US-made Genesis Electrified GV70 EV costs much more than gas version

2023 Genesis Electrified GV70The Alabama-built 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 electric SUV will start at $66,975 with the mandatory $1,125 destination charge, Genesis announced last week. The GV70 is an all-electric version of the Genesis GV70 compact crossover SUV, which was introduced for the 2022 model year. The Electrified GV70 costs a lot more than the gasoline version...

One-pedal driving in EVs isn’t efficient, says Porsche

2023 Porsche TaycanOne-pedal driving allows EV drivers to decelerate without touching the brake pedal, while ramping up regeneration to recover energy. But Porsche thinks there's a better way. The Porsche Taycan makes greater use of coasting, only using regenerative braking when the brake pedal is actually pressed. In a recent press release, the automaker explains...

Plug-in hybrids emit many times the claimed CO2, test suggests

2021 BMW 330ePlug-in hybrids may emit more carbon dioxide (CO2) than their manufacturers claimed, even when fully charged, European environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E) claims. T&E recently tested current-generation plug-in hybrid versions of the BMW 3 Series, Peugeot 308, and Renault Megane. All three are popular in Europe, although...

Ford dual-charge-port solution could connect multiple EVs in series

Ford series EV charging patent imageFord 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...

Study: Ethanol may add 12 cents per gallon to Midwest gasoline

Gas pumpDrivers in the Midwest could soon be paying more for fuel under an ethanol-blending policy supported by political interests in the region, according to a new study. First spotted by Transport Topics, the study was conducted by Baker & O'Brien Inc. for a U.S. fossil-fuel refining trade group. It predicts that Midwestern motorists will pay 8...

California EV mandate: New Jersey adopts it, Virginia keeps it

2023 Volvo C40Recent 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...

Automakers back California in challenge of auto-emissions clout

Ford Mustang Mach-E Active Drive AssistSeven automakers on Monday filed a brief in a federal court case challenging California's ability to set higher emissions standards—siding with California. The case—Ohio v. EPA—is pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington. It was brought by 17 Republican-led states looking to revoke California's Clean Air Act waiver...

Petition seeks pedestrian sounds on 9M older EVs, hybrids

2012 Toyota RAV4 EVThe 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...

Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid recalled over stalling issue

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSEToyota is recalling certain 2021 RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrids to address an issue that could cause vehicles to stall in cold weather. The affected vehicles have hybrid-system software that could trigger a shutdown of the powertrain while driving in EV mode in cold temperatures "if the accelerator is rapidly pressed to further accelerate the...

Ford patents solid-axle hub-motor combo with EV off-roading in mind

Ford patent image showing a solid axle with EV hub motorsFord 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...