💾 November 19: Tesla’s Superchargers, Toyota’s Hydrogen Leap, and Jaguar’s Luxe Makeover

The Gist

Tesla’s cranking the volts with its V4 Superchargers—faster, better, and ready to outpace traffic jams. Meanwhile, Musk teases big family EVs again (yawn, let us know when it’s real).

Toyota’s freezing hydrogen at -253°C,

Jaguar’s leaping into Bentley territory, and Xiaomi’s EVs are flying off the shelves (literally faster than Tesla’s Model 3 in China).

Volkswagen wants to save pedestrians with a hood that plays pop-up pillow, Lucid is all about luxury over affordability, and CATL’s sodium-ion batteries might just out-chill your freezer.

Innovation is cool, but drama? Even cooler. Stay plugged in, folks.

Fuel for Thought

• 🚗 Tesla’s Power Play: V4 Superchargers

• 🔮 Musk’s Mega EVs: Big Talk, Bigger Waits?

  • What did Musk promise this time?

  • Should we start saving for a Tesla minivan?

  • Why does Musk keep talking big?

    • It’s part of the Tesla charm—or frustration. Big i …

• 💧 Toyota’s Liquid Hydrogen Leap

  • Innovation on Ice

  • Cooler, Smarter, Safer

  • Still a Long Road Ahead

• 🐆 Jaguar’s New Look: Leaping Into Luxury

• 🚶‍♂️ Volkswagen’s Active Hood: A Pop of Protectio …

  • Why does a hood need to pop up?

  • Does it retract, or will I need a mechanic?

  • Can I buy this magical hood now?

• 📈 Xiaomi EV Surge: Smart Moves or Risky Business?

• ⚡ Lucid’s EV Plans: Luxury First, Affordable Later

  • No $20K EVs Here

  • Driving Down Costs with Tech

  • The Long Game

• ❄️ Batteries That Brave the Cold

  • Sodium-Ion vs. Lithium-Ion

  • Lower Cost, Higher Potential

  • A Multi-Chemistry Future

BUSINESS

🚗 Tesla’s Power Play: V4 Superchargers

Tesla is gearing up to electrify charging infrastructure with the new V4 Superchargers. These advanced units promise faster speeds and better compatibility, setting a new benchmark in EV convenience.

• Blazing Speeds: Supports up to 500kW for EVs and a whopping 1.2MW for Tesla Semi trucks.

• Global Rollout: First launched in Europe, expanding to the U.S. next year.

• Convenience Features: Includes CCS connectors, longer cords for accessibility, and physical payment terminals.

• Enhanced Compatibility: Optimized for non-Tesla vehicles, addressing slower charging issues seen in V3.

• Infrastructure Impact: V4 cabinets power up to 8 stalls, improving efficiency and deployment speeds.

🔮 Musk’s Mega EVs: Big Talk, Bigger Waits?

Elon Musk is hinting at bigger EVs for families, but history tells us these dreams often stay parked. Let’s break down the hype.

What did Musk promise this time?

Musk teased a new "high passenger capacity" EV, possibly tied to the Tesla Robovan. But, let’s be real—he’s been teasing such projects since 2016.

Should we start saving for a Tesla minivan?

Not so fast. While a versatile electric van makes sense, Musk’s focus on self-driving tech might keep such ideas in the concept garage indefinitely.

Why does Musk keep talking big?

It’s part of the Tesla charm—or frustration. Big ideas and sparse follow-through can keep the buzz alive, but many fans are shifting their attention to actual products.

💧 Toyota’s Liquid Hydrogen Leap

Innovation on Ice

Toyota is leading the charge in liquid hydrogen tech with its GR Corolla H2 Concept, showcasing efficiency-boosting innovations like a self-pressurizer that recycles boil-off gas into fuel.

Cooler, Smarter, Safer

The new system operates at -253°C, utilizing hydrogen’s natural properties to compress and recycle, promising advancements in cryogenic efficiency. Experts applaud Toyota’s leap in hydrogen pump design, which could revolutionize cold hydrogen applications.

Still a Long Road Ahead

While promising, hydrogen cars remain a technical challenge, from storage to cost. Toyota’s advances hint at a brighter future, but widespread adoption faces steep hurdles.

🐆 Jaguar’s New Look: Leaping Into Luxury

Jaguar is sharpening its claws for a premium repositioning, unveiling a sleek new logo and design direction aimed at competing with Bentley and Maserati. The refreshed branding includes a thinner, angular leaping cat and a reimagined wordmark blending upper- and lower-case letters. Starting at $130,000, Jaguar’s future lineup promises "Exuberant Modernism," with the first reveal slated for Miami Art Week.

🚶‍♂️ Volkswagen’s Active Hood: A Pop of Protection

Volkswagen’s new “active hood” tech promises to cushion pedestrians’ heads in collisions. Let’s examine this futuristic safety cushion.

Why does a hood need to pop up?

To soften the blow for pedestrians during an accident. It’s like a pillow—if your pillow were made of metal and popped out of nowhere.

Does it retract, or will I need a mechanic?

Thankfully, this hood pops back down automatically, sparing you the trip to the dealership or an awkward DIY fix.

Can I buy this magical hood now?

Not yet! The feature is coming to future ID.7 EVs, adding another layer of safety for urban environments.

📈 Xiaomi EV Surge: Smart Moves or Risky Business?

Xiaomi’s EV division is racing ahead with ambitious delivery targets and innovative tech integration. Here’s how they’re making waves in China’s crowded market.

• Impressive Growth: 30.5% revenue increase in Q3, with 67,157 units delivered since March.

• Aggressive Targets: Annual delivery goal raised from 100,000 to 130,000 units amid high demand.

• Competitive Pricing: SU7 EV starts at $30,761, undercutting Tesla’s Model 3 by $4,000.

• Tech Edge: Advanced software integration and autonomous driving capabilities differentiate Xiaomi from rivals.

• Future Investments: $10 billion earmarked for EV expansion, with factory upgrades planned for 2025.

⚡ Lucid’s EV Plans: Luxury First, Affordable Later

No $20K EVs Here

Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson dashed hopes for a budget EV, arguing the low-margin market “sucks.” Instead, Lucid is laser-focused on premium models like the Air and upcoming Gravity SUV.

Driving Down Costs with Tech

Lucid’s goal isn’t cheap EVs—it’s efficiency. By advancing battery technology, they aim to enable smaller, cheaper batteries without sacrificing range.

The Long Game

Licensing their tech to other automakers could bring affordable EVs to the masses. Meanwhile, Lucid is preparing to challenge Tesla head-on with a $50K midsize SUV by 2026.

❄️ Batteries That Brave the Cold

Sodium-Ion vs. Lithium-Ion

CATL’s second-gen sodium-ion batteries claim to work flawlessly at -40°F, addressing a major pain point for EVs in extreme climates.

Lower Cost, Higher Potential

Sodium-ion batteries are less energy-dense than lithium-ion but cheaper and safer, making them ideal for low-range vehicles and extreme weather.

A Multi-Chemistry Future

While sodium-ion won’t replace lithium-ion entirely, its role in specialized applications signals a diverse battery landscape for the EV market.

Thanks for reading, friend. It means a lot we get to share the fruit of our labor with the talented, kind, and motivated folks of the auto community. Keep being awesome!