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Runtime:10:31
0:08 EPA Proposes Strongest Ever Auto Emission Standards
1:18 High Prices, Lack of Charging Holding Back EV Buyers in U.S.
2:02 Euro NCAP To Start Rating Heavy-Duty Trucks
3:31 Toyota Adds Fuel Cell to Crown Lineup
4:42 Volta Trucks Reveals U.S. Launch Plans
5:44 Ford Makes Big Canadian EV Investment
7:05 Acura Introduces New Integra Type S
8:06 BMW’s Most Powerful M Model Ever Made
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EPA PROPOSES STRONGEST EVER AUTO EMISSION STANDARDS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing stricter emission requirements for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles. It wants to cut light-duty vehicle emissions 56% and medium-duty emissions 44% by 2032 compared to 2026 standards. The EPA says the proposed standards will accelerate the transition to EVs and that by 2032 EVs could account for 67% of new light-duty sales and 46% of medium-duty vehicles. The agency says the proposed standards will save light-duty owners $12,000 over the lifetime of the vehicle thanks to using technologies that reduce fuel and maintenance costs. The EPA says the proposal will reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 10 billion tons through 2055, reduce oil imports by 20 billion barrels and that the benefits of the standards will exceed costs by at least $1 trillion.
HIGH PRICES, LACK OF CHARGING HOLDING BACK EV BUYERS IN U.S.
But there could need to be big changes for that many Americans to adopt EVs. According to a poll by the Associated Press, only 19% or about 1 in 5 U.S. adults says they are “very” or “extremely” likely to buy an EV as their next vehicle. And the reasons for the lukewarm sentiment are things we talk often about on this channel. Initial costs are too high. The average new EV is nearly $60,000. And the lack of a widespread public charging infrastructure is also causing people to pause before pulling out their wallet and buying an EV.
EURO NCAP TO START RATING HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS
The European New Car Assessment Program, or Euro NCAP, which crash tests and evaluates new passenger vehicles for safety, is going to start rating heavy-duty trucks. The vehicles account for just 1.5% of all vehicles in Europe but heavy-duty trucks are involved in 15% of all fatalities. Part of the reason is big trucks aren’t equipped with the same advanced driver assistance technology as passenger vehicles. The Euro NCAP didn’t reveal many other details but it did say it will rate heavy-duty trucks for city and highway driving separately. That’s because, unlike passenger cars, a lot of fleets only use vehicles in one of those environments and that way operators only need to consider the rating for that specific use.
TOYOTA ADDS FUEL CELL TO CROWN LINEUP
Toyota is launching several more versions of the Crown in Japan. The first version that already launched is called the Crossover type. It calls these new ones Sport, Sedan and Estate. Not only do they all have their own front end styling that are each a little different from the other, but it looks like there will be additional body types as well. The pictures and videos that Toyota provided don’t show the complete bodies, but this picture of the rear end of the Sport is definitely different, and more SUV-like, than the current Crown. And this video of the Estate interior with all of the seats folded down sure looks like it could be a station wagon. One last bit of interesting information is that all of them are available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, except the sedan, which is available as a hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicle. No word yet if any of these versions will make it to other markets, but the new Crown models start launching late this year in Japan.
VOLTA TRUCKS REVEALS U.S. LAUNCH PLANS
Commercial EV startup, Volta Trucks, which is based in Sweden, announced plans to launch its purpose-built vehicles in the U.S. Later this year, it will begin pilot tests in the U.S. of its Class 6 and 7 trucks, which are the equivalent of its 16-ton truck in Europe. According to Volta, it will begin producing them for the American market sometime in 2024. And then in 2026, it will launch its Class 5 and 6 trucks in the American market. Those are similar to its 7.5 and 12-ton trucks in Europe. Volta will also launch a “Truck As A Service” offer in the U.S., which is a monthly fee that covers the use of the truck and includes all of its servicing, maintenance, finance, insurance and training. Volta’s trucks will make their U.S. public debut at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in California at the beginning of May.
FORD MAKES BIG CANADIAN EV INVESTMENT
Ford is investing $1.3 billion to transform its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada into an electric vehicle and battery manufacturing hub. The factory currently produces the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus. But Ford will begin retooling the plant next-year and is aiming to build EVs in 2025. Ford did not say when battery production will begin. And the company didn’t reveal what EV models the plant will produce or what its capacity will be. But it did say the models will be next-gen EVs and that the site will help it reach its goal of producing 2 million EVs globally by 2026.
ACURA INTRODUCES NEW INTEGRA TYPE S
Acura has teased the new performance version of the Integra, the Type S, for the last several months. But now it’s sharing key details. The car is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, which is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The setup cranks out 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of 120 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque over the standard Integra. The Type S is nearly 3-inches wider than the regular Integra, it comes with larger 19-inch wheels, has a more aggressive looking front fascia and every body panel forward of the A-pillars is unique. The Integra Type S goes on sale in the U.S. this June and it will be built at Honda’s Marysville, Ohio plant alongside the standard Integra and the Acura TLX.
BMW’S MOST POWERFUL M MODEL EVER MADE
BMW M’s first exclusive electrified vehicle, the XM, which is a plug-in hybrid, will soon have an even more powerful version, called the Label Red. And that’s saying something because the XM combines for nearly 650 horsepower and will do 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. But thanks to upgrades to the 4.4L twin-turbo V8 and a trick for boosting initial torque produced by the electric motor, the Label Red generates an impressive 738 horsepower and will do 0-60 MPH in an estimated 3.7 seconds. That makes it the most powerful BMW M road vehicle ever made. But it still has an estimated 30 miles of all electric range thanks to a 19.2 kWh battery pack. The Label Red also features specific changes to the chassis tuning as well as unique design details, which includes red accents that even extends to the badges and the inserts on the standard 23-inch wheels. Pricing is a little bit hazy at the moment, but it won’t be cheap. The XM starts at roughly $160,000. But we’ll know more soon. Orders open late this month and production starts at BMW’s U.S. plant in South Carolina in August.
And be sure to join us for Autoline After Hours tomorrow afternoon. Our special guest is Ken Morris, the head of Electric, Autonomous and Fuel Cell Vehicle programs at General Motors. So for an inside look into GM’s alternative powertrains, join us tomorrow at 3PM eastern time on our website or YouTube channel.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching.
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Seamus and Sean McElroy cover the latest news in the automotive industry for Autoline Daily.