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8 automakers, 15 utilities collaborate on open smart-charging for EVs

We're going to lead with General Motors here. GM is one of eight automakers working with 15 utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) at developing a "smart" plug-in vehicle charging system. Why did we start with GM? Because it's the first automaker whose press release we read that mentioned the other seven automakers. Points for sharing. For the record, the collaboration also includes BMW, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Chrysler, Mitsubishi and Ford. The utilities include DTE Energy, Duke Energy, Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric. The idea is to develop a so-called "demand charging" system in which an integrated system lets the plug-ins and utilities communicate with each other so that vehicle charging is cut back at peak hours, when energy is most expensive, and ramped up when the rates drop. Such entities say there's a sense of urgency to develop such a system because the number of plug-in vehicles on US roads totals more than 225,000 today and is climbing steadily. There's a lot of technology involved, obviously, but the goal is to have an open platform that's compatible with virtually any automaker's plug-in vehicle. No timeframe was disclosed for when such a system could go live but you can find a press release from EPRI below. EPRI, Utilities, Auto Manufacturers to Create an Open Grid Integration Platform for Plug-in Electric Vehicles PALO ALTO, Calif. (July 29, 2014) – The Electric Power Research Institute, 8 automakers and 15 utilities are working to develop and demonstrate an open platform that would integrate plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) with smart grid technologies enabling utilities to support PEV charging regardless of location. The platform will allow manufacturers to offer a customer-friendly interface through which PEV drivers can more easily participate in utility PEV programs, such as rates for off-peak or nighttime charging. The portal for the system would be a utility's communications system and an electric vehicle's telematics system. As the electric grid evolves with smarter functionality, electric vehicles can serve as a distributed energy resource to support grid reliability, stability and efficiency. With more than 225,000 plug-in vehicles on U.S. roads -- and their numbers growing -- they are likely to play a significant role in electricity demand side management.

Another blow for Canadian autoworkers: FCA to lay off 1,500 at Windsor

Fiat Chrysler says it will cut a third shift at its Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, meaning layoffs for 1,500 workers in response to softening sales of the Chrysler Pacifica minivan. Separately, FCA announced it was moving up the scheduled two-week shutdown at the plant by one week, to the weeks of April 1 and 8. It's the latest blow for blue-collar autoworkers in Canada, who have been rocked by the potential closure of GM's assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario, after production of the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac XTS ends later this year. It will be the first time since 1993 that FCA's Windsor plant has operated on just two shifts, but the shutdown that began this week marks the third time the plant has been shut down this year. The Detroit News reports that action at the Windsor plant would be effective Sept. 30. It quoted Dave Cassidy, president of Unifor Local 444, at a news conference late last week: "People's lives — 1,500 direct families — depend on us," he said. "We're going to do everything possible to make sure we maintain three shifts. Everyone knows our product in Windsor is No. 1, and if you want to build it right, you want to build it in Windsor." FCA says it's making the cutback to better align production with demand. Through the first two months of 2019, U.S. sales of the Pacifica were down 24 percent to 14,817, with sales of the Grand Caravan, which is also built in Windsor, down 27 percent to 19,634. For the full-year 2018, Pacifica sales were flat at 118,322, while Grand Caravan sales rose 21 percent to 151,927. In Canada, the Pacifica saw a 3 percent drop in 2018 to just 5,999. FCA says it plans to offer retirement packages to eligible employees and will try to place laid-off hourly workers in open positions elsewhere as they become available. The company in February announced plans to invest $4.5 billion across the river to build a new assembly plant in Detroit and expand production at five other local plants in a move that will see it create 6,500 new jobs, pending certain assistance from the city of Detroit. The new Detroit plant will transform the existing Mack Avenue Engine facility into a production site for the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and a new three-row Jeep SUV. That plan alone is said to involve 3,850 new jobs.

FCA joins BMW, Intel and Mobileye on autonomous car project

Today, BMW, Intel and Mobileye announced that FCA would be joining their effort to build a sharable and scalable platform for autonomous cars. This project has been moving ahead full steam, with Intel purchasing Mobileye earlier this year, not long after Tesla and Mobileye parted ways. Not long after that, parts supplier Delphi joined the autonomous effort. The group's current goal is to have 40 autonomous test vehicles on the road by the end of 2017. The eventual end game is to create a new architecture that each partner can use and adapt to its needs. The platform will support level 3 to level 4/5 automated driving, and can be adapted to suit brand identity. The main headquarters for the effort will be in Germany. FCA staff will join the already established group of engineers from BMW, Intel and Mobileye. The group expects this new platform to hit the streets by 2021. It's unclear how this will affect FCA's relationship with Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle project. Waymo currently uses modified Chrysler Pacificas for its fleet. In addition to FCA, the trio of BMW, Intel and Mobileye have extended an invitation to any other automakers and suppliers that want to join the project. Related Video: News Source: BMW/Intel Green BMW Chrysler Fiat Autonomous Vehicles mobileye