Fleet-wide fuel economy for vehicles sold in the U.S. has stumbled, according to the EPA's recently released 2022 Automotive Trends Report. The report points to increased SUV sales as one reason for the stagnation of efficiency. The real-world fuel economy of light-duty vehicles sold in the U.S. remained flat for the 2021 model year, at 25.4 mpg... Vehicle fuel economy gains faltered in 2021: Blame the SUV, again
Fleet-wide fuel economy for vehicles sold in the U.S. has stumbled, according to the EPA's recently released 2022 Automotive Trends Report. The report points to increased SUV sales as one reason for the stagnation of efficiency. The real-world fuel economy of light-duty vehicles sold in the U.S. remained flat for the 2021 model year, at 25.4 mpg... 
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Monday released an introduction for the full eligibility rules for the revamped federal EV tax credit, and it looks like automakers—as well as sellers—will have to submit a lot of reports. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) re-upped the $7,500 credit, but added new requirements for American assembly... 
Early Kia Niro EV models are being recalled for drive-unit components that may have been improperly sealed. The recall is very small, however, affecting just 872 vehicles from the 2020 model year. The recall involves the electric power control unit (EPCU), one of the most critical and expensive components in an EV. It controls the flow of power... 
Hyundai and Kia EVs may soon get new silicon-carbide power modules aimed at boosting range. Semiconductor firm STMicroelectronics (ST) said last week in a press release that it has been chosen by Hyundai to supply its silicon-carbide power modules for EVs based on the automaker's E-GMP platform, which underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and... 
It will soon be possible to get a solar-charging EV in the U.S. for just $6,250—with a catch. The Squad Solar City Car is the product of Dutch firm Squad Mobility, which was founded in 2019. Unveiled last May, it uses sunlight to recharge its battery pack. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2024, and Squad recently confirmed that the... 
The Ford F-150 Lightning was the first electric pickup truck available to federal agencies for fleet use—but because it's currently sold out, those agencies can't order any of the trucks. Outside first reported that the United States Forest Service (USFS) is currently evaluating the Lightning, and that it is the only electric pickup... 
Volkswagen is preparing to release a software upgrade for easy ID.4 electric crossovers aimed at improving infotainment system performance, while adding some new features. The upgrade will roll out to 2021 ID.4 models first, followed by certain 2022 ID.4 models, Volkswagen of America said in a press release earlier this week. Owners will be... 
EV battery costs have soared in 2022 due to rising raw material and battery component prices, according to a Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) report. The volume-weighted average for lithium-ion battery pack prices reached $151/kwh this year, a 7% increase over 2021, according to the report. It marks the first time average pack prices have... 
General Motors is about to undertake what it claims is the largest deployment of Level 2 EV chargers in North America. The automaker this week announced the official launch of its Dealer Community Charging Program with the installation of the first charging stations in Wisconsin and Michigan. GM aims to install up to 40,000 Level 2 chargers in the... 
Polestar is offering an over-the-air software update that boosts output of dual-motor versions of the Polestar 2—for a one-time $1,195 fee. The new software increases output by 68 hp and 15 lb-ft of torque to 476 hp and 502 lb-ft, Polestar said in a press release. This reduces the manufacturer-estimated 0-60 mph time to 4.2 seconds, but... 
Toyota believes hydrogen combustion engines could be a viable alternative to EVs, and it's demonstrating the concept with a prototype version of its Corolla Cross. On Tuesday, the automaker unveiled the hydrogen-combustion Corolla Cross H2 Concept, saying in a press release that the vehicle would begin testing in northern Japan this winter. It... 
Used EV prices are dropping, but long-range models appear to be holding their value better, according to Automotive News. As analysts try to fit used-car value metrics to the growing population of used EVs, J.D. Power is applying a "pretty significant deduct" to the residual value of any model with a range below 275 miles, which the firm considers... 
Toyota on Monday teased a plug-in hybrid version of its C-HR subcompact crossover and confirmed more all-electric bZ models for Europe. The Toyota C-HR Prologue Concept shown Monday previews a next-generation model scheduled to debut in the near future. Toyota said in a press release that this new model is engineered to support a plug-in hybrid... 
Hyundai's N performance division is preparing to launch its first battery-electric cars, but it's considering performance fuel-cell vehicles as well. Hyundai released a short video Friday showing off the development process for its N vehicles and teasing the first production electric N model, the Ioniq 5 N, a sportier version of the Ioniq 5... 
More than a decade after launching a mobile EV charging pilot program, AAA is launching a second, larger-scale program that will offer mobile charging to members in 14 U.S. metropolitan areas. The new pilot program offers mobile charging for free to AAA members in the following cities: San Francisco; Indianapolis; Philadelphia; Orlando; Nashville;... 
Canoo on Thursday announced deliver of a prototype truck to the U.S. Army, which shows what a production off-roader from the EV startup could look like. Called the Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV), the electric truck fulfills a contract awarded to Canoo in July 2022, according to a company press release. The single prototype is being used for analysis... 
Tesla is siphoning customers away from Honda and Toyota, according to a new study released this week by S&P Global Mobility. Among EV makers, Tesla remains in another league when it comes to attracting and keeping new customers. The Tesla Model Y has a 60.5% brand loyalty rate in the U.S., and nearly 74% of buyers are coveted conquest sales... 
The Lightyear 0 solar-assisted EV has started production at contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive's facility in Finland, Lightyear confirmed Wednesday in a press release. The Dutch startup said Valmet will initially produce just one car per week, gradually scaling up production in the first quarter of 2023. The 0 will never be a mass-market... 
Volkswagen is in talks with Foxconn to build electric pickup trucks and SUVs for its Scout brand, according to a recent Reuters report. VW said in May that it would reintroduce the Scout name, which originated with the classic International Harvester Scout, one of the earliest SUVs. While that first Scout was just one model, VW envisions an entire... 
Hyundai and battery supplier SK On are partnering to meet the new battery sourcing requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA continues the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, but to qualify for the full amount, it stipulates that EVs and their battery packs must be assembled in North America, and certain minerals used in batteries must...