Foxconn shows off pair of EVs, boasts of bulk orders for last year's model
- Reference: 1666089404
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/10/18/foxconn_ev_expansion/
- Source link:
The new kit emerged on Tuesday at Hon Hai's annual research and development showcase. The [1]new EVs include the Model V, the first made in Taiwan pickup, capable of carrying a payload of up to a ton and towing three tons.
The second new EV is the Model B and is a sporty crossover hatchback targeted at younger generations. It has a drag coefficient of 0.26, a cruising range of 450 kilometers (280 miles), and accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (0-62mph) in 6.6 seconds.
[2]
Foxconn Model C EV truck - Click to enlarge
The announcements mean Foxconn how has five EV models on its books, one of which – the Model C family SUV – will go into production in 2023 as the "Luxgen n7 by Yulon Motor."
Yulon Motor is a Taiwanese automaker that licenses designs. That's exactly how Foxconn wants to do business in the car caper, and the company was pleased to report today that Yulon's version of the Model C garnered 15,000 orders within 32 hours of opening preorders last month.
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The Model V, B and C are slated to be produced in Foxconn facilities in Thailand, Taiwan and the United States, with “further negotiations” ongoing in Indonesia and India.
[4]Foxconn takes Delhi's cash, commits to India chip plant
[5]Foxconn reports booming revenue – and a baby boom among staff
[6]Made in China? Not for much longer, reckons Foxconn boss
[7]Foxconn signals Indian expansion to make ... something it will reveal eventually
The Taiwanese company also showed off its self-developed electric vehicle software platform, HHEV.OS. Foxconn said it meets safety requirements while “reducing the time for software and hardware integration and development in the industry.” The company wants to make HHEV.OS the standard for the MIH software platform, an open platform made by the company and announced three years ago.
“At this very moment we are diving into the electric vehicle industry. We will be more globalized and more innovative in terms of design, and also the Hon Hai speed,” said company founder Terry Gou during the [8]live event [VIDEO] known as Hon Hai Day Tech Day.
[9]
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“We started from manufacturing but are now moving on to technology Hon Hai,” said Gou.
The company did not want to be seen as competing against brand-name automakers, however. It referred to itself as a “reliable and trusted partner in manufacturing and design,” offering development and manufacturing on a contract basis.
[11]
Foxconn has also formed a joint venture with Yulon Motors called Foxtron, to sell an electric bus.
Traditionally known for manufacturing components for the likes of Apple and Dell, Hon Hai also has a hand in semiconductors. The company [12]completes 30 percent of its production outside of China and has been looking to India for opportunities. In February it [13]embarked on a joint venture on the subcontinent under the national electronics manufacturing subsidy scheme.
It's also not been shy about interest in AI, robotics and autonomous driving, long recognizing a need to diversify its product portfolio, not just its manufacturing sites. ®
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[1] https://www.foxconn.com/en-us/press-center/press-releases/latest-news/903
[2] https://regmedia.co.uk/2022/10/18/supplied_foxconn_truck.jpg
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Y07NmRXels@CkQFiAaIsbQAAAAo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/14/foxconn_vedanta_india_chip_factory_jv/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/02/05/foxconn_baby_boom/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/13/china_world_factory_done_foxconn/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2020/06/24/foxconn_india_expansion/
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7INZejjQL9s
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y07NmRXels@CkQFiAaIsbQAAAAo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y07NmRXels@CkQFiAaIsbQAAAAo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y07NmRXels@CkQFiAaIsbQAAAAo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/13/china_world_factory_done_foxconn/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/14/foxconn_vedanta_india_chip_factory_jv/
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: USP
Do they go 'round corners?
The most useless metric ever: from 0 to 100 in xx seconds
Come to think of it, the top speed metric is pointless too.
I see this on Youtube car reviews as well, looking how quick a car gets from 0 to 100 km/h - really? Is that the most relevant metric? OK, maybe is a more tangible indication of how much power (pardon the pun) an EV puts on the road, but it being 0.1 sec faster than another car is not going to make me buy it.
BTW, driving an EV doesn't somehow magically excuse you from the other laws of nature such as wind and roll resistance. Driving at 200 km/h (if you find a place to do it) still means you're energy that would have been enough to power FOUR EVs doing a more normal 120 km/h..
Re: The most useless metric ever: from 0 to 100 in xx seconds
I wonder how much extra range would be possible if the acceleration were a more practical 0-62 in 10 seconds?
Re: The most useless metric ever: from 0 to 100 in xx seconds
"I wonder how much extra range..."
None (or more), it's electric. The battery is nearly the sole factor in acceleration as the circuitry in these EVs is very robust and can (should) take a much larger load than the battery can provide. Almost exclusively will the battery catch fire before the circuitry so there's basically no room for increasing efficiency outside of altering the battery (somehow). In fact, it's probable that it takes more energy to accelerate slower, as seen as in a basic cordless drill.
Materials wise, EVs are less expensive overall so, I can see how selling vehicles for rebrand can be profitable. However, what if I want an unbranded EV... do they sell those individually?
Re: The most useless metric ever: from 0 to 100 in xx seconds
"Materials wise, EVs are less expensive overall "
Have you got a citation for that? The cost of a reasonable sized battery pack using decent quality cells (60 to 80kWh) is probably equivalent to the rest of the vehicle combined That's why EVs currently cost more than a similar ICE car, at least in the price range I can afford.
Re: The most useless metric ever: from 0 to 100 in xx seconds
Materials wise, EVs are less expensive overall so
Not with the raw materials exploding in cost. Have you seen what copper has done? Also, rare earth material mining comes at significant environmental cost. Just because you don't see it (as it's done in 3rd world countries) doesn't mean it doesn't exist, and that's just one aspect of the materials. Try repair of a chassis cast of a single piece of Aluminium, for instance. Also, we're running out of kids to send into cobalt mines.
The two items that seem to be on potential buyers' minds here in the States are how far you can go on a charge (the specs here line up well with what's already available) and how quickly you can recharge (there's a big push for DC fast chargers to be set up at least along the major roadways to get you back on the road ASAP); nothing in the PR here about compatibility. Most of the newer EVs coming out for the US market are touting charge-up to the nominal 80% in the 15-20 minute timeframe via DCFC, which on a road trip gives you time to visit the facilities, grab some snacks for the next leg then be on your way. In practice most driving will happen locally and you'll charge up at home off the mains, but that occasional long haul is a show-stopper to many potential buyers.
Now THOSE are metrics I'd call important as it indeed determines the use of the vehicle.
As a side effect of the work I do have to drive a lot long distance (think a few times per month, with distances over 400km), mixed with local traffic. The car I'm probably going to buy doesn't even come in an electric only version, but as a plug in hybrid which is the only option I have to combine the two use cases in one vehicle. The alternative is two separate cars, which is IMHO more damaging.
Why not, Foxconn and others help drive down the cost of computer components to a degree, maybe a shakeup in the established motor industry is what is needed to get realistic priced vehicles at affordable prices.
USP
Do they have round corners?
-A.