Biden hikes tariffs to keep Chinese EVs out

The Biden administration on Tuesday took a serious protectionist stance, revealing sweeping tariff hikes affecting $18 billion of Chinese imports, with electric vehicles and their supply chain at the core.  Specifically, tariffs on electric vehicles rise from 25% to 100% this year. The hikes aren’t just on finished EVs, but on critical elements of the…

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 overshadows Model 3

With more range, better functionality, actual style thanks to a better design, and competitive price, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 just makes better sense than the Tesla Model 3. But that style does come at a price for taller passengers; Tesla has upped its interior-material game; and the car that’s so forward-thinking still lacks some tech…

Kia confirms EV3 for May 23 reveal, arrival in late 2024

Kia on Tuesday confirmed that its compact EV3 electric SUV will go on sale later this year. The production-bound EV3 is due to make its debut on May 23 and will in its shift from a concept vehicle to a production-bound one arrive “comprehensively equipped,” according to Kia, while also offering “outstanding performance through…

EV charger reliability gains will take more than a Tesla connector

Nearly every EV brand in North America is adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector and gaining access to the automaker’s Supercharger network. But despite that network’s fairly good reputation for reliability, the NACS connector alone may not guarantee an overall improvement in charger reliability, says one expert. Joerg Heuer is the CEO of…

Feds to formalize foreign entity rules for EV tax credit

The U.S. Treasury Department could issue clarifications on federal EV tax-credit eligibility rules as early as Friday, reports Transport Topics. Citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the report claims the federal government is ready to issue rules relating to its “foreign entities of concern” requirement. Specifically, vehicles with battery components or critical minerals from…

2024 Acura ZDX Type S keeps first EV mostly on-brand

The 2024 Acura ZDX is the Honda premium brand’s first-ever electric vehicle, a midsize crossover SUV with five seats.  Visually it’s every inch an Acura, and it’s very close in size to the brand’s bestselling model, the MDX midsize crossover. But the EV is differently proportioned—3 inches lower, on a wheelbase that’s 8 inches longer. …

Lucid Gravity might defy segments

Is that a minivan? Is that a wagon? Is that an SUV?  The answer to these questions in order is no, kind of, and yes. The Lucid Gravity is the startup automaker’s upcoming crossover SUV, but in many ways it redefines the genre in terms of packaging, design, and how it drives. Here’s what I…

Matchbox marks Mercedes’ electric G-wagen with a sustainable twist

The first-ever electric version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class—also known as the “Gelandewagen” or “G-wagen”—is getting the Matchbox treatment—with a sustainable twist to match its electric powertrain. Formally known as the Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology (a name that might prove difficult to fit on the packaging), the electric G-wagen Matchbox die-cast car will be…

Honda commits to $11B EV hub in Canada, to start in 2028

Honda on Thursday announced plans to push its EV supply chain into Canada, in a move that it said recognizes “the long-term attractiveness of the Canadian EV manufacturing ecosystem.” The investment is significant—$11 billion U.S. dollars, including investments by joint-venture partners—but it doesn’t yet actually commit to an EV assembly plant. Honda says that it…

Tesla leads with lowest ownership cost, beats Toyota

Teslas are less expensive to maintain than other car brands, including some with strong reputations for reliability, according to Consumer Reports. As part of its 2023 Annual Auto Surveys, Consumer Reports asked owners how much they paid out of pocket for maintenance costs like oil changes over the previous 12 months. Researchers then compared cumulative…

EV factories may be leading utilities to dirtier decisions

New factories producing EVs and their batteries are bringing more jobs to the Southeast, but utilities are trying to meet the power demands of these factories with natural-gas power plants rather than renewable energy, reports Energy News Network. Anticipated demand from the auto industry—as well as solar-panel manufacturing and data centers—is leading utilities to forecast…

Disneyland will remake its Autopia around EVs in 2026

Disneyland will replace gasoline vehicles at its Autopia ride with EVs in 2026, the Los Angeles Times confirmed this week. Autopia is one of the longer-running attractions at the Anaheim, California, Walt Disney Co. theme park and it undoubtedly has a role in nurturing auto enthusiasm for kids. With clarification that these vehicles will be…

US-made 3-row electric SUV is Toyota Highlander EV

The Toyota Highlander midsize SUV could go all-electric, while the Grand Highlander would continue with internal-combustion engines, according to a new report from CarBuzz. This is part of a strategy to replace the alphanumeric naming scheme used by the Toyota bZ4X—currently the only EV in Toyota’s U.S. lineup—for more conventional names, according to the report.…

Half of 2024 EVs have lower 5-year ownership cost vs. ICE

Many EVs have a lower five-year cost of ownership than comparable gasoline models, according an annual roundup from Vincentric, a source for ownership cost calculations for websites and automakers.  Vincentric’s analysis covers eight factors: depreciation, fees and taxes, financing, fuel cost, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost and repairs. It assumes new vehicles are driven 15,000 annually…

EV efficiency gains could cut grid demand, save billions

EVs could end up using a lot of electricity, but efficiency improvements to support them could significantly reduce the need for new grid infrastructure, cut energy usage, and potentially save consumers billions of dollars, according to a new study from non-profit utility organization EPRI and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). By 2050, charging of…

2024 Fiat 500e urban EV has its charm

The 2024 Fiat 500e is a small electric three-door hatchback that looks remarkably similar to the previous Fiat 500, sold in the U.S. from the 2012 through 2019 model years. This one’s offered only as a battery-electric vehicle (hence the “e”), at least for the moment. But Fiat plans to market it as a fashion…

Connecticut and Maine delay adopting California EV mandate

Connecticut and Maine have delayed adoption of California’s EV sales mandate, leaving EV advocates to retrench, reports Energy News Network. On March 20, Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection voted 4-2 against adopting California’s Advanced Clean Cars II rules, which accompany the state’s planned ban on sales of new gasoline cars in 2035 and require more…

Tesla sets Robotaxi reveal for Aug. 8

Tesla will unveil its Robotaxi August 8, CEO Elon Musk announced Friday. In his typical fashion, Musk made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), the social media site he owns. The post included the date with no further details. According to a Reuters report earlier in the day, Tesla has reportedly dropped its $25,000 affordable…

Next-gen batteries may benefit plug-in hybrids as much as EVs

Plug-in hybrids with twice as much range are about to become the hot new thing. You can thank the California government and automakers’ lobbying efforts, in part, for delaying the all-electric transition. In interviews at the 2024 New York auto show, two executives familiar with their brands’ future products independently told Green Car Reports the…

Ferrari partners with battery supplier SK On for advanced cells

Ferrari on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with battery supplier SK On for future battery development. The two companies will partner to “explore new possibilities and potential solutions to advance cell technology,” according to an SK On press release. This is in addition to an existing battery-supply arrangement in place since 2019, which has…

What it’s accomplished, what it hasn’t

Ahead of the release of preliminary Q1 2024 production and delivery figures, expected next week, it’s now official: Tesla has delivered more than 6 million vehicles since 2008, every one a battery-electric vehicle.  Its 5 million total last September got a lot of attention. But 6 million is more important, because it cements Tesla as…

Will the remains of EV startup Arrival help keep Canoo alive?

The U.S. EV startup Canoo earlier this week announced that it had acquired “a substantial portion of the advanced manufacturing assets” formerly owned by the U.K. startup Arrival for “pennies on the dollar.”  The assets acquired by Canoo from the failed startup include robots, control equipment, and dynamic vehicle testing equipment, it said.  “These assets…

FCEV plugs a benchwarmer into the grid

The charge port on the front fender of the 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV is, ironically, what may help keep drivers of this fuel-cell vehicle away from a state of range anxiety.  It signals plug-in-hybrid-like electric range for the commute, without any need for hydrogen—a departure from the modest, hybrid-sized packs that have been typical in…

China takes grievances over Biden EV policy to the WTO

China has filed a complaint against the Biden administration’s EV incentive policy with the World Trade Organization (WTO), Bloomberg reports. New rules for the federal EV tax credit enacted in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act are “discriminatory” and “seriously distorted” the global EV supply chain, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday…

Will the $25,000 Tesla use faster-charging CATL LFP cells?

Battery supplier CATL is developing faster-charging battery cells for Tesla, according to Bloomberg (via Automotive News). CATL chairman Robin Zeng mentioned this project in an interview with Bloomberg in Hong Kong on Monday, in which he also confirmed that CATL is supplying equipment for Tesla’s Nevada battery factory. Zeng also mentioned Tesla’s ongoing effort to…

Will Toyota Prius Prime gain EV route planning smarts?

Among the new features of the Toyota C-HR plug-in hybrid recently launched in Europe is an efficiency-boosting trip planner that could be useful to Toyota’s U.S. plug-in hybrid customers. Called Predictive Efficient Drive, this feature analyzes traffic conditions and learns the driver’s behavior and regular routes to maximize use of electric mode, according to a…

2024 Lexus RX 450h+ half-steps into future

One of the most important vehicles in the Lexus lineup, the RX, finally plugs in. The 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid arrives on the scene with 37 miles of electric range from the Toyota RAV4 Prime’s powertrain, in a more eye-catching and softer-to-the-touch package.  As I found in a recent drive of the RX…

GM considers odd EV battery cell shapes for better cooling

As it seeks to address production issues with its current Ultium battery cells, General Motors may be considering something even more complex. First spotted by Motor1, a recently filed GM patent application discusses battery cells with Lego-like shapes meant to accommodate cooling channels. Instead of building battery modules out of a solid mass of cells…

Shell is shedding some gas stations in favor of EV charging

Shell plans to eliminate some of its current gas stations while putting further emphasis on EV charging. “We are upgrading our retail network, with expanded electric vehicle charging and convenience offers, in response to changing customer needs,” Shell said in its 2024 Energy Transition Strategy report (via Yahoo! Finance). That includes plans to “divest around…

Rivian adapters arrive in April, enable Tesla Supercharger waypoints

Rivian will begin shipping free North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapters to customers in April, giving them access to over 15,000 Tesla Supercharger fast-charging stations across North America, the automaker announced Monday. Compatible Supercharger sites will be added to roughly 16,000 pubic chargers customers already have access to, according to Rivian. Like those chargers, Superchargers…

Honda and Nissan point 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 efforts for both companies. The initial…

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 other…

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), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It…

Volvo seeks 30% quicker EV charging without battery upgrades

Volvo wants to speed 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 charging performance. Testing has indicated that this software…

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 that only 1% offered EV charging.…

20-year EV battery, 9-minute charging in Samsung SDI roadmap

Samsung SDI this week presented a battery-development roadmap with ambitious performance targets for charging, energy density, and battery life. On the charging front, the company believes it can begin mass-producing battery cells capable of being charged from 8% to 80% in just nine minutes by 2026. This will be made possible by “optimizing lithium-ion transfer…

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 include updates to the ambient lighting system and gauge-cluster graphics for…

$45,000, over 300 miles, the future of the SUV?

The Rivian R2 is two years away, but with the debut of an R2 in prototype form on 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,…

2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV charges up next muscle car era

The 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona is not like other electric vehicles. The three- and five-door hatchback hurtles the performance brand into its electric future by embracing all the muscle car machismo of its past. As for range and efficiency—the typical pride points of an EV launch— Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis was characteristically blunt: “I don’t…

Fisker confirms potential EV partnership with “large automaker”

Fisker is in talks with an unnamed “large automaker” for a potential investment, development of one or more EV platforms, and North American manufacturing. The announcement, first reported by Automotive News, came directly from Fisker’s fourth-quarter 2023 earnings report Thursday. The company reported a $463 million net loss for the quarter. Fisker Alaska electric truck…

Tesla Roadster arriving in 2025 with SpaceX ties

Tesla CEO Elon Musk gave some conflicting signals about the upcoming product on Tuesday night. “Tonight, we radically increased the design goals for the new Tesla Roadster,” the CEO said, via a post on X. Musk then clarified that the production design is complete and the product is due to be unveiled at the end…

Ineos off-road EV, liquid-hydrogen tech, gas stations vs. EV chargers: Today’s Car News

Some lawmakers want to ban public EV charging stations wherever gas stations aren’t permitted. Ineos revealed a fully electric off-roader while talking up its range-extended versions instead. And liquid hydrogen could have greater potential for fuel-cell long-haul semis, suggests This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Lawmakers in Kentucky have made a confounding proposal:…

GM nixed electric vans, is rushing plug-in hybrid pickups

General Motors has cancelled plans for more electric vans and a Ford Maverick-sized electric pickup trucks as it undertakes a “crash program” to launch plug-in hybrid pickups, Autoweek reported Tuesday. The automaker has nixed electric replacements for the ancient Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans based on the BrightDrop electric delivery van, according to the…

2025 Porsche Panamera plug-in hybrids mix in more EV miles

Porsche hasn’t forgotten about plug-in hybrids.  Although the sports-car brand just earlier this month revealed a revamped 2025 Taycan EV that offers more range, better efficiency, and stronger acceleration, and it’s soon rolling out its fully electric Macan SUV, it has a whole suite of other plug-ins on the way. Porsche already revealed in November…

Will it be EV maker’s Model 3 moment?

The Rivian R2 lineup is due to debut March 7.  The California-based electric truck maker has revealed very little about the R2 as of yet, other than that it will be smaller and lower-priced than the existing R1 lineup—and, from an early tease above, that it will keep the original R1 lineup’s distinctive front lightbar…

GM taps ex-Tesla battery chief to deliver cheaper EVs sooner

General Motors has hired former Tesla battery-development boss Kurt Kelty as its new vice president of batteries. In this newly-created position, Kelty will be tasked with bringing together GM’s development resources “to more quickly deliver profitable, lower-cost, higher performing electric vehicles to customers at scale,” and will report directly to GM president Mark Reuss, the…

EVs are too heavy for US guardrails

EVs tend to weigh more than comparable internal-combustion models, which may require a rethink of highway guardrail designs, according to a new University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) study. For it, researchers conducted what they claim are the first-ever crash tests specifically looking at EVs and guardrails. The tests showed that guardrails previously tested with internal-combustion cars weighing…

More range, 18-minute charging, 2.3-second 0-60

Porsche appears to be keeping all that’s great about its leading-edge Taycan electric sports car, while teasing out more of the numbers that matter: range, efficiency, and acceleration.  The 2025 Porsche Taycan starts with a larger battery pack. Versions with the Performance Battery Plus now have a gross capacity of 105 kwh—up from 93 kwh.…

Waffle House hosts federal EV fast-chargers, bucks gas-station trend

The first new EV charging site in Tennessee funded through the Biden administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program bucks the trend of co-locating chargers with gas pumps. Installed by Atlanta-based charging infrastructure firm EnviroSpark, the new chargers are being hosted by a Waffle House restaurant in Lakeland, Tennessee. Of the NEVI-funded sites in the…