Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed via Twitter on Tuesday that the automaker would include AM radio on all 2024 models, reversing a policy Ford previously indicated was a byproduct of EVs. Ford removed AM radio from the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning after data collected from the vehicles showed that fewer than 5% of customers listened to it, a… More…
Category: greencarreports
Will megawatt charging nix hydrogen fuel cell tech in semis?
The Megawatt Charging Standard (MCS) formalized just last summer will pave the way for more electric big rigs at the expense of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, an electric-truck consultant predicts. Enthusiasm for hydrogen fuel-cell passenger cars has largely played out, and megawatt charging will do the same for fuel-cell trucks, Rustam Kocher, former… More…
Ford CEO: We’re not going to go to 600-mile range on EVs
Ford is taking batteries very seriously, and it’s not going to spend more on them than it needs to. What that means, Ford product development chief and CTO Doug Field explained at the company’s Capital Markets Day earlier this week, is redesigning next-generation EVs around weight savings, reduced complexity, lower rolling resistance, the… More…
BMW tests how its EVs might supplement the grid
BMW and utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) have started testing technology that allows EVs to supplement the grid. Testing is taking place at a PG&E lab in San Roman, California, as part of a partnership between the two companies that dates back to 2015, according to a BMW press release. BMW and PG&E previously offered… More…
Cadillac confirms Escalade IQ electric SUV for late-2023 reveal
Cadillac on Monday announced plans to create a fully electric iteration of its biggest SUV, the Escalade, plus a tease of the timeline: The electric version, called Escalade IQ, will bow later this year. According to Cadillac, the Escalade IQ “promises the same commitment to craftsmanship, technology and performance that has helped the… More…
Ford three-row EV due in 2025: 350 miles on 100 kwh, exec says
Ford CEO Jim Farley on Monday teased the automaker’s upcoming fully electric seven-passenger SUV as being “like your own personal bullet train.” While that might not have been quite as extraordinary a picture as the Millennium Falcon with a back porch he likened Ford’s upcoming Project T3 electric pickup to in March, the… More…
Chevy Silverado EV WT vs. Ford F-150 Lightning Pro: Electric work trucks compared
With pricing information for the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck (WT) trickling out ahead of its planned launch, it’s time for an initial comparison with the rival Ford F-150 Lightning Pro, simply by price and range. Both the Silverado EV WT and Lightning Pro are aimed at fleet customers rather than retail buyers, addressing an important… More…
Feds tackle EV charger reliability in US infrastructure buildout
There’s a lot riding on the success and effectiveness of the $7.5 billion nationwide network of EV chargers that’s taking form based on the last week’s updates from the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. Tesla has its comprehensive Supercharger network for its vehicles, and the Electrify America network has allowed EV road… More…
Why aren’t EVs staying in the US fleet as long as gasoline models?
A new study suggests EVs aren’t staying in the U.S. vehicle fleet as long as gasoline cars and trucks, which could be a problem for reducing real-world fleet emissions. The average age of light-duty vehicles in the U.S. has hit a record high 12.5 years, according to S&P Global Mobility, but the average age of EVs in the fleet is just 3.6… More…
Chevrolet Silverado EV rated at 450 miles of range in work truck form
The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV will achieve an EPA-estimated range of 450 miles in base work truck (WT) form, the automaker said Friday in a press release. Chevy mentioned a 400-mile range when the Silverado EV was first shown at the 2022 CES, but “extensive development and testing unlocked the increased 450-mile range,” a spokesperson from the… More…
Robotic EV charger will get a test at Texas airport
A robotic EV charger will be put to the test at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in the coming months as part of a pilot program for innovative charging solutions. Developed by EV Charge Safe, the robot charger, dubbed Ziggy, goes to a car in need of charging plug-ins, and then returns to a staging area for recharging. The mobile unit… More…
Utility-owned EV fast-charging stations will fill the gap in Utah
In Utah, there might not be the use case or EV ownership density yet to support charging that’s closely spaced to ease range anxiety and provide redundancy. So a utility is stepping up. Rocky Mountain Power on Wednesday announced that it will install DC fast chargers at 20 sites in Utah, with support from Electrify Commercial, a unit of charging… More…
Apple Maps tracks Porsche Taycan energy use, shows charging stations
Drivers of the Porsche Taycan no longer have to use the EV’s Charging Planner that’s part of its built-in navigation system. They can also now use Apple Maps, via their iPhone. With the CarPlay-based option, Apple Maps gains access to the Taycan’s real-time battery performance and state of charge, so that it can plot out your… More…
Toyota Prius Prime lease undercuts that of cheaper Prius hybrid
If you choose to lease, the Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid might cost significantly less to drive than the Prius hybrid—depending on where you live and which incentives Toyota might be factoring in. As partner site CarsDirect points out, the Toyota Prius Prime SE has a lease payment of just $435 a month, with $435 due at signing… More…
Ford E-Tourneo Courier shows how versatile small EVs can be
Ford on Monday unveiled a versatile small EV that won’t make it to the U.S, but could be a template for success in America. The Ford E-Tourneo Courier is a small van similar to (but even smaller than) the Transit Connect that was recently withdrawn from this market, but with an all-electric powertrain. It’s scheduled to von on sale in Europe in… More…
Stellantis-LG battery plant stalls due to lack of Canadian support
Stellantis and LG have halted construction of a joint venture battery plant in Windsor, Ontario, claiming the Canadian government hasn’t met certain obligations, Bloomberg reported Monday. The report cited an email from a Stellantis spokesperson confirming that construction of the plant, slated to be the automaker’s first large-scale battery… More…