Electric car

We have experience, advice and tips related to choosing, buying, owning, driving, maintaining and selling electric cars, as well as electric car news from home and abroad.

Expensive charging abroad

Posted 10/09/2024 by Terje Bjørnstad

Everyone knows that it is more expensive to charge along the road than at your own wall charger. But is it also more expensive to charge abroad? Here are some fresh numbers!

Nettavisen has written about Michelle Fjeldberg from Drammen who was on a car holiday with his family in Germany. Charging prices there were significantly higher than in Norway. Although the family eventually found out which stations they had to steer clear of, their total charging expenses ended up being NOK 4000 for 2500 km. It is more expensive than what it would have cost to drive a fossil car.

We have just arrived in the south of France after driving three days across Europe – 2747km to be exact. Our charging costs were "only" NOK 2398 - quite a bit less than what the family from Drammen had to pay. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that charging along the road costs more than you might think.

It pays to plan the trip

One of our advantages was that we drove on familiar roads. We know well which charging stations are good. "Good" charging stations are not only about price, but also about availability. A family on holiday probably doesn't mind paying extra to avoid having to take detours, or charging in a deserted field with no service offer. Increased charging costs can also be incurred if you charge via a 3rd party app that mediates charging for "all" stations. The advantage is that you can charge from unknown electricity companies, but the price can be more expensive.

I recommend planning ahead, although it can spoil the impulsiveness of a road trip. One of the joys of a car holiday is being able to drive where you want, when you want. But remember that there can be a long distance between chargers - especially fast chargers. It may also happen that the charger does not work on your car, even if the app shows that it should. We have also discovered several times that charging posts have been replaced by a different brand with different IDs than what the app shows. Not only should you know if there is a charger where you are going - you should also know at least one alternative. Then you also get the opportunity to prioritize price.

Crazy charging prices?

What to say about charging prices of NOK 11 and 12 per kW-hour?

On our trip, we mainly used Tesla Superchargers - all were also open to brands other than Tesla. Converted to Norwegian kroner, charging prices per kW hour were as follows:

4,69 in Sweden average between Kungälv and Löddeköpinge
3,25 in Denmark Middelfart.
4,75 in Germany average between Kaltenkirchen, Northeim-Nord, Reiskirchen and Herbolzheim
3,78 in France, Montélimar

A couple of days earlier we had charged at the Tesla Supercharger, Brokelandsheia in Norway for 4,15 per kW-hour. Tesla is not significantly more expensive abroad, and the prices are as expected.

Stated prices

In Nettavisen's article, Ionity was referred to as a "reasonable" alternative at NOK 7,80 per kW-hour. Reasonable compared to other stations that demanded NOK 11 and 12 for one kW-hour. According to the Ionity app, 1 kWh currently costs 6,80 euros - or NOK 8,05 at today's rate in Germany (Bruchsal and Nörten-Hardenberg). In France, the stated price is 0,6017 euros. It fits well with what we had to pay. Converted to Norwegian kroner, charging prices at Ionity were NOK 7,00 both at Lyon and in Narbonne.

In comparison, one kW-hour in Norway (Ionity Brokelandsheia) costs NOK 5,40. The prices in Germany and France are therefore higher, but not exorbitant compared to what you usually have to pay to charge along the road in Norway as well. One kW-hour at refill og Connect costs NOK 5,99.

During long-term stays in France without a home charger, we are dependent on charging on external chargers. The prices here are as follows:

6,32 Lidl (mediated via Plugsharing)
6,32 Allego (mediated via Electromaps)
5,80 Electra (7,00 between 14:00-19:00)

Stated charging prices may be "from prices". French Electra, for example, offers a lower price outside "prime time", which may also be common with other electricity suppliers. As mentioned, it can be more expensive to charge via an app from a 3rd party supplier (intermediary). On random samples from well-known charging points, I can see that "my" intermediaries operate with slightly higher prices than the electricity companies themselves state, but I am unsure whether this is because the prices are not updated or whether there are real mark-ups.

2016 Toyota Auris 1,8 VVT-i Hybrid Active S.

outlander phev — Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Hybrid

Price examples

Number of km: 2737

Car 1 – Toyota Auris hybrid

Petrol consumption 100-120 km/h: 0,55 litres/10km
Amount of fuel: 137 litres
Fuel cost: NOK 3013 *)

Car 2 – Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV hybrid

Petrol consumption 100-120 km/h: 0,75 litres/10km
Amount of petrol: 205 litres
Fuel cost: NOK 4089 *)

*) Petrol cost is calculated according to petrol prices in the countries we have driven through and distributed according to the number of miles traveled in each country.

Car 3 – Tesla Model 3

Power consumption 100-130 km/h: 19,7 kWh/100 km
Amount of electricity: 540,7 kWh
Fuel cost: NOK 2398

Conclusion

It is cheaper to drive an electric car than a fossil car through Europe, provided you have a favorable charging agreement. In our case it was Tesla. Car owners with a charging agreement with Ionity can charge more cheaply than "street customers". If we had charged at Ionity as a "straight customer", the charging costs would have been about as high as if we had driven a Toyota Auris hybrid. For us, who cross Europe 4 times a year, we would have our annual charging costs increased by approx. NOK 4000. It is significant.

Advice 1: Charging agreement can provide price advantages.
Advice 2: Use the electricity companies' own app if possible.
Advice 3: Avoid charging when electricity is most expensive.

Electra charging station with charging prices and the option to pay by bank card (not tested). Once the person, car and payment details have been registered in the app, you can "Autocharge".

Ionity's charging agreement

By paying a fixed monthly amount, you can recharge at reduced prices. Passport Motion: NOK 65/month and 3,80 per kWh.
Passport Express: NOK 136/month and 3,00 per kWh. In Germany, Ionity's monthly price is roughly the same as in Norway, but the kW hours cost respectively 5,80 and 4,60, i.e. 1,5 times more than in Norway. See Ionity

Update 07.10.2024/XNUMX/XNUMX – Cash with a Norwegian bank card

After charging for several weeks with Electra (French electricity company), I was forced to pay by bank card because the app showed "server error". So far, Electra has been the cheapest company in our local area. Prices are €0,49 per kWh outside prime time. But if you pay by card, the price is €0,59. Fair enough - and when I had charged 59,7 kWh it read NOK 410 on the display. Absolutely correct. But when I checked the account, I saw that a fee of €15 had also been deducted so that the kWh price would have been NOK 9,96! Fortunately, the fee was refunded after a couple of days. Later, in Germany paying by bank card resulted in me being charged €45 before I started charging. Later I had the excess amount refunded.

See

expensive charging — To Europe with an electric car in 2023

Nettavisen: Michelle was shocked by high prices when she charged her electric car on holiday in Germany

The petrol stations take charge of the charging

Posted 10/06/2024 by Terje Bjørnstad

Recently I had a completely new experience in connection with charging. I turned into a gas station, stopped at a charging post, "covered" the card and inserted the connector. So simple - so brilliant!

OKQ8 station on Rasta Håby in Munkedal, Sweden, is one of the company's 100 fast charging stations where you can "cover" the bank card. At our station, the charging posts were placed clearly visible in front of the entrance to the service building - not hidden away out of sight. It was all like refueling a fossil car. Why haven't any petrol stations figured this out before?

As easy as filling up with gas

It is of course nothing new to find charging stations near a petrol station. This is often done, but few petrol companies have thrown themselves into the battle to capture their own charging customers. They have let other operators operate charging stations in the station area. If they, like OKQ8, had set up their own chargers in front of the entrance to the service building, they would not only have been able to hijack customers from other charging operators - they could have been visited by nye customers who want charging to be as easy as filling up with petrol.

Charging operators can be divided into the following 3 groups:

Car manufacturers (Tesla, Ionity, Free2Move)
Power companies (Fortum, More, Kople, ABB)
Gas stations (Circle K, Uno-X, YX, Shell)

In addition, people can use general charging solutions from 3rd party operators who provide charging contacts for several operators. These are offered as member benefits through Electric car association, – as well as free through Elton, Fortum Charge & Drive, Plugshare, Plugsurfing with more.

French TotalEnergies

It looks like the petrol companies (energy companies) are in the process of strengthening their position on the charging market. The French energy company Total has installed new chargers at its stations along the main roads in France. In a few weeks, they have kicked out other operators in favor of their own charging stations - clearly visible and with card readers to be in line with new EU regulations.

Uno-X and YX

Here at home, Uno-X and YX have started to set up charging stations where, among other things, you can pay with a bank card. Norwegian oil companies are unlikely to benefit from kicking other operators out of their stations, but will probably be able to place their own charging sockets closer to the entrance to the service building where the fuel pumps are also located. It is also important to secure the card terminals against skimming and vandalism.

Circle K

Circle K have not yet managed to tighten their grip on their own charging stations. Many connect Circle K w/ Tesla og IONITY. They were early on in offering charging from other operators. In addition, they have their own chargers that are operated with the app Circle K Charge or by scanning a QR code, but no card readers. Unfortunately, the app works so poorly that the charging service appears useless to many *).

The 3rd party apps are struggling

On my way through France, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, I have seen new charging stations and that existing charging stations have gained new operators. A quick review of the charging apps unfortunately shows that many of the changes have not been updated on the maps. In several places where we have stopped to charge, I have seen that the IDs on new charging contacts do not match what the apps show. If you discover a new charging station, it is therefore not certain that it can be found on your app.

False security

Payment by card seems safer than an app, but can also give false security. Twice in the last few days I have tried to pay with local and international payment cards at French charging stations. They read the cards, but the reverse control doesn't work. Perhaps the card reader is mounted for visibility - to satisfy any EU inspectors?

Ideally, you should be able to pay at the register at the petrol station when the card readers are not working - in the same way as when you fill up with petrol and diesel. It is probably the next step in development - and a service that only petrol stations can provide. Hope they see the possibilities.

Fast charging with OKQ8

With 100 stations, OKQ8 is the largest in Sweden for super fast charging from 150 kW and up. The charge can be paid by bank card (Visa and Mastercard). The power supplier Skellefteå Kraft produces 100% renewable electricity based on wind and hydropower, as well as bioenergy. We have previously written about charging problems in Sweden. If you are driving in Sweden this summer, OKQ8 with a charging symbol are good places to take charging breaks.

*) What's wrong with Circle K Charge?

On the App Store has Circle K Charge received 135 feedbacks with an average score of 2,1 stars out of a possible 5. A search of the latest user comments clearly shows that this is by no means a good app. The expression "useless" is repeated frequently. We have installed the app on 2 mobile phones. On one, the map works, but all functions related to payment and login constantly fail with the message “We are experiencing technical problems. Please try again later." A good app would be able to provide a more in-depth description of what is wrong. On one of our other mobile phones, logging in works, but we have to pay by invoice - not card - and can't find any way to change this.

See

OKQ8.se

New batteries in a used car? Forget it!

Posted 21/05/2024 by Terje Bjørnstad

Imagine that the high-voltage battery is damaged or stops working. You are happy with the car and want to keep it for many years. But when you ask for a new battery, you may be met with a "no".

New batteries in a used car?

To get to the point, that's not what this article is about whose who pays – whether it is the guarantee, the insurance or yourself. The problem is of a far more serious nature. It will probably not be possible to buy a new battery. You can buy one used battery from a damaged car, or an overhauled battery - or you can have your old battery overhauled. You can probably just forget about a new battery.

Tesla, Norway's best-selling electric car, guarantees the high-voltage batteries for 8 years or 160, 000 or 192 km, depending on the model. But the warranty says nothing about replacing it with one news battery. On Tesla's own pages, it is stated that you can get an overhauled battery. In practice, that is exactly what happens. There are several cases discussed in the media, where Tesla has replaced the battery under warranty, with a used – and perhaps overhauled – battery. When it fails again after an all-too-short lifetime, the warranty period has expired and the car may have acquired a new owner.

The situation is the same for all car manufacturers.

Many car buyers are concerned about battery life and how long warranties last. Few question whether they can really get one news battery should the need arise. It is taken for granted that all spare parts can be purchased throughout the normal life of the car.

Batteries age during storage

Whether high-voltage batteries can be obtained as spare parts is not much talked about. Nobody knows how big the demand will be, and very few car manufacturers have taken into account being able to supply batteries for 10-year-old cars. Mechanical and electrical spare parts can be stored for 15 years without problems. Batteries, on the other hand, is a chemical product that deteriorates on storage. In 15 years they will no longer be new. Then it may be that they are in a worse condition than the battery you want to replace it with.

Change to a newer battery?

If you have a current electric car that is 4-5 years old, your battery pack is probably already out of production. You cannot easily install batteries of a newer version in it from car, although the external dimensions are the same. You have to count on upgrades in the BMS (Battery Management System) and the possible replacement of several components. For example, if you are going to upgrade the Tesla 3 or Tesla Y from 75 kWh to 82 kWh, the chassis must also be upgraded. On a 4-5 year old car, the cost of all this will easily exceed the car's value.

Reproduce outdated battery packs?

There are no manufacturers that reproduce new battery packs for older cars. Setting up the production equipment is very expensive, and today a significant proportion of the batteries' cost. Keeping production lines to produce older batteries in small quantities for spare parts weakens both production capacity and profitability.

A future requirement?

Will the future bring a storm of car owners wanting to change batteries? Will usable cars be sent for recycling due to lack of access to battery packs? If that happens, the environmental benefit of electric cars will be weakened, which could force demands from the authorities. However, the most important demand should come from the customers. It must be possible to obtain new spare parts during the cars' expected lifetime! And there are actually good ways to solve this – solutions that the car industry can be forced to follow.

Standards for batteries

Today, fortunately, there are standards with regard to charging contacts. One can imagine the same for batteries, similar to what we have today for batteries for household appliances - also rechargeable. A standard for battery packs may include physical dimensions, protocols and interfaces to cooling systems and control systems. The aim is for it to be possible to replace one battery with another – perhaps with different properties. Another important advantage of standardization is that it can open the way for independent suppliers to supply batteries in the aftermarket. You may not need the largest and most expensive batteries in an old electric car.

Replaceable batteries

Today, only NIO and Dongfeng have developed the technology and infrastructure to replace batteries outside the workshops. If the batteries can be replaced easily and inexpensively, car owners will be able to upgrade or downgrade batteries according to need and finances. NIO has introduced a battery-as-a-service (BaaS) concept that makes it possible to replace an empty battery with a full one in just 5 minutes – and thus not have to wait for charging. NIO owners with this scheme can also choose batteries with other characteristics – 75, 100 or 150 kWh – depending on needs and finances. Exchangeable battery schemes require the car manufacturer – or (in the future) independent battery suppliers – to have a selection of batteries available for replacement at all times.

Stick to current car brands!

Standardization and replaceable batteries can help new car manufacturers enter new markets. If you buy one of the best-selling electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf, Tesla 3 or Tesla Y, you will always be able to have access to used batteries. If you hit the chassis hard on a sharp rock and damage the battery, it can be reassuring to know that the car can be repaired on the insurance. If you buy an unknown car brand that disappears or goes bankrupt after selling a few hundred cars, the accident could mean the end of the car.

See

A post about batteries from NIO House on Instagram

With an electric car to Europe this summer?

Posted 28/04/2024 by Terje Bjørnstad

Only since last autumn, several new charging stations have appeared along the main routes down through Europe. Driving an electric car is easier than ever. But it pays to plan your trip in advance instead of traveling on luck and piety.

Choose a good route

If you are going to drive through Germany, there are not that many route options to choose from. Autobahn 7 takes you from Denmark through almost all of Germany to Italy and Austria. Those going to France and Spain can either take Autobahn 1 towards Luxembourg after Hamburg, or follow Autobahn 7 down and take Autobahn 5 towards Frankfurt, Mulhouse and Basel. Both options take about the same amount of time, but the Autobahn 1 to Luxembourg does not have the same coverage of charging stations. If you choose that route with an electric car to Europe, you should plot the charging stations in advance. Along the Autobahn 7 and 5, on the other hand, the charging stations are close all the way. Several new charging stations have appeared since we drove there last autumn.

With an electric car to Europe, it is an advantage to have many charging stations along the way. One less problem. Where there are long distances between the charging stations, queues can easily form during the holiday season.

Ferry or Sweden?

It is not only about what is most effective, but also what one prefers. Last year we traveled with a dog, and chose to drive through Sweden. Now we took the Colorline from Larvik to Hirtshals, with an overnight stay in a hotel before we went on early the next morning. In low season, the crossing takes 3 hours and 55 minutes, with arrival no later than 1 hour before departure. On the trip you can enjoy a good buffet with food and drink - and a view of the fjord, or snooze in good recliners.

All roads meet in Kolding - whether you choose to drive via Sweden, or take the ferry from Larvik. If you look at the time consumption between Oslo and Kolding, the two alternatives can be compared in the following way:

Option 1. Ferry Larvik-Hirtshals

Drive Oslo-Larvik: 1,5 hours
Waiting in Larvik: 1,5 hours
Crossing: 4,0 hours
Driving time Hirtshals-Kolding: 2,5 – 3,5 hours
Charge/rest time: 0,5 hours (1 quick charge)
Total: 10,0 – 11,0 hours

Option 2: Drive through Sweden

Driving time Oslo-Kolding: 9,0 – 10,5 hours
Charge/rest time: 1,5 hours (3 quick charges)
Total: 10,5 – 12,0 hours

Both options make up a one-day stage and with an electric car they are also roughly the same price. Remember that you get a discount over the Øresund Bridge and the Storebælt Bridge with a toll tag from Fremtind.

We had a great trip over to Hirtshals - with our own table at the very front of the bow. A fantastic buffet with good food, snacks and all types of beverages for only NOK 299 per person (every day outside the season) - and greeted by friendly crew during the entire crossing.

Charging preparations

You should have all the charging apps installed in connection with a valid bank card before you set off. Also check that the apps have not logged you out, so you don't have to mess with passwords at the charging station. Many people experience problems registering on a charging app abroad. When I recently tried to install an app from a French charging company, I couldn't register because I didn't have a French mobile number. Nor are all solutions that accept Norwegian bank cards when you are abroad.

Charging companies and intermediaries

From our trip last fall, I boasted that I could use the charging app and charging chip from Fortum Charge & Drive at my local French charging stations. Today, Fortum Charge & Drive no longer works outside of Scandinavia. On the continent their app is worthless. The same applies to Elton's app.

Of course, you don't travel abroad with an app from just one charging agent. I also recently tested an app from plug surfing – the first time at a French charging post from Eng. It didn't work well. The map in the app showed that I was at the correct charging post, but when I was going to charge, I received a message that I was not at the charging post after all. The IDs in the app also did not match what was written on the bars. plug surfing showed data for charging posts that were previously some distance away at the same rest area - but which had now been removed!

A common mistake

A reviewer claims that half of the charging points on the map in plug surfing is wrong. This probably also applies to other intermediaries. I have experienced the same type of problem with Fortum Charge and Drive at a popular Norwegian charging station. In both Germany and France, new chargers have recently arrived from charging companies I have never heard of before. It must be a challenge for the companies that provide charging contacts to keep up to date. We still need the intermediaries, because some charging stations do not have their own app offer. I also like moderator apps that allow for comments - for example electromaps og plugshare.

Charging in tropical rain and storm surge - Narbonne

Need both

If you are on the move a lot, you should ensure that you have access to apps from international charging companies - not just intermediaries - both because the charging companies' own apps provide increased security (fewer errors) and because charging there can be cheaper. It may still be worth paying a little extra to be able to use an unknown charging station there er, instead of having to drive to another location just to charge from a well-known charging company.

Pay by bank card?

Although there is an EU requirement that it should be possible to pay for charging with a bank card, it is probably a long time before such solutions can be trusted. I have tried with normal cards at new charging stations in France, without success. The card is registered, but the authorization fails (time-out). My French bank card doesn't work either. I think it will take a long time before we can pay by bank card. *)

First charging customer?

Based on reviews from users, you should therefore not trust the app from plug surfing. But today I found a new charging station nearby that only existed on the map plug surfing. I went there - and sure enough - outside a local hotel two brand new 300kW charging posts were ready. They were set up last week. I chatted with the owner who was delighted to see that "his" charging station was listed on the map in a general app.

Book a hotel

I recommend booking a hotel room before you travel. We have experienced that good hotels along the road are filled up regardless of the season - either by tourists or business travelers. Finding suitable hotels requires a lot of research in advance. You can use Google Maps to find out the driving time based on the desired date and time. It is important to arrive at the hotel in good time before the reception closes for the evening. Use the booking apps to check reviews from previous guests. There are hotels that you should just drive past.

After a long day on the road, it's good to arrive at a pre-booked room

Live near the road or go into the nearest village?

It may be easier to get a place at hotels located a few kilometers off the motorway. Moreover, hotels in the villages offer more charm than the road hotels. We still prefer to stay close to the road in hotels for road users - often with chargers and parking facilities right outside. It is an indescribable feeling of happiness to see the lights of the hotel in the distance after a long day on the road in pouring rain and know that we have a room there waiting for us.

Customs and use on motorways

Germans don't like someone "occupying" a field. It doesn't matter how fast you drive, there is always someone who drives faster. If you are being overtaken by other cars, you are expected to pull over to the right if possible. It is perhaps more about custom and courtesy than about rules. It also increases the capacity of the road.

Remember "Rettungsgasse" in queues, where the cars in the left lane keep to the left and the cars in the middle lane stay to the right in their lane before stopping so that the emergency vehicles can pass freely.

On French motorways around Lyon, motorists are encouraged to regard the middle lane as a safety zone which is used to overtake or let other cars pass.

French motorways have a speed limit of 130 km/h and speed cameras have been set up along all motorways. They are small and hard to spot - and flash for the slightest infringement. If you drive a Norwegian car, it is not certain that you will receive any reminders in the post. I myself have been waiting for months - and still haven't received a letter 😉

🙂 Smiley face

Tesla Supercharger – more than ever
IONITY – a friend in need
The crew at Colorline SuperSpeed
Montra Skaga Hotel, Hirtshals
Hotel Pfefferhôhe, Alsfeld
VINCI aires et services

🙁 Surfing

Fortum Charge and Drive cut foreign chargers.
Plugsurfing with a twist in its data.

- And while you are in Germany, you can enjoy fine classics like these.

Parked above this nice Volkswagen in Soltau, Germany.

*) Update 08.06.2024

Q8 has recently installed fast chargers in Sweden and Denmark with bank card payment - and they work! Just look for Q8 with charging symbol. When will other gas stations follow, think?

See

The petrol stations take charge of the charging

Where the electric cars are manufactured

Posted 23/03/2024 by Terje Bjørnstad

When the same model is produced in several places in the world - and not always in the same place every year - it is not easy to know. Find out where your electric car is manufactured!

Don't forget the batteries!

The batteries form a significant part of the electric car. In value, it can be as much as a third. A German car with Chinese batteries is strictly speaking not quite German. The world's largest suppliers of batteries to the automotive industry are China's CATL and LG Chem from South Korea. LG Chem has established a large production plant in Poland and is building a similar plant in the USA. Besides LG Chem, batteries are produced in the following European battery manufacturers: PowerCo (Volkswagen), Saft (Stellantis) and Northvolt (Volvo). Car manufacturers rarely state where they get the battery cells from at any given time. Therefore, the information below about which country the batteries originate from may become out of date in a short time.

Sources

The information only applies to cars produced from 2023 to March 2024 and brought into Norway via official import channels (not parallel imports). As sources are the following:
- VIN numbers from cars sold on Finn.no from brand dealers.
- Press releases from car manufacturers.
- The production plants' websites.
- Newspaper reviews and news relating to car production.
- Wikipedia.
- World EVs 10/2021 from Cleanfi Oy.
- Newspaper reviews and news related to batteries.

Audi
Batteries - South Korea and Poland (LG Chem)
Q4 e-tron – Zwickau, Germany
Q8 e-tron – Brussels, Belgium
e-tron – Brussels, Belgium
e-tron GT – Heilbronn, Germany

BMW
Batteries - South Korea and China (CATL)
i4 – Munich, Germany
i5 – Dingolfing, Germany
i7 – Dingolfing, Germany
iX – Dingolfing, Germany
iX1 – Regensburg, Germany
iX3 – Graz, Austria

BYD
Batteries - China
Han – Shenzhen, China
T3 – Changsha, China
Tang – Changsha, China

Citroen
Batteries - China (CATL) and Germany (Saft)?
Berlingo - Vigo, Spain
e-C4 – Villaverde, Spain
e-C4 X – Villaverde, Spain
Jumpy – Luton, UK
Spacetourer – Luton, UK

Cupra
Batteries - Poland (LG Chem)
Born – Zwickau, Germany

DS
Batteries - China
3 – Poissy, France
3 Crossback – Poissy, France

Discontinuation of German environmental bonus causes car market to tremble.

Fiat
Battery - South Korea
500e – Mirafiori, Turin, Italy

Ford
Batteries - Poland (LG Chem)
Mustang Mach-e – Cuautitlán, Mexico
e-Transit – Otosan, Turkey

Honda
Batteries - China
e – Yorii, Japan
e:Ny1 – Wuhan, China

Hongqi
batteries - China
E-HS9 – Changchun, China

Hyundai
Batteries - South Korea (SK Innovation)
Ioniq5 – Ulsan, South Korea
Ioniq6 – Asan, South Korea
Kona – Nošovice, Czech Republic

JAC
Batteries - China
E-JS4 – Hefei, China

Jaguar
Batteries - South Korea
I-Pace – Graz, Austria

Jeep
Batteries – ?
Avenger – Tychy, Poland

KIA
Batteries - South Korea (SK Innovation)
e-Niro – Hwasung, South Korea
EV6 – Hwasung, South Korea
EV9 – Gwangmyeong, South Korea
Soul – Gwangju, South Korea

Lexus
Batteries - China
RZ – Aishi, Japan
UX – Miyawaka,, Japan

Maxus
Batteries - China
Euniq5 – Wuxi, China
T90 – Wuxi, China

Mazda
Batteries - China
MX-30 - Hiroshima, Japan

Mercedes-Benz
Batteries - China (CATL and AESC for eCitan?)
eCitan – Maubeuge, France
EQA – Rastatt, Germany
EQB – Kecskemét, Hungary
EQC – Bremen, Germany
EQE – Bremen, Germany
EQE SUV – Sindelfingen, Germany
EQS – Sindelfingen, Germany
EQS SUV – Sindelfingen, Germany

MG
Batteries - China (CATL)
MG4 – Ningde, China
MG5 – Nanjing, China
ZS – Zhengzhou, China

The Mini Cooper SE is produced in Oxford

MINI
Batteries - China
Cooper SE – Oxford, UK (-2023)
Cooper SE – Jiangsu, China (from 2024)

NIO
Batteries - China (CATL)
ES8 – Hefei, China
ET5 – Hefei, China
ET7 – Hefei, China

Nissan
Batteries - China (AESC)
Ariya – Kaminokawa, Japan
Leaf – Sunderland, UK
Townstar – Maubeuge, France

Opel
Batteries - Germany (Saft) and China (CATL)
Astra – Rüsselheim, Germany
Corsa - Zaragoza, Spain
Combo - Vigo, Spain
Mocha – Poissy, France
Vivaro – Luton, UK

Peugeot
Batteries - China (CATL) and Germany (Saft)
2008 – Vigo, Spain
208 – Trnava, Slovakia (VIN11* W=Poissy, France)
Rifts - Vigo, Spain
Traveler - Luton, UK
Expert – Luton, UK

Polestar
Batteries - China
2 – Luqiao, China

Porsche
Batteries - South Korea (LG Chem)
Taycan (all variants) – Stuttgart, Germany

Seres
Batteries - China
3 – Chongqing, China
5 – Chongqing, China

Skoda
Batteries - South Korea, Poland (LG Chem)
Enyaq – Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic

Subaru
Batteries - China
Solterra – Aichi, Japan

Tesla
Batteries - China (Model 3 and Y after 2020.09)
Model 3 - Shanghai, China (VIN11* F=Fremont, USA)
Model E – Fremont, USA
Model S – Fremont, USA
Model Y – Berlin, Germany (VIN11* C=Shanghai, China)

Toyota
Batteries - China and Germany (Proace?)
Proace – Luton, UK
Proace City – Vigo, Spain
Proace Verso – Luton, UK
BZ4X – Aichi, Japan

Volkswagen
Batteries - Poland (LG Chem)
Crafter – Września, Poland
ID.Buzz – Hannover, Germany
ID.3 – Zwickau, Germany
ID.4 – Emden, Germany
ID.5 – Zwickau, Germany
ID.7 – Emden, Germany

Volvo
Batteries - China and Finland (Northvolt)
EX30 – Zhangjiakou, China
C40 – Ghent, Belgium
XC40 – Luqiao, China (VIN11* 2=Gent, Belgium)

Voyah
Batteries - China
Free – Wuhan, China

XPeng
Batteries - CALB, China
G3i – Zhengzhou, China
G9 – Guangzhou, China
P7 – Zhaoqing, China

*) VIN11 is the 11th position on the car's VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). If you can't find the number on the car, you can look up on vegvesen.no

Surprises?

We get the Tesla Model Y from Tesla's new factory in Berlin, while the Model 3 is still shipped from China. The new Volvo EX30 is produced in China and production of the XC40 has been moved from Europe to China.

See

Liquidation of the German environmental bonus results in a decline in electric car sales

Posted 08/03/2024 by Terje Bjørnstad

For several years, electric car customers in Germany have been able to take advantage of a government environmental bonus. A week before Christmas, the scheme was removed with just 3 days' notice. This led to an immediate decline in sales of "affordable" electric cars such as the Fiat 500e and Opel Corsa e.

Environmental bonus that disappeared

Since 2016, German electric car customers have been able to benefit from government support for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles. The money was transferred to the customers as a bonus after the cars had been paid for and delivered. Several dealers calculated the bonus when they put a price tag on the cars. The rates for 2023 were €4.500 in environmental bonus for cars under €40.000 and €3.000 for cars between €40.000 to €60.000. Cars over €60.000 gave no payouts.

BAFA (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle), which administered the support scheme, was forced to terminate the support scheme at short notice because there were no funds to continue - and a new state budget did not allow for the continuation of the scheme. One can therefore with good reason direct criticism at the politicians (SPD) - but what is really worthy of criticism in this case is the way in which BAFA discontinued the scheme. The liquidation took effect just 3 days after it was announced. Several tens of thousands of car customers who had ordered electric cars were affected.

The car manufacturers footed the bill

The liquidation was a slap in the face for those who had signed a contract but had not yet received their cars. No one imagined that the environmental bonus would disappear overnight. The consequences could have been serious had it not been for several car manufacturers choosing to cover the bonus for affected customers. Stellantis, Hyundai, KIA and Dacia are among the manufacturers that prevented customers who were waiting for cars from ending up in the dark.

Affects sales of small electric cars

In Germany, electric cars are far more expensive than cars that run on petrol or diesel. For example, you can buy Opel Corsa with petrol engine from €20, while prices for similarly equipped electric cars start at €300 without environmental bonus. For the same price you can get a well-equipped petrol engine Opel Grandland, which gives significantly more car for the money. In contrast to Norway, German car dealers still carry a full range of petrol and diesel-powered cars.

environmental bonus — 2024 Opel Corsa-e GS

Opel Corsa – an example

The Opel Corsa was the best-selling small car in Germany in 2023 with almost 54 cars, of which one in four ran on electricity, according to Stellantis. The Corsa-e then also ended up in 000th place among all electric cars sold.

In 2023, you could buy an Opel Corsa-e for just over €30 when the full "Umweltbonus" was deducted. in 000, the Corsa-e has, among other things, a new front - and in the GS version - an increase in power from 2024hp to 136hp, an increase in battery capacity from 156 kWh to 50 kWh and a range of up to 51 km. The price in Norway starts at NOK 405. If we add equipment such as an 344kW on-board charger, a technology package with adaptive LED lighting, navigation, a panoramic glass roof and additional paint, the price ends up at NOK 900 without winter tyres. In Germany, the same car costs NOK 11 (!).

It is worth remembering that if full value added tax were introduced on electric cars here at home, a well-equipped Opel Corsa-e would cost half a million kroner delivered with winter tyres.

It is thought-provoking that electric cars need government support in order for most people to be able to afford to buy them.

Facts

Figures based on registration statistics for new cars in Germany

Share of electric cars throughout 2023: 18,4%
Share of electric cars January 2024: 10,52%
Share of electric cars February 2024: 12,64%

Sales figures for two of the models which in 2023 received the full effect of the environmental bonus.

Month	Opel Corsa-e	Fiat 500-e
August 2023	3079	3193
September 2023	2175	1765
October 2023	899	1760
November 2023	1737	1730
December 2023 *)	2287	3001
January 2023	286	735
February	241	149

*) German environmental bonus for zero-emission vehicles ended on 17.12.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX

Source: goingelectric.de

16.03.2023
Several newspapers report that the Fiat factory has now cut down to one shift at the Mirafiori factory due to failing sales of the Fiat 500e. According to Stellantis, this is due to the loss of support schemes for electric cars.

See

End of E-Auto Promotion 2024: That's what you need to know

Scammed via QR code on charging post

Posted 05/01/2024 by Terje Bjørnstad

At a charging station in Loiret, France, it was recently discovered that someone had pasted a fake QR code over the real QR code, leading users to a fake payment service.

No one reacted

The victims in this case experienced paying without receiving any electricity. Unfortunately, it happens all too often that apps and charging services do not work. It is actually so common that many do not react. They go to the next charging post - or drive on to the next charging point. That is what the victims of the fraud in France did. Most people who experience this will think:

- Does this apply to everyone, or just me? Maybe it's the wrong chip, the wrong app, the wrong password, the wrong phone, the wrong car, or maybe just a temporary error on the charging post?

The fraudsters in France had ensured that only small amounts were withdrawn, the size of what normal charging sessions cost. This contributed to no one reacting. Therefore, the fraud could continue over time.

A new skimming method?

Charging stations with QR open up a new type of fraud. If you end up on a payment page, no one raises an eyebrow that a bank ID is required, which can give fraudsters the opportunity to withdraw larger amounts. This type of fraud is similar to the skimming of cards that were previously used at ATM terminals, but is easier to carry out. Furthermore, there are now far more charging stations than ATMs. It will only be a matter of time before this appears in Norway.

Card terminals and skimming

In Norway, a requirement applies that charging stations ordered after 1 July 2023 must be able to accept card payments. I am not sure whether payment solutions via QR code apply as card payment. I'm not sure about one either physical card payment with a card reader or "tagging" will be more secure than QR. Unfortunately, the location of many charging stations provides good working conditions for a new generation of "skimmers". While the payment terminals for fuel pumps is well protected under cover in supervised places, located the charging stations often off the beaten track - often with little visibility from the outside.

Be critical of the site

Before using the QR code, you should check that the information on the charging post looks real. Check that the QR code leads you to a page that can be linked to the charging company or a known payment service such as Nets, Vipps or PayPal. I myself have stood at a Spanish charging station and paid via Net's payment solution with a bank ID. I wouldn't have dared to pay if I didn't recognize the payment image from Nets.

- Doesn't everyone use an app, then?

Use of a QR code – or bank card when the time comes – are solutions that do not require a valid app to be installed for the charging point in question. If you stand at the charging station without an app, it will be faster to scan the QR code than to install the app. If you are in one of our neighboring countries, it may be that the app does not accept Norwegian bank cards, or that you cannot be verified as Norwegian bank ID from abroad.

An app or chip with pre-stored payment information is probably more secure than QR codes and card readers. Unfortunately, the app and chip do not always work as expected. Most people have probably ended up in such a situation. It happened to me a couple of days ago.

The QR code can be good to have

A perfectly normal evening - dark and cold at a busy charging station from Wed. The app from Fortum Charge & Go showed the post I was standing at, but the chip didn't work. Wrong piece? I tried to start charging from the app instead, but the IDs on the contacts did not match those listed in the app. Wrong app? If I remember correctly, there was another charging company here before - that is, before Wed took over. Okay, so I went into the app from instead Wed, which showed correct IDs on the contacts - except the one I was standing in front of - the only one available. The pole had two sides - one side was out of order - fault in terminal? - while the display on the other side showed that everything should be ok. Nevertheless, no contacts on the bar were shown in the app. Error in the app? The last solution could then have been to use the QR code as at Wed gives access to a solution with Vipps. I chose instead to drive on to the next charging station.

My point is that the solution of scanning a QR code can be good to have when other solutions fail. Then you are irritated and a little impatient - exactly what the scammers want - helped by the fact that errors can always occur at charging stations.

See

Midilibre.fr – Attention à l'arnaque au QR Code

Leap 3.0 could pave the way for small cars

Posted 25/10/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

When Leapmotor unveiled its latest model, the C10, at the IAA Mobility fair in Munich, it wasn't the car that was most eye-catching, but the technology under the shell. It can open the way for a new generation of electric cars.

Can new technology pave the way for small cars?

An electric SUV of 4,8 meters from a relatively unknown car brand does not attract attention in the news. Few will be able to identify a Leapmotor C10 on the street. I think the market for large SUVs must soon be saturated. I wish the car manufacturers could instead put the spotlight on beautiful and flattering electric cars.

Unfortunately, high-built cars with solid suspension, large wheels and brakes are necessary to transport today's "long range" batteries. But we should not reject the large box-shaped SUV that was unveiled at Leapmotor's stand in Munich this autumn. It can actually help the car manufacturers to give us a larger selection of stylish and far smaller box-shaped electric cars, and it can also open up new models with a long range in the important A and B segment.

About Leapmotor

Leapmotor is one of several start-up car manufacturers from China. They are a fairly small manufacturer with approximately 210 cars produced from 000 to the second half of 2019. Currently, the vast majority of cars go to the domestic market, but Leapmotor is in the process of establishing itself in Europe. In February this year, they started in France, and until next year the UK will be in charge. Today, the model range consists of only the small model T2023. It is an electric car in the A segment in the same size as France's second best-selling electric car, the Dacia Spring. The Chinese domestic market also sells an SUV model, called the C03, and the C11, which is a sedan.

Leapmotor dealer Toulouse with sales of DFSK/Seres in the room next door. Source: Google maps (June 2023)

3.0

This is the latest version of Leapmotor's battery architecture. They describe it in 4 levels - called "Four Clover". At the bottom is the computer architecture, then battery and electric motor, then a fully assembled "lower body", and finally the entire car. There are two things in particular in this architecture that I believe could influence the development of electric cars worldwide, namely Central E/E Control Architecture og Cell-to-Chassis batteries.

Central E/E Control Architecture

In any modern car there are small, computerized control boxes connected to each other in a wired computer network. The electronic boxes serve electrical functions such as switches and the like (E/E - Electro/Electric or data-weak current/high current). By connecting the data boxes to larger data boxes and letting these in turn communicate with a central computer, the number of cables and boxes can be reduced - which can provide more space, lower weight, less energy loss and better range.

"Cell-to-chassis" batteries

"Cell-to-chassis" means that all the battery cells are attached directly to the car's chassis without being encapsulated in battery boxes. Done correctly, it can stiffen the undercarriage and bodywork, provide better interior space, increase safety and provide faster charging. The solution means that only power-generating components are installed - without excess load. Tesla has described the solution as "Cell-to-body", which amounts to the same for passenger cars where the batteries are placed in load-bearing structures. One can also draw parallels to the aircraft industry where the fuel tanks are built into the wings.

Leapmotor C10 unveiled at IAA Munich 2023

Can reduce the lifespan of cars

There are objections to mounting the batteries as part of the chassis/undercarriage/bodywork. Replacing or repairing batteries can be more expensive. The solution can also cause challenges when recycling. The latter can be important, if one lowers the threshold for scrapping cars instead of repairing them. In return, "cell-to-chassis" opens up new opportunities for the production of cheaper and smaller electric cars - which offsets the fact that the average lifespan is reduced.

Also offered by other car manufacturers

The new platform, Leap 3.0, has not yet been put into production. One can ask whether the sale of the new C10 model alone can cover development costs, as a lot of software has to be developed up front. Zhu Jiangming, chairman and founder, has stated that Leapmotor will not just sell cars, but also supply technology to other car manufacturers. Volkswagen, which has a heavy presence in the Chinese car industry through the companies FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen, is said to be already in negotiations with Leapmotor to supply the Leap 3.0 for its new planned Jetta model for the Chinese market. In Europe, Volkswagen has created its own platforms, and has announced that it will use a modified version of the MEB platform for its new front-wheel drive ID.2. Perhaps the experiences with Leap 3.0 in the new Jetta can make Volkswagen choose the same platform for the ID.2 and a future ID.1?

It is no secret that Stellantis has also been in contact with Leapmotor, but it must be exclusively linked to EREV Leap 3.0-the platform that contains a range extender with a 1,2 liter internal combustion engine. Perhaps Stellantis has plans to use «e fuel» to a possible range extender?

Unlike the Volkswagen group, Stellantis has chosen to build electric cars according to the same pattern as cars with thermal engines. They have been able to deliver good electric cars in the B segment, which Volkswagen has not yet achieved - but Stellantis will probably need a more modern platform towards 2035.

Leapmotor T03

When I did "research" for the post about the low-cost cars, I started from what was available on the French market, where small cars are more popular than in Norway. The Leapmotor T03 is the third least expensive electric car in France, beaten by Dacia Spring and Renault Twingo. Leapmotor established its first dealers in France in February this year and aims to have approximately 100 dealers by the end of the year. In France, the cars cost €25, but with environmental refunds the net price can end up as low as €990. The Leapmotor T18 delivers 500hp and a range of 03 km WLTP. The model came out on the market in 109 and the platform is based on Leap 280. I'm guessing we'll see a sequel soon.

Leapmotor C11 with Leap 2.0 Architecture. Sold in China only.

See

Dacia spring — Voilkswagen's new signature model

The best highway?

Posted 22/10/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

motorway — On the highway. Photo: lembit/Depositphotos.com

If you are going to drive through Europe, motorways apply. I have rolled the dice over motorways through 6 different countries - and have chosen a winner!

A freeway, is a freeway, is a…

We had a nice trip this time too. Three days on the motorway went like a dream, thanks to the motorways, the service offers along the road and the other road users. The motorways do not only consist of vei, but is also an international "community" that supplies everything that road travelers from all corners of Europe need on their journey. That's why I think that if you've seen one motorway, you've seen them all.

But are all roads equally good?

We have driven the AP7 in Spain from Barcelona to France. Then A9, A7, A6 and A36 via Lyon to Alsace, Bundesautobahn 5 and 7 through Germany via Hanover to Denmark, then E45 and E20 over the Øresund Bridge and E6 through Sweden to Oslo.

Road standard

The roads in Spain and France are part of Vinci Autoroutes. In Spain the motorways are tolled and free, while it cost €80 to drive through France. The road standard in Spain is good, but some sections of the road seem undersized in relation to the speed limit of 120 km/h. In France, the road standard is excellent and can easily withstand 130 km/h.

In Germany, on the other hand, the maintenance of the roads seems to have been neglected for many years. They are simply so bad that I was afraid that the tires would be destroyed. Road works are taking place "all over the place" and they are unlikely to be finished for several decades. Dilapidated 4-lane roads with tight on-ramps and exits bear little resemblance to what one would expect from class A motorways.

The roads in Sweden receive top scores - not only for the road standard, but also for how they are laid out in the landscape. The roads in Denmark are surrounded by vegetation and earth embankments. Although the standard is good, it is boring that you cannot follow the surrounding landscape.

The Øresund Bridge. Photo: hansenn/Depositphotos.com — The Great Belt Bridge. Photo: hansenn/Depositphotos.com

Service offer

You should not need to leave the motorway system to refuel, charge, top up air, eat or visit a toilet. In Germany, you are continuously notified of how far it is both to the next and subsequent service station. In France we paid tolls, but in return could use very good and safe service points along the road, including good toilets. Since Spain no longer charges tolls, we are unsure whether the service offer in Spain will be maintained. We experience that Circle K charges to use the toilets in Denmark and Sweden. The rest areas are centered around Circle K and Q8 stations. In Sweden, the Swedish Transport Administration has established nice rest areas with free toilets.

Charging options

Had we made the same journey 4 months ago, we would have argued that France was not suitable for electric cars. Today the situation is completely different. All the charging stations we have visited - Tesla and others - have been established during the last 4 months - several with the option to pay by bank card. The Tesla chargers are located outside the motorway system. Although they are cheaper, we preferred fast chargers located within the toll booths.

We had expected that the development of charging stations in Germany would have progressed further. We found older chargers that could barely cover the demand on a normal weekday in October. In both France and Germany, service points with charging stations were marked from the road with their own charging symbols. Signage of charging stations was not as well implemented in the Nordic countries. It is important that there are signs for the charging stations along the road, so you don't have to search on a screen while driving. In Sweden, it was possible to observe the charging stations from the motorway in several places.

Driving culture

On the continent, you are expected to keep to the right on motorways and use the lanes on the left for overtaking. In Germany, you are expected to pull over to the right - if possible - if you are overtaken by another vehicle. That way you undoubtedly get more cars through the motorway at the same time - especially on sections with free speed.

In France, many people drive in "jerks and nibbles". They give full throttle when they "throw" the car out to drive past - and reduce speed just as suddenly after they have pulled in to the right. Both parts create unrest in the traffic picture, and inhibit the flow of traffic.

In the Nordic countries, the principle of lining up on the right is not followed as strictly. In Norway, many people choose to drive in the left lane over long distances, despite the fact that the traffic behind wants to pass. Seen from Norwegian eyes, this is normal - "the road is free for all". Seen with continental eyes, on the other hand, it seems arrogant that one motorist chooses to block other road users from passing, and I can clearly see how this inhibits the capacity of the motorway. Danes and Swedes are generally better at changing lanes without disrupting the flow of traffic.

On German motorways we saw several times grown men in expensive fast cars driving at "free speed", closely followed by young people in older cars. It was clear they were racing. Shouldn't adults show responsibility towards the youngest road users?

Country	ES	FR	DE	DK	SE	DO NOT
Road standard
Service offer
Charging options
Driving culture
Total	17	21	13	18	22	18

Sweden wins on good roads and skilled drivers. France ends up in 2nd place. We love the motorways and the new charging stations, but many French drivers have trouble keeping the flow. Norway and Denmark end up in shared 3rd place. The Danes have a better driving culture than the Norwegians, but lose something at hidden and poorly signposted service stations and the charging options along the road are not quite on par with Norway. Spain comes in second last place due to few charging options. Germany is beautiful, especially to the south, but the roads are worn and some Germans drive recklessly fast. All the accidents we saw on the road happened in Germany.

A couple of tips

Rescue alley
I don't think anyone can drive through Germany without experiencing a traffic jam. You are then obliged to ensure that emergency vehicles have clear passage. That passage is created between the two lanes furthest to the left, which means that the cars in the left lane lay well to the left before stopping, and that the cars on the right squeeze together towards the right. This worked fine. If there is a queue on the motorway, an emergency vehicle will often pass by.

The bypass north of Gothenburg
As is well known, part of E6 disappeared in the quick clay landslide in Stenungssund north of Gothenburg. If you are coming from the south, traffic will be signposted onto E45 towards Karlstad, with exit at Lilla Edet to E6 at Ljungskile south of Hogstorp. The detour steals neither time nor kilometres, but if you drive an electric car, you should be on your guard as there are no charging options until you get back down to the E6. You can choose to drive north as normal with a local detour around the slide.