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Automakers not currently promoting EVs are probably doomed

Okay, let's be honest. The sky isn't falling – gas prices are. In fact, some experts say that prices at the pump will remain depressed for the next decade. Consumers have flocked to SUVs and CUVs, reversing the upward trend in US fuel economy seen over the last several years. A sudden push into electric vehicles seems ridiculous when gas guzzlers are selling so well. Make hay while the sun shines, right? A quick glance at some facts and figures provides evidence that the automakers currently doubling down on internal combustion probably have some rocky years ahead of them. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is a prime example of a volume manufacturer devoted to incremental gains for existing powertrains. Though FCA will kill off some of its more fuel-efficient models, part of its business plan involves replacing four- and five-speed transmissions with eight- and nine-speed units, yielding a fuel efficiency boost in the vicinity of ten percent over the next few years. Recent developments by battery startups have led some to suggest that efficiency and capacity could increase by over 100 percent in the same time. Research and development budgets paint a grim picture for old guard companies like Fiat Chrysler: In 2014, FCA spent about $1,026 per car sold on R&D, compared with about $24,783 per car sold for Tesla. To be fair, FCA can't be expected to match Tesla's efforts when its entry-level cars list for little more than half that much. But even more so than R&D, the area in which newcomers like Tesla have the industry licked is infrastructure. We often forget that our vehicles are mostly useless metal boxes without access to the network of fueling stations that keep them rolling. While EVs can always be plugged in at home, their proliferation depends on a similar network of charging stations that can allow for prolonged travel. Tesla already has 597 of its 480-volt Superchargers installed worldwide, and that figure will continue to rise. Porsche has also proposed a new 800-volt "Turbo Charging Station" to support the production version of its Mission E concept, and perhaps other VW Auto Group vehicles. As EVs grow in popularity, investment in these proprietary networks will pay off — who would buy a Chevy if the gas stations served only Ford owners? If anyone missed the importance of infrastructure, it's Toyota.

Stellantis and LG launch joint venture for North American battery plant

Stellantis has struck a preliminary deal with battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) to produce battery cells and modules for North America, as the world's No. 4 automaker rolls out its 30 billion euro ($35 billion) electrification plan. Global automakers are investing billions of euros to accelerate a transition to low-emission mobility and prepare for a progressive phase-out of internal combustion engines. Stellantis and LGES's joint venture will produce battery cells and modules at a new facility with an annual capacity of 40 gigawatt hours (GWh), the two firms said on Monday. No financial details of the deal were provided. The plant is scheduled to start production by the first quarter of 2024, with groundbreaking expected in the second quarter of 2022, the companies said in their statement. Its location is under review and will be announced later. Stellantis, formed in January from the merger of Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, has said it wants to secure more than 130 GWh of global battery capacity by 2025 and more than 260 GWh by 2030. The batteries produced under the deal will supply Stellantis' U.S., Canadian and Mexican assembly plants for installation in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, supporting its goal of e-vehicles making up more than 40% of its U.S. sales by 2030. The company, whose brands include Peugeot, Fiat, Opel and U.S. best-sellers Jeep and Ram, earlier this year announced it would invest more than 30 billion euros through 2025 on electrifying its vehicle lineup. Stellantis has said it would build three battery plants in Europe and two in North America, including at least one in the United States. Intesa Sanpaolo analyst Monica Bosio said the deal was positive, and a further step ahead in Stellantis' electrification process. It comes weeks after Stellantis and its partner TotalEnergies agreed to open up their battery cell joint venture ACC to Daimler, to expand their European sourcing of battery cells. Stellantis is also targeting more than 70% of sales in Europe to be of low-emission vehicles by 2030, and aims to make the total cost of owning an EV equal to that of a gasoline-powered model by 2026. Related video: Green Plants/Manufacturing Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Jeep Maserati RAM Citroen Lancia Opel Peugeot Vauxhall Electric Hybrid EV batteries LG

Massive barn find auction with classic Lamborghinis, Porsches, Jaguars happening in France

If it's the right make and model, a single classic car found in a barn can make headlines. This discovery was much bigger. Eighty cars bigger, and now they're going up for auction in France. Brought to our attention by Road & Track, this diverse collection of 81 classic cars from the 1950s, '60s, '70s, and '80s was originally found months ago. The cars were strewn about in the weeds, as seen in the weirdly calming and nicely filmed video seen below. It's not as shockingly impressive as the French barn find from a few years back, but the variety in the lot of rare vehicles is remarkable, nonetheless. Some of the most notable cars included in the auction are a highly coveted Lamborghini Miura P400, a Porsche 356 coupe, a Series 1 Jaguar E-Type coupe, and a Citroen 2CV. Other interesting vehicles include a Chrysler Imperial C14, an Autobianchi Bianchina 110FB, a C3 Corvette T-Top, a Ford Anglia, a Rolland Pilain B22, and a Stutz Speedway Six. The collection is nearly a dictionary of different auto makes: Renault, Alfa Romeo, Cadillac, Lancia, Simca, a Delage, Panhard, Lincoln, Packard, Oldmobile, a Hotchkiss, Graham Paige, Vauxhall, Opel, Peugeot, Trabant, Volkswagen, Audi, Buick, Fiat, Talbot, Mercedes-Benz, and a random Ferrari GTO body kit. There are also some random pieces and parts of cars, including some loose engines. Some of the cars can be secretly bid on right now, but the main auction will occur Sunday, January 20. Full pictures and details can be found here. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: intrencheres, Road and Track Chrysler Jaguar Lamborghini Porsche Auctions Automotive History Classics barn find