ecoTEC 339 - Battery Lifespan Improves, EVs Outnumber Petrol in Norway,, Kiwi Gov's Bad EV Choices

Ecotricity NZ

21 Sept 202411:38

Summary

TLDRThis episode of Ecotricity's Ecotech Roundup covers key developments in the electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy sectors. It highlights discounts on EVs due to stock surpluses, challenges from Chinese automakers amid European tariffs, and BYD's new range of commercial EVs. The show also discusses advancements in EV battery life, safety concerns about large vehicles, and Ford's recognition of Chinese EV competition. Additionally, the episode touches on Norway's milestone of having more EVs than petrol cars, and concludes with the importance of switching to climate-positive, renewable electricity with Ecotricity.

Takeaways

🌿 Ecotricity is New Zealand’s first climate-positive renewable electricity provider, sourcing from wind, hydro, and solar energy.
🚗 The New Zealand EV market is facing challenges due to high pay-per-click tariffs on EVs and the elimination of incentives, but some automakers are offering massive discounts to clear excess stock.
💡 BYD, a Chinese automaker known for its affordable EVs, has launched a new range of battery-electric commercial vehicles in Europe, including trucks and yard tractors.
🔋 EV battery packs are outlasting their vehicles, with an average annual degradation rate of only 1.8%, down from 2.3% in 2019, showing improved longevity.
🚶 There is growing concern over the increasing size of vehicles, especially EVs, which pose safety risks to pedestrians. The US is proposing new safety regulations to address this issue.
🔧 Fisa, which entered bankruptcy protection, has updated its policies to reassure owners that warranty repairs and recalls will be covered, despite earlier concerns.
⚠️ Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, sees China's EV industry as an 'existential threat' to Western automakers, especially after experiencing Chinese-made EVs during a visit.
🚛 Renault is set to unveil a restomod electric version of the Renault 17 at the Paris Motor Show, blending retro designs with modern EV technology.
🌍 The city of The Hague in the Netherlands has become the first in the world to ban advertisements promoting fossil fuels, including vacations, air travel, and ICE vehicles.
🇳🇴 Norway has reached a major milestone with more electric vehicles on the road than petrol-powered vehicles, solidifying its leadership in EV adoption.

Q & A

What is Ecotricity, and what services does it offer?
-Ecotricity is New Zealand's first and only climate-positive certified renewable electricity provider. It sources energy from wind, hydro, and solar power and is a leading supplier of electricity for electric vehicles (EVs) in New Zealand.
What current challenges is the Kiwi electric vehicle (EV) market facing?
-The Kiwi EV market is facing challenges such as the elimination of EV incentives and the introduction of high pay-per-click tariffs on all EVs, making it harder for consumers to adopt electric vehicles.
What opportunities exist for purchasing a new EV in New Zealand despite market challenges?
-Some automakers are offering massive discounts, up to 50% off the official list price, to sell excess stock, creating a significant opportunity for consumers to buy EVs at a bargain.
What is the situation regarding European and North American tariffs on Chinese EVs?
-European and North American countries are preparing new tariffs on imported Chinese EVs. To avoid these tariffs, Chinese automakers, like BYD, are exploring ways around them, including increasing local production in Europe.
How is Audi responding to the challenge posed by Chinese automakers in Europe?
-Audi is considering selling its production facility in Belgium to the Chinese company Nio. This would give Volkswagen AG extra funds and allow Nio to avoid European tariffs by producing vehicles within the EU.
What new developments are coming from BYD in the electric commercial vehicle sector?
-BYD has launched a new range of battery-electric commercial vehicles for Europe, including the E Valley LCV, a yard tractor, a cabover tractor unit for medium-distance hauling, and a 7.5-ton truck for urban delivery.
What are common concerns about EV battery degradation, and how is this issue being addressed?
-One of the most common concerns is that EV battery packs may die after a few years, requiring costly replacements. However, recent data shows that EV batteries degrade by only 1.8% per year on average, with most degradation occurring in the first year and minimal degradation afterward.
What safety concerns are emerging with the increasing size of electric vehicles (EVs)?
-Safety advocates are worried that larger EVs, with higher hoods, pose increased risks to pedestrians. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working on new rules to make vehicles safer for pedestrians, including head impact and safety tests.
What impact has the removal of EV subsidies had in New Zealand?
-The removal of purchase incentives and the introduction of tariffs on EVs in New Zealand is projected to result in 58,000 fewer EVs on the road over the next decade and an additional two megatons of tailpipe emissions.
What recent milestone has Norway achieved in terms of EV adoption?
-Norway recently reached a milestone where there are now more electric vehicles on the road than petrol-powered vehicles. Diesel vehicles still slightly outnumber EVs, but that is expected to change soon.

Outlines

00:00

⚡ Ecotricity's Role in Clean Energy and EV Market Updates

The introduction highlights Ecotricity as New Zealand's first climate-positive certified renewable electricity provider, sourcing energy from wind, hydro, and solar. It also serves electric vehicles (EVs), offering discounts as automakers offload excess stock. With increasing tariffs on imported Chinese EVs in Europe and North America, Audi is considering selling its production facility to Chinese automaker Nio to avoid tariffs. BYD, a Chinese automaker, continues to expand with a new range of electric commercial vehicles in Europe. Additionally, EV battery degradation rates have improved, dispelling fears of rapid battery decline over time.

05:00

🚗 EV Battery Longevity and Challenges in the Industry

The paragraph discusses the common fear among potential EV owners regarding battery pack degradation. Data from Geotab shows that EV batteries degrade more slowly than expected, with new models showing only a 1.8% annual degradation rate. This is significantly less than older EV models, with most degradation happening in the first year. It also addresses the growing size of vehicles and the safety concerns that come with it. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working on new safety tests for pedestrian safety, targeting the increasing size of vehicle hoods. Additionally, the bankruptcy of automaker Fisa has led to concerns about warranty repairs, but the company has reassured customers that recalls and repairs will be covered.

10:01

🌍 Chinese Auto Industry Threat and Renault’s EV Resto Mod

Jim Farley, Ford's CEO, considers China's EV industry an existential threat to traditional Western automakers like Ford. After visiting China and testing their EVs, Farley realized their advanced capabilities. This has caused Ford to shift its focus toward smaller, more affordable EVs. Meanwhile, Renault is restoring its classic R17 model with a futuristic electric twist, showcasing it at the Paris Motor Show. The trend of restomods, which involve updating classic vehicles with modern EV technology, continues to capture attention, although Renault’s concept might not enter production.

🚫 Fossil Fuel Advertising Bans and EV Policy Backlash

The city of The Hague has become the first in the world to ban fossil fuel-related advertisements, a step toward its goal of climate neutrality by 2030. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the removal of EV purchase incentives by the conservative government has led to an estimated reduction of 58,000 EVs on the roads in the next decade. This policy change is expected to result in 2 megatons of additional tailpipe emissions, frustrating EV advocates. A call to action is made, encouraging people to write to their politicians and advocate for better policies.

🏔 Tesla Cybertruck Adventures and Norway’s EV Milestone

Two Tesla Cybertrucks completed a remarkable 11,000-mile (17,700 km) journey from Florida to the Arctic Ocean and back, showcasing the viability of electric trucks for long-distance travel. Meanwhile, Norway has achieved a major milestone in its EV adoption, with more electric vehicles on the road than petrol-powered cars. While diesel vehicles still outnumber EVs slightly, the trend toward full electrification is strong, cementing Norway's status as a leader in EV adoption. The video ends with a reminder to switch to climate-positive renewable electricity providers like Ecotricity and highlights other EV-related content on the channel.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ecotricity

Ecotricity is described as the first and only climate-positive certified renewable electricity provider in the video. The company exclusively sources its electricity from renewable resources like wind, hydro, and solar power. The video emphasizes that by using Ecotricity, customers can power their electric vehicles (EVs) with clean energy, thus contributing to environmental sustainability.

💡Electric Vehicles (EVs)

EVs refer to vehicles powered entirely by electricity, and they are central to the video’s message on clean transportation. The video discusses how purchasing an EV, especially in New Zealand, can be more affordable now due to discounts from automakers. It also addresses common concerns about battery degradation and emphasizes the long-term viability of EV batteries.

💡Battery Degradation

Battery degradation refers to the gradual loss of capacity in EV batteries over time. The video explains that while some prospective EV buyers worry about costly battery replacements, data shows that degradation rates are much lower than anticipated, with an average annual decline of just 1.8%. This reassures viewers that EV batteries typically last longer than expected.

💡Import Tariffs

Import tariffs on EVs, especially from Chinese manufacturers, are a significant topic in the video. Countries like those in Europe and North America are imposing tariffs to protect their local industries from competition. The video explores how some automakers are finding ways to circumvent these tariffs, such as Audi potentially selling its facility to the Chinese EV company, Nio.

💡BYD

BYD is a prominent Chinese automaker known for producing low-cost EVs and capturing significant market share globally. The video highlights BYD’s move to expand into the European commercial vehicle market, launching electric trucks and buses designed for logistics and urban deliveries. This expansion underscores China’s growing dominance in the EV space.

💡Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety is a key concern mentioned in relation to the growing size of vehicles, including EVs. The video references efforts by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to introduce new regulations requiring automakers to design vehicles that are safer for pedestrians, focusing on mitigating head impact risks.

💡Fisker Bankruptcy

Fisker, an electric vehicle manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy protection, which led to concerns about its ability to honor warranties and provide parts for repairs. The video mentions how Fisker has reassured its customers that essential recall repairs will be covered, though there have been fears about additional costs being passed on to vehicle owners.

💡Restomods

Restomods refer to classic cars that are restored and modernized with new technologies, often including electric drivetrains. In the video, Renault’s unveiling of the R17 electric restomod at the Paris Motor Show is discussed. The video critiques the design but appreciates the concept of blending nostalgia with modern EV technology.

💡Climate Neutrality

Climate neutrality refers to reducing carbon emissions to net zero, a goal that many cities and organizations are pursuing. The video highlights The Hague in the Netherlands as the first city to ban fossil fuel advertising as part of its broader strategy to become climate-neutral by 2030, showcasing leadership in environmental policy.

💡Norway EV Adoption

Norway is presented as a global leader in EV adoption, with the video noting that there are now more electric vehicles on Norwegian roads than petrol-powered cars. This milestone is attributed to government incentives and early advocacy by the band A-ha. Norway’s success serves as an example of how policies can drive widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

Highlights

Ecotricity is New Zealand's first and only climate-positive certified renewable electricity provider, sourcing from wind, hydro, and solar.

Kiwi EV marketplace faces challenges due to the elimination of incentives and new tariffs, but there are still massive discounts on electric vehicles, with some dealerships offering up to 50% off.

European and North American countries are introducing tariffs on imported Chinese EVs, causing a shift in automaker strategies, including potential sales of production facilities to Chinese companies.

Audi's Belgium facility might be sold to Chinese automaker NIO, providing Volkswagen AG with extra funds while giving NIO a way to bypass European tariffs.

BYD, known for low-cost EVs, launched a new range of electric commercial vehicles in Europe, including trucks and buses, expanding its global footprint.

New data from fleet management company Geotab shows that EV batteries degrade far less than previously thought, with average degradation rates now at 1.8% per year.

Safety advocates are concerned about the increasing size of vehicles, especially EVs, as larger hood sizes contribute to more pedestrian fatalities. The U.S. is considering new safety rules to address this.

Fisker entered bankruptcy earlier this year but has now confirmed that warranty repairs and recalls will still be covered, ensuring vehicle owners are not left without support.

Ford's CEO Jim Farley called China's EV industry an 'existential threat' to Ford, following his trip to China where he saw the competitive edge of Chinese-made EVs.

Renault is developing a restomod electric version of the iconic Renault 17, showcasing a fusion of classic design with modern electric technology.

The Hague becomes the first city in the world to ban fossil fuel advertisements, a step toward its goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030.

Better NZ Trust estimates that removing EV subsidies in New Zealand will result in 58,000 fewer EVs on the road in the next decade, increasing tailpipe emissions by 2 megatons.

Two Tesla Cybertrucks completed a 17,700 km journey from Florida to the Arctic Ocean and back, proving the vehicle's capability for true adventure driving.

Norway hits a milestone with more EVs on the road than petrol-powered vehicles, further solidifying its position as the world leader in EV adoption.

Ecotricity encourages switching to its climate-positive renewable electricity to help reduce New Zealand's dependence on dirty energy and promote a greener future.