July was a hot one, and so, considering the record temperatures in the UK last month, it felt only right to highlight some of the best beaches to visit as an EV owner. Thanks to Citroen and EV car subscription brand Elmo, you can plan your next visit to the seaside and find out how to keep your electric vehicle running smoothly in the heat on page 11.
Unfortunately for me, my electric vehicle has not been running smoothly at all. Back at the start of June, my electric car (Mercedes EQA) simply refused to start one morning. After a visit from the AA, it transpired that the battery had gone bang – for no known reason. From the 9th June, it took until the 26th July for the car to be fitted with a new battery and returned to me. This had me thinking: I wonder how long it would have taken to fix a similar issue in an ICE vehicle? This was a first-hand experience of the shortage of trained EV technicians in the UK and the skills gap we are facing. It is all well and good releasing more and more electric vehicles and opening up charging hub after charging hub, but we must also address these shortages and prepare for when things go wrong. Something must be done.
Anyway, enough soapboxing, let me tell you what else is in this issue.
On page 17, I share my first impressions of
I was also behind the wheel of Electrogenic’s electric Porsche 356 a few weeks ago and there is a full review of this EV conversion on page 23. The 356 is undoubtedly one of the best-looking car in Porsche’s history and it has been given a new lease of life with its electric powertrain, so be sure to scan the QR code on the page and check out our full video review of it, too.
Our ‘Top Ten’ feature for this month focuses on the best EV concept cars that we have seen over the past few years. As we look towards this bright future of electrification, we have shined a light on some of the most wacky, interesting, and outright awesome electric car concepts that could be on their way soon. As always, we have our electric motorsport features, a roundup of some of the best podcasts over the last few weeks, and our ‘EV Powered Interview’, with our special guest Kit Lacey of EV conversion specialists, eDubs Services.
London has the second-largest electric vehicle charging density in Europe, a new study by Uswitch has revealed.
In the new report, Uswitch.com has compared the European cities with the largest density of EV chargers. To do this, they analysed city population size alongside the volume of EV charging bays per km2, and per 100,000 people.
With over three charging bays per km2 [3.17], London, United Kingdom has the second-largest EV charger density in Europe. The British capital has almost 5,000 EV charging bays [4,991] in total, over 16 times the number of chargers in Paris, France [305]. London is home to 0.56 bays per capita, this is over three times more than Brussels in Belgium, with only 0.18.
Oslo, Norway has the largest EV charger density in Europe with almost six [5.47] charging bays per km2 . The Nordic capital is home to 2,481 EV charging bays in total, more than 96% the number of chargers in Copenhagen, Denmark [95] despite having a similar population size. With almost four bays [3.98] per 100,000 people, the highest figure of all 31 European cities analysed, Oslo is the city most readily equipped for EV adoption in Europe.
Amsterdam in the Netherlands places third for its EV charging density, with 2.24 charging bays per km2 . Despite having a 72% smaller estimated population size than neighbouring city, Berlin, Germany, the Dutch capital has over double the number of EV charging bays per capita. Amsterdam is home to 0.67 bays per 100,000 people in comparison to Berlin’s 0.31 bays. Not only this, but Amsterdam has over four times the number of bays per capita than Brussels, Belgium [0.18] which places sixth.
Sofia, Bulgaria has the smallest EV charger density in Europe, with 0.01 charging bays per km2 . The capital city is home to only 15 charging bays, 87% fewer than neighbouring city Bucharest, Romania, with 121 in total.
Gloucestershire County Council is to install 1,000 EV chargers across the region over the next three years, with help from Connected Kerb.
The council has started working with district and parish councils to identify suitable locations and is bidding for government funding to accelerate this work and benefit smaller communities. Residents are being asked to give their views on where they think charging points should be located, to help map demand and plan for electric vehicle charging.
The programme aims to prioritise access to charging points for the one third of residents who do not have off-street parking and charging, taking Gloucestershire one step closer to decarbonising transport.
Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, said: “We are delighted to be delivering the largest single installation of EV charging points in the south-west for Gloucestershire County Council. I have no doubt that the roll-out of Connected Kerb’s long-lasting, sustainable charging infrastructure will make a major contribution to the county’s efforts to improve air quality and make EV charging affordable and accessible for residents without driveways ahead of 2030.”
According to Ford, the technology could enable disabled drivers to stay in the car while charging, or they could leave the car while the robot does all the work.
Ford is testing the robot charging station as part of a research project to develop hands-free charging solutions for electric vehicles and fully automatic charging for autonomous vehicles.
Following initial lab testing, Ford researchers are now putting the robot charging station to the test in real-life situations. Once activated, the station cover slides open and the charging arm extends towards the inlet with the help of a tiny camera. For the trial, drivers were able to monitor the charge status via the FordPass app. After charging, the arm retracts back into place.
The charging points, powered by guaranteed renewable energy, provide enough power to fully charge a vehicle in as little as 3-4 hours.
In this phase, Network Rail has powered: 160 charging points in Reading, 111 in Manchester, 84 in Edinburgh, 56 at Leeds and 41 in Welwyn Garden City.
Electric vehicle charging points will be installed across 10% of car parking spaces (approximately 779 spaces) at car parks managed by Network Rail by March 2024.
The new Compleo charging points are marked with green parking bays and passengers can pay for what they need quickly and easily via the APCOA Connect app.
Ford has developed a prototype robot charging station that drivers operate via their smartphone from inside their electric vehicle.
Alongside Oxford City Council, Fastned, Tesla Superchargers and Wenea, the project is part of a nationwide network of Energy Superhubs developed by Pivot Power, which combine transmission-connected batteries and power infrastructure for EV charging to enable more renewables and accelerate the decarbonisation of transport.
The charging hub will initially offer fast and ultrarapid charging for 42 vehicles at once at Oxford’s Redbridge Park and Ride. The charging hub will be powered entirely by renewable energy. With 10 MW of installed capacity on site, the hub can scale up
with EV adoption to provide charging for 400 vehicles.
Fastned, the European EV rapid charging company, has initially installed ten charging bays at the Superhub with 300 kW of power available, capable of adding 300 miles of range in just 20 minutes for hundreds of EVs per day. Wenea, one of the largest EV charging services providers in Europe, has deployed twenty 7-22 kW charging bays. A further twelve 250 kW Tesla Superchargers will be available for Tesla owners. Work to install Wenea’s EV charging stations was carried out by ODS – a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxford City Council.
The £41 million urban decarbonisation project delivered by Pivot Power, together with a consortium of global partners and part-funded by the UK government, will unlock significant emissions reductions across power, heat and transport as part of the programme to decarbonise Oxford by 2040 – saving 10,000 tonnes of CO2 every year, equivalent to taking over 2,000 cars off the road, increasing to 25,000 tonnes by 2032.
Matt Allen, CEO and Co-Founder of Pivot Power, said: “Urban decarbonisation is ground zero for the immediate emissions reductions needed to tackle the climate crisis. Energy Superhub Oxford provides a vision of the future, today. By delivering a world-leading project that cuts emissions across transport, power and heat, we are breaking new ground to help the UK reach net zero sooner.”
You will now be able to get behind the wheel of an Extreme E car as the fullyelectric racing SUVs now feature on the Forza gaming series.
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) is introducing two fully electric HGV trucks to its logistics fleet.
The two fully electric Renault Trucks will be on the road by the end of July this year, both E-Tech D Wide models weighing in at 26 tonnes and 18 tonnes.
They will be suited for urban distribution, including routes into London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, and will deliver freshly brewed beer to pubs on a daily basis, operating out of the company’s Cardiff and Thurrock (Essex) distribution depots.
The move to two, fully electric vehicles will see the brewer replace up to around 19,000 diesel-fuelled road miles per vehicle per year. The partnership with Renault Trucks is a proof-of-concept trial
and, if successful, has potential to see additional electric trucks introduced into CMBC’s existing fleet of 270 traditional vehicles in the future.
CMBC has also installed charging points at the Cardiff and Thurrock depots which will be powered by electricity from renewable sources.
MOTO and GRIDSERVE are bringing 12 new high-power chargers to MOTO Wetherby as part of their nationwide rollout of motorway charging solutions.
Osprey Charging has become the first charging network to subscribe to ChargeSafe, a public charging endorsement body that independently inspects and rates EV charging locations.
British fast-charging battery brand Nyobolt has raised £50 million to build a manufacturing plant in the UK by 2023.
The Citroën Ami 100% ëlectric has won the ‘Best for Eco City Travel’ category in the Marie Claire UK Sustainability Awards 2022.
‘most
Pivot Power, along with a number of partners, has opened one of Europe’s most powerful EV charging stations, the Energy Superhub Oxford.
It was a complete accident. I’ve always admired classic cars, but you would never call me a petrol head. It was classic VW Campers that started it all for me. We had one as our wedding car in 2009 and the vehicle has always fascinated me. VW created such an iconic and versatile vehicle, but they had no idea the T2s would still be so popular today (the odometers only go up to 99,999...).
In 2013, we had to idea to convert a classic VW T2 to electric and then hire out to make some money, the idea was flawless! The technology, however, was not. Our original green machine Indie was restored by a mechanic and car enthusiast in Whitby and he did an impeccable job, with lots of support from Just Kampers and Restore and More in Sunderland who carried out the LHD-RHD swap (Indie is American) and the paint. It quickly dawned on me that restoring a classic camper is not a one-time job, it’s a constant journey, so I had to learn on the job. Now, changing the rear brakes takes 20 minutes, not two days!
eDub Services Started as eDub Trips, purely offering an electric classic camper to hire. We
Kit Lacy, founder of EV conversion specialists eDubs Services, talks to us about his love of classic VW Camper’s and why he began to convert them to electric.
were let down by technology and suppliers and so I was forced to figure it all out for myself. I was then asked if I could convert other people’s campers. I realised that I was one of the nation’s leaders in understanding this new market. So eDub Trips became eDub Services and we started to offer conversions too.
Because of this, we’ve been through most of the conversion methods available globally. We started (as most did) with a HPEVS motor, Curtis controller and CALB batteries. Our first conversion project was for Nissan themselves, designing a conversion for a Datsun 240Z. We were one of the first companies in the UK to really implement one of the safest Orion Battery Management Systems into our builds, which has now become an industry standard. We dabbled with full Nissan Leaf conversion kits, with 110kW motors and 40kWh battery packs. Next, was a full Tesla conversion, with a small rear drive unit, 14 Tesla modules and CHAdeMO rapid charging into a classic camper, it was a beast (still is!) Things grew quickly from there with a Golf Mk2 (Tesla Drive Unit, New CALB batteries for 200-mile range and CHAdeMO), BMW 700 (Hyper9 motor, 26kWh LG Chem Battery Pack) and a VW Varient (Tesla motor, new CALB pack for 120 miles range) in quick succession.
We started playing with Porsche 911s too with a 964 and then a 911 S Targa, both with large Tesla drive units and 54kWh battery packs. We also started playing around with classic Vespa conversions, using tech from a local supplier in Knaresborough to create a pretty speedy scooter, it’s very well received at local rallies! We took on some work with a local plant machinery company to start electrifying their fleet, plus we have worked with Transporter HQ to create their ludicrous 1000BHP T6.1. We also continued to work on our Classic T2 VWs with three more arriving through 2021. These vehicles have become our bread and butter so each one we build the fabrication becomes simpler, cheaper and quicker. All of these conversions are available again to customers, along with other new conversions.
technology available to match the customers’ needs. I hate that electrification has become a numbers game. Bigger equals better is wrong. Classic campers are the perfect vehicle to electrify. They are iconic, valuable, beautiful vehicles with horrible engines so the bar for performance is very low. This means you can fit reliable but reasonable low powered motors and you’ve already made an improvement. Top speed of 50mph isn’t hard to beat and the original petrol tank and pants mpg meant they only had a 180mile range to begin with. Our new 54kWh CALB packs match that range! And best of all, you don’t have to worry about finding a charger, the campsite has electricity so just plug in and charge whilst you sleep!
Firstly, we ask the customer what they’re aiming for. If they want 300-mile range from a bubble car, then we politely point them in a more feasible direction. If it’s a vehicle we haven’t done before then we measure the space and use some precision CAD modelling to adapt a
battery box and motor mount from a similar build. Once we’re happy with the design we order the parts and fabrication. About four weeks later, we start the assembly. We try to have as much built on the bench as possible for safety and simplicity then bolt everything into the original engine and gearbox mounting points. We then install profiles to the BMS and Drive unit and test the system, tweaking settings for the best performance.
Mainly positive. I remember our first VW show and I was surprised how positive people were. The same happened at a Vespa Rally earlier this year. We didn’t take any branding but there was always a crowd of people checking it out and asking questions. Even if they didn’t love it, they knew that the writing was on the wall and they were so thankful that we existed and that we were working on a solution to allow them to keep enjoying their vespas.
I can appreciate the sacrilege perspective, but the reality is that my customers don’t think that way, that’s why eDub exists. If people think its
A 1973 VW T2 camper van. From Indiana USA with a rare full pop top so two adults can sleep up top and two down on the bottom bed.
We can electrify anything. We have as much real-world experience as anyone else with the
What was the first car you ever converted?
Is there a particular type of car that you specialise in?
sacrilege, then don’t buy it. The road they’re on isn’t a long as they might hope it is...
More people are becoming aware of them and more technology is becoming available to suit retrofitting. We can now build a conversion with entirely new parts instead of reclaiming from crashed OEM cars.
How do you expect the industry of classic car conversions to develop over the next five years?
More and more. The next exciting space is when the DVLA allow post 2001 cars to be reregistered as electric. We’ll see companies popping up offering low powered, small range, affordable conversions to cars under 20 years old.
4 VW T2s, 1 VW T6.1, 1 x VW Varient and 1 x Porsche 911. Ask me in a month and it’ll be all change!
I’m loving our latest camper. Fully restored with a custom new battery pack and tesla motor in a tidy box in the engine bay. It’s so much fun to drive, I can’t wait to do some real world camping tests. I have really enjoyed the 911 S and the Golf too, they both have their charms and, as with all our conversions, I think we’ve kept the spirit of the car but turned up the fun!
VW T2! I’d love to do a crew cab version as there’s loads of space for batteries. Some kind of coffee truck or ice cream T2 would be fun too.
“
More people are becoming aware of them (classic car conversions) and more technology is becoming available to suit retrofitting. ”
Current car? VW T2.
Dream EV? Recently fancied a Stingray.
Favourite Holiday Destination? New Zealand.
Dream Road Trip Destination? New Zealand.
The Perfect Road Trip Companion? I should say wife...
Best Thing About EVs? Power, control, silence, cheap/free. Podcast, Playlist or Radio? Podcast.
We’ve heard how and why they do it, but let’s have a look at an eDubs conversion. Check out our review of this fully electric Golf MK2.
The VW Golf Mk2 debuted in 1984 and it quickly became one of the most popular and iconic cars of that era. However, like many classic, old-school cars, eDubs Services considered its original one litre engine and 110bhp underwhelming, and so the mission of transforming this car to electric began.
With the introduction of a Tesla drive unit, the character and performance of this car has been completely reimagined, with more than 160bhp available with the squeeze of the throttle. With no gear changes or revving, you get all that power from the second you press the throttle. In place of the gear stick is a subtle drive selector; Drive, Neutral or Reverse. The clutch has gone too so your left foot has plenty of space to stretch out.
“ GOLF MK2
Like many EV conversions, the purpose and idea behind this project was to keep it as authentic as possible, and to make it more than just a faster version of the original Golf.
Instead, eDubs Services has retained the fundamentals of the cars design, both interior and
exterior, whilst also making it fit for the modern age of electrification.
Complete with CCS fast charging, with the capacity to charge up to 70kW, this electric Golf offers more than 200 miles of real-world range. There are two conversion options to choose from, with eDub’s e30 or e50 packs, both featuring the same power and drive.
I want the design and beauty of that car to last and to survive another 50 years, and to do that you don’t change anything about the outside of it, you change how it runs and how it performs. ” RANGE: 200+ Miles* POWER: 162+BHP CHARGE 1 Hour (0-80% TIME: at 70kw rapid) A complete conversion costs £65,000
Each conversion starts from around £65,000, but for that price, you will drive away an electric car that features a design like no other and with a level of performance that will match up with any modern-day EV.
Commenting on the project, Kit Lacey, the man behind the electric MK2, said: “It’s such an iconic car. VW is something we’re really close to at eDubs
Services and the Golf is just one of those cars that is a slightly different vain, but so many things are similar from a conversion aspect. When we were approached to do a Golf MK2 conversion, it was one of those where we could take some of the Tesla technology that we’re used to and maybe put it to a bit more use. Let’s put it into a car that can really make the most of the power and the torque and the acceleration that the unit can give us so readily.
After a record-breaking July, we look at the best beach trips for anyone with an electric vehicle, and also the top tips for running your EV in the scorching weather.
With temperatures reaching a record 40 degrees back in July and with the hot weather set to stay, people all over the country will be planning their next trip to the seaside.
And now, Citroën has ranked the top ten beaches in England for electric vehicle drivers so you can whisk yourself off to the coast to enjoy the sun.
Citroën compared how close the highestrated beaches on TripAdvisor were to the 10 most populated cities in the country, with the requirement that they can be reached using the 219-mile (WLTP) all-electric range of Citroën ë-C4 Electric. Additional points were awarded according to the number of public charging points within a two-mile area for each beach.
First place Roker and Seaburn beaches, in Tyne and Wear, can be reached from eight major cities
using the 219-mile range of Citroën ë-C4, including Birmingham and Liverpool, while the local area contains 13 public electric vehicle chargers with speeds of up to 50kW to ensure a smooth return journey.
For electric car drivers based in London, second place Brighton beach is a short 53-mile drive away and offers more than 120 public chargers within a two-mile radius, including 20 fast chargers (7-22kW) and four rapid chargers (25kW and higher).
Third place Bournemouth Beach can be reached from six major cities and features the highest number of rapid chargers (five). With 100kW rapid charging capability, a 0-80% charge for Citroën ë-C4 can take as little as 30 minutes, while for those enjoying a whole day at the seaside, a full charge can be completed in 7.5 hours from a 7kW fast charger.
To stop yourself from melting whilst behind the wheel, EV subscription company elmo have put together their top tips for EV road trips in a heatwave.
Have you ever left your car unplugged at night, and come back in the morning to find your battery has gone down a few percentage points? Well, you’re not alone! What’s happening is that, although the car is switched off, there are still electrical processes happening. One of these is the cooling of the battery, which can cause the battery to drain.
To make sure you are waking up in the morning to a full battery, it’s best to keep your EV plugged in. Your EV won’t overcharge as it is limited by the battery management system, but what it will
Roker and Seaburn Beaches, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Brighton Beach, East Sussex
Bournemouth Beach, Dorset
Hunmanby Gap, North Yorkshire
Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall
Whitby Beach, Yorkshire
Weymouth Beach, Dorset Sandbanks Beach, Poole, Dorset
Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall
Tunnels Beaches, Ilfracombe, Devon
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Joint 6th Joint 6th Joint 8th Joint 8th 10th
8 5 6 8 1 8 6 6 1 3
13 123 11 1 6 0 3 0 3 0
Preconditioning allows you to cool or heat the cabin of your EV remotely.
Now, we aren’t suggesting to not use rapid chargers at all. If you’re in a rush or in the middle of a road trip and you want to get to your destination, then by all means use a rapid charger.
This suggestion is for those who have the time to charge at night, or can charge while they are at work. In these cases, use a 7kW charger. Rapid Chargers cause the battery to heat up, which in turn causes the cooling system to kick in, depleting the range in your EV.
Preconditioning is a nifty little feature that some EVs have now (like our Renault ZOE ZE50).
Now this may seem like just a plush extra, but preconditioning can also maximize your battery range. Preconditioning, when you’re plugged in, won’t drain the battery and it will make sure your battery is cooled or heated to the optimum temperature before you set off.
Another benefit in the summer is that preconditioning your cabin will help maximize your range, as you won’t have to blast the aircon on full once you get in the car and start driving.
This top tip is a simple one. Park in the shade! As we’ve covered earlier, your battery doesn’t like overheating, and the cooling processes in the car sap the energy. By parking in the shade, you can mitigate the amount of energy lost.
10 20 4 1 5 0 2 0 3 0
3 4 5 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 do is make sure the electrical processes can run without draining the battery.
There are plenty of ways to maximize your range while driving. Top of the list using the ‘eco-modes’ available in the cars. In the Renault ZOE it’s called Mode B, and in the MG ZS EV it’s simply called Eco-mode. This setting will attempt to maximise the running efficiency of the car by reducing the power you are able to give it.
Linked to this is the use of the accelerator and brakes. Like petrol and diesel cars, the more aggressively you accelerate and brake the more energy is required, reducing the overall range of the car. By driving mindfully, you will be able to extend your mileage.
This is especially useful with electric cars as many have regenerative braking. This feature stores energy from firm but gradual braking but not from aggressive use.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship took to the iconic Red Hook Circuit in Manhattan for Rounds 11 and 12 of Season 8 back in July, and it was a double-header weekend that will be remembered for years to come.
ROUND 11
With the focus on the four drivers’ leading the Championship heading into the weekend, it was Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy who came out on top in a wet and wild Round 11.
With only six rounds of racing remaining for the season, ROKiT Venturi’s Edoardo Mortara came into the New York E-Prix’s top of the pile, leading a four-horse race with 138 points, just ahead of Jean Éric-Vergne of DS Techeetah on 128 points, who was only five in front of Stoffel Vandoorne,
who had slipped down the table after a tough run of form. In fourth place was Jaguar’s Mitch Evans, who has made it to the top step of the podium on as many occasions as any driver this season.
Neither of the drivers’ were able to truly seize the initiative, however, with Vergne and Evans
qualifying outside the top ten, and Mortara only able to secure ninth. It was advantage Vandoorne, with the Belgian having qualified in second, but he was unable to muscle his way past Cassidy who held his nerve at the start.
As the race entered its closing stages, it had been plane-sailing and relatively uneventful until a sudden downpour saw a number of cars skid off into Turn 6, causing a multi-car pile-up.
The puddle was placed directly on the braking zone of Turn 6 and caused leader Cassidy, di Grassi, Vandoorne, Mortara and a number of other drivers to fly straight on and into the barrier.
The race was red flagged and after a lengthy delay, the decision was made from race control to end the race with just over seven minutes remaining on the clock.
On countback, the results were taken as of the lap prior to the one in which the stoppage was called, as per article 41.9 of the regulations – meaning the victory was given to Cassidy, with di Grassi and Frijns rounding out the podium.
Mortara’s fifth placed finish is enough to keep the ROKiT Venturi man at the top of the drivers’ standings, ahead of Mercedes’ Vandoorne who is
up into second place, switching places with Jean Éric-Vergne who slips down after a tricky day on track. Evans stays in fourth after failing to score any points.
It was a weekend of first wins in New York as, on Round 12, DS Techeetah’s Antonio Felix da Costa claimed his first win of the season as he led from start to finish.
The former world champion inherited the pole position from Envision’s Nick Cassidy after his car was found to have an infringement following overnight repairs. It would have been the Kiwi’s second successive pole position, but the penalty allowed Da Costa to start at the front of the grid and he took his opportunity with both hands, sprinting away as the lights went green and holding off early advances from Mahindra’s Alex Sims and Mercedes’ Stoffel Vandoorne, who powered up the field from sixth.
Vandoorne had closed the gap to championship leader Edoardo Mortara in Round 11 with a fourth
placed finish, and this time managed to find his way onto the podium after he propelled himself on to the front row in the early exchanges.
ROKiT Venturi’s Mortara will be glad to see the back of New York, with the Swiss-Italian only managing a tenth placed finish after a ninth place finish in Round 11.
Fellow championship contender Mitch Evans kept his hopes alive with an assured drive which allowed him to complete the podium lineup, with the Kiwi surging up from seventh to third in the race and third in the drivers’ standings.
The win was Da Costa, and DS Techeetah’s, first of the season, and the Portugese driver will be hoping for a flourishing end to the season with just four rounds remaining.
With his second-place finish, Stoffel Vandoorne of Mercedes EQ regains his position at the top of the drivers’ standings, jumping 11 points in front of Mortara who endured a disappointing weekend in the Big Apple.
Jaguar’s Mitch Evans rounds off the top three, sitting just 16 points behind Vandoorne as Season 8 prepares to take to the streets of London later this month.
After a lengthy delay to the season following the Ukraine crisis, Extreme E finally got back underway in July with two rounds of the Island X-Prix, which took place in Sardinia, Italy.
With the stage set in the midst of a scorching Italian summer, the drivers’ had to contend with record high temperatures as well as a challenging course layout with a number of different terrains.
Extreme E returned in July as Season 2 headed to the scorching island of Sardinia, Italy for two rounds of the Island X-Prix.
The unpredictability of the course soon became apparent in the first round, as McLaren’s Emma Gilmour suffered a big shunt in the Crazy Race.
The Kiwi driver was lucky to escape without any serious injuries, but that wouldn’t be the last major incident of the day.
The final was made up of Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing, Acciona Sainz XE Team, JBXE,
reinging champions and championship leaders Rosberg X Racing, and Xite Energy Racing, who were taking part in their first Extreme E final.
It did not take long for the drama to unfold, Waypoint 2 to be precise, as Johan Kristoffersson ran into the side of Carlos Sainz, flipping the Spaniard over and causing significant damage to the Rosberg X Racing’s ODYSSEY 21.
Thankfully, Carlos Sainz was able to walk away from the accident, but Acciona Sainz were out of the race and looked doubtful for the second round which was just a couple of days away.
The damage to Kristoffersson failed to slow him down, however, as the Swede pushed forward and gained control of the race, building up a sizeable lead to Kyle Leduc of the Hummer EV.
Keen to bring an end to the RXR dominance, Leduc pushed as hard as he could to close the gap, but the American almost took it too far towards the end of the first lap as he came mightily close to flipping over on one of the many bumps on the circuit.
As the drivers’ entered the switch zone, the restart was delayed due to a red flag, as the Extreme E team saw to Carlos Sainz and his car. Sainz was able to walk away from the incident but looked visibly shaken from the collision.
The second lap was relatively uneventful in comparison, as Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky carefully navigated the course to avoid any accidents and to prevent any kind of upset. Despite best efforts from the
chasing pack, RXR crossed the line in first place but their celebrations were cut short, as they were stripped of the win after the race as a result of the collision with Sainz.
The decision of a 30-second time penalty from Race Control handed Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing its first win in Extreme E and pushed Rosberg X Racing down into third place, a result which also handed XITE ENERGY Racing its first top-three finish.
Despite the penalty, Rosberg X Racing remained top of the leaderboard and were keen to make up for their dropped points when Island X-Prix II got underway just a couple of days later.
It was business as usual on the Sunday for the final of the Island X-Prix II, with the Swedish pairing of Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson claiming their second win of the season and building on their commanding lead in the championship.
It wasn’t all plane sailing, however, as ÅhlinKottulinsky found herself behind ABT CUPRA XE’s Jutta Kleinschmidt up until the very last corner of the final, before executing a perfect, last-ditch overtake to snatch the win in the dying moments. Åhlin-Kottulinsky, and team-mate Johan Kristoffersson, who headed the standings prior to the Sardinian double-header, now have a lead of 37 points ahead of their nearest challengers No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing, with X44 now up to third.
RXR also scored maximum points from Round Three, with the quickest combined time in the Continental Traction Challenge adding five to their tally, bringing their total overall to 80 points.
Nico Rosberg, Founder and CEO of Rosberg X Racing, commented: “It is such a pleasure for me to work with this team. It reminds me of my F1 days. It’s been a great team effort with everyone giving their best and being at the height of their game. Both drivers have been performing at an incredibly high level.
“Johan was the star of Race 1 in NEOM. Mikaela was the star of this weekend with her speed and incredible pass for the win through the water during the last lap. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, RXR, said: “It’s been my strongest Extreme E weekend so far. We worked so hard, Johan and I analysed everything to try and improve even more. The final was an absolute blast for me, waiting for right opportunity to overtake Jutta. After this week, and everything that happened during the first race, I just feel like this is the ending that we deserved, and I am very happy for the team.”
ABT CUPRA XE was disqualified after the race, a decision that promoted X44 into second and secured Genesys Andretti United Extreme E a spot on the third step of the podium, their first top three finish of the season.
It’s been my strongest Extreme E weekend so far. ”
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Two years after it was first announced, the time has come for the Ariya to hit the road. With Nissan confirming targets to offer a 100% electrified lineup by 2023, and for 75% sales to be electric by 2026 with 100% targeted by the end of the decade, the Ariya feels like a significant line in the sand.
And, on the face of it, the Ariya has got the ball rolling quite nicely. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Ariya joins a saturated electric crossover segment, with Nissan’s new electric flagship set to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Audi Q4 e-tron and a thousand other models available just like it. However, Nissan feels as if it knows what customers want from a crossover, more so than any over manufacturer. It claims to have created
the segment back in 2007 with the Qashqai, and with 2 million still on the road, according to company bosses, it had a huge pool of data to analyse in order to create an electric crossover that ticked as many boxes for prospective customers as possible.
The Ariya will also be available to order with a number of different spec options, starting from £43,845, which places it around the Audi Q4 e-tron mark.
Pricing for the 63kWh battery version with 160kW of power and an onboard 7.4kW AC Charger starts at £43,845 for the Advance and £47,840 for the Evolve.
For the larger 87kW battery with up to 329 miles of range, 178Kw of power and a more powerful onboard 22kW AC charger, the Advance is priced at £49,595 with Evolve at £53,590.
Firstly, a sturdy design that offers a great deal of presence. The Ariya is one of the tallest cars in this segment, whilst also being one of the most compact. The wheels of the vehicle have been spaced further apart to create more room inside, with ‘horizon lines’ across the body to create aerodynamic surfaces.
For the customer looking for all-wheel drive and greater performance, then the e-4ORCE version has a 47kW increase in power to 225kW and doubles the amount of torque to 600Nm. It is priced from £52,295 for the Advance grade or £56,290 for the Evolve.
So, what do they want and what will they get from the Ariya?
The theme of the Ariya is ‘timeless Japanese futurism’. There are references to specific Japanese design concepts everywhere, with ‘Ma’ representing the ‘mastery of empty space by respecting the construction’ and ‘Kumiko’ symbolizing the ‘art of creating an intricate pattern technique to assemble wooden pieces.’
What this leaves you with is a spacious, minimalist interior that has been ergonomically designed, with cute little features and details scattered around to achieve a relatively peaceful feeling when behind the wheel.
The Kumiko designs are easy to spot up front and have a premium feeling, whilst the Andon lighting (which translates to ‘paper lantern’) offers a warm
glow to the interior. It is a unique approach to a cars décor, and it is one that is certainly different to any car in this segment.
The furnishings also feel higher end, with fully adjustable seats, steering wheel and powersliding centre console. The monolith display in the Ariya comprises two 12.3” screens, and the vehicle also features an AI head up display. Nissan chose the option of three smaller screens rather than one giant, iPad-like infotainment system in the middle of the dash, in order to minimize the distance a driver has to look to consume important bits of data such as range and navigation. Call it ‘visual ergonomics’ if you will.
Ariya’s dash is complete with a series of haptic controls which allow the driver to operate certain functions such as air conditioning. For me, haptic
controls always feel unnatural and should either be fully digital or replaced with a traditional button, and there are classic dials on the steering wheel and knobs for controls such as volume, thankfully.
In terms of tech, the car will integrate with Apple CarPlay and Android Autio, and it will also have Amazon’s Alexa built in, although that wasn’t available for us to try on our test run. The Nissan Ariya has also been equipped with the latest safety and driver-assist technologies, including ProPILOT with Navi link, the most innovative iteration of Nissan’s advance driver-assistance system in Europe to date.
Featuring Nissan Safety Shield 360, the vehicle is available with Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning,
Intelligent Route Planner calculates the best route based on various real-time factors such as traffic, road conditions, real-time charging station availability and remaining battery.
I tested the Nissan Ariya on a scenic route across Stockholm with a mix of urban and country environments. Whilst the route did lead us through the city centre at 4pm, it did allow me to experience the true purpose of the Ariya; short trips into town, commuting, with the capability for longer stretches out on the open road.
Behind the wheel of the 63kW ‘Evolve’ version, the Ariya certainly felt comfortable and peaceful to drive, which is partly thanks to the calming setting in the cockpit, but as well due to the smooth, quiet driving experience.
There is minimal road and wind noise, and the acceleration is smooth and consistent, unlike a lot of electric cars which can jolt you back in your seat with even the tiniest of twitches on the throttle.
Do not be mistaken, the Ariya can lump it forward when you need it to, with a 0-60mph time of 7.7 seconds and with 300NM of torque. A key aspect that Nissan bosses were keen to promote at the launch presentation was the balance of the vehicle, especially through corners. With certain EVs often kicking out when you squeeze
through a bend, the Ariya has been designed to feel weighted and secure in this moment, and whilst it may not have felt glued to the road in my experience, it did feel controlled and comfortable, giving you confidence to relax even more behind the wheel and to properly enjoy your drive.
Nissans tried and tested e-Pedal also features in the Ariya, which brings a level of familiarity to the cars regenerative braking. Although the braking from the e-Pedal isn’t as severe as I would like, I did complete my 45-minute journey without too many dips of the brake pedal. The ability to adjust the severity of the regen braking would be ideal, however, for a ‘one size fits all’ approach, it does the job quite nicely.
The Ariya boasts a range of up to 329 miles with the 87kW 2WD spec, with even the basic 63kW 2WD option delivering up to 250 miles off a single charge. The 87kW Ariya AWD e-4ORCE model will also deliver a range of 310 miles.
In terms of charging, the Ariya supports 130kW charging capabilities, and the 87kWh model can recover up to 217 miles with a 30-minute quick charge using a CCS charging system.
Once the pioneer of the modern-day electric vehicle, Nissan’s latest electric vehicles come at a time when the brand is looking towards the future, and the Ariya finds itself having to compete with a growing lineup of electric SUV-crossovers.
Although competition is strong and the market is saturated, something feels different about the Ariya. Nissan has taken its time with this car, with it first being revealed to the world two years ago, and it shows. With many aspects of the Ariya being defined by traditional Japanese words and phrases, it is perhaps the true meaning of the word ‘Ariya’ that best represents this car. Noble, dependable and something to be respected.
A fitting summary for an electric vehicle that will almost certainly establish itself towards the top of the tree, alongside some of the more premium electric SUVs and crossovers. It has already been warmly received, with almost 2,000 pre-orders already taken.
Those that are awaiting their new Ariya should be excited. It is a car that offers a great design and a
beautiful interior which is fully kitted out, whilst also being the perfect blend of comfortable, reliable, and fun out on the road. It is fit for the new era of electric vehicles too, with a sizeable range and fast charging capabilities.
The Ariya feels complete, and it is an almost perfect start to Nissan’s latest era of electrification.
There is something different about this EV conversion. Not just because it is in the form of arguably one of the best-looking cars of all time, but because it is one of the most authentic reimagining’s of a classic car out there.
The Porsche 356C is a 1960’s classic that has been given a new lease of life by the team at Electrogenic, an electric vehicle conversion company that transform cars like these, into fully electric masterpieces.
It is a car that carries a certain reputation. The 356C was the precursor to the original 911, and was Porsche’s first ever production car. Although its name is engrained into automotive history, this specific car has been completely transformed and made fit for the modern age.
The Electrogenic ethos is slightly unique in comparison to many other EV conversion companies. Their process is described as “sympathetic,” with the direction and objective for each car to be made a better of version of its original self.
Behind the wheel of Electrogenic’s fully electric Porsche 356 masterpiece.
It is an ethos that is best described by Steve Drummond, the co-founder of Electrogenic: “The thing about classic cars is it’s all about character. It’s the character of the car; the way it drives, the way it feels. They have their own unique character, and what we try to do is bring that out with the electric.”
In the case of the 356C, it is hard to better the original, hence why the design of this car has been left alone. From its two-door bodyshell to its
bug-eye headlights, as well as the twin exhaust at the rear, the exterior of this car is genuine and authentic.
Inside, a similar approach has been taken, but there have been some upgrades. Whilst certain aspects have been converted for the purpose of electrification, such as the speedometer and the fuel (range) gauge, there is still an overwhelming sense of the 60’s lingering.
There are cute touches such as wind-up windows and a quarter panel window, too, to make up for the lack of air conditioning. All the knobs and switches are rustic and classical, and there is also a cigarette lighter and an ash tray. Truly representative of the original era of this car.
The interior retains a traditional, classy red leather, which sprays across the seats, the dash and virtually everywhere else in the car. The inside of this car has been carefully crafted and polished, even down to the smallest details, such as the stitching on the door handles. Everything is spotless. Immaculate. It is an interior that oozes class and is what you would expect from a car that is going to set you back somewhere in the region of £150,000, depending on the donor car. It is rightfully premium.
With Electrogenic’s Porsche 356, the whole approach, from start to finish, has been focused on retaining the core values of the car, and that mantra can be summarized by one specific aspect.
Whilst the majority of electric classic car conversions are fully automatic like your modern day EVs, this Porsche 356C has held on to its original 4-speed gearbox. This is a manual electric car.
It is an electric classic car like no other. Pulling off in first gear, you will feel the initial punch of the 80kW battery as it delivers 235Nm of torque – over 100 more than the original. Up into second and the car really begins to shift. Third is where the car is most comfortable. If you want to drive this car as a normal, automatic EV, then this is the gear for you. Into fourth gear and then the car is shifting, reaching its top speed of 120mph.
Stamping your foot down on the ground will allow you to push this car from 0-60mph in seven seconds, over three seconds quicker than its petrol equivalent.
The Porsche 356C is a 1960’s classic that has been given a new lease of life by the team at Electrogenic, an electric vehicle conversion company that transform cars like these, into fully electric masterpieces. ”
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Whilst there have been apparent upgrades to the performance of this car, it is not just about going as fast as you can. Thanks, in part, to the original gearbox, this is an electric vehicle which can deliver a true driving experience.
The electric cars of today make driving easy, which, for the most part, is a good thing. They can control your speed, your braking and they can even steer for you. However, when you’re behind the wheel of the 356, you are truly in control.
There is no power steering. You have to wrestle with the steering, with every corner on a track feeling like a workout. The smoothness of the ride is basic, with only a lap belt keeping you loosely attached to your seat. When slinging this thing around a track, you bounce and bumble around, gripping on to the wheel for dear life, whilst also trying to figure out the gears. It is brilliant.
This is not a car you can just get in and thrash around. You have to figure it out. The gears can be unforgiving; they bite and snarl at you if you don’t
change correctly. It can be unforgiving at times, in the best possible sense.
There is a sense of delayed gratification with this car. Once you have the gears nailed down, and you become perfectly in sync with what it takes to drive this car, it is simply joyous. I had an hour to myself on a track and, after only a couple of laps of learning and shunting, it became one of the best hours of my life.
You have an enormous sense of satisfaction when you fly out of a corner flat out, with the
tyres squealing and with your arms aching. There is a smile etched on your face at all times. You pat yourself on the back with every successful downshift, and then again as you go up through the gears, throwing yourself back into your seat with every squeeze of the throttle.
The Porsche 356 by Electrogenic is imperfect. Purposely so. Like many classic cars, it is these imperfections that make this car perfect. After parking this car up at the side of the track at Bicester Heritage, and getting into my regular,
everyday EV to go home, there was emptiness.
It was the comedown after such an exhilarating high. Suddenly, squeezing the throttle in my car felt dull and unfulfilling. I wished I was back in the 356.
It has been a couple of months since I got behind the wheel of the Porsche 356 and I still find it so hard to describe. It is more of a feeling and a
sensation rather than a collection of words and superlatives.
Every detail, inside and out, has come together to create something truly special; an electric classic car like no other. From the manual gearbox to the precision and beauty of the interior, it is nearly impossible to find something negative about the car.
Overall, it feels as though the only appropriate way to end this review is to say thank you, Electrogenic. Thank you.
Overall, it feels as though the only appropriate way to end this review is to say thank you, Electrogenic. Thank you. ”
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In this month’s top ten feature, we look deep into the future at some of the most spectacular electric vehicle concepts out there.
With the Concept Recharge, Volvo takes another step towards its ambitions to sell only fully electric cars by 2030 and to be a climateneutral and circular business by 2040.
For the new, fully electric vehicle, the Concept Recharge will feature tyres from recycled and renewable materials, and Volvo is aiming to improve aerodynamics to reduce its carbon impact through the car itself.
When combining those steps with the use of clean energy throughout a decarbonised supply chain, manufacturing process and use phase of the car, Volvo believes it can reduce a car’s lifecycle CO2 impact by 80% versus a 2018 Volvo XC60.
This would mean that the Concept Recharge would have an overall lifecycle CO2 impact below ten tonnes, when charged with 100% renewable energy.
Owen Ready, head of strategic and brand design at Volvo Cars, said: “As we enter the age of the electric car, how far you can drive on a full charge will be a key consideration. The easy approach is to add more batteries, but it is not the same as simply adding a bigger fuel tank today – batteries add weight and increase carbon footprint. Instead, we have to increase overall efficiency to increase range. With Concept Recharge we explore the tension between the need for efficiency and the desire for the same space, convenience and driving experience as in today’s SUVs.”
Dubbed its “most efficient EV yet,” the Mercedes Vision EQXX is a fully electric saloon concept which offers a range of 648-miles (1,000km) off a single charge, whilst also boasting an energy consumption of less than 10 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 km.
In fact, back in June the EQXX smashed its own efficiency record for with a 1,202-kilometre road trip from Stuttgart to Silverstone in the UK. Throughout the road trip, the VISION EQXX took advantage of its innovative thermal management system to achieve an average consumption of 8.3 kWh/100 km in the face of heavy traffic and summer temperatures. Whilst this may be one of the most advanced concepts on this list, there is still no clue as to when this vehicle may or may not enter production,
but Mercedes has shared some details on what we might expect from the EQXX in the real world.
The process of designing the Vision EQXX consisted of “ripping up the engineering rulebook,” according to Mercedes, as the brand aimed to create its most efficient vehicle ever.
In order to achieve that, Mercedes developed a completely new battery pack with just under 100 kWh of usable energy. The Vision EQXX uses less than 10 kWh of electrical energy to travel 100 km. That equates to traveling 6 miles on 1 kWh of electrical energy. Translated into fossil-fuel consumption, it works out to around 282mpg.
Polestar’s O2 concept certainly turned a few heads and raised a few eyebrows when it was displayed for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this year. The manufacturer’s “hero car” of the future features a slick roadster design that also champions sustainability – not to mention an autonomous drone that will cinematically follow the car to capture those perfect driving shots.
The ethos behind this concept is, unsurprisingly, sustainability. A new thermoplastic mono-material features extensively in the interior, and recycled polyester is the sole material used for all the soft components of the interior.
Polestar sustainability teams believe that materials should be recycled, not downcycled. In Polestar O2, they have integrated a new method
of controlling recycled content and improving circularity of metal components. Different grades of aluminium are used throughout the chassis to help deliver a thrilling driving experience.
These different grades are labelled, allowing them to be recycled more effectively and for their properties to be retained. High grade aluminium remains high grade, while other grades maintain their varied characteristics, allowing for greater material efficiency and a lower requirement for virgin aluminium.
Whilst a lot of attention has been dedicated to the Polestar O2 recently, it remains a concept (for now at least) as the manufacturer focuses on the release of the Polestar 3, 4 and 5 models, all due over the next few years.
Back in June, Buick unveiled the Wildcat EV concept – a fully electric reimagining of the classic 1950’s American motor. In today’s era of electrification, however, the Wildcat has been completely redefined and dressed as a stylish 2+2 coupe with low stance with a windscreen that wraps around and flows into the side glass.
Other features include ‘Jet Age’ inspired 18-spoke “turbine” wheels, semi-swing doors and micro-LED lighting technology and thin-beam projector lenses for the front lighting. Inside, you’ll find cockpitstyle seats with cantilevered headrests, as well as a sweeping touchscreen and infotainment system that dominates the interior.
The Wildcat EV concept is built to be a platform for futuristic features such as artificial intelligence, biometrics and aromatherapy. The vehicle is designed to detect an elevation in driver heart rate and automatically adjust vehicle settings to calm them down. For example, when Zen Mode is activated, it will dim the cabin lights, disperse calming aromatherapy scents and activate massaging seats.
“From every angle, the vehicle looks like it’s ready to pounce,” said Bob Boniface, director, Global Buick Design. “It’s the result of careful attention to the proportions and sculptural beauty derived from the intersection of forms, not lines.
“The more you look at the Wildcat EV concept, the more the details reveal themselves. Its timeless proportions acknowledge the brand’s rich design legacy, while our latest technology moves you forward.”
We haven’t heard too much on Audi’s skysphere concept since it was unveiled in August last year, but the original release is still enough to be excited about.
This premium roadster concept will see an electric motor positioned on the powered rear axle with a total of 465 kilowatts of power and 750 Newton meters of torque available. The battery’s capacity is expected to be more than 80 kWh, giving the car a range of more than 300 miles according to the WLTP standard, at least in the economical GT mode.
“New technologies like electrification, digitalization, and autonomous driving gave us the opportunity to create an experience that goes way beyond the one that typical roadsters offer today,” said design project manager Gael Buzyn.
Whilst the performance aspects may grab the headlines, the design and styling elements of this car are equally impressive. A super-long wheelbase of over 17 feet is cmbined with a shallow height of just over four feet, making this concept perfectly omptimised for aerodynamic efficiency.
Free of controls, the interior appears as a light, spacious environment, upholstered in sustainably produced microfiber fabric to create a similar experience of flying first class. Large touch monitor surfaces and highquality sound system are other touches which make this car truly premium.
The Audi skysphere is just one piece of the manufacturer’s puzzle for future electric cars. In addition to the skysphere, the Audi grandsphere, and, coming in 2022, Audi urbansphere are the three concept cars that Audi is using to showcase its vision of “progressive luxury.”
The next concept car on this list is an electric vehicle that was born out of “freestyle design” with an “athletic elegenace,” according to its manufacturer. The car in question is the Genesis X Speedium Coupé concept, a vehicle that symbolizes the company’s transformation towards becoming an all-electric car brand with a six-model line-up by 2030.
For the design of the car, Genesis followed the principle of reductive design, or “less is more” for the concept car. It features an elliptical tail and V-shaped brake lights at the rear, a ‘parabolic line’ extending from the front to the rear of the car, and ‘two lines’ lamps at the front which represent the Genesis logo. In the words of Genesis, the X Speedium Coupe stands out for its “restrained elegance, clean lines, and subtle curves.”
Another feature is the colour of the car. The concept’s metallic emerald green shade is referred to as “Inje Green.” Inspired by a Korean racetrack, the color encompasses the mountainous landscape where the track is located, completing the image of a classic car that embodies dynamism, speed, and timeless elegance.
Commenting on the X Sppedium, Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis, said: “This car is an open-door moment in Genesis’ journey towards our future EV design. This isn’t a show car — it’s a look into our design processes as we explore ideas for the next wave of EVs, one that incorporates Genesis’ DNA.”
As a brand that is very much at the forefront of the electric revolution, Volkswagen has curated an eclectic list of weird and wonderful electric vehicle concepts. It is a list so intriguing that we have decided to pile our favourites together in one entry.
Firstly, we have the ID. Life, the smallest member of the ID. family. Packed with sustainable materials and a monolithically designed body that features no ornamentation or attachments whatsoever – making it appear as though it were cast from a single mould – the ID. Life truly is one of a kind.
In stark contrast to the ID. Life, Volkswagen has also shared a glimpse at its ID.R concept, the brands first electric car designed for motorsports. It took only 250 days from the first drawing to the presentation of the prototype. The ID.R has set a number of astonishing records already, most notably at the Nürburgring’s North Loop, where it broke the record for the fastest
lap by an electrically-powered racing car – a time of 6:05.336 minutes! With 0-60mph acceleration in under two seconds and with power output of 500kW that generates 680 bhp, the ID.R is easily the most ferocious car on this list.
From the most ferocious to the most fascinating, VW’s ID. BUGGY concept is inspired by the Californian dune buggies of the sixties. With the nostalgic design of the classic buggies from yesteryear, coupled with a lithium ion rechargeable battery with 150 kW power output, this buggy does more than just look cool. The purpose behind this concept was to illustrate the broad spectrum of emission-free mobility that can be achieved with the modular electric drive matrix within the Volkswagen brand: Following on from the ID.1, ID. BUZZ, ID. CROZZ SUV and ID. VIZZION saloon, the new ID. BUGGY is the fifth concept car based on the MEB, with which Volkswagen has used to confirm the multifaceted nature of the ID. Family.
The Honda e:Ny1 Prototype is an electric SUV that is scheduled for release next year, making this the manufacturer’s second fully electric vehicle in Europe.
Targeting the burgeoning SUV segment, the e:Ny1 will, by all accounts, be a more affordable alternative to some of the other cars available on the market today. Although the design may be relatively bland in comparison and it may not have a cinematic drone that follows it around, it lands a
place on our list as it is a concept car that you can actually see finding a place in the real world.
Specific details of the car may be few and far between at the moment, it is expected to feature a similar drivetrain to the e:NS1, which offers a range of over 300 miles and a decent performance package of 201hp thanks to a 68.8-kWh battery pack. It also has a familiar design to the Honda HR-V, so this is very much a ‘concept’ that has been crafted with reality in mind.
BMW’s entry in this list is in the guise of a of a compact, fully electric vehicle with a focus on sustainability and luxury for the year 2040.
The name of the vehicle is in reference to the brand’s circular design principles: Re:think, Re:duce, Re:use and Re:cycle. The BMW i Vision Circular is optimised for closed material cycles and has the goal of achieving 100 per cent recycled materials use / 100 per cent recyclability.
Up close, this striking and unmistakable design is characterized by an electrified version of the infamous BMW grille, a steep front end with a
continuous windscreen that stretches across the top of the entire vehicle, and sharp creases all around to give the car a very rigid and upright aesthetic. Inside, the BMW i Vision Circular “seeks to create a luxurious ambience, employing materials and production processes that are indicative of a responsible approach to the environment and its resources.” If you say so. What this basically means is that the inside of the car will feature an infotainment screen that is *projected* onto the dash and detachable components that can be quickly and easily dismantled into their individual mono-materials and fed back into the materials cycle.
Following on from the launch of the new Nissan Ariya, the Japanese manufacturer has already reimagined its new EV as a high-performance, single-seater concept version.
The Ariya Single Seater Concept explores what a future electrified performance style for Nissan could look like and the brand’s participation in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship also played a key role in the design of the car.
Juan Manuel Hoyos, Nissan global marketing divisional general manager for brand and engagement, said: “At Nissan, we dare to do what others
don’t. With this concept we want to showcase the high-performance potential of the Ariya’s powertrain in a motorsports-inspired package that not only hints at the design and styling of the road car that inspired it, but that also demonstrates a new and efficient EV performance language. “Acting as a testbed for future technological evolution, this project can help bring excitement from the road to the race track, and also demonstrate Nissan’s expertise in transferring knowledge and technology from the race track to the road.”
Smart chargers include a delay function to ensure they don’t all suddenly begin drawing power at 10pm. They can manage when they start their charging session randomly after 10pm by 10 minute intervals. If energy use is high on a particular day, utility companies can extend the random start time to 30 minute intervals.
The potential savings for EV owners could be significant because so many of them still charge their cars at home during peak times. By switching to off-peak hours, they can take advantage of reduced electricity tariffs while still maintaining the convenience of powering their cars at home, which is the preferred charging place for most EV owners.
Even though the UK’s smart charging legislation has now come into force, EV drivers are still in the dark over what this means for them and their vehicles.
EV sales are skyrocketing in the UK. Last year, more than 190,000 EVs were registered in the UK, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and the forecast is for over 280,000 in 2022.
But the growing popularity of electric vehicles is threatening to place significant pressure on the grid, with the estimation that every EV charged at home is the equivalent of adding a new house to the electricity network - something which we simply can’t sustain.
The introduction of smart charging legislation aims to mitigate this impact on the UK’s electricity supply. By ensuring charge points have the ability to spread the load on the grid, smart charging will ensure vehicles are charged when there is less demand or when renewable energy sources are available.
The legislation follows an 18-month smart charging trial by Electric Nation. Involving 700 EV drivers, the trial found the majority charged their cars during evening peak times of 5-7pm. The introduction of smart charging, combined with time of use tariffs, would therefore provide the lowest-cost charge for EV owners and move demand away from peak hours.
Unfortunately, a large proportion of EV owners appear to be confused over how the new smart charging legislation will affect them. According to a new YouGov survey commissioned by Monta,
44% of EV drivers were unsure what was meant by smart charging, while 35% were unaware it was better for the national grid.
42% of EV drivers had no idea that smart charging was a cheaper way to charge their vehicle, and 11% thought it was actually more expensive.
The legislation mandates that charge points installed after 30 June need to have a data connection – 3G/4G/5G or home Wi-Fi connectivity – and the ability to record and use an energy measuring system to monitor usage.
This gives the electricity supplier providing energy to the EV better visibility of the demands on the national grid and the capability to intelligently manage capacity. Smart charge points are pre-configured to default charging hours that avoid peak hours between 8am-11am and 4pm10pm on weekdays. EV owners do not have to abide by these pre-sets, however, and can continue to charge when they want.
The EV chargepoint grant scheme introduced in April to incentivise landlords to install EV charge points is also expected to extend the benefits of smart charging to tenants in rented accommodation. In addition, all new homes in England are now required to have EV charge points installed.
The expected proliferation of domestic charge points only adds further weight to the sense that more needs to be done to make EV owners and potential EV owners aware of the benefits of smart chargers. Otherwise they may be unpleasantly surprised by the restrictions on charge times imposed by the default pre-sets.
The task could become even more confusing because so many public charging alternatives to home charging, such as those in supermarket car parks, workplaces and petrol station forecourts are, by their nature, not subject to default charging hours.
At any other time we would be promoting and celebrating this legislation. The move towards standardised smart charging is great for UK EV drivers, as it means their charges have even less impact on the environment and their wallets.
But right now, without any real clarification, many are going to be left confused as to why they’re being put off from charging their own vehicle as standard at 5pm. The government still needs to do more to spell out the changes for EV drivers as well as charge point manufacturers.
Charge point manufacturers and installers are also having to get to grips with the legislation in a very short timeframe. Many have had to rush to get equipment ready for the changes, but progress has been stalled for a lot of them by supply chain issues, operating costs and staffing shortages.
This legislation was designed to make the EV rollout easier for drivers and the grid, but right now it could just be causing a lot more uncertainty.
Alok Dubey, UK Country Manager at Monta, the one stop shop for all EV charging.
In this episode, we speak to Paul Routledge of Swedish EV charging firm, ChargeAmps. Paul discusses the growth of ChargeAmps, the lessons the UK can learn from the likes of Sweden, and how solar could be the way forward for the EV charging industry.
In this episode, we speak to Tomi Ristimaki, the CEO of Kempower. Tomi joins us today to talk to us about the growth of Kempower, a global EV charging brand that specialises in high voltage charging, as well as the company’s venture into the US and its adaptive charging solutions.
What is the main objective behind Kempower’s mission to electrify the United States?
We’re joined by Kevin Samy of Volta Charging, who discusses the company’s journey so far, the short term vision for Volta, as well as its ‘Charging for All’ initiative, which aims to make electric vehicles and EV charging affordable and accessible for everyone.
Q: What can the UK learn from the likes of Sweden and Norway in terms of the rollout of EV charging infrastructure?
“There is much more visibility in public charging infrastructure. There is more awareness that you can charge wherever and not just specific places. There needs to be change of understand and attitude, that you don’t need that 250-mile range all the time. On a daily basis, you’re going to be using a range of 50 miles, so it is about a change in mentality. They (Norway and Sweden) have a different mentality about how they ‘fuel’ their vehicles.”
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A: “We want to be a significant player over there. Looking at the expansion of EVs, it’s now the trend in all the markets. When people start with EVs now, it’s the same scale but the timespan is shorter. You’ll see a high, high percentage of growth in the next years; for somewhere like the USA where the percentage of EVs hasn’t been very high, we expect it to grow really, really fast. It’s driven not only by the climate cause but by the fuel price increase, too. That makes people move and once you go into an EV, you never go back. From the useability and the convenience, that’s what happens.”
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What does Volta Charging hope to achieve with its ‘Charging for All’ initiative?
“If we are to effectively transition to electric mobility in the most grand way possible, it has to be a transition that brings people along. In the US, historically housing and transportation policies have been prejudice, discriminatory and outright racist in some geographies. As we make this switch, it is an opportunity to correct those unjust policies of the past. Right now, because of the technology, most luxury vehicles are more expensive than a used ICE vehicle. As we think about charging infrastructure, there’s a chicken and egg dilemma. If there are no Teslas in a disadvantaged community, then some companies may not be able to deploy charging stations because they don’t make money on the electrons. Volta is unique. Volta can show up to a community that doesn’t have a lot of home garages – a dense, urban multi-unit dwelling, apartment compex community – and say “look, because there are a lot of eyeballs in these shopping malls and grocery stores, we can put a station down even before there are cars here” and make money on the media. That intentional business model is where that ‘Charging for All’ initiative was born.”
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