Sup. This is Plugged In. The EV newsletter throwing you the perfect alley-oop. We'll be the D-Wade to your Lebron.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

• Toyota gets bullied to go Electric

• BYD reveals the $11k "Seagull"

• Tesla Semi already gets a recall

• Europe says "Let's finally build some charging stations!"

TOYOTA GETS BULLIED TO GO ELECTRIC

Oh, how the mighty Toyota has fallen. A mob of 54 consumer and environmental groups from 26 countries have penned a scathing letter, timed just right to rain on new CEO Koji Sato's parade, urging Toyota to ditch the dinosaurs and go full electric by 2035 globally and by 2030 in Europe.

Once the darling of global auto manufacturing, Toyota has now become that stubborn grandpa who refuses to get a smartphone. Sure, the company may have once led the pack with its "kaizen" production methods, but it turns out efficiency isn't everything—especially when you're late to the EV party.

Under former CEO Akio Toyoda, the company's electric vehicle efforts were... well, let's just say "lackluster" would be a compliment. With EVs now taking center stage, Toyota's bZ4X was a bit like showing up to a fashion show in sweatpants.

But now there's a new sheriff in town: Koji Sato, former Lexus brand chief and electrification enthusiast, handpicked by Toyoda to "promote change in an era in which the future is unpredictable." Sounds like the understatement of the century.

Toyota's current electrification plan is to sell a whopping 3.5 million electric cars by 2030, which, by the way, is only about a third of the company's yearly sales. Cute, right? Meanwhile, Tesla sold 1.3 million EVs just last year, and even GM is aiming for 40-50% electric sales by 2030.

Well, Toyota, the ball's in your court now. Let's see if you can finally step up your game and join the 21st century.

BYD REVEALS THEIR $11K EV: THE SEAGULL

BYD finally revealed the official pictures of the Seagull, the budget EV that's flying onto the scene with, well, budget pricing. Maybe. Sort of. It's hard to say.

The Seagull is built on BYD's e-platform 3.0 and will sport a 55 kW or 75 kW TZ180XSH motor, powered by an LFP Blade battery that'll give it a 405 km CLTC range and a top speed of 130km/h. According to previous reports, Seagull will be the first car to feature BYD's sodium-ion battery. Innovation, people!

But let's talk about that pricing, shall we? According to BYD, the Seagull will cost between 80,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan ($11,600USD - $15,600USD). However, leaked dealer marketing materials claimed the price would start at 65,000 yuan ($9,500). BYD, of course, denies this. Because who doesn't love a little price intrigue to keep things interesting?

In China's price war that Tesla started in January, dealers' price cuts for both EVs and ICE are as high as $14,000 for some models, like the BMW i3. So, we can expect a wild ride when it comes to the Seagull's pricing.

The Seagull is part of BYD's Ocean series and will be an entry-level car in the company's lineup, positioned under Dolphin. The Ocean series also includes the Seal sedan and Sea Lion SUV, which are set to launch in Q2 2023. Yes, we get it, BYD loves marine life.

The Seagull's official public debut will take place on April 18 at the Shanghai Auto show. Expect fireworks, confetti, and possibly a flock of real seagulls.

TESLA SEMI IS GROWING UP SO FAST, ALREADY GETTING ITS FIRST RECALL

It's official, folks. Tesla's Semi is all grown up and getting its first-ever recall. Ah, they grow up so fast, don't they?

The recall, announced on the NHTSA's recall website, affects a whopping 35 vehicles. Yes, 35. Hold onto your hats. The culprit? A pesky parking brake issue. Apparently, the electronic parking brake module could fail to engage due to air leakage within the unit. This sneaky little problem could lead to a rollaway incident when the driver releases the service brake. Not exactly ideal, huh?

The problem affects 35 "Intellipark Valve Modules" supplied by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and equipped in vehicles produced between November 30, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Bendix seems to be dealing with a similar recall, affecting a total of 836 units, including non-Tesla brands. Ouch.

The NHTSA's recall report states that Bendix discovered the issue in early February. Tesla, being the thorough folks they are, spent a month investigating the problem before deciding to issue a recall on those 35 affected vehicles.

As of March 24, the date of the recall, Tesla hasn't identified any instances where the parking brake error has resulted in a crash or damages. Phew!

Tesla has notified service teams of the recall and will mail letters to owners starting May 23. They plan to replace the 35 defective units with a better version to prevent air leakage. And as of March 14, Tesla Semi trucks are now manufactured with the improved replacement module. Good on ya, Tesla!

EUROPE SAYS "HEY, LET'S FINALLY BUILD SOME CHARGING STATIONS"

In a stunning display of finally getting with the program, the European Parliament and member states have come to an agreement that will see European nations roll out electric and hydrogen charging points across the region over the next couple of years. You know, because it's only 2023 and not like we're in a climate crisis or anything.

The result? An EV charging station every 37 miles (60 kilometers), according to a report by Bloomberg published on Tuesday. And for the trucks, they'll get special stations at 77-mile (120-kilometer) intervals, with half of these targets expected to be reached by 2028. Wow, such ambition!

But wait, there's more! By 2031, hydrogen refueling stations will also be available. Andreas Carlson, the Swedish minister for infrastructure and housing, said that this agreement will send a "clear signal" to citizens and other stakeholders that user-friendly recharging infrastructure and refueling stations will be installed throughout the EU. Groundbreaking stuff, really.

This same week, the EU decided to get serious about emissions and agreed to make all new cars sold in the region emissions-free by 2035. Better late than never, right?

Passenger vehicles and vans contribute around 12 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively, of all CO2 emissions in the EU. And in case you've been living under a rock, CO2 is the primary greenhouse gas causing all sorts of problems for our planet. Under new regulations, all new automobiles sold in the EU must emit ZERO CO2 by 2035.

The new charging station deal is designed to tackle the oh-so-surprising lack of charging infrastructure that's been holding back the EV transition. Because who could have predicted that people might need a place to charge their electric cars?

Well, better late than never, Europe. Let's hope this snail-paced approach to EV infrastructure doesn't leave us all stranded on the side of the road.

PLUGGED IN WEEKLY MEME

That's a wrap for today. Charge your batteries & see ya tomorrow! If you want more, be sure to follow our Twitter (@PluggedInEmail)

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