long been part of the California lifestyle. Now we’re bringing it back by reinventing it as an electric vehicle.”

Dubbed the Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ, the new Minibus will be fully electric and will carry forward a lot of the cool design cues from the original, but into the modern age. VW believes that the form factor makes for a great platform for all sorts of bespoke options, much like the Ford Transit and similar vehicles. VW announced explicit intentions to move into the transit space with a special version called the I.D. BUZZ CARGO that will allow buyers several options for a transit-oriented version straight from dealerships.

As most major automotive manufacturers have announced plans for various levels of advanced vehicle autonomy in 2020 or 2021, the VW I.D. BUZZ would also make a great form factor for a fully autonomous local shuttle van. With VW’s focus on interpersonal communication and device-agnostic vehicle communication, it is not difficult to imagine the I.D. BUZZ as a feature packed autonomous shuttle that would suit the millennial lifestyle like a glove. VW shared that it will include Level 3 autonomous driving features, which is a step above what Tesla’s Autopilot solution offers in production today. But …

Before you get too excited about the VW I.D. BUZZ and run off to call your local dealer to put down a deposit, we have to talk dates. In all too unfortunately typical VW fashion, the VW I.D. BUZZ isn’t slated to make it to showrooms until a ghastly 2022. In electric vehicle terms, that’s an eternity away. Volvo will sell only electric versions of its vehicles by an impressive 2019 — though, in all likelihood, this only means they will be at least a hybrid, with likely options for plug-in hybrids and fully electric drivetrains on some models.

Source: VW

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All Jaguar Models Will Have An Electric Motor By 2020

Jaguar Land Rover is the latest well known auto manufacturer to admit that the future of automobiles is electric. Like Volvo announced a couple of months ago, Jaguar Land Rover’s plan is to not produce a single vehicle without an electric motor and battery from 2020 onward, according to The Guardian. (Edit: BBC reports the news a bit differently, stating, “JLR said every vehicle line launched from 2020 will have an all-electric or hybrid version, the first of which would be the Jaguar I-Pace, to go on sale in 2018.” I’ve reached out to JLR to clear up the confusion, but the BBC’s statement certainly seems more likely.)

This is exciting, but it also implicitly poses several questions. How many of these cars will be fully electric cars? Will the hybrids primarily include small batteries and low range or will they offer plugs and enough range for 90% electric driving? Where will the batteries come from — which battery producer(s) and factories? What types of vehicles will the procession of new electrified models prioritize? What charging options will Jaguar Land Rover drivers have at their fingertips? Will Jaguar Land Rover partner with Tesla so that its premium-class drivers can get access to a premium-class, superfast charging network?

Ah, yes, plenty of details to still learn, but at least the spark of excitement has been started with an announcement that is effectively just two years away.

Like Volvo, the interesting thing about this announcement from Jaguar Land Rover is that the company had seemingly made very little electric progress beforehand. Jaguar has one electric model announced that isn’t even on the market yet. (Volvo just has a few plug-in hybrids.) What spurred such a dramatic change of course? Good question. Probably a combination of dropping battery prices, regulations around the world, the power and performance capability of electric drivetrains, and the threat Tesla is posing in the premium car market.

Jaguar is also pushing a 2040 concept to position itself as a futuristic and high-tech company, according to an email I received seconds ago (like, literally — right after finishing the above paragraph), but such unrealistic concepts are not really our cup of tea here on CleanTechnica. We’re much more interested in action today and tomorrow for this year and this decade. The good news is that Jaguar Land Rover seems to be putting some pressure down on the torque pedal while it’s also throwing around concept car press releases.

Interestingly, Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover’s CEO, is also a bit cautious and concerned about the autonomous electric vehicle future we are headed into, despite trying to position his company as a leader here. He brought up the threat to a massive employment sector that we’re all by now familiar with — what will happen to all the professional drivers once autonomous vehicles take over? He went a step further and also offered some sympathyto the future of oil-producing countries: “Many could be forced to impose substantial spending cuts within the next five years, straining living standards and so creating unrest in areas already suffering from instability,” he stated. Indeed … that’s what happens during major technology transitions.

Additionally, he echoed some of the concerns of Tesla CEO Elon Musk when it comes to autonomous cars, AI, and cybersecurity. “The very technology that could liberate us, autonomous vehicles, could become a method of insecurity and enslavement … Big freedoms could end up creating the big brother state.”

As a final note, it’s perhaps worth highlighting that Volvo is now owned by Chinese company Geely and Jaguar Land Rover is now owned by Indian giant Tata. That’s something to ponder as we discuss societal transitions.

Volvo Parent Company, Geely, Buys Lotus

Li Shufu, the Chinese billionaire who purchased Volvo from Ford and oversaw the company’s successful resurgence seems to have acquired a taste for turning around car brands. I say that because he’s just acquired another storied, troubled, European car brand to turn back from the brink of extinction: Lotus.

That’s the same Lotus whose versatile chassis launched both Tesla Motors and Detroit Electric (to name just two). The same Lotus, too, that brought Kimi Raikkonen back to the top step of an F1 podium a few years back (before reverting back to Renault ownership, anyway). We’re big fans.

Being big fans, it was big news when Li’s Geely Holding Group announced, yesterday, that it would buy a 51 percent stake in Lotus Cars. For Geely, the brand could act as a prestigious “halo” brand to help grow the company’s eponymous core products. “Like Volkswagen has Porsche and Toyota has its Lexus,” explains Tian Yongqiu, an independent auto consultant who tracks Chinese car maker acquisitions.

Li Shufu Now Owns Both Volvo and Lotus

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Lotus has a history of using other car makers’ engines in its lightweight sports cars. If that history is a guide, we could see a featherweight Elise or Evora model powered by Volvo’s super-efficient, twin-charged T6 engine in the near future. There’s even talk of an ultra-sporty SUV coming hot on the heels of Geely’s expected cash injection into the British car brand. Could it be based on the all-new Volvo XC60? Should it be based on the new XC60?

Let us know what you think of Geely’s new acquisition- and whether or not you think Lotus and Volvo will make good partners in an eco-friendly- in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Sources | Images: Bloomberg, LotusTalk