Tesla is now letting EVs from other brands charge at some U.S. Supercharger sites, while offering a Combined Charging Standard (CCS) retrofit for its own vehicles. “Select” Superchargers are now open to other EVs, according to a video posted to Twitter. Drivers can find these sites using the Tesla app, which is also needed to start a charging… More…
Category: Greencarreports
USPS buys 9,250 Ford E-Transit vans, with custom EVs years away
The United States Postal Service (USPS) this week announced plans to buy 9,250 Ford E-Transit electric vans, which will get the ball rolling on electrification while the Postal Service waits for its custom-designed electric delivery vans. The first of the Ford vans are scheduled to arrive in December of this year, with deliveries continuing… More…
Tesla lineup to get bidirectional charging capability by 2025
Tesla is widely perceived as being on the leading edge of electric vehicle efficiency, and it’s long claimed to also be an energy company, not just a car company. Capability that might turn its EVs into rolling backup-power banks might seem like the logical next step. Until now, Tesla has shied away from the possibility of deploying… More…
Analysis: Lighter EVs are greenest, thirsty gas trucks are meanest
When considering the overall environmental impact of new cars and trucks, it’s important to look not only at the powertrain, but also the curb weight, according to a new analysis from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The group annually releases a “Greenest List” of the 12 vehicles estimated to do the least damage to… More…
Indiana-made drive modules may muscle EVs from Ram, Jeep, Dodge
Stellantis on Tuesday announced a $155 million investment in three Kokomo, Indiana, plants to produce drive modules for future electric vehicles beginning in 2024. Consisting of an electric motor, power electronics, and transmission assembled as one unit, these modules will be used in vehicles based on the STLA Frame and STLA Large platforms… More…
Rivian confirms 390-mile R1S Max Pack for fall deliveries
Rivian on Tuesday confirmed that it will be delivering Max Pack versions of its R1S, in Dual Motor form, starting this fall. According to Rivian, the R1S Max Pack will accelerate to 60 mph in as little as 3.5 seconds and offer three rows of seating. With the announcement, part of a quarterly financial update for shareholders released Tuesday, the… More…
Rivian R1T, Mini Cooper SE, Kia EV6 top EV ownership study
Industry newcomer Rivian is already wowing owners not just with its R1T electric truck but as part of a well-rounded assessment of the ownership experience. The Rivian R1T was ranked highest in satisfaction in results released Tuesday from an annual study focusing on EV ownership from survey giant J.D. Power. It’s followed, in order of… More…
Vinfast drops VF 8 lease price, confirms US deliveries start March 1
Vinfast on Monday confirmed plans to begin U.S. deliveries March 1, as a report indicated the automaker is planning to lower lease prices. Vinfast had reported the first batch of 999 U.S.-bound VF 8 electric SUVs shipped out in late November, following the delivery of 100 vehicles to customers in its home country of Vietnam in September. The… More…
Nissan accelerates EV plan for Europe and Japan, but not US
Nissan announced Monday that as part of an accelerated shift to electrified and fully electric vehicles it sees 55% of global mix made up by “electrified” vehicles by 2030—up from its previous 50% forecast. But after the solidification of various pieces of Biden administration EV policy, it hasn’t set any higher target for… More…
Study: Heated surfaces could help boost range in some EVs
In cold weather, energy needed to heat vehicle interiors can negatively impact EV range. Ford claims its engineers have found a solution—for delivery vehicles, at least. As part of a research project with the European Commission, Ford engineers fitted an E-Transit deliver van with heated armrests, floor mats, door panels, and sun visors, as… More…
Nissan will use electric semis to deliver Ariya EV in California
Nissan Ariya electric SUVs are making part of their journey to dealerships on electric semi trucks. The automaker said in a press release said it will use up to four battery-electric Class 8 semis to haul vehicles from the Port of Los Angeles to dealerships. Tractors are being provided by Nikola and Kenworth. They haul traditional car carriers and… More…
Review: Mazda MX-30 EV masquerades as an exotic, misses what matters
The MX-30 EV is a confusing one. It embodies a unique package not shared with any gasoline model and its design details transcend its sub-$40,000 price tag. Yet it sends out some of the disappointing signals of the so-called compliance cars from a decade earlier. For the most part, these were electric conversions of small cars—the Fiat 500… More…
Sono Sion solar car project goes dark, though firm seeks to sell it
Germany’s Sono Motors announced Friday that it will “terminate its Sion passenger car program,” effective immediately, while instead focusing on its solar solutions. Buried within the announcement was a glimmer of hope for those who would like to see the affordable solar car make it to market: Sono intends to sell its Sion… More…
Study: Gas-vehicle resale worries could drive subscriptions
Automakers are trying out subscription models for EVs as an alternative to traditional buying or leasing, but a new Deloitte report argues they may also play a somewhat surprising role in gasoline-car sales. With expected growth in EV adoption, concerns over the resale value of internal-combustion cars may drive subscription models, according to… More…
Here are the EVs and plug-in hybrids with top IIHS safety ratings
Despite more stringent standards, a number of electric cars and plug-in hybrids were recognized with Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick awards for 2023. The IIHS strengthened requirements in a number of areas in 2023, and as a result only 48 models received awards, compared to 65 for 2022 (including eight EVs). Of that… More…
Lordstown Endurance electric truck production paused ahead of recall
Ohio’s Lordstown Motors announced that it “has experienced performance and quality issues with certain Endurance components.” That’s led to a temporary stop to both production and customer deliveries, and it will lead to the company’s first recall. According to the company, it’s already filed paperwork with the… More…
Rivian considers cool air fanned under truck for faster charging
A recent patent filing indicates Rivian is looking to alternative cooling methods as a way to speed up EV fast charging. A patent application published Feb. 14 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) notes that thermal management during charging can take up quite a lot of power. As a solution, it proposes shifting some of the load… More…
VW sees EV efficiency gains from optimizing its own components
As automakers look to boost EV efficiency, Volkswagen believes bringing development of more components in-house will lead to big gains. VW announced this strategy shift at its Tech Day 2023 event, claiming efficiency improvements of up to 20% by developing its own optimized components. “The Volkswagen Group and its brands stand for first-class… More…
Report: Toyota might start EV production in Kentucky in 2025
Toyota could start building electric cars in Kentucky as soon as 2025 by updating an existing factory, Nikkei reported Tuesday. The move could allow Toyota vehicles to qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit under new rules, instituted under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), requiring North American assembly of vehicles and battery packs… More…
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 priced: 361-mile version starts at $46,615
Hyundai has put a price tag on the Ioniq 6 electric sedan for the U.S., and its starting price lands just $70 less than the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric crossover. The price of the 2023 Ioniq 6 Standard Range is $42,715, including the $1,115 destination fee. That’s including the 53-kwh battery pack and an estimated EPA driving range of 240… More…