Automakers commit to tougher California emissions deal—and more EVs

Audi e-tron, on the Golden Gate BridgeThe California Air Resources Board announced Monday that it has finalized five individual agreements with automakers pledging to adhere to annual reductions of passenger-vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. The terms, negotiated with BMW (including Rolls-Royce), Ford, Honda, Volvo, and Volkswagen Group (including Audi)—six automakers, as...

Hyundai Kona Electric goes more than 600 miles—if you go 20 mph

2020 Hyundai Kona ElectricA Hyundai Kona Electric went more than 600 miles in a closed-course test, but only when driven at slow speeds with all accessories turned off. The result, which Hyundai claims is a range record for a vehicle with this size battery pack, is more than double the Kona Electric's 258-mile EPA-rated range. It shows how much range can be extracted from...

Study: US could save up to $70 billion annually if EVs were widespread

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-EElectric cars don't just save the environment, they also save lots of money, according to a new Northwestern University study. The United States could save up to $70 billion annually if electric cars replaced 75% of current internal-combustion cars, and were paired with increased renewable-energy electricity generation, the study found. Even if...

To supply EV production, another European battery company rises: Verkor

Verkor battery factory renderingAs European automakers ramp up production of electric cars, a new company aims to supply them with batteries. French startup Verkor plans to open a battery factory in its home country in 2023, with an initial annual production capacity of 16 gigawatt-hours, before expanding to 50 gigawatt-hours at a later date, according to Automotive News Europe...