The electric vehicle revolution is 'a huge opportunity' for this robotics giant

ABB, a major player in the realm of robotics, automation and power generation, is fiercely committed to the global shift to electric vehicle transportation.

The transformation from traditional cars to electric ones is "a huge opportunity" that will enable ABB to "work with smart cities of the future," Chairman Peter Voser told CNBC on the sidelines of the Singapore Summit over the weekend.

ABB currently helps design, build and maintain infrastructure for electric cars. Earlier this year, it launched a new product in Malaysia that reduced charging time for EV vehicles to 15 minutes.

More still needs to be done to improve the EV landscape in consumer transportation, such as cars and buses, Voser warned. In particular, "we need vast investment for charging stations," he said.

The Swiss-based multinational supplies power through high-voltage direct current technology into cities and consumers, Voser explained. "On the other side, we're also working with car manufacturers because quite clearly, they need our robots, our automation capabilities so that they can switch from one model to the next."

Brent Gunts

CNBC's Nancy Hungerford sits inside the Volkswagen I.D., a dedicated electric car

Previously chief of Shell, Voser said he believes the future of transportation over the next 40 to 60 years will be dominated by a mixture of self-driving vehicles, combustion engines and electric cars.

That should be an opportunity, not a worry, for energy players, he said.

While major companies like Shell still remain active in gas, "business models will evolve," Voser said. Big energy firms are comfortable with technological developments, "and I think they will transform themselves as well."

There are also enough incentives by regulators to increase corporate levels of energy efficiency, he added.

Source: The electric vehicle revolution is 'a huge opportunity' for this robotics giant

Electric vehicles on display at show in downtown Aiken

Donald Griggs drives an electric car because he believes it helps reduce air pollution, but that's not the only reason why he's a fan of the 2017 Nissan Leaf that he leases.

When Griggs is behind the Leaf's wheel, "it's fun," he said. "I'm not a drag racer, but if you want to be the first one to take off at the stoplight, you can be. You just put your foot on the accelerator and then, zoom; you're on your way. It has a lot of pickup."

Griggs, who lives in Columbia, brought his Leaf to Cafe Scientifique's second annual Aiken Electric Vehicle Show on Saturday next to the Aiken Railroad Depot on Park Avenue.

When attendees stopped to look at his car, Griggs answered their questions enthusiastically.

"Nissan is very generous," he said. "As part of the lease, they will tow you for free, even if the reason you need towing is because you were dumb and let the charge run out."

Dr. Craig Powell, a chemistry professor at Presbyterian College in Clinton, has been driving electric cars since 2014. First, he leased a Nissan Leaf. Now, he has a BMW i3.

"It was kind of an experiment to see if living an electric life was feasible, and the Nissan Leaf showed me it was possible to do it," Powell said. "Electric cars are fast, and there is no gear shifting. There is one gear, and they just go. They're also quiet. I like not being tied so much to oil interests.

"For long trips," Powell added, "I do have a secondary car that uses gas. But since I only live four or five miles from work, the electric car works great around town."

In addition to automobiles, there were bicycles at the Electric Vehicle Show.

Dr. Holly Wolz, chief of staff at Veterinary Services of Aiken, owned one of the two wheelers, a white Pedego City Commuter.

Her husband, Ed, also has an electric bicycle. He is the Republican candidate in the race for the Aiken City Council seat in District 6 and will face Democrat JoAnn Hooper in the Nov. 7 general election.

"I've ridden many, many miles on bicycles; I do it for fitness," Holly said. "But you get older, and around here in Aiken, there are some big hills. The electric bicycle lets you go lots of places easily. You can ride it using your woman power or you can click the motor into gear and really get going."

Sam Erb took a ride on Holly's bike and enjoyed it.

"It was really cool," he said. "I liked how smoothly it ran."

Elise Fox attended the Electric Vehicle Show with her 9-year-old twins – Colin and Hannah – and her husband, Kevin.

The kids were all smiles when they had the opportunity to sit on an electric motorcycle owned by Tim Haas of North Augusta and pose for photographs.

"We've been looking at getting an EV (electric vehicle), and we're here investigating the different ones," Elise said. "We like them because they have cleaner engines because they're not petroleum-burning. We also like the idea of a full electric vehicle better than a hybrid."

Elise was impressed with the Leaf.

"It's much roomier than I thought it would be, and the prices are pretty reasonable as well," she said.

Kevin liked the Leaf as well, and he also was interested in a Tesla Model S that he saw.

"I'm glad they have this event; it's really nice," Elise said. "It's wonderful to be able to see all these different types of vehicles in one place. I didn't even know that electric motorcycles existed."

Todd Lista is the president of Cafe Scientifique, which is based in the former Aiken Post Office on Laurens Street and has the goal of making science accessible to the general public.

"When you hear about electric vehicles worldwide, you think, 'Oh, not in Aiken,' " Lista said. "But Aiken seems to be a progressive little town. This the second year for the show, and we've got a good turnout, so there is interest here in these vehicles."

Cafe Scientific held the Electric Vehicle Show in conjunction with National Drive Electric Week, which ends Sunday.

For more information about Cafe Scientifique, visit http://cafescientifiqueaiken.net/.

​Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the newspaper since January 2013. A native of Concord, N.C, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Source: Electric vehicles on display at show in downtown Aiken

A Dyson electric car? 'Wait and see'

Dyson vacuums are an effective, if pricey, way to clean your car.

But can they propel them, too?

A few years back, company founder Sir James Dyson suggested his electric motors could, but didn't say that that company was actually working on one. He still hasn't confirmed that it is, but evidence is mounting.

The latest, according to The Sunday Times Driving, is that Dyson has recently hired automotive engineers from Aston Martin and Tesla. Discussing the topic of a Dyson car on a BBC radio program this week, Dyson cryptically answered "who knows, who knows," and said people will have to wait and see.

A company spokesperson wouldn't offer any further comment, but National Infrastructure Delivery Plan documents revealed earlier this year suggested that the British government was funding electric car development at Dyson.

Dyson is known to have purchased battery outfit Satki3 in 2015, but the solid-state lithium-ion cells its working on could be used in a variety of applications, vacuums included.

Source: A Dyson electric car? 'Wait and see'

Honda Is Finally Getting Serious About Electric Cars

Investors have been wondering when Honda (NYSE: HMC) would get with the electric-car program, and now there's an answer. At the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Honda's CEO unveiled a show car called the Urban EV Concept -- and said it previews a new electric Honda that will debut in 2019.

About the Honda Urban EV Concept

"This is not some vision of the distant future," Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo said, with the grandiose promises of some rivals clearly in mind. "A production version of this car will be here in Europe in 2019."

Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo with the Urban EV Concept, a preview of a new electric car that Honda will launch in 2019. Image source: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda didn't give much in the way of details that electric-car fans will want most. We don't yet know the size of its battery, its expected range, whether it has more than one motor, or what it will cost. It's possible that Honda hasn't yet decided on the production version's capabilities, or that it plans to offer different configurations in different markets around the world (or both).

But we do know that the Urban EV Concept is built on a completely new platform, one that Honda has created specifically to underpin a new series of electric vehicles. 

We also know that while it's not quite as tiny as the vintage Honda Civics that its styling recalls, it's pretty small by modern standards. Honda said that the Concept is 100 millimeters shorter than its Jazz subcompact. (The Jazz is the European version of the Honda Fit. Like the Fit, the Jazz is small. But the Urban EV Concept is smaller.) 

Inside, the Urban EV Concept has more room than you might think from its exterior dimensions. There are two bench seats, with enough room to seat four adults. It's similar to the interior configuration chosen by General Motors (NYSE: GM) for its Chevrolet Bolt EV, another vehicle that has more room inside that its exterior dimensions suggest. That's no surprise given that the Honda has a similar configuration and a similar mission: Like the Bolt, the Honda is intended as a small urban runabout that's easy to park and maneuver.

The interior of the Honda Urban EV Concept is show-car fancy. The production version's dash will probably look more conventional. Image source: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Why it's important: Honda is taking a bigger step into electric vehicles

Until now, Honda's electric-vehicle efforts haven't been all that impressive. In fact, they've been downright disappointing to longtime Honda fans: The company's sole battery-electric offering in the U.S. is a version of its Clarity sedan that offers just 89 miles of range. That's not nearly enough to make it competitive with vehicles like the Bolt and Tesla's (NASDAQ: TSLA) Model 3, a surprise given Honda's long and much-admired history of innovation. It hasn't helped that Honda's self-driving efforts also appear to be running behind those of rivals. 

The Urban EV Concept is a tangible sign that Honda is stepping up its electric-vehicle game at last. Honda has said that its goal is to have "electrified vehicles" (meaning pure electrics and hybrids) make up two-thirds of its global automobile sales by 2030. (It hopes to hit that goal in the European market by 2025.) This concept car, and the stated production plans, show that Honda is now serious about building competitive electric vehicles. 

Will the production version of Honda's Urban EV Concept come to the U.S.?

That's not clear yet. So far, Honda has said only that it will be sold in Europe starting in 2019. But Honda's business plan, summarized by Hachigo in a presentation earlier this year, suggests that its new EV will be sold in many parts of the world.

Long story short: It's not confirmed yet, but Honda will probably offer it in the U.S. I suspect we'll hear more details at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November.

Will it sell?

That will depend to some extent on the details, specifically its range and price. But I think while the car's retro-futuristic styling theme is obviously exaggerated in a show-car way, the basic theme Honda chose for the car is pitch-perfect -- a futuristic take on its fondly remembered early cars from the 1970s. It has the potential to do quite well. 

What does it mean for investors?

The takeaway here is simple: Don't count Honda out of the electric-car race. Although it seems a little late to the game, that probably won't matter much in the long run. Expect Honda's electric vehicles to be technologically competitive, packaged in ways that longtime Honda fans and casual buyers alike will find compelling, and priced to sell. 

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Source: Honda Is Finally Getting Serious About Electric Cars

Will Mercedes-Benz Build This Little Electric Car?

Electric vehicles are the hot topic at this week's International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, thanks in part to the challenge posed to the German luxury-car giants by upstart Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA). 

German giant Daimler AG (NASDAQOTH: DDAIF), the corporate parent of luxury-car maker Mercedes-Benz, showed off what could be an important future entry: an electric Mercedes-Benz small car.

Daimler executives didn't say for sure that the Concept EQA, as it's called, would go into production. But based on what we know about Mercedes' plans for a line of electric vehicles, it's a good bet that something like it will come to market in a few years. Here's what we know.

The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA is a small dual-motor electric car that previews a possible future model. Image source: Daimler AG.

Mercedes' Concept EQA: An upscale small electric car

The Concept EQA is a small-but-premium electric hatchback. It's a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive battery-electric vehicle with a range of "around 400 kilometers" (248 miles), according to Mercedes-Benz.

Although Mercedes didn't announce plans for a production version, it's likely that the EQA foreshadows an "entry-level" model for Mercedes' forthcoming all-electric EQ sub-brand. The idea of an "entry-level" Mercedes-Benz might sound strange, but small-but-plush vehicles have become very important to the brand in recent years.

Here's how Mercedes' China chief, Hubertus Troska, explained it:

The Concept EQA shows how much fascination can fit into a compact car. It provides an example of how electric mobility might look like for our compact cars, because they are an important driver of our success. Around the world, many new customers have come to Mercedes-Benz through this vehicle segment. In Europe, the A-Class [a small hatchback] has a conquest rate of around 70 percent. In the USA, more than half of CLA [Mercedes' least-expensive sedan] owners are driving a Mercedes for the first time. And China is our biggest market for the GLA [a small SUV based on the CLA].

Long story short: Small cars are important for Mercedes-Benz because they bring new buyers to the brand. As Mercedes transitions to electric vehicles, a small electric model seems like a necessity. That's what the Concept EQA is previewing.

A possible second model for Mercedes' new EQ sub-brand

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche confirmed this week that Mercedes-Benz will offer electric versions of all of its models by 2022 and a new series of plug-in hybrids, for about 50 new "electrified" Mercedes-Benz models in total. In addition, Daimler's Smart small-car brand plans to eliminate internal-combustion models to become an all-electric brand. 

At least part of that electrification effort will center on Mercedes' new electric-car sub-brand, called EQ. Mercedes confirmed this week that the first EQ model will be a version of the electric midsize SUV that it showed in concept form a year ago, to be called EQC. That vehicle will debut in 2019, and several more EQ models are expected to follow. 

Mercedes confirmed that a production version of last year's Generation EQ Concept will go on sale in 2019. Image source: Daimler AG.

Mercedes' officials are very aware of the challenge posed by Tesla, of course. Unlike rivals BMW AG and Audi AG, which plan to take direct aim at the Silicon Valley contender, Mercedes seems to be aiming where Tesla isn't: The EQC could be calibrated to slot in between Tesla's Model X and its planned Model-3-based compact SUV, while the Concept EQA previews a car that would be smaller than anything Tesla has planned for the near future. 

How Daimler will fund the electrification effort

Daimler, which also owns several truck brands and is working on a series of electric trucks for commercial use, plans to fund this aggressive electrification push largely through cost savings. CFO Frank Lindenberg said that Daimler has targeted $4.8 billion in cost cuts that should offset much of the cost. 

Much, but not all: Daimler aims for a 10% operating profit margin, but Lindenberg acknowledged that a margin in the range of 8% to 10% was possible in the near term. 

Long story short: While it's likely that electric vehicles will be more profitable for Daimler than internal-combustion models in the long term, the costs of the transition to an electric product line could squeeze its margins for a while.

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Source: Will Mercedes-Benz Build This Little Electric Car?

Mini shows off its pure-electric concept car

With this and the recently-launched Mini Countryman hybrid, the BMW subsidiary is pitching to drivers who want to be a bit more green but, well, also really like driving cars with go-kart characteristics.

In classic Frankfurt Auto Show style, there's no word on the car's range, specs or how much it'll cost. What we do know is that it'll be available in 2019. When it is available, it'll be the second electrified car from Mini. The automaker (like nearly every other company building cars) is betting big on electrons.

"Our top priority is electric mobility." said BMW CEO Harald Krueger. At the Frankfurt show, he said that BMW is planning to have 25 electrified cars (12 of them fully electric) by the year 2025. One of the ways the automaker plans to do that is using a platform for each vehicle type that accepts a gas engine, hybrid or pure EV drivetrain. But while we wait for that to happen in 2020, the company has the iPerformance line, the i series and both hybrid and electric Minis to keep us moving around until then.

Source: Mini shows off its pure-electric concept car

China eyes petrol car ban, boosting electric vehicles

Shanghai (AFP) - China is gearing up to ban petrol and diesel cars, a move that would boost electric vehicles and shake up the world's biggest car market in a country that is plagued by pollution.

The plan would follow decisions by France and Britain to outlaw the sale of such cars and vans from 2040 to clamp down on harmful emissions.

The government did not give a date for the ban, but the announcement drove up the shares of automakers and lithium battery makers in Asia, with Chinese electric car leader BYD closing 4.07 percent up in Shenzhen and Toyota up 1.22 percent in Tokyo.

Xin Guobin, vice minister of industry and information technology, told a weekend forum in the northern city of Tianjin that his ministry has started "relevant research" and is working on a timetable for China.

"These measures will promote profound changes in the environment and give momentum to China's auto industry development," Xin said in remarks broadcast by CCTV state television.

"Enterprises should strive to improve the level of energy-saving for traditional cars, and vigorously develop new-energy vehicles according to assessment requirements," he said.

- Long road ahead -

While Xin did not give a deadline, the head of the National Passenger Car Association, a Chinese auto industry group, said it would be "a long process".

"It will be hard to stop producing traditional fuel-powered vehicles for the next decade or two decades," the association's secretary general, Cui Dongshu, told AFP.

"We may make significant headway in passenger cars in 2040 or even earlier, but for other products like the heavy-duty trucks it would be difficult."

Automakers "have not really tried hard in this sector" and consumers are not so familiar with new-energy vehicles, Cui said.

But Bill Russo, managing director of Gao Feng Advisory Group, said the move bodes well for Chinese automakers who are already able to compete with foreign car companies when it comes to making electric vehicles.

He added: "If China says no more ICE (internal combustion engines), the rest of the world will follow because the rest of the world can't lose China's market. It's too big."

China produced and sold more than 28 million vehicles last year, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.

The sale of new-energy vehicles topped 500,000 in the world's second largest economy in 2016 -- over 50 percent more than the previous year, according to national industry figures. The majority were made by Chinese firms.

The government introduced draft regulations this June compelling automakers to produce more electrically-powered vehicles by 2020 through a complex quota system.

Xin said the policy would be implemented "in the near future", according to the official Xinhua news agency.

- Race for green cars -

As the measure looms, foreign automakers have announced plans to boost the production of electric cars in China.

Market leader Volkswagen sold a few hundred "green" cars among the four million vehicles it sold in China in 2016, but the German manufacturer plans to sell around 400,000 new-energy vehicles in the country by 2020 and 1.5 million by 2025.

Christoph Ludewig, VW's communications director in China, declined to comment on Xin's announcement, but he noted that the company has a joint venture with JAC that will produce such cars by next year.

"Our efforts are quite huge, so we want to contribute to and be on the forefront of the electrification of the Chinese automotive industry. That's clear," Ludewig told AFP.

He also said VW would "work hard" to comply with the NEV quota once China implements it next year.

Volvo will introduce its first 100-percent electric car in China in 2019.

Ford envisages that 70 percent of all Ford cars available in China will have electric options by 2025. It is establishing a joint venture with China's Zotye Automobile to make and sell all-electric vehicles.

"We are already aggressively pursuing an electrification strategy to provide a comprehensive range of electrified vehicles in the country by 2025, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully battery-powered electric vehicles," said Anderson Chan, a Ford spokesman in China.

French carmaker Renault, which started producing cars in China last year, will roll out two new-energy vehicles in the country -- a sedan and small SUV -- in 2018 and 2019, said Florence de Golfiem, its communications vice president for China.

"We already have a very advanced technology," she told AFP.

Source: China eyes petrol car ban, boosting electric vehicles