Battery costs, Volvo, Aston Martin, Tesla, Bentley, IMF.

The cost of batteries could drop 35% by 2025, a recent analysis by Lux Research suggests. Li-ion batteries from manufacturers like Panasonic or Tesla could thus cost 172 dollars per kWh, while smaller scale manufacturers would still need to charge more than 200 USD/kWh.
finanznachrichten.de

Double standards: Every Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine in the U.S. will be equipped with AeroVironment’s charge cable ‘TurboCord Dual’ as standard. It enables Level 1 as well as Level 2 charging at 240-volt outlets.
greencarcongress.com, electriccarsreport.com

Electric Aston Martin made in USA? The British brand will open a second factory to build the electric DBX. CEO Andy Palmer called Alabama the “obvious choice,” but added that no decision has been made yet. The company believes that the electric Aston will mainly be sold in the U.S. and China.
autonews.com

Tesla goes free: The Model S is the first imported EV that will be exempt from the licence plate lottery in the Chinese city of Tianjin. That means, owners will be able to register the American electric car for free, which is already the case for all EVs manufactured in China.
carnewschina.com

Bare Bentley SUV: New pictures show the Bentayga with almost no camouflage. Bentley’s luxury SUV is said to also be available as a plug-in hybrid variant and is scheduled to arrive on the market in 2016.
autoexpress.co.uk

True cost of fossil fuels: A new IMF estimate reveals that every day, fossil fuels receive 10 million dollars per minute in subsidies, costing governments worldwide 5.3 trillion dollars a year. The costs include the impact that burning of oil, gas and coal has on humankind in terms of air pollution and health risk, as well as droughts and floods. The International Monetary Fund calls for the end of subsidies, saying it could become a “game changer” for countries and the climate.
theguardian.com