#31: Nuremberg, IAA Munich, FFAV Update (EN)
Have a beautiful Sunday! It's already August, time flies!
+++ ON SITE +++
Last Wednesday, I was in Nuremberg at the test drive location to meet several team members and discuss some issues for the Sion. It was nice - meeting with people from the community, asking questions, consulting with the team in person - like old times, before the pandemic.
Gladys was there, Christian from the solar team, Arvind from the battery engineering. Of course, the whole meeting was captured on video right away - Sono style.
A small note about the video: I talked to Gladys and the experts in English because they don't speak much German yet, at least not when it comes to complex technical topics. Sono will provide subtitles in the videos that can be switched on and off (if the issues make it into the video).
Just some very little information upfront (spoiler alert):
The Sion will become 16 cm longer. The additional space will be used to pack a little bit more solar on the hood.
The Sion starts to charge the high-voltage battery when the solar panels generate between 20 to 25 Watts. Christian and I could have talked about it until sunset.
An interesting consideration: the LFP battery could last 900,000 kilometers. Since the typical car only reaches 250,000 kilometers on the clock, you could have to consider taking the battery with you rather than thinking about replacing it. I'm not that enthusiastic about the lifespan of the battery, but it should last the lifetime of the car.
One detail topic kept us busy on the way back: how to properly disconnect the high-voltage battery in the event of an accident - so that rescue workers can work safely - and no part of the vehicle is a live wire after a crash.
When the airbag opens, the high-voltage battery is disconnected - this is the case with electric cars (or should). Nevertheless, one or more shut-off devices must be provided for the rescue workers so that one can really be safe. Cables to cut through and/or switches to switch off are common. We took a look at it on my return trip on the Tesla, which has several places marked with orange flags where you can cut a cable to deactivate the battery.
I actually like the solution from the Mercedes EQ-Series: on the left in the door is a cable to cut through, on the right a hidden disconnector.
https://twitter.com/SonoMotors/status/1419660274299244546
+++ ELECTRIC SHOCK BLOG +++
Julien Marchal ("Stromschlag Youtube Blog") brought Laurin and Jona in front of the camera at the press event last month and delivered more than 20 minutes of the video interview. I like Julien's well-prepared and calm manner.
Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2pxPIpuHCY
+++ SONO DIGITAL +++
Sono's car-sharing app is making further progress. Pictures of a test run can be seen on Twitter. The first reservation of a "non-telematics" car is shown, i.e., one that cannot be unlocked via the internet and needs physical keys.
It is also practical that the car and the license plate can be seen below. Maybe you can even take a photo of your vehicle later so that it appears there - unless it's a Sion of course, they all look the same.
https://twitter.com/SonoMotors/status/1421022701729337344
+++ SION SUPERCHARGER +++
Tesla wants to open its fast-charging network this year. Elon himself has confirmed the news. In Europe, you will need CCS, and the Sion will have that.
The cables are relatively short on the Supercharger because all Teslas always charge on the left close to the end of the car. The next time I stop charging, I'll take a look at whether the cable will be long enough, not that you have to use two parking spaces with the Sion.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1417593502351826946
+++ IAA IN MUNICH +++
The IAA in Munich is scheduled from September 7th to 12th. Thanks to the many presentation stages in the city center, the event should also become a family-friendly street festival. This year the IAA wants to show that mobility can be done differently and will be different in the future.
Mercedes wants to introduce five new models, first and foremost the eagerly awaited "diesel killer" EQE for the upscale sales force hitting the Autobahn.
In addition, resistance is also forming, the highlight: on September 11th. Demo & bike rally for more climate protection. There will be a protest camp on Theresienwiese for the entire duration of the IAA (Oktoberfest 2021 is canceled, so the location is vacant). There is currently still a dispute about who pays for the toilets, Munich, or the camp alliance.
https://www.electrive.net/2021/07/30/daimler-blas-eqe-auf-der-iaa/
+++ EVERGRANDE +++
Evergrande, the owner of NEVS (selected manufacturer of the Sion), is currently under pressure. High debts, a Chinese government that wants to take action against gambling mentality - and information about missed payment deadlines. Rumors of a breakup are making the rounds. The "New Vehicle Division" could end up on the stock exchange, possibly even very positive for the team in Sweden. The pre-valuation of the Evergrande New Vehicle Division is many billions, although no car has yet been built.
https://saabblog.net/2021/07/27/ein-blutroter-dienstag-fuer-die-evergrande-gruppe/
+++ HAPPY CAMPER +++
If the 750 kg towing capacitiy of the Sion are on the brink, because the Sion by battery and safety has increased in weight, then there is already a solution from Holland for camping enthusiasts: the Kip-Shelter, only 560 kg.
https://kipcaravans.nl/de/modelle/shelter/
+++ FFAV +++
As part of the 50 million campaign, Sono also took away a good 2 million in the form of loans. The first investor report has now been sent, everything more or less in the green area. Almost 200 people are now working at Sono on the Sion and solar integration. The solar sector in particular seems to be developing well, eight new "LOIs", i.e. projects that are in the pipeline. Even industrial calibers like Detlef Borghardt are now campaigning for this:
(via download)
https://www.globaltrailermag.com/2021/05/06/the-origins-of-a-solar-empire/
(Personnel)
++ FUN FACT +++
July 28th was Earth Overload Day; we have used up all the resources of this year that are renewing themselves. We currently use 1.74 times as many resources as we can grow back. It is even worse if you only look at Germany and Europe; the date was already in May. If everyone lives like us, we would need three earths.
If we were to achieve Sono's goal of no longer using oil for mobility but instead using renewable energies, we would have (only!) 90 days more time. There is still a lot to be done. Resource conservation is the magic word.
In addition to the consistent expansion of public transport, especially rail transport, and a sharing economy, urgently need a mix of e-mobility for cars, hydrogen for aviation and ships, and CO2-neutral SynFuels for trucks. Even Mr Diess (VW boss) has now explained it to Markus Lanz.
https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/erdueberlaststag-ressourcen-101.html