Thanks for catching the latest issue of the EV Canada Newsletter! Lots on the go for EVs lately. Aptera has made a few announcements regarding their launch edition (more details below), I added a few of their videos because I personally love the insight and thought maybe you’d enjoy as well. If you stumble across any interesting EV videos - please feel free to share with me and the people on our subreddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/EVCanada/

Canada

Aptera reveals production-intent launch edition.

Aptera, a company specializing in energy-efficient vehicles, recently announced the launch of their Launch Edition series, with over 40,000 orders already placed for a fleet of ultra-efficient vehicles that bring solar mobility and freedom from the grid to reality.

The Aptera Launch Edition was designed with energy efficiency in mind, featuring a unique shape, ultra-lightweight and ultra-strong materials, allowing it to use only a quarter of the energy compared to other electric and hybrid vehicles currently on the road. Equipped with roughly 700 watts of proprietary solar technology, the vehicle can drive up to 40 miles per day directly from the sun's rays, eliminating the need to ever plug in to charge.

With Aptera's solar technology, consistent access to a charging station or even a plug and socket isn't necessary. The Launch Edition comes with a solar charging package, allowing most people to drive for weeks, even months, without ever having to plug in to charge. In a location with medium sun exposure (most of Canada) , you will only need to plug in roughly three times per year.

The company's manufacturing process, developed in partnership with CPC Group, is efficient and streamlined, resulting in quicker vehicle deliveries and a better use of raw materials. Aptera's specialized composite body, known as Body in Carbon (BinC), takes much less time to assemble and yields quality and repeatability that is truly a new paradigm for manufacturing composite vehicle bodies and closures, especially when compared to other steel or aluminum vehicles.

Aptera plans to scale quickly into full-scale single shift production of 10,000 vehicles per year, with a goal of beginning production by the end of 2023. With over 40,000 reservations already placed, the production of Aptera's Launch Edition vehicle symbolizes the dawn of a new era for the company as it shifts towards manufacturing.

Additional Info:

You can watch the Aptera Launch Edition Live Webinare HERE.

Most recently Aptera has announced, due to overwhelming feedback, that they will add a DC fast charging to Aptera. Previously, they were adamant that a charger would not be necessary.

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EV Around the World 🌏

Shell to purchase Volta.

Shell USA, a subsidiary of Shell plc, has announced plans to acquire Volta, an innovative charging network, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $169 million. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2023 as Shell continues to prepare for mass electrification through multiple acquisitions around the world.

Volta operates a unique dual charging and media network, where charging stalls display ads while the charging is usually free. According to a Q3 2022 financial report, Volta has 983 charging sites in the US, including 3,093 charging stalls and 5,627 screens. Despite growing revenues by 66 percent year-over-year in Q3, the company still reported a net loss of $42.5 million, making the acquisition by a larger player like Shell necessary for the expansion and profitability of the network.

Tesla Heat Pump | More Range in Cold Weather.

Polestar has updated its Polestar 2 EV for model year 2024.

Polestar has introduced a new flat front grille design, improved drivable range (up to 300 miles (482 km) on a single charge), and more powerful motors. The car now features a maximum 300-mile range (EPA estimated) on the single-motor RWD model, an increase on the 270-mile (435 km) range of the FWD version released last year. This is largely thanks to the inclusion of a larger battery pack that has grown from 78kWh to 82kWh. The bigger battery pack is able to charge at a faster 205kW rate (up from 155kW) at compatible stations.

Polestar 2 has also improved its performance with a new permanent magnet motor capable of 299 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque, versus the FWD’s 231 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. Additionally, Polestar has added several other features such as wireless phone charging, driver awareness features and SmartZone a new grille design. The Polestar 2 EV is a fastback electric sedan that is compared to Tesla's Model 3 and is gaining popularity in the EV market. Polestar is a joint venture between Volvo and Chinese automaker Geely.

Here is a quick table from the Polestar’s press release which shows the Polestar 2 variants for 2024.

QuickEV

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• CATL enters long-term strategic partnership with NIO.

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• [VIDEO] DRAG RACE: Audi e-tron GT quattro vs Audi RS 3.

• Lightyear halts production of high-end model to focus on affordable Lightyear 2.

• Rolls-Royce Spectre EV production to crank up, CEO credits strong demand.

• [VIDEO] Sandy Munro: Tesla's price cuts will annihilate EV competitors.

EV Tweet of the Week

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