States took on the mantle of combating climate change during the first Trump administration. Now they need to redouble the work during the second.
That’s the message that Caroline Spears, executive director of Climate Cabinet, has for state lawmakers following Trump’s victory on Tuesday.
As an advocacy organization that helps state and local leaders “run, win, and legislate on climate change,” Climate Cabinet supported more than 170 candidates in Tuesday’s election. As of midday Wednesday, when Spears spoke to Canary Media, she was feeling cautiously optimistic about the races her group had focused on: “About a third of them we won, about a third of them we lost, and about a third of them are still too close to call.”
Getting climate-committed candidates into state offices can make the difference between a state enacting or preserving climate policies and it blocking or rolling back such policies, she said. For example, the 2022 midterms saw Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota secure Democratic “trifectas” — control of the governor’s office and both houses of the state legislature — leading to significant climate legislation being passed and signed into law in those states.
States have “always been key to climate policy,” Spears said, and now, with a Trump administration expected to attempt to unravel the Biden administration’s climate policies and unleash fossil fuels, it’s “up to state leaders to hold the line.”
How states can keep the energy transition moving
State lawmakers and regulators have the ability to order local utilities to shut down or reduce emissions from fossil-fueled power plants and expand the share of electricity they generate from zero-carbon resources like wind, solar, geothermal, and nuclear power.
States can also require large polluters — like fossil-gas utilities — to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas they spew into the air and set emissions and energy-efficiency requirements for buildings. At present, states have the authority to adopt vehicle emissions standards that are more strict than those set by the federal government — although Trump sought to rescind that authority during his first term and may attempt to do so again.
States also play a key role in distributing funds from the federal Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — at least while the full laws remain on the books.
During the first Trump administration, “we saw states really taking charge,” said Jeff Deyette, deputy director of clean energy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, an advocacy group. “I think that momentum has been maintained over the past eight years. This could be another boost to continue to push those state leaders … to protect what they have.”
There’s a lot to protect. The roster of states with aggressive decarbonization targets has expanded under the Biden administration: Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington state all adopted strong emissions goals in 2021 or 2022.
All told, 25 states and Washington, D.C., have now instituted some form of target for achieving either economywide net-zero carbon emissions, 100 percent renewable or carbon-free electricity, or both. This chart, compiled in mid-2024, includes all of these states except Vermont, which in June 2024 passed a law mandating 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 for all utilities and by 2030 for its largest utility, Green Mountain Power.
(Raymond James)
How the 2024 election changed the state policy landscape
Clean energy and climate policies aren’t necessarily partisan issues, said Heather O’Neill, CEO of trade group Advanced Energy United. “We see the potential for broad agreement in states of all political stripes and persuasions,” as utilities grapple with rising electricity demand from data centers, factories, electric vehicles, and broader economic growth. “Advanced energy technologies are a low-cost solution to all of these challenges,” she said.
She cited the example of Texas, a red state that’s deployed more wind and utility-scale solar power than any other state and is set to pass California for having the most grid-connected batteries by year’s end. Those resources are “working to keep the grid reliable,” O’Neill said, as shown by the role that solar and batteries played in averting grid emergencies this summer.
But to date, Democratic control has been a prerequisite for passing aggressive climate or clean-energy legislation in almost every state that has done so. The exception is North Carolina, where the GOP-controlled legislature passed a law in 2021 mandating that Duke Energy, the state’s biggest utility, cut carbon emissions 70 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Heading into the election, 17 states had Democratic trifectas and 23 states had Republican trifectas. No state appears to be on a path to form a new Democratic trifecta as a result of the election; rather, Democrats have lost full control in Michigan and might do the same in Minnesota.
GIGAGREEN, an EU-funded project that is developing and scaling up novel electrode and cell component manufacturing processes by following a Design to Manufacture approach, will participate in the Battery Innovation Days.
This project will share there a booth with the other five projects of the Battery Heroes clustering group: NoVOC, BatWoman, greenSPEED, BATMACHINE and GIGABAT.The Battery Heroes is a collaborative group composed by battery research EU-funded projects.
Concretely, they are under the topics “Environmentally sustainable processing techniques applied to large scale electrode and cell component manufacturing for Li-ion batteries”, and “Towards creating an integrated manufacturing value chain in Europe: from machinery development to plant and site integrated design”.
Battery Heroes carries out scientific collaboration activities, such as a workshop on Life Cycle Assessment that already took place in in July and September, as well as communication and dissemination actions.
This event is, for them, an opportunity to further promote their activities in the field of battery research. Also, to meet other professionals in this or similar industries with whom they can collaborate.This is the fourth edition of the Battery Innovation Days (BID), a yearly event that takes place in different cities every year. In 2024 will take place in Barcelona, and it will be hosted by Acció, the Agency for Business Competitiveness, supported by the Government of Catalonia.
In the Battery Innovation Days, attendees will have the chance to network with industry peers from diverse backgrounds, gaining fresh perspectives and insights. It is also an opportunity to stay up to date on emerging trends and technologies, as the hottest topics in the battery industry will be discussed.
There will be also a Battery Young Research Award ceremony, which celebrates academic excellence and honours students driving scientific advancements in battery research. Last, and here is where the role of GIGAGREEN and Battery Heroes is more visible, there will be several exhibitor booths from different organisations (businesses, research centres, projects…).At BID, GIGAGREEN will highlight its advancements in a range of innovative materials, such as binders, electrolytes, separators, and active materials for both cathodes and anodes.
These materials arespecifically designed for cutting-edge dry and wet electrode processing methods, that aim to lead to the development of Design for Manufacturing guidelines and a Digital Twin.The Battery Heroes will have a new opportunity to create even more solid synergies. Members will meet in person and will have the opportunity to dive into questions or discussions proposed by other attendees, which will create a deeper knowledge of the other members of the clustering and will enhance creativity towards the cluster activities.
About GIGAGREENLed by Politecnico di Torino, GIGAGREEN is formed by Sustainable Innovations, ABEE, Solvionic, Leclanché, Nanomakers, Parma University, Politechnical University of Valencia, Sintef, INEGI, CIC energiGUNE, Arlanxeo, Alphanov, Manz Italy, and CETIM.Funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe program, GIGAGREEN is a four-year project aimed at revolutionizing cell manufacturing processes for electric vehicles, with a focus on sustainability and efficiency.
About Battery HeroesInline with the cooperation spirit promoted by the European Commission, Battery Heroes is a clustering group formed by six EU-funded projects on battery innovation: NoVoc, greenSPEED, BatWoman, BATMACHINE, GIGABAT and GIGAGREEN.These projects share a common goal of advancing sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes for lithium-ion batteries in the EU, with a focus on reducing costs, energy consumption, and environmental impact.
Batteries bound for U.S. Rivian R2 models will come from Arizona
LG will supply Rivian with 67 gigawatt-hours over five years
4695 format is set to be shared with R3, R3X
Next-generation cylindrical battery cells for the Rivian R2 SUV will come from LG Energy Solution and its Arizona plant, the battery supplier and U.S. EV maker confirmed Thursday.
The agreement, LG says, will span five years and total 67 gigawatt-hours in total energy capacity and power R2 models for the North American market. Although LG didn’t note a starting date for supply, the R2 is due to go on sale in 2026.
The Rivian R2-bound cells, at 46 mm in diameter and 95 mm in length, mirror the size that BMW has also committed to. They stand dimensionally different versus Tesla’s 4680 cell format (46 mm x 80 mm), which reportedly carries with it some additional production challenges, the 2170 format (21 mm x 70 mm) used in the Rivian R1 lineup and the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, among others, or Tesla’s original 18650 format (18 mm x 65 mm).
LG noted that the new size enables higher energy density, improved space efficiency, and enhanced safety.
BMW cylindrical battery cells
Rivian confirmed to Green Car Reports that the agreement is specifically for high-nickel cells, which generally refers to NCA or NCM lithium-ion chemistries and not the lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) cells that are becoming more popular in cost-conscious base EV models—like versions of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and in the upcoming next-generation Chevy Bolt EV.
The $45,000 Rivian R2 will be the first true mass-market EV from the U.S. electric vehicle maker, and it could be the model that makes the fledgling company financially sustainable. It’s initially set to be built in Normal, Illinois, alongside the R1T pickup, R1S SUV, and EDV (van) models.
Once production is underway, some R2 production may be shifted to a future Georgia plant that would start making vehicles in 2027—eventually including the compact Rivian R3 family, with its hot-hatch, rally-tinged R3X counterpart.
Rivian R3X
Cells a structural core for Rivian’s future EVs
As Rivian confirmed earlier this year with their reveal, the R2, R3, and R3X are all set to be built around the same next-generation architecture, focused around a structural battery pack with these 4695-format cylindrical cells.
Rivian confirmed to GCR that LG does not have explicit exclusivity as the cell supplier for the R2 lineup. The 67 gigawatt-hours calculates out to about 700,000 vehicles split over five years, assuming nearly 100 kwh per vehicle. So it’s unclear from this initial plan whether R3 and R3X might see some of these cells, too, in the interest of flexibility, or to what degree those somewhat-more-affordable LFP cells might enter the mix.
Rivian R2
LG noted that “within the first year of production” batteries for the R2 will be made at the standalone plant in Arizona.
“This large-scale order from Rivian for 4695 batteries marks a key milestone for LG Energy Solution in expanding its client base within the cylindrical battery segment,” David Kim, the battery firm’s CEO, said in its release on the agreement.
Rivian and LG noting IRA impact
Made just two days after the U.S. Presidential election, the LG announcement mentioned the positive impact of Biden administration EV policy and its Inflation Reduction Act in leading to the Arizona manufacturing push.
“The supply agreement with Rivian is expected to further strengthen LG Energy Solution’s presence in the U.S. market and its plans to actively respond to the IRA by developing and supplying competitive battery cells in a timely manner while expanding into new markets,” stated the battery supplier.
Rivian R3X
The EV maker further pointed to the U.S. sourcing as “aligning with Rivian’s focus on U.S. domestic manufacturing and IRA compliance.”
Rivian reported some additional good news on Thursday. It produced 13,157 vehicles and delivered 10,018 in the third quarter of 2024. Although production has been held back by a component for its Enduro motor unit shared between its R1 models and its van platform, it confirmed that it’s on track for its 2024 delivery outlook of 50,500 to 52,000 vehicles.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Bengt Halvorson)
#Rivian #Arizonamade #batteries
Korean battery giant LG Energy Solution will supply batteries for the upcoming Rivian R2.
LGES said the R2 will get a new type of cylindrical cell with six times the capacity of current cells.
The battery blitz in America continues and the newest beneficiary of that is the upcoming Rivian R2.
Rivian just inked a battery supply deal with Korean battery giant LG Energy Solution (LGES) for its next-generation R2 model that’s set to launch in the second half of this decade. The Irvine, California-headquartered automaker showcased the R2 electric SUV—which looks like a baby R1S—in March and is now inching closer to bring that model to market.
LGES said on Thursday that it will provide Rivian with its advanced 4695 cylindrical cells for over five years, with a capacity totaling 67 gigawatt-hours. The new cell type has a diameter of 46 millimeters and is 95 mm tall, the battery maker said in a press release. It will feature six times the capacity of the existing 2170 cylindrical cells.
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“Its larger size enables higher energy density, improved space efficiency, and enhanced safety, which is attracting industry-wide attention,” LGES said. The batteries will be manufactured at the LGES factory in Arizona and shipped to Rivian’s Illinois plant, where the R2 is expected to enter production in 2026 if things continue as planned.
Rivian confirmed the same to InsideEVs but did not provide any further details.
The R2 is expected to get over 300 miles of range, the automaker said. The R1S and R1T both get nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries from Samsung SDI, whereas their entry-level Standard Range trims get lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells from an undisclosed supplier.
“Due to the dynamic nature of the current EV market, an increasing number of global automakers are demonstrating a strong preference for a diverse range of battery form factors,” said David Kim, CEO of LG Energy Solution. “This large-scale order from Rivian for 4695 batteries marks a key milestone for LG Energy Solution in expanding its client base within the cylindrical battery segment.”
Rivian showcased the R2 back in March with much fanfare although the smaller R3 and R3X hatchbacks stole the show.
The R2 will carry over the adventure theme from its bigger R1 sibling and is expected to pack a bunch of cool tech, like zonal architecture and haptic control dials on the steering. It will also come natively equipped with the Tesla NACS connector—so finding fast chargers shouldn’t really be an issue for the R2.
Rivian is targeting a starting price of $45,000 for the R2, which means it would locks horns with the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Chevy Blazer EV.
However, there’s a big question: Will buyers flock to the R2 or skip the middle child and wait for the R3? R2 pre-orders had topped 100,000 by July, but numbers only say so much.
Have a tip? Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
Source link by Battery Tech – News and Trends | InsideEVs
Battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution just announced that its Arizona subsidiary has signed a long-term supply agreement with US automaker Rivian for 4695 cylindrical batteries. The cells will be produced at LG Energy Solution Arizona’s new standalone US facility beginning next year and will power Rivian’s upcoming R2 BEVs.
LG Energy Solution (LGES) is a spinoff entity of LG Chem specializing in battery development and manufacturing. In the four short years since the entity was founded, the Korean company has established partnerships and supply agreements with OEMs worldwide and is currently one of the leaders in its respective market behind long-time frontrunner CATL.
When the Biden administration introduced the Inflation Reduction Act, which included tax incentives for BEVs and their batteries assembled on US soil, LGES was one the most popular battery manufacturers OEMs reached out to for joint ventures to set up localized cell manufacturing in North America.
Since then, we’ve seen facility plans announced between LGES and automakers like Hyundai Motor Group, Stellantis, Honda, and Ford, which recently decided to bring its operations stateside over from Europe. Toyota also has a supply agreement in place with LG Energy Solution.
In 2022, we covered the news that LG Energy Solution was investing $450 million to produce 4680 battery cells, a format pioneered by Tesla. The company has since developed taller, higher-capacity cells called 4695.
Today, the company announced a new deal for those 4695 cylindrical batteries, which will be produced in Arizona and delivered to Rivian for its R2 models.
A rending of LG Energy Solution’s Stand-Alone Battery Manufacturing Complex Project in Arizona / Source: LG Energy Solution
Rivian R2 will be powered by LG Energy Solution batteries
LG Energy Solution shared details of its latest supply agreement this afternoon. The company has signed on to provide Rivian with its advanced 4695 cylindrical batteries for over five years, delivering a total energy capacity of 67 GWh during that time.
The “4695” nomenclature refers to the dimensions of the battery cells, which have a diameter of 46mm and a height of 95mm. LG Energy Solution explained that its 20 years of research and development in cylindrical batteries have gone into its next-generation 4695 cells for Rivian.
The battery specialist states that its larger cells will offer OEMs long-range and high safety while delivering over six times the capacity of the existing 2170 cylindrical cells popular in BEV battery modules today. LG Energy Solution CEO David Kim spoke about the company’s 4695 batteries and its robust supply agreement with Rivian:
Due to the dynamic nature of the current EV market, an increasing number of global automakers are demonstrating a strong preference for a diverse range of battery form factors. This large-scale order from Rivian for 4695 batteries marks a key milestone for LG Energy Solution in expanding its client base within the cylindrical battery segment.
Today, we also learned that the batteries for Rivian will eventually be manufactured at its pending facility in Arizona within the first year of production, then delivered to Rivian’s assembly plant in Normal, Illinois, where they will be implemented in R2 models sold in the North American market.
Construction of LGES’ Arizona facility is underway and expected to be completed and begin full-scale production in less than two years from now.
The Rivian R2 was unveiled this past March to much fanfare, and well over 100,000 pre-orders have since been placed. It will be assembled at the Normal, IL, facility and may eventually move to the American Automaker’s second manufacturing plant, which remains under construction in Georgia.
During its reveal, Rivian shared that it expects the R2 BEV to reach the market in the first half of 2026. If that timeline holds, it should be right around when LG Energy Solution begins producing batteries for those Rivian models in Arizona.
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Source link by Electrek
Author Scooter Doll
#Energy #Solution #provide #Rivian #cylindrical #batteries #produced
Bentley’s pushed its timeline to go all electric back five years to 2035
The automaker’s first EV will arrive in 2027 and be an SUV
Bentley will keep PHEVs in its lineup until 2035, and BEVs will remain separate products
Bentley is once again reshuffling its electrification plans, but it still expects to have an all-electric lineup by 2035, the automaker announced Thursday.
In January 2022, Bentley announced plans to introduce five electric vehicles over five years starting in 2025, leading to an all-EV lineup by 2030. The launch of that first EV was later pushed back to 2026, a timeline that’s still in effect, Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser said in a media briefing, with a market launch in 2027 and prototypes currently undergoing testing.
That first all-electric model will be a “luxury urban SUV” that won’t replace any of Bentley’s existing models, Walliser said, adding that it will be “compact for a Bentley” at about 196 inches long. That’s 5.8 inches shorter than the current Bentley Bentayga SUV. Future Bentley EVs also won’t share platforms with its all-combustion or plug-in hybrid models due to packaging disadvantages, Matthias Rabe, head of research and development at Bentley, said.
2024 Bentley Bentayga Apex Edition
“Charging speeds will be incredibly good, and range will be sufficient,” Walliser said, explaining that total travel time is what Bentley is focused on, and that this can be kept reasonable through a combination of fast charging and range. Those comments were echoed by Rabbe, who added that engineers are looking for a replacement for the exhaust noises of internal-combustion Bentleys.
“We don’t just want to copy something, and we don’t just want to make something which is only synthetic,” Rabbe said, promising a new approach to sound that isn’t currently used by any other EV maker.
Along with its first EV, Bentley plans to introduce a new plug-in hybrid or all-electric model every year before switching to selling only electric cars in 2035. Walliser confirmed that plug-in hybrids will stay in the lineup until that point, helping to reconcile what he sees as weak demand in the luxury market for EVs with the emissions regulations anticipated to require more of them.
Bentley Continental GT Speed in Tourmaline Green
“Legislation is driving electrification,” along with competition from other automakers, Walliser said, but added that on the other hand “there’s not a lot of demand” for EVs among current Bentley customers. But the Bentley CEO sees demand on new customers looking for a “more modern interpretation of a Bentley” and believes existing customers can be won over once they drive an EV.
Bentley currently offers plug-in hybrid versions of every model, but it’s unclear if the automaker will stick with a plan announced in 2020 to eliminate standalone combustion powertrains. There is at least one more non-hybrid version of the Bentayga planned, Rabbe said. Bentley will also continue to produce plug-in hybrids as long as there is demand, he said, meaning the 2035 deadline for their elimination could be flexible.
Walliser said in a recent interview that anticipated battery-technology developments and growth of charging infrastructure will create better conditions for EVs around 2035. Given that this aligns with Bentley’s current EV plans, there’s perhaps a better chance that those plans will actually come to fruition—giving Bentley the all-electric lineup it’s been discussing, on and off, for a decade.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)
#Bentley #electric #EV039s #SUV
A big thanks to Hyundai for not abandoning sedans in deference to SUVs, as the all-electric Ioniq 6 offers stunning style, roomy interior, supple ride, fast charging, a comprehensive safety suite and impressive driving range. Value wise, it is easily the best EV sedan on the market.
Hyundai gets electrification. The Tucson, Santa Fe, Elantra and Sonata come as hybrid and/or plug-in hybrids; the Nexo is powered by electricity via a hydrogen fuel cell; and the Kona, Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 are battery electric, with the Ioniq 6 an electric sedan that can be compared with electric sedans costing twice as much.
Silent Propulsion and Driving Range
The Ioniq 6 comes in rear-wheel drive (RWD) with either single or double electric motors or all-wheel drive (AWD) with two motors:
RWD Standard Range
111 kilowatt (kW) battery and 149 horsepower (hp) and 258 foot-pounds (ft.-lb.) of torque. The all-electric range (AER) is 240 miles.
RWD Long Range
168 kW battery with 225 hp and 258 ft.-lb. of torque. This battery gets either 361 AER with 18-inch tires, or 305 AER with 20-inch tires.
Tires will alter your range
AWD
• 74 kW front and a 165 kW rear motor producing 320 hp and 446 ft.-lb. of torque, with an AER of 316 miles with 18-inch tires and 270 miles with 20-inch tires.
These driving range differences are significant and may be the deciding factor for which Ioniq 6 best suits your needs. The choice becomes: AWD if necessary for your driving style and where you live versus the 361-mile all-electric driving range in the RWD model.
The shift-by-wire transmission has driver-selectable drive modes of Eco, Normal, Sport, and the customizable My Mode. All affect the drive feel through accelerator and steering adjustments. The driving range is also affected by driving style and drive mode as well as the tire size.
Pleasure on the Road
Clean Fleet Report had the opportunity to drive 313 miles around Southern California in a 2024 Ioniq 6 AWD where we averaged an impressive 4.2 miles per kilowatt hour. To see how each affected efficiency and performance, we experimented with the drive modes where there are significant differences in acceleration and steering feel. The sharpest change being when going in and out of Eco, where everything has been programmed for super efficiency. Intuitively you would want to be in this mode when on the freeway, but Normal offered a more secure feel and the electricity use was not noticeably less than in Eco.
Ready for the road
Performance is best when in Sport where the AWD returned 0-60 mph times of about 5.0 seconds, which is plenty fast for freeway merging and passing big rigs.
The Ioniq 6 AWD has a balanced and confident ride, with the 4,616-pound weight (1,057 pounds from the under floor battery) low and centered. The Pirelli P Zero 245/40 all-season tires, mounted on 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, provided ample grip and a comfortable freeway ride. The all-wheel drive system automatically senses grip level and undetectably sends power front-to-rear and side-to-side. There was limited body roll and the ride was comfortable, confident; it was a pleasure to drive.
Wind and road noise were reduced partly due to acoustic laminated glass and sound-deadening insulation. The drag coefficient of 0.219 and the low 5.6-inch ground clearance are among the best in the car industry, especially for a midsize sedan. This impressive aerodynamic Cd number is reached by a design theory that incorporates external air flaps and an air curtain on the front lower fascia, a wheel gap reducer on the front fenders, a cover running the full length of the underside, and the rear spoiler with winglets. The Ioniq 6 is quiet and ready for a long range road trip.
The Ioniq 6 is a great handling driver’s car, with a composed ride and excellent body control.
The bottom line is the Ioniq 6 is very easy to drive, which means being relaxed when reaching your destination.
A fast charger
Charging and Regeneration
There are two battery sizes, each with a different charging speed, that utilize the 10.9 kW onboard charger. The 53.0 kWh battery on the RWD Standard Range can get up to an 80-percent charge in as little as 18 minutes using a 350kw DC fast charger. At a standard and more common 240V Level 2 charger, like the type installed in a home, will take 5.2 hours for up-to an 80-percent charge.
The RWD and AWD get a 77.4 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery that will go to 80-percent charge in 18 minutes and take seven hours with a Level 2 charger.
Original owners can take advantage of three years of complementary unlimited charging at Electrify America stations.
I charged 21-to-81% in 35 minutes on a 150 kW ChargePoint public charger.
It is important to note cold weather can affect the charging time and driving range. The Ioniq 6 comes standard with abattery heating system to pre-condition the battery to a temperature that will take a faster and higher charge.
Charging is also through powerful motor regeneration that, when coasting or braking, converts kinetic energy into electric energy and returns it to the battery. With i-Pedal, or one pedal driving, the regeneration can be set to three levels of force with steering wheel paddles. It made it possible to do most driving without relying on the brakes.
The Ioniq 6 also hasVehicle-to-Load (V2L) where power, a maximum of 1.9 kW, can flow out of the battery and charge e-bikes, camping and outdoor equipment or run your office while traveling. It also can be a home electricity source for two days during a power outage.
Streamliner Silhouette
Character, sharp looks, bold and unique are only a few of the thoughts that come to mind when describing the 2024 Ioniq 6. Hyundai calls this the Streamliner concept that comes to life with a side profile that is like nothing else on the road. The smooth body surfaces, with power flush door handles and a side character line, are unencumbered with chrome, but have tasteful black strips around the side windows, the pillars and across the door sill. The rear features twin spoilers, with the upper incorporating the parametric pixel high brake light, and then more of the pixels across the trunk light bar.
A slick streamliner
The Ioniq 6 comes in these exterior colors, with some of them carrying a premium price: Ultimate Red Metallic, Byte Blue, Digital Green Matte, Digital Green Pearl, Biophilic Blue Pearl, Transmission Blue Pearl, Nocturne Grey Matte, Nocturne Grey Metallic, Gravity Gold Matte, Curated Silver Metallic, Abyss Black Pearl and Serenity White Pearl, the color of our test car.
Spacious Interior
An interior console full of tech
The interior is open, spacious and comfortable with the substantial center console allowing for underside storage. The padded dash is divided into two horizontal spaces. The lower handles the dual-zone climate control, with the upper for the 12.3-inch, high-definition horizontal color touchscreen and a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument screen. The Bose infotainment system includes AM/FM/SiriusXM/HD radio with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A Bluetooth connection for up-to two devices, 12 volt outlets, USB power and data ports, wireless phone charging and a Wi-Fi hotspot complete the technology.
The interior comfort begins with either cloth or Hi-Tex artificial leather, heated and ventilated front seats, with memory and power adjustments, including side bolsters and massage. The cabin is quiet with the windshield having acoustic and laminated glass, the rear window is laminated and it has optional ($210) carpeted floor mats.
A spacious rear
The rear seats have ample leg room for three adults with occupants getting adjustable head rests, a center folding armrest with cup holders, door cup holders, charge ports and ventilation vents. Trunk cargo storage is good and increases with the 60/40 rear seat folded. The small front trunk (frunk) adds enough space for a bag of groceries, or as we used it, to store the charge cord.
As to be expected on a premium car the Ioniq 6 has power everything. The leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel has controls for audio, telephone, the adaptive cruise control and controls for Stop-and-Go and Auto Hold. The radio can be controlled by the touchscreen, with volume and channel selection wheels on the center console. There was a very short learning curve for this outstanding entertainment system.
Other features are driver-selectable digital proximity key, remote trunk, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, heated and power side mirrors with turn signals, panoramic sunroof and wireless phone charging. Ambient lighting can be set to any of 64 colors using a dial, including 10 pre-set colors of Sunrise Red, Aurora Purple, Lightning Violet, Ocean Blue, Jade Green, Orchid Green, Freesia Yellow, Polar White, Moon White and Ice Blue.
A functional trunk (& frunk)
Technology
The Ioniq 6 comes with an extensive list of standard safety features, beginning with front, side impact and side air curtain airbags. Hyundai’s SmartSense safety tech is robust with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including Highway Driving Assist 2 that allows for brief periods of hands-free driving.
The Hyundai Blue Link app provides access to vehicle systems, including remote start and remote charging, and the Digital Key provides extra convenience and safety.
Systems include a surround view camera, lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, forward collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic avoidance assist. Click the above links to learn about the Hyundai safety suite. Other features are hill start assist, auto hold, a surround and blind view monitor with parking sensors, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a tire repair kit in lieu of a spare tire.
Warranty
New Vehicle – Five years/60,000 miles
Powertrain – 10 years/100,000 miles
Battery – 10 years/100,000 miles
Anti-Perforation – Seven years/Unlimited miles
Complementary Maintenance – Three years/36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance – Five years/Unlimited miles
Pricing
The 2024 Ioniq 6 comes in six trims, with these base prices that include the $1,150 destination fee. These prices are before any tax incentives that would only come by leasing, not buying. So if leasing is palatable, take at least $7,500 off these prices for the federal tax credit, and possibly more from your state or local electric utility. (AER = All Electric Range.)
A variety of interior color options
RWD
SE Standard Range $38,650 240 AER
SE Long Range $43,600 361 AER
SEL $46,400 305 AER
Limited $51,300 305 AER
AWD
SE $47,100 316 AER
SEL $49,900 270 AER
Limited $54,800 270 AER
The value Ioniq 6 is the SE Long Range RWD. At $43,600, it gets a whopping 361 all-electric miles and comes very nicely equipped.
Observations: 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai made a statement when it introduced the all-new Ioniq 6 electric sedan in March 2023. In an SUV and truck world, Hyundai bucked the trend with this eye-catching sedan offering performance, efficiency, fast charging, driving range and comfort for thousands less than other electric sedans. Make sure to take note of the outstanding warranty.
Looks and performance
How does the Ioniq 6 base price compare against other electric sedans?
Hyundai Ioniq 6 $38,650
Tesla 3 $40,630
Polestar 2 $49,900
Lucid Air Pure $69,900
Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 $74,900
Porsche Taycan $101,395
The Ioniq 6 is a pleasure to drive and even more-so to look at with its head-turning design. And if you haven’t experienced it yet, there is something very satisfying about driving an electric car. The lack of sound as it moves down the road is wonderful, and the instant torque from a stop, or even when at highway speeds, is something to enjoy. Never stopping at a gasoline station is a plus, too.
The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 may be the best EV you can buy, everything considered.
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Story and photos by John Faulkner.
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Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
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Japan is quickly becoming a hub for eVTOL and air taxi technology. This morning, Archer Aviation announced it is the latest sustainable aviation developer to sign a deal in the region and implement aerial taxi transportation, beginning with Soracle Corporation’s purchase of up to 100 Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
As mentioned above, Japan, although slow in the uptake of all-electric vehicles, appears to be fully embracing the prospect of air taxi networks via electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. As far back as 2021, the Osaka Roundtable, a Japanese organization, announced a partnership with Germany’s Volocopter to strategize on how to develop and implement air taxi networks.
Other companies like SkyDrive have partnered with Japanese OEMs like Suzuki to help build its eVTOL aircraft overseas and even saw government funding in their ventures to continue advanced air mobility (AAM) development.
Earlier this week, Joby Aviation completed its first eVTOL test flight demonstration in Japan alongside executives from Toyota, a large investor. Today, California-based air taxi developer Archer Aviation announced it is joining its competitors overseas and already has its first customer lined up for a potentially large eVTOL order.
Archer’s Midnight eVTOL / Source: Archer Aviation
Archer forms joint venture to establish air taxis in Japan
Per Archer Aviation, it has signed a joint venture with Soracle Corporation, which itself was established this summer as a joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Airlines, headquartered in Tokyo.
To get things started, Soracle intends to launch AAM operations in Japan using Archer’s flagship eVTOL aircraft in order to offer the public all-electric air taxi flights in cities where current ground vehicle transportation is constrained by traffic or geographic barriers.
As part of the joint venture, Soracle has secured the right to order up to 100 Midnight aircraft, totaling approximately $500 million. The terms of that potential purchase include pre-delivery payments based on certain milestones before the eVTOLs are delivered. Soracle CEO Yukihiro Ota shared his thoughts following a signing ceremony held between both companies on September 26, 2024:
Through the operation of eVTOL aircraft, Soracle aims to enrich lives and society by creating more accessible air transportation services in Japan. We will provide safe and reliable services to passengers by making the most of the wealth of knowledge we have accumulated at Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation. Today’s announcement is a first step towards making the future we envision a reality.
To support its incoming fleet of Midnight eVTOLs from Archer, Soracle said it will develop a network of air taxi flight routes in attractive areas that residents, as well as domestic and international visitors, can utilize for speedier travel around Japan. The company hinted that those route locations could include notable metropolitan areas like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hokkaido, Setouchi, and Okinawa.
To begin commercializing AAM and air taxi services in Japan, Archer and Soracle shared joint plans to conduct a public flight demonstration at the World Expo to build public support, demonstrate the future of technology, and accelerate investments from stakeholders. The World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, from April to October 2024.
With today’s news, Archer adds Soracle and Japan to its list of customers and partners around the world. A lineup that already includes Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, KaKaoMobility in Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.
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Most EV drivers probably don’t think much about the connectors in their charging stations, but a higher-quality connector can deliver faster, more reliable charging and a longer service life.
Smiths Interconnect touts several advantages of its Hypertac Green Connect socket for CCS chargers. Designed to IEC 62196 and SAE J1772 standards, Hypertac Green Connect offers “unprecedented energy transfer, durability and long-term performance.”
Smiths explains that Joule heating (aka resistive heating) within CCS sockets causes power loss, leading to increased charging time.
The Hypertac Green Connect contact offers “unmatched low contact resistance and temperature rise even after 10,000 insertion and withdrawal cycles.” The hyperboloid contact reduces heat buildup, and the improved crimp design of the socket offers increased contact area between the contact body and the multi-stranded cable. The sockets are built to endure up to 60,000 mating cycles.
The connector is designed to minimize insertion and extraction force, making the ergonomics of the plug more user-friendly while reducing wear and tear on the connector.
Hypertac Green Connect technology is lead-free and beryllium-free, and the connectors are fully compliant with RoHS and REACH regulations, which restrict the use of hazardous substances in products. Eliminating beryllium and lead significantly reduces the burden of compliance documentation, according to the company, and eliminates the future costs associated with environmentally safe disposal of these materials.
“With its unrivalled performance to transfer energy in boost mode, long-term durability, and compliance with global standards, we are setting a new benchmark for high-performance connectors that will meet the needs of an evolving market,” said Mark Kelleher, Connectors BU Director at Smiths Interconnect.
A new generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class compact sedan arrives next year, with an all-electric variant as part of the lineup.
Mercedes first showed a camouflaged prototype of the CLA-Class EV in October, and on Wednesday it released a further tease in the form of a video of CEO Ola Källenius driving one of the prototypes.
Teaser for 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Underneath the camouflage, expect the CLA-Class EV to have styling based on the Concept CLA-Class unveiled at the 2023 Munich auto show. That concept also showed off the engineering of the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) that will be the basis for the CLA EV and other next-generation compact Mercedes models.
MMA will incorporate an 800-volt electrical architecture, which Mercedes said allowed for DC fast charging that could recover up to 248 miles of range in 15 minutes in the Concept CLA-Class, and is designed around smaller battery packs. Range will be achieved more through efficiency than pack size, incorporating lessons learned from the Vision EQXX concept, which traveled a record 746 miles on a single charge in 2022.
The CLA EV will be unveiled in 2025, meaning it will likely reach the U.S. as a 2026 model. In the teaser, Källenius confirmed that a high-performance AMG version is in development alongside the standard CLA-Class. And a hybrid powertrain option is expected to be offered alongside the all-electric ones.
In addition to the CLA-Class, which is expected to retain the “four-door coupe” shape of the current car and the Concept CLA-Class, Mercedes is expected to introduce a range of small cars based on the MMA underpinnings, including a crossover that could serve as a Tesla Model Y rival.
