Tag Archives: electric vehicle

NEWS

BYD Atto 3 updated for 2024 – New rear emblem, RM149,800

1 Comment

BYD Atto 3 can be considered a new electric vehicle (EV) model in the market. Sime Darby Motors, as the official distributor, has introduced the updated BYD Atto 3 2024.

The updates for the Atto 3 include its exterior aesthetics. This EV SUV has received a new black graphic on the D-pillar, and the BYD logo at the back replaces the previous “BUILD YOUR DREAMS” inscription.

Furthermore, the interior cabin can be chosen with two color themes, namely Black-Dark Blue or Dark Blue-Light Grey, according to your preference. A new Cosmos Black body color has also been added, in addition to the existing colors.

In terms of technology, the BYD Atto 3 2024 is equipped with wireless charging and a larger 15.6-inch screen (previously 12.8-inch) that is still rotatable. Connectivity to Android Auto and Apple Carplay is still offered as usual.

There are no changes to the power generation system. This means that the Atto 3 is still powered by a front electric motor with an output of 201hp and 310Nm, sufficient for acceleration from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds.

The electric motor is powered by LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, providing a driving range of 345km (WLTP cycle).

The BYD Atto 3 supports AC 7kW and DC charging up to 70kW, in addition to V2L functionality.

This EV is offered in only one variant for 2024, priced at RM149,800. You can also choose from three warranty packages ranging from 6 years/150,000km to 8 years/150,000km.

Engear Volt

Pre-production of the Volvo ES90 electric sedan begins, to launch in May 2024?

The Swedish publication, Teknikens Värld, reports that Volvo has now commenced the pre-production of their first electric sedan.

This is based on secret images successfully obtained from the Cixi factory, Zhejiang Province, along with internal memos detailing the initial specifications of the electric sedan.

The EV with the internal codename V551 will be officially named the ES90 and shares the same SPA2 platform as the EX90 SUV model.

The Volvo ES90 measures 4,990 mm in length, 1,945 mm in width, 1,547 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,102 mm.

This positions the Volvo ES90 in direct competition with electric sedans in its segment such as the BMW i5, Mercedes-Benz EQE, and Audi A6 e-tron.

Furthermore, the electric sedan weighs approximately 2,600 kg for the dual-motor AWD version and 2,500 kg for the single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) version. The large 111 kWh battery pack offers a range of up to 600 km for the single-motor electric version.

According to the report, the serial production of the electric sedan is slated to commence in May 2024.

Engear Volt

The first Xiaomi EV will be able to travel up to 800 km!

3 Comments

The Chinese smart device manufacturer, Xiaomi, is expected to launch its first electric car model, the SU7, in the near future. According to information from the CNEVPost website, the coupe sedan is said to have a range of up to 800 km.

The Xiaomi SU7 is available with two battery pack sizes, namely 73.6 kWh (BYD) with two driving range options, spanning 628 km and 668 km, and a 101 kWh capacity (CATL) offering a range of 750 km and 800 km.

In terms of dimensions, the Xiaomi SU7 is a mid-size sedan model with the following measurements: 4,997 mm in length, 1,963 mm in width, 1,440 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 3,000 mm.

In the Chinese market, the size of the SU7 is much larger compared to the Tesla Model 3 and Nio ET5 sedans.

It is understood that there will be three main variants offered to consumers, namely the SU7, SU7 Pro, and SU7 Max.

In terms of dimensions, the Xiaomi SU7 is a mid-size sedan model with the following measurements. The basic variant, SU7, will be equipped with a lithium-ion phosphate battery pack supplied by BYD, and it will feature a single electric motor.

Meanwhile, the other two variants (SU7 Pro & Max) will have ternary lithium-ion batteries from CATL, with both variants set to receive dual electric motor configurations.

In the same report, Xiaomi is set to launch two additional models in the coming year, following the launch of the SU7, which is better known by its internal code name Modenat.

The second model (internally coded as Lemang) is also an electric battery vehicle (BEV) similar to Modenat, while the third model (coded as Kunlun) is a hybrid vehicle.

NEWS

Alfa Romeo promises to maintain the offering of sedans in the era of EVs

1 Comment

Good news for fans of the Alfa Romeo brand, as the manufacturer is expected to maintain the offering of classic sedan body styles for the upcoming Giulia model expected to debut in 2026.

The Giulia EV is one of the two D-segment cars from Alfa Romeo that will be launched later, with the other being a replacement for the Stelvio.

Speaking to Autocar at the preview event for the new Milano crossover, its CEO Jean Philippe Imparato emphasized that the successor to the Giulia will still maintain the traditional sedan form, despite being aware of the shrinking segment.

He said, “the sedan body shape will make a comeback. I don’t want Alfa Romeo to become an SUV brand.”

The Giulia EV is also likely to bring a profile that combines sedan and wagon elements, similar to the Genesis G70 and Mercedes CLA shooting brake models.

“I don’t want to give up on the sedan market. It is Alfa’s DNA to have a sporty sedan. However, I also acknowledge there are proposals to produce a station wagon (estate) version of the Giulia.”

Alfa Romeo also hints at the revival of the iconic GTV and Duetto models in the EV era.

“The next step we are taking is: what is the answer for the GTV model, and what is the answer for the Duetto model? However, it is not definitive yet, and I don’t want to comment on it.”

NEWS

20 percent of vehicles sold in Malaysia are EV as of 2030 – Tengku Zafrul

3 Comments

The government has set a national target where 20 percent of Malaysia’s annual new car sales will consist of electric vehicles (EV) by 2030, 50 percent by 2040, and 80 percent by 2050.

According to the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, this is to accelerate the National Automotive Transition Plan (NETP) launched in August this year.

“MITI’s commitment to propel Malaysia forward in the electric vehicle revolution can be seen through the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP2020).

“NAP2020 provides the local automotive industry with a clear direction for future readiness, through the development of next-generation vehicles including energy-efficient and environmentally friendly EVs,” Zafrul said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has recorded strong growth in EV sales every year, and the government is optimistic that this positive momentum will continue until the end of 2023, according to Zafrul.

So far, Malaysia has registered over 100,000 electric vehicles.

“More than 12,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been registered since 2011, with the number of BEVs registered just this year alone exceeding 9,000 units,” he said in his speech at the early launch of the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 (MAS 2024) recently.

For the first 10 months of 2023, Malaysia’s vehicle sales recorded strong growth, increasing by 11.6 percent to nearly 647,000 units.

Tengku Zafrul said he believed that electric vehicles would be a catalyst for Malaysia’s manufacturing industry exports.

“Therefore, there is great potential in next-generation vehicles that require more components, for example, semiconductor composites, chip components in today’s cars, and even hybrid cars contain around 1,500 chips in a single car,” he said.

NEWS

Toyota is developing a manual transmission for EVs, up to 14 gears!

32 Comments

TOYOTA will introduce a simulated (virtual) manual gearbox for its electric vehicles (EVs). However, it appears it will be quite fun, as it will not be limited to just six or seven speeds.

In a patent application published a few days ago, it shows that there is no limit to how many gears the transmission can have. Images published with the technical document show it could have up to 14 gears. But how does it work? Toyota has also provided an explanation.

The patent reveals many details about this system. In simple terms, drivers will be able to select how many gear ratios they want.

“The number of virtual gear stages may be six or more, or less than six,” the document states. “Drivers will be able to select the desired form according to their preferences.”

However, Toyota does not explain any electro-mechanical system that will make up the physical gear setup. Instead, there will be a fixed number of gears, possibly six, but Toyota uses four as an example. Gears are selected as with a regular manual, although the gear button will return to its original position after use.

When the driver shifts gears, the virtual pathway shape changes to the next ratio. So if there is a pattern of six gears and the sixth gear is selected, a display will change the ratio to allow the driver to shift to gear seven and beyond, or down to gear five in the same set.

Confusing? In fact, this arrangement is similar to the manual gear setup of a truck trailer, so off-road enthusiasts will likely understand easily.

In any case, there must be a reason why car makers do not offer manual gears with too many gear ratios. A 14-speed gearbox is not practical with an internal combustion engine.

But for EVs, it’s a different story. Toyota believes there’s no harm in offering more options to buyers.