Bold new (Amp)era: inside the new generation of range-extender engines
'We involve ourselves as much as we can in regulatory discussions. In China, to keep the status of a 'new-energy vehicle' [EVs and plug-in hybrids], you must not connect the internal combustion engine to the wheels.
The EU has not finally decided what to do with range-extenders, but I think they realise that this is an interesting opportunity to offer a product which is less dependent on rare materials and cell chemistry because you need a significantly smaller battery.
'They want to understand what the pros and cons are. The whole mobility community is ready for these discussions, because we need them. The past regulation of BEVs has shown that we cannot push things into the market against the customers' will.
The easier a solution is, the higher its chance of surviving a long time. And this is quite an easy solution. I personally expect that we will see it beyond the next five to 10 years. I think there will be plenty of applications which really excite people.'
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Reuters
a few seconds ago
- Reuters
EU chief von der Leyen heads to Scotland for trade talks with Trump
BRUSSELS/EDINBURGH, July 26 (Reuters) - EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen headed to Scotland on Saturday ahead of a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday afternoon, commission spokespeople said, as EU officials said the two sides were nearing a trade agreement. Trump, in Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral meetings, told reporters upon his arrival on Friday evening that he was looking forward to meeting with von der Leyen, calling her a "highly respected" leader. He repeated his view that there was a 50-50 chance that the U.S. and the 27-member European Union could reach a framework trade pact, adding that Brussels wanted to "make a deal very badly". If it happened, he said it would be the biggest trade agreement reached yet by his administration, surpassing the $550 billion accord agreed with Japan earlier this week. The White House has released no details about the planned meeting or the terms of the emerging agreement. The European Commission on Thursday said a negotiated trade solution with the United States was within reach, even as EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) of U.S. goods in case the talks collapse. To get a deal, Trump said the EU would have to "buy down" that tariff rate, although he gave no specifics. EU diplomats say a possible deal between Washington and Brussels would likely include a broad 15% tariff on EU goods imported into the U.S., mirroring the U.S.-Japan deal, along with a 50% tariff on European steel and aluminum. The broad tariff rate would be half the 30% duties that Trump has threatened to slap on EU goods from August 1. It remains unclear if Washington will agree to exempt the EU from sectoral tariffs on automobiles, pharmaceuticals and other goods that have already been announced or are pending. Combining goods, services and investment, the EU and the United States are each other's largest trading partners by far. The American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels warned in March that any conflict jeopardized $9.5 trillion of business in the world's most important commercial relationship.
Telegraph
a few seconds ago
- Telegraph
Strike threats, father's tears and Keir Starmer's plea: Inside Viktor Gyokeres' £64m Arsenal move
It has taken 12 months and three transfer windows, but for Arsenal fans the seemingly interminable wait for a new striker is almost over. A year after trying and failing to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, and six months after attempting to buy Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, Arsenal have finally agreed a deal for a big-money, elite-level centre-forward. The chosen man is Viktor Gyokeres, the Swedish goal machine who has destroyed defences all over Portugal. Gyokeres is heading to Arsenal, at last, after weeks of negotiations concluded in an agreement worth an initial £55 million with around £9 million in further add-ons. Arsenal's striker search has been extraordinary in a number of ways. Firstly, because of the length of time it took for the club to accelerate their interest in Gyokeres. Secondly, because of sporting director Andrea Berta's high-stakes 'spinning plates' approach to this transfer window. And thirdly, because the actual negotiations with Sporting have been so riddled with anxiety that, according to reports in Portugal, Gyokeres' father was recently reduced to tears over his sheer desperation for a deal to be done. There have also been strikes, accusations of blackmail and furious suggestions of broken pacts. Arsenal fans can probably identify with the reported frustration of the Gyokeres family, albeit on a less personal level. For the supporters of this club, the search for a No 9 has become a collective obsession. Even the Prime Minister has weighed in on the issue. In June, Sir Keir Starmer spoke for his fellow season-ticket holders when he said: 'A striker. That's the one that leaps out and it's been like that for a little while. It's that striker role that we need.' Why Arsenal chose Gyokeres over Sesko Arsenal's recruitment operation has been led by Berta, who was appointed as sporting director in March in large part because of his experience of negotiating transfers during his 12 years at Atletico Madrid. This has effectively been Berta's personal project, and the Italian devised a multi-pronged strategy that was unlike anything Arsenal have seen before in recent seasons. Berta spent the first part of this summer window working on numerous deals for numerous strikers at once. This was not a case of Arsenal identifying one target and then simply pursuing that player until an agreement was reached. Sesko and Watkins remained in the fold for weeks, and Telegraph Sport understands that multiple other centre-forwards across Europe were also contacted. The benefit of pricing up different potential options is that it allowed Arsenal to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing their forward. But such an approach also has risks. A few weeks ago, for example, Sesko and Gyokeres were both confident that they were the preferred candidate. In playing his transfer game, Berta had to ensure he was not also playing with the hearts of these men. Only Sesko, who Telegraph Sport understands was indeed the preferred target for many involved in recruitment at Arsenal, can truly say whether Berta succeeded on that front. Why did Arsenal ultimately decide to prioritise Gyokeres, who was always Berta's preferred pick? One factor is the price: Gyokeres was cheaper than Sesko, partly because he is five years older. Another obvious factor behind Arsenal's decision is that the Sweden international made it absolutely clear how desperately he wanted the move. Gyokeres and his representatives were willing to go to great lengths in order to make this transfer happen, including torching their relationship with Sporting. Rightly or wrongly, Sesko would never have done the same at Leipzig. The feeling that Gyokeres is keen for bigger and better things has been underlined by his media appearances in recent weeks. This summer he has been the cover star of two magazines: France Football (in which he said 'I am at the table of the best strikers in the world') and the Scandinavian edition of Vogue. The timing of these things is rarely coincidental. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vogue Scandinavia (@voguescandinavia) On the Portuguese side, the drama truly began in early June, when it emerged that Gyokeres and his camp were furious about an apparent gentleman's agreement being disrespected. Gyokeres and his agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, believed Sporting had promised last season to sell him for £59 million. Sporting's president, Frederico Varandas, did not share that view. The situation was made more complicated by the mid-season departure of Hugo Viana, Sporting's previous sporting director, to Manchester City. It was Viana, not Varandas, who managed the relationship with the agents of the Sporting players. Amid suggestions in June that an enraged Gyokeres had refused to ever represent Sporting again, Varandas issued an extraordinary public statement in which he said he would not bow down to 'blackmail and insults'. He also insisted that he would never accept a deal worth '60 plus 10' (£52 million plus £8.7 million in add-ons) for his top scorer. Clearly, the relationship between player and club had disintegrated. It was no real surprise, then, that Gyokeres did not show up when the Sporting first-team returned for pre-season training earlier this month. Sporting had actually given Gyokeres an extended break, but the Swede's sense of betrayal was acute. For him, there could be no going back. Player's father left 'distraught' by negotiations Negotiations between the two clubs took a painfully long time to conclude. Talks have been at an advanced stage for almost three weeks, and the slow nature of these discussions prevented Arsenal from finalising a deal in time for Gyokeres to fly with the team to their pre-season tour of Asia. A breakthrough, of sorts, was made when the agent agreed to waive his cut. But even then, after the framework of a deal was agreed, the discussion over add-ons has dragged on and on. It has been so agonising for those involved that, last week, Portuguese outlet Mais Futebol revealed that Gyokeres' father had become 'emotionally distraught' and feared the transfer would collapse. Sporting, it should be said, have history in this regard. A few years ago, Tottenham Hotspur's move to sign Pedro Porro from the Portuguese club almost fell apart before suddenly being revived. In January 2020, a similar situation occurred with Manchester United and Bruno Fernandes. Varandas, a decorated army captain, is evidently a tough negotiator. It was reported in Portugal this weekend that United were attempting to hijack Arsenal's move for Gyokeres. Whether this was a convenient 'leak' to pressure Arsenal, or a sign of legitimate interest from United, was ultimately irrelevant. The message from Gyokeres and his people remained the same: he only wanted Arsenal. On Sunday, it emerged that Sporting were accelerating in talks to sign Almeria striker Luis Suarez. And then on Monday morning, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta responded to a question about Gyokeres by saying he 'cannot comment on any player that is not part of our group yet.' It all pointed to significant progress, and so it proved on Friday, when a full agreement was finally reached and Gyokeres was given permission to undergo medical tests. Arsenal, at long last, have their man.
BBC News
a few seconds ago
- BBC News
Arsenal sign Gyokeres from Sporting for £63m
Arsenal have completed the signing of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres from Portuguese club Sporting for 73m euros (£63m).The 27-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the Gunners after the move was held up because of negotiations between the clubs over add-on final sum is made up of a 63m euro transfer fee plus 10m euros in move takes Arsenal's summer spending up to about £204m, following the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Sport revealed at the start of the month how Mikel Arteta's side had turned their attentions to Gyokeres after hitting an impasse in their bid to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB sporting director Andrea Berta flew to Lisbon to lead negotiations with the Portuguese deal concludes the long-running saga over Gyokeres' future, after he was linked with Manchester United earlier this failed to report back at Sporting for pre-season earlier this month, and the club's president Frederico Varandas said the player would face disciplinary action. More to follow.
