What do the next 10 years look like for carmakers embracing the plug-in revolution?
That’s the question we posed for our latest Automotive IQ Guide, which looks at how the market for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full electric vehicles is likely to evolve over the next decade. Take a look here.
Our LiDAR survey is also closing this weekend, so if you have a spare five minutes this Friday, please consider sharing your expertise with us. The results will be used for a report we’ll publish soon on driving towards autonomy, and it will be free for Automotive IQ members to download.
Here’s some other stories we saw this week:
Amazon shares more about its Rivian electric vans
Last year, Amazon splashed out $700m in Rivian, and then confirmed it had placed an order for 100,000 bespoke electric vans from the firm. Now Amazon has offered a little behind the scenes peak at the design process for its new vans, plus a couple of extra details.
Alongside showing how Rivian has modeled the van both physically and virtually, Amazon confirmed that three sizes of van will be made, with varying battery capacities and either front of four-wheel drive. The UI will be linked directly to Amazon’s logistics software to optimize the route, and includes Alexa voice assistant, which works in both the cab and the cargo space.
The first vans hit the road in 2021, with 10,000 in service by 2022. The full delivery will be completed by 2030.
Gordon Murray Design collaborates on Motiv autonomous project
UK-based Gordon Murray Design has debuted a new electric autonomous pod called the Motiv. Designed for urban last-mile transport for a single passenger, or for deliveries, the pod offers a solution to congestion in cities where cars are frequently only occupied by one person.
While Murray's team took care of the single-seater platform and the iStream production process, Delta Motorsport looked after power, motors and control systems, and itMoves took care of the vehicle concept, strategy usability and visual image.
The quadricycle measures 1,628mm high, 2,537mm long and just 1,310mm wide. It's powered by a 20kW electric motor, and has a 17.3kWh liquid-cooled battery pack giving 100km of range, or around 2.5-hours of continuous use. Top speed is 40mph and CCS charging from 20 percent to 80 percent battery takes a claimed 40 minutes.
Hyundai-Kia makes another investment
Another week, another strategic investment in electric vehicles by Hyundai and Kia. This time it’s Canoo, the LA-based maker of subscription-only EVs, receiving an undisclosed chunk of the $87bn Hyundai and Kia have committed to spend on future growth over the next five years.
The companies will jointly develop an all-electric platform based on Canoo’s skateboard for upcoming Hyundai and Kia EVs and purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). The new platform should help standardize development processes and bring down the vehicle price.
The investment comes in addition to Hyundai’s tie-up with Uber to develop an eVTOL urban aircraft, and its $110m contribution to UK-based Arrival to make more PBVs.