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Saturday, July 24, 2021
If you’re gonna classic, go BIG…with Hemmings!
Friday, July 23, 2021
Mercedes-Benz lays out its all-EV future
| If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.  This week GMC says that another EV pickup is in the works, VW announces that the ID.8 SUV is on the way, and Ultium Charge 360 is headed for fleets. But first:  Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet a few days ago that Tesla would open the Supercharger network to other automakers by the end of the year. He didn't specify just which automakers he had in mind—all or only some—or how the move would be implemented. Tesla uses proprietary connectors in the U.S. and a number of other regions, so at the very least other EVs would need connector adapters to use existing Supercharger stations.  Tesla's move could open up about 1000 stations in the US alone to other automakers' EVs, but progress on this issue hasn't been forthcoming in past years. The good news (for owners of other EVs) is that Tesla has over 2700 stations around the globe, with some 25,000 Superchargers, so the expansion to other EVs would mean a significant gain in compatible station count. It's also worth noting that Tesla has some 1000 stations in the U.S. alone, so the move could be a lucrative source of revenue for the automaker as well. This proposal is also something that had been mentioned in past years, but had not materialized. So it will be interesting to see just how this push for compatibility will be enacted, and how inclusive it will be.  Mercedes is planning for an all-EV future, but is leaving itself some room to maneuver. Speaking of other EVs, Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler spelled out its EV strategy this week, revealing plans to introduce only new EV platforms after 2025, and prepare for an all-electric future after 2030. With a big wave of EVs on the way from Mercedes, including the EQS sedan arriving on sale later this year, Mercedes will have an EV in every segment by next year.    In addition to the GMC Hummer on the way, GMC announced another electric pickup is in the works. The model is expected to share many components with the Silverado, and is likely to play the role of the electric Sierra 1500, with an Ultium battery and drivetrain underneath. Just how it will be positioned price-wise remains to be seen, but it's a safe bet it will stay clear of Hummer.  It seems like every week another automaker announces plans to go EV-only by a certain year, with an outline to phase out production of internal combustion engines. But will there be enough batteries for all automakers? The fast pace of battery tech means that some battery assembly lines will be obsolete before they even go into production. And that's going to be a big problem this decade.   Spread the word: If you know someone interested in staying on top of the rapidly growing EV segment, feel free to pass this newsletter along.
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