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Three major transportation firms are set to work with one another on the development of a European charging network for “battery electric heavy-duty long-haul trucks and coaches.” 

In a joint announcement earlier this week, Volvo, Daimler Truck and the Traton Group said they had signed a non-binding agreement related to the installation and operation of the network. The goal is to set up a joint venture that all three firms would own an equal part of, with operations slated to commence in 2022.

Together, the companies are set to invest 500 million euros (around $593 million) in the joint venture, which would be based in the Dutch city of Amsterdam.

It’s hoped that, within five years of the JV being set up, at least 1,700 “green energy charging points” will have been installed and functioning. The tech, the firms said, is set to be located “close to highways as well as at logistic and destination points.”

“The number of charging points is with time intended to be increased significantly by seeking additional partners as well as public funding,” they added.

Change on the cards, but challenges ahead

In April, the International Energy Agency said that, globally, the number of electric cars, buses, vans and heavy trucks on roads was expected to hit 145 million by 2030.

According to the Paris-based organization, if governments ramp up their efforts to meet international energy and climate goals, the global electric vehicle fleet could increase further still, hitting 230 million by the end of the decade. Both of these projections exclude two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles.

As the number of EVs on our roads increases, extensive charging networks will need to be rolled out for all types of vehicles to meet increased demand and dispel lingering concerns around “range anxiety” — the notion that EVs aren’t able to undertake long journeys without losing power and getting stranded.

The electrification of long-haul, heavy-duty trucks and coaches poses its own set of unique challenges. As the IEA’s Global EV Outlook for 2021 notes, “long-haul trucking requires advanced technologies for high power charging and/or large batteries.”

Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Wednesday, Volvo’s chief technology officer, Lars Stenqvist, sought to explain why a charging network for heavy duty vehicles was needed.

“Right now, we are producing and distributing electric heavy duty trucks mainly for refuse applications, for city applications,” he said. “And those vehicles, normally they’re coming home to their ‘base camp’ every evening for charging.”

Stenqvist said the next step on the journey would be regional and long haul applications.

“Then, you are dependent on … [getting] the pan-European charging network in place and, right now, it’s a little bit of [a] chicken and egg discussion because there are no vehicles out there and … no infrastructure. But if there is no infrastructure, there will not be any vehicles.”

In terms of how the project would operate on the ground, Stenqvist explained it would be a “public, open network — so whatever make can charge their vehicles in this network.”

Later on in the discussion, Stenqvist stressed the importance of differentiating between vehicles. “We are talking about really high capacity chargers here and that is one of the reasons why we are not using, and cannot use, the car charging network … not from a performance perspective and of course also not from a … layout perspective.”

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Halevai looks to further electrify the marine segment with its American-made long-range boat

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Halevai looks to further electrify the marine segment with its American-made long-range boat

Young electric boat maker Halevai is on the cusp of production of its flagship model, 2050, which promises some of the best range and power in a blossoming sustainable marine industry. This locally built recreational vessel was designed for safety and performance to provide customers with “the most technologically advanced on-board experience.”

Halevai is a concept boat manufacturer founded in 2020 that combines its expertise in engineering, design, and conservation to try and build the safest, renewable, and cost-efficient electric boats ever made.

For the last four years, Halevai has worked under the radar in research and development to achieve said goal, recruiting trusted partners in the industry, such as Hyper Craft, Mercury Marine, and Navico Group. By utilizing the powertrain and motor technology through scalable partnerships with those marine industry veterans, Halevai believes it can deliver an electric boat that offers the most power at the best price. Per its website:

The American marine landscape is vast and diverse. None of the work we are doing at Halevai is possible without the clear understanding that we must and we will protect the life support system of our planet. Whether we are in a mountain lake, an inlet, a bay or in the open ocean we are connected to the life force of this planet, our ocean. We have a responsibility to protect and communicate with each other and find new ways to boat more responsibly.

The culmination of this R&D is Halevai’s flagship vessel – the Model2050. This 24-foot recreational boat looks like an impressive start and will soon be available to customers looking to navigate waters without all those nasty carbon emissions.

Halevai Model2050 electric boat to begin production soon

Halevai recently launched the Model2050 as its first all-electric vessel available for sale. This 24-foot all-electric boat features a fiberglass-infused E-QXCFM 3515 hull, housing a 60 or 120-kWh marine-grade battery pack and room for ten passengers.

Combined with a Mercury Alpha 1 Gen 2 drivetrain creating 300 hp, Halevai’s Model2050 electric boat delivers a cruising speed of 25 mph and a top speed of 35+ mph, promising up to 50 nautical miles of range on a charge (standard pack). The vessel has a 6.6 kW onboard charger and an optional 30/40/50 amp charging station.

Other features include a customized 12-inch navigation screen, a high-power surround sound system, keyless startup, and three select drive modes.

Halevai recognizes that current boat-building practices need to be cleaner, circular, or sustainable but is committed to leading the movement. The Model2050 is equipped with 100% organic cork flooring, including its 26″ swim deck in the rear.

Halevai’s Model2050 electric boat will commence production this summer at its new White Bluff, Tennessee facility. 35 initial builds are slated for 2024, equating to one or two boats per week. The American-made vessels start at a base price of 185,000. Here’s a better look at the boat in action.

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Lamborghini revamps the luxury brand with a new look as its lineup shifts to electric

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Lamborghini revamps the luxury brand with a new look as its lineup shifts to electric

The iconic Lamborghini brand is getting a new look as the automaker prepares for an electric future. Lamborghini launched its new logo and corporate identity as part of its transformation.

It’s been over two decades since Lamborghini last updated its unmistakable logo. The black and gold bull, symbolic of Lambo’s power, performance, and agility (and the company’s founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini’s zodiac sign, Taurus), is getting a modern update.

Lamborghini’s new look is part of a broader transformation focused on “sustainability and decarbonization.” The performance brand will electrify its entire lineup by the end of 2024.

The overhaul is designed to better reflect the “brave,” “unexpected,” and “authentic” values of its new mission called “Driving Humans Beyond.”

According to Lambo, it aims to “create a solid pact with future generations,” serving as inspiration for sustainable progress.

The new look will be applied to future vehicles and the brand as a whole. Although very similar to the previous logo, you can see the Lamborghini name stands out with a “broader” typeface on the new version.

Lamborghini-new-look

For the first time, the iconic bull is designed individually from the shield, making it stand out even more.

It also features black and white as its primary colors, with yellow and gold used as accents. The new logo will be used on all future cars. Lambo said the redesigned logo marks “a new phase in the company’s positioning.”

Lamborghini’s new logo (Source: Lamborghini)

Shifting to an electric lineup

The refresh comes as Lamborghini plans to electrify its entire lineup by the end of the year. Under its “Direzione Cor Tauri” strategy, the brand will reduce emissions by 40% per car by 2030 with new electric models.

Lamborghini’s transformation started with the Revuelto plug-in hybrid last year. The brand will accelerate the shift in 2024 by launching the first hybrid Urus SUV and Huracan PHEV.

Lamborghini-new-look
Lamborghini Lanzador fully electric 2+2 concept (Source: Lamborghini)

This will lead to Lamborghini’s first fully electric vehicle, previewed by the Lanzador concept, due in 2028. Lambo is working on its first fully electric “Super SUV,” which is expected to launch in 2029.

Lamborghini shook the internet after revealing its first all-electric vehicle concept, the Lanzador, last August.

The high-riding 2+2 GT combines the versatility of a daily driver while preserving the performance of a Lambo. CEO Stephan Winkelmann said with the Lanzador, the brand is “looking into our future without forgetting our DNA.”

Lamborghini designed the interior to make you feel like you’re in a cockpit with bucket seats, a sports steering wheel, and dual digital screens.

What do you guys think of Lamborghini’s new look? Let us know in the comments.

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Tesla Cybertruck ramp is impressive, but it comes at a cost

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Tesla Cybertruck ramp is impressive, but it comes at a cost

Tesla appears to be making significant progress in its Cybertruck production ramp, but it is coming at a cost.

The automaker is about to finish its first full quarter of Cybertruck production, and it looks like it has made some great progress.

It has been hard to track Cybertruck production, and drone flyovers have been the primary way to track it.

A new drone flyover of Tesla Gigafactory Texas by Brad Sloan showed hundreds of Cybertrucks at multiple locations around the factory, including some being loaded on trucks for deliveries.

It looks like Tesla is getting closer to producing 1,000 Cybertrucks per week, which would be an impressive ramp for the first quarter of production.

But volume is one thing. Quality is another.

Tesla is having issues with its early Cybertruck units, which is not something completely unusual for a new vehicle program

Electrek has talked to two recent Cybertruck buyers who had complete vehicle failures in their first week of ownership. They both had the rear motor fail.

They were told by Tesla service that it is a fairly common problem that is creating a backlog in parts. The customers were told that it would be a few weeks before Tesla could perform the repairs.

Even the Cybertruck that MKBHD reviewed had a significant door gap defect, which CEO Elon Musk confirmed was a known issue:

Some Cybertruck owners have questioned the statement that it is an “easy fix” or at least that it will result in a quick experience at service centers as several Cybertruck owners report that their vehicles are in service for longer than in their garages.

Electrek’s Take

Now, I’m no hater. It is fairly normal for any vehicle program, from any automaker, to have issues early in the production process, but I think it’s also fair to say that Tesla, due to its nature, has more issues.

For better or worse, Tesla moves a lot faster than any other automaker. That’s a fact.

It enables it to bring vehicle programs to production faster and bring changes to its vehicles faster. For example, it doesn’t wait for new model years to bring improvements to its manufacturing systems.

However, it also means that things can fall between the cracks and things like we are seeing now with the Cybertruck happen.

There are pros and cons to everything.

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