Hello! Thank you for checking out this weeks’ EV North Newsletter!

Welcome to The EV North - a weekly newsletter that brings together some of the biggest EV news stories and delivers it to your inbox. There is a focus on Canada & North America but you’ll also find EV news from around the world!

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In this issue:

• Should Canada Follow America’s Lead in Blocking Chinese Electric Vehicles?

• Polestar 5: Everything You Need to Know.

• Boosting EV Charger Access: Airbnb Partners with ChargePoint to Meet Rising Demand.

• GM Partners with Redwood Materials to Recycle EV Battery Scrap.

• Kia EV3: Elevating the Compact Electric SUV Experience with Advanced Technology and Innovative Design.

• + more!

Canada

Should Canada Follow America’s Lead in Blocking Chinese Electric Vehicles?

As Canada strives to establish a robust electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, the potential influx of Chinese EV imports poses a threat to traditional automakers in North America. David Olive, from The Toronto Sun, explores the dilemma facing Canada in the context of a rapidly expanding global EV industry, projected to be worth $12 trillion by 2030, here are his summarized findings:

U.S. President Joe Biden has increased tariffs on Chinese EV imports to 102.5%. Canada now faces a critical choice: join the U.S. in imposing high tariffs, or risk undermining its growing EV sector.

Canada's current tariff on Chinese vehicle imports stands at about 6%.

Chinese EVs have captured an eight percent global market share within the last three years, projected to rise to 20% by 2027.

The world’s largest seller of EVs, BYD plans to open assembly plants in Europe and Mexico. Meanwhile, Stellantis (the parent company of Chrysler, Jeep, and Fiat) is set to sell EVs across South America through a partnership with Chinese EV maker Zhejiang Leapmotor Technologies.

Canada has imported over 40,000 Teslas assembled in Shanghai in the past year, highlighting the global reach of Chinese EV production.

Canada aims for 100% zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales by 2035, a goal that Ottawa seems committed to achieving regardless of the EVs’ country of origin. This stance has sparked criticism from industry leaders like Flavio Volpe, president of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association. Volpe argues that allowing Canadians to use federal rebates on Chinese EV purchases strengthens the Chinese EV industry at the expense of Canada's nascent EV sector.

The U.S. and European governments share concerns about China's ability to produce low-cost EVs that could overwhelm Western markets. Despite significant public subsidies to foster their own EV industries, there is division within the industry on the issue of tariffs.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has warned that without tariff protection, Chinese EV makers could "pretty much destroy" traditional automakers. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares argues that protectionism is not a viable long-term solution.

China has spent decades building its EV industry, resulting in unmatched production capacity, cost efficiency, and innovation. Complaints about China’s competitive edge due to heavy state subsidies—estimated at $40 billion USD since 1990—are countered by the fact that Western governments have also committed substantial subsidies for EV production.

To balance the need for affordable EVs with the goal of building a domestic EV supply chain, Canada has a few options:

Partnerships: Legacy automakers can partner with Chinese firms. For example, Ford Motor recently partnered with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) to build a $4.8 billion EV battery plant in Michigan.

Local Assembly: Canada could invite leading Chinese EV manufacturers, such as BYD, Geely Group, NIO, or Great Wall Motors, to establish assembly plants in Canada. These vehicles would be excluded from the U.S. market but could be exported elsewhere.

Tariff Adjustments: Canada could raise tariffs on Chinese EVs not built domestically and require that Chinese EV makers assembling vehicles in Canada source a significant portion of their materials locally.

By fostering partnerships and encouraging local assembly, Canada can ensure that Chinese EVs contribute to, rather than undermine, its EV ecosystem. This approach would allow Canadians to benefit from lower-priced EVs while supporting the growth of the domestic EV industry.

While it would be ideal to implement these strategies after the resolution of the U.S.-China trade war, the urgency of climate change and Canada’s ambitions in the EV market necessitate immediate action.

Are you on Reddit? Check out our subreddit at https://reddit.com/r/evcanada 

Polestar 5: Everything You Need to Know.

The highly anticipated Polestar 5 is poised to become the fastest Polestar model to date, excelling in categories such as 0-100 km/h acceleration and charging times. Here’s a comprehensive look at what we know so far about this remarkable electric sports sedan.

Polestar, a performance-focused electric vehicle brand spun off from Volvo Cars, is set to debut its latest model, the Polestar 5. The brand, established in 2017 with the Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid sports coupe, has continued to push the envelope in EV performance and design.

The Polestar 5’s roots trace back to the Polestar Precept, a high-performance grand tourer concept unveiled at the 2020 Geneva Auto Show. The Precept showcased the future direction of Polestar’s design and technology, even inspiring a YouTube docuseries documenting its evolution. In 2021, Polestar confirmed that the Precept concept would be realized as the production model Polestar 5.

Polestar 5 prototypes, showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, featured an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor electric powertrain delivering an impressive 650 kilowatts (871 horsepower) and 900 Newton-meters (664 pound-feet) of torque. This powerhouse configuration places the Polestar 5 in direct competition with high-performance EVs like the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S.

Polestar is developing a 103-kWh battery to complement the 650-kW dual-motor system. The Polestar 5 benefits from an 800-volt architecture, enabling it to achieve an 80-percent charge in just 20 minutes. A recent demonstration with a smaller 77-kWh battery pack, utilizing silicon-dominant extreme fast charging (XFC) technology from StoreDot, showcased even faster charging times—potentially adding 200 miles of range in just 10 minutes.

Polestar targets a range of 600 kms for the Polestar 5, with the base model expected to achieve around 480 kms on a full charge. Pricing is anticipated to start around $130,000 CAD, positioning it against models like the Porsche Taycan and Lucid Air.

Polestar adheres to a tradition of launching a new vehicle each year. Following the release of the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 as 2025 models, the Polestar 5 is expected to debut as a 2026 model, with sales likely beginning next year.

As we await its official launch, the Polestar 5 promises to set new benchmarks in the electric vehicle landscape.

Annnnd… In case you forgot: here is the Polestar 4:

👋 Hello, one quick thing. If you’re enjoying this, can you do me a favour and forward it to a friend? Thank you!

EV Around the World 🌏

Boosting EV Charger Access: Airbnb Partners with ChargePoint to Meet Rising Demand.

Airbnb has announced a partnership with ChargePoint, a leading provider of EV charging. This collaboration aims to simplify the process for hosts to install EV chargers, expanding access to charging across the US. This initiative is in response to a significant increase in demand, as searches using Airbnb’s EV charger filter surged by over 80% from 2022 to 2023.

Airbnb and ChargePoint will offer U.S. hosts exclusive discounts on EV chargers and installation services. The offer includes:

• Up to 36% off on select ChargePoint EV charger models.

• $100 off installation services.

• An additional $200 discount funded by Airbnb for the first 1,000 hosts who purchase an EV charger through ChargePoint.

According to internal Airbnb data, listings with EV chargers are booked more frequently and generate higher income compared to those without this amenity.

Airbnb has also launched programs in the U.S., France, the UK, and Spain to help hosts make their homes more energy-efficient. These initiatives aim to reduce emissions and lead to long-term savings on energy bills.

GM Partners with Redwood Materials to Recycle EV Battery Scrap.

General Motors has announced a strategic partnership with Redwood Materials, the innovative EV battery recycling firm founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel. This collaboration aims to recycle 100 percent of the production scrap from GM’s Ultium Cells.

Redwood Materials, founded in 2017 by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, will handle all the scrap from GM’s Warren, Ohio, and Spring Hill, Tennessee, facilities. Redwood has become a leading player in EV battery recycling, securing partnerships with most major EV battery manufacturers in the US.

Ultium Cells LLC, the joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, is set to produce 80GWh of battery cells annually from its two facilities, with a third plant under construction in Michigan. The partnership with Redwood Materials ensures that all cathode and anode material scrap, crucial components of lithium-ion batteries, will be efficiently recycled.

Redwood Materials will process the scrap materials into high-quality battery components that can be reintegrated into new EV batteries. This closed-loop system not only supports sustainability but also enhances the supply chain for battery materials.

Even the most efficient battery manufacturers produce 5-10 percent scrap, equating to over 10,000 tons of material annually. Redwood’s advanced recycling techniques can handle this volume, transforming waste into valuable resources.

In addition to GM, Redwood Materials recycles batteries for major brands like Tesla, Ford, Toyota, and Nissan. The company’s South Carolina facility produces anodes and cathodes, essential for new battery production.

As first-generation EVs reach the end of their lifespans, the company’s chemical recycling process extracts and refines elements such as nickel, cobalt, and copper, with 95 percent of key battery metals being recovered on average.

Kia EV3: Elevating the Compact Electric SUV Experience with Advanced Technology and Innovative Design.

Kia has unveiled the highly anticipated Kia EV3, a compact electric SUV that brings the innovative technology and design of the flagship EV9 to a new market segment.

Kia's new EV3 integrates the advanced technology and customer-centric values of the multi-award-winning EV9 SUV.

Key Features of the Kia EV3:

• Impressive Range: Best-in-class WLTP driving range of up to 600km.

• Fast Charging: 10-80% battery charging in just 31 minutes.

• Advanced Technology: Kia AI Assistant, premium streaming services, and over-the-air updates.

• Exterior Design: Bold and Progressive

The EV3 features Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, combining nature and modernity for a harmonious, dynamic appearance.

Exterior Highlights:

• Assertive Presence: Vertical headlamps and wide stance.

• Dynamic Silhouette: Sleek roofline and muscular body.

• Exclusive Colors: Nine body colors, including Aventurine Green and Terracotta.

• Interior Design: Spacious and Functional

The EV3’s interior offers a spacious cabin designed for comfort and practicality. It features an elegant center console with a sliding table and storage area, multi-adjustable ambient lighting, ultra-comfortable seats, and a near-30-inch widescreen display for seamless touch operation.

Interior Highlights:

• Spacious Cabin: Comfortably accommodates five people.

• Advanced Display: 30-inch widescreen with intuitive controls.

• Sustainable Materials: Recycled fabrics and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used throughout.

Built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV3 offers two battery options: a 58.3kWh standard battery and an 81.4kWh long-range battery. Both models feature a 150kW/283Nm electric motor, providing a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 170km/h.

Kia has equipped the EV3 with a suite of connectivity and entertainment features, including premium streaming services and in-car gaming. The EV3 is the first model to feature Kia’s AI Assistant technology, enhancing convenience and productivity through natural language understanding and generative AI.

The EV3 is equipped with advanced safety and driving assistance systems, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Highway Driving Assist. It also features Remote Smart Parking Assist and a 12-inch Head-up Display to minimize driver distraction.

Technology, Safety and Convenience Highlights:

• Premium Streaming: Enjoy content via LG’s Automotive Content Platform.

• AI Assistant: Intuitive interaction and control of vehicle features.

• Digital Customization: Personalize the dashboard with NBA team-inspired themes.

• ADAS Technology: Comprehensive safety systems for every journey.

• Remote Smart Parking Assist: Maneuver into tight spaces with ease.

• Head-Up Display: Key information projected on the windshield.

• Innovative Technology and Connectivity

The EV3 will first launch in Korea in July 2024, followed by a European debut in the second half of the year, with further expansion planned.

The full EV3 World Premiere can be found here:

QuickEV

• Honda raises electrification investment to $65B through 2030.

• [VIDEO] Matt Farah - Ford Mustang Mach-E: It's Built Better Than A Tesla.

• Lamborghini Doesn't Think Electric Supercars will Catch On.

• [VIDEO] Model S Plaid 'Dark Knight': The Look & Track Focus It Deserves.

• GM hints at an affordable Chevy Camaro EV: A $35,000 real electric pony.

• [VIDEO] Ioniq 5 N v Urus Performante v Macan GTS v F-Pace SVR v Grecale Trofeo — Cammisa Ultimate Drag Race.

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