GM CEO surprised EVs became political

GM CEO Mary BarraGM CEO is "surprised" EVs are political Barra said GM is on track to be EV-only by 2035 if customers are ready GM's Corvette boss didn't commit to an electric Corvette, but one's already been confirmed GM's top executive is surprised that EVs became a political lightning rod. "It did surprise me; I never thought the propulsion system on a vehicle...

Lightyear gets $11M to pivot from solar EV to supplier

Lightyear solar panel manufacturingLightyear secured approximately $11 million (10M Euros) of funding The funding will help the restructured business sell solar hardware Lightyear's moved on from attempting to build its own EVs Lightyear has secured 10 million euros (approximately $11 million at current exchange rates) to fund a new business of selling solar hardware for other...

Electric RV packs range extender: Future 500-mile PHEV Airstream?

THOR Hybrid Class A Test VehicleElectric RVs are on the horizon Airstream owner Thor Industries revealed a plug-in hybrid RV PHEV RVs offer more range for less money than an electric RV Electric trucks and SUVs have arrived, and in the quest for lower-carbon-impact camping, fully electric RVs aren’t far behind. While the fully electric vanlife is starting to roll out, the...

Study: Drivers misusing and abusing Tesla Autopilot system

2024 Tesla Model 3A study found Tesla drivers are distracted while using Autopilot Tesla's Autopilot is a hands-on driver-assist system, not a hands-off system The study notes more robust safeguards are needed to prevent misuse Driver-assist systems like Tesla Autopilot are meant to reduce the frequency of crashes, but drivers are more likely to become distracted...

Study: Never mind degradation, batteries will outlast EVs in most cases

Mercedes-Benz Alabama battery factoryA study found the average EV battery degrades 1.8% per year That means EV batteries could last over 20 years, or longer than the EV itself New methods are being found to reduce degradation even further Battery degradation can be a concern for potential electric vehicle owners, but new data indicates most batteries will outlast the EVs they're...

EV charging stations give bump to nearby businesses, research confirms

Volta chargingPublic charging stations don't just drive EV adoption; they also increase consumer spending at nearby businesses, a new MIT study found. The study is based on data from over 4,000 charging stations in California and 140,000 businesses, using anonymized credit and debit card transactions to track changes in spending. Researchers used data from 2019...

Volvo’s 10 new and updated models include long-range plug-in hybrids

2025.5 Volvo XC90Volvo has 10 new and updated models set to arrive in the next two years Some of the new and updated models will be long-range plug-in hybrids Volvo's backtracked on its commitment of an all-electric lineup by 2030 Long-range plug-in hybrids will be among 10 new and updated models Volvo plans to launch over the next two years, reports Automotive...

Lab-grown hides, shrooms, bamboo promise lower CO2 vs leather

Cadillac Sollei conceptLeather alternatives could play a large role on lowering CO2 Plant-based materials are being investigated as leather alternatives The leather industry is pushing back on sustainable alternatives Leather alternatives could have a lower environmental impact than traditional leather made from animal hides, but may still require some development work...