All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Renault offers 30% cheaper EV parts

We all know that the price of new electric cars is increasing and that replacement parts are very expensive. This could change in the future, because new production methods accompanied by new innovations are predicted to bring prices down in the coming years. Until that happens, some manufacturers, such as Renault, are considering offering refurbished parts that will be 30% cheaper.

Three key and at the same time expensive components of electric vehicles will be in circulation to reduce costs. The renewed electric motor, electronics and battery will initially be offered to owners of the models: ZOE, Twingo E-Tech, Kangoo E-Tech, Master E-Tech and Megane E-Tech.

Renault is one of the brands that invests the most effort in everything that has to do with the circular economy, and at ChangeNow in Paris, it announced that by repairing parts, it wants to extend the life of components and cars, which would ultimately mean a lower cost of production but also cheaper electric cars . This plan will be implemented in Renault plants in France (Flins), Turkey (Bursa) and Spain (Seville).

The Flins plant will have the capacity to produce more than 3,000 remanufactured parts. The “Re-trofit” department is designed for the overhaul of used vehicles of any brand, while Master III owners will be offered the installation of an electric powertrain.

Source: Renault

1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster for sale

In 1954, Mercedes-Benz introduced a two-seat sports car, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. It was first produced as a Coupe, and in 1957 it was replaced by the Roadster version of this model. One of the Coupe examples, the 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is up for auction.

When it hit the market with a list price of $11,000, it was very popular among celebrities, racing drivers and other successful individuals. This example is part of the Dare to Dream Collection and in 2013 it underwent a complete restoration by renowned marque specialist Rudi Koniczek. It is one of only 101 Roadsters from the entire production finished in extraordinary Light Blue, and one of only 211 examples produced by Mercedes-Benz during their 1959 model year.

During the restoration, the car was stripped completely while steel and aluminum panels were added into the car’s original body where required. It is equipped with Dunlop disc brakes, 3.64 ratio rear axle, color-matched wheels, a Becker Mexico radio, Talbot mirror, and Baisch-style seat belts, while its sumptuous, ergonomic interior was masterfully retrimmed in pristine red leather (1079) beneath a Dark Blue fabric Roadster top.

The car is powered by an original 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that provides outstanding performance. It is reliable enough to be a favorite of enthusiasts for vintage rallies, long-distance touring, but also for everyday driving.

This collectible Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is offered without reserve and has an estimated value of $1,500,000 – $1,800,000 USD.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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BYD produced 7 million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles

The Chinese car manufacturer BYD is one of the largest manufacturers of electric vehicles in the world and recently became the first in the world to produce seven million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. This is not a coincidence, because the latest results show that BYD is in a big expansion. In 2023, BYD produced 3,024,417 vehicles, so the company ordered an additional seven cargo ships to transport its vehicles faster to Europe, which is the main target for Chinese companies.

BYD was founded in 2003 and it took 18 years to produce one million electric vehicles. In 2023, production increased sharply, and in August, BYD announced that it had produced its 5 millionth NEV (New Energy Vehicle). In November 2023, the Chinese brand announced the production of the 6 millionth vehicle. Now some predict that by the end of 2024, this manufacturer could exceed the number of more than 10 million vehicles produced.

The company announced on its official website and social network Weibo that the 7 millionth NEV was the Denza N7 SUV, their premium brand car created as a joint venture between BYD and Daimler.

How serious a player BYD is is also shown by the fact that it invests 14 billion dollars in the development of advanced technology, especially the ADAS system, which will make its cars safer on the road. The company also invests in marketing, thus becoming an official partner of UEFA Euro 2024, which will be held in Germany this summer.

Source: BYD

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