[Peakoil] April edition of My Electric Car Newsletter

[Antony Barry]

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: leo <leo at myelectriccar.com.au>
> Subject: Hi Antony - here is your April edition of My Electric Car Newsletter
> Date: 17 April 2016 at 3:09:43 PM AEST
> To: Antony Barry <antonybbarry at me.com>
> 
> 	
> There has been nothing like this in the history of transport.  In one week Tesla had 325,000 plus pre-orders for the Model 3 and that number has now climbed over the 400,000 mark.
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> Comparisons are already being made as to the importance of this vehicle with the Ford Model T which made car transport affordable to the masses in the last century.  
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> The Model T ushered in a new era of transport that eliminated one environmental crisis (the great horse manure crisis - yes it's true) but laid the foundations of another - the choking toxic air pollution crisis that affects many of the world's cities and is getting worse.
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> The Model 3 will accelerate the era of electric transport helping alleviate the current air pollution crisis and combined with renewable energy, cutting carbon emissions from the transport fleet.
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> GM has taken a swipe at the hoopla surrounding the Model 3 unveiling and pre-orders.  "GM’s balance sheet is in pretty strong shape, so we don’t need to take $1,000 of your money just to hold a spot," Dan Nicholson, GM's vice president of global propulsion systems, said at SAE World Congress on April 13. "And you can actually get it in 2016."
> 
> He does have a point and the cars have similar range and price point.  Tesla have been late with all their model target dates so it's fair comment.  We can understand the frustration GM must be feeling with all the attention Tesla is getting.
> 
> At MEC - we just love the competition heating up for which EV is best.  After all, everyone wins as the changeover from our toxic fleet commences. Read more here.
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> India's Ambition - EVs only by 2030
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> In India LED lights are given to people from the power utilities and then paid off over a period of time from the savings in power usage.  This model of ownership is now being proposed for EVs so that India can have a fully electric fleet by 2030.  Cars would be given without an upfront payment and paid off over time from the savings in fuel charges.
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> India now joins the ranks of Norway and Holland who also want to ditch petrol and diesel vehicles (starting in 2025).
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> “It is a great, workable model. Promoting electric or hybrid cars through innovative schemes can reduce vehicular pollution, reduce fossil fuel dependence and will be beneficial for the consumer. We will work with the government on this,” said Vishnu Mathur, director general of industry lobby Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).  This type of innovative thinking is necessary to tackle the horrendous air pollution problems affecting India's major cities. Read more here.
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> Solar - Batteries - EVs - Residential Apartment Complex WA
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> In an Australian and possibly world first a new apartment micro-grid complex has been launched near Fremantle in Western Australia that will incorporate solar panels with battery storage.
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> The occupants will be guaranteed a lower cost for power than if they were sourcing it from the grid power supplier.  The strata management company will be the power supplier to each individual dwelling.  
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> The occupants will be able to trade power within the four building complex being built in White Gum Valley. This is all part of a research project by the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living and Curtin University designed to give better insight into power management and performance.
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> Not mentioned in the following link is the ability of the tenants to share Electric Vehicles that will be co-owned.  Read more here.
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> Norway - March 2016 - New Car Sales - 60% Electric or Hybrid
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> We don't have much in the way of incentives in Australia for EVs although the recent ATO ruling (see article below) is a tiny step in that direction.  The effectiveness of incentives is very evident in Norway where last month over 60% of new vehicle registrations were for BEVs or HPEVs.
> 
> Some may argue that governments should not use taxpayer money to encourage new technologies but we say governments should not use taxpayer money to subsidise our current toxic vehicle fleet to the detriment of the Australian people.  These subsidies come in the form of paying for the externalised health costs directly caused by the poisonous emissions from ICE vehicles to the tune of billions of dollars annually.
> 
> We should also be encouraging EVs for strategic reasons of energy security. Currently all our oil comes from the middle east and as pointed out in the study by Air Vice Marshall John Blackburn, "Australia's Liquid Fuel Security", we have enough supplies to last a measly week or so if our oil supply is disrupted for any reason.  Then end of lifestyle.
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> The Australian transport fleet should run on Australian energy - we should be encouraging that scenario for balance of trade, energy security, health and environmental reasons as quickly as possible.
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> Norway could teach us a few lessons in how to clean up our act. The Norwegian government has a target of making all vehicles emissions free by 2025. Read more here.
> 
> Australian Tax Office Ruling on EVs
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> With the recent ruling by the ATO, EV owners will now be able to claim the cents per kilometer method of calculation for business purposes that until recently were determined by engine size and therefore unavailable to electric vehicles.
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> This is a very good result for EV owners as it means they can claim the same 66c/km even though the running costs of EVs are substantially less than those of ICE vehicles. 
> 
> This could effectively lead to savings of around $2,000 annually for EVs used for business purposes. Read more here.
> 
> Wireless Charging - the Next Step
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> 	
> “Wireless power transfer is a paradigm shift in electric vehicle charging that offers the consumer an autonomous, safe, efficient and convenient option to plug-in charging,” said David Smith, vehicle systems program manager. “The technology demonstrated today is a stepping stone toward electrified roadways where vehicles could charge on the go.”
> 
> Wireless charging is the obvious next step in the evolution of electric vehicle charging technology. It just makes sense in every way and by eliminating the necessity to physically plug a vehicle into a charger it's a huge step forward in convenience - park and forget. 
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> The technology for fast charge wireless chargers is upon us and it will eventually be the charging system of choice - fast, efficient, safe.  It opens the possibilities of charging on the go by travelling over charge enabled stretches of roads. The UK government are running trials on just such technology.
> 
> This technology could be transformative in reducing the need for large battery packs - they would not be needed due to charging while you drive - it may particularly apply to public or private transport services on regular routes. This steps up our current systems by light years and the eventual adoption will lead to significant improvements in efficiency and convenience. Plugging in will be a thing of the past. Read more here.
> 
> More Fast Chargers in Queensland
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> Four new Veefil charges have been installed in University of Queensland's St Lucia and Gatton campuses.  These are charged either partially or fully from solar energy and are free for public use.
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> The Australian fast charge infrastructure network is slowly growing despite the small number of EV's in the country (some say around 3,000 total). 
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> It's now possible however to fast charge around the south west of WA and for Tesla owners to drive from Melbourne right the way through to Port Macquarie with the Supercharger network.
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> Plans for a 1600kms network of charge stations have already been flagged by the Queensland government. Read more here.
> 
> Dyson to Build Electric Car
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> According to the UK National Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Dyson (the vacuum cleaner people) will be receiving money from the UK government to build an EV.
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> “The government is funding Dyson to develop a new battery electric vehicle at their headquarters in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. This will secure £174m of investment in the area, creating over 500 jobs, mostly in engineering,”
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> If you recall in our November 2015 newsletter we reported on Dyson buying Sakti3, a battery company involved in next generation solid state lithium batteries.  This move to produce an EV ties in nicely with their buyout of Sakti3. Read more here.
> 
> Tesla Gigafactory Progress with Time Lapse Video
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> The time lapse video shows the impressive progress being made at the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada.  Tesla Energy is already in production at the plant producing Power Wall units.
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> Still under construction and with just 1.9 million square feet of space in phase one, the factory will eventually have 13 million square feet of operational space.
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> Battery cell production will commence with partners Panasonic later this year. Read more here.
> 
> 2017 Hyundai Electric Ioniq - 180kms - but is it enough?
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> The Hyundia Ioniq EV is slated to have 180kms of range based on the the same 28kWh battery pack used by its sister company's Kia Soul Electric model.
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> The Ioniq will join the LEAF and updated BMW i3 with extended ranges for the 2017 models of over 160kms by the demanding US range rating standards.
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> The question must now be asked however if 160kms is enough to satisfy customer demand when the GM Bolt will be available for sales from the end of this year with a range of 320kms.
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> Hyundai have ambitions to become a major producer of 'Green' vehicles by 2020 but with the bar now set at 300kms plus will consumers buy in to a vehicle with half that range.  Read more here.
> 
> Tesla Praised by Audi Exec - They did everything right....
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> “Those who [have] ever driven electrically are lost for the internal combustion engine for all time." So said Stefan Niemand, Audi's director of battery-electric vehicles.  He is so right.  The experience of driving an electric car makes you realise just how inferior petrol/diesel vehicles.
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> Niemand was speaking at a Technical Congress hosted by VDA, Germany's auto-industry trade group.  He went on, “I hate to admit it but Tesla did everything right." He was referring not only to the superb class of vehicles Tesla has produced but also the Supercharger network they put in place to address range issues and refuelling times.
> 
> This is some praise for a company barely twelve years old that outsold every luxury vehicle in the US in 2015.  Audi's own e-Tron Quattro Concept crossover utilitywill not arrive in the US till 2018 when the company plans to offer it's own fast charging network. Read more here.
> 
> Diesel Should be Outlawed - here's why
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> The World Health Organisation classified diesel as a definite carcinogen back in 2012.  It's something we all knew instinctively and let's not kid ourselves, petrol is no different.
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> There is so much pollution it's difficult to tell exactly where the picture opposite was taken - it's the Harbour Bridge in Sydney. We don't have to go to China or India to compromise our health with vehicle pollution - it's already a major health issue in Australia although we don't hear much about the billions of dollars in health costs it's responsible for.
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> There is no 'safe' level in breathing in the toxic emissions from our vehicle fleet - it is always damaging our health.  Why aren't our state and federal governments dealing with this huge public health issue? Isn't it time to bite the bullet and start incentivising zero local emission vehicles? Read more here.  
> 
> BYD adds 2 New EV Sedans to China Market
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> 	
> BYD sold more electric and hybrid vehicles last year than any other company. They will be broadening that record by introducing the BYD Qin EV300 and e5. 
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> The Qin EV300 builds on the existing Qin plugin hybrid platform.  It has a range of over 300kms and a 0-60kph in around 7 seconds.
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> It would seem both models are destined for the local Chinese market only. Both models have the ability for vehicle to home charging. They have price tags of $50K for the Qin and $44K for the e5.  
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> The Chinese government have increased subsidies for EV aggressively over the past year in a bid for accelerated take up to help fight the air quality emergency in their cities. Read more here.
> 
> Snippets
> 
> Electric Corvette breaks Speed Record
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> Robocar - First Autonomous Electric Race Car
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> Porsche Mission E Concept Video (5min video)
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> Air NZ to have Largest EV Fleet in New Zealand
> 
> 2016 Tesla Model S Styling & Other Updates
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> Model X Autopilot Test Drive - Video 38mins
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> German Made EV Postal Service Van 
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> French offer Tesla former Nuclear Plant as Factory Site
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> French EV Market Share 1.16% 2015 - Rising Fast in 2016
> 
> Some Recent Blogs
> 
> The End of the Beginning
> 
> Who's Trying to Kill the Electric Car?
> 
> 5 Reasons to Buy an Electric Car
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> Guess Who - Number 1 Luxury Car in US 2015
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> Porsche Daimler Mercedes City told to Take the Bus
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> Who's the Number 1 in EV Sales?
> 
> My Electric Car
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