Scout starts building its EV manufacturing home. Many Americans still have no experience with EVs. And how much more than MSRP would you pay for a Kia EV9? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Kia dealers are at it again, marking up the EV9 electric SUV by $7,000 or more, despite efforts from…
Category: Auto
Kia dealers are already gouging away on EV9 electric SUV prices
Price gouging has already hit one of the most anticipated new EVs of the year—the 2024 Kia EV9. CarsDirect reports that national dealer inventory data currently shows EV9 markups of up to $7,000 over MSRP. One dealership confirmed to the website that every EV9 on its lot had a $7,000 markup, in fact. Another advertised…
Lucid Air price cut, Lancia Ypsilon EV, Civic-sized Sony-Honda EV: Today’s Car News
Sony and Honda may be working together on a Civic-sized EV. Lancia rolls out the start of an EV revival. Rivian shines some light on the R2. And Lucid cuts prices. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Thursday, Lucid cut prices on the 2024 Air lineup. Affecting all but the top-performance, tri-motor Sapphire…
2024 Lucid Air prices drop, $71,400 Air Pure undercuts Model S
As of Thursday morning, the starting price of the 2024 Lucid Air Pure is just $71,400, reflecting a price cut of $7,500—significantly undercutting the most affordable current version of the Tesla Model S for those who don’t require all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, mid-range Lucid Air Touring models have been cut $8,000, to $79,400; and top 2024…
Republicans and EVs, Honda fuel-cell CR-V, charging-station perks: Today’s Car News
Republican officials may not be representing their constituencies on EVs. The fuel-cell-powered Honda CR-V has a charge port and makes the most of it. And what do EV drivers really want in charging-station amenities? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Fiscal-hawk types used to see EVs as a great idea, for energy independence…
2025 Honda CR-V Fuel Cell plug-in power-sharing feature previewed
The 2025 Honda CR-V Fuel Cell will include a plug-in power-sharing feature, the automaker revealed with a short video that also offers the best look yet at the crossover’s design. The video shows a camouflaged CR-V Fuel Cell being used to power a coffeemaker at a roadside stop. In what some automakers term vehicle-to-load, or…
Chrysler Halcyon EV concept, Kia EV8, Stellantis and NACS: Today’s Car News
Stellantis says yes to the Tesla charge port, in code. Kia is reportedly planning on an electric Stinger. And Chrysler rolls out a new EV concept showcasing a whole lot of potential innovation. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Chrysler has revealed the Halcyon Concept EV, powered by lithium-sulfur batteries, allowing a long…
Stellantis adopts SAE J3400—yes, the Tesla charge port
Stellantis is the latest automaker to adopt Tesla’s North America Charging Standard (NACS) port for EV fast charging—but the automaker’s announcement of it, made Monday, downplayed any connection to Tesla to a point that EV shoppers and longtime Tesla fans alike might find absurd. A Stellantis press release doesn’t mention Tesla or NACS at all….
Equinox EV price, EV dependability, plug-in hybrids a harder sell, EVs and guardrails: Today’s Car News
The 319-mile Equinox EV might cost just $27,495 for some families. EVs are too heavy for some U.S. guardrails. EVs and plug-in hybrids are more trouble-prone, suggests an annual survey. And are PHEVs misunderstood? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The 2024 Chevy Equinox EV will qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit…
Plug-in hybrids misunderstood, Telluride hybrid a possibility
Kia has already ushered in several new EVs over the past model year. Looking ahead to the next year, it will solidify some new decisions about its range of hybrids and plug-in hybrids for the brand, in addition to additional EVs on the way. Russell Wager, Kia America’s vice president of marketing, told Green Car…
GM taps ex-Tesla battery chief to deliver cheaper EVs sooner
General Motors has hired former Tesla battery-development boss Kurt Kelty as its new vice president of batteries. In this newly-created position, Kelty will be tasked with bringing together GM’s development resources “to more quickly deliver profitable, lower-cost, higher performing electric vehicles to customers at scale,” and will report directly to GM president Mark Reuss, the…
EVs are too heavy for US guardrails
EVs tend to weigh more than comparable internal-combustion models, which may require a rethink of highway guardrail designs, according to a new University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) study. For it, researchers conducted what they claim are the first-ever crash tests specifically looking at EVs and guardrails. The tests showed that guardrails previously tested with internal-combustion cars weighing…
Lower-priced Rivian EVs, GM taps Tesla Giga alum, urban charging template: Today’s Car News
GM put someone with a Tesla Gigafactory resume in charge of ramping up batteries for affordable EVs. Electrify America takes it indoors for urban charging. And Rivian rolls out lower-cost versions of its electric trucks. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Rivian on Thursday released details for the cheaper R1T and R1S Standard…
Refreshed Porsche Taycan, Kia hybrid minivan, cheaper Ford and GM EVs: The Week in Reverse
Which EV brand rolled out lower-priced versions of its electric pickup and SUV? Which hotels are soon getting Tesla wallbox chargers? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending February 9, 2024. In a first drive of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter electric van, we saw…
Ionna EV charging network rivals Tesla, first US stations in 2024
EV road trips might soon be getting a little bit easier, thanks to thousands of highway fast-chargers starting this year from a network called Ionna. Ionna, as it’s called, is an EV charging network jointly backed by seven automakers, including an undisclosed amount from BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis. The…
Electrify America’s flagship urban EV charging station is indoors
Electrify America on Wednesday unveiled its first indoor charging station, which the charging network says will serve as a template for future sites in urban areas. Located in San Francisco’s South Market neighborhood, two blocks from the Bay Bridge, the new “flagship” site has 20 chargers providing up to 350 kw of power, according to…
Rivian Standard pack R1S, R1T arrive: Up to 315 miles, no LFP yet
Rivian on Thursday revealed long-awaited Standard and Standard+ versions of its R1T pickup and R1S SUV—essentially ready to be delivered now, with what appears to be a $3,100 price drop, and likely qualifying for the same EV tax credit as other versions. They arrive with a twist: They’re not powered by the LFP battery pack…
US Choice Hotels will soon add thousands of Tesla chargers
The Choice Hotels chain plans to add Tesla EV chargers at locations across the U.S. The company, which runs Radisson, Cambria, Comfort, Country Inn & Suites, and Quality Inn hotels, said in a press release Tuesday that it had reached an agreement with Tesla to add four or more of the automaker’s Universal Wall Connector…
Ford low-cost EV platform, hybrids; Toyota US EV plant; 2025 Porsche Taycan: Today’s Car News
The Porsche Taycan boasts better numbers all around. Toyota adds to its Kentucky EV plans. And before its Gen 2 EVs have launched, Ford starts touting its Gen 3 EV project that could face Tesla and China on cost. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Ford CEO Jim Farley, during the company’s Q4…
Ford seeks smaller, lower-cost EVs to rival $25,000 Tesla, China
Is Ford shifting its electric vehicle efforts away from large EVs like the F-150 Lightning, and focusing on translating the ethos of the Model T into the EV era? Taken at face value, remarks from Ford CEO Jim Farley made Tuesday suggest that may be the case. During the company’s Q4 2023 earnings, Farley and…
More range, 18-minute charging, 2.3-second 0-60
Porsche appears to be keeping all that’s great about its leading-edge Taycan electric sports car, while teasing out more of the numbers that matter: range, efficiency, and acceleration. The 2025 Porsche Taycan starts with a larger battery pack. Versions with the Performance Battery Plus now have a gross capacity of 105 kwh—up from 93 kwh….
Will it be EV maker’s Model 3 moment?
The Rivian R2 lineup is due to debut March 7, the California-based electric truck maker revealed Monday. Rivian has revealed very little about the R2 as of yet, other than that it will be smaller and lower-priced than the existing R1 lineup. While the R1T pickup and R1S SUV are full-size trucks—or within a few…
Mercedes eSprinter review, Aptera funding, Tesla California sales, EV crash course: Today’s Car News
Aptera says it has enough money to push ahead with production. Mercedes’ eSprinter previews passenger vans and more. Tesla tops the sales charts in California by a long shot. And is 90 minutes enough to school dealerships on EVs? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. In a first drive of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz…
NADA aims to turn car dealers into EV experts in 90 minutes
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has launched a certification program it claims can turn car salespeople into EV experts in just 90 minutes. Called ElectrifIQ, the program aims to prepare dealers to address common consumer questions, relating to things like charging times and costs, total cost of ownership, and available incentives, according to an…
More than a third of US EVs are sold in California
EV sales are still booming in California—and they continued to capture an even larger piece of the market in 2023. Although there was a slight downturn in the market share of EVs toward the end of 2023, EVs finished the year up 5% in market share in the Golden State versus 2022. Looking at all…
Dealers think Biden is moving too fast on EVs
Dealers think the Biden administration’s EV policies are forcing the auto industry to move ahead of market demand, according to a new Automotive News survey. The publication’s 2024 Dealer Outlook Survey compiled responses from 208 U.S. car dealers and dealership managers. Nearly 83% of those surveyed said the federal government was pushing too hard on…
GM plug-in hybrids, Ford Supercharger adapter, Canoo USPS vans: The Week in Reverse
Which automaker CEO sees EV acceleration as a safety feature? Which very exclusive luxury EV was recalled this week? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. GM this week announced that it is ready to bring some plug-in hybrid models back to the North American market. It’s a shocker that may have many longtime…
Most Ford EV drivers will get Tesla charge-port adapters for free
Ford provided an update on Wednesday on its plans to adopt the Tesla charge port for future EVs and to allow current and recent EV models to charge on the Tesla Supercharger network. To the latter point, Ford revealed that the accessory adapters needed to get drivers of current and recent American Ford EVs on-network…
Dealer EV pushback, Ford Supercharger adapters, Volvo and Polestar, EV sales surge: Today’s Car News
Volvo pulls away from Polestar. Dealers think the Biden administration is moving to fast on EVs—says a survey looking at a very small slice of the business. Ford gets ready to offer Supercharger adapters. And EV and PHEV sales are continuing to surge. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Ford will provide adapters…
Daimler, Navistar, Volvo ally for heavy-duty truck charging
Three of the largest commercial truck manufacturers have joined forces on charging infrastructure. Daimler Trucks North America, Navistar, and Volvo Group North America on Wednesday announced Powering America’s Commercial Transportation (PACT), described in a joint press release as a “coalition focused on education and advocacy for accelerating the construction of nationwide infrastructure” for electric medium-duty…
US plug-in hybrid sales hit a record high in 2023
Plug-in hybrids reached record sales in 2023, with more than 250,000 vehicles sold, or about 20% of total plug-in vehicle sales, according to the Department of Energy. Last year saw strong sales for EVs as well, which surpassed one million units for the first time. The combined market share of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs…
BMW adds all-wheel-drive i5 EV, plug-in hybrid to 5-Series lineup
The BMW 5-Series lineup adds two more plug-in variants for the 2025 model year. The automaker confirmed Tuesday that the 2025 BMW 550e xDrive plug-in hybrid will join the lineup for the new model year, along with a third version of the all-electric BMW i5 that launched for 2024 as part of a redesigned 5-Series…
EV sales near 8% of US new vehicle market
EV sales will reach 8.0% of the total U.S. new vehicle market this month, S&P Global Mobility has predicted. The market share of EVs won’t increase dramatically over the previous month, as automakers, dealers, and consumers digest new federal tax credit rules brought on by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that went into effect with…
GM not quite all-in on EVs, will add plug-in hybrids in US
Five years after the discontinuation of the Chevrolet Volt, it appears General Motors is ready to bring plug-in hybrids back to its North American lineup. The news was reported by several sources following the automaker’s quarterly and 2023 earnings call—including CNBC, which cited comments made by GM CEO Mary Barra during the call. GM’s quarterly…
GM plug-in hybrids, Rolls-Royce EV recall, Mach-E discounts: Today’s Car News
Rolls-Royce is recalling its first EV. Ford is offering some sweet Mustang Mach-E deals to fleets. And yes, GM is planning to bring plug-in hybrids back. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. GM has announced that it is ready to bring some plug-in hybrid models back to the North American market. It’s a…
EV charge times and cost may be holding shoppers back
The reasons why EVs might not click for all car shoppers are evolving—and it’s no longer simply a matter of whether an EV will go far enough on a charge. Cost and the time needed to charge are now nearly as important to U.S. car shoppers as range, a Deloitte study published earlier this month…
Canoo vans in USPS fleet, EV charge time concerns, EV acceleration as safety: Today’s Car News
Canoo electric vans head out soon for postal delivery. Is an EV’s 2.0-second 0-60 mph acceleration a safety feature? And are worries about charge time overtaking range and other charging concerns as a top barrier for EV adoption? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Recent study results from Deloitte suggest that driving range…
Lucid teases potential Model Y rival, as it expands for Gravity SUV
Lucid Group on Wednesday announced the opening of its second manufacturing stage at its assembly plant in Casa Grande, Arizona—setting the stage for ramping up production of the Gravity electric SUV later this year. While the second manufacturing stage will help allow higher production levels of its Gravity, as well as the Air electric sedan,…
Stellantis CEO claims quicker EV acceleration is a safety feature
Stellantis last week detailed its STLA Large platform, which the automaker claims can house powertrains capable of hurling an EV from 0-60 mph in 2.0 seconds. That breathtaking acceleration figure may be something Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares now claims is a safety feature. That’s because quick acceleration allows for quicker overtaking, Tavares told Top Gear…
2024 Subaru Solterra EV charges faster, goes hands-free
The 2024 Subaru Solterra gets handful of changes for its second model year, the highlights being battery improvements and a new driver-assistance system. The Solterra can now DC fast-charge from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes, according to Subaru, compared to about an hour previously. The automaker also claims an improved battery conditioning system that…
VW ID.4 EV tax credit; Subaru Solterra update; Macan, Prologue, and ZDX pricing: The Week in Reverse
Which CEO of a global automaker suggested that EVs may never top 30% of the global vehicle market? Which EV from a U.S. automaker became the top-selling vehicle on the planet, electric or not? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending January 26, 2024….
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid costs just $500 more than non-hybrid
The redesigned 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has a base price just $500 more than the equivalent non-hybrid model. Pricing starts at $38,345 for the least-expensive hybrid model—the SEL with front-wheel drive (all prices include a $1,395 destination charge). The non-hybrid front-wheel drive Santa Fe SEL starts at $37,845. However, the non-hybrid Santa Fe is…
Subaru Solterra EV, Honda Prologue, Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid: Today’s Car News
It’s all pricing and economics news this morning, and it’s mostly good news for those interested in driving greener. Subaru boosts Solterra fast-charging, Honda prices its Prologue, and Hyundai sets a very modest premium for its hybrid Santa Fe SUV. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Subaru has sped up DC fast-charging for…
VW ID.4 tax credit, Porsche SUV price, Model Y tops sales charts, Lucid rival: Today’s Car News
Tesla has the top-selling vehicle on the planet, it claims. Lucid teases a Model Y rival. Porsche puts a price on its electric SUV. And many VW ID.4 EV buyers will be able to claim the full EV tax credit. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Volkswagen has confirmed that “most” 2023-2024 ID.4…
2024 Honda Prologue starts at $48,795, rated at 296 miles
Honda’s first electric SUV, the Prologue, arrives at dealerships starting in March, the automaker confirmed Thursday, along with first official pricing for the model. As promised, the Prologue starts under $50,000. But for those who want all-wheel drive and a loaded version, it ranges nearly up to the $60,000 mark. In Single Motor front-wheel-drive form,…
$25,000 Tesla EV set for 2025 production
Tesla’s $25,000 electric car is back on, and it may be due for production as soon as next year, according to a report citing several separate sources within the company. According to the Reuters report, Tesla sent an invitation for supplier bids for a model codenamed Redwood last year. At the time, the company predicted…
$25,000 Tesla, Apple Car, Hyundai active aero: Today’s Car News
Tesla could be making its $25,000 EV next year, according to a report. The Apple Car project has backed away from the driverless-car designs. And Hyundai shows what a difference active aero can make to boost EV range. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Hyundai and Kia boast that its active air skirt…
Toyota exec says EVs won’t top 30%, wants new engines
The chairman of Toyota is most definitely not all-in on EVs—or the idea that they might even be a third of the market, perhaps ever. In comments published Tuesday in Toyota’s own Toyota Times corporate newsletter, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda said in an event earlier this month that he does not see battery electric vehicles…
Toyota’s 30% EV ceiling, Electrify America’s charging plan, streetside charging: Today’s Car News
Toyota might see an EV-sales ceiling that’s below its own EV targets. Electrify America sets aside more money for reliability, but is it enough? And could we tap into old phone infrastructure to allow EV charging for street parking? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The chairman of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, has never…
2024 Acura ZDX EV costs more than Cadillac Lyriq
Pricing has been announced for the 2024 Acura ZDX, which is set to arrive at dealerships starting in early spring 2024. Assuming the same $1,350 destination fee as the like-sized MDX, the first EV effort from Honda’s luxury brand starts at $65,850. That’s for the base A-Spec with single-motor rear-wheel drive. Dual-motor A-Spec models price…
Acura ZDX EV pricing, 500-mile EVs from Stellantis, rural charging credit: Today’s Car News
The platform for EVs from Dodge, Jeep, and more is good for models with up to 500 miles of range, the automaker claims. The Biden administration goes broad in applying a new charging credit. And the 2024 Acura ZDX costs thousands more than the Cadillac Lyriq it’s due to be built beside. This and more,…
First fully electric Jeep arrives fall 2024
The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S will arrive this fall in the U.S., with other markets to follow, Jeep parent Stellantis announced Thursday. The timing essentially matches what Jeep discussed when the Wagoneer S was first shown in concept form in September 2022 as one of three production-bound EVs, alongside the European-market Avenger and the more…
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT will get performance upgrade, bronze look
The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT gets an available Bronze Appearance Package, as well as some performance upgrades, for the new model year. The appearance package includes a bronze grille, badging, and 20-inch wheels. It’s available with Shadow Black, Star White Metallic, and new-for-2024 Eruption Green paint colors. Ford said a Mach-E GT with this…
EV platform for Dodge muscle cars, Jeep SUVs, more
Stellantis has reaffirmed a claim of 500 miles of range for its STLA dedicated EV platform, set to underpin several future cars, crossovers, and SUVs from the automaker. STLA Large is one of four dedicated EV platforms announced by Stellantis in 2021, along with STLA Small, Medium, and Frame versions. Stellantis was making the 500-mile…
Hyundai Ioniq 6 deal, affordable Honda and Toyota EVs, Civic and Elantra hybrids: The Week in Reverse
How can you claim up to $7,500 off some new Tesla models at the time of purchase? Which automaker announced plans to embrace the Tesla charge connector and reignite an offbeat kind of internal combustion engine, all in the same week? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car…
12 things to know about next-gen Honda EVs arriving in 2026
Last week at CES in Las Vegas, Honda provided a first look at future EV models planned for 2026 with the Saloon and Space-Hub concepts. Both are envisioned for its 0 Series (Zero Series) platform. At least some of these models will be U.S.-made, and they’ll arrive in the U.S. first—before Japan, China, and Europe—the…
Honda EV tech preview, 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S: Today’s Car News
The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT gets faster and goes green (and bronze). Jeep previews the production Wagoneer S EV. And what can you expect from Honda’s own EVs on the way later in the decade? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Honda may be a late-starter with mass-production EVs, but as communicated last…
2025 Honda Civic Hybrid could catch 40% of Civic sales
Honda has confirmed that the 2025 Civic Hybrid will be much more than a niche model. It plans to make the hybrid version 40% of total U.S. Civic sales. In U.S. spec, the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid arrives in summer 2024 and will include a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine, running on an efficiency-focused Atkinson cycle. It’s…
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid price and mpg, Honda Civic Hybrid, Mazda charging up on rotary: Today’s Car News
The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid gets a higher price, ahead of the arrival of a main rival, the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid. And Mazda sees a future including rotary combustion engines and Tesla charge ports. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid has a price hike—and more of a price…
Ram ProMaster EV delivers a pink slip to diesel last-mile vans
Stellantis’ Ram brand may be best known for flaunting all the attitude with its Rebel and TRX pickups. But on Tuesday it revealed a lineup that looks no-frills yet goes fully electric. Its ProMaster Electric Van family is the first fully electric vehicle for Ram, and it leads the way—in tech, if not design statement—toward…
Tesla $7,500 credit up front, Toyota affordable EVs, Ram electric vans: Today’s Car News
Toyota pushes back about the viability of affordable EVs. Ram introduces a lineup of electric vans. And Tesla buyers can now get the $7,500 EV tax credit up front—if they qualify. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Tesla has started applying the EV tax credit at the time of purchase—via its own website…
Half the carbon footprint of its R1S by 2030
In addition to being less expensive than the current R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV, Rivian believes its upcoming R2 EV will have a smaller carbon footprint as well. And looking beyond the initial R2, Rivian intends to keep cutting the footprint of its vehicles. As noticed by The Verge, the company said in its…
Ioniq 6 undercuts Model 3, Honda affordable EV, Rivian CO2 footprint: Today’s Car News
Honda waits on affordable small EVs until very late in the decade. The Ioniq 6 is cheaper than the Model 3. Rivian aims to halve its EVs carbon footprint. And yes, EVs will drive electricity cost down. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Honda still has no affordable, mass-market EV—an equivalent to the…
Kia electric vans, Bosch automated charging, Hyundai hydrogen ecosystem: Today’s Car News
Electric vans are one of the keys to Kia’s future. Bosch looks at automatically charging EVs while they’re parked. And Hyundai is setting the bar high for hydrogen. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. At CES in Las Vegas, Hyundai outlined its work to establish a “hydrogen value chain,” with a hydrogen vision…
Solid-state batteries may enable affordable small EV by 2030
Honda built its original reputation around affordable small cars like its Civic. Yet decades on, segueing into an era of EVs, it has no battery-electric equivalent to the Civic. As Honda’s global CEO alluded this past week in a Q&A with Green Car Reports and various automotive and tech media at CES, it doesn’t see…
Hertz is selling EVs, including Teslas, to buy gasoline models
Hertz on Thursday announced that it’s selling about 20,000 EVs, including some Teslas, from its U.S. rental fleet to buy gasoline cars. The company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the sales of these vehicles, which represent about one-third of its global EV fleet, began in Dec. 2023 and…
EVs will drive long-term electricity cost down, studies suggest
EVs could help drive down electricity rates by better-utilizing grid infrastructure, according to three recent studies summarized by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), an energy-policy advocacy organization. These studies describe a shift to a higher, but better-distributed electricity load that makes better use of infrastructure and thus more consistently covers the costs…
REE electric truck gets US nod for by-wire steering, braking, driving
Israeli startup REE Automotive on Thursday announced that its P7-C electric chassis-cab truck is the first vehicle with entirely by-wire controls to be certified for sale in the U.S. Deliveries of the medium-duty commercial truck are now underway following following Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and EPA certification, REE said in a press release….
Honda EV concepts, Kia electric vans, Vinfast pickup concept, Hertz dumps EVs: The Week in Reverse
How soon is the revamped Tesla Model 3 Highland arriving in the U.S.? Which company spent more of its CES presentation talking about gaming, TV, and movies than the EV it’s helping make? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending January 12, 2024. At…
Pickup concept, $20,000 VF 3 mini-SUV, e-bike all bow at CES
Before the second effort from Vinfast, the larger three-row VF 9, has even gone on sale, the Vietnam-based automaker is already focusing on an onslaught of future vehicles and concepts. Vinfast introduced a trio of future and potential products at CES in Las Vegas this week, including an electric pickup concept, a stylish electric bike,…
Vinfast electric truck, Hertz selling EVs for gasoline, by-wire firsts: Today’s Car News
Hertz is selling its EVs for more gas vehicles. Vinfast previews three EVs. And the first EV that goes completely by-wire has been U.S.-certified. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The rental-car giant Hertz has announced that it’s selling a third of its EV fleet—about 20,000 EVs, including some Teslas—to buy gasoline cars….
EPA touts $1B more for electric school buses: See where they are
The EPA on Monday announced another round of funding for all-electric and low-emission school buses under its Clean School Bus Program. Nearly $1 billion will go to 67 applicants, the EPA said in a press release. The agency has also set up an online dashboard showing where the new school buses will be going. The funds…
EVs will keep gaining US market share in 2024
U.S. EV sales grew significantly in 2023 and will likely continue to do so in the coming year, Bloomberg analysts say in a new report. Analysts estimate that U.S. EV sales reached 1.6 million units in 2023, up from 1.1 million in 2022. And they predict 1.9 million EV sales for 2024, accounting for 13%…
2024 Tesla Model 3 Highland update arrives in the US
The refreshed 2024 Tesla Model 3—codenamed “Highland” by the automaker—is now available in the U.S. Deliveries are expected to start as soon as later this month. The U.S.-spec Model 3 Highland appeared on Tesla’s website overnight, with two configurations available. The base single-motor rear-wheel drive version starts at $38,990 before destination with an EPA-estimated 272…
2026 Afeela EV gets updated styling, AI-informed driver-assistance
Sony provided an update on the 2026 Afeela electric sedan being co-developed with Honda at CES 2024, but only briefly, and only after 30 minutes or so of discussion about the company’s media and gaming efforts. That nicely summarized Sony’s priorities. Sony Honda Mobility, the business entity created to bring the Afeela brand to market,…
Fresh look for future Honda EVs bows with Saloon, Space-Hub concepts
Against the backdrop of CES in Las Vegas, Honda provided a first look at its 0 Series (Zero Series) electric vehicles set to launch in 2026—in the form of two new head-turning EV concepts. The two concept vehicles, called Saloon and Space-Hub, are a racy-looking, kammback-profile car and a taller, more upright van or wagon—both…
Hyundai, Kia, and Samsung ally to connect car and home
Hyundai, Kia, and Samsung announced a partnership Thursday to expand connectivity between vehicles and in-home devices—with potential benefits for EV owners. The aim is to allow Hyundai and Kia owners to remotely control appliances via their cars’ infotainment systems, and also use smart speakers and televisions or smartphone apps to control certain vehicle functions from…
Fisker pivots to franchised dealerships for EV sales, support
Fisker on Thursday said it would add franchised dealerships alongside company-owned showrooms, pivoting away from the pure direct-sales model previously discussed. “We are evolving our business model and intend to add as many as 50 dealer partners in the U.S. and Canada and a similar number of dealer locations in Europe this year,” CEO Henrik…
GM struggled to accelerate EV production in 2023
General Motors ended 2023 with disappointing EV delivery figures. The automaker reported Wednesday that it delivered 75,883 EVs in 2023, but 62,045 of those were Bolt EV and Bolt EUV models that GM discontinued at the end of the year. That leaves just 13,341 of the Ultium EVs that are supposed to set the tone…
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning prices rise again
Prices of certain versions of the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck are going up, while others go down, Ford revealed Tuesday, in a recalibration of costs for the electric truck as the automaker prepares to cut production. The base Pro grade, aimed primarily at fleet buyers, will now start at $57,090 including the…
Tesla led in 2023 global EV sales, but BYD outsold it in Q4
Tesla and Chinese automaker BYD were the two global contenders for most EV sales in 2023. Tesla ultimately sold more EVs over the entire year, but BYD pulled ahead of the U.S. automaker in the fourth quarter. On Tuesday, Tesla said it delivered 1.8 million vehicles in 2023, including a record 484,507 in Q4, which…
Choosing leather lowers EV carbon footprint, suppliers suggest
Sustainability concerns are leading some automakers to switch from leather upholstery to synthetic alternatives. So a group of leather suppliers are making their case. The trade group, called One 4 Leather, claims that leather upholstery made from cow hides has a lower carbon footprint than synthetic materials. That’s in part because, the argument goes, cattle…
Which 2024 EVs qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit?
The list of electric vehicles qualified for the EV tax credit in calendar year 2024 has been released. And as expected, it’s very short. Noteworthy Tesla omissions include most of the Model 3 lineup (the Performance version is the only one that now qualifies), as well as the entire Model S lineup. And as anticipated…
Cummins faces $1.7B fine for diesel Ram pickup emissions cheating
Engine manufacturer Cummins will pay a $1.67 billion fine for emissions cheating with diesel engines in Ram pickup trucks. The fine settles a case brought by the U.S. Justice Department and the State of California claiming Cummins violated the Clean Air Act by installing so-called defeat devices that allowed its diesel engines to cheat emissions…
2024 Mercedes EQS and EQE get heat pump, retuned braking, more range
Mercedes-Benz is making a number of changes to its EQE and EQS electric SUV and respective sedan/hatchback models for the 2024 model year, including updates to improve range and a new braking system that could address a common complaint about earlier models. In the EQS and EQE, Mercedes tuned its regenerative braking for efficiency, opting…
Gas prices due to drop in 2024, as EVs plug into cleaner energy
The cost of gasoline and the carbon footprint of EVs could both fall in the new year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects combined electricity generation from solar and wind to exceed coal for the first time in 2024. Solar alone is expected to increase 39% from 2023 thanks to continual increases in generating…
These were the top EV stories of 2023
Electric vehicles remain the future of transportation at the end of 2023, as they were at the start of the year. But it was a year of tough questions to accompany vast market change as an industry refocused. While 2023 marked the end of supply-chain issues that had dragged on through 2022, it also brought…
Blazer EV pause, Mercedes EV updates, affordable EVs, clean hydrogen rules: The Week in Reverse
What do you need to ask the dealership if buying an EV after the new year? Why might the top-selling EV in Japan make a lot of sense in U.S. big cities too? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending December 29, 2023. Have…
What’s coming in 2024 and 2025
Is demand for affordable EVs low? Look at the surge of interest over future models like the Chevy Equinox EV and its more than 200,000 “hand-raisers,” or the Fisker Pear or Volvo EX30, all of which are due to start well under $40,000, and you’d be mistaken to say that electric cars are by nature…
More range for Mercedes EVs, Vinfast dealerships, 2024 affordable EV shortlist: Today’s Car News
Vinfast shifts to dealership sales. Mercedes-Benz tweaks its EV lineups for more range—real-world especially. And want an exciting EV under $40,000? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Have you waited out the market roller-coasters of the past couple years? We rounded up all the affordable EVs that are arriving in 2024 and 2025,…
Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy: Past winners
From the Nissan Leaf to the Lucid Air and F-150 Lightning, with the Toyota Prius, Chevy Volt, and Tesla Model 3 among the many formative models in between, our Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy winners each year have offered not just what we think you should buy, but a glimpse of the future….
Nio ET9, hybrids and EVs offsetting trucks, past Best Car winners: Today’s Car News
A flagship EV in China appears to rival some of the fastest-charging EVs in the world. The EPA shows that hybrids and EVs are helping offset some of the truck-and-SUV shift. And we look at 13 years of Green Car Reports winners. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Starting with the Nissan Leaf…
Nissan Sakura EV review, EV tax credit goes point-of-sale, battery recycling: Today’s Car News
EV battery recycling is already booming in China. EV shoppers will soon need to ask the dealership some tough questions about the tax credit. And a drive in a very small EV reminds us what America is missing about them. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. In scaling up EV sales, is smaller…
Nissan Sakura EV highlights what America is missing
Look anywhere around the world, and the biggest cities have some of the same issues, no matter what the country: space is tight, and access to high-power fast-charging is limited at best. Applying that logic, the very tiny, four-passenger Nissan Sakura EV seems like the perfect formula to apply to an everyday driver for Seoul,…
Blazer EV issues, clean hydrogen rules, Prius Prime, Porsche-Audi charge cord: Today’s Car News
Chevy Blazer EV sales have been halted. Porsche and Audi are issuing recall letters for most of their plug-in vehicles, but it’s not for the vehicles themselves. Hydrogen rules aim to reel in the dirtier side of the hydrogen economy. And we look at the Prius Prime as one of the year’s best. This and…
Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2024 finalist
Odds are when you first saw the latest 2024 Toyota Prius hybrid that started arriving earlier in the year, you not only saw a great-looking car but felt a little bit of nostalgia. That’s because the latest Toyota Prius looks like it’s a descendant of the Prius that made the biggest waves in automotive history—the…
2024 Chevy Blazer EV doesn’t offer home power backup yet, but it’s ready
GM plans to offer bidirectional charging capability for every one of its Ultium EVs, the company underscored earlier this year. That will soon include a toolkit of useful features for interfacing with the home, like backing up the power during a blackout or natural disaster. As GM recently verified, there’s no need to wait to…
Audi and Porsche have a safer mobile charging cable for EV, PHEV models
Audi and Porsche are conducting a recall of 240-volt Level 2 AC charging cables for EVs and plug-in hybrids. The recall covers 93,196 Audi vehicles in the U.S. from model years 2019 to 2024, including the E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback, Q4 E-Tron and Q4 E-Tron Sportback, and E-Tron GT EVs, as well as the Q5…
These EVs from GM, Ford, and Tesla might lose tax credit in 2024
For a time early in 2024, the Chevy Bolt EV may be the only EV from GM qualifying for the full EV tax credit. Yes, that’s a model now out of production and set to be increasingly difficult to find at dealerships in 2024. GM did say that the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Cadillac Lyriq…
US considers hiking China EV tariff above 25%
The Biden administration is considering raising tariffs on Chinese EVs above 25%, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The administration has left in place Trump-era tariffs on roughly $300 billion of Chinese goods, but is now considering additional tariffs, according to the report, which cited anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Chinese EVs are already…
GM pauses Chevy Blazer EV sales over software woes
GM has paused sales of the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV over “software quality issues,” the company announced late Friday. “We are aware that a limited number of Blazer EV owners have experienced some software quality issues,” said the company in an official response provided to Green Car Reports. “To ensure our customers have a great…
BMW i5 review, GM EV home backup, VW chooses NACS, free fast charging: The Week in Reverse
Which EV models are losing their tax-credit eligibility in 2024? Which new Toyota plug-in hybrid is claimed to go 55 electric miles in its home-market version? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending December 22, 2023. In a first drive of the BMW i5…
Lexus RZ range boost, tariff on China EVs, Ford and GM lose EV tax credit: Today’s Car News
EV tax credit qualification gets murky in the new year. An even higher tariff on Chinese EVs is being considered. And the Lexus RZ EV gets a lower-priced base model with more range. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The 2024 Lexus RZ 300e adds more driving range to the only EV in…
2024 Lexus RZ 300e arrives with 266-mile range, lower price
Lexus is adding a less-expensive, longer-range version of its RZ electric crossover for the 2024 model year. Called the RZ 300e, the new variant gets a single-motor front-wheel drive powertrain and 72.8-kwh CATL battery pack, versus the dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain and 71.4-kwh pack from Prime Planet Energy (a joint venture of Panasonic and Lexus…
Lexus UX mpg boost, Toyota Crown PHEV, Chevy Blazer EV V2H: Today’s Car News
The Blazer EV is ready for home backup, but the software and home hardware aren’t here yet. Lexus gives its UX hybrid crossover a boost. And will a Toyota Crown plug-in hybrid go 55 miles all-electric? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV is ready for bidirectional charging, GM…
Toyota Crown PHEV aims for electric miles, home backup capability
The Toyota Crown is getting an all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid variant in Japan. Known as the Toyota Crown Sport PHEV, the new model was unveiled Monday. It’s based on the Japanese-market Crown Sport crossover SUV unveiled in October. It’s one of multiple Crown body styles, including the high-riding Toyota Crown hybrid sedan that’s available now in…
BMW i5 review, Nio ET7 range, VW goes Tesla, Biden backs NACS: Today’s Car News
The Biden administration backs NACS, and VW finally caves to the Tesla standard. Nio goes 650 miles on a charge to show off its semi-solid-state battery tech. And how good is the electric version of BMW’s 5-Series? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. In a first drive of the BMW i5 EV, we…
Biden and VW back Tesla EV charging connector, now a standard
Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) DC fast charging connector is now living up to its name, becoming a true standard rather than just a hardware design. SAE International on Tuesday released the technical information for standardization of the NACS connector. Known as SAE J3400, the finalized standard comes just six months after the SAE…
EVs from these brands will soon use the Tesla NACS charge port
With the commitment of Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Scout to shift to the Tesla-based North American Charging Standard (NACS)—and the Biden administration’s backing of the SAE standard behind NACS now being finalized—America is now on the path for a single fast-charging standard for electric vehicles. The VW Group had remained one of the last holdouts…
Canada set to reveal EV mandate for 2035
On Tuesday, Canada is set to unveil the framework for an EV mandate for 2035, local media outlets are reporting. The mandate, known as the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, will gradually step up the amount of “zero-emission vehicles” until they account for 100% of new-car sales in Canada, the Toronto Star reported Sunday. It reportedly…
Free fast charging, gasoline fleet growing, France EV incentives, BYD Seal: Today’s Car News
The number of gasoline vehicles in the U.S. fleet is growing. Free fast charging causes more public charging congestion—probably. France rolls out revamped EV incentives. And the BYD Seal is here, almost. Will it cross the border? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. EV drivers who get free fast charging are plugging in…
US EV sales are growing, but so is the gasoline fleet
U.S. EV sales are growing, but not enough to offset gasoline cars. That’s because sales of those vehicles are growing faster, according to a new report. Experian’s Automotive Market Trends report for the third quarter of 2023 showed that while electric cars now account for a larger share of the U.S. vehicle fleet than they…













































































































