Lordstown Endurance electric truck production paused ahead of recall

Lordstown EnduranceOhio’s Lordstown Motors announced that it “has experienced performance and quality issues with certain Endurance components.” That’s led to a temporary stop to both production and customer deliveries, and it will lead to the company’s first recall. According to the company, it’s already filed paperwork with the...

California may mandate replacement-tire efficiency standards

Goodyear tire made from 90% sustainable materialCalifornia is considering efficiency standards for replacement tires, helping ensure that hybrids and electric cars sold with efficiency-focused tires would consistently get comparable replacements. As noted by trade publication Modern Tire Dealer, replacement-tire efficiency standards have been discussed for some time, but may be moving closer...

Rivian considers cool air fanned under truck for faster charging

2023 Rivian R1SA recent patent filing indicates Rivian is looking to alternative cooling methods as a way to speed up EV fast charging. A patent application published Feb. 14 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) notes that thermal management during charging can take up quite a lot of power. As a solution, it proposes shifting some of the load...

VW sees EV efficiency gains from optimizing its own components

2023 Volkswagen ID.4As automakers look to boost EV efficiency, Volkswagen believes bringing development of more components in-house will lead to big gains. VW announced this strategy shift at its Tech Day 2023 event, claiming efficiency improvements of up to 20% by developing its own optimized components. "The Volkswagen Group and its brands stand for first-class...

Report: Toyota might start EV production in Kentucky in 2025

2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWDToyota could start building electric cars in Kentucky as soon as 2025 by updating an existing factory, Nikkei reported Tuesday. The move could allow Toyota vehicles to qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit under new rules, instituted under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), requiring North American assembly of vehicles and battery packs...

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 priced: 361-mile version starts at $46,615

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6Hyundai has put a price tag on the Ioniq 6 electric sedan for the U.S., and its starting price lands just $70 less than the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric crossover. The price of the 2023 Ioniq 6 Standard Range is $42,715, including the $1,115 destination fee. That’s including the 53-kwh battery pack and an estimated EPA driving range of 240...

Sakuu claims first 3D-printed battery cell potentially for EVs

Sakuu 3D-printed battery cellsAs the mobility and EV industry converges around a seemingly limited array of battery sizes and just three form factors, California-based Sakuu is suggesting a very different, seemingly endless range of possibilities—like future cells sized and shaped for products. The manufacturing hook behind this proposition is 3D printing. While there...

Rivian looked to nature for the sounds in its R1T and R1S

2023 Rivian R1TEVs are by nature far quieter, so more thought needs to go into the sounds they make when doing routine things. Rivian saw this as an opportunity to reinforce the outdoorsy branding of its R1T electric pickup truck and R1S electric SUV, choosing sounds inspired by nature. Even without an internal-combustion engine, cars make lots of sounds. From...

Lexus won’t offer steer-by-wire, yoke at RZ450e EV launch in US

2023 Lexus RZ 450eThe 2023 Lexus RZ 450e electric crossover has begun arriving in the U.S., but the brand's first mass produced global electric vehicle won't arrive with the brand's newest technology. The Lexus won't offer a steer-by-wire system with a yoke when it launches the RZ 450e EV in the U.S. Both will be offered in the U.S. at an unspecified date, Lexus...

US-made Genesis Electrified GV70 EV costs much more than gas version

2023 Genesis Electrified GV70The Alabama-built 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 electric SUV will start at $66,975 with the mandatory $1,125 destination charge, Genesis announced last week. The GV70 is an all-electric version of the Genesis GV70 compact crossover SUV, which was introduced for the 2022 model year. The Electrified GV70 costs a lot more than the gasoline version...

One-pedal driving in EVs isn’t efficient, says Porsche

2023 Porsche TaycanOne-pedal driving allows EV drivers to decelerate without touching the brake pedal, while ramping up regeneration to recover energy. But Porsche thinks there's a better way. The Porsche Taycan makes greater use of coasting, only using regenerative braking when the brake pedal is actually pressed. In a recent press release, the automaker explains...

Plug-in hybrids emit many times the claimed CO2, test suggests

2021 BMW 330ePlug-in hybrids may emit more carbon dioxide (CO2) than their manufacturers claimed, even when fully charged, European environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E) claims. T&E recently tested current-generation plug-in hybrid versions of the BMW 3 Series, Peugeot 308, and Renault Megane. All three are popular in Europe, although...