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Tesla delays Semi electric truck to 2021
Tesla has once again pushed back the Semi's release, with deliveries of the electric big rig now set for 2021.
GMC delays the reveal of its 1,000HP Hummer EV
GM has postponed the launch event for its Hummer EV due to COVID-19, although it should still reach customer on time.
LeBron James helps GMC pitch its Hummer EV in a Super Bowl ad
GM thinks it has a simple way to drum up hype for its future GMC Hummer EV: give it the kind of celebrity endorsement that sports fans would notice. The brand is airing a teaser commercial during the Super Bowl (in the third quarter for US viewers) that has no less than LeBron James pitching the all-electric pickup truck. Don't expect to see more of the Hummer than you have so far. Instead, this is more about the EV's combination of raw power with near silence... and, of course, equating James' basketball dominance with the Hummer's performance.
GMC will revive the Hummer as a 1,000HP electric truck
The rumors of GM resurrecting the Hummer were on the mark. Its GMC brand has teased the rebirth of the Hummer as an all-electric truck, with a full reveal due on May 20th. The company isn't showing much of the EV at this stage, but it's already willing to brag. It estimates that the new Hummer will have up to 1,000HP, a peak 11,500lb/ft of torque and a 0-60MPH time of around 3 seconds. This could easily be a competitor for the tri-motor version of Tesla's Cybertruck, to put it another way.
GM spends $2.2 billion to set up an EV-only plant in Detroit
GM just demonstrated that electric vehicles can create jobs in addition to taking them away. The automaker has revealed plans for a $2.2 billion investment that will turn its Detroit-Hamtramck facility into its first assembly plant completely devoted to EVs. When it's fully ready, it'll create over 2,200 "good-paying" jobs, GM claimed. The factory will produce a "variety" of electric trucks and SUVs. While GM didn't outline the full product mix, it noted that production on its first electric pickup truck will start at the plant in late 2021. The Cruise Origin self-driving shuttle should start production soon afterward.
Rivian says its electric vehicles will cost less than first announced
Rivian's first vehicles are getting a price cut of sorts months before they even roll off the line. Company founder RJ Scaringe told Reuters in a chat that the electric R1T truck and its R1S SUV counterpart would cost less than originally announced. He didn't provide full pricing, but he indicated that a mid-range R1T with 300 miles of range and an electrochromic glass roof would sell for $69,000, while a comparable R1S would sell for $72,000. The automaker had pegged the starting prices for the R1T and R1S at $61,500 and $65,000 respectively.
Tesla's Cybertruck found its way into a Travis Scott music video
Tesla likes to brag about racking up sales without a lick of advertising, but it's apparently not averse to some product placement. Rapper Travis Scott has shared the video for "Gang Gang," and the car-centric video includes extensive, conspicuous shots of Scott and crew performing around (and occasionally using) both the Cybertruck and the Cyberquad electric ATV. There's even a Boring Company Not-A-Flamethrower thrown in for good measure -- the supercars in the rest of the clip are practically window dressing in comparison.
Tesla Cybertruck will join Dubai's eclectic police fleet
Dubai's police force is well-known for incorporating supercars and other oddities into its fleet, but its latest might be the most eccentric to date. The law enforcement agency has revealed that it'll add Tesla's Cybertruck to its stable -- it claims this will happen in 2020, but that's clearly not happening when production doesn't start until late 2021. Commander-in-Chief Maj Gen. Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri explained that this would help "enhance security presence" in tourist spots like the Burj Khalifa. Goodness knows you're less likely to speed if an electric death wedge is likely to hunt you down.
Ford will pass on a tug-of-war with Tesla's Cybertruck
Elon Musk isn't about to get a public duel between Tesla's Cybertruck and the Ford F-150 -- not officially, anyway. While Ford's venture incubator VP Sundeep Madra suggested he'd like an "apples to apples" test of the two pickups, a spokesperson told TechCrunch the exec's tweet was only a "tongue in cheek" remark pointing out the "absurdity" of a clip showing the Cybertruck winning a tug-of-war with the F-150. Effectively, Ford felt it had nothing to prove. "We've always focused on serving our truck customers regardless of what others say or do," the spokesperson said.
Tesla already has 200,000 deposits for its Cybertruck (updated)
The design of Tesla's Cybertruck is polarizing, to say the least, but it appears to have a healthy number of potential buyers waiting in the wings. Elon Musk has revealed that over 146,000 people have placed deposits for the electric pickup so far. And while the $39,900 price of the single-motor truck is tempting, that's actually the least popular model so far. Just 17 percent of customers have put money down for the entry model, while 42 percent have picked the dual-motor version and 41 percent want the speedy tri-motor variant.
Elon Musk confirms Tesla's 'Cyberquad' as a Cybertruck accessory
Other than unveiling Tesla's new low-polygon-count pickup, Elon Musk also introduced an electric ATV at the event last night. Dubbed the Cyberquad, Musk confirmed on Twitter today that the two-person ATV will be available "first" as an option for Cybertruck buyers. At the event, the four-wheeler rode into the back of a Cybertruck as the truck's adaptive suspension leaned back for easier loading, and then the ATV plugged in for charging right there in the bed. We still don't know anything else about its capabilities or potential cost, but early adopters of the truck who want to go off-roading may appreciate a zero-emission recreational vehicle to go along with their purchase. In a few other tweets, Musk indicated there will be a solar power option for the truck capable of generating enough energy to drive 15 miles per day. He also referenced the "armor glass" demo that went awry, mentioning that earlier throws didn't damage the window and eventually posting a slow-motion video of lead designer Franz von Holzhausen's previous attempt.
Tesla unveils its Cybertruck, with a price starting at $39,900
With an impressive financial quarter under its belt and new factories spinning up vehicle production, Tesla is riding high. So why not keep the good times rolling by once again opening up its design studio in Hawthorne, California to fans and journalists and show off its latest product, the Cybertruck.
GM’s first electric truck could be ready in 2021
GM plans to bring an electric truck to the market in fall of 2021, TechCrunch reports. GM CEO Mary Barra made the announcement today during GM's investor day.
Chevy's electric hot rod truck mimics the sound of a V8
Ford isn't the only automaker who rolled into SEMA with an electrified version of a familiar car. Chevy has unveiled an E-10 Concept hot rod that looks like a slammed vintage pickup truck (the 1962 C-10), but packs thoroughly modern EV tech. It's powered by a double stack of concept electric crate motors that provide an estimated 450HP, or enough to reach 60MPH in 5 seconds and obtain projected quarter mile times in the "high 13 second range." There's even a conventional automatic transmission. However, it's the sound that really stands out -- Chevy's concept is built for hot rodders who'd be self-conscious about the lack of engine noise.
Rivian gets $350 million from the company behind Kelley Blue Book
Rivian won't even release its first electric truck until late 2020, but that isn't stopping the company from receiving its third big funding infusion this year. Cox Automotive, the company behind Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book, has made a $350 million equity investment in Rivian. The publications won't play much of a role, to be clear. Rather, this is about a chance to "explore partnership opportunities" in the other areas of Cox's business, including digital retail, logistics and service ops. Cox owns companies like Manheim, which services, transports and auctions cars worldwide.
Daimler's first large electric semi trucks are ready to roll
Daimler has spent ages talking about electrifying its trucks, and now it's ready to deliver in a very literal way. The automaker has completed the first two units of its heavy-duty Freightliner eCascadia semis destined for customers. They're not final production models -- they're still part of Freightliner's testing-oriented Innovation Fleet -- but they should see real-world use by Penske and NFI later in August. More deliveries are due in 2019.
Mitsubishi unveils electric Minicab MiEV at CEATEC
To complement Mitsubishi's existing electric minivan and car, the Minicab MiEV has parked itself here at CEATEC, Chiba, adding a Gasoline-avoiding pick-up truck to the family. Capable of reaching distances up to 110km on a single charge, with the option of a portable battery, the vehicle is set to roll in Japanese stores some time next year.
GE, Urban Green Energy set up first integrated, wind-powered EV charging station (video)
GE and Urban Green Energy might not be the first to install a wind-powered EV charging station, but the two may be the best prepared to take the concept to a grander scale. The partnership just installed the first Sanya Skypump just outside of Barcelona to serve corporate and government drivers with truly clean energy at levels that meet their typically heftier demands. It's billed as one of the first properly integrated wind-powered EV chargers, and it's undoubtedly one of the more elegant: one of UGE's 4K wind turbine towers catches energy from the breeze above, while a GE Durastation tucked neatly at the bottom provides high-voltage charging for EV drivers undoubtedly eager to get moving once again. Don't worry if you don't speak enough Catalan to charge up at the initial location, either, as plans are underway to bring Skypumps to malls and universities across Australia and the US before 2012 is over. The only catch is the frown you'll likely get if you try to plug in a personal car for a top-up -- let's hope the attention swings towards completely green power sources for commuters in the near future.
