EVs
Latest
Nikola founder resigns following SEC probe into electric truck business
Following a fraud accusation by a short firm and potential probe by the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Nikola founder Trevor Milton is stepping down as executive chairman.
GM's Ultium motors will power its next-generation EVs
GM, the company known for Corvettes and Sierra pickups, has embraced EVs as much as any US automaker. It already revealed plans for its Ultium batteries and now, ahead of the 2020 Bolt EV launch, is showing off its Ultium electric motors and drive units for its next-generation of electric cars and trucks.
Hyundai is turning Ioniq into its own EV sub-brand
Hyundai has unveiled Ioniq, a new brand named after its current Ioniq EV that will be exclusively dedicated to all-electric cars. In other words, Ioniq looks like it will be much like to Hyundai what Polestar is to Volvo.
BMW will offer fully electric versions of the 5 Series, 7 Series and X1
BMW has a mixed electric history, as it pioneered the sector with pure EV models like the i3 and i8, then decided to focus on plug-in hybrids instead. Now, in a major revamp of its lineup, the automaker has announced that it will offer fully electric versions of its mainstream 5 Series, 7 Series and X1 vehicles.
Fiat may automatically switch hybrids to electric-only mode in city centers
Fiat may allow its hybrid plug-in cars to automatically switch to electric-only mode when they enter congested city centers.
Nissan hopes people will pay $699 a month to swap cars on demand
Over the last couple of years, we've seen automakers like Porsche and Cadillac try their hand at car subscription services, and now Nissan is doing the same. Starting in Houston, the Japanese automaker is testing its new Switch service, which allows you to swap Nissan vehicles through a mobile app. Each time you order a new car, a dealership employee will deliver the vehicle to your home and explain all the ins-and-outs of the model.
Honda E first drive: Futuristic and incredibly fun to drive
It's a miracle the Honda E is even here, considering how much Honda seemed to hate electric cars. And yet, here I am in Valencia, Spain, ready to drive this adorable EV, which is slated to go on sale in summer 2020 in Europe and Japan only. Until recently, Honda (along with Toyota) has focused on hybrid and hydrogen cars, while ceding the EV market to Tesla and others. However, a maverick gang of Honda engineers convinced management to build the Honda E. They even kept the design pretty close to the Urban E concept it's based on, right down to the wild futuristic interior. And it paid off. The compact EV's retro-cute je ne sais quoi has grabbed the attention of car buyers and EV fans of all stripes. Now, all that remains is to see if it's as fun to be in and drive as it looks.
Lime exits 12 cities and lays off 100 employees in search of profit
In its ongoing quest to become profitable, Lime says it will exit 12 markets across the globe. In the US, the company will shutter operations in four cities: Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego and San Antonio. It will also leave Linz, Austria, as well as Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Lima, Puerto Vallarta, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in Latin America.
BlackBerry and Amazon team up to make connected cars more secure
The more connected cars get, the more we'll need to depend on high-quality security -- especially when dealing with the cloud. BlackBerry, which is more into cars than smartphones these days, is addressing that issue with a new connected vehicle software platform based on its QNX operating system. By tapping Internet of Things tech from Amazon Web Services, it'll let car manufactures build AI apps and access vehicle sensor data for connected, electric and autonomous cars.
Bosch will use tiny explosions to make EVs safer in a crash
Electric vehicles have obvious benefits, but they also pose new risks. In the event of a crash, there's a chance that damaged wiring could allow current to leak from the EV's battery into the metal frame, posing a risk to occupants, rescue workers and first responders. Electric vehicles automatically turn off when a crash is detected, but to go a step further, Bosch has created an explosive device that automatically cuts off the high-voltage battery.
EVgo is installing fast chargers at Chevron filling stations
EV infrastructure company EVgo has teamed up with Chevron to install fast chargers at select filling stations in California. The chargers, with up to 100 kW of capacity, are now running at Menlo Park and under construction at other locations in Los Angeles and Bay Area communities including Aliso Viejo, Manhattan Beach and Venice. "EVgo is helping everyone -- including traditional fueling stations -- take advantage of the benefits of EV adoption," EVgo CEO Cathy Zoi said in a statement.
Tesla begins selling a Model 3 tow hitch in Europe
Good news for aspiring Tesla Model 3 owners: the promised official tow hitch has arrived on the Tesla site, at least in Europe.
Tesla drops annual servicing for 'as needed' repair model
Tesla has quietly changed its EV maintenance policy, going from regularly scheduled service to an "as-needed" model, according to its "Car Maintenance" page. Before, it called for "recommended" service every 12 months and 12,500 for the Model S and X, and 24 months or 25,000 miles for the Model 3. Now, however, it simply says "your Tesla does not require annual maintenance and regular fluid changes," and instead recommends periodic servicing of things like brake fluid, air conditioning and filters.
'Semi-solid state' batteries could lead to cheaper, longer-range EVs
The race to create cheaper, longer-lasting batteries just got more interesting. 24M, a US Department of Energy-funded startup, announced that it has delivered semi-solid state lithium-ion batteries with energy density levels of 250 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). That roughly matches Tesla's 2170 cells used in the Model 3, considered to be the most efficient cells around. The company thinks it could do even better, making EVs longer lasting, lighter and cheaper.
Lyft adds the option to request EVs or hybrids
After committing last year to making rides and the company itself totally carbon neutral, Lyft plans to add thousands more electric vehicles to its network in 2019. What's more, you can specifically request an EV or hybrid when hailing a ride through the new green mode.
Nissan unveils its longest-range Leaf EV yet
Even though it's one of the oldest EVs on the market, the Nissan Leaf has only been available with just 150 miles of range -- far less than its newer rivals. Nissan has finally rectified that at CES 2019 by unveiling the 2019 Leaf e+. It packs a 62 kWh battery pack that can propel it about 226 miles, approaching the range of Chevy's Bolt and the Tesla 3 base version.
See the stylish and confusing vehicles from the Paris Auto Show
The Paris Auto Show 2018 may have been devoid of big vehicle launches, but that doesn't mean it was boring. We saw a mix of cool (the Peugeot E-Legend), weird (Renault's EZ-ULTIMO), quick (Infiniti's Project Black S) and long-range (the Kia e-Niro). Other vehicles appeared in public for the first time, like Bugatti's 1,500 horsepower, $5.8 million, 236 mph W16 Divo, and Mercedes EQC 400 SUV launching in 2020. Mercedes incredible electric supercar, the EQ Silver Arrow concept (above), also made its car show debut. Here's a petite sampling of the most interesting cars from the show.
Lucid Motors gets $1 billion to help build its EV
Lucid Motors, a struggling electric car startup, has just won itself a reprieve. Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund invested $1 billion in the Tesla competitor; the money will be put towards the company's first production vehicle, the Lucid Air, which is due out in 2020.
Investment in renewable energy drops as fossil fuel use rises
Global investment in renewable energy is on the decline, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The energy watchdog says there's a significant contradiction between the statements governments make regarding their attitudes to renewables, and the tangible action being taken. Investment fell by seven percent to $318bn last year.
US regulators delay noise mandate for EVs and hybrids (again)
Electric cars are considerably quieter than their gasoline-powered counterparts, but that's not always a good thing. Pedestrians, especially those who have visual impairments, often rely on audible cues to signal an approaching vehicle. That's why a law was proposed in 2013 to add noise to electric vehicles and hybrids traveling under 18.6 miles per hour. It was supposed to go into effect in late 2015, but it was delayed. Now, it's been delayed again.
