By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) It’s official on Rivian and Amazon. Tesla introduces a new Dog Mode to keep dogs cool in parked cars. Final EPA range estimates are released for the 2020 Kia Soul EV. We run down the best deals on hybrid, plug-in, and electric cars for February. And Toyota falls back on…
By [email protected] (Bengt Halvorson) Rivian on Friday announced that Amazon will invest in the company, as it pushes ahead to bring its lineup of electric pickups and SUVs to market. Although the amount of Amazon’s investment wasn’t disclosed, Rivian said that the Seattle-based technology, goods, and services giant led a $700 million equity investment round….
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) In Toyota’s latest ad for its new Corolla Hybrid in Britain, it’s 2002 all over again. The ad shows the new Corolla Hybrid (in non-U.S. hatchback form) bypassing all kinds of road transportation alternatives from different eras—from a stagecoach and an early brass-era car to 1950s hot rods and, finally—an…
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) Presidents’ Day Weekend typically brings deals in car showrooms. And this month is no exception. As electric-car fans wait for a slew of new models to hit the market this spring, some of the same cars that have made up recent months’ best deals appear again. Two, however, are recent…
By [email protected] (Bengt Halvorson) In just one model year, Kia has more than doubled the rated driving range for the Soul EV. The 2020 Kia Soul EV, which is expected to reach dealerships this spring, will go 243 miles on a charge—four more miles than the Kia Niro EV—according to the EPA, in ratings that…
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) As Volkswagen and other automakers dial back from auto shows, in the U.S. it sees them as a way to explain electric cars to shoppers. A new survey reveals that most car shoppers are willing to pay extra for alternative fuel. A new bill in Washington could add the state…
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) It turns out there’s more than one way for automakers to meet fuel-economy targets. One is to develop and sell more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. The other—as demonstrated over the years by quite a few automakers—is to pay fuel economy fines to the U.S. Treasury as a course of doing…
By [email protected] (Bengt Halvorson) Last summer, Volkswagen Group chairman Dr. Herbert Diess said that he doesn’t believe new-car shows will exist (in their present form) a decade from now, and that “motor shows are dead.” You might think Volkswagen of America didn’t get the memo. This year it’s investing more of its marketing dollars in…
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) Just as the Trump administration is attacking California’s right to require electric cars to be sold in the state, California may be gaining support elsewhere. A new bill introduced in Washington state on Monday would add the state to the 10 others that follow or are in the process of…
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) Tech giant Qualcomm sells its Halo wireless charging business to rival WiTricity. GM and Amazon could be in talks to invest in startup electric pickup-maker Rivian. A new computer model tests how a 100-percent renewable power grid would have held up to the recent polar vortex. And results of last…
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) It’s one of the worst nightmares for electric-car drivers: They go out to jump in their car, and somebody forgot to plug it in. Automakers and technology companies have talked for years about developing wireless charging, but it hasn’t developed in part because of disagreements over standards, and, some would…
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) With the recent advent of more prevalent electric car ads, including one from Audi in the Superbowl and generic ads from Electrify America and Veloz, we thought it was high-time to ask our readers what they think is worth advertising about electric cars. Audi’s Superbowl ad felt a little formulaic….
By [email protected] (Bengt Halvorson) General Motors and Amazon could soon invest between $1 billion and $2 billion into Michigan-based electric vehicle hopeful Rivian, according to a report from Reuters. If the reported talks result in a deal, the two companies could end up with minority stakes in Rivian, as it pushes to get its fully…
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) The EPA released impressive fuel-economy estimates for the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Indiana professors combine ethanol, and fuel-cell tech in affordable next-gen electric-car battery. One-step Plug&Charge comes to Greenlots chargers. And a report reveals that Tesla may be supplying batteries and motors for a new electric pickup from GM. All……
By [email protected] (Eric C. Evarts) Last month, the president of General Motors’ GMC truck division said the brand was considering building an electric pickup. Now, according to a CleanTechnica report, that pickup could come from Tesla. Even the CleanTechnica reporter says to file this in the category of an enticing rumor, rather than fact, because…