The new normal: Electrify America expands its EV ad campaign

Electrify America Is it normal to drive an electric car? Is it normal to plug in your cell phone? A new ad campaign from Electrify America says it is. In the face of new surveys that show American carbuyers still voicing the same objections to electric cars that they have for a decade—range anxiety, higher prices, lack of charging stations—Electrify...

Mercedes introduces longer-range EQV electric van

2020 Mercedes-Benz EQVMercedes-Benz plans to introduce the second in its new EQ line of electric vehicles, the EQV van, at next month's Frankfurt auto show. The company says that a 100-kwh battery pack under the floor will deliver 250 miles of range on the European driving cycle. Mercedes has not confirmed whether the EQV will be sold in the U.S., and has not released...

2019 Audi E-tron is first EV to earn Top Safety Pick+ award

2019 Audi E-tron IIHS crash testWith results announced Wednesday, the 2019 Audi E-tron is the first fully electric vehicle to be named a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. To be a Top Safety Pick+ award, vehicles must achieve top “Good” ratings in small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength, and head...

Silicon wafer batteries promise lower cost, better stability

XNRGI  Powercell silicon wafer battery design (from company video)In an effort to make longer-lasting, safer, and more affordable batteries, Washington-based XNRGI aims to build lithium batteries on plentiful, off-the shelf silicon wafers. Last week, the company announced plans to bring new batteries based on its patented technology to market in 2020, in a new stationary storage battery. Most such batteries...

Honda packs its retro urban EV with a dash full of screens

2020 Honda E prototypeYou can forget about the delightfully retro-simple look inside and out that was part of what made the Honda E such a standout. Honda is shaping up to be one of the first carmakers with a full-width array of distinct screens, in the Honda E, when it goes on sale in Europe early next year. Unlike the Byton M-Byte with its single, curved, 42-inch...

What’s your favorite EV ad so far this year? Take our Twitter poll

Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Kicking Gas' electric car campaignWhen it comes to ads for electric cars, there have been few to choose among, until recently. Now that a variety of traditional carmakers have brought electric models to market, electric car fans finally have a selection of ads they can choose from as their favorites. That's the topic of our Twitter poll this week: What's your favorite EV ad, so...