Does EV home-backup capability outmode the Tesla Powerwall?

2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV with GM Ultium Home energy systemGM last week announced details regarding its vehicle-to-home (V2H) system, set to launch with the Chevrolet Silverado EV RST, that will help EV owners back up their home without the help of a storage battery like a Tesla Powerwall or a backup generator. It’s ultimately part of GM’s big energy play that sees EVs becoming home power...

EVs set for 11% of 2024 US vehicle share, 1 of 5 cars sold globally

2024 Tesla Model Y. -  Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.EV sales are likely to continue growing in 2024, reaching around one in five new car sales globally, and 11% of the U.S. market, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Tight profit margins, volatile battery raw material prices, and the phaseout of incentives in certain countries have led to concerns about an EV sales slump, but data...

Mini Aceman urban EV fits between Cooper, Countryman

2025 Mini AcemanMini on Wednesday unveiled a new entry electric model, although it's unclear if it will reach the U.S. Called the Aceman, the new model is a crossover that borrows the name and minimalist look from a 2022 concept car. Measuring just 160 inches long, it slots between the redesigned 2025 Mini Cooper hatchback and 2025 Mini Countryman crossover. That...

Tesla Model 3 Performance bows with adaptive suspension, track mode

Tesla Model 3 PerformanceA new Tesla Model 3 Performance based on the refreshed Model 3—codenamed "Highland" by the automaker—is now available to order in the U.S. Appearing on Tesla's website Tuesday, the new Model 3 Performance has a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain rated at 510 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque. Tesla quotes 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, a 163 mph...

Vinfast adds US dealer franchises, as EV deliveries lag targets

2023 Vinfast VF 8Vinfast on Tuesday announced the signing of 12 more U.S. dealerships, but a recent report suggests the EV firm may be falling behind on sales targets. The first of the new dealerships is expected to open later this month, according to a Vinfast press release. The additions will give the company 18 franchised dealerships in seven states—North...

2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class works on its quads (motors, that is)

2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ TechnologyIt has four motors, 579 hp, and an off-road heritage that goes back further than the Rivian R1S, GMC Hummer EV, and Tesla Cybertruck. With the electric version of its military-grade G-Class, Mercedes-Benz promises even more freedom from pavement than all those American-built flagwavers, and it does it all with batteries. Joining the G-Class in the...

Study: Tesla leads with lowest ownership cost, beats Toyota

2024 Tesla Model Y. -  Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.Teslas are less expensive to maintain than other car brands, including some with strong reputations for reliability, according to Consumer Reports. As part of its 2023 Annual Auto Surveys, Consumer Reports asked owners how much they paid out of pocket for maintenance costs like oil changes over the previous 12 months. Researchers then compared...

Hyundai window-tinting tech could save more energy in summer heat

Hyundai Nano Cooling Film window tint tested in Lahore, PakistanHyundai has developed a window tint that the automaker claims can help keep interiors cooler—and thus save energy normally used for air conditioning. Unlike materials that simply darken windows, and reduce outward visibility, Hyundai states in a press release that its Nano Cooling Film reduces interior temperatures by specifically blocking...

Tesla price cut: Model Y undercuts Model 3 by $5,000 with tax credit

2024 Tesla Model Y. -  Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.Tesla on Saturday once again cut prices on several of its models for the U.S. market, as part of around-the-world price cuts. And in the way it did so, those considering the Model 3 and Model Y in the U.S. may have to take a fresh look at the numbers. After the recalibration, the base price of the Model Y rear-wheel drive has dropped $2,000 versus...

Airless tires look like the future for robotaxis, EVs, and more

Michelin Uptis airless prototype tiresMichelin built its name on tires that ride on a cushion of air. But the top tire-maker in the world sees the future as completely airless. “We are convinced at Michelin that airless is the future technology that is necessary for many reasons,” Cyrille Roget, the company’s director of scientific and technical communications, said...