Green Car News
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Which big automaker confirmed an 800-volt EV architecture in the works? How much does the F-150 Lightning’s home-backup system cost? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending May 6, 2022. This week we brought you a couple of first drives, broke some technical news, and served some updated impressions that might be of use if you’re cross-shopping some of the hottest new EVs. First up, we took a first drive in the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid, and found it to be not just the best-driving of the new Sportage lineup but...
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Lucid price hike, EV charging apps, Volta trucks in the US: Today’s Car News
California’s Lucid is raising prices, and ramping up production. The apps from automakers aren’t entirely delivering on charging functionality. And Volta, with its futuristic-looking trucks, is coming to the U.S. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Lucid, the EV maker based in...
Bengt Halvorson -
Study: EV owners use automaker smartphone apps often but aren't so happy with them
Despite their high-tech image, Rivian and Lucid fell short in charging functionality, app speed, and general content, according to J.D. Power.
Stephen Edelstein -
Volta plans to build its futuristic-looking electric trucks in the US, teases truck-as-a-service offering
Volta plans to deploy a pilot fleet of 100 trucks for U.S. customer evaluation, starting in Los Angeles in 2023, then will make trucks in the U.S. with a partner in 2024-2025.
Stephen Edelstein -
Lucid raises prices effective June 1, but no price hike for reservation-holders
Lucid has more than 30,000 reservations, and still plans to make 12,000 to 14,000 vehicles at its Arizona plant in 2022.
Bengt Halvorson -
Tesla swivel, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 350 kw, electrified Volvos, Fisker 550-mile EV sports car: Today’s Car News
Tesla may be adding swiveling screens to Model S and Model X. The Volvo lineup is entirely electrified—sort of. Fisker is working on a 550-mile electric sports car. And is it worth seeking out a 350-kw fast-charging connector with a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6? This and more, here at Green Car...
Bengt Halvorson -
You'll get consistent road-trip fast-charging in about a half-hour with 150-kw CCS hardware—most of the time not much slower than the finicky performance on 350-kw hardware.
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Report: Tesla adds swiveling screen to yoke-equipped Model S
Tesla recently gave the Model S (and Model X) a significant interior update that included a steering yoke, but it hasn't confirmed the swiveling screen.
Stephen Edelstein -
Entire US Volvo lineup for 2023 is mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or EV
Volvo sees it as a step toward offering only pure electric vehicles by 2030 and being carbon-neutral by 2040.
Stephen Edelstein -
Fisker 550-mile electric sports car teased, due in 2024
The electric startup will show a prototype form of the sports car in August 2023, with production due in the second half of 2024.
Bengt Halvorson -
Polestar prices up, Fisker sports car, DOE battery funding, Stellantis invests in car-sharing: Today’s Car News
Polestar prices go up. The DOE invests big on batteries. Electrify America charger use surged last year. Stellantis mops up car-sharing ventures from BMW and Mercedes. And Fisker teases a sports car. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The 2023 Polestar 2 lineup got a price hike, bringing the...
Bengt Halvorson -
Stellantis buys Share Now car-sharing venture from BMW and Mercedes
The proposed purchase agreement would add 14 European cities and 10,000 vehicles to Free2Move's existing 2,500-vehicle fleet.
Stephen Edelstein -
Polestar claims range improvements and a lower carbon footprint from the use of renewable energy in the manufacturing process.
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Electrify America claims more than five times the charging sessions in 2021 vs. 2020
Electrify America dispensed 41.4 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2021, which the company said powered 145 million miles of EV driving and offset 5.7 million gallons of gasoline.
Stephen Edelstein -
DOE: $3.1 billion for EV battery supply chain, $45 million for development
Separately, the DOE has also designated $60 million in funding for so-called "second-life" uses of batteries after they've been retired from EV use.
Stephen Edelstein -
Toyota and Lexus 800V EVs, F-150 Lightning home power backup cost, Stellantis electrifies in Canada: Today’s Car News
Lexus and Toyota have plans involving big battery packs and 800-volt charging. The electric replacements for gas-swilling Dodge muscle cars and Chrysler minivans start to take form in factory revamps. And the F-150 Lightning system that can power your home gets priced out. This and more, here at...
Bengt Halvorson -
Lexus engineering boss: 800-volt system done, electric is the future
More innovation, faster charging, and longer range are coming, but Lexus hints of a long-game approach, and different U.S. priorities, in rolling out EV tech.
Joel Feder -
Ford F-150 Lightning home power backup system has a price tag, though installation cost will vary
The $3,895 system includes inverter, disconnect switch, and a battery pack (yet unspecified) to allow the functionality, but owners will need an extra-cost installation plus the Ford Charge Station Pro.
Stephen Edelstein -
The new investment is part of an initiative announced last summer to spend about $35 billion over five years, with four platforms to provide electrified architectures it can scale across its 14 brands and anything from minicars to big trucks and vans.
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Lexus RZ and Kia Sportage Hybrid reviews, Bolt EV recall update, Tesla and Kia cord-cutting: Today’s Car News
We drive Lexus’ first electric vehicle for the U.S., and in a drive of the Kia Sportage Hybrid find its value irresistible. The federal government tipped us on how the Chevy Bolt EV recall is going, and we look at why Tesla and Kia might have stopped offering charge cables with their EVs. And...
Bengt Halvorson -
Chevy Bolt EV battery recall: Nearly half of defect-prone 2017-2019 models have been fixed
A federal document filed last week clarifies that as of April 22 about 45% of 2017-2019 Bolt EVs have seen some level of recall remedy—with some getting a full pack replacement.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tesla stopped including a mobile charger with its vehicles; it's not the only one
Tesla and Kia have decided to make the AC mobile charger cable optional on their vehicles at extra cost. Does this make sense?
Stephen Edelstein -
Test drive review: 2023 Lexus RZ 450e steers for China, and a US niche
The 2023 Lexus RZ 450e will compete with the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Genesis GV60, Kia EV6, and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Joel Feder -
Test drive review: 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid makes the most sense
The first Sportage hybrid proves to be the best Sportage, and is a better value than compact crossover rivals.
Robert Duffer