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Home » EV take-up: Politicians hide behind Homer Simpson’s three rules

EV take-up: Politicians hide behind Homer Simpson’s three rules

August 7, 2020 by Alastair Sloane

You could smell during the Covid-19 lockdown earlier this year the absence on New Zealand roads of fossil-fueled vehicles and their exhaust pipes.

Pretty much overnight the country’s air had become cleaner. NIWA – the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric research – said so. Its diagnostic equipment kept sniffing the air non-stop.

NIWA’s declarations alone should be climatic evidence enough (as if it is still needed!) for government and private companies to add electric vehicles (EVs) of one type or another to their fleets.

Politicians of all hues continue to say they are excited about future plans for EVs. But the future is now and the numbers show the politicians could be accused of hiding behind the three sentences that Homer Simpson swears will get you through life:

  1. Cover for me.
  2. Oh, good idea, boss.
  3. I was like that when I got here.

At last count the overall Government fleet totalled around 15,700 vehicles, split roughly 62 per cent petrol, 37 per cent diesel … and 0.5 per cent EVs. For want of a number, that’s a meagre 80-something EVs.

Ford Escape

Little wonder, then, that Ford New Zealand – already a supplier of commercial vehicles to Government and private fleets – is talking to anyone who will listen about its initial wave of EVs.

Stage one of the electrification over time of Ford’s vehicle line-up comprises four plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models: two Transit vans and two Escape SUVs, each with four driving modes – EV Auto, EV Now, EV Later, EV Charge – for varying conditions.

The new Transits are among the commercial models Ford is looking to help steer its way out of the sales slump caused by Covid-19. About 75 per cent of Ford’s overall sales in the past few years have been commercials, led of course by the country’s number one selling vehicle, the Ranger ute.

“Ranger has been so strong it’s overshadowed our other vehicle lines,” said Ford NZ managing director Simon Rutherford. “But having said that we are seeing a resurgence of passenger vehicles. For example, the run-out of Escape is doing well.”

2020-Ford-Puma-ST-Line-first-drive-review-10

There are five models in the new Escape SUV range – two plug-in hybrids and three petrol-only examples. Why so many? The “passenger resurgence” has become a priority for Ford: 13 of the top 15 best selling passenger vehicles in New Zealand are SUVs … and not one of them is a Ford.

The two front-wheel-drive hybrid Escapes use identical powertrains: a 2.5-litre four-cylinder Aitkinson Cycle petrol engine and a 14.4kWh battery pack that produces a maximum 167kW at 6250rpm. The base model costs $60,990 and the top ST Line X $66,990. Gearbox is an eCVT.

Ford claims a best in fuel use for the PHEV Escape of 1.5-litres/100km, helped by its ability to travel a maximum 56km on battery power alone. It also says the PHEV Escape emits a clean burning 33 grams/km of CO2.

Transit5

The three petrol-powered Escapes each run a 2.0-litre Ecoboost engine generating 183kW/387Nm and mated to an eight-speed auto. The entry-level model ($42,990) is front-wheel drive. The ST Line offers the choice of drivetrains – front-drive ($47,990) and all-wheel drive ($50,990). The ST Line X ($55,990) is all-wheel drive only.

The powertrain in the Transit cargo van ($89,990) and eight-seat Transit Tourneo coach ($99,990) comprises a 13.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack, a 93kW/350Nm electric motor and a 1.0-litre petrol engine.

The three-cylinder petrol engine is a passenger of sorts, just along for the ride. The electric motor is the one that drives the van’s front wheels. The petrol donk serves as a range extender, automatically kicking in when needs be to keep the battery pack and electric motor working as one.

Fully charged, the battery pack alone gives Transit a range of 50km. Add a full tank of gas and the van’s working range pushes out to around 500km. The PHEV Transit has a payload of 1130kg and a load capacity of six cubic metres.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Highlights, Industry news, Latest news Tagged With: Ford

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The Good Oil

French carmaker Renault has won the 2025 European Car of the Year award with the all-electric R5 supermini (pictured). It’s the brand’s second win in a row, following the new Scenic’s gong in 2024. The R5 led the vote count from start to finish from the 60 jurors in 23 countries. It received 353 points, beating the Kia EV3 (291 points) and the Citroen C3/e in third place with 215 points. It’s Renault’s eighth win in the 62-year history of the Coty award. The R5 goes on sale in the UK this month. There are two main drivetrains: a 90kW motor/40kWh battery model with a 300km range, and a 112kW/52kWh example with a 400km range. The R5 starts in price at £22.995, or $NZ50,000.

EU carmakers seek trade deal with Trump

BMW and Mercedes-Benz are among carmakers urging the European Union to get a favourable trade deal with US President Donald Trump. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) wants to keep open trade with both the US and China. It fears Trump, who promises heavy tariffs on Chinese imports to the US, will look unfavourably on countries that continue to trade freely with Beijing. Ola Kallenius, president of the group and chairman of the management board of MB, said in a letter to EU leaders:  “Overall, it is essential to recognise that trade with China and the US is most vital for the prosperity of the European economy.The EU should seek a grand bargain with the US and attempt to avoid a potential trade conflict.”

Diesel fuels EV concept for US military

A  go-anywhere EV concept for the US military uses an onboard 12kW diesel generator to top up the batteries on the move.  The all-wheel-drive has 800-volt technology and a 200kWh battery pack to power three electric motors, two in the rear and one up front. Claimed output is 745kW/15,590Nm, or 1000hp and 11,500 ft-lb of torque.  The four-seater was developed by the defence division of General Motors and is based on the platform of the Hummer SUV. It rides on Fox performance shock absorbers and 37-inch tyres and comes with “exceptional” approach and departure angles for off-road mobility. Maximum range using the generator to keep things ticking over is said to be around 500km.

We are the World

The outside temperature in Midland, Texas, was 40.5C when staff at the local office of the US National Weather Service set out to show the cabin of a closed car can literally get baking hot in summer. They mixed up a batch of chocolate chip cookies and laid them on the car’s dashboard – the surface of which showed a temperature of 87.7C. A little over four hours later the cookies were ready to eat. “Even though ours weren’t golden brown, we can confirm that they are done and delicious,” the staff wrote on Facebook.

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Electric G-Wagen takes you for spin

https://youtu.be/NwHbJ7HN1sU

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