EV collision repair costs 20% more than for gas models

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and EQA crash testEV collision repairs continue cost more than those of internal combustion vehicles, according to a new report from Mitchell International, which provides tech for the auto insurance and collision repair industries. The report, based on second-quarter 2024 data, shows similar rates of EVs and 2021-and-newer gasoline vehicles being declared total...

Toyota developing in-wheel electric motors

2025 Toyota Crown SigniaToyota has filed a new patent application for in-wheel electric motors, indicating the automaker is still working on this tech. The patent application was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Jul. 18, 2024, and originally filed by Toyota Oct. 30, 2023. It deals specifically with a gear-case design that uses two...

Ford tackling aero efficiency with deployable roof rack rails

Ford deployable roof rail patent imageFord is looking to patent roof rails and roof racks that can stow away when not in use, helping to reduce aerodynamic drag and potentially improving fuel economy or EV range. These potential aero-improving features were detailed in separate patent applications published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) July 11, 2024, and...

Fastest charge? Zeekr claims 10-80% charge in 10.5 minutes

2024 Zeekr 007Chinese EV brand Zeekr claims new batteries debuting in its 007 electric sedan can support the world's fastest charging rates. These batteries allow vehicles to charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 10.5 minutes at normal temperatures, Zeekr announced this week. Even at temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, Zeekr claims a 10%-80% charge...

JD Power: Charging satisfaction is on the rise

Tesla chargingDC fast-charging usage has improved, according to Power Ease of charging and payment acceptance were the biggest differentiator between Tesla's network and others Some 19% of those surveyed said they'd encountered inoperable chargers Customer satisfaction with public EV charging continues to improve, with Tesla remaining on top, according to a new...

EVgo aims to improve charging reliability

EVgo charging stationsEVgo is looking to tackle the issue of charging reliability with upgraded hardware and more extensive diagnostics. In a press release, EVgo said it was making progress in bringing its public chargers up to date. Since 2022, the company says it has upgraded, replaced, or decommissioned older equipment at more than 500 charging spots in over 20...

Mazda EZ-6 electric sedan confirmed as brand’s first global EV

2025 Mazda EZ-6Mazda on Tuesday announced that the EZ-6 electric sedan will be its first global-market EV. Mazda revealed this sedan in April in China, and at that time it didn't provide information about whether it would be offered for any other markets. But in a press release Mazda said the EZ-6 will be "officially launched in the fall of 2024 as a global...

Cadillac Lyriq AWD recalled for potential brake failure

2023 Cadillac LyriqGeneral Motors is recalling 2023-2024 Cadillac Lyriq electric SUVs over potential unexpected activation of anti-lock braking systems (ABS). The recall encompasses 21,469 vehicles in the U.S., all with the dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain. Single-motor rear-wheel-drive models are not affected. The recalled vehicles may have overly sensitive...

Audi slashes EV interest rates, but Tesla Y can cost a lot less

2024 Audi Q4 E-TronCurrent Audi EV financing undercuts Tesla, but it may still be possible to get a better deal overall from the U.S. automaker, reports CarsDirect. A recent dealer bulletin showed 0.99% financing on all 2024 Audi EVs for up to 60 months, compared to rates of 2.99% to 6.49% for most of the brand's other models. It also undercuts the 1.99% rate Tesla...

Ford Fusion Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid get do-not-drive warning

New 2010 Ford Fusion HybridFord on Tuesday issued a do-not-drive warning to owners of Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sedans who did not have defective Takata airbags replaced under three previous recalls. The automaker issued its first Takata airbag recall in 2015. Like many other automakers, Ford was supplied airbags by Japanese firm Takata...

2025 Genesis GV60 gets less expensive base AWD model

2025 Genesis GV60The 2025 Genesis GV60 receives minor changes and a minor price increase for its third model year on sale in the U.S., Genesis announced last week. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now available, along with a new Capri Blue exterior paint color. The 19-inch-wheel option for all-wheel-drive models has also been broken out into its own…

Fratzonic: EVs have to sound like something, but does it have to be ICE?

2024 Dodge Charger DaytonaThe 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona electrifies a hallowed muscle-car nameplate. And it features an elaborate sound generator to replicate the exhaust noise of the V-8 that will not be offered in the new Charger. Unveiled in March, the Daytona is the all-electric version of the redesigned Charger, which will also be sold with a gasoline...

EV battery costs dropped 90% in last 15 years

Mercedes-Benz Alabama battery factoryThe average price of a lithium-ion battery pack for a light-duty EV has decreased 90% over the past 15 years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates. In 2023, the DOE estimates pack prices averaged $139/kwh on a usable-energy basis for production at scale, meaning at least 100,000 units per year. That's still not quite at the magical...

2025 Nissan Leaf is now cheaper than Versa economy car

2025 Nissan LeafThanks to incentives, the 2025 Nissan Leaf is now the automaker's cheapest model regardless of powertrain type, reports CarsDirect, undercutting the gasoline Versa economy car. The base 2025 Nissan Leaf S starts at $29,280 with destination, but through September 3 it's eligible for $7,500 in NMAC Special APR cash, which is essentially a rebate...

2025 Volvo EX90 price hiked $3,300, still missing features

2025 Volvo EX90The 2025 Volvo EX90 now costs $81,290 The updated pricing includes a $3,300 price increase due to material costs The 2025 Volvo EX90 is in production in South Carolina The 2025 Volvo EX90 has gotten $3,300 more expensive ahead of the planned start of U.S. deliveries later this year, reported Automotive News. Volvo's website now lists the base...

VW ID.Buzz conversion vans brings good vibes into electric era

Volkswagen ID.Buzz.Box by Peace VansA camper conversion of the VW ID.Buzz is in the works Deliveries of the VW ID.Buzz conversion van will begin in November The camper conversion is being done by a third-party independent of VW A Seattle-based company is offering Volkswagen ID.Buzz camper van conversions that channel the grooviness of VW Microbus hippie-mobiles. Peace Vans, which...

PHEVs and EVs outsold gas-powered cars in China in July

BYD Shark plug-in hybrid pickupElectric cars and plug-in hybrids outsold non-hybrid internal-combustion cars in China—the world's largest new-car market—in July, reports Reuters. Sales of plug-in cars increased 37% last month from the same period a year earlier, reaching a record 50.7% market share, according to the report, which cites data from the China Passenger...

NACS or CCS: ChargePoint EV chargers follow Tesla Magic Dock

ChargePoint Omni PortAs automakers and charging networks move to adopt the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) for EV fast charging, ChargePoint is releasing new hardware that combines Tesla and non-Tesla connector types. The ChargePoint Omni Port can accommodate NACS and Combined Charging Standard (CCS) connectors, as well as the SAE J1772 connector for AC...

Nissan testing paint technology to lower cabin temps

Nissan tests cool paint technologyA new type of paint could lower vehicle cabin temperatures Lower cabin temperatures could reduce EV energy consumption The paint might make it to production, but on a special-order basis Nissan is testing paint that could help lower cabin temperatures and reduce energy use from air conditioning. The paint incorporates "metamaterial," a composite...

Tesla Electric partners with SunRun to bolster Texas grid

Sunrun battery and solarTesla customers will soon use home energy-storage systems to support the Texas power grid. A partnership between Tesla Electric, a retail electricity provider operated by the automaker's Tesla Energy, and solar company SunRun announced Tuesday is enrolling customers a program that will use Tesla Powerwall battery packs to supplement the grid...