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Is Ford taking a page from rival GM? A new patent filing hints an Ultium-like EV platform could be in the works to power Ford’s next-gen electric pickup, or any other electric car, for that matter.

Ford’s CEO Jim Farley confirmed its second-gen EVs are “deep in development” almost a year ago. This includes Ford’s next-gen electric pickup, a follow-up to the F-150 Lightning.

Farley explained that the new EVs will be “fully software-updatable.” This means a “brand-new electric architecture” that will simplify production. “Imagine three body styles, each with volume potential of up to 1 million units and just a handful of orderable combinations,” Farley added.

Ford revealed the next-gen pickup, the “T3 Project,” last March. Farley described it as “like the Millennium Falcon – with a back porch attached.”

The new electric truck will be built for work and the digitally connected era. Ford is also launching an electric three-row SUV. Although Ford ruled out an electric Expedition, it will likely be a larger version of the Explorer EV for Europe.

Ford-electric-Explorer
Ford electric Explorer SUV (Source: Ford)

Ford said the electric SUV is designed for road trips with a spacious interior and up to 350 miles range.

Although Ford has yet to reveal details on how it plans to power these vehicles, a new patent filing could give us some clues.

Ford-Ultium-like-EV-platform
Ford patent (Source: USPTO)

Ford patent shows new Ultium-like EV platform

The patent, filed with the USPTO, was published on January 2, 2024,. It’s for a “Vehicle Chassis with Interchangeable Performance Packages and Related Methods.”

Ford describes a vehicle chassis that can be easily used to build different vehicle packages, such as the ones Farley referred to last year.

Ford-Ultium-like-EV-platform
Ford patent (Source: USPTO)

The idea is to create “subframes” that can be swapped for different parts or upgrades. An EV battery platform is shown in the first chassis portion as an example. The first subframe includes an electric motor and suspension assembly.

Meanwhile, a second subframe can be added with another electric motor (dual-motor) and a second suspension assembly. Ford says the second motor will have more power while the suspension will be stiffer for performance EVs.

The patent also describes adjustable battery packs that can be used for various ride heights or functions, similar to GM’s Ultium platform.

Ford-Ultium-like-EV-platform
Ford patent (Source: USPTO)

The flexible structure enables it to be used for different vehicle sizes (length and width). Ford shows a pickup truck as an example but says it can be used for “any type of wheeled vehicle.” This includes sedans, coupes, vans, pickups, SUVs, and even ATVs or farm equipment. Sounds a bit like GM’s Ultium platform, right?

Like GM’s Ultium, the platform features battery pack arrays that can be added or removed for more or less power.

Ford’s next-gen EV platform is due out next year, so we will likely hear more details soon. Check back for the latest.

Source: RoadandTrack

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Velotric Breeze launched as new cruiser e-bike, bringing comfort and speed

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Velotric Breeze launched as new cruiser e-bike, bringing comfort and speed

The major electric bicycle brand Velotric has just launched its newest model, the Velotric Breeze 1. Part commuter, part cruiser, the Breeze 1 is a fast yet comfortable e-bike intended for those who want a relaxed riding style without sacrificing performance.

Most cruiser electric bicycles are considered to be more of a laissez-faire endeavor, but the Velotric Breeze 1 is hoping to crank things up a notch with fast speeds and high-tech features.

Replacing the traditionally large and swoopy frame is a more accessible step-through design that comes in two sizes to fit a larger range of riders. But while the frame may look different than a classic cruiser, the pedal-forward geometry and swept-back cruiser handlebars definitely evoke true cruiser vibes.

That geometry, including the adjustable angle handlebars, helps give the Velotric Breeze 1 a more upright and relaxed ride.

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But don’t think that just because the Breeze 1 is a relaxed ride, it can’t still bring the performance. A 750W motor offers up to 28 mph (45 km/h) of speed in unlocked mode, though the bike comes with a 20 mph limit right out of the box. To open up Class 3 speeds, users will need to use the settings menu in the color display, where a plethora of other parameters can also be adjusted.

A 48V 13.4Ah battery provides 643Wh of battery capacity, or enough for a claimed maximum range of 75 miles (120 km) in the lowest power pedal assist mode. There are also 15 levels of pedal assist and the ability to choose between the torque sensor or the cadence sensor to activate that pedal assist (and of course throttle mode, for those who don’t want to pedal at all).

While torque sensors are generally more highly praised for their ability to offer near-instantaneous power delivery and more natural feeling riding, some people prefer a cadence sensor since it can be used more like a foot throttle, allowing minimal effort from the rider. By offering the option to choose between the two, Velotric is giving everyone the opportunity to ride the way they prefer.

The battery is IPX7-rated, meaning it can be submerged in up to three feet of water. The rest of the bike is IPX6-rated, allowing owners to pressure wash the bike without worry of water getting inside. Like all of Velotric’s electric bikes, both the battery and the entire bike are UL-certified.

The Velotric Breeze 1 also includes Apple FindMy location tracking, punchy hydraulic disc brakes, bright LED lighting including turn signals, easy-rolling 27.5×2.2 urban tires, a Shimano 8-speed derailleur, and is even rather lightweight for a cruiser e-bike at just 48 lb (21.7 kg).

The seat stay-mounted tail lights are also spread wide on the rear of the bike, allowing the turn signals to function even better as directional indicators for drivers.

The bike lacks suspension, offering a purely rigid fork and frame, but is likely intended for operation on smooth beach paths and other areas without the bumpy terrain that typically begs true suspension.

Priced at US $1,799, the Velotric Breeze 1 was just launched this morning and is already available for order on Velotric’s site. The bike comes in five different colors and two different frame sizes, fitting riders between 4’11 and 6’4″ (150-193 cm).

What do you think of Velotric’s newest e-bike? Let us know in the comment section below, and be on the lookout for our own review of the Breeze 1 coming soon!

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Cartoonish Tesla crashes, Toyota battery deals, and new Chinese hotness

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Cartoonish Tesla crashes, Toyota battery deals, and new Chinese hotness

ACME stock soars on today’s cartoonishly silly episode of Quick Charge, we watch Tesla Autopilot crash into a wall with a painting on it, make the Elon stans look silly when they point out shady behavior from their fearless leader, and toss out the notion that some franchise dealers might help the troubled EV brand make more sales in red states.

We also cover Toyota as it moves to position itself for global battery dominance by suppling batteries to more than 400,000 electrified Honda vehicles per year, plus an upgraded Xpeng G6 electric SUV that makes everything on this side of the Pacific look positively plebeian. All this and more, enjoy!

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

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Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

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Tesla already starts to offer 0% interest on new Model Y in China – showing weak demand

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Tesla already starts to offer 0% interest on new Model Y in China – showing weak demand

Tesla has already started offering 0% APR on loans for the new Model Y in China, showing a clear sign of weak demand.

We recently reported that Tesla is under increased pressure from competition in China, the world’s largest EV market.

The Tesla Model 3 was recently surpassed in sales by the Xiaomi SU7 in a record short period from starting production. The SU7 not only outsells Model 3 in China, but Xiaomi’s electric sedan has a 31-34-week-long order backlog compared to just 1-3 weeks for Tesla’s.

Last month, Tesla started offering a new RMB 8,000 ($1,100 USD) insurance subsidy and 0% loans on new Model 3 orders.

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Tesla didn’t apply these same offers to new Model Y orders because Tesla enjoyed more demand for the vehicle due to the launch of the Model Y refresh, and the production launch limited the supplies.

However, we also noted that reports of more than 200,000 orders for the new Model Y were exaggerated and the current delivery timelines pointed to soft demand for the new Model Y.

We noted that a good indication of when Tesla is running out of the backlog of orders, which was opened in January, for the newly delivered vehicle would be if Tesla brings back financing incentives on the Model Y.

Today, Tesla announced that it was bringing back the 0% interest loans on the base version of the new Model Y:

The Model Y RWD is by far Tesla’s best-selling car in China and Tesla is now offering up to 3 years at 0% for a 30% down payment and some discounted rates for a smaller down payment.

The incentive starts now and up to April 30. Tesla wrote:

If you purchase a Model Y rear-wheel drive version from March 18, 2025 to April 30, 2025 and pick up the car before the order expiration date according to the delivery and payment terms in the order, eligible customers can apply for the following financial preferential plans:

Tesla currently quotes “2-4 weeks” as a delivery timeline for new orders for the new Model Y RWD, and 6-10 weeks for Long Range AWD.

The Long Range appears to enjoy a bit more demand. Tesla even slightly increased the price by RMB 10,000 yuan ($1,380).

Electrek’s Take

It’s important to consider that Tesla is believed to be selling a mix of RWD vs AWD around 3 to 1 or even 4 to 1. Therefore, any change in pricing and subsidized loans to the Short Range RWD would have a massive impact on Tesla.

I have to say, I’m surprised. I suspected Tesla would have some issues selling the new Model Y in the second half of the year after some excitement for the new version wore off and competition like the Xiaomi YU7 would arrive, but I didn’t think it would come so fast.

Even if this is because Tesla was able to ramp up production of the new version faster, which could mean more deliveries in Q1, the fact that they are already discounting them is a terrible sign of demand.

I didn’t have high hopes for Tesla’s prospects in China in 2025, but even I thought this would not come for another 3-5 months.

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