2021 Tesla Model Y Performance Awd 4dr Crossover on 2040-cars

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Norwegian winter proving too much for some Tesla charging cables

Polar vortex 1, Tesla Model S 0? Possibly. Norway is certainly a long way from the sunny California climes where the luxury electric vehicle is made and, while the cars are popular in that country, the country's cold weather is creating problems for car owners, the Norwegian website News in English reports. As winter has set in, a number of Model S owners are reporting charging problems. One driver was stranded with a dead battery on Christmas Eve, while others have said Tesla's recharging cables are having a hard time holding a charge when the temperature gets substantially below freezing levels. Tesla has acknowledged that Norway has a different kind of electric grid than the US (and not just because it's 99 percent hydro-powered) that could be causing the problem. The company has reportedly sent Norwegian owners country-specific updates for the on-board recharging software. Once charged, the Model S works just fine in Norway. In this December video, posted by Norwegian Model S owner Bjorn Nyland, a Model S manages to drive for about 233 miles on a single charge in temperatures that reached only about 21 degrees Fahrenheit, and even then the car had about another 25 miles worth of juice left. Tesla has been well-received in Norway in part because of extensive government incentives as well as perks such as bus-lane access and free parking.

Recharge Wrap-up: No Tesla Gigafactory deal with California, BMW i3 recalled

Before the Nevada announcement was hinted at, a deal to incentivize a Tesla Gigafactory in California fell through. Tesla was looking for around $500 million in incentives, which the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development was willing to offer in tax breaks along with making the permit and environmental processes easier. According to Senator Ted Gaines, there still remained "a gap between what Tesla wanted and what California was willing to offer," the contents of which were undisclosed. California could still be chosen for another of Tesla's battery plants, should those ever materialize. Read more at The Desert Sun. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will consider allowing a bit of compliance flexibility to its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations for some automakers. CARB will hold a hearing to discuss giving intermediate volume manufacturers (IVMs) - carmakers that do between 4,501 and 60,000 new vehicle sales in the state - some leniency catching up to the larger manufacturers when it comes to clean vehicle production. The ZEV regulation changes take into account the amount of revenue IVMs have available for developing the cars, particularly plug-in hybrids. Read more at Green Car Congress or see the notice from CARB here. Certain units of the BMW i3 are subject to an airbag recall. For cars built March 31, 2014, the passenger airbag inflator may have been assembled incorrectly, which could keep it from deploying when needed. Owners will be notified by BMW, and the problem will be fixed for free. The recall also affects certain 2014 Mini Cooper models. Learn more at the NHTSA website. The Renault-Nissan Alliance is providing 200 electric vehicles to telecommunications company Orange in France. The cars, which will include the Nissan Leaf, Nissan e-NV200, Renault ZOE and Renault Kangoo ZE, will be used mostly for carsharing. Through the program, Orange employees can book a car for work or personal travel using a smartphone. The Alliance will also help Orange install charging stations for the new cars. The addition of the EVs to the fleet will help Orange achieve its goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2020. Read more in the press release, below. Jianghuai Automobile Company (JAC) is delivering its first 100 EVs to the US. The shipment is part of a larger order of 2,000 cars to be sold by GreenTech Automotive in the US market. Read more at ECNS.

Recharge Wrap-up: Renault Zoe driving video, BYD Buses in Campinas

A new video shows drivers how to get the most range out of the Renault Zoe. By managing one's driving style, as we all know, one can minimize energy consumption. The Zoe's Econometer and R-Link screen give feedback about the rate of consumption, which helps let the driver know that they should hold back in the throttle. The R-Link system shows the distribution of energy in real time. It also analyzes the driving route and gives feedback at the end of the session. The Zoe also has an Eco button that automatically limits consumption regardless of driving style. Pre-programming climate control can also help improve range. These are all features we're more or less familiar with, but see how they work in the Renault Zoe in the video above. Tesla has announced it will release its second quarter results on August 5. After the automaker releases its financial information on that day, it will hold a live question and answer conference call webcast to discuss those results and outlook at 5:30 Eastern. The second quarter ended June 30. Read more at MarketWatch. Campinas, Brazil will add 10 BYD electric buses to its fleet. It is the first city in Brazil to have a zero-emissions bus fleet. Campinas will be using BYD's 39-foot, four-door K9 battery electric bus, but the K11 articulated electric bus will also begin testing in the city soon. Campinas Mayor Jonas Donizete likes the electric buses because "they are very comfortable, almost noise-free, and great for the environment," and they will help reduce the city's air and noise pollution. BYD plans to open factories for electric buses and solar panels in Campinas over the next year, investing about $108.5 million from 2014 to 2017. Read more in the press release below. BYD to Deliver 10 Electric Buses to Campinas Public Transport Fleet 07/22/2015 (Campinas, Brazil): BYD do Brasil and Campinas City Administration announced this month, the addition of 10 battery-electric buses to the city's public transportation bus fleet. Campinas is a city in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and will be the first in the country to have a fleet of fully electric, zero emission buses operating in its streets. The model chosen to integrate the fleet in Campinas is the BYD K9, a 12-meter, 4-door, low-floor urban bus, with universal accessibility for passengers with limited mobility.