China updates its EV charging standard, claims cross-compatibility

ChaoJI GB/T charging connectorChina, the world's largest new-car market and the largest market for EVs, will continue with its own national DC fast-charging standard. On September 12, China's State Administration for Market Regulation and National Administration approved three key aspects of ChaoJi-1, the next-generation version of the GB/T standard currently used in the...

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...

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...

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...

2024 Kie EV9 bidirectional charging: Here’s how it will work

Wallbox Quasar 2 with Kia EV9The Kia EV9 electric SUV is shaping up to be one of the most important EVs yet for North America. That’s partly because it takes a shape and size that lands right in the midst of the U.S. family vehicle market, and in at least some forms lays down the promise of 300 miles of range. But it’s also because the EV9 promises to help make...

2024 Kia EV9 bidirectional charging: Here’s how it will work

Wallbox Quasar 2 with Kia EV9The Kia EV9 electric SUV is shaping up to be one of the most important EVs yet for North America. That’s partly because it takes a shape and size that lands right in the midst of the U.S. family vehicle market, and in at least some forms lays down the promise of 300 miles of range. But it’s also because the EV9 promises to help make...

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...

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...

Tesla range not degraded by frequent fast-charging, study finds

Tesla chargingDC fast charging makes EV road trips practical, but owners are cautioned that frequent fast-charging can also cause battery degradation. That isn't necessarily the case, a new study has found. Recurrent, which produces battery health reports for used EVs, studied fast charging on over 12,500 Tesla vehicles in the U.S. Cars that were fast-charged...

Honda and Acura EVs will also adopt Tesla NACS standard

2024 Acura ZDX Honda and its Acura luxury brand will join a growing cadre of automakers adopting Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector. The news was confirmed via Autoblog, citing Honda's top U.S. executive, but details remain to be worked out. "It is quite important," American Honda Motor Co. CEO Noriya Kaihara said in an interview with...