Quirky EV moves

Issue #251, May 15, 2024

The autonomous, electric vehicle (EV) industry continues to witness quirky moves, adjusting to consumer preferences and regulatory requirements. The autonomous car industry is looking at mending its relationships with consumers and regulators to build trust in the technology. At the same time, some firms are putting their plans for on the backburner, which could result in a 'winter' for the technology. Nissan is investing in solid-state batteries, as a replacement for lithium-ion batteries. EVs and renewable technologies need to prove their worth and value-for-money to see wider adoption. The recent tariffs announced by US would mean the Chinese car makers will have to look at more of European and Asian markets. Tesla's moves in the charging business are towards maintaining and expanding existing locations, posing a risk to the overall EV ecosystem. Below are some quirky or strange, but interesting moves in the EV industry.

Building trust for autonomous vehicles

As the incidents, investigations and problems have piled up with autonomous vehicles (AVs) and automated driving systems, experts say the industry has squandered trust with consumers and regulators at a time the technology stands on the cusp of wider commercialization. After persistent problems, the AV industry outlines how companies can mend relationships with consumers and regulators. - Auto News

Autonomous tech winter

With the recent not-so-good developments in autonomous driving, some firms are putting their plans for the technology on the backburner. Visteon is one among them. In the new-age industry, many Tier 1 suppliers have repositioned themselves as technology companies. Visteon is focusing on opportunities that it sees are “more near term”, and that includes ADAS, its youngest business line. Continental CTO Gilles Mabire, is not surprised that Autonomous Driving is taking longer than expected in hitting the market. - ET Auto

Nissan and solid state batteries

Nissan Motor and others in Japan are pouring millions into developing solid-state batteries that they believe can replace the lithium-ion versions that currently power almost all of the world's EVs. While some breakthroughs have been achieved in basic development, skeptics say the world is still decades away from unlocking the level of mass production needed to reshape the EV landscape. - Nikkei Asia

EVs and cost savings for customers

EVs and renewable-energy technologies need to cut costs for businesses and consumers if they are to win public support. The more common question is whether EVs help the environment. The answer is that they do, in terms of carbon emissions, albeit with wide variation depending on how the electricity that powers it is generated and where its battery materials come from. This has long underpinned government support in many countries, including the US. A product that helps the environment yet poses a risk to the economy will lose public backing as it grows. - WSJ

Beyond US for Chinese EV makers

With America off-limits, China EV makers aim to conquer the rest of the world. Chinese automakers will focus on global markets outside the US now that the Biden administration has declared America off-limits to made-in-China electric cars. The 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs announced recentely are more of a symbolic blow than a practical one for Chinese carmakers. They have almost no business in the US and already recognized that the political hurdles to entering the market were insurmountable. - WSJ

Tesla pulling back on charging

Tesla has persuaded other automakers to adopt its charging connector, which it standardized and named the North American Charging Standard. In May 2023, Ford announced a move to adopt the NACS, and nearly every other automaker selling EVs in the US has followed suit. Then, last week, Tesla laid off its 500-person charging team. Tesla “still plans to grow the supercharger network,” though the focus will shift to maintaining and expanding existing locations rather than adding new ones, according to Elon Musk. - MIT Technology Review