Audi's first electric car the e-tron SUV wind top safety pick

The e-tron SUV, Audi's first all-electric car, has been named as a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The crash test results

The e-tron SUV is the first electric car to merit this distinction. Tesla's Model 5 and the Chevy Bolt, along with other models, missed out on the award. The IIHS released a number of videos showing the e-tron being smashed at its test facility for the entertainment of prospective buyers and casual viewers alike.

The e-tron earned "good" ratings in all of IIHS 'crashworthiness' categories. The IIHS also found that the car's "Pre Sense Front" automatic emergency breaking system also worked well in the 25 mph test. In the 12 mph test the e-tron slowed down to 1 mph before impact.

Good rating a plus for Audi and the e-tron

The e-tron had a rocky start. The unveiling was delayed after the Audi CEO was arrested for alleged involvement in the Volkswagen Deiselgate emissions cheating scandal. The scandal is described by Wikipedia: "The Volkswagen emissions scandal, also known as Dieselgate or Emissionsgate, began in September 2015, when the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation of the Clean Air Act to German automaker Volkswagen Group. The agency had found that Volkswagen had intentionally programmed turbocharged direct injection diesel engines to activate their emissions controls only during laboratory emissions testing which caused the vehicles' NOx output to meet US standards during regulatory testing, but emit up to 40 times more NOx in real-world driving."

Then the release of the car onto the market was delayed by a battery shortage. No sooner did the e-tron actually hit the road when a few hundred had to be recalled due to a fire hazard.

The competition

After Jaguar's I-Pace the e-tron is one of the very first serious long-range electric cars to hit the luxury segment of the automotive market. The price starts at around $75,000. Other cars are now following. The Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV started production the summer. Porsche's first all-electric car that the Taycan will be revealed in just a few weeks as reported on in a recent Digital Journal article.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Chinese firm Huawei to partner with German auto maker Audi to develop self-driving trechnology

The Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei will partner with the German auto maker Audi to develop self-driving technology for cars that will be made in China.

The nature of the deal

The agreement will focus on creating what is called Level 4 technology. The Society of Automotive Engineers defines this as a car that completely drives itself within a specific area. This new deal is just the latest in a long line of similar partnerships between car companies and tech companies in the move toward creating truly autonomous vehicles. Details of the agreement were not announced. However the deal should help Audi to do tests on autonomous vehicles in China.

Huawei did show off an Audi Q7 outfitted with the technology company's Mobile Data Center(MDC) rig at its Connect 2018 conference just this week. The MDC is reported to consist of a number of AI chips, a central CPU, cameras, and LIDAR. It sits on the car roof. Huawei is also to work with Audi on vehicle-to-vehicle communication and connected car solutions. See the appended video.

China has relaxed its rules on foreign ownership

For many years China has required foreign automakers to partner in joint ventures with local companies if they want to manufacture cars in the country. However, earlier this year the government announced plans to relax the rules so the automotive manufacturing landscape in China is changing.

Tesla to open wholly owned factory in Shanghai

In an earlier article the Verge announced: "Tesla has signed a “cooperative agreement” with the Shanghai Municipal Government to build its third Gigafactory and the first in China, the company announced today. Tesla says it aims to be able to make 500,000 cars per year there in what is the biggest market for electric vehicles in the world, though the company says it will be a while before the factory is up and running."

However, the Chinese government is still strictly guiding Western car companies. It strictly controls permits required to test self-driving vehicles, as well as licences that allow companies to make digital maps of the country's roads. This restriction has led major car companies such as Daimler, Ford, and BMW to partner with Baidu which has the ability to do both.

The Chinese government regards a free market approach to be a security risk. It does not want detailed maps of China's roads and other data in the hands of foreign countries. Similar fears abound in the west as well. Earlier this year the US in effect banned government employees and contractors from using Huawei handsets or components.

Audi's work on self-driving cars

Since September Audi has reportedly been testing cars with Huawei and is planning to open an autonomous vehicle development center in China next year. Audi has developed its own Level 3 system it calls Traffic Jam Pilot, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and eyes off the road while the car handles all the driving in most situations.

Volkswagen, the owner of Audi, is developing level 4 and 5 complete autonomous driving with Aurora a new startup founded by the former head of Google's self-driving program.

Huawei

According to Wikipedia: "Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (/ˈhwɑːˌweɪ/; Chinese: 华为; pinyin: About this sound Huáwéi) is a Chinese multinational networking, telecommunications equipment, and services company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong.[3] It is the largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer in the world, having overtaken Ericsson in 2012.[4] In 2018, Huawei became 72nd of Fortune Global 500 in Fortune Magazine.[5] As of 2018, Huawei is the second largest smartphone manufacturer in the world behind Samsung.[6]"

Huawei, as of September 2015, had over 170,000 employees. About 76,000 of them are engaged in research and development.

It has over 21 research and development institutes in many different countries. In 2017 the company invested $13.8 billion in research and development.

Previously published in Digital Journal

New competitors coming to challenge Tesla's EV dominance

Tesla did not show up for the Geneva Motor Show. Perhaps the company feels it doesn't have to, as it already dominates in the EV market and EV news coverage. But there is some tough competition headed Tesla's way.

There are numerous new model EVs at the Geneva Motor show that will compete with Tesla models, although some have yet to come on the market. More luxury EV's and hybrids are coming on the market than ever before. This article considers only purely electric cars not the hybrids. Discussion of the hybrids can be found in this article.

The Jaguar I-Pace

The I-Pace measures up closely in its specs with Tesla's Model X 75 D the company's base version of its SUV. Both have a similar range and acceleration. Although the Model X is larger and boasts more seats and storage space it is also $10,000 more than the I-Pace. The I-Pace is already is also $5,000 less than Tesla's entry level Model S.

The I-Pace will be available some time during the second half of 2018 and orders are open even now.

Audi E-Tron Quattro all-electric SUV

Porsche also has a concept car that will compete with some Tesla models but Audi already paraded a prototype of the E-Tron Quattro through Geneva streets rather than on the show room floor. It is supposed to be in Europe by the end of 2018 and in the US in 2019. It has a range of over 200 miles, and fast charging and will launch with several other E-Tron models.

BMW is also launching an i4 sedan after earlier introducing the i3.

The Hyundai Kona Electric SUV

This small SUV will be more affordable than the I-Pace and has a model with a very long range of 292 miles. It will be a competitor of GM's Bolt as well. Bolt is the second best selling EV after Tesla's Model 3 and will also be in competition with Tesla. However as reported in a recent Digital Journal article the 2018 Bolt is little changed from last year's model.

Renault has the best-selling EV in Europe the Zoe and it has received a better motor and retains a mileage range of over 180 miles.

Tesla faces several issues

While Tesla may dominate the market, it is unable to produce the new affordable Model 3 fast enough to keep up with demand. It has preorders of a half million. Many potential customers may decide the wait is too long and opt to buy competitors' cars such as the Chevy Bolt or the Kona if it is available.

A second issue for Tesla is that the company is quickly approaching sales of 200,000 EVs in the US. At this point, the company will gradually lose the federal government's federal tax incentive which slowly decreases and eventually disappears. Competitors will enjoy a price advantage as none are near that mark. Of course, President Trump could decide to end the tax incentive entirely and that would put everyone on a level playing field.

The Geneva Motor Show at least shows that all the talk about EV's that company's have been pushing is not just marketing hype but is being followed up by commitments to actually produce new EVs.

Previously published in Digital Journal