2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range Awd 4dr Sedan on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Toyota's Lentz says fuel cells are the future, not EVs

Toyota is not bullish on EVs. That comes from the company's North American CEO, Jim Lentz, who said the company will focus not on electrification, but on continued hybridization with a long-term focus on hydrogen fuel cells.
Lentz questioned the long-range ability of EVs, saying that Toyota feels "there are better alternatives, such as hybrids and plug-in hybrids, and tomorrow with fuel cells." Lentz spoke about Toyota's focus on hydrogen following Forbes Brainstorm Green conference and barely a week after a battery deal between Tesla and Toyota ended, according to Automotive News.
That deal provided for 2,500 battery packs for the Rav4 EV. While valuable to Toyota, the deal "was never about open-ended volume," Lentz said. "It was time to either continue or stop. My personal feeling was that I would rather invest my dollars in fuel cell development than in another 2,500 EVs."

Why Tesla Model X is late (hint, it could be the falcon doors)

Watching Tesla Motors first show off its Model X SUV at a blingy event three years ago, this reporter heard a lot of "oohs" and "ahhs" when the car's falcon-winged rear doors reached for the sky. Now, those doors are likely causing the automaker's engineers to emit a lot of "args" and, likely, a bunch of unprintables. Such is the price of progress. Initially slated to start production in late 2013, Tesla has pushed back production of the Model X to sometime this year. Company CEO Elon Musk has already said that the doors are a challenge, but Green Car Reports talked with some unnamed suppliers to learn more about how, exactly, those doors are creating delays. It turns out, those heavy doors require large torsion springs that need to be perfected. Additionally, making sure the door seals are sufficient, as well as ensuring that those doors can withstand enough abuse to give the Model X a top safety rating are also keeping the SUV from going into production. Last November, Musk, responding to a question from Goldman Sachs' Patrick Archambault, confirmed that the Model X would have a third-quarter 2015 launch, and that the doors were causing much of the delay. Additional issues have popped up with the production of the model's second row of seats and the company's efforts to replace the Model X's side mirrors with video cameras – which would improve aerodynamics (always key for an electric vehicle's single-charge range) – are being stymied by rules that say mirrors are still required for safety.

Recharge Wrap-up: No fast charger funding from GM, Tesla Model X buyer's guide

General Motors does not plan to fund any CCS fast-charging infrastructure to go along with the launch of the Chevrolet Bolt. Other automakers – Audi, BMW, Nissan, Volkswagen and, of course, Tesla - are investing in the deployment of fast chargers to aid the mobility of their EV customers. With the debut of the Chevy Bolt, which has an option for a CCS fast-charging port, Green Car Reports asked a panel of GM executives if it had similar plans. "We are not actively working on providing infrastructure [for the Bolt EV]," says GM CEO Mary Barra. Read more at Green Car Reports. Teslarati has put together a buyer's guide for the Tesla Model X. If you're considering taking the plunge and buying the new, luxury, electric SUV, there are a number of things to take into account that first-time Tesla or EV buyers may not have had to consider before – on top of the usual tough choices any car buyer faces. The guide breaks down the options into categories of pricing, battery, and performance, performance extras, seating, more options, tow/hitch options, and final options (yes, that's a lot of options). It also includes how to find the hidden 72-amp onboard charger upgrade, if that's something you want to consider. Check it out at Teslarati. Renault is an official partner of the 2015/2016 Formula E Paris ePrix. The race takes place around the Hotel des Invalides monument on April 23, and Renault will have a strong presence for the race weekend. The automaker will have its ZE range on display at the ePrix's e-village throughout the event. Renault e.dams won the 2014/2015 Teams' championship title, and is at the top of the standings for 2015/2016. Read more from Renault. EV sales are on the rise in Europe, a trend that's expected to continue according to analysts. Thanks in large part to regulatory measures, electrified vehicle sales (including mild hybrids) are predicted to grow 433 percent to 2.2 million units by 2021. EV sales grew 82.2 percent in the year leading up to September 2015. "It's no secret that the internal combustion engine is expected to be the predominant powertrain in the near term, but increased acceptance of [alternative fuel vehicle] technology, particularly pure electrification, should not be ignored," says PwC Global Automotive Leader Rick Hanna. Read more in the press release below.