Watt Happened: From Kias to Canoos to Taylor Swift, a week of electric news
By Phil Royle – March 19, 2021
It’s been about a week since Kia teased us with more information regarding its forthcoming EV6. In the tiniest tidbit of a preview, Kia revealed that its curvy EV crossover will indeed ride upon the Hyundai Group’s E-GMP platform, which all but guarantees an 800V architecture (meaning 10 to 80% charge in about 20 minutes, assuming you can find a capable charger), and probably a range of 200-250 miles.
BMW teased its i4 electric sedan giving – once more – minimal information. This time, BMW stated that its car will be available with some 530 hp and sport a 0-60 mph time of roughly four seconds. More details, BMW promised, will arrive “in the coming weeks.”
Meanwhile, details about BMW’s iX actually arrived. BMW’s EV crossover will sport a maximum of 500 hp, a 0-60 mph time of around five seconds, and its 100 kWh battery will be capable of propelling the iX for 300 miles. The price was the real shocker, though – expect the sticker to read at least $80,000, making this both a Tesla Model Y and Model X competitor.
With 500 hp, BMW’s $80,000-plus iX crossover will be plenty fast.
Canoo surprised when it unveiled a pickup truck. With a slide-out side step, a funky front frunk sporting six 120V outlets and four USB ports, a bed with a built-in tie-down system and at least four 120V outlets and two USB ports, plus a bed floor that extends from six feet to eight (with a functioning tailgate in either configuration), this is the pickup we certainly weren’t expecting. Canoo also announced the pickup will be available with up to 600 hp, 550 lb-ft or torque, and a 200-plus mile range. Buyers will be able to choose between a one- or two-motor setup. Preorders are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2021 with deliveries planned for early 2023. Price? No clue.
(Images courtesy Canoo)
Magna’s eBeam, which is a bolt-on solution for OEMs looking to convert their existing sold-axle pickups to hybrid and full electric, took the internet by storm. As we stated in our coverage:
“Magna will offer the eBeam in outputs ranging from 120 kW (161 hp) up to 250 kW (335 hp), potentially covering the range from small to midsize to full-size pickups. Combined with a front motor unit, trucks utilizing this system stand to output more than 500 hp, more than most current half-ton ICE trucks on the market.”
“The eBeam will be targeted toward OEMs and offered in three configurations: Single motor/single speed, single motor/two speed, and twin motor, single speed with torque vectoring. Magna notes it offers powertrain solutions to facilitate electric four-wheel drive, and that the eBeam system is: ‘Designed specifically to transition pickup trucks and light commercial vehicles to hybrid or full battery electric powertrain systems, eBeam integrates with existing truck architectures, without requiring unique suspension, chassis or brake systems.’”
Magna’s eBeam could be a game changer for OEMs looking to electrify their existing trucks. (Image courtesy Magna)
VW’s Power Day (no relation to Telsa’s Battery Day) sported a similar theme to Tesla’s Battery Day in that the company claimed significant reduction in battery costs were on the horizon. VW also announced six gigafactories to be built in Europe, as well as a buildout of charging infrastructure throughout Europe.
And finally, Tesla postponed production of its Model S Plaid+ model, while short-seller Hindenburg Research turned its attention to Lordstown Motors (eventually sparking an SEC inquiry). To which Lordstown CEO steve Burns quoted Taylor Swift.
Want more? Listen to this week’s podcast, where The Watt Car’s editors discuss some of these topics and more. Plus, you’ll find an interview Chelsea Sexton from the film Who Killed the Electric Car?
(Main image courtesy Kia)
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