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

I trust you’re all very busy this time of year, so I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read The EV North Newsletter - I really appreciate it. With that being said, this will be the last EV North Newsletter for 2023 but will be sure to come back strong in 2024.

To start off, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the team over at SWTCH for this informative article on EV charging load management in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs). A major key to EV adoption (whether it be a fully electric BEV or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is education - not only for potential consumers but for the major decision-makers operating electrical utilities, electrical contracting companies, MURB landlords and government.

Utilizing load management technology and taking advantage of time of day rates (if offered by your electrical utility and if you meet their requirements) will not only allow you to use existing electrical infrastructure but will also keep your energy costs low. If electrical utilities can meet energy demands without firing up their diesel-powered back up facilities the energy used to power homes and EVs will be more clean/green.

Here is a video they put together in addition to the article:

In this issue of the EV North Newsletter, this is what you will find below:

1. Hyundai and Kia Unveil New Tire with Retractable ‘Snow Chains’. Hyundai and Kia introduce a cutting-edge tire equipped with retractable 'snow chains.' Explore how this technology enhances winter driving, providing an extra layer of safety and convenience.

2. EV Manufacturers Partnering with Battery Swapping Companies.
   New collaborative future of electric vehicles as EV manufacturers forge partnerships with battery swapping companies. How will these alliances shape the landscape of EV infrastructure and address charging challenges?

3. Hoonigan Releases Ken Block’s Electrikhana TWO.
   Hoonigan's latest film release, Ken Block’s Electrikhana TWO was filmed before Ken’s untimely passing. Watch and get a sense of the electrifying world of performance EVs and witness Ken Block's next level driving ability with electric vehicle stunts.

4. Electrify Canada Introduces kWh-Based Pricing for EV Charging. Stay plugged in with the latest from Electrify Canada as they introduce kWh-based pricing for EV charging. Explore the implications of this shift in pricing strategy for electric vehicle owners and the evolving electric charging infrastructure.

5. More Details on the Cybertruck 48V System.
   Get the inside scoop on Tesla's Cybertruck as more details emerge about its 48V system. Uncover the technical aspects and features that contribute to the Cybertruck's performance and set it apart in the electric truck market.

6. Honda Set to Premiere EV Plans at CES 2024.
   Anticipate the future of Honda's electric vehicle plans as they prepare to unveil exciting details at CES 2024 in January. Stay tuned for groundbreaking announcements related to Honda’s electrification plans.

Canada

Hyundai and Kia unveil new tire with retractable ‘snow chains’.

There may be hope for us Canadians driving in extreme winter conditions as Hyundai and Kia have collaborated on the development of a new tire with a retractable “snow chain”. I’m not sure if these tires will catch on, but the idea is certainly interesting.

Essentially, this new type of tire would have built-in slots so that pieces could extrude out and create a type of “snow chain” effect. The best thing to do is give the video below a watch to understand more, and be sure to let me know your thoughts!

EV manufacturers are partnering with battery swapping companies.

Stellantis has announced that they will use Ample’s battery swap technology in their electric vehicles. Stellantis is parent company to brands such as Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat, Maserati and Ram (among others).

Volvo/Polestar also recently announced that they would be using NIO’s battery swap technology.

With these manufacturers turning to battery swapping as an alternative to battery charging, it makes me wonder what the future holds for this business model. I have not experienced battery swapping, and we have seen the political drama surrounding standardization of charging adapters - standardization of battery swap technology could prove even more dramatic if that is where the industry turns.

I like the idea of battery swapping simply for it’s shorter time compared to charging but what about quality control of the batteries in circulation? What if some batteries have experienced degradation and won’t get commuters their full expected range? Plugging something in versus changing the batteries does seem much more simple. Are there issues with battery swapping? What if they aren’t swapped correctly? Is that even a possibility? What are your thoughts?

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

Hoonigan releases Ken Block’s Electrikhana TWO.

I’ve been a fan of Hoonigan/Ken Blocks' Gymkhana’s since their very first video. Their latest installment Electrikhana TWO was the last one made by Ken Block before his untimely passing. This short film encapsulated Ken’s forever adrenaline-seeking goals while exhibiting the incredible performance of EVs.

The whizzing sound of the vehicle gives me chills.

Electrify Canada Introduces kWh-Based Pricing for EV Charging.

Electrify Canada has announced a station-specific pricing structure based on kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption at its charging stations nationwide. Set to be implemented on January 9, 2024, with the goal to enhance fairness and transparency for drivers using Electrify Canada’s public DC fast charging network.

The shift to kWh-based pricing, mainly attributed to recent federal regulatory changes by Measurements Canada, is a departure from traditional time-based charges, providing EV owners with a more accurate and transparent billing experience.

The “station-specific” wording indicates that the amount charged will be dependent on the charger’s location to take into account “local market influences”. What I gather from this is that each province and territory across Canada has their own regulated prices set by governing power utilities and therefore can’t charge the same rate per kW, for example, in British Columbia as they do in New Brunswick.

For those looking to optimize their charging costs, customers can still enjoy a 20% discount on charging (excluding idle fees) by subscribing to monthly a Pass+ membership via the Electrify Canada mobile app.
The app let’s EV drivers locate charging stations, review station pricing, check the availability of chargers, initiate charging sessions, and monitor progress—all from the convenience of their mobile devices.

EV Around the World 🌏

More details on the Cybertruck 48V system.

Having an engineering background and working with controllers, electrical components and mechanical systems helps me understand what Tesla is trying to do with their 48V system. Elon Musk does a great job of explaining the reasoning behind it in this video with Sandy Munro but I’m also going to try and help explain it as well.

First, the 48V is DC (direct current vs AC, alternating current) this is because DC power delivers voltage consistently, which makes it the preferred means of power delivery for electronic devices. Consumer items from lap tops and cell phones to anything operating using power from lithium-ion batteries use DC power.

But Michael! I thought my outlets in my home supplied 120VAC not DC… how can my lap top charge?

Well, that’s because the big block attached to your lap top charger acts as a converter from high voltage AC power to low voltage DC power for your laptops’ battery. Also, for cell phones, there is a rectifier built into the charger that converts the AC from the wall outlet to DC for the cell phone’s lithium-ion battery.

Okay, so now we are all on the same page that DC power is used for powering peripheral devices and other things in a vehicle. So why 48V? What’s wrong with 12V?

• Typically, traditional vehicles (ICE or EV) use a 12V bus architecture for powering and controlling equipment.

• This standard is quite old and has been a standard in the automotive industry for a long time, but just because it’s been this way for awhile, doesn’t mean it’s the best. There are many industries that could benefit from an evolution and avoid “This is how it’s been done in the past and it works so why change it?” - completely ignoring the fact that there could be better solutions out there even though there may be some obstacles to overcome.

• A higher voltage (48V vs 12V) also requires less current (I). As the power (P) provided by batteries (source) is conserved, relying on the power formula of P=V*I, if the voltage is increased, the current must decrease.

• When the current decreases, the energy losses in the wire is diminished. The power lost can be calculated using P=I²R where R is the resistance of the wire and is constant (based on the wire used).

• With the reduction of current, and increase in voltage, the thinner the wires can be, resulting in less copper used saving on both cost and weight.

Hopefully that has helped shed some light on the change and add to Elon Musk’s explanation in the video. Elon also discusses the move from the CAN bus protocol to ethernet communication which allowed Tesla to increase communication speed with less wire. In total Tesla was able to remove approximately 70% of the wires, as they were no longer needed, furthering the weight reduction of the Cybertruck.

Tesla has since created a document specific to their 48V system and sent it to other manufacturers with hopes of spreading and standardizing a 48V system architecture throughout the industry.

Jim Farley, CEO of Ford weighed in:

Only time will tell if other automotive manufacturers change to a 48V architecture as it can benefit both EV and traditional gas vehicles as well!

Sandy Munro and his team have been consistently releasing new Cybertruck content and Sandy dives even further on some technical details related to the Cybertruck and you can watch it here (15mins).

Definitely check out their YouTube channel to learn all about the technical details of the Cybetruck and what has gone into creating this amazing EV.

EV Rundown

Volvo Car USA and ChargePoint have launched a public DC fast charging network at 15 Starbucks stores along a 1,350-mile route between Denver and Seattle. The network features 50 ChargePoint DC fast chargers, approximately 100 miles apart, branded with Volvo Cars and Starbucks logos. Volvo EV drivers can use the integrated ChargePoint app, while other EV users with standard CCS1 or CHAdeMO receptacles can utilize the ChargePoint smartphone app. The chargers are strategically located at Starbucks stores in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. I’d love to see more partnerships between major real estate owners (Restaurant chains, Retail chains etc) and EV charger manufacturer/implementers especially in Canada.

Ford and Resideo have launched the "EV-Home Power Partnership," a simulation project exploring vehicle-to-home (V2H) energy management. The collaboration aims to assess the benefits of integrating Resideo's smart thermostats with the F-150 Lightning's battery, enabling potential monthly electric bill savings, increased comfort, and more efficient home energy use. The project will examine how bi-directional EV charging and smart thermostats can reduce overall home energy needs during grid stress, minimize energy usage during peak hours, and leverage cleaner energy sources. The F-150 Lightning, with Intelligent Backup Power, already has the capability to power homes during outages. The project is set to be completed in the first half of 2024.

Electric Autonomy has created a comprehensive guide for the adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) by EV charging networks in Canada. The NACS is gaining industry-wide momentum, with most car manufacturers planning to allow their EVs to use Tesla's Supercharging network by next year and integrating NACS ports into their EV line-ups by 2025. The comprehensive table/guide details the deployment timelines and plans of major charging network operators in Canada for incorporating NACS connectors into their charging station hardware, offering insights into the evolving landscape of EV charging infrastructure in the country.

NIO has introduced its third-generation Power Swap Station, PSS 3.0, in Europe. This rollout follows recent partnerships with Geely Holding and Changan Auto, where the companies collaborated on battery swapping standards, technology, network expansion, and swappable model development. PSS 3.0 is currently operational in over 30 locations across Denmark, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The technology allows rapid battery swaps in less than three minutes, catering to NIO users subscribing to the Battery as a Service (BaaS) leasing model. NIO's battery swapping infrastructure aims to enhance the flexibility and convenience of electric vehicle ownership.

On December 6th, NIO opened its 2200th NIO PowerSwap Station and they will have more than 2,300 stations in total by 2023.

Do you enjoy one or all of the following?

• Learning about EVs?

• Deep dives on EVs and the EV industry as a whole?

• An email with character and humour?

• Someone else connecting the EV dots so you don’t have to?

Then The EV Universe if the place for you! Check it out below:

Honda set to premiere their EV plans at CES 2024 which takes place in January 2024.

I don’t know about you but I feel like Honda has been one of those brands that have been impartial to the EV evolution. Not really saying much about what they are doing or going to do - all while not releasing full EVs. Sure they have some hybrid models with the Accord and CR-V - but no plug-in versions.

They have announced the 2024 Prologue EV - but is that too little, too late?

There has been some speculation on Honda reviving the Prelude as a fully BEV, but is that enough? The Prelude Concept was first teased at the Japan Mobility Show.

Now, Honda will be sharing their “All-New Global Honda Electric Vehicle Series” on January 9, 2024 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Their YouTube channel released a video that doesn’t hint at much of anything.

Needless to say, it will be interesting to see what Honda has in store because they will continually be falling behind other automakers the longer it takes for their EV plans (if they’re any good) to be executed.

QuickEV

• The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Is Officially Going Racing with The Ioniq 5 eN1.

• Kia EV9 Buyers Can Access 1,000 kWh of Complimentary Charging via Electrify America.

• [VIDEO] Tesla Cybertruck vs Lamborghini Urus: DRAG RACE.

• Volkswagen Will Cut Staffing Costs As Part Of Its $10.8B Savings Plan.

• Tesla Wants Cybertruck Reservation Holders To Pay Over $120,000 For Early Deliveries.

• [VIDEO] Tesla Cybertruck v F-150 Raptor R: DRAG RACE.

• The Next Chevrolet Bolt Will Be EUV-Only, GM Confirms.

• [VIDEO] Porsche Macan EV Full Technical Deep Dive! Revealing Everything - Battery, Charging, Chassis, & More.

EV Tweet of the Week