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      Ford F-150 Lightning Can Keep the Lights On When Your Power Goes Out

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      The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning will be able to power a home for up three days when connected to Ford’s available Charge Station Pro, Ford says.The wall unit will require a 100-amp circuit, which could prove costly. The F-150 Lightning will arrive at dealers next spring and will start around $42,000.When the electric Ford F-150 Lightning isn’t blasting to 60 mph in a claimed 4.5 seconds or doing truck things with up to 10,000 pounds in tow, it will be able to act as a knight in painted aluminum in the event of a natural disaster or power outage by feeding its stored energy back into owners’ homes.

      In previous experiments, we’ve powered a house and also fed some juice to a Ford Mustang Mach-E using the 7.6 kW available from the bed-mounted plugs of the F-150 Hybrid. Similarly, GMC recently announced the 2024 Hummer will be capable of bleeding 6.6 kW from its Ultium battery pack. The Lightning will take it to the next level. Ford’s 80-amp Charge Station Pro with Intelligent Backup Power features a CCS charging plug, which is the type found at Level 3 fast chargers. When connected to the Charge Station Pro, optional with the Standard Range battery but standard with the Extended Range pack, the F-150 Lightning can feed 9.6 kilowatts of power through the CCS plug’s larger bottom ports, through the Charge Station Pro, and back into a home’s power panel. When power is restored to the grid, the Charge Station Pro reverts to replenishing the Lightning’s battery. Ford claims that based on the national average of a home using 30.0 kWh per day, the Extended Range battery can supply a home for up to three days. Ford has yet to release the official capacity of the batteries, but we predict Ford will have some baked-in fail-safes to prevent the Lightning from being fully depleted while powering your hot tub. At a later date, Ford will reveal Ford Intelligent Power, which will use the Lightning’s stored energy during high-cost and peak energy hours. When there’s less strain on the grid during overnight hours and costs are lower, the Charge Station Pro will then recharge the Lightning.
      With the 80-amp Charge Station Pro comes a yet-to-be-determined cost of installing the trick charging unit. For one, Ford has not announced how much the option will be for trucks equipped with the smaller battery pack. There’s also the complexity of actually feeding the station enough power. Most modern homes are constructed around a 240-volt and 200-amp feed from the power companies. When factoring in 30-amp draws from an air conditioner, drying machine, water heater, and anything else pulling power, there’s not enough juice left to feed the 100-amp circuit required to supply the Charge Station Pro. Older homes may only have 100 amps supplied to the entire service panel. A solution for this is costly: upgrade, or add an additional service line supplied by the power company, which can vary wildly depending on location. Also, a transfer switch will be required to backfill the home’s power supply. Ford has announced a partnership with solar supplier Sunrun to help with installation and home integration, but details have yet to be released.
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      Tesla 'under Review' At California DMV for 'Full Self Driving' Claims

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      The California DMV confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that it is taking a look at how Tesla talks about its “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) technology.In the fine print, the automaker makes it clear that FSD is not actually fully self-driving.But CEO Elon Musk has said multiple times that self-driving Teslas are just around the corner, with the latest missed deadline the end of 2020. We’ve said it before, and we’ll keep saying it for a while: there are no full self-driving cars available for sale today. There are test programs, sure, but completely autonomous vehicles remain a technology from the future. Auto companies that try to promote their driver-assistance features as “full self driving” could run afoul of regulators. See also: Tesla.

      The California Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed to the Los Angeles Times this week that it is reviewing Tesla’s claims for its “full self-driving” option. Although FSD isn’t widely available today, it’s been available for pre-purchase for a couple years now. It’s currently priced at $10,000 and available on every Tesla. The DMV did not provide any more details about the review, but the Times notes that if the DMV finds Tesla’s communications to be misleading, then it could suspend or revoke the company’s autonomous driving testing permits, and then, a DMV spokesperson told the Times, “a vehicle operating on public roads using autonomous technology without first obtaining a permit can be removed from the public roadway by a police officer.”Tesla’s Autopilot adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology is standard on each of its model lines today, while FSD is a stand-alone option. The first major, and widely available, FSD release, which Tesla calls “Autosteer on city streets,” is supposed to be released later this year. However, in the meantime, those who opt to pay for the future download now get a few extra features in the meantime, including automatic lane changes on the highway, automatically slowing for stop signs and traffic lights, Summon, and auto park. The fine print does make it clear that Autopilot “require[s] active driver supervision and [does] not make the vehicle autonomous,” but that disclaimer can be found on the order page, not where Tesla describes the technology on its model pages.Tesla’s FSD hype has already landed the company in legal trouble. In July 2020, a German court ruled that the automaker misled consumers about its vehicles’ automated driving abilities, and banned Tesla from using the words “full potential for autonomous driving” and “Autopilot inclusive” in its ads.

      Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made multiple bold statements about his vehicles’ autonomous driving technology. Last July, for example, he claimed fully autonomous technology would be ready by the end of 2020. “I’m extremely confident that Level 5 or essentially complete autonomy will happen, and I think it will happen very quickly,” he said at the time. “I think at Tesla, I feel like we are very close to Level 5 autonomy. I think I remain confident that we will have the basic functionality for Level 5 autonomy complete this year.” Musk has not commented or tweeted about the California DMV situation. According to documents obtained by PlainSite, Tesla privately told the California DMV late last year that FSD is not actually a fully autonomous technology. There have already been a number of crashes involving Teslas where there were questions about whether the drivers thought the car was able to drive itself. There have also been cases where drivers specifically attempted to defeat the vehicle’s modest safety features, which are supposed to only keep working with an attentive driver in the driver’s seat. Currently, the DMV considers Tesla Autopilot to be a Level 2 driver-assist technology, the Times notes. There are many other Level 2 driver-assistance technologies on the market, and the automakers selling these vehicles do not describe the technology as fully autonomous.

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      How to Watch the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning EV Pickup Make Its Debut

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      The all-electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning will debut at 9:30 p.m. ET tonight, May 19.The event will be livestreamed on multiple online platforms from Ford’s world headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.Based on images leaked yesterday during President Biden’s visit to Michigan, the Lightning looks similar to the regular Ford F-150 pickup.Move over, Mustang Mach-E. There’s a new, less sacrilegious Ford EV coming to town. The highly anticipated, fully electric 2022 F-150 Lightning pickup truck will make its official debut to the world at 9:30 p.m. EST tonight, May 19, via live stream.

      People can watch the reveal on multiple online platforms, including Ford’s website, YouTube, Twitter, and, of course, Facebook.

      Ford

      It shares a name with the high-performance F-150 Lightning pickup from the late ’90s and early 2000s, and Ford CEO Jim Farley has said the new all-electric version will be even quicker in a straight line. The new Lightning will also have two electric motors–one on each axle, creating all-wheel drive–and its battery pack is expected to provide up to 300 miles of range. The new Lightning should also be more practical than the supercharged gas burner of old, since the EV truck will actually be offered with a crew cab, judging by the photos that leaked yesterday during President Biden’s visit to the Ford Rouge electric-vehicle facility in Dearborn. The Rouge Center is also where the 2022 F-150 Lightning and its batteries will be built and produced before it goes on sale, which is said to be in the middle of 2022.

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      Royal Enfield Recalls 2.36 Lakh Motorcycles – Meteor, Bullet, Classic

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      Image for reference. Credit – stayaliveRoyal Enfield through a media release assured that it is committed to swiftly implement the recall action
      Royal Enfield has issued a recall of its motorcycles due to a manufacturing defect found in one of the parts used across some of its models. This recall is said to affect as many as 236,966 units of specific models including Meteor 350, Classic 350 and Bullet 350.
      Defect Identified
      In a mail released by the Chennai-based bikemaker, it states that the defect is in the ignition coil that can cause misfiring and reduced vehicle performance. In some exceptional cases, it can even cause an electric short circuit. The defect was uncovered during routine internal testing.
      The company has further stated that has been clearly identified and is limited to only specific batches of material sourced from an external supplier. The recall is set to affect motorcycles manufactured between December 2020 and April 2021.
      Meteor models affected and set to be recalled have been manufactured between the above-mentioned period. While Bullet and Classic models affected have been manufactured and sold between January and April 2021.
      New Royal Enfield Classic
      Recall Process
      Royal Enfield estimates that less than 10 percent of these bikes recalled will require replacement of the suspected part. The motorcycles will undergo inspection and if required, replacement of the said defective part and no extra cost will be charged on the customers.
      Although the iconic brand hasn’t revealed a specific start date for the recall activity, the service teams, and/or local dealerships will begin reaching out to consumers whose motorcycle Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) number falls within the manufacturing period mentioned above.
      Customers can also reach out to their local Royal Enfield Workshops proactively from their end or call Royal Enfield on 1800-210-007 to verify. This recall action will be applicable to Meteor. Classic and Bullet models sold not just in India but in other countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand as well. The company has reiterated that it has very stringent sourcing protocols and that all its motorcycles are rigorously tested to global validation standards of quality and durability.
      Classic, Bullet, Meteor Specs
      While Classic and Bullet share the same older generation underpinnings and 350cc motor, Meteor 350 is based on the new generation architecture and engine. Classic 350 and Bullet 350 are powered by a 346cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine which produces 19.2 bhp and 28 N of peak torque.
      Whereas, the latest cruiser from Royal Enfield is powered by a 349cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, long-stroke motor which kicks out 20.2 bhp of power and 27 Nm of peak torque. All three motorcycles are offered with a five-speed gearbox. More

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      KTM India Sales, Exports Breakup April 2021 – Duke, RC 125, 200, 250, 390 ADV

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      Image – Motor MurahKTM India domestic sales dipped while exports reported growth in April 2021
      Two-wheeler sales in India during the month of April 2021 were badly affected by second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The second wave swept the nation and lockdowns and plants being shut threw production and sales into complete turmoil. The situation is set to get worse in May 21 with every two wheeler maker reporting lower footfalls as a result of the lockdown.
      KTM India sales figures for April 2021 are now available. While we cannot compare sales with that of April 2020 when sales were nil, we do compare it to sales in March 21, the month in which two wheeler sales had shown some semblance of improvement.
      KTM India Domestic Sales
      KTM India has reported de-growth in terms of domestic sales to the extent of 27.26 percent. Sales which had stood at 6,217 units in March 21 dipped to 4,522 units in April 21. The company’s 200cc range posted the highest sales with 1,410 units sold in April 21, down by 36.66 percent as against 2,226 units sold in March 21.
      KTM’s 200cc range commands a 31.81 percent share and does contribute reasonable numbers each month even as it is one of the costliest 200cc bikes in India, with a starting price of Rs 1.82 lakh.
      KTM India Sales and Exports April 2021
      KTM 125cc range also saw lower MoM sales at 1,172 units sold in April 21 as against 1,719 units sold in March 21. KTM India has been actively testing the updated 125 Duke and 250 Duke, both of which have been noted with new overall designs and revised engines, frames, sub-frames, swing-arms.
      Sales of the KTM 250 and 390 also fell substantially to 1,089 units and 851 units in April 21 respectively. This was against 1,249 units and 1,023 units sold in March 21. KTM 390 is also set to get a major overhaul for 2022 with complete overhaul of its design, hardware and electronic package, and will hit road across India early next year. The old bike has been taken off the shelf to make place for the new bike.
      KTM India Exports
      KTM India noted a 161.90 percent growth in exports in April 21 to 12,477 units, up from 4,764 units exported in March 21, a volume gain of 7,713 units. The KTM 390 was most in demand in global markets with 5,563 units shipped in the past month, up from 2,392 units exported in March 21.
      The KTM 200cc noted the most percentage growth at 458.33 percent to 3,685 units, up from 660 units exported in March 21. Export growth was also noted in the case of the KTM 125 and 250, growing 83.81 percent and 101.99 percent to 2,316 units and 913 units respectively. These lower domestic sales but higher exports took total KTM sales in April 2021 to 16,999 units, up 54.80 percent over 10,981 units sold in March 21. More

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      350cc Motorcycle Sales April 2021 – Classic, Bullet, Meteor, Electra, CB350

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      Image – Jet WheelsWhile domestic MoM growth is negative, exports have registered impressive numbers
      A total of 47,650 units were sold in the domestic market in April 2021, which is negative MoM growth of -22.14%. Sales during March 2021 were higher at 61,201 units. Excluding Bullet 350, all other motorcycles in the list have negative MoM growth. The on-going challenges due to pandemic and lockdown are primarily responsible for drop in sales.
      On the other hand, exports have registered 57.96% MoM growth in April 2021. A total of 2,720 units were exported in April 2021, as compared to 1,722 units in March 2021. All motorcycles have positive MoM growth.
      350cc motorcycle domestic sales April 2021
      Royal Enfield Classic 350 continues to lead, even though MoM growth is down by -26.50%. A total of 23,298 units were sold in April, as compared to 31,696 units in March. Classic 350 commanded a market share of 48.89% in April 2021.
      At number two is Bullet 350 with sales of 9,908 units in April. MoM growth is at 2.22%, as compared to 9,693 units sold in March. Bullet market share is at 20.79%. Meteor 350 takes the third spot with sales of 7,844 units in April. MoM numbers are down by -25.97%, as compared to 10,596 units sold in March. Market share is at 16.46%.
      350cc Motorcycle Sales and Exports – April 2021
      Next is Electra 350 with sales of 3,631 units. MoM sales growth is negative at -26.11%, as compared to 4,914 units sold in March. Market share is at 7.62%. At number five is Honda CB350 with sales of 2,969 units. MoM growth is down by -30.99%, as compared to 4,302 units sold in March. CB350 market share is at 6.23%.
      350cc motorcycle exports April 2021
      Meteor 350 leads with 1,143 units exported in April 2021. MoM growth is at 28.43%, as compared to 890 units exported in March 2021. Meteor 350 percentage share in exports is at 42.02%. At number two is CB350, which appears to be gaining popularity in overseas markets. MoM export growth is a whopping 460.00%, up from 150 units in March to 840 units in April. Share in exports is at 30.88%.
      Classic 350 is next with exports of 724 units in April. MoM growth is 6.63%, as compared to 679 units exported in March. Share in exports is at 26.62%. At number four is Electra 350 with exports of 13 units. MoM growth is 333.33%, as compared to 3 units exported in March. Share in exports is at 0.48%.
      Challenges for the auto sector are expected to continue for some more time till the pandemic situation comes under control. Lockdown in various cities is creating production hurdles as well as adversely impacting demand. New product launches and deliveries have been impacted as a result. Hopefully, just like last year, the auto sector will be able to make a strong comeback by end of this fiscal. More

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      Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter Posts Highest Ever Sales, Beats TVS iQube – April 2021

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      Bajaj Chetak Electric ScooterBoth Chetak and iQube will soon be available in multiple cities pan India
      While there are many electric two wheeler brands in the market, Chetak and iQube are the only ones from mainstream manufacturers. Sales numbers are still relatively small, as compared to that of petrol powered two wheelers.
      But that could change soon, as both Bajaj and TVS have planned to expand their presence in more cities in the country. Chetak is currently available in Pune and Bengaluru, whereas iQube has presence in Bengaluru and Delhi.
      Chetak vs. iQube sales April 2021
      Bajaj appears to have resolved the problems related to shortage of imported components for Chetak. It’s evident in April sales that have zoomed a whopping 464.44% MoM. A total of 508 units were sold in April, as compared to 90 units in March. With this, Chetak has taken the lead over iQube. In earlier months, iQube used to be ahead.
      As Chetak’s production was affected due to short supply of components, iQube had taken the lead since December last year. It had maintained the lead till March 2021. In April, iQube sales were 307 units. MoM sales growth is down by -13.52%, as compared to 355 units sold in March.
      Bajaj Chetak vs TVS iQube Sales
      Chetak vs. iQube sales Jan-April 2021
      If we look at the first four months of this year, iQube still has the lead in terms of overall sales. Total sales of iQube in Jan-April period is 1,076 units, as compared to 778 units of Chetak. If Chetak maintains the momentum it has in April, it could be ahead of iQube by year end in overall sales.
      If we compare the two scooters, it’s easy to see that they offer matching features. Both scooters have a classic, elegant design, which would appeal to most people. Both scooters get their power from IP67 rated water and dust resistant lithium-ion batteries. The battery warranty of 50k km / 3 years is also the same for both scooters.
      For folks who are looking for longer range, their first choice could be Chetak. That’s because Chetak offers 95 km in Eco mode, as compared to 75 km of iQube. However, iQube has top speed of 78 kmph as compared to Chetak’s 70 kmph (Approx. based on user reviews).
      It remains to be seen who will emerge a winner in the long term. A lot will depend on how rapidly the expansion plans are executed, reliability of after sales service and availability of charging stations. By end of this fiscal, TVS has plans to launch iQube in 20 new cities. Bajaj has an even more aggressive plan to expand operations to 30 new cities. More

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      2022 Kia EV6 Coming to U.S. Next Year with Claimed 300 Miles of Range

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      Kia has released detailed U.S. specs for the 2022 EV6 electric crossover.The least powerful version has rear-wheel drive and 167 hp, while the performance GT model has all-wheel drive and 576 hp.The standard EV6 models will arrive in the U.S. early in 2022, with the GT arriving in late 2022.When Kia’s new 2022 EV6 electric car arrives in the U.S., it will offer an extremely broad lineup including two battery-pack sizes, one- and two-motor configurations, and a ridiculously large horsepower spread. The least powerful EV6 has 167 horsepower while the most powerful GT version has more than three times as much, with 576 hp.The base model has a single electric motor that powers the rear wheels and a 58.0-kWh battery pack. There’s also a rear-wheel-drive EV6 with the larger 77.4-kWh battery pack that should offer the longest range of any model. Kia claims that multiple configurations will meet its claim of 300 miles on a charge, but hasn’t yet offered specific numbers.

      Kia

      The dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration requires opting for the larger battery pack. Its front and rear electric motors provide a total of 313 horsepower, and Kia claims it gets to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. The top-dog EV6 is the GT model, which has the 77.4-kWh battery pack and more powerful front and rear electric motors for a total of 576 hp. Kia says it accelerates to 60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds.The EV6 will be able to charge at DC fast-chargers at up to 350 kilowatts, meaning it can add a claimed 70 miles of range in 5 minutes and go from 10 to 80 percent charge in 18 minutes, Kia says.

      Kia

      A First Edition model will be offered in three different color combinations: white with a green interior, yellow with a black interior, and matte grey with a black interior. It will be limited to 1500 units and reservations will open June 3. It has AWD and the larger battery as standard and comes fully loaded with options such as a panoramic sunroof, 20-inch wheels, and a premium audio system.We expect the EV6 to start around $45,000 when it reaches U.S. showrooms early in 2022. The GT is likely to cost considerably more, possibly around $55,000.
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