Europe’s leading auto executives gear up to tackle the EV market’s challenges, with calls for a unified industrial strategy. Plus, peek into BMW’s sales boost, Alfa Romeo’s EV debut, and new partnerships for easier UK EV charging.
Top executives from Europe’s leading car manufacturers and automotive suppliers (ACEA) have met to discuss issues facing the challenges of meeting stringent CO2 reduction targets. They call for urgent moves to help grow the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability in Europe.
A cohesive industrial strategy is required to create an environment for greater EV adoption. This includes boosting the charging infrastructure, securing raw materials and getting access to finance.
A common thread in the discussions was the sector’s rallying call for technology neutrality, ensuring that a range of solutions for battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles can contribute towards a healthier planet.
BMW’s Electric Boost
This meeting comes in the midst of great news from BMW. In the first quarter, BMW’s core brand saw a 41.6% rise in customer deliveries of its electric models, including the i4, iX1 and i7, leading to an overall group EV sales boost of 28%. They have also delivered their 1 millionth fully electric vehicle.
This leap comes at a time when the EV market in Europe is facing a slowdown. CEOs from Europe’s leading carmakers are meeting in Brussels to tackle the challenges with key issues being improving the charging infrastructure, and raw material supplies, and reintroducing market incentives to stimulate EV demand.
BMW’s proactive and early approach has gained valuable experience in battery technology, despite the i3’s mixed market reception, with ambitions to sell half a million EVs this year across its brands.
Alfa Romeo
Hoping to get in on the act, Alfa Romeo is set to unveil its first all-electric car, which they originally wanted to call the “Milano”. What we know so far is that it is a sporty compact SUV designed specifically for the European market and is to be built in Poland. Its all-electric models pack a 54 kWh battery that offers up to 255 miles of range.
Built on the same platform as the Jeep Avenger, the vehicle brings Alfa Romeo’s racing pedigree with features such as mechanical self-locking differentials and a sports suspension set-up.
The electric powertrains on offer are a 157 horsepower version and a Pacier 234hp version. There is also a mild hybrid option with an all-wheel-drive configuration.
As for the tech on offer, a 10.25-inch TFT screen replaces traditional dials, and a central touchscreen shows the car is equipped with all the cutting-edge tech you will need.
All we need to know now is what Alfa Romeo are going to call it, since the Italian government have said it cannot have an Italian-sounding name when it is not built in Italy.
5,000 free EV miles
One way to boost EV take-up is to offer great incentives. Imagine driving your electric vehicle (EV) for up to 5,000 miles without paying a penny for charging. This is what Loveelectric.cars, in an exciting collaboration with OVO Energy, sees as their partnership makes a crucial step towards helping lower the carbon footprint.
The deal sweetens with OVO’s Charge Anytime EV add-on, which promises subsequent charging at an incredibly low rate of just 7p per kWh.
And there’s more good news. Hypervolt, a UK-based company known for its smart, solar-compatible home EV chargers, complements this offer. This means Loveelectric.cars customers can effortlessly bundle their electric car, a smart charger, and their EV energy tariff into one convenient package. It isn’t as yet available across all chargers and some vehicles might not be compatible.
Applegreen Electric on Zapmap
Similarly, Applegreen Electric has joined forces with Zap-Pay and has been busy rolling out an impressive array of ultra-rapid chargers, nationwide with around 160 chargers, mainly provided across Motorway Service Areas (MSAs) on key routes.
Zapmaps integration with Applegreen Electric becoming part of Zap-Pay’s extensive cross-network payment solution, aims to simplify the charging process for EV drivers across the board.
Zap-Pay has a great list of partners like Osprey, ESB Energy, and Fastned and this list is set to grow, with more announcements and integrations on the way.
