BMW invests in charging infrastructure in Mexico

Industry News

The new charging points are to be installed at at least 20 locations such as restaurants, shopping centres, hotels and offices. These new charging points will be in addition to the more than 500 that are already part of the VEMO network and to which BMW Group Mexico customers will have access. ‘In the year in which we celebrate our 30th anniversary in Mexico, we are also celebrating a decade of sales of pure electric vehicles in our country. With eleven models from BMW, Mini and BMW Motorrad, we are the premium company with the largest range of battery-powered models, whether purely electric or plug-in hybrid,’ said Diego Camargo, CEO of BMW Group Mexico. The alliance with VEMO in Mexico is part of an investment totalling 724,000 euros that the BMW Group has made in Latin America to expand the range of charging stations in the region. The sum will be invested in a total of 251 new charging stations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Peru. To celebrate the partnership, every customer who buys a BMW i4 will receive free electricity for a distance of 8,000 kilometres between August and December as an energy credit that can be charged throughout the VEMO network. In addition, customers who purchase their BMW and MINI vehicles from October onwards will receive VEMO energy credits included in the purchase price of the vehicle. Roberto Rocha, co-founder and CEO of VEMO, said: “This agreement strengthens the expansion plan of VEMO’s public charging network, which is the most robust and reliable in Mexico. We are excited to partner with BMW Group Mexico to jointly drive the development of electric mobility in Mexico. We are determined to lead this transformation towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility.” bmwgroup.com (in Spanish)

350 US mayors pledge to electrify 50 per cent of their fleets

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The initiative could lead to an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 new electric cars being put on the road for small and medium-sized municipalities and almost one million tonnes of CO2 emissions being avoided over the lifetime of the vehicles, according to an accompanying press release. However, the climate mayors not only want to electrify the vehicle fleets, a key focus of the alliance is also on the charging infrastructure. The participants want to increase the number of charging points for electric vehicles in their municipalities by 500 per cent by 2035. The climate mayors see equal access to charging stations as crucial for the transition to the electric age. They therefore want to install 450,000 charging stations for public and municipal use – with at least 40 per cent of the charging infrastructure benefiting disadvantaged areas. “This commitment to electrification not only underscores our drive for reducing our carbon footprint but also signifies the importance of bipartisan action on climate change,” said John Giles, Mayor of Mesa, Arizona. “By working together across party lines, Climate Mayors can achieve significant progress toward a safe, sustainable, and prosperous future. Embracing electric vehicles will bring long-term benefits to our community, and we are proud to lead this important transition as a united front.” In the initiative’s press release, a number of mayors of smaller cities have their say. Several well-known metropolises are also involved: Miami, New Orleans, Portland and Seattle. In such cities, the fleets are logically much larger than in smaller towns, so these large cities carry particular weight. Seattle’s mayor Bruce Harrell said: “In Seattle, we’re taking a multi-pronged approach centered around the needs of our residents and community members to ensure EV use and charging is accessible for all. We are launching dozens of new curbside charging stations, offering rebates for charging in multi-family buildings, and expanding businesses’ use of cargo bikes for urban delivery. These initiatives, driven by the ambitious goals set in Seattle’s Transportation Electrification Blueprint, are driving us towards a cleaner, greener future. In partnership with other Climate Mayors, I am committed to accelerating climate emission reduction, focusing on climate justice for those most impacted by environmental harm, and supporting the resilience of Seattle communities.” Back in 2019, the Climate Mayors launched the EV Pooled Purchasing Collaborative to help cities electrify their fleets and plan for EV charging. Since then, more than 250 municipalities, counties, transport authorities, port authorities, colleges and universities have committed to purchasing over 4,000 EVs. climatemayors.org, linkedin.com

Flixbus starts testing Yutong electric bus between London and Cambridge

Industry News

The trial of the electric coach is already the second project of its kind in the UK. From March to June, Flixbus had already introduced an electric long-distance coach service between England and Wales. The route ran from London and Bristol in England to Newport in South Wales. A twelve-metre-long Yutong TCe12 with 46 seats was used. The test that has now been initiated between London and Cambridge also uses an electric Yutong, but a longer version. The Yutong Gte14 is 14 metres long and offers 59 seats. According to the manufacturer, thanks to a 563 kWh battery on board, the range is around 300 miles, the equivalent of around 480 kilometres. The vehicle provided by importer Pelican Yutong should be able to make two round trips per day between London and Cambridge, i.e. around 400 kilometres. The companies Whippet and Zenobē are on board as partners in the project. According to Flixbus, Whippet is a leading operator of electric buses in Cambridge and runs both the university’s bus service and local bus routes. Zenobē has made a name for itself as a British specialist for electric vehicle fleets and battery services. Through the partnerships, Flixbus will always charge the electric Yutong at the Whippet depot in Swavesey (near Cambridge) using a charging infrastructure provided by Zenobē. The Yutong is also equipped with a Zenobē telematics system to collect data on the performance of the vehicle and the battery. According to Flixbus, this information is crucial to further develop its strategy to expand electric bus transport in the UK. Andreas Schörling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK, commented: “Following our launch of England and Wales first electric coach service, we’re thrilled to be trialling another zero-emission service as we build the largest coach network in the country.” The parent company Flix has now completed pilot projects with electric vehicles in several markets. For example, a national bus service with Yutong electric buses was trialled in Portugal in 2022. From 2018 to 2019, a long-distance electric bus also travelled between Frankfurt am Main and Mannheim for the provider – but this was a BYD C9. A battery-electric long-distance bus from MCI has also been trialled in the USA. Flixbus is not only working on projects with battery-electric drive systems for inter-regional transport without exhaust emissions. Since 2021, the company has also been working with German suppliers ZF and Freudenberg on hydrogen-powered buses for intercity transport. The three-year ‘HyFleet’ project is focussing on the development of fuel cells that should enable continuous operation for at least 35,000 hours. Another research focus is on hybridisation strategies for the drivetrain, the so-called ‘right-sizing’ between fuel cell and batteries. As part of the HyFleet project, the first fuel cell-powered long-distance bus in Europe is to be developed by 2024 – so the vehicle should be unveiled soon. Source: Info via email

UK’s Gridserve looks to expand globally

Industry News

Gridserve founder Toddington Harper, who also served as CEO at Gridserve (UK), will lead the new global business. Roy Williamson, Gridserve’s current Executive Chairman, will serve as interim CEO for the UK business. As mentioned above, the British charge point operator says it wants to become “a global technology powerhouse, taking the Gridserve name and innovative technology into new markets,” but does not go into specifics. It is thus not clear where the first Gridserve Global charging location will be installed. According to Williamson, Gridserve has nearly 1,500 charging bays at more than 190 locations across the UK. “We’re continuing to build on that success for 2024 and beyond and will remain focused on our mission to deliver sustainable energy at the speed and scale needed to move the needle on climate change,” he said. “The addition of Gridserve Global to support Gridserve in the UK will deliver unrivalled focus and technology leadership, which is critical for supporting partners globally with world-leading technology, building on all our successes to date, and supporting our mission to move the needle on climate change. I am so proud of what GRIDSERVE has achieved so far and I’m excited about what we can now achieve internationally through building on our technology leadership position into 2025 and beyond.” Source: Information via email

Archer Aviation wins major order for air taxis from FFG

Industry News

Both companies have signed a letter of intent according to which Future Flight Global would like to order up to 116 air taxis. However, this is not yet a fully binding order. The letter of intent has an order volume of up to 580 million dollars. This increases the provisional order backlog of Archer, in which the automotive group Stellantis holds a stake, to six billion dollars. The two companies are now working on formalising the final agreements on the intended aircraft purchases as well as on a strategic operating alliance. Once finalised, upfront payments of almost five million dollars are planned. FFG does not only aim to act as a buyer, instead, both companies aim to partner in the operation of the air taxis. This involves routes in Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. FFG will operate selected routes as part of Archer’s planned air taxi service, utilising Archer’s existing Vertiport infrastructure network with partners such as Signature and Atlantic Aviation. Additional vertiport partners will also be added to provide air taxi services to other high-demand locations. FFG also plans to use the Midnight air taxis to provide on-demand transit services to its customers in sectors such as corporations, hotels, governments and high-net-worth individuals. Although FFG is not yet active, it has a wealth of experience in aviation: FFG was founded by members of the management team of Titan Aviation, which has been providing business aircraft worldwide for more than two decades. “The aviation industry is on the cusp of its most exciting revolution in decades,” said Karan Singh, CEO and founder of FFG. “We’re partnering with Archer to provide tailored, flexible aviation services to our top clients in some of the world’s most exciting destinations. Midnight’s versatility makes it well-suited to diverse routes and mission profiles, while also providing a world-class experience and operational efficiency that’s attractive to our corporate clients.” Andrew Cummins, Director of Business Development at Archer, added: “As our first private aviation partner, and with their deep ties in aviation and bold approach, FFG is positioned to be a new leader in modern aviation. Partnering with Karan and the team at FFG was an obvious choice and an ideal relationship for Archer.” However, the partnership with FFG is not the only news from Archer Aviation: a few days ago, the company also announced the launch of an air taxi network in Los Angeles. Archer’s planned network includes take-off and landing locations at Los Angeles International Airport, the University of Southern California, Orange County, Santa Monica, Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach and Van Nuys. Archer is also working with the Los Angeles Rams and Hollywood Park to potentially build an exclusive vertiport there. The take-off and landing sites make it clear what Archer’s goal is: the startup wants to change urban transport by replacing 60 to 90-minute commutes by car with electric air taxi flights lasting an estimated 10 to 20 minutes. futureflightglobal.com, archer.com (Los Angeles)

Gillig uses tanks from Hexagon Purus for H2 buses

Industry News

At the beginning of May, Gillig announced the expansion of its product range to include the first model with a fuel cell drive. The US bus manufacturer is working with BAE Systems and Ballard Power Systems on the development. Production is scheduled to start in 2026. It is now clear that Hexagon Purus will be the supplier of the hydrogen tanks. This is revealed in a press release from the tank manufacturer. However, Hexagon Purus does not specify concrete purchase quantities. The press release merely states that the supplier will supply Gillig with the H2 tanks from its plant in Westminster in the US state of Maryland. To date, Gillig has focussed on pure battery and hybrid buses in the field of electrification. In March 2024, for example, Gillig signed a framework agreement to supply up to 395 battery-electric buses to Seattle. Gillig is using Akasol battery systems from supplier BorgWarner for the batteries for these BEV buses. The US manufacturer now also intends to offer H2 buses from 2026. The company has not yet commented on the technical specifications it is aiming for. When the plans were announced in May, it was only generally stated that the integration of Ballard’s fuel cell technology and BAE Systems’ electric drivetrain with Gillig’s low-floor platform would create an emission-free solution with a longer range. globenewswire.com

Lynk & Co kicks off pre-sales for electric sedan in China

Industry News

Lynk & Co unveiled the new electric sedan in June. The main features were already known beforehand. This is because the Z10 is the series version of the concept called ‘Lynk & Co The Next Day’. The model is based on Geely’s SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform and measures 5,028 x 1,966 x 1,468 mm with a wheelbase of 3,005 mm. According to CN EV Post, the electric sedan is available in five versions, including three with 400-volt and two with 800-volt architecture. The motorisation varies between rear-wheel and all-wheel drive with up to 310 kW and 580 kW respectively. The LFP battery options available are 75 and 95 kWh battery capacity, which should be sufficient for ranges of 602 km, 766 km, 806 km and 702 km in the Chinese CLTC cycle, depending on the version. The Lynk & Co Z10 has a sporty look with split headlights, a fast-sloping roofline reminiscent of a coupé, 21-inch wheels, a full-width rear light and an extendable spoiler. One of the most important exterior elements is the RGB lighting at the front and rear, a design feature that is intended to appeal to gamers and other young customers in particular. The Z10 also has a LiDAR sensor for automated driving functions. Other highlights include a full glass roof, a compact digital instrument cluster integrated into the dashboard, a free-standing 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a steering wheel with a flattened lower rim. There is currently no word on a possible global market launch of the vehicle – but the world premiere took place two months ago in Gothenburg, Sweden, which could indicate that the car will also be sold in Europe in the future. Lynk & Co has been present in Europe since the end of 2020, but only with combustion engines. In any case, the brand’s business has so far been based on partially electrified vehicles at most. Lynk & Co’s core brand values are highly connected models and direct sales strategies to attract young buyers in particular. cnevpost.com

Polestar starts manufacturing the Polestar 3 in the USA

Industry News

But first to the Polestar 3: The plant in South Carolina manufactures the e-SUV for customers in the USA and Europe, supplementing the production in Chengdu, China, which has been running since February 2024. However, the US production is not a reaction to the EU’s special tariffs on imports of electric cars from China, but was already planned beforehand – full production with body construction, battery supply chains and other supplier parts is not set up within a few weeks or months, but requires years of planning. US production does not take place in a Polestar-owned plant or, as in China, in a factory belonging to the parent company Geely, but at Volvo. The Swedish company has been operating a plant in Ridgeville near Charleston, South Carolina for several years. The S60 combustion model was initially built there, but the EX90 electric flagship SUV now also rolls off the production line. The Polestar 3 shares the platform and much of the technology with the EX90. The Swedish-Chinese brand unveiled its first electric SUV back in October 2022. Production was actually due to start in 2023, but software problems delayed the series production of the Polestar 3 and its sister model, the Volvo EX90. Originally, the Polestar 3 was due to roll off the production line in Chengdu from mid-2023. This was delayed until February 2024. The most important data on the vehicle in brief: the first model designed from the outset as a Polestar delivers 360 kW in the dual-engine version with a maximum torque of 840 Nm. With the optional Performance Package, the total output is 380 kW and 910 Nm. In June, Polestar presented a rear-wheel drive version with 220 kW of power as a basic model – in the UK, this lowers the entry-level price to less than 70,000 pounds. The battery has a nominal capacity of 111 kWh for all three drive systems. The Polestar 3 is charged via an 11 kW AC onboard charger or via DC with up to 250 kW. Like the EX90, the Polestar 3 will also be equipped with its charger for bidirectional charging. This means that it will also be possible to offer vehicle-to-grid functions in the future. “Manufacturing Polestar 3 in the USA is a crucial step for us. Now we offer customers in America an electric SUV that is built in America. Exporting the South Carolina produced Polestar 3 to Europe will strengthen our business on a broader scope,” says Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath. “Polestar 3 has received superb reviews from global automotive media, with strong customer test drive interest.” Polestar also confirms its intention to further diversify its “wider manufacturing footprint.” From mid-2025, the Polestar 4 crossover will also be built in South Korea. Production at the contract manufacturer Renault Korea Motors in Busan was first announced in November 2023. The Polestar 4 based on the Geely SEA platform is currently being built in Hangzhou Bay in China. With the other production sites outside China, Polestar is broadening its base, but is not turning its back on China. Polestar Technology has officially started operations in Nanjing, China, with the opening of its headquarters. Polestar Technology is a joint venture between the electric car brand Polestar and the Chinese technology company DreamSmart Group, which is developing an operating system for Polestar cars sold in China, including in-car apps, streaming services and intelligent vehicle software. Local development is therefore being intensified. polestar.com (Polestar 3), gasgoo.com (Polestar Technology)

Dongfeng starts rolling out the Nammi Box in Europe

Industry News

In Switzerland, there is now a website where you can pre-register for the Nammi Box. A base price of 21,990 Swiss francs, (approximately 23,000 Euros) is stated. The car is also set to be launched in Norway, where the vehicle will be called ‘Dongfeng Box’ with prices starting at 189,000 kroner (approximately 16,000 Euro). The vehicle retains the same technical specifications from its launch in China in January. The Nammi Box runs on a 70 kW motor at the front and will be available in two LFP battery variants with 31.5 and 42.3 kWh capacity, which should enable ranges of 330 and 430 kilometres, according to the CLTC. A WLTP range of 310 kilometres was specified on the Swiss website alongside the 42.3 kWh battery. It is unclear whether the smaller battery will be offered here. When it comes to charging, the information is rather meagre. It should be possible to charge up to 200 kilometres in eight minutes at a fast-charging station, according to the order launch in China. This refers to CLTC consumption; according to WLTP, the recharged range is likely to be significantly lower. There is no information yet on the AC charger installed for Europe. What is clear, however, is that the car is 4.03 metres long, the width (without exterior mirrors) is 1.81 metres and the height of 1.57 metres is more like a small SUV than a classic small car, which are usually flatter than 1.50 metres. The boot holds between 326 and 945 litres. This puts the Nammi on a par with an Opel Corsa Electric or Citroen e-C3. With Switzerland and Norway, the Nammi brand is targeting countries where Dongfeng is already represented with its Voyah subsidiary – so there are sales structures that can be utilised. As Voyah is also due to launch in Germany in 2024, there is a chance that the electric four-metre small car will also go on sale in this country. elbil.no (in Norwegian), insideevs.de, nzz.ch (both in German), dongfeng-nammi-box.ch

Fastned appoints Françoise Poggi as new COO

Industry News

European fast-charging company Fastned has made the decision to expand its leadership team with a new COO. The company explains that this was done to accompany the scaling that the charging provider plans for its network across Europe. However, she will not start immediately, as Fastned writes: “Her official appointment as a member of the Fastned Management Board is expected in the second half of 2024, during an extraordinary Shareholder Meeting that will be called.” As Fastned wrote in its press release, “Françoise has been part of setting up and scaling a supply chain across Europe while eliminating bottlenecks to accelerate growth” during her time at Tesla. This expertise is now to be aimed at overseeing and aligning “the activities of the construction management, station design, and station operations departments. Her background in supply chain will be of tremendous value for Fastned to scale our operating capabilities further across geographies.” “I have a career of over 20 years in operations and supply chain, driving large-scale transformations, and spent the last 7 years at Tesla, where I supported the growth of the EMEA supply chain for charging, energy infrastructure, and vehicle aftersales,” said the new hire Françoise Poggi, adding: “I am bringing to Fastned the expertise in scaling at fast pace, designing and growing nimble organisations that can succeed in highly volatile environments.” fastnedcharging.com