Sports car manufacturer What Porsche is planning for the electric future

Status: 06/22/2021 9:24 a.m.

As a rule, Porsche tests new technology first on the race track – including a new high-tech battery. Because there are no suitable batteries on the world market, Porsche will produce them in-house in the future.

From Tim Diekmann, SWR

If you sit in the new Porsche Taycan, you don’t have to do without the usual sound. Although the first fully electric Porsche should glide almost silently across the street, it sounds either like a bubbling sports car or – when accelerating – like an intergalactic rocket. Porsche calls this “Electric Sport Sound” – because the Swabian car manufacturer does not want to deliver its newest vehicle completely without sports car noises. The luxury sports car, which Porsche sold 20,000 times worldwide last year, is only supposed to be the beginning of an electromobility initiative.

High-tech battery made in Germany

In just two years, every third Porsche should be equipped with an electric motor – as a hybrid or fully electric. For this, Porsche needs lots of powerful batteries. But they are hard to find on the world market, says Porsche boss Oliver Blume: “We need high-performance cells for our electric sports cars. But we can’t find them anywhere at the moment. That’s why we develop and build these cells ourselves.” The first battery cells are expected to roll off the assembly line from 2024, initially for around 1,000 vehicles per year. “The focus will initially be on small series for racing and high-performance vehicles. In the future, however, this is not just about racing cars,” explains Blume at the official presentation at the Porsche Development Center in Weissach. In the first step, innovative technologies are usually only developed for a limited high-tech application, “but once the innovations have proven themselves there, they will gradually establish themselves across the board. That must be our goal. At Porsche, that’s what we call it Principle: from motorsport to series production. ”

Range model Tesla

For battery cell production, the Stuttgart-based company is working with the German company Customcells, which it claims to be a world leader in the development of lithium-ion battery cells. The joint venture operates under the name Cellforce Group.

According to automotive expert Stefan Bratzel from the Center of Automotive Management in Bergisch-Gladbach, it is logical that, after Volkswagen, Porsche is now also relying on the production of its own battery cells: “The battery cell accounts for the largest part of the car’s added value, and it has a lot of innovation potential . Automobile manufacturers who develop competencies in this area have a long-term competitive advantage. ” According to Bratzel, Porsche should not chase after the competition for the US electric car manufacturer Tesla, but rather must lead the way as an innovator.

New battery technology promises many advantages

According to the head of electrochemical energy technologies at the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research in Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), Markus Hölzle, the batteries as we know them today should still develop their potential: “Everything can, must and will be improved Above all, however, the cost of battery cells must be reduced further. And the energy density must also increase so that the batteries become more compact. ” The ability to recharge quickly is also important. To do this, Porsche wants to work with so-called silicon anodes, which “has two major advantages over the previously used carbon: it improves the ability to charge quickly and increases the energy content,” explains Hölzle. But now Porsche must first show that they can do it.

But while Porsche is still planning the future, competitor Tesla is already building the world’s largest battery cell factory in Grünheide near Berlin and promises a production capacity of 100 gigawatt hours per year, a thousand times as much as Porsche’s subsidiary Cellforce Group.

Climate neutral by 2030?

The focus on e-mobility and the setting of climate targets is an important step for the brand, emphasizes car expert Bratzel. “Porsche is a brand that nobody really needs, but many people want to have it because of its positive image. And I believe that it is becoming more and more important for the Porsche clientele in particular to say: ‘I have a sports car and still drive in a climate-friendly way . ‘”

Climate protection has long since become an image factor. This also shows the ambitious goal of the Swabian car manufacturer to be “balance sheet CO2-neutral” by 2030 and thus earlier than Daimler (planned for 2039) or Volkswagen (planned for 2050).

Environmentalists are skeptical

The environmental protection organization Greenpeace is skeptical whether Porsche will really be climate-neutral by 2030. “Unfortunately, ‘climate-neutral’ on the balance sheet ‘usually means that in the end generously cheap CO2 credits are bought from offsetting projects instead of consistently reducing CO2,” says Benjamin Gehrs from Greenpeace. With its large SUVs, Porsche consumes an unnecessarily large amount of resources. Porsche must also get out of the business with climate-damaging diesels and gasoline engines faster and more consistently than before.

So will the Porsche 911 possibly soon hit the streets as an electric car? Unlikely. In addition to battery cell technology, Porsche is also working on the development of synthetic fuels, so-called eFuels, which are to be produced using renewable electricity. Artificial sports car sound, as in the Taycan, is then unnecessary. At Porsche, the first step is to advance research in the field of battery cell development. The federal and state governments support the project with 60 million euros

report

VW factory in Emden When 8,000 employees have to rethink

Status: 19.06.2021 10:18 a.m.

In the future, only electric cars will roll off the assembly line at the VW plant in Emden. This means billions in costs for the group – and many changes for the employees. And some jobs will probably disappear.

From Sebastian Duden, NDR

“What is that again?” Andreas Buse looks at his trainer questioningly and points to a magnetic picture that he should hang in the right place on a board. “This is the heater for the battery, which is also in the front of the vehicle.” It is about basic knowledge of the new electric cars that are to be built here at the Volkswagen plant in Emden from 2022. All 8,000 employees at the site go through the training.

It doesn’t work without a plug

It will be more special for the production staff at the next station. Buse has to be even more careful. This is about plugs. He’s trying to build a cable to an electric car charger. It doesn’t work, and he has to find the problem. “Ah, okay, a pin is bent, that’s why it doesn’t work.” His instructor nods. “So don’t just check the connector, but always look at the component to see if nothing is bent.” Plugs – they will be even more important in the future, so they have already been. Without a plug there is no flow of electricity, and then they cannot even drive the cars out of the hall. “To know that the vehicle cannot be delivered at all and that a fault then has to be laboriously searched for, that is something I have great respect for,” says Buse.

No oil, no engine compartment

One hall further is the ID.4 – the electric car that will roll off the assembly line here from 2022. It’s an SUV, weighing more than two tons. Much of the weight is caused by the large battery. Depending on the model, the ID.4 should travel up to 500 kilometers.

“The dipstick is no longer there, oily fingers, the time is over,” says project manager Hanno Greune. He opens the “bonnet” of the car, which actually doesn’t deserve the name anymore, because you won’t find an engine here. That is not much more than a “technical room”, he admits, there are now fans and heaters, for example. “In our vehicles, the engine is on the rear axle,” says Greune. He points to a plain black cover in the trunk. Underneath is a comparatively small unit – about the size of a sports bag.

So far mainly the location for the production of the VW Passat, in a few years pure electrical work: the factory in Emden. Image: picture alliance / Jochen Tack

The VW plant in Emden is already the size of an entire district. It is now being expanded again towards the Ems. For this purpose, foundation piles had to be driven 30 meters deep into the muddy subsoil. The largest hall has 45,000 square meters. A total of six new halls and logistics buildings will be added. The expansion will cost one billion euros. “The renovation is the most massive that the site has ever gone through,” says plant manager Uwe Schwartz. “We are massively involved in all structures. We are creating more than 100,000 square meters of new space.” Schwartz was brought in specially for the renovation. Before he headed the planning staff at the main plant in Wolfsburg, now he can implement the ideas developed there on site.

Simpler technology, fewer jobs

Volkswagen relies entirely on electric drives. The conversion should be a clear commitment to electric drive – even if experts can imagine other drive types in the future, for example in combination with synthetic fuels. For a transitional phase of three years, VW wants to build cars with internal combustion engines in Emden at the same time.

“Emden is the first location in Lower Saxony that will then be completely converted to vehicles with electric drives,” says Schwartz. Up to now, the “Passat” models in particular have rolled off the production line at the plant. Electric vehicles, however, have a much simpler drive than petrol and diesel. Most of them not only have more complex engines, but also finely graduated gears and gearshifts. All of that is missing in an electric car. As a result, manufacturers actually need fewer employees to build them.

Fewer employees needed to build e-cars

The works council in Emden sees the problem and expects the loss of some jobs. However, new employees are also needed elsewhere, says Works Council Chairman Manfred Wulff. For example in digitization. “We still need bodies that have to be pressed and painted, so we won’t lose a lot of work. The fact that we no longer have the classic engine will be eliminated.”

Experts predict that in the worst case scenario, it could hit a third of those employed in vehicle construction during the transformation phase. But they see it differently in the works council in Emden. There they even wished to switch over to electric car construction as quickly as possible. After all, the sales figures for the classic VW models have not developed positively. The alternative would have been to build more models with internal combustion engines at the Emden location in order to utilize the capacities. Then it would be better to have a clear future perspective, according to the works council. This is how Andreas Buse sees it, who is now back on the production line and wiring the engine compartment of the Passat and Arteon models. “Sure, there will be restructuring, but I’m not afraid of it.” Many of his colleagues will probably go into partial retirement in the course of the restructuring. However, he is only 32 years old. And he is also looking forward to the changes. Even if he will miss the Passat, as he admits when asked

Electric car manufacturer US agency investigates Tesla accidents

Status: 06/18/2021 10:49 a.m.

The US traffic safety authority NHTSA has investigated 30 accidents with Tesla models since 2016. It examines whether and how the use of Tesla’s assistance system for automated driving influenced the accidents. In recent years, accidents involving Tesla models have repeatedly raised the question of the extent to which there is a connection with the assistance system for automated driving. Does the US electric car manufacturer’s autopilot pose any particular dangers? To find out, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating 30 accidents involving Tesla models. The accidents have occurred since 2016 and claimed a total of ten deaths. The NHTSA has now published an official list with details of the accidents investigated for the first time, as reported by Reuters news agency.

Sensational accident in Texas

Accordingly, eight new investigations have been initiated since March 2021. In three of the 30 cases, the involvement of the autopilot in the accident could be excluded, according to the NHTSA. Two final reports are ready.

An accident in Texas in April caused a sensation in which a Tesla Model S hit a tree and immediately caught fire . Two men died in the accident. It is believed that neither of them had been behind the wheel. The authority is currently investigating six other incidents from other manufacturers in which assistance systems may be involved.

Problems in china

The US electrical manufacturer Tesla is repeatedly confronted with all kinds of safety concerns, most recently in the important Chinese market.

For example, an event at the Shanghai auto show in April caused a sensation. A woman at the Tesla booth got into a Model 3 from the manufacturer and complained screaming about brake failure. It was taken away by security guards while the videos were spreading online. The Chinese market supervisory authority then intervened, and state media called for an investigation into Tesla.

Tesla is the best-selling electric car in China. The group has also been producing in Shanghai since 2019. A quarter of all Teslas now roll off the assembly line there

More and more electric cars Boom for Battery manufacturer

Status: 06/17/2021 10:13 a.m.

The growing number of e-cars on the streets is causing the battery market to grow strongly. One EU country in particular can catch up significantly with its Asian competition.

From Oliver Feldforth, MR

For years it was talked about, now the boom in electric mobility really seems to be there. Electric cars are very popular at a leading Frankfurt dealership. One seller says that what is delivered to him can also be easily sold.

The electric cars have contributed to the fact that the corona pandemic could not harm the battery market in Germany. Last year there was an increase of 35 percent. “Above all, the volume of the market for lithium-ion batteries has increased enormously,” says Christian Eckert from the Central Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry ZVEI. Overall, this segment grew by 63 percent. And that is mainly due to electromobility.

The recycling rate should increase

A battery is only as green as the material and the electricity used to make it. Even the electric car is only as green as the electricity with which it is charged. When it comes to battery recycling, German industry is on the right track, said Christian Rosenkranz, Chairman of the ZVEI Batteries Association. The recycling rate for classic batteries is 80 to 90 percent, while it looks worse for lithium-ion batteries, which are in increasing demand. The industry wants to achieve a rate of 65 percent in four years.

Environmentalists see a need for action. “It is not only in Germany that we have to set high social and ecological standards for the production of batteries,” says Benjamin Stephan from Greenpeace. “The car manufacturers are responsible for this, but politics must set clear rules for all companies.”

Poland leads the way in Europe

Germany imports batteries. The manufacturers from Europe overtook the Asian competition for the first time last year. In Europe, Poland is the leading producer, in Asia it is China, according to Christian Eckert from the ZVEI.

And electromobility will continue to grow. Volkswagen sees it that way too. The car manufacturer plans to set up six battery cell plants of its own in the next few years. According to Ralf Brandstätter, head of the Volkswagen brand, by 2030 at least 70 percent of all new Volkswagens in Europe should be electric vehicles, in North America and China more than half.

Solid-state batteries as the technology of the future

The decision as to which drive for cars comes after the classic combustion engine seems to have been decided for the time being. “The battery-electric drive is the most efficient and significantly more economical than fuel cells and combustion engines,” said Benjamin Stephan from Greenpeace. “With the same amount of renewable electricity, a car with a fuel cell can only go half as far as a battery-electric one.”

In the case of car batteries, solid-state batteries are to replace lithium-ion technology. It does not require cobalt, which under questionable circumstances is mainly extracted in Africa. For environmentalists, electromobility is only part of the necessary turnaround in traffic. And so Greenpeace is also calling for a change in mobility towards an intelligent transport system in which bicycles, buses and trains play a bigger role

VinFast electric bus during test run Not only buses, coaches should also be encouraged to use trams Air pollution and fine dust threaten people’s quality of life. Every year, Vietnam has to pay a large amount of money, about 8-10 billion USD to import gasoline. Part of this is spent on operating traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles. In addition to the proposed inner-city electric buses for application in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In Ho Chi Minh City, it is thought that the government should consider the early policy of putting electric-powered intercity passenger cars into operation in order to both exploit the superiority of electric vehicle technology, while protecting the environment and bringing a a new look for public passenger transport in the new era. The world’s two major problems, which are environmental pollution due to emissions and energy security due to the finiteness of fossil energy sources (coal, oil, gas) have gradually become urgent. Air pollution, fine dust in Vietnam has become serious with big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, etc. Ho Chi Minh. Here, it is recorded that there are maximum number of days in a year with the most dramatic air quality index – the most polluted air in the world. In the past two years, authorities at all levels have met to discuss and direct long-term radical solutions to further strengthen the control of air pollution, including the control of carbon emissions and fine dust from the air. means of transport. And fossil energy sources are not available in all countries. Vietnam is one of the importing countries, still heavily dependent on the world’s oil (although it is also partly domestic), it is estimated that it still has to import about 8-10 billion USD per year. With zero emissions and using electricity instead of petrol, electric vehicles are said to be a breakthrough solution for Vietnam in the context of the need to strengthen air pollution control, ensure energy security and suitability. with the development trend of the world’s means of transport. Simple structure of electric vehicles compared to vehicles using internal combustion engines “Electric vehicle” (EV) is often understood as a vehicle with an electric motor drive system. From the outside, an electric car looks like a car with an internal combustion engine (petroleum car). However, except for some parts and components for sharing, about 70% of the components of the two vehicles are different. The significant difference between electric vehicles and vehicles using internal combustion engines is the number of moving parts. Electric vehicles have only one moving part, which is the electric motor (motor), while cars using internal combustion engines have tens of thousands of different parts. Important components of electric vehicles include: battery, electric motor control system, regenerative braking system and powertrain. The number of spare parts for moving parts is less than in electric cars, which leads to another important difference, which is that electric cars require less maintenance (more economical to operate) and safer. safer, in addition to the advantages of environmental protection, civilized and modern technology. Why electric cars are becoming more and more popular At the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP 21) held in Paris (France), the participants reaffirmed their efforts to strengthen the response to climate change. The Paris Agreement announced in December 2015 has set a target to limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius. This goal can only be achieved when the energy and other sectors significantly reduce emissions. greenhouse gas emissions. The transport sector accounts for about a quarter of emissions from energy-related industries. The goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to contribute to achieving the goal of reducing global warming below 02 degrees Celsius can only be achieved with a strong commitment of the transport sector. The Sustainable Development Report of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has shown that, to achieve this goal, by 2050, the world’s transport sector must contribute at least one-fifth of total greenhouse gas emissions. cuts from energy use activities. Electric cars are identified as a key factor contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in general, encouraging the development of new energy sources and recycled energy. In the context of rapid urbanization, the development of electric cars also contributes to reducing air pollution and noise pollution in big cities. The main obstacles to the development of electric cars are the initial cost of the car and the time available between two charges of the battery. However, the recent rapid development of science and technology has shown positive signs. According to a recent report by the US electric car company Proterra, a single charge for the bus can be up and running for 650 km and the price is becoming more and more relevant to the market to ensure more competitive exploitation than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. Level of use of electric vehicles in countries around the world To date, China is the leading country in production, domestic consumption and export, with the famous electric car manufacturer BYD. In China, according to the data at the end of 2018, the total number of electric buses put into operation is over 421,000 units, Shenzhen city uses 100% of electric vehicles in public passenger transport, while Beijing and Shanghai , the utilization rate of electric buses has reached over 80%. Electric buses are increasingly popular in provinces and cities in China. Europe ranks 2nd among countries using electric vehicles with 2,250 units, the number of electric vehicles used will increase as some European countries such as the Netherlands set a target to convert and use 100% electric vehicles. (including buses, coaches plus and private cars) by 2024. The United States is also the country that is starting to shift towards using more electric vehicles. Although there are only over 300 electric buses in the United States, the number of electric buses is increasing in the near future, with the city of Los Ageles having just decided to buy 155 electric buses to serve all passenger transport activities. in this city. With the new energy policy (Green New Deal), led by many famous electric vehicle manufacturers such as Telsla, Proterra and even Apple recently announced the new Apple car electric car model, there is sure to be a boom in usage. electric vehicles in the United States under the new administration are clearly visible. For electric vehicles, environmental protection is always a top priority Why use an electric car? As mentioned above, electric vehicles are vehicles without chimneys, do not emit CO2, greenhouse gases into the environment. Therefore, the exploitation of electric vehicles in passenger transport is completely environmentally friendly, which is not controversial. Many researchers, policy makers still argue. The first is the traceable environmental issue of electric vehicles, that is, the source of electricity that electric vehicles use is clean electricity, that is, electricity using renewable energy such as solar power, wind power … or electricity from heat. Obviously, over the past time, the Government has called on businesses to invest in the production of solar power, rooftop voltage and wind power…, this electricity has been purchased by the state and connected to the national grid. Only the current supply has not met the demand and more clean electricity is needed to connect to the network. The second is the problem that the production of batteries for electric vehicles is still energy-intensive and emits a significant amount of CO2. As stated, today’s technology is evolving like crazy. As the demand for electric vehicles and batteries increases, mass production of large capacity batteries will result in better environmental control and lower loss and emissions. Here, it is a matter of deciding for the electric vehicle industry to have a direction in which to invest, cooperate and develop. When domestic manufacturers have been proactive in technology, it is possible to produce and recycle used batteries, thereby closing the production and exploitation process effectively and ensuring the problem. environment. What are the implications for passenger transport in Vietnam in the new period? Facing the environmental context, the challenge of air pollution as well as ensuring national energy security, Vietnam should consider the development of electric cars as a breakthrough policy for technology development, domestic auto industry. The introduction of electric vehicles into transport operation has really been a push to change for the progress to serve the travel needs of people and socio-economic development in the new period. The use of electric vehicles for public passenger transport is not only in the inner city as the project of electric buses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City as the media recently mentioned, but also hereby recommended that the State should have a policy to encourage the development of electric vehicles for inter-provincial passenger transport (both for fixed and non-fixed routes). To do this, the state has policies to socialize and encourage transport business owners to use electric vehicles in transport business activities; encourage businesses to invest in charging station infrastructure at rest stops, bus stations and other concentrated stops for re-energized vehicles to serve well for transport activities. In short, the policy to encourage the use of electric vehicles is a right one, in terms of both environmental protection as well as energy security. In addition to electric buses as currently proposed to be applied in the inner city of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City is also considering the application of intercity buses running on electricity. With a national electric passenger transport network being formed, improving user experience, increasing the quality of transport services, electric cars will have a good future in Vietnam, gradually replacing the traditional means of transport. fossil fuel-powered transportation.

VinFast is building electric car charging stations The Ministry of Finance has just sent a document to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Transport, to respond to tax incentives for battery electric cars. Proposals for tax incentives only mention battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Currently, according to statistics, battery electric vehicles account for about 1% of electrified vehicles in Vietnam. Electric vehicles include many types of vehicles. In addition to gasoline-powered vehicles combined with electric energy (including HEV, PHEV) and Hydrogen-fueled cars (FCEV), there are currently BEV (pure electric) battery electric cars. Completely electrically charged from an external source. The two types of hybrid vehicles move mainly with internal combustion engines, in parallel taking advantage of the benefits of an electric powertrain consisting of an electric motor with a battery. FCEVs have an advantage over BEVs when the charging time is short, but the production of water makes hydrogen fuel-powered electric vehicles only suitable for island nations, arid areas, and unsuitable for urban areas. big. Meanwhile, BEV battery electric vehicles have a minimalist structure, run short distances, can consume electricity everywhere, have great advantages in urban areas. With three types of vehicles HEV, PHEV and FCEV all use gasoline and gas, so they have more impact on the environment than BEV models. Electric cars are becoming an advantageous choice to replace vehicles using internal combustion engines, especially battery electric cars (BEVs). Many countries around the world have had preferential policies and tax support to prioritize the development and production of battery electric vehicles. According to the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam has a number of preferential policies for electric vehicles. Accordingly, electric cars carrying passengers with less than 9 seats are entitled to the special consumption tax rate of 15% (ie 10% reduction compared to cars of the same type using fossil fuels; 10-16 seats are allowed to be used for cars of the same type using fossil fuels. tax rate of 10% (5% reduction compared to cars of the same type running on gasoline) and the tax rate of 16 to less than 24 seats is applied at the tax rate of 5% (5% reduction compared to cars of the same type running on petrol). At the same time, the Law on Special Consumption Tax No. 27/2008/QH12 also stipulates the special consumption tax rate for environmentally friendly vehicles. Specifically, vehicles running on gasoline combined with electric energy and bioenergy, in which the proportion of gasoline used does not exceed 70% of the energy used by the vehicle, is entitled to a tax rate of 70% for vehicles of the same capacity. species. For cars running on bio-energy, the special consumption tax rate is only 50% compared to cars of the same type. Meanwhile, about the current registration fee, there are only preferential rates for buses using clean energy while there is no policy applicable to other environmentally friendly vehicles. To encourage production and stimulate consumers to use BEVs, contributing to reducing the emissions released into the environment by vehicles, contributing to the protection of the ecological environment and based on the outstanding advantages of vehicles. BEV, the Ministry of Finance is planning to propose new incentives for this model. An electric vehicle charging station in Ho Chi Minh City Specifically, incentives related to excise tax fall under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly. Therefore, the National Assembly must amend the excise tax law. The Government has also assigned the Ministry of Finance to preside over the overall assessment of the implementation of the excise tax policy on automobiles in the past time to study and amend the excise tax law accordingly. Regarding the registration fee under the authority of the Government, when there is a need to change, it will amend and supplement Decree No. 14/20216/ND-CP on registration fee. The Ministry of Finance said that in the past time, it has also received recommendations from a number of associations on adjusting registration fee rates to remove difficulties for businesses. Therefore, the Ministry of Finance is also evaluating the overall policy on registration fees and is expected to submit it to the Government in October. The Ministry of Finance also asked agencies to propose specific content on special consumption tax incentives and registration fees related to battery electric vehicles to summarize and report to the Government. Battery-powered electric vehicles currently account for a very small percentage in Vietnam. According to data from the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA), the number of electrified vehicles registered in Vietnam is still very modest, accumulating just over 1,000 units by the end of 2020. of which BEVs only account for about 1%, the rest are HEV and PHEV models. According to the Ministry of Finance, currently only VinFast invests in producing electric vehicles, according to reports, VinFast has now launched the first battery-powered electric car model. The factory has a capacity of 250,000 vehicles per year and the brand is focusing on battery electric vehicles with 9 seats or less and electric buses with 24 seats or more. Also according to the Ministry of Finance’s assessment, the biggest obstacle facing Vietnam today is the lack of charging station infrastructure, the main source of power for power supply is using fuel sources with high CO2 emissions, accounting for nearly half of the total mobilized electricity output, while the electricity generated from renewable energy accounts for a small proportion, about 4.3% and this is considered an unstable power source.

Apple hires former BMW CEO for electric car project. The iPhone maker’s car-making efforts, known as Project Titan, have progressed unsatisfactorily since 2014. At this point, Apple began designing its own vehicles for the first time. In December 2020, Reuters reports that Apple is working on self-driving car technology and aims to produce a passenger vehicle, including breakthrough PIN technology, by 2024. Previously, in 2018, the tech giant Apple hired former Tesla design chief Andrew Kim, sparking speculation that Apple was once again trying to develop its own car. The timing of Apple’s hire of Andrew Kim seems to coincide with Doug Field’s return to Apple as well. Looking at the profile of Andrew Kim, this designer has contributed to Tesla’s hit models Model 3, Model S, Model X, Model Y as well as Roadster V2 and Semi. Before taking on a major role at Tesla, Kim spent three and a half years at Microsoft, where he developed user interfaces and Windows 10 products such as HoloLens and Xbox One S.

In terms of new car pricing strategy, Audi did not learn from the earlier experiences and lessons of the two “big brothers” Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but remained “confident” as always. Text | Chai Xiaona Figure｜Source network The same is the ace electric car on the market. Ford “Mustang” electric car-Mustang Mach-E won a lot of money, and “old driver” Audi recently launched two e-tron electric cars, but the pricing “floating” and falling into controversy. On April 11, the Audi e-tron family was launched. FAW-Audi’s domestically produced e-tron has launched three models with subsidies priced at RMB 546,800 to 648,800; FAW Audi’s imported e-tron Sportback has launched two models with subsidies priced at RMB 658,800 to 718,800. The domestically-made Audi e-tron and Sportback models have 230 and 265kW motor power, and the acceleration is only 7.5 seconds. It is equipped with a 96.7kWh ternary lithium battery from the Ningde era and has a NEDC endurance of 500km/465km. Regardless of the acceleration performance or the endurance, the two Audi e-tron products can only be said to be close to the “mainstream level” of the market, and there is no outstanding advantage. However, in the new car pricing strategy, Audi did not learn from the previous experience and lessons of the two “big brothers” Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but remained “confident” as always. To be honest, the price of the domestic Audi e-tron is enough to buy the top equipment in almost all Chinese brand electric vehicles, including Weilai, plus all the optional equipment. The question is, now that both Mercedes-Benz and BMW have suffered “high pricing” losses, why did Audi set such a high price for the two e-tron family products that were launched earlier? The battle has just started, and the “Aura” can’t be lost first There is no doubt that the reason why Audi dared to price the two e-tron products introduced into the Chinese market is obviously not from the excellent sales record in the world. From a global perspective, BBA is still a “catch-up player” in the high-end electric vehicle market. From the full year of 2020 to the first quarter of 2021, the sales performance of Audi e-tron, Mercedes-Benz EQC and BMW iX3 is far from reaching expectations, and none of the models entered the top 10 sales list, which is unimaginable in the sequence of fuel vehicles. In 2020, the global sales of Audi e-tron was 47,000, which was also the number that was highlighted at the press conference. In addition, in the first quarter of 2021, Audi e-tron delivered 3,474 vehicles in the United States, an increase of 103% over the same period last year, but last year’s global epidemic, this year-on-year data is not conspicuous. In addition, 850 units of the newly launched e-tron Sportsback were delivered. It seems that the reason for setting prices so confidently because of good global sales is obviously untenable. Since the sales volume is not good, why is the price of the follow-up domestic models still so high? What are the factors behind it? The author noticed a detail that the FAW-Volkswagen Audi e-tron will be assembled and produced in the form of CKD at the FAW-Volkswagen Audi Changchun plant. Compared with the complete localization of the Tesla Shanghai plant, Musk has achieved the ultimate cost advantage. A senior person in the new energy industry analyzed “Car One Road” and said that CKD assembly is different from Tesla’s full localization, industrial chain, R&D, talent, and supply chain system. The global supply chain system for new energy vehicles is basically in China. (Except for chips, it will also be in China in the future). If you want to win, you must all in China, not all in e-tron. This person said that Germany’s new energy supply chain system has no economies of scale and no cost system. Musk has to rely on the Chinese supply chain to survive. If Audi is still in the CKD stage and has not tapped the potential of China’s supply chain, Even if there is no comprehensive localization, it will be difficult for the domestic Audi e-tron to make a difference in the Chinese market in the future. In terms of how to use the supporting advantages of the Chinese market to minimize production costs, the overall performance of BBA is not as good as Tesla. In addition, the BBA is invincible in the era of fuel vehicles. It has unique pricing power in the Chinese market, and the brand premium is extremely high. This kind of inertial thinking about pricing is difficult to change. Otherwise, there are two most difficult things in the world, one is to put other people’s money in one’s own pocket, and the other is to put one’s own thoughts into other people’s heads. Finally, the face of the century-old brand “old nobleman” can be said to be let go. This is even more invisible power. Obviously, in addition to the two major price killers of cost and brand, in the era of smart electric power, the power of software subscription services should also not be underestimated. If you only look at cost and premium brand premiums, you obviously understand the current “software-defined car”. Not deep enough. Different “underlying logic” from new cars If you have seen the press conferences of new car-making forces, such as Weilai ET7, HiPhi X, including Zhiji L7, Xiaopeng P5, etc., which are constantly streaming out the latest information, and even last year’s Weilai EC6, Xiaopeng P7, including BYD Han EV, you will notice that Audi and other BBA players rarely mention chips, algorithms, cruising range, lidar, full-stack self-developed, etc., frequently mentioned by new carmakers. Taking the Audi e-tron launch conference as an example, Audi put its focus and more space on three key words: a century of gene safety and luxury. The main product is “century gene”, “safety brand”, five-star NCAP crash safety rating, 540,000 kilometers vibration test twice the national standard, and 137 battery safety tests that are stricter than the national standard. There was no endorsement from semiconductor giants such as Qualcomm and Nvidia at the release site. This is very Audi, of course it is also very traditional. Do you think Audi lacks friends? Behind it is a deeper profit model dilemma. This also means that it is difficult for Audi to generate additional profits in software in the future. The current frequent OTAs, version iterations, and software upgrades of new powers, the contact with users are lifelong, and the charges are continuously output. The Audi e-tron is more like a one-off deal. This is still very traditional. Tradition is not terrible, and it is not necessarily wrong. The problem is that this will affect pricing. Pricing will in turn affect the market and ultimately sales. Take a look at Tesla’s data. According to estimates, Tesla can generate nearly tens of billions of yuan (US$1.4 billion) in annual revenue by relying on software alone. Tesla’s FSD (Fully Autonomous Driving) and upgrade system are all additional fees, and the “software subscription” will be launched as scheduled. NIO’s BaaS (battery rental) and software subscriptions both generate profits every day. For Xiaopeng, all users who have purchased the Zhizun version, Xiaopeng Motors will provide XPILOT3.0 software upgrade services. The standard price is 36,000 yuan. If the user completes the lifetime service purchase at one time when paying for the car, it only costs 20,000 yuan. Obviously, a one-off sale limits the profit margin of a luxury electric. In the era of smart electric vehicles, the profit model of car companies is obviously not only hardware, but also manufacturing. It uses later service and software upgrades to pry open users’ money pockets. This is a trend and is irreversible. For example, the separation of the Weilai car shop, the power exchange mode, and the Tesla upgrade system. Don’t look at the money now is just a trickle. One day in the future, it will become a vast ocean. Audi, on the other hand, does not stack software, nor does it follow the trend to engage in a smart arms race. I want to make money once, can the Audi e-tron be priced high? Write at the end In the era of fuel vehicles, luxury brands removed the BBA in the Chinese market, and then Porsche. Today, the world has changed. Tesla, NIO, Xiaopeng, ideals have stabilized their head camp brands, Lantu, Zhiji, Gaohe, Salon Zhixing, and Jihu are on the road. Dozens of high-end smart brands that want to grab the BBA are swarming, which The benchmark is not BBA. Some insiders ridiculed that the BMW iX3’s official landing was only two months ago, and if this continues, the Audi e-tron is not far from the official landing.

At a meeting with leaders of the Government, ministries and sectors in mid-May, Vingroup applied for a pilot exemption of excise tax and registration fee for electric cars for 5 years in order to promote the electric vehicle market. . In fact, this is the first proposal in Vietnam but not new in the world. Many countries have also applied a combination of supportive policies, strong incentives for consumers and manufacturers to encourage the model transition from gasoline to electricity, typically China, the US and other countries. Europe. According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Hallgeir Langeland, 65, a former Norwegian politician and environmental activist, has not owned a car in 25 years. But when Ford launched an all-electric version of the Mustang last year, he didn’t hesitate. “I have to have it. I can’t wait until March,” Mr. Langeland said, recalling the Mustang he drove as a young man. Christian Burg, owner of an energy-efficient housing construction business in Germany, has been driving a petrol BMW X3 SUV for many years. When the German government increased subsidies for electric cars, he applied for a small business subsidy and switched to the iX3 rechargeable hybrid. “We received an incentive of 3,750 euros ($4,500),” he revealed. Governments are tightening emissions standards and supporting industries on the front lines of the fight against climate change. Photo: Reuters. From electric vehicle powerhouses China and Europe… Governments around the globe have introduced a variety of policies to boost the electric vehicle industry over the years, including reducing taxes, fees, subsidies, incentives, and administrative regulations. The common point is that governments have set a specific roadmap to transition from fossil fuel vehicles to electric cars. According to the CNBC Many Chinese drivers switch to electric cars because of the government’s preferential policies. For example, in 2016, Chinese buyers received a nationwide discount of 55,000 yuan ($8,599.01) for each BEV and 30,000 yuan ($4,690) for PHEVs. Municipal governments also provide additional support up to 55,000 yuan. Beijing also subsidizes electric vehicle manufacturers based on battery power density, driving range and energy consumption. For example, in 2020, a pure electric vehicle with a minimum range of 300 km will receive a subsidy of 16,200-22,500 yuan (2,532-3,517 USD). Along with that, it supports the construction of a battery charging network for electric vehicles. For taxes and fees, China offers 50-100% reduction in user registration fees from time to time, annual tax relief, free or low-cost charging. In addition, manufacturers will receive credit points if they produce many electric vehicles. China is the leading electric vehicle market in the world. Photo: Reuters. Buyers of electric vehicles in China also receive preferential registration fees, no need to wait for car registration for 6-12 months, free highways, and parking. In Shenzhen alone, taxis switching to electric vehicles will be able to receive subsidies. A 27-year-old customer, who lives in Hangzhou, has been waiting almost a year for a license plate for his petrol car. However, after seeing Xpeng’s G3 electric car, she decided not to wait any longer. “After applying the government subsidy, the car fits my budget of about 180,000 yuan (US$27,643),” she said. The European Union (EU) is also gradually tightening emissions standards and supporting industries on the front lines in the fight against climate change. Much of the support goes to initiatives that push consumers to buy electric vehicles, which in turn drives demand. After applying the government subsidy, the car fits my budget of about 180,000 yuan (US$27,643) A 27-year-old customer in Hangzhou In 2020, sales of new electric vehicles in European countries doubled, accounting for 43% of global sales. Rising momentum has brought the EU over China to become the world’s largest electric vehicle market. For example, Germany subsidizes up to 4,000 euros ($4,874) per BEV and 3,000 euros ($3,656) for PHEVs. The country also built a €1 billion fund for rebates and building charging stations. Meanwhile, France subsidizes 6,000 euros ($7,312) for cars that emit less than 20g of CO2, 5,000 euros ($6,093) per BEV, and nearly 10,000 euros ($12,187.01) for customers who switch from diesel vehicles to BEVs. Similar to France and Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Finland also apply different subsidies to electric vehicle customers. Denmark alone reduces sales tax up to 80%. Some major Spanish cities reduce taxes by 75%, while Finland has a minimum tax rate. …to North America Transportation is currently America’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, US President Joe Biden’s plan to change gasoline cars to electric cars is essential to solving the problems of climate change. Biden’s proposals include incentives of up to $174 billion for electric cars. His plan is to increase discounts for customers who buy electric cars. In addition, the US president plans to push to increase the number of public chargers from 72,000 in 2019 to 500,000 in 2030. He also called for replacing the US government’s fleet of about 650,000 vehicles with models. electricity. Experts of Bloomberg It is estimated that 500,000 chargers may require about 6 billion USD of investment. Part of the $174 billion subsidy will also go directly to consumers to stimulate demand. Along with that are orders for electric vehicles directly from the federal government. To realize his climate ambitions, Mr. Biden needs to benefit as many electric vehicle manufacturers as possible. Bloomberg The above expenses all bring about the same effect. That’s increasing demand to accelerate the electrification of the US auto industry. Previously, the federal government and some states offered tax credits (up to $7,500) and incentives for buying electric vehicles, but the main federal incentive will begin to cut after manufacturers sold 200,000 electric cars. “To realize his climate ambitions, Mr. Biden needs to benefit as many electric vehicle manufacturers as possible.” Bloomberg comment. Meanwhile, the Canadian government requires that all vehicles sold starting in 2040 will produce zero emissions. The province of Québec will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger cars from 2035. British Columbia will completely ban the sale or rental of gasoline-powered cars and trucks by 2040. Norway also introduced subsidy programs to boost sales of electric vehicles, including direct support of 4,000 euros ($4,874) to users, a 50% subsidy on vehicle prices and the cost of station construction and installation. charger for the manufacturer. A plan to change petrol cars to electric cars is necessary to address climate problems. Photo: Reuters. Along with that is a discount on fast charging service, free parking, fees for ships, boats, harbors, and the use of bus lanes; some road and ferry fees are waived. Taxes exempted for electric vehicles in Norway include fuel, road, and vehicle taxes. Meanwhile, Japan also exempts taxes related to vehicle ownership, purchase and tonnage. In 2020, electric car buyers will receive a subsidy of up to $7,700 depending on the vehicle’s battery capacity. According to Dr. Bui Quang Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, government support is essential if Vietnam wants to develop the electric car industry to catch up with the world’s trends and achieve its goals. on green growth. “The support policy demonstrates the tectonic role of the State, its commitment to accompany businesses so that they can grow up, reach out to the world, and raise the level of Vietnamese people. Behind this policy is a very important political meaning, not just economic support,” said Dr. Bui Quang Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics.

Strength of Tesla electric car is the ability to upgrade the vehicle’s software over a network connection, similar to what today’s smartphone models do. However, not every software upgrade that the US automaker has released also brings benefits to users. Recently, a court in Norway has declared Tesla brand penalty due to the limitation of the vehicle’s charging current as well as the vehicle battery capacity. Accordingly, the US electric vehicle brand must compensate 16,000 USD (365 million VND) for each customer affected by this software upgrade. It is known that most Tesla models with limited charging current and battery capacity are Model S and Model X vehicles equipped with high-capacity 85 kWh battery packs. Currently this battery pack has been discontinued in 2016. Tesla electric vehicle models equipped with 85kWh battery packs have been affected by the software update Over the past few years, many Tesla car users have complained about the car having a shorter range after a major software update rolled out in 2019. In connection with this incident, many users have created many Hot topics and discussions on the Reddit platform and Tesla car user forums. Some users said that after the Tesla electric car was upgraded with software, the vehicle’s travel range was reduced by about 20 km compared to before. Also because of the above incident, many people have filed a lawsuit in the California court. In this indictment, the user accuses the Tesla car brand of using the car battery capacity limit feature through a software update. As such, it appears that Tesla’s software update affects not only users in the US but also a lot of people in other markets, including Norway, where the courts have sided with users. A representative of the US electric car company said that the software upgrades that users complain about are important, in order to “protect the battery pack as well as improve its usage life”. It is known that after the court ruling in Norway, Tesla will have a few weeks to appeal. A representative of the US electric car company said that the software upgrades that users complain about are important, in order to “protect the battery pack as well as improve its usage life”. The class-action lawsuit against Tesla in the US is still pending.

Buy outright battery – expensive solution for invisible benefits The biggest benefit of buying outright batteries is not in the material value but in the spiritual value. It’s a feeling of ownership. But to get that intangible benefit, customers will have to trade it with a relatively large financial burden. The battery is by far the most expensive component of an electric vehicle, accounting for about 30-40% of the cost, according to UK-based research and consulting firm GlobalData. In the foggy country, most electric cars are still at least $13,000 more expensive than a comparable internal combustion engine car. “The biggest barrier to owning an electric car is cost,” Rod Dennis of RAC, the UK’s leading car service, told The Guardian. Although there has been a “revolution” in battery production costs, falling from $1,000/kWh in 2010 to about $150-200/kWh in 2020, according to James Frith, head of Energy Finance column. New Energy (NEF) of Bloomberg news agency, “for electric vehicles to be as cheap as internal combustion engine cars, the battery price must be brought back to the threshold of $100/kWh”. However, according to Bloomberg, the increase in raw material prices on a global scale can create a “bottleneck” that makes the goal of lowering the price of the “energy heart” of electric vehicles more difficult. “It is not a wise choice to spend thousands of dollars more just for the ‘feel of ownership’. Not to mention, the user will be responsible for all risks with the battery block if any, “said an automotive expert. Swap batteries – more risks, more costs To reduce costs for customers, some electric car manufacturers offer a battery swap policy to separate the battery from the price of the car. Specifically, instead of buying outright, customers will rent the battery pack from the manufacturer or a 3rd party. When the battery is almost depleted, the customer will bring the car to the service workshop to replace the fully charged battery. In August 2020, NIO launched a BaaS (Battery as a Service) battery exchange service with a subscription fee from 980 yuan / month (150 USD). According to “Tesla of China”, the BaaS service helps the company reduce the price of cars by about 70,000 yuan (more than $10,000). For customers, refueling the car also becomes as quick as refueling. However, every coin has two sides, the battery swap policy also shows many inadequacies. Before NIO, the battery swap model was tested in the French and Taiwanese markets, but was not really successful. In 2019, French car company Renault had to stop this policy. “Battery swapping will be more suitable for two and three-wheeled vehicles, using low voltage, usually 48V, and small battery capacity, from 1.5kWh to up to 4kWh”, said CV Raman – Head of Engineering of the company. Maruti Suzuki India, analysis. Raman also said that this is the reason why Maruti Suzuki did not enter the electric car battery swap business. “Car batteries use high voltage, are integrated with many technologies and involve the cooling system. Frequent swapping compromises integrity, creates insecurity and increases the risks associated with electrical contact,” he said. On the other hand, Omprakash Upadhyay, an electric vehicle expert at TATA AutoComp (India), said that swapping batteries does not completely reduce the cost burden for customers. This model requires large, complex and expensive infrastructure as service shops have to keep a large stock of pre-charged batteries at all times. “Invisible medium, each car must have at least two sets of batteries – one set inside the vehicle and one available in the battery replacement station. This increases the cost of the car a lot, given the fact that the battery is the most expensive component in an electric vehicle,” Upadhyay said. Battery subscription – optimal for economy, maximum for safety The battery subscription policy that some companies like VinFast apply can be considered a perfect solution, helping to balance both the advantages and limitations of the two forms of outright purchase and swap. In economic terms, instead of having to spend “a lump” of thousands of dollars to buy batteries, customers will be leased batteries by manufacturers. The monthly subscription fee is offered by the company based on the calculation of the average distance traveled. With the VF e34 model, VinFast applies a subscription fee of 1.45 million VND/month for a distance of 1,400km, meeting the average travel demand well. “Operating costs, including battery rental and electric charging, are equal to the cost of gasoline consumption, and the price and features are superior to gasoline cars,” said Ms. Thai Thi Thanh Hai – General Director of VinFast. . According to estimates by GlobalData, the cost of buying a battery pack is equivalent to the total subscription fee for more than 8 years. The form of “split” cost over time is currently quite popular with technology products and services such as phone, television or Internet packages. In particular, the indispensable advantage of the subscription form is that the manufacturer will be responsible for the battery throughout the product life cycle, even to the recycling stage, bringing absolute peace of mind and peace to customers. row. Like VinFast, the company is committed to replacing customers with a new battery pack when the battery’s ability to receive charge drops below 70%. This is a “super benefit” that customers who buy the battery outright do not get. “Battery rental helps car owners benefit more when the battery is checked, maintained and serviced in a timely manner by the manufacturer. This model will be the key for electric vehicles to develop on a large scale, “said GlobalData.

1. Vehicle management by… phone Not only interacting with the car from the inside, VF e34 users can also manage and control the vehicle remotely through a mobile application that integrates a series of modern functions. User can manage VF e34 with smartphone With an Internet-connected phone in hand, car owners can easily capture vehicle parameters such as journey, remaining battery, maintenance history… VF e34 will also proactively provide reminders remind or warn the user when necessary. 2. Suggested schedule At a smarter level, with the journey planning feature, the car will suggest a suitable schedule, optimizing both time, distance, remaining battery in the car and charging stations on the road. When the battery level is low, the VF e34 is also capable of giving warnings and suggesting users to search for the nearest charging station, service workshop and then give directions to the driver. 3. Auto-generate distress signal in case of emergency When there is a serious problem on the road, the car will automatically send a distress signal and send coordinates to the rescue switchboard via GPS and Internet connection. Urgent rescue requests or feedback from car owners to customer care can be done quickly and conveniently. At the same time, the rescue vehicle location and vehicle rescue status will also be displayed in real time on the mobile application. Smart features on VinFast VF e34 electric car 4. Smart anti-theft One of the preeminent smart features of the VF e34 is the ability to self-anti-theft, detect signs of break-in and notify the car owner. When there is an impact from outside, the car will flash lights and horns. The vehicle’s camera system will automatically collect images and send notifications to the vehicle owner about the risk of being broken into via a mobile phone application. The vehicle owner can locate the vehicle in real time thanks to the built-in GPS. 5. Remote software update VinFast’s smart electric car is equipped with a FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air) remote software update feature similar to a mobile phone. When a new software version is available, the system will display a notification for the truck owner to download and install. After completing the update and self-check, the car will sync the new information to the system and the management application on the phone. As a result, car owners do not need to go to a VinFast dealer or service workshop to update the software, but can do this anywhere with an Internet connection. 6. Self-study and remember the owner’s habits The special impression of users with the intelligent technology of VF e34 will be the comfortable experience inside the car. Entertainment functions or air conditioning control can all be commanded by voice. VF e34 will automatically analyze and remember the habits of people in the car người After each use, the AI ​​in the car will analyze and remember the habits of the people in the car. Each user will have their own profile and the car will play music according to the habits recorded in that profile.

Illustration. Source: CNN “Electric car data security is very important. And Tesla will make efforts to ensure this data security,” billionaire Tesla posted information on Weibo. According to Reuters and Bloomberg, earlier this year, the Chinese military banned Tesla electric vehicles from entering military facilities over concerns that the cameras installed in the vehicles could be used for surveillance. Tesla CEO – Elon Musk voiced China’s concerns about this information. “We always want to keep any customer information confidential. If a customer finds out that Tesla is using an electric car to spy in China or anywhere else, we will shut down,” Billion said US billionaire Elon Musk said at the China Development Forum in March. Tesla has recently faced many challenges in the Chinese electric vehicle market. In February, the company was summoned by regulators to discuss the quality of electric vehicles made in Shanghai. Chinese authorities expressed concern about a number of problems with the vehicles manufactured by the company, such as abnormal acceleration and battery fires. The company has faced direct criticism from consumers. In February, Tesla was forced to apologize after a customer provided a video of an issue with charging. In a public interview last month, billionaire Musk emphasized: “I am very confident about Tesla’s future in China. The Chinese economy will thrive in the next decade and will become a major economy. best of the world”.

Huawei is starting to move into the car business after being hit by a US ban that made it lose access to chip design software for smartphones. The company recently launched the Seres SF5 crossover between Huawei and energy firm Cyrus. This model features smartphone connectivity and automatically transfers music and navigation information between the two sides, and is equipped with voice control technology and an audio system with 11 speakers. Visitors at Auto Shanghai exhibition in Shanghai (China). Photo: Reuters. Sources familiar with the matter said that, in addition to working with Changan to develop joint venture-branded smart cars, Huawei also plans to launch its own branded electric vehicles. and is in talks to buy a controlling stake in the electric vehicle division of a small domestic automaker. Huawei’s partnership with Chongqing Changan comes amid a global shortage of semiconductors and particularly affects carmakers. According to observers, switching to the automotive chip business is a more appropriate new direction, especially when the company is unable to produce chips for smartphones due to the bans from the US. Changan is currently unavailable for comment. Meanwhile, Huawei said it will let automakers make announcements about their cooperation relationships. Battery maker CATL, also part of the partnership, was also unavailable for comment.

Founder and CEO of Dat Bike – Nguyen Ba Canh Son. To realize his start-up plan, Son spent a year in the US learning about manufacturing, from mechanics, electronics, to circuit design, industrial design, supply chain… Also in the same period of time. During this time, Son gathered a team of like-minded young engineers, learning how to make an electric motorcycle in the US. This is an important stepping stone for Son’s project formation and development in Vietnam. Founder and CEO of Dat Bike – Nguyen Ba Canh Son, said: “This capital will be used to improve the quality of the bike, perfect the sales team and expand the market.” In particular, improving the quality of the battery and controller will be put on top by Dat Bike. It is known that Dat Bike was established in 2018 with the ambition to become the largest electric motorcycle company in Southeast Asia. In the Vietnamese market, Dat Bike is having an estimated growth rate of 30%. Dat Bike’s first motorcycle model was launched in Vietnam in 2019 from the factory located in Binh Duong, called Weaver. The advantage of this model, which is also the difference with electric cars currently on the market, lies in its long travel time and fast battery charging. The battery installed in the Weaver uses LG’s technology, similar to the battery system installed in Tesla electric cars. In particular, the battery life is up to 10 years in conditions of regular use and is easy to recycle, with no adverse impact on the environment. Compared to other competitors, Dat Bike has the advantage of using domestic materials, instead of importing from other markets. This helps the company reduce transportation costs, increase production efficiency and receive tax support. Currently, Dat Bike has a shop in Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh. Currently, Dat Bike has a shop in Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City and a factory in Binh Duong with a capacity of about 1,000 vehicles/month. The company has only focused on developing online sales channels in the Vietnamese market. In addition, another advantage of Dat Bike is that the company’s vehicles are manufactured in the country, most of the component suppliers are local manufacturers. Therefore, the Company can be proactive in logistics and supply chain services. In just a short time, Son and his team of associates have increased the production capacity of Dat Bike from 1 motorcycle shipped per week in the early days to hundreds of units per month. At the end of 2020, Dat Bike opened its first store in Ho Chi Minh City and currently, Dat Bike’s growth rate is 35%/month. In particular, in 2020, the Ministry of Transport has recognized Dat Bike Weaver as the first electric motorcycle originating in Vietnam. This is also the only model on the market today that has the same performance as a traditional petrol motorbike. Jungle Ventures is a Singapore-based venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-to-growth businesses and start-ups in Southeast Asia and India. With a focus on building sustainable businesses, Jungle Ventures has been working with the region’s most ambitious founders to build high-growth technology businesses, using capital-efficient, with the potential to scale into leading regional or global companies. The $2.6 million capital “poured” from Jungle Ventures and investment funds allows Son and his associates to continue to create and develop the most complete electric motorcycles for users in the Southeast region. Asia and the world through investment in expanding production of Electric Vehicle Factory in Binh Duong. CEO Dat Bike calculates, with more than 80% of households in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam owning two-wheeled motorbikes, a total of about 250 million gasoline motorbikes, the size of the motorcycle industry in Southeast Asia. up to $25 billion. These potential numbers are the motivation for Son and Dat Bike team to continue firmly on the chosen path, contributing to promoting wider use of sustainable transportation solutions. Soon, Dat Bike will release the next version of Weaver. This version is capable of running 200 km, fully charged in 2 hours. In the further future, Dat Bike will develop more new models to suit a wide range of customers.

The report calls for the development of legal requirements for the recycling and reuse of critical raw materials. (Source: voanews.com) A report by European Union The (EU)-backed study says the recovery of rare materials from e-waste is a security requirement for Europe and should be legislated. According to the EU-funded CEWASTE report, critical raw materials – including gold, silver and cobalt in many electronics – can be recycled and reused. This will protect raw material supply for consumer electronics, even Europe’s defense industry. Even these rare materials are essential for wind turbines and electric cars. They therefore play an important role in helping countries meet climate protection goals and ensure competitiveness in manufacturing. However, the report notes that while supplies of these essential materials are vulnerable to geopolitical fluctuations, Europe is still too dependent on foreign supplies with recycling rates “close to equals 0.” According to the report, the low and volatile prices of many of these raw materials make recycling them often seen as too costly for businesses. The report calls for the development of regulatory requirements for the recycling and reuse of critical raw materials, financial incentives to support the industry, and increased control over the amount of e-waste that is exported. leave the EU. The report highlights some types of e-waste that have large enough raw materials to be recovered. These include printed circuit board materials from discarded electrical equipment; batteries from e-waste and scrap cars; iron boron neodymium magnets from hard drives and motors of electric bicycles, scooters and scrap cars; and fluorescent powder from cathode ray tubes and lamps in television sets and displays. CEWASTE says these materials are often present in very small quantities in individual categories, so they are often overlooked. For example, the report estimates that by 2025, the waste of fluorescent lamps in Europe will contain 92 tons of critical raw materials, while printed circuit boards in electronic waste of this area can hold up to 41 tons of silver and 10 tons of gold. The report states that the amount of the above material will be equivalent to that used to produce new items. A United Nations (UN) report shows that the world generated more than 50 million tons of e-waste in 2019. Much of this ended up in landfills and scrap yards. With an estimated 17% of electronic products being recycled, the UN says more than $55 billion worth of materials are wasted each year as the world has to extract more materials to make products. new./.

Workers work at an e-waste collection center in Ploufragan, western France. Photo: AFP/VNA According to the European Union (EU) funded CEWASTE e-waste report, circuit boards, magnets in drives and electric vehicles, batteries and fluorescent lamps are among the items containing important raw materials. , including gold, silver and cobalt, can be recycled and reused. However, these rare materials often make up a very small percentage of each item thrown away, making them often overlooked. For example, the report estimates that by 2025, discarded fluorescent lamps in Europe will contain 92 tonnes of vital raw materials. Printed circuit boards in the region’s e-waste could contain up to 41 tons of silver and 10 tons of gold by 2025. Meanwhile, Europe’s supply chains have become “too vulnerable”, especially is the defense industry, as noted by Mr. Pascal Leroy – one of the authors of the report. The production of items in Europe, from computer systems to drones, is largely dependent on external supplies. As a result, the report highlights that recycling e-waste will help protect vital supplies for consumer electronics and even the European defense industry. In addition, with the materials needed to make wind turbines and electric cars, items that are discarded if recycled also play an important role in meeting climate change and environmental goals. improve the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry. The report also highlights some types of e-waste that are said to have sufficient raw materials to be recycled and recovered. These include printed circuit board materials obtained from discarded electronic equipment; batteries from e-waste and scrap cars; neodymium iron boron magnets from the hard drives and motors of electric bicycles and scooters, and fluorescent powder from lamps and cathode ray tubes found in televisions and television screens. The researchers found that many raw materials have low value and are volatile, meaning that recycling them is considered too expensive for businesses. The report therefore calls for legislation on the recycling and reuse of critical raw materials, financing to support the recycling industry, and better control of shipments of waste. e-waste is transported out of the EU. According to the “Global Electronic Waste Monitoring 2020” report published by the United Nations (UN) in July last year, in 2019, there were a total of 53.6 million tons of e-waste worldwide. , up 21% from 5 years ago. In which, Asia is the largest producer with about 24.9 million tons, followed by the Americas 13.1 million tons and Europe 12 million tons. Meanwhile, the amount of e-waste in Africa and Oceania is 2.9 and 0.7 million tons, respectively. Of the more than 53 million tons of e-waste generated, only 17% of the waste is recycled, with the rest going to landfills, incineration or simply not being treated. This means that an amount of rare materials such as gold, silver … worth up to 55 billion USD “presents” in e-waste that has been thrown away or burned instead of being collected for treatment. and reuse. Meanwhile, the exploitation of raw materials has been promoted in many countries to create new products, causing environmental concerns.

The switch to electric vehicles will affect at least 178,000 jobs in the German auto industry. Photo: VNA Ifo’s research presents a number of potential challenges in the future as governments work to phase out diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles in favor of low-emissions, even zero-emission vehicles. waste. In a statement released alongside the report, Ifo said an estimated 75,000 workers in Germany’s car manufacturing sector will retire by the middle of the decade. But if by 2025, the production of cars powered by internal combustion engines falls to levels previously predicted under current emissions regulations, the switch to electric vehicles will affect little. 178,000 jobs in the German auto industry. This group, Ifo explained, would include workers manufacturing product groups directly or indirectly dependent on internal combustion engines, with 137,000 of these working directly in the auto industry. Ifo President Clemens Fuest described the transition to electric vehicles as a major challenge, especially for auto parts suppliers as midsize companies dominate the sector. . He assessed that it is important to maintain skilled jobs in the production of vehicles using internal combustion engines and electric vehicles without changing the industry structure. The report comes after the German federal government announced its ambition to have 7-10 million new registered electric vehicles in the country by the end of the decade. In January 2021, Germany’s road traffic regulator said sales of electric vehicles in Germany will be more than 194,000 units in 2020, a threefold increase from the previous year. Internationally, the European Commission has also expressed its desire to have at least 30 million zero-emissions cars on the road by 2030, as part of its “Smart and Sustainable Transport Strategy.” . According to the International Energy Agency, about 3 million new electric cars were registered last year, a record number and up 41% from 2019.

This is part of the agreement the two signed last Friday. The deal will see JD become the latest Chinese Internet company to join the smart electrification craze that is transforming the auto industry day by day. Enovate said both sides will also work on digital marketing to get the startup up and running as soon as possible. “We will share resources in a number of different aspects, from branding and products to users and channels of distribution and consumption,” said Yu Songyao, senior executive at Enovate. . A new energy Enovate sedan attracts the attention of visitors at the Guangzhou auto show. JD, also known as Jingdong and formerly 360buy, is a Chinese e-commerce company headquartered in Beijing. The company is one of two giant B2C retailers in China by transaction volume and revenue, a member of Fortune Global 500. In other words, JD is the 2nd largest e-commerce company in China, just behind Alibaba. Forging partnerships with big internet companies is crucial, analysts say, as the chance to stand out is slimmer for lesser-known startups. Early adopters like Tesla and Nio are gaining ground, traditional carmakers including Volkswagen are also launching their own electric cars, so the door for latecomers is closing. quickly, must really try and be quick. Statistics show that Nio sold 20,060 vehicles in the first three months of this year, up 422.7 percent year-on-year. Volkswagen said it expects to sell 100,000 electric vehicles in China this year. Late last month, Nezha, another little-known electric car startup, announced a partnership with Chinese internet security company Qihoo 360. The company will become the second largest shareholder as it leads Nezha’s 3 billion yuan ($467 million) Series D fundraising effort. According to analysts, Internet security is becoming an essential issue as vehicles get smarter and 360 Security is seeking this investment to open up a platform for its products. on smart cars. Nezha CEO Zhang Yong said Qihoo 360 will provide the startup with technical help and facilitate financing for the company. “For us, the top task now is survival,” Zhang said. Founded in 2014, Nezha has sold more than 35,000 vehicles across its two car models. The company’s sales in the first quarter of 2021 increased fivefold, to more than 7,400 vehicles. Optional Toyota “knock down” Hyundai from the top position in the electric vehicle market

By Christoph Arnowski, BR A high proportion of electricity from coal, insufficient range, too few charging points – all this makes many people doubt the electric car. Also the Ingolstadt engineer Roland Gumpert. That is why he has developed a completely new electric drive concept that works without a charging cable and still enables a long range – and with which the car can be refueled as easily and quickly as a petrol or diesel. The technical core is a methanol fuel cell. If these are fed with climate-neutral methanol, their cars will run without greenhouse gas emissions, says Gumpert: “We can install this concept in any car, in a Polo with 50 hp or in a long-haul truck with 40 tons,” says the engineer. “We are vastly superior to normal battery cars.”

“Father” of the Audi Quattro

Gumpert isn’t just anyone in the automotive industry. For decades he worked successfully for Audi – most recently as Marketing Director for the joint venture between VW and Audi in China. At the beginning of the 1980s, as head of Audi Sport, he and his rally drivers brought four world championship titles to Ingolstadt. The basis was the Quattro drive, which was considered a technical sensation in 1980. For the first time, an automobile manufacturer built a permanent four-wheel drive into its street car. Gumpert is considered one of the fathers of the Quattro drive.

Billions invested in electromobility

Now, at the age of 76, Gumpert wants to show it to the entire industry again – with his own small company. He wants to prove that his car with a methanol fuel cell is better than any electric car with a large battery and charging cable. But politics and industry are so far not interested in Gumpert’s idea. Is it because you have agreed on battery-electric e-mobility and have invested billions in developing it? “Germany can only achieve the EU’s 2030 climate target with a high proportion of electric cars,” the Association of the Automotive Industry VDA shares BR policy magazine controversial on request with. All other options are “not available in ‘mass production’ until then”. Audi expresses itself similarly. The Ingolstadt-based carmaker did not even respond to Gumpert’s invitation to take a look at his concept. Compared to the BR explains a company spokesman: “Electromobility is by far the most efficient way to decarbonise and achieve CO2 fleet targets. Audi is therefore concentrating on battery-electric mobility.”

This is how the methanol fuel cell works With the drive concept, cars do not fill up with hydrogen, which is technically complex and expensive. Instead, a mixture of methanol and water is put into the tank. This is as uncomplicated and quick as possible with gasoline or diesel. This mixture is only heated and broken down into its components in the car itself. The oxygen and carbon dioxide escape into the air. Because climate-neutral methanol is used, there are no additional greenhouse gas emissions. The fuel cell converts the hydrogen from the methanol into electricity, which runs the electric motor.

For the first time, engineer Roland Gumpert implemented his drive concept in the Nathalie sports car – a two-seater coupé with 550 hp and a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour. The fuel cell produces enough electricity in the car to be able to travel at speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour. If you want to drive faster, the battery supplies the electric motor with the additional energy required. If the speed drops below 130 km / h, the fuel cell not only supplies the driving current, but also recharges the battery at the same time. In this phase, the car drive needs less electricity than the fuel cell produces. If the vehicle comes to a complete stop, all the electricity from the methanol fuel cell flows into the battery.

If the battery is empty, the car can continue to drive, but at a maximum of 130 km / h – and as long as there is methanol in the tank. Gumpert specifies the range of the car as around 800 kilometers.

“The train left”

The Ulm management consultant Arnold Lamm also believes that the battery-electric car will prevail. “The train has left, you can’t stop it,” says Lamm. As an engineer, he worked for Daimler for more than twenty years. At the end of the 1990s, the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer opted for a drive with a methanol fuel cell, but the company did not achieve the breakthrough it had hoped for at the time. Lamm’s conclusion today: “Technically it works, but then as now I consider this system to be far too complex, too expensive and too time-consuming for a mass market.” Engineer Gumpert disagrees. His drive works: in the prototype of the “Nathalie” he built, a 400,000 euro super sports car that he plans to produce in a small series next year. And the same in an E-Smart that he has converted. His system is competitive: “We know for sure that we can get there with mass-produced products in terms of cost. Our system, including the battery, is ultimately no more expensive than a battery-powered car,” says Gumpert.

Advantages especially on long journeys?

Also from the point of view of the car expert Lamm, the technology “in this configuration is definitely worthwhile to be further promoted”. However, he sees opportunities above all in trucks that have to cover long distances. Here it could have advantages over pure hydrogen vehicles and electric trucks. So should the federal government be interested in e-cars with methanol fuel cells? At least Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer knows the concept. Gumpert was already in Berlin two years ago with his “Nathalie”. Scheuer seemed pleased. But does a 400,000 euro sports car really help in the fight against climate change? The minister sent engineer Gumpert back to Ingolstadt with homework: he was supposed to prove that his drive concept also worked in a small car.

Political tailwind for converted Smart?

In fact, Gumpert converted an E-Smart on behalf of the ministry. Since then, the car has driven 15,000 kilometers – without any problems, without a charging cable, just refueled with green methanol. However, all attempts to inform Scheuer about this failed for months. Emails from the company with the request to present the Smart in Berlin initially went unanswered. Upon request from Controversial said the ministry that methanol fuel cell systems were “not a mass-market solution”. In the meantime, the Federal Ministry of Transport has also contacted Gumpert. “We’re finally out of the drawer,” says the engineer. “We have been forgotten and apologized and will soon give us an appointment for a video conference.” So is the small company from Ingolstadt still getting some political tailwind? Engineer Gumpert continues to hope so. So far he has been pretty much alone with his vision of an electric car with a methanol fuel cell that can be refueled very easily and that continues to drive even with an empty battery.

It was from a sarcastic comment of the online community on Twitter that the news that the Ford Bronco was being developed an all-electric version immediately became a phenomenon discussed on American car forums. Specifically, shortly after Ford announced the F-150 Lightning, a Tesla supporter commented asking Ford CEO Jim Farley if they are truly committed to a future centered around electric vehicles, why new product lines like Ford Bronco does not have this option? In response, the Ford leader asked this person, “Why do you think we don’t have one?”. Immediately, many American newspapers questioned the Ford spokesman, but the American brand temporarily declined to comment on the feasibility of the project. In 2018, Ford said it would have 7 electric vehicle lines launched before the end of 2022 with a commitment that electrified versions will target the best-selling car series such as Bronco, Escape, Explorer, Mustang and F. -150. Information about the Ford Bronco Hybrid, since then, has generally not been much except for a short video with the digital dashboard on the SUV showing the EV Coaching feature from last year. If Ford is still developing an electrified version of the Bronco from 2018 to now, the 2022 milestone they announced before is completely doable. Reference: Carscoops

Illustration. https://kinhtexaydung.petrotimes.vn The Munich-based Ifo Institute said: The German Automotive Industry Association has presented some potential challenges ahead, as the government attempts to eliminate diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles instead. for vehicles with low and zero emissions. In a statement released with the report, the research agency said: “It is estimated that about 75,000 German auto manufacturing workers will retire by the middle of this decade. But if by 2025, production of cars powered by internal combustion engines decreases to a predictable level under current emissions regulations, the shift to electric motors will have little impact. 178,000 employees ”. Ifo explains: the group that will be unemployed includes “workers producing product groups directly or indirectly dependent on internal combustion engines, with 137,000 of them working directly in the automotive industry” . “The transition to electric automation is a huge challenge, especially for automotive suppliers where mid-sized companies dominate,” said Ifo Chairman Clemens Fuest. “It is important to maintain skilled jobs in the manufacturing of internal combustion engines and electric vehicles without altering the structure,” he said. A real major transformation seems to be ahead. The German federal government has set a target of 7 to 10 million electric cars registered in the country by the end of the decade. In January, the German road traffic authority Reuters said: Battery-powered car sales were more than 194,000 vehicles by 2020, which had tripled over the same period last year. The executive branch of the EU, the European Commission wants to have at least 30 million zero-emission cars on the road by 2030 as part of the “Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy”. About 3 million new electric cars were registered last year, a record number and up 41% from 2019, according to the International Energy Agency. Oliver Falck, Director of the Ifo Center for New Industries and Technologies, sought to emphasize systemic change that has been and is taking place. “The evolution in production figures has shown us that very different parts are needed for electric cars rather than the internal combustion engines,” he said, noting that “this shift has yet to be reflected in the similar level in number of employees ”. https://kinhtexaydung.petrotimes.vn

The picture of electrochemical cars in the world Currently, the strong socio-economic development is leading to a skyrocketing number of vehicles, especially cars using combustion engines, which are contributing to a series of problems related to cars. environmental contamination as well as energy needs. However, the electrochemical trend is being applied more and more on vehicles, creating hybrids and electric cars, this is considered the “savior” of humanity in the future. The proof for that is that the sales of these vehicles are on the rise. According to the EV Volumes , the total volume of electric cars (EV) sold globally in 2020 will reach about 3.24 million units, reaching a market share of 4.2% and growing at 43.4% compared to 2019. Of which, 1.15 million units were produced in Europe, 0.5 million units were produced in North America and 1.6 million units were made in the Asia-Pacific region (China, Korea, Japan). The Workshop on Electrified Automotive Trends in Vietnam was recently organized by Tien Phong Newspaper. Currently, China is still the country with the top sales of electric cars in the world with 1.337 million units in 2020, an increase of 12% compared to 2019; Germany ranked second with 398 thousand units, up 254%; The US ranked third with sales of 328,000 units, up 4%. According to the share of Associate Professor – Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc (Deputy Head of Automotive Department – Hanoi University of Technology), cars with electric batteries have appeared since 1839. Over time In short development, electric cars almost disappeared due to the inability to compete with combustion engine cars in the 20th century. However, the mission of this vehicle went back into the 21st century with green cars, most economical and intelligent to protect the environment, limit dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, electric cars not only appear in people’s lives, but also present in all areas such as: Confidential military vehicles, F1 Hybrid racing cars, F1 racing for pure electric cars. Associate Professor – Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc (Deputy Head of Automotive Department – Hanoi University of Technology) gave a speech during the seminar on Electrochemical Automotive Trends in Vietnam. Meanwhile, some forecasts suggest that electric cars will account for 95% of all cars sold in Europe by 2030. Many countries in the “old continent” have set a goal to stop doing business. cars using internal combustion engines by 2050, Norway even announced it would end the sale of these cars by 2025. Developing electric cars in Vietnam needs many supportive policies According to the global trend, the Vietnamese market is also beginning to “set foot” in the electric vehicle sector with the bold direction of VinFast and some cautious moves from Toyota in the past year or so. There are no specific statistics on sales of electric vehicles (both motorcycles and cars) in Vietnam, but disclosures from industry agencies show that the number is not too much. Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong (Deputy Department of Motor Vehicle Quality – Vietnam Registry Department) shared: “In 2020, only 900 electric cars will be imported and used in Vietnam, this number is in the first three months. by 2021 there will be 600 units, however, the majority of them will still be hybrids ”. Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong (Deputy Head of Motor Vehicle Quality Division – Vietnam Registry Department). In fact, there are many opinions that “electrification is an irreversible trend, only a matter of time left”, but there are still many current problems that need to be solved to help this car thrive. more next time. On the concerned side, Mr. Phuong said: “In the new proposal to the parliament, the Ministry of Transport also mentioned tight control of environmental emissions from vehicles and will probably be seen. considered in the next National Assembly session. Regarding the control of the operation scope of all types of vehicles, it can be done, but there is no specific policy ”. Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thuy (Department of Industry – Ministry of Industry and Trade) replied about the electric vehicle development policy in Vietnam: “Currently, the latest automobile development strategy and planning has been approved by the government. approved in 2014. At that time there was not much appearance of electric vehicles, so there was no specific strategic plan. Electric vehicles have thrived in recent years, posing a problem that needs direction ”. Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thuy (Industry Department – Ministry of Industry and Trade). It can be seen that the current policies for electric cars are not clear enough to strongly promote this industry. While many opinions suggest that the government needs to reduce tax fees for consumers to make the price of electric vehicle ownership more comfortable, manufacturers also need specific support. This is not only a policy story but also a challenge but also an opportunity for the nation. Associate Professor – Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc said: “The government needs to facilitate the development of electric vehicles by: Creating markets, expanding manufacturers, promoting manufacturers and researchers. “. At the same time, he also added: “Our country needs to apply the policy of ‘Inviting eagles to Vietnam to spawn’, which means inviting car manufacturers to produce electric cars in Vietnam”. Sharing on this issue, Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu (Head of Strategic Planning Division of Toyota Vietnam) said: “Thailand launched its support policy in March, while Indonesia will announce its policy. strong in October, attracting many car manufacturers to invest. In fact, they have ‘finished the nest for the eagle’. Vietnam needs to do something so as not to miss this opportunity as well as this challenge. This is a story of national competition ”. Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu (Head of Strategic Planning Department of Toyota Vietnam). Capturing the trend of electric car development will help Vietnam catch up with major markets around the world. However, the issue of supportive policies from the government needs to be resolved early to stimulate consumer demand and find a common voice with car manufacturers, helping them to no longer worry about the production of electric cars in Vietnam. Vietnam.

The picture of electrochemical cars in the world Currently, the strong socio-economic development is leading to a skyrocketing number of vehicles, especially cars using combustion engines, which are contributing to a series of problems related to cars. environmental contamination as well as energy needs. However, the electrochemical trend is being applied more and more on vehicles, creating hybrids and electric cars, this is considered the “savior” of humanity in the future. The proof for that is that the sales of these vehicles are on the rise. According to the EV Volumes , the total volume of electric cars (EV) sold globally in 2020 will reach about 3.24 million units, reaching a market share of 4.2% and growing at 43.4% compared to 2019. Of which, 1.15 million units were produced in Europe, 0.5 million units were produced in North America and 1.6 million units were made in the Asia-Pacific region (China, Korea, Japan). The Workshop on Electrified Automotive Trends in Vietnam was recently organized by Tien Phong Newspaper. Currently, China is still the country with the top sales of electric cars in the world with 1.337 million units in 2020, an increase of 12% compared to 2019; Germany ranked second with 398 thousand units, up 254%; The US ranked third with sales of 328,000 units, up 4%. According to the share of Associate Professor – Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc (Deputy Head of Automotive Department – Hanoi University of Technology), cars with electric batteries have appeared since 1839. Over time In short development, electric cars almost disappeared due to the inability to compete with combustion engine cars in the 20th century. However, the mission of this vehicle went back into the 21st century with green cars, most economical and intelligent to protect the environment, limit dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, electric cars not only appear in people’s lives, but also present in all areas such as: Confidential military vehicles, F1 Hybrid racing cars, F1 racing for pure electric cars. Associate Professor – Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc (Deputy Head of Automotive Department – Hanoi University of Technology) gave a speech during the seminar on Electrochemical Automotive Trends in Vietnam. Meanwhile, some forecasts suggest that electric cars will account for 95% of all cars sold in Europe by 2030. Many countries in the “old continent” have set a goal to stop doing business. cars using internal combustion engines by 2050, Norway even announced it would end the sale of these cars by 2025. Developing electric cars in Vietnam needs many supportive policies According to the global trend, the Vietnamese market is also beginning to “set foot” in the electric vehicle sector with the bold direction of VinFast and some cautious moves from Toyota in the past year or so. There are no specific statistics on sales of electric vehicles (both motorcycles and cars) in Vietnam, but disclosures from industry agencies show that the number is not too much. Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong (Deputy Department of Motor Vehicle Quality – Vietnam Registry Department) shared: “In 2020, only 900 electric cars will be imported and used in Vietnam, this number is in the first three months. by 2021 there will be 600 units, however, the majority of them will still be hybrids ”. Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong (Deputy Head of Motor Vehicle Quality Division – Vietnam Registry Department). In fact, there are many opinions that “electrification is an irreversible trend, only a matter of time left”, but there are still many current problems that need to be solved to help this car thrive. more next time. On the concerned side, Mr. Phuong said: “In the new proposal to the parliament, the Ministry of Transport also mentioned tight control of environmental emissions from vehicles and will probably be seen. considered in the next National Assembly session. Regarding the control of the operation scope of all types of vehicles, it can be done, but there is no specific policy ”. Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thuy (Department of Industry – Ministry of Industry and Trade) replied about the electric vehicle development policy in Vietnam: “Currently, the latest automobile development strategy and planning has been approved by the government. approved in 2014. At that time there was not much appearance of electric vehicles, so there was no specific strategic plan. Electric vehicles have thrived in recent years, posing a problem that needs direction ”. Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thuy (Industry Department – Ministry of Industry and Trade). It can be seen that the current policies for electric cars are not clear enough to strongly promote this industry. While many opinions suggest that the government needs to reduce tax fees for consumers to make the price of electric vehicle ownership more comfortable, manufacturers also need specific support. This is not only a policy story but also a challenge but also an opportunity for the nation. Associate Professor – Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc said: “The government needs to facilitate the development of electric vehicles by: Creating markets, expanding manufacturers, promoting manufacturers and researchers. “. At the same time, he also added: “Our country needs to apply the policy of ‘Inviting eagles to Vietnam to spawn’, which means inviting car manufacturers to produce electric cars in Vietnam”. Sharing on this issue, Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu (Head of Strategic Planning Division of Toyota Vietnam) said: “Thailand launched its support policy in March, while Indonesia will announce its policy. strong in October, attracting many car manufacturers to invest. In fact, they have ‘finished the nest for the eagle’. Vietnam needs to do something so as not to miss this opportunity as well as this challenge. This is a story of national competition ”. Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu (Head of Strategic Planning Department of Toyota Vietnam). Capturing the trend of electric car development will help Vietnam catch up with major markets around the world. However, the issue of supportive policies from the government needs to be resolved early to stimulate consumer demand and find a common voice with car manufacturers, helping them to no longer worry about the production of electric cars in Vietnam. Vietnam.

The Boring Company tunnel is said to be the solution to solving the problem of traffic congestion in the future. The first tunnel about to open is nearly 1.3 km long with 3 stops, can carry 4,400 passengers per hour. Because the length of the tunnel is quite short, the speed of the Tesla operation will be limited to about 56-64 km / h and still have to have a driver behind the wheel, not activated in autonomous mode. It is expected that until the end of this year, Tesla electric cars will be allowed to use Autopilot mode when operating underneath the tunnel. The commissioning of the first underground tunnel system is clearly the important step forward for The Boring Company, to realize their ambition to revolutionize the way people move in the future. hybrid. When there are many active tunnels, a network of underground traffic will form. On the ground there will be stations to bring Tesla cars underground. Then, just turn on autonomous mode and the Tesla car can drive itself to the desired location below the tunnel and be brought back to the ground by the elevator.

Term 2: Solve the quality management problem, electric vehicle regulations Electric vehicle charging station at AEON Ha Dong Shopping Center (Hanoi) – photo by Thanh Tung With more than 1 million electric scooters in circulation and thousands of electric cars handed over to customers by VinFast by the end of this year, the problem of quality management, registration, and charging station standards comes from The legal regulations in the circulation of vehicles for electric vehicles are in urgent need. Register like a traditional car At the end of March 2021, VinFast’s electric bus model was completed by the Vietnam Registry Department to verify design documents, vehicle safety testing and met the conditions of current automotive technical regulations. onions for mass production. Recently, VinFast has also announced to receive orders, produce an electric car model under 9 seats under the brand name VF e34, expected to hand over the car to customers in November 2021. In fact, electric cars have appeared in the country a few years ago and now there are 14 cars (all imported complete units, the Tesla brand). With the above trend, in the near future, the domestic market will have both imported CBU electric cars and domestically produced cars. Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong, Deputy Department of Motor Vehicle Quality – VAQ (Vietnam Registry Department), said that electric vehicles are quality controlled from the evaluation of vehicle design, safety testing to issue type certificates. and sample production. After the car is released, the circulation process, electric cars must be periodically registered as traditional cars. According to Mr. Dang Tran Khanh, Deputy Department of Motor Vehicle Inspection – VAR (Vietnam Registry Department), the biggest difference between electric cars and gasoline and oil cars is the energy source for the vehicle’s engine to operate. Therefore, the registry will apply the inspection of technical safety items according to the current national automotive technical regulations, except for the exhaust gas test, which will not be the same as gasoline or oil vehicles. “Currently, some countries like Singapore also test electric cars like conventional cars. However, the Vietnam Registry Department is consulting the experiences of countries and international automobile registration associations to take steps to research and prepare for the process of supplementing and completing the standards of cars, including cars. electricity ”, said Mr. Khanh. Which standard charging station? According to a recent study by the Research Group of the German International Cooperation Organization (GIZ), it is currently the beginning stage of the development of electric transportation in Vietnam. Imported electric vehicles including bicycles, electric scooters and four-wheeled passenger electric vehicles currently have more than 1 million vehicles. It is expected that by the end of 2021, there will be only electric cars produced domestically. About the current regulations applicable to electric cars, the representative of the Motor Vehicle Testing Center (Vietnam Registry Department) said that in-depth techniques for electric cars are electrical elements. There are a number of different research and development trends in the world. ” Electric car is still a manned car like a conventional internal combustion engine, so when the car is put into operation at present, there are no legal problems. Electric vehicle drivers, while participating in traffic in Vietnam, still comply with the current Decree 100 and the Law on Road Traffic
Decree 100 deals with the driver’s behavior more than the vehicle. And the current Law on Road Vehicle has regulations on vehicles, but in road motor vehicles, there is no regulation on engines. Therefore, the legal basis for electric vehicles is basically the same as conventional gasoline and oil vehicles, including procedures for vehicle registration and vehicle registration.
Mr. Khuat Viet Hung, Specialized Vice President of National Traffic Safety Committee ” Such as the standard of charging. Therefore, in this early stage, mainly based on the National Technical Regulation on technical safety quality and environmental protection for cars (QVN 09: 2015 / BGTVT) to test and evaluate. vehicle safety prices. At the same time, there is research to build appropriate standards for the development of electric cars in the country in the future. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi, Director of the Department of Standards (General Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality), Vietnam currently has the standard TCVN 12241-3: 2018 on the secondary lithium-ion battery used for power transmission. for electric road vehicles. This International Standard specifies test procedures and acceptance criteria for the safety performance of batteries and masses of secondary lithium-ion batteries used to power road vehicles (EV). including battery electric vehicles (BEV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). “However, we do not have a set of standards (required to apply) on charging stations and charging terminals. This is not even available in advanced countries. Just like the plug of household electrical appliances has not been agreed, where the power supply is 110V, where 220V, the device has a 3-pin or 2-pin plug, but the 2-pin plug is also each style. In addition, the structure of the electric vehicle charging station is also a technology secret issue, so no company wants to share it, so it has not been agreed to set which one is the standard. For example, the phone charger, until now it has been agreed, to buy any device, use the charger cord, the charger of that company, basically according to the original equipment manufacturer “, Mr. Khoi said. Just as a car powered by an internal combustion engine needs multiple gas stations, an electric vehicle (EV) also needs multiple public charging stations. The question is which technology standard charging station will Vietnam follow in order to be able to meet the maximum number of electric vehicles with different charging standards? According to Mr. Dao Cong Quyet, Head of the Public Relations Subcommittee of VAMA, there are currently 3 international charging standards for cars, including: Europe (CCS), Japan (CHAdeMO) and China (GB / T). ). If there are many electric car manufacturers, it is also necessary to have a common standard for the car manufacturers to plan to manufacture and import this type of vehicle for sale in Vietnam. Mr. Tran Quang Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Transport), said that the charging standards of many basic companies according to Europe, but most of them do not have the uniformity of the common charging standard between the companies. Currently, road motor vehicles in Vietnam are basically all according to European standards. On the issue of waste disposal for electric vehicles, Mr. Ha informed that most countries have strict and strict regulations on waste product management. As for the discarded products containing harmful substances such as batteries and batteries, Vietnam has also had regulations but there are no sanctions. “When electric vehicles thrive, the problem of completing regulations on waste management and treatment such as batteries, batteries will be very hot. There should be clear sanctions “, Mr. Ha suggested.

Instead of riding his 1967 Corvette Sting Ray, US President Joe Biden took the time to take an online tour of the electric bus factory and the electric vehicle battery factory on April 20. . This is considered an important activity in his plan to boost production of electric vehicles in the future. Mr. Biden visited the electric bus factory online. (Photo: Hot Cars) From working in the White House, Mr. Biden had a live view of the production of electric buses at the Proterra factory in Greenville, South Carolina. President Biden is particularly interested in how the buses are assembled and tested and is impressed with the progress here. “Right now, we (the United States) are behind China and there is much more work to be done. But we will become the most important supplier of electric buses and electric cars in the world with different things,” General said the US governor Joe Biden. Mr. Biden’s factory visit is done online, but experts consider it a very serious move and is part of the Government’s plan to promote the production of public transport powered by green energy. America. According to Hot Cars page, the US President’s declaration of “join the game” means that America must surpass China, which currently dominates the electric bus market. According to Biden’s roadmap, all US-made buses will be “completely green” by 2030. Proterra also estimates that half of the buses will be electrified by 2025. Students in the US mainly use the bus to get to school. (Photo: Hot Cars) Spend $ 20 billion to exchange electric buses for schools The aforementioned American bus electrification roadmap is not without foundation. Earlier, in early April, Mr. Biden announced the Huge Infrastructure Bill with a financial plan worth more than $ 2 trillion. This budget proposal includes items with many different packages. Worth noting is the $ 174 billion electric vehicle development package. In which the Government allocated 20 billion dollars to convert at least 20% of school buses in the United States to electric power. The rest of the buses will have to be changed by the schools through tightened policies. At least $ 20 billion will be spent by the US on converting to electric buses by 2030. (Image: Hot Cars) Additionally, an additional $ 25 billion will be spent converting public transport from internal combustion engines to electric. At the same time the US will spend up to 100 billion dollars on the policy to reduce prices to pull customers to buy more electric cars. With strong determination from the electrification of public transport, Mr. Biden has demonstrated a commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This also brings health benefits for people, especially students who regularly use buses to go to school. And most of all, Mr. Biden wants to reaffirm America’s position in the production of electric cars, including electric buses. Outstanding and behind China is difficult to accept. Royal Union (Source: Hot Cars, Automotive News, Now This News) Invite readers to collaborate, send news articles about Motorbike Department by email: otoxemay@vietnamnet.vn. Appropriate content will be posted. Thank you!

Write an article / Ma Xiaolei

edit / Tu Yanping

design / Zhao Haoran

source / Blommberg, Author: Liam Denning

Originally, the petroleum industry would just concentrate on finding “oil barrels”. You don’t have to worry about other things at all, but electric vehicles have overturned the “iron rice bowl” of others.

Goldman Sachs’ latest forecast shows that road fuel consumption will reach its peak in the next five years. For the stone giants, one way to solve this problem is to replace the gas pump with a charging pile.

The main difference between charging an electric car and refueling an ordinary car is that the former can usually be charged at home or at work. Most electric car owners also use this charging method, and it is likely to continue. However, their charging speed is often very slow and cannot cover the needs of all situations.

It is estimated that by 2040, fast public charging piles will account for about a quarter of car electricity demand.

Public fast charging stations are most similar to the existing gas station business, and some oil giants have already started operations. For example, BP Plc has currently installed about 10,000 charging piles, and plans to reach 70,000 by 2030. This represents a major investment, because the cost of fast charging piles is as high as $50,000, and it also needs to provide funds for local grid upgrades. To achieve this goal means that as many people as possible need to enter these charging stations.

According to a recent report by Oswald Clint, an analyst at Bernstein Research, the current 10%-20% utilization rate of fast charging piles only yields 7%-9% return on investment capital. If the utilization rate exceeds 30%, that is, about 7 hours in every 24 hours, the rate of return will jump to more than 30%, which is more like a reason to persuade oil investors to make green investments.

This utilization threshold is consistent with the work of Chris Nelder of the Rocky Mountain Institute on the economics of vehicle charging and the predictions of Fastned BV, an independent fast-charging network in the Netherlands.

Bernstein’s analysis assumes that drivers pay 60 cents per kilowatt hour for fast charging, which is equivalent to more than $5 per gallon of gasoline. This is competitive in Europe where road fuel is highly taxed, but not necessarily in the United States, where the average oil price today is less than $3.

In addition, as Nelder’s work has emphasized, the demand for utilities based on the peak electricity consumption of industrial and commercial customers can greatly increase the cost of electricity supply. Adding these costs and operating expenses, a fast charging pile with a utilization rate of 20% may cost 50 cents per kilowatt hour, which is equivalent to $4 per gallon to cover its costs, and there is no profit margin. However, if the utilization rate is increased to 35%, it is equivalent to the oil price cost falling below US$2.9.

Bernstein’s Clint calculated that the fuel retail industry in the United States and Europe currently generates a gross profit margin of approximately $125 billion. He estimated that by 2040, fast charging may generate 35 billion U.S. dollars, rising to 56 billion U.S. dollars by 2050. In order to get a share of the pie, the oil giants must increase the relevant cash flow as much as possible to expand the profit pool and keep customers engaged.

Convenience retail is a typical additional service that contributes most of the gross profit to US gas stations, and can be upgraded and expanded to newer services, such as e-commerce delivery. However, most existing gas stations may not be suitable for providing charging services. The best places to set up fast charging piles should be those where you can spend more time, while establishing new charging infrastructure in specialized facilities, such as shopping malls or parks.

Oil giants have long had fleet refueling operations. Bernstein’s Klint estimates that this has brought a steady gross profit of US$1 billion per year for Royal Dutch Shell. This can be extended to commercial and municipal customers (accounting for one-fifth of the estimated demand in 2040), seeking a reliable energy supplier for the electrified fleet. Depot-scale charging facilities revolve around a major customer, including shared car fleets, to provide scale and reliable use.

At the same time, ordinary electric car drivers can be bound to it through a service plan. For example, in the deregulated electricity market in parts of Europe and the United States, Shell may provide homeowners with retail electricity, including their electric vehicles. Considering the average driving pattern, the vast majority of the trips are short distances, and all the costs of electrified driving can compete with gasoline, even at the premium of fast charging during the journey.

More importantly, this may provide drivers with things they can’t get in gasoline, such as stable fuel costs. In theory, the price of an electric car can be like a mobile phone package, covering the regular driving mode with a fixed fee and providing recharge services for long-distance travel.

None of this is so easy to achieve. Electricity is a beast completely different from oil. It has its own incumbents, utilities, and new entrants surfing the wave of green financing. There are more unknown factors, especially self-driving cars may redraw the charging map. As RMI’s Nelder said, “It’s impossible for us today to avoid building tomorrow’s stranded assets.”

Minimizing this situation means preparing for the future of electrification. The oil giants have great power to use, especially their huge scale. However, success depends precisely on what the industry is not good at: how to turn monopolistic goods into competitive consumer services.

Mercedes EQS appeared in the product portfolio of Mercedes-Benz Vietnam. Screenshots. With the introduction of EQS, Mercedes-Benz Vietnam’s product portfolio will have a total of 6 sedans. Including A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, EQS, S-Class and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. Mercedes-EQS includes 2 models, EQS 450+ and EQS 580 4MATIC, the difference of these two models lies in the power and the drivetrain. EQS 450+ uses a rear electric motor with a capacity of 333 horsepower, EQS 580 4MATIC uses 2 electric motors that produce a total capacity of 523 horsepower. Both versions share a 107.8 kWh battery. Mercedes EQS includes 2 models: EQS 450+ and EQS 580 4MATIC. Photo: Carwow. In terms of overall design, the EQS takes on the design of a new design platform with a sloping head and a coupe-shaped tail. The new design helps the EQS to have an extremely low air drag coefficient, reaching 0.2 Cd. Mercedes EQS is like the electric version of the S-Class. Inside the cockpit is equipped with Hyperscreen screen with 3 OLED screens, including a 12-inch speed screen, an 18-inch central entertainment screen and a 12-inch passenger seat sub-screen. It also has an AR HUD steering wheel display. The interior of the Mercedes-EQS is futuristic. Photo: Carwow. In Vietnam, Mercedes-Benz distributes a lot of cars, from popular sedans such as C 200 Exclusive (VND 1,699 billion) to sports cars like Mercedes-AMG GT R (VND 11.59 billion). Electric cars have appeared in Vietnam since 2014, but people have paid more attention to these “green vehicles” in the past 1-2 years. Mercedes-Benz is not the first luxury car company to bring electric cars to Vietnam, previously there was Audi as well as Porsche. Audi e-tron has been brought back to the country from 2019 but has not been sold to the market, while Porsche Taycan has been officially distributed at the end of 2020. The representative of Vietnam, VinFast, has also accepted a deposit of mid-range electric car model. VF e34 and will deliver to customers by the end of this year. The price of VND 690 million of VF e34 is somewhat pleasant and is said to be more accessible to ordinary users.

From Steffen Wurzel, ARD studio Shanghai In the country of origin of the Covid 19 pandemic, Corona hardly plays a role anymore. The economy is running again. This can be seen in the automotive industry, among other things. Analysts expect the Chinese auto market to grow by at least six percent this year.

Strong growth in electric cars

According to experts, sales of electric cars in China will increase at an above-average rate, which means that an increase of 70 percent is possible in the People’s Republic this year. So far, the US car company Tesla and numerous domestic e-car startups have been selling electric cars in China. The latter are called, for example, Xiaopeng, Nio , Li-Auto and Aiways. So far, these brands are hardly known in Germany. Nevertheless, China’s bustling e-car companies have made a difference in the boardrooms of the three major German car manufacturers. As far as China is concerned, BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen are now also focusing on electromobility.

German manufacturers with trade fair premieres

This can be seen from today at the auto show in Shanghai. Mercedes is showing its battery-powered models EQA and EQB, BMW is presenting the iX and the ID6 is having its world premiere at Volkswagen. Some analysts criticize that the largest German car company Volkswagen entered the e-mobility sector in China far too late. That rejected VW China boss Stephan Wöllenstein at the start of the fair. “Volkswagen almost has a good tradition of coming a little later, but all the more violently. That will probably be the case again with electromobility,” said Wöllenstein. “I think we’ve done our homework right now.” This gives the group the chance to make customers an offer that many competing companies, especially e-car startups, find it very difficult to find.

World’s largest auto show with almost no foreign visitors

With around 1000 exhibitors, “Auto China” in Shanghai is the largest auto show in the world. There will be almost no visitors from abroad. Because China’s leadership has kept the borders of the People’s Republic almost completely closed to foreigners for a good 13 months. This year, the trade fair in Shanghai is primarily a Chinese industry get-together.

In an international comparison, according to a new study, the German car manufacturers have survived the corona crisis best so far. This is the result of a study by the consulting firm EY, which was published before the start of the auto show in Shanghai today. Accordingly, Daimler, Volkswagen and BMW, with a combined decline in sales of ten percent, a drop in sales of 14 percent and a decrease in operating profit of 26 percent, fared significantly better on average than large manufacturers from other nations. Across the industry, the total sales of the 17 largest manufacturers worldwide fell by 13 percent in the previous year, according to the EY study. The car sales went down by 16 percent, the operating result by as much as 37 percent. The French brands were hit particularly hard. According to the study, only four companies had a positive profit development: Tesla, Daimler, General Motors and Kia.

China supports the industry

It is above all the flourishing business in China that saved the balance sheets of Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler. In 2020, more than every third new car (39.4 percent) was handed over to a Chinese customer. If you look at all 17 of the world’s largest car companies, the total sales of cars from these manufacturers in China only fell by four percent. In the US, the decline was 14 percent, in Western Europe, sales fell by 25 percent . Constantin M. Gall, Head of Automotive & Transportation at EY, explains: “While some companies got deeply into the red, others came through the crisis comparatively well, largely due to their regional sales focus, but also very much because of their current product portfolio is driven. ” “Companies with a large share in China benefited from the relatively stable development on the Chinese sales market. Those who are primarily active in Europe, on the other hand, had to accept massive losses,” said EY auto expert Peter Fuß.

Fair open to visitors

This also explains the great importance of the auto show that is now starting in Shanghai. Around 1000 exhibitors will present their products to hundreds of thousands of visitors in more than twelve halls by April 28th.

If you want to visit the fair in person, you have to show a negative corona test. In addition, visitors have to have their body temperature measured and use a mobile phone app to prove that they have not been in risk areas.

Praise for German automakers

The big topics of the fair are e-mobility and connectivity. And it is precisely in these areas that industry observers attest that the German representatives now have a good market position after a mixed start. They are now faster, more determined, said the German management consultant Peter Hage from the Beijing-based Districom Group. “The Volkswagen Group has done a very good job with the electric cars,” said the director of the Center for Automotive Research, Ferdinand Dudenhöffer. “The China strategy at VW-Audi-Porsche-Skoda is right.” Mercedes also started “lively” with new models in Shanghai. “Only BMW has been very hesitant in the past,” said Dudenhöffer. That is about to change: the German carmaker wants to generate a quarter of its sales with the sale of electric cars by 2025. This was announced by BMW China boss Jochen Goller in the run-up to the Shanghai Auto Show. Last year the share was around four percent.

PVOIL’s General Director Doan Van Nhuom and VPI Director Nguyen Anh Duc signed “Consulting service contract for research on batteries and charging stations for electric cars” VPI Director Nguyen Anh Duc said, according to a survey by Frost & Sullivan (USA), 33% of consumers in Vietnam are interested in buying electric vehicles, the rest is price, charging technology, battery price and battery life. With the role and mission of a scientific research unit of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, VPI will monitor market indicators, regularly update PVOIL’s leaders to have a basis for making accurate decisions, preparing solutions to cope with risks and take advantage of opportunities in the energy shifting trend. PVOIL’s Chairman Cao Hoai Duong said that in the energy transition trend, PVOIL is a directly affected unit, so there is always a sense of proactively responding to “minimize danger and utilize muscle”. 3 years ago, PVOIL has been interested in researching the development of electric vehicles, the possibility of replacing electric cars for gasoline-powered vehicles and building possible scenarios. PVOIL hopes that, through the cooperation with VPI, experts will support PVOIL in researching technology, engineering, and development trends of batteries and charging stations so that PVOIL will have more information in planning development strategy. development, ready to adapt to the development trend of electric vehicles. As an oil product distribution business, the energy shift will directly affect PVOIL’s business operations. Therefore, PVOIL needs to take advantage of the available infrastructure of the system of more than 600 petrol stations across the country, apply technology 4.0 in business activities to have solutions to welcome the trend. development potential of electric car.

It will not be easy for US President Joe Biden to “revolutionize the electric car” The electrification of the US transport industry is one of the commitments of President Joe Biden when running in November 2020. And a $ 2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, of which $ 174 billion is spent on electric cars and charging infrastructure, which the White House boss recently launched is considered the answer for the American people. But is that investment enough to change the shipping picture in the United States? Investment, stimulus, support With a newly announced $ 174 billion budget, President Joe Biden wants to invest and encourage Americans to switch to electric cars and trucks (EV), eliminate diesel or gasoline cars. . However, the New York Times quoted many experts as saying that although this is a large investment, it is not enough to change American perceptions about electric cars. Joe Biden’s team plans to subsidize electric car prices for individuals, businesses, and governments with tax exemptions, discounts and some other subsidies. On the other hand, US leaders set a target to build millions of charging stations by 2030. The White House owner also “opens a budget”, encourages manufacturers to participate in building electric vehicles and fuel cells at America. Bob Perciasepe, president of the US Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, said: “The United States is in a torrid time when most businesses and the state government look forward to a zero-emission future. carbon but admittedly, infrastructure is the biggest obstacle. The $ 174 billion investment alone will not be able to solve the climate problem or improve the US infrastructure, but it will be a powerful boost. The automakers have filled in their names on the list of greener trendy automakers like General Motors, Volkswagen or Ford Motor that are promising the future of EVs, but they insist they still need federal support. A representative group of manufacturers, suppliers and workers in the auto industry sent a letter to President Joe Biden saying: “The American transport revolution is not limited to one policy, it is dependent on a branch or rank in government or industry. It requires holistic strategy with a wide range of policies from legislators and regulators across economic, social, environmental, and cultural sectors. The group also calls on the government to subsidize, provide loans, and tax exemptions / reductions to stimulate electric vehicle production / research. Cognitive obstacles, technological breakthroughs are required Besides strong investment, the US government also has a big task to determine the success of the transition, which is to convince and change the perception of American people about the benefits of electric cars. According to statistics from Forbes Magazine in 2019, most Americans are not interested in electric cars. And the people’s awareness shift has not changed much despite many programs and strategies on environmental and climate protection that have been implemented during the past time. The demand for EV cars in the US has grown very fast, but in terms of overall premises is still low, accounting for only about 2% of the new car market and 1% of the total number of cars, sport utility vehicles, trucks … moving on the US road. Although the researchers point out that the full cost of owning and operating an EV vehicle will be cheaper after purchasing (fuel cost, lower maintenance frequency than vehicles using internal combustion engines) but perceptions of It is still difficult for people to change because the original electric car price is very high. The cost of buying an electric car is about $ 10,000 higher than the price of conventional trucks and cars in the same segment. The most expensive part of an electric vehicle is the battery. The average price of a battery system in a mid-range sedan is $ 15,000. Although the cost of batteries is on the decline, is expected to continue to drop deeply thanks to improvements in manufacturing and engineering, some scholars believe that, to really help electric cars lower prices to affordable prices, it takes a hit. Deep forays in technology. Most new car buyers in the US have to wait until the gas car breaks down to buy a new car. While, according to calculations from economic prediction firm IHS Markit, the average age of cars and pickups in the US has improved up to 12 years. Inadequacies about the charging station Another worrying problem hampering the U.S. transition to electric vehicles is charging. Currently in the US there are only more than 100,000 gas stations with additional charging equipment for EV vehicles. The Americans with garages will easily add chargers that allow overnight refueling, but this number is not much. Most people living in apartment buildings do not have enough dedicated chargers, or have to drive long distances to public charging stations to refuel their cars. “This is one of the top three reasons that customers often give when not choosing EV cars”, Mr. Sam Abuelsamid, an analyst at Guidehouse Insights magazine pointed out and emphasized, this is what the US administration need to solve. “We need to cover charging stations in areas where ordinary people do not have their own garages, have to park their cars outside like in narrow urban areas and big cities. If we solve that problem well, there will definitely be many people buying electric cars, ”said Sam Abuelsamid. The lesson of stimulating the demand for electric vehicles from China, the biggest rival to the US, shows that increasing the charging infrastructure is the decisive factor that helps Beijing rise to the top of the world in the proportion of electric vehicle users. However, according to experts, when all factors from supporting manufacturers, expanding fast charging systems and changing people’s perceptions converge, the transition to electric vehicles in the US still takes. a decade to come true.

The price is easy to access, the maintenance cost is only 1/3 of a gasoline car Launched on March 24, VinFast VF e34 has an official selling price of VND 690 million, but for customers who ordered before June 30, 2021, the Vietnamese car company offers a special preferential price of only VND 590 million. Includes one-year free battery subscription. This is considered an accessible price for first-time car buyers, young families in big cities in Vietnam. Mr. Tuan Phong (30 years old) ordered VinFast VF e34 just one day after the car was introduced. He said, with outstanding technology such as electric motors, smart features and attractive pre-set price of only 590 million VND and extremely “open” pre-order policy, VF e34 persuaded him to “down money”. without any hesitation. “The battery rental policy that makes the car price more accessible is the first reasonable one. The second is an immediate incentive of 100 million dong for early booking, and the third one is a deposit of only 10 million dong and can be freely refunded / canceled / transferred without penalty, so I have no reason. to hesitate “, Mr. Phong said. According to Mr. Phong, young people often like “delicious-nutritious-cheap” cars because their financial resources are not abundant. With the same amount of VND 590 million, in addition to the VF e34, customers cannot even buy a standard B-class SUV, only a few high-end versions of B-class sedans. Meanwhile, VF e34 Being a model in the higher-end C-segment is clearly a bargain. For young people who buy a car for the first time, owning a car is still vague when it comes to solving some concerns such as the cost of buying a car, maintenance, repair, fuel and parking. Mr. Tuan Phong admitted this, thinking that he was no exception, so he decided to buy an electric car. According to him, VinFast VF e34 not only has the most competitive price in the market, but also has a much more optimal cost-effectiveness than traditional cars. “The cost of electric fuel is cheaper than gasoline, of course. Worth mentioning here is that the maintenance cost of VinFast VF e34 is only 25% -30% of gasoline cars due to its simpler structure, ”said Phong. According to calculations, the total maintenance cost for electric cars after the first 40,000 km is only about 4.4 million VND, and only costs about 12.7 million VND for 120,000 km. Not only that, with VF e34, early customers who order early are also free 17.4 million dong of battery subscription fee in the first year. Overflowing with technology Attractive price does not mean VinFast VF e34 has reduced features, but instead, the car is fully equipped with “toys” and is connected to a smart management application. Through the application, users can update vehicle software, perform many tasks such as checking battery status, travel schedule, maintenance schedule, call for rescue, warning of theft risk, vehicle positioning, error diagnosis … Young customers will also be pleased with the cabin compartment equipped with a 10-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, 6 audio speakers and 2 driver-row USB ports to connect or charge electrical devices. death. The air-conditioning system integrates the air quality control function with the fine dust filter HEPA PM2.5 which is also an advantage for the current air pollution. In addition, the voice control feature to support Vietnamese for multi-regional adaptation is also expected. List of long-term safety technologies, including ABS anti-lock braking, BA emergency brake assist, EBD electronic brake force distribution, ESC electronic balance, HSA horizontal start assist, 360 surveillance camera , lane departure warning, blind spot warning, traffic flow warning until door opening, vehicle warning when reversing, front and rear sensor, tire pressure monitoring, automatic throttle, 6 airbags … Help VinFast VF e34 achieve the highest safety standards. Environmental friendliness Growing up with the Internet, Generation Y and Z (Gen Y – Gen Z) are well aware of the urgency of protecting the environment. Many young people are gradually changing to choose means of using electric energy to limit the impact on the living environment. In the opinion that electric cars are not actually too good for the environment compared to traditional cars, due to the generation of electricity and batteries emitting a lot of CO2, the leading renewable energy company in the UK EDF Energy protested. Accordingly, even with more emissions in the current production process, electric cars are still a “greener” option than traditional cars when taking into account the vehicle lifecycle. That is not to mention that it will be easier and more efficient to treat the waste from the centralized battery production / recycling process in a closed process than to worry about a series of internal combustion engine vehicles discharging every day. . Technology to produce electricity and batteries is also developing and changing day by day, so emissions from manufacturing will be improved positively in the near future. According to EDF Energy, the biggest benefit of electric cars is improved air quality in large cities. Without exhaust pipes, electric cars have absolutely no NOx, HC, CO, CO2 emissions – a combination of exhaust gases that seriously affects human health and living environment. Simply put, electric cars are the foundation for cleaner and cleaner cities and roads. Another fairly common myth is that lithium-ion batteries are as toxic as lead batteries. In fact, lithium-ion batteries are safer, causing less harm to the environment or human health. At the same time, lithium-ion batteries are also of high economic value, so they will be collected, recycled and reused instead of being disposed of as lead batteries, so the risk of environmental pollution is also minimized. In particular, the solution to renting batteries instead of “selling off” cars with batteries to customers will help manufacturers like VinFast better manage the amount of batteries circulating in the market, ensuring that they will not be disposed of indiscriminately, causing harmful to the environment.

On April 15, Sinopec announced in Beijing that it will build 5,000 smart charging stations before 2025. At the same time, the world’s first fully smart charging station jointly built by Sinopec and NIO has also been officially put into operation.

However, cooperation with traditional energy giants has not stopped Weilai’s stock price from falling.The new energy vehicle company, which has a market value of more than US$50 billion, continued its decline on Wednesday, closing down 3.67% on Thursday.The other two Chinese new energy automobile companies listed on the US stock market, Ideal and Xiaopeng, also fell sharply on Thursday. Ideal Motors closed down 6.73% and Xiaopeng Motors closed down 4.53%.

Not only did the capital market fail to respond positively to the cooperation between Sinopec and NIO, many netizens also hesitated about Sinopec’s plan to build charging stations in gas stations. Worried about safety hazards when batteries are placed in gas stations .

Build no less than 5000 mixed stations in the next 5 years

According to a CCTV financial report, on April 15th, Sinopec, the largest domestic oil product sales company, announced in Beijing that 5000 smart charging stations will be built before 2025 At the same time, the world’s first fully intelligent power swap station jointly built by Sinopec and NIO was officially put into operation.

This latest fully intelligent switching station is located in Beijing’s southeast Fourth Ring Road, covering an area of ​​60 square meters. Users do not need to get off the car, and can complete the parking and battery swap business with one click in the car.

Image source: CCTV Finance

According to the Securities Times, this swap station is the second generation of Weilai swap station, which can hold up to 13 batteries. The time for a single power exchange is 4 minutes and 30 seconds, and the daily service capacity can reach up to 312 times. Compared with the first-generation power station, the efficiency is increased by more than 3 times.In addition, the second-generation power station can also support the automatic parking of the vehicle. The user does not need to get off the vehicle, and the vehicle can be automatically replaced by one-key start. .

At present, Sinopec has more than 30,000 gas stations in China, and some of these stations will coordinate the layout of charging and swapping networks with new energy vehicle companies.

Image Source:CCTV Finance

Zhang Yuzhuo, Chairman of Sinopec, said in an interview with CCTV Finance: “ The power exchange can be introduced at Sinopec’s gas stations. In this way, our plan is to build no less than 5,000 mixed stations during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period. The battery should be standardized, and the chassis of the car should also be standardized. In this way, when a gas station is built, all electric vehicles can be replaced. ”

In addition, Sinopec and NIO will conduct all-round cooperation in the fields of charging and swapping layout, new materials and smart vehicles.

Li Bin, the founder of NIO, said: “Next we have more plans to deploy NIO to replace power stations at Sinopec gas stations. In places like Beijing, Shanghai, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta where we have a relatively large number of users, there is another At high speed.”

According to the Economic Observer Network, in addition to NIO, on April 15th, Sinopec also signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with another new energy company, Aodong New Energy. The two parties will fully combine their respective technologies and expertise to conduct research, exploration and promotion. Full-scenario commercial application models such as smart charging will carry out pragmatic cooperation in the research and development, construction, and promotion and application of charging and swapping of electric vehicles.

According to reports, Aodong New Energy has been in the field of battery swapping for more than 20 years. It has mature solutions and practical applications in electric vehicle swap services, battery lifecycle management, and commercial operation of swap stations. It has implemented swap stations in more than 20 cities. Large-scale commercial operations .

Upsurge in the field of power exchange

According to the Securities Times, NIO is the first new energy car company to promote the battery swap model on a large scale, and it is mainly aimed at the private car application market and can only serve NIO owners. This mode requires investment in the construction of replacement stations and the purchase of a large number of batteries. Different companies have different battery pack standards. The construction of the NIO car swap station has not been smooth sailing, and its model has also been questioned in the early stages. Weilai had planned to build 1,100 replacement power stations in 2020, and actually completed about 200 .

At present, the number of domestic power exchange stations is still small. Statistics released by the China Business Industry Research Institute show that As of December 2020, there are a total of 555 power replacement stations in China.Aodong New Energy ranked first in the number of replacement power stations, with a total of 286; Weilai ranked second with a total of 175; Hangzhou Baitan ranked third with a total of 94 .

In addition to Weilai, there are many players in the domestic power exchange field. Among them, BAIC New Energy takes the lead in implementing power exchange. In March of this year, BAIC Blue Valley (600733) stated on the investor interaction platform that BAIC New Energy will build more than 50 new power stations in 2020, and have built more than 100 power stations in Beijing, Hainan and other places.

Recently, many car companies have launched new battery swap models, but most of them are geared towards the to B market. In March of this year, SAIC Group released the Roewe Ei5 quick-change version. The taxi operating company Dazhong Transportation and Jiangnan Travel became the first users of the Roewe Ei5 quick-change version. In the same month, Geely’s battery swap model, the Maple Leaf 80V, was officially launched, mainly for the online car-hailing market.

In the context of China’s goal of achieving carbon peaks by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, considering factors such as grid load and efficiency,The recent upsurge in the field of power exchange is not surprising.

According to CCTV Finance, Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Energy Administration and many other ministries and commissions have repeatedly pointed out that it is necessary to actively support the innovation of the charging and replacement business model to help achieve carbon peak and carbon neutral .ItemThe charging mode of the former new energy electric vehicles is mainly based on the decentralized recharge of residents’ own charging piles. As the contradiction between the increasing number of electric vehicles and the scarcity of parking spaces becomes increasingly prominent, the charging mode will gradually shift to a centralized power supplement based on fast charging and battery swapping modes, which is conducive to the safe operation of the power grid. .

Professor Xia Qing of Tsinghua University said in an interview with CCTV Finance: “The advantage of the power swap mode is that the impact on the distribution network is relatively small. I can concentrate on one place and add the power grid. If it is distributed, it will be more difficult to control. Because the two modes are compared, the cost of the point-of-switch mode is much lower.”

According to industry insiders, The power exchange mode will separate the car and electricity, which will not only allow consumers to reduce the loss of battery depreciation, but also make the battery itself more fully utilized. It can be used as an energy storage device to participate in the consumption of new energy such as photovoltaic and wind power .

“The power swap mode may form a relatively large energy storage power station from small power batteries in a power swapping station. In addition, the cascade utilization of power batteries formed after the power batteries are retired may also extend the power battery business format to the energy storage battery business format. “Chen Haisheng, chairman of the Zhongguancun Energy Storage Industry Technology Alliance, said.

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Electric cars lose control. According to Liu, a few days ago, while driving his familiar Tesla, he suddenly lost control. Worth mentioning, this loss of driving is not due to the subjective expert but the car suddenly stripped the user’s control and drove himself, making Mr. Liu unable to control. After that, the car crashed into the wall before it stopped. Experiencing the shock, Mr. Liu was extremely scared. He said at that time he was very afraid of injuring others and also feared that he would suffer bad damage when he could not control the car. Mr. Luu revealed that at that time he was about to park the car in the underground garage when the car suddenly lost control and he could not activate the brake system. This caused the car to rush forward and eventually hit the wall directly, creating a loud crashing sound. Fortunately the car did not crash into other vehicles or people, otherwise the consequences would be catastrophic. Mr. Liu added, this is the first time he encountered this situation, after the accident happened, he called the police and contacted Tesla, frankly saying to Tesla: “Don’t rush to fix it. repair, please investigate the details of this accident “. Later, Tesla’s engineer responded that the preliminary investigation was due to too low ground friction causing ABS (anti-lock braking system) to start and slip. Currently the accident is being further investigated and handled.

(Illustration)

Last year, Hyundai was considered the most likely partner of Apple in the electric car production project that the company is actively developing.

The Korean company previously confirmed it was in talks with Apple to jointly develop an electric self-driving car after Apple announced its intention to launch a car bearing its name.

However, on Feb. 8, Hyundai confirmed that negotiations on co-manufacturing electric vehicles with tech giant Apple had collapsed.

Since the end of 2020, Apple has shown that it is cherishing a plan to invest $ 3.6 billion to market its electric vehicle products in 2024. However, Apple does not seem to find an umbrella manufacturer. which car is suitable when the negotiation deal with Hyundai or Nissan falls apart.

However, Apple recently publicly negotiated with Magna, a Canadian auto parts supplier. It is known that this company has signed an agreement to supply spare parts for the Fisker Ocean model.

Although Magna does not manufacture cars under its own brand, and LG has never been directly related to the auto industry, the two companies recently announced a “LG Magna e-Powertrain ”. Last December, they agreed to jointly develop motors, inverters and chargers for electric vehicles.

According to the Korea Times, Apple has signed an agreement to produce the first series of electric cars with the consortium. The source of the newspaper stressed that the details of the cooperation are still being discussed, with the announcement of Apple’s electric vehicle likely to take place in 2024.

The Drive notes that Apple chose LG and to create the “Apple Car” is completely grounded, because the iPhone manufacturer has bought LG’s display for a long time. experience in developing and manufacturing custom-made products, and this is different from Hyundai: Magna’s Austrian branch, for example, produces Jaguar I-Pace and Toyota Supra gasoline-powered electric cars. usually, common, normal.

On the Apple side, the company recently said that the first electric car could not be released to the public before 2024. Instead, the plan will be pushed back to 2028 because Apple sets a very high standard for new products. mine.

Apple also admits there is no breakthrough in battery technology. The company was forced to buy exclusive designs and software.

Once the third largest smartphone manufacturer in the world in 2014, Korean electronics company LG on April 5 officially became the first major smartphone brand to completely withdraw from the market.

LG said this is a strategic decision to help the company focus resources on growing areas such as components for electric cars, connected devices, smart homes, robotics, and intelligence. business creation and solutions, as well as platforms and services.

However, electric cars are not perfect and they come with their own pollution problems. Typically, their batteries contain ingredients such as lithium, which require a considerable amount of energy to source and extract.

However, making batteries is only part of the life cycle of electric vehicles. A 2014 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences looked at the entire emissions life cycle of an electric vehicle, from mining the metals needed for batteries to producing the electricity needed. to power them, then compare this to the average emissions of a gasoline car. The team found that when electric cars are charged with coal-fired electricity, they actually do more harm to the environment than conventional gasoline cars.

Buying an electric car is much more affordable than a gas or diesel from an environmental perspective. Illustration

But that is not a problem because today, in most countries around the world, the national grid is “clean” enough for electric cars to beat competitors running on gasoline.

There are very few countries in the world where the grid is entirely or mostly coal. China is one of them. In 2019, an estimated 58% of the country’s electricity supply comes from coal. China’s grid is improving, however, with more investments in renewables – for example, it has twice the capacity of wind power as the US and builds more solar panels than any other country. Every year, according to Nature.

Mr. Gordon Bauer, an electric vehicle researcher at the International Council for Clean Transport in San Francisco, USA, said the current improved grid model, with more renewable energy and less fossil fuels. , is a global model and helps improve the environmental quality of electric vehicles. “As the grid becomes” greener “, the use of electric vehicles will be more perfect,” he said.

In a study published this month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, Colin Sheppard, a researcher in energy and transport systems engineering at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, Work with Gordon Bauer to model a hypothetical future scenario where all cars are powered by electricity. “We want to understand the impact of energy, infrastructure and emissions if all passenger vehicles are electrified,” Sheppard told Live Science.

For example, Mr. Sheppard calculated that if all private vehicles in the United States were powered by electricity, the annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the country would be 46% (0.5 gigatons of CO2) compared to cars. run on conventional gas.

This reduction could be further increased if the vehicles were subjected to so-called “controlled charging”, a technique also known as “smart charging”, in which the vehicles are recharged into Timing is selected to minimize the financial cost of electricity generation. (For example, charging at night is generally less expensive than during the day; this strategy also favors plants that produce more energy efficiently to generate cheaper electricity.) If all privately owned electric cars were charged in the same way, emissions savings could be increased by up to 49% annually.

In addition, electric vehicles are said to also emit CO2, but not during use, but when generating electricity – this is why many people believe that this car is not completely pure. Even the president of Toyota once harshly said that electric cars are being overblown.

In fact, electrochemical vehicles including Hybrid (HEV), Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) still emit CO2 even when used (because there is still an internal combustion engine) and possibly when generating electricity, depending on how it is generated. electricity. While pure electric vehicles can only generate CO2 in the production process, not when used.

Depending on the source of electricity generation is hydroelectricity, wind power or thermal power, nuclear power … that the amount of CO2 generation will be different. If hydroelectricity, CO2 level is almost zero, while thermal power is too much CO2.

Research by Bloomberg NEF in Thailand shows that electric cars generate 60% of the CO2 equivalent of a gasoline equivalent vehicle. This source of CO2 comes entirely from production, because Thailand generates electricity mainly from natural gas. While internal combustion engine vehicles produce CO2 in an 80/20 ratio between use and production.

For example, if a gasoline car generates 100 g CO2 / km 80 g from use and 20 g from gas production. While a corresponding electric car model only generates 60 g of CO2 from use. As such, electric cars are still significantly cleaner than gasoline cars.

For countries with clean electricity generation sources such as Norway, up to 95% of electrical energy comes from hydroelectricity, CO2 emissions are even lower. The future of electric vehicles is becoming clearer as more automakers are involved in the production and research of electric vehicles. Users often do not care too much about CO2 emissions in production, but realize that when used, it will help where cars circulate with less pollution.

Ultimately, the conclusion is that buying an electric car is much more affordable than a gas or diesel car from an environmental perspective.

Thu Ha (Th)