Tesla opens Australian Supercharger network to other EV brands across five NSW sites

Tesla’s Superchargers in North America. Image: Tesla Motors

Following the pilot program across Europe and the UK, Tesla has opened 5 supercharging sites in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) to non-Tesla vehicles - assuming they are CCS2 compatible.

The story first broke on Twitter, with the Tesla app quickly confirming that non-Tesla EV drivers are able to pay and charge at Bathurst, Dubbo, Narooma, Tamworth, Hollydene, and Narooma Superchargers:

Apparently, some @Tesla #Supercharger network sites in NSW are now open to ALL #EVs , and NOT the government funded sites, #Dubbo, #Tamworth #Narooma and #Holydene anyone up for a road trip next weekend? @evbriefmedia @BridieEV @ev_australia prices are higher obviously. pic.twitter.com/Xw1qBQ146z

— Sydney EV 🔋☀️ (@sydney_ev) January 31, 2023

Which cars can charge on these Superchargers?

Well, any BEV/PHEV with a CCS2 cable can now access these five sites. If you drive a Nissan Leaf or other CHAdeMO-equipped vehicle though, you’re out of luck.

How do I access the Tesla Supercharger network, and how much does it cost?

Download the Tesla app on your smartphone - you’ll need to create an account if you don’t have one already. Within the app, the home screen offers a menu titled “charge your non-Tesla”. Clicking on it allows you to access a map where you can scroll or search for open chargers:

The Tesla app shows available chargers, and gives non-Tesla drivers access to charging.

Click on the red pin, and you’ll see a menu with directions, amenities, charging fees, and the option to start charging. Pricing for non-Tesla users isn’t cheap, at $0.79/kWh, or $0.66/kWh with a $10/month subscription. For comparison, Chargefox and Evie Networks currently charge $0.60/kWh for their 350kW DC chargers and $0.40/kWh for the slower 50kWh chargers.

The subscription option looks quite appealing, with only a couple of charges required to see value for money. I scoured the terms and conditions, and couldn’t see any penalties for canceling, meaning that drivers could take out the subscription prior to a road trip, and then cancel it when not needed. The main stipulation by Tesla is that there is a maximum of five charges per site per day.

Supercharging a Tesla Model 3. Image: EV Brief Media

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EV Brief’s Take

There has been wide-ranging feedback about this announcement across the internet, from critical views such as Tesla’s network should be reserved for Tesla drivers only, and that this move will create large queues at Superchargers.

Tesla owners have provided plenty of positive support, however, with many seeing this as an opportunity for the brand to continue its charging infrastructure rollout in Australia.

Personally, I think this is a great decision and is a small step towards meeting Tesla’s promises of advancing the transition to zero emissions transport, and is an opportunity to increase revenue from charging. It’s also unlikely to cause many demand issues at the charging locations, with these 5 Superchargers seeing light-medium usage.

Is Tesla Supercharging expensive for non-Tesla drivers like myself? Comparatively, yes, but the additional charging options in regional NSW are invaluable, especially in light of the sparse Evie Networks/Chargefox locations, and chronically broken chargers. The price is roughly $45 for a 10-100% charge of my Polestar; the equivalent cost of filling my former petrol Golf GTI would be around $75, assuming 450km of range and consumption of 8l/100km, and $2.10/litre for premium fuel.

Non-Tesla EV drivers are unlikely to use them in this way however; Tesla’s network will prove to be most useful in providing a reliable fast-charge top-up to get drivers to their destination, or a cheaper charging site for a deep charge.

EV Brief Podcast #44: Danny Thai, Zecar & Shaun Garrard, Industry Expert

In this EV Brief Hangout, three EV-focused friends sit down at a table and discuss zero emissions transport on World EV Day.

Danny Thai is the founder of zecar.com, a one-stop-shop for electric car news, comparisons, data and clean energy.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannythai123/

Shaun Garrard has extensive experience across the automotive and electric vehicle sectors in the Asia Pacific region, including with Tesla Australia and WM Motor in Shanghai.

Timecodes:

00:00 - Introduction

01:25 - What's happening this week in EVs

02:50 - Shaun's background

06:20 - Do western countries see China as a serious automotive player?

08:35 - Wan Gan - the man behind China's EV dominance

13:30 - Talking NIO

18:07 - Battery swapping; will it work in Australia?

22:00 - The cost of charging infrastructure

26:40 - Tackling residential charging issues

29:20 - EV Uptake in Australia

30:15 - Are there benefits from not being first; will it pay off to watch other countries makes the switch to EVs from fossil fuel

30:50 - Carrot + stick - how to drive people into EVs, and what should Australia's national strategy be?

37:20 - Which future products are we looking forward to?

Tritium opens first global DC fast charger factory in Tennessee, USA

Tritium’s new Tennessee facility. Image: Tritium.

Tritium ($DCFC) is an Australian success story. The DC fast charger manufacturer started in Brisbane, and quickly expanded to the point where the company decided to shift operations to the United States. The company has seen record growth in sales and revenue, earning between $50 and $60 million USD per quarter. In January this year, they even listed on the NASDAQ after a merger with special purpose acquisition company Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corp.

Now, Tritium has opened its first US-based EV fast charger manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. The facility will employ more than 500 Tennesseans over the next five years, helping to build EV charging infrastructure and meet US government goals for the electrification of transport. Once fully operational, the facility will host six production lines and produce up to 30,000 DC fast charger units per year.

Tritium’s Tennessee facility will initially produce the RTM fast charger, followed by the PKM150 early next year. Tritium’s PKM150 fast charger is expected to meet Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Buy America Act standards in Q1 2023, making that fast charger an ideal candidate for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program funding.

The PKM150s are unique because customers can connect up to four fast chargers to one power cabinet, saving money on equipment, installation, and maintenance. The modular system allows upgradeability, with servicing and replacement taking just minutes. This flexibility gives customers the ability to choose between 100kW or 150kW of dual-cable charging station power depending on their business needs.

The Tritium PKM150. Image: Tritium

“The opening of our Tennessee factory is an important milestone for Tritium, for Tennessee and most importantly, for American drivers. As many as 35 million electric vehicles are expected to be in use by 2030 and those vehicles will require more powerful and convenient charging infrastructure,” said Tritium CEO Jane Hunter. “It’s crucial that America’s charging infrastructure is built right here in the US. Americans will rely on it to get to work, to school, to doctor’s appointments, and more. It needs to be reliable, and it needs to be able to grow to meet their needs. And when we make chargers here in the US, we reduce supply chain and shipping delays, and we help build the manufacturing ecosystem that will employ more Americans.”

The Tennessee facility was announced in February at a press event at the White House with President Biden, Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, Director of Made in America at the Office of Management and Budget Celeste Drake, among others. The Tritium manufacturing facility was highlighted as a key part of the Biden administration’s initiative to create clean energy jobs and reduce carbon emissions.

EV Brief’s take

It’s wonderful to see how far Tritium has come from its humble origins in Brisbane, Queensland. Tritium does have some problems to solve however; with strong sales growth and continued worldwide parts/logistics delays, the company has found delivering customer orders and spare parts to be a challenge. We hope these new units can improve on the reliability and uptime of current model DC fast chargers.

With the increasing EV demand and subsequent increased DC charger usage in Australia, EV drivers have found Tritium units to be offline, or broken for weeks or even months. We’ve also documented our own experiences with failed chargers. While charging networks such as Chargefox and Evie Networks have tried to placate customers’ concerns and complaints, they are often hamstrung by delays in spare parts or technicians able to repair the units. Combined with the increase in price for high-powered 350kW chargers from both providers to $0.60/kWh, it is understandable Australian consumers are sometimes angry.

Ampol launches 5 EV rapid charger trial sites ahead of AmpCharge national rollout in 2023

Charging the Ioniq 5 at AmpCharge’s Alexandria site.

Are petrol (gas) stations doomed to go the way of the video store in the future? Ampol Australia thinks not, and is increasing investment at its retail locations, becoming the first petrol retailer in the country to move into e-mobility.

Known as Ampol AmpCharge, the company this week launched five trial EV rapid charging sites across Australia.

Matt Halliday, Ampol Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said this announcement is an important step forward in the execution of Ampol’s future energy and mobility strategy, including its objective to reduce emissions in the transport sector and support the uptake of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

“As we begin to evolve our national network, consumers will see AmpCharge in Ampol service stations, depots and terminals right across the country. For the first time, we’ll also be entering homes, workplaces and shopping centres as we seek to deliver simple and efficient charging solutions at convenient locations to keep people moving.”

The five pilot sites include Ampol service stations in the following Australian locations:

• Carseldine QLD

• Alexandria NSW

• Northmead NSW

• Altona North VIC

• Belmont WA

These sites feature a single ABB 180kW DC chargers with ChaDeMo and CCS plugs. The maximum power delivery is capped at 150kW at the moment, which is already more than many EVs on the market can accept. Ampol promises solar panel systems and battery storage provisions will be installed at each site, though we couldn’t see any evidence of this (yet) during our visit to the Alexandria site this week.

CEO Matt Halliday and EGM of International & New Business Brent Merrick officially open the Alexandria AmpCharge site along with Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister and CEO of Australian Renewable Energy Agency Darren Miller. Image: Ampol Australia

A quick walkthrough of the AmpCharge Alexandria site.

What’s the charging experience like?

Great - if you don’t mind the ambience of a service station (albeit a clean one). There are cafes and eateries nearby though, and some customers were sitting at the tables and chairs provided by the entrance to the shop. As a co-branded Woolworths Metrogo site, there’s a good selection of food and drinks in store.

I tested the charging site with a Hyundai Ioniq 5 currently on loan from Hyundai Australia. Ampol/Woolworths staff were friendly and helpful, offering assistance as customers approached. I also met Daniel, who had just turned up with his one week old Ioniq sedan - the last in Australia.

Arriving with 60 percent state of charge, the Ioniq 5 took 90-95kW of power for a good 10 minutes, eventually consuming 21.05kW in 15 minutes and 20 seconds. See the summary from the app below:

The end of charging session summary from the AmpCharge app.

Unfortunately EV drivers will have to add another EV charging app to their smartphones to activate the charger; I now have 5 charging apps on my device. Understandably, charging operators want to provide a “tailored experience” for users, and also collect as much valuable data as possible, but as many people point out, we don’t have different cards for different fuel stations, and EV’s should be no different.

I’d even be prepared to pay a slight premium for charging anonymously, if it allowed me to just tap a credit card to start the charging session.

These chargers are free to use until August 31, and form part of an initial roll out totalling close to 120 sites by October 2023, as part of a funding agreement with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through the Future Fuels Fund.

Tritium Rings Nasdaq Closing Bell in Honor of Listing

Australian EV charging startup Tritium DCFC Limited began trading on Nasdaq on January 14, 2022, following the close of its business combination with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation II. On the afternoon of January 27, Company management rang the Closing Bell at Nasdaq MarketSite in New York’s Times Square in honour of its listing on the exchange.

“We are pleased to celebrate this important milestone for Tritium here at Nasdaq,” said Jane Hunter, Tritium’s Chief Executive Officer. “The transport industry is being electrified, which means it is more important than ever for EV owners to have access to rapid, reliable charging infrastructure. We are proud to provide this networked infrastructure to our customers. As a public company, we expect to continue to expand our product suite and global footprint, which has already enabled more than 3.6 million high-power charging sessions across 41 countries—delivering over 55 GWh of energy. I want to thank the Tritium team and Board of Directors, our investors, our partners at DCRN and our transaction advisors for their support and dedication through this process.”

Tritium embodies the Australian technology success story, and emphasises why investment in similar startups is critical. Founded in 2001 by e-mobility pioneers Dr. David Finn, James Kennedy, and Dr. Paul Sernia, the company draws on two decades of power electronics experience in the renewable energy field, and has well and truly established itself as a global leader in the DC fast charging space for EVs.

Tritium will look to have its US manufacturing plant up and running before the end of September, as it seeks to rapidly expand following the on Nasdaq. The company has been affected by global pandemic-related supply issues, and a stateside factory will go a long way to calming investors’ nerves around the continuing global transport delays and semiconductor shortages. Tritium had $US2 million (AUD$2.7 million) sitting in ships off the Port of Long Beach in December, en route from Australia, unable to dock.

Audi to pilot reservable EV fast-charging spaces in Germany

Audi's charging hub concept. Images: Audi AG

Audi plans more than 20 fully electric models by 2025, and the automaker understands that charging infrastructure is key to successful EV uptake (and strong sales). Audi is working on a concept for quick-charging that reflects the premium nature of its brand; A pilot project has begun construction in Germany, providing reservable charging spaces for customers. Audi says this not only provides peace of mind for customers planning their journeys, but allows for planning security at a grid level in terms of peak demand power consumption.

Dr Roland Fleck, CEO NürnbergMesse Group, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Dr Michael Fraas, Daniel F. Ulrich, Building Officer, City of Nuremberg, Ralph Holmig, General project manager Audi charging hub, State Minister Albert Füracker, and Nuremberg´s Lord Mayor Marcus König (L to R)

2.45 Mwh energy storage

Audi has designed a flexible container cube system, housing charging pillars as well as used lithium ion batteries for energy storage. The brand is utilising second life modules from disassembled development vehicles, and claims that “complex infrastructure with high-voltage lines and expensive transformers are unnecessary”.

The charging hub provides a maximum of 2.45 MWh interim storage, for the six charging stations, which have a charging output of up to 300 kW. Audi says this setup only needs a standard 400 volt high-voltage connection. That makes output starting at 11 kW per cube sufficient to be able to fill the three storage modules with a total capacity of 2.45 MWh continually and to charge them overnight.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules are also integrated into the concept, providing green energy from the roof of the hub. Again, the modular design means that the PV systems are also scalable and flexible depending on the charging hub location and local network capabilities.

“The charging hub embodies our aspiration for the electric era and highlights Audi’s commitment to ‘Vorsprung durch Technik.’ A flexible high-performing HPC charging park like this does not require much from the local electricity grid and uses a sustainable battery concept. Our customers benefit in numerous ways: from the ability to make exclusive reservations, a lounge area and short waiting times thanks to high-performance charging. This is consistent with the premium concept,” says Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board for Technical Development of Audi AG.

A comfortable lounge experience awaits Audi customers recharging their vehicles.

Premium Lounge facilities befitting the Audi brand

To make the wait while your Audi is charging a true premium experience, a lounge will provide customers with restrooms, hot and cold beverages, and — we expect — a range of Audi merchandise for sale. One downside of EV charging is that in locations with cold, wet winters, sometimes the only option to stay warm and dry is inside the car. The renderings of the lounge look like a pretty pleasant place to spend 20-30 minutes, and are very “on brand” for Audi.

Trials and practical test to begin as charging hub construction gets under way

Construction has begun on the pilot site at the NürnbergMesse GmbH or Nuremburg Exhibition Centre, which is close to major road thoroughfares through the city of Nürnberg (Nuremberg). Commissioning of the facility is expected by the end of November 2021.

EV Brief’s Take

While we feel this is a great project for many reasons — the use of second life batteries, the green energy harvesting from the rooftop and the modular construction for example — it’s obviously impractical in the future for every manufacturer to build out proprietary charging infrastructure. While in these early stages of EV adoption it is great to see any and all infrastructure being built, clearly hardware interoperability that is brand agnostic will be key to mass EV adoption. We’ve already seen Tesla confirm its Superchargers will begin opening to other brands for a fee from late 2021 (first in Norway and Germany). There will certainly be a place for flagship chargers like Audi’s NürnbergMesse site, but these facilities are just as much about marketing as charging.

Global energy product manufacturer myenergi launches Australian subsidiary

myenergi is entering the Australian market.

myenergi is best known for its smart solar EV charger known as Zappi, and today the UK-headquartered company announced that it is expanding its operations, to include an Australian subsidiary. myenergi Australia will be headed by Russell Shepherd, who possesses extensive experience in the EV industry.

Jordan Brompton, co-founder and CMO of myenergi, commented “We are extremely excited to be launching our new subsidiary in Australia. Our international expansion programme is building with impressive momentum, with subsidiaries already operational in Germany, Ireland and The Netherlands”

The Zappi is a pretty awesome charger, not only offering remote control functionality for your car charging, but the ability to seamlessly integrate with a rooftop PV system, and respond seamlessly to changing environmental, grid and vehicle conditions. As more electricity providers clamp down on solar exports from homeowners, Zappi users are able to maximise their electricity generation, and minimise wastage.

The Zappi features three modes:

Eco Mode

The myenergi zappi charger.

Eco mode uses a mixture of both grid power and green energy. However, this mode can use 100% green energy if this is available. Eco mode reduces the amount of grid power used as much as possible. 

The Zappi charger will adjust the power usage and power it uses in response to the power that is available while using. If your home is using a lot of power, it will adjust accordingly.

Eco mode works by using all green power until the power drops below 1.4kw. When the power reaches below this, it will use power from the grid to stop it from losing power completely, which is a great feature.

Eco+

Eco+ works similarly to the Eco mode, but it works at saving even more energy. The charging power adjusts according to the power consumption and what mode is generating the power created. 

If your electric or hybrid car is receiving too much power at once, the Eco+ mode will change this accordingly. In addition to this, it will pause if too much power is imported and will only continue to charge when there is enough power left over to charge the car.  

Fast

As to be expected, this mode will charge your electric car quickly in comparison to the Eco and Eco+ modes.

Unlike the Eco and Eco+, Fast mode will charge your vehicle at maximum power. Although this is not as environmentally friendly as the other two modes, it is quicker and great if you are on more of a time limit. 

In addition to this, it will still draw power from green electricity wherever it can, rather than relying on power from the grid. However, the power can come from one of these sources if needed, or both.

We look forward to discussing myenergi’s Australian launch and its product offerings with local managing director Russell Shepherd on EV Brief Podcast soon.

Electrify America App finally comes to Android Auto and Apple Carplay

A rendering of Electrify America’s in-car app.

Android and Apple-based in-car integration for an EV charging app would seem a no brainer these days, especially since the vast majority of EVs out there, excluding Tesla support this phone-mirroring technology.

Electrify America has finally announced an in-car app, which allows users to:

• Locate a Charger: Navigate to charging stations while on the move. The app also shows how many charging stations are nearby, how many of each type of chargers are at the station and which chargers are currently available/online.

• Remote Start and Stop: Drivers can initiate or end a charge session through the vehicle infotainment screen.

• View Plan Details: Drivers can access details of charging plans, including pricing and any free charging which may be included with the purchase of a vehicle.

The navigation functionality is particularly important, as many in-car navigation systems are still unable to offer the most up-to-date charger locations, or offer navigation to a destination via the fastest DC rapid chargers exclusively.

The ability to control the charging session and view plans and pricing through the car’s infotainment system is a nice feature to have, as this allows drivers to use their smartphone for other functions, and may allow customers to stay in their cars during inclement weather.

An electrify America solar powered canopy in Baker, California. Image: Electrify America

Brenna Corrigan, manager of brand & digital marketing at Electrify America stated “Electrify America is constantly striving to meet customers where they are and make the transition to EV driving as seamless as possible. With this expanded functionality, we are integrating essential charging station navigation information right into customers’ vehicles, helping them feel confident on the road.”

Electrify America currently has 2,700 individual chargers across 650 charging sites in the United States, and plans for an additional 1,800 ultra-rapid charging sites of between 150 kW and 350 kW by the end of 2025.

While the coverage of the network is admirable, Electrify America is still plagued by charging issues. These charging and communication faults are well documented online, with a number of prominent car reviewers showing that the network faces problems. There are also issues on the OEM side, with brand new EVs like the Ford Mustang Mach-E rejecting charger handshakes with Electrify America hardware. The reliability of a fast-charging network is key to increasing EV uptake and consumer confidence in EVs, so we hope that Electrify America can get on top of this problem.

Source: Electrify America

Daimler, Traton and Volvo jointly invest 500 million euros in heavy vehicle EV charging network

Daimler’s e-Actros battery-electric rigid frame truck. Image: Daimler

Three of Europe’s biggest truck manufacturers - Daimler Trucks, Traton and AB Volvo plan to invest 167 million euro each ($262 million AUD/$198 million USD) in a new joint venture business to develop a Europe-wide charging network for battery electric heavy vehicles.

The notion of electrified heavy vehicles scares many away from even discussing the transition away from polluting trucks; weight, cost, charging and range are all cited as insurmountable obstacles, and there aren’t many manufacturers with production-ready battery-electric models. Even Tesla’s much-lauded Tesla Semi is at least twelve months away.

This joint venture aims to address the issues of range anxiety and charging; according to Martin Daum, chief executive of Daimler Trucks, "The key ingredient in the future rolling-out of electric vehicles will be the infrastructure. It will be the big bottleneck"

The European Car Industry Association (ACEA) wants 50,000 heavy vehicle charge points across Europe by 2030, warning that a dense network of recharging sites in all EU member states is crucial to making road freight carbon neutral by 2050.

All three companies currently have electric trucks in development and are aiming for the joint venture company to be operational by 2022. The company will be headquartered in Amsterdam and lists an initial objective of installing 1,700 charging points within five years.

With time, it’s expected that other manufacturers will join the new joint venture. "In order to accelerate further, we need additional partners, additional networks, and public funds," AB Volvo CEO Martin Lundstedt said. "We will continue to be very fierce competitors. But we need a new platform to compete upon."

The ACEA is also a proponent of hydrogen fuel cell-powered transport and is working to set a target of installing 300 hydrogen refueling stations in the EU by 2025. Daimler, Toyota, Volvo, and Hyunda are among legacy automakers investing in fuel cell technology, and Hyundai is currently operating Xcient hydrogen fuel cell rigid body trucks in Switzerland.

Source: Reuters

Daimler has a diverse portfolio of brands, including Fuso and Freightliner. Image: Daimler

The 296 GTB supercar is the first modern-era V6 Ferrari and features an electric motor

Ferrari has unveiled a new take on its proven mid-rear-engined supercar formula in the form of the 296 GTB. We’ve seen hybrid drivetrains from the Maranello automaker since 2013 when the La Ferrari was launched, and the first plug-in Ferrari - the SF90 Stradale - arrived in 2019 with a 3.9 l V8, three permanent magnet synchronous AC motors and a 7.9 kWh lithium ion battery pack.

The Ferrari 296 GTB pushes the envelope further by dropping two cylinders (yes, it’s a V6). Don’t forget, the prancing horse brand has an esteemed history with 6 cylinder engines; the 1957 Dino 156 single-seater featured a V6, as did the Targa Florio winning 246 SP of 1961.

The exterior design is softer than recent models like the F8 Tributo and SF90 Stradale, but that’s no bad thing. The 296 GTB is elegant, with large, swooping planes offset by slim, futuristic light clusters front and rear. The large, horizontal air dam is clean yet muscular, accentuated by small, additional side air inlets, and inconspicuous openings within the headlight cluster.

There are no affectations on the 296 GTB’s exterior; there’s a sculpted look through the wings and the B-pillar that somehow hark back to Ferraris of the 1960s, while the cab-forward design and that astonishingly-raked windscreen add drama.

The cockpit is classic modern Ferrari; A clearly defined driver’s zone, the highest quality leather, aluminium, carbon fibre and Alcantara, and plenty of tech (and screens), all with a sculptural characteristic to add to the drama. It’s beautiful, yet highly functional on first appearances.

So what’s under that engine cover? There’s a 2992 cm3 120° crank-angle V6, and when combined with the dual-rotor single-stator axial flux electric motor with 122 kW (166 PS), the total system output of the 296 GTB is a staggering 610 kW (830 PS) and 740 Nm (546 lb ft). The 7.45 kWh battery pack is mounted low in the floor, and the powertrain results in a short wheelbase.

According to Ferrari, the electric motor charges the high voltage battery, turns on the V6 engine, supplies it with additional torque and power, and allows the car to be driven in all-electric eDrive mode. Ferrari developed the Transition Manager Actuator (TMA) in-house, which allows rapid transitions from electric to hybrid to ICE mode and vice-versa. All of this performance is delivered through an 8-speed DCT and E-Diff, and there’s a clutch set between the ICE and the electric motor to decouple them in electric-only eDrive mode.

While we’re still some years away from a fully electric Ferrari, we can see the automaker taking electrification seriously. If Ferrari is to comply with future emissions regulations, we reckon that a fully electric SUV will be on the cards this decade. No pricing or delivery information has been revealed for the 296 GTB at the time of writing.

You can find the full gallery and technical specifications below.

EVGateway to provide software for Revel New York City EV Charging Superhubs

Revel’s first EV charging Superhub is expected to open in Brooklyn by July 2021. Images: Revel

An artists impression of Revel’s first Superhub.

Electric mobility company Revel, which recently announced plans to launch an all-electric rideshare service in New York City has also committed to building a network of EV fast-charging Superhubs across New York City.

The Network will be open to the public, and not limited to Revel’s rideshare drivers. Pricing has yet to be announced.

Partnering with Tritium and EvGateway, the sites will utilize Tritium’s newest modular RTM75 DC chargers, with specialized software provided by EVGateway.

"The EvGateway software can be customized for every client and charging requirement. To help facilitate the expansion of EV infrastructure, EvGateway offers solutions for any charging scenario (commercial, fleet, private, residential, employee, hotel, utility, parking lots, etc.). Revel's mission of advancing electrification closely aligns with EvGateway's philosophy of helping to shape a zero-emissions future," said EvGateway President Reddy Marri.

Revel's rideshare service is launching in Manhattan within the next few months, operating below 42nd Street initially. It will expand to other areas of the borough in 2022. 50 blue Tesla Model Ys will be specially outfitted to provide maximum passenger comfort, as well as safety for both drivers and passengers.

The first DC charging Superhub will be going live by July, and is located at 630 Flushing Avenue Williamsburg, on the site of the former Pfizer Building headquarters. It will consist of 30 stations capable of delivering 100 miles (161 km) of charge to vehicles in about 20 minutes, the company announced earlier this year. The chargers will be open to the public on a 24/7 basis and accessible to owners of any electric vehicle brand.

Source: Newswire

Revel’s rideshare Model Y will be modified to provide maximum passenger comfort.

Polestar's Australian operations commence as Polestar 2 EV confirmed for November 2021

A US-spec Polestar 2. Image: Polestar

Polestar Automotive Australia’s managing director Samantha Johnson has confirmed in a pre-launch event that the brand will arrive in Australia from November 2021.

“We’re delighted to announce that the highly anticipated all-electric Polestar 2 is expected to be launched locally by November 2021,” Johnson said in a note by email.

“Polestar sees considerable potential in the Australian market, which is why it will be one of the first markets to launch as part of the company’s Asia Pacific expansion.”

The Polestar 2 is built in China by parent company Geely, and has met widespread acclaim overseas. Australia will be one of the first markets to receive the car outside the United States and Europe, and with its 78 kWh battery and all-wheel-drive, is expected to be priced similarly to Tesla’s Model 3. The Polestar 2 is a tech-focused sedan and is the first vehicle to be launched with the Android Automotive — as distinct from Android Auto — operating system for seamless in-car Google integration.

The Polestar 2 sits on Geely-Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture platform, which underpins the Volvo XC40 and C40, as well as a number of Geely and Lynk & Co vehicles. The XC40 is also scheduled to arrive in Australia later this year.

Polestar is independent of Volvo and will therefore create its own facilities, management team, and retail operations in Australia. Vehicles will be available to order online, but Polestar will also build its ‘Polestar Spaces’ in high-traffcked capital city areas. The Spaces aim to take the stress out of the vehicle purchasing experience; and allow customers to get up close with the product in a high-end gallery-like environment.

Polestar Automotive Australia has commenced Australian operations and is on the hunt for more staff

Polestar Automotive Australia has already commenced its search for local team members to fill the positions of planning, order and delivery manager, customer care operations specialist, and community and customer relationship management (CRM) manager. The company hasn’t outlined just where it plans to locate its Spaces and servicing facilities, but we can expect that information closer to local launch.

Source: The Driven

Electrify America Opens its 600th EV Charging Station in the United States

Electrify America charging site with solar canopy in Baker, California.

It’s only taken three years for Electrify America to roll out 600 EV ultra-fast charging sites across the continental United States. That’s nearly 2,600 individual DC fast chargers, with Hawaii, South Dakota, Wyoming and Vermont to receive ultra-fast charging sites by early 2022. This follows the completion of two cross-continental routes completed late in 2020, from Jacksonville, FL to San Diego, CA via I-10 and I-8, and from Washington DC to Los Angeles, CA.

Electrify America’s cross-continental routes. Image: Electrify America

“With our rapid station deployment, we are on track to have 800 charging stations with about 3,500 chargers open or under development by the end of this year - delivering on our commitment to make EV driving easier and more accessible,” said Giovanni Palazzo, president and chief executive officer, Electrify America. “We’re proud to be on the forefront of expanding the nation’s EV charging infrastructure and are excited to see our continued growth, as we help meet EV demand and climate priorities set by the Administration.”

Electrify America is also continuing its rollout in states with a smaller population of EV drivers — and greater distances between metropolitan areas — such as Minnesota, Montana, and New Hampshire.

It’s network consists of 150kW DC chargers, which can add about 7.5 miles (12 kilometres) of battery range per minute for capable vehicles, while highway locations feature 150kW and 350kW chargers, which can add an estimated 23 miles (37 kilometres) of battery range per minute for capable vehicles.

The network isn’t perfect however, with a number of YouTubers and EV drivers experiencing multiple issues with charging on the network, from software to hardware, on vehicles such as Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, and Volkswagen’s ID.4. This is particularly ironic given Volkswagen’s involvement with the rollout of the Electrify America network. Charging station reliability is even more important than charging station ubiquity and and speed in our opinion, and is crucial to increasing the uptake of battery electric vehicles, and providing peace of mind to all current and prospective EV drivers.

Jeep announces 4xe Charging Network to provide EV charging stations

Jeep to partner with Electrify America, providing Level 2 Charging at popular off-road trailheads

Hot on the heels of Rivian’s announcement of the Rivian Adventure Network, Jeep has partnered with Electrify America to roll out level 2 EV charging stations at Jeep Badge of Honor off-road trailheads around the United States.

The launch of these trailhead chargers coincide with the launch of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid model, and the company states that they will support future fully electric Jeep models. Jeep 4xe charging stations are initially scheduled to open this spring at three of the most-popular off-road sites and icons for the Jeep brand – Moab, Utah; the Rubicon Trail in Pollock Pines, California; and Big Bear, California.

“Electrification opens a new chapter in the Jeep brand story, and it brings an entirely new level of excitement and enjoyment for our enthusiastic owners,” said Christian Meunier, Jeep Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “Key to making Jeep brand the greenest SUV brand is assuring our owners can enjoy the benefits of electric propulsion wherever they go, including the most iconic off-road trails in the country.”

Jeep is working with leading public charging network Electrify America to establish the trailhead charging sites and install the charging equipment. Jeep 4xe owners will be able to login to unlock free charging via a custom mobile app by Electrify America, which also allows drivers to initiate and monitor their charging session.

“It is our goal to provide electric vehicle drivers with the freedom to get to where they want to go – whether it be on a highway or off-road – and we look forward to bringing Jeep enthusiasts along on the journey,” said Giovanni Palazzo, president and chief executive officer of Electrify America. “Through the customizable electric vehicle charging offerings of our Electrify Commercial B2B brand, we were able to work with Jeep to identify where their drivers will need charging access most, and make it a reality.”

The jeep Wrangler and an Electrify America solar charger

The Jeep 4xe Charging Network trailhead chargers will deliver Level 2 (240-volt) charging, meaning the 17 kilowatt-hour battery pack in the Jeep Wrangler 4xe can be fully recharged in about two hours, delivering up to 21 miles (33 km) of electric range.

The 4xe charging stations will be either directly connected to the power grid or use solar power to generate electricity, though the company has not stated exactly how much power will be generated by renewables.

We’re not certain how many hybrid Jeep owners would bother to plug in to charge while they’re off-roading or hiking, but it’s a small gesture towards Jeep’s—and Stellantis’—all electric future.

Rivian plans US EV charging network comprising private DC and public AC charging sites

Rivian has announced ambitions plans to rollout its Rivian Adventure Network, a electric vehicle charging network designed to help Rivian R1S and R1T customers get to and from outdoor adventure locations across the United States, including Alaska and Hawai’i.

The Rivian Adventure Network. Image: Screenshot/Rivian

Rivian is aiming to install 3,500+ DC fast chargers at 600+ sites by the end of 2023 along popular highway routes in the United States, for the exclusive use of its customers. In a move that mimics Tesla’s proprietary Supercharger network, the Rivian Adventure Network allows automatic charging without the need for access cards or payment devices, is powered by 100% renewable energy, and can theoretically charge at over 200kW.

In addition, Rivian plans to install over 10,0000 “Waypoint” Level 2 J1772-plug AC chargers at popular destinations like State and National Parks, shopping centres and restaurants. These chargers offer an 11.5kW charging speed, and will be open to non-Rivian EV owners.

Regarding the environmental impact of the power provided, Rivian states that “Through partnerships with electricity providers, we will use wind and solar wherever possible, as well as Renewable Energy Certificates to ensure your vehicle is powered with clean electricity.”

This week, the company announced that all 42 Colorado State Parks will feature two level 2 Rivian Waypoints each, with installation commencing in July. In-vehicle navigation will be able to route customers to the nearest Rivian Adventure Network charge point, and the Rivian app will provide real-time charging information.

The Launch Edition R1T, in Launch Green is expected to begin customer deliveries in the US by August 2021.

The (sold out) Rivian R1T Launch Edition. Image: Rivian

Porsche aims for faster charging, higher energy density batteries and own fast charging network

As part of the Volkswagen Group’s inaugural Battery Day presentation, Porsche revealed continuing research and development into high performance battery and charging technologies, including the replacement of graphite with silicone in battery cell anodes.

Battery Technology

"The battery cell is the combustion chamber of tomorrow," says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. "Our electrified high-performance sports and racing cars place the highest demands on battery technology. To meet these demands, Porsche needs special high-performance cells. Silicon has big potential."

Porsche’s Performance Battery Plus and 800V architecture as fitted to the Taycan Turbo.

An EV battery is made up of a few core components: the anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and one positive and one negative current collectors. Lithium ions are stored across both the cathode and anode, and the electrolyte carries these positively charged ions from the cathode to the anode during charging, and from the anode to the cathode during discharge (driving).

Porsche is looking at new battery cell chemistries to allow efficient operation in extreme temperatures, and to improve reliability and longevity in DC rapid charging. Porsche states that new batteries will begin testing in limited-production road vehicles and within their customer motorsport program. Porsche has also outlined a desire to ensure that there is a “completely European production chain for high-performance batteries”, implying a geopolitical need to avoid any reliance on dominant South Korean and Chinese cell providers LG Chem and CATL.

Battery modules in the Performance Battery Plus.

Porsche’s Own Charging Network

Porsche also announced plans to roll out a DC fast-charging network across important European autobahns, highways and motorways. Clearly looking to imitate Tesla’s Supercharger network—at least on a small scale—which provides industry-leading convenience and ease of use for Tesla owners, Porsche’s charging stations will feature six to twelve charging points, from 350kW and up.

The DC chargers at Porsche’s Leipzig customer centre could be a model for the company’s future highway chargers.

According to Blume, "An important prerequisite for electromobility is fast and convenient charging. That is why we are currently working on the details of a concept for our own fast-charging stations. We will select attractive locations for these in order to offer our customers the most comfortable and fastest long-distance travel experience possible."

Exact locations are not known at this stage, and plans outside Europe seem unlikely, but Porsche plans self-service lounge facilities with smartphone app access for its customers. These Porsche charging stations should complement the Ionity network nicely, and you can bet that the charging sites will feature Porsche’s usual high-end techno-minimalist look and feel. As the brand expands its electric offerings beyond the Taycan to the Macan and potentially the Cayenne by 2025, this rollout should quell future customers’ concerns about range anxiety, at least in Europe.

Porsche Leipzig’s customer centre features 350 kW DC/22 kW AC charging.

Tesla proposes world's largest V3 supercharging site in Santa Monica, with 62 stalls [updated]

[Update] - The City of Santa Monica Planning Commission approved the project, five votes to two, after a three hour long discussion.

Tesla has lodged a submission with the City of Santa Monica Planning Commission to build the world’s largest supercharger across two sites at 1401 & 1421-1425 Santa Monica Boulevard.

Currently an open air carpark, the site is around a 30 minute walk to downtown Santa Monica and Santa Monica Beach, and conveniently located for employees of the nearby Amazon Studios, Naughty Dog and Red Bull headquarters.

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Currently open-air parking, 1421 Santa Monica Blvd may be home to the world’s largest supercharger site. Image: Google Maps

Planning submission details

The cover letter to the City of Santa Monica proposes obtaining approval for each lot independently. The proposed project consists of 36 V3 superchargers with PV solar canopies for the western lot at 1401 Santa Monica Blvd, and 26 V3 Superchargers plus restroom facilities for the eastern lot at 1421-1425 Santa Monica Blvd.

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A site plan for the 62 stall Tesla Supercharger

A Megapack placed on the western lot will power the facility with a power rating of 1,264 kW and 2,529 kWh. Supercharger cabinets will be spread across both sites, and located behind fencing.

Parking spaces will vary in width across both sites, ranging from 8’-6” (2.58 metres) to 11’-1” (3.37 metres) wide; the largest spaces are presumably designed to accommodate Tesla’s upcoming Cybertruck.

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Tesla’s cover letter to the City of Santa Monica Planning Commissions

Tesla’s commitments to the site

As part of the project’s proposal, Tesla has promised that adequate on-site public safety and product integrity is top priority, and that weekly, monthly and quarterly maintenance checks will be carried out.

Presently the world’s largest Supercharger is located in Shanghai, with 72 V2 stalls. The Santa Monica Planning Commission is set to vote on the project on Wednesday March 3, 2021.

A V3 Supercharger site in Las Vegas. Image: Tesla Motors

Source: https://www.smgov.net/departments/pcd/agendas/Planning-Commission/2021/20210303/a20210303.htm Thanks to listener Jennifer for the tip!

Australia's Gold Coast first to install Tritium's new scalable 75kW chargers across 10 sites

Australia’s Gold Coast sees unveiling of world first scalable EV chargers

Above image: ABC Gold Coast, Kimberley Bernard

Queensland based EV charging infrastructure manufacturer Tritium has installed the first of 10 new high-speed scalable 75kW EV charging stations at Broadbeach, on Australia’s Gold Coast. The Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council have each contributed AUD$350,000 to the project, and the RTM75 charger can deliver 75km (46 miles) of range to an EV in approximately 10 minutes of charging. The charger unit allows for the simultaneous charging of two vehicles and is the world’s first EV charger featuring Tritium’s Modular Scalable Charging (MSC) hardware platform which enables the unit to be scaled up to a maximum of 350 kW in increments of 25 kW as demand increases, offering cost savings for the charger’s operators.

The charger offers two parking bays, and is located right next to Kurrawa Surf Club, Broad each QLD

#GoldCoastNews World-first electric vehicle (EV) charging technology has debuted on the Gold Coast, with the first charger installed at Broadbeach today. https://t.co/kUWHhdLTQV pic.twitter.com/BoJP0roucs

— City of Gold Coast (@cityofgoldcoast) January 19, 2021

According to Tritium, the RTM75 supports all charging standards on the market, including CCS and CHAdeMO, and satisfies the needs of all batteries up to 920V. The RTM75 is equipped with Plug and Charge (ISO 15118) technology, eliminating the need for credit card payments or RFID authentication at the charger.

The RTM75 includes advanced liquid cooling, and is also the first to deliver quiet charging (high-speed EV chargers can be noisy!). The charging unit is sealed to protect it from dust, moisture and other contaminants, reducing the need for maintenance time and cost.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said council would charge motorists $5 for 10 minutes at the stations, which would allow a charge of around 75 kilometres range. He stated “It's the comfort factor that should they run low, we will have these parking stations throughout [the city where] they can top up,"

Operated by Chargefox, this charger features Tritium's modular scalable technology. Image: EV Brief Podcast

This progress is welcome news in Queensland, and bolsters the state’s commitment to providing EV buyers with the support and knowledge that charging infrastructure will be in place as the world inevitably transitions to electric vehicles. The state government has an “Electric Super Highway” plan, building over 31 fast-charging sites across the state from Cairns to Coolangatta, over 1,800 kilometres (1,118 miles)

Tritium staff at the recent unveiling of the company’s modular RTM75 high speed EV charger

Source: PV Magazine

Porsche Taycan 4S Outperforms EPA Range Estimates

The Porsche Taycan has faced a lot of criticism for underwhelming range and efficiency, but the good news is that similar to Porsche’s performance and power output figures for its internal combustion engined models, the company seems to quote quite a conservative figure for its first all-electric model range.

According to the EPA, the Porsche Taycan 4S has a range of 203 miles (325km) from a single charge, which seems quite inefficient for a brand new EV with a 79kWh battery pack. The good news for Taycan 4S owners is Inside EVs tested the vehicle in real-world conditions. Although the test vehicle had the largest optional wheels available, Using range mode with the air-conditioning switched on, the team drove the fully charged Taycan 4S, cruising at 70 mph (112kmh) and managed to cover 278 miles (447km) until the vehicle literally came to a stop in the middle of the road. An impressive effort for such a heavy, performance oriented EV.

Source: Inside EVs

Tesla End of Year Wrap Up

The electric vehicle market is booming, despite COVID-19 putting the brakes on the auto industry generally. Of course Tesla has become a darling of investors, with the company seeing a 50% share price increase since the announcement in early November that the automaker was entering the S&P 500. Not since Yahoo and the dot com boom in the late nineties have we seen such confidence in the future of a company.

Tesla isn’t one to slow down for the holiday season, and with a final production and deliveries push expected, Gigafactories across the world under construction, charging infrastructure and vehicle updates, we look at the news this week, and what we can expect to see in the new year.

Sales & Deliveries

North American and European sales of Model 3 and Y remain strong, and the company has apparently met (admittedly low) Model S and X targets for the year, and has halted production for these vehicles.

Tesla sales are strong in China, and this is the market that will help push Tesla to its 500,000 unit goal in 2020. Indeed, many analysts and commentators believe Tesla will surpass this target. With over 20,000 ‘made in China’ Model 3s sold in November, that demand looks set to continue through December, just as the Model 3 was recently awarded Number 1 electric vehicle in China by owners in a recent Net Promoter Score (NPS) index survey. Any concerns around battery availability have subsided, as Tesla’s Chinese production recently moved to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from supplier CATL.

In Q4 2019, Tesla delivered 112,000 vehicles. Tesla has been ramping production in Q3 and Q4, and Rob Maurer of Tesla Daily has projected just over 24,000 units of Model 3 in production from Giga Shanghai in December. His other projections include:

• 53,000 Model Y units produced in Q4;

• 58,000 Model 3 units produced in Q4;

• 19,000 Model S and X units produced in Q4;

• 530,000 total units produced in 2020

Tesla needs 181,000 deliveries worldwide to achieve the 500,000 unit annual target. Watch Tesla Daily’s Q4 prediction video below:

Factories

As was expected, construction of Giga Texas is powering forward, with the skeleton and roof of the facility already under construction, and the first phase of the project due for completion in 2021.

🏗 Giga Texas pic.twitter.com/0D6QV1Fcsa

— Omead Afshar (@omead_a) December 20, 2020

Over in China, Tesla completed the Model 3 and Model Y production lines in record time, and new single-piece body castings have been spotted at the factory, suggesting Tesla’s new ‘Gigapress’ casting machines are now online.

Tesla certainly isn’t resting though, and it appears the company is continuing to expand the production facility east of the current footprint:

Meanwhile, over in Germany, Giga Berlin is also charging full steam ahead, with ‘Gigapress’ casting machines arriving at the factory, and external walls being erected, despite a number of hold ups due to permits, environmental concerns and missed payments. Again, Tesla is expected to commence operations on time if not earlier, with production tests due for July 2021, some 13 months after construction on the site began.

FSD pricing and updates

Tesla’s autonomous Full Self Driving package is set to become a cash cow for the company, with the billions in R&D dollars spent set to be recouped over the next few years. Previously available as a stand-alone option before or after delivery for a cost of $10,000, Tesla announced 2021 will bring a subscription pricing model for owners who wish to pay for the option in instalments.

Absolutely. We will release FSD subscription early next year.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 20, 2020

Tesla has also just released its holiday 2020 update, as part of Firmware 2020.48.25. There are some notable changes mentioned in the release notes including:

• “The driving visualization has been refreshed and now offers a larger visualization to allow drivers to view more details of the road surroundings. The next turn will now appear above the visualization if the navigation turn list is covered by another app.”

• “Schedule departure can now precondition your battery and cabin even when your car is unplugged. To account for different utility rate plans, you can now set the time when your off-peak rates end to save on charging costs. To access, tap SCHEDULE from the climate control or charging panel when parked.”

• “Supercharger pins on your touchscreen will now display the number of available stalls at charging sites. Quickly search for nearby amenities by tapping an amenity icon on the Supercharger popup display.”

Teslarati has a full rundown of software changes listed here

Superchargers

Can electric vehicles from brands other than Tesla now charge at Tesla Superchargers? Not quite. Marques Brownlee asked Elon Musk on Twitter “Why don't more electric car makers take up Tesla on their offer to use the Supercharging network? Incompatible tech? Hidden fees? Pride? There's gotta be a good reason.” to which Elon Musk replied: “They are, although it’s kind (sic) low-key. Tesla Superchargers are being made accessible to other electric cars.”

Naturally, the internet went crazy, though you won’t see Porsche Taycan owners at a Supercharger any time soon. Tesla is focused on rolling out Superchargers for its customers, installing the high-speed Tesla-only chargers in more locations, and updating more Supercharger sites from 150kW version 2 models to 250kW version 3 models. Construction of Tesla's Supercharger factory in China appears to be ramping up too, and has a 10,000 unit per year production goal.

Serious question: Why don't more electric car makers take up Tesla on their offer to use the Supercharging network? Incompatible tech? Hidden fees? Pride? There's gotta be a good reason.

— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) December 21, 2020

S&P 500 Inclusion

The big news this week is the inclusion of Tesla into the S&P 500 club; a move that many have signalled since Tesla achieved four straight profitable quarters in July this year. According to the Wall Street Journal, shares have surged some 70% since the announcement of the company’s addition in November.

Tesla’s listing on the stock market benchmark represents the biggest company ever to join the S&P 500, and its USD$650 billion market capitalisation figure means Tesla is the sixth largest publicly listed company in the United States.

1990 to 2020: Largest Companies Added to the S&P 500

Elon Musk appeared extremely grateful on Twitter, Tweeting on December 22 “Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make Tesla successful. My heart goes out to you.”

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make Tesla successful. My heart goes out to you.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 21, 2020

Tesla is now the world’s most valuable automaker, with huge growth potential and some serious competitive advantages in the market place (more on that below).

The Street has just named Tesla as its ‘number one stock of the year’, with 12 of 16 panellists agreeing Tesla stood above Zoom Video, Moderna, Amazon and Netflix (numbers two to five respectively)

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Image: The Street

What about Tesla Energy?

The growth of Tesla Energy is part of the reason many investors see so much future potential in the company; while solar and household battery growth has been slow over the last few years, Q3 and Q4 2020 were good quarters for the business, and Tesla energy looks to have generated around $1.85 billion in revenue for the 2020 calendar year.

According to The Motley Fool, During Q3 2020, Tesla shipped 759 megawatt-hours (MWh) worth of batteries, an 81% increase from Q2's 419MWh. That’s a higher rate of growth than Tesla’s automotive business, which saw shipments for Q3 at 139,593 units, a sequential increase of 54% over Q2's 90,650 units.

We can expect to see more grid-scale battery projects boosting the energy business in 2021; recently a number of large projects utilising Tesla Powerpack and Megapack technology have been completed, including Yorktown New York’s 490 MW Tesla battery, and an upgrade of an additional 50 MW added to the Hornsdale battery in South Australia. Construction commenced in October on the 182 MW (730MWh) Moss Landing battery in California, which consists of 256 Megapacks, and will be able to power every home in San Francisco for up to six hours according to Tesla.

Tesla Solar has been bubbling away for a few years now, and the company’s energy products have become on average 30% cheaper than the US average primarily due to their online business model. By reducing ‘soft costs’ or non-component costs of each system, customers are able to purchase customised packages that suit their homes, and can even pay off the installed system through a subscription program.

Many in the industry believe that Tesla Energy can generate revenue equal to that of the automotive side of the business, and that it’s just a question of scaling up production, and expanding subscription-based solar and battery systems outside the United States.

What else could possibly happen in 2020?

Well now that you mention it, according to Reuters, there’s a little something called ‘Project Titan’ that the Cupertino tech giant Apple is working on. It’s an electric vehicle that has been in the works since 2014, and part of the secret vehicle’s competitive advantage will apparently be a new battery design that could “radically” reduce the cost of batteries while maximising range.

Gene Munster from Loup Ventures doesn’t see Apple’s entry into personal mobility as a threat to Tesla’s market share; Munster stated that the firm believes traditional automakers are Apple’s target. 

Loup Ventures predicts that electric vehicles will account for close to 30% of all auto sales by 2025, with one third of that market to be dominated by Tesla.

Elon Musk dropped quite the Tweet today, stating that during the company’s Model 3 design and engineering phase, he approached Apple to see if Tim Cook was interested in acquiring Tesla: “During the darkest days of the Model 3 program, I reached out to Tim Cook to discuss the possibility of Apple acquiring Tesla (for 1/10 of our current value). He refused to take the meeting.”

How different the automotive and energy landscape could have been…

During the darkest days of the Model 3 program, I reached out to Tim Cook to discuss the possibility of Apple acquiring Tesla (for 1/10 of our current value). He refused to take the meeting.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 22, 2020

What’s in store for 2021

So what will next year bring? Like many investors (myself included), Tesla experts see exceptional growth for the company, based on strong demand for electric vehicles generally, and increasing market share in key markets such as China. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives believes China’s demand dynamic in the EV market will disproportionally benefit Tesla, and that the Chinese market could account for over 40% of Tesla’s sales within eighteen months.

Gali from Hyperchange demonstrates that Tesla has already figured out how to build electric vehicles profitably, with a gross margin figure of 23 percent. He sees a lot more growth potential on a profit per car basis, as the company focuses on software, and begins to recoup costs associated with the research and development of the Full Self Driving software. Gali is projecting a gross profit amount of $2.5 billion for Q4 2020, $2.7 billion in cashflow, and he expects capital expenditure to increase to $4-$6 billion per year from 2021 as Tesla pours more money into factories.

Model Y sales and deliveries are expected to get off the ground early in 2021, and with the Cybertruck Gigafactory due for completion mid-year, 2021 could be the year that Tesla brings the first mass-market electric pickup truck to consumers.

Tesla also unveiled its new 4680 battery cells in September, and the new tabless cells are expected to offer exceptional thermal and electrical efficiency. These cells are expected to be at the core of Cybertruck and Semi performance and efficiency, and while Tesla has these cells currently deployed in prototypes, the company lacks a facility to manufacture them at scale.

One of Tesla’s main goals is terrawatt-hour (TWh), or one trillion watt hour scale battery production, and the company has a manufacturing goal of 3TWh by the year 2030. Elon Musk has also used Twitter to suggest Tesla may be able to manufacture 20 million vehicles a year by this date:

That’s total market, not all Tesla. We do see Tesla reaching 20M vehicles/year probably before 2030, but that requires consistently excellent execution.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 28, 2020

Clean Technica has an excellent article on Tesla’s future that delves deeper into the above, however any future light commercial vehicles from the company are notably absent. With Rivian, Arrival and other manufacturers seeing this segment as a growth market for EVs, I wouldn’t be surprised to find Tesla leveraging their expertise to manufacture delivery vehicles.

2020 has been a difficult year for the automotive industry, but I am cautiously optimistic that Tesla’s battery and vehicle roadmap will play out in their favour, and that we will continue to see the company scale and grow at a rapid rate. Say what you like about Elon Musk; Tesla is now much bigger than one man, and the company has driven the global automotive market rapidly towards electrification and zero emissions transportation.