Toyota - Japan's flagship car company and the official fleet provider for the 2020 Olympic Games next summer in Tokyo, announced that 90% of the cars it will provide for the event will be electrical. These will include not only shuttle buses but also a range of more extraordinary vehicles they believe are the future in mobility. For example, the Ultra-compact EV line is designed for 2 passengers and for regular, short-distance trips such as shopping, with 100 km (62 miles) of range which will charge in about five hours. Regarding this EV line, Toyota Head of Development, Akihiro Yanaka said that “We want to create a mobility solution that can support Japan’s aging society and provide freedom of movement to people at all stages of life.” By 2020, Toyota claims that it will come out with 10 new EV models and that by 2025 all their models will have electric versions. Read more
Jaguar Land Rover - Expected to arrive in 2022, Land Rover's new EV will sit between their existing Evoque and Velar models in terms of overall size, with a lower roof-line and smaller front. The car will use a new Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) production platform which can serve a range of powertrains and can support battery sizes of up to 90.2kWh (250 miles). Batteries will be placed below the cabin with two electric motors on each of the axles. Land Rover are hoping to boost their sales in the Chinese market with their new EV and electric XJ models with the aid of the recent EV subsidies from the Chinese government. Read more
Mitsubishi - During this weeks Motor Show in Tokyo, Mitsubishi has revealed its concept for its plug-in hybrid Mi-Tech. It has a funky design with an open cockpit (see photo below) and can run on different types of fuel; gasoline, diesel, kerosene or alcohol. Takao Kato, Mitsubishi Motors CEO, did not reveal how close to production is their concept. Read more
Mazda- During the Tokyo Motor Show this Wednesday, Mazda has revealed its first fully electric car, the MX-30. This model features a 35.5kWh battery, a powertrain which can delivery 105 kW of power and 130 miles of range. Capable of AC charging at 6.6kW (as with most EVs), and DC charging of up to 50kW. Interesting aspects of its design; a number of materials are recycled and sustainable, made of recycled plastic bottles and cork. Pre-orders are now available (currently in Europe only) and deliveries are expected by next year. Pricing has not yet been announced. Read more
Polestar - According to Eric Adams from Wired, the new Polestar 2 electric sedan, is a true competitor to Tesla's Model 3. The Polestar 2 will arrive next year and is aimed, like Model 3, for the mass-market. Their water-cooled lithium-ion battery pack was developed with LG and charges in 35 minutes using a 150-kW charging station. Worth noting that this will be the first car to deploy Google's Android-based infotainment system. It's price, just under £50,000 with close to 311 miles of range is similar to that of Model 3 (£47,000 with 348 miles of range). Read more
Nissan- Nissan has revealed its Ariya concept model which will have dual electric front and rear motors. Range and horsepower has not yet been relieved. It seems the concept may come to production very soon. According to Automotive News, Nissan has already shown the car to dealers just recently. According to their report, the Ariya has a range of 300 miles. Read more
Lexus- Lexus will be launching its first fully electric vehicle by 2020. Their aim is that the Lexus EV sales will exceed their gasoline models by 2025. Lexus International President, Yoshihiro Sawa, said that “Initially, we will release products in China, North America, and other regions where demand for ‘pure’ EVs is high." More details about the model will be released next month. Read more
Mitsubishi's Mi-Tech, photo source: PressForm