BYD opens its first Southeast Asian auto plant in Thailand

BYD has built its Thai factory inside the WHA Rayong 36 industrial estate in Nikhom Phatthana District (Rayong Province). The new plant covers an area of more than 948,000 square metres and has an annual production capacity of 150,000 units. The company built the new plant to manufacture right-hand drive (RHD) models for domestic sales and exports to other ASEAN markets. The Chinese automaker already sells cars in other RHD member states of the union – Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The first car BYD made at its new auto plant was the Dolphin electric hatchback. Along with the rollout of the first unit in Thailand, it achieved a new production milestone of 8 million new energy vehicles. The company also makes the Atto 3 electric SUV and Seal electric sedan there. In the future, the Chinese automaker will also produce the Sealion 6 (Seal U) plug-in hybrid SUV at the Thai factory. BYD markets its passenger vehicles in Thailand through Rever Automotive, which serves as its distributor and after-sales service provider. In other recent news, the Thai government plans to investigate the Chinese automaker through the Consumer Protection Board after it caught the local BYD arm heavily discounting the Dolphin. In April, Rever Automotive lured customers by slashing ฿40,000 (€1,012) off the Dolphin’s price, and the very next day after ending that campaign, it rolled out a significantly higher discount of ฿100,000 (€2,530). This month, the company is offering even bigger reductions of ฿140,000-160,000 (€3,542-4,048). This malpractice results in buyer’s remorse and also affects the resale value of their cars. Excluding discounts, it has priced the small hatchback at ฿699,990 (€17,711) in a ‘Standard Range’ variant and ฿859,999 (€21,759) in an ‘Extended Range’ variant. On the other side of the planet, for the new BYD production in Uzbekistan, BYD has entered into a cooperation agreement with the Uzbek government to promote sustainable mobility. At the opening of the plant in Jizzakh in the south of the country, Wang said that the start of series production in Uzbekistan would “accelerate the green transformation of the local transport system”. BYD is building the Song Plus DM-i and Chazor DM-i plug-in hybrids in Jizzakh. The Song Plus is based on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 and is one of the best-selling models in the Ocean series, at least in China, as the CN EV Post writes. Production in Uzbekistan is carried out via a joint venture with UzAuto, the country’s only car manufacturer to date. In the first phase, up to 50,000 vehicles will be built in Uzbekistan per year, according to BYD. The aim is to meet demand in the country. However, BYD is not entirely without experience: before the plant was built, BYD sold vehicles imported from China in the country. ev.iphonemod.net, bangkokpost.com, nationthailand.com, cnevpost.com (Uzbekistan)

Stellantis develops battery cells for cheaper electric cars with CEA

The CEA is France’s commissioner for nuclear energy and alternative energies. Stellantis is drawing on the expertise of the research institute to develop cells for “affordable next-generation electric vehicles”. The technology is to be provided to its “gigafactories, which will be operated in joint ventures”. This is the decisive hint in the car manufacturer’s announcement that the cooperation is related to the recently announced stops at ACC. The battery cell joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies – the full name is Automotive Cells Company – is currently pausing construction work on its battery cell plants in Kaiserslautern and Termoli, Italy. This is in order to switch from its nickel-based cell chemistry to more cost-effective battery technologies. At the beginning of June, the declining demand for electric vehicles was cited as the reason for the cutback. The company therefore apparently wants to research and develop more cost-effective batteries in order to supply cheaper electric vehicles. Exactly what will happen in Kaiserslautern and Termoli will be specified at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. It is not yet known to what extent the reorientation phase at ACC will also affect the third factory in France. The first production block with 13.4 GWh is currently being ramped up there. A further two blocks were previously planned in order to reach 40 GWh. The joint venture is currently focussing solely on NMC battery cells (nickel-manganese-cobalt). Competitor Renault has also pursued an NMC-only strategy to date, but according to the latest information is now also opening up to the more favourable LFP technology. The cell chemistry at the centre of the Stellantis-CEA cooperation is not mentioned. There is only talk of “disruptive cell chemistries”, which does not necessarily speak in favour of LFP technology, which is already quite common. The joint research programme includes the development of “advanced technology cells with higher performance, a longer lifespan and a lower carbon footprint at competitive costs”, according to the Stellantis press release. The programme will also focus on life cycle assessment and the development and validation of battery cells. “We know that battery technology is poised for change. While we don’t know exactly how it will change, we are committed to be at the forefront of this transformation. Internally, we are working around the clock placing multiple bets and exploring various technologies,” says Ned Curic, Stellantis Chief Engineering and Technology Officer. At the same time, the company is working closely with tech start-ups, laboratories, universities and the world’s most renowned research institutions such as the CEA. “We believe that this collaboration will accelerate the arrival of disruptive battery cell technology, supporting our mission to offer clean, safe and affordable mobility to our customers.” Philippe Stohr, Head of Energy at CEA, speaks of an ambitious, multi-year R&D programme for battery cells. “This exciting project makes the best use of more than 25 years of expertise in the field of Li-ion batteries at CEA to the benefit of one of the major automotive actors in the competitive race for electrical mobility. Our challenge is to speed up design and fabrication and to allow deep understanding of the most advanced cells technologies by sharing our expertise, skills and vision.” media.stellantis.com

Atlante establishes JV to build 500 HPC stations in France

Atlante and Banque des Territoires intend to provide the joint venture, named Alpis, with 40 million euros in equity. The ownership ratio is to be 51 to 49 per cent. Atlante will therefore become a narrow majority shareholder. The deal brings together a charging service provider and a financial specialist. The partners have not yet provided much information about the planned charging network itself. Thanks to battery-buffered fast chargers, coverage is expected to be high and the tariff favourable – “even in areas with limited energy availability and grid limits”, according to an accompanying press release. Both partners are already quite familiar. Banque des Territoires recently served the EU as a realisation partner for a funding round of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF). It provided Atlante with 49.9 million euros for the construction of fast-charging stations in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. In total, Atlante plans to build 5,000 fast-charging points in these countries by 2025 and over 35,000 by 2030. The AFIR stipulates that a charging station must be installed at least every 60 kilometres on the European Union’s core road network and every 100 kilometres on the trans-European network. In addition, Atlante wants to install charging stations in car parks and in strategic urban areas. Jacques Galvani, CEO of Atlante France, comments: “This collaboration with Banque des Territoires fits perfectly with Atlante’s DNA and objectives: to make 100% green electric mobility accessible to all, across the whole territory. We hope that the technological innovations that Atlante is pioneering in Europe, particularly in terms of the synergy between fast charging, energy storage and solar energy production, will benefit all drivers of electric vehicles and facilitate the transition to decarbonised mobility.” “We are very proud to contribute, through our investment and our role as an implementation partner of the European CEF-T-AFIF mechanism, to the emergence of a leader in electric charging in France and, more broadly, in Southern Europe,” said Pierre Aubouin, Director of Infrastructure and Mobility at the Investment Directorate of Banque des Territoires. “By partnering with Atlante, a qualified, innovative, and committed partner in various market segments across the territory, we are strengthening our support for decarbonized mobility and reaffirming our commitment to ecological transformation.” Atlante has recently signed several deals to develop charging infrastructure, for example with Vinci Autoroutes, Groupe Duval, Autostrade per l’Italia and Emil Frey. In the context of the cooperation with Vinci Autoroutes, the company is now also reporting initial results: According to the company, 25 fast charging stations have been inaugurated at the Saint-Léger Ouest service area on the A10 motorway. Another new development is that Atlante has joined the Plugsurfing network. This gives customers of the network roaming access to Atlante charging stations via the e-clearing.net platform. atlante.energy (PDF), businesswire.com (Saint-Léger), x.com (Plugsurfing)

MAN presents electric truck portfolio

At the pre-event in Saalfelden, Austria, MAN presented vehicles with all the drive types that the Traton (subsequently, Volkswagen) subsidiary intends to rely on in the immediate future. In addition to “optimized” diesel engines, this also includes a new hydrogen combustion engine and the battery-electric truck. MAN is remaining true to its previous line by relinquishing focus on hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks but now maintains that these are still in development. The highlight of the battery-electric trucks at the 2024 trade fair remains the MAN eTruck, which is offered in the eTGX and eTGS variants. According to MAN, there are already over 2,000 orders or order inquiries for both variants, with a major order from France for 100 units recently added. With the eTGS, which was presented at IFAT in April, and the previously offered variants of wheelbases and equipment, the company insists that the number of configurable variants has risen to over one million. It is precisely this diversity with its modular battery concept, numerous wheelbases, cabs, auxiliary drives and sector-specific equipment that MAN sees as making the new eTruck “fit for the needs of all relevant sectors, body solutions and transport tasks”. This is because the heavy-duty electric truck can be used for more than just regional routes, with a range of up to 800 kilometres per day possible with a charging stop. As the eTruck is also prepared for the upcoming MCS megawatt charging standard with up to 1000 kW, such a charging process can take place during the driver’s prescribed break. “Even though the transition to CO2-free freight transport is characterised by several drive technologies, our focus is clearly on electromobility as the main drive technology,” says Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus. “The hydrogen combustion engine can be a useful addition for special applications, as can the fuel cell drive, which is currently still under development.” The news about the development of hydrogen fuel cell drives will be well received by the German government which granted MAN and Shell 8 million euros for this purpose in 2020. The MAN CEO continued to reiterate the company’s continued focus on diesel engines to the end. “In addition, the diesel drive will continue to play an important role throughout the entire transformation until it is completely replaced,” assures Vlaskamp. MAN has long since set itself the goal that by 2030, every second MAN truck registered in Europe should be battery-electric. As part of the Traton Group, MAN is working with Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group via the Milence joint venture on the appropriate truck charging infrastructure. At the same time, the course is being set internally to electrify the company’s own service network. This electrification course is hardly ambitious. At least not from the company’s own volition. The targets set barely cover the stipulations of the EU Commission for the reduction of emissions from the sector. On 14 May this year, the Commission conclusively voted what has long been in the pipeline: that manufacturers must reduce the average emissions of trucks weighing 7.5 tonnes or more and coaches by 45% from 2030, 65% from 2035 and 90% from 2040. The CO2 emissions from 2019 will serve as a reference, and from 2035, the new regulations must also be complied with by “professional” vehicles such as refuse collection and construction vehicles. Truck trailer manufacturers must also improve the emission values of trailers by 10 per cent by 2030, while 90 per cent of new city buses must be emission-free by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035. In presenting the lineup, Vlaskamp explained how MAN will focus on electric trucks without at all inhibiting its production of fossil-fuelled models: “In future, we will be producing combustion engine and electric trucks on the same production line in order to be able to react flexibly to the shift in demand towards electric trucks,” says the MAN CEO. For the transition to electric trucks to succeed, however, “the expansion of the charging infrastructure must be an absolute priority for politicians, infrastructure operators and manufacturers”. The hydrogen combustion engine should only serve as a supplementary solution for special applications such as heavy-duty transport or for areas where charging infrastructure is difficult to implement – and not as an alternative to electric trucks. While other Volkswagen subsidiaries such as Volkswagen Truck and Bus as well as Volkswagen company Navistar, the number of electric vehicle sales has increased. In the same period, MAN has suffered poor performance with declining sales. Here it might be noted that overall, of the Volkswagen truck companies, MAN is also used to enjoying higher sales than its fellow Volkswagen subsidiaries in general. To keep its position in a rapidly electrifying world, MAN may have to be even more proactive about its commitment to electrification. Late last year the legacy truck maker revealed it is strengthening its cooperation with surrounding scientific institutions at its Nuremberg site in Germany. The company’s researchers there want to further work on “fossil-free, future-proof drives” and create synergies between science and industry. mantruckandbus.com

First Bus places major order for Yutong electric buses

This marks the largest single order for Yutong’s buses in the UK so far and is to play a large role in the company’s goal of having a fully emissions-free bus fleet by 2035. The specific depots that will see the new additions are Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, Basildon and Hengrove in Bristol, which are receiving their first electric buses. By the time the order is complete, First Bus will have more than 800 emissions-free vehicles and charging infrastructure present at 16 depot sites across the UK. The new order includes a mix of single and double-decker buses from Yutong from their E10, E12 and U11DD models. There are already several Yutong EVs in First Bus’s fleet, and are on the roads in Aberdeen, Leeds and Cymru. First Bus also notes that the order is part of an £89 million investment in further 178 zero-emission buses and infrastructure across four regions. The funds were secured in partnership with Local Authorities, as well as another £16 million of additional funding through the latest round of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme. “We are delighted to place this order with the team at Pelican. This order marks another significant milestone as we invest further in our journey towards a zero-emission bus fleet across our UK operations,” said Andrew Jarvis, Chief Operating Officer for First Bus, adding: “It is an exciting time for our colleagues at all four of these sites as we start to transform and futureproof our depots. This is also great news for our customers, who will see the benefits of these state-of-the-art vehicles – including improved local air quality and the enhanced customer experience that EV’s bring.” firstbus.co.uk

Nayax introduces payment terminal for charging stations

Nayax is a specialist in cashless payment solutions that has not yet made a major appearance on the market for charging solutions. The terminal called EV CloudPay aims to change this. According to the manufacturer, the device accepts more than 80 cashless and digital payment methods and is intended to make the handling of multiple mobile apps or charging cards, which is currently widely practised by electric car drivers, superfluous. According to Nayax, the payment terminal is cloud-based, which means that it is able to process payments for multiple charging stations. The global OCPI protocol serves as the basis for communication. The company has not yet provided any further technical details. Yair Nechmad, CEO and Chairman of Nayax, makes more general statements: “The current payment infrastructure for charging electric cars is inefficient and cumbersome for both drivers and charging station operators. To accelerate the uptake of electric cars globally, we need to provide drivers with a convenient charging experience, including a seamless and fast way to pay for charging.” Nayax says it has more than seven years of experience working with charging station operators and manufacturers. The company claims to have nine global offices and around 900 employees. globenewswire.com

Woman charged for riding electric suitcase without license

The “vehicle”, or more specifically, the Airwheel SE3 Mobility Scooter smart luggage, is capable of going up to 8 miles per hour (13 kph), however, the police deemed to charge the woman as if she were riding a 50 cc moped or motorbike. While the suitcase is not capable of really being a danger to pedestrians, the reasoning is that Japanese law is quite strict on matters of traffic. In this instance, Japan’s Traffic Act says that “Anything that does not meet the conditions, even if it looks like an electric scooter, is considered a regular moped or car and requires a driver’s license.” Further, the law explains: “Vehicles that do not meet these standards will not be considered specific small motorized bicycles, even if they have an electric kick scooter or similar shape, and will continue to be subject to the traffic rules according to their vehicle classification.” The driver of the suitcase was apprehended on March 13, however, the government did not opt to charge her until June 25. Likely, the judiciary was also unsure of whether a suitcase could be thus classified, which would also follow the driver’s logic, who stated: “I did not recognize it as a vehicle and did not think that a driving license was required.” airwheel.net, carscoops.com

New electric Mini to release as a sporty JCW offshoot

The “Mini John Cooper Works E PROtotype”, as the vehicle is called in the press release, will be nothing less than a “significant milestone” for Mini – precisely because it will be the first all-electric JCW model. “With its striking design and advanced electric drive, this prototype epitomises MINI’s commitment to innovation and electromobility,” says the BMW brand. The corresponding production model, the Mini John Cooper Works E, is to be presented later this year. Mini has not yet provided any technical data. The only thing that is clear is that the John Cooper Works E will be noticeably more powerful than the Cooper SE (160 kW). The combustion models in the previous generation already had an output of 170 kW and even 225 kW in the GP version available in 2020. In the current generation, which was developed together with Great Wall, the Cooper S with a four-cylinder petrol engine already delivers 150 kW. A significant increase in performance is therefore likely for the John Cooper Works versions of the current generation – in future, the JCW versions will be available with both electric and petrol engines. Whether the John Cooper Works E will also have a new battery (Cooper SE: 54.2 kWh) will probably not be announced until the world premiere. Image: Mini Image: Mini Image: Mini Image: Mini Image: Mini Image: Mini Image: Mini The “Mini John Cooper Works” sports version should not be confused with the “John Cooper Works Trim” equipment line. The equipment line is already available for the Cooper E and Cooper SE and includes sporty design elements inside and out. The “fully-fledged” JCW models, on the other hand, not only have a sporty design, but also more power and a more dynamically tuned chassis. The exact changes to the electric version are not yet known. In recent years, there has been a trend in the automotive industry to use the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which was once launched as a motorsport event, for premieres or prototypes. As there is no major motor show in the UK like the IAA or the Paris Motor Show, manufacturers have increasingly booked major brand appearances at the Festival of Speed to show new models to the public – or to take part in the legendary “Hill Climb” at Goodwood with prototypes and one-offs. Porsche previously sent the Taycan to Goodwood before the world premiere, VW set a new record at the Hill Climb with the ID.R electric racing car, Ford showed a spectacular electric Transit Custom as a racing car in 2022 and Hyundai presented the Ioniq 5 N last year, to name just a few examples. Source: Info via email

China’s drone specialist DJI enters the electric bike market

The Chinese company is facing a potential ban on its drones in the U.S., which has prompted an expansion of the company’s product portfolio into areas not covered by the ban. Amflow eMTB bikes and the Avinox drive systems that power them will be presented simultaneously in China and at the Eurobike trade fair this month. The company’s website has language options for 26 countries in Europe as well as the USA, Canada, Australia and China. According to Chinese media, the retail pricing for the Avinox drive system has not yet been announced, but pricing for the Amflow eMTB in Europe is expected to be in the range of €7,000 to €12,000 ($7,500 to $12,850). The release of the Amflow eMTB is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024 and will be made available through authorized dealers. Amflow electric bike models come with a deceptively slim carbon frame which houses the DJI Avinox drive. The electric motor weighs 2.52 kilograms and delivers the legally prescribed 250 watts of continuous power, but can deliver up to 850 watts at peak times. The manufacturer gives the torque as 105 Nm. The power is transmitted to the wheels via a planetary gearbox. DJI also supplies the batteries and charging technology, with a choice of two batteries integrated into the frame with 600 or 800 Wh and a weight of 2.7 or 3.6 kilograms. The batteries can be charged using a Super Charger with 504 watts. This should reduce the charging time (0 to 75 % SoC) for the 800 Wh battery to around 1.5 hours. Other special features of the Amflow bikes include a two-inch touchscreen in the top tube, Magura brakes and an Ergon SM Pro saddle. The manufacturer puts the total weight at 19.2 to 21.5 kilograms, depending on the equipment. “Our passion for innovation at DJI and our expertise in battery and motor technology, which we have built up through our drones and camera stabilization systems, led us to develop Avinox,” says Christina Zhang, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at DJI. She explains that expanding into this industry was a natural step for DJI, “as we perfectly master the technologies that are essential for e-bike systems”. The high-end electric bike drives are predicted to disrupt rapidly growing electric bike markets across the world. According to the US publication Electrek, “DJI has come out swinging with its first e-bike drive system, ready to shake up the status quo that typically sees German mid-drive motors on high-end bikes competing against Chinese mid-drives on more affordable options.” Slovakian electric bike specialists Agog.sk – with Chinese language options on its website in addition to European languages – note, “With competitors including the likes of Bosch, Bafang, Shimano and SRAM, DJI is aiming to leave its place in this rapidly growing market.” electrek.co, pedelec-elektro-fahrrad.de (in German), Agog.sk

VinFast considers manufacturing electric vehicles in India

A new report from ET Auto says that VinFast, the automotive division of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, will locally assemble electric cars in India. Officially, the company has said it could initially import Completely Built Units (CBUs). The Indian government levies a steep tariff rate of 70% or 100% on CBUs, depending on the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value. The report says it plans to source Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits and assemble them in the country. This alternative route slashes the tariff rate to 15%. In addition to saving significantly on tariff rate and thus pricing the models much more competitively, VinFast will show its commitment to India and its local partners better by locally assembling cars. The company expects to start operations at its local plant three months before schedule. Expensive pricing for initial EVs The report says that VinFast will likely launch EVs with 300-500 km of range in the ₹2.5-3.0 million (approx. €28,000-33,000) range. Such pricing could make them very expensive for the average Indian, which typically shops in price segments below ₹2.0 million (approx. €22,000). According to local newspaper Business Standard, the average selling price of passenger vehicles in the country is just ₹1.15 million (approx. €13,000). Thus, VinFast may fully manufacture the later models in India instead of assembling them from imported CKD kits, and price them significantly lower. VinFast is building a factory almost at the tip of India in Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu), which will give it easy access to the V. O. Chidambaranar Port. The company says that the Indian plant will have an annual capacity of up to 150,000 units and will serve South Asian, Middle Eastern and African export markets in addition to domestic demand. The report says that the company will launch its first locally assembled car during the festive season of 2025, which will fall in the final months of the year. In Vietnam, VinFast has a wide line-up of seven EVs, all SUVs, starting from the tiny VF 3 and going up to the full-size VF 9. The company began operations in 2017 and manufactures cars on an 828-acre (3,350,000 m2) local manufacturing facility on Cat Hai Island near Hai Phong. VinFast not ruling out CBU imports for future models In April, the Indian government announced a policy that reduces the customs duty on CBU EVs with a CIF value of $35,000 (approx. €32,500) or higher down to 15% for five years, limited to 8,000 units annually. Only companies that plan to invest at least ₹41.50 billion (€458 million) in making EVs in India within three years can avail of this scheme. The report suggests VinFast may meet these requirements but is considering taking advantage of it eventually. auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com, business-standard.com