AD #3012 – Tesla Makes Big Bitcoin Purchase; Tax Credit for eBikes Extended; Jeep Will Reveal Electric Wrangler Concept
February 9th, 2021 at 11:50am
Listen to “AD #3012 – Tesla Makes Big Bitcoin Purchase; Tax Credit for eBikes Extended; Jeep Will Reveal Electric Wrangler Concept” on Spreaker.
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Runtime: 10:48
0:07 Nissan Posts Surprising Quarterly Profit
0:41 Tesla Reacts Differently to Issues in China
1:35 Tesla Makes Big Bitcoin Purchase
2:05 Tax Credit for eBikes Extended
3:54 SmartGlass Can Help Cut Emissions
5:52 Jeep Will Reveal Electric Wrangler Concept
6:43 Kia Announces Big Electrification Push
8:16 Hybrids Post Strong Sales Results
9:10 Toyota & Kenworth Test Fuel Cell on Pikes Peak
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This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
NISSAN POSTS SURPRISING QUARTERLY GAIN
Nissan has been in a tailspin ever since it accused former CEO Carlos Ghosn of stealing and booted him out of the company. And while Nissan is still in trouble, it’s starting to show a glimmer of hope. It just posted an operating profit for the most recent quarter, something that surprised the analyst community. It’s cutting its manufacturing capacity by 20% and is counting on new models like the Sentra and Rogue to get sales going again. Even so, Nissan expects to lose $5 billion for the year.
TESLA REACTS TO ISSUES DIFFERENTLY IN CHINA
There’s a very interesting article in Bloomberg that reports on how Elon Musk kowtows to the Chinese government at the same time he defies the American government. Musk attacked the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission on Twitter when it sued him over claims he was going to take the company private–which he never did. He hung up on the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board about an investigation into a fatal accident involving Autopilot. And he called California health officials fascists when they shut down Tesla’s plant in Fremont because of the pandemic. But when Chinese officials called Tesla on the carpet for quality and safety problems, it was a completely different story. Tesla quickly apologized, promised to strictly obey Chinese laws and agreed to strengthen its internal management procedures.
TESLA MAKES BIG BITCOIN PURCHASE
And speaking of Tesla, the EV maker announced it purchased $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin, which sent the price of the cryptocurrency to an all-time high of $44,000. And in an SEC filing, Tesla said it plans to start accepting bitcoin as payment for its vehicles and other products. This is not too surprising, Elon Musk has tweeted a number of times about his admiration for cryptocurrency, including bitcoin.
TAX CREDIT FOR E-BIKES EXTENDED
Good news if you’re in the market for an electric motorcycle in the U.S. The federal tax credit for e-motorcycles was supposed to phase out at the end of 2020, however it’s been extended to the end of this year. The tax credit is 10% of the purchase price of an electric motorcycle, however it’s limited to a maximum of $2,500. And to qualify, a bike must be capable of hitting at least 45 MPH.
HOW SMARTGLASS CAN HELP CUT EMISSIONS
A month ago, Cadillac revealed details about its future flagship electric sedan the Celestiq. As we talked about, it will have an all-glass roof that features SmartGlass nanotechnology, which can automatically tint or untint glass with the push of a button. Mercedes and McLaren also equipped it in a number of their vehicles several years back. I recently talked with Joe Harary, the CEO of Research Frontiers, the company that developed Smart Glass and he says not only does it make the vehicle more stable but it can also help cut emissions.
“One of the interesting things about putting it in the roof, like both Mercedes, McLaren and now Cadillac has done, is that you’re taking weight out of the roof too. So, you’re actually lowering the center of gravity of the car and making it more stable. So you actually get more head room without raising the roofline because of that. And it makes it more comfortable but it also promotes stability. And because you’re also reducing the heat coming in and using the air conditioner less, in an internal combustion engine vehicle, you’re also reducing CO2 emissions by about 4 grams per kilometer. So if you look at what’s happening in Europe especially where regulations will penalize the company 95 euros per gram per kilometer if they don’t meet the emissions targets, 4 grams per kilometer is huge. It’s 380 euros or $410 per car in avoided penalties. So it’s a very interesting technology that’s not only cool, literally and figuratively, it’s also environmentally friendly and can save money as well for the automaker.”
If you’d like to watch that full interview, just check out the Autoline Exclusives section of our website or you can watch it on our YouTube channel.
JEEP WILL REVEAL ELECTRIC WRANGLER CONCEPT
Jeep’s electrification efforts are going way beyond the plug-in hybrid version of the Wrangler and the Gladiator, which was only recently announced. For those that want to do some electric off-roading, Jeep is going to install solar-powered charging stations at iconic Jeep locations, like Moab and the Rubicon Trail. While there’s not a lot of details to report, we can also tell you the automaker is going to put its plug-in hybrid technology, called 4Xe into the all-new Grand Cherokee. And it’s going to show off an all-electric Wrangler concept at the Easter Jeep Safari. One last bit of Jeep news. It’s not related to electrification, but the brand is coming out with a hands-free driver assistance system later this year, which looks like its debuting in the new Grand Cherokee.
KIA HAS BIG EV PLANS
Speaking of future electrification plans, Kia says it wants 40% of its global sales, which translates to roughly 1.6 million vehicles to be hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure electric by 2030. To support that, by 2026 Kia will come out with 7 new BEVs based on its E-GMP platform. The first of which will launch later this year. It will also come out with four new EV models based on existing ICE vehicles in that same timeframe. The automaker has ambitious goals for its purpose-built vehicles or PBVs as well. These are just specialized vehicles, like for delivery services that will ride on a PBV-dedicated skateboard platform. Kia is targeting sales of a million units by 2030. It’s other main pillar for expansion is mobility services, which includes a new concept where vehicles could be used for businesses during the week and rented to individuals on the weekend. Kia plans to invest $26 billion to reach its goals.
HYBRIDS OUTSELL BEVs, GROWING FASTER
While battery electric vehicles are getting all the headlines these days, sales of hybrids are doing much better. BEV sales went up 30% over the last 3 months in the U.S., but sales of hybrids, including plug-in hybrids shot up 58%. Hybrids outsell BEVs two-and-a-half-to-one. Toyota, including Lexus, dominate the segment. Honda and Acura are far behind, but they’re ahead of Ford and Lincoln. Hyundai and Kia are 4th on the list, but their sales are down significantly. And Volvo’s hybrid sales shoot up dramatically thanks to the XC-90 plug-in. Many news outlets count plug-in hybrids as part of EV sales but we don’t because, well, they’re hybrids, with piston engines and all the other stuff you will never find in a battery electric.
| U.S. Hybrid Sales Nov., 2020 – Jan., 2021 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 125,000 | +66% |
| Honda | 20,500 | +62% |
| Ford | 14,600 | +37% |
| Hyundai/Kia | 7,800 | -17% |
| Volvo | 4,000 | +351% |
TOYOTA & KENWORTH TEST FUEL CELL ON PIKES PEAK
To show off the capability of its fuel cell system, Toyota partnered with Kenworth to drive a Class 8 semi-truck to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado. The companies replaced the diesel powertrain in Kenworth’s T680 truck with a modified version of Toyota’s fuel cell system equipped in the Mirai. In the truck, it provides 470 horsepower and 350 miles of range. The drive to the 14,115-foot summit is 12.3 miles long and features more than 150 turns. The companies successfully drove the prototype to the top of the peak, multiple times over the course of two days to test its limits. Toyota and Kenworth are using the data and feedback from the test to help refine the fuel cell system.
Don’t forget to join us for Autoline After Hours this Thursday when our guest will be Tony Greco, the program manager at Ford for the Raptor. We got a bunch of questions from you last week when we had Tony Roma, the chief engineer on the Cadillac V-Series Blackwing cars. And if you’ve got questions about the new Raptor, send an email to viewermail@autoline.tv or send a tweet to @Autoline.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching.
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Comments (36)
February 9th, 2021 at 12:01 pm
Hey Sean, those glasses are a pretty good look on you.
February 9th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
Sean, As companies move to BEV skateboard designs, do you think they will offer the naked skateboards as a separate product? Is it possible we could see the return of custom body builders or maybe the golden age of kit cars? Here’s hoping.
February 9th, 2021 at 12:21 pm
Thanks MJB, I got them pretty recently. I would wear them during Daily but they don’t play nice with our setup.
February 9th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Also, how does the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015 work? Could GM farm out the production of extreme high performance vehicles to a LVMVM but still offer them for sale at a GM dealership?
February 9th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
#2. Sounds good to me! (re)Enter “Body by Fisher” Not to mention the bespoke designs people would then be able to commission. It certainly would spice things up
February 9th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
@Kevin A – I’ve already heard talk about this and I for sure think it will happen. And here’s something else that should help kick the door open for custom builders: https://www.motortrend.com/news/low-volume-motor-vehicle-manufacturers-act/
February 9th, 2021 at 12:30 pm
@Kevin A – I was typing my response while you posted #4. The link I provided is an update on the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act.
February 9th, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Tesla reacts different to China than US because much like a child with one strict parent (China) and the more laid back (US) they will push the limits and Elon knows China wont play games and send him packing if he pulled those stunts with them.
Hybrids out selling BEVs and the huge sales jump is also contributed by the increase in models available. A good side by side statistic would be available hybrid models 2018, 2019 vs 2020 and that will make the increase seem reasonable.
February 9th, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Sean, Once BEV skateboards are out there, I’d like to see Ford release an electric 64 Mustang. Not a modern reinterpretation, but something that looks as much as possible like the original. Ditto the 56 T-bird
February 9th, 2021 at 12:54 pm
@2 – There are at least two companies offering this now. The latest is Zero Labs. They even identify vehicle types with model years that are compatible with their platform. Check out more details at zerolabs.com.
February 9th, 2021 at 12:54 pm
A 1959 Cadillac convertible would be a good candidate for a replica. A 6.2 V8 powertrain as used in Suburban, Escalade, et. al. would work well, and be “in the spirit” of such a car.
I suspect the big increase in Toyota hybrid sales is that they now have Rav4 and Highlander hybrids, and dealers seem to actually stock them. They are sold only with 4wd in the US which increases price and hurts mpg, but they still get very good mpg compared to other similar size vehicles.
February 9th, 2021 at 12:57 pm
If you watch that video of the truck climbing Pikes Peak closely, you can see wisps of water vapor from the fuel cell under the truck and swirling around the rear wheels. I’m sure we will all be seeing more of that in the future.
February 9th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
12 I didn’t see that but I wonder if icing will become an issue as that spray freezes in colder temps?
February 9th, 2021 at 2:07 pm
So what is pushing this Nissan resurgence? I can’t believe it is all due to the Sentra and Rogue.
February 9th, 2021 at 2:47 pm
14 Maybe cutting production capacity 20% is what is helping the financial numbers. So far, Rogue and Sentra aren’t doing so well, at least through 2020, and in the US.
https://carsalesbase.com/us-nissan-rogue/
February 9th, 2021 at 2:47 pm
and Sentra….
https://carsalesbase.com/us-nissan-sentra/
February 9th, 2021 at 2:56 pm
@12 – Info I have seen says that the vapor is emitted in small amounts and evaporates before it can accumulate and freeze. However, that was with a car. Assuming a semi truck will need a bigger capacity fuel cell that may give off a larger volume of water vapor, who knows? I suppose if its a problem, the truck maker could add a heating function before the vapor is emitted to warm the vapor so it dissipates completely before it could become ice.
February 9th, 2021 at 3:12 pm
Elon has to be carefull what he says in China or he will end up in a re-programming center like his friend Jack Ma.
February 9th, 2021 at 3:12 pm
Elon has to be carefull what he says in China or he will end up in a re-programming center like his friend Jack Ma.
February 9th, 2021 at 3:21 pm
It’s very obvious that laws, rules and regulations don’t apply to the two tiered justice system for billionaires in the US. And that they can literally get away with murder in most situations…. Musk is well aware that one of his childish comments in China would immediately get him shut down by the Chinese Communist dictatorship. So Musk goes down on his knees, like every other Western CEO and services the party…
February 9th, 2021 at 4:20 pm
Pikes peak completely paved. A sign of the times.
February 9th, 2021 at 4:47 pm
21 I just found that the Pikes Peak road was only completely paved in 2011, a lot more recently than I realized.
February 9th, 2021 at 6:35 pm
Hey Sean a couple of comments on today’s show someone should give Elon a dope slap when he bows down to the Chinese. I still think until the battery technology gets a lot better that a PHEV is a superior solution to BEV, too much range anxiety for my weak heart! And finally somewhere down the road fuel cell powered vehicles will be the ultimate solution to the pollution problem regardless what Elon says.
Good show today
February 9th, 2021 at 6:35 pm
Hey Sean a couple of comments on today’s show someone should give Elon a dope slap when he bows down to the Chinese. I still think until the battery technology gets a lot better that a PHEV is a superior solution to BEV, too much range anxiety for my weak heart! And finally somewhere down the road fuel cell powered vehicles will be the ultimate solution to the pollution problem regardless what Elon says.
Good show today
February 9th, 2021 at 7:36 pm
23,24 Fuel cells the ultimate solution, when the hydrogen comes from natural gas? I don’t see it. If/when there is unlimited free electricity to electrolyze water, why not just use it to charge batteries, and/or feed it to the “grid.”
February 9th, 2021 at 7:51 pm
23,24,25 Yeah, maybe I’m missing something.
February 10th, 2021 at 8:23 am
26 I’ll stick with an ICE for now. Too many downsides to a BEV for me and a Hybrid just seems counterproductive. After years and years of manufacturers pushing suppliers to take weight out of a car to help with fuel economy. Then they go and throw an extra 200lbs of additional equipment on a car so you now have the weight and two systems to maintain and the failures that come with each. Not to mention that Hybrid versions run about $4000 more than the non-hybrid versions and get what? 15MPG better mileage so the savings is such that your payback is @ 10 years.
They keep going the way they are going and I’ll be looking for a 3-wheeled vehicle just to avoid all the extra systems and the huge $$$ they want.
February 10th, 2021 at 8:32 am
Hey did hear the NTSB released their findings on the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash yesterday. Surprising to me is this helo that was carrying 8 people didn’t have the instrumentation to tell the pilot his orientation? Apparently got into some clouds lost his orientation and thought he was climbing but was banking and descending.
They have said this may drive a change to require some crash detection devices in the future. With everything we keep seeing here on autonomous and vehicle crash avoidance you would think a Helo that’s allowed to carry passengers would be required to have it. Sad part is the company nor the pilot was licenced to fly in overcast weather and shouldn’t have been flying. I guess for this reason the passenger drones may be safer with those systems already integrated.
February 10th, 2021 at 8:52 am
27 I’ve owned hybrids for about 11 years, and find them far from “counterproductive.” They get almost twice the mpg in city and short trip low speed driving. Even if the payback is long, and you don’t care about greenhouse gas emissions, I like the convenience of getting 500 miles per fillup rather than 300 miles. Also, at least with Toyota hybrids and probably Ford hybrids, they are very reliable. They are far simpler, mechanically, than cars with regular automatic transmissions, with nothing but gears in the transmission, no clutches, and no bands.
A Camry hybrid costs $2300 more than a 4 cylinder non-hybrid, and is worth $2165 more after 3 years, according to KBB.
February 10th, 2021 at 8:56 am
28 I always assumed that helicopters had instruments similar to fixed wing airplanes, and would have an “artificial horizon,” altimeter, rate of climb/descent, etc. but maybe not. In any case, it’s crazy that a guy was flying a machine with 8 people in conditions he apparently wasn’t rated to fly in.
February 10th, 2021 at 9:42 am
29 Okay so the cost is only $2300. But the non-hybrid gets 28/39 So average EPA is 33.5 and the Hybrid is 51/53 so average of 52-33.5=18.5 difference. So you have to drive 86,250 miles before you break even. Even then after the 5 or 6 years you only are saving $33 a month in gas.
Obviously if you do a lot more city driving the payback is sooner and if most your driving is Hwy then the payback is even longer.
Just saying to me the numbers don’t make sense to justify even a hybrid.
February 10th, 2021 at 9:50 am
31) I went with a 1 year old used Fusion Hybrid for $15K and only 20,000 miles. I also added a 100K mile Ford warranty. The payback is immediate when you do it that way. Although admittedly in the past 18K miles since, it hasn’t had one issue that requires a warranty claim. It has been rock solid.
February 10th, 2021 at 9:55 am
31 If you throw it away, the hybrid costs $2300 more, but if you throw it away, that $2300 would probably be divided out over about 20-25 years. If you keep it ~5 years and trade it or sell it, like I normally do with my primary car, it costs almost nothing extra. I looked up values for 3 years in #29, because that is how long the current generation Camry has been around, but I’d expect to get nearly all of that $2300 back after five years. If gas prices go up substantially, I might more than get the money back.
The bottom line is that I like how hybrids work, with no jerky shifts, great gas mileage, and you can sit with the a/c on, and the engine will almost never run. Police departments should use more of them.
February 10th, 2021 at 10:08 am
32 That sounds like a good buy. According to KBB, a 3 year old Camry LE hybrid, the lowest trim level, with 30K miles is worth $16,879 “trade in” value.
I might have checked out a Fusion hybrid, had they not already announced that it would soon be an “orphan.” I was hoping there would be a next generation Fusion hybrid that might match the Camry and Accord hybrid mpg. The outgoing Fusion does well, but Camry and Accord do about 20% better, both in EPA numbers and CR’s test results.
February 10th, 2021 at 11:07 am
33 That makes sense, I just don’t ever buy a vehicle counting on residual value to be something that it may or may not be.
I wont even buy plates for more than a year at a time even though my state will let you renew them up to three years at a time.
I suppose a used Hybrid could make the number work for me but you say the Hybrid holds its value meaning Id still pay over what a equal non-hybrid cost while it seems Merkur got a good deal on his.
I guess the other deterrent for me is my lack of the battery technology. I do all my work on my vehicles myself and hate to pay the $100-$150 hr cost to have someone fix my vehicles. However sounds like they are pretty reliable and trouble free. If not I’m not sure I would attempt to mess with one.
February 10th, 2021 at 11:17 am
35 I don’t know that I’d want to keep a hybrid, or an EV for 20 years, because it seems likely that the battery would go bad in that time, even with only 100K miles. I had my Prius 8 years with no problems, and a friend had one about 10 years and 200K+ miles with no problem.
Toyota hybrids have an 8 year, 100K mile warranty on the powertrain electronics, and as of the 2020 model year, have a 10 year, 150K mile warranty on the battery.