Bespoke, electric: How the first Rolls-Royce EV took form

2024 Rolls-Royce SpectreThe prestige luxury brand Rolls-Royce announced in 2021 that it would be going fully electric by 2030. That seemed a particularly bold assertion for a brand that up until then hadn’t ever offered an EV. But now the first of the fully electric Rolls-Royce, the Spectre coupe, is headed for first deliveries late this year, and the brand’s...

Rivian made progress ramping up EV production in Q2

2023 Rivian R1TRivian built 13,992 vehicles and delivered 12,640 vehicles in the second quarter of 2023, the automaker reported Monday. These new Q2 numbers are up significantly versus the 9,395 vehicles made and 7,946 delivered in the first quarter. And they show that Rivian isn't falling much farther behind on deliveries. A Rivian press release said these...

Supplier claims a third more winter EV range with thermal tech

Porsche Taycan ZF EVbeat prototypeAutomotive supplier ZF recently unveiled a Porsche Taycan prototype with a number of new components that the company claims can boost cold-weather range by up to a third. The key to this is what ZF calls a central thermal management system that handles temperature control for both the powertrain and cabin. This is based around a central...

Will Tesla Supercharger reliability extend to other brands’ EVs?

Tesla SuperchargerA shift to Tesla’s NACS connector in future EVs, and Tesla Supercharger compatibility even sooner, has now been announced by enough automakers to declare it the majority charging standard for EVs in North America for the foreseeable future. And while automaker press releases and statements have pointed primarily to the number of charge...

Dealer markups of hybrids can erase ownership cost advantages

2023 Toyota Prius PrimeDealer markups on hybrid cars—plug-in or not—are getting steeper, which could cancel out the decrease in ownership costs afforded by their increased fuel efficiency. CarsDirect reports that one California dealership has added a $10,995 markup to the redesigned 2023 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, bringing the advertised price from...

Report: Ford and GM EV strategies solid, but Tesla will stay top seller

Tesla SuperchargerTesla may be on a downward trajectory in its share of the U.S. EV market. But even by the time the 2027 model year rolls around, the U.S. maker of exclusively EVs will stay on top, according to the annual Car Wars study released last week from Bank of America. The strategies of Ford and GM “both appear relatively solid,” despite being...

Electrify America adding Tesla connectors; no confirmation on 800V charging

Electrify America upscale charging conceptsElectrify America on Thursday announced that it will add Tesla connectors to its charging network in the U.S. and Canada. The company said in a press release that it will continue to provide Combined Charging Standard (CCS) connectors, while also adding the Tesla connector, branded by Tesla as the North American Charging Standard (NACS) as an...

Polestar EVs get Tesla charge port in 2025, Supercharger access in 2024

2024 Polestar 3The electric vehicle brand Polestar announced on Thursday that it plans to adopt the Tesla charge port. The change will go into effect in 2025, with all new Polestar vehicles sold in North America from that time forward getting the Tesla port, called North American Charging Standard (NACS). In mid-2024, Polestar drivers will also gain...

Federal study lays out US charging needs by 2030

Porsche Taycan chargingStricter emissions standards, automaker EV goals, and increasing consumer demand for EVs will create more need for public charging infrastructure, which a new study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) aims to quantify. The NREL estimates that current regulatory and industry trends will lead to 30 million to 42 million EVs on U.S...

GM details hardware for using EVs as home power backup

2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV with GM Ultium Home energy systemGeneral Motors on Wednesday detailed its first bidirectional vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging hardware, allowing EVs to serve as a home backup power source. The Ultium Home V2H Bundle includes an AC home charger, dubbed the PowerShfit Charger, that allows vehicles to discharge power from their battery packs, along with an Enablement Kit that adds an...