Ford has filed a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a dual-charge-port solution that would allow multiple EVs to charge in series from the same charging station. First spotted by CarBuzz, the system described in the patent application makes use of bidirectional charging capability. But instead of… More…
Category: Greencarreports
Tesla recall: Full Self-Driving Beta poses “an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety”
Under the request of federal regulators, Tesla is due to push an update that will restrict the behavior of its most controversial driver-assistance system, labeled Full Self-Driving Beta, because it poses “an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.” The recall, detailed by the NHTSA Thursday, affects 362,758 vehicles, including the… More…
California EV mandate: New Jersey adopts it, Virginia keeps it
Recent actions in two states have solidified a bloc of EV support throughout most of the East Coast. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Wednesday announced plans to adopt California’s 2035 end date for new internal-combustion cars aside from plug-in hybrids. This was codified in one of three executive orders signed by Murphy Wednesday, which… More…
Petition seeks pedestrian sounds on 9M older EVs, hybrids
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering whether to apply a recently implemented rule to millions of older vehicles. The rule requires EVs and hybrids to have noisemakers to alert pedestrians. Passed in 2018, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 requires EV and hybrid passenger cars manufactured on or… More…
Battery issue halts Ford F-150 Lightning production
Production and shipments of the Ford F-150 Lightning have been stopped, though sales continue. On Tuesday, Ford spokesperson Emma Bergg confirmed to Green Car Reports a stop-build and in-transit stop-ship order has been given for the F-150 Lightning pickup truck due to a battery issue. Ford has not yet disclosed what the battery issue is… More…
Biden EV charging network rules outlined, even Tesla must comply
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Biden administration on Wednesday laid out a set of requirements for charging hardware—and charging network behavior—that any company looking at claiming federal funds in the buildout of the $7.5 billion national EV charging network will need to submit to. Even Tesla. The final requirements… More…
Trio of Cadillac EVs to debut in 2023, start production in 2024
Cadillac’s slow rollout of EVs seems to be a precursor to a flood that’s on the way. On Wednesday during a media briefing, Cadillac Global Vice President Ron Harvey confirmed the luxury automaker will debut three new EVs in 2023. Harvey said all three EVs will go into production in 2024, but it gets complicated from there. Some of the undisclosed… More…
Mini Cooper SE Convertible is a production reality—for Europe
Want a fully electric convertible? There remain no options for the U.S.; but if you’re in Europe, you’re in luck, with a Mini Cooper SE Convertible that will likely be available for something less than exotic-car prices. Back in July, Mini teased the idea of an affordable electric convertible that’s part of a “completely… More…
Possible battery issue halts Ford F-150 Lightning production
Production and shipments of the Ford F-150 Lightning have been stopped, though sales continue. On Tuesday, Ford spokesperson Emma Bergg confirmed to Green Car Reports a stop-build and in-transit stop-ship order has been given for the F-150 Lightning pickup truck due to a potential battery issue. Ford has not disclosed what the potential battery… More…
Ford patents solid-axle hub-motor combo with EV off-roading in mind
Ford has applied for a patent on a solid-axle and hub-motor combination for EVs remarkably similar to what the automaker dismissed as nonviable for its F-150 Lightning pickup truck. As detailed in the application, which was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Feb. 9, a solid axle similar to what is currently used in… More…
Federal charging standards due: Will Tesla open Supercharger network?
Tesla will have to open its Supercharger network to EVs from other brands in order to qualify for federal funding, Reuters reported Friday. The Department of Transportation this week is expected to detail standards for EV charging infrastructure to qualify for $7.5 billion set aside in the Biden administration’s infrastructure law, which aims to… More…
$7,500 “EV credit” provides extra sales thrust for Lucid Air
Lucid announced Thursday that it’s offering a $7,500 “EV credit” on select configurations of the Air Touring and Air Grand Touring—if they’re ordered by March 31, 2023. The Lucid Air Grand Touring starts at $139,500 and offers an EPA-rated range of up to 516 miles or, in its Grand Touring Performance guise, 1,050 hp… More…
Tesla is mulling Mexico plant, report suggests
Tesla may be considering a Mexican factory to further grow manufacturing capacity, according to a recent Reuters report—and it may be looking in the states of Nuevo Leon or Hidalgo. The automaker hasn’t confirmed plans for a new factory, but job postings have hinted at plans to build one in Monterrey, a city close to the U.S.-Mexico border… More…
Google says it’s finally ready to give EV drivers the fastest route
Google claims that it has made its Maps product much more useful to electric vehicle drivers, with the addition of power-level information for chargers—and the smarts to tap into that for customized route planning and directions. The company reports that it has distinguished stations with a charging power of 150 kw or higher with a… More…
Sono crash-tests its Sion solar EV, says panels “behave as predicted”
Sono Motors announced Tuesday that it had completed the first crash tests of its Sion EV, which has solar cells integrated with every body panel. The company said in a press release that those panels “behave as predicted,” with no splintering of the polymer-based material in a 31-mph frontal crash test, confirming no additional risk to vehicle… More…
Lexus RZ 450e EV priced, puts the priority on features not range
Lexus has announced pricing for its first electric vehicle for the U.S., the 2023 RZ 450e electric luxury crossover, just before it heads to dealerships later this month. The RZ 450e comes in two different trim levels, Premium and Luxury, with both offered only in all-wheel-drive form. In Premium form, the RZ 450e, as it’s badged, costs… More…
California bill proposes $2,000 for converting gas vehicles to EVs
A California bill would offer residents a rebate of up to $2,000 to convert an existing internal-combustion car or truck to an EV. Spotted by Green Car Congress, California Senate Bill 301 would establish a Zero-Emission Aftermarket Conversion Project (ZACP) with up to $2 million in annual funding for EV conversion rebates to supplement… More…
VW recalls some ID.4 EVs for drive-system issue
Volkswagen is recalling 20,904 ID.4 EVs—all from the 2021 model year—to address an issue that stems from faulty drive-system control software. In the affected vehicles, current software may cause the battery management control module to reset or the pulse inverter to deactivate, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety… More…
The EV price war is here, and it’s “no pain, no gain” for automakers
Yes, the electric vehicle price war has likely already begun. Last month’s Tesla price cuts slashed up to 20% of the cost to buy the EV maker’s vehicles. Then in a rare move, Ford dropped prices on its Mustang Mach-E lineup last week by up to 9%. While those might have been a couple of the first dramatic shots over the bow… More…
BMW’s next-gen Neue Klasse EVs will be made in Mexico
BMW’s next-generation EVs will be built in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, as well as two European production sites, the automaker confirmed in a press release Friday. That may allow these new EVs, and their related battery production facility, to qualify for U.S. tax credits and supply-chain incentives. These models, based on a dedicated platform… More…