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A Number of PHEVs Are Pulled From Sales in Europe
William Maley posted an article in Automotive Industry
The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) has been giving automakers in Europe various headaches. As we reported last week, Volkswagen has pushed back the U.S. launch of the Arteon to help boost inventory in Europe due to a delay in WLTP testing. Other automakers aren't so lucky. According to Automotive News Europe, a number German automakers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche have halted sales of some plug-in hybrids due to WLTP. In the new procedure, the way that PHEVs are tested reduces the effect of the fully-charged battery. "The vehicles are tested with a full battery, then the test is repeated until the battery is empty, when they are tested again," according to ANE. Germany's VDA on their website goes on to say that "the CO2 value is then calculated as the ratio of the electrical range to the total range." This in turn has pushed the "crucial CO2 emissions figure above 50 grams per kilometer". Why is it so crucial? Many European countries off tax benefits on vehicles that produce less than 50g/km of CO2. Matthias Schmidt, an analyst for Sweden's AID automotive research company tells ANE that in Germany, many PHEVs have lost their 3,000-euro (about $3,500) incentive. To qualify again, automakers will need to fit larger batteries to their vehicles to qualify for the incentives. Automakers now find themselves in a tough place deciding whether to bite the bullet and add the larger battery or pull PHEVs off the market for the time being. Here is the status of the various German automakers: BMW: Says its current lineup will meet WLTP, but ANE notes that certain models exceed the 50g/km of CO2 - example is the 225xe Active Tourer that produces 57 g/km. The 330e, the brand's second best-selling PHEV will not go back on sale until the next-generation model arrives next summer. Mercedes-Benz: Has no PHEVs on sale at the moment, but a spokesman said that the E-Class and S-Class PHEVs will go on sale within the next two months. Porsche: Has pulled sales of the Cayenne and Panamera PHEVs. "We will not start taking orders again until the cars are being built, the timing of which has not yet been confirmed," said a spokesman. Volkswagen: Stopped sales of the Golf and Passat GTE, both models appear in the top ten best selling PHEVs in Europe. A spokesman said both models would return next year with the introduction of updated models. Source: Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) -
The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) has been giving automakers in Europe various headaches. As we reported last week, Volkswagen has pushed back the U.S. launch of the Arteon to help boost inventory in Europe due to a delay in WLTP testing. Other automakers aren't so lucky. According to Automotive News Europe, a number German automakers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche have halted sales of some plug-in hybrids due to WLTP. In the new procedure, the way that PHEVs are tested reduces the effect of the fully-charged battery. "The vehicles are tested with a full battery, then the test is repeated until the battery is empty, when they are tested again," according to ANE. Germany's VDA on their website goes on to say that "the CO2 value is then calculated as the ratio of the electrical range to the total range." This in turn has pushed the "crucial CO2 emissions figure above 50 grams per kilometer". Why is it so crucial? Many European countries off tax benefits on vehicles that produce less than 50g/km of CO2. Matthias Schmidt, an analyst for Sweden's AID automotive research company tells ANE that in Germany, many PHEVs have lost their 3,000-euro (about $3,500) incentive. To qualify again, automakers will need to fit larger batteries to their vehicles to qualify for the incentives. Automakers now find themselves in a tough place deciding whether to bite the bullet and add the larger battery or pull PHEVs off the market for the time being. Here is the status of the various German automakers: BMW: Says its current lineup will meet WLTP, but ANE notes that certain models exceed the 50g/km of CO2 - example is the 225xe Active Tourer that produces 57 g/km. The 330e, the brand's second best-selling PHEV will not go back on sale until the next-generation model arrives next summer. Mercedes-Benz: Has no PHEVs on sale at the moment, but a spokesman said that the E-Class and S-Class PHEVs will go on sale within the next two months. Porsche: Has pulled sales of the Cayenne and Panamera PHEVs. "We will not start taking orders again until the cars are being built, the timing of which has not yet been confirmed," said a spokesman. Volkswagen: Stopped sales of the Golf and Passat GTE, both models appear in the top ten best selling PHEVs in Europe. A spokesman said both models would return next year with the introduction of updated models. Source: Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) View full article
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Investing in Zero Emission Auto's by the Auto Alliance To Quote the Auto Alliance website: "The Auto Alliance, the leading advocacy group for the auto industry, represents 70% of all car and light truck sales in the United States, including the BMW Group, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz USA, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen Group of America and Volvo Car USA.Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Alliance also has offices in Sacramento, California and Detroit, Michigan." This dedicated group of businesses sent a letter to the governors of the following nine states, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont. This group of states have not only embraced making CARB their states mandate for emissions but also have implemented the California's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate (ZEV). Yet with this done at the government level, holding their own agencies accountable to buying ZEV auto's and using them as well as having incentives to get people to buy ZEV auto's has stalled with electric vehicles sitting on dealership lots. The Auto Alliance states that as of June 11th there are 58 ZEV models on sale, including 34 plug-in hybrids, 21 battery electric and 3 hydrogen fuel cells according to the Department of Energy's www.fueleconomy.gov website. As stated by the Alliance, by 2021 there is expected to be 80 models of ZEVs on sale and action now by ZEV states are important to increasing sales and helping to reach the ZEV targets that these states have mandated. Quoting the Auto Alliance website: "In 2017, ZEVs represented 1.15% of total sales nationwide, or about 190,000 vehicles out of 17.1 million new vehicles sold. By 2025, under the CA mandate, sales of ZEVs are required to be 15.4% of total sales." Full details of the ZEV Mandate can be found here. Want to see how your state is impacted by the Auto industry, check out this map and click your state for a large amount of details on this. https://autoalliance.org/in-your-state/ Here is how Washington State is impacted by the auto industry:
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The hot thing for luxury automakers aside from crossovers is building electric vehicles to take on the elephant in the room, the Tesla Model. But Cadillac will not be joining this craze, at least not in the near future. Speaking with Automotive News, Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen said the automaker will equip most of their lineup with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The decision comes down to tightening regulations, especially in China. "For us, the avenue to ensure that we are able to play in China is going to be through plug-in hybrids," said de Nysschen. There's also the benefit that plug-in hybrids are a bit more practical than EVs and the fear of running out of range is eliminated. That doesn't mean Cadillac will not produce any EVs. They will appear further down the line according to de Nysschen. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article
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The hot thing for luxury automakers aside from crossovers is building electric vehicles to take on the elephant in the room, the Tesla Model. But Cadillac will not be joining this craze, at least not in the near future. Speaking with Automotive News, Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen said the automaker will equip most of their lineup with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The decision comes down to tightening regulations, especially in China. "For us, the avenue to ensure that we are able to play in China is going to be through plug-in hybrids," said de Nysschen. There's also the benefit that plug-in hybrids are a bit more practical than EVs and the fear of running out of range is eliminated. That doesn't mean Cadillac will not produce any EVs. They will appear further down the line according to de Nysschen. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) -
Even though electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles are still outliers in the automotive marketplace, 2013 saw a massive increase in sales. The Detroit News reports that the sales of electrics and plug-in hybrid vehicles increased 84 percent to just over 96,000 vehicles according to data from Wards Automotive. Of that total, 47,600 were electric vehicles, representing a 241 percent increase when compared to 2012. The remainder was plug-in hybrids, up 27 percent. Some of the increase can be attributed to improving battery technology and the massive increase of sales for the Tesla Model S. But what really helped sales of electric and plug-in vehicles was price cuts. Nearly every automaker who sells one has cut the price tag and most have seen increases in sales. The Detroit News also points out electrics and plug-in vehicles could have hard time this year with gas prices projected to be lower than in past years. Source: The Detroit News William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article
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Even though electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles are still outliers in the automotive marketplace, 2013 saw a massive increase in sales. The Detroit News reports that the sales of electrics and plug-in hybrid vehicles increased 84 percent to just over 96,000 vehicles according to data from Wards Automotive. Of that total, 47,600 were electric vehicles, representing a 241 percent increase when compared to 2012. The remainder was plug-in hybrids, up 27 percent. Some of the increase can be attributed to improving battery technology and the massive increase of sales for the Tesla Model S. But what really helped sales of electric and plug-in vehicles was price cuts. Nearly every automaker who sells one has cut the price tag and most have seen increases in sales. The Detroit News also points out electrics and plug-in vehicles could have hard time this year with gas prices projected to be lower than in past years. Source: The Detroit News William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. -
Perceptions and Concerns about Diesel, Electric, Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrids. G. David Felt Alternative Energy writer for www.CheersandGears.com In todays auto industry, it is becoming more and more an issue of cost and long life that people will consider moving to new technology. Yes we all have a friend, family member or know of someone that jumps on every new gadget that comes along. Yet, what would it take to have a person change from their traditional petrol auto to a Diesel, Electric, Hybrids or Plug-in Hybrids? Here is just some of what was found by this survey: Shoppers top motivators for moving to they types of autos: Better Fuel Economy 70% Gas savings 56% Cleaner Emissions 37% Greener Environment 28% Federal Tax Credit 24% Price Premium consideration: Willing to pay for Diesel 53% Willing to pay for Hybrids 51% Willing to pay for EVs 41% Willing to pay for Plug-in Hybrids 39% Cost and Perceptions against buying Diesel: Fuel Expense 55% Too Expensive to purchase 45% Noise 32% Environmental destruction 29% Obstacles and reasons against purchasing for Hybrids and Plug-ins Too expensive to purchase Plug-in Hybrid 71% Too expensive to purchase Hybrid 66% Too expensive to purchase EVs 60% High Cost of Maintenance Plug-in & EVs 58% High cost of Maintenance Hybrids 55% Battery Life / Range EVs 67% Battery Life / Range Plug-in Hybrids 64% Battery Life / Range hybrids 52% 59% said EVs would need to get over 150 miles per charge. 56% said Plug-in hybrids would have to get over 80 miles per charge. 40% for Plug-in and 31% for EVs said they would not buy as they do not want to plug in. Toyota was First, followed by Honda and then Ford for who the top 3 alternative energy car companies. For a full review, go to: Source AutoTrader.com http://press.autotrader.com/2013-11-14-AutoTrader-com-Survey-Reveals-Shopper-Perceptions-And-Concerns-Regarding-Diesel-Hybrid-Electric-And-Plug-in-Hybrid-Vehicles
