StreetScooter + Ford, Tesla, China, Munich, SF Motors, Honda.

StreetScooter and Ford team up: With German manufacturers continuously weak on the electric transporter front, DHL subsidiary StreetScooter has turned to Ford to build bigger electric vans. The carmaker is to lend its Transit platform to be equipped with the electric drive train and fitted with a body construction based on Deutsche Post and DHL Paket specifications. Production of the large StreetScooter will start this July already so that within 2018, Deutsche Post DHL will have added at least 2,500 EVs more. This doubles its existing e-van fleet but also means that Ford and StreetScooter will become the largest manufacturer of electric medium-duty delivery vehicles in Europe.
greencarcongress.com

The safest SUV of all is the Tesla Model X according to the NHTSA rating. The American safety testing agency gave it 5 stars in all categories and subcategories, saying the probability of injury in a crash is the lowest of any SUV it ever tested.
insideevs.com, tesla.com, youtube.com (crash test front), youtube.com (crash test side)

China upholds NEV quota: Draft regulation published this week shows no signs of weakening the electric car sales quota, despite previously promised concessions. The draft by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) maintains that sales of automakers must include 8 percent electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2018, so there seems to be a disconnect between the ministry and the leadership. The draft is open for public comment until June, 27.
reuters.com

The situation in Germany is not much better when seen from the perspective of a traditional carmaker. Munich joins the ranks of cities that consider a diesel ban. Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter is under pressure after data by Sueddeutsche Zeitung showed nitrogen oxide emission levels 40 percent above limits set by the EU. Reiter called the readings “shocking” and thinks BMW’s hometown “cannot do without” a diesel ban, especially as he believes that a congestion charge would not keep drivers out but would just have them pay. A ban would affect about 170,000 diesel cars in town.
reuters.com, electrive.net (in German), sueddeutsche.de (original source)

China EV made in USA: SF Motors has set up shop in California’s Santa Clara, where it plans to make electric cars reportedly. SF Motors is a spin-off from Chinese Sokon and the company says the new site will create 100 jobs. The same number of employees are to be based in Michigan, where SF intends to establish its R&D unit. Extra brain power comes from Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard who acts as a consultant while also working on his own start-up InEVit.
thedrive.com, bizjournals.com, sfmotors.com

The cutest cub: Honda has a new pack member as it decides to make the EV-Cub concept a production reality. The small and light motorbike has been in Honda’s line-up for decades but the electric version fits a niche in green city transport. Speccs will be released closer to launch set for 2020.
greencarcongress.com