With battery technology picking up speed, companies such as McDonald's partnering to promote EV usage, traditional ICE factories going 100% electric and innovative charging technologies being tested and deployed, adoption of EVs is becoming ever more attractive.
McDonald's UK building rapid charging stations in their drive-thrus
McDonald’s UK has partnered with InstaVolt, a company that develops rapid EV charging stations in the UK, to build rapid charging points in McDonald’s drive-thrus across the country. The new charging points are said to provide an 80% charge in less than 20 minutes. “This partnership and ambition takes advantage of our scale, and is a real step forward for those already driving electric vehicles, as well as people considering making the switch… {the partnership will} increase accessibility of rapid charging for drivers across the U.K. by providing a network of convenient and recognizable locations beyond service stations, residential streets and workplaces,’’ said Paul Pomroy, the CEO of McDonald’s U.K. & Ireland. Read more here
Photo credit: Instavolt
CATL is ready to build an EV battery lasting 16 years
Largest Chinese battery manufacturer, CATL, has announced it is ready to build a power pack which will enable an EV to travel 1.24 million miles and live up to 16 years. CATL Chairman Zeng Yuqun said that the expected cost of such a battery will be 10% more than those being used today. CATL have already formed a strategic partnership with Volkswagen to supply them with batteries for millions of EVs they are planning to manufacture. Read more here
Photo credit: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
Volkswagen's Zwickau plant to produce Electric Vehicles only
Volkswagen has recently announced that their last combustion engine in the Zwickau plant has left the assembly line. After 116 years of activity, Zwickau will no longer produce ICE vehicles and are making the transformation to make 100% battery electric cars. The last VW model to be produced was the seventh generation Golf R Estate with 2.0-litre petrol engine in Oryx White Pearl Effect. Volkswagen said it will invest €1.2 billion for transforming the plant to produce 6 MEB-based electric models. It expects to manufacture through the plant 330,000 cars annually. Read more here
Volkswagen Zwickau plant. Photo credit: Insideevs
Electreon to build electric roads for wireless charging of EVs
Israeli company Electreon is building electric charging roads aiming to solve 'range anxiety' and decrease reliance on the more 'traditional' charging stations. These electric roads transmit energy through electric coils to the vehicles driving on them, charging them 'on the go'. The company are focused on public transport like shuttles in airports and hope to expand to ridesharing, trains and autonomous vehicles. They are planning their second project in Tel Aviv to charge a shuttle between the Tel Aviv university and near train station. Read more here
Electreon road. Photo credit: Electreon