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Business

GM unveils all-electric Chevy Bolt EUV and redesigned, less-expensive Bolt EV

2022 BOLTS EUV

Source: Chevrolet

General Motors is taking another step towards its zero-emission future.

The Detroit-based company presented a new, fully electric Chevy Bolt Electric Utility Vehicle (EUV) on Sunday evening in addition to its redesigned Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicle. The new Chevy Bolt EUV is designed to bring out the best of the Chevy Bolt, which was first launched in 2017, but in a larger and longer SUV-like ratio, according to GM executives.

The vehicles are the first from Chevrolet to be equipped with GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous motorway driving system, which uses facial recognition to determine if the driver is paying attention so they don’t have to touch the steering wheel while the system is in operation.

Super Cruise is restricted to more than 200,000 miles of restricted-access freeways in the US and Canada that have been fitted with a lidar card to support the onboard system of cameras, radars and sensors.

The new 2022 Bolt commercial vehicle, which starts at $ 33,995, is about 6 inches longer than the Bolt EV and has a “modern, muscular design, roomier interior, and plenty of rear legroom.” The vehicle has a “distinctive front end with a shaped grille”, standard LED headlights and an upscale interior, according to GM managers.

2022 BOLTS EUV

Source: Chevrolet

The revamped 2022 Bolt EV, which starts at $ 31,995, includes a number of new design updates. GM cut the starting price for the new Bolt EV by more than $ 5,000 from the 2021 model, which starts at under $ 37,000, as the cost of battery technology dropped.

The hatchback features a more upright bumper cover or fascia and updated interior seats that are “more comfortable with a triangular geometric pattern and contrasting stitching that offer a more upscale appearance,” said Jesse Ortega, chief engineer of the new Bolt EV and EUV on a media call with reporters.

Both new vehicles have an infotainment color touchscreen with a diagonal of 10.2 inches and an integrated climate control “for clean, intuitive user interfaces”.

The Bolt EV has a range of 259 miles when fully charged, while the Bolt EUV reaches 250 miles. Using the myChevrolet Mobile App, drivers can view their current charging status, adjust their charging settings and set up notifications.

“As of 2017, we’ve sold more than 100,000 Bolt EVs worldwide and our owners have accumulated more than 1.2 billion miles of EV trips,” said Steven Majoros, Chevy vice president of marketing, to the reporter. “Bolt EV helped make Chevrolet the best-selling EV brand, and current Bolt EV sales increased 26% in 2020.”

The new and refurbished vehicles are part of the company’s plan to bring 30 new electric vehicles to market worldwide by 2025. The updated Bolt EV was due to hit the market last year, but GM delayed the vehicle due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We’d like to fit all of them into an electric vehicle, and the new Bolt EUV and redesigned Bolt EV are critical to that,” GM President Mark Reuss said in a statement. Industry analysts have been expecting the Bolt EUV to expand the company’s EV platform for years.

Both vehicles are powered and powered by GM’s Battery Electric Vehicle 2 platform, which was first launched in December 2016 with the Bolt EV. Since then, the company has only sold about 79,000 vehicles.

Later this year, the company’s next generation EV platform with a new battery system called the Ultium is expected to launch with the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Sport Utility Truck (SUT). Initial availability of the Hummer EV this fall starts at $ 112,595.

The Bolt EV and EUV are set to help GM reassure EV buyers, while the company expands its Ultium platform to lower the cost of next-generation EVs. Ortega told reporters it was “not intended” to move the Bolt EV to the Ultium platform.

The vehicles are part of GM’s plan to bring 30 new electric vehicles to market worldwide as part of a $ 27 billion investment in electric and autonomous vehicles from 2020 to 2025.

Categories
Politics

Biden unveils Pentagon group to guage U.S. technique for coping with China

President Joe Biden speaks at the Pentagon in Washington, DC on February 10, 2021.

Alex Brandon | AFP | Getty Images

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday a new Department of Defense task force to assess the US military’s China strategy.

“This is how we will meet the China challenge and ensure that the American people win the competition in the future,” said Biden on his first visit as Pentagon Commander in Chief.

The new Pentagon group, comprised of around 15 experts, will be responsible for making recommendations on China-related issues to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Results and recommendations are due within four months.

“No final public report is expected, although the department will discuss recommendations with Congress and other stakeholders if necessary,” the Pentagon wrote in a statement announcing the new task force.

China’s influence on global trade and international relations has continued to grow, even as the nation faced accountability calls in the initial response to the Covid-19 crisis.

The novel coronavirus that causes the disease emerged in China in late 2019. Biden asked on Wednesday whether the US would hold China accountable.

United States President Joe Biden, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Chief of Staff, will tour African Americans in defense of our corridor of our nations on February 10 at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. 2021.

Alex Brandon | Pool | Reuters

Biden, who has not yet spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping, said during a speech at the State Department last week that he would work more closely with allies to secure a backlash against Beijing.

“We will face China’s economic abuse,” said Biden, describing Beijing as America’s “most serious competitor.”

Tensions between Beijing and Washington, the world’s two largest economies, increased under the Trump administration. In an interview with CBS, Biden said his government was ready for “extreme competition” with China, but his approach would be different from that of his predecessor.

“I will not do it like Trump. We will focus on the international traffic rules,” said Biden on Sunday.

Following his remarks at the Pentagon on Wednesday, a reporter asked Biden if he was interested in punishing China for the nation’s lack of transparency over the Covid-19 outbreak last year.

“I’m interested in knowing all the facts,” Biden said, according to a pool report.

Flashing pressures china

State Secretary Antony Blinken spoke to his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi for the first time at the weekend.

In a tense appeal, Blinken Yang said the US would hold China accountable for explaining a range of issues including human rights abuses.

Blinken also called on Beijing to condemn the recent military coup in Myanmar.

On Wednesday before, Biden announced sanctions against military leaders in Myanmar who led the coup on February 1. Biden also reiterated the call for the Myanmar military to abandon the power he had seized and release his prisoners.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States was coordinating with partners to launch “steep and deep” retaliatory measures.

Biden’s family ties

Speaking alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Austin, Biden also took a moment to thank the service members and their civilian supporters.

He is the first president in 40 years to have a child serve in the US military and stationed in a war zone.

“The Biden family know what rural service is like and they understand sacrifice. They know how to care for those who seek leadership,” said Austin, who with the president’s late son, Beau Biden, cooperated in Iraq, in his opening remarks.

After the Pentagon address, Austin took Biden and Harris on a tour of the corridor of the building dedicated to Black Service members.

Austin is the nation’s first black Secretary of Defense, and Harris is the first black vice president.

Categories
Business

EV start-up Canoo unveils new automobile forward of Nasdaq debut

Canoo’s van – known as a multi-purpose delivery vehicle (MPDV) due to its equipment options – is designed for commercial customers.

Canoo

Electric vehicle start-up Canoo unveiled a new van on Thursday ahead of its public debut on Nasdaq next week.

The futuristic-looking van, known as a multi-purpose delivery vehicle (MPDV) due to its equipment options, is designed for everything from last-mile deliveries to food trucks, according to the California company. It is expected to start at around $ 33,000.

“There are many use cases that this vehicle can perform,” said Tony Aquila, chairman of Canoo, a major investor in the company, during a video reveal of the MPDV. “We wanted it to look very chic and modern and at the same time be very affordable.”

Production of the vehicle is scheduled to begin in 2022 and start in 2023. The company did not disclose any specific production plans, but previously announced a strategic relationship with auto supplier and contract manufacturer Magna International.

Such commercial vehicles are expected to be a major driver of the sales of profitable electric vehicles for the automotive industry. It’s a segment that startups and older automakers want to get into quickly in the years to come. Ford Motor, which leads commercial vehicle sales, plans to release an electric vehicle in 2021, followed by an electric version of its F-150 pickup truck the following year.

Interior of the Canoo delivery van, also known as the multipurpose delivery vehicle or MPVD.

Canoo

Canoo said the MPDV will come in two sizes with different EV ranges and battery sizes. The company says the smaller van, known as MPDV1, is expected to range between 130 miles and 230 miles, while the larger van, MPDV2, is between 90 miles and 190 miles based on battery sizes. Canoo takes reservations and refundable deposits of USD 100 for the vehicles on its website.

Canoo is part of a wave of new speculative EV start-ups that are planning to enter the market through reverse mergers with special purpose vehicles, also known as blank check companies, after the IPO. The company announced its merger agreement with Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. in August. known.

Canoo is expected to be listed as “GOEV” on Tuesday after a general meeting on the Nasdaq to approve the merger on Monday. The deal is expected to provide Canoo with approximately $ 600 million to support the production and launch of electric vehicles.

Hennessy’s shares fell 10% to around $ 18 on Thursday lunchtime. The stock is still up around 69% since the deal with Canoo was announced on Aug. 18.

This is Canoo’s second planned vehicle. The first was a smaller, pill-shaped vehicle that was more intended for consumers. It is expected to be available via a company’s member-only vehicle service from 2022, according to Canoo.

During the vehicle reveal on Thursday, the company also teased a two-sheet car and pickup truck.

Correction: This story has been updated to take into account that Canoo’s expected ticker symbol is “GOEV”. The company had previously announced a ticker symbol for “CNOO”.