EV North Newsletter: OROS, ZEV Map, Ioniq N + more!

Issue #66 - Tuesday, July 11th, 2023

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

As the scorching heat wave continues in areas across Canada, EV drivers face unique challenges in keeping their cars running smoothly. Here are a few tips to help you keep your EV running optimally in extreme heat:

  1. Use air conditioning sparingly: Air conditioning provides relief during hot days, but excessive use can impact your EV's range. Instead of blasting the AC, try preconditioning your car before you enter, preferably while it's still plugged in. This practice reduces the amount of time needed to run the AC and saves battery power. If you don't require air conditioning, consider raising the temperature or turning it off entirely to conserve energy.

  2. Park in the shade: Parking your EV in the shade may require a short walk, but it's worth the effort. Direct sunlight can cause the battery temperature to rise significantly. By parking in the shade, you can minimize overheating, preserve battery life, and maintain the car's overall performance.

  3. Monitor tire pressure: The intense heat can cause tires to expand, leading to overinflation and decreased range. Regularly monitor your tire pressure and adjust it as needed. Refer to your EV's owner's manual, the driver's side door panel, or the car's computer screen for the recommended tire pressure. Properly inflated tires improve overall efficiency and help you get the most out of your EV.

Canada

Potential Motors - OROS: Revolutionizing Terrain Detection and Vehicle Control.

Potential Motors has introduced OROS. OROS is a groundbreaking technology that combines real-time terrain detection and vehicle control, leveraging AI-based terrain analysis and proactive adjustments. With its ability to adapt to terrain in real-time and optimize energy consumption, OROS offers a seamless integration with a wide range of vehicles, providing drivers with increased confidence and enhanced performance in challenging conditions.

Real-Time Terrain Analysis: OROS employs a suite of traditional sensors to provide real-time analysis of upcoming terrain. By leveraging artificial intelligence, the system can accurately detect and assess the terrain ahead, empowering the driver with crucial information for navigating challenging landscapes.

Proactive Control for Performance and Safety: One of OROS' key features is proactive control, where vehicle adjustments are made in advance to maximize performance and ensure safety. By utilizing data from proactive sensors, OROS enables drivers to confidently tackle any terrain, regardless of its condition.

Energy Optimization: OROS incorporates intelligent control systems that optimize energy consumption. By dynamically adjusting various vehicle parameters, OROS ensures efficient usage of energy, enhancing fuel efficiency and overall performance.

Broad Compatibility: OROS seamlessly integrates with a wide array of vehicles, both existing and emerging models. This compatibility ensures that the technology can be adopted across different vehicle types and manufacturers, providing a versatile solution for enhancing terrain adaptability and control.

Adapting to Terrain in Real-Time: OROS excels in real-time adaptation to changing terrain conditions. By leveraging modular real-time feedback and performance tuning, the system empowers drivers of all levels to confidently navigate challenging terrains. OROS provides crucial information and assistance to ensure a smooth and safe driving experience.

Proactive Suspension and Torque Distribution: Beyond traditional active suspension systems, OROS offers proactive adjustments to damping and stiffness, ensuring maximum performance and comfort regardless of the terrain outside. Additionally, the technology enables independent torque control at each corner, improving trail cornering and expediting hill climbing.

Proactive Drive Mode Selection: Utilizing advanced sensors and AI-powered software, OROS intelligently and proactively selects the most suitable drive modes based on the terrain. This ensures that the vehicle is optimized for optimal performance and safety, further enhancing the driver's experience.

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

Canada to Provide $15 Billion Incentives for Stellantis-LGES Battery Plant.

Canada has committed up to $15 billion in production incentives for the Stellantis-LG Energy Solution (LGES) electric vehicle battery plant, following the announcement of the plant's construction resumption. This funding agreement surpasses a previous deal with Volkswagen and reflects Canada's efforts to attract major clean-tech projects, competing with the United States for such investments.

The federal and Ontario governments jointly stated that this announcement would safeguard and generate numerous well-paying jobs, including unionized positions. The objective is to establish a complete electric vehicle supply chain, bolstering the clean economy in Canada.

Canada's Strategic Focus on Clean Tech: Projects like the Stellantis-LGES and Volkswagen battery plants serve as pivotal "anchors" in Canada's transition to clean tech. With its abundant mineral resources, including lithium, nickel, and cobalt, Canada aims to attract companies involved in all aspects of the electric vehicle supply chain as part of global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

While the Volkswagen deal was initially lauded as Canada's largest-ever investment in the EV supply chain, the revised terms for Stellantis-LGES indicate an even larger investment. This highlights Canada's determination to secure its fair share of green investments and job opportunities.

Both the federal government and the province of Ontario will provide funding for the battery plant, following a similar structure to the $13 billion Volkswagen deal. The federal government will contribute two-thirds of the funding, while the Ontario government will provide one-third.

The Ontario plant is scheduled to commence production in 2024. It aims to create approximately 2,500 new jobs and achieve an annual production capacity of over 45 gigawatt hours, contributing significantly to the growth of the electric vehicle industry.

The performance incentives provided are contingent upon the production and sale of batteries from each project. If the incentives offered by the U.S. IRA are diminished or canceled, the Canadian government retains the right to cancel or reduce the incentives accordingly.

Visualizing Canada's Zero-Emission Vehicle Supply Chain: Introducing the ZEV Supply Chain Interactive Map.

Discover the dynamic landscape of Canada's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) industry through an interactive map. This collaborative effort between Accelerate, Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing, NGen Canada, and Electric Autonomy provides a visual representation of the country's growth, investments, and talent clusters in the ZEV supply chain. By showcasing the entire spectrum, from mining to battery manufacturing and recycling to charging system production, the map highlights Canada's potential to become a global leader in the ZEV industry.

Unveiling the ZEV Supply Chain: The interactive ZEV Supply Chain Map captures the ongoing evolution of Canada's ZEV supply chain since 2016. Its purpose extends beyond mere visualization—it aims to demonstrate Canada's journey from "Zero to Hero" in the ZEV sector. With this map, companies can connect, fostering greater collaboration throughout the supply chain and boosting business-to-business interactions.

A Story of Growth: The rapid onshoring of Canada's ZEV supply chain by federal and provincial governments has resulted in significant growth opportunities. The competition to secure investments worth billions of dollars has attracted renowned companies like Volkswagen, Stellantis, Umicore, Lion Electric, LG Chem, Posco, General Motors, and Ford. However, the potential for further growth and investment in the sector remains high.

Illuminating Canada's ZEV Ecosystem: Understanding the trajectory of Canada's ZEV ecosystem is crucial to identifying competitive advantages and areas for improvement. The ZEV Supply Chain Map serves as a comprehensive tool, showcasing the progress made over the past five years and providing insight into ongoing advancements. It enables strategic decision-making, informs economic policies, and entices international investments to Canada.

An Evolving Resource: The ZEV supply chain map will continue to evolve as an evergreen resource. Regular updates will reflect the latest developments in represented industries and sectors. Future expansion plans include incorporating R&D and talent, power generation infrastructure, hydrogen fuel cell fueling centers, and even carbon footprint information for each supply chain component.

Joining the Map: Companies eager to feature on the ZEV Supply Chain Map can contact [email protected] to participate. By attracting more investments and fostering continued growth in the ZEV sector, the map aims to drive innovation, job creation, and economic activity across Canada. It showcases key players, regional clusters, and investment trends, inspiring confidence and strategic decision-making within the industry.

EV Around the World 🌏

Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD): An Optimistic Outlook on Autonomy.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's ambitious predictions for fully autonomous driving have often fallen short of reality. Despite this, Musk remains determined to forecast when Tesla's Full Self-Driving software will achieve its intended purpose of driving without human intervention. In a recent appearance at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Musk expressed optimism, stating that Tesla's FSD is on the verge of operating autonomously at Level 4 or Level 5 before the year's end. While acknowledging the speculative nature of his statement, Musk believes they are closer than ever to achieving full autonomy.

Musk admitted to past inaccuracies in his autonomy predictions, but his confidence in Tesla's progress remains unwavering. Notably, he referred to Level 4 and Level 5 autonomy, where human involvement during driving is unnecessary. Level 5 represents a fully autonomous system, capable of operating under any conditions, without requiring human intervention. Level 4, slightly less advanced, can operate autonomously in most situations, allowing the driver to manually override if desired.

Examining Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta, it becomes evident that the company still has a considerable way to go before achieving Level 4, let alone Level 5 autonomy. Presently, the FSD Beta takes control of the vehicle after the driver sets a destination in the navigation system. Upon reaching the programmed destination, the car relinquishes control to the driver, who is responsible for parking. Clearly, this falls short of the requirements for Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: The Electric Track Weapon Accidentally Unveiled Ahead of Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Get ready for the official unveiling of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, set to take place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this week. While Hyundai has kept most details under wraps, the Australian division inadvertently gave us a glimpse. Sporting a stunning Performance Blue color with red accents, the Ioniq 5 N is equipped with 21-inch dual-tone wheels, red brake calipers adorned with the N logo, and a range of performance features.

Design and Performance Features: The Ioniq 5 N showcases a wider body, accentuated by additional air intakes, glossy black side mirror caps, a robust roof spoiler, and vented rear fenders. The low ground clearance hints at a stiffer suspension setup, tailored for agile handling. Notably, it's designed for the racetrack rather than just city driving or eco-conscious commuting. The interior features a digital speedometer that exudes a need for speed, an N-themed infotainment system with hidden gems like N Drift Optimizer and N Race, and a rear-biased N Torque Distribution system. The racing-inspired elements continue with a checkered flag pattern on the pedals and side sills, as well as racing bucket seats equipped with provisions for a 3-point harness.

Powertrain and Performance Speculation: While the photos do not explicitly reveal the powertrain details, previous leaks and the Ioniq's relation to the Kia EV6 GT suggest an impressive setup. It's anticipated that the Ioniq 5 N will boast a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration, delivering around 600 horsepower. A high-density battery pack and advanced cooling technology may contribute to its performance capabilities, making it suitable for intense track experiences.

Hyundai's Bold Statement: The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N aims to shatter misconceptions about electric vehicles lacking excitement. With its striking design and performance-oriented features, Hyundai is proving that electric cars can be exhilarating. While fake engine noises and an unnecessary fake gearbox might be present, the Ioniq 5 N is shaping up to be a true track weapon, combining electrification with thrilling performance.

Anticipation for the Official Unveiling: As we eagerly await the official curtain rise, let's appreciate the bold statement Hyundai is making with the Ioniq 5 N. This electric vehicle defies expectations and showcases the potential for electric cars to deliver exhilarating driving experiences. Get ready to witness the fusion of electric power and track-ready performance in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, a testament to the future of electrified excitement.

Clean Energy and Mobility

General Motors Reveals Ultium Home: Power Your Home with Electric Vehicle Batteries.

General Motors (GM) has unveiled additional details about its Ultium Home vehicle-to-home hardware, enabling owners of compatible electric vehicles (EVs) to power their homes using the energy stored in their car batteries. Following successful bidirectional charging tests with California's Pacific Gas and Electric Company in March 2022, GM launched its Ultium Home business in October. Now, GM has released essential information for EV owners considering a power backup solution for their homes. Let's explore the three available bundles and their features.

  1. Ultium Home V2H Bundle: The vehicle-to-home bundle comprises GM's PowerShift AC charger, supporting bidirectional charging. It includes an Enablement Kit with an inverted and "dark start" battery. This bundle allows owners of compatible EVs, including the new Chevrolet Silverado EV, to charge their vehicles from the grid and use their car's high-voltage battery to power their homes when necessary. The charger's rating is 19.2 kilowatts, with discharge power peaking at 9.6 kW.

  2. Ultium Home Energy System: The Ultium Home Energy System adds a GM PowerBank stationary storage unit connected to the V2H Enablement Kit. The battery bank is available in two variants: 5 kW/10.6 kWh and 7 kW/17.7 kWh. This system offers additional energy storage capacity for increased backup power and enhanced energy management.

  3. Ultium Home Energy Storage Bundle: The third bundle, the Ultium Home Energy Storage Bundle, includes a GM PowerBank, an inverter, and a home hub. This package is designed for individuals seeking backup battery storage without an electric vehicle. It provides similar functionality to Tesla's Powerwall, offering a dedicated energy storage solution.

2024 Chevrolet Silverado RST with Ultium Home Products - Image Source: General Motors

Integration with Photovoltaic Systems: All Ultium Home bundles can be integrated with photovoltaic (PV) systems. GM has partnered with SunPower as its exclusive solar provider and preferred EV charger installer, allowing customers to harness solar power and further optimize energy usage.

The Path to Energy Independence: Wade Sheffer, Vice President of GM Energy, highlighted that GM's expanding ecosystem of connected products and services empowers customers with greater energy management options beyond their vehicles. The Ultium Home offerings provide an opportunity for customers to enhance personal energy independence and resilience.

Pricing and Availability: Specific pricing details for the Ultium Home V2H products have not yet been announced. However, it is anticipated that the basic vehicle-to-home bundle, including equipment and installation, will range from $7,000 to $10,000. For reference, the installation of Ford's Intelligent Backup Power system for the F-150 Lightning ranges from $7,500 to $15,000.

QuickEV

EV Tweet of the Week