The EV fact thread

[Mactech]

I hadn't realised that the new Ford Explorer and Capri EV's are based on VW's MEB platform. We have already have various VW models (ID 3, ID 4, and ID 5) plus a host of other VW group models (Skoda, Audi, Seat etc) all on the same basic architecture and now a pair of Fords as well.
Is there a prize for how many brands and models can share the same base? This must be a contender!

New Capri review: This is the future of Ford - and it's good | Autocar

The Capri is back but this time as an electric crossover. Can it live up to the legend?

www.autocar.co.uk

 

[markjay]

I hadn't realised that the new Ford Explorer and Capri EV's are based on VW's MEB platform. We have already have various VW models (ID 3, ID 4, and ID 5) plus a host of other VW group models (Skoda, Audi, Seat etc) all on the same basic architecture and now a pair of Fords as well.
Is there a prize for how many brands and models can share the same base? This must be a contender!

New Capri review: This is the future of Ford - and it's good | Autocar

The Capri is back but this time as an electric crossover. Can it live up to the legend?

www.autocar.co.uk

Its common on ICE cars, and I think we'll see more if this on EVs as well. The R&D cost for a new platform is in the billions.

The E-GMP platform for example, is shared across a wide range of Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia EVs.

 

[BTB 500]

I hadn't realised that the new Ford Explorer and Capri EV's are based on VW's MEB platform. We have already have various VW models (ID 3, ID 4, and ID 5) plus a host of other VW group models (Skoda, Audi, Seat etc) all on the same basic architecture and now a pair of Fords as well.

There are strong links between the two companies now. The latest VW Transporter T7 is based on the new Ford Transit Custom - both built at a Ford plant in Turkey.

 

[Mactech]

Its common on ICE cars, and I think we'll see more if this on EVs as well. The R&D cost for a new platform is in the billions.

The E-GMP platform for example, is shared across a wide range of Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia EVs.

Yes, within company groups it is essential to make the best use of R&D resources. But going outside the group to share tech is less common.
Vans do seem to share the most. VW/Mercedes have been in league for decades with the Crafter/Sprinters and I believe you can buy a Vauxhall Vivaro mid size van in about five different uniforms.
It certainly makes sense for VW and Ford to share EV platforms, and, at the end of the day, we get better products for a more reasonable price.
I doubt the average EV shopper has a clue that cars in different dresses are all from the same family, if not the same brand.

 

[markjay]

Yes, within company groups it is essential to make the best use of R&D resources. But going outside the group to share tech is less common.
Vans do seem to share the most. VW/Mercedes have been in league for decades with the Crafter/Sprinters and I believe you can buy a Vauxhall Vivaro mid size van in about five different uniforms.
It certainly makes sense for VW and Ford to share EV platforms, and, at the end of the day, we get better products for a more reasonable price.
I doubt the average EV shopper has a clue that cars in different dresses are all from the same family, if not the same brand.

True. And...:

The VAG Sharan/Alhambra and the Ford Galaxy go back to 1996.

These days, the Jeep Renegade is built in Melfi, Italy on the same assembly line as the Fiat 500X, sharing the same platform.

It's not uncommon at all.

 

[BTB 500]

The VAG Sharan/Alhambra and the Ford Galaxy go back to 1996.

Yup, I had a 2002 Sharan which got the electrically heated windscreen that I believe Ford held the rights to at the time.

These days, the Jeep Renegade is built in Melfi, Italy on the same assembly line as the Fiat 500X, sharing the same platform.

That's less of a surprise as Jeep & Fiat are essentially the same company (both part of Stellantis).

 

[markjay]

Yup, I had a 2002 Sharan which got the electrically heated windscreen that I believe Ford held the rights to at the time.



That's less of a surprise as Jeep & Fiat are essentially the same company (both part of Stellantis).

Interesting (partial) list here:

Platform Sharing Cars, Blog | Wilsons Group

Platform Sharing Cars, Wilsons Group, New & Used Car Dealer, Epsom Surrey

www.wilsons.co.uk

 

[Dryce]

I doubt the average EV shopper has a clue that cars in different dresses are all from the same family, if not the same brand.

I doubt the above average ICE shoppers have much of a clue either.

Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg and Bentley Bentayga

BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra.

Rolls Royce Phantom and BMW 7 Series

 

[190]

It's not just platform sharing, whole companies have had to merge in order to survive or for the future to compete with China. Stellantis is the biggest example which now has 16 different brands.

The latest merger talks are for Honda and Nissan and possibly Mitsubishi to merge. Nissan needs a partner but I thought they already had partnerships with Renault and Mitsubishi.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/dea...mid-ev-competition-nikkei-reports-2024-12-17/

 

[ALFAitalia]

Platforms cost billions to develop.... most of the rest of the car in the mere hundreds of millions. So the more they can spread that expense the better. The early Alhambra, Galaxy, Sharran example above was way more than platform sharing.... they were all pretty much exactly the same car and all built in the same factory in Portugal.

 

[BTB 500]

The early Alhambra, Galaxy, Sharran example above was way more than platform sharing.... they were all pretty much exactly the same car and all built in the same factory in Portugal.

The VAG pair were almost identical mechanically, but not the Ford. That used their own 16V 2.0 petrol (the 2.0 in the VAG versions was an 8V), and a Ford 2.3 petrol in place of the VAG 1.8 turbo. And the VW was the only one available with 4WD (4Motion), solely with the 2.8 V6 and 6-speed manual gearbox.

 

[ChipChop]

The VAG pair were almost identical mechanically, but not the Ford. That used their own 16V 2.0 petrol (the 2.0 in the VAG versions was an 8V), and a Ford 2.3 petrol in place of the VAG 1.8 turbo. And the VW was the only one available with 4WD (4Motion), solely with the 2.8 V6 and 6-speed manual gearbox.

Mercedes also used the VW 2.8 VR6 engine in the vito/ V class v280.

 

[grober]

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[Petrol Pete]

The EV car industry would be in a much better place if repair of these big-ticket items was better understood and trained for. There really isn't anything clever or difficult about taking out a battery and replacing individual cells, or dismantling a motor to replace the bearings. Yes, there are safety precautions due to the voltages involved but the right equipment and training can deal with that. The industry trend of replace-not-repair seems to be shooting itself in the foot as the individual items being replaced get bigger and more costly with EVs, feeding back to help collapse resale values in a nervous used-car market that is just looking for excuses to avoid them.

Tesla recommend replacing the whole battery, even if just one cell is damaged. That is the reason why they can be written off while showing zero visible damage.

 

[BTB 500]

Mercedes also used the VW 2.8 VR6 engine in the vito/ V class v280.

Yes, the W638 was based on the SWB Transporter floorpan ... hence being FWD. They only had the original 12 valve version though, not the more powerful 24V.

 

[BTB 500]

Just reading about the road tax trickery lined up for next year i.e. the headline that "new EVs will pay £10 VED". However that's only for the first year, to encourage people to buy them. After that they'll pay standard rate VED (currently £195), and if over £40k list price the 'luxury tax' (currently £410) for the next 5 years as well. So £605 a year for many EVs from year 2 ... and likely to go up in next year's budget.

Also in the news ... Audi are closing their factory in Belgium in February, pulling the plug on their flagship Q8 e-tron (which is only made there).

 

[SmartAmg]

Just reading about the road tax trickery lined up for next year i.e. the headline that "new EVs will pay £10 VED". However that's only for the first year, to encourage people to buy them. After that they'll pay standard rate VED (currently £195), and if over £40k list price the 'luxury tax' (currently £410) for the next 5 years as well. So £605 a year for many EVs from year 2 ... and likely to go up in next year's budget.

Does that Make you Happy, the fact, that EVs will be paying Road Tax. It was inevitable that would come. Suprised it lasted so long. But while it lasted, it was great for EV owners. Who by the way didn't make the rules.
Personally don't mind paying £195. Don't get me wrong, Free would be better. But I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it.

 

[Gollom]

Just reading about the road tax trickery lined up for next year i.e. the headline that "new EVs will pay £10 VED". However that's only for the first year, to encourage people to buy them. After that they'll pay standard rate VED (currently £195), and if over £40k list price the 'luxury tax' (currently £410) for the next 5 years as well. So £605 a year for many EVs from year 2 ... and likely to go up in next year's budget.

Also in the news ... Audi are closing their factory in Belgium in February, pulling the plug on their flagship Q8 e-tron (which is only made there).

So if I were to buy a used EV, I'd pay £195 pa immediately? That is hardly going to encourage people when they can get ICE and only pay £20 pa (or less!)

 

[SmartAmg]

So if I were to buy a used EV, I'd pay £195 pa immediately? That is hardly going to encourage people when they can get ICE and only pay £20 pa (or less!)

No, only comes in on April 1st 2025
Mine for example, is due September 2025 So I just got a years free road tax until September 2025.
So I will have To pay then. But there's a little loophole, for that.

 

[Gollom]

No, only comes in on April 1st 2025
Mine for example, is due September 2025 So I just got a years free road tax until September 2025.
So I will have To pay then. But there's a little loophole, for that.

But will apply if I buy a used EV on April 2nd 2026? My comment still stands