Category: Auto

Shutdowns and supply-chain issues can’t slow Tesla

Tesla produced more than 305,000 cars and delivered more than 310,000 during the first quarter of 2022. And the company achieved these numbers despite COVID outbreaks forcing two extended shutdowns at its Gigafactory in Shanghai. The factory performs final assembly of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. 

What Does This Mean For You?

We would normally say global supply and distribution issues would slow Tesla’s efforts to deliver the cars it’s selling, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. 

Tesla produced about 500 cars this quarter compared with the last quarter of 2021. That doesn’t seem like a large enough production reduction to cause alarms.

And if you’re a Tesla owner thinking about jumping ship, this could be a great time to sell your car. We even know where you can get bids from a network of dealers instead of one trade-in offer. 

Will Tesla Ever Slow Down?

These first-quarter numbers are even more impressive when compared to the same last year. In Q1 2021 Tesla made 180,338 cars and delivered 184,800.

Fred Lambert at Electrek said the next quarter will be another interesting one. The company will likely face similar shutdowns and supply problems, but Lambert said, “Otherwise, Tesla would be well-positioned to grow significantly during the current quarter as it ramps up Gigafactory Berlin and Texas.”

How Does Tesla Stack Up?

The country’s largest automaker (GM) delivered fewer than 500 EVs in the first three months of 2022. Hyundai is the only company that reported EV sales growth in the US this past quarter. 

Green Car Reports also reported sales decreases by Audi and Kia, while BMW hasn’t even begun shipping its iX and i4 EVs. 

DeJoy announced 20% of new US Postal Service vehicles will be EVs

The US Postal Service is planning to purchase more than 10,000 of these cute electric delivery vehicles as a part of its efforts to replace its aging fleet.

The US Postal Service announced it’s going to order more than 10,000 electric vehicles as a part of its larger order of 50,000 “next generation” delivery vehicles.

This announcement comes after the USPS received flak for their initial order, which included 50% fewer EVs.

US Postal Service Postmaster General on the Decision

Here’s what Louis DeJoy had to say: 

“We owe it to our carriers and the communities we serve to provide safer, more efficient vehicles to fulfill our universal service obligation to deliver to 161 million addresses in all climates and topographies six days per-week.”

Why Does the USPS Need EVs?

As it stands, EVs are significantly less expensive to fuel than gas-powered vehicles, even before gas prices began skyrocketing in March. It’s no secret that the postal service is financially stressed, so any savings are welcome. 

Additionally, current trucks lack safety features and don’t even have air conditioning. Add to that the fact that the aging fleet is getting costly to maintain. 

The electric delivery vehicles could mean the USPS can save money on fuel and maintenance while future-proofing their vehicles.

And since many postal routes are short, the USPS doesn’t need its delivery trucks to go very far between charges. That gives it a little more flexibility than other logistics and transportation organizations

New EV Charging Stations from Electrify America Designed for Comfort

Electrify America announced new “Human-Centered” EV charging stations and the fueling stations of the future look like… well gas stations.

Electrify America is calling their new EV charging stations a “customer oasis.” Quite frankly, they do seem like a nice place to spend 30 minutes while you charge up your monstrous F-150 Lightning.

The EV Charging Stations

Here’s what else Electrify America’s press release said about the new concept:

• Providing a more inviting transition to an electric vehicle lifestyle from a traditional gas station 
• Adding solar canopies, waiting areas, and other customer services at select locations 
• Introducing technology and design enhancements to its next-generation ultra-fast charger
• Expanding onsite battery storage systems to more than 150 stations

The retail spaces will be designed to accommodate waiting travelers in safe, comfortable, and well-lit spaces. 

The customer lounges should be well-received, at least until recharge times are shorter. Currently, charging takes at least 30 minutes, though industry experts think it will reach 10 minutes. 

Electrify America’s Plan

One of Electrify America’s next-generation EV charging stations. The company recently announced plans to make the pumps smaller and even easier to use.

In addition to the customer-focused amenities, Electrify America said it intends to increase battery capacity at 150 stations around the country to make the process more efficient. 

And the solar panel awnings will do a lot more than simply provide shade to customers. The panels should help stations produce power themselves, store it on-site, and reduce strain on the energy grid. 

The company said they’re also working to make the actual charging stations (think gas pumps) easier to use. 

The EV Charging Future

Cross-country EV road trips aren’t easy to pull off with the disjointed charging infrastructure. But, now Electrify America is stepping in to some of the gaps in the current system. 

The Biden administration and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg have been clear about their plans to strengthen the electric infrastructure. They’ve been especially bullish on EV charging stations. 

Biden has outlined a plan to have 500,000 EV charging stations in the US.

As of now the future of EVs is unclear. But Electrify America has given us a glimpse into what it will look like in the short term. 

Electrek has some more details on the plan, which includes rollouts in markets in California and New York this year and next.

Ford announced it will split in two earlier this month. The company will reorganize operations to separate its electric and internal combustion engine businesses within the legacy auto brand. 

“We’re announcing one of the biggest changes in our history today,” said CEO Jim Farley. 

Farley said the new organization will allow the EV side of development and production to move faster once untethered from the much larger legacy company. 

“We are going all in, creating a separate but complementary business that gives us startup speed and unbridled innovation,” he said. 

Dividing the operations while still keeping them in-house will help appease Wall Street analysts who have been pressuring legacy automakers to spin off their electric vehicle business to secure value that some investors have been offering some EV startups. 

The move is expected to streamline its growing electric vehicle business and maximize profits. Farley said the new EV business will “produce as much excitement as any pure EV competitor, but with scale and resources that no start-up could ever match.”

As electric vehicles become more common in the general market, they’ll become more common on the used car market. That means they’ll be more common on the Carmigo marketplace too. So needless to say, we’re excited to see what Ford does next.