Tesla Powerwall owners will boost Texas power grid, make money

Tesla Powerwall  -  Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.Texas is launching a "virtual power plant" pilot program that will reward Tesla Powerwall owners for using their in-home battery packs to support the grid. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the state's electricity grid, was directed to begin developing the pilot program in 2022 by the Public Utility Commission of...

EV have more quality issues than ICE models, study finds

2023 Lucid Air PureEV owners experience more problems with their vehicles than owners of comparable internal-combustion cars, according to a new study, but the problem isn't the powertrains. Published Thursday, the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study focuses on the user experience of automotive tech features, things like infotainment systems...

Kia EV5 revealed, might be US-bound to face ID.4 and Ariya

Kia EV5Kia officially revealed the production-bound version of its EV5 compact electric SUV on Friday at the Chengdu Motor Show in China. At first look it closely follows the EV5 concept revealed in March, although it doesn’t have that model’s solar panels or swivel seats. At that time, Kia clearly laid out how that concept previewed a...

Report: Future Nissan EV lineup includes Leaf sequel

Nissan Chill-Out concept  -  December 2021A next-generation Nissan Leaf is among three new EVs recently previewed to dealers, according to an Automotive News report published Thursday. The automaker will launch a new EV "offensive" around 2025 with the goal of launching 19 all-electric models globally by 2030, dealers were reportedly told. For the U.S., that will include the new Leaf, an...

Volvo EM90 electric minivan will help reshape EV lineup for China

Teaser for 2024 Volvo EM90Volvo on Thursday announced its first minivan—in fully electric form—and confirmed the model for China. The Swedish automaker says that the upcoming model, called EM90, is designed to make the most of time spent in the car, “like a Scandinavian living room on the move.” The Volvo EM90 is expected to be closely based on the...

Study: Collision repair remains much more expensive for EVs

2022 Rivian R1T IIHS crash testingIt's more expensive to repair an EV—especially a Tesla—after a collision, but also more likely that the car can still be driven while waiting for repairs, according to a new auto damage study from a company that provides tech for the auto insurance and collision repair industries. That firm, Mitchell International, sifted through...

California pivots state EV incentives to lower-income drivers

2023 Volkswagen ID.4California announced this week that it will recast a major EV incentive program to focus on middle- and low-income drivers. In late 2023, the California Air Resources Board (CARB)—which oversees the state's EV incentives and emissions rules—will expand the existing Clean Cars 4 All program statewide as a replacement for the Clean...

2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB EV refreshes tech, preserves boxy brilliance

2024 Mercedes-Benz EQBIn a class of teardrop-shaped electric crossovers, the Mercedes-Benz EQB stands out as refreshingly different—for its upright, more boxy profile. Even though it’s about the same size on the outside as the Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, or VW ID.4, it can feel more spacious inside. And like only the Model Y, it...

Vinfast claims 330-mile EPA range for three-row VF 9

Vinfast VF 9Vinfast announced Monday that at least one of the versions of its upcoming three-row electric SUV, due for U.S. deliveries later this fall, will achieve a 330-mile EPA range. That’s higher than the 300 miles anticipated for some single-motor versions of the upcoming Kia EV9. It also appears to take on the Rivian R1S, which earns up to 352...

AI could boost efficiency of solar EVs, make them viable

Teaser for Fisker Ocean electric SUVWith AI now the technology of the moment in Silicon Valley, researchers have applied it to the problem of solar power for EVs, using a virtual model to govern when power from a solar array is used to drive motors or charge battery packs. As documented in a recent conference paper, researchers from Odisha University of Technology and Research in...

Honda and Acura EVs will also adopt Tesla NACS standard

2024 Acura ZDX Honda and its Acura luxury brand will join a growing cadre of automakers adopting Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector. The news was confirmed via Autoblog, citing Honda's top U.S. executive, but details remain to be worked out. "It is quite important," American Honda Motor Co. CEO Noriya Kaihara said in an interview with...

GMC Hummer EV official EPA ratings show lowest MPGe of any EV

2024 GMC Hummer EV SUVThe 2024 GMC Hummer EV has achieved a dubious distinction: it has the lowest MPGe rating of any EV currently on sale. The EPA hadn't previously posted range and MPGe ratings for the Hummer EV, as its testing is designed for passenger cars and light trucks that exceeds this model's weight. The cutoff for EPA light-duty vehicle emissions and range...