Tesla Model 3 now can be ordered in more European countries
After opening Model 3 orders to reservation holders in Europe and China last month, Tesla is now opening its online design studio to the entire public in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The automaker also opened orders to the public in China. Tesla started taking steps to switch Model 3 production to the European version and the first Chinese Model 3 was spotted. The first deliveries are planned for next month.
Almost a third of Norway’s car sales in 2018 were electric
Almost a third of new cars sold in Norway last year were pure electric, a new world record as the country strives to end sales of fossil-fueled vehicles by 2025. In a bid to cut carbon emissions and air pollution, Norway exempts battery-driven cars from most taxes and offers benefits such as free parking and charging points to hasten a shift from diesel and gasoline engines.
The independent Norwegian Road Federation (NRF) said on Wednesday that electric cars rose to 31.2 percent of all sales last year, from 20.8 percent in 2017 and just 5.5 percent in 2013, while sales of gasoline and diesel cars plunged.
VW announces new mobile charging station with 360 kWh battery pack
Volkswagen unveiled the first glimpse at its new mobile charging station project: a charging station using a 360 kWh battery pack to power a flexible solution. The mobile charging stations can be set up at defined points and the flexible locations can be easily found via the Internet or apps. Each charging station enables DC quick charging with up to 100 kW. In addition to electric cars, e-bikes can also be charged. Up to four vehicles can be charged simultaneously: two with DC and two with AC connections.
The total battery storage capacity of up to 360 kWh is sufficient for up to 15 e-vehicles. There is also the possibility of connecting to the power supply directly, allowing the station to be charged with up to 30 kW via alternating current by means of a permanent standard grid connection. This enables charging points for electric vehicles to be set up quickly and simply, without any structural changes or major financial outlay.