Paris Motor Show 2016 - Sustainability Highlights

The Paris Motor Show (Mondial De L’Automobile) may not have attracted all of the big automotive brands, but even so, from a sustainability perspective, it may just mark the tipping-point where the electric vehicle becomes a realistic proposition for mass market consumers, with several key launches outlined below.  For a few years now, I have been writing about sustainability-related news from the motorshow circuit, and the majority of stories a have been about hybrid powertrains entering into most model lineups. It's therefore really exciting to see the growing dominance of pure-electric solutions, with traditional barriers of range anxiety and availability of charging points reducing.  Ironically, 'Dieselgate' may be one of the most successful catalysts in society's transition towards sustainable mobility.

As an aside, we are also seeing some fundamental shifts in business models for the whole industry, with the previously aspirational concept of car ownership being challenged.  New technology using autonomous fleets will introduce a blur between private and public transport.  It's actually at another venue in Paris where some of this is being explored and showcased, at the Autonomy Festival of Urban Mobility.  But manufacturers are starting to respond slowly, but surely, leaving an interesting mix of OEMs and startups vying for the same revenue streams.

Anyway, back to the cars...

Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ

As a potential competitor to Tesla's Model X (and an electric Jaguar F-Pace), Mercedes have introduced an all-wheel drive electric concept car, called 'Generation EQ'.  A range of 500km is touted, with a power output of up to 300kW.

In fact, Generation EQ is heralding a new electric sub-brand, EQ, which stands for 'Electric Intelligence'. Additionally, a newly announced sub-division called CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric) will hopefully herald a raft of sustainable innovation.

Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ

Opel Ampera-e

Although not destined for the UK, the Ampera-e is launching in Europe with an impressive range, ahead of some of its competitors.  Its US sibling is the Chevrolet Bolt, and the stats are impressive, with an 150kW motor offering-up 50kph in 3.2s, and range of 222 miles.

Opel Ampera-e

Renault Zoe Q90

The Renault Zoe has been upgraded, with a 41kWh battery offering 250 miles of range (somewhat less for 'real world' conditions), all helping to alleviate range anxiety.

Renault Zoe

Renault Trezor

Renault have launched the sensual Trezor ("Treasure") at Paris, with a 260kW motor, helping the 2-seat 4.7m long GT get to 62mph in less than 4 seconds.

Renault Trezor

Smart Electric Drive

Due for a European launch in early 2017, the three sibling models (fortwo, forfour and fortwo cabrio) will offer compact electric city driving.  A 17.6kWh battery and 60kW motor will offer a range of around 155km.  Although the non-petrol versions have been around for a while, they haven't had a huge success.  However, when clean electric power is combined with urban car-sharing schemes, you could see it as a really potent mobility solution for our cities. 

Smart fortwo cabrio electric drive

Volkswagen I.D.

Due to be launched in 2020, the VW Golf sized I.D. is part of VW's strategic response to 'dieselgate', and part of the stated ambition to have sold a million EVs by 2025.

The I.D. has a retractable steering-wheel, so it's out of the way when used autonomously in 'I.D. Pilot mode' (likely to be supported from 2025).  The 125kW electric motor has a range from 249 miles (potentially more with different battery configurations).

We'll expect to see a similar 'design language' echoed in a wide variety of EVs from VW in the future...

VW I.D.

And finally...

There were some nice hybrid concepts too - here's a couple:

Citroen CXPERIENCE

Citroen CXPERIENCE (concept)

Mitsubishi GT PHEV

Mitsubishi GT PHEV

Why EV batteries are like Star Wars™

I'm one of the very few people that I know who hasn't ever watched a Star Wars™ film (I see this as a badge of honour).  Arguably therefore, I'm not the best person to reflect on the parallels between Star Wars™ and Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries.  So I won't, other than to say that in the same way Star Wars™ has its sequel and prequel, business models are emerging which give EV batteries the same accolade.

The original - Batteries used in EVs and hybrids

We're all familiar now with batteries in a vehicle's powertrain.  There are a variety of different approaches - conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.  Due to ever-tightening tailpipe regulations and tax incentives for drivers, almost all manufacturers have at least one of these in their model range, and I expect by 2020, almost every model from every manufacturer will have a hybrid/electric option.

Toyota Prius 2016 - Conventional Hybrid

BMW 740e -Plug-in Hybrid

Nissan Leaf - Electric Vehicle

In all of these cases, it's expected that the battery lasts as long as the vehicle itself.  Obviously, as a relatively new technology, time will tell, however, there is some very encouraging news from Nissan, showing a 99.99% reliability after 5 years (only 3 problems with 35,000 sales in Europe) - a much better reliability record than cars with a conventional engine.

One of the perceived drawbacks of an electric vehicle is the time taken to charge the battery.  Although the growth of rapid chargers makes this a reduced issue, an alternative is to be able to 'swap-out' the batteries.  Popularised by Israeli start-up Better Place, now Elon Musk's Tesla is trialling a similar approach to compliment its fast charger network:

Eventually though, EV/hybrid batteries will reach the end of their life in a car, but that doesn't mean the battery cannot be used in another form... Time for a sequel...

The sequel - the EV/hybrid battery secondary market

To minimise the carbon footprint of a battery, and extend its use phase for as long possible, manufacturers are starting to look at partnerships where their batteries can be re-used in another form.

Renault have announced a partnership with Connected Energy, where their E-STOR proposition uses batteries from Renault cars to support storage from intermittent renewable sources, or for EV charging solutions.

Connected Energy's collaboration with Renault

And in the US, Nissan are partnering with Green Charge Networks with a similar proposition.

Nissan's US partnership with Green Charge Networks

Finally, in the US, BMW are running an innovative V2G demand response programme, BMW i Charge Forward, allowing 100 BMW i3 drivers to earn extra income from demand response requests from their utility PG&E. In parallel to this, some additional static storage is being provided by used Mini E batteries.

So that's the sequel understood.  But a prequel...?

The Prequel - a living parts store

Earlier in this article, news from Nissan gave us confidence that batteries in vehicles are more reliable than sceptics assumed.  But of course, there are situations where batteries will need to be replaced... and manufacturers need to have spares available.  In an innovative partnership with enercity, Daimler will create a 15MWh storage facility, using batteries which are yet to be used in a car - they call it a 'living parts store'.  Its energy storage will be marketed in the German primary balancing power market, helping provide a lower-carbon mechanism to flatten/shift grid peaks.  And incredibly, managed charging and discharging is exactly what a battery benefits from, rather than a 'deep discharge' if it's just sat on a shelf.

Daimler's Energy Storage facility

The spin-offs

Obviously lithium-ion batteries don't need to have a direct use-case around vehicles, and car manufacturers are very aware of that.  Telsa is making an impact in the domestic energy storage market with its Tesla Powerwall (the first UK installation was made in a home in Wales last week). 

Tesla Powerwall

They are also making the technology available at the utility level, with the Powerpack. Their Gigafactory will be churning-out large numbers of batteries (it's ahead of schedule) - I wonder if they are exploring the 'living parts store' option too...

And, as I wrote in an earlier article, Daimler are actively working in the same way, partnering with EnBW AG for private customers.

Daimler Energy Storage Solution

Summary

As car manufacturers introduce lithium-ion batteries into powertrains, the driver benefits from improved fuel consumption, tailpipe emissions are reduced/eliminated, and they may even be able to use their car battery to provide energy to their home (V2H) or the grid (V2G).  But as we've seen above, the associated business models mean the potential for car batteries to provide an even greater contribution to our energy ecosystem are really exciting.

So, a tenuous link to Star Wars™ I admit, but with the humble lithium-ion battery making futuristic transformations to our energy system today, who needs fantasy action adventure films? 

End Credits

All images © respective manufacturers unless otherwise stated.

Daimler enters grid and home energy storage market

Hot on the heels of Tesla's recent announcement, Daimler is set to launch Mercedes Benz branded energy storage systems, via its subsidiary, Deutsche ACCUmotive, based in Saxony.  They have strong experience of producing batteries already, for various hybrid and electric Mercedes-Benz and Smart vehicles.

Mercedes Benz Energy Storage

Its first industrial-scale lithium-ion unit is already on the grid and is being operated by the partner companies The Mobility House AG and GETEC Energie AG (via a JV called Coulomb). The 96 Lithium-ion battery modules have a total capacity of 500kWh, with a planned increase to 3000kWh.  The benefits to the grid include smoothing grid peaks, and ultimately reducing carbon emissions.

Daimler is then planning to partner with EnBW AG for private customer sales with 5.9kWh capacity batteries, alongside other worldwide distributors.  Private customers with solar panels will be particularly attracted to the opportunity to store excess energy during sunny periods, and use at night.

Mercedes Benz moves from the garage into the home

More details available here.