Which electric trucks slated for delivery later this 12 months confirmed an EPA range topping 400 miles?
Does EV fast-charging degrade the long-term range of Teslas?
That is our look back on the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Automobile Reports—for the week ending September 3, 2023.
Rivian’s Enduro motor unit, made by the corporate itself in Illinois, cuts weight, cuts costs, and provides nearly the identical gut-dropping acceleration because the Quad-Motor versions, Green Automobile Reports summed in a comparison of Quad-Motor vs. Dual-Motor Rivian EVs. It’s set to be the quantity drive system for the R1S SUV, R1T pickup, and EDV delivery vans,
Rivian plant in Normal, Illinois, manufacturing its Enduro drive unit
Mercedes-Benz confirmed U.S. pricing and availability for its first electric vans, that are also as a consequence of be U.S.-made. The 2024 Mercedes eSprinter will start at $74,181, with all versions getting a 113-kwh battery pack prone to deliver more range than another American-market electric van yet.
The upcoming 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid made an official bow this week as a part of a refreshed Sonata lineup. While pricing, trim details, and mpg remain yet to be disclosed, search for paddle-shifters and adjustable regenerative braking as a part of a sportier yet potentially more efficient experience—in addition to a brand new panoramic curved display inside, with the shift lever moved behind the steering wheel to liberate more cabin space.
In keeping with an annual roundup from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and its Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), electric vehicles are stolen far less incessantly than gasoline models. As for why exactly that’s the case: It may need something to do with where EVs are parked for charging.
Tesla Model 3 (Europe-market refresh)
Tesla on Thursday night revealed a revamped version of the Model 3 for Europe. Even though it’s in regards to the same dimensions because the outgoing version, a design and styling refresh improves aerodynamics. What Tesla calls an all-new interior doesn’t look all that much different than the present version, but upgraded materials, ventilated front seats, and revamped infotainment and premium sound could go a great distance. There’s no word yet on how EPA range might change with these models—and even, on the time of writing, once they’ll be offered within the U.S.
Rivian disclosed that its R1T with the 180-kwh Max pack achieves as much as an EPA-cycle 410 miles. Deliveries for the primary Max pack models are due later within the 12 months.
Fisker Pear
Fisker has revealed a number of latest details regarding its upcoming $29,900 Pear urban EV. The Pear will offer 180 or 320 miles of range, Fisker claims, from two different battery packs. All-wheel drive and an Extreme performance model are also within the works. The model, with seating for as much as six and a novel “Houdini trunk” arrangement, could provide a much-needed shakeup for small-car packaging norms.
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
The Munich auto show has brought the introduction of several EV models that dig deep in respective brands’ design heritage—fairly than attempting to remake all of the design cues as a part of it. The BMW Vision Neue Klasse offers up a design that’s concurrently a throwback to the E30 3-Series with a much-simplified interface, plus next-generation EV tech that guarantees more range, faster charging, and more efficiency. And the Volkswagen ID.GTI Concept EV offers up how VW plans to re-up its fun-to-drive compact automotive for the electrical era.
Volkswagen ID.GTI Concept
Also on the show, Mini showed the primary of a future lineup of EVs taking form. Its upcoming Mini Cooper and Countryman electric models, badged E or SE, will get so much more range than the present-day Mini Cooper SE, in addition to a simplified interface focused around a round central visual display unit with available head-up display. These models’ exterior designs look very similar to their predecessors though.
Audi is delivering 300 EPA miles for its Q8 E-Tron, as promised. But as official EPA rankings reveal, that’s for the sleeker Sportback version. The Audi Q8 E-Tron SUV gets 285 miles, made possible through a bigger battery and efficiency improvements versus its E-Tron SUV predecessor.
2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron
A possible issue in 2021-2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid sedans could cause them to speed up unintentionally. It’s led to a recall for what the automaker describes as a “motor synchronization fault,” but brakes are still operational and acceleration is gentle so Hyundai is suggesting these models are still drivable until the recall fix.
In Texas, Tesla Powerwall owners are helping support the grid. As a part of a pilot project initially affecting two regions around Houston and Dallas, Powerwall owners will sell surplus power when needed to the grid—forming “virtual power plants” that may eliminate the necessity for “peaker” plants at peak use times.
Tesla Powerwall – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Does frequent fast-charging degrade EV range over the long run? A study from Recurrent, which tracks the battery health of used EVs, finds that isn’t necessarily the case—if you’ve gotten a Tesla. 1000’s of Tesla vehicles and comparing vehicles that were fast-charged 90% of the time vs. people who were fast-charged lower than 10% of the time, it found “no statistically significant difference in range degradation.” That said, following some easy advice we include on what to not do at those charging stops might help assure your battery pack lives long.
As an American EV fast-charging network is being put together by seven automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, the German automaker confirmed Monday that its upcoming Mercedes’ High-Power Charging Network can be “a further key component of the corporate’s overall electrification strategy”—meaning it is going to be differentiated from and along with the opposite effort. Mercedes’ own network will include greater than 2,000 DC fast-charging connectors by the tip of 2024, positioned at Charging Hub oases.
Mercedes-Benz EV charging station
A U.S. hydrogen economy doesn’t truly exist yet, nevertheless it’s beginning to ramp up around hydrogen incentives that haven’t yet been defined by the federal government. While some suppliers akin to Bosch are readying efforts to supply equipment like electrolyzers, the end-use carbon footprint of products using hydrogen will rely upon how true green hydrogen, from renewables and never natural gas or methane, can be incentivized.
Despite targets looking for EVs as the majority of sales some years ahead and, even in some cases, end dates for internal combustion models, several full-line automakers are quietly fighting EV-focused EPA emissions targets. In GM’s case, that appears to mean fighting the lower tailpipe emissions limits themselves.
And EVs are 5% or more of the new-vehicle market in 23 countries, with five of those countries reaching the edge this past 12 months. Using a complete range of technology adoption and the commonly-referred-to S-curve as a basis, that’s widely seen as the purpose at which EV sales speed up. But aspects like cost and charging infrastructure could mean that EVs are different.
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This Article First Appeared At www.greencarreports.com
