Jeep, Rivian, Porsche, and Tesla: Five Stories You Missed This Week
By Phil Royle – March 26, 2021
Off roading dominated our attention in this week’s electrification news, from good to bad. We’ll start with the good…
Jeep previewed its Magneto EV concept ahead of the Easter Jeep Safari. The two-door electrified Wrangler sports a 6,000 rpm motor that outputs 285 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque – roughly the same as the Pentastar 3.6L V-6. And to make that low-revving motor work, it’s paired to a six-speed manual transmission. While 6,000 rpm motors and manual transmissions aren’t the EV norm, Jeep says it made its decision quite deliberately:
“Intentional calibrations developed during testing help the Magneto’s powertrain emulate the driving experience of the V-6, matching not only torque but also horsepower. During moderate driving, the performance difference between the V-6 and the Magneto’s unique manual-electric powertrain is negligible except for near-silent operation.”
And as we reported, the rest of the Magneto EV concept is purposeful, too:
“The batteries, a vehicle interface box, and the battery control module are all housed in waterproof enclosures to maintain the Wrangler’s 30-inch water-traversing capability. A 12-volt battery powers the typical accessories such as the radio and lighting. A second 12-volt battery serves as an auxiliary power unit (APU) for other accessories, such as the winch. A DC-to-DC converter charges both 12-volt batteries, enabling extended use of accessories to power a campsite or an unexpectedly long winch operation. Unique mounts secure the battery packs for off-road driving, with custom skid plates protecting the packs from potential dents to the undercarriage while traversing harsh terrain.”
While the good news came from Jeep, so did the bad news, this time regarding its 4xe Wrangler’s fuel economy. You see, while the 4xe is a PHEV, it was revealed that it actually gets the worst fuel economy of the Wrangler family – minus the Rubicon 392 – if you fail to charge the hybrid’s battery.
The numbers tell an unfortunate tale. The 4xe is rated at 49mpg-e with its battery in play; utilize the 2.0L I-4 motor on its own, though, and its combined city/highway rating is a measly 20 mpg. Compare that to the standard 2.0L I-4 Wranger which gets a combined 22 mpg, the 3.6L V-6’s 21 mpg, and the 3.0L diesel, which scores a combined fuel economy rating of 23 mpg.
The Jeep 4xe is a plug-in hybrid that gets horrendous fuel economy once the battery’s power is depleted (Image courtesy Jeep)
As we discussed this week on our podcast, these fuel economy numbers mean little as your specific mileage may vary. Case in point, the 4xe has an all-electric range of 21 miles, meaning if you mostly drive the 4xe locally, the hybrid might actually be the best of the options.
Jeep has a lot to worry about when it comes to owning the off-road electrification space. This week, Rivian unveiled more details about its Adventure Network. Therein, the startup will offer three Rivian-branded options: the Adventure Network, Waypoints, and a wall charger. Per Rivian:
"The Rivian Adventure Network will grow to more than 3,500 fast chargers at over 600 sites by the end of 2023. Each site will have multiple chargers and will be conveniently located on highways and main roads, often by cafes and shops. These DC fast chargers will be for Rivian owners only, with details on pricing and associated programs coming soon."
Waypoints will be level 2 and open to anyone utilizing the same plug type as Rivian (presumably CCS1). The wall charger is a home unit and will presumably work with any EV or PHEV it can connect to.
Rivian’s schtick is the outdoors, with the company intending to install some 3,500 Level 3 Adventure Network chargers at popular locations by 2023, allowing Rivian owners the ability to…err…adventure. (Image courtesy Rivian)
Yet this week’s news wasn’t all about off roading. In a brilliant marketing moment, Porsche showcased the flexibility of its Taycan EV by riffing on Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure with a video featuring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.
The duo headed from Santa Barbara to the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles, roughly 100 miles when driven directly (which isn’t too hard of a task for the Taycan Turbo’s underrated 212-mile range). However, along the way Reeves and Winter met up with Tanner Faust to experience a drag-race launch, and then Patrick Long helped them speedily scoot up a winding mountain road. At the Porsche Experience Center, instructor Mark Hotchkis had them splashing around a wet skid pad.
The video is seven minutes in length and well worth the watch:
Meanwhile, Porsche said its 911 may never go electric. According to a CNBC report:
"Porsche expects at least 80% of its vehicles sold globally to be partially or fully electric by 2030. But don’t expect an EV version of its iconic 911 sports car anytime soon.”
“The company’s CEO, Oliver Blume, said the 911 will be the ‘last Porsche which is going for full electrification,’ if it ever fully becomes an EV.”
“Porsche reports 17% of its vehicles sold globally last year were electrified, including a third of its sales in Europe.”
And it wouldn’t be a week without Tesla news. Per another CNBC report:
"Citing national security concerns, China is restricting the use of Tesla’s electric vehicles by some state and military personnel, according to a Wall Street Journal report from Friday. A separate report, from Bloomberg, said the cars were banned in certain areas.”
“It comes after the country led a security review of the vehicles, where it reportedly found that Tesla’s sensors could record images of their surrounding locations. The Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, added that Tesla could obtain key data, like when and where the cars are being used. It could also track more personal information, like a cellphone’s contact list if it’s connected to the car, according to the report."
(Main image courtesy Jeep)
- Podcast - Facebook - Google News - Twitter -
