Larry Evans, journalist at CleanTechnica, wrote an article about my testdrives with XPENG VLA 2.0 (which he did too) and FSD of Tesla. A good analysis and a clear story. Funny are the reactions of mainly American readers in the comments of the article😀.
BTW Larry picked the picture…
BTW I can recommend to subscribe to their newsletter. A lot of news about technical innovation and developments.
Time: 09h15
Temperature: 15-22°C (avg. 19°C)
Drive: AWD
Consumption: 234Wh/km
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nICFR7RsaVA
Range Test
Range @ 90km/h: 599km (148Wh/km)
Range @ 120km/h: 424km (263Wh/km)
Samsung Wallet now supports Digital Key for VW EVs, so a Galaxy phone can lock, unlock and start the car with UWB or NFC. Only works on cars built after April 27 with ID. software 6.0.1 though, so check before you get excited.
The next-gen Mini EV is set to sit on the Gen6 platform that also underpins the 'Neue Klasse' EVs, the platform is natively RWD which likely means a RWD Mini bar any revision to the platform specifically for the Mini. The Mini is also predicted to get 'retro' styling inspired by the first BMW Mini design from the early 2000s.
The UK government is opening a 2-month consultation window for the auto industry, suppliers and other stakeholders to submit statements as it considers relaxing the 2027-35 ZEV mandate targets. Although the UK has seen strong growth of BEV sales, they are still slightly behind the target.
Notably the UK ZEV mandate is focussed on % BEV sales rather than the EU's CO2 based approach, which allows manufacturers to lean heavily on PHEVs alongside BEVs.
German industrialists such as Mercedes-Benz and Stihl suggest increasing the working week to 40 hours from 35-hours for workers in heavy industry (38-hours in the East). This is amongst the competitivity crisis declared by German industry and has led to companies including VW and Porsche announcing wide ranging layoffs. Friedhelm Pfeiffer of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) believes that such a change could improve the competitivity of German industry and help job security.
However Enzo Weber from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) sees the situation differently, the issues are more structural including the move away from areas where German industry excelled e.g. combustion engine vehicles. The German economy is less innovative and dynamic with few startups in most sectors. German labour costs have remained relatively stable in comparison to Eastern Europe and China where costs have increased.
Original Link: https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/industrie-mehr-wochenstunden-arbeit-was-bringts-100.html
| Current lineup | Notes | Future lineup |
|---|---|---|
| Fabia | replaced by Polo | |
| Scala | scrapped | |
| Octavia | retained. | Octavia |
| Superb | replaced by Passat | |
| Enyaq | scrapped | |
| Elroq | ? | |
| Epiq | retained | Epiq |
| Kamiq | scrapped | |
| Karoq | retained | Karoq |
| Kodiaq | retained | Kodiaq |
| Peaq | retained | Peaq |
| ID. Polo | retained | ID. Polo |
| Polo | retained | Polo |
| Golf | retained. | Golf |
| ID.3 | scrapped | |
| ID.7 | retained. Renamed to ID. Passat | ID. Passat |
| Passat | retained | Passat |
| T-Cross | retained | T-Cross |
| ID. Cross | retained | ID. Cross |
| Taigo | ? | |
| T-Roc | retained | T-Roc |
| Tiguan | retained | Tiguan |
| ID.4 | retained. Renamed to ID. Tiguan | ID. Tiguan |
| ID.5 | scrapped | |
| Tayron | scrapped | |
| Caddy Life/Caddy California | retained | Caddy Life/Caddy California |
| ID. Buzz | retained | ID. Buzz |
| Multivan/California/Caravelle | retained | Multivan/California/Caravelle |
| Grand California | retained | Grand California |
| Born | retained | Born |
| León | scrapped | scrapped |
| Raval | retained | Raval |
| Formentor | replaced by e-Formentor | |
| Tavascan | retained | Tavascan |
| Terramar | scrapped | |
| Ibiza | scrapped along with Seat brand | |
| Leon | scrapped along with Seat brand | |
| Arona | scrapped along with Seat brand | |
| A3 | replaced by A3 e-tron | |
| e-tron GT | retained | e-tron GT |
| A5 | retained | A5 |
| A6 | retained | A6 |
| A6 e-tron | retained | A6 e-tron |
| Nuvolari | retained | Nuvolari |
| Q3 | retained | Q3 |
| Q4 e-tron | scrapped | |
| Q5 | retained | Q5 |
| Q6 | retained | Q6 |
| Q6 e-tron | retained | Q6 e-tron |
| Q7 | retained | Q7 |
| Q8 | scrapped | |
| Q9 | retained | Q9 |
| 718 | scrapped | |
| 911 | retained | 911 |
| Cayenne | retained | Cayenne |
| Macan | scrapped | |
| Panamera | retained | Panamera |
| Taycan | scrapped | |
| ID. Up | ||
| ID. Golf | ||
| E-Octavia | ||
| Tindaya | ||
| E-Formentor | ||
| A2 e-tron | ||
| A3 e-tron | ||
| Concept C | ||
| K1 |
I have an opportunity to get a new id4 pure urban (52kwh 170hp) with style package ( IQlight matrix led, 3D rear lights etc) for 35.5k Eur or MG S5 EV luxury for 37k Eur or MG S5 comfort 49kw for 28k.
For VW Stand says its 2026 model but I cannot find this engine & battery combination on ev database for 2026, I can only see 2021-23 with this combination and I know there were a lot of issues with that years' models. Car has 145kw max charging, I think this only became available in 2026.
A little background, we are moving to EVs from diesel. We are expecting our first child, and we want to have another child so in 3-4 years we will be 4 - hopefully :) -, we drive roughly 12k km per annum and living in Portugal. I dont have home charging but I can charge at work once or twice a week.
My question is which one would you recommend? How I can understand id4 is not a lemon that stand trying to offload? Low tier MG is purely there because of its price; real competition between S5 luxury and id4.
Went through the actual longest-range EVs you can order in Europe right now. Chinese brands might be crushing it at the lower end of the market, but they're nowhere to be found at the top of the range charts.