A homebuilt electric plane, the Rolls-Royce goal of leading the electric aviation market, hydrogen infrastructure for airports, and more electric aviation news is just the tip of the EV news roundup this week. Also, regarding the water, Cara Delevingne offers wise words and urges people to avoid fast fashion and diesel engines. Plus, Polestar launches on the stock market, the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX breaks its own efficiency record, and an unprecedented vehicle-to-grid pilot program wraps up in the UK. FedEx, Lucid Air, Ford, GM, and others also bring good news to the table.
“My Ami Buggy is built for adventure and embodies freedom of movement and a holiday vibe with its passenger compartment open to the outside. Instead of doors, it features metal tube gates. Similarly, the roof has gone, and in its place is a canvas that can be rolled back so you can enjoy the open air.
“It’s difficult to miss out on its adventurous style – with its unusual Khaki bodywork, its wheel arches, its front and rear bumpers and its golden wheel rims. It’s also difficult to resist its set of yellow accessories that gives a vitaminized look.
“Available in 9 countries, Ami has already won over 21.000 customers in Europe since its commercial launch in April 2020. The dazzling success of this limited edition shows just how incredibly enthusiastic people are about exclusive versions of this mobility object.”
Reuters adds: “‘Sorry Elon, the only way to get one is to buy us’, Citroen wrote on a billboard at Paris’ Gare de L’Est train station, referring to the Tesla CEO’s appetite for deals, which has recently included a $44 billion bid for Twitter.”
Electric Marine Vehicles
The future of electric racing on water comes to the Goodwood Festival of Speed
“The UIM E1 World Championship is delighted to announce that the RaceBird, the all-electric foiling raceboat that will compete in the inaugural season, [was] on display in the UK for the first time at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed’s Future Lab.”
Hollywood star and model Cara Delevingne makes sustainability plea with E1 Series in Venice:
“Model and actor Cara Delevingne has urged people to avoid fast fashion and diesel engine pitfalls during an interview, embracing World Ocean Day (June 8th). The Suicide Squad star is passionate about the planet and has followed up her in interest in electric racing series Formula E, with an appearance in Venice alongside its hotly anticipated on-water counterpart, E1 Series.”
“There’s way too much plastic in the world. You know, if you do eat meat, find out where it’s coming from to try and plant as many trees. Be a seed pollinator wherever you go. I mean there’s just so many different things you could do, especially not buying into fast fashion, go looking for brands who are doing things which are recyclable and reusable.” — Cara Delevingne
Sophi Horne, Designer of the RaceBird and Founder & Chairman of SeaBird Technologies, commented: “Less than two years ago, the RaceBird was just a design on paper. To see it fully realized amongst the most exciting, futuristic technologies in the world feels like we’ve come full-circle. I hope attendees will enjoy experiencing the boat for the first time and will learn a lot about the pioneering technologies employed in its development.”
In case you missed it: An electrifying public debut for the RaceBird in Venice
Electric Cars
“The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX beats its own efficiency record in real-world driving with another 1,000 km+ (621 mile+) journey on a single battery charge. Following its initial record-breaking drive from Stuttgart to Cassis (France) in April, the research vehicle set the bar even higher, with a 1,202- kilometer (747 mile) road trip from Stuttgart to Silverstone in the UK. After negotiating an autobahn closure and requesting cross-country diversion near Stuttgart, the VISION EQXX crossed the French border near Strasbourg then cruised across northern France at highway speeds to Calais, where it boarded the Eurotunnel. Continuing its journey in the UK, it took the M25 around London then stopped off at Mercedes- Benz Grand Prix in Brackley. Waiting to greet it there were the Formula 1 and Formula E experts who helped develop its advanced drivetrain. The VISION EQXX then carried on to Silverstone, where it was welcomed by special guest driver Nyck de Vries. The Dutchman, who races for the Mercedes-EQ Formula E team, opted not to go easy on the research vehicle, taking it up to its maximum speed limit of 87 mph on the iconic British race track. Making the most of the occasion, he completed 11 laps, using the last of the charge on the pit lane. Throughout the road trip, the VISION EQXX took advantage of its innovative thermal management system to achieve an average consumption of 8.3 kWh/100 km in the face of heavy traffic and summer temperatures.”
VISION EQXX — the trip log in figures:
Start | Stuttgart Untertürkheim, June 21st, 2022, 08:15 CEST |
Arrival | Silverstone, June 22nd, 2022, 18:02 BST |
Travel route | Untertürkheim, Reims, Calais, Brackley |
Driving distance | 1,202 kilometers (747 miles) |
Total driving time (over two days) | 14 hours and 30 minutes |
Average speed | 83 km/h (52 mph) |
Maximum speed | 140 km/h (87 mph) |
Average consumption | 8.3 kWh per 100 km (62 miles) |
Polestar 5 electric 4-door GT to debut exclusive new Polestar electric powertrain