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Monday 6 noveMber 2017 TECHNOLOGY
A24

Carmakers join forces in Europe to make electrics widespread

By DAVID McHUGH chargeable vehicles were
GEIR MOULSON, only 1.2 percent of Euro-
Associated Press pean car sales in the sec-
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ond quarter, according
— A group of major au- to the European Automo-
tomakers plans to open bile Manufacturers Asso-
hundreds of fast-charging ciation. Norway, where
stations for electric cars the government has ag-
in Europe in coming years gressively pushed for low-
and use a common plug emissions vehicles, is an
technology in what they exception with 29 percent
hope will be a big step to- market share for electri-
ward mass acceptance of cally chargeable vehicles.
battery-powered vehicles. By contrast, Greece regis-
BMW, Daimler, Ford and tered only 32 rechargeable
the Volkswagen Group cars last year.
with its Audi and Porsche The higher cost of the vehi-
brands have equal shares cles is a key reason, on top
in the venture, Ionity, plans of limited range and lack of
for which were first an- places to charge up, and
nounced last year. for now government subsi-
They said Friday that they dies and tax breaks are im-
will open the first of 20 sta- portant to supporting sales.
tions this year in Germany, In this Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017 photo a car is connected to a charging station for electric Analysts say that electric
Austria and Norway at vehicles in Hamburg, Germany. vehicles may become
120-kilometer (75-mile) in- Associated Press more affordable as battery
tervals along major roads. can take several hours to 50 kilowatts per hour; at 350 It will set up the stations in costs fall.
They plan to expand the charge from empty using kilowatts per hour, in theory partnership with operators Automakers are sinking
network to more than 100 a 7 kilowatt-hour home the time could be cut to un- of rest areas and gas sta- billions into developing
stations next year and plug. The Ionity network sta- der 10 minutes. The hope is, tions in the three countries. electric cars in part as a
have about 400 in place tions by contrast will have drivers could charge in the A pan-European fast- response to ever-tougher
across Europe by 2020. charging capacity of up time it takes to have a cup charging network “plays limits on air pollution and
The founding companies to 350 kilowatts per hour. of coffee at the recharging an essential role in estab- carbon dioxide, a green-
said “other automotive That’s aimed at the future station. lishing a market for elec- house gas blamed for glob-
manufacturers are invited because currently avail- The new network will also tric vehicles,” Ionity CEO al warming.
to help expand the net- able cars cannot charge use a standardized plug Michael Hajesch said in a The new company will be
work.” at that speed. — the CCS, or Combined statement. headquartered in Munich,
The aim is to make it easier A BMW i3 electric would Charging System standard Uptake of electric cars Germany, and have 50
for electric cars to travel take 30 minutes to fast- — that isn’t tied to any one across Europe has been employees by the start of
long distances and render charge at its maximum of car maker. patchy so far. Electrically 2018.q
them more appealing to
the mass market. Hours-
long charging times have Ryder Systems adds 125 electric vans to its fleet
meant battery-powered
cars are limited to use for By DEE-ANN DURBIN 100 miles on a fully charged Chanje and electric trucks: trucks is small but growing.
short commutes and lo- AP Auto Writer battery. — CEO Bryan Hansel says Less than 10,000 will be sold
cal shopping trips. Owners DETROIT (AP) — Truck rental The first vans were delivered Chanje has spent five years globally this year, but sales
typically recharge over- company Ryder Systems in New York Thursday. Ry- and $1 billion developing could top 50,000 by 2025,
night at home or in an em- Inc. said last week it is add- der will start renting or leas- the van, which is built in says Navigant Research.
ployer’s parking lot during ing 125 all-electric trucks to ing them to customers in China. — Earlier this fall, UPS add-
the day. That has left bat- its fleet. California, Illinois and New — Chanje is partners with ed three electric trucks
tery cars as a second ve- Ryder’s order is one of the York by the end of this year. FDG Group, a Hong Kong- made by Daimler to its U.S.
hicle in some first-adopter largest yet for all-electric Pricing wasn’t released, based electric vehicle fleet. q
households, with a con- trucks in the U.S., says David but Chanje says the vans’ maker.
ventional car kept for lon- Alexander of the research overall cost is comparable — Hansel says Chanje ex-
ger journeys. The chance firm Truck Technology Ltd. to diesels because they pects to sell “thousands” of
to charge up fast far from The 26-foot vans are made require less maintenance vans next year, and plans
home would make it pos- by Chanje Energy Inc., a and no fuel. Customers will to open a West Coast fa-
sible to take an electric ve- Los Angeles-based startup. be able to charge the ve- cility that would assemble
hicle on a family vacation. They can haul up to 6,000 hicles at Ryder facilities. vans for the U.S. market.
A typical electric car pounds and travel around Here are more details on — The market for all-electric