EV general discussion

"Production of the electric Explorer starts this year, followed in mid-2024 by a second MEB-based EV dubbed a "sports crossover."

Ford today opened its Cologne Electric Vehicle Center in Germany, which will become its EV production hub in Europe.
After a $2 billion investment – Ford's largest to date at the plant that was first founded in 1930 – the historic site in Niehl, Cologne has been transformed into a modern electric vehicle manufacturing plant."

It doesn't suggest towing or off road capacity Ford Explorer EV Is A VW MEB-Based SUV For Europe Priced From $48,500
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywM3T4rkcyc

FORD is so yesterday [thumbsupbig] today is a promise perhaps maybe? "Under pressure from critics and investors alike, the Japanese carmaker appears to step up its electrification game.

T
oyota has been under constant fire from environmentalists and shareholders in the previous 12 months because of its feet-dragging approach to the electrification of its lineup. But now it’s fighting back with an ambitious plan that envisions EVs with over 600 miles (965 kilometers) of range from 2026 and around 900 miles (1,448 km) on a single charge after 2028." Link

I suspected Toyota has a solid-state battery. It seems it is 2 years behind Quantumscape (2025) "The Japanese car group’s newly revealed plans mention that the first of the next-generation EV will debut in 2026 as a Lexus, using a next-gen lithium-ion battery that offers over 600 miles of driving range on a single charge, as reported by Automotive News.The next step, slated for 2026-2027, involves a bipolar lithium iron phosphate battery that can reduce costs by 40 percent compared to the previous iteration, while an advanced bipolar lithium iron battery with 10 percent more range is scheduled to go into production in 2027-2028.
With this technology, Toyota estimates it will churn out around 1.7 million EVs based on the newly developed, purpose-built architecture by 2030, which will benefit from solid-state batteries starting in 2027."

It was always a race. Longer term winners are still a bit tricky to pick! Toyota battery always seem to me via Panasonic?? Who has the patents and who infringes on others patents will be interesting to watch perhaps?

EDIT "(Reuters) - CharIN, the industry body promoting the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard to power electric vehicles, said on Monday Tesla's charging model is not a standard yet and does not provide an open charging ecosystem for the industry.U.S. automakers General Motors and Ford said they will adopt Tesla's model of charging cars with their vehicles having North American Charging Standard (NACS) ports, starting 2025.
CharIN said it will convene a task force with the goal of submitting NACS, which was formerly Tesla's propriety, to the standardization process."

Its tough to see how EU and others accept Tesla do it my way???? Just my thoughts !

Re Tesla - I think it will be interesting to see what happens here as the global OEM's bring platforms on line. They haven't released a new model in years and I personally don't rate them as a very good car overall. Don't get me wrong, the tech and driveline are amazing and the Model Y put a smile on my dial but the build quality is lacking big time and I was very surprised when I test drove one how much this showed. The body fit and finish reminds me of Hyundai back when they first came out. The ride quality is also appalling for a car - almost as bad as my Hilux and the old grotty roads around Richmond really showed up how bad the suspension is. I don't think the 19" wheels with almost no rubber wrapped around them helped at all but it wasn't something I would have as a daily driver. I would accept this on a cheaper car, but not on something that cost so much. I think they will eventually be swamped - but that's some years away I think as they have the strongest foothold and sales of EV's at the moment.

"Telo is a new American EV company setting out to build a small, modular, electric truck in a country filled with monolithic workhorses like Ford’s F-150 pickup. But even though Telo’s truck will be mini and cute, it’s still apparently work-capable — the company claims it’s got “Toyota Tacoma capability,” but in the footprint of a Mini Cooper. That’s just about 152 inches."

https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/...=534&h=356&m=6 [biggrin][biggrin][biggrin]
May be could be or not of course[thumbsupbig]

"Agratas is an Indian company that was recently founded by JLR's parent company Tata Group.

JLR, the company that used to be known as Jaguar Land Rover, has announced details about its battery sourcing strategy for next-generation models.
The automaker told investors on June 12 that its future EVs will offer a driving range of up to 450 miles thanks to battery cells sourced from Indian company Agratas Energy Storage Solutions. JLR and recently founded Agratas are both owned by India's industrial conglomerate Tata Group.
Agratas, which is reportedly looking at both the UK and Spain as a location to build a cell plant in Europe, is expected to initially manufacture the batteries at a facility it is currently setting up ain Gujarat, India. The factory is expected to have an initial capacity of 20 Gigawatt-hours, which could double in the second phase of expansion.
The Indian company will be responsible for the cell design and manufacturing, while JLR will oversee the design and production of the cell pack.
According to Autocar, JLR said at the company's investor day event in London that batteries from Agratas would have a much higher energy density than those in its only EV, the Jaguar I-Pace.

JLR head of product engineering, Thomas Müller, said the new batteries would give 120 kilowatt-hours from 342 liters of cell capacity, compared with 84 kWh from 387 liters in the I-Pace's battery pack."

The good- its coming, the bad. Not at all certain better than the I-pace battery is as far as I had hoped for?

Claims seem a bit thin on data "JLR leverages Tata Group synergies, selects Agratas as battery partner for 720km range EVs

Tata Group-owned Agratas is to supply battery packs of up to 120kWh capacity for future Jaguar and Land Rover electric cars"

Which ones might go 720km?? I hope its a tow capable 4wd Disco beast replacement of course[bigrolf]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NavyDiver

Which ones might go 720km?? I hope its a tow capable 4wd Disco beast replacement of course[bigrolf]

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So with real life driving,it may do say,600KM?
Then a bit for reserve,back to 550KM?

Then big tyres,a bit of weight,a few mods,down to 500?

Some off road work,less again.

Then hook up the van,maybe 250Km?

And only if the battery is brand new....

Umm,nah,yes,no.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Homestar

Re Tesla - I think it will be interesting to see what happens here as the global OEM's bring platforms on line. They haven't released a new model in years and I personally don't rate them as a very good car overall. Don't get me wrong, the tech and driveline are amazing and the Model Y put a smile on my dial but the build quality is lacking big time and I was very surprised when I test drove one how much this showed. The body fit and finish reminds me of Hyundai back when they first came out. The ride quality is also appalling for a car - almost as bad as my Hilux and the old grotty roads around Richmond really showed up how bad the suspension is. I don't think the 19" wheels with almost no rubber wrapped around them helped at all but it wasn't something I would have as a daily driver. I would accept this on a cheaper car, but not on something that cost so much. I think they will eventually be swamped - but that's some years away I think as they have the strongest foothold and sales of EV's at the moment.

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I picked up a MY a couple of weeks ago. I'm good a picking quality. It's well made, as good as anything mass produced. The paint is glossy well done. Even in the door jams. The panel gaps are pretty good. Like maybe the doors are slightly different but it's like picking MM here and there. I've seen far far worse.

As to the suspension, the original tune copped a lot of criticism. Mine was built march and has the "comfort suspension". IMHO it's an ideal compromise. It's really quite compliant.. yet still pretty sporty. I drove a Ioniq 5 recently and I prefer the MY tune.

Tesla China quietly updates Model Y suspension for more comfort, stability

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

I picked up a MY a couple of weeks ago. I'm good a picking quality. It's well made, as good as anything mass produced. The paint is glossy well done. Even in the door jams. The panel gaps are pretty good. Like maybe the doors are slightly different but it's like picking MM here and there. I've seen far far worse.

As to the suspension, the original tune copped a lot of criticism. Mine was built march and has the "comfort suspension". IMHO it's an ideal compromise. It's really quite compliant.. yet still pretty sporty. I drove a Ioniq 5 recently and I prefer the MY tune.

Tesla China quietly updates Model Y suspension for more comfort, stability

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Agree- I am not a Musk fan and agree the aging is a point yet not seeing some of the other issues in my better half's Mod 3[bigwhistle]

I think Navy was onto this a while back,more info.

Battery breakthrough offers 1,500 kilometres of range, Toyota says | The Independent

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

I picked up a MY a couple of weeks ago. I'm good a picking quality. It's well made, as good as anything mass produced. The paint is glossy well done. Even in the door jams. The panel gaps are pretty good. Like maybe the doors are slightly different but it's like picking MM here and there. I've seen far far worse.

As to the suspension, the original tune copped a lot of criticism. Mine was built march and has the "comfort suspension". IMHO it's an ideal compromise. It's really quite compliant.. yet still pretty sporty. I drove a Ioniq 5 recently and I prefer the MY tune.

Tesla China quietly updates Model Y suspension for more comfort, stability

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They should be using one of these as their demo vehicles then because what I drove made me run a mile. It says something about 'Murican manufacturing quality when the Chinese built units are far superior... [biggrin]