I haven't posted an EV musing in a while, so here goes. I will post rumors, facts, and opinions regarding the EV marketplace today.
A good one (with media release after the "read more" jump) is that the Polestar Precept "commitment car" will enter production. The Precept is intended to compete with the Tesla Model S and the Lucid Air luxury sedans. As you can see from the above pic, the Precept is an attractive vehicle that should do well in the marketplace. No specs were released, but the Polestar 2 sedan that is currently available is a competitive EV entry, so the Precept should have decent bona fides. In fact, Polestar is building a new facility for Precept production, so availability is a ways off. Check back as more info is released.
Early (serious) EVs that entered the market, were higher-end, proof-of-concept models for the most part and they have done their jobs. After Tesla set the EV standards. others have rushed in to grab a "slice of the pie" often with sub-par entries. But the one thing Tesla accomplished was to prove that EVs were viable alternatives to ICE (internal-combustion engine) vehicles. EVs are also cheaper to run than ICE vehicles (see Consumer Reports) and create almost zero pollution depending on where the electricity is generated. At some point in the near future, all new vehicles will be either EVs or battery-electric vehicles (hybrids, plug-in hybrids). One positive note regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, was the fact that every city that locked down, saw air pollution drop dramatically. Here in California it was very dramatic and was noted by the International Space Station as the difference was that noticeable. And let's not forget the effect EVs have and will have on climate change. Climate change is responsible for the incredible heat we've been having in California that has spurred on the numerous wildfires. And as the smoke drifts eastward, the fires will effect the whole country if not the world.
Speaking of Tesla, one thing that Tesla did right that others are just realizing is the fact that batteries and battery technology is important and can't be left for others to develop. Tesla creates most of its own batteries (sometimes built by others under license) and has purchased battery development companies to improve battery tech. Tesla's recent battery day reveal showcased their latest developments that should reduce cost and allow for less expensive models (like the smaller vehicles planned for production in China and Germany). VW's new ID 4 SUV will hit the market by the end of the year here in the US, but VW won't bring the compact ID 3 here. Big mistake. Why do automakers ask dealers what they want? Dealers only want big vehicles with big profit margins and to be honest, most don't know how to service or sell EVs. That will change with pressure from manufacturers and when dealers realize that consumers are going elsewhere to get what they want, not what the dealer wants to sell.
One thing I want to remind people is that an electric motor is a powerplant option just like gas or diesel. Folks shouldn't be so threatened by EV adoption. That is unless they have financial ties to the oil and gas industries. Some folks are reluctant to learn new things like KWh, Nm, and charging rates instead of horsepower and torque. And remember that as more green energy alternatives create more of our power needs, oil companies could have invested in new energy sources, but chose not to...at least in the beginning. "May we live in interesting times" indeed. More to come...
Sources: Various
- Precept to become reality; vehicle development underway
- Polestar builds on sustainability ambitions
- New state-of-the-art production facility planned
Showcasing the Swedish electric performance brand’s future design direction, Precept also highlights Polestar’s path for digital technology and the use of innovative sustainable materials, inside and out.
“‘Stunning. Spectacular. Cutting-edge. We’d like to see it on the road!’ – this is what the press wrote about Precept and the public said, ‘We want it’, so we decided to build it,” comments Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO.
“Consumers want to see change from this industry – not just dreams. Now, Precept becomes an even stronger statement. We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our cars and our business. The aim has to be climate neutrality, even though I recognize that is a long-term goal.”
The interior of Polestar Precept features a mix of sustainable materials including recycled PET bottles, reclaimed fishing nets and recycled cork vinyl. A flax-based composite, developed by external partner Bcomp Ltd., is featured in many interior and some exterior parts. Polestar’s ambition is to bring much of this sustainability into production.
With product development underway, Polestar confirms it will produce Precept in China, where a new production facility will be established. The aim is to ensure the facility will be climate neutral and one of the most intelligent and connected automotive production facilities in the world.
This climate-positive narrative was started by Polestar’s original manufacturing facility in Chengdu where the Polestar 1 is produced. Inaugurated in 2019, the Polestar Production Centre became the first LEED Gold-rated automotive production facility in China and runs on 100% renewable electricity.
“China is a home market for Polestar and we recognize the increasingly important drive for greater sustainability here,” continues Ingenlath, speaking at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2020. “With this new factory, we will again raise the bar, aiming to produce the most advanced and premium electric car in China with the lowest carbon footprint.”
About Polestar
Polestar is the independent electric performance car brand founded by Volvo Cars and Geely Holding. Polestar enjoys specific technological and engineering synergies with Volvo Cars and benefits from significant economies of scale as a result. This facilitates the successful design, development and production of separately-branded, electric performance cars.
Polestar launched in 2017 with the Polestar 1 – a low-volume Electric Performance Hybrid GT with 619 hp, 738 lb.-ft. and an electric-only range of 70 miles – the longest of any hybrid car in the world. In 2019, the Polestar 2 was revealed as the company’s first fully electric, higher volume premium car. Arriving in markets from the middle of 2020, the Polestar 2 electric performance fastback comes with 408 hp and 487 lb.-ft., all-wheel drive, a 78 kWh battery pack and a range of 470 km (WLTP) for the first year of production.
In 2020, Polestar released the Precept – a vision study vehicle designed to showcase the brand’s future vision in terms of sustainability, digital technology and design. In the future, Polestar 3 will join the portfolio as a fully electric performance SUV.
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