EVfriendly Weekly Roundup – April 24

Canada Lands Volkswagen Battery Plant With Billions in Subsidies

Volkswagen’s first North American battery plant for electric vehicles will be built in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, after the Canadian and Ontario governments committed to providing the automaker with a combined $1 billion in subsidies. The factory will cost $7 billion overall and will eventually employ 3,000 people, producing enough batteries annually for one million vehicles. The decision follows a bidding war with the United States, which offered subsidies of $8 billion to $10 billion over the next decade. Volkswagen also considered around a dozen other locations in North America for the plant.

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Is Canada's infrastructure prepared for the electric vehicle boom?

Canada has set a target for all cars, SUVs, and light trucks sold in the country to be electric by 2035 as part of its plan to decarbonize the transportation sector and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. However, experts in the automotive and green energy industries say there are several factors to consider, such as infrastructure and charging capacity.

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Ford And Other Automobile Companies Dropping AM Radio On Electric Vehicles

Some electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers such as Ford, Audi, and Volvo have removed AM radio from their vehicles due to the interference of electric motors with the reception of AM radio. This has raised concerns among those who rely on free local radio stations for news, sports, weather, traffic, and music, particularly during emergencies when local stations provide vital information.

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Are gas-powered or electric vehicles a better deal? EVs may win out in long run, experts say

Electric vehicles (EVs) typically save drivers $6,000 to $10,000 over the lifetime of most models when compared with a gasoline-powered vehicle, according to a Consumer Reports study. Factors including regional electricity and gasoline prices, range and charging options, and financial incentives for EV purchases, can affect this outcome.

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VW's battery plant deal changes Canada's auto sector. Whether it's worth $13B in subsidies is debatable

German automaker Volkswagen has announced plans to build its first electric battery plant in North America in the city of St. Thomas, Ontario. The $7bn project, which has received support from the Canadian government, will create 3,000 direct jobs and ten times as many indirect jobs in the region. However, the government’s contribution is the subject of debate, with critics labelling the tax subsidies as an unnecessary expense. Nevertheless, supporters argue that the move will transform Southern Ontario into a key electric vehicle supply chain region.

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