EV charging hardware manufacturer Wallbox has taken a step towards the day that EV drivers will be able to use the batteries in their vehicles to provide backup power for their homes and to save money on their electric bills. The company is now taking pre-orders for its new bidirectional DC charger, the Quasar 2, for eligible Kia EV9 owners and lessees.
The Quasar 2, along with the Wallbox Power Recovery Unit, enables the Kia EV9’s battery to provide backup power to a home. (The EV9 comes with either a 76.1 or 99.8 kWh pack, and typical daily residential energy use in the US is around 25-30 kWh, so the system could power an entire house for three days or so.)
If you are fortunate enough to live in a place where your local utility offers time-of-use pricing, you can charge your EV when rates are low, and discharge energy to your home during peak hours. The Quasar 2 also enables an EV to be charged directly from a solar installation—this can save you money if your local utility’s net metering policy is disadvantageous.
This fascinating product represents a step in the right direction, but at the moment it’s probably suitable for early adopters only. For now it’s designed to work with only one EV model—the Kia EV9—and it will initially be sold in “limited quantities” in California, Texas, Florida, New York, Washington, New Jersey and Illinois.
The CCS1 connector supports both AC and DC charging. Maximum power transfer is 12.8 kW in both directions—about what you’d expect from a home Level 2 AC unit. (No, it’s not feasible to do DC fast charging at home.)
Quasar 2, including the Power Recovery Unit, will retail from $6,440, excluding taxes and installation fees. Installation may require permits and/or utility approval, and must be done by Wallbox’s official installation provider, COIL, or “another certified third-party installation provider.”
As winter turns to spring, Texas is setting new records with its nation-leading clean energy fleet.
In just the first week of March, the ERCOT power grid that supplies nearly all of Texas set records for most wind production (28,470 megawatts), most solar production (24,818 megawatts), and greatest battery discharge (4,833 megawatts). Only two years ago, the most that batteries had ever injected into the ERCOT grid at once was 766 megawatts. Now the battery fleet is providing nearly as much instantaneous power as Texas nuclear power plants, which contribute around 5,000 megawatts.
“These records, along with the generator interconnection queue, point towards a cleaner and more dynamic future for ERCOT,” said Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist studying the energy system at The University of Texas at Austin.
The famously developer-friendly Lone Star State has struggled to add new gas power plants lately, even after offering up billions of taxpayer dollars for a dedicated loan program to private gas developers. Solar and battery additions since last March average about 1 gigawatt per month, based on ERCOT’s figures, Texas energy analyst Doug Lewin said. In 2024, Texas produced almost twice as much wind and solar electricity as California.
When weather conditions align, the state’s abundant clean-energy resources come alive — and those conditions aligned last week amid sunny, windy, warm weather. On March 2 at 2:40 p.m. CST, renewables collectively met a record 76% of ERCOT demand.
Then, on Wednesday evening, solar production started to dip with the setting sun. More than 23,000 megawatts of thermal power plants were missing in action. Most of those were offline for scheduled repairs, but ERCOT data show that nearly half of all recent outages have been “forced,” meaning unscheduled.
Following approval from Transport Canada, EV startup Workhorse will be bringing the W56 and W750 model electric delivery vans to commercial truck dealers in Canada as early as this spring.
“This is a major step forward for Workhorse,” says Josh Anderson, Workhorse’s chief technology officer in a press statement. “Pre-clearance from Transport Canada opens up a large new market for our products throughout Canada, including with fleets that operate across borders in North America.”
As part of the approval process, Workhorse completed its registration as a foreign manufacturer under Transport Canada’s Appendix G clearance program. Transport Canada confirmed the vans’ compliance with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) for both vehicles – but it remains to be seen if and how the latest tariff-driven trade war between the Trump Administration’s US and Canada will impact Workhorse’s plans to expand throughout North America.
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Despite that uncertainty, Workhorse execs remain upbeat. “We’re excited that our electric step vans can now reach Canadian roads and highways, providing reliable, zero-emission solutions that customers can depend on,” added Anderson.
Canadian pricing has yet to be announced.
Electrek’s Take
FedEx electric delivery vehicle; via Workhorse.
There’s no other way to say it: the Trump/Musk co-presidency is disrupting a lot of companies’ plans – and that’s especially true across North American borders. But in all this chaos and turmoil there undoubtedly lies opportunity, and it will be interesting to see who ends up on top.
This week Charged is hosting a virtual conference on EV engineering that’s free to attend. The conference includes live webinar sessions with interactive Q&As and on-demand webinars. View the daily session schedule online here.
All of the live sessions will be recorded and available to view after the broadcasts. The recorded videos can be accessed on each session’s registration page.
Monday, March 10th Webinar Topics:
9:30 am EDT Cost Efficient Software-In-The-Loop Testing For E-Mobility Join Us
10:30 am EDT New Revolutionizing Segmented Radial Crimp Technology Join Us
10:15 am EDT Optimizing EV Safety And Efficiency With The Right High Voltage Contactor Join Us
11:00 am EDT Mitigating Stress In PCB Assemblies: Understanding Thermal Gap Filler Compression And PCB Deflection Join Us
11:45 am EDT Implementation Of A Dynamic Voltage Control Within An X-in-1 Powertrain Domain Controller Join Us
1:00 pm EDT Advancing Power Test Equipment For EV, EVSE, DUT Simulation, And Battery Test Join Us
Source link by Charged EVs
Author Charged EVs
#Mondays #engineering #webinar #schedule #March
The new Liebherr S1 Vision 140-ton hauler is unlike any heavy haul truck currently on the market – primarily because the giant, self-propelled, single-axle autonomous bucket doesn’t look anything like any truck you’ve ever seen.
Liebherr says its latest heavy equipment concept was born from a desire to rethink truck design with a focus only on core functions. The resulting S1 Vision is primarily just a single axle with two powerful electric motors sending power to a pair of massive airless tires designed carry loads up to 131 tonnes (just over 140 tons).
The design enables rapid maintenance, as important components easily accessible for quick servicing. Wear parts can be replaced efficiently, and the electric drive significantly reduces maintenance work. This helps to minimise downtimes and increases operational efficiency.
LIEBHERR
Because of its versatility, durability, and ability to perform zero-turn maneuvers that other equipment simply can’t, the Liebherr S1 Vision can be adapted for various applications, including earthmoving, mining, and even agriculture. There’s also a nonzero chance of this technology finding applications supporting other on-site equipment through charging or fuel delivery.
The S1 accomplishes that trick safely with the help of an automatic load leveling system that ensures maximum stability, even on bumpy or rough terrain. The company says this technology significantly reduces the risk of tipping while providing smooth and secure operation across various environments.
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Liebherr will show the S1 Vision at this year’s bauma equipment exhibition in Munich, Germany. The design has already been nominated for the bauma Innovation Award in the Mechanical Engineering category – and my money’s on it winning.
Electrek’s Take
This is such goofy, stupid fun that if it was wheelbarrow-sized I’d have three of them. I can’t imagine the insanity of watching one of these things roll across a job site with 100 tons of granite in the bucket – and will have nightmares about the kind of damage it could do if it flipped out like a poorly made Chinese hoverboard clone whipping a toddler across a living room … which, in fairness, would probably get a billion views on Instagram or TikTok or whatever.
German adhesives and sealants producer Wevo-Chemie has launched a series of WEVOSIL thermally conductive silicone potting compounds, gap fillers and gels for DC/DC converters, which are increasingly integrated into larger units of electric drivetrains such as the HV battery, the main inverter or the OBC.
WEVOSIL two-component silicone products built from third-generation materials enable fast cycle times for efficient serial production. They can be customized in a number of ways, for example in terms of flow behavior, pot life, hardness and basic adhesion.
The products help sensitive components function reliably over their entire life cycles at the high operating temperatures that are common in OBCs.
To permit fast charging, the thermal conductivity of Wevo’s silicones can be adjusted over a wide range: from 1 W/m·K for potting compounds (e.g. WEVOSIL 22102 FL) to highly thermally conductive gap fillers with 4 W/m·K (e.g. WEVOSIL 26040 FL).
Their pronounced tackiness enables the silicone gels to adhere to the housing, even when fully cured, despite the high operating temperatures.
The Wevo product portfolio also includes polyurethanes and epoxy resins, which Wevo’s developers can also adapt to component- and customer-specific requirements on request.
Rivian is looking to patent wheel covers with active aerodynamic elements to further improve the efficiency of its electric vehicles.
Smooth wheel covers—like the ones available on the updated 2025 Rivian R1S and R1T—can help reduce aerodynamic drag, but they’re generally fixed in place, and thus not optimized for all scenarios. In its patent filing, which was submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in August 2023, but only published by that office Mar. 6, Rivian discusses giving aero wheels movable elements to gain flexibility.
Rivian active aero wheel cover patent image
As described by Rivian in the filing, the wheel cover would include a series of openings aligning with wheel spokes when the cover is in one position, and block them to create a smooth surface in another. That movement would be actuated by a spring, which would rotate the cover to different positions.
In addition to giving customers the aesthetic choice of covered vs. uncovered wheels without having to remove anything, Rivian suggests in the filing that active wheel covers could help evacuate built up air pressure from the wheel wells—further improving aerodynamic performance. In their open position, the wheel covers could also serve a cooling function, according to the automaker, similar to the active grille shutters on many current production cars.
Rivian active aero wheel cover patent image
The boxy shapes of SUVs and pickup trucks like Rivian’s electric off-roaders presents a challenge in minimizing drag. That’s led other automakers to consider some elaborate active aerodynamic aids, such as the deployable rear step with an integrated diffuser for pickup trucks patented by Stellantis.
Hyundai has also tested an active air skirt that the automaker believes could be helpful in reducing drag in SUVs, or any electric vehicles with wider wheels. The automaker said in 2024 that tests using a Genesis GV60 from its luxury brand showed a 2.8% reduction in the coefficient of drag, worth an estimated 3.7 miles of range. But so far Hyundai hasn’t discussed production plans.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)
#Rivian #patented #active #aero #wheel #covers
With the Trump Administration fully in power and Federal electric vehicle incentives apparently on the chopping block, many fleet buyers are second-guessing the push to electrify their fleets. To help ease their minds, Harbinger is launching the IRA Risk-Free Guarantee, promising to cover the cost of anticipated IRA credits if the rebate goes away.
In the case of a Harbinger S524 Class 5 chassis with a 140 kWh battery capacity with an MSRP of $103,200, the company will offer an IRA Risk-Free Guarantee credit of $12,900 at the time of purchase, bringing initial cost down to $90,300. This matches the typical selling price of an equivalent Freightliner MT-45 diesel medium-duty chassis.
“We created (the IRA Risk-Free Guarantee) program to eliminate the financial uncertainty for customers who are interested in EV adoption, but are concerned about the future of the IRA tax credit,” said John Harris, Co-founder and CEO of Harbinger. “For electric vehicles to go mainstream, they must be cost-competitive with diesel vehicles. While the IRA tax credit helps bridge that gap, we remain committed to price parity with diesel, even if the credit disappears. Our vertically integrated approach enables us to keep costs low, shields us from tariff volatility, and ensures long-term price stability for our customers.”
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Harbinger recently revealed a book of business consisting of 4,690 binding orders. Those orders are valued at approximately $500 million, and fueled a $100 million Series B raise.
Electrek’s Take
Harbinger truck charging; via Harbinger.
One of the most frequent criticisms of electric vehicle incentives is that they encourage manufacturers and dealers to artificially inflate the price of their vehicles. In their heads, I imagine the scenario goes something like this:
you looked at a used Nissan LEAF on a dealer’s lot priced at $14,995
a new bill passes and the state issues a $2500 used EV rebate
you decide to go back to the dealer and buy the car
once you arrive, you find that the price is now $16,995
While it’s commendable that Harbinger is taking action and sacrificing some of its profits to keep the business growing and the overall cause of fleet electrification moving forward, one has to wonder how they can “suddenly” afford to offer these massive discounts in lieu of government incentives – and how many other EV brands could probably afford to do the same.
Earlier Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks may charge at a faster rate at DC fast chargers thanks to an over-the-air (OTA) update.
News of the update, available for 2022 and 2023 models, was first reported by InsideEVs Thursday and confirmed to Green Car Reports by Ford spokesperson Sam Schembari, who explained that the update raises the maximum current for DC fast charging, from 450a to 500a, which can result in quicker charging in certain situations.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
The update launched for the 2024 model year, and is still included on 2025 models, but Ford has also been rolling it out to the earlier model years in batches, Schembari said. With the OTA update, every model year of Lightning now benefits from this improvement in DC fast-charging performance.
Based on a sample of real-world reports seen by Green Car Reports, that could cut about five minutes off the long-range Lightning’s 10-80% charge time, bringing it closer to 40 minutes, from the previous 45 minutes or so, in ideal situations.
Recycling the name of a performance truck that dated back to the 1990s, the Lightning arrived for the 2022 model year. Instead of building a dedicated EV, Ford adapted the existing F-150 platform while adding useful features like a front trunk and available home backup power system. The formula was good enough for the Lightning to earn Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2023 honors.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
The Lightning received a range boost for the 2023 model year, while a mid-tier Flash grade joined the lineup for 2024—with prices fluctuating continuously throughout. No major changes were made for the 2025 model year.
Ford is expected to replace the Lightning with a new electric full-size truck in 2027. That truck, codenamed Project T3, was due to launch this year but was pushed back amid a reshuffle of Ford’s EV plans. In the meantime, the Lightning is holding up well—in part thanks to OTA updates that can improve trucks even after they’re driven off dealer lots.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)
#Ford #F150 #Lightning #charge #quicker #software #update
Spring is just around the corner and the EV deals are heating up. Right now, several electric models are available to lease for under $300 a month, making it a great time to make the switch (or upgrade). Here are the cheapest EVs you can lease this March.
Cheapest EVs you can lease this March
After a record year with over 1.3 million EVs sold in the US in 2024, the trend is expected to continue in 2025 with around 15 new models arriving.
January marked the tenth straight month with over 100,000 EVs sold in the US. The top five selling models, the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Cybertruck, and Honda Prologue, accounted for over 50% of total sales in the month.
Outside of the Cybertruck, all of them can also be leased for under $300 a month. With the average monthly lease payment for an electric car $175 less per month than the average loan, it’s no wonder buyers are choosing to lease.
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According to the Xperian’s Q4 market report, the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Honda Prologue, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Chevrolet Equinox were among the most leased EVs, all of which are under $300 a month right now.
Hyundai’s new 2025 IONIQ 5 Limited with a Tesla NACS port (Source: Hyundai)
Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis
Lease From
Term (months)
Due at Signing
Effective rate per month (including upfront fees)
2025 Kia Niro EV
$129
24
$3,999
$295
2024 Kia EV6
$179
24
$3,999
$345
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5
$189
24
$3,999
$355
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5
$229
24
$3,999
$395
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6
$149
24
$3,999
$315
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6
$169
24
$3,999
$335
2025 Genesis GV60
$299
24
$5,999
$548
Kia and Hyundai continue to offer some of the most affordable, efficient electric vehicles on the market. The Niro EV is one of the cheapest EVs you can lease this month at just $129 per month.
Meanwhile, the new 2025 IONIQ 5 (now with more range and a Tesla NACS charging port) and IONIQ 6 are arriving with big discounts. Even the luxury 2025 Genesis GV60 can be leased for under $300 a month this March.
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)
Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX
Lease From
Term (months)
Due at Signing
Effective rate per month (including upfront fees)
2024 Honda Prologue
$239
36
$1,399
$335
2024 Acura ZDX
$299
24
$2,999
$424
Honda’s electric SUV continues to take the US market by storm. In the second half of 2024, the Prologue was the second best-selling electric SUV behind the Tesla Model Y. With an ultra-low lease rate of just $239 per month, the Prologue is even more affordable than a Civic this month.
Acura’s luxury electric SUV can be leased for as low as $299 for 24 months. With only $2,999 due at signing, the ZDX is cheaper than the Genesis GV60 thanks to generous discounts. In some states, ZDX discounts reach as high as $28,000, also making it more affordable than a Civic to lease this month.
Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)
Chevy Blazer and Equinox EVs
Lease From
Term (months)
Due at Signing
Effective rate per month (including upfront fees)
2024 Chevy Equinox EV
$299
24
$3,169
$431
2024 Chevy Blazer EV
$299
24
$3,879
$461
Chevy’s new electric SUVs are quickly rolling out. The electric Equinox was among the top five best-selling EVs in the final three months of 2024. Both can be leased for under $300 a month this March. The Blazer EV is still slightly more expensive with $3,879. The Blazer deal also includes a $1,000 trade-in bonus.
Ford Mustang Mach-E (left) and F-150 Lightning (right) (Source: Ford)
Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E
Lease From
Term (months)
Due at Signing
Effective rate per month (including upfront fees)
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E
$213
36
$4,462
$337
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning
$233
24
$6,792
$421
Although F-150 Lightning sales are down this year, the Mustang Mach-E remains a top-selling electric SUV behind Tesla’s Model Y, Honda’s Prologue, and the Hyundai IONIQ 5.
Ford is sweetening the deal with a free Level 2 home charger for any EV purchase or lease through its “Power Promise” along with a host of other benefits.
2024 Subaru Solterra (Source: Subaru)
Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra
Lease From
Term (months)
Due at Signing
Effective rate per month (including upfront fees)
2025 Toyota bZ4X
$259
36
$2,999
$342
2024 Subaru Solterra
$279
36
$279
$287
Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra sales are starting to pick up. With an effective cost of only $287 per month, the Solterra may be the better option this month with standard AWD.
Tesla Model 3 (Source: Tesla)
Tesla Model Y, Model 3 still among cheapest EVs in March
Lease From
Term (months)
Due at Signing
Effective rate per month (including upfront fees)
Tesla Model Y
$299
36
$2,999
$382
Tesla Model 3
$299
36
$2,999
$382
Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 are still the best-selling EVs in the US and at under $300 a month, some of the cheapest you can lease this March.
Some of these rates may vary by region. The $239 per month Honda Prologue lease deal is offered in California and other ZEV states. Acura’s $299 ZDX promo is only available in CA, NY, OR, and other select states.
In other parts of the country, the Prologue is still listed at just $269 per month for 36 months. With $3,199 due at signing, the effective cost is still just $358 per month. However, a $1,000 conquest or loyalty offer can lower monthly payments to around $330.
With the Trump administration looking to end federal EV incentives, including the $7,500 tax credit, many of these savings could disappear soon. Automakers can offer such low lease prices right now largely because the tax credit is factored in.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Source link by Electrek
Author Peter Johnson
#cheapest #EVs #lease #March #month
![Liebherr developing giant, 140-ton Segway-style autonomous haulers [video]](https://ev-magazine.com/media/2025/03/1741531270_Liebherr-developing-giant-140-ton-Segway-style-autonomous-haulers-video-696x364.jpg "Liebherr developing giant, 140-ton Segway-style autonomous haulers [video]")
