Rivian EDV: All about electric vans for Amazon and beyond

Rivian EDV700Although Rivian’s trend-setting R1T and R1S electric trucks and their outdoorsy lifestyle takes top billing in building the brand, Rivian EDV electric delivery vans have always been a top priority. As for why, look no further than one of the top retailers in the world. In 2019 Amazon announced it ordered 100,000 electric vans from Rivian as...

Each EV with V2G charger might earn $15,000 over 10 years

Nissan Leaf and Fermata Energy FE-15 bidirectional charger – Photo by Fermata EnergyEach bidirectional EV charger installed could pay for itself in three years, and earn up to $15,000 over 10 years, according to projections from a firm that provides such equipment. Chargers installed for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operation, allowing EVs to discharge power back into the grid, have similar upfront costs to conventional chargers. But...

Report: Used Tesla prices are dropping fast

2016 Tesla Model STeslas have generally held their value better than other electric cars, but used Tesla prices are now dropping fast, according to a recent Reuters report. The average price of a used Tesla in November 2022 was $55,754, down 17% from a July peak of $67,297, according to the report. In comparison, overall average used car prices dropped 4% during...

VW platform for affordable EVs will get mid-decade boost

2024 Volkswagen ID.BuzzThe Volkswagen MEB platform that has served as the backbone for the automaker's EV push is set to get a number of updates over the next few years. The updated version, dubbed MEB+, will incorporate charging and battery updates, as well as an electrical architecture designed to support more advanced driver-assist tech, according to VW. A new...

Used PHEV prices rose ahead of $4,000 tax credit eligibility

2014 Chevrolet VoltIn the months even before we knew some used plug-in hybrids would be eligible for a $4,000 used EV tax credit, market interest in plug-in hybrids was on the rise, according to a recent pricing analysis. In a blog post last month, the retail conglomerate Carmax explained search volume for the term "plug-in hybrid" has increased significantly since...

Review: 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring keeps getting better

2022 Lucid Air Grand TouringAs we head into the new year and prepare to announce the Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2023, there seems like no better time to reflect and revisit our past winner, the Lucid Air. A year after taking the technology lead with incredible range, power, and efficiency, the Lucid Air has matured its user experience without losing those headlining...

Nio EC7 flagship EV: The most aerodynamic SUV in the world?

2023 Nio EC7A low drag coefficient (Cd) is very important for maximizing range, leading automakers to push for more aerodynamic EVs. The Nio EC7, the Chinese automaker's new flagship SUV, is yet another example of this trend. Unveiled at the company's recent Nio Day 2022 presentation in Heifei, China, the EC7 has a drag coefficient of 0.23, which Nio claims...

Rivian previews modular hardware for dual-motor electric trucks

2023 Rivian R1TRivian recently previewed the hardware for the dual-motor powertrain it plans to begin offering for its R1T electric pickup truck and R1S electric SUV alongside the existing quad-motor setup in the coming year. The company tweeted a short video "progress report," in which principal drive unit design engineer Mason Verbridge said components were...

EV tax credit loophole may cut lease payments for EVs made overseas

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV and EV production startsThe U.S. Treasury Department confirmed Thursday that buyers can effectively bypass both the American final assembly and critical-mineral requirements for electric vehicles—if those EVs are leased. That means, according to Reuters, starting Jan. 1, automakers selling EVs with final assembly outside the U.S. may be eligible for a tax credit of...

What cold weather means to most EV drivers: More charging

Magna e4 technology demonstrator (Jaguar I-Pace)It's well established that electric cars lose some range in cold weather, but for drivers that generally means more charging rather than less driving, according to a new report from battery analysis firm Recurrent. Recurrent's primary business is producing battery health reports for used EVs, but the company analyzes data used to produce those...

BMW aims to build solid-state EV batteries under license

2023 BMW i7 xDrive60BMW has licensed solid-state battery cell designs and manufacturing processes from Colorado-based Solid Power, taking the partnership between the two companies up a notch. The automaker, which began partnering with Solid Power in 2017, will install copies of the firm's solid-state cell pilot production lines at its facilities in Germany, and Solid...