The Kia EV6 is one of the most distinctive new designs of the past year and, unlike the closely related Hyundai Ioniq 5, it doesn’t play any retro cards. It’s all Euro-hatch panache, with a near-premium feel, and it’s just the right size inside for four adults. Versus the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which was a finalist last year, we also… More…

The United States Postal Service (USPS) on Tuesday said it would buy only electric delivery vehicles from 2026 on, an about-face from the agency’s original plan to continue with internal-combustion powertrains for most of its next-generation fleet. The USPS plans to acquire 106,000 vehicles between now and 2028, of which at least 66,000 vehicles… More…

Some Chevy Bolt EV models are once again being recalled over a potential issue that can lead to a vehicle fire. This time it has nothing to do with the battery pack or electric propulsion. “GM is voluntarily recalling certain 2017-2023 model year Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles due to rare instances of front seat belt pretensioner exhaust gases coming… More…

Over-the-air software and firmware updates have the potential to remedy issues, add features, or just simply make a vehicle better. So far Rivian’s already managed all of the above with its R1T electric pickup and R1S electric SUV. With an update this week Rivian has improved the cold-weather livability of its trucks with several new… More…

California has approved a $2.9 billion plan that will more than double the number of EV chargers in the state, and will greatly expand charging infrastructure for electric buses and commercial trucks. “California is bringing our roads and highways into the 21st century with electric vehicle chargers in every community, in every corner of our… More…

The second generation 2024 Hyundai Kona has broken cover with updates styling and a first-ever hybrid version. The Kona hybrid will join the existing Kona Electric and gasoline powertrains at launch, Hyundai confirmed in a press release. A sportier gasoline Kona N Line will be launched alongside these variants, with a more hardcore Kona N likely… More…

The Rivian R1T is the first electric pickup truck ever run through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing regimen—and it received high marks. The IIHS announced on Friday that the R1T had earned its highest Top Safety Pick+ safety award. The award, which applies to 2022 and 2023 R1T models, encompasses crash-test scores… More…

The Audi E-Tron SUV and Sportback were among the first fully electric SUVs of their kind. Now they’re changing with the landscape—and it’s for the better. Just a week ago we were able to drive some of the revamped model line, renamed the 2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron SUV and Sportback, with a fitting backdrop: one of the newest, most dynamic… More…

With a handful of exceptions, most electric vehicles don’t have (or need) multi-speed transmissions. According to some well-respected EV engineers and executives, they may even detract from performance. As such, a performance EV is an odd place to see a manual gearbox. Yet a couple of experiments have cropped up recently, suggesting automakers are… More…

Ford earlier this week raised the price of the base Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup by thousands—for the third time in four months. Just nine months since first deliveries, that puts the base price of the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning nearly 40% higher than the original base price for the 2022 model-year electric truck—$57,869, versus… More…

Tesla and Nissan currently top Consumer Reports’ rankings for most-reliable EVs, although survey data still indicates EVs generally have more problems than other vehicle types. The Tesla Model 3 is now the second most reliable new EV available, according to CR. It was topped only by the Kia EV6, but because the Kia was new for the 2022 model year… More…

Toyota is the latest automaker to work with an electrical utility on ways to use EVs to aid the grid. The automaker on Thursday announced a pilot project with Texas-based utility Oncor for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which allows EVs to discharge power back into the grid. Other automakers and utilities have already expressed interest in V2G… More…

All electric cars experience some range loss in cold weather, but the amount varies widely by model, according to a new report from battery analysis firm Recurrent. The company, which produces battery health reports for used EVs, published a similar report last year. This time, though, it has more data, with model comparisons based on information… More…

Although we tend to focus on carbon emissions and the effect on climate and the atmosphere, a new Cornell University study highlights that choosing an EV is an investment in better local air quality. Published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, the study looked at the economic and health impacts of changes in air quality in… More…

Throw away what you think you know about the Toyota Prius, the ur-hybrid that was briefly Silicon Valley’s most tech-forward car before it was supplanted by Tesla and other electric cars. The 2023 Toyota Prius, which goes on sale early next year, is a stunner. The sleek, wedge-shaped form wasn’t easy to achieve while preserving the… More…

Some future versions of the Lucid Air and Gravity SUV may make their impressive range claims with U.S.-made batteries. On Tuesday, Lucid Group and Panasonic Energy Co. confirmed a multi-year agreement that will keep Lucid supplied as it ramps up the rest of the Lucid Air lineup in 2023 and starts production of the Gravity SUV in 2024. The… More…

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Monday released an introduction for the full eligibility rules for the revamped federal EV tax credit, and it looks like automakers—as well as sellers—will have to submit a lot of reports. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) re-upped the $7,500 credit, but added new requirements for American assembly… More…

Early Kia Niro EV models are being recalled for drive-unit components that may have been improperly sealed. The recall is very small, however, affecting just 872 vehicles from the 2020 model year. The recall involves the electric power control unit (EPCU), one of the most critical and expensive components in an EV. It controls the flow of power… More…

The U.S. Department of Energy confirmed Monday morning a $2.5 billion federal loan to Ultium Cells LLC, for financing the construction of plants to supply many millions of future GM electric vehicles. The loan will fund the construction of joint-venture GM and LG Energy Solution battery plants in Ohio, Tennessee, and Michigan, and the confirmation… More…

Hyundai and Kia EVs may soon get new silicon-carbide power modules aimed at boosting range. Semiconductor firm STMicroelectronics (ST) said last week in a press release that it has been chosen by Hyundai to supply its silicon-carbide power modules for EVs based on the automaker’s E-GMP platform, which underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and… More…