Welcome back to the EV Canada Newsletter! I had a great vacation and was able to spend time with family and friends. I’m back and feeling recharged.

Puns aside, I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for checking in each week. I hope that I provide value to your inbox where you can get a relatively quick download of what is happening in the EV space. Thank you!

Canada

Volkswagen to Build Gigafactory in Ontario for Electric Vehicle Battery Production

Volkswagen has announced that it will build its first overseas "gigafactory" for battery cell manufacturing in St. Thomas, Ontario, with production scheduled to begin in 2027. The factory will be established by the Volkswagen Group and its battery company, PowerCo. According to Volkswagen, Canada's local supply of raw materials and wide access to clean electricity make it an ideal location for the plant.

Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli stated that Canada has gone from being behind in the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing sector to being one of the top players in the battery supply chain remarkably quickly. He credits the province's strong investment in the sector and collaborative approach with automakers, as well as the country's highly skilled workforce, clean energy, access to markets, and flourishing automotive and battery sector.

This will be the second electric vehicle battery factory in Ontario, with Stellantis and South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution building a $5-billion facility in Windsor, Ontario. Ontario has been actively seeking to position itself as a leading jurisdiction for EV and battery production, and this announcement is a significant step forward in that direction.

Flavio Volpe, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, attributed the announcement to the hard work of both levels of government in attracting investments from the world's top automakers. Canada now boasts major investments in EV manufacturing from six of the world's top seven automakers, which is unprecedented for a country without its own domestic brands.

The Volkswagen announcement comes after the province introduced and quickly passed a law adjusting the municipal boundaries for a 1,500-acre "mega site" in southwestern Ontario. Fedeli stated that putting the entire piece of land within St. Thomas would eliminate the red tape and barriers that could come with future companies having to deal with two municipalities.

The ministers of Ontario and the federal government jointly stated that the announcement is a "major vote of confidence" in Canada and Ontario being global leaders in the EV supply chain. The ministers noted that the investment is another significant step forward in building a clean transportation sector to meet global and North American demand for zero-emission vehicles.

The company signed an agreement last year with the federal government to work to identify suitable sites for such a facility in Canada, and they had also committed to investigate ways for Canada to contribute to Volkswagen's battery supply chains, including raw materials and assembly. With the announcement of this factory, it appears that Volkswagen has found the ideal location for its expansion plans.

Canada Post Unveils 1st Fleet of Battery-Electric Delivery Vehicles in Nanaimo, BC

Canada Post, the country's postal service, has revealed its first-ever fleet of battery-electric delivery vehicles in Nanaimo, British Columbia. This move is part of the corporation's commitment to electrify its entire national fleet of 14,000 vehicles by 2040. The launch of 14 electric cargo vans in Nanaimo was a significant step towards achieving that goal. The deployment of the new vehicles is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning Canada Post towards a low-carbon future.

In addition to being a crucial part of Canada's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the move was also due to the availability of clean energy through B.C.'s hydroelectric network. Canada Post's commitment to electrification is expected to have a significant impact on the country's transition to a low-carbon future.

The initiative, which saw the introduction of 14 electric vans, is part of Canada Post's $1 billion investment to cut emissions and electrify its last-mile fleet. The company's board of directors chairman, Suromitra Sanatani, emphasized that Canadians expect their postal service to play a leading role in the country's transition to a low-carbon future.

While the move towards electrification has started, Bob Freeman, local president of the Canadian Union for Postal Workers, notes that the majority of Canada Post's delivery vehicles in Nanaimo are still gas-powered. Freeman hopes that the company will incentivize rural and suburban mail carriers to switch to electric vehicles or equip them with electric vehicles. The availability of a robust power grid in communities outside of Nanaimo is also a cause for concern, as some areas may not have the power capacity to support an all-electric fleet.

Despite the challenges, Curran Crawford, director of the University of Victoria's Institute for Integrated Energy Systems, believes that the move towards electrification is a vital first step towards a low-carbon future. He says that the switch to electricity is one piece of the puzzle, and it's essential for companies to get experience with electric vehicles in their fleets.

Overall, Canada Post's unveiling of its first battery-electric delivery vehicles is a significant step towards a greener future, and it's hoped that this move will inspire other organizations to follow suit.

Rivian traded in for a Tesla.

(Skip to about 4 mins to when he finally stats talking about the why he made the switch.)

EV Around the World 🌏

Lexus RZ 450e: Luxury Electric Vehicle Now Available for Order

Lexus has announced that it is now accepting orders for its first fully electric vehicle, the RZ 450e, a high-end luxury alternative to Toyota's bZ4X. Check out the latest RZ 450e images from Lexus below.

Like its parent company Toyota, Lexus has been playing catch up in the fully electric vehicle market, with its focus on hybrid and fuel cell technology delaying the launch of its first EV. However, Lexus has finally unveiled its first electric production model, the RZ 450e, which will ride on Toyota's e-TNGA platform, the same used for the bZ4X and Subaru Solterra.

While the RZ 450e shares a platform with the bZ4X, Lexus has ensured that the EV is differentiated by offering an "innovative design, inside and out" and "signature Lexus driving experience." Essentially, Lexus has designed its first electric vehicle to be a Lexus first and an EV second, to stand out from the competition. The car offers its Direct4 AWD system to ensure stability and traction on the road, along with regenerative braking.

Lexus offers one 71.4 kWh battery option with two e-motors, 150 kW in the back and 80 kW in the front, for a total of 308 system horsepower and up to 220 miles EPA-estimated range (with 18-inch wheels). With 20-inch wheels, the EPA-estimated range drops to 196 miles. The RX 450e can be charged from 0 to 80% in about 30 minutes with a DC L2 fast charger, according to Lexus.

The RZ 450e exterior looks similar to the bZ4X but incorporates a more aerodynamic front and distinct lines on the sides, giving it a more luxurious feel. Unlike the bZ4X, Lexus's first EV will feature a "premium" interior with an intelligent 14-inch touchscreen, radiant heating, a wireless charger, a panorama glass sunroof, and more.

Lexus offers the RZ 450e in two trims: Premium and Luxury. The Premium comes with 18-inch dark gray metallic aluminum wheels, while the Luxury comes with a 20-inch black and machined finish. The prices, including MSRP and Delivery Processing and Handling (DPH), are $59,650 USD for the Premium AWD with 18-inch wheels, $60,890 USD for the Premium AWD with 20-inch wheels, and $65,150 USD for the Luxury AWD.

Nissan Unveils "X-in-1" Approach to Powertrain Development, Aims for 30% Cost Savings

Nissan has announced its new "X-in-1" approach to electrified powertrain development, which is expected to deliver significant cost savings. The approach involves using modular core components that can be shared across various applications. The company's initial powertrain packages will be 3-in-1 for all-electric vehicles, consisting of an electric motor, inverter, and reducer/single-speed transmission, and 5-in-1 for e-Power series-hybrids, which also include a generator and increaser. Nissan notes that it may develop other types in the future.

The main goal of this approach is to reduce development and manufacturing costs by 30% by 2026, using 2019 as a reference. Both types of powertrains will be produced on the same production line. Nissan's move towards modularizing and sharing core components is a step in the right direction for high-volume electrification. However, it is too early to determine how competitive the new drive units will be.

One interesting feature is Nissan's reduction of rare earth elements to 1% or less of the system's total weight. The company also aims to minimize noise and vibration. The sharing and modularizing of core components will improve production efficiencies and reduce powertrain costs compared to 2019.

Additionally, the new development features a newly developed motor that reduces the use of heavy rare earth elements. Sharing of core components and control technology provides a unique driving experience for Nissan EVs.

Nissan has already introduced several all-electric and e-Power models worldwide, with the e-Power mainly available in Japan/Asia and Europe. By 2030, the company plans to introduce 27 new electrified models, including 19 all-electric and eight e-Power vehicles.

For more information about Nissan's new electrified powertrain development, see the latest seminar.

Volkswagen to unveil new EV concept with fresh design.

Volkswagen is set to reveal a new concept car that will not only preview a production electric vehicle but also showcase a fresh design language for the brand. The event is scheduled for March 15 and will be hosted by CEO Thomas Schäfer, joined by Andreas Mindt, Head of Design. During the presentation, the company will reveal "how we'll be positioning Volkswagen for the years ahead."

While the automaker has been tight-lipped about what exactly the concept car will entail, many industry insiders predict that it will be an entry-level electric car positioned below the recently facelifted ID.3. Some even speculate that it may be called the ID.2 or ID. Golf, based on recent reports. However, it is unlikely to have anything in common with the ID. Life concept from September 2021, as VW went back to the drawing board to develop something different.

Unlike the ID.3 through ID.7 models and the ID. Buzz that all use a rear-wheel-drive-based dedicated electric car platform, the ID.2 will adopt a front-wheel-drive setup. However, dual-motor configurations providing AWD are believed to be in the works already, with one application supposedly being for an all-electric Golf R hot hatch replacement.

Volkswagen has officially confirmed that models riding on the MEB+ platform will receive lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, providing a maximum range of 435 miles (700 kilometers). Additionally, VW has said owners will be able to juice up their EVs at 200 kW.

The ID.2 is expected to cost from CAD 38,000, making it significantly cheaper than the ID.3, which is priced in Germany from nearly €44,000. With this new EV, Volkswagen aims to offer a more affordable option to the public and bolster its electric vehicle lineup, which is part of its broader strategy to transition to a fully electric future.

The upcoming Volkswagen EV is a highly anticipated model, and the automaker is hoping that it will be well-received by consumers. It will also be interesting to see the new design language that the company has developed, which could be a sign of what's to come from Volkswagen in the future. All eyes will be on the company's presentation on March 15, where more details about this exciting new concept car will be revealed.

Check out the livestream here:

QuickEV

• Tesla could be facing criminal charges at Giga Berlin.

• Ford recalls over a dozen F-150 Lightnings after battery fire.

• [VIDEO] Watch dad build wooden electric Lamborghini for his son.

• Porsche Cayenne Electric has officially been announced for after 2025.

• Lamborghini reveals LB744, its first PHEV.

• [VIDEO] Tesla Model X Plaid VSFerrari SF90, Aventador SVJ drag race.

• XPeng launches P7i Sports sedan in China.

• VinFast hits another hurdle in its US EV expansion, delays plant until 2025.

• [VIDEO] Sandy and Sue Reflect on 1 Year with Their Rivian R1T.

EV Tweet of the Week

If you have a suggestion for EV Tweet of the week, send it to me!