Biden agencies draw roadmap for EV charging along freight corridors

Volvo VNR Electric semi truckThe 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)...

More than a third of Prius owners get another one, finds CarMax

2024 Toyota PriusWhen it's time to replace their cars, many Toyota Prius owners choose another of the hybrids, according used-car retailer CarMax. More than 38% of CarMax customers who own a Prius purchase another one, according to the company. That makes the Prius the model with the highest loyalty in CarMax's inventory. The Prius displaced the Chevrolet...

Study: Some retailers aren’t doing much to support EV charging

Walmart store sign (via Wikimedia)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...

Will a US tariff hike on Chinese EVs keep them out?

2023 Zeekr 009Three 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...

2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron charges faster, goes farther, accelerates quicker

2024 Audi Q4 E-TronThe 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...

Honda Prologue, Acura ZDX qualify for full $7,500 EV tax credit

2024 Honda PrologueThe 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...

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

Samsung logoSamsung 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...

2024 Nissan Leaf gets $3,750 EV tax credit back

2024 Nissan LeafThe 2024 Nissan Leaf is once again eligible for a $3,750 federal EV tax credit, Nissan confirmed Wednesday in a press release. This credit—half the maximum amount of $7,500—effectively cuts the price of the Leaf to $25,485 for many households. Nissan also provides a $3,750 lease incentive for 2024 and 2023 Leaf models. Nissan...

Analysts: 40% drop in 2023-2025 EV battery prices will boost sales

Mercedes-Benz Alabama battery factoryA number of factors may be converging to lower EV battery prices, which in turn could boost EV demand, according to new analysis from Goldman Sachs. Analysts expect nearly a 40% decline in EV battery prices between 2023 and 2025, and for EVs to "reach breakthrough levels in terms of cost parity" with internal-combustion vehicles in some markets as...

Google-backed Gravity claims fastest EV charging in America

Gravity EV charging center in New York CityGravity, a New York-based EV charging startup backed by Google Ventures, claims to be rolling out the fastest chargers in the U.S. The startup's chargers, which as of Monday are available for public use at a single location in New York City, can charge at a peak power rate of 500 kw and add 2,400 miles of range per hour of charging, equivalent to...

Google-backed Gravity claims fastest EV charging in America

Gravity EV charging center in New York CityGravity, a New York-based EV charging startup backed by Google Ventures, claims to be rolling out the fastest chargers in the U.S. The startup's chargers, which as of Monday are available for public use at a single location in New York City, can charge at a peak power rate of 500 kw and add 2,400 miles of range per hour of charging, equivalent to...

2024 Nissan Ariya costs up to $6,000 less, Tesla adapter coming

2024 Nissan AriyaThe 2024 Nissan Ariya electric SUV gets a price cut for its second model year and, in the coming months, Tesla charging adapters for owners. The base Ariya Engage front-wheel drive model now starts at $40,980 with destination, which is $3,600 less than the 2023 model, Nissan announced Monday in a press release. The same discount applies to Engage...

2024 Ford E-Transit electric vans get bigger battery, more range

2024 Ford E-TransitThe 2024 Ford E-Transit gets a larger battery pack affording more range, among other changes. The E-Transit now has 89 kwh of usable capacity, compared to the previous 68 kwh for all E-Transits. This increases maximum EPA-cycle range to 159 miles, up from the 126 miles Ford quoted at the time of the E-Transit's 2022 launch. The automaker claims...

Audi EV prices lowered by up to $3,000 through Costco

2024 Audi e-tron GTCostco members can once again gets discount of thousands of dollars on new Audi EVs starting this week. Between March 1 and April 30, Costco members can get significant discounts on the purchase or lease of many new 2023 or 2024 Audi models, assuming they take delivery by May 15. Looking at EVs, the biggest discount—$3,000—is available...

Report: Nissan may build Fisker Alaska electric pickup, its own derivative

Fisker Alaska electric truck conceptNissan may build the Fisker Alaska electric pickup truck, as well as a derivative sold under its own brand name, Reuters reported Friday. The report, based on anonymous sources familiar with the matter, claims Nissan is in "advanced talks" to invest in Fisker, with a deal possibly closing later this month. Terms reportedly being discussed include...

GMC Hummer EV joins gas-guzzlers in list of meanest for the environment

2024 GMC Hummer EV SUVThe 2024 American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) list of "meanest" vehicles for the environment includes the expected array of gas-guzzling trucks—but also one EV. The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV was ranked ninth on the list, between the GMC Sierra pickup truck and Mercedes-Benz G550 SUV. The annual list is based on the estimated...

Fisker confirms potential EV partnership with “large automaker”

Fisker OceanFisker 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...

Rivian trip planning adds Tesla chargers in March, adapters coming soon

2024 Rivian R1TRivian said Thursday that it will add Tesla Supercharger sites to its in-vehicle trip planner in March, with adapter shipments to owners starting soon after that. This will give Rivian owners access to more than 15,000 Superchargers across North America, the company said on X (formerly Twitter). As of Thursday Tesla had added Rivian to the list of...

These EVs are top-rated for safety by the IIHS

Genesis Electrified G80Several EVs earned high marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2024, the organization revealed this week. The IIHS toughened requirements to earn its highest Top Safety Pick+ and second-tier Top Safety Pick awards for 2024, but 71 models still qualified for at least one of the awards (with 22 earning the Top Safety Pick+...

Aston Martin delays first EV for lack of demand

2024 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 race carAston Martin is delaying the launch of its first volume EV by a year, citing lack of demand. The automaker originally planned to launch an EV next year, but it said in the release of its 2023 financial results Wednesday that it was now aiming for 2026. Aston Martin will still rely on Lucid for some powertrain components under an agreement put in...