EV watch

[The Picnic Wasp]

Stunning car! But I wouldn't be able to buy one unless I had someone younger with me to help me remember its name. Whatever happened to the Ford Cortina concept of naming cars?

[David L]

GM attempting to nullify California EV mandate:

https://archive.md/JqqJi

[Slim]

GM attempting to nullify California EV mandate:

https://archive.md/JqqJi

Link not working at the moment but also reported here:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/general-motors-urges-lawmakers-block-121400474.html

[Nick]

The new mindset.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/20/sing-when-youre-winning-how-karaoke-heralds-the-triumph-of-chinese-carmakers

[David L]

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-14761681/Used-electric-cars-lose-half-value-two-years-manufacturers-blamed-discounting-new-prices.html#:~:text=Electric%20cars%20are%20losing%20more,of%20its%20original%20new%20cost.

[David L]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-coast-guard-responding-cargo-ship-fire-near-alaska-no-injuries-reported-2025-06-04/

[Thenop]

Highslide Image Viewer

[David L]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/tesla-fire-hurricane-helene-florida-b2622240.html#

[Slim]

A 2020 Tesla. Don't know if it's fixed now but clearly there was something a bit amiss with the paint they used five years ago.

First image is the passenger side skirts, second is the edge of the boot lid.

Highslide Image Viewer

Highslide Image Viewer

[David L]

Oh, that's horrendous! Clearly an issue with bonding, as if the metal was not right before the paint was applied (or they forgot to use primer 😄). It looks like the metal could be galvanised but was not effective in that area or an ineffective etching primer was used. As if catastrophic depreciation is not upsetting enough!
"Musk! You're fired!" 

[David L]

Oh dear! Mercedes EV SUV declared a flop by Mercedes executive. It costs £155k, only £20k more than the popular diesel model.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/electriccars/article-14779973/Mercedes-exec-calls-electric-version-iconic-SUV-complete-flop.html

[David L]

https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/25207044.welshpool-factory-fire-caused-electric-vehicle/

[David L]

Looks like we might be about to see a lot of companies collapsing as BYD triggers a price war in the EV market:

https://carnewschina.com/2025/06/03/byds-new-price-war-triggers-backlash-from-industry-and-regulators/

[pxr5]

We used our new EV to travel to Scotland and back. Gave the car a full charge at a charging place near us (still to get one at home) before setting off. Had a pee break on the M6 - about half way (190 mile trip) and stuck some more charge in which took 15 minutes and arrived at our destination with 50% range left. We charged once while we were there and that did us while we drove around the area. Coming home, charged up fully again and did the whole journey of 190 miles in one go with 93 mile range left in the car now. The quoted range of this Q4 is 329 miles, so 283 miles is pretty good considering we had the a/c going continuously.

Driving an EV is super smooth and the acceleration of this Q4 45 Quattro is incredible. In fact it's better than the V6 Audi A7 I used to own up until 2019. There are charging stations everywhere now - there is one near us (less than a mile) which has 12 superfast chargers. In Wigtown, where we stayed, has a dedicated charging area too, with 10 charging stations. Even the one on the motorway was easy to use - a bit more expensive there though. Early days but overall I'm quite impressed.

[David L]