Toyota RAV4 Prime: Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2021 finalist

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSEThe Toyota RAV4 Prime is all sorts of things, all at once. It’s Toyota’s first plug-in SUV since the “powered by Tesla” RAV4 EV from earlier last decade. It’s the quickest-accelerating vehicle in Toyota’s lineup, excluding its sports cars. And it offers one of the longest all-electric driving ranges among...

Rivian charging network will be partly proprietary, partly patchwork

Rivian R1TRivian has begun work on its own charging network, with a "two-tier" strategy that will include DC fast charging and slower AC charging, CEO RJ Scaringe said in an interview with TechCrunch. Unlike previous charging-network projects, Rivian will locate stations near hiking trails, kayaking spots, and other recreational destinations, in order to...

Daimler sale of EV-savvy Smart plant enables diesel SUV production

2021 Ineos Grenadier prototypeIneos Automotive confirmed on Tuesday that it’s acquired the Daimler AG facility in Hambach, France that builds Smart EQ Fortwo electric cars—for building throwback SUVs that are gasoline, diesel, and perhaps hydrogen fuel-cell powered. The plant, which has been nicknamed Smartville and has made future-leaning cars from the city-car...

Report: Plug-in hybrids are polluting more than claimed

2021 Volvo XC60Real-world emissions of plug-in hybrids on European roads are significantly higher than automakers claim, according to a report released earlier this month by the environmental group Transport & Environment. While real-world emissions are always dependent on how often owners plug in, many plug-in hybrids "lack the necessary EV power, range...

QuantumScape battery tech: A fast-charging electric-car game-changer?

Volkswagen ID Space Vizzion conceptVolkswagen-backed startup QuantumScape on Tuesday revealed new data showing the capabilities of its solid-state battery tech. Several companies are working to develop solid-state batteries, which use a solid electrolyte instead of the liquid or gel used in current lithium-ion battery cells. But QuantumScape claims to be ahead of competitors in...