Tesla Model 3 earns a spot among top 10 leased vehicles

2022 Tesla Model 3The Tesla Model 3 is now one of the top 10 leased vehicles in the U.S., marking the first time an EV has appeared among the top leased vehicles, according to credit report provider Experian. In the second quarter of 2023, the Model 3 was the seventh most-leased vehicle in the U.S. The top leased vehicle was the Ford F-150 pickup truck, which is...

EV batteries degrade faster in hot weather: What owners can do

Marengo Charging Plaza, Pasadena, CaliforniaHot weather can cause EV batteries to degrade faster, but there are some simple things owners can do to help protect their cars, according battery-health analysis firm Recurrent. Recurrent publishes battery health reports for used EVs, but also uses the data pulled from vehicles to study the impact of hot and cold weather on range and battery...

2025 Mini Countryman Electric crossover set for fall 2024 US arrival

2025 Mini CountrymanThe 2025 Mini Countryman Electric crossover will reach the U.S. in fall 2024, Mini confirmed Monday in a press release. The Countryman Electric was unveiled earlier this month at the 2023 Munich auto show alongside a redesigned electric version of the traditional Mini Cooper hatchback. This is the first time the Countryman will be available with...

Feds free up $100M to replace unreliable EV chargers

Tesla SuperchargerFunding for new EV chargers is a major feature of the Biden administration's infrastructure law, but the law is now also freeing up $100 million to replace existing chargers that don't work. The White House on Wednesday announced that it was accepting applications for this funding, under a new program called the Electric Vehicle Charger...

Dodge Hornet R/T, Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEVs recalled over fire concern

2024 Alfa Romeo TonalePlug-in hybrid versions of the Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale crossover SUVs are being recalled over possible loose battery cables that could lead to fires. The two related crossovers are the first plug-in models from their respective brands, both part of Stellantis. The Tonale launched for the 2024 model year with a standard plug-in hybrid...

Tesla loyalty is high, but Rivian and Lucid are luring owners away

Tesla chargingTesla has strong brand loyalty, but Rivian and Lucid are beginning to lure some Tesla owners away, according to a new study from S&P Global Mobility. Most Tesla owners stay with the brand, the study found. A whopping 72.8% of Model 3 owners replace their cars with another Tesla, as do 59.9% of Model S owners. Among Model S owners that don't...

California tackles low-income EV fast-charging gap with $38M

2023 Toyota bZ4X at EVgo charging stationCalifornia is spending $38 million to help expand availability of EV fast-charging for low-income and disadvantaged communities. The California Energy Commission (CEC), the state's energy regulator, is now accepting applications for rebates that can be put toward the cost of installing DC fast-chargers with a minimum power rate of 150 kw by...

Toyota plots solid-state battery timeline for future EVs

Toyota EV concept for 2026Toyota on Thursday provided an update on its battery development plans, including a more detailed roadmap for the rollout of solid-state batteries. The automaker has five next-generation battery designs, including both liquid and solid electrolytes. Toyota expects the solid-state batteries, which the company has been researching with Panasonic, to...

Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis Electrified GV70 earn top IIHS safety ratings

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6The Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Genesis Electrified GV70 have won the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). For 2023, Top Safety Pick+ award winners must earn the highest "Good" score in the IIHS' driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, original moderate overlap front (a high...

2024 Mazda CX-90 plug-in hybrid makes the list of safest SUVs

2024 Mazda CX-90Plug-in hybrid versions of the 2024 Mazda CX-90 three-row crossover SUV have received the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). To earn a spot on the Top Safety Pick+ list, a vehicle must earn top "Good" scores in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, original...

BMW, Ford, Honda ally for tech enabling EVs to support the grid

2023 Ford F-150 LightningBMW, Ford, and Honda on Tuesday announced a new company focusing on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) EV charging, which the partners claim will benefit both EV owners and electric utilities. Called ChargeScape, the company aims to start operations in 2024, pending regulatory approval. Its main focus will be connecting EV owners in the U.S. and Canada with...

2023 Porsche Taycan, Audi E-Tron GT recalled for battery seal

2023 Porsche TaycanPorsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT electric cars are being recalled to address a battery-sealant issue. The two EVs are based on the same J1 platform and share many major components—including battery sealant. Both Porsche and Audi switched to a Teroson sealant during the period when the affected cars were produced, and it may have been...

China’s Gotion will make EV-bound LFP batteries in Illinois

Gotion battery cellsChinese battery maker Gotion will build a $2 billion EV battery factory in Manteno, Illinois, with plans to begin production in 2024. The battery plant was announced September 8 by Gotion and the State of Illinois, which provided a $536 million incentive package to land the project. Under the terms of the deal, Gotion is also eligible to receive...

2025 Lotus Emeya EV will face off with Taycan, Model S Plaid

Lotus EmeyaLotus will take on the Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S Plaid, and Lucid Air Sapphire with its own high-performance electric sedan. Due sometime next year as a 2025 model, the Lotus Emeya is the automaker's second EV, following the Eletre SUV. It's also latest in a set of premium, flagship sedans or fastbacks that emphasize performance, perhaps at...

Report: Mercedes might use BYD battery for Model 3 rival in China

Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA-ClassMercedes-Benz could use Chinese battery supplier BYD's Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in future Chinese-market EVs, according to a new report. The source here is Chinese publication CBEA, which on Friday reported that Mercedes will start production of EVs with BYD batteries in 2025, citing an anonymous official of the automaker. As...

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally EV vies for a dirt-track date

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E RallyFord is a long history in rallying with cars like the Escort, Focus, and RS200, and now it's applying that to the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV. Unveiled Thursday, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally is a new performance model designed for dirt-road driving. Changes start with unique exterior styling, including 19-inch white rally-style wheels, a...

Hilton hotels’ 20,000 Tesla chargers offer EVs an overnight charge

Hilton hotels add Tesla chargingHilton on Thursday announced plans to install up to 20,000 Tesla Universal Wall Connector EV chargers at 2,000 hotels in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Hilton plans to begin installing chargers in early 2024, with at least six chargers at each location, according to a company press release. The company indicated this is in response to growing...

Toyota reveals hydrogen fuel-cell electric pickup truck

Toyota Hilux hydrogen fuel-cell prototypeToyota on Tuesday revealed a prototype hydrogen fuel-cell pickup truck, but it's unclear if the project will progress to a production vehicle. Based on the overseas-market Hilux, the prototype was developed by Toyota Motor Manufacturing U.K. and a handful of partner companies, with U.K. government funding. The Hilux was chosen because it has a...

US EV adoption is becoming more polarized by state

Tesla SuperchargerU.S. EV adoption rates continue to rise overall, but vary significantly by state, according to a new J.D. Power study. On a nationwide basis, EV adoption is rising steadily in the U.S., with EV sales now representing 8.6% of U.S. new-car sales, according to the study, which is based on data collected through August 2023. However, the U.S. is being...

2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron shows off a new interior for brand’s EVs

Audi Q6 E-TronThe 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron electric crossover will usher in a new era for the brand's interiors when it debuts later this year. Audi on Sunday provided a preview of what's in store, showing the interior of the Q6 E-Tron after teasing the exterior in July. Following current industry trends, a curved panel houses both the 11.9-inch digital instrument...