Feb 12

Feb 12 Watt Happened: News from Feb. 5-11

By Steve Thompson – Feb. 12, 2021

As soon as we published last week’s electrification roundup, Ford CEO Jim Farley took to the airwaves to proclaim that Ford will not be left behind when it comes to electrification. “We’re not going to cede the future to anyone,” he told CNBC, explaining that Ford is investing $22 billion in the next four years in order to bolster its electric-vehicle portfolio. Currently, Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is receiving rave reviews, and undoubtedly when the F-150 Electric hits the streets it will be to equally positive fanfare.

Farley also noted that Ford is working to future-proof the company from the current chip setback that has stymied much of the automotive world right now – though this is easier said than done.

Speaking of chips, we previously reported that NHTSA had issued a recall regarding the failing eMMC modules on 2012-’18 Tesla Model Ss and 2016-’18 Model Xs. Tesla’s attorneys seem to disagree with NHTSA’s assessment that this is a safety issue, apparently claiming that turn signals and center stack controls – which include the rear-view camera plus the defroster and other HVAC controls – which stop operation when the eMMC fails shouldn’t be called a fault because the eMMC is supposed to stop working.

Something else that Tesla did this week was invest $1.5 billion in bitcoin, as well as announce that buyers can now purchase a Tesla in bitcoin. Ironically, bitcoin is probably the least energy efficient currency around, consuming more electricity than Argentina.

Argo AI is now testing self-driving cars on freeways in Pittsburgh. This puts the company in rarified self-driving air as the only autonomous vehicle company other than Waymo that is operating in urban and suburban areas, as well as on freeways.

Prefer a more hands-on approach to driving? Then look no further than AVA Stingray, which appears to be working with legendary C2 Corvette designer Peter Brock to bring the C2 into the modern era through full electrification. Details are limited at best – basically, nothing is known. But that doesn’t make it any less cool.

A more realistic announcement came from Jeep when the company revealed it would unveil its first EV Wrangler at this year’s Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, taking place March 27-April 4. Initial images indicate a center-mounted single motor splitting power via a transfer case. We’re probably not understating it when we say that this could be a groundbreaking EV.

What will the new EV Jeep look like? Nobody know just yet…but based on the past, it’ll undoubtedly look like a Jeep. (Image courtesy Jeep)

Audi didn’t necessarily break new ground with its newly revealed 2022 e-tron GT – after all, it’s largely a Porsche Taycan underneath – but the sedan’s muscly shoulders did stun. The base Quattro sports 469 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, with the top-of-the-line RS packing 589 hp and 612 lb-ft. Expect to pay $99,900 for the Quattro, $107,100 for the mid-range Prestige, and $139,900 for the RS. Regardless of the model, you’ll be able to hit 60mph in less than three seconds as well as charge the battery to 80% in an estimated 23 minutes, thanks to its 800-volt architecture. The e-tron GT should hit driveways this summer.

Toyota is late to the EV party, but it’s finally here – well, it will be here eventually. True, Toyota’s official press release read more like a list of reasons for the automotive giant to produce hybrids instead of EVs, but company did say it would release two EVs in 2021 – and a plug-in hybrid.

We don’t know where this will land just yet, but battery supplier SK Innovation has reportedly been hit with a 10-year battery ban in the U.S. over a legal battle with LG Chem. At the minimum, this could affect the Ford F-150 Electric and various Volkswagen MEB-platform vehicles. Although a grace period means it’s probably not as bad as it sounds.

We’ll largely skip the rumors this week, of which there were plenty.

Who are we kidding? Some rumors were too good to ignore…

Hyundai is supposedly out when it comes to the Apple car. Perhaps Apple’s partner will be BMW or Magna. Also, Tesla China President Tom Zhu revealed that the long-rumored $25,000 Tesla will be designed and manufactured in China and possibly sold worldwide. And finally, Tesla Semi production might actually happen this year.

Want to hear The Watt Car’s editors’ take on this week’s news? Check out our creatively-named podcast: The Watt Car Podcast.

You’re still here? Got another few minutes? Check out the latest EV ads: