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- đŞ Industry Shakeups: GMâs Gas Station-Style Chargers, Hyundai and GM Get Cozy, and VinFast is Back (With Discounts You Might Regret)
đŞ Industry Shakeups: GMâs Gas Station-Style Chargers, Hyundai and GM Get Cozy, and VinFast is Back (With Discounts You Might Regret)
TL:DR
Hey, we get it. Sometimes, you just want to smell the soup now and come back for a bowl later. Here is a smell of todayâs soup⌠đĽŁ
GM and EVgo are building 400 fancy EV charging stations so you can juice up and grab a latte.
Hyundai and GM are joining forces, because why not?
Stellantis hit pause on the Fiat 500 EVâturns out, no one wants it.
Lucid dumped Alexa for its own assistant, while VW threw $5 billion at Rivian to save its bacon.
Teslaâs âUnboxedâ manufacturing is like IKEA for cars (assembly required).
Meanwhile, VinFast is spreading dealerships like hotdog stands, but is the quality any better?
Oh, and a Prius just set a Guinness World Record for 93 MPG.
Today's Digest
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đ´ââ ď¸ GM and EVgo to Build âFlagshipâ EV Charging Locations Across the U.S.
GM and EVgo are teaming up to build 400 flagship EV charging stations across key metropolitan areas in the U.S. This collaboration aims to make EV charging more convenient by placing stations in high-traffic areas and offering a range of amenities, with a launch expected in 2025.
Locations: Stations will be built in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New York, and Texas.
Station Features:
Each site will offer 20 fast charging stalls.
Chargers will support up to 350kW speeds.
Stations will have gas station-style canopies, pull-through lanes, ample lighting, and security cameras.
Project Scale: A total of 400 stalls will be developed, complementing GM's coast-to-coast charging network at Pilot and Flying J centers.
Technology: EVgoâs modular prefabricated chargers will enable faster, cheaper installation.
Broader Strategy: This initiative is separate from GMâs broader goal of deploying 2,000 fast-charging stations nationwide by the end of 2024.
Collaboration Timeline: GM and EVgoâs collaboration started in 2020, and theyâve already deployed 1,000 fast-charging stalls as of August 2023.
đ¤ Hyundai and GM Explore Partnership on Gas and EV Models
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Hyundai and GM are ALSO teaming up? Guess GMâs like, âHonda who?â Theyâre now flirting with Hyundai for joint ventures on EVs and gas models. Because why not?
Exploring joint development for gas, electric, and even hydrogen vehicles.
The deal aims to cut costs and speed up production timelines.
Fills the gap left by GMâs scrapped partnership with Honda.
đ Stellantis Suspends Fiat 500 EV Production Amid Weak Demand
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Stellantis has paused production of its electric Fiat 500 model in Italy due to weak demand, highlighting ongoing struggles in Europeâs EV market. The company is adjusting its strategy by investing in hybrid technology while managing the transition to sustainable mobility.
Reason for Pause: Lackluster demand in Europeâs EV market, exacerbated by uneven green incentives across countries.
Production Location: The Fiat 500 EV is made in Turin at Stellantisâ Mirafiori plant.
Duration: Production will be halted for four weeks starting September 2024.
Investment: Stellantis is investing âŹ100 million to develop a hybrid version of the Fiat 500, expected to debut between 2025 and 2026.
Challenges: Stellantis is navigating a challenging EV transition, with European producers facing difficulties in maintaining consistent demand.
Future Plans: Stellantis aims to transform the Mirafiori complex into a global innovation hub, ensuring its relevance in the shift toward sustainable mobility.
Government Relations: Italy launched a âŹ1 billion plan to encourage drivers to switch to electric cars, but Stellantis and the Italian government have been at odds over how to approach green incentives.
đ¤ Lucid Air Ditches Alexa, Adds New Features with Latest Software Update
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Lucidâs UX 2.4 software update for its luxury EVs introduces key features like enhanced Highway Assist, 3D lane visualization, and a new Lucid Assistant for voice control, replacing Amazon Alexa. Wireless Apple CarPlay now integrates with the instrument cluster, making navigation easier.
These updates solidify Lucid Airâs position as a leader in user-friendly, high-tech EVs. With improved driver-assist systems and hands-free control, Lucid continues to prioritize both luxury and practicality, giving drivers a seamless, enjoyable experience.
đ° VW Invests $5 Billion in Rivian Amid EV Challenges
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Volkswagenâs $5 billion investment in Rivian offers a lifeline to the cash-strapped electric truck maker, which has faced mounting financial losses. The deal, expected to result in a joint venture, could significantly boost VWâs presence in the EV market, while helping Rivian tackle its production and cost challenges.
With Rivian losing up to $1.5 billion per quarter, this partnership could be pivotal for both companies and potentially reshape competition in the increasingly competitive EV sector.
đŚ Teslaâs âUnboxedâ Manufacturing Process
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Whatâs with Tesla and âunboxingâ now?
Good question! But no, Teslaâs not launching a new iPhone. The âUnboxed Processâ is their shiny new way to build EVs, where they assemble parts of the car separately and slap them together later. Elon says itâs more efficient and will make cars cheaper. Weâll see.
Does this mean Iâll finally get that $25,000 Tesla they promised?
Well, about that... Musk did promise that, but then kinda canceled it. The unboxed process was supposed to make the âcheap Teslaâ a reality, but now itâs reserved for their Robotaxi. So, if you're holding out for a budget Tesla, keep waiting... and maybe pack a snack.
Whatâs the big deal with this process anyway?
Think of it like IKEA furniture, but for cars. Instead of building the whole car on one assembly line, Tesla works on different parts separately and then assembles them like a jigsaw puzzle. Itâs supposed to be faster, easier, and save money. Maybe youâll finally get a car thatâs as easy to build as a BILLY bookcaseâminus the missing screws.
đ VinFast Expands U.S. Dealerships, But Quality Concerns Linger
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Wait, VinFast? Who's that again?
Yep, VinFast. The Vietnamese EV startup thatâs been⌠well, trying. After a rocky start, which included flying journalists out to test some "not-so-great" cars, theyâre making another go at the U.S. market. Now with dealerships popping up all over the country, from North Carolina to Texas, theyâre trying to get more Americans into their cars. Fast-forward to today, and you might even spot a VinFast dealer near you. Fancy that.
Are these cars any good? Or is this another half-baked situation?
Thatâs where things get tricky. The VF8, their flagship model, still hasnât shaken its reputation for being... letâs just say âquestionable.â But they say itâs better now! Weâre not holding our breath, though. Itâs like getting a hotdog from the gas station: could be decent, but should you risk it?
But what about these crazy discounts?
Oh, you mean the â$15,000 offâ kind of deals? Yep, theyâre real. If youâre looking for an EV and love a bargain, you can find VF8s for as low as $37,000. Sure, it doesnât qualify for any federal tax credits (thanks, import rules), but hey, if youâre bargain hunting and donât mind some quirks, itâs an option. Just, you know, read the reviews first.
đ Guinness Record Set for 93 MPG Prius on Coast-to-Coast Drive
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Forget stopping for gasâWayne Gerdes just coasted across the U.S. with a jaw-dropping 93 MPG in a Prius. Take that, road-trippers!
Prius averaged 93.158 MPG over 3,211.7 miles from LA to NYC.
Gerdes only stopped for gas twiceâtalk about hypermiling!
Achieved with a stock Toyota Prius LE, complete with low-resistance 17-inch wheels.
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