US EV trip lengths are way up, nearly equaling gasoline trips

Volkswagen ID.4 built at ChattanoogaThe average length of trips done in electric vehicles has been going up, and it may equal internal-combustion vehicle trip lengths within the next 18 months, according to new analysis. It's an indication more buyers might be directly replacing gasoline models with EVs, and that range anxiety may be waning. These conclusions come from UK-based data...

Kia previews design of production EV9 flagship electric SUV

Teaser for 2024 Kia EV9 debuting on March 15, 2023Kia has released teaser images of its EV9 flagship electric SUV, which is scheduled to debut in production-ready form March 15. Those images hint at styling that's broadly similar to the EV9 concept that debuted at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, preserving the concept's boxy profile, vertical headlights, and even the angled side glass, which...

Is Tesla preparing to offer wireless EV charging?

Model S wireless charging padFrom phones to computing to power tools, cutting the cord has been a mark of progress—and much in the same way, wireless charging for EVs could be a game-changer. With Tesla finally teasing a wireless inductive charging pad within the various forward-looking statements of its Investor Day presentation on Wednesday, consider it game on. Tesla...

Ford F-150 Lightning production restarts March 13, no recall yet

2023 Ford F-150 LightningFord on Thursday confirmed that it will restart production of the F-150 Lightning electric truck on March 13 at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan. The restart, Ford explained in an update statement, allows time for battery cells from supplier SK On “to be built into battery arrays and packs and be delivered to the Lightning...

Tesla opens some US Superchargers to other EVs, offers CCS retrofit

Tesla CCS Combo 1 AdapterTesla is now letting EVs from other brands charge at some U.S. Supercharger sites, while offering a Combined Charging Standard (CCS) retrofit for its own vehicles. "Select" Superchargers are now open to other EVs, according to a video posted to Twitter. Drivers can find these sites using the Tesla app, which is also needed to start a charging...

USPS buys 9,250 Ford E-Transit vans, with custom EVs years away

2022 Ford E-TransitThe United States Postal Service (USPS) this week announced plans to buy 9,250 Ford E-Transit electric vans, which will get the ball rolling on electrification while the Postal Service waits for its custom-designed electric delivery vans. The first of the Ford vans are scheduled to arrive in December of this year, with deliveries continuing...

Tesla lineup to get bidirectional charging capability by 2025

Tesla chargingTesla is widely perceived as being on the leading edge of electric vehicle efficiency, and it’s long claimed to also be an energy company, not just a car company. Capability that might turn its EVs into rolling backup-power banks might seem like the logical next step. Until now, Tesla has shied away from the possibility of deploying...

Analysis: Lighter EVs are greenest, thirsty gas trucks are meanest

2023 Mini Cooper SE Resolute EditionWhen considering the overall environmental impact of new cars and trucks, it's important to look not only at the powertrain, but also the curb weight, according to a new analysis from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The group annually releases a "Greenest List" of the 12 vehicles estimated to do the least damage to...

Indiana-made drive modules may muscle EVs from Ram, Jeep, Dodge

Dodge Charger Daytona ConceptStellantis on Tuesday announced a $155 million investment in three Kokomo, Indiana, plants to produce drive modules for future electric vehicles beginning in 2024. Consisting of an electric motor, power electronics, and transmission assembled as one unit, these modules will be used in vehicles based on the STLA Frame and STLA Large platforms...

Rivian confirms 390-mile R1S Max Pack for fall deliveries

2023 Rivian R1SRivian on Tuesday confirmed that it will be delivering Max Pack versions of its R1S, in Dual Motor form, starting this fall. According to Rivian, the R1S Max Pack will accelerate to 60 mph in as little as 3.5 seconds and offer three rows of seating. With the announcement, part of a quarterly financial update for shareholders released Tuesday, the...

Rivian R1T, Mini Cooper SE, Kia EV6 top EV ownership study

2023 Rivian R1TIndustry newcomer Rivian is already wowing owners not just with its R1T electric truck but as part of a well-rounded assessment of the ownership experience. The Rivian R1T was ranked highest in satisfaction in results released Tuesday from an annual study focusing on EV ownership from survey giant J.D. Power. It’s followed, in order of...

Research: Tires and brakes emit more particulates than tailpipes

Goodyear tire made from 70% sustainable materialCurrent emissions regulations are focused on what comes out of vehicle tailpipes, but a new study claims more than half of road-vehicle particulate emissions—fine particles that can pollute surrounding air and water—comes from other sources. Conducted by Imperial College London, the study (via Green Car Congress) estimates that in 2021...

Vinfast drops VF 8 lease price, confirms US deliveries start March 1

Vinfast VF 8Vinfast on Monday confirmed plans to begin U.S. deliveries March 1, as a report indicated the automaker is planning to lower lease prices. Vinfast had reported the first batch of 999 U.S.-bound VF 8 electric SUVs shipped out in late November, following the delivery of 100 vehicles to customers in its home country of Vietnam in September. The...

Nissan accelerates EV plan for Europe and Japan, but not US

Nissan Chill-Out concept  -  December 2021Nissan announced Monday that as part of an accelerated shift to electrified and fully electric vehicles it sees 55% of global mix made up by “electrified” vehicles by 2030—up from its previous 50% forecast. Although after the solidification of various pieces of Biden administration EV policy, it hasn’t set any higher target...