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      Volvo could be switching to real names – Roadshow

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      Like many other automakers, Volvo envisions an all-electric future.
      Volvo

      Could Volvo be pulling a Lincoln and switching to real names for its future products? Going by a report from our friends at Automotive News, the Swedish brand may be in the process of dropping its long-running alphanumeric nomenclature.On Wednesday during a presentation about the company’s upcoming electrified future, an event where it revealed the Concept Recharge EV, announced future battery technologies and talked about its new Android Automotive OS-based infotainment system, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson said the company’s upcoming all-electric flagship will not carry the XC90 moniker. “This car will have a name, more like a child,” he noted. Whether that means it will be called Sven or Abigail or something more evocative like the Climate Cooler XL or the Ice Age Initiator remains to be seen.But why go with a new name when XC90 is already so solidly established? Well, Volvo is doing this for a number of reasons. First, the battery-powered utility vehicle rides on a new platform, will only be sold online and comes standard with lidar for better safety. Beyond that, it will eventually offer advanced hands-free driving capability and, like a Ford F-150 Lightning, be able to power your home during blackouts since it will be capable of bidirectional charging. Pretty important stuff, and thanks to its space-saving EV architecture, this new flagship-caliber product should offer a sprawl-out-spacious interior.This new, all-electric utility vehicle’s name will be unveiled when the production model debuts, likely next year. The machine is expected to be built at Volvo’s factory in South Carolina with deliveries kicking off in 2023. Curiously, this will not be the only product to feature the Swedish automaker’s new naming convention. According to the Automotive News report, the company’s upcoming EV onslaught will also benefit from the same nomenclature. These future vehicles will be built atop Volvo’s new second-generation Scalable Product Architecture.

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      GM to source lithium from the US – Roadshow

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      Southern California has vast quantities of lithium brine that could be used to power the future.
      Controlled Thermal Resources

      As the automotive industry slowly switches from internal combustion to electric propulsion systems, it may be trading one dependency for another. Instead of being at the mercy of fluctuating oil prices, car companies are increasingly reliant on lithium, a critical component in advanced electric-vehicle batteries. To ensure that it will have a stable supply of this material, GM is working to source lithium from its own backyard, the United States. On Friday, GM announced a strategic partnership with and “multimillion-dollar” investment in Controlled Thermal Resources, which was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in both California and Australia. When asked by Roadshow for some financial specifics about this deal, the automaker declined to comment. CTR will supply sustainably produced lithium sourced from its Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power project located near the Salton Sea in Southern California. If everything goes according to plan, GM could have all the lithium it needs because this region of California contains one of the world’s largest known sources of lithium brine, enough to potentially meet 40% of global demand. Today, around 95% of the world’s lithium comes from a handful of sources including Australia, China and South America. Extracting this material also typically involves destructive open-pit mining. But this is one area where CTR’s technology shines.Electric-vehicle batteries require large quantities of lithium to function.
      GM
      Using renewable power, CTR’s closed-loop lithium extraction process is expected to dramatically reduce the time it takes to produce battery-grade lithium while causing negligible environmental degradation. Basically, it extracts brine from deep in the earth, removes the lithium it contains and then pumps the brine back into the ground. CTR’s operations also have a near-zero carbon footprint and take up little physical space.Thanks to this investment, GM will have the first rights to lithium produced from this development, which is expected to yield significant volumes of usable material by 2024. If all goes to plan, the automaker’s partnership with CTR could make it possible for GM to meet its ambitious electrification goals. The automaker wants to eliminate tailpipe emissions from light-duty vehicles by the year 2035 and make its global operations carbon-neutral by 2040.Doug Parks, GM executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain said in a news release, “By securing and localizing the lithium supply chain in the US, we’re helping ensure our ability to make powerful, affordable, high-mileage EVs while also helping to mitigate environmental impact.” Parks said GM will work with “state and local leaders” as well as CTR.

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      Tesla Offered 1,000 Acres Of Land By Gujarat Govt – To Setup Electric Car Plant

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      Rendered image. Credit – Backstage With MillionairesTesla would enter the Indian auto market with the likely launch of Model 3 electric sedan slated later this year
      Tesla has already established its entity in India with its India headquarters based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It has also decided to set up shops in three different cities of the country- Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru. The electric car manufacturer is currently scouting for a place where it could establish the company’s first assembly line.
      While it has been reported that Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat are all keen to welcome the American brand with open arms, the Gujarat Government has meanwhile offered 1000 acres of land to Tesla to build its local production facility. The company is presently scrutinizing all available options.
      Tesla Playing Out All Options
      According to a senior Gujarat government official, Tesla is undecided whether to opt for Gujarat or dig deep in Karnataka. The official quoted, “There is little or no social life in Gujarat, while it is not so in Bengaluru. They are trying to negotiate with both Gujarat and Karnataka governments.” The American EV brand officially set its foot in India on January 8, 2021, when it registered itself as Tesla India Motors and Energy Private Limited in Bengaluru.
      The recent further discloses that the Maharashtra Government has also offered a piece of land in the state for the purpose of building its local plant. However, talks didn’t materialize ever since.
      Tesla Model 3 Spied Testing In India
      It has come to light that Tesla officials wanted a big web of charging stations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region as well as near the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, the port where the cars will land following imports. Tesla has partnered with 27 vendors in India out of which 20 are said to belong from Maharashtra.
      Since their last interaction in 2020, Tesla hasn’t responded to the Maharashtra Government. Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister had proclaimed that the carmaker will set up its factory and R&D facility in his state shortly after it registered itself with the Registrar of Companies with a Bengaluru address. However, the Karnataka CM later deleted that tweet that contained this information.
      Gujarat Likely Host
      Meanwhile, Gujarat has offered land both inside and outside Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) in Mundra. APSEZ has an area of 8,400 hectares out of which around half is lying vacant. SEZs are designated duty-free enclaves where the Indian customs law does not apply. What also holds in favour of Gujarat is its new EV policy introduced a few days ago that not only offers subsidies on purchase of EVs but also provides setting up of necessary charging infrastructure.
      Additionally, land in Gujarat is far cheaper than that in Karnataka. Reports claim that the Gujarat government is looking to build an electric vehicle hub in Mundra and, therefore, has also proposed to allocate land for ancillary units that would assist Tesla. This would include land for an EV battery manufacturing unit as well as other component manufacturers.
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      Audi E-Tron Electric SUV Booking Opens In India At Rs 5 Lakh

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      Audi eTron
      Upon its arrival in India, Audi e-Tron will compete against other luxury electric SUVs such as Mercedes Benz EQC and Jaguar I-Pace
      After a long and arduous wait, Audi will launch its fully electric SUV e-Tron in India on July 22, 2021. Bookings for the upcoming EV have officially opened from today, at a token amount of Rs 5 lakh.
      Two differed body styles
      e-Tron is Audi’s first brand of fully electric cars and the company will be launching three variants of the car in the country which will incorporate two body styles. It will be available in 50, 55 and 55 Sportback variants with the first two being SUVs and the last one being a Coupe-style SUV.
      Audi was expected to launch e-Tron much earlier but plans got deferred mainly due to outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in India. Like most modern EVs, Aufi will utilise a skateboard architecture. All variants will be equipped with two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors, one at each axle thus offering Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel-drive system. e-Tron will be brought to India as a Completely Built-Up Unit (CBU).
      Exterior Design
      Speaking of its design, e-Tron flaunts a massive octagonal single-frame grille with vertical struts upfront. It is flanked by Matrix LED headlights on both sides featuring four horizontal struts that form e-tron-specific signatures in LED DRLs.
      Audi eTron
      At rear, the SUV sports wraparound LED taillights connected to each other across the tailgate by a strip of LED light. In addition, the slats in the large diffuser is an attraction since it does not get an exhaust tailpipe.
      Other exterior highlights include glossy black claddings, diamond-cut alloy wheels and e-Tron logo on brake calipers and charging flap which truly stand out in its orange colour. The only difference between SUV and Sportback style is that the latter gets a coupe-like sloping roofline as opposed to a conventional roofline in the former.
      Specs
      In terms of specs, e-Tron 50 forms the entry-level variant with slightly lower specs whereas e-Tron 55 and e-Tron 55 Sportback share the same specifications slightly higher than the base variant. e-Tron 50 features a 71kWh battery pack which is paired to a dual-motor setup and cranks out 308 bhp and 540 Nm of peak torque. e-Tron 55 gets a larger 95kWh battery pack powering the same dual motor setup.
      This powertrain pumps out 355 bhp and 561 Nm of peak torque. These figures could be boosted up to 403 bhp and 664 Nm for a short instance. The base variant is offered with a claimed single-charge range of 341 km and a top-speed capped at 190kmph. The top-spec variant is offered with a range of up to 441km on a single charge and a top speed limited to 200kmph. Prices of e-Tron SUV is likely to start around Rs 1.0 crore and go up to Rs 1.30 crore for the top-spec 55 Sportback. More

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      Kia Seltos Based Electric SUV Spied Testing For The First Time

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      Kia Seltos Based Electric SUV
      Kia hasn’t yet revealed its plans for battery-powered vehicles in India
      While Kia has a long list of models in its global portfolio, the utility vehicles are the ones on which we should be focussed since the Korean carmaker had earlier confirmed that it will concentrate only on UVs- SUVs, crossovers and MPVs for the Indian market. The brand has chalked out a plan for future battery-powered vehicles, most of which belong to the UV segment.
      The company currently has only one electric UV in its international lineup in the form of the flagship EV6 while another entry-level electric SUV named Niro EV has already been revealed. Kia is reportedly planning to bridge this gap by introducing its third electric SUV slotted in between them.
      More Details
      This upcoming SUV is likely to be based on Seltos and test mules of the electric crossover have already been spotted somewhere in South Korea. This upcoming electric car is expected to wear the nameplate of either EV4 or EV5 (most probably the former). It will measure about 4.3 metre in length which is similar to Seltos thus placing it in the compact C-segment category for the Indian market.
      There are no confirmed details regarding the specs of the upcoming electric SUV as of now but we can expect it to be offered with options of single- and dual-motor configurations along with multiple battery sizes and power outputs up to 239kW.
      Kia Seltos Based Electric SUV
      The EV shown in the spy shots is seen wearing heavily wrapped camouflage with an upright stance, a sporty rear bash plate and a rising window line. The real-world images are in line with a shadowy teaser released earlier this year, depicting a small electric SUV with compact dimensions and a boxy silhouette.
      Future Kia electric models
      Kia has promised to launch as many as eleven new EVs by 2027 and this could be one of them. Out of these eleven, seven models will be based on E-GMP architecture while out of these seven models four of them will be SUVs or people carriers. Further details on the upcoming electric SUV are expected to surface online in the coming few months.
      Reports also speculate that the upcoming EV4 (or EV5) might even launch before Niro EV in 2022 as the latter’s launch has been pushed to 2023 according to local Korean publications.
      The South Korean brand will also launch a couple of hybrid models in 2022. The upcoming EV spotted in these images is very unlikely to launch in India in the near future. If Kia were to introduce an EV in the near future in India it will most likely be in the subcompact segment which would serve as an entry-level vehicle. Niro EV thus fits the picture better for the Indian market.
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      Tata Motors To Launch 10 New EVs By 2025 – Electric Altroz And HBX Planned

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      Image for reference
      Green plates will be much easier to spot on the streets in the coming years
      As the automotive industry begins its transition to an all-electric ecosystem, carmakers are working proactively to utilize available opportunities in the best possible manner. Tata Motors is one such company that has outlined an aggressive strategy to strengthen its presence in EV space. The company enjoys the first-mover advantage in EV segment and already has the top selling Nexon EV in its portfolio. That’s a solid base to further build its electric portfolio.
      10 EVs by 2025
      While many automakers are still focused on fossil fuel cars, Tata Motors has decided to lead the charge in EV space. In its 76th annual report, the company’s chairman N Chandrasekaran has stated that 10 new BEV vehicles will be included in the Group’s portfolio by 2025.
      Tata Motors will also be working on developing charging infrastructure across the country. This will help promote greater acceptability of EVs among customers. Another area of focus is sourcing battery packs. For this, the company has started searching for the right partners in India and Europe.
      In FY2021, more than 4k units of Nexon EV were sold. That’s around 2% of the company’s overall sales. The company believes that share of EVs in its portfolio will increase exponentially in the coming years. The company has plans to launch Altroz EV, HBX EV, etc.
      Tata Altroz Electric at Auto Expo 2020
      Tata Motors will also be focusing on future disruptions in the EV space such as autonomous, connected and shared mobility. For that, an automotive software and engineering vertical could be set up within the company.
      JLR to become fully electric by 2036
      Internationally, the shift to electric will be led by Jaguar Land Rover. JLR has plans to achieve a fully electric portfolio by 2036. Jaguar will achieve that target much earlier by 2025. In case of JLR, 60% of the company’s sales are expected to come from BEVs by 2030. Tata Group will be working to develop sustainable business models that will help achieve these ambitious EV goals.
      Tata Motors believes that the company could emerge as one of the world leaders in sustainable mobility. It has a global presence across 150 countries. It employs more than 750,000 people and has a customer base in excess of 650 million. The company has the resources and intelligence to become a leader in EV space.
      Pointing out to immediate challenges, Chandrasekaran said that some delays could be expected due to on-going Covid-19 pandemic. Global shortage of semiconductors could also hold back production. However, the company is hopeful that things will become much better by next year and beyond. More

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      Ampere ELE Electric Rickshaw Gets A New Website – Detailing Specs, Price, Savings

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      Ampere Electric RickshawThe company claims that as compared to the conventional petrol powered auto rickshaw, Ele e-rickshaw will relate to savings up to Rs 2 per km
      Ampere Electric has launched a new website, which draws attention to the company’s new-rickshaw brand ELE, which targets B2B customers especially in semi urban and rural areas. The website lists out details of products with emphasis on smart driving, sustainability and lower cost of operation along with lower maintenance cost and added saving to buyer.
      It has helped to offer added employment in the smaller towns and cities across India in Q4 2021 recorded 104 percent growth over the same period last quarter. Demand is particularly noteworthy in North and North Eastern markets boosted by a strong network of 165 dealerships across the country.
      Savings
      Ampere Electric claims that the ELE e-rickshaw is highly cost effective and when compared to conventional auto rickshaws, saves owners upto Rs 2 per km. It is convenient for last mile shared mobility solutions offering employment to auto drivers, rickshaw pullers, migrant workers and also to the youth in rural areas and smaller towns and cities.
      The ELE e-rickshaw helps to reduce upto 4 lakh metric tons of CO2 emissions and is currently rated among the top 3 brands with over 10,000 units sold to date and clocking use of over 374 kms over the years. The ELE e-rickshaw segment has seen outstanding growth over the past year.
      Ampere Electric Rickshaw
      As the company focuses on expanding its share in this segment, new initiatives are being planned. New dealership applications are being fast-tracked and the company has entered into alliance with several financing companies to offer buyers attractive financial options with easy EMIs and low down payments.
      With ELE e-rickshaws, Ampere is also showing its support to the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat by helping people at the bottom of the pyramid. You can take a look at the new website here.
      Ampere Two Wheeler price cut
      Following the recent revision in the FAME II subsidy, Ampere has cut prices of its electric bike range upto Rs 9,000. The revised prices now stand at Rs 59,990 and Rs 65,990 for Zeal and Magnus Pro model respectively. The company stated that the Ampere scooters are being used extensively during the second wave of COVID-19 in particular for home delivery of essential goods and services.
      This year, Greaves Cotton Limited, plans on spending Rs 110 crores on its electric two wheeler plant in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu from where the company plans to roll out roll out two wheelers by the end of this year. According to company’s statement, initially, the plant production capacity could be around 1 lakh units annually to be increased to one million units gradually. More

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      Tata Nexon Electric Updated With New Alloys, Infotainment System

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      2021 Tata Nexon Electric Updated
      Tata Nexon Electric is offered in three trims- XM, XZ+ and XZ+ Lux in the price range between Rs 13.99 and Rs 16.56 lakh (ex-showroom)
      Tata Motors recently brought in a few updates for Nexon a few months ago. The subcompact UV got a fresh set of alloy wheels and also an updated infotainment unit. These updates have now been extended to its battery-powered sibling Nexon Electric.
      New Alloy Wheels
      The new alloy wheel design is an exact replica of the alloys which made their debut in the IC engine-powered Nexon earlier this year. The new 5-spoke alloy wheel designs have replaced the older V-shaped alloy design which frankly looked unique, bolder and better.
      The 5-spoke diamond-cut design looks conventional and has probably been introduced to cut down some costs. The wheel sizes remain identical at 16-inches. These alloy wheels have been made available in XZ+ and XZ+ Lux variants of Nexon Electric while the base-spec XM trim gets steel rims with wheel caps. The new units will start reaching dealerships in a few days.
      Physical Buttons Deleted
      Another crucial update made is that the physical buttons for the infotainment system controls have been removed. These buttons were located just below the central air-con vents and were offered with the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is available with XZ+ and XZ+ Lux trim.
      2021 Tata Nexon Electric Updated
      The physical buttons that have been removed include Home, Favourites, Back, Smartphone and Next / Previous. The rotary dials for volume and tuner have also been removed. The available space now has the ‘Nexon’ logo.
      The functions of these physical buttons have been integrated into the touchscreen, making it a completely digital experience. The 7.0-inch infotainment unit houses Tata’s Connect Next OS with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It is also compatible with the Zconnect App that has over 35 connected car tech features.
      While physical buttons do make clutter in the centre dashboard, some people prefer buttons and rotary dials for an old-school charm. They are also far more convenient to use. Prices for the Nexon EV remain unchanged with the base variant offered at Rs 13.99 lakh and top-end trim available at Rs 16.56 lakh (both prices ex-showroom). Detailed walkaround video of updated Nexon EV can be seen below, credit to TheCarsShow by Arsh Jolly.
      [embedded content]
      Powertrain Specs
      Nexon Electric is powered by Tata’s Ziptron powertrain technology which features a 30.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack paired to an electric motor. This powertrain returns an output of 127 bhp and 245 Nm of peak torque and a claimed range of 312km on a single charge. The battery takes around 8 hours to fully replenish using a home wall box charger. Using a fast charger, the battery could be juiced up 0-80 percent within 60 minutes. More