I step on the brake with my left foot, press the accelerator to the mat with my right—then, slip off on the left. Motors whirl to life as they whorl out warp-speed forward thrust. Traffic cones fly by in the side windows like mailboxes on a country road until I let off the pedal and let “B” mode’s regenerative braking lasso… Read more…
Author: greencarreports.com
Trump promises 100% tariff on Mexico-built Chinese cars—EV or not
Former President Donald Trump has announced that he would apply a tariff of 100% to cars built in Mexico by Chinese companies for U.S.-market sale—effectively double the previous tariffs he had seeked to apply. In a Saturday campaign speech in Dayton, Ohio, Trump said that over a period of 30 years Mexico has taken away 34% of the automobile… Read more…
First Drive: 2024 VW ID.4 is the opening act it was supposed to be
VW has made things right, just in the nick of time. Ahead of the arrival of the much, much anticipated ID.Buzz electric van and the aero-savvy, road-trip-ready VW ID.7 hatchback, Volkswagen has set the stage with a wholesome family-ready EV that delivers in nearly every aspect. It’s a stage that the brand set years ago. Well before the… Read more…
Mercedes EV range run shows gains from heat pump, solar roof
The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX has completed another efficiency run—this time in the Arabian desert. The EQXX has managed two previous long trips on a single charge—previously covering 746 miles from Stuttgart, Germany, to the Silverstone racetrack in the U.K. on the second trip. The focus of this third trip, in which the EQXX covered… Read more…
Gen X, Millennials buy the most EVs, as Boomers dominate policy
Gen X and Millennials tend to buy more EVs than Baby Boomers, but the older generation is still in control of EV policy, a pair of recent studies show. Experian’s fourth quarter 2023 Automotive Market Trends report, released Thursday, noted that 9.4% of new vehicles purchased by Gen X in 2023 were electric. Gen X purchased the most new vehicles of… Read more…
Honda and Nissan points to partnership for EVs, hybrids, software
Nissan and Honda on Friday disclosed that they’re considering a “strategic partnership in the fields of vehicle electrification and intelligence.” As of yet, the companies have only committed to a feasibility study for the idea, but such a partnership would aim to combine strengths and accelerate carbon-neutrality and safety… Read more…
Nio and CATL ally for longer-life EV batteries, swapping tech
Chinese automaker Nio is partnering with battery supplier CATL for research into longer-life EV batteries, including for use with Nio’s battery-swapping service. The two companies “will jointly carry out discussions, make technological breakthroughs and innovation, and promote product applications,” according to a Nio press release, with CATL… Read more…
Volvo EX30 EV: LFP version not offered to US is greener pick
In a life cycle assessment of the Volvo EX30 electric vehicle released Thursday, the automaker underscored that its upcoming compact EV has the lowest carbon footprint of any electric Volvo yet. The team behind the EX30 analysis looked at two EX30 versions—one with the 69-kwh lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NMC) battery pack, the… Read more…
BMW aggregates more EV chargers, adding Shell ahead of Tesla
BMW is relying on Shell Recharge Solutions to offer customers streamlined access to EV charging stations across multiple networks. The automaker on Wednesday announced an agreement with Shell Recharge Solutions that it claims will provide access to more than 100,000 public chargers through the My BMW app. These chargers are not only part of… Read more…
Biden agencies draw roadmap for EV charging along freight corridors
The Biden Administration on Monday sketched out plans for EV charging and hydrogen dispensing along major U.S. freight corridors. The National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy was developed by the administration’s Joint Office of Energy and Transportation with input from the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOT)… Read more…
Volvo seeks 30% quicker EV charging without battery upgrades
Volvo is looking to quicken EV charging times by relying on software rather than upgrades to batteries and other hardware. The automaker on Monday announced a partnership with U.K.-based Breathe Battery Technologies to access that company’s “algorithm-enabled charging software” with its battery management systems—with the goal of optimizing… Read more…
2025 Polestar 3 starts at $74,800 and 315 miles, US deliveries in Q2
The 2025 Polestar 3 will arrive for first deliveries in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2024, at a starting price of $74,800, and it’s now available to configure and order, the company announced Tuesday. At launch, the entire 2025 Polestar 3 lineup will have dual-motor all-wheel drive, with an output of 489 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque, and… Read more…
Study: Some retailers aren’t doing much to support EV charging
Big-box stores and fast-foot chains offer large parking lots perfect for EV charging, but most lag in offering charging to customers, according to a new Consumer Reports study. Consumer Reports surveyed 270,000 retail locations controlled by 75 major retail and fast-food chains—brands like Costco, Ikea, Walmart, and Target—and found… Read more…
Will a US tariff hike on Chinese EVs keep them out?
Three Senate Democrats from car-manufacturing states on Thursday urged the Biden administration to increase tariffs on Chinese EVs, bringing bipartisan pressure to dissuade Chinese automakers from selling their products to the U.S. In a letter first reported by Reuters, Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Sherrod Brown of Ohio… Read more…
Could Rivian R3 EV revive a stagnant small-car market?
Rivian on Thursday delivered what was expected—the R2 electric SUV. And then it stole the R2’s stage with products that fans, investors, and EV shoppers didn’t know they needed: the Rivian R3 and R3X. A short time after the reveal, I noted that while plenty of fans were checking out the R2, there was a frenzy around the R3. And… Read more…
GM cuts 2024 Chevy Blazer EV price by thousands, resumes sales
GM announced Friday that it’s dropping prices by up to $6,520 on its 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, while resuming sales and deliveries of the model to customers. The Blazer EVs once again reaching customers have been given “significant software updates,” according to Chevrolet. Examples of the updates include new gauge-cluster… Read more…
Honda Prologue, Acura ZDX qualify for full $7,500 EV tax credit
The 2024 Honda Prologue and 2024 Acura ZDX will both qualify for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit, Honda and its Acura luxury brand have confirmed. For the Prologue, which is scheduled to start arriving at dealerships in the coming weeks, the $7,500 credit applies to the purchase of vehicles built after February 26, 2024, and all leased… Read more…
2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron charges faster, goes farther, accelerates quicker
The 2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron gets a number of changes, including faster charging, more range, quicker acceleration, and retuned ride and handling. These changes, which previously weren’t expected to arrive until the 2025 model year, are incorporated into a new Q4 55 E-Tron grade that replaces the Q4 50 E-Tron. Standard SUV and Sportback body styles are… Read more…
Rivian R3 and R3X hatchbacks aim for masses for less than $45,000
The Rivian R2 electric SUV won’t be the least expensive model in the startup automaker’s lineup. On Thursday, CEO RJ Scaringe surprised everyone at the R2 debut by unveiling the R3 hatchback, as well as a performance variant called the R3X. When they eventually arrive after the R2, which won’t hit the market until the first half of 2026, the R3… Read more…
Rivian R2 bows: $45,000, over 300 miles, the future of the SUV?
The Rivian R2 is two years away, but with the debut of an R2S in prototype form Thursday, it’s clear this electric SUV will arrive with a proposition unlike any EV yet: A boxy silhouette, rugged off-road chops, a range easily topping 300 miles, and a target price effectively below today’s average new-vehicle price, regardless of the… Read more…