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

Be sure to check out the Electric Vehicle Society’s webinar taking place on April 2nd at 7:30EST - “Canadian EVs’ Best Kept Financial & Environmental Secrets”.

Join Daniel Breton, CEO of Electric Mobility Canada, as he uncovers the untold stories behind Canadian electric vehicles (EVs) and discusses the current EV positioning of hybrids VS EV. Daniel will also share information related to federal EV incentives for businesses. Click here to register.

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Here is what you will find in this issue:

• Canadian ZEV Adoption: 10% of New Vehicle Registrations in 2023.

• Electrify Canada Expands Hyper-Fast Charging Network to New Brunswick.

• Rivian Joins Tesla's Supercharger Network: Seamless Charging for R1S and R1T Owners.

• Biden Adopts New Vehicle Emissions Rules with Industry Flexibility.

• Fisker Facing Bankruptcy: What Led to the Crisis?

• Hyundai and Kia “Recall” 147,000 EVs in US over Software Glitch with Charging Unit.

• + more!

Canada

Canadian ZEV Adoption: 10% of New Vehicle Registrations in 2023.

Via Statistics Canada, over 10% of Canada's new vehicle registrations in 2023 marked a shift toward zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), encompassing both electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants.

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, ZEV registrations in 2023 reached an impressive 10.8%, translating to 184,578 registrations out of a total 1.7 million.

Leading the charge (😁), British Columbia was the frontrunner among provinces, with an impressive 20.2% of new vehicle registrations comprised of ZEVs.

Following closely, Quebec secured the second position with a notable 18.6% ZEV registration rate with 77,083 registrations, which accounted for over 40% of the national ZEV total.

Meanwhile, in Ontario, despite the absence of provincial rebates, ZEV uptake still saw a commendable rise, clocking in at 7.6% in 2023.

Further insights from Statistics Canada revealed that a significant 75.6% of all newly registered ZEVs in Canada in the past year were full EVs, with the remaining 24.4% being PHEVs.

Comparing to the preceding year, these figures represent a substantial increase of +41.5% for full EVs and an impressive +80.5% for PHEVs.

For comprehensive details, delve deeper into the report here.

This shift towards ZEVs signifies a monumental step forward in Canada's journey towards a greener automotive landscape, underscoring the growing prominence and acceptance of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles across the nation - now we just need to get our charging infrastructure up to par!

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

Electrify Canada Expands Hyper-Fast Charging Network to New Brunswick.

Electrify Canada is excited to announce its latest expansion into New Brunswick with the opening of two new charging stations, alongside one more coming soon, solidifying its commitment to advancing electric vehicle infrastructure in the province.

Situated strategically in Grand Falls, Saint John, and Woodstock, these charging stations are state-of-the-art Direct Current (DC) fast chargers, offering EV drivers convenient access to rapid charging while on the go. Notably, the Grand Falls and Woodstock stations feature innovative solar canopies, providing not only shade and shelter but also harnessing solar energy to power the canopy lighting.

The Plug & Charge payment technology has enabled the Electrify Canada network to extend its footprint to New Brunswick, adding to its presence in six provinces across Canada. With plans to further expand into Nova Scotia later in 2024, Electrify Canada continues its mission to support the growing community of EV drivers nationwide.

New Charging Locations in New Brunswick:

• Grand Falls: Canadian Tire, 383 Chemin Madawaska

• Woodstock: Carleton Mall, 370 Connell Street

• Saint John: Canadian Tire, 400 Westmorland Rd (coming soon)

This expansion follows recent openings in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, adding significant units to Electrify Canada's charging network across Canada.

Electrify Canada has also recently introduced a new pricing structure featuring kilowatt-hour billing, allowing customers to pay for the exact energy consumed during charging sessions. The Electrify Canada mobile app facilitates seamless management of charging sessions, offering contactless payment options and real-time session tracking. Additionally, customers can pay by credit card at the charging station and access Electrify Canada’s 24-hour Customer Contact Center for support.

In line with its commitment to enhancing charging solutions, Electrify Canada has announced plans to integrate the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector into its fast charging network, ensuring compatibility with a wider range of EVs.

Rivian Joins Tesla's Supercharger Network: Seamless Charging for R1S and R1T Owners.

Rivian enhances charging accessibility for its R1S and R1T owners by joining Tesla's extensive Supercharger network, providing access to over 15,000 charging stations across Canada and the United States. While Rivian owners will require a North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter for connectivity, Rivian is offering this adapter complimentary.

Last year, Ford initiated collaboration with Tesla, followed by General Motors, to integrate Tesla's charging technology into their upcoming EVs. Rivian subsequently joined this trend, committing to integrating NACS charge ports into the R1T and R1S models by 2025 and supplying owners with NACS adapters in the interim to utilize the Supercharger network.

Surprisingly, Rivian has expedited its access to Tesla's Supercharger network, preceding other automakers who had previously signed agreements.

As of Monday March 18th, Rivian owners can make use of select Superchargers in North America. A bonus, Rivian owners can experience plug & charge functionality, streamlining the charging process. Impressively, the handshake between Rivian and Supercharger completes in just 14 seconds, outpacing the handshake time on Rivian's Adventure Network, as noted by some owners.

EV Around the World 🌏

Biden Adopts New Vehicle Emissions Rules with Industry Flexibility.

Under the Biden administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently unveiled new automobile standards aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2032. While these rules offer a significant reduction, they also allow automakers a more gradual pace in meeting targets compared to previous proposals.

Under these standards, automotive manufacturers will need to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% fleetwide by 2032. This is a departure from the EPA’s initial proposal, which demanded a more aggressive reduction of over two-thirds by the same year. The shift comes amidst concerns from automakers and labor unions about the readiness of consumers to embrace fully electric vehicles, given “slower sales growth” in this sector. Which is absolutely ridiculous considering each year the EV market share increases.

President Biden emphasized the importance of these standards in a statement, highlighting the role of US workers in producing clean vehicles. The rules, which are performance-based and measured in grams of greenhouse gases per mile, are designed to be technology-neutral, accommodating both EVs and hybrid vehicles.

However, environmental groups argue that the standards should be more stringent to effectively combat climate change. The transportation sector, responsible for over a quarter of global emissions, plays a critical role in this regard. Despite calls for stricter regulations, the administration opted for a more balanced approach, taking into account the challenges faced by the auto industry and the need for consumer choice.

While the political landscape surrounding emissions rules remains contentious, these standards reflect a commitment to prioritizing public health, environmental protection, and consumer interests. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, these regulations serve as a crucial framework for driving sustainable transportation practices.

Fisker Facing Bankruptcy: What Led to the Crisis?

Fisker, the EV startup, is reportedly bracing for a potential bankruptcy filing, as revealed in a recent report by The Wall Street Journal. This development comes from mounting financial challenges and uncertainties about the company's future.

According to the WSJ report, Fisker has enlisted the expertise of restructuring advisors as it grapples with significant financial hurdles. The company, founded by Henrik Fisker, has expressed doubts about its ability to fulfill financial obligations without additional funding.

Despite producing approximately 10,000 units of its Ocean electric crossovers through its supplier Magna, Fisker has only managed to sell half of them. The launch of its flagship product coincided with regulatory scrutiny over braking issues and negative reviews from prominent tech critics. Consequently, production cuts were implemented in December due to weak demand and operational challenges.

Fisker's strategic shift from a direct-sales model to a dealership approach is facing uncertainty amidst its financial woes. While the company remains focused on securing additional capital and pursuing partnerships with major automakers, its billion-dollar debt burden looms large.

The possibility of bankruptcy underscores the urgent need for Fisker to navigate its current challenges. Reports suggest potential partnerships with larger automakers like Nissan, although the benefits of such alliances remain unclear.

With Fisker's share price plummeting and no imminent product launches on the horizon, the company finds itself in a precarious position. Additionally, its reliance on Magna for manufacturing, coupled with the absence of a domestic production facility, poses further obstacles, particularly in accessing federal tax credits.

As Fisker navigates turbulent waters, the reported preparations for bankruptcy underscore the severity of its financial predicament and the need for decisive action to secure its future viability.

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Hyundai and Kia “Recall” 147,000 EVs in US over Software Glitch with Charging Unit.

Hyundai Motor Group, encompassing Kia and Genesis, is initiating a recall of more than 147,000 EVs in the United States due to potential damage to charging units, impacting popular models like the IONIQ 5 and EV6.

Following a recall announcement by the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport affecting approximately 170,000 Hyundai and Kia EVs in Korea, attention turned to potential recalls in the US.

The recall involves nearly 114,000 Hyundai vehicles, including the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, along with Genesis models GV60, GV70, and Electrified GV80. Kia is recalling 56,016 EV6 models in Korea.

The reason behind the recall is a software glitch in the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), which could affect the battery's power, leading to charging issues and potential power loss while driving.

In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation in June 2023 after receiving reports of ICCU power loss in Hyundai IONIQ 5 models from 2022-2023, with similar complaints regarding Kia's EV6.

Confirming the findings, the NHTSA announced Hyundai and Kia's recall of 147,110 EVs in the US. Hyundai's recall encompasses 98,878 EVs, including specific IONIQ 5 and 6 models, as well as Genesis GV60, GV70, and Electrified GV80 vehicles.

Kia will also recall 48,232 EV6 models manufactured between 2022 and 2024 for the same ICCU issue affecting charging functionality.

Owners of affected vehicles will have their ICCU inspected and replaced if necessary, alongside receiving a software update at the dealership. Notification letters are scheduled to be sent out on May 14, 2024.

Hyundai has noted that the updated ICCU software aims to reduce thermal loading and peak voltage during operation, mitigating the risk of ICCU damage.

QuickEV

• Cadillac teases ‘Opulent Velocity’ electric V-Series concept.

• [VIDEO] EV Truck Range Test: Cybertruck VS R1T VS Silverado EV VS Lightning.

• BMW Vision Neue Klasse X Preview’s BMW’s Future SUV.

• [VIDEO] Aptera Unveils Production Body.

• 2024 Tesla Cybertruck vs. Rivian R1T vs. Ford F-150 Lightning: The Only Comparison Test You'll Need.

• [VIDEO] MKBHD: Living with the Tesla Cybertruck So You Don't Have To!

• Honda and Nissan partner on electric vehicles and intelligent technology.

• [VIDEO] Watch The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Set A New EV Record At The Nurburgring.

• Shell Is Closing 1,000 Gas Stations To Focus On EV Charging.

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