02 Apr 2020 | Jeep Has EVs Coming Soon

Show #736



Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Thursday 2nd April 2020. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.



A massive thank you to MIA OPPELSTRUP who becomes a partner for the month of April because she wants to support the podcast, and the community of people who make this show what is.



CHARGING NETWORKS HELP DURING COVID-19

From Volta Charging in the U.S.:

"We are using our ad-supported free charging network to spread CDC messages about staying home, social distancing, self care etc. Over a thousand screens in the US and majority located directly in front of essential businesses like grocery stores to make sure people see it."



At @BPChargemaster , we’re responding as best we can:

Free charging for emergency services fleets

Waiving April & May subscription fees for individuals

Lending @EVEC_MK cars to @metpoliceuk and @mkcouncil

Supporting staff volunteering for @NHSuk



JEEP RENEGADE 4XE AND COMPASS 4XE PHEVS ON AN EPIC 3,800 KM ROAD TEST

"After showcasing the duo for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show last year, Jeep has commenced cold-weather testing of the Compass and Renegade plug-in hybrid in Arjeplog, Sweden. The American carmaker is taking a 3800-kilometre road trip with both the SUVs from their Mirafiori plant in Turin to the Proving Ground in the Lapland." according to Car Wale: "Both the SUVs are powered by a turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor. The standard combustion engine powers the front wheels whereas the electric motor takes care of the rear axle lending both the SUVs an electrified all-wheel-drive system. The Renegade has a combined output between 190bhp and 240bhp which is good enough for a 0-100kmph time of seven seconds. On the other hand, the Compass plug-in hybrid variant puts out 240bhp but the final number is yet to be officialised as they are pending homologation. Both cars are reported to have a pure electric range of approximately 50 kilometres and a top speed of 130kmph."



A website giving customers in Europe the first chance to pre-order the Jeep Renegade 4xe and Compass 4xe now allow for full orders to be made. Jeep showrooms are going online with Google Hangouts so customers can discover the new models in the line-up, chat to a sales consultant and go ahead with the order of their vehicle. Italy is the first market to use this ‘remote’ contact technology, which will be extended to other countries.



Green Car Reports say: "While FCA hasn’t confirmed whether the PHEV Renegade and Compass are headed to the U.S., it has heavily teased the Wrangler, which is built on some components carried over from the Pacifica Hybrid van, as one that America will get. Global president, Christian Meunier said that the U.S. will move to electrification faster than most predict, and he noted that going electric is “an opportunity to improve the capabilities of our trucks and SUVs and make it even more exciting off-road and on-road.” Meunier said that in plug-in hybrid or fully electric form, the Wrangler Rubicon will be able to get to 60 mph in six seconds and outperform the gasoline or diesel Wrangler. “You’re going to get the most capable Jeep ever,” he declared.



https://www.carwale.com/news/jeep-compass-and-renegade-plugin-hybrid-undergoing-testing-in-arjeplog/



https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1127669_electric-jeeps-reportedly-coming-to-the-us-will-be-more-capable-than-gas-or-diesel



TOYOTA AND BYD ANNOUNCE ELECTRIC CAR VENTURE

"Toyota Motor Co. and Chinese electric automaker BYD Co. announced a partnership Thursday to develop battery-powered vehicles, adding to a flurry of industry tie-ups to share soaring development costs." writes the Washington Post today: "Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor Co. and other brands have linked up with Chinese producers to create lower-cost electric models. BYD also has a separate electric vehicle venture, Denza, with Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz. Toyota and BYD “determined that there is much we can learn from one another’s expertise,” the companies said in a statement. They gave no financial details or sales plans."



www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/toyota-chinas-byd-announced-electric-car-venture



Operations are scheduled to commence in May 2020. The name of the new company is BYD TOYOTA EV TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (BTET).



Newly appointed CEO Zhao Binggen commented, “This joint venture company will focus on the research and development of battery electric vehicles with technology and know-how from both China and Japan. The company is committed to promoting and populating high-quality technologies that make battery electric vehicles more environmentally friendly, safe, comfortable, and intelligent. Our vision is to create a...