Public and Commercial Transport

[NewcastleFalcon]

EU new tolling rules give ‘big incentives' for zero-emissions trucks

By May 2023, hauliers operating zero-emissions trucks – battery electric or hydrogen – must be given discounts of at least 50% on distance-based road tolls.

Member states could opt to levy extra CO2-based charges on fossil fuel lorries instead or implement both measures.

With road tolls costing hauliers up to €25,000 (£20,000) a year per truck annually, switching to zero-emissions vehicles will cut their overheads considerably, says T&E.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

EV startups hunt for an edge as big automakers roll out vans and trucks

Arrival have featured in the pages of this thread before with their Start up Electric Vans and buses, and their innovative "microfactories" and Robert Llewellyn has been a couple of times to the factory for a very positive nose around. They started off in Bicester Oxfordshire but then set up an HQ in the USA at Charlotte North Carolina, and listed on the NASDAQ.

They have a partnership and have been working with UPS to design and build 10,000 Vans and received considerable initial backing from Hyundai.
from 2020
https://electrek.co/2020/01/30/ups-orde ... s-arrival/

Currently the share price graph doesn't make happy reading from 12 months ago at first listing to now. They remain in the very much pre-volume production of vehicles loss-making stage, now stepping into a world where previously uninterested large automakers are all piling in with their offerings in the same space Arrival are looking for a growth phase.

REgards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

While the rapid acceleration of the major car makers' development of vans and trucks is undoubtedly a good thing for the planet, especially in view of the report discussed here, it is unfortunate that the pioneering engineers who had the foresight to initiate the small EV companies are highly likely to lose the mass roll out of their product which would have been built into their business plans to cover the setup and R&D costs.

Thus I can see a number of the smaller makers either forming contracts with fleet customers or going out of business. Unlike cars, where niche marques will invariably gain a following like Morgan or Ariel etc. the van market is governed by commercial decisions with no room for passion or devotion among the customer base. "Which van will do my job for the minimum cost to the business?" is always going to be at the top of the fleet buyer's list of priorities, not "Do I like the exclusivity , colour, shape etc". Hence, sadly, I foresee a bleak future for many of the small start-ups if they only look at commercial vehicles!

[NewcastleFalcon]

May be of interest Mick,

bit of flying air taxi news

Volocopter Raises USD 170 million in First Signing of Series E Financing Round

Leading the Investors in the funding round was WP Investment of South Korea

“We are confident that Volocopter will be among the first to bring UAM to cities globally, since seeing its aircraft fly in Seoul last year. As a leader in ESG investment, we are excited to empower city sustainability through Volocopter. ”

Dr. Lei Wang
— Chairman of WP Investment

abbreviation watch ESG Environmental, social, and governance UAM Urban Air Mobility at a guess.

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Volocopter Raises USD 170 million in First Signing of Series E Financing Round

Regards Neil

I wonder if my son-in-law will get a payrise?

[NewcastleFalcon]

On vans unlikely anyone will have heard of this one.

https://www.innovationautomotive.co.uk/dfsk

Import from you know where, over 12,000 NM away, and on the roads of the UK for £21K. Its a van. Obviously having just arrived on a ship, and initially small numbers, no dedicated service network in the UK....but Halfords will keep it ticking over.

Regards Neil

[10mbc]

It kind of looks like a 2013 Transit Van.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Literally Remote control commercial vehicles. Plenty info about Einride on You tube



Company official US Launch


REgards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

...and in flying car and van news

...they will not look like cars and vans...but they will transport people and goods.

Flying taxi airport opens to demonstrate potential of air mobility

Yes talked about for ages but opening as a demonstration facility in Coventry next month. Urban Airport Air-One.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

External Temperature Gauge

Raindrops on a flat windscreen
With surely completely inadequate wipers

The whole shebang

Regards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

Quite common on pre war Morris cars Neil.

[Hell Razor5543]

Regards Neil

I thought that was the earliest known Sat Nav system. If the arrow is straight up you are going in the right direction, but if it is pointing to the left (or right) your destination is to your left (or, obviously, right).

[NewcastleFalcon]

EV startups hunt for an edge as big automakers roll out vans and trucks

Arrival have featured in the pages of this thread before with their Start up Electric Vans and buses, and their innovative "microfactories" and Robert Llewellyn has been a couple of times to the factory for a very positive nose around. They started off in Bicester Oxfordshire but then set up an HQ in the USA at Charlotte North Carolina, and listed on the NASDAQ.

They have a partnership and have been working with UPS to design and build 10,000 Vans and received considerable initial backing from Hyundai.
from 2020
https://electrek.co/2020/01/30/ups-orde ... s-arrival/

Currently the share price graph doesn't make happy reading from 12 months ago at first listing to now. They remain in the very much pre-volume production of vehicles loss-making stage, now stepping into a world where previously uninterested large automakers are all piling in with their offerings in the same space Arrival are looking for a growth phase.

REgards Neil

Arrival update...

Bit of a positive view of the Arrival Electric Van product...stock price still not that great, but still pre-production and some certification milestones for Bus and Van have recently been achieved. Microfactory at Bicester production to commence by 1st July 2022 with their Bus, with UK van production October 1st this year, aiming for 400-600 vans to be delivered to customers.





Regards Neil

[Sloppysod]

I agree and disagree with the comments above about the little startup companies being forced out of business by the bigger guys. The benefits behind a small startup is that they are designing and building from the start. Look at tesla and the use of the megacasting process. I have seen some the arrival videos, in theory the idea works, they plan on building small manufactoring sites around the globe to supply the local market, cuts down on build miles, this is something the big guys will not be able to do.
For example a mini crankshaft apparently crosses a border 3 times before being fitted!
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... ritain-eu

[Gibbo2286]

Gloucester bus.
https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/ar ... -bennetts