Created Wednesday 18 December 2019

See also: Autos | Transportation | Cars

ElectraMeccanica

December 26, 2019 / 8:38 PM

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey unveiled its first fully domestically-produced car on Friday, saying it aimed to eventually produce up to 175,000 a year of the electric vehicle in a project expected to cost 22 billion lira ($3.7 billion) over 13 years.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-autos-idUSKBN1YV09E

David Tracy - 2 January 2019 4:13PM

In a few years, when much of the world’s highway system is dominated with electric cars, we’ll all look back upon 2019 as a pivotal year. Perhaps not the pivotal year, but an important one nonetheless in the automobile’s transition away from internal combustion. Let’s have a quick peek at what happened in the EV world in 2019.

It’s 2020, and I bet if most of you look out of your window at the cars in the street, you’ll see only gas cars. But in time, that’s going to change, and that’s thanks in part to significant groundwork laid in 2019.

https://jalopnik.com/a-quick-look-at-what-made-2019-a-huge-year-for-electric-1840776902

Gas taxes pay for the upkeep of our roads, but electric cars don't use gasoline.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 1/3/2020, 10:09 AM

The end of 2019 saw a bunch of headlines proclaiming that it was a huge year for the electric vehicle. Yet more declare that actually, 2020 will be the year the EV really takes off. It's true there are now more EVs; plug-in hybrid ones, battery ones, and even hydrogen fuel cell EVs in a range of shapes, sizes, and prices, and five of them made it into my list of the 10 best things I drove last year. When the numbers for 2019's plug-in EV sales are complete, we expect more EVs to have been sold in 2019 than any year before, even if total new car sales in the US have dropped.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/01/to-replace-gas-taxes-oregon-and-utah-ask-evs-to-pay-for-road-use/

The concept shows off Sony's cameras, sensors, and entertainment.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 1/7/2020, 4:44 AM

It seems like just yesterday I was complaining about CES turning into a car show. Someone must have heard me, because it appears the response from the tech sector was to say “hold my beer and watch this…” On Monday evening in Las Vegas, Sony used the last few minutes of its CES keynote to show off a concept electric vehicle called the Vision-S.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/01/sony-stuns-ces-with-an-electric-show-car-the-vision-s/

Dean Takahashi - January 19, 2020 12:12 PM

Move over Tesla. The Lightyear One will be a solar-powered electric vehicle that can drive 440 miles on a single charge.

I missed the Dutch company when I visited CES 2020, the big tech trade show in Las Vegas earlier this month. But the team was kind enough to transport the car to my house in Silicon Valley, where I got to sit in the prototype.

https://venturebeat.com/2020/01/19/lightyear-one-hands-on-with-a-solar-powered-car-with-440-mile-range/

The components were designed by XponentialWorks in just four weeks.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 1/21/2020, 6:00 AM

Arcimoto accurately calls its electric three-wheeler a Fun Utility Vehicle—we first tested one at CES four years ago, and it remains one of the more entertaining vehicles I've driven for Ars. The company started delivering the first FUVs to customers last September, but it's not quite done with the design for this engaging little machine. As you probably know, weight is the enemy of efficiency, and even little EVs like this one have to carry around a hefty battery pack, in this case a 12kWh unit with 102.5 miles (165km) of city range. On Tuesday, Arcimoto and XponentialWorks announced they've been working together on a project that should make future FUVs even more efficient, thanks to lightweight suspension parts created using AI generative design and 3D printing.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/01/this-ev-company-is-using-ai-and-3d-printing-to-add-lightness/

It expects to deliver the Lucid Air to select European countries in 2021.

Christine Fisher - 22 January 2020

Last week, Lucid Motors unveiled a production model of its electric sedan the Lucid Air. The company has been struggling to bring the vehicle, which it first unveiled in 2016, to the market, and it isn't planning to unveil its customer-ready version until April. In the meantime, though, Lucid Motors is opening pre-orders in Europe, where it expects to begin deliveries in 2021.

https://www.engadget.com/2020/01/22/lucid-motors-air-ev-european-preorders/

Bradley Brownell - 12 February 2020 9:00PM

Electric cars increasingly seem to be the answer for lowering America’s transportation emissions numbers. Not only do they already produce zero emissions in the process of driving, but even pollute far less than gasoline cars when you take into account the emissions generated in the production of the electricity needed to charge them, according to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The latest data from 2018 regarding emissions from electricity generation in the US have just been released, and it proves that only 6% of Americans live in a region where EV power generation emissions are worse than a 50 mpg car.

https://jalopnik.com/electric-cars-are-better-for-the-environment-than-a-50-1841648384

Bengt Halvorson - February 13, 2020

The Lucid Air electric sedan that goes into production late this year won’t quite be the Lucid Air that the company had originally planned.

By all indications, from Lucid’s CEO Peter Rawlinson, that’s a good thing.

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1127098_lucid-air-electric-sedan-won-t-use-a-huge-battery-for-400-mile-tesla-rivaling-range

Tires and glass emerge as dominant consumables of the EV era

Reilly Brennan / 8:35 am PST • March 6, 2020

Moving from internal combustion to electric power does more than reduce tailpipe emissions: it will fundamentally shatter today’s auto maintenance and service sector.

The decline is mathematical. With one-fifth the number of powertrain parts and an almost total elimination of oil (a), the typical automotive dealer will suffer 35% declines in maintenance and service revenue, or roughly $1,300, for an EV versus an internal combustion engine vehicle over a five-year period (b).

https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/06/electric-vehicles-are-changing-the-future-of-auto-maintenance/

The prospects are good for EVs, particularly bigger commercial trucks and buses.

Nathaniel Horadam - 4/27/2020, 9:52 AM

This year’s Super Bowl featured three advertisements for new electric vehicle (EV) models, matching the total from all previous Super Bowls combined. With multiple automakers coughing up more than $5.5 million per 30-second spot during the United States’ marquee television event, EV enthusiasts hailed the milestone as a harbinger for the automotive sector in the coming decade. More skeptical industry watchers questioned whether we had actually hit a turning point.

Their concern isn’t unwarranted. After a large increase in 2018, EV sales as a share of the overall US passenger vehicle market barely grew in 2019, to 2.5 percent. A recent consumer survey from Cox Automotive found demand for EVs barely budged between 2016 and 2018. Automakers not named Tesla, whose Model 3 represented more than half of US EV sales in both 2018 and 2019, are still struggling to make inroads in the US market. Toyota’s Prius is old news, and though its sales are respectable, neither the Chevrolet Bolt nor Nissan Leaf has been a game-changing product. Offerings from Jaguar, Audi, and Porsche haven’t totally flopped, but their ultra-premium segment is a small fraction of the overall consumer vehicle market.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/04/are-electric-vehicles-doomed-we-dont-think-so-despite-poor-sales/

Stephen Edelstein - May 14, 2020

Lane splitting allows motorcycles to avoid the worst traffic jams, but riding exposed to the elements is not for everyone. Polish firm Triggo claims to offer a best-of-both-worlds solution—an electric vehicle with an enclosed cabin that handles like a motorcycle.

The two-seat EV is ostensibly a three-wheeler, but the front wheels can retract, allowing the vehicle to lean into corners like a motorcycle, and making it narrow enough to split lanes. This wouldn't be the first tiny car to lean into corners, but it would be the first with this adjustable front-track width arrangement—at least adjustable on the fly in such a way.

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1128151_polish-ev-can-split-lanes-like-a-motorcycle-keep-a-wide-stance-for-curves

https://electrek.co/2019/12/13/new-electric-mini-has-110-miles-of-range-and-i-still-want-it/

https://www.thethings.com/electric-cars-with-the-longest-range-and-ones-that-wont-reach-the-corner/

A problem too big to ignore

In 1983, early in the development of my cyclonic technology which separates particulate from an air stream, I visited a spinout company from the University of Minnesota. They had developed an aerodynamic particle counter which I needed in order to measure the efficacy of my cyclones for particles as small as 0.01 of a micron. During the visit, they showed me a copy of a US Bureau of Mines report into the emission of diesel particulate in US mines.

The report suggested that laboratory mice and rats were suffering heart attacks, cancer and other major health problems when exposed to diesel fumes. As engineers, we couldn’t ignore it, so we started developing various particulate catches, using cyclones and other novel technologies. I even took one on Blue Peter and demonstrated it to Anthea Turner!

https://www.dyson.co.uk/newsroom/overview/features/june-2020/dyson-battery-electric-vehicle.html

It comes from China and it’s not the fastest thing in the world, but there’s also a lot to like about it.

Jun 05, 2020 at 10:11am By: Andrei Nedelea

The Leap Motor LP-S01 was announced about two years ago and it debuted earlier this year in China (probably). Why are we covering a small, China-only vehicle that was first shown a while back and we don’t even know if it’s actually gone on sale?

Well, because its concept makes a lot of sense, at least from my point of view, because I genuinely want to see more fun-oriented (preferably two-door) electric vehicles make an appearance. The LP-S01 fits that bill, with a pleasant exterior design (that doesn’t appear to be a ripoff of any known established sports car), fastback style roof and rear section, as well as an interior that looks minimalist and modern; it even has proper looking bucket seats. Even the model name sounds like a McLaren.

https://insideevs.com/news/427214/leap-motor-cheapest-electric-sports-car/amp/

James Frew June 19, 2020

Motor vehicles have changed the way we move around the world. While the benefits of modern transport are undeniable, burning gasoline to fuel the engine contributes to human-caused climate change. That’s not to mention the ill-health caused by high pollution levels.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-electric-vehicle-work/

The crossover SUV has had a major redesign.

Rachel England, 24 June 2020

Vauxhall and Opel has launched the second generation of its popular Mokka crossover, giving it a radical new look and, for the first time, an electric version. Compared to the previous Mokka X, the new model has a bold redesign which harks back to the company’s previous EV concepts originally unveiled in 2018. It also incorporates Vauxhall and Opel’s new Vizor front-end design, which is gradually rolling out across the rest of the brand’s range.

The Mokka-e is 12.5cm shorter than before, which Vauxhall and Opel says makes it “super-easy to maneuver and park.” It’s also 10mm wider, but the amount of interior space (and its 350-liter boot) remains the same. Under the hood, there’s a 100 kW electric motor and 260 Newton meters of maximum torque, so it’s nippy even from a standing start. Vauxhall and Opel says you can expect up to 322 kilometers of range in normal mode, while its charging system will juice 80 percent of the 50 kW battery in just 30 minutes. No details yet on the combustion-engine versions.

https://www.engadget.com/vauxhall-and-opel-unveil-a-radical-new-electric-version-of-the-mokka-131830216.html

James Morris - Jul 18, 2020,06:00am EDT

A few years ago, the cars coming out of China were the object of derision. They were either obvious copies of popular Western models, or they were utterly ridiculous. The Land Wind X7 was the spitting image of a Range Rover Evoque, the CH Auto Lithia Sports bore an uncanny resemblance to the Audi R8, and the rather lengthily named Dongfeng EQ2050 Brave Soldier could easily have been mistaken for an American military Humvee. On the other hand, the Li Shi Guang Ming The Book Of Songs didn’t just have a silly name; its looks were so bizarre even a cartoon character would have been embarrassed to drive one.

But times have changed, and as with most other areas of technology, China has caught up with the West’s automotive design abilities and even overtaken, with one area of particular note: electric vehicles. By 2019, there were already 2.58 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in China, compared to just 0.97 million in Europe, and 0.88 million in the USA, according to the International Energy Agency. China also has more home and work chargers than any other part of the world, more public slow chargers than the rest of the world put together, and 82% of the global fast charger installations.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesmorris/2020/07/18/chinese-electric-cars-will-take-over-the-world--if-we-let-them/#2ebf26996a12

EV adoption would have to be above 45% to trouble today's power grid, study finds.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 9/2/2020, 10:35 AM

On Tuesday, Ars took a look at how Houston handles hurricanes, particularly in light of the city's botched response to Hurricane Rita in 2005. Back then, millions of Houstonians poured onto the roads to escape the storm's grasp only to find impenetrable traffic. Senior Technology Editor Lee Hutchinson was one of them, describing a “stupid fucking shambolic evacuation” that crept along at an average of 6.7mph (10.8km/h) for nearly an entire day and night in brutal Texan heat and humidity. Many just ran out of fuel on the road, a consequence of idling bumper to bumper for hours and hours with the AC running.

In the comments, a reader asked a question that provoked a long discussion in the Ars office that morning—what does this mean for electric vehicles?

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/09/hurricane-evacuations-and-electric-cars-heres-what-we-know/

By Vanessa Bates Ramirez - Nov 12, 2020

A tiny electric car that costs just $4,200 has been all the rage in China this year. The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV generated over 15,000 orders within 20 days of its release in July, and added another 35,000 to that in August, beating out Chinese orders for Tesla Model 3s in the same period.

Now another small, affordable Chinese electric car is set to make its debut on American roads—Californian roads, to be exact. Last week the California Air Resources Board certified that Kandi America, the US subsidiary of Chinese battery and electric car maker Kandi Technologies Group Inc., met the state’s emissions standards.

https://singularityhub.com/2020/11/12/you-can-buy-this-electric-car-for-7999-in-california/

Electric vehicle customers today enjoy a wide selection—and a $7,500 tax credit.

Timothy B. Lee - 11/22/2020, 6:30 AM

On Friday the 13th my wife and I went to a Kia dealership to take delivery of a Kia Niro. Taking one of the last 2019 Niros on the lot, we paid $32,900 for a car that lists for $41,000. Even better, when we file our taxes next spring, we'll get a $7,500 credit from Uncle Sam. So the after-tax cost will be just $25,400.

The options for electric vehicles have gotten dramatically better since we last went car shopping in 2017. I wanted to buy an electric vehicle back then, too, but the pickings were slim. Tesla's Model S and Model X were way out of our budget. My wife declared the Chevy Bolt and Prius' plug-in hybrids to be too funny looking. The Nissan Leaf was then rated at 107 miles of range—far too little for road trips.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/11/its-a-great-time-to-buy-an-electric-car/

Fred Lambert - Nov. 27th 2020 6:30 am ET

The electric car market is about to be accessible to a lot more people as we’ve now learned that Tesla and Volkswagen, the two market leaders for electric vehicles, have now both greenlit electric car programs that are going to start at ~$25,000 to $30,000.

In surveys about going electric, the price of new electric cars is always one of the top concerns of new buyers.

When it comes to the luxury segments, many electric vehicles have caught up in price and performance with their fossil fuel-powered counterparts.

However, this becomes less true down market with some exceptions.

Improvements in battery technology are now starting to enable automakers to reach higher performance, specifically longer ranges, at a lower price point in electric vehicles – opening EV ownership to more people.

https://electrek.co/2020/11/27/tesla-volkswagen-compete-new-affordable-electric-cars/

Modular chassis design, 800V architecture, and the first cars are due in 2021.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 12/2/2020, 5:33 AM

It would be inaccurate to describe the Korean auto industry as firing on all cylinders, if only because it's also really good at making electric vehicles, and those don't have cylinders that fire. The electric versions of the Hyundai Kona, Kia Soul, and Kia Niro are about the only battery EVs to approach the range efficiency of the class-leading Tesla, and it makes a pretty fine hydrogen fuel cell EV as well.

On Tuesday, Hyundai Motor Group (which owns Hyundai and Kia, as well as Genesis) showed us what comes next. It's called E-GMP, and it's the group's new modular BEV platform for bigger vehicles (analogous to Volkswagen Group's PPE architecture). Hyundai Motor Group has big plans for E-GMP—a million vehicles split over 23 new models by 2025, with the first two hitting showrooms sometime in 2021.

The tech specs are similarly impressive: an all-800V electrical architecture; bi-directional charging; DC fast charging to 80 percent in 18 minutes; and a WLTP range of 500km (310 miles).

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/12/everything-we-know-about-hyundai-and-kias-new-electric-vehicle-platform/

December 5, 2020 9:23 AM

A recent report questioning the emissions benefits of electric vehicles has been convincingly debunked, but not before several media outlets ran with it. After some extensive digging into the companies and individuals behind the study, it has become clear that Aston Martin, despite attempts to distance themselves from the report, used a sock puppet PR firm registered to the wife of the company's Director of Global Government and Corporate Affairs. Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield details some of the many flaws in the report in a video for Transport Evolved.

https://www.metafilter.com/189618/Aston-Martin-behind-debunked-anti-electic-vehicle-study

Sales increase 43% globally in 2020 as plunging battery costs mean the cars will soon be the cheapest vehicles to buy

Damian Carrington, Environment editor - Fri 22 Jan 2021 07.25 EST

Electric vehicles are close to the “tipping point” of rapid mass adoption thanks to the plummeting cost of batteries, experts say.

Global sales rose 43% in 2020, but even faster growth is anticipated when continuing falls in battery prices bring the price of electric cars dipping below that of equivalent petrol and diesel models, even without subsidies. The latest analyses forecast that to happen some time between 2023 and 2025.

The tipping point has already been passed in Norway, where tax breaks mean electric cars are cheaper. The market share of battery-powered cars soared to 54% in 2020 in the Nordic country, compared with less than 5% in most European nations.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/22/electric-vehicles-close-to-tipping-point-of-mass-adoption

Maddie Stone - 12/19/19 11:20AM

In a warehouse in Chatsworth, California, rows upon rows of giant wooden crates are stacked forty feet high, in a scene somewhat reminiscent of the secret U.S. military installation shown at the end of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Instead of Biblical artifacts, though, these boxes contain a more modern form of treasure: batteries scavenged from dead electric cars.

Here, electronic waste innovator Eric Lundgren’s latest venture has quietly taken shape over the last year. It’s called BigBattery, and the goal is simple: Buy up discarded lithium-ion batteries originally built to run electric cars, buses, and scooters, and recycle the parts into new batteries that can provide energy storage for home solar arrays, help stabilize electrical grids, and more. By doing so, BigBattery is hoping to get out in front of what experts warn could become one of the largest electronic waste challenges of the 21st century. Researchers recently estimated that the one million EVs that hit the roads in 2017 will eventually result in around 250,000 tons of toxic battery waste; the tens of millions of cars built in the 2020s will produce far more.

https://gizmodo.com/a-recycling-renegade-is-out-of-prison-and-ready-to-tack-1840417556

Posted by msmash on Wednesday March 17, 2021 02:25PM

With the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill signed into law, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is ready to tackle the next major challenge: President Joe Biden's call for a massive infrastructure bill. As part of that package, Schumer said he plans to include his ambitious proposal to get every American to swap their gas-guzzling car for an electric one. From a report:

“It's a bold new plan designed to accelerate America's transition to all electric vehicles on the road, to developing a charging infrastructure, and to grow American jobs through clean manufacturing,” Schumer told The Verge in a brief interview this week. “And the ultimate goal is to have every car manufactured in America be electric by 2030, and every car on the road be clean by 2040.”

https://news.slashdot.org/story/21/03/17/1940254/chuck-schumer-wants-to-replace-every-gas-car-in-america-with-an-electric-vehicle

Kirsten Korosec, Rebecca Bellan - 4:56 PM PDT•April 20, 2021

The 19th annual Shanghai Auto Show delivered a bevy of electric and tech-centric vehicles this year. Chinese, European and U.S. automakers showed off their latest offerings in every price segment, from the budget-minded ​​Wuling Hong Guang Mini via a joint venture between SAIC Motor Corp., General Motors Co. and Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co. to the luxury Mercedes EQS — and everything in between.

Several automakers touted the capabilities of their driver assistance systems, using terminology that suggested they could be autonomous if only regulators allowed it. Let’s be clear, these systems are not autonomous. Other automakers stopped short of those claims, but did publicize the software capabilities of their vehicles — a movement that has been underway since Tesla rose in popularity.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/20/all-the-electric-vehicles-that-stood-out-at-the-shanghai-auto-show/

Gas taxes are the largest source of funding for highway construction, maintenance.

Aarian Marshall, wired.com - 5/23/2021, 4:00 AM

Last week, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee—the guy who, while running for president two years ago, proposed a nationwide ban on sales of gas-powered cars by 2030—vetoed a statewide ban on gas-powered car sales by 2030.

The reason for the puzzling move, Inslee said in a statement, was a provision tucked into the legislation. The language said the 2030 target would take effect only if lawmakers created a program to charge drivers based on how far they drive each year.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/05/all-those-electric-vehicles-pose-a-problem-for-building-roads/

By Justin Rowlatt, Chief environment correspondent - 1 June 2021

I know, you probably haven't even driven one yet, let alone seriously contemplated buying one, so the prediction may sound a bit bold, but bear with me.

We are in the middle of the biggest revolution in motoring since Henry Ford's first production line started turning back in 1913.

And it is likely to happen much more quickly than you imagine.

Many industry observers believe we have already passed the tipping point where sales of electric vehicles (EVs) will very rapidly overwhelm petrol and diesel cars.

It is certainly what the world's big car makers think.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57253947

A Renault Zoe with a 52 kWh battery covered 475.4 miles in 24 hours.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 6/11/2021, 10:06 AM

I'm a little out of step with the mainstream when it comes to electric vehicle efficiency. I believe that as long as your electricity is clean and your battery has enough range to get you where you're going (with the occasional DC fast-charge for a longer trip), even the least efficient EV will beat anything with an internal combustion engine—particularly if that EV replaces something inefficient like a sports car or a big SUV. Most people think this idea isn't enough, though, and whoever can go the farthest on the fewest kWh wins.

As of Thursday, there's a new winner. A British veterans nonprofit called Mission Motorsport spent 24 hours driving a pair of Renault Zoes (with 52 kWh battery packs) around the Thruxton racetrack in England. The 2.4-mile (3.8-km) circuit is one of the UK's fastest, but the record-setting Zoe averaged around 19 mph (30.5 km/h). That was good for 475.4 miles (765 km) on a single charge, which works out to be 9.14 miles/kWh (14.71 km/kWh).

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/06/british-veterans-set-a-new-hypermiling-record-of-9-14-miles-per-kwh/

Unsurprisingly, EV accessibility is unevenly distributed across the country.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 6/22/2021, 8:08 AM

William Gibson's quote about the future being here, just not very evenly distributed, is a cliché at this point. But I was reminded of it this morning when I saw a new report on electric vehicle accessibility. Compiled by the Consumer Choice Center (CCC), the report scores all 50 states based on how hard they make it to buy an EV, whether that's banning direct-to-consumer sales or requiring extra registration fees or road charges. Unsurprisingly, the United States is a bit of a patchwork in this regard. But it's not quite as simple as red states making it hard and blue states making it easy to buy an EV.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/06/these-are-the-9-worst-states-to-buy-an-electric-car-in/

Juhani Lehtimäki - 29 June 2021

— a full Battery Electric Vehicle, not a hybrid

This is an opinion piece by Juhani, CEO of Snapp Automotive and founder of Snapp Mobile. Some portions of the post might not reflect the opinions of the companies.

I used to be a petrolhead. The first car I bought (after driving a self-repaired / built junk) was a Honda Civic type-R. I loved the high revving engine, which then lead me into buying a Honda CBR-600F as my first motor bike. From that one I bought my dream car, a real sports car a BMW e46 M3 (SMG, the only real M3 gearbox, I’ll hear no arguments otherwise).

https://lehtimaeki.medium.com/the-next-car-you-buy-should-be-electric-c6980ad616b2

The Register rakes a talon over next year's battery-powered jalopies

Richard Speed - Tue 20 Jul 2021 10:01 UTC

As traditional car makers seek to make electric vehicles that won't scare off the buyers, others are taking a slightly different path. Enter Triggo and Microlino.

Both manufacturers are nearing full-scale production, but each has chosen alternative routes in terms of design and how their vehicles will be used.

https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/20/triggo_microlino/

EY surveyed 9,000 people in 11 countries for its Mobility Consumer Index.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 7/20/2021, 7:41 AM

Electric vehicles are increasingly breaking into the mainstream. According to a new survey conducted by EY, 41 percent of consumers planning to buy a car say their next vehicle will be a plug-in. And they're mainly making that decision because of the environmental impact.

EY surveyed 9,000 consumers across 13 countries (Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, the UK, and the US) in June of this year as part of its Mobility Consumer Index. The last time the firm conducted this survey, in September 2020, just 30 percent said their next car would be either a battery EV or plug-in hybrid EV.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/07/41-percent-of-consumers-say-their-next-car-will-be-electric/

Published 5 August 2021 - BBC

It is the third time battery electric vehicles have overtaken diesel in the past two years.

However, new car registrations fell by almost a third, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

The industry was hit by the “pingdemic” of people self-isolating and a continuing chip shortage.

In July, battery electric vehicle registrations again overtook diesel cars, but registrations of petrol vehicles far outstripped both.

Cars can be registered when they are sold, but dealers can also register cars before they go on sale on the forecourt.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58100474

Half of new vehicles must be zero-emissions by 2030, Biden will order.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 8/5/2021, 7:28 AM

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced that by 2030, half of all new cars and light trucks should be zero-emissions vehicles—a mix of battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid EVs, and hydrogen fuel cell EVs. But the White House still sees a future for burning hydrocarbons, as the executive order will also develop new long-term fuel-efficiency standards, and there is no mention of phasing out internal combustion engines for new vehicles at any point in the future.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are expected to announce new fuel-efficiency rules through model year 2026. The US had a relatively ambitious goal of reaching a corporate average fuel economy target of 54 mpg (4.3 l/100 km) in 2025 under President Obama, but President Trump took a wrecking ball to that plan in 2020.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/08/biden-reveals-lackluster-new-ev-policy-no-plans-to-phase-out-gasoline/

Published: Aug. 13, 2021 at 1:46 p.m. ET - Claudia Assis

At President Joe Biden’s urging, the auto industry pledged to boost production of electric vehicles to the point that they account for about half of total U.S. sales by 2030, a plan that raises hopes that EVs can shift from niche to normal.

EVs accounted for 2.4% of U.S. cars sold in 2020, up from 0.7% five years ago, according to BloombergNEF. The research provider expects that share to increase to 11% in 2025; by 2030, it expects that slightly over a third of vehicles sold in the U.S. will be electric.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/chasing-tesla-here-are-the-current-electric-vehicle-plans-of-every-major-car-maker-11628876816

Is your electric car making a huge dent in the carbon cycle? It might not be as substantial as you're led to believe.

By Katie Rees - 20 September 2021

With the global climate crisis becoming more and more concerning as time goes on, companies are now trying to develop more eco-friendly solutions to replace the previous, more harmful practices that threatened our environment. A particularly revolutionary solution that has seen a rise in popularity in recent years is the electric car. But how exactly do electric cars work, and are they really that eco-friendly?

https://www.makeuseof.com/electric-cars-arent-ecofriendly/

Tom Rutledge / 7:07 AM PDT•September 25, 2021

If saving the environment is merely a lifestyle choice, the automakers and their latest electric vehicles have got us covered. Tesla’s Plaid touts performance. Leafs, Priuses and Volts preach humility. And Ford is flexing its muscle with launches of electric Mustangs and F-150s.

But if consumers’ choices are going to contribute to a greener future — if they’re going to opt for energy efficiency over flash — they need the ability to make smart purchasing decisions. To enable that, an old-fashioned measuring stick from the gasoline era could come in handy: the concept of miles per gallon.

In the electric vehicle (EV) era, car shopping is no longer a simple matter of finding a high-MPG car and a cheap gallon of gas. Electricity costs are confusing. Price and efficiency information is hard to find and harder to understand. And ultimately, you have to do the math.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/25/why-mpg-should-matter-for-electric-vehicles/

Analysis shows the last new petrol or diesel car sold in Norway will come as early as April, 2022 – three years ahead of the government's target.

Rob Margeit - 15:42, 06 October 2021

Norway is on track to bid farewell to the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered cars by April 2022, according to new analysis released by the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF).

According to monthly new car sales data released by Norway’s Road Traffic Information Council (OVF), the last internal combustion engine vehicle is set to leave the dealership next April, almost three years ahead of the Norwegian government’s 2025 stated target for the phasing out completely of sales of new petrol and diesel cars.

Norway’s equivalent of VFACTS tell an interesting story. In the first eight months of 2021, vehicles without any type of electrification – battery electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid, hybrid – made up less than 10 per cent of (9.66 per cent) new car sales.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/norway-to-hit-100-per-cent-electric-vehicle-sales-by-next-year/

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The CityEl is a 3-wheel lightweight electric car originally designed and manufactured in Denmark, but currently made in Germany by Citycom GmbH.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CityEl

Published: Oct. 22, 2021 at 5:04 a.m. ET

If you’ve found yourself shopping for an electrified car you may have encountered the term MPGe.

Let’s take a deep dive into MPGe. These measurements will become much more prevalent as hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fully electric cars, and fuel cell vehicles become the new normal.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/your-complete-guide-to-mpge-the-electric-equivalent-of-miles-per-gallon-11634330516

Micah Toll - Oct. 25th 2021 6:03 am

Some readers may recall that a few months ago I bought a cheap electric mini-truck on Alibaba. I know this because I’ve gotten emails almost daily ever since, asking if my Chinese electric pickup truck has arrived (with some humorously calling it my F-50). Well, now I can finally answer, “Yes!” and share with you exactly what I received.

But first, a tiny bit of background.

https://electrek.co/2021/10/25/i-actually-bought-a-cheap-electric-pickup-truck-from-alibaba-heres-what-showed-up/amp/

Electrification is coming to the aftermarket, too, as evinced by this year's show.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 11/3/2021, 11:24 AM

Las Vegas is currently hosting the annual SEMA event, the aftermarket automotive trade show. Hot rods and custom cars have always been a SEMA thing, but these days there's no guarantee you'll find a brawny V8 or even any cylinders under the hood. In the past, we've covered show cars from Ford and Chevrolet, but this year, the electric custom car is a full-blown trend.

Of course, the big OEMs haven't ignored SEMA in 2021. Ford is still in the first flush of Mustang Mach-E mania, and the Blue Oval brought multiple Mach-Es to the show. One is an aggressive-looking Mach-E GT that will be auctioned for charity after hopefully hitting 200 mph (321 km/h) at Bonneville, and another is bright orange with lowered air suspension and an e-bike charging rack at the back.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/11/custom-electric-cars-take-charge-at-sema-2021/

Here are a few pointers on getting the most mileage out of your electric vehicle.

By MUO Staff - 8 November 2021

Despite the fact that some of the most recent electric vehicles can travel more than 200 miles on a single charge, electric car drivers nevertheless suffer from “range anxiety.” Driving with one eye on the road and the other on the vehicle's state-of-charge meter may be nerve-wracking, and no one wants to be stuck on the roadside with a dead battery.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tips-to-maximise-electric-car-range/

Electric cars are touted as a way to save the planet, but it's not the only alternative fuel that could help reduce emissions.

By Katie Rees - 22 November 2021

Over the past decade, electric cars have become hugely popular. Concerns over climate change and increasing fuel prices have led to a boom in the electric and hybrid car industry, which is certainly a pro in terms of emissions, but a con in terms of energy sources.

The electricity used to charge the majority of electric and hybrid cars often comes from non-renewable resources, and so other, renewable fuels are now also being considered for the future of cars. So, what fuels might we see in the near future?

https://www.makeuseof.com/alternatives-to-electric-cars/

It's time to switch that ICE for an EV. We know, it's not an easy decision. So, if you're struggling, here's what you should consider.

Justin Bennett-Cohen - 5 February 2022

The world of electric vehicles is getting more exciting each day, which gets a lot of us thinking about switching from our gas-powered vehicles. Even though these fast, electric-powered pieces of technology of the future are great sustainable alternatives, there are some things you should take into consideration before pulling the trigger.

So, why should you consider switching to EV?

https://www.makeuseof.com/things-consider-before-switching-electric-vehicle/

Joann Muller and Margaret Harding McGill - 4 March 2022

More Americans are opting to purchase an electric vehicle, but some EV owners are surprised to find out how much their car's driving range is compromised by winter weather.

Why it matters: Getting over the hurdles of buying an EV — the higher sticker price, knowing where to charge it or the fear of getting stranded — is hard enough.

https://www.axios.com/the-cold-hard-truth-about-electric-vehicles-in-winter-c6e35798-92c5-4ef2-9a67-029a693436dc.html

Rebecca Bellan - 5:30 AM PST March 8, 2022

General Motors and Pacific Gas and Electric Company are launching a pilot that will let EV owners use their vehicles as a backup power source for their homes during an outage.

The companies plan to test the bidirectional charging technology — which includes a vehicle-to-home (V2H) capable EV and charger — starting this summer at the PG&E Applied Technology Services facility in San Ramon, California. The pilot will involve collaborating on both the bidirectional hardware and the software that can manage flows of energy between the EV, the home and the grid.

Following lab testing, the companies will test in a field demonstration at a small subset of customers’ homes in PG&E’s service area, according to the companies.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/08/general-motors-pge-pilot-evs-as-backup-power-sources-for-homes/

Cory Gunther - Mar 4, 2022, 2:05 pm EST

Buying an electric vehicle is a lot like buying a subscription to a car. Almost no one can work on them except the manufacturer, features get locked behind in-app purchases or software updates, and those features can get disabled at the flip of a switch. If carmakers can dictate how you use your car, do you really even own it?

Now, I know this is a hot take and will certainly ruffle some feathers, but it’s an honest question. It’s not just Tesla, either, as every major auto manufacturer is working on or releasing their own EVs. As vehicles get more advanced, this problem will only continue. There’s a difference between having and owning an EV, and I’m not sure which is better.

https://www.reviewgeek.com/111381/you-dont-really-ever-own-an-ev/

Ford and General Motors are both working with PG&E on trials.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 3/11/2022, 7:51 AM

Disaster preparedness is becoming a bit more mainstream as the effects of climate change and the fallibility of human institutions become more clear. The auto industry has followed this trend, with more than one automaker pointing to the fact that an electric vehicle is essentially a giant backup battery that could power your home for a few days in the event of an emergency.

Now, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) will begin testing bidirectional charging in California with new pilot programs announced this week at General Motors and Ford.

Bidirectional charging got its first big boost after the 2011 Tōhoku-Oki earthquake, and in 2017, Nissan told Ars that several thousand EV-to-grid installations had already been completed in Japan. But at the time, the company had no immediate plans to enable the function here in the US. Since then, Nissan has conducted other vehicle-to-grid experiments, such as powering a convenience store.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/03/californias-utility-will-begin-testing-ev-vehicle-to-grid-charging/

The automaker has teamed up with PG&E for a bidirectional EV charging project.

Kris Holt - March 11th, 2022

Power outages aren't exactly rare in Northern California. In the coming months, residents who own a compatible electric vehicle — such as the Ford F-150 Lightning — will effectively be able to use it as a backup generator.

Ford has teamed up with PG&E, the main energy provider in the region, for a bidirectional electric vehicle charging project. The companies claim the F-150 Lightning can power a home for up to 10 days (depending on energy needs) in the event of an outage. Sunrun, another of the automaker's partners, will start installing Ford’s Intelligent Backup Power system in Northern California this spring.

https://www.engadget.com/ford-bidirectional-ev-charging-f-150-lightning-180545326.html

Rebecca Bellan - 8:27 PM PST March 10, 2022

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Ford Motor Company are collaborating to explore how Ford’s new F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck can provide backup power for customers’ homes in the California utility’s service area.

Earlier this week, PG&E said it would work with General Motors on a similar pilot that involves testing bidirectional charging capabilities to send electricity from the grid to the EV’s battery and back in the event of an outage. The utility company had to cut off power for hundreds and thousands of homes and businesses last year to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires during high-risk weather conditions, so it’s teaming up with automakers to find ways to avoid overstressing the grid.

“Today, we are seeing breakthrough opportunities at the intersection of the energy and transportation industries,” PG&E CEO Patti Poppe said in a statement. “As more electric vehicles and new charging technology become available, it is critical that we better understand how EVs can interact with the electric grid and how we can best support our customers.”

https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/10/pge-ford-f-150-lightning-electric-truck-power-home/

Anyone buying a new car has considered an electric vehicle. Here's how electric vehicles work and how they help the environment.

James Frew - 14 March 2022

Motor vehicles have changed the way we move around the world. Yet, while the benefits of modern transport are undeniable, burning gasoline to fuel the engine contributes to human-caused climate change. That's not to mention the ill-health caused by high pollution levels.

Many manufacturers have shifted towards electric rather than gas vehicles to overcome these issues. Much like your smartphone, these rely on rechargeable batteries to power the car. Now that the technology has become more affordable and mainstream, you may be considering an electric vehicle.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-electric-vehicle-work/

Customs officers are often setting up checkpoints in Ireland, the UK, and Australia to check for red diesel and other technical stuff like licenses, the transported load, or if truck drivers respect their driving time limits. These are known as RSA checkpoints, and drivers want to avoid them not because they’re breaking the law but due to the traffic jams they create.

20 Mar 2022, 14:49 UTC - Florin Amariei

RSA (Road Safety Authority) enforcement officers have the legal authority to check the fuel used by construction and manufacturing trucks, farms, plants, and industrial vehicles because in Ireland and the UK there are exemptions put in place. Diesel these vehicles use is tax and duty-free, so authorities don’t want to see it in other types of cars or trucks. If everyone’s using it, then the Government loses a lot of money.

For starters, the decision to use dye was taken – a red one. This clearly marks the origin of the fuel. It also can help with immediately proving if it was obtained and used legally or otherwise. This is not new for those in Ireland since this rule has been in place for over 60 years! But these fuels can also be found in the UK, Australia, or the U.S.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/officers-stop-an-electric-van-to-check-for-red-diesel-driver-has-a-field-day-184376.html

Global chip shortage has triggered a surge in demand for prized, pricey used EVs.

Aarian Marshall, wired.com - 4/16/2022, 6:00 AM

David Cottrell got his $39,999 Tesla Model Y last February. The compact electric hatchback was a fantastic car, he says. But just a few months later, he decided to input the make and model into the website of an online used car retailer. Surprise! The Tesla was already worth $10,000 more than he and his wife had paid for it. They were thinking of buying a house in their hometown of Seattle, and the extra cash felt like a no-brainer. By June they had sold for $51,000—a tidy profit.

Now, Cottrell looks back at the transaction with a twinge of regret. He loves his new home and is excited about his reservation for a roomier Rivian electric truck, which is set to be delivered this summer. But when he plugged the same Model Y into the online used retailer again this month, he found the car would be worth only about $2,000 less than what he sold it for—even after factoring in the 20,000 miles he’s driven since then. “If we could have kept it, I could have driven for a year here and could have come out pretty equal,” he says.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/04/the-rise-of-brand-new-second-hand-electric-vehicles/

GM is also taking part.

Jon Fingas - April 22nd, 2022

Your future electric car might benefit from some schoolwork. The Energy Department has teamed with GM and MathWorks to launch an EcoCAR Electric Vehicle Challenge that asks student groups at 15 North American universities to develop more efficient EV technology. The will have students tinker with a Cadillac Lyriq over four years as they develop automation, connectivity and propulsion tech, and they can will win annual prizes based on their progress.

The teams are also expected to use a mix of connected car and sensor tech to enable sharing EV battery power with homes, “recreational uses” (think camping) and the electrical grid. GM is supplying the cars as part of a broader $6 million investment in the challenge.

https://www.engadget.com/ecocar-electric-vehicle-challenge-184458990.html

Wanted: Abundant transition metal to electrify the automobile for the global mainstream

Lawrence Ulrich - 25 April 2022

Most automakers are dying to sell you—and the world—an electric car. But they’re up against the challenge of our global-warming time: dauntingly tight supplies of both batteries and the ethically sourced raw materials required to make them.

Tesla and Volkswagen are among the automakers who see manganese—element No. 25 on the periodic table, situated between chromium and iron—as the latest, alluringly plentiful metal that may make both batteries and EVs affordable enough for mainstream buyers.

That’s despite the dispiriting history of the first (and only) EV to use a high-manganese battery, the original Nissan Leaf, beginning in 2011. But with the industry needing all the batteries it can get, improved high-manganese batteries could carve out a niche, perhaps as a mid-priced option between lithium-iron phosphate chemistry, and primo nickel-rich batteries in top luxury and performance models.

https://spectrum.ieee.org/manganese-ev-batteries

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN Business - Updated 5:46 PM ET, Wed May 11, 2022

(CNN Business)The Salton Sea Basin feels almost alien. It lies where two enormous chunks of the Earth's crust, the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate, are very slowly pushing past one another creating an enormous low spot in the land. It's a big, flat gray desert ringed with high mountains that look pale in the distance. It's hot and, deep underground, it is literally boiling.

The Salton Sea, which lies roughly in the middle of the massive geologic low point, isn't really a sea, at all. The largest inland lake in California, it's 51 miles long from north to south and 17 miles wide, but gradually shrinking as less and less water flows into it. At one time, it was a thriving entertainment and recreation spot, business that has also largely dried up. It's left behind abandoned buildings and shallow, gray beaches. The highways that ring the lake are traversed now mostly by passing trucks

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/business/salton-sea-lithium-extraction/index.html

Europe's VW ID.1 will cost $18,000; Japan's Nissan Sakura is just $14,000.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 5/25/2022, 7:37 AM

You don't have to dig far into the comments of just about any article we write about new cars to find complaints about the ever-growing size and cost of those new cars. Automakers are convinced that size sells in the US market, particularly when it comes to new electric vehicles. But there is a different way, as both Europe and Japan have shown.

For example, Autocar reported on Tuesday that Volkswagen will build a small EV called the ID.1 that will sell for around $18,000 (17,000 euros). Due to reach the market in 2025, this diminutive EV will use a cut-down version of VW's MEB platform (as used in the US-market ID.4 crossover, among others) and is expected to have a WLTP range of about 250 miles (400 km) thanks to a 57 kWh battery pack.

In fact, Europeans will be somewhat spoiled for choice since the same factory in Spain will also produce versions of the ID.1 for the Cupra and Seat brands.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/05/want-a-small-affordable-ev-tough-luck-if-you-live-in-the-usa/

Tim De Chant - 10:30 AM PDT June 1, 2022

For most of the last decade, Americans largely ignored electric vehicles. Some brands sold decent numbers, like the Chevy Bolt or Nissan Leaf, but they were largely targeted at thrifty commuters or EV diehards. Others, like the Ford Focus Electric, were intended only to comply with laws that mandated a small number of EV sales. Still others, like the early Tesla models, were desirable but out of reach for most people.

In the last couple of years, though, automakers have dropped their resistance and consumers have likewise let go of their indifference. New technology adoption often follows an S-curve, where people are slow to embrace it at first but then rush in once a tipping point is reached. EVs appear to be at that inflection point today: Car buyers snapped up nearly twice as many plug-in vehicles last year as they did the year before.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/01/the-us-is-about-to-get-serious-about-evs/

The US EV market is hotting up, and these are some of the major players right now.

Alex Ramos - 21 June 2022

Not so long ago, most mainstream EV options came from Nissan, GM, and Tesla. Fast-forward a couple of years, and plenty of new players have joined the electric vehicle game. Whether you're in the market for an electric pickup truck, or even a performance EV, there are plenty of enticing options.

https://www.makeuseof.com/which-car-brands-offer-full-evs/

It's not all about Tesla. These are the EV brands flying under the radar, and it's time you took a look.

Justin Bennett-Cohen - 23 June 2022

We're seeing some incredibly interesting EVs from popular brands such as Tesla, Rivian, and Polestar. The futuristic Rivian R1T truck is finally making its way to customers, Polestar by Volvo is releasing the most beautiful EVs on the market, and Tesla is well-known for having some of the most valuable EVs on the market. But what are some of the more obscure, lesser-known electric vehicle manufacturers worldwide?

Here are five of the most interesting companies making EVs you should know about that aren't getting mainstream attention.

https://www.makeuseof.com/ev-brands-youve-never-heard-of/

Switching to an EV comes with heaps of benefits, are here are five of the best.

Alex Ramos - 28 June 2022

When considering the benefits associated with owning an EV, many people automatically default to the fact that EVs don't consume gas. Of course, not having to fill up your car every week is a huge plus, but your EV has so many more benefits to offer. For example, did you know some EVs allow you to power your house using their onboard electricity? This is just one of the many benefits of owning an EV that this article will cover.

https://www.makeuseof.com/key-benefits-driving-ev/

Will the Europeans kill off internal combustion vehicles?

Ban On ICE, EU Kills Internal Combustion Engines

The Bear - 6/30/2022

Mark it on your calendar. The 29th of June 2022 marks the beginning of the end for the internal combustion engine. Environment ministers from the 27 countries of the EU have agreed to sign the ICE’s death warrant. The ban refers to sales of new cars and vans powered by gasoline and diesel engines, although you can bet that they will add motorcycles when they remember that such things exist. It took more than 16 hours of negotiation to reach an agreement at the meeting in Luxembourg, but the result is crystal clear.

“The Council… agreed to introduce a 100% CO2 emissions reduction target by 2035 for new cars and vans.” The European Parliament also wants to outlaw sales of used ICE-powered vehicles, but that has not been decided on. Not that the idea is dead; further negotiations will take place, but the new vehicle sales ban is now written in stone.

Given the size of the European vehicle market, the ban on ICEs there means their eventual disappearance in all developed countries. The ramifications will go way beyond the borders of the European Union since it won’t be feasible for the likes of Volkswagen or BMW to develop ICE cars they won’t be able to sell in the EU. Internal combustion engined vehicles may, and probably will, continue to be manufactured and sold in developing countries after 2035 but even so, the end is inevitable.

https://www.advrider.com/goodbye-ice/

Aigars Mahinovs - 2022-06-29 18:37

Since the first week of April 2022 I have (finally!) changed my company car from a plug-in hybrid to a fully electic car. My new ride, for the next two years, is a BMW i4 M50 in Aventurine Red metallic. An ellegant car with very deep and memorable color, insanely powerful (544 hp/795 Nm), sub-4 second 0-100 km/h, large 84 kWh battery (80 kWh usable), charging up to 210 kW, top speed of 225 km/h and also very efficient (which came out best in this trip) with WLTP range of 510 km and EVDB real range of 435 km. The car also has performance tyres (Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 245/45R18 100Y XL in front and 255/45R18 103Y XL in rear all at recommended 2.5 bar) that have reduced efficiency.

So I wanted to document and describe how was it for me to travel ~2000 km (one way) with this, electric, car from south of Germany to north of Latvia. I have done this trip many times before since I live in Germany now and travel back to my relatives in Latvia 1-2 times per year. This was the first time I made this trip in an electric car. And as this trip includes both travelling in Germany (where BEV infrastructure is best in the world) and across Eastern/Northen Europe, I believe that this can be interesting to a few people out there.

Normally when I travelled this trip with a gasoline/diesel car I would normally drive for two days with an intermediate stop somewhere around Warsaw with about 12 hours of travel time in each day. This would normally include a couple bathroom stops in each day, at least one longer lunch stop and 3-4 refueling stops on top of that. Normally this would use at least 6 liters of fuel per 100 km on average with total usage of about 270 liters for the whole trip (or about 540€ just in fuel costs, nowadays). My (personal) quirk is that both fuel and recharging of my (business) car inside Germany is actually paid by my employer, so it is useful for me to charge up (or fill up) at the last station in Gemany before driving on.

http://aigarius.com/blog/2022/06/29/long-travel-in-an-electric-car/

We calculate that 2 million EVs equates to 20,000 fewer deaths from climate change.

Ben Hause - 7/6/2022, 10:43 AM

These days Tesla gets a lot of flak, but sometimes it does great things. In 2008, it launched the Tesla Roadster—the first serial production lithium-ion battery car. Unlike previous electric cars, the Roadster was fast, sexy, and luxurious. Since its release, more than 12 million electric cars have been sold worldwide, with Tesla contributing over 1 million to that number.

But what if Tesla never existed or never sparked the electric car revolution—would we have millions of electric cars on the road today? Of course, the electric car revolution would have happened eventually. But it was only two years before the Roadster's release that the death of the electric car was being lamented in the infamous documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? If the big automakers really did kill the electric car, as the documentary suggests, then Tesla surely revived it.

That's great news for Earth's future inhabitants. Taking action to reduce the harms of climate change, by buying an electric car, for instance, is an urgent matter. Just last year, a study from Nature Communications estimated that “adding 4,434 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2020—equivalent to the lifetime emissions of 3.5 average Americans—causes one excess death globally in expectation between 2020-2100.”

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/07/how-many-lives-have-electric-cars-saved-from-climate-change/

The world is pushing towards EVs, but there aren't enough to go around. So, where are all the EVs, and why is it so hard to buy one?

Alex Ramos - 18 July 2022

EVs are all the rage right now. However, it used to be that people were skeptical of EVs, and everyone expected the proliferation of electric vehicles to take a long time, mostly due to the wary nature of consumers towards EVs.

But the recent EV explosion is facing different hurdles.

Everywhere you look, people are craving electric vehicles—but manufacturers just can't keep up. A visit to many big-name EV manufacturers' websites reveals that they no longer accept orders for their most popular electric models. So, why is there an EV shortage, what's causing it, and when will it end?

https://www.makeuseof.com/why-are-evs-sold-out/

They look great, have fantastic acceleration, and cut down on your gas costs. What's not to love?

Alex Ramos - 25 July 2022

Electric vehicle sales are soaring, and the only problem at the moment is that automakers are struggling to keep up with growing consumer demand. The surge in electric vehicle sales is the direct result of consumers learning about EVs and their benefits and an increase in manufacturers offering EVs, allowing consumers many more choices.

But there are other reasons for the ongoing uptick in electric vehicle sales and why so many people are finally making the switch.

https://www.makeuseof.com/reasons-electric-vehicle-sales-are-soaring/

Say you drop $5 on a gallon of gas—only about $1 dollar's worth actually gets you moving in a traditional ICE vehicle.

Justin Westbrook - Aug 12, 2022

Out of the 8.9 million barrels of gasoline consumed daily in the U.S. on average, only 1.8 million gallons, or approximately 20 percent, actually propel an internal combustion vehicle forward. The other 80 percent is wasted on heat and parasitic auxiliary components that draw away energy. As the world begins its shift to EV proliferation, the good news is electric vehicles are far more energy efficient on the road.

A new set of graphics from Yale Climate Connections makes visualizing the efficiency gains of an EV over an ICE vehicle straightforward. Using data from fueleconomy.gov and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, these graphics break down the energy waste in your typical gas-powered car.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/evs-more-efficient-than-internal-combustion-engines/

Posted by BeauHD on Saturday August 13, 2022 12:00AM

“A 17-year-old [named Robert Sansone] created a prototype of a novel synchronous reluctance motor that has greater rotational force – or torque – and efficiency than existing ones,” writes Slashdot reader hesdeadjim99 from a report via Smithsonian Magazine. “The prototype was made from 3-D printed plastic, copper wires and a steel rotor and tested using a variety of meters to measure power and a laser tachometer to determine the motor's rotational speed. His work earned him first prize, and $75,000 in winnings, at this year's Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the largest international high school STEM competition.” From the report:

The less sustainable permanent magnet motors use materials such as neodymium, samarium and dysprosium, which are in high demand because they're used in many different products, including headphones and earbuds, explains Heath Hofmann, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Michigan. Hofmann has worked extensively on electric vehicles, including consulting with Tesla to develop the control algorithms for its propulsion drive. […] Synchronous reluctance motors don't use magnets. Instead, a steel rotor with air gaps cut into it aligns itself with the rotating magnetic field. Reluctance, or the magnetism of a material, is key to this process. As the rotor spins along with the rotating magnetic field, torque is produced. More torque is produced when the saliency ratio, or difference in magnetism between materials (in this case, the steel and the non-magnetic air gaps), is greater.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/22/08/12/2027223/17-year-old-designed-electric-motor-without-rare-earth-magnets

The electric vehicle transition is really a U-turn.

Rebecca Heilweil - Sep 2, 2022, 7:30am EDT

Cars changed the world, and not just by making it easier to get around. These vehicles have shaped everything from how fast we can travel to the way we design cities. But now, more than a century after it was first invented, the car is facing a reckoning.

The key technology behind most passenger vehicles — the fossil fuel-powered internal combustion engine — takes a devastating toll on the environment. Cars account for more than half of transportation’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, emitting tailpipe pollutants that hurt local air quality and contribute to climate change. These vehicles pose an immediate physical threat to the people in or around them, too: Car accidents in the United States kill about as many people as firearms do, and more than a million deaths occur on roadways each year worldwide. With the rise of the car has also come the rise of car-centric infrastructure — infrastructure that’s contributed to racist, classist, and socially isolating urban design choices, all at the expense of investment in public transportation.

https://www.vox.com/recode/23333356/ev-electric-vehicle-self-driving-cars-internal-combustion-driving

Sometimes, cheaper is better.

Justin Bennett-Cohen - 7 September 2022

EVs have become extremely popular, especially now electric vehicles are more affordable and come in the form of sedans, pickup trucks, and sports cars.

Though they're more affordable, is it worth buying a cheap EV, or should you save up a bit more cash to buy something nicer?

https://www.makeuseof.com/is-it-worth-buying-a-cheap-electric-car/

Haje Jan Kamps - 5:02 PM PDT September 6, 2022

A publication that shall not be named (merely linked to) published an opinion piece that is the latest in a string of false narratives around EVs. This opinion (I mean act of subterfuge) couches EVs as a luxury item in cold-weather countries because the batteries don’t work as well as on the balmy shores of California. Please join me on this debunking tour. Sure, many EVs are, in fact, luxury vehicles; you’d be hard-pressed to find an EV that’s under $40,000. But the state of luxury is not down to their ability to operate in a dusting of snow and with a nip of frost in the air.

Put simply, all mechanical objects with liquids in them hate cold weather. Metals contract, liquids get goopy or freeze up altogether, and none of that is convenient. That includes cars. I grew up in Norway, and in cold weather, cars need to be plugged into a block heater. Yes, that includes diesel cars in particular (because they don’t have a spark plug, only a glow plug to get the cycle started), and gasoline cars. So, humans live in places where machines are unhappy, but we’ve been finding workarounds for as long as we’ve had machines to drive around in.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/06/ev-in-cold-weather/

There are similarities, but there's also a whole lot of differences between your EV and a regular car.

Bertel King - 23 September 2022

Electric cars are not simply electrified versions of their gas-powered equivalents. As a result, you may need to adjust how you drive, and you will certainly have to adjust how you go about fueling up your ride.

More than likely, none of these differences are deal-breakers. Hopefully not, considering how gas-powered vehicles are on their way out in the long term. Most of these differences are positive. So let's get to it.

https://www.makeuseof.com/ways-driving-ev-is-different-from-ice-vehicle/

Research suggests that the answer is yes.

Charles Earley - 29 September 2022

While electric vehicles are often touted as being more environmentally friendly, there are concerns about their overall safety. Those who follow the news want to know what the truth is. You've seen those commercials where they say EVs are the future, but are they really safe?

https://www.makeuseof.com/are-electric-vehicles-really-safe/

Have EV prices gone up? Or are they heading down? How much should you pay for an EV, anyway?

Karim Ahmad - 30 September 2022

Electric cars have become incredibly popular over the last decade. The popularity of Tesla was instrumental in bringing electric cars into the spotlight, and the company still commands the lion's share of the market.

Other brands like Rivian have followed suit, with their stock prices soaring after the release of their latest models in 2022. However, keeping with inflation, the average price of an electric vehicle has increased considerably.

https://www.makeuseof.com/whats-the-average-price-electric-car/

Does it reduce range? Can you use your EV AC without worrying?

Alex Ramos - 11 October 2022

Have you ever wondered how your EV's HVAC system works? Conventional vehicles use the engine's heat to heat up your cabin during the cold months of the year. But how do EVs manage this same task efficiently?

Gasoline-powered cars also use a belt-driven compressor for the AC, which is powered by the vehicle's engine. The question is, how do EVs manage their AC system without an engine?

https://www.makeuseof.com/how-does-ev-air-conditioning-work/

Own an electric car? You need a few apps to make the most of your experience. Here are the essentials for both Android and iOS.

Bertel King - 2 November 2022

You'll need to install two types of apps after buying an electric car. First is an app to find charging stations. Once you arrive at these stations, you may be surprised to find that you'll need another app in order to start charging.

Here are some of each type to consider as you decide which will help you keep your electric car on the road.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/smartphone-apps-electric-car/

Looking for your first EV? These are some of the best EVs for first-time buyers.

Alex Ramos - 17 November 2022

Electric vehicles may seem daunting to first-time buyers. EVs don't run on gasoline, so even a simple thing like recharging your car may seem confusing to EV newbies.

The truth of the matter is that many electric vehicles come jam-packed with features that traditional car shoppers might not be familiar with, but at the end of the day, it's still a car.

Certain EVs will appeal to first-time buyers because of their ease of use, along with other models that are electrified variants of already popular models.

https://www.makeuseof.com/best-evs-first-time-buyers/

The newcomers that are gunning for the world’s most successful EV maker

5 Nov 2022 - Angus Mackenzie

No one saw Tesla coming. A Silicon Valley start-up putting electric motors into a handful of Lotus sportscars was about a niche as car-making gets.

Then Elon Musk took over. Scarily smart, and with the balls to simultaneously bet billions on two industries with staggeringly high costs and razor-thin margins – space travel and car manufacturing – Musk saw an opportunity. In the same year his space company, SpaceX, launched its first rocket, Tesla launched the Model S, a car that changed the way the world thought about electric vehicles.

Elon Musk's masterstroke, however – the real genius of the Tesla business model – was to create an ecosystem within which the Model S could legitimately function as an alternative to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. Tesla's Supercharger network made the Model S a real car, not a novelty

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/tesla-killers-next-wave-electric-vehicles

Looking to make the switch to an electric vehicle, but facing long wait times? Check out these tips for speeding up your next EV purchase.

Elliot Nesbo - 1 January 2023

EVs are increasingly popular, and it isn't difficult to understand why. They provide a quieter driving experience, the ability to save money on petrol, and they are significantly more environmentally friendly. One downside to this popularity, however, is that wait times have also been increasing.

If you'd like to purchase an EV, you can now expect to wait significantly longer than for a traditional vehicle. This is partly because of supply and demand, but also because of the current chip shortage. Skipping the wait list entirely isn't possible. But here are five ways to speed up your next EV purchase.

https://www.makeuseof.com/ways-to-speed-up-ev-purchase/

Electric Vehicles are all the rave these days, but they're not perfect. So, should you switch from your fuel-powered car? We'll help you decide.

Katie Rees - 8 January 2023

Over the past decade or so, electric vehicles have become incredibly popular. It's now normal to see an electric car drive by or come across electric charging ports at gas stations.

But are electric vehicles really that great? Or are there downsides to this form of transport? Let's discuss the pros and cons of EVs to further understand whether they're worth the purchase.

https://www.makeuseof.com/buying-ev-factors-to-consider/

Many people tend to associate electric cars with a greener planet. But is this an apt association? What you may not know is that EVs come with their own environmental cost. So, what are the downsides of electric cars, and why are they bad for the environment?

https://www.makeuseof.com/why-are-electric-cars-bad-for-the-environment/

EVs are rapid. Want to go faster than anything else? Buy a dual-motor EV.

Alex Ramos - 26 January 2023

The choice of buying an electric vehicle isn't so simple. Some electric vehicles only use one electric motor to power either the front or rear axle, but there are also EVs with two or even three motors.

The point of adding more electric motors is to increase power and also add AWD in many cases. Some of the best-performance EVs on the market feature a dual-motor design.

https://www.makeuseof.com/best-dual-motor-evs-currently-for-sale/

Electric cars are getting smaller – a lot smaller. Although the majority of U.S. cars now sold (namely SUVs and pickups) are reportedly the same size as WW2 tanks, a legion of light, sustainable vehicle manufacturers are helping accelerate the great downsize.

26 January 2023

One of these is Stockholm-based Luvly, who make very cute, ultra-light vehicles for urban use. They call these ‘LUVs’, which they officially launched at the end of last year, and so I caught up with founder Håkan Lutz to discuss what makes them so luvly. We covered their community-centred approach, why they are the IKEA of car manufacturers – and what their light urban vehicle borrows from Formula 1.

Håkan begins by telling me that founding Luvly was ‘a reaction to the brutal inefficiencies in the use of cars’. Indeed – driving large polluting vehicles at low speeds, for short distances around urban centres to commute, is not using these vehicles for what they are built for and increasingly at odds with a greener future.

https://www.maddyness.com/uk/2023/01/26/why-ultra-light-urban-vehicles-like-luvly-offer-the-only-viable-future-for-electric-cars/

If you're a new EV owner or are thinking of switching to electric, make sure to follow these points for the best experience.

Alex Ramos - 16 February 2023

Electric vehicles are starting to take flight, with more EVs on the road than ever before. But with this onslaught of electric vehicles come new considerations that EV drivers must keep in mind.

Things like charging station etiquette, as well as safety precautions while charging your EV, are vital for having a positive EV experience. Here's what you need to know.

https://www.makeuseof.com/things-ev-drivers-should-know/

New research comes to some surprising conclusions that should put consumers’ minds at ease.

Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News - 3/2/2023, 6:28 AM

Electric vehicle batteries keep getting larger, and the typical driving range between charges keeps growing.

The shift is partly a response to “range anxiety”—the fear of being stranded because EV batteries don’t have enough power to get to the next charging station—an idea so familiar in discussions of electric vehicles that it was spoofed in a Ram Super Bowl ad last month.

But this concern is unwarranted for a large share of EV customers, according to research from the University of Delaware, published February 21 in the journal Energies.

Willett Kempton, a University of Delaware professor, and his team looked at driving data for 333 gasoline vehicles over one year in the Atlanta area and then created a model to see the extent to which various EV options would have been able to meet the needs of those drivers.

They found that 37.9 percent of the drivers would have been able to make all of their trips for the year using a small EV like a Nissan Leaf as their primary vehicle and charging at locations like home, work, or wherever the vehicle was parked and charging was available. The hypothetical vehicle had a 40 kilowatt-hour battery and range of 143 miles.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/03/why-its-time-to-officially-get-over-your-ev-range-anxiety/

The remedy for range anxiety? America's largest retailer is adding thousands of fast-charging stations.

Kate Yoder, Grist - 10 April 2203 8:50AM

This story was originally published by Grist. You can subscribe to its weekly newsletter here.

In the latest sign that corporate behemoths are getting behind the shift to electric vehicles, Walmart announced on Thursday that it would install fast-charging stations at thousands of locations around the country. The rollout would quadruple the company’s network of charging stations, currently available at more than 280 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.

Walmart’s move could help allay a common concern about buying an electric car — range anxiety, the fear of getting stranded with a dead battery and no chargers in sight. “We’ve got a Walmart store or Sam’s Club within 10 miles of 90 percent of the population in this country,” Vishal Kapadia, the company’s senior vice president of energy transformation, told the Washington Post. “We know we can address range anxiety in a way that no one else can.”

https://gizmodo.com/walmart-just-showed-how-mainstream-evs-are-now-1850318350

Sure, the combustion engine is going away, but at least we get rear-wheel-drive cars again.

Rob Stumpf| - Apr 19, 2023 5:00 PM EDT

Front-wheel-drive cars have been an industry norm for decades. Whether it be your grandmother's Toyota Camry or that hot hatch you've always dreamed about, there's been no shortage of cars that transversely-mounted powerplants called home over the years. And why wouldn't they be? Front-wheel-drive (FWD) cars were cheaper to build and often resulted in roomier, more economical packaging than the rear-wheel-drive of the '70s and '80s. But it also meant some sacrifices to performance.

Fast-forward to 2023, and vehicle platforms that once would be dedicated to a combustion engine paired with a FWD drive layout instead receive battery power with an electric motor at one or both ends. For vehicles with only a single motor, many manufacturers have reversed course and decided instead to have the drive motor power the rear wheels.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/rear-wheel-drive-cars-are-back-baby-and-we-have-evs-to-thank

Mariel GarzaDeputy Editorial Page Editor - April 23, 2023 3 AM PT

I love my electric car. I really do.

I love how I never have to buy gas. I love how it glides quietly up the street. I love that it has so much pickup that I can easily blow past gas-powered muscle cars if I want to. I love having stickers that allow me to drive solo in the HOV lanes. I love that routine maintenance consists of little more than rotating the tires.

But after three years, I am thinking seriously of trading it in for the gas-powered hybrid plug-in version.

Why? Because as much as I love my car, I loathe that I can’t travel around California, a state has led the electric car revolution, with confidence that I can get a charge when I need one.

Yes, there are significantly more public charging stations than when I first got behind the wheel of my Kia Niro EV in January 2020. But there are also significantly more electric vehicles vying to use them — and still vast areas of the state without a single fast charger. Chargers are more reliable now, but still not quite good enough. In 2020, it felt like half the public chargers I tried to use weren’t working. These days, l find only about a quarter are out. This jibes with the experience of researchers who checked public fast chargers at 181 charging stations in the Bay Area last year and found that about 23% weren’t functional.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-04-23/commentary-its-not-easy-being-a-green-motorist-in-california

While electric vehicles are better than internal combustion engine cars in many meaningful ways, there are also areas where they just can't compete.

Alex Ramos - 8 May 2023

Owning an electric vehicle usually affords you a better experience than owning an internal combustion vehicle, but there are certain drawbacks associated with driving an EV, like limited range and battery replacement costs. None of these downsides are deal-breakers if you're considering purchasing an electric vehicle, but you'll want to keep them in mind.

Let's dive into some of the disadvantages of owning an EV!

https://www.makeuseof.com/disadvantages-of-owning-an-ev/

Posted by msmash on Wednesday May 17, 2023 11:51AM

About 80 percent of new cars sold in Norway are battery-powered. As a result, the air is cleaner, the streets are quieter and the grid hasn't collapsed. The New York Times:

Last year, 80 percent of new-car sales in Norway were electric, putting the country at the vanguard of the shift to battery-powered mobility. It has also turned Norway into an observatory for figuring out what the electric vehicle revolution might mean for the environment, workers and life in general. The country will end the sales of internal combustion engine cars in 2025. Norway's experience suggests that electric vehicles bring benefits without the dire consequences predicted by some critics. There are problems, of course, including unreliable chargers and long waits during periods of high demand. Auto dealers and retailers have had to adapt. The switch has reordered the auto industry, making Tesla the best-selling brand and marginalizing established carmakers like Renault and Fiat.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/23/05/17/1851232/in-norway-the-electric-vehicle-future-has-already-arrived

Some states are seeing an explosion in the number of EVs and supporting infrastructure, while others seem to be lagging behind.

Geoff Piehl - 6 June 2023

Electric vehicle sales are soaring, but not to the same extent in all US states. If you're looking to be an EV owner, you may want to make sure the state you live in is EV-friendly. There are a couple of factors to think about when assessing how EV-friendly a particular place is.

Unfortunately, there are several states in particular where an EV may not be worth owning.

https://www.makeuseof.com/least-ev-friendly-us-states/

Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday June 17, 2023 03:57PM

“If everyone has an electric car, will the electric grid be able to support all those cars being recharged?”

That's the question being answered this week in the Washington Post's “Climate Coach” newsletter:

We can already see a preview of our electric future in Norway, one of the countries with the highest share of EVs. More than 90 percent of new cars sold in the country were plug-in electric, according to the latest data, from May. More than 20 percent of the country's overall vehicle fleet is electric, a share expected to rise to one-third by 2025. So far, the grid has essentially shrugged it off. “We haven't seen any issue of the grid collapsing,” says Anne Nysæther, a managing director at Elvia, a utility serving Oslo and the surrounding areas with the nation's largest concentration of EVs. The country, now almost entirely powered by renewables, has easily met the extra demand from EVs while slashing greenhouse gas emissions. That's good, because Norway will ban all new petrol and diesel cars by 2025…

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/23/06/17/045206/why-evs-wont-crash-the-electric-grid

Even though EVs may look like regular cars from the outside, they actually work quite differently compared to combustion engine vehicles.

Andrei Nedelea - 13 July 2023

Most automakers try to make their electric vehicles look conventional so as not to alienate traditional buyers, but EVs operate quite differently compared to combustion cars. Their propulsion relies on completely different systems than those of a vehicle that runs on liquid fuel.

This is why car mechanics will usually refuse to work on an EV unless they’ve had special training. Knowing what makes an electric car go and what its main components are is important if you want to make the most of your EV ownership experience.

Here are the main components and systems that an EV needs to run.

https://www.makeuseof.com/how-electric-cars-work-components/

Newcomers to the EV scene may be surprised to learn just how much they can drive on a full battery.

Geoff Piehl - 11 August 2023

If you're new to electric vehicles, or even if you're not, why not join us for a quick chat about their range? Understanding the finer points of EV range is important to determine if they are the right type of vehicle for you, or if you already own one, this will help you get the most out of your EV.

Let's discuss how far an EV can go on a charge.

https://www.makeuseof.com/electric-car-how-far-one-charge/

Posted by EditorDavid on Sunday September 24, 2023 09:34AM

Long-time Slashdot reader 140Mandak262Jamuna shared this article from the Washington Post:

There is a theoretical, magic tipping point for adoption of electric vehicles. Once somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of new car sales are all-electric, some researchers say, huge numbers of drivers will follow. They predict that electric car sales will then soar — to 25 percent, 50 percent and eventually to close to 80 percent of new sales. Early adopters who love shiny new technologies will be replaced by mainstream consumers just looking for a good deal. Last year, the United States finally passed that elusive mark — 5 percent of all new cars sold in the fourth quarter were fully electric. And earlier this year, all-electric vehicles made up about 7 percent of new car sales…

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/23/09/23/2154256/has-america-passed-the-tipping-point-for-purchasing-electric-vehicles

Kyle Stock - Sep 22 2023 at 12:00 PM

EV variety is easy to find outside the US. Where American drivers now have about 50 electric cars to choose from, Europe’s array is almost double that, and China’s nearly triple. With that variety come more small and midsize options, and more cars with price tags that won’t break the bank.

Ask any US automaker and they’ll say this is mainly a profitability problem. To pay for investments in electrification, carmakers are first focusing on trucks, SUVs and other premium models. That same tension is at the center of the United Auto Workers strike, which is pitting factory workers looking to preserve pay and benefits in an EV world against carmakers who say they can’t go electric, meet union demands and stay in the black.

China, meanwhile, has become a global powerhouse in electric cars: It’s expected to account for about 60% of the world’s 14.1 million new passenger EV sales this year, according to BloombergNEF. Many of those options are small and affordable; some are downright cheap. Take BYD’s Atto 3, a small, front-wheel-drive crossover with one of the most advanced batteries in the game. The Atto 3 costs just $20,000 in China and starts at $38,000 in the UK and Europe. But not a single Atto 3 is headed for the US market.

https://www.ajot.com/news/why-canat-americans-buy-cheap-chinese-evs/

Looking to jump into the electric vehicles market but put off by the jargon? We've got you covered.

Amir M. Bohlooli - 7 November 2023

As the automotive industry evolves, so do the options available to consumers. Today, the market offers a range of alternative powertrains, such as EVs, BEVs, PHEVs, and HEVs. That's a nice jumble of TLAs—but what do these terms mean anyway?

https://www.makeuseof.com/ev-bev-phev-hev-whats-the-difference/

16.5% of new car sales are compact crossovers, but only 6% of those are EVs.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 12/1/2023, 8:16 AM

Earlier this week, we learned of an effort by some auto dealers to pump the brakes on the US government's electric vehicle adoption goals. EVs are sitting too long on dealership lots, they say, and the public just isn't ready to switch. Those fears are overblown says JD Power; it says that 29.2 percent of consumers say they're very likely to buy an EV as their next car, a percentage that grew 3 percent last month alone.

That means EV marketshare should grow to 13 percent by the end of 2024, and to 24 percent in 2026, according to JD Power, which it says places the EV market still in the “early adopter” phase. (Current EV market share is about 8 percent.)

But the industry has some work to do if it wants to smoothly transition from those early adopters to the “early majority” phase, and JD Power's advice sounds a lot like what we constantly hear in the comments: build smaller, cheaper EVs.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/12/automakers-must-build-cheaper-smaller-evs-to-spur-adoption-report-says/

All cars lose range when the temperature drops below freezing, not just EVs.

Robin Warner - 12/5/2023, 5:33 AM

Objectively speaking, a battery-electric vehicle provides a superior driving experience in cold and inclement weather to its internal combustion engine-powered counterparts—for numerous reasons. Comfort, control, even durability benefits come along for the cold ride. Let me explain.

First, actually, let me concede a point. It's true that BEVs lose range in colder climates. The two main reasons for that stem from the need to keep both the cabin and battery pack warm, which requires energy that would otherwise go toward moving. And, generally speaking, it takes more energy to warm an electric vehicle in the winter than to cool it in the summer.

But bear in mind, all cars lose range in the winter. Air gets denser as it cools, which takes more work to push through. And all the viscous fluids vehicles need take more time to warm up to their respective operating temperatures. And that means your engine, transmission, and differential all have more work to do—requiring more energy—in the cold.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/12/electric-vehicles-are-better-than-gas-powered-cars-in-winter-heres-why/

The sudden slowdown in electric car sales is a symptom of a much uglier problem.

Paris Marx - Jan 3, 2024, 2:46 AM PST

Electric vehicles were supposed to be inevitable. Two years ago President Joe Biden climbed behind the wheel of a beefy white electric Hummer to tout his plan to make half of all new cars sold electric by 2030. The following year Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which created a bevy of incentives for drivers to buy electric and for automakers to invest in EVs. That set off a flurry of new projects: EV plants, battery-manufacturing facilities, and mining operations began popping up. By the end of 2022 the situation looked promising: More and more Americans were going electric, and soon everyone would be driving an EV, reducing emissions in the process.

The transition to an all-EV future seemed like a slam dunk. It would not only give the government a highly visible way to show it's fighting the climate crisis but boost the economy through new jobs and investment. But the electric-vehicle takeover has hit some serious roadblocks.

https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-ev-sales-prices-problem-transportation-2024-1

It turns out that you can have battery-powered cars, or you can have renewable energy, but you can't have both.

eugyppius - 1 December 2022

The Swiss Confederation usually imports electricity from France and Germany to keep the lights on over the winter, but this year neither country has any power to spare. Many French nuclear power plants are down after years of postponed maintenance, while in Germany we suffer from a superfluity of idle wind turbines and a (self-imposed) shortage of natural gas.

The Federal Council of Switzerland has therefore published draft legislation, which outlines four tiers of escalating measures to conserve electricity and avert potential blackouts. The first prescribes a lot of temperature restrictions for things like refrigerators and washing machines. The second includes more unusual rules, such as the demand that heating in clubs and discotheques “be set to the lowest level or switched off completely,” and that “streaming services … limit resolution of their content to standard definition.” The third foresees cutting business hours, banning the use of Blue Ray players and gaming computers, and also limiting the use of electric cars, which should be driven only when absolutely necessary. A fourth and final tier mandates closure of ski facilities, casinos, cinemas, theatre and the opera.

https://www.eugyppius.com/p/switzerland-facing-an-unprecedented

China's EV industry benefits from billions of dollars in government subsidies.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 4/12/2024, 8:46 AM

Influential US Senator Sherrod Brown (D–Ohio) has called on US President Joe Biden to ban electric vehicles from Chinese brands. Brown calls Chinese EVs “an existential threat” to the US automotive industry and says that allowing imports of cheap EVs from Chinese brands “is inconsistent with a pro-worker industrial policy.”

Brown's letter to the president is the most recent to sound alarms about the threat of heavily subsidized Chinese EVs moving into established markets. Brands like BYD and MG have been on sale in the European Union for some years now, and last October, the EU launched an anti-subsidy investigation into whether the Chinese government is giving Chinese brands an unfair advantage.

The EU probe won't wrap until November, but another report published this week found that government subsidies for green technology companies are prevalent in China. BYD, which now sells more EVs than Tesla, has benefited from almost $4 billion (3.7 billion euro) in direct help from the Chinese government in 2022, according to a study by the Kiel Institute.

Last month, the EU even started paying extra attention to imports of Chinese EVs, issuing a threat of retroactive tariffs that could start being imposed this summer.

Chinese EV imports to the EU have increased by 14 percent since the start of its investigation, but they have yet to really begin in the US, where there are a few barriers in their way. Chinese batteries make an EV ineligible for the IRS's clean vehicle tax credit, for one thing. And Chinese-made vehicles (like the Lincoln Nautilus, Buick Envision, and Polestar 2) are already subject to a 27.5 percent import tax.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/04/ban-chinese-electric-vehicles-now-demands-us-senator/

This is something that car buyers are increasingly aware of when considering a new EV.

Andrei Nedelea - 7 September 2023

Virtually all mainstream car manufacturers have fully electric vehicles in their lineups. However, while automakers don’t put a lot of emphasis on this, EVs fall into two categories: those that are built on an existing platform that the manufacturer modified to take an electric powertrain, and those that are built from the ground up to run solely on electrons.

There are many manufacturers that have developed what in the industry is known as a bespoke EV platform or architecture, and this fact should play a deciding role in the purchase of a new electric model. Think of the platform as an oversized skateboard that makes up the bottom part of the vehicle, and it includes the battery, electronics, and motors.

On top of the platform, manufacturers can craft a series of bodies, and if it's specially designed for EVs, this holds several significant advantages. Let's examine what they are and why they matter!

https://www.makeuseof.com/why-is-bespoke-ev-platform-better/

Even though electric vehicles are generally cheaper to run compared to internal combustion engine vehicles, they come with their own additional costs.

Alex Ramos - 14 March 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) have many cost-saving advantages over traditional cars. You'll never have to visit the gas station again if you drive an EV, unless you want to pop into the convenience store for a snack. EVs also eschew much of the routine maintenance associated with normal cars, like regular engine oil changes.

There are, however, costs associated with owning an EV you may not consider. Here are the most common hidden EV costs.

https://www.makeuseof.com/hidden-ev-ownership-costs/

Mike Hanlon - April 06, 2024

We love a BIG idea, and they don't come much bigger than this. Helixx Technologies has begun taking registrations in Southeast Asia for its electric car and van subscription service and we're about to see a fascinating roll-out of what appears to be a thoroughly excellent and potentially VERY disruptive idea.

Helixx's cheapest subscription rate works out to $0.25 cents per hour, which would logically be the full-time rate of having a new car/van with “the lot” (insurance, maintenance) … that's $6.00 per day … no up front fees … nothing else to pay … just add your own electricity.

If your car stops or is in an accident, there's an instant replacement available, which is an attribute bound to appeal to those using the EV for commercial purposes - with the ownership model, that's the owner's problem. Here, the car is immediately replaced like-for-like and commercial activity resumes post haste.

Minimising downtime for commercial vehicles is important so having the batteries swappable makes sense too. The Helixx vehicle platform can take up to six 2 kWh LFP (Lithium iron Phosphate (LFP) battery packs for a total capacity of 12 kWh and a range of 200 km (124 miles). If that's not enough for a taxi shift or a delivery run, it's just a matter of swapping batteries to be productive again. Charging times become irrelevant.

https://newatlas.com/automotive/helixx-subscription-ev/

The average new car costs more than $47,000—here are 17 EVs for less than that.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 6/3/2024, 10:02 AM

New cars have gotten pretty expensive, and it feels like electric cars are especially pricey. The average sale price of a new car has dropped a couple of thousand dollars since it peaked in early 2023, but at more than $47,400 in April, sticker shock is understandable, particularly as interest rates have doubled over the course of the past two years. Based on reader feedback, that impression is particularly pronounced when it comes to new electric vehicles. But EV prices have actually been falling, and inventory is growing. So we put together a list of all the new EVs on sale today for less than the average transaction price of a new car. You can buy 17 different EVs for less than the average price of a new car, and 11 are available for less than $40,000.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/06/think-evs-are-too-expensive-here-are-11-for-under-40k/

Some enthusiasts don't want to give up the pleasure and control of shifting through gears, and automakers are taking note.

Bryan Hood - 18 November 2022

It was around the middle of the last decade that Alan Macey realized just how bad things had gotten for the manual transmission. The clutch pedal had started to disappear from American-made vehicles before he was born, but suddenly a stick shift wasn’t even available as an option on a muscle car like the Dodge Charger. So, in 2015, he started The Manual Gearbox Preservation Society.

The group is made up of the kind of drivers who believe physically shifting through the gears is as important to driving as putting your foot on the gas or turning the steering wheel. Macey isn’t that dogmatic—his garage is home to both a manual and an automatic—but the longtime car lover and industry veteran is concerned by how automated driving has become.

https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/manual-transmission-electric-vehicles-future-1234774864/

Experimental motors use exotic materials and clever configurations

Vandana Rallabandi, Burak Ozpineci, Praveen Kumar - 02 Jul 2024

The dilemma is easy to describe. Global efforts to combat climate change hinge on pivoting sharply away from fossil fuels. To do that will require electrifying transportation, primarily by shifting from vehicles with combustion engines to ones with electric drive trains. Such a massive shift will inevitably mean far greater use of electric traction motors, nearly all of which rely on magnets that contain rare earth elements, which cause substantial environmental degradation when their ores are extracted and then processed into industrially useful forms. And for automakers outside of China, there is an additional deterrent: Roughly 90 percent of processed rare earth elements now come from China, so for these companies, increasing dependence on rare earths means growing vulnerability in critical supply chains.

Against this backdrop, massive efforts are underway to design and test advanced electric-vehicle (EV) motors that do not use rare earth elements (or use relatively little of them). Government agencies, companies, and universities are working on this challenge, oftentimes in collaborative efforts, in virtually all industrialized countries. In the United States, these initiatives include long-standing efforts at the country’s national laboratories to develop permanent magnets and motor designs that do not use rare earth elements. Also, in a collaboration announced last November, General Motors and Stellantis are working with a startup company, Niron Magnetics, to develop EV motors based on Niron’s rare earth–free permanent magnet. Another automaker, Tesla, shocked observers in March of last year when a senior official declared that the company’s “next drive unit,” which would be based on a permanent magnet, would nevertheless use no “rare earth elements at all.” In Europe, a consortium called Passenger includes 20 partners from industry and academia working on rare earth–free permanent magnets for EVs.

https://spectrum.ieee.org/ev-motor

Posted by BeauHD on Wednesday April 30, 2025 05:20PM

New submitter LDA6502 writes:

The Republican chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is proposing a new annual federal vehicle registration fee of $200 for full EVs, $100 for hybrid EVs, and $20 for combustion vehicles. The tax would be tied to inflation, would be collected by the states, and would expire in 2035. Critics of the proposal note that it could result in low mileage EVs paying a far higher tax rate than heavy ICE trucks and SUVs.

Ars Technica notes that the bill “exempts commercial vehicles, which should see a rush from tax avoiders to register their vehicles under their businesses […].” Farm vehicles will also be exempt from the tax.

“The Eno Center for Transportation calculates that this new tax will contribute an extra $110 billion to the highway Trust Fund by 2035 but that cuts to other taxes and more spending mean that the fund will still be $222 billion short of its commitments – assuming that this added fee doesn't further dampen EV adoption in the U.S., that is.”

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/04/30/2227225/republicans-in-congress-want-a-flat-200-annual-ev-tax

The state's governor is mulling the most expensive EV registration cost in the U.S. to help support a new highway expansion plan.

Lauren Leffer - 5 December 2022 3:00PM

Tennessee’s Republican Governor Bill Lee is considering a set of new road-related rules to fund a proposed transportation infrastructure bill. On the docket: raising the fee electric vehicle owners pay to register their cars. Currently, EV drivers pay $100 in the state every year; under newly announced budged scheme, that would triple to $300.

The reasoning is that car owners reliant on fossil fuels pay a gas tax every time they fill up at the pump, and those proceeds (mostly) go toward the budget for statewide highway and road maintenance. EV owners don’t pay the gas tax. Tennessee’s transportation commissioner, Butch Eley, said the proposed $300 annual fee would put EV owners in line with state estimates of what gasoline-users spend via the tax, which Gov. Lee has declared he will not raise.

https://gizmodo.com/tennessee-electrc-vehicle-fee-300-1849854103

In five years, EVgo will have more than 3,500 stations in its network.

Kris Holt - 31 July 2020

The logic is pretty simple: the more fast chargers there are for electric vehicles, the easier it’ll be for people to find one. And the less painless it is to locate a fast charger, the more likely people are to buy an EV in the first place. At least, that’s what General Motors has in mind with its latest initiative. It’s helping EVgo to expand its network of fast chargers in the US.

The companies plan to install more than 2,700 EV charging plugs over the next five years. That will triple the size of EVgo’s fast charging network, which is already the largest public one in the country, GM said in a press release. EVgo currently has more than 800 fast charging locations, so by the time this expansion’s done, it’ll have more than 3,500.

https://www.engadget.com/gm-evgo-fast-charging-network-electric-vehicles-172255543.html

Energy management systems should mean cheaper EV charging for end users.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 4/22/2021, 12:35 PM

The switch to electric vehicles is going more slowly in the US than in some other parts of the world. EVs reached a higher market share in 2020 than in any year past, but they still only accounted for 1.8 percent of all new cars and trucks. So for now, there's not really much impact on the grid from people charging their cars at home at the same time. At least not yet. But power consumption due to EV charging will be a growing concern as the country decarbonizes in the coming years, particularly given how fragile the US's electrical infrastructure is in places.

Just when EV charging will become a problem is something we've looked at before. A study by Matteo Muratori at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado found that a residential distribution transformer could handle six EVs all charging at once, as long as those EVs were only charging at 120 V. But adding just one 240 V (level 2) charger to the mix was enough to exceed the transformer's nominal capacity.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/04/an-api-that-can-tell-your-ev-when-its-the-optimal-time-to-charge/

Aria Alamalhodaei / 8:25 AM PDT•June 1, 2021

Convenience stores are ubiquitous — and they sell the vast majority of gas purchased by consumers in the United States. But as more Americans transition to electric vehicles, a major reason people visit convenience stores will disappear.

Industry giant 7-Eleven is looking to capture this growing market of EV drivers. The company said Tuesday it will install 500 direct-current fast charging ports at 250 locations across North America by the end of 2022. These charging stations will be owned and operated by 7-Eleven, as opposed to fuel at its filling stations, which must be purchased from suppliers.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/01/7-eleven-to-install-500-ev-charging-stations-by-the-end-of-2022/

Electric cars are becoming more popular. But how long do they take to charge, and what do you need to know?

By Bertel King - 14 August 2021

Charging an electric vehicle (EV) is not as simple to understand as filling a tank with gas and stopping when it's full. When you transition to an EV for the first time, there's a lot to learn about how to keep your vehicle charged, how long that will take, and how far you will go.

In this article, you'll discover everything you need to know about EV charging speeds.

https://www.makeuseof.com/electric-car-charging-speeds/

Oren Ezer / 7:30 AM PDT•August 31, 2021

President Joe Biden’s plan for electric vehicles (EVs) to comprise roughly half of U.S. sales by 2030 is a clear indication that the U.S. is making strides in decarbonizing its transportation systems, which currently account for nearly half of total U.S. emissions.

Though this kind of federal support is critical in accelerating the mass adoption of EVs, we must face the impending need to rehabilitate the ailing U.S. electric infrastructure that millions currently rely on, namely the capabilities of the power grid.

As society converts to an all-electric future and demand rises for EVs, a challenge our modern world will face is how to charge the increasing number of vehicles without overstressing the grid past its capacity. While some predict EVs will overload the power grid, others have found methods that support our energy infrastructure, including solutions such as wireless charging, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration or more efficient methods of utilizing renewable energy sources, to name a few.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/31/ev-charging-solutions-will-become-an-asset-not-a-liability-to-the-grid/

The nation is a fifth of the way to its goal of 500,000 chargers by 2030.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 11/2/2021, 10:37 AM

The United States passed an important electric vehicle milestone earlier this year. At some point during the first three months of 2021, the country installed its 100,000th EV charger. That's according to the US Department of Energy's Alternative Fueling Station Locator, an extremely helpful resource that tracks “ethanol (E85), biodiesel, compressed natural gas, electric vehicle (EV) charging, hydrogen, liquefied natural gas, and propane stations.”

That milestone coincided nicely with a call from President Joe Biden to build out more EV charging infrastructure. In March of this year, the Biden administration set a goal of reaching 500,000 publicly accessible EV chargers by the year 2030. (This preceded an August announcement from the White House that set a lukewarm target of half of all new cars and trucks being zero-emissions, also by 2030.)

If you're considering adopting an EV, then you can use this helpful online tool at the Department of Energy to see where all the chargers are.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/11/us-charging-infrastructure-is-outpacing-forecasts-study-finds/

November 10, 2021

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University engineers have invented a new, patent-pending charging station cable that would fully recharge certain electric vehicles in under five minutes – about the same amount of time it takes to fill up a gas tank.

Today, chargers are limited in how quickly they can charge an EV’s battery due to the danger of overheating. To charge an EV faster, a higher current needs to travel through the charging cable. The higher the current, the greater amount of heat that must be removed to keep the charging cable operational. The cooling systems that chargers currently use remove only so much heat.

Using an alternative cooling method, Purdue researchers designed a charging cable that can deliver a current 4.6 times that of the fastest available EV chargers on the market today by removing up to 24.22 kilowatts of heat. The project was funded by a research and development alliance between Ford Motor Co. and Purdue.

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2021/Q4/electric-vehicles-could-fully-recharge-in-under-5-minutes-with-new-charging-station-cable-design.html

Coalition will focus on Interstate Highway System to alleviate range anxiety.

Tim De Chant - 12/7/2021, 2:24 PM

It took an act of Congress and $7.5 billion in federal funding, but more than 50 of the nation’s power companies are ready to build a coast-to-coast fast-charging network for electric vehicles.

The proposal so far is light on details. Members of the National Electric Highway Coalition say they serve nearly 120 million customers across 47 states and the District of Columbia. The coalition hasn’t said how many fast chargers it will be installing, but the companies said they would focus first on gaps in existing fast-charging networks along interstate highways.

The group is “committed to investing in and providing the charging infrastructure necessary to facilitate electric vehicle growth and to helping alleviate any remaining customer range anxiety,” said Tom Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute, which helped build the coalition.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/12/power-companies-band-together-for-coast-to-coast-ev-fast-charger-network/

Posted by BeauHD on Thursday February 10, 2022 04:02PM

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica:

Starting this year, the federal government will begin doling out $5 billion to states over five years to build a nationwide network of fast chargers. The plan initially focuses on the Interstate Highway System, directing states to build one charging station every 50 miles. Those stations must be capable of charging at least four EVs simultaneously at 150 kW. Once states have completed the Interstate charging network, they'll be able to apply for grants to fill in gaps elsewhere. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, a new agency formed to help the Transportation and Energy Departments administer the program, will allow case-by-case exceptions to the 50-mile requirement if, for example, no grid connection is available nearby.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/22/02/10/2233211/four-fast-chargers-every-50-miles----us-unveils-ev-infrastructure-plan

Nationwide EV charging network is moving forward quickly.

Tim De Chant - 2/10/2022, 8:56 AM

About five years from now, a common complaint about electric vehicles—range anxiety—will be a thing of the past across much of the US.

Starting this year, the federal government will begin doling out $5 billion to states over five years to build a nationwide network of fast chargers. The plan initially focuses on the Interstate Highway System, directing states to build one charging station every 50 miles. Those stations must be capable of charging at least four EVs simultaneously at 150 kW.

Once states have completed the Interstate charging network, they’ll be able to apply for grants to fill in gaps elsewhere. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, a new agency formed to help the Transportation and Energy Departments administer the program, will allow case-by-case exceptions to the 50-mile requirement if, for example, no grid connection is available nearby.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/02/four-fast-chargers-every-50-miles-us-unveils-ev-infrastructure-plan/

The plan will put half a million charging stations along interstate highways.

Angely Mercado - 11 February 2022 5:15PM

The U.S. Department of Energy announced it will invest about $5 billion into a nationwide electric vehicle charging network, in hopes of making electric vehicle charging “accessible to all Americans” to encourage more people to trade gas-guzzling cars for electric.

The initiative will help states build up to half a million electric vehicle charging stations, which is five times the number of stations the U.S. currently has, Yahoo News reported. Once complete, the boom in charging stations will ensure that there are stations every 50 miles along interstate highways, according to the Associated Press.

There were about 1.5 million registered electric vehicles in the U.S. as of 2020. An extended charging network could help EV expansion across the country, as more charging opportunities make it easier to drive longer distances.

https://gizmodo.com/the-u-s-is-pumping-5-billion-into-ev-charging-station-1848525621

No EVs were damaged in the making of this report

Richard Speed - Wed 30 Mar 2022 11:31 UTC

Researchers from the University of Oxford published details of a vulnerability in the Combined Charging System that has the potential to abort charging.

The Combined Charging System (CCS) is one of the plethora of standards in the EV charging world, and allows DC fast charging.

Different plug types are used for the US and EU regions (dubbed Combo 1 and 2 respectively) but both use the same underlying technology. As well as taking in all that lovely charge, the EV and the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) swap messages concerning how charged things are, the maximum possible current and so on. The link used for the communication is provided by the HomePlug Green PHY (HPGP) power-line communication (PLC) technology.

The researchers created a lab testbed that consisted of the same HPGP modems used in most EVs and charging stations at the victim end, and a software defined radio replete with a 1W RF amplifier on an antenna the team made themselves (with which to carry out the attack).

https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/30/brokenwire/

Aftermarket suppliers and automakers are all jumping in

Jim Motavalli - 1:30 PM PDT April 28, 2022

Most home electric vehicle chargers are adept at taking power off the grid and delivering it to your car, but what if the vehicle could also automatically keep the lights on during blackouts and offset electricity costs by returning power to its source during high-demand times?

A growing number of companies, including automakers GM and Ford, are touting the benefits of bidirectional charging for consumers. But research suggests advantages reach further than the individual EV owner.

For instance, a 2018 Environmental Research Letters paper from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory said that in California, which has the largest electric vehicle deployment in the U.S., “substantial capital investment, as much as several billion dollars, can be avoided if EVs are used in lieu of stationary storage.”

Vehicle to grid (V2G) and vehicle to home (V2H) charging — also called bidirectional charging — have long been the stuff of demonstration programs. Only recently has the technology emerged as a possible useful addendum to the more than 80% to 85% of EV charging that takes place at home.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/28/are-bidirectional-ev-chargers-ready-for-the-home-market/

If you're considering buying an EV or already own one, installing a home charger is well worth the investment.

Jowi Morales - 23 May 2022

Electric cars are the way of the future. And while many users prefer to recharge their EV at a dedicated fast car charger or Supercharger, much like refueling through a gasoline station, you still get an enormous advantage if you can recharge at home.

But what do you need to install a plug for your EV in your garage? Here are some things to consider.

https://www.makeuseof.com/what-you-need-install-ev-home-charger/

John Bogna - May 26, 2022, 9:00 am EDT

As electric vehicles (EVs) lower in price, more people are considering a switch from gas to battery power. If you get one, you may consider installing a charging station in your home. Let’s take a look at what it costs to install one, and whether you actually need one.

https://www.howtogeek.com/801846/how-much-does-a-home-electric-car-charger-cost/

You don't always have to pay to charge your EV, be that at home, while shopping, or even at your hotel.

Alex Ramos - 8 June 2022

EVs are excellent alternatives to ICE vehicles, and they can also exert significantly less stress on your wallet. Weekly trips to the gas station are a thing of the past with the purchase of an EV, and if you play your cards right, it's possible to charge your EV free of charge.

There are quite a few options out there for the frugal EV owner looking to recharge a vehicle for free, ranging from manufacturer incentives all the way to completely free charging stations.

https://www.makeuseof.com/ways-to-charge-your-ev-for-free/

The proposed bill is plain stupid and ridiculous

Ioanna Lykiardopoulou - June 10, 2022 - 3:31 pm UTC

While the US federal government is moving towards standardizing fast-charging infrastructure and installing the first national network of chargers on highways, North Carolina might be going in the opposite direction.

NC Representative Keith Kidwell, together with his colleagues, Reps. Ben Moss of Richmond County, Mark Brody of Union County, and George Cleveland of Onslow County, last week filed House Bill 1049 — one of the country’s most anti-EV bills to date.

https://thenextweb.com/news/north-carolina-ban-free-ev-charging-is-environmental-disgrace

About to buy a new EV? Make sure your home electric system is up to scratch first!

Alex Ramos - 12 July 2022

EVs are seemingly everywhere now. However, it wasn't uncommon a while back to go days without seeing an EV, but now the EV craze is making EV sightings more common than ever. With this explosion of EVs, many people ask themselves if they should buy one.

The great news is that buying an EV is simple, especially the charging aspect, which many people are reluctant about. Still, many people wonder how you can charge your EV at home and what steps are required to up the ante and charge your EV in a faster manner from home as well.

https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-make-your-home-ev-ready/

If every driver has a horror story about charging, adoption is going to stall.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 7/13/2022, 4:20 PM

In many regards, electric vehicles are clearly better than the internal combustion engine-powered relatives they will eventually replace. They're quieter, they rattle and vibrate less, they accelerate faster, and they're much more efficient because they can recover energy under braking. And their batteries should last for the life of the car as well as a gasoline engine does. But I'm increasingly convinced that EV adoption is going to run into real problems if we can't get a handle on charger reliability.

Even the biggest EV enthusiasts can't ignore the fact that it takes a lot longer to recharge a battery than fill a tank with liquid hydrocarbons—even when that battery is connected to a very high-voltage DC fast charger. For about two-thirds of American car buyers—those who have somewhere at home to charge overnight—this isn't a problem most of the time. On average, people only drive 29 miles a day, so even short-range EVs should actually meet the needs of most drivers.

That's the purely rational take, anyway.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/07/electric-cars-are-doomed-if-fast-charger-reliability-doesnt-get-better/

Different EV chargers have different outputs, which will affect how long it takes to charge your car.

Alex Ramos - 29 July 2022

EVs are now omnipresent, and you're probably wondering about picking one up for yourself. If you're in the market for a new EV, you need to know all about EV charging.

This article will explain the differences between the major charging methods available to get your EV's range topped up again, as well as the pros and cons of using each of the charging methods.

https://www.makeuseof.com/differences-level-1-level-2-level-3-charging-explained/

Two-thirds of US drivers can charge at home—that leaves plenty who can't.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 8/2/2022, 11:25 AM

For much of the automobile's existence, speed was the statistic that sold. But the move to electric vehicles is emphasizing range over performance—ironic given the EV's inherent performance advantage here. While range remains a barrier to EV adoption, it takes second place to charging logistics. For about two-thirds of US drivers, the answer is simply to charge at home, parked in a garage or carport. But for the remaining third, that's not possible, and that's a problem.

From the post-war decades, a win at the racetrack or a new speed record translated to showroom success, both in the US and Europe. In turn, horsepower wars between automakers erupted every few years, steadily making our cars quicker and quicker. That trend is arguably accelerating—the near-instant torque of an electric motor means even SUVs that aren't supposed to be that sporty are capable of 0-to-60 times that would rival a supercar not too long ago.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/08/what-do-we-do-about-all-the-people-who-cant-charge-an-ev-at-home/

You can now juice up your non-Tesla EV using Tesla's Supercharger network. But will the cost be worth it?

Patrick Kariuki - 26 August 2022

Tesla's North American Superchargers are designed to charge Teslas only. However, the company plans to open its Superchargers to non-Tesla cars soon.

But how much will it cost non-Tesla drivers to charge their cars at Tesla Superchargers?

https://www.makeuseof.com/tesla-opens-superchargers-to-everyone-how-much-will-it-cost/

It's using the name 'Ultra-Fast' for charging up to 150 kW and 'Hyper-Fast' up to 350kW.

Steve Dent - September 8, 2022 10:00 AM

Electrify America has unveiled a redesign of its charging stations designed to make them more consumer friendly. The changes include labels that clearly indicate charging levels, a new “balanced charging” system that delivers the maximum charge possible to each vehicle and clearer payment options. The updates were made following EV driver surveys and are designed to create a more familiar “gas station”-like experience, the company said.

One of the biggest issues with charging stations, they found, is that consumers often don't know the charging speeds of their own EVs — so the current labeling (CCS and CHAdeMO) may not make sense. To that end, Electrify America will keep the CHAdeMo for low-level (up to 50kW charging), but use new labels above that: Ultra-Fast (up to 150 kW and Hyper-Fast (up to 350kW), not unlike mid-grade and premium gas options. It also shows one, two or three lightning bolts for charging levels, the type of plug, and CHAdeMO or CCS labeling up top.

https://www.engadget.com/electrify-america-10000-chargers-us-canada-by-2026-140040719.html

Posted by BeauHD on Tuesday September 27, 2022 07:02PM

The U.S. Transportation Department on Tuesday said it approved electric vehicle charging station plans for all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico covering roughly 75,000 miles of highways. CNBC reports:

Earlier this year, the Biden administration allocated $5 billion to states to fund EV chargers over five years along interstate highways as part of the bipartisan infrastructure package. Under the plan, entitled the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, states provided their EV infrastructure deployment proposals to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. States are now approved to construct a network of EV charging stations along designated alternative fuel corridors on the national highway system and have access to more than $1.5 billion to help build the chargers.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/22/09/27/2134231/all-50-states-get-green-light-to-build-ev-charging-stations

The government is immediately making $1.5 billion available to fund charging stations along highways.

Kris Holt - September 27, 2022 2:01 PM

A critical element of the transition to electric vehicles is ensuring that the charging infrastructure is up to scratch. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law earmarked $5 billion in funding over five years to help states install chargers along highways, and that process just took an important step forward. The Department of Transportation has approved EV charging plans for all 50 states, as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico. The proposals cover 75,000 miles of highways, as Reuters notes.

As a result of the DOT rubberstamping the plans, the Biden administration has unlocked over $1.5 billion in funding for states' EV charger projects. The funds will cover up to 80 percent of EV charger installation costs, with states and private entities covering the remainder. Earlier this month, the DOT said it approved plans from 35 states, but approvals were required for all of them before it could start offering the funding.

https://www.engadget.com/transportation-department-state-ev-charging-plan-approvals-180158524.html

Imagine: no more time lost queueing for an EV charging point and no more cables.

Charles Earley - 11 October 2022

In the years that EVs have been around, numerous advancements and innovations have been made. However, one of the most exciting innovations has finally arrived: wireless EV charging.

As wireless EV charging technology becomes more advanced and widely available, pulling into a station to charge your EV has the potential to become a thing of the past.

https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-wireless-ev-charging/

Colorado electric vehicle driver Alan O’Hashi was ‘rudely awakened’ by his car’s slow charging infrastructure

Kristen Altus - November 4, 2022 2:36pm EDT

After Colorado resident Alan O’Hashi purchased his all-electric Nissan Leaf – and became a first-time electric vehicle (EV) owner – he thought he was ready to embark on the first leg of a 2,600-mile road trip across Wyoming.

But the eager traveler was faced with a harsh truth after a 178-mile route took 15 hours to complete, when normally it would clock in at two-and-a-half hours.

“I was rudely awakened when I determined that the charging wasn't as rapid as some people would lead you to believe, likely the dealers,” O’Hashi said in an interview on “Varney & Co.” Friday, “and I think people like myself, we go into it a bit blindly.”

https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/first-time-ev-owner-shares-cautionary-tale-15-hours-drive-178-miles

What did we learn from the IoT days? Apparently nothing.

Brandon Vigliarolo - Tue 15 Nov 2022 21:30 UTC

If you've noticed car charging stations showing up in your area, congratulations! You're part of a growing network of systems so poorly secured they could one day be used to destabilize entire electrical grids, and which contain enough security issues to be problematic today.

That's what scientists at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico have concluded after four years of looking at demonstrated exploits and publicly-disclosed vulnerabilities in electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), as well as doing their own tests on 10 types of EV chargers with colleagues from Idaho National Lab.

“Can the grid be affected by electric vehicle charging equipment? Absolutely,” said Sandia's Brian Wright, a cybersecurity expert who worked on the project. “It is within the realm of what bad guys could and would do in the next 10 to 15 years. That's why we need to get ahead of the curve in solving these issues,” Wright said.

https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/15/ev_charging_infrastructure_sandia/

EV charging doesn't have to be a time-consuming chore.

Alex Ramos - 22 November 2022

Range anxiety is quickly becoming a thing of the past when it comes to electric vehicles. The biggest criticisms EVs faced were insufficient range and slow charging.

The issue of range is long gone, and charging stations are popping up all over the place. The only remaining problem, how long they take to charge, is also slowly becoming a non-issue. The latest EVs boast lightning-fast charge times, and charging stations are also improving infrastructure to accommodate faster chargers.

https://www.makeuseof.com/fastest-charging-evs/

Charging an EV takes longer than filling up with gas, no doubt about it. But how long does it take to charge an EV?

Katie Rees - 2 December 2022

Electric cars are a cleaner alternative to fuel-powered vehicles, but unlike the latter, the former needs to be charged for use. So, how long do electric cars take to charge, and can you speed up this process?

https://www.makeuseof.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-charge-an-electric-car/

Is it cheaper to charge an EV than fill up a gas tank?

Katie Rees - 12 December 2022

Many hail electric cars for being a more environmentally friendly version of traditional vehicles, but they can be pricey to buy, which puts many off. So, can you save some cash over time by using electricity over fuel? How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

https://www.makeuseof.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-charge-an-electric-car/

Posted by BeauHD on Wednesday February 15, 2023 05:25PM

Tesla will open part of its U.S. charging network to electric vehicles (EVs) made by rivals as part of a $7.5 billion federal program to expand the use of EVs to cut carbon emissions, the Biden administration said on Wednesday. Reuters reports:

Such a move could help turn Tesla into the universal “filling station” of the EV era - and risk eroding a competitive edge for vehicles made by the company, which has exclusive access to the biggest network of high-speed Superchargers in the United States. By late 2024, Tesla will open 3,500 new and existing Superchargers along highway corridors to non-Tesla customers, the Biden administration said. It will also offer 4,000 slower chargers at locations like hotels and restaurants.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/23/02/15/2231239/tesla-to-open-us-charging-network-to-rivals-in-75-billion-federal-program

So Tesla's gonna open up its proprietary tech?

Katyanna Quach - Thu 16 Feb 2023 02:35 UTC

The Biden-Harris Administration announced rules on Wednesday requiring the American automotive industry to build interoperable electric vehicle chargers that must be manufactured within the country – using US-sourced materials – by 2024.

The policy is part of President Biden's goal to create a network of 500,000 chargers along the nation's highways to encourage automakers and consumers to adopt EVs. The US government is hoping that at least 50 per cent of new car sales will be EVs by 2030.

“These steps will help the United States meet president Biden's ambitious goals to confront the climate crisis,” the administration declared in a statement. “The path to net-zero emissions by 2050 is creating good-paying manufacturing and installation jobs on the way.”

Under Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, tens of billions of dollars have been set aside to support zero-emission transportation – including the development of EV chargers and the sourcing of materials and components for electric batteries.

https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/16/electric_vehicle_chargers/

Posted by BeauHD on Tuesday December 05, 2023 04:50PM

Press2ToContinue shares a report from Politico:

Congress at the urging of the Biden administration agreed in 2021 to spend $7.5 billion to build tens of thousands of electric vehicle chargers across the country, aiming to appease anxious drivers while tackling climate change. Two years later, the program has yet to install a single charger. States and the charger industry blame the delays mostly on the labyrinth of new contracting and performance requirements they have to navigate to receive federal funds. While federal officials have authorized more than $2 billion of the funds to be sent to states, fewer than half of states have even started to take bids from contractors to build the chargers – let alone begin construction. […]

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/23/12/06/0022203/congress-spent-billions-on-ev-chargers-but-not-one-has-come-online

Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday March 30, 2024 07:34AM

In November of 2021 America passed a “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” which included $7.5 billion for up to 20,000 EV charging spots, or around 5,000 stations, notes the Washington Post (citing an analysis from the EV policy analyst group Atlas Public Policy).

And new stations are now already open in Hawaii, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, “and under construction in four other states. Twelve additional states have awarded contracts for constructing the charging stations.” A White House spokesperson said America should reach its goal of 500,000 charging stations by 2026.

So why is it that right now — more than two years after the bill's passage — why does the Federal Highway System say the program has so far only delivered seven open charging stations with a total of 38 charging spots?

Nick Nigro, founder of Atlas Public Policy, said that some of the delays are to be expected. “State transportation agencies are the recipients of the money,” he said. “Nearly all of them had no experience deploying electric vehicle charging stations before this law was enacted.” Nigro says that the process — states have to submit plans to the Biden administration for approval, solicit bids on the work, and then award funds — has taken much of the first two years since the funding was approved. “I expect it to go much faster in 2024,” he added.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/24/03/30/0235209/are-state-governments-slowing-the-build-out-of-americas-ev-charging-stations

Posted by EditorDavid on Sunday May 26, 2024 08:04PM

This week the Washington Post noted that just last year nearly 1.2 million more electric vehicles were sold in America, “accounting for over 7 percent of total new car sales and a new national record.” But “data show that EV sales are far outpacing growth in the U.S. charging network… In 2016, there were seven electric cars for each public charging point; today, there's more than 20 electric cars per charger.”

The article points out that 80% of America's EV's are just charging at home, according to the U.S. Energy Department. (Which seems to leave one public charger for every four EVs that don't charge at home.) And the article notes several other important caveats:

Experts say that there is no “magic number” for the best ratio of EVs on the road to public chargers. “It absolutely depends on the local landscape,” said Peter Slowik, U.S. passenger vehicles lead for the International Council on Clean Transportation. Globally, there is about 1 public charger for every 11 EVs, according to the International Energy Agency. But in countries where there are more single-family homes and garages, the ratio could be lower….

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/24/05/27/0043256/america-has-one-public-charger-for-every-20-electric-cars

David Shepardson - Updated Wed, Jun 5, 2024, 12:26 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Just seven electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations have begun operating with funding from a $5-billion U.S. government program created in 2021, marking “pathetic” progress, a Democratic senator said on Wednesday.

Automakers and others say drastically expanding EV-charging stations is crucial to the wide deployment of electric vehicles, which are part of the Biden Administration's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The seven EV-charging stations deployed to date under a 2021 U.S. program consist of a few dozen total charging ports, said Shailen Bhatt, who heads the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), at a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee hearing.

“That is pathetic. We're now three years into this … That is a vast administrative failure,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “Something is terribly wrong and it needs to be fixed.”

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/democrat-calls-only-7-ev-182511859.html

Posted by BeauHD on Wednesday August 31, 2022 03:40PM

New submitter xwin shares a report from WTVO:

With California's power grid under strain due to extreme heat and high demand, the utility grid operator is asking residents to avoid charging their electric vehicles. This comes days after the state announced a plan to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. The California Independent System Operator is asking residents for “voluntary energy conservation” over the Labor Day weekend.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/22/08/31/2133248/california-asks-residents-not-to-charge-electric-vehicles

Khaleda Rahman - 8/31/22 at 7:33 AM EDT

Californians may need to take measures to conserve energy, including by avoiding charging electric vehicles, to prevent strain to the state's power grid over the Labor Day weekend, officials said—a week after state regulators voted on a plan to ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars.

The new policy, approved by the California Air Resources Board, will require all new cars sold in California to be free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 as part of an effort to fight climate change.

But with a heat wave forecast for the coming days, California's grid operator on Tuesday warned that the excessive heat would stress the energy grid and conservation may be needed over the holiday weekend to avert power outages.

The California Independent System Operator said it issued an order restricting maintenance operations from August 31 through September 6 to ensure that all generators and transmission lines are in service.

https://www.newsweek.com/californians-told-not-charge-electric-cars-gas-car-sales-ban-1738398

Russ Mitchell, Staff Writer - Jan. 24, 2024 3 AM PT

Doug McCune of Oakland was set to buy an electric car, a Mustang Mach-E. The paperwork was complete; he only needed to sign. Still, he’d heard bad things about the EV public charging system, and felt nervous.

He borrowed a Mach-E from Ford, tried a few charging stations, then changed his mind.

“I couldn’t count on finding a charger that’s functional or that doesn’t have a line of cars waiting because only one of four chargers is working,” McCune said. “If I was comfortable with the charger situation, I would have bought the Mach-E.” He chose a Volvo plug-in hybrid instead.

He’s far from the only one worried about the dependability of the state’s charging system. Ask around and many EV owners will agree, public chargers have a bad reputation. Those operated by companies including ChargePoint, Electrify America, Blink and EVgo don’t work 20% to 30% of the time, according to studies from UC Berkeley and data firm J.D. Power.

How did the state-subsidized public charger system end up so problematic? California’s policies are at least partly to blame. The state chose not to require that charger companies meet performance standards as it doled out $1 billion in subsidies, grants and other assistance to charger companies, with billions more on the way.

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-01-24/california-ev-charging-stations-broken

Coils in the asphalt charge EVs the same way the dock on your bedside table wirelessly charges your phone.

Andrew Liszewski - 14 June 2022 10:45AM

As prices drop and availability increases, some of the last road blocks to mass adoption of electric vehicles is range anxiety and charging times. But a prototype test track in Italy solves both of those issues by borrowing the same technology that makes it easy to charge your smartphone without wires.

Although the earliest EVs were often recommended for shorter daily commutes or city driving because of their limited range, there are now many options promising well over 300 to 400 miles of travel before the vehicle’s batteries need a charge. But what still complicates a long road trip in an EV is that even the fastest charging stations require at least half an hour to replenish rechargeable batteries, and usually much longer than that depending on the range of the vehicle. Compare that to filling up a tank with gasoline, which takes just a couple of minutes, and it makes sense why some drivers are still hesitant to go electric.

https://gizmodo.com/wireless-charging-road-electric-cars-street-stellantis-1849058448

Posted by EditorDavid on Sunday May 07, 2023 12:34PM

A Norwegian company named ENRX “wants to inductively charge electric vehicles with 200 kW while driving on a section of highway in Florida,” according to the “electric mobility industry” news site electrive.com.

“A one-mile section of a four-lane highway near Orlando is to be electrified.”

ENRX has teamed up with the Central Florida Expressway Authority and the Aspire Engineering Research Center for an initiative to build a one-mile (1.6-kilometre) section on a four-lane highway near Orlando that will inductively charge the batteries of moving electric vehicles at 200 kW.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/23/05/07/1810216/florida-evs-may-be-charged-inductively-by-one-mile-of-highway

Fred Lambert - Sep 22 2023 3:37 pm PT

There’s a lesson to take from China’s abandoned electric cars that are going viral right now, and it’s not that EVs won’t work.

Over the last month or so, you might have seen many videos and articles about “thousands of abandoned electric vehicles in China.”

EV naysayers have used those stories to argue that electric vehicles will fail. However, that’s not really the lesson to take away from this unfortunate situation.

First off, it’s true that there are thousands of electric vehicles abandoned in fields around cities in China – possibly tens of thousands. However, almost all of them are electric vehicles that were part of car-sharing or ride-hailing services that have failed in the country.

https://electrek.co/2023/09/22/lesson-take-china-abandoned-electric-cars/

Expertise in batteries and a vast domestic market give Chinese firms an edge

Jan 11th 2024 (SHANGHAI)

IT TAKES THE ET5, an electric saloon from NIO, a Chinese carmaker founded in 2014, a mere four seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100kph. That is more or less the same as the Porsche Carrera, a German petrol-powered sportscar beloved by adrenalin junkies. Chinese electric vehicles (evs) are setting new standards for speed—in terms both of how fast they go and of how fast they are spreading around the globe. Already China’s streets are clogged with them. And if Chinese manufacturers have their way, America’s and Europe’s soon will be, too. An industry used to a sedate cycle of marginal improvements is being upended at “China speed”, says Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen’s boss in the country.

In 2023, Chinese industry groups claim, China overtook Japan to become the world’s biggest exporter of cars, in part because of surging sales of EVs. In the final quarter of 2023, BYD, a Chinese firm, surpassed Tesla as the world’s biggest manufacturer of purely battery-powered vehicles, selling 526,000 of them to the American firm’s 484,000. As the shift away from the internal-combustion engine (ice) gathers pace, established carmakers are beginning to worry that Chinese upstarts might run them off the road.

The anxiety is well-founded. Western firms’ expertise making ices counts for little in the electrical age. What is more, the Chinese government has hugely subsidised the ev industry. China dominates the manufacture of electric cars’ most critical component, batteries. And China’s vast domestic market allows local firms to benefit from economies of scale.

https://www.economist.com/briefing/2024/01/11/western-firms-are-quaking-as-chinas-electric-car-industry-speeds-up

Published on July 7, 2020 by Charlotte Argue.

Compare the average battery degradation for different vehicle makes and model years.

How long does an electric car battery last? Use the free EV Battery Degradation Tool to compare the average battery degradation over time for different vehicle makes and model years. Geotab developed the tool based on an analysis of 6,300 fleet and consumer electric vehicles. Read on to learn about EV battery health and get key takeaways on real-world battery performance.

https://www.geotab.com/blog/ev-battery-health/

By Emma Woollacott, Technology of Business reporter - 26 April 2021

He's talking about the market for electric cars in Europe.

By 2030, the EU hopes, there will be 30 million electric cars on European roads.

“It's something that's never really been done before at that rate of growth for a completely new product,” says Dr Anderson, who is also the co-director of the Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements and Critical Materials.

While electric vehicles (EVs) may be carbon neutral during their working lifetime, he's concerned about what happens when they run out of road - in particular what happens to the batteries.

“In 10 to 15 years when there are large numbers coming to the end of their life, it's going to be very important that we have a recycling industry,” he points out.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56574779

By Ian Morse - May. 20, 2021 , 12:44 PM

The battery pack of a Tesla Model S is a feat of intricate engineering. Thousands of cylindrical cells with components sourced from around the world transform lithium and electrons into enough energy to propel the car hundreds of kilometers, again and again, without tailpipe emissions. But when the battery comes to the end of its life, its green benefits fade. If it ends up in a landfill, its cells can release problematic toxins, including heavy metals. And recycling the battery can be a hazardous business, warns materials scientist Dana Thompson of the University of Leicester. Cut too deep into a Tesla cell, or in the wrong place, and it can short-circuit, combust, and release toxic fumes.

That’s just one of the many problems confronting researchers, including Thompson, who are trying to tackle an emerging problem: how to recycle the millions of electric vehicle (EV) batteries that manufacturers expect to produce over the next few decades. Current EV batteries “are really not designed to be recycled,” says Thompson, a research fellow at the Faraday Institution, a research center focused on battery issues in the United Kingdom.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/05/millions-electric-cars-are-coming-what-happens-all-dead-batteries

As researchers consider materials for solid-state batteries, they also may want to consider how those materials could impact large-scale manufacturing.

Nancy W. Stauffer | MIT Energy Initiative - August 16, 2021

The urgent need to cut carbon emissions is prompting a rapid move toward electrified mobility and expanded deployment of solar and wind on the electric grid. If those trends escalate as expected, the need for better methods of storing electrical energy will intensify.

“We need all the strategies we can get to address the threat of climate change,” says Elsa Olivetti PhD ’07, the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering. “Obviously, developing technologies for grid-based storage at a large scale is critical. But for mobile applications — in particular, transportation — much research is focusing on adapting today’s lithium-ion battery to make versions that are safer, smaller, and can store more energy for their size and weight.”

https://news.mit.edu/2021/designing-better-batteries-electric-vehicles-0816

Johnna Crider - April 20, 2021

Andy Slye put together a neat comparison: Tesla vs. Gas: the true charging cost after 75,000 miles. One of the main reasons Andy bought an EV was so he’d never have to gas up again, and since owning his Tesla Model 3, he hasn’t been to a gas station in three years. “I gave up gas stations and replaced them with charging stations,” Andy said in his video and then pointed out that charging is one of the main reasons people are hesitant to buy an EV.

He shared a survey from Auto List that showed that two out of the top 4 reasons that people don’t buy an EV have to do with charging the car. This inspired Andy to create a video sharing his experience charging his car for the past three years. Andy hopes that his video will help allay the fears of those still doubting. Andy explained that this totaled up to 75,000 miles, and he compared what he paid to what that would cost in a gas car.

“Keep in mind that the cost of electricity and gas depends on the geographic location,” he said. Andy, who is located in Kentucky, noted that these numbers reflect his area and will be different depending on where you live. However, it’s generally less expensive to charge a Tesla than it is to fill a gas tank. Here in Louisiana, I’ve even seen friends charge their batteries at a Supercharger for way, way less than you would spend filling up the gas tank.

https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/20/tesla-vs-gas-cars-the-true-charging-cost-after-75000-miles/

They seem like a perfect match, but can you really use solar to power your EV?

Katie Rees - 7 May 2022

These days, there is an ever-growing interest in renewable energy sources, from individuals and companies alike. One such renewable source, from our sun, could actually charge your electric car for you. These are called solar car battery chargers. But can these devices really keep your car charged up, or are they more of a gimmick?

https://www.makeuseof.com/do-car-solar-battery-chargers-work/

With millions of electric vehicles set to hit the road, scientists are seeking better battery recycling methods

A shredded electric vehicle battery can yield recyclable metals, but it is often cheaper for batterymakers to use new materials.Argonne National Laboratory

20 May 2021 - ByIan Morse

The battery pack of a Tesla Model S is a feat of intricate engineering. Thousands of cylindrical cells with components sourced from around the world transform lithium and electrons into enough energy to propel the car hundreds of kilometers, again and again, without tailpipe emissions. But when the battery comes to the end of its life, its green benefits fade. If it ends up in a landfill, its cells can release problematic toxins, including heavy metals. And recycling the battery can be a hazardous business, warns materials scientist Dana Thompson of the University of Leicester. Cut too deep into a Tesla cell, or in the wrong place, and it can short-circuit, combust, and release toxic fumes.

That's just one of the many problems confronting researchers, including Thompson, who are trying to tackle an emerging problem: how to recycle the millions of electric vehicle (EV) batteries that manufacturers expect to produce over the next few decades. Current EV batteries “are really not designed to be recycled,” says Thompson, a research fellow at the Faraday Institution, a research center focused on battery issues in the United Kingdom.

https://www.science.org/content/article/millions-electric-cars-are-coming-what-happens-all-dead-batteries

Enovix also demonstrated its US-made silicon anode lithium-ion batteries can charge 0% to 80% in five minutes.

June 13, 2022 - Ryan Kennedy

Enovix, based in Fremont, California, announced that it demonstrated in electric vehicle (EV) battery cells the ability to charge from 0% to 80% state-of-charge in as little as 5.2 minutes and to achieve a greater than 98% charge capacity in under 10 minutes. The cells also surpassed 1,000 cycles while retaining 93% of their capacity.

The achievement shattered the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) goal of achieving 80% charge in 15 minutes.

Other goals for USABC at the cell level include a usable energy density of 550 Wh/L, a survival temperature range of -40 to +66 degrees C, and a cost of $75/kWh at an annual output volume of 250,000 units. A full set of USABC targets can be found here.

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/06/13/electric-vehicle-battery-capable-of-98-charge-in-less-than-ten-minutes/

Silicon-anode power units could come to market soon, accelerating adoption of electric vehicles

Brandon Vigliarolo - Tue 14 Jun 2022 16:30 UTC

A new type of silicon-anode lithium-ion battery could be the solution the EV market is waiting for as it can allegedly charge from empty to full in less than 10 minutes.

Designed and built by California-based Enovix, the battery also maintains 93 percent of its capacity past 1,000 charges and was minimally affected by six months of operation at elevated temperatures, the company claims. These are both key parts of the US Advanced Battery Consortium's (USABC) high-performance EV battery goals.

Per the USABC [PDF], a battery that can reach 80 percent charge in 15 minutes and handle at least 1,000 charging cycles can be called “advanced,” and by that standard Enovix has accomplished goals that USABC considered mid- to long-term.

https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/14/silicon_anode_ev_battery/

Jaclyn Trop - 9:00 AM PDT June 26, 2022

An older, cheaper and safer battery technology already dominating China’s electric vehicle industry is now poised to reshape battery manufacturing worldwide and boost EV sales in the United States — if the global lithium supply remains stable.

A slew of patents for lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistries due to expire in 2022 could shift the face of battery production in the U.S. and Europe.

China has owned the market for nearly a decade due to an agreement with patent holders — a consortium of universities in the U.S. and Canada — that let Chinese manufacturers use them to supply local markets. Meanwhile, manufacturers outside China have focused on developing other lithium-ion chemistries to power their EVs because their higher energy density translates into longer range on the road.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/26/why-lfp-batteries-are-poised-to-bring-down-entry-level-ev-prices/

An electric vehicle's battery must be warrantied for 8 years or 100,000 miles.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 7/11/2022, 10:19 AM

It's often said that the easiest way to get people to buy an electric vehicle is to let them test-drive one. But here in the US, EVs only accounted for 3 percent of the 15 million new vehicles sold in 2021. That means there are an awful lot of misconceptions out there when it comes to these newfangled machines.

The top concern is probably range anxiety, a fear that is usually dispelled as someone gets used to waking up to a full battery every morning. I won't dwell on that today, but the next-most common point of confusion about EVs has to be the traction battery's longevity, or potential lack thereof.

It's an understandable concern; many of us are used to using consumer electronic devices powered by rechargable batteries that develop what's known as “memory.” The effect is caused by repeatedly charging a cell before it has been fully depleted, resulting in the cell “forgetting” that it can deplete itself further. The lithium-ion cells used by EVs aren't really affected by the memory effect, but they can degrade storage capacity if subjected to too many fast charges or if their thermal management isn't taken seriously.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/07/heres-one-way-we-know-that-an-evs-battery-will-last-the-cars-lifetime/

EV batteries shouldn't be a mystery, especially as more EVs come onto the road and ICEs are phased out.

Alex Ramos - 25 August 2022

EVs are selling like hotcakes, but the technology powering them is often misunderstood. Electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries to power the electric motors that have made EVs famous for instant torque and brutal acceleration.

These batteries use materials that need to be mined, and the batteries themselves must be maintained properly to avoid permanent damage to the unit. Many people also wonder whether EV batteries are recyclable and where they end up once they're no longer in use. Check out this article for five facts you need to know about EV batteries!

https://www.makeuseof.com/things-you-should-know-about-ev-batteries/

More EVs means more batteries. But what happens when those EV batteries reach the end of their working life?

Alex Ramos - 1 September 2022

EVs are taking over the global car market, and there's no apparent end to the spike in electric vehicle sales. While it's great that so many EVs are being sold and that emissions levels will likely drop, recycling EV batteries is still a concern.The amount of batteries that will begin to phase out of their useful life expectancy will increase massively in the coming years, and finding useful (and safe!) ways to use their remains is vital. Read on to find out how battery recycling works and what's in store for the future.

https://www.makeuseof.com/how-does-ev-battery-recycling-work/

Dave McQuilling - Sept. 1, 2022 3:53 pm EDT

Electric vehicles have advanced rapidly over the last few years. They're becoming a common sight on the streets, Tesla and Lucid's best efforts are rivaling those of traditional luxury car brands, and high gas prices are making large numbers of Americans think about going electric. But electric car manufacturers aren't resting on their laurels, things may be about to get even better. Several companies, including Tesla and their Chinese rivals BTD, are looking into an innovative battery design that could increase an electric vehicle's performance and range. Batteries are vital to electric vehicles. They're also a point of concern skeptics like to bring up regularly.

Replacing the batteries in something like a Tesla Model X is likely to be a big, expensive job. Luckily, the chances are they won't have to be replaced that often, if at all. EV rental company Tesloop claims that one of its cars has clocked 330,000 miles and that vehicle's batteries have only degraded by 23%. This is in line with Elon Musk's claims that Tesla's batteries should last between 300,000 and 500,000 miles or 1,500 charging cycles. The average vehicle owner puts around 12,000 miles a year on their car. If you were to encounter a vehicle on the second-hand market that had done 300,000 miles — it would probably have more issues than battery degradation. So in the year 2022, EV batteries are good. But can they get even better?

https://www.slashgear.com/990963/the-new-ev-battery-that-could-change-the-industry

Charlotte Hamilton, Conamix - October 2, 2022 11:20 AM

California is enacting “a sweeping plan to restrict and ultimately ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars,” which Governor Gavin Newsom described as the “beginning of the end for the internal combustion engine.” Where California leads, many others follow. However, at present, there is no technology available that will allow for the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) at a price point that the average consumer can afford. While policies like California’s aim to accelerate the global transition toward electric vehicles, there are crucial missing pieces to this plan.

https://venturebeat.com/datadecisionmakers/all-evs-by-2035-not-without-new-battery-tech/

An EV battery that runs on air? Sign us up, please.

Charles Earley - 13 October 2022

Electric vehicles play a vital role in achieving a net-zero future. However, range anxiety and safety questions over lithium-ion batteries are roadblocks impeding EV market growth. Lithium-ion batteries have been leading the EV revolution, but it's still limited to a 400-mile range, which can pose problems on long road trips.

The hassle of finding a charging station in remote areas and waiting until your EV is charged can put off potential buyers. Other perceived lithium battery issues, such as battery degradation, leakages, and overcharging, don't help its case much either. With all the other battery technology out there, Al-air batteries are getting so much attention because they do not have to be recharged.

The concept of these batteries dates back to the 1960s. But since its electrolyte was dangerously caustic and poisonous, it couldn't be used commercially. Trevor Jackson, an engineering officer in the UK's Royal Navy, started experimenting with the battery in 2001, making it safe to use. Al-air batteries are made of an aluminum alloy plate as the anode, an air cathode, a non-toxic electrolyte like water, and a silver catalyst.

https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-aluminum-air-battery/

Spurred by federal mandates and incentives, U.S. manufacturers are pushing forward with developing new battery technologies for electric vehicles. The holy grail is a battery that is safer, costs less, provides longer driving range, and doesn’t use imported “conflict” minerals.

Judith Lewis Mernit - December 20, 2022

Sixteen years have passed since engineer Martin Eberhard unveiled his futuristic custom-designed sports car before a crowd of investors, journalists, and potential buyers in a Santa Monica Airport hangar. The Roadster, as it was called, contained a lot of innovative engineering, but nothing about it mattered more than the 6,831 lithium-ion battery cells packed into its rear compartment, which gave the vehicle its range and speed. “The battery system is the secret,” Eberhard explained at the time, “behind our four-second 0-60 mph acceleration.”

Eberhard and his collaborator, Marc Tarpenning, named their new electric vehicle company after Nikola Tesla, and two years later, in 2008, the Tesla became the first commercially produced, lithium-ion-powered vehicle to hit the auto market. Lithium-ion, or li-ion, was a big step up from the nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries that had been powering most hybrid and electric vehicles, including the wildly popular Prius. Lithium’s better energy density means a li-ion battery can store a third more watt-hours per kilogram than Ni-MH batteries can, which means they last longer and weigh less.

https://e360.yale.edu/features/alternate-ev-battery-technology

Texas Instruments' new battery monitor is designed to benefit LFP batteries.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 1/4/2023, 7:30 AM

One of the more exciting developments to come to electric vehicles over the past few years has been the development of lithium-iron phosphate cells as an alternative to more traditional lithium-ion chemistries that use minerals like nickel, manganese, and cobalt. Now, a new battery management system, or BMS, could mean much more accurate range predictions for EVs with these batteries.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/01/a-new-battery-management-system-could-boost-ev-range-by-20-percent/

The battery pack is an EV's most expensive single component, so when the time comes for it to be replaced, you will need to pay thousands

James Dolan - 11 June 2023

When most people talk about why electric vehicles are good, they often mention range, efficiency, charging infrastructure, and environmental benefits. However, one important aspect that most people overlook is how much it will cost to replace the EV battery and how long it will last until it needs to be changed.

In fact, an EV's battery is its single most expensive component. Let’s dig deeper to analyze the cost.

https://www.makeuseof.com/ev-battery-replacement-cost/

Toyota has just made a dazzling leap back into EVs after a long absence and it just became a threat to all other EVmakers out there.

James O'Neil - 22 July 2023

Perhaps we’ve gotten too accustomed to the tech-bro approach to corporate PR, in which companies loudly trumpet every half-baked idea that may or may not fizzle into anticlimactic failure. Today, a company waiting until a concept is totally finished and ready for deployment seems almost quaint. While Toyota has hitherto seemed staunchly opposed to EVs, its research and development department has been developing what may be the biggest breakthrough in EV batteries away from the prying eyes of publicists: a solid-state car battery with a range of 745 miles and a charge time of ten minutes. (For those who prefer metric, that’s a range of 1200 kilometers and a charge time of six hectoseconds.)

For the first time in the history of mass-production EVs, a battery-powered car will have the same driving range as one with an engine and a gas tank. Anyone listening carefully will hear EV-driving dads breathe a sigh of relief as they contemplate how they won’t need to pull over and pry their children away from convenience store candy shelves every two hours while they wait for the car to charge. The great family road trip hasn’t gotten any more bearable in the post-engine era, but may get a bit more cheapskate-friendly.

https://www.topspeed.com/toyota-745-mile-solid-state-battery/

01 NOV 2023 - Goldman Sachs

It wasn’t long ago rising demand and component shortages sparked concern that “greenflation” would drive up prices for the batteries used in electric vehicles. That’s subsiding as prices cool for battery metals, which could help make EVs more competitive with traditional cars more quickly.

Goldman Sachs Research now expects battery prices to fall to $99 per kilowatt hour (kWh) of storage capacity by 2025 — a 40% decrease from 2022 (the previous forecast was for a 33% decline). Our analysts estimate that almost half of the decline will come from declining prices of EV raw materials such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Battery pack prices are now expected to fall by an average of 11% per year from 2023 to 2030, writes Nikhil Bhandari, co-head of Goldman Sachs Research’s Asia-Pacific Natural Resources and Clean Energy Research, in the team’s report.

As battery prices fall, Goldman Sachs Research estimates the EV market could achieve cost parity, without subsidies, with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles around the middle of this decade on a total-cost-of-ownership basis.

https://www.goldmansachs.com/intelligence/pages/electric-vehicle-battery-prices-falling.html

Fred Lambert - Nov 20 2023 8:38 am PT

Electric car battery prices are starting to go back down after a temporary rise along with inflation. And it looks like they are going back down faster than expected, according to new data from Goldman Sachs.

The EV revolution was enabled by lithium battery prices dropping significantly over two decades, but the trend was broken over the last few years, with prices actually going up amid a spike in the cost of some metals and general inflation.

Now, we are going back to a price drop and potentially a faster one.

https://electrek.co/2023/11/20/electric-car-battery-prices-are-going-back-down-faster/

The new batteries can charge at 10C, with fast chargers peaking at 1,000 kW.

Jonathan M. Gitlin – Mar 18, 2025 7:12 AM

Time and again, studies and surveys identify the time it takes to charge an electric vehicle as one of the most significant hurdles affecting EV adoption. For generations, drivers have gotten used to being able to refuel their cars in five minutes using energy-dense liquid hydrocarbons, and plenty of them balk at the idea of having to drive a car where recharging a battery takes half an hour or more. Now it seems that may not be an excuse for much longer—in China, at least.

New tech has been developed by BYD, the Chinese automaker that recently eclipsed Tesla as the leading EV maker by volume. Called the “super e-platform,” the new batteries are able to charge at 10C, and the new DC chargers peak at 1,000 kW. BYD says this will add 249 miles (400 km) of range in just five minutes. By contrast, most current Tesla Superchargers peak at 250 kW, with Electrify America's chargers maxing out at 350 kW, and even the powerful new chargers used by Formula E can only reach 600 kW.

“Our goal is to make EV charging as fast as refueling a gasoline car,” said BYD chairperson Wang Chuanfu.

BYD says it plans to build more than 4,000 of the new megawatt chargers, and customers will be able to make use of them with a pair of new EVs (the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV), which will go on sale shortly. But only in China.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/03/new-ev-battery-boasts-5-min-charge-time-adding-250-miles-of-range/

The state might require every electric vehicle to be capable of powering your home—and the grid—through a process called bi-directional charging.

Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Grist - 4 May 2023

This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.

Chris Bowe was preparing for his daughter’s ninth birthday party in February when a drenching storm knocked out power to his neighborhood in Hayward, California. Minutes before the party began, Bowe connected his electric Ford F-150 Lightning to a panel in his garage, sending electricity from the pickup truck to his house.

“It was dark out, parents were dropping off their kids, and our house was lit up,” said Bowe, who works as a FedEx manager in the Bay Area. “They were like, ‘How do you have power?’”

Bowe kept the lights on using bidirectional charging, which allows electric vehicles to not only receive electricity but discharge it as well. It’s a feature that a proposed California bill would require that all EVs sold in the state offer by model year 2027.

Making an EV bidirectional capable is a matter of equipping it with the right software and hardware, and some, like the Nissan Leaf, Kia EV 6, and the Lightning, already provide the feature. Other manufacturers have been slower to roll out the technology. Tesla, for example, says its cars will be bidirectional by 2025.

https://gizmodo.com/electric-vehicles-could-become-a-blackout-solution-in-c-1850403099

Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday June 01, 2024 01:34PM

Long-time Slashdot reader schwit1 shares the announcement of a new report from the International Energy Forum:

The seemingly universal presumption persists that the copper needed for the green transition will somehow be available… This paper addresses this issue by projecting copper supply and demand from 2018 to 2050 and placing both in the historical context of copper mine output…

Just to meet business-as-usual trends, 115% more copper must be mined in the next 30 years than has been mined historically until now. To electrify the global vehicle fleet requires bringing into production 55% more new mines than would otherwise be needed… Our main purpose… is to communicate the magnitude of the copper mining challenge to the broader public that is less familiar with upstream resource issues.

“On the other hand, hybrid electric vehicle manufacture would require negligible extra copper mining…” the report points out.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/24/06/01/1932203/vehicle-electrification-could-require-55-more-copper-mines-in-the-next-30-years

Tim De Chant - 12:20 PM PDT•June 6, 2022

Solid Power’s new pilot line is a groundbreaking moment in the march toward solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. But don’t count on a revolution in lithium-ion battery chemistry happening on the line itself. That’s by design.

The new facility, unlike the company’s previous pre-pilot line, will be “highly inflexible,” said Doug Campbell, Solid Power’s CEO. In the battery world, an inflexible pilot line is a good thing — it means that the company is honing its production skills with an eye toward commercialization. Mass production, after all, relies on repeatedly performing a sequence of refined steps over and over again without any surprises.

The pilot line will make cells between 60 and 100 Ah (amp hours) depending on the customer’s requirements — “a fairly large cell,” Campbell said. “That’s all it’s going to produce, and it will produce them in relative high-throughput — high-throughput enough that we can get multiple OEM partners through a full design freeze, otherwise known as a conclusion of a B-sample validation phase.”

https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/06/us-battery-production-enters-new-era-as-solid-powers-pilot-production-line-debuts/

Solid Power wants to give cells to BMW and Ford for testing later this year.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 6/6/2022, 6:28 AM

Solid Power, a Colorado-based battery developer, moved one step closer to producing solid-state batteries for electric vehicles on Monday. The company has completed an automated “EV cell pilot line” with the capacity to make around 15,000 cells per year, which will be used first by Solid Power and then by its OEM partners for testing.

“The installation of this EV cell pilot line will allow us to produce EV-scale cells suitable for initiating the formal automotive qualification process. Over the coming quarters, we will work to bring the EV cell pilot line up to its full operational capability and look forward to delivering EV-scale all-solid-state cells to our partners later this year,” said Solid Power CEO Doug Campbell.

Solid-state batteries differ from the lithium-ion batteries currently used in EVs in that they replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid layer between the anode and cathode. It's an attractive technology for multiple reasons: Solid-state cells should have a higher energy density, they should be able to charge more quickly, and they should be safer, as they're nonflammable (which should further reduce the pack density and weight, as it will need less-robust protection).

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/06/solid-state-batteries-for-evs-move-a-step-closer-to-production/

Posted by BeauHD on Wednesday June 08, 2022 03:30PM

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica:

Solid Power, a Colorado-based battery developer, moved one step closer to producing solid-state batteries for electric vehicles on Monday. The company has completed an automated “EV cell pilot line” with the capacity to make around 15,000 cells per year, which will be used first by Solid Power and then by its OEM partners for testing. “The installation of this EV cell pilot line will allow us to produce EV-scale cells suitable for initiating the formal automotive qualification process. Over the coming quarters, we will work to bring the EV cell pilot line up to its full operational capability and look forward to delivering EV-scale all-solid-state cells to our partners later this year,” said Solid Power CEO Doug Campbell.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/22/06/08/2053234/solid-state-batteries-for-evs-move-a-step-closer-to-production

Factorial Energy's semi-solid-state cells could be in EVs in a few years

Lawrence Ulrich - 12 March 2025

Solid-state batteries remain several years from auto showrooms. The auto industry is pursuing the batteries, which replace liquid electrolytes with a solid ceramic or glass material, because of their potential to carry decisively more energy, charge faster and improve vehicle safety by reducing flammability over other types of lithium-ion batteries.

Now, Mercedes-Benz and solid-state battery manufacturer Factorial Energy have reached a hopeful halfway point, strapping semi-solid-state cells to the German automaker’s flagship electric sedan.

Mercedes announced it has begun road-testing the prototype cells in its EQS full-size sedan. Woburn, Massachusetts-based Factorial Energy supplies the pouch-format cells, and co-developed the pack with Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, the automaker’s Formula 1 racing subsidiary in Brixworth, U.K.

Mercedes says the battery delivers a real-world driving range beyond 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), about 25 percent farther than a conventional lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery of the same size and mass. For comparison, the 2025 EQS 450+ is currently rated for 800 kilometers (497 miles) of range on Europe’s optimistic Worldwide Harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) cycle, but just 627 kilometers (390 miles) on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s more realistic estimates.

https://spectrum.ieee.org/mercedes-benz

Originally regarded as stopgap solutions, hybrids are in it for the long haul.

Mari Novik, Arjun Neil Alim, Kana Inagaki, and Peter Campbell, FT - 5/10/2024, 8:57 AM

Global carmakers are stepping up their investment in hybrid technologies as consumers’ growing wariness over fully electric vehicles forces the industry to rapidly shift gear, according to top executives.

A combination of still high interest rates and concern over inadequate charging infrastructure has chilled buyers’ enthusiasm for fully electric cars, prompting a rebound in sales of hybrid vehicles that most of the industry had long regarded as nothing more than a stop-gap.

Tapping the resurgent demand for hybrids was a priority, executives from General Motors, Nissan, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Ford told the Financial Times’ Future of the Car Summit this week.

“We have to invest heavily in the future of plug-in hybrids,” said Mark Reuss, the president of General Motors. “We have to be agile. We have a global tool chest of technical things that we can deploy fairly rapidly.”

The view was echoed by José Muñoz, global president of Hyundai, which is now considering manufacturing hybrids at its new $7.6 billion plant in Georgia given more drivers are balking over buying fully electric vehicles.

“If you asked me six months ago, definitely a year ago, I would have told you… fully electric,” said Muñoz. “A lot of things have happened between then and now. Electric is still the future. But now we are seeing a longer transition.”

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/05/automakers-hedge-their-bets-with-plug-in-hybrids-as-ev-sales-slow/

Bradley Berman - Jun. 12th 2020 5:16 pm ET

My friend Jim loves his 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric. It only has 87 miles of range, but Jim estimates that about 70% of his family’s annual vehicle miles are on the B-Class Electric. That’s why it was so disappointing when last year the motor started whining so severely that the car was nearly undrivable. To add insult to injury, the local Mercedes-Benz dealership quoted $18,000 to get it fixed by replacing the entire powertrain.

I felt somewhat responsible for Jim’s predicament. Jim spent his 30-year career at the Environmental Protection Agency before retiring a couple of years ago. I helped Jim think through his decision about getting an EV in late 2014. There weren’t many choices at the time. Ultimately, he was swayed by the style and comfort of the B-Class powered by a Tesla powertrain.

https://electrek.co/2020/06/12/when-an-out-of-warranty-ev-fails-who-you-gonna-call/

EVs can still receive roadside assistance, but you must consider your options carefully.

Fawad Ali - 11 October 2022

Roadside assistance services help thousands of drivers annually with various mechanical and towing solutions. But most of these services are designed for conventional combustion engine vehicles.

So, what happens when your electric vehicle (EV) breaks down?

Fortunately, some solutions do exist. Although they are not as convenient as assistance services for normal vehicles, their features and plans are tailored to the needs of stranded EV drivers.

https://www.makeuseof.com/roadside-assistance-services-for-evs/

It's another thing to consider when buying an EV, but don't let it put you off.

Elliot Nesbo - 13 October 2022

One problem that many first-time EV owners run into is maintenance. While EVs are very similar to traditional vehicles, they also have significant differences, and one example of this is the type of tires they require.

So do electric vehicles require special tires, and if so, how are they different?

https://www.makeuseof.com/do-electric-cars-need-different-tires/

EVs require trained professionals to service. But there are still parts you can change yourself at home; no professional experience required.

Amir M. Bohlooli - 15 November 2022

If you're not an expert EV mechanic, electric vehicles might seem as if they're too sophisticated to be meddled with, and well, the truth is they are. Although electric cars have fewer parts than a typical internal combustion engine (or ICE) car, they are designed so that only trained mechanics know how to repair or fully service them.

Despite that, there are still some parts of an EV you can maintain yourself at home. These EV parts are also found in ordinary combustion engine cars, so servicing them is no different, even if installed on electric cars. So, these are the EV car parts you can change in your garage.

https://www.makeuseof.com/ev-parts-you-can-service-at-home/

Electric vehicles are known to require less maintenance than internal combustion engine cars, but some parts are similar and still require servicing.

Alex Ramos - 28 April 2023

Electric vehicles are known to require less routine maintenance compared to internal combustion vehicles. With EVs, you can say goodbye to regular engine oil changes, but what about differential oil? Do electric vehicles even have differentials, and do they require oil changes?

Let's dive into these questions and find the answers!

https://www.makeuseof.com/electric-vehicles-differential-oil-change/

Even though electric vehicles have a completely different means of propulsion compared to ICE cars, EVs require much of the same maintenance.

UmmeAimon Shabbir - 11 July 2023

One of the appealing aspects of owning an electric vehicle (EV) is the reduced maintenance cost compared to conventional gasoline-powered cars. EV owners can bypass expenses associated with dedicated and difficult engine tuning, oil changes, transmission servicing, and belt replacements.

However, electric cars are not entirely maintenance-free and require periodic checks and services to perform optimally. Understanding the unique maintenance needs of electric cars is crucial for maximizing their performance and longevity.

In this blog post, we will delve into the essential maintenance tasks that should be prioritized to keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently.

https://www.makeuseof.com/electric-car-maintenance/

Legacy auto makers struggle with new tech, and upstarts suffer teething problems with first cars

Richard Speed - Fri 1 Dec 2023 19:02 UTC

Consumer Reports' latest car reliability survey suggests electric vehicles (EVs) are causing owners more problems than their hybrid or conventional counterparts.

According to the survey, based on owner responses on more than 330,000 vehicles, EVs from the past three model years suffered a whopping 79 percent more problems than conventional cars.

The most common problems reported had to do with the electric drive motors and batteries. Charging was also an issue, although more so with the vehicle than home or public chargers.

Tesla, a brand most associated with EVs, fell in the middle of the pack. 2020's Model Y joined the Model 3 in earning a Consumer Reports Recommended status. Tesla has considerably more experience building EVs than other manufacturers in the report, and owners have reported fewer issues with its electronics and drivetrain this time round.

That said, the company still has work to do when it comes to putting the vehicles together. Steven Elek, leader of the auto data analytics program at Consumer Reports, said: “Tesla powertrains are now pretty solid for the most part, but Tesla owners report a lot of build quality issues including irregular paint, broken trim, door handles that don't work, and trunks that don't close. All of these pull down the brand's reliability score.”

https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/01/electric_vehicle_reliability/

Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday December 02, 2023 03:34PM

Consumer Reports awarded a “recommended” rating to Tesla's Modey Y this year, “with owners reporting fewer issues with its suspension, in-car electronics and general build quality than in previous years”. Tesla's Model 3 also earned a “recommended” rating.

“Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y are now the sweet spot in the automotive industry when it comes to building electric cars,” says Jake Fisher, the senior director of auto testing for Consumer Reports. “While Tesla is still a relatively new car company, it has more experience producing EVs than any other automaker.”

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/23/12/02/2236216/ev-owners-report-far-more-problems-than-conventional-car-owners-says-consumer-reports

It looks like a case of adoption leapfrogging education.

Caleb Jacobs - Mar 27, 2024 2:26 PM EDT

In case you missed it, there's been a lot of discourse surrounding electric vehicles and tires lately. Not only do EVs wear through their rubber and roads quicker because of their relatively extreme heft, but the instant power they put down also accelerates the process. Owners are shocked to learn this firsthand because, as J.D. Power reports, their daily drivers chew through tires like they're going out of style. And not only that, but many were supposedly never told this would happen.

This points to a few failings in the car buying process. Since J.D. Power's studies show that EV owners typically anticipate similar tire wear as internal combustion car owners, it shows that adoption has leapfrogged education. This can be true for both buyers and sellers at new car dealerships. For instance, all the automaker buzz about EVs tends to blind customers to the potential downsides, and salespeople may be unaware or unwilling to share what they know about differences with electric car ownership.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/nobody-told-ev-owners-how-quickly-they-burn-through-tires

The pricey vehicle is an around-town cruising machine.

Roberto Baldwin - December 28th, 2021

The desire to make or at least market an electric vehicle as a performance vehicle is strong. The benefit of EV torque makes anything with some wheels and a little bit of power an off-the-line joy. But sometimes the performance vehicle in a lineup is best used at lower speeds. For example, the Arcimoto Roadster.

The companion vehicle to the Arcimoto FUV, the Roadster is the more performance-oriented vehicle from the automotive startup. Instead of a car sitting position, you ride it like a motorcycle. In our tests we realized, that likes its roofed sibling, the Roadster is more fun around town taking care of errands and turning heads.

https://www.engadget.com/acrimoto-three-wheeled-ev-roadster-200034411.html

All I am saying is give three wheels a chance.

Harri Weber - 9:46 AM PST February 11, 2023

“That doesn’t look safe.”

The statement would follow me for days. Every time I mentioned I was test driving Arcimoto’s Fun Utility Vehicle — an open air, all-electric three-wheeler — a friend or co-worker would pipe up to state, what to them, seemed like the obvious.

After all, most cars have four wheels, not three. They also tend to have doors and airbags too.

Arcimoto’s FUV (or Fooove as I chose to pronounce it) has something most of those fully enclosed sedans and subcompacts do not: It’s a thrill to drive without feeling like a deathtrap.

Legally speaking, the FUV is a motorcycle. I think of it more as an electric go-kart that hits 75 mph on the highway. If you’re like my colleague Brian Heater, however, your first thought might be “Flintmobile.” Another colleague wondered if it was more like an ATV. While yet another friend later said the FUV reminded them of a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/11/the-arcimoto-fun-utility-vehicle-is-a-blast-that-might-not-last/

The automaker plans to go fully electric by 2027

Igor Bonifacic - November 5th, 2021

Italian automaker Alfa Romeo is developing an all-electric version of its four-door Giulia sedan. In an interview with Auto Express, Jean-Philippe Imparato, the company’s CEO, said Alfa Romeo would debut the EV sometime in 2024. Additionally, he revealed the car will be built on the STLA Large platform from its parent company Stellantis.

The conglomerate announced the architecture this past summer. At the time, it said it would allow its cars to go from zero to 60 in as little as two seconds, and allow for a potential range of up to 500 miles. Dodge, one of the other automakers under the Stellantis umbrella, will use the platform in the all-electric muscle car it plans to debut in 2024. Alfa Romeo could also offer a Quadrifoglio variant of the Giulia, but Imparato said that will depend on whether it can get the kind of performance that’s associated with the moniker.

https://www.engadget.com/alfa-romeo-giulia-bev-2024-224716158.html

Jason Torchinsky - 23 December 2020 4:30PM

I should preface all of this with the usual reminders about how ours is an uncertain world, full of chaos and entropy, and I have exactly no idea if this thing will ever become real. I’m pretty certain everything about this car only exists in the form of renderings and optimistically-guessed numbers. What I can say for sure, though, is that I really like the general design, so let’s just work with that.

The car (well, the idea of the car) is the Alpha Motors Ace, a charming and compact fastback with a plucky, slightly retro look.

https://jalopnik.com/the-alpha-ace-is-a-new-ev-concept-with-a-fantastic-look-1845936881

Dec 04, 2020 at 9:51am ET - Gustavo Henrique Ruffo

Prices can be above $46,900 with options and reservations require a $100 refundable deposit.

The wait to see the resurrected Aptera is over. Apart from checking what the 1,000-mile range EV looks like, prospective customers will also be able to reserve one at the company website after paying a $100 refundable deposit. If you are curious about the prices, they start at $25,900 and go up to $46,900 if you add no options to it.

https://insideevs.com/news/458422/aptera-reveals-1000-mile-ev-pre-orders/

Aptera’s new solar electric vehicle is shaking up the EV industry in a big way, but how?

Charles Earley - 25 August 2022

Every auto manufacturer strives to be innovative. The constant development of new technologies pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. In the past five years, major advancements have been made in electric vehicle efficiency. An efficient EV can go a lot further on a single charge than a normal electric vehicle with the same size battery, saving time and money.

American EV maker Aptera has been pursuing electric vehicle efficiency since 2006. In 2019, founders Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro began working on the first solar electric believed to be the most innovative EV yet.

https://www.makeuseof.com/why-apteras-solar-electric-vehicle-sev-is-so-innovative/

Kirsten Korosec / 2:59 PM PST•December 9, 2020

Arrival, the U.K. electric vehicle startup that plans to become a publicly traded company through a merger with special purpose acquisition company CIIG Merger Corp., has picked Charlotte for its North American headquarters.

The company said it will add 150 new employees to support the headquarters and invest about $3 million in office space in the South End neighborhood of Charlotte. Arrival said it will be hiring for a variety of corporate positions, including human resources, marketing, finance and administrative professionals.

Arrival was a secretive electric vehicle startup for nearly five years until January when it announced a $110 million investment from Hyundai and Kia. Over the past year, the company has shared more of its plans and partners, all culminating in its announcement last month to merge with a SPAC, or shell company, to become a publicly traded company. The SPAC merger is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/09/uk-electric-vehicle-startup-arrival-picks-charlotte-for-its-north-american-headquarters/

Aria Alamalhodaei / 7:55 AM PDT•August 12, 2021

Executives from London-based commercial EV company Arrival told investors Thursday the company was on track to meet planned product launch dates, but much will depend on whether or not the company can fulfill orders and turn letters of intent into sales — especially a crucial van order with UPS, which could bring in upwards of $1 billion in revenue.

The company’s non-binding orders and letters of intent total 59,000 vehicles — a number that includes an agreement with UPS to purchase up to 10,000 vehicles across the U.S. and Europe, and an option in the agreement for an additional 10,000 vehicles. If the logistics giant opts to purchase all 20,000 vehicles, the deal could be worth over $1 billion, the company told investors last year.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/12/arrival-is-on-track-to-begin-production-of-its-electric-bus-and-van-next-year/

Jaclyn Trop - 7:14 AM PST November 8, 2022

Troubled electric vehicle startup Arrival, which is restructuring its business to develop commercial vans for the U.S. instead of Europe, said Tuesday it doesn’t expect to earn revenue until after 2023.

The British company, which has struggled to raise funds to produce EVs using its modular microfactory strategy, will halt operations at its Bicester, U.K., factory to focus on opening a facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. Arrival initially planned to build the van at scale in Europe through a now-shelved $150 million at-the-market offering.

Several factors make the U.S. a more attractive climate, said CFO John Wozniak, including a larger market, higher margins and new incentives of up to $40,000 for battery-electric commercial vans under the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Limited resources and the attractive opportunities in the U.S. market makes developing U.S. products the best use of capital,” Wozniak told analysts during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. “But this means revenue and margins will come later, not in 2023.”

https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/08/electric-commercial-van-maker-arrival-delays-revenue-until-2024/

Kirsten Korosec - 25 March 2024

Bankrupt commercial EV startup Arrival has sold some of its assets, including advanced manufacturing equipment to Canoo, another struggling startup trying to build and sell electric vehicles.

The acquisition, which was touted as a cost-saving measure that will reduce capital expenditures by 20%, comes as Canoo struggles to move beyond prototypes towards commercial production. Canoo said the purchased assets, packed into more than 20 container ships, will be sent to the company’s facility in Oklahoma. The company previously acquired all of the new, and “like-new” assets owned by Arrival’s business unit in the United States. It’s unclear if Canoo also acquired any of Arrival’s IP.

Canoo did not respond to a request for comment.

Arrival announced in January that it planned to sell off assets and IP from its UK division after filing for bankruptcy protection in the UK. Arrival, once valued at more than $13 billion and backed by Hyundai and UPS, claimed it was going to revolutionize the way electric vehicles by building them in compact “microfactories” that could be located in city centers.

https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/25/bankrupt-ev-startup-arrival-sold-its-assets-to-canoo/

Paul Ridden - November 12, 2021

Riding on the back of a US$400 million investment from Luxembourg's GEM Global Yield, startup Biliti Electric is looking to bring the GMW Taskman three-wheeled electric delivery vehicle to the US, debuting at AutoMobility LA on November 17.

Gayam Motor Works was set up by brothers Raja and Rahul Gayam, and launched its first electric three wheeler in 2015. The company has since sold its electric vehicles in more than 15 countries, most recently opening offices in Portugal to launch the GMW Taskman last-mile delivery EV there. And this is the model that Biliti Electric –run by Rahul – is bringing to the US market.

The single-seater electric rickshaw can be had in a number of configurations, with the one making its debut in Los Angeles reportedly able to get up to 30 mph (48 km/h), carry a payload of 1,500 lb (680 kg), and can roll for 110 miles (177 km) for every 3.5-hour charge of its Li-ion batteries. But Biliti also adds modular battery swapping into the mix, with GMW's SmartSwapp system, which promises to get drivers on the road again in under a minute – assuming that there's a SmartSwapp station handy.

A companion mobile app running on the driver's smartphone will help locate the nearest battery-swap hub. There are no doors here, which will doubtless benefit couriers, though the driver is afforded some protection from the elements courtesy of a full windshield and solid roof. The vehicle rolls on scooter-sized wheels, with the front fender also home to a headlight that follows the road in the turns.

https://newatlas.com/urban-transport/biliti-electric-gmw-taskman/

Jill Shen - May 29, 2024

BYD on Tuesday unveiled its latest-generation plug-in hybrid platform DM-i 5.0. The company said the technology gives its newest models a driving range of 2,100 kilometers (1,305 miles) at a starting price of only RMB 99,800 ($13,772), an advance that will likely accelerate China’s transition from fossil fuels to green vehicles.

https://technode.com/2024/05/29/byd-achieves-1300-mile-driving-range-with-latest-phevs/

Peter Johnson - Mar 6 2024 7:35 am PT

BYD’s cheapest electric car just got even more affordable. The EV maker is fueling its price war with gas-powered cars with the launch of its newest “mini Lamborghini” electric car. The BYD Seagull EV Honor Edition starts at $9,700 (69,800 yuan), 5% cheaper than the previous model.

https://electrek.co/2024/03/06/byd-launches-cheaper-seagull-ev-9700-price/

Zachary Visconti - March 24, 2024

China is the world’s largest automotive market, and understandably so, an important one for electric vehicle (EV) makers like Tesla. Although competitive Chinese automaker BYD isn’t yet slated to enter the U.S. market, the company’s recent release of a city EV with a price tag under $10,000 has some worried for when it and other low-cost companies do.

BYD launched its Seagull, a small hatchback EV with a price tag starting at 69,800 yuan (~$9,773), at the Shanghai Auto Show last year. While BYD said just last month that it has no plans to enter the U.S. auto market anytime soon, some U.S. automotive groups have expressed concerns over the Seagull EV and other affordable mass-market EVs eventually coming to North America.

At the same time, many automakers including Tesla are racing to build their next-generation, mass-market EVs, set to first be produced in Texas as soon as 2025, then later at an upcoming factory in Mexico, and eventually at a yet-unannounced third location. However Tesla and other automakers have generally been considered to be targeting a $25,000 price tag, and while affordable, it’s still far greater than $10,000.

https://www.teslarati.com/10000-byd-seagull-us-auto/

https://electrek.co/2019/12/17/canoo-eschews-traditional-vehicle-constraints-ditches-ev-battery-enclosure/

Kirsten Korosec / 6:35 AM PST•December 17, 2020

Canoo, the Los Angeles-based electric vehicle startup that will make its debut later this month on the Nasdaq as a publicly traded company, revealed Thursday an all-electric multi-purpose delivery vehicle.

The electric delivery vehicle, which includes a high roof height, storage lockers and a software as a service platform to manage fleets, is targeted at both small businesses and large last-mile delivery companies such as package delivery fleets, retailers, major corporations and logistics companies.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/17/canoo-targets-last-mile-delivery-with-its-second-electric-vehicle/

Fold-out worktables, modular storage, and an extending bed all feature.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 3/11/2021, 9:40 AM

If you follow the electric vehicle world closely, you may have heard of Canoo. Started by some former Faraday Future people, the company broke cover in 2019 with a subscription-only electric van that was built on a low-profile skateboard chassis. In December of 2020, after some management changes, Canoo showed off a delivery van using that same platform and then went public via a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company. Later today, the company was going to reveal a third EV—the adorable pickup you see in the gallery above—but someone leaked the images on Reddit a day early.

The pickup certainly looks striking. If it bears resemblance to anything else on the road, it's probably one of those Japanese microvans, although the Canoo pickup is a regular-sized vehicle at 184-inches (4,677 mm) long and 78-inches (1,980 mm) wide.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/03/this-futuristic-electric-truck-from-canoo-goes-on-sale-in-2023/

Aria Alamalhodaei / 7:38 AM PST•March 11, 2021

Los-Angeles based startup Canoo revealed its newest — and now third — electric vehicle, a pickup truck that does away with the sharp corners and huge engine housing of both comparable EV trucks and legacy diesel pickups and is aimed at both commercial customers and weekend warrior-minded consumers.

The truck, which Canoo says is the most space efficient on the market, was leaked Wednesday evening in advance of an official reveal set for Thursday afternoon.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/11/canoo-combines-work-and-play-in-its-new-electric-pickup-truck/

Jaclyn Trop - 11:49 AM PST•December 1, 2022

Canoo, the beleaguered EV startup-turned-SPAC, has delivered its first “Light Tactical Vehicle” to the U.S. Army for a demonstration project aimed at showing how its modular electric platform can support mission-specific configurations for less money.

Canoo has landed orders for its customizable platforms with a variety of customers, ranging from NASA to Walmart. The U.S. Army, which aims to incorporate scalable vehicles into its operations, awarded the company a contract in July to supply a vehicle for analysis and demonstration.

The contract itself is just $67,500 — not exactly a material amount. If Canoo’s vehicle meets or exceeds the Army’s expectation, it could lead to a much more fruitful relationship down the road. It’s this possibility that appears to have assuaged investors. Canoo shares popped more than 4% following the announcement.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/01/canoo-sends-its-ev-pickup-truck-to-the-us-army-for-testing/

Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday January 25, 2025 10:34AM

2021: “Automotive Startup Canoo Debuts a Snub-Nosed Electric Pickup” 2025: Canoo “Goes Belly-Up After Moving to Texas”

“Its production volumes paled in comparison to Canoo's rate of cash burn, which was substantial, with net losses in 2023 totaling just over $300 million…” reports AutoWeek. “It was able to deliver small batches of vans to a few customers, but apparently remained distant from anything approaching volume production.”

“Back in 2020, electric vehicle maker Canoo snagged a $2.4 billion valuation before it had shipped a single car,” remembers SFGate. “Now, just months after yanking its headquarters from Los Angeles County to Texas, the company has gone belly-up.”

In its four-year span as a public company, Canoo battled investor lawsuits, Securities and Exchange Commission charges, executive departures and a mixed reception of its cars. Auto tech blogger Steven Symes recently likened Canoo's cargo-style van to an “eraser on wheels.”

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/01/25/0345200/ev-maker-canoo-goes-belly-up-after-moving-to-texas

Stephen Council, Tech Reporter - Jan 24, 2025

Back in 2020, electric vehicle maker Canoo snagged a $2.4 billion valuation before it had shipped a single car. Now, just months after yanking its headquarters from Los Angeles County to Texas, the company has gone belly-up.

Canoo and its subsidiaries filed for liquidation bankruptcy on Jan. 17, marking the end of the road for a company that couldn’t justify its glut of early funding. In its four-year span as a public company, Canoo battled investor lawsuits, Securities and Exchange Commission charges, executive departures and a mixed reception of its cars. Auto tech blogger Steven Symes recently likened Canoo’s cargo-style van to an “eraser on wheels.”

A Canoo news release announcing the bankruptcy said the company will “cease operations effective immediately.” It noted that executives had been unable to win a loan from the Department of Energy — which Rivian did secure — or gain financing from “foreign sources of capital.” The company’s assets will now be sold off, the release said, with proceeds going to creditors.

https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/canoo-ev-maker-goes-bankrupt-20054204.php

David Tracy - 5 June 2020 4:08PM

The cheapest new electric car in the world, the $1,200 Changli Nemeca from Chinese e-commerce website Alibaba, is a truly amazing machine. This became clear as soon as my coworker Jason Torchinsky unboxed the car and saw its unexpected features, and even more so when he drove it. But it wasn’t until he and I looked at the tech under the skin that we truly realized the Changli’s unbelievable value. Here’s a look at the engineering behind the incredible 1.1 horsepower Changli.

Jason had a vision last year: He was going to buy the cheapest electric car in the world from Alibaba, ship it across the ocean to the U.S., deal with all the customs paperwork, truck the car down to his place in North Carolina, and show the world what the wackiest form of EV ownership looks like. Amazingly, despite uncertainty within our company, and despite the coronavirus and related economic turmoil, he pulled it off. The car that began life in Jiangsu, China now sits in Jason’s backyard in Chapel Hill, where the machine immediately blew us away with its impressive features.

https://jalopnik.com/the-impressive-engineering-behind-the-cheapest-electric-1843922452

Mikey G - Oct. 18th 2021 12:41 pm PT

Electrek was invited to try out the cheapest EV in the world, which is manufactured by Changli. It was hilarious, cute, “cheap” in every way, and a wild exercise for the imagination. Even though it doesn’t retain its famed price tag, the US importers have put great effort into adding back value where the shipping costs took it away.

Changli manufactures these vehicles in China to be used as taxis and personal transportation. Vehicles like these are used by urban-dwelling workers to get around a dense landscape. Working people in China are attracted to them for one principle reason: These cars are cheap.

We’re talking lead-acid batteries, the cheapest plastic dashboard you’ve ever seen, stickers instead of fog lights, and steering that I would describe as having a learning curve.

It goes without saying that you won’t find a tech-heavy interior with a software-driven experience like we’ve seen from forward-thinking automakers. The Changlis are brass tacks basic, which has a certain appeal.

https://electrek.co/2021/10/18/cheapest-ev-in-usa/

There are new front seats, and the 2022 Bolt EV starts at $31,995.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 2/14/2021, 1:00 PM

On Sunday afternoon, and after a delay of several months caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Chevrolet revealed its newly facelifted Bolt EV. On the outside, the electric hatchback has a bold, new face. On the inside, there are new displays and new front seats. Chevy has even cut the price by more than $5,000, which means the 2022 Bolt EV starts at $31,995 even though GM has sold too many EVs to qualify for the IRS 30D tax credit.

The automaker also debuted a second Bolt derivative, called the Bolt EUV. In effect, this is a stretched Bolt—it's almost 3 inches (75mm) longer in the wheelbase, and more than 6 inches (161mm) longer overall. However, the Bolt EUV is also ever so slightly wider and taller, growing 0.2 inches (5mm) in both dimensions. Consequently, the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV share no body panels, even though they're recognizable as a family.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/02/chevrolet-gives-the-bolt-ev-a-facelift-a-stretch-and-a-price-cut/

The larger Bolt EUV will be Chevy’s first with 'Super Cruise' hands-free steering.

Andrew Tarantola - February 14th, 2021

In this article: news, Bolt EV, gear, Electric Vehicle, Bolt EUV, automotive, EV, Bolt, Chevrolet

We were smitten with the Chevy Bolt EV when it debuted back in 2017, perhaps ignoring the battery recall. But the 2022 model year’s redesign isn’t just an update to the Bolt EV’s features and capabilities, it includes a new, compact SUV-sized variant as well, dubbed the Bolt EUV.

On the outside, it’s not hard to tell the EV and EUV apart. The EUV is half a foot longer, for one thing. And as the company points out, the two vehicles don’t share any exterior body panels. Under the hood, however, the Bolt EV and EUV are functionally similar. They use the same 65W, 288-cell lithium ion battery pack, and they are propelled using the same single front 200 HP (150kW), 266 lb-ft of torque, electric motor. The Bolt EV is a bit more efficient than the larger EUV, boasting 259 miles of range – a nine-mile advantage over the EUV’s 250.

https://www.engadget.com/chevys-2022-bolt-ev-redesign-comes-with-an-entirely-new-model-210004893.html

Posted by BeauHD on Saturday September 18, 2021 03:00AM General Motors urged some owners of Chevrolet Bolt electric cars to park and store the vehicles at least 50 feet away from other cars to reduce the risk that a spontaneous fire could spread. Bloomberg reports:

The Detroit automaker has recalled all of the roughly 142,000 Bolts sold since 2016 because the battery can catch on fire. GM has taken a $1.8 billion charge so far for the cost of the recall and has been buying cars back from some disgruntled owners. The company expects to recoup much of the cost from battery supplier LG Corp. The new advice is likely to rankle owners who are already limiting their use of the Bolt to avoid overheating the battery and risking a fire. The parking guidance – recommending a distance of 50 feet from other parked cars – is especially difficult for owners in urban areas. GM has confirmed 10 fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the agency has found 13 fires in Bolts, but the company hasn't confirmed the additional three are part of the current recall issue.

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/21/09/17/2226252/gm-tells-bolt-owners-to-park-50-feet-away-from-other-cars

For most cars, the process should take two days.

Igor Bonifacic - October 11th, 2021

Following multiple production delays, the latest Chevy Bolt EV recall is officially underway. Per Ars Technica, GM has started replacing the battery packs of affected vehicles. The automaker is reaching out to Bolt owners with cars manufactured “during specific build timeframes” first. Once you get your EV to a Chevy dealership, the replacement process should take approximately two days. Each new pack comes with an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty.

Replacing the battery of every Chevy Bolt manufactured between 2017 and 2019 is expected to cost GM more than $1.8 billion. The fault that led to the fires that necessitated the recall stemmed from a pair of related issues. A problem with the original manufacturing process could cause the battery anodes in affected cars to tear and cathode-anode separators to fold. If both defects came up in the same battery, it would have a higher chance of catching fire.

https://www.engadget.com/gm-chevy-bolt-ev-recall-battery-replacement-155343570.html

Jon Fingas 6:52 AM PDT•October 12, 2021

GM may be replacing tens of thousands of Bolt EV batteries, but it won’t have to pick up the tab for most of them. The automaker has reached a deal that will have LG pay nearly all the costs associated with recalling the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV, with GM estimating that LG will “offset” $1.9 billion of the $2 billion in expenses. GM will recognize that financial recovery in its third-quarter earnings.

The brand said it was happy to land an agreement with a “valued and respected supplier.” With that said, there’s little doubt GM is using the deal to redirect blame — it stressed that the recall was prompted by “manufacturing defects” in LG batteries. LG spotted anode and cathode-anode separator issues that, combined, could increase the chance of battery fires.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/12/lg-will-cover-nearly-the-entire-cost-of-gms-chevy-bolt-ev-recall/

Rebecca Bellan - 12:27 PM PST December 2, 2021

General Motors will continue to delay production of new Chevrolet Bolt EVs at the company’s Orion assembly plant in Michigan “through the week of Jan. 24, 2022,” the company said in a statement emailed to TechCrunch on Thursday. The automaker said it would instead “continue to focus on battery module replacements” for tens of thousands of Chevy Bolts that were recalled earlier this year due to potential fire risks within the batteries.

The plant has been shut down since August 23, and GM has repeatedly pushed back production dates for new Bolt vehicles.

In October, GM started shipping dealers replacement battery modules for the recalled Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles. A GM spokesperson said the company was not publicly disclosing any specifics on the number of modules that had been shipped or replaced.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/02/gm-delays-production-of-new-chevy-bolt-evs-until-end-of-january/

Solid range and Supercruise make up for slow charging.

Roberto Baldwin - September 9, 2022 12:00 PM

The Chevy Bolt has had an interesting history. It beat the Model 3 to market but never came close to the sales numbers of Tesla’s offering. Then a refreshed, larger Bolt EUV arrived that had a serious issue with its LG Chem batteries that caused fires, leading to a massive recall. Long story short, it’s been a ride.

Well, the batteries have been replaced and the larger Bolt EUV is finally making its way into driveways. We took the Bolt EUV for a week-long spin and came away impressed with what Chevy is doing. The Bolt is built on an older EV architecture, meaning it can’t charge as quickly as newer electric vehicles on the road, but it comes in at a price point that makes the vehicle a compelling proposition for those that are looking for an EV that doesn’t break the bank. Watch the video below for the full story.

https://www.engadget.com/chevrolet-bolt-euv-review-video-160016098.html

The roomier version of GM's electric hatchback starts at just $27,200.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 11/28/2022, 8:19 AM

The Chevrolet Bolt doesn't get enough respect. After early experiments like the hand-built EV1 and the limited-run Spark EV, the Bolt was General Motors' first mass-produced battery electric vehicle, beating Tesla's Model 3 to the market and boasting a sub-$40,000 price tag when it launched in 2017. In 2021, the car got a (COVID-delayed) facelift, a price cut, and a second variant, called the Bolt EUV, which had a longer wheelbase and more interior room, plus the option of GM's Super Cruise hands-free driver assist.

We've finally gotten some time behind the wheel of a Bolt EUV, just in time for another price cut in June that sees the price of this is-it-a-hatchback, is-it-a-crossover start at $27,200, making it the second-cheapest EV on sale (after the $25,600 Bolt EV). And other than the fact that its fast-charging ability is not particularly fast, I'm struggling to find reasons to avoid this competent EV.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/11/the-2023-chevrolet-bolt-euv-is-an-extremely-useful-vehicle/

Seth Weintraub - Dec 9 2022 12:02 pm PT

The lowest-priced EV in the US is somehow also one of the best. Now in its sixth year, the Bolt EV is also seasoned, having worked through a battery fiasco/recall and significant lapses by GM’s decision-makers while receiving modest but significant updates.

With a clean bill of health, the Bolt is now a huge outlier in bang-for-buck. But the 2023 Bolt is also quick, fun to drive, useful, and often more so than cars twice its price. In fact, I think we should be looking to the diminutive Bolt as the future of transportation.

https://electrek.co/2022/12/09/electreks-vehicle-of-the-year-is-the-svelte-25k-chevy-bolt/

Kirsten Korosec - 25 July 2023

GM’s best-selling EV is sticking around after all.

GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra said Tuesday during the company’s quarterly earnings call that the company will produce a next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV outfitted with its new Ultium architecture that includes a new battery cell design. The decision comes just three months after Barra had announced GM would stop producing its two top-selling EVs: the Chevy Bolt and its larger sibling, the Bolt EUV, by the end of 2023. The plan was to retool its Orion Michigan factory, which currently assembles the Bolt, for electric truck production.

“Our customers love today’s Bolt. It has been delivering record sales and some of the highest customer satisfaction and loyalty scores in the industry,” Barra said during the call with analysts. “It’s also an important source of conquest sales for the company and for Chevrolet.”

https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/25/gm-isnt-going-to-kill-off-the-chevy-bolt-ev-after-all/

The company is ending production on the original model amid a shift to its Ultium battery system.

Kris Holt - July 25, 2023 10:45 AM

General Motors isn’t quite done with the Chevrolet Bolt. Back in April, it emerged the company will end production of the popular, wallet-friendly EV and EUV this year, largely because it relies on old battery cell tech and the factory where it’s made is being refitted. However, there’s some positive news for fans of the EV as GM has confirmed a new version of the Bolt is on the way.

The company hasn’t revealed many details about the new Bolt — you’ll need to wait until later this year for that. Unsurprisingly, though, the next-gen model will use GM’s Ultium battery system as well as its Ultifi software platform. The company says that, by harnessing these technologies, it will be able to bring the Bolt back to market “on an accelerated timeline,” but didn’t give an indication of when that might be.

GM made the Bolt announcement during its quarterly earnings call. The company said it saw its strongest Bolt EV and EUV sales to date in the first half of 2023. It posted quarterly revenue of $44.7 billion, up 25 percent year-over-year, but noted there was a $792 million charge related to a new partnership with LG. “The charge reflects the conscious decision GM made during the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV recall to serve customers in ways that go beyond traditional remedies,” GM said.

https://www.engadget.com/gm-says-a-next-gen-chevy-bolt-is-on-the-way-144518735.html

As one of the most important Stellantis concept cars in recent memory, let’s review why the Chrysler Airflow Concept is worth getting excited over.

John Southwell - 28 January 2022

For the past few years, it seemed that the automotive brands composing the Stellantis conglomerate were unaware of the surging public interest in electric vehicles. Instead, these marques—most notably Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram—have been partying like it’s 1969, stuffing high-horsepower V8 engines in everything from the Ram 1500 to the Dodge Charger.

The recent debut of the Chrysler Airflow Concept now suggest that Stellantis does indeed recognize the impeding EV revolution.

As one of the most important Stellantis concept cars in recent memory, let’s review why the new Airflow Concept is worth getting excited over.

https://www.makeuseof.com/chrysler-airflow-concept-cutting-edge-tech/

Matt Burns / 12:20 pm PST • February 27, 2020

The Citroën Ami is a new take on urban mobility. It’s electric, cheap and doesn’t require a license. In short, it’s less of a car and more of an electric scooter with two seats, doors and a heater. Jokes aside, the Citroën Ami could be a glimpse at the future of mobility.

The innovation isn’t in the technical aspects of the Ami. Citroën is positioning the Ami as an urban mobility solution. The size is perfect for narrow streets and the price is right to be competitive against public transport. The Ami is not classified as a motor vehicle. As such, operators do not need a license and can be as young as 14 in France and 16 in other European countries.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/27/citroen-introduces-a-two-seat-ev-that-costs-e19-99-a-month/

You don't need a license to drive the Citroën Ami.

Mariella Moon - 27 February 2020

Citroën has launched a new electric vehicle that's a tiny car and an enclosed scooter at the same time. It's called the “Ami,” a two-seater vehicle made for city transportation that's so small, it doesn't even require a license. That is, so long as you're at least 14 years old in France or 16 in other European countries. The automaker seems to have based it on the Ami One Concept it unveiled in 2019 with a few changes to its final design.

It has a 5.5kWh battery under the floor that can run for 44 miles on a single charge – you can simply plug the EV into any standard 220v outlet and wait three hours to fill its battery. You can also only drive up to 28 mph. Yes, you can't replicate Fast and Furious stunts with it, and it doesn't have a lot of range, but the Ami was designed for city driving and narrow streets anyway.

https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/27/citroen-ami/

Citroën’s ‘urban mobility object’ is classed as a light quadricyle and can be driven without a full licence

Jon Henley - Fri 11 Sep 2020 08.05 EDT / Last modified on Fri 11 Sep 2020 10.23 EDT

he vehicle is cheap and the reactions from the pavement are a bonus, from the disbelieving double-take or uncontrolled giggle to the frankly envious where-do-I-get-one-of-those (plus the odd pitying stare, but then this is Paris).

At first glance, Citroën’s new Ami, a playful polypropylene cube on wheels with an unashamedly Toytown aesthetic, seems hardly the kind of car to excite the passions of France’s drivers. But, perhaps because it is not a car, that is just what it is doing.

“We sold 500 in the first fortnight,” says Citroën’s Sylvie Krygier in the carmaker’s showroom in the 15th arrondissement. “It’s a recognition our transport habits and requirements are changing, and it’s accessible to almost everyone.”

Classed as a light quadricycle, the Ami is, Citroën says, an “urban mobility object”. All-electric, 2.4 metres long and 1.4m wide, with a top speed of 45km/h (28mph) and a range of 75km (46 miles), it can be driven in France without a full licence by anyone aged 14 or over.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/11/ami-the-tiny-cube-on-wheels-that-french-14-year-olds-can-drive

Europe's most affordable electric car gets a massive update for 2024, including bidirectional charging.

Feb 21, 2024 at 1:59am ET - Adrian Padeanu

Renault has figured out how to sell cheap EVs for a profit. Its low-cost Romanian brand Dacia has enjoyed great success with the Spring since its launch in 2022. More than 140,000 units have been sold to date. For 2024, the refreshingly basic electric hatchback is getting a substantial makeover.

Don't call it a next-generation model since it's more along the lines of a heavy facelift, with right-hand drive finally available. The exterior revisions bring the 2024 Spring in line with Dacia's latest design language seen on the new Duster SUV. There's a good amount of plastic body cladding and square wheel arches to make this simple EV look more rugged. The exterior tweaks certainly make Europe's cheapest EV more modern compared to the original version which looked like it was stuck in the 1990s (at best).

There are substantial changes inside where the 2024 Dacia Spring has an all-new dashboard. Along with a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.0-inch touchscreen, the cabin now has redesigned climate controls and a new look for the air vents. The updated steering wheel has the new DC corporate logo, and more importantly, it can now be adjusted in height. We also notice a new gear selector along with a smartphone holder behind it.

https://www.motor1.com/news/709441/2024-dacia-spring-debut/

64 horsepower, 137 miles of range, $22,000 – what more could you need?

Bradley Brownell - 21 February 2024 12:10PM

The American new car market is a mess right now. It’s obvious that automakers only care about catering to the wealthy and regular workaday cars are increasingly disappearing from the market, or are getting priced wildly out of the hands of working class folks. There are only a small handful of new cars that can be purchased for less than 20,000 greenbacks, and none of them are electric or hybrid, despite the economically-advantageous benefits to reducing fuel use and operating costs. If you’re looking for something miserly to do your daily commuting in comfort, it would be something like the new Dacia Spring EV that we absolutely won’t be getting in this country. And that’s a shame, because it would be the perfect car for many.

https://jalopnik.com/the-super-cheap-dacia-spring-is-exactly-the-kind-of-eco-1851274451

Micah Toll - Oct. 19th 2021 10:35 am PT

Toronto-based Daymak is showing off its initial prototype of the Daymak Spiritus today. The three-wheeled electric vehicle is one of the first models in the company’s premium Avvenire EV line.

The Avvenire line includes a wide range of EVs, from smaller electric bicycles to this three-wheeled EV and even a flying vehicle. It’s a huge leap forward for a company mostly associated with a vast selection of electric bicycles and scooters.

The Daymak Spiritus prototype unveiled today is a light electric vehicle with a car-like look, at least from the front.

From any other angle, the three-wheeler looks rather unique. Its single rear wheel gives it a tadpole tricycle design and creates an aerodynamic shape that plays a role in the Spritus’ 180 mile (290 km) range rating. The three-wheel design also qualifies the vehicle as a motorcycle in nearly every jurisdiction, meaning it doesn’t have to conform to the same rigorous standards as passenger cars.

https://electrek.co/2021/10/19/daymak-spiritus-prototype-unveiled-as-19995-electric-car-with-180-mile-range/

The PHEV will be based on an Alfa Romeo model.

Jon Fingas - April 27th, 2022

You won't have to wait long to buy a small Dodge plug-in hybrid. As Autoblog explains, Dodge chief Tim Kuniskis revealed in a Q&A that a PHEV edition of the upcoming Hornet compact car will be revealed this summer, likely during a “Speed Week” starting August 15th. The Stellantis badge executive didn't provide other details, but plans for the regular Hornet should provide a good idea of what to expect.

No, the Hornet isn't a revival of either AMC's compact or the circa-2006 concept. Instead, it's based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale (shown above) due to reach Americans in early 2023. The Hornet will likely share both the Tonale's 1.3L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a Naples, Italy factory. The Tonale will muster 272HP in its American version, but it's not certain if the Hornet will provide similar output. The machine may be relatively inexpensive for a plug-in given its size.

https://www.engadget.com/dodge-hornet-plug-in-hybrid-release-date-164424808.html

Rebecca Bellan / 4:00 AM PDT September 20, 2021

Eli Electric Vehicles, an early-stage compact EV manufacturer, announced the start of production on its flagship Eli Zero, a micro “neighborhood electric vehicle” that is built for city commuting. The company plans to roll out small batches of the two-seater EV to distributors across 13 European countries over the next few months, with a starting price of $11,999.

Micro-electric vehicles are on the rise, with other compact quadricycles coming to market recently, including the Renault Twizy, the Citroën Ami, the tilting Triggo EV and the Squad Mobility solar-assisted car. In terms of pricing, the Eli is at the higher end of the spectrum along with the Twizy at a starting price of around $16,000. For comparison, the Ami costs around $6,000 and the Squad car costs $6,790.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/20/eli-evs-begins-production-european-rollout-of-eli-zero-a-compact-two-seater

Micah Toll - May 29 2024 5:37 am PT

Let’s just face it, America. We’ve got a weight problem. No, not that weight problem. It’s the size of the cars. The best-selling vehicles in the US are all of the biggest, heaviest, and most oversized models available. But it doesn’t have to be that way. A new crop of tiny electric cars is changing the game and offering options we’ve never had before. Err, actually, I probably shouldn’t call them “cars”.

I’m talking about Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs), the official term for what many people call Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs).

Earlier this week, Eli Electric announced that it was opening pre-orders for its Eli ZERO, an electric vehicle so small that you can fit four of them in the same parking spot used by a large SUV. In fact, the little EV is roughly the size of just two motorcycles parked side by side.

That should make sense because just in the same way motorcycles are designed with the bare necessities to carry a single passenger, LSVs are generally the same idea, but for two passengers (or occasionally four passengers).

https://electrek.co/2024/05/29/why-this-electric-car-the-size-of-two-motorcycles-should-be-on-your-list/

Rebecca Bellan / 6:58 PM PDT•May 13, 2021

Electric car startup Fisker signed an agreement with Foxconn, the Taiwanese company that assembles iPhones, to co-develop and manufacture a new electric vehicle. Production on the car, which will be sold under the Fisker brand name in North America, Europe, China and India, will begin in the U.S. by the end of 2023. Numerous details, including the type of car and the location of future manufacturing plants, have not been disclosed by the two companies.

Fisker is calling the joint program Project PEAR, which stands for Personal Electric Automotive Revolution. Fisker chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker has bragged that the PEAR vehicle will be the “next big thing in car design,” a car that’s both “emotionally desirable” and “eco-friendly.”

https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/13/fisker-and-foxconn-sign-deal-to-build-electric-vehicles/

Aria Alamalhodaei, Alex Wilhelm - 3:47 PM PDT November 3, 2021

Fisker provided an upbeat forecast on the ramp-up of its electric automaking business during Wednesday’s third-quarter earnings call, highlighting its manufacturing partnership with Foxconn, a battery supply agreement with Chinese battery giant CATL secured and its on-track production for the company’s debut Ocean SUV.

The company confirmed that it will start production of the Ocean in November 2022, in partnership with automotive contract manufacturer Magna Steyr, and will produce two vehicles a day by the first quarter of next year, CEO Henrik Fisker said during an investor call Wednesday. Deliveries are on track to begin in the U.S. and Europe in late 2022.

To meet these deadlines, Fisker is ramping up its pace of spending. While its general and administrative expenses rose a modest few million dollars to $10.3 million in the most recent quarter (up from $7.9 million in the three months concluded June 30, 2021), other expenses rose more rapidly. The critical research and development line item from Fisker — recall that the company is still getting ready to build and sell cars, so it’s in R&D mode today — grew by more than 100% from its Q2 2021 tally of $45.3 million to $99.3 million in the most recent quarter. The increase was the result of increasing the company’s workforce, and spending on prototype development, executives said.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/03/fisker-is-on-target-to-launch-the-ocean-electric-suv-in-november-2022/

The Fisker Ocean is one of the most interesting electric crossovers to debut in 2023, with its blend of style, unique features, and great specs.

Andrei Nedelea - 25 May 2023

The Fisker Ocean is an electric crossover from a new manufacturer, the brainchild of famed automotive designer Henrik Fisker. It was announced in 2020, and even though putting a car into production as a new manufacturer is one of the hardest tasks in any industry, the vehicle defied all odds as it began rolling off the assembly line in late 2022.

The production run for the first few months was very low, but in mid-May 2023, the company announced it would start ramping up production to reach an annual output of up to 40,000 vehicles by the end of the year.

Things are looking up for this fledgling automaker, which announced in late 2022 that it had exceeded 60,000 pre-orders for the Ocean—a vehicle that seems to have struck a chord with electric crossover buyers.

https://www.makeuseof.com/fisker-ocean-electric-crossover-disruptor/

It's doubling its production goal in hopes of catching up to Tesla.

Mariella Moon - November 19th, 2021

Ford has ambitions to become the biggest US-based EV manufacturer someday, and that means greatly ramping up its production. Company CEO Jim Farley has announced that the automaker is planning to produce 600,000 electric vehicles per year by the end of 2023, which will double the number of EVs it originally intended to manufacture. According to Automotive News, production will be spread across the Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning and E-Transit.

Ford's current EV lineup is wildly popular, Farley said, and the demand is “so much higher” than the company expected. The Mustang Mach-E is selling on three continents, while the Ford F-150 Lightning has been popular from the time it was announced. Ford received 100,000 reservations within three weeks after it was unveiled, and that number's now up to 160,000 — all placed with a $100 refundable deposit. Due to the high demand for the F-150, Ford previously decided to invest $250 million to boost its production, creating 450 new jobs to help it make 80,000 trucks a year. It's unclear how much that target would change now that the company is doubling its manufacturing goal.

https://www.engadget.com/ford-600000-electric-vehicles-2023-061606689.html

Jaclyn Trop - 11:44 AM PDT•June 2, 2022

Ford said that it wants to restructure its dealership model to sell its EVs online only and at a non-negotiable price to match Tesla’s profit margins.

“I feel like when that second quarter last year profit came out for Tesla and they showed like a $15,000 premium, it totally changed my world,” CEO Jim Farley said at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference on Wednesday. “It was an epiphany. It was like the angel sung, it was like, oh! my god, we can make more money on EVs than our ICE.”

Farley’s comments in a lengthy interview came one day before the automaker announced it would spend $3.7 billion to hire 6,200 union workers to staff several assembly plants in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri in a bid to sell 2 million EVs a year by 2026.

Farley said he expects massive consolidation among dealers, suppliers and automakers as the industry begins building more EVs.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/02/ford-wants-to-sell-evs-online-only-and-at-a-set-price/

The standard-range electric F-150 will start at just under $40,000 before tax credits.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 5/19/2021, 6:30 PM

On Wednesday night, the Ford Motor Company unveiled its latest pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning. The truck is the hotly anticipated battery-electric version of Ford's bestselling vehicle, and when it goes on sale in mid-2022, it will join the Mustang Mach-E and the electric Transit van as part of Ford's battery EV lineup.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden visited Ford's Rouge factory in Michigan and gave the world an impromptu demo of how quickly the F-150 Lightning can accelerate.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/05/heres-what-we-know-about-fords-electric-f-150-lightning-pickup/

The F-150 Lightning starts at under $40k for a commercial model.

Richard Lawler - May 20th, 2021

Just one year after Ford debuted its first hybrid F-150, the company is ready to show off an all-electric version of its iconic truck. The F-150 Lightning lives up to its “truck of the future” billing, as it prepares to lead a string of electric pickups and SUVs that are about to hit the streets, including Tesla's Cybertruck, the Hummer EV and others.

This dual-motor equipped truck is capable of delivering up to 563 horsepower and 775 lb.-ft. of torque, the most of any F-150 ever. It's unclear who will win a tug of war, but if anyone challenges you to a drag race, then Ford says it can manage 0 - 60 MPH in the mid four seconds range.

It's always in 4×4 mode, and while it doesn't have any crab walking capabilities, there are four drive modes available, with rated payload and towing limits of 1,800 pounds and 10,000 pounds on the extended range version. Oh, and since there's no motor up front, it has a 400-liter frunk to provide dry, lockable storage that you can open with just a keypad code. It's also uniquely equipped with an independent rear suspension, however for more information on how it will ride you should check out Autoblog.

https://www.engadget.com/f-150-lightning-electric-truck-013038952.html

Kirsten Korosec / 6:32 PM PDT•May 19, 2021

The Ford F-150, the profitable cornerstone of the U.S. automaker’s business, now has an all-electric sibling.

Ford unveiled Wednesday the F-150 Lightning, an all-electric pickup truck that is a critical piece of the company’s $22 billion investment into electrification. The vehicle is one of a trifecta of Ford EV debuts and launches in the past year. And it is possibly the most meaningful in terms of the bottom line. The Ford F-150 Lightning, which will be built at the automaker’s Rouge factory in Dearborn, Michigan, follows the introduction of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E and the E-Transit, a configurable all-electric cargo van focused on commercial customers.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/19/ford-unveils-the-f-150-lightning-its-all-electric-pickup-truck-that-will-start-under-40000/

Posted by BeauHD on Wednesday May 19, 2021 10:15PM

Ford unveiled Wednesday the F-150 Lightning, an all-electric pickup truck that is a critical piece of the company's $22 billion investment into electrification. TechCrunch reports:

Ford had a challenging gig with the F-150 Lightning. The truck would need everything that has made its gas-powered counterpart the best-selling vehicle in North America as well as new benefits that come from going electric. That means torque, performance, towing capability and the general layout has to meet the needs of its customers, many of whom use it for commercial purposes. The vehicle specs suggest that Ford has delivered on the torque and power, while keeping the same cab and bed dimensions as its gas counterpart. […] Will it convert or will the F-150 Lightning attract a whole new group of customers? It's a question that won't be answered until it comes to market in spring 2022.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/21/05/20/0510212/ford-unveils-the-f-150-lightning-its-all-electric-pickup-truck-that-will-start-under-40000

Aria Alamalhodaei - 11:16 AM PDT November 3, 2021

Ford Motor Company confirmed that reservations for the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck have surpassed 160,000, less than six months after its debut.

The U.S. automaker has been accepting $100 refundable reservations for the vehicle since its unveiling. Ford has seen a high level of consumer interest, bagging 20,000 reservations on the first day, 44,000 by the end of the second day and 120,000 by the end of June.

In a second-quarter earnings call in June, CEO Jim Farley said that nearly 75% of those customers were new to Ford.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/03/ford-f-150-lightning-electric-truck-reservations-surpass-160000/

Mustang Mach-E power in a vintage design.

Jon Fingas - November 3rd, 2021

Chevy isn't the only one electrifying vintage cars to sell you on aftermarket EV motors. Ford has introduced an F-100 Eluminator concept that upgrades the circa-1978 pickup truck with two of the company's new Eluminator electric crate motor kit. The powerplants, taken from the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition, give the F-100 a total 480HP and 634lb/ft of torque. Ford didn't discuss performance benchmarks or range, but it's safe to presume you could smoke some sports cars with that kind of power.

The truck has more customizations beyond the EV motors, including the vertical center-stack touchscreen from the Mach-E. You'll also see custom aluminum Forgeline wheels, a billet aluminum dash from JJR Fabrication and avocado-tanned leather from MDM Upholstery. This may look like a classic truck, but it's not appointed like one.

https://www.engadget.com/ford-electric-f100-eluminator-concept-truck-140543585.html

Tue, Nov 2 20214:20 PM EDT / Updated Wed, Nov 3 202110:09 AM EDT - Michael Wayland

Ford Motor unveiled Tuesday a custom truck that combines its past with its future electrification plans, including its highly anticipated F-150 Lightning pickup in 2022.

The “all-electric Ford F-100 Eluminator concept truck” features the retro-styling of a 1978 F-100 pickup with electric motors and batteries from the automaker’s 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition. Its interior controls and screens also resemble the Mach-E electric crossover.

Ford built the vehicle to showcase its new “e-crate motor” that’s now on sale online and at its dealerships. Such “crate” engines or motors are assembled by the company but are available for general purchase for building, fixing or customizing vehicles.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/02/ford-unveils-a-custom-electric-pickup-ahead-of-f-150-lightning-.html

And you could do the same. Possibly.

Mat Smith - November 4th, 2021

Both small bespoke auto customization businesses and major car manufacturers, like Chevy, are pulling out the old and putting in the new when it comes to vintage car engines. Now Ford is making a similar statement with its F-100 Eluminator concept.

It’s an upgraded 1978 pickup truck with two of the company's new Eluminator electric crate motor kits. The power plants are the same as the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition, giving the F-100 a total 480HP and 634lb/ft of torque. Ford didn't discuss performance benchmarks or range — it’s likely the car body is heavier due to the era it comes from. And yes, it’s a concept.

Ford is hoping, however, that you’d buy the $3,900 Eluminator motor for your project car. The automaker eventually hopes to supply everything you might need for an EV retrofit, including batteries. For now, however, just the engine is available, making it a high-level project that is probably beyond the abilities of most of us.

https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-ford-electrified-a-classic-truck-to-show-off-its-ev-motor-kit-113525635.html

The Standard Range models will carry a 'mere' 98 kWh battery.

Steve Dent - December 20th, 2021

n a livestream last week, Ford quietly revealed the battery capacities available on its Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup, Auto Evolution reported. To start with, the Standard Range model, with a projected 230 miles of range, will come with a 98 kWh battery pack. Meanwhile, the optional Extended Range version (300 miles targeted) will have a massive 131 kWh battery.

The Standard Range package will be the main offering on the first three of four versions: the fleet-oriented Lightning Pro, the XLT and the Lariat. The Extended Range is optional for the XLT and Lariat, and standard on the top-end Platinum model. Ford said that the “F-150 Lighting Pro model will be available with the standard-range battery to retail customers,” but it previously said that it would be available with the Extended Range option for fleet buyers.

https://www.engadget.com/ford-f-150-lightning-ev-pickup-98-kwh-131-kwh-batteries-092329022.html

Same work truck, new powerplant.

Roberto Baldwin - 28 January 2022

Ahead of being able to actually drive it, Ford offered us a chance to check out a prototype of the fleet version of the upcoming F-150 Lightning. While we don’t know what it’s like to be behind the wheel, we did have a chance to check out the truck, some of its features and experience the EV torque as it blasted up a hill.

The F-150 Lightning, whether it be for fleets or for customers, is a huge deal in the EV world. The F-Series truck has been the number one selling vehicle in the United States for three decades. Electrifying that sales juggernaut gives the automaker a leg up in the EV truck world since it has such a large established customer base. Check out the video above for the full story.

https://www.engadget.com/ford-f-150-lightning-ev-preview-video-170103332.html

Matt Burns - 2 March 2023

Ford today provided a statement to TechCrunch detailing its plan to restart F-150 Lightning production. The manufacturing lines will start rolling again on March 13. The automaker says that will allow for the EV’s battery pack to be reworked to include SK On’s battery cells. Ford also says it will continue to hold already produced vehicles as it works “through engineering and parts updates.”

This comes weeks after Ford paused the production and shipment of F-150 Lightning for an unspecified battery concern. On February 14 Ford said the initial stoppage occurred after a vehicle failed a post-production quality control test at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. The company tells TechCrunch it is unaware of any incidences of this issue in the field. As a result, dealers can still sell Lightning models on the lot.

Since launching the vehicle less than a year ago, Ford has only issued one recall for the vehicle, and it was related to a tire pressure sensor. Ford has yet to issue a recall or dealer notice associated with this instance.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/02/ford-to-restart-f-150-lightning-production-on-march-13/

The big electric pickup truck is out of the suburbs and out of its element.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 1/5/2024, 7:46 AM

I seem to be thinking a lot about Ford's electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning. Earlier this week, we got the news of price cuts and price increases. Before that, there was a pending cut to planned production output. Taken as it is, it's just the all-electric version of America's favorite pickup—and arguably the best version unless you need to pull something on the end of a trailer hitch.

But the Lightning doesn't exist in a vacuum. Depending on who you talk to, it's a clever attempt to get Americans to go electric, an utterly familiar wrapper on a slab of new technology that, yes, still requires the owner to adjust their mindset a bit from the gasoline-powered way of thinking. To others, it's a white elephant, one that costs too much and languishes on dealership forecourts, proof positive that electrification is a thing other countries might bother with, but forget that here at home, cowboy.

I've never found life to be quite that simple, and neither is the Lightning. Here in Washington, DC, the vehicle remains a rare sight—the only time I've seen one in the wild, it belonged to the DC government's fleet of vehicles (its job was inspecting abandoned vehicles). Out west, it's much more common to see electric F-150s on the road, and last year, Ford sold about 40,000 Lightnings, despite halting production for a fire and then again to retool part of the line.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/01/a-week-with-a-ford-f-150-lightning-this-truck-is-too-big-for-city-life/

Rebecca Bellan / 3:00 AM PDT June 8, 2021

Ford unveiled on Tuesday the Maverick, a new compact hybrid pickup truck for people who didn’t know they needed one.

The truck’s smaller more approachable size and its base price of $19,995 is geared toward entry-level customers who want that SUV or truck lifestyle as well as the ease of navigating and parking in tight urban centers. While it’s not an all-electric truck like the upcoming Ford F-150 Lightning, the Maverick is part of the company’s recently expanded plan to invest $30 billion investment in electrification by 2025.

The Maverick also has the distinction of being equipped with the first electric motor designed, developed, tested and manufactured in-house at Ford’s Van Dyke Transmission Plant.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/08/ford-unveils-maverick-a-compact-hybrid-pickup-truck-for-under-20000

Low cost, 3D printing and customization.

Roberto Baldwin - March 10th, 2022

It’s easy to point to EVs and declare them the official vehicles of nerds. The only problem is that EVs are pricey. We’ve been waiting for pricing parity between EVs and gas vehicles for years and it’s likely going to take longer to come to pass thanks to ongoing supply issues. So why not embrace a hybrid that also happens to be a small truck with a very impressive starting price?

The 2022 Ford Maverick starts at $20,000 and ships with a hybrid powertrain that delivers up to 42 MPG. In addition to being a truck, it has a bed that’s built for customization. Plus, thanks to makers like Robert Trapp, the FITS ((Ford Integrated Tether System) already has 3D designs ready for printing or manipulation. It’s inexpensive, customizable, and a hybrid. Now, all we need is a cheap EV version in five years.Watch the video above for the full story.

https://www.engadget.com/ford-maverick-2022-pickup-review-3d-printing-video-133014666.html

Ford's ability to sell pickups to people who need cheap cars isn't a cause for celebration.

Adam Ismail - 3/17/22 2:00PM

Nobody can build vehicles quickly enough, but Ford’s especially feeling the pinch with the Maverick. The manufacturer paused new orders on its hot compact pickup until the summer because it needs to prioritize fulfilling reservations already placed. And listen — in spite of the headline up there that I’m well aware some of you are sharpening your axes over as you read this, let me just say that I get it. As a technical achievement, the Maverick deserves praise. A small truck that starts at $20,000 and returns 40 miles per gallon is something the world could use more of, especially given the present fuel catastrophe. I’m happy Ford made it.

The Maverick is special because it offers the low starting price and efficiency of a compact sedan, hatch or crossover in a pickup configuration. That’s very exciting for the folks who need a vehicle that satisfies those conflicting demands.

https://jalopnik.com/the-ford-maverick-is-a-great-truck-its-also-part-of-t-1848666323

From 2024, Ford EVs will only be sold at Model e-certified dealerships.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 9/14/2022, 12:38 PM

Ford dealers have until the end of October to decide if they want to keep selling electric vehicles. And they'll have to agree to some new conditions if they do, including transparent, set pricing, available online, according to a new report at Inside EVs.

We've known for some time that Ford was looking to shake up the way people buy its EVs in the US, moving all its EVs into a new business unit called Model e, with another called Ford Blue that will be responsible for internal combustion vehicles and hybrids. In June, CEO Jim Farley said: “We've got to go non-negotiated price. We've got to go 100 percent online. There's no inventory, it all goes directly to the customer. And 100 percent remote pickup and delivery,” during a presentation to investors.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/09/ford-tells-dealers-electric-vehicles-must-have-transparent-set-prices/

Foxconn's new electric vehicles could be a game-changer, but how will they affect the rumored Apple Car?

Gavin Phillips - 20 October 2021

Taiwan tech giant Foxconn unveiled three electric vehicle models, becoming the latest tech outfit to enter the world of EVs.

The company revealed three models: an SUV, a sedan, and a bus, all of which use Foxconn software and hardware throughout.

Most interestingly, the announcement brings a new angle to the much-rumored Apple Car, with Foxconn a long-time Cupertino partner and the largest manufacturer of iPhones.

Will Foxconn compete with Apple or work with them?

https://www.makeuseof.com/foxconn-new-electric-vehicles-what-this-means-apple-car/

Fred Lambert - Feb. 24th 2020 9:01 am ET

GM has now officially launched its new Menlo electric car with 250 miles of range and confirmed a starting price of just ~$23,000, but you can’t buy it unless you are in China.

The new EV from the American automaker is sure to make some people jealous in other markets.

https://electrek.co/2020/02/24/gm-menlo-electric-car-range-price/

Kirsten Korosec / 5:47 pm PDT•June 4, 2020

GM’s electric offensive to bring at least 20 new EVs to market by 2023 reportedly includes a commercial van.

Reuters reported Thursday that the company is developing an electric van for the commercial market code named BV1. The vehicle is expected to start production in late 2021 and will use the Ultium battery system that was revealed in March, according to the report.

When, and if, GM delivers on that goal in 2021 it will join an increasingly crowded pool. Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian, the first of which are expected to be on the road in 2021. Ford has announced an electric Transit van that’s expected to launch in 2021. Startups such as Arrival, Chanje, Enirde, and XoS have received orders for electric vans from package delivery companies such as Ryder and UPS.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/04/whats-driving-gms-reported-plans-to-develop-a-commercial-electric-van/

GM will have 22 new EVs on sale by 2023, and they'll all use these motors.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 9/17/2020, 9:53 AM

It might be too early to say that the auto industry is undergoing a great electrification. But more and more automakers are headed in that direction as product pipelines swell, with new battery-electric vehicles arriving over the next few years. Take General Motors—it plans to bring 22 new BEVs to market between now and 2023, starting with a reborn GMC Hummer to be debuted later this September. To make matters simpler, GM is standardizing the components it will use to build what promises to be a wide variety of vehicles.

We already learned a little about GM's modular Ultium battery packs, which it claims will break the $100/kWh barrier “early in the platform's life.” As the reveal of the Hummer approaches, the company is opening up about other aspects of its new BEV brigade. And this week it was time for motors to take to the stage. GM has developed a new family of modular drive units called Ultium Drive that it will mix and match in cars, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/09/this-family-of-electric-motors-will-drive-gms-new-electric-vehicles/

It aims to have a high-capacity pre-production battery by 2023.

Steve Dent - March 11th, 2021

GM has released more details about its next-generation Ultium batteries, including plans for lithium-metal (Li-metal) technology to boost performance and energy density. The automaker announced that it has signed an agreement to work with SolidEnergy Systems (SES), an MIT spinoff developing prototype Li-metal batteries with nearly double the capacity of current lithium-ion cells.

As a reminder, Li-metal batteries replace carbon anodes with lithium metal, allowing for lighter and more powerful cells. The challenge with the technology is increased resistance and “dendrite” filaments that tend to form on the anodes, making batteries short-circuit and heat up.

https://www.engadget.com/gm-pushing-ahead-with-lithium-metal-battery-tech-that-could-boost-ev-range-170011910.html

Hong Guang Mini is the best-selling electric car in China

By Gary Gastelu | Fox News - 16 April 2021

The microcompact four-seater from GM's Chinese joint venture brand Wuling has been China's best selling electric vehicle in recent months, thanks to its rock bottom $4,400 price and a size that's perfect for the country's crowded urban centers.

But now the automaker is thinking about opening up a new market for the car by opening its roof.

The Hong Guang Mini EV Cabrio convertible is set to make its debut at the Auto Shanghai show next week.

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/gm-unveils-4400-electric-convertible

It's laying the groundwork for a wave of electric vehicles.

Jon Fingas - October 26th, 2021

GM is close to launching a new wave of electric vehicles, and it's making sure the charging infrastructure is in place to keep those EVs on the road. The automaker has launched a community charging initiative that will install as many as 40,000 Level 2 charging stations across North America. The program will give dealers up to 10 chargers they can place at “key locations” in their neighborhoods, such as apartments, colleges and businesses. The units won't be limited to GM EV drivers.

These chargers will also be available to buy directly both through dealerships and online. GM ultimately plans three chargers, including a basic 11.5kW/48-amp model, a “premium” version of that charger (with touchscreen and camera) and a more powerful 19.2kW/80-amp model. The community effort starts in 2022 and is part of a larger $750 million investment through Ultium Charge 360.

https://www.engadget.com/gm-community-level-2-ev-charging-stations-201232330.html?src=rss

The vans use GM's new Ultium battery platform and have a range of 250 miles.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 9/28/2021, 6:00 AM

In January, General Motors created a new electric vehicle brand. It's called BrightDrop, and like GM's legacy brands that are electrifying, it, too, will use the company's forthcoming Ultium batteries and Ultium Drive electric motors. Unlike the rest of GM's brands, this one is aimed squarely at the fleet market. At the time, GM CEO Mary Barra revealed that Fedex would be BrightDrop's first customer. On Tuesday, BrightDrop announced that Verizon will also start using the electric vans.

In fact, Verizon will use a second BrightDrop vehicle, called the EV410. This uses the same battery pack and motor as the EV600 that we saw in FedEx colors at the start of the year. It will also offer the same 250-mile (402 km) range and come with the same package of safety systems. The biggest difference is the size and the amount of cargo each can carry; the EV410 is shorter overall than the EV600 and can carry 410 cubic feet (11,610 L) versus the bigger van's 600 cubic feet (16,990 L).

Meanwhile, BrightDrop is completing the first production EV600s, which are destined to start work for Fedex this holiday season. BrightDrop has contracted out the initial low-volume manufacturing to an unnamed supplier in Michigan while it refits GM's CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Canada. EV600 production at CAMI is scheduled for late 2022, but Verizon has a longer wait on its hands—EV410 production won't begin until the following year.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/09/verizon-will-be-the-first-customer-for-brightdrops-new-electric-van/

The GM-back self-driving car company to dedicate its 140,000-square-foot Bryant Street building to hardware team

Kirsten Korosec / 1:38 pm PST • January 21, 2020

Ten months ago, Cruise declared it would hire at least 1,000 engineers by the end of the year, an aggressive target — even for a company with a $7.25 billion war chest — in the cutthroat autonomous vehicle industry, where startups, automakers and tech giants are battling over talent.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/21/cruise-doubles-down-on-hardware/

The Origin is 'a new beginning for transportation.'

Richard Lawler, 21 January 2020

Cruise still isn't ready to say when its autonomous vehicle will be available, but now it's shown off the Origin, a GM-built electric shuttle van that doesn't have a steering wheel or pedals. Instead it's fully self-driving, intended to be a shareable, modular vehicle that can handle being on the road all the time.

It's basically a minibus, with three seats at each end that face each other and split sliding doors that open up like a subway car. Cruise hasn't revealed details like the battery capacity or cost, but claims that “the average San Franciscan household driving themselves or using ridesharing” will see savings of $5,000 per year thanks to the vehicle.

https://www.engadget.com/2020/01/21/gm-cruise-origin-self-driving-shuttle/

Khari Johnson January 21, 2020 5:19 PM

GM’s Cruise is launching the Origin electric autonomous vehicle and sliding doors today, the product of 3 years of work between General Motors, Cruise, and Honda. The Cruise Origin is designed without a combustible engine or a driver, decisions which Cruise CEO Dan Ammann says give people more space. The Origin can seat up to 6 people, with 3 passengers on each side looking toward each other in the rear-wheel drive vehicle.

The vehicle also comes with air bags, “Start Ride” buttons, an SOS button, and a camera on the roof of the interior, presumably to deploy computer vision models that can do things like analyze the sentiment of riders. VentureBeat reached out to Cruise for more details on how each of these interior features works.

https://venturebeat.com/2020/01/21/gms-cruise-rolls-out-origin-an-autonomous-electric-vehicle-with-no-steering-wheel/

Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday July 09, 2022 09:34AM

On June 2nd California approved General Motors' Cruise robotaxi service. The Drive describes an accident that happened the next day:

The autonomous car made an unprotected left turn and was hit by a Toyota Prius on June 3, though the accident wasn't reported until Wednesday. When reached for comment by The Drive, the San Francisco Police Department explained that the Cruise vehicle had three passengers, all in the backseat, while the Prius had two occupants in total…. According to the incident report Cruise filed with the California DMV, the Cruise taxi was making a green light left turn from Geary Boulevard onto Spruce Street in downtown San Francisco. It began the turn and stopped in the middle of the intersection, presumably noticing the Toyota headed for it. The Prius then hit the right rear of the Chevy Bolt.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/22/07/09/0449206/gms-cruise-so-far-a-crash-and-60-robotaxis-disabled-after-losing-server-contact

Gloria Rodríguez, KGO - Friday, August 18, 2023 12:22PM

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) – A driverless Cruise car and a fire truck collided in San Francisco late Thursday night, sending one passenger to the hospital.

The crash happened at the intersection of Turk and Polk in the city's Tenderloin district after 10 p.m.

Video shows the Cruise car with its passenger side doors smashed in after the collision with a San Francisco Fire Department truck responding to a call nearby.

https://abc7news.com/cruise-driverless-car-sffd-fire-truck-accident/13666936/

Kirsten Korosec - 8:00 AM PDT•September 8, 2022

GM’s latest bid to ramp up U.S. EV sales and surpass rival Tesla is a $30,000 all-electric SUV aimed squarely at the mass market.

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV, which will come in LT and RS models and has an estimated range of 300 miles, will test GM’s ability to make an affordable EV that appeals to a broad swath of U.S. consumers. The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV is scheduled to go on sale next year.

GM has started with what appears to be a winning combination. Compact SUVs are one of the top-selling categories in the U.S. and the Equinox is priced thousands of dollars below the cheapest offerings from competitors Ford and Tesla. And it’s more than 50% cheaper than the average new EV cost of $64,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/08/gm-targets-the-masses-with-its-30000-all-electric-chevrolet-equinox-suv/

GM's latest Ultium-based EV is ready for the road.

Michael Teo Van Runkle - 5/30/2024, 9:00 AM

A new entry-level EV from General Motors hits the market this year bearing the name Equinox, but other than nomenclature, this Chevy is not at all related to the current internal-combustion compact crossover. Instead, the new Equinox EV rides on the smallest iteration of GM's Ultium platform until the Bolt reboots with a new (lithium iron phosphate) Ultium battery pack.

The Equinox EV shares its chassis with the forthcoming Cadillac Optiq but aims instead to hit the market as cheaply as possible and significantly undercut Tesla's Model Y. Deliveries will start later this year with the LT trim level, which has a starting MSRP of $34,995. Eager to prove what it no doubt hopes will be the new cash-cow EV's bona fides, Chevrolet invited media to Detroit to drive a fleet of Equinoxes in various trim levels.

On paper, the Equinox's stats look fairly solid. A smallish 85 kWh battery is sufficient for an EPA range estimate of 319 miles (513 km) for the front-wheel-drive base model. Output for the single motor clocks in at a respectable 213 hp (159 kW) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque. Perhaps the only downside appears to be a max DC fast-charging rate of 150 kW, though thanks to the battery's overall capacity, the Equinox should still add 77 miles (124 km) of range in about 10 minutes.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/05/the-2024-chevrolet-equinox-ev-shows-gm-can-make-a-car-for-the-masses/

The company's new Ultium Drive series includes three models.

Igor Bonifacic - September 21st, 2021

General Motors has spent a lot of time recently talking up the capabilities of its upcoming Ultium battery technology but has said significantly less so about the motors those cells will power. That changed on Tuesday when the company detailed its new Ultium Drive motors. With today’s announcement, the series consists of three different models: a 180 kW front-drive model, a 255 kW rear- and front-drive variant and a 62 kW all-wheel drive assist motor. The first two models are permanent magnet motors GM designed in such a way so as to try and reduce its dependence on heavy rare metals.

The company didn’t speak to the specific torque and power density characters of each motor but claimed they should deliver “excellent” performance on those fronts. It also revealed the 2022 Hummer EV will feature three of the 255 kW models. GM claims they will enable the vehicle to produce a combined 11,500 ft/lb of torque and accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in approximately three seconds.

https://www.engadget.com/gm-ultium-drive-motors-announcement-170022093.html

The EV could make the Ford Maverick seem big.

Jon Fingas - January 20, 2023 11:40 AM

GM might make an electric truck for those who think the GMC Hummer and Chevy Silverado are simply too huge. As Autoblog notes, the industry journal Automotive News has seen a prototype small electric pickup at a GM-organized workshop. The EV would reportedly make even the hybrid Ford Maverick seem enormous with two doors, a low-slung profile and a bed 4ft to 4.5ft long. It would start below $30,000, making it a bargain compared to the $39,900 Silverado.

The design isn't guaranteed to enter production, and it's not even clear which GM brand would carry the pickup if it moves forward. Affordable EV design director Michael Pevovar told Automotive News the company creates prototypes like these to “get a reaction” and either improve the result or scrap it. If the prototype is too small but otherwise well-received, GM could use another platform to make it larger.

There are incentives for GM to go ahead. The small pickup market is relatively hot at the moment. Autoblog points out that the was Maverick outselling the larger Ranger and the Expedition SUV as of last summer, while Hyundai's Santa Cruz (more of an El Camino revival than a classic truck) outperformed the Accent compact and Venue mini-SUV. GM would not only have something to offer in the category, but could stand out as the only brand with an all-electric model.

https://www.engadget.com/gm-small-electric-pickup-truck-164023175.html

That data is then shared with road operators to help prioritize repairs.

Andrew Tarantola - December 14th, 2021

Staying in your lane is a lot easier when you know how much of the road is yours to use. Unfortunately, America’s decades-long love affair with performing the absolute bare minimum of basic infrastructure maintenance has left many stretches of the nation’s highway lane markers faded, damaged and obscured. A new pilot program from Honda Research Institute USA could one day help local highway and traffic departments keep a closer eye on the state of the roads in their care, using the cars travelling upon them.

The Honda Road Condition Monitoring System leverages the cameras and GPS navigation systems already found in many of today’s automobiles to monitor the real-time conditions of roads and detect potential hazards. The onboard system will evaluate each stretch of lane marker as green, yellow, grey and red. Green and yellow denote ideal or good quality lane markers, while red indicates markers in need of repair and grey means that there are no markers present at all (like on city streets or rural roads).

https://www.engadget.com/honda-is-piloting-a-road-monitoring-system-to-spot-faded-lane-markers-141527660.html

The automaker is battling the dendrite problem with a polymer fiber coating.

Roberto Baldwin - 11/2/2022, 6:00 AM

By all rights, Honda should be further along with its electrification strategy. The Honda Insight beat the Toyota Prius as the first mass-market hybrid to be introduced into the US market by seven months. Instead, other manufacturers seemed to have jumped on the EV train while Honda was still buying a ticket. After appearing to languish, the company announced that its first modern EV in the US would be the fruit of a team-up with GM. But under new leadership, it's working with partners and striking out on its own for its long-term EV strategy.

At its research and development facility in Tochigi, Japan, Honda is working on what it believes will be the breakthrough that brings solid-state batteries to the market. While Honda is happy to work with General Motors and Sony on electrification efforts, the automaker is working solo to bring the technology to the masses by the end of the decade.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/11/honda-aims-for-a-solid-state-powered-ev-by-the-end-of-the-decade/

Bloomberg News

Sep 26 2020, 4:30 AM / Sep 27 2020, 7:30 PM (Bloomberg)

Known globally for its trucks and muscle cars, General Motors Co. has scored a surprise hit in China with its local partners: a petite electric vehicle that sells for less than $5,000.

The Hongguang MINI EV, made by SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., is currently the hottest EV in China, the world’s biggest automobile market. Sales of the compact four-seater beat industry giant Tesla Inc. in August, with consumers wowed by its tiny price tag – the EV retails for between 28,800 yuan ($4,230) and 38,800 yuan – and its ability to run for as many as 170 kilometers (106 miles) on a single charge. Orders exceeded 30,000 units in just 50 days.

https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/tesla-s-nemesis-in-china-is-a-tiny-5-000-electric-car-from-gm

Posted by BeauHD on Tuesday November 02, 2021 02:25PM

Citing the Korean automaker's “striking designs, interesting battery tech, and robust product pipeline,” John Voelcker from The Drive makes the case for why Hyundai “could emerge among the companies that transition fastest to EVs.” From the report:

Its battery-electrics will come fast, entering the mass market on pace with those from GM and Ford. Hyundai's smart enough not to try to compete in full-size electric pickup trucks, still the last stronghold for the Detroit 2.5, not least because they're largely unsellable outside North America. The lackluster results for Nissan and Toyota after 20 years of building U.S.-style full-size pickups provide an object lesson. But Hyundai has aggressive plans for the rest of the light truck and passenger vehicle market.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/21/11/02/1957223/why-hyundai-is-the-one-to-watch-in-the-race-for-evs

It offers similar performance and the same 258-mile range as last year's model.

Steve Dent - 02.17.21

Hyundai has unveiled the 2022 Kona Electric with a cleaner design, but no significant changes to range and performance. Where the previous model had crisscross indents on the grill (to hide the charging port), the new model has a clean front end, other than said port. On the back end, Hyundai has gotten rid of the cladding found around the rear wheels, giving the Kona Electric a simpler, smoother design. It also gets new alloy wheels optimized for airflow, plus newly designed headlights and LED taillights.

https://www.engadget.com/hyundai-unveils-the-redesigned-kona-and-sporty-n-line-version-084557763.html

Patrick George - 5 April 2023

It’s no secret that Hyundai’s design department is kind of the one to beat right now. But when the redesigned 2024 Hyundai Kona goes on sale this summer, this compact crossover’s upgrades will be more than just skin deep.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona will also feature over-the-air updates — the ability to wirelessly transmit software updates just like a smartphone. That might not seem special in an era when Tesla adds video games and fart sound effects via OTA. Aside from those sort of gimmicks, OTA updates can be a vital way to add new features and fix bugs that replace and even surpass mechanical repairs.

OTAs are largely seen as the key to unlocking the software-focused future automakers want. So it’s notable that Hyundai has picked the humble Kona — the outgoing model started at just $22,140⁠ — for this OTA honor, making it one of the most affordable cars on sale to offer it as a standard feature.

Ahead of the car’s North American debut at the 2023 New York International Auto Show, Hyundai officials said OTA software updates on the Kona will allow for “a convenient, upgradable experience” where owners will receive new features, firmware upgrades, maps and multimedia applications wirelessly and without having to visit a dealer. The new Kona comes in gasoline or electric forms and OTA updates will be standard for both.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/05/the-2024-hyundai-kona-will-be-one-the-most-affordable-cars-with-over-the-air-updates/

Due this fall, it features clever fast-charging tech and an expansive interior.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 2/22/2021, 11:00 PM

On Tuesday morning in Korea, Hyundai premiered its newest battery electric vehicle. The company has resisted the temptation to start off with a bombastic SUV like General Motors' reborn GMC Hummer or a handsome sedan like the Porsche Taycan, although those are both in the pipeline. Instead, the Ioniq brand will launch with that most in-demand of automobiles, the midsize crossover. In this case, a keenly styled crossover called the Ioniq 5, which will also be the first BEV to use Hyundai's new E-GMP architecture.

The production Ioniq 5 looks remarkably similar to the concept car that preceded it, the 45. At first glance, it appears to be channeling the boxy good looks of late-1980s hot hatches. But don't be fooled by the proportions; it's roughly the same size as Toyota's best-selling RAV4 crossover. The big 20-inch wheels and short front and rear overhangs conceal a 118-inch (3,000mm) wheelbase that translates to acres of interior room for the occupants.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/02/this-crisp-looking-crossover-is-hyundais-next-ev-the-ioniq-5/

It's closely based on the Hyundai 45 concept.

Steve Dent - February 23rd, 2021

When I first saw Hyundai's 45 at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2019, I described it as a “pure one-off concept vehicle.” I'm now prepared to eat those words, as Hyundai has unveiled the striking Ioniq 5 production EV crossover that's closely based on the 45, right down to the diagonal crease across the doors. It has a lot going for it under the sheet metal too, with an 800 volt electric drive system that should deliver excellent range and decent performance.

https://www.engadget.com/hyundais-striking-ioniq-5-delivers-long-range-and-brisk-performance-093212320.html

Its 800V electrical architecture can add 62 miles of range in just 5 minutes.

Andrew Tarantola - May 24th, 2021

Hyundai has been slowly dropping clues about the capabilities of its upcoming 2022 Ioniq 5, the first EV built on the company's new E-GMP vehicle platform, since its initial teasing at the Frankfurt Auto show last August. But the time for hints has passed as the Ioniq 5 made its official North American debut on Monday.

We've already gotten a pretty good look at what will be under the Ioniq 5's hood when it reaches dealer showrooms: a 72.6-kWh (or optional 77.4-kWh) battery drives either single (2WD) or dual (4WD) e-motors to deliver up to 300 miles of range, 320 horsepower, 446 pound-feet of torque, 1,500-pound tow capacity and a 0 to 60 MPH in under 5 seconds, depending on your vehicle's loadout.

https://www.engadget.com/hyundais-300-mile-ioniq-5-crossover-ev-makes-its-official-north-american-debut-190054008.html

The EV, named 'Seven,' will appear at the LA Auto Show later this month.

Igor Bonifacic - November 4th, 2021

Hyundai has shared a handful of teaser images of the Seven, a new all-electric SUV the automaker plans to debut at the AutoMobility LA show later this month. The company notes the concept “hints at a new SUV model coming to the Ioniq family.”

Concept vehicles rarely make it to production without substantial changes, so treat the images accordingly. We probably won’t see the Seven’s successor come with an array of pixel lights or a lounge-like interior. Of the interior, Hyundai says it’s made from sustainable and eco-friendly materials.

https://www.engadget.com/hyundai-seven-concept-204540273.html?src=rss

The concept will be revealed this month, the production car is due in 2024.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 11/4/2021, 6:30 AM

On Thursday morning, Hyundai teased the largest of its forthcoming electric vehicles, and it will formally reveal the car later in November at AutoMobility in Los Angeles.

Of all the automakers undergoing electrification efforts, few are charging ahead quite like Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai's and Kia's smaller electric vehicles are some of the few on the road to challenge Tesla for powertrain efficiency, and now the two brands, plus Genesis, are bringing a whole new family of larger, more powerful EVs to market, using a new 800 V architecture called E-GMP.

The first of those coming to US roads will be the Ioniq 5, a retro-styled crossover with pixellated tail lights. We'll get to drive it in early December.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/11/hyundai-hints-at-ioniq-7-with-its-latest-concept-ev-seven/

It starts at $39,700 for 220 miles of range or $43,650 for the 303-mile version.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 12/13/2021, 1:00 PM

The car I've been most excited about in 2021 is the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Korean automaker has impressed with each new model we've tried, and its smaller electric vehicles are some of the few that can rival Tesla in terms of range efficiency.

The Ioniq 5 is the first product from Hyundai Motor Group—which includes Kia and Genesis—to use the new 800 V E-GMP platform, which was designed from the ground up to produce pure battery EVs. I spent a day driving one last week, but I can't say more about that until later this week. What I can tell you, now that Hyundai has finalized pricing, is how much the Ioniq 5 will cost.

The cheapest way to get an Ioniq 5 will be the 125 kW (168 hp) rear-wheel drive SE Standard Range model with the smaller 58 kWh battery pack. This will cost $39,700 before the IRS 30D tax credit and any local incentives. However, as is nearly always the case with a new car regardless of OEM, if you want the cheapest one, you need to be prepared to wait, as it will only become available in spring 2022. (That is still an improvement over Hyundai's original plan of not bringing the car to the US at all.)

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/12/heres-how-much-hyundais-cool-new-ioniq-5-ev-will-cost/

A combination of solid tech and retro-futuristic design make the EV a joy to drive.

Roberto Baldwin - December 17th, 2021

Automakers have been struggling to produce an EV that looks futuristic but not pretentious. Starting at $39,700, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 seems to toe that line with a mixture of retro and futuristic design elements combined with technology that actually works as advertised.

https://www.engadget.com/hyundai-ioniq-first-drive-180018819.html

It's the first EV to use the automaker's new 800 V EV platform.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 12/16/2021, 9:01 PM

SAN DIEGO—In 2020, Hyundai Motor Group revealed that it had developed a new platform built solely for battery electric vehicles. The company's smaller, earlier EVs have gotten impressively close to Tesla levels of powertrain efficiency, and these days, the Korean automaker is at the head of the class in terms of quality and reliability.

So the excitement was palpable when we learned that this new “Electric-Global Modular Platform” (or E-GMP) was intended for larger, more powerful EVs with either rear- or all-wheel drive. The platform would use an 800 V electrical architecture and would provide 18-minute fast-charging and the ability to power AC devices. The anticipation only grew when we got our first look at the Hyundai Ioniq 5—the first of those EVs—back in February.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/12/the-hyundai-ioniq-5-is-the-best-ev-weve-driven-in-2021/

The company will reveal full specs and features in July.

Mariella Moon - June 29, 2022 12:30 PM

Hyundai has revealed the design for Ioniq 6, its upcoming electric vehicle that was inspired by the Prophecy concept EV it showed off in 2020. It retains the Prophecy's futuristic elements without looking like it was a prop made for a sci-fi movie, with its aerodynamic profile and clean lines. Hyundai says the vehicle will have an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.21 — most modern cars have an average drag coefficient of 0.25 or 0.3 — thanks to its low nose and active air flaps, among other elements. Its elliptical wing-inspired spoiler and slight boat-tail structure help make it more aerodynamic, as well.

Inside, the Ioniq 6 has a cocoon-shaped interior that's trimmed in sustainable materials, such as eco-process leather or recycled PET fabric for its seats. The company's modular platform for electric vehicles enabled its designers to stretch the car's dimensions and give it a completely flat floor for more legroom and space. For its entertainment and navigation system, it has a modular touchscreen dashboard with a 12-inch touchscreen display and a 12-inch digital cluster.

https://www.engadget.com/hyundai-ioniq-6-electric-vehicle-reveal-123029502.html

Jaclyn Trop - 6:12 AM PDT•June 29, 2022

Hyundai previewed the IONIQ 6 sedan Wednesday, the heavily-anticipated followup to the brand’s popular first battery-electric model, the IONIQ 5 SUV.

The automaker won’t announce details such as the IONIQ 6’s price range, and production run size until the vehicle’s world premiere in July.

The South Korea automaker that staked its reputation over the past few decades on affordable, entry-level gas-engine cars performed an about-face this year, reallocating investments and resources to position itself as a top global brand for EVs before sales worldwide begin to surge.

So far, the plan to infuse IONIQ models with cachet and desire is working. The first model from Hyundai’s IONIQ sub-brand, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 SUV, swept the World Car Awards at this year’s New York International Auto Show thanks to its sleek looks, performance, and futuristic interior. A similar excitement appears to be growing around the forthcoming Hyundai IONIQ 6.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/29/hyundai-reveals-the-ioniq-6-ev-sedan-the-eagerly-anticipated-follow-up-to-its-ioniq-5/

The EV was announced in June, but details have been sparse

Abigail Bassett - 10:40 AM PST•November 17, 2022

Hyundai released fresh details Thursday at the LA Auto Show about the 2023 Ioniq 6, the all-electric vehicle that the Korean company debuted in June. With an estimated range of 340 miles and an on-sale date in spring of 2023, the hotly anticipated follow-up to the Ioniq 5 crossover is one more step toward the company’s aim to accelerate electrification and autonomous vehicle technology in the U.S. by 2025.

Hyundai has put considerable capital toward its target. The company recently announced a $10 billion dollar-plus investment into autonomous vehicles, EVs and robotics to help it meet its goals.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/17/everything-we-know-about-the-2023-hyundai-ioniq-6-ev/

Hyundai's UX team studied the effect lighting color combinations have on mood.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 11/18/2022, 9:47 AM

The annual auto show is underway in Los Angeles this week, and Hyundai used the event to make the North American debut of its next electric vehicle, the Ioniq 6. It's a curvaceous sedan, one that looks better in person than on a two-dimensional screen, and when it goes on sale in 2023, it will be yet another example of the lighting revolution that has brightened up automotive interiors, and perhaps can brighten a driver's mood.

We've written before about how LEDs have been embraced by designers crafting the exteriors of new cars. Freed from the old confines of inefficient bulbs and large, often round reflectors, today new cars and trucks are decorated by strips and slashes of yellow and red daylight running lights, with headlamps that light brighter and throw farther down the road. If a car's headlights are its face—and humans are good at seeing faces in things—then new lighting technology has given our vehicles a new range of expressions.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/11/heres-how-the-ambient-lighting-in-your-next-car-could-affect-your-mood/

/ The Ioniq 6 EV, with its strongly arched love-it-or-hate-it design, is coming to the US next spring. The North American version was revealed this week at the LA Auto Show.

Umar Shakir - Nov 18, 2022, 2:49 PM PST

Los Angeles Auto Show this week, revealing some new details on the US version. The Magic Mouse-shaped “streamliner” car that was first unveiled this summer will have a max estimated driving range of 340 miles (not EPA-rated yet) on the rear-wheel-drive model.

The range is a bit less than the initial 379-mile target announced and even further from the European WLTP estimates of 382 miles. Still, 340 miles is an excellent achievement, succeeding the Ioniq 5’s 300-mile range while running on a similar 77.4kWh battery along with a shared E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) architecture that underpins it.

https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/18/23466094/hyundai-ioniq-6-us-debut-laas-range-features-ev

Great aerodynamics help, but you'll want the smaller wheels for max range.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 1/31/2023, 7:09 AM

This morning, Hyundai revealed that the US Environmental Protection Agency has finalized an official range estimate for the brand's next electric vehicle, the Ioniq 6 sedan. At 361 miles (581 km), it's certainly impressive, even beating the longest-ranged Tesla Model 3 sedan.

As those familiar with EVs already know, not every version of the Ioniq 6 has quite so much range. You'll need the single-motor rear-wheel drive version, riding on 18-inch wheels, for maximum efficiency. Helpfully, this will be the cheapest version on sale in the US. The company has not announced pricing yet, but expect it to be similar to that of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 crossover.

Adding larger wheels helpfully illustrates the deleterious effect they have on an EV's range efficiency. With 20-inch wheels, the single-motor Ioniq 6's range is 305 miles (491 km).

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/01/the-2024-hyundai-ioniq-6-gets-an-official-epa-range-of-361-miles/

It may just give the Tesla Model 3 some competition

Abigail Bassett - 3 April 2023

In a world where nearly every automaker is pushing bigger, heavier, battery-electric SUVs and crossovers that all look the same, Hyundai is bucking the trend with its brand new, swoopy, tech-forward 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan.

The stakes are high for the Hyundai Ioniq 6. Hyundai has cast the sedan as a worthy rival to the Tesla Model 3, an EV that has dominated the market. The Ioniq 6 is also a key product in the automaker’s plan to sell 1.87 million EVs annually by the end of the decade and gain a 7% market share in the global battery-electric vehicle market. (Hyundai plans to invest more than $10 billion toward accelerating electrification and autonomous vehicle technology in the U.S. by 2025 to help it reach that goal.)

The 2023 Ioniq 6, which will be available this spring, hits most marks. It’s quiet, quick and efficient and manages a roomy interior despite its sporty exterior. But will it attract buyers? Here’s our first impressions after a few hours driving the compact sedan in Orange County, California, near Hyundai’s North American headquarters, as part of the World Car Awards testing.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/03/first-drive-the-2023-hyundai-ioniq-6-is-a-swoopy-ev-sedan-that-stands-out-in-an-suv-crowd/

Impressive range and a retro-future-digital design make for an impressive new sedan. But it isn’t a slam dunk.

Chris Rosales - Apr 3, 2023 12:01 AM EDT

It has almost become a given that a new Hyundai will be an excellent car. Not just one that is great to drive, but also one that is jam-packed with good design, thoughtful practicality, and true usability. So when I say the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 did not surprise me in the slightest, I mean it in the best way possible. It is effortlessly good.

There’s something to be said for Hyundai making an EV sedan in a world that demands SUVs, though it has already covered those bases quite handily with the Ioniq 5, Genesis with the GV60, and Kia with the EV6. It released the volume sellers first. Now, this is Hyundai angling at market domination. There’s only one car that the Ioniq 6 is looking to erase: the Tesla Model 3.

https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/hyundai-ioniq-6-first-drive-review-specs-price-options-impressions

After so many electric crossovers, it's refreshing to see another sedan.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 4/2/2023, 9:01 PM

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.—The past couple of years have seen a flurry of new electric vehicles go into production. But you'd be forgiven for thinking that some of them are a little samey as automaker after automaker releases yet another electric crossover. This makes sense—consumers mostly want crossovers, as they combine hatchback practicality and a more elevated driving position. But the sedan isn't quite dead yet, and now there's another electric one for your consideration: the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

The Ioniq 6 is the latest in a series of new EVs to use Hyundai Motor Group's new E-GMP architecture. Designed from scratch, E-GMP lets Hyundai (and Kia and Genesis) build medium- and larger EVs with rear- or all-wheel drive powertrains. E-GMP battery packs operate at 800 V, which provides several benefits. The higher voltage means a lower current, which translates to thinner wiring, which reduces overall mass. And it's capable of very rapid DC charging—just 18 minutes to get from 10 to 80 percent when plugged into a 350 kW fast charger.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/04/the-2023-hyundai-ioniq-6-a-streamlined-look-equals-serious-range/

A great option for everyone under 76 inches.

Roberto Baldwin - April 4, 2023 10:15 AM

Hyundai has built itself a reputation for delivering vehicles that offer a luxury feel at regular person prices. The latest EV from the automaker takes that up a notch by not just competing with the Tesla Model 3 but also the more high-end Polestar 2. The 2023 Ioniq 6 starts at $41,600 with two battery and drivetrain options. The various combinations of battery packs and either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive result in range numbers from 240 miles to 361 miles. It gives potential buyers the ability to determine which electric sedan works best for their situation.

Beyond the range numbers, the vehicle ships with a new and improved version of Hyundai’s driver assistance system, incredibly smooth acceleration mapping and a suspension system that – while not built as a sports sedan – is far more capable than anticipated while hitting the hills above Phoenix, Arizona. The biggest issue with the vehicle is headroom for tall drivers and passengers. The desire to reduce drag has brought the roof down that could be an issue for basketball players.

https://www.engadget.com/hyundais-ioniq-6-is-a-value-packed-ev-sedan-141507979.html

The automaker says the car can go from zero to 62MPH in 3.4 seconds.

Kris Holt - July 13, 2023 11:00 AM

Hyundai has debuted its electric Ionic 5 N at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The automaker says this high-performance version of the Ioniq 5 can go from zero to 62MPH in as little as 3.4 seconds and that it has a top speed of 161MPH.

The company revamped the entire Ioniq 5 for this model, which is its first performance N-brand production vehicle. The EV has front- and dual-motor variants. Opt for the latter and Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 N will be able to produce 641 horsepower when a boost mode is active. In normal operation, you may get 600 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque, though the automaker acknowledged that these numbers aren't final.

Although the Ioniq 5 N has the same battery pack that previously stored 77.4 kWh of usable energy, revised chemistry means the EV can eke out 84.0 kWh, as Car and Driver notes. There's an upgraded thermal management system for the battery, which includes an “increased cooling area, better motor oil cooler and battery chiller,” Hyundai says, all of which should help to maximize performance.

https://www.engadget.com/hyundai-shows-off-its-high-performance-ioniq-5-n-ev-150053657.html

The latest cutesy EV to be denied a North American debut.

Andrew J. Hawkins - Jun 27, 2024, 1:23 PM PDT

Meet the Hyundai Inster, the latest cute, small electric vehicle that is being cruelly denied a North American debut. This subcompact EV has over 200 miles of range, an almost retro-inspired interior aesthetic (think lots of plastic and chunky buttons), and an adorable face that won’t be making an appearance on US roads any time soon.

Oh, and did I mention that it will be very affordable? Automotive News is reporting that the Inster will be priced below $26,000. So not only is Hyundai entering the fray for affordable EVs, but it’s doing it as at an extreme distance from the US — which is very much in need of affordable EVs.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/27/24187409/hyundai-inster-small-ev-compact-price-specs-us

Kirsten Korosec / 12:26 pm PDT•July 30, 2020

Chinese electric vehicle and parts manufacturer Kandi Technologies Group is officially bringing two EVs to the United States through its subsidiary Kandi America — news that has prompted run up in its share price in the past day.

Kandi shares opened at $3.88 a share on Wednesday, jumping to $16.51 today. Shares have now settled below $9.

Kandi Technologies has been talking about bringing EVs to the United States for a couple of years. Now, two models are arriving as early as the end of 2020, beginning in a limited area in Texas. Both are priced under $30,000 before federal incentives.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/30/americas-cheapest-electric-vehicles-are-coming-courtesy-of-chinese-automaker-kandi/

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/17/wow-kia-now-this-is-how-you-get-people-to-goelectric/

Kirsten Korosec / 9:32 PM PST•March 8, 2021

Kia started the year by dropping “motor company” from its corporate name and revealing a new logo and slogan as part of Plan S, a strategy to shift its business away from internal combustion engines and towards EVs, mobility services and autonomous vehicle technology.

Now, the South Korean automaker is starting to share more details of the first vehicle that will come out of Plan S. Kia released Tuesday several teaser images of the EV6, its first dedicated battery-electric vehicle built on its new Electric-Global Modular Platform, or E-GMP platform. This platform is shared with Hyundai and is the underlying foundation of the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 compact crossover.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/08/kias-electric-vehicle-plans-take-shape-with-ev6-teaser-new-naming-strategy/

It is the first Kia to use the brand's new 800-volt platform for electric cars.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 5/19/2021, 10:22 AM

The Kia EV6 is one of the more intriguing electric vehicles to have been announced over the past few months. Like sibling brand Hyundai's Ioniq 5, the EV6 will use a new 800 V electric car platform called E-GMP, which boasts extremely rapid fast charging and a raft of other interesting design details. On Tuesday night, Kia took over Times Square in Manhattan to formally unveil the EV6 in the US, ahead of deliveries scheduled for early 2022.

Hyundai went for a rather retro look for the Ioniq 5. Instead of looking backward, Kia chose to clad the EV6 in a crossover body that's more than a little reminiscent of the Lamborghini Urus. That comparison might get a little more pointed in late 2022 when the EV6 GT arrives—that one will beat the Lamborghini SUV in a drag race, at least to 60 mph.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/05/kia-shares-more-details-about-its-electric-ev6-due-in-early-2022/

The concept will be formally unveiled on November 17.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 11/11/2021, 7:40 AM

Last week, Hyundai teased a concept of a new electric SUV called “Seven.” On Thursday, it was Kia's turn to tease its version, a concept it is calling “EV9.”

Details are scant for EV9, as they are for the Hyundai Seven, although we know it will employ Hyundai Motor Group's new E-GMP electric vehicle platform, which uses an 800 V electrical architecture. The platform enables rapid fast charging to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes and either rear- or all-wheel drive layouts for larger-battery electric vehicles.

Like the Seven, the EV9 has a flexible and adaptive interior, although I'm slightly worried about Kia's “radical new take on the traditional steering wheel.” There are, after all, perfectly good reasons that most cars use round steering wheels.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/11/kia-teases-a-big-electric-suv-with-the-ev9-concept/

The Concept EV9 may hint at the future of Kia's larger vehicles.

Jon Fingas - November 17th, 2021

Hyundai's LA Auto Show concepts include more than just a lounge on wheels. As Autoblog notes, the company's Kia badge has unveiled the Concept EV9 as a peek at the possible “next model” in its electric vehicle lineup. The angular design language is a centerpiece, but the real highlight may be technology that, in some cases, eclipses the EV6. For one, the cockpit is dominated by a single 27-inch display that covers both driver and passenger needs — it's not as huge as the Hyperscreen in the Mercedes EQS, but it's more expansive than the EV6's dual 12-inch panels.

You can also expect solid performance with up to 300 miles of range and 350kW charging that brings the Concept EV9 from a 10 percent charge to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The Concept EV9 won't outlast a Tesla Model Y, then, but it might deliver shorter pit stops.

https://www.engadget.com/kia-concept-ev9-electric-suv-221504011.html

That's more than the very similar Hyundia Ioniq 5.

Steve Dent - January 26th, 2022

Kia's EV6, which shares a platform, battery, motors and more with Hyundai's Ioniq 5, will start at $42,115 including the $1,215 destination charge, the company announced. That sum will get you the base “Light” rear-wheel drive (RWD) model with a 167-horsepower motor and 58-kWh battery pack delivering a 232-mile EPA range. The model is eligible for a full $7,500 federal tax credit, which would reduce the price down to $34,615.

That's $1,190 more than the Ioniq 5, if you're keeping score at home. While the two vehicles share the same platform and offer similar performance, the Ioniq 5 has a more edgy, angular design, while the EV6 offers a more classic, rounded look.

https://www.engadget.com/kia-ev6-pricing-revealed-more-than-ioniq-5-092502588.html

Posted by BeauHD on Sunday September 25, 2022 10:05PM

Kia is planning to manufacture its electric vehicles in the US, according to South Korean media sources Maeil Business and SBS (via The EV Officials). The Verge reports:

The automaker currently builds its flagship electric car and North American sales hit, the Kia EV6, in South Korea at its Hwasung plant. But now, Kia will shift some of its EV assembly to the US by 2024, according to the report. Manufacturing EVs in the US would allow Kia to qualify for new incentives that were included in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, which requires automakers to build EVs in North America to qualify.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/22/09/25/1651230/kia-plans-to-build-evs-in-the-us-to-comply-with-new-federal-tax-credit

It's the automaker's first all-electric sedan.

Mariella Moon - Wed, Apr 16, 2025, 7:00 AM PDT

Kia's first all-electric sedan, the 2026 EV4, is making its official debut in the US today at the New York International Auto Show. The automaker first announced the vehicle in Spain back in February, with the promise that it will release the model in the USA, as well. It's built on top of the company's 400V Electric Global Modular Platform, which serves as the basis for all of Kia's electric vehicles. In the US, the EV4 will come with a built-in North American Charging Standard (NACS) port for compatibility with Tesla charging stations.

The Kia EV4 has two battery options: A standard 58.3 kWh battery for the Light model and a long-range 81.4 kWh battery for the Wind and GT-Line models. Kia says its Light and Wind models have an estimated range of 235 miles and 330 miles, respectively. However, they're manufacturer estimates and not official EPA numbers yet. You can charge the car from 10 to 80 percent within just 28 minutes for the Light battery and 31 minutes for the long-range battery. No matter what model you choose, the vehicle comes with a front-mounted 150 kW motor and Kia's Advanced Driver Assistance features. Unfortunately, the automaker didn't reveal how much it would cost you to get one, possibly because it has yet to attach an official price tag to the EV4 due to the tariffs the US government is imposing on cars and car parts made outside the country.

https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/the-kia-ev4-makes-its-us-debut-at-the-new-york-auto-show-140036813.html

The performance Kia EV has playful handling and easy sub-12 second quarter-miles.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 12/18/2022, 9:01 PM

LAS VEGAS—In January, we got our first chance to drive Kia's new EV6 electric vehicle. Built using Hyundai Motor Group's excellent new E-GMP platform, the EV6 instantly impressed us, offering a less polarizing design and more playful handling than the also impressive Hyundai Ioniq 5. Designed as a dedicated EV platform, E-GMP features an 800 V battery pack that allows for rapid fast charging, and the rear- and all-wheel drive can achieve excellent levels of efficiency.

In that first drive, and then again on local roads over the summer, my seat time in the EV6 confirmed Hyundai Motor Group's wisdom in hiring Albert Biermann away from BMW to build up the Korean automakers' research and development programs. But now Kia's turned the dial well past 11 with the new $61,400 EV6 GT, a limited-production variant that can outdrag some Ferraris and Lamborghinis, and ride the rumble strips at a racetrack with the best of them.

Between the axles of the EV6 GT you'll find the same 77.4 kWh (gross capacity) battery pack as in other EV6s—the company has discontinued the smaller-battery variant (the EV6 Light) due to very little demand. But in the EV6 GT, that battery will now feed much more power to the pair of electric motors that drive the front and rear wheels. There's a total of 576 hp (430 kW), in fact, plus a combined 545 lb-ft (738 Nm) of torque, split between a 215-hp (160 kW) front motor and a 362-hp (270 kW) rear motor with an electronic limited-slip differential.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/12/an-electric-kia-thats-faster-than-a-lamborghini-the-2023-ev6-gt-driven/

You can now outrun Lamborghinis in a Kia (in a straight line).

Roberto Baldwin - December 19, 2022 12:01 AM

The Kia EV6 is an outstanding EV based on the Hyundai Motor Group's E-GMP architecture. One of the more impressive elements of the crossover is that it charges at 240kW at compatible DC fast charging stations. That’s quicker than offerings from Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW and Ford, and it means less time at a station and more time on the road.

Now, Kia could have allowed quick charging to continue to be the electric crossover’s speediest feature. Instead, it decided to build something rather bonkers; an EV6 with a zero-to-60 time of 3.4 seconds, 576 horsepower, and 545 pound-feet of torque. It’s a quick electric crossover that in tests, outran a Lamborghini and Ferrari.

To get the full experience of the 2023 EV6 GT, Kia invited us to Las Vegas, Nevada where we drove the vehicle on twisty roads, a track, and a drag strip. Oh, and we also got a chance to try out the EV’s new Drift mode. Again, this is all in a Kia.

https://www.engadget.com/kia-ev6-gt-first-drive-video-050142389.html

It's super fast, looks great, and… it's a Kia EV?

Alex Ramos - 11 January 2023

Kia is one of the most improved automotive brands of recent years. They hit numerous milestones in their ICE lineup, and recently Kia has also ventured into the EV space—and produced some popular EVs, too.

Not content with simply fitting in and selling boring electric vehicles, Kia is now exploring the performance EV segment. The EV6 GT is an insanely fast EV from Kia that will have you rethinking the definition of a sportscar.

https://www.makeuseof.com/kia-ev6-gt-awesome-features/

With its spacious interior and impressive range, the three-row EV9 from Kia has a high chance of becoming a hit.

Andrei Nedelea - 3 April 2023

Kia is making bold claims about its flagship electric vehicle, the EV9 SUV. The Korean automaker says it's not just the best electric SUV, but that it's superior to all SUVs, regardless of what powers them.

It certainly has a lot going for it, from its attractive boxy exterior to its posh-looking interior, or from its Nürburgring-honed handling to the impressive range from its big battery. It's a testament to Kia's remarkable journey upmarket that started in the early 2000s, and it should prove highly successful for the automaker.

https://www.makeuseof.com/kia-ev9-electric-suv-shakeup/?newsletter_popup=1

Kia bets on edgy design, a futuristic interior, and plenty of interior space.

Kyle Hyatt - 1/19/2024, 7:46 AM

American car buyers love purchasing way more car than they need. Have a kid and a dog? You'd better get a Suburban. Need to tow a Hobie Cat to the lake once or twice a year? Get a full-size diesel four-wheel drive pickup. Looking at an EV for your family? Well, it had better do 400 miles at a time and charge in 15 minutes, despite you having a six-mile commute. This mentality would make a cynic say that Kia's EV9 is a pointless exercise, but that cynic would be wrong.

The 2024 Kia EV9 is ostensibly a three-row, midsize electric SUV that in its most efficient form—the Wind RWD Long-Range trim—will do a claimed 304 miles (489 km) of range, but it's also Kia's flagship model and the vehicle that seems to give us the best look at the formerly cheap-and-cheerful brand's more upscale future.

The EV9 is the latest vehicle based on the E-GMP platform that underpins the Ioniq 5, EV6, and Genesis GV60. Like those vehicles, it features a skateboard-style chassis and is available in rear- or all-wheel drive. Power ranges from 201 hp (150 kW) in the entry-level Wind RWD model to 379 hp (283 kW) in the Land AWD and GT-Line models. There are two available battery packs, with the smaller coming in at 76.1 kWh and the long-range pack rated at 99.8 kWh.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/01/2024-kia-ev9-first-drive-a-flawed-but-fine-family-flagship/

The Lightyear 0’s price tag is a cool €250,000.

Amrita Khalid - June 10th, 2022

EV startup Lightyear debuted its first solar-powered vehicle this week, a sleek sedan called the Lightyear 0. The company gave us a peek at a production prototype of Lightyear 0 in 2019, and at first glance, not much has changed. The car is essentially an unconventional hybrid equipped with both a conventional 60-kilowatt-hour EV battery pack and solar panels on its roof, hood and hatch. The solar panels on the Lightyear 0 will charge automatically whenever the car is exposed to the sun — it doesn’t matter if it’s parked or driving.

The Lightyear 0 isn’t as much solar-powered as solar-assisted. In order to drive for long distances, the vehicle has to tap into its battery reserve. The car’s solar panels can provide 44 miles of range per day in a sunny climate, whereas its EV range is 388 miles. But for drivers with exceptionally short commutes or those who need their vehicle infrequently, the Lightyear 0 could allow them to no longer spend money on gas or charging. The company claims that those with a daily commute of 22 miles can drive the Lightyear 0 for two straight months in the Netherlands summer without needing to charge. Drivers in sunnier climates can go for longer. Lightyear claims that the sun can provide the Lightyear 0 with anywhere between 3,700 to 6,800 miles of range annually.

https://www.engadget.com/lightyear-0-solar-powered-car-2022-193253841.html

Rebecca Bellan - 9:35 AM PDT•September 29, 2022

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn has begun production of Lordstown Motors’s electric pickup truck.

The news, which Bloomberg grabbed first, is a milestone for both companies: Foxconn as it diversifies from manufacturing consumer electronics like iPhones to electric vehicles, and Lordstown as it finally gets its much-anticipated Endurance truck off production lines and, hopefully, into customers’ hands.

Ever since going public via a special purpose acquisition (SPAC) merger in 2020 — a move that, in hindsight, is spelling doom for most EV SPACs — Lordstown has struggled to get to production. Last summer, the company issued a growing concern warning that it might not have enough funds to bring its EV to market, but was bailed out by an investment firm that agreed to purchase $400 million worth of shares over a three-year period.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/29/lordstown-motors-foxconn-begin-production-of-endurance-ev/

A company renowned for adding lightness is applying that approach to electrification.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 9/23/2021, 5:50 AM

Of all the automakers that are undergoing the transformation from internal combustion to electric propulsion, few have my interest quite like Lotus. Partly that's because I first became a car nerd after discovering the Lotus Seven. But it's also because light weight has always been a core Lotus attribute, and while electric vehicles have much to recommend them, “light” they typically are not.

This would be immaterial until relatively recently, because the small British sports car company didn't have the resources to consider a switch to electric. But in 2017, Lotus was bought by Geely, also the owner of a freshly revitalized Volvo. As is the Geely way, Lotus got some much-needed investment and has been set to work on electrification.

In April of this year, Lotus revealed that its plans now include four new platforms, three of which are entirely electric. This week, we got a glimpse into the way the company is thinking about EVs, as it released some details about its lightweight electric vehicle architecture (or “Project LEVA” in Lotus-speak). The key is a newly developed rear subframe that's far lighter than the one in the V6-powered Emira (unveiled in July as the last internal combustion engine-powered Lotus).

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/09/heres-how-lotus-is-going-to-build-lightweight-electric-sports-cars/

The $169,000 Air Dream Edition Range also delivers 933 horsepower.

Steve Dent - September 16th, 2021

Lucid has revealed the EPA range of its first, limited edition Air EV and it's mighty impressive. The Air Dream Edition Range will go 520 miles on a charge, “delivering at least 100-plus miles of additional range of its closest competitor,” the company announced. The models tested “now occupy the top six positions for overall EPA range ratings among EVs,” according to Lucid.

The Air Dream Edition models (Range and Performance) both offer 113kWh battery packs — significantly larger than the 100 kWh used in Tesla’s Model S Long Range Plus — but the company said the prodigious range is not just due to that.

“This landmark has been achieved… not by simply installing an oversize battery pack,” said Lucid CEO/CTO Peter Rawlinson. “Our race-proven 900V battery and BMS [battery management system] technology, our miniaturized drive units, coupled with our Wunderbox [drivetrain] technology endow Lucid Air with ultra-high efficiency, enabling it to travel more miles from less battery energy.”

https://www.engadget.com/lucids-longest-range-air-ev-has-a-prodigious-520-miles-of-epa-range-123000043.html

The Air Dream Edition is rated at 520 miles on a full charge.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 9/16/2021, 5:30 AM

When it comes to bench-racing battery-electric vehicles, all is well and good when comparing standing-start acceleration times. But the only number anyone really cares about is how far a vehicle can go on a single charge. Rightly or wrongly, US car buyers have decided that the long charging times for a BEV (relative to refueling with liquid hydrocarbons) must be offset with enormous range. And when it comes to a long-legged BEV, there's a new king of the hill.

On Thursday, the US Environmental Protection Agency issued its official range rating for the Lucid Air. The Air was probably going to do well here—Lucid-commissioned independent testing determined that a combination of a very low drag coefficient and a hefty 113 kWh battery pack would deliver over 517 miles (832 km) of range. But the EPA says Lucid has done even more than that: the Air Dream Edition has been rated at 520 miles (837 km) on a single charge.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/09/lucid-gets-its-official-epa-range-ratings-and-theyre-astounding/

A 1,200-horsepower, tri-motor beast.

Roberto Baldwin - August 26, 2022 10:00 AM

Lucid has a mission: to take on the German luxury brands. Those automakers all have their own performance sub-brands, so Lucid now does. At the annual Monterey Car Week festivities, Lucid unveiled its Sapphire performance brand. As expected, the Air was the first to get the high-powered treatment. The Lucid Air Sapphire has 1,200 horsepower and will do zero to 60 in under two seconds.

It’s more than just throwing another motor in the back for a tri-motor system. The automaker also enhanced the suspension, added some aero bits, and unveiled a new sport mode called Sapphire. With a starting price of $249,000, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re interested, the automaker will start deliveries in 2023.

https://www.engadget.com/lucid-air-sapphire-performance-brand-1200-horsepower-140006045.html

The Lucid Air is making waves in the EV world. But who exactly owns Lucid? And will it be the next big EV maker?

Alex Ramos - 1 September 2022

Lucid Motors is not trying to make friends in the electric car segment. They've already dethroned Tesla as the EV range king with their amazing Lucid Air, which, in certain configurations, features a range of at least 500 miles.

Not only this, but they're also launching a model that is set to take away the Model S Plaid's crown in the performance EV segment as well. However, many people still don't know what this company is all about. Read on to find out all the info you need to know about this massive player in the EV world.

https://www.makeuseof.com/who-owns-lucid-motors/

May 31st, 2020 by Steve Hanley

One of the things that sets NIO, a Chinese maker of electric automobiles, apart is its focus on battery swapping technology. Drive in to one its 136 automated swap stations along many of China’s busiest highways with a depleted battery and drive out a few minutes later with a full charged battery ready to complete your journey.

Battery swapping was hailed as the future of EVs a decade ago. Tesla dabbled with the idea early on, but abandoned it in favor of building out its Supercharger network. Tesla owners weren’t all that excited about the process and Tesla closed its one battery swap station at Harris Ranch on the highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles after a brief trial.

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/05/31/nio-completes-more-than-500000-battery-swaps/

Posted by BeauHD on Monday February 07, 2022 05:25PM

Nissan is pulling the plug on its internal combustion engine development, except for the United States. Ars Technica reports:

According to Nikkei Asia, the Japanese automaker has looked at the likely next set of European emissions rules and has decided it would be too expensive to design a new generation of engines that comply. Nissan is also not planning on any new internal combustion engines for Japan or China, although it will apparently keep refining existing engines and continue to work on hybrid powertrains. However, this new policy isn't a global one – it doesn't apply to the US. That's because here, the automaker expects continuing demand for internal combustion engines, particularly in pickup trucks. If Nikkei Asia's reporting is correct, Nissan is just making explicit the fact that electrification of light passenger vehicles is going to be much more rapid in regions where governments create strong policy incentives.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/22/02/07/2234242/nissan-is-ending-engine-development-except-for-us-bound-vehicles

5-door all-electric fastback

Starting at $59,900 MSRP with 0% APR. Lease price starting at $549 / 39 mo*

https://www.polestar.com/us/polestar-2

The 2022 EV will also offer custom configurations.

Jon Fingas - August 12th, 2021

Polestar is finally ready to confirm pricing and details for its more affordable single-motor Polestar 2. As Autoblog reports, the 2022 “entry-level” EV will start at $45,900 before incentives, or a cool $14,000 below the original dual-motor version's price. If you're in California, that cost after incentives could dip to a relatively low $34,900. That's no mean feat when it offers the longest range of the bunch at an EPA-estimated 265 miles.

The long-range dual-motor version starts at a lower $49,900 for 2022 ($38,900 after California incentives), with a longer 249-mile range on top of that. The catch, as you might guess, is that you'll need to add “packs” to get certain creature comforts, regardless of which car you're buying.

https://www.engadget.com/polestar-2-single-motor-price-range-151503533.html

Kris Holt - 7:30 AM PST December 8, 2021

Polestar has released an over-the-air update that boosts the Polestar 2’s torque and horsepower. It bumps up the EV’s oomph to 469 horsepower (an increase of 67hp) and 502 lb. ft of torque, an increase of 15.

In practical terms, Polestar says those upgrades shave around a tenth of a second off the 0-60 MPH acceleration time, which is down to 4.4 seconds. The company suggests the biggest acceleration boost will be found in the mid-range. It claims that going from 50 to 75 MPH will take 2.2 seconds, which is around half a second faster than the typical Polestar 2 setup.

The update isn’t free, however. It’s available in the Polestar Extras store for eligible cars in the UK, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Germany and Austria, and it costs around €1,000 ($1,130). Polestar plans to offer the update in the US and Canada in the spring, with pricing to be announced later.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/08/polestar-will-increase-its-evs-horsepower-with-a-e1000-software-update/

Igor Bonifacic - 12:06 PM PST December 15, 2021

As part of its recently announced 2022 lineup, Volvo subsidiary Polestar introduced a new single-motor variant of its Polestar 2 electric sedan. If you were waiting on an EPA estimate before reserving one, wait no more. You can expect to get about 270 miles of range on a single charge from the car’s 75 kWh battery, Polestar announced on Wednesday.

That puts the FWD model in the company of vehicles like the Volkswagen ID.4 and Model 3. With the entry-level models of those two cars, you can expect 249 miles and 263 miles of range, respectively. That’s not bad given the Polestar 2’s $47,200 starting price, but not nearly as good as the 303 miles of EPA-rated range Hyundai will offer with the $44,875 version of its Ioniq 5.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/15/the-entry-level-2022-polestar-2-will-have-an-epa-estimated-range-of-270-miles/

The R1T and R1S could be more competitive on launch.

Jon Fingas, 26 Janaury 2020

Rivian's first vehicles are getting a price cut of sorts months before they even roll off the line. Company founder RJ Scaringe told Reuters in a chat that the electric R1T truck and its R1S SUV counterpart would cost less than originally announced. He didn't provide full pricing, but he indicated that a mid-range R1T with 300 miles of range and an electrochromic glass roof would sell for $69,000, while a comparable R1S would sell for $72,000. The automaker had pegged the starting prices for the R1T and R1S at $61,500 and $65,000 respectively.

https://www.engadget.com/2020/01/26/rivian-ev-prices-lower-than-first-announced/

Fred Lambert - Jun. 3rd 2020 5:42 pm ET

Rivian has filed for two new trademarks on unknown vehicles, but we might have an idea of what they could be.

The startup has announced two named vehicles, its R1T electric pickup truck and R1S electric SUV.

We also know that Rivian is working on a new electric delivery van, but it doesn’t have an official name.

https://electrek.co/2020/06/03/rivian-trademarks-new-vehicles-r1v-r2x/

Kirsten Korosec / 10:37 am PDT•July 24, 2020

Rivian has started to run a pilot production line at its factory in Normal, Illinois, as the electric vehicle startup prepares to bring its pickup truck and SUV to market in summer 2021.

In an email sent to prospective customers, Rivian said deliveries of its R1T electric pickup truck will begin in June 2021. Deliveries of the R1S electric SUV will start in August 2021.

Rivian said in May that deliveries of the R1T and R1S would be pushed to 2021. It wasn’t clear — until today’s email — exactly when deliveries would begin.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/24/rivian-to-begin-deliveries-of-electric-pickup-truck-in-june-2021/

It's got storage compartments galore, plus an extending truck bed.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 5/8/2021, 10:49 AM

Electric vehicle startup Rivian is moving closer to production of its innovative-looking trucks and SUVs. The first launch edition R1T pickup trucks are expected in June, with series production models arriving at the start of 2022. And even though I'm not really a truck person, I remain as fascinated now by this new entrant into the most quintessentially American part of the vehicle market as I was after first seeing one in 2019.

Ahead of those initial deliveries, the company reached out to share some of info about the R1T, which looks like it will offer Swiss Army knife-levels of versatility to its owners. It's about the size you'd expect of a full-size pickup truck: 217.1 inches (5.51 m) long, 81.8 inches (2.08 m) wide, and between 72.1-78.3 inches (1.83-1.99 m) tall depending on whether it's in kneel mode (ground clearance: 8.7 inches/0.22 m) or off-road mode (ground clearance: 14.9 inches/0.38 m).

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/05/rivian-shares-some-cargo-specs-for-the-r1t-electric-pickup-truck/

A month later than planned.

Kris Holt - May 28th, 202

Given how long Rivian's R1T electric pickup and R1S SUV have been in the works, a one-month delay isn't too bad in the grand scheme of things. Nevertheless, the company says it will finally start deliveries in July.

Rivian's concierges (aka Guides) are starting to contact customers to confirm details and provide delivery estimates. The company plans to get in touch with everyone who has a Launch Edition pre-order by November. It aims to complete Launch Edition deliveries by next spring.

The automaker has also revealed some updates for the R1T and R1S. An onboard air compressor now comes as standard. Rivian is also making the off-road upgrade optional after initially including it in the base price. Adventure gear is now available in the configurator, including rooftop tent and cargo crossbar options, as well as a camp kitchen set. There's also a 11.5 kWh home wall charger that Rivian says offers 40km (just under 25 miles) of range for every hour of charging time.

https://www.engadget.com/rivian-r1t-electric-truck-r1s-suv-delivery-dates-151911858.html

Aria Alamalhodaei / 3:06 PM PDT•July 21, 2021

Rivian electric vehicle charging stations are coming to yet another state park system. The EV startup said it would install its so-called “waypoint” chargers at all of Tennessee’s 56 state parks, just four months after announcing a similar agreement with the state of Colorado.

It’s the next step in Rivian’s plans to build out its network of more than 10,000 Level 2 AC chargers by the end of 2023. Installing chargers at state parks and other far-flung locales is a key facet of Rivian’s brand strategy: to position itself as an eco-friendly automaker for the outdoorsy type regardless of whether they own a Rivian vehicle. The waypoint chargers will be open to the public and accessible to all electric vehicle brands with a J1772 plug.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/21/rivian-is-installing-ev-chargers-in-tennessees-56-state-parks/

Kirsten Korosec - 6:46 AM PDT•September 30, 2021

In 2019, Rivian showed up at the Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona with a prototype of what is now known as the Camp Kitchen. Now, with production ready 2022 Rivian R1T electric pickup trucks coming off the assembly line, the final version of the kitchen is ready for prime time.

The automaker has made a number of changes to the kitchen since it first debuted, including the addition of two supporting actors: a foundational shuttle system that the kitchen attaches to and a dishware set from Snow Peak.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/30/rivian-r1t-camp-kitchen-check-out-the-final-version-of-the-electric-pickups-outdoor-cooking-station/

Tim Levin - 30 September 2021

Ask someone what defines the quintessential American pickup truck and a handful of qualities may spring to mind: big, loud, unwieldy, and — if we're really committing to the stereotype — slurping gas as it belches clouds of black smoke.

The 2022 Rivian R1T is none of those things.

As the first fully electric pickup to go on sale in the modern EV era, beating out Ford's familiar F-150 Lightning and Tesla's otherworldly Cybertruck, the R1T completely flips the script on what a pickup can be. And at a time when practically every car company is transitioning away from fossil fuels and battery-powered trucks are becoming the new rage, Rivian has somehow beaten everyone else to the punch.

https://www.businessinsider.com/rivian-r1t-ev-electric-pickup-first-drive-impressions-photos-2021-9

We put the R1T to the test by driving up to the top of a mountain in Colorado.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 9/28/2021, 6:00 AM

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo.—Hats off to Rivian. Until 2018, almost no one had heard of the company. Now, it has brought the first battery electric pickup truck to market ahead of electric vehicle giant Tesla and just-plain-giant Ford, and this vehicle is aimed at a distinct buyer when compared to the everyman F-150 Lightning or the Mars colonist's Cybertruck. The $67,500 R1T is for people who like exploring the outdoors—this is an adventure truck. And to put that claim to the test, last week we drove one up a mountain and back.

Rivian got started in 2009 and toyed with the idea of a number of different vehicles until it settled on a pair of battery electric vehicles—a truck and SUV—to begin with. Both were to be built in a former Mitsubishi factory in Normal, Illinois, that the company bought in 2017. The following year, the company emerged from “stealth mode,” and in 2019, I got to check out the concept R1T at that year's New York auto show, where it pushed all the right buttons.

The company also started raising billions of dollars from investors like Ford and Amazon, the latter also placing an order for 100,000 electric delivery trucks. Production of the R1T was originally slated to begin in 2020, but as with so many plans, that went out the window in March of that year. But the trucks are beginning to roll out of Rivian's Normal factory and into the hands of customers who ordered the (now sold-out) $73,000 Launch Edition.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/09/rivians-67-500-314-mile-electric-adventure-truck-put-to-the-test/

Not surprising given how many delivery vehicles Amazon is buying from the company.

Igor Bonifacic - October 29th, 2021

Amazon owns a 20 percent stake in electric transport startup Rivian, according to a recent SEC disclosure spotted by Bloomberg. As of September 30th, the company said it held equity investments, “including preferred stock of Rivian Automotive,” valued at $3.8 billion, up from $2.7 billion at the end of 2020. That Amazon should own a fifth of Rivian is not surprising. In 2019, the retailer led a $700 million investment round in the automaker, contributing about $440 million to that total.

That same year, it announced as part of its 2040 climate pledge it would purchase 100,000 electric delivery vehicles from Rivian. The first of those EVs, a cutesy van, began making deliveries in Los Angeles at the start of the year. Amazon hopes to have 10,000 of its Rivian EVs on the road by the end of 2022.

https://www.engadget.com/amazon-20-percent-stake-rivian-185007669.html

The state's economic development agency thought it owned 3% of EV behemoth Rivian. It was very, very wrong.

Mark Harris - 9:30 AM PST December 14, 2021

It would have been a legendary payoff for any investor, let alone a public agency: swapping an undrivable car for a multibillion-dollar stake in a hot new EV startup.

Until last year, Space Florida, the state’s economic development agency for aerospace, believed that it owned 3% of Rivian as a result of a canny lease-back agreement made a decade earlier. Following Rivian’s blockbuster IPO in November, that stake would have been worth nearly $3 billion based on Rivian’s current market capitalization — a more than 1,000-fold return on Space Florida’s investment. That investment, which totaled nearly $2 million, included buying prototypes from Rivian in exchange for warrants in the company as well as the cost of buying the stock.

Instead — and through a mechanism that neither the agency nor Rivian can explain — Space Florida has ended up holding just 60,000 shares in the company, worth less than $7 million, public records from the agency show.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/14/space-florida-shrinking-rivian-stake/

Not just an impressive EV, but an impressive truck.

Roberto Baldwin - December 29th, 2021

Announcing a vehicle is one thing, actually following through and building that vehicle at a factory and then selling it, that’s an almost impossible feat for a new company. But like Tesla before it, Rivian has pulled it off and in doing so has built one of the best trucks on the road today, EV or otherwise.

https://www.engadget.com/rivian-r1t-electric-truck-review-150019762.html

Ongoing supply chain woes mean more delays for early adopters.

Eric Bangeman - 12/29/2021, 8:50 AM

With supply chain disruptions messing with the auto industry, it's an especially challenging time for startups like Rivian. After warning of production challenges due to parts shortages early in December, the Illinois-based electric truck maker on Tuesday told some customers they would need to wait another year, until 2023, for their preorders to be delivered.

The delay affects deliveries of Rivian R1T (truck) and R1S (SUV) models with the Max battery packs, which offer a range of 400 miles on a single charge. Those account for about 20 percent of Rivian preorders, according to an email to customers sent by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe and posted to Reddit. The rest of the preorders are for vehicles with the Large pack, providing range of around 315 miles.

“In order to serve the largest number of preorder holders, we will be prioritizing building the Adventure Package with Large pack battery during the next year,” wrote Scaringe. “Explore Package preorders and vehicles with a Max pack battery configuration will follow in 2023. In setting our delivery timing, we optimized our build sequence around the build combination that would support us ramping as quickly as possible and therefore have the largest possible positive climate impact.”

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/12/delivery-date-for-extended-range-rivian-trucks-slip-into-2023/

Price hike hits nearly all preorders, with lower-spec trucks years away.

Tim De Chant - 3/2/2022, 8:33 AM

Automaker Rivian announced yesterday that it is raising the prices of its R1T truck and R1S SUV and that the new prices would apply to nearly all preorders.

Both the R1T and R1S weren’t inexpensive vehicles to begin with—the truck started at $67,500 before any eligible tax credits, and the SUV started at $70,000. At those prices, the vehicles came equipped with a quad-motor drivetrain and a “large pack” battery that would provide about 315 miles of range.

Now, to get the same vehicle, buyers will have to fork over $79,500 for the R1T and $84,500 for the R1S, increases of 17 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The only customers locked in to the old pricing are those whose vehicles are already in production or will be soon. Given Rivian’s slow ramp-up, there aren’t likely to be many who qualify.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/03/rivian-surprises-outrages-ev-truck-buyers-with-20-price-hike/

The move had raised prices by as much as $20,000.

Jon Fingas - March 3rd, 2022

Rivian is quickly backtracking on its steep EV price hikes. The Verge reports Rivian has reversed the price increases for R1T pickup and R1S SUV pre-order customers. Anyone who ordered one of the vehicles before March 1st will pay the original prices, and those who cancelled orders in response can reinstate their orders without affecting their prices or delivery timing. Orders for affected configurations made from March 1st onward will still cost more.

Company chief RJ Scaringe said the higher prices “broke the trust” of customers, and that the automaker didn't properly communicate the reasons for the hikes. While the new prices were meant to reflect higher manufacturing costs (hence maintaining prices for new buyers), Rivian “wrongly” applied those increases to existing customers, according to Scaringe. It also incorrectly presumed customers wouldn't mind buying the lower-end dual-motor and standard battery models if the quad-motor option was suddenly too expensive.

https://www.engadget.com/rivian-reverses-r1t-r1s-pre-orders-164952720.html

Company made “untrue statements” in its IPO about R1T and R1S pricing.

Tim De Chant - 3/8/2022, 2:44 PM

Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, is being sued (PDF) by a shareholder who alleges that the company's surprise 20 percent price hike tarnished Rivian's reputation and violated US securities laws.

The company made “untrue statements” in its IPO about the pricing of its R1T truck and R1S SUV, the lawsuit says. “Unbeknownst to investors,” the suit says, Rivian's filings for the IPO contained statements that were “materially inaccurate, misleading, and/or incomplete because they failed to disclose, among other things, that the R1T and R1S were underpriced to such a degree that Rivian would have to raise prices shortly after the IPO.”

The lawsuit alleges that the surprise price increases would “tarnish Rivian's reputation as a trustworthy and transparent company” and risk the cancellation of a “significant number” of the nearly 56,000 preorders the company had accumulated.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/03/rivian-hit-with-shareholder-lawsuit-over-surprise-ev-truck-price-hike/

Kirsten Korosec - 9:43 AM PDT May 9, 2022

Rivian’s stock price fell more than 17% Monday, a drop prompted by a CNBC report that Ford was selling 8 million shares of the EV automaker.

Ford held a 12% stake, or about 102 million shares, of Rivian.

Over the weekend, David Faber of CNBC reported that Ford would sell 8 million of its Rivian shares through Goldman Sachs. Faber followed up on Monday, describing the sale as “done.” The sell-off came as an insider lockup for the stock expired Sunday.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/09/rivian-shares-down-more-than-17-following-report-of-ford-sell-off/

Here are a few more things you should know about the company that beat Tesla's Cybertruck with its awesome R1T.

Alex Ramos - 18 December 2022

Rivian is an EV maker famous for its R1 line of electric trucks. This includes the R1T pickup truck and the R1S SUV. Both of these are amazing vehicles, and Rivian is planning on releasing more models in the future.

It might seem like Rivian popped out of the blue, but the company does have an interesting history. It also has business deals with Amazon to build eco-friendly electric delivery vans for the online giant.

Rivian is definitely a very intriguing company full of surprises. So, here are four things you probably didn't know about this Tesla challenger.

https://www.makeuseof.com/things-you-didnt-know-about-rivian/

It’s the Patagonia vest of EVs.

Roberto Baldwin - November 7, 2022 11:00 AM

Rivian impressed car reviewers (and us) with its R1T pickup, and its R1S electric SUV is no different. The slightly smaller vehicle continues the automotive startup’s trend of building no-compromise electric vehicles meant for outdoor adventure.

Living the life of an extreme camper, kayaker or cyclist doesn't come cheap: The R1S has a bank-busting price tag starting at $78,000. It might not be the most efficient EV on the market, but it has a healthy range of up to 316 miles, which should be enough to satisfy those looking to go outdoors with a vehicle that’s solidly built. The R1S also now ships with a new Camp Mode feature that levels the cabin so overnight stays can be a bit more comfortable.

https://www.engadget.com/rivian-r1s-suv-ev-review-video-160029394.html

Slate, a Jeff Bezos-backed startup has unveiled a cheap, no-frills lightweight electric truck priced at just $20,000.

Thomas Maxwell - April 25, 2025

A new electric vehicle startup called Slate Auto unveiled its first vehicle at a splashy event on Thursday, and the company is coming out of the gates with a pickup truck that is everything Tesla’s Cybertruck is not. The Slate Truck, as it is called, promises to be a small electric pickup truck with 150 miles of range on a single charge and a variety of customization options. But the most notable detail is the car’s price, starting at just $20,000 with federal tax incentives.

If the Cybertruck is the most eye-catching yet polarizing truck on the market, the Slate Truck is everything but. The small, two-door vehicle features a traditional pickup design with no frills or fancy features like an infotainment system or autonomous driving.

In fact, the Slate Truck has does not have an infotainment system at all—drivers connect their phone over Bluetooth for entertainment—and uses crank windows as well as steel wheels and HVAC knobs. Some of those will be nice to drivers who loathe the transition away from physical knobs and buttons in cars, and are fine relying on Bluetooth to play music rather than forgoing some privacy to use a complicated infotainment system.

The stand-out feature of the vehicle is suggested in the “Slate” itself: the Slate Truck can be customizable to each buyer’s needs. Every vehicle comes off the line the same, and flat-pack kits will allow owners to quickly convert the two-seat pickup truck into a five-seat SUV in case they do not need the bed. Buyers are expected to retrofit the car themselves or through yet-to-be-announced nationwide partners who will support service and installation. The Slate Truck is something akin to the Framework laptop but for cars, or maybe a Pebble, with its simplistic design appealing to customers who just want the basics.

https://gizmodo.com/new-american-ev-company-is-taking-on-elon-musk-with-a-20000-truck-2000594358

Is the market ready for a four-wheeled digital detox?

Tim Stevens - Apr 24, 2025, 7:20 PM PDT

Ask just about anybody, and they’ll tell you that new cars are too expensive. In the wake of tariffs shaking the auto industry and with the Trump administration pledging to kill the federal EV incentive, that situation isn’t looking to get better soon, especially for anyone wanting something battery-powered. Changing that overly spendy status quo is going to take something radical, and it’s hard to get more radical than what Slate Auto has planned.

Meet the Slate Truck, a sub-$20,000 (after federal incentives) electric vehicle that enters production next year. It only seats two yet has a bed big enough to hold a sheet of plywood. It only does 150 miles on a charge, only comes in gray, and the only way to listen to music while driving is if you bring along your phone and a Bluetooth speaker. It is the bare minimum of what a modern car can be, and yet it’s taken three years of development to get to this point.

But this is more than bargain-basement motoring. Slate is presenting its truck as minimalist design with DIY purpose, an attempt to not just go cheap but to create a new category of vehicle with a huge focus on personalization. That design also enables a low-cost approach to manufacturing that has caught the eye of major investors, reportedly including Jeff Bezos. It’s been engineered and will be manufactured in America, but is this extreme simplification too much for American consumers?

https://www.theverge.com/electric-cars/655527/slate-electric-truck-price-paint-radio-bezos

Owners can buy kits to add accessories and features to the Slate Truck.

Abigail Bassett – Apr 24, 2025 7:20 PM

In one of the strangest launches we’ve seen in a while, Slate Auto, the reportedly Jeff Bezos-backed electric vehicle startup, unveiled its first EV, the Slate Truck. Notably, the vehicle is capable of a claimed 150 miles (241 km) of range at a starting price of less than $20,000, assuming federal clean vehicle tax credits continue to exist.

Slate caused a lot of social media froth when it parked a pair of styling concepts (not functional vehicles) in Venice, California, advertising bizarre fake businesses. Today, the company unveiled the vehicle to the press at an event near the Long Beach Airport.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/04/amazon-backed-startup-wants-to-sell-a-bare-bones-ev-truck-for-20000/

Sean O'Kane - 9:11 PM PDT April 24, 2025

A new American electric vehicle startup called Slate Auto has made its debut, and it’s about as anti-Tesla as it gets.

It’s affordable, deeply customizable, and very analog. It has manual windows and it doesn’t come with a main infotainment screen. Heck, it isn’t even painted. It can also transform from a two-seater pickup to a five-seater SUV.

The three-year-old startup revealed its vehicle during an event Thursday night in Long Beach, California, and promised the first trucks would be available to customers for under $20,000 with the federal EV tax credit by the end of 2026.

The event comes just a few weeks since TechCrunch revealed details of Slate Auto’s plans to enter the U.S. EV market, build its trucks in Indiana, and that the enterprise is financially backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The auto industry “has been so focused on autonomy and technology in the vehicle, it’s driven prices to a place that most Americans simply can’t afford,” chief commercial officer Jeremy Snyder said during the event, which Inside EVs live streamed. “But we’re here to change that.”

“We are building the affordable vehicle that has long been promised but never been delivered,” CEO Chris Barman added.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/24/bezos-backed-slate-auto-debuts-analog-ev-pickup-truck-that-is-decidedly-anti-tesla/

A spacious electric car with a range of up to 255 kilometers that charges itself through the power of the sun.

https://sonomotors.com/en/sion/

Thu, Oct 27 2022 2:28 PM EDT / Updated Thu, Oct 27 2022 2:29 PM EDT - Katie Brigham

Germany company Sono Motors

says it will bring a solar-powered electric vehicle to market in Europe in mid-2023. Sono has brought the car, called the Sion, on a tour throughout the U.S., in anticipation of its eventual domestic release.

Priced at $25,000, the car is more affordable than most EVs on the U.S. market. It features 465 integrated solar half-cells throughout the exterior of the car — roof, doors, fenders, hood and all. The company estimates that solar power alone can fuel about 70 miles of driving per week.

For longer trips though, the Sion has a lithium iron phosphate battery with a 190-mile range, made by Chinese electric vehicle and battery giant BYD.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/27/worlds-first-affordable-solar-ev-sono-motors-sion-at-25000.html

Subaru has partnered with Toyota to develop a new EV platform.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 11/11/2021, 5:45 AM

On Thursday morning in Tokyo, Subaru unveiled its first-ever battery-electric vehicle. It's an electric crossover called the Solterra, and it has been developed in partnership with Toyota alongside that brand's forthcoming EV, the bZ4x.

At the heart of the Solterra—or more accurately its core—you'll find a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion traction battery, between the axles and underneath the floor of the passenger compartment. It has been designed in both front- and all-wheel-drive variants, with either a 150 kW (201 hp) AC synchronous motor driving just the front wheels, or a pair of 80 kW (107 hp) motors, one powering each axle, for a total output of 160 kW (214 hp).

Subaru says that the FWD Solterra has a range of 329 miles (530 km) and the AWD Solterra a range of about 285 miles (460 km). However, those range estimates were generated using the WLTP test standard, which does not accurately reflect the less-energy-efficient driving style required for North American roads.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/11/subaru-shows-off-its-first-electric-vehicle-the-solterra-suv/

Abigail Bassett / 11:49 AM PST November 17, 2021

Subaru pulled the cover off its first all-electric crossover for the second time in November. This time, the 2023 Subaru Solterra electric crossover — the Toyota bZ4X doppelgänger — made its U.S. debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The first all-electric subcompact crossover is a joint project, like the Subaru BR-Z and the Toyota 86 (formerly the Scion FR-S) was before it, and the crossover is a close sibling, almost twin-like, to the Toyota bZ4X crossover that was announced in April.

The upshot: The Solterra is targeting Americans’ insatiable appetite for crossover and it gives Subaru a foothold in the EV market, with Toyota’s help.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/17/subarus-first-all-electric-vehicle-makes-its-american-debut/

Unsurprisingly, it's similar to Toyota's bZ4X.

Igor Bonifacic - November 18th, 2021

Following not one but two teases, Subaru has finally shared more information on its first EV, the Solterra, after the AWD crossover made an appearance at the 2021 LA Auto Show. As expected, the Solterra shares many similarities with Toyota’s upcoming bZ4X crossover. That should come as no surprise since the two automakers jointly developed the e-TNGA powertrain at the heart of both electric vehicles.

Subaru’s crossover features a 71.4 kWh lithium battery that the automaker estimates will provide 220 miles of range on a single charge. Subaru says it’s possible to charge the Solterra’s power cell from dead to 80 percent in under an hour with a DC fast charger. The dual motors can output 215 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft of torque.

https://www.engadget.com/subaru-solterra-crossover-details-182128199.html

Are you willing to pay more for extra off-roading features?

Jon Fingas - April 26th, 2022

Subaru has detailed pricing for the Solterra SUV, and it's clearly costlier (if easier to pronounce) than its Toyota bZ4X sibling. The company's first EV will start at $44,995 in its Premium trim before the $7,500 federal tax credit and a $1,225 destination fee. This base model includes an eight-inch infotainment system (with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto) as well as driver assists that include rear camera detection, blind spot monitoring and safe-exit door alerts.

Spend $48,495 for the Limited tier and you'll get a 12.3-inch infotainment system, a 360-degree camera view, a wireless phone charging dock, parking assistance, rear cross-traffic warnings and phone-based digital key support. You can also expect more conventional upgrades like a Harman Kardon audio system, LED fog lights and a power rear door. The $51,995 Touring variant adds a digital rear-view mirror with HomeLink support, a panoramic moonroof, footwell lighting and ventilated front seats.

https://www.engadget.com/subaru-solterra-price-205433204.html

Kirsten Korosec - 6:55 AM PDT April 16, 2025

Subaru is back with a new EV, and like its predecessor the Solterra, the all-electric Trailseeker SUV includes a bit of Toyota handiwork.

Subaru of America revealed the 2026 Trailseeker SUV on Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show. The EV, the second in the Japanese automaker’s portfolio, looks familiar in a hey-that-looks-like-a-Subaru sort of way. It’s reminiscent of the gas-powered Subaru Ascent, but is physically smaller. Others might see a little Outback in Trailseeker.

It’s bigger than the Solterra, the all-electric subcompact crossover born out of a joint project with Toyota and that entered the U.S. market in 2022.

Either way, the Trailseeker aims to give customers another EV option — and one that lands squarely in the outdoorsy lifestyle arena — than the Subaru Solterra. That could put the Trailseeker up against the upcoming Rivian R2, which is expected to go into production in 2026. Although Rivian, which will produce the R2 in the U.S., may have a distinct advantage over Subaru in these tariff-laden times. The Trailseeker will be assembled in Japan.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/16/subaru-debuts-trailseeker-an-all-electric-suv-coming-for-rivians-outdoorsy-ev-customer-base/

Harri Weber - 14 June 2023

Most trucks today are headed in the wrong direction, metaphorically speaking. They’re far too big and heavy, with shrinking beds and expanding cabins that reflect their turn from a classic workhorse into a status symbol-meets-family car.

This is my take, but I’m not just here to blab about aesthetics and my weird love of teeny-tiny cars. Huge vehicles are uniquely deadly for pedestrians and cyclists and counterproductive to decarbonization work. They demand more raw materials and ultimately bigger batteries, and they stir fears that compact cars can’t hack it alongside them on roads today. In other words, they’re bad for people and the planet.

The switch to electric vehicles offers an opportunity to shake things up, sizewise. Yet in the U.S., most automakers won’t risk it, and there’s a financial basis for that. Trucks like the F-150 and Silverado are more popular than ever, giving little incentive for companies to carve out a new path. Still, a young startup called Telo Trucks is taking an alternate route anyway. It’s betting that lots of Americans actually want a petite pickup — one with the “footprint of a two-door Mini Cooper” and the “same interior and bed space as a Toyota Tacoma,” Telo CEO Jason Marks told TechCrunch. Do you believe him?

https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/14/ev-startup-telo-america-small-pickup-truck/

Tesla says the owner can’t use features it says ‘they did not pay for’

By Nick Statt - Feb 6, 2020, 8:03pm EST

Tesla has remotely disabled driver assistance features on a used Model S after it was sold to a customer, Jalopnik reports. The company now claims that the owner of the car, who purchased it from a third-party dealer — a dealer who bought it at an auction held by Tesla itself — “did not pay” for the features and therefore is not eligible to use them.

The features were enabled when the dealer bought the car, and they were advertised as part of the package when the car was sold to its owner. It’s a peculiar situation that raises hard questions about the nature of over-the-air software updates as they relate to vehicles.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/6/21127243/tesla-model-s-autopilot-disabled-remotely-used-car-update

Matthew DeBord - May 7, 2020, 1:06 PM

My first real crack at the Tesla Model 3 came in 2018, after I'd already driven the vehicle several times, under limited conditions.

But then Tesla loaned me a single-motor version, priced at $57,500 — and well-equipped with extra features — to test for a week. I was utterly blown away.

https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-3-standard-range-compared-chevy-bolt-longer-range-2020-5

Posted by msmash on Monday February 17, 2020 09:25AM

Elon Musk's Tesla technology is far ahead of the industry giants, a new report has concluded. From the report:

This is the takeaway from Nikkei Business Publications' teardown of the Model 3, the most affordable car in the U.S. automaker's all-electric lineup, starting at about $33,000. What stands out most is Tesla's integrated central control unit, or “full self-driving computer.” Also known as Hardware 3, this little piece of tech is the company's biggest weapon in the burgeoning EV market. It could end the auto industry supply chain as we know it. One stunned engineer from a major Japanese automaker examined the computer and declared, “We cannot do it.” The module – released last spring and found in all new Model 3, Model S and Model X vehicles – includes two custom, 260-sq.-millimeter AI chips. Tesla developed the chips on its own, along with special software designed to complement the hardware. The computer powers the cars' self-driving capabilities as well as their advanced in-car “infotainment” system.

This kind of electronic platform, with a powerful computer at its core, holds the key to handling heavy data loads in tomorrow's smarter, more autonomous cars. Industry insiders expect such technology to take hold around 2025 at the earliest. That means Tesla beat its rivals by six years. The implications for the broader auto industry are huge and – for some – frightening. Tesla built this digital nerve center through a series of upgrades to the original Autopilot system it introduced in 2014. What was also called Hardware 1 was a driver-assistance system that allowed the car to follow others, mostly on highways, and automatically steer in a lane. Every two or three years, the company pushed the envelope further, culminating in the full self-driving computer.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/20/02/17/1725220/tesla-teardown-finds-electronics-6-years-ahead-of-toyota-and-vw

Posted by BeauHD on Wednesday October 14, 2020 01:50PM

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Wired:

Researchers at Israel's Ben Gurion University of the Negev have spent the last two years experimenting with “phantom” images to trick semi-autonomous driving systems. They previously revealed that they could use split-second light projections on roads to successfully trick Tesla's driver-assistance systems into automatically stopping without warning when its camera sees spoofed images of road signs or pedestrians. In new research, they've found they can pull off the same trick with just a few frames of a road sign injected on a billboard's video. And they warn that if hackers hijacked an internet-connected billboard to carry out the trick, it could be used to cause traffic jams or even road accidents while leaving little evidence behind.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/20/10/14/2035236/split-second-phantom-images-can-fool-teslas-autopilot

It's the second high-profile Tesla crash in Michigan in the past week

Michael Martinez - March 17, 2021 11:59 AM

A Tesla on Autopilot crashed into a stationary police car on a Michigan freeway early Wednesday, authorities said.

No one was injured in the crash, which happened on Interstate 96 near Lansing while a Michigan State Police trooper was investigating an earlier accident involving a deer.

The Tesla's Autopilot driver-assist system was engaged when it struck the police car, a blue Dodge Charger with its emergency lights activated, police officials tweeted. The driver of the Tesla, identified as a 22-year-old man from Lansing, was ticketed for failing to move over and driving with a suspended license.

https://www.autonews.com/regulation-safety/tesla-autopilot-crashes-mich-police-car-nhtsa-launches-probe

12 Jul 2021, 07:29 UTC · by Gustavo Henrique Ruffo

Donald Bone drove over some debris on the road, and something broke in his Model 3. The coolant leaked, and he was worried. Tesla told him Bone could drive to a Service Center. He took the car to one, and they detected the vehicle had a broken port. When Bone thought the repair would cost $800, he received news that he would have to pay $16,000 to replace the entire battery pack.

His car did not have comprehensive coverage because he just switched his former car with the Model 3, and his insurance company did not want to pay for the repair. Without options, Bone asked for help in Tesla forums, and someone told him about the Electrified Garage.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/a-repair-would-cost-16000-at-tesla-the-electrified-garage-did-it-for-700-165107.html

The federal regulator is investigating 12 Autopilot crashes into first responders.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 9/1/2021, 7:38 AM

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into Tesla's Autopilot driver assistance system continues apace. The Associated Press reports that on Tuesday, the NHTSA sent Tesla a letter requesting further information following 12 incidents of Autopilot-enabled Teslas crashing into emergency vehicles parked by the side of the road. In total, 17 people have been injured, and one has died.

The NHTSA sent Tesla the 11-page letter asking for detailed information on how Autopilot recognizes and reacts to emergency vehicles. The company must respond by October 22 unless it asks for an extension, and the AP says Tesla could be fined $114 million if it does not cooperate.

Specifically, the agency wants to know how the system detects “a crash scene, including flashing lights, road flares, reflectorized vests worn by responders, and vehicles parked on the road.” Additionally, Tesla must tell NHTSA how Autopilot works in low-light conditions and what happens if the system detects an emergency.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/09/tesla-must-tell-nhtsa-how-autopilot-sees-emergency-vehicles/

A Quick Guide On Installing A Tesla Home Charger.

Zachary Shahan - 10 December 2021

So, you’re getting a Tesla and you’re thinking now about how you’re going to charge it. Many Tesla owners don’t have the ability to charge at home and will have to rely on public chargers and perhaps workplace charging, but most owners will use some form of home charging. This could be from a dedicated Tesla home charger installation, or you might end up using a dryer outlet to charge your Tesla.

https://cleantechnica.com/2021/12/10/the-costs-of-installing-a-home-charger-for-your-tesla/amp/

Paulo Acoba - March 18, 2021

If you don’t pay up every month, Tesla might side with the bank to help them repossess your car.

One Tesla Model 3 owner somewhere in Utah is probably regretting not using his stimmy money to keep up with his monthly payments. According to a post from Tesla Owners Utah that’s gone viral earlier this week (Mar 16,2021) Tesla allegedly went above and beyond helping a Repo agent find the offending Tesla Model 3 using Tesla’s suite of convenience features that normally benefit the owner.

Check out the screenshot going viral below.

https://tiremeetsroad.com/2021/03/18/tesla-allegedly-remotely-unlocks-model-3-owners-car-uses-smart-summon-to-help-repo-agent/

Tesla's safety camera system has a real problem with false positives.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 2/18/2022, 7:53 AM

Tesla is facing a new headache this week. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into a “phantom braking” problem after receiving hundreds of complaints from owners of recent Models 3 and Y. In total, the NHTSA says that about 416,000 cars are affected.

In May 2021, Tesla decided to remove the forward-looking radar sensor from the Model 3 and Model Y EVs. This sensor was used by some of the cars' advanced driver-assistance systems, like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.

Instead, new Teslas built for the North American market rely entirely on cameras. At the time of the removal, Tesla noted that the change meant the cars' forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking functions were no longer rated by the NHTSA but that the company expected that rating to happen “in the coming weeks.”

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/02/teslas-radar-less-cars-investigated-by-nhtsa-after-complaints-spike/

After restarting production, the company seems desperate to make up for lost time.

Passant Rabie - 18 April 2022

Employees at Tesla’s Shanghai factory are reportedly being forced to live at work following a three-week shutdown due to a recent outbreak of Covid-19 cases in China. The company will hand out sleeping bags and mattresses to its employees, who will be made to sleep on the floor while operating in a so-called ‘closed-loop’ system, according to Bloomberg.

Tesla is one of several manufacturers in Shanghai that are preparing to resume operations after the government enforced a lockdown on the populous city on March 28. But multinational companies have been putting pressure on the government to ease its restrictions so that they can go back to production, even if it means that their workers can’t leave the premises.

https://gizmodo.com/teslas-shanghai-factory-will-reportedly-force-employees-1848806106

Tesla factory workers say they face “daily racist epithets” and other harassment.

Jon Brodkin - 7/5/2022, 2:47 PM

Tesla is facing a new racial discrimination lawsuit filed by 15 factory employees who allege that Tesla's “standard operating procedures include blatant, open, and unmitigated race discrimination.” Racial harassment and discrimination is “rampant” at Tesla, and the company has “done little to nothing to reasonably prevent or stop this toxic behavior and work environment,” the lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs include nine men and six women who work or worked at Tesla factories in California. About half of the plaintiffs were either fired or quit, while the rest still work at Tesla.

“Plaintiffs, who [are] African-American employees, have been subjected to offensive racist comments and offensive racist behavior and discipline by colleagues, leads, supervisors, managers, and/or Human Resources personnel on a daily basis,” the complaint says. The complaint alleges that an April 2021 incident at Tesla CEO Elon Musk's home led to one of the plaintiffs being fired on the same day.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/07/lawsuit-at-tesla-racial-discrimination-is-standard-operating-procedure/

Ashley - July 7, 2022

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has confirmed that two people lost their lives in a crash at a rest area on Wednesday afternoon.

The crash occurred around 2 p.m. on July 6 near Gainesville, Florida.

According to FHP, a 66 year old female driver was behind the wheel of a 2015 Tesla traveling southbound on I-75 at mile marker 382, when, for unknown reasons, the Tesla left the interstate and crashed into the trailer of a truck parked at the Paynes Prairie Rest Area.

https://cdllife.com/2022/two-people-in-tesla-killed-after-crashing-into-parked-semi-at-florida-rest-stop/

Tesla might be under fire once again. A customer accuses the carmaker that his 2021 Model 3 wasn’t a nearly-new car but a crashed unit that was fixed and sold to him as a barely driven, almost factory-fresh EV. What’s even more interesting is that he claims he found out about this only because he wanted to replace the sedan with the Model Y crossover.

10 Aug 2022, 13:23 UTC - Florin Amariei

A Tesla enthusiast owned a 2021 Model 3 SR+ for a little over a year. He recently decided it was time to get a more spacious vehicle, so he started asking around about the Model Y. He wanted to remain in the Tesla family.

Naturally, the man was looking to sell his current vehicle for a new downpayment. He saw his brother getting generous offers, and he tried popular car-buying platforms to see what his vehicle was worth. These companies surprised the Tesla owner. They were apparently offering him around $23,000, more than half of what his brother was getting for a similar car.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/tesla-allegedly-sold-a-used-crashed-model-3-as-a-nearly-new-car-195614.html

Tesla has proven that EVs can be both efficient & affordable—but how much does the cheapest Tesla cost?

Fawad Ali - 10 August 2022

Buying a new car is one of the biggest financial decisions most of us make. And when it's an electric car (EV), it can be anything but cheap.

Fortunately, Tesla's innovative use of technology has proven that EVs can be both exciting and affordable. Tesla offers desirable electric vehicles at prices most customers can afford.

Although 2022 saw significant price hikes in Tesla's EV range, demand shows no sign of slowing down. Both the Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles were massively successful and are a driving force behind Tesla's popularity today.

So, how much does a Tesla cost, and what's the cheapest Tesla model you can buy in 2022?

https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-the-cheapest-tesla-model-how-much-does-it-cost/

Arthur Frederick (Fritz) Hasler - 1 November 2022

We were totally excited on October 22, 2019 when we drove our Tesla Model 3 Long Range away from the Tesla Salt Lake City Delivery Center.

We’ve just passed our 3 year anniversary! Our odometer as I write this reads 80,821 miles. I wanted to determine how much battery degradation had occurred over that time and mileage, so I recently set the charge limit to 100% — for the first time since we bought the car — to do a range test. I always set the charge limit to 80% at home and only occasionally go as high as 90% on the road. I’m trying to be as easy as I can on the battery. Most of my charging is done at home on level 2 charging, which is the easiest on the battery. But we have traveled to Utah to Wisconsin (and back) 3 times, to North Carolina and back once, and to Southern California and back once, so we have about 12,000 Supercharger miles logged (which are more stressful on the battery). When I checked the range at 100% charge, it gave me 287 miles (462 km). The EPA range of our car new was 310 miles. That’s 92.6% of its original range, or 7.4% battery degradation, after 3 years and more than 80,000 miles. Note: I now realize that all you have to do is set the charge limit to 100% and it will give you the range estimate. You don’t actually have to charge to 100%.

https://cleantechnica.com/2022/11/01/3-years-80000-miles-with-my-tesla-model-3-battery-degradation-maintenance-costs-etc/

Teslas aren't only good EVs, but they are also built with a deeply embedded sense of humor.

Alex Ramos - 7 August 2023

Tesla is known for making some of the best electric vehicles that you can buy, but the automaker is also notorious for hiding fun Easter eggs in its cars. It's always great to see a company that gives its engineers the freedom to implement awesome little details like these Easter eggs, and Tesla leads the way in this respect.

Let's check out some of the coolest Tesla Easter eggs you'll find in your car!

https://www.makeuseof.com/tesla-coolest-easter-eggs/

Kirsten Korosec - 27 July 2023

Tesla exaggerated the range estimates for its EVs for years, prompting owners to flood its service center over concerns that their vehicles needed service, according to a new detailed Reuters report. The investigation, citing anonymous sources and industry experts, found that the directive to use algorithms to give rosier range numbers came from CEO Elon Musk.

As sales exploded, service requests also grew. To thwart the influx of requests and help keep costs in check, Tesla created a special “diversion team” dedicated to handle so-called “range cases” — meaning owners complaining of lower ranges than expected.

Diversion team members were trained to tell owners that the EPA-approved range estimates were just a prediction. They would also provide tips to customers on how to extend range. The end goal? To cancel those appointments, which would save the company as much as $1,000 a visit, the Reuters investigation found.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/27/tesla-has-a-range-inflation-problem/

The company has been accused of exaggerating its EVs' capabilities.

Jon Fingas - July 27, 2023 12:47 PM

Tesla has been accused of exaggerating EV driving range in the past, but it's now facing allegations that it's trying to minimize complaints about performance. Reuters sources claim Tesla had a secret “Diversion Team” in the Las Vegas area that aims to cancel range-related service appointments. If a customer complained that the range didn't live up to marketing claims, advisors in the team would tell owners that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) range figures were just predictions, and that battery degradation would reduce range. The unit initially ran remote diagnostics and called customers, but wouldn't share non-range issues and eventually stopped testing altogether.

The aim was reportedly to both save money (about $1,000 per appointment, according to managers) and reduce strain on service centers already facing long appointment queues. Tesla updated its mobile app to remove appointment options for users asking about range, and instead gave them the choice of asking a company representative to call.

https://www.engadget.com/tesla-allegedly-formed-a-team-to-quash-driving-range-complaints-164750696.html

Team members would reportedly celebrate a diverted range case by placing their phone on mute and ringing a gong-like xylophone.

Mack DeGeurin - 27 July 2023

Tesla reportedly created a secretive “Diversion Team” tasked with trying to quickly divert and cancel as many appointments for range-related issues as possible. The unit, according to a Reuters investigation, was reportedly responsible for closing hundreds of cases per week of upset Tesla owners complaining about range performance. Those cars were often working properly but simply failed to meet Tesla’s inflated and exaggerated driving range estimates for its fleet of vehicles.

The previously unknown unit was reportedly formed after Tesla was inundated with appointments of annoyed drivers complaining they could not drive as far as their cars indicated they could. Staff on the team were tracked on how many cases they diverted on a daily basis and told each closed case saved the company around $1,000, per the report. In a striking scene straight out of The Wolf of Wall Street, some Diversion Team members would celebrate successfully canceled appointments by “putting their phone on mute and striking a metal xylophone.” A round of applause in the Tesla offices would ensue, according to Reuters.

https://gizmodo.com/tesla-driving-range-complaints-diversion-team-cancelled-1850682837

Inundated with complaints, Tesla created “Diversion Team” to cancel appointments.

Jon Brodkin - 7/27/2023, 11:43 AM

Tesla has consistently exaggerated the driving range of its electric vehicles, reportedly leading car owners to think something was broken when actual driving range was much lower than advertised. When these owners scheduled service appointments to fix the problem, Tesla canceled the appointments because there was no way to improve the actual distance Tesla cars could drive between charges, according to an investigation by Reuters.

In mid-2022, Tesla started routing range complaints to a “Diversion Team” that fielded up to 2,000 cases a week and “was expected to close about 750 cases a week,” Reuters reported.

“Tesla years ago began exaggerating its vehicles' potential driving distance—by rigging their range-estimating software,” the article published today said. “The company decided about a decade ago, for marketing purposes, to write algorithms for its range meter that would show drivers 'rosy' projections for the distance it could travel on a full battery, according to a person familiar with an early design of the software for its in-dash readouts.”

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/07/tesla-exaggerated-ev-range-so-much-that-drivers-thought-cars-were-broken/

Tim De Chant - 16 February 2023

After a decade of keeping its North American charging network closed to outsiders, Tesla appears poised to allow other electric vehicles to use its Superchargers.

The White House announced on Wednesday that the company would open 7,500 chargers — including 3,500 250 kW stalls along highways — to any EV with the combined charging system (CCS), the standard broadly used in the U.S. (The company has vowed to do something similar before, so maybe don’t hold your breath just yet, though this new Biden administration fact sheet has some hard numbers, which were notably absent last year.) The first bricks in the EV charger wall should rattle loose by the end of 2024.

If Tesla follows through — again, a big “if” given the company’s preference for splashy announcements and optimistic timelines — it could usher in a sea change in EV charging infrastructure in the U.S.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/16/tesla-opening-its-superchargers-to-all-evs-might-be-a-masterstroke-or-a-terrible-mistake/

Logs and records of its customers’ journeys fill out petabytes—and court case dockets

Mark Harris - 03 Aug 2022

You won’t see a single Tesla cruising the glamorous beachfront in Beidaihe, China, this summer. Officials banned Elon Musk’s popular electric cars from the resort for two months while it hosts the Communist Party’s annual retreat, presumably fearing what their built-in cameras might capture and feed back to the United States.

Back in Florida, Tesla recently faced a negligence lawsuit after two young men died in a fiery car crash while driving a Model S belonging to a father of one of the accident victims. As part of its defense, the company submitted a historical speed analysis showing that the car had been driven with a daily top speed averaging over 90 miles per hour (145 kilometers per hour) in the months before the crash. This information was quietly captured by the car and uploaded to Tesla’s servers. (A jury later found Tesla just 1 percent negligent in the case.)

https://spectrum.ieee.org/tesla-autopilot-data-scope

Apparently, the two cars looks very similar, but that shouldn't have let the driver unlock and start up the wrong car using Tesla's smartphone app.

Andy Kalmowitz - 15 March 2023

A man in Vancouver, Canada was somehow able to get into someone else’s Tesla Model 3 and drive off with it only by using the Tesla app in his own phone. Rajesh Randev told Global News he thought he was getting into his own Tesla since the car he took was the same color as his.

When Randev was getting into what he thought was his car, there were two nearly identical Model 3s parked side by side, he explained to Global News. He added that he was in a hurry to pick up his kids from school, so he inadvertently unlocked the wrong Tesla and drove off.

I get it, we’ve all been in a rush before and nearly walked up to the wrong car. However, I’d say it’s pretty rare that you can open a car that isn’t yours, and be able to drive away — at least in these modern times.

https://jalopnik.com/man-accidentally-drove-away-in-someone-else-s-tesla-usi-1850218858

Miguel Goyeneche - June 21, 2022

“TITO,” a nod to the common Spanish-language diminutive “autito” (little car), “was born unintentionally,” according to Juan Manuel Baretto, CEO of Coradir, a technology company that had never once built a car.

As electric car sales accelerate more and more each year, with Europe and China leading the way, in Latin America that trend is much slower. The transport sector is highly oil-dependent, and Argentina is no exception. Despite this, the government is promoting an electromobility bill that would force every car manufacturer to build only electric cars in the next couple of years.

In 2018 Coradir’s CEO and his team decided to develop a battery bank platform, motor train and all the associated electronics so that any national car manufacturer could develop its own version of TITO, but the project fell flat.

https://argentinareports.com/meet-tito-the-100-electric-100-argentine-car/2938/

https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/19/toyota-ultra-compact-ev-tokyo-motor-show/

The company was an early adopter of electrified vehicles but has since fallen behind

Andrew J. Hawkins - Jul 26, 2021, 12:05pm EDT

The US is slowing moving toward adopting policies that would put more electric vehicles on the road, but for Toyota, it’s not slow enough. The Japanese automaker, which is the largest car company in the world, has been quietly lobbying policymakers in Washington, DC to resist the urge to transition to an all-electric future — partly because Toyota is lagging behind the rest of industry in making that transition itself.

According to The New York Times, a top Toyota executive has met with congressional leaders behind closed doors in recent weeks to advocate against the Biden administration’s plans to spend billions of dollars to incentivize the shift to EVs. The executive, Chris Reynolds, has argued that hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, as well as hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles should also be in the mix.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/26/22594235/toyota-lobbying-dc-ev-congress-biden-donation

Posted by BeauHD on Friday October 29, 2021 04:20PM

At an event in Japan today, Toyota unveiled its first all-electric car: the bZ4X. Electrek reports: “bZ” stands for “beyond zero,” which is Toyota's latest electrification strategy and a sort of sub-brand for its upcoming electric vehicles, starting with the bZ4X. The electric SUV hasn't been updated much from the concept. It still features some sharp lines and aggressive design. In terms of specs, we finally have more details. Toyota has been clear that every spec it released today is for the Japanese version of the car. Details on the US version are expected to come next month, but it should still give us a good idea.

The vehicle is equipped with a 71.4 kWh battery pack. As for what range it enables, Toyota is only releasing right now “cruising range per charge (WLTC),” which it claims to be 500 km (310 miles) for the front-wheel drive version and 460 km (286 miles) for the all-wheel-drive version. The front-wheel-drive version is equipped with a single 150 kW motor while the all-wheel-drive version is equipped with an 80 kW motor on each axle. The DC fast-charging capacity is apparently capped at 150 kW and Toyota says that it can charge to 80% state-of-charge in about 30 minutes with that capacity.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/21/10/29/2128218/toyota-unveils-its-first-all-electric-car

The automaker will offer the SUV in FWD and AWD variants.

Igor Bonifacic - October 29th, 2021

This past April, Toyota teased the bZ4X, the first of seven “Beyond Zero” fully electric vehicles the automaker said it would debut by 2025. Other than to reveal it was working with Subaru to develop the SUV and that it would include its upcoming e-TNGA powertrain, the company didn’t share many details about the bZ4X. On Friday, it changed that by unveiling the production version of the vehicle.

oyota will offer the bZ4X in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants. The former will feature a single 150 kW capable of accelerating the car from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 8.4 seconds. Per the WLTC standard, the automaker claims the FWD model’s 71.4 kWh battery will allow it to travel approximately 500 kilometers or 310 miles on a single charge. Expect that estimate to decrease once the EPA tests the car. It’s also worth noting these measurements come from the Japanese model, which may end up featuring different specifications to whatever model(s) Toyota releases in the US.

https://www.engadget.com/toyota-bz4x-details-140056332.html

It applies to models 2018 and later, with a free trial from 3-10 years.

Steve Dent - December 14th, 2021

To the consternation of some owners, Toyota's remote start key fob functionality requires a paid $8 per month subscription service, The Drive has discovered. The issue only applies to 2018 and later models, but recently came to light as the free trials of Toyota's Remote Connect subscription started to expire.

Toyota lets you start vehicles like the RAV 4 PHEV remotely in two ways. One is over WiFi/LTE using its Remote Connect apps that cost $8 per month or $80 per year. The other is by using the key fob, which requires that you be relatively close to the vehicle.

Unless they read the fine print, however, owners may not have known that the key fob method was also part of the Remote Connect subscription. Toyota confirmed to The Drive that you'll need a paid subscription on every 2018 and newer Toyota model to use the function.

https://www.engadget.com/toyota-key-fob-remote-start-function-requires-subscription-111606852.html

Posted by msmash on Thursday December 23, 2021 03:07PM

An anonymous reader shares a report:

Earlier this month, we broke a story about Toyota locking its key fob remote start function behind a monthly subscription. If owners of certain models aren't actively enrolled in a larger Toyota connected services plan, the proximity remote start function on the fob – that is, when you press the lock button three times to start the car while outside of it – will not work even though it sends the signal directly to the car. Obviously, this sent people into a frenzy whether they own a Toyota or not, because it was seen as a dark harbinger of the perils of fully-connected cars. Automakers now have the ability to nickel and dime people to death by charging ongoing subscription fees for functions that used to be a one-and-done purchase, and it looked like Toyota was hopping on the bandwagon.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/21/12/23/237209/toyota-reviewing-key-fob-remote-start-subscription-plan-after-massive-blowback

Kris Holt - 7:57 AM PST December 14, 2021

Toyota now aims to roll out 30 electric vehicles by 2030, expanding on its plan to sell 15 fully electric models by 2025. It gave a taste of the future by previewing a broad range of EV concepts during a presentation.

Among those is a pickup, which could compete with the likes of Ford’s F-150 Lightning and Rivian’s R1T. As Autoblog notes, the Toyota Pickup EV looks very much like the Toyota Tacoma. As such, there could be an electric option for the next version of that pickup.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/14/toyotas-latest-ev-concepts-include-sports-cars-and-a-pickup/

Remember that Toyota has been a pioneer in the field…

Apr 16, 2022 - Steven Symes

Robert Wimmer, Toyota’s head of energy and environmental research, testified recently before the US Senate that a big switch to electric vehicles faces hurdles competitors like GM are blatantly ignoring. “If we are to make dramatic progress in electrification, it will require overcoming tremendous challenges, including refueling infrastructure, battery availability, consumer acceptance, and affordability,” Wimmer stated.

This comes on the coattails of Audi’s CEO stating the company won’t develop new internal combustion engines and BMW saying the exact opposite, as well as Mini and GM both laying out a timeline for ditching ICE powertrains entirely. These moves are controversial with passions running strong on both sides, but much of these movements come with different governments threatening ICE bans.

https://www.motorious.com/articles/news/toyota-warns-about-rushing-electrification/

The Swedish automaker is charging ahead with its electrification plan.

Jonathan M. Gitlin - 11/9/2021, 9:25 AM

In 2017, Volvo became one of the first automakers to pivot strongly toward electrified vehicles. More recently, it announced that by mid-decade, it wants half of its sales to be plug-in vehicles, with an entirely electric line-up by 2030.

As it turns out, the company is well on its way to making that happen—for the first 10 months of this year, just over a quarter of all new Volvos were electrified. And the automaker isn't fudging the numbers by including 48 V “mild hybrids”—just plug-in hybrid and battery-electric Volvos.

Volvo sold a total of 581,464 cars between January and October of this year, despite supply chain problems that have affected production. Of those cars, 148,068 were either plug-in hybrid or battery electric, with the vast majority (129,803) being plug-in hybrid versions of the 60 series and 90 series vehicles.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/11/a-quarter-of-new-volvos-are-now-plug-in-hybrids-or-battery-evs/

The redesigned electric compact will tackle complaints about the original.

Jon Fingas - December 2, 2022 1:27 PM

Volkswagen's electric car lineup is now mature enough that it's introducing second-generation models — and it appears the company is taking some criticism to heart. VW has teased a redesign of the ID.3 that addresses complaints about the first version while upgrading the technology. The compact EV now sports a “matured” design with a supposedly sharper-looking exterior and higher-quality interior materials. Importantly, it's also more functional — there's a larger 12-inch infotainment display, two cupholders in the center console and a removable luggage compartment floor.

The tech may be the centerpiece. VW stresses the new ID.3 will use the company's “latest” software platform, which boosts the sometimes-sluggish performance and allows for over-the-air updates. It will also reflect feature upgrades that include easier paid EV charging, adaptive lane guidance and parking aids. VW ID.3 second-generation interior teaser

https://www.engadget.com/vw-id3-second-generation-redesign-teaser-182700069.html

Software upgrades may be more important than the new hardware.

Jon Fingas - March 1, 2023 10:48 AM

The ID.3 isn't even three years old, but that isn't stopping Volkswagen from giving its well-known EV a makeover. After months of teasers, the company has introduced a second-generation ID.3 that addresses criticisms of the first model. The new compact car offers a “sharper” design with improved aerodynamics and a higher-quality (and heavily recycled) interior. More importantly, VW has upgraded the technology — including its software, which garnered a long list of complaints from drivers.

The second-gen ID.3 includes the “latest software,” with a simpler layout, better performance and over-the-air updates. The 12-inch infotainment display is now standard. You also have access to a Travel Assist feature that uses “swarm” data to aid driving — the crowdsourced info can keep you in your lane on a backroad even if there's just one known lane marking. Charging should be easier, too, between an automatic charge start (at compatible stations) and a route planner that factors in the availability and capacity of stations along the way. Your car won't direct you to a busy station with slow chargers.

https://www.engadget.com/vw-unveils-second-gen-id3-ev-and-an-app-store-for-its-cars-154817061.html

Published Sun, Mar 28 202110:00 AM EDT - Tom Huddleston Jr.

Tesla’s Model 3 sedan was the world’s best-selling electric car in 2020, but a smaller rival is gaining ground fast.

In fact, China’s Wuling HongGuang Mini EV — a tiny, two-door hatchback that seats only four people — outsold Tesla’s Model 3 in global sales for the month of January. Wuling sold more than 36,700 of the popular electric cars in January, compared to just over 21,500 Model 3 sales in the same month, according to electric vehicle sales tracker EV Volumes.

Liuzhao, China-based Wuling’s car also continued to outpace Tesla’s Model 3 in February sales in the Chinese market, according to EV Volumes (which has not yet released global sales estimates for February).

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/28/wulings-tiny-electric-hatchback-photos.html

It's generally still better for the climate to go electric—but it's complicated and depends on where you live.

Molly Taft - 16 September 2021 3:20PM

Driving an electric vehicle may seem like the ultimate signal that you’re doing your part to save the planet. But just the ability to plug in a car doesn’t automatically make it climate-friendly if that electricity comes from a dirty source.

Figuring out how EVs actually stack up to gas-powered cars involves a heck of a lot of math and moving parts. There are nuances electric vehicle-curious folks should recognize before taking the plunge, from the materials used to make a car to the power source you’re plugging it into and how efficient your vehicle is at using that charge.

“You want to think about what we call life cycle emissions,” said Eric Larson, a senior research engineer at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University. “If you’re talking about fossil fuels, like coal, there are emissions associated with mining it, and the combustion of fossil fuels gives you emissions. There are also emissions associated with manufacturing the electric vehicles and the batteries that go with it—those emissions have to be counted as well. Basically, all the emissions associated with getting from raw materials to the final miles traveled in the car have to be counted.”

https://gizmodo.com/does-driving-an-electric-vehicle-matter-if-the-grid-is-1847689331

Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday February 25, 2023 10:34AM

Long-time Slashdot reader destinyland shared this report about the boxy little Wuling:

Priced at around $5,500 and famously outselling Tesla in China, it's a tiny, comically square car, produced in joint partnership with General Motors and SAIC. The micro EV has been fodder for articles and YouTubers — even while it's remained unavailable outside China.

Until last summer, that is, when Wuling attempted to go international. First stop: Indonesia. With its Air model selling at a mere $16,000 — less than half the price of alternatives — the minimalist EV was depicted in advertising as a gateway to the future, a slick solution for busy Indonesian city-dwellers.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/23/02/25/108222/china-is-exporting-its-obsession-with-tiny-electric-vehicles