The 2026 CLA-Class will be offered as a full battery electric vehicle and a mild-hybrid
New electric models differ from the EQ series due to platforms that can accommodate a range of powertrains
AMG performance division will also debut its first series of electric vehicles
Mercedes-Benz will launch all-electric versions of three of its most popular models within the next two years.
During a presentation of its 2024 financial results Thursday, the automaker said the C-Class and E-Class sedans, as well as the GLC-Class crossover, would get all-electric derivatives as part of a new-product push that will see “dozens” of new or refreshed models launch globally by 2027.
That rollout starts later this year with the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class compact, which will be offered with all-electric and 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrains. The CLA EV is slated to debut numerous improvements over current-generation Mercedes EVs, including an 800-volt electrical architecture and a more clever regenerative braking system.
2025 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Those improvements will be shared with other compact models based on the new CLA’s Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA). They’ll likely be among the other models debuting over the next couple years, adding different body styles alongside the CLA, which is expected to remain a coupe-like sedan similar to the current generation.
While Mercedes’ current strategy centers on dedicated electric models (the EQB compact crossover being a notable exception), the CLA EV marks a shift toward offering the same vehicle with multiple powertrains—one that appears to be accelerating with the forthcoming C-Class, E-Class, and GLC-Class EVs.
Mercedes also promised “a string of launches” for its AMG performance division that will include the first EVs based on the new AMG.EA dedicated architecture. The first of these performance EVs, a fastback sedan that could replace the current AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, is scheduled to arrive this year, with an AMG electric SUV following sometime after that.
2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC Class
And the first of Mercedes’ next-generation electric vans is scheduled to launch in 2026. They’ll be based on yet another new platform, dubbed Van.EA. Mercedes recently reversed course and said it would also develop new combustion vans based on a companion platform as well.
Not all of Mercedes’ new and refreshed models will be electric, though. The automaker also confirmed a substantial update for its flagship S-Class sedan for next year, but didn’t mention an electric version. And last year the automaker delayed an EV sales target that would have seen it go all-electric (in at least some markets) by 2030, saying internal-combustion engines would stick around well into the next decade.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)
#MercedesBenz #confirms #electric #EClass #CClass #GLCClass
Silicon anodes are further ahead in development and commercialization than solid-state batteries.
Battery makers are aiming to increase silicon content to boost driving range and reduce charging times.
General Motors says the percentage of silicon in EV batteries is expected to increase over the years.
Smaller in size and better in range and charging performance, that’s the goal everyone in the battery industry seems to be chasing. Automakers and battery companies are exploring several potential solutions to reach that goal. Silicon anodes will be one way to get there.
“The evolution towards silicon anodes is now starting,” George Cintra, the battery R&D director at General Motors, told InsideEVs. “You’re going to see more silicon incorporated into EV batteries because it provides added range and also helps [EVs] fast-charge,” Cintra said.
In an EV battery, the anode is the electrode where lithium ions are stored when the battery is charged. It typically consists of graphite-based materials. Experts say that the anode’s material and design directly impact the EV’s performance and using a higher silicon content can improve that. Silicon-containing anodes have been around for the past few years but in tiny amounts. Now, that is set to increase.
When asked if GM EVs will get silicon anodes by the end of the decade, Cintra said, “We would certainly like to see that. We have a lot of other technologies we’re trying to implement, and silicon is one of those.”
Silicon anodes can help EV batteries remove some of the inefficiencies that graphite usage brings. According to a study published in the academic journal Science Direct, 50 to 70% of raw graphite gets lost when upgraded to battery-grade graphite, making the process inefficient, increasing material demand and amplifying supply chain problems.
Silicon is a promising alternative because it can deliver better energy density and speed up charge and discharge cycles.
Like several other emerging battery chemistries, scaling up is difficult because it requires highly specialized processes that are slow and energy- and resource-intensive. However, battery makers are working to simplify those processes, and they’ve already seen some success, with more to come.
Last year, Taiwanese battery start-up ProLogium announced at the Paris Motor Show that its 100% silicon composite anode helped it achieve an energy density of 321 watt-hours per kilogram. That’s well above the current industry standards of well below 300 Wh/kg for LFP and NMC packs. As per certification tests, the 55 kWh pack also charged from 5% to 60% in 5 minutes and 80% in 8.5 minutes. The battery maker claimed it can reduce a vehicle’s weight by hundreds of kilograms.
Several American battery start-ups, including Amprius, Group 14, and Sila Nanotechnologies, are also racing to develop silicon anodes. Mercedes-Benz intends to use Sila’s silicon anodes on the electric G-Class.
They could also help GM’s trucks and SUVs become more efficient. Models like the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EV use massive 200+ kilowatt-hour batteries which make them heavy and inefficient. In a recent test by Edmunds, the GMC Sierra EV Denali achieved an impressive 506 miles of range in a real-world test. But the 8,800-pound truck delivered an abysmal efficiency of 48.1 kWh per 100 miles, or 2.0 miles per kWh. Innovations on the battery front may solve that.
“As the new materials come on board, like silicon anodes and the new cathodes, the battery sizes will shrink,” Cintra said. “As volumes increase, the adoption rate will increase, and you will see prices come down.”
Correction: A previous version of this article said the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class uses Sila’s silicon anodes. The automaker has an “intent” to use Sila’s technology, but has not implemented that yet. We regret the error.
Have a tip? Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs
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Sometimes, spending a lot of money on a vehicle is necessary. After all, cars are the second-most expensive purchase most people make after their houses.
But what is it that drives some people to spend so much? And how might this negatively impact them?
That’s the discussion in this post. It looks at some of the driving factors behind the enormous expenditures we often see in the automotive industry and why they occur.
Networking and Social Circles
One reason for high spending on autos is networking and social circles. People want vehicles that feel befitting of their status. A luxury car can communicate a lot about a person, their wealth and their ability to more than make ends meet. Many spend their money on vehicles because they believe in the status and opportunities they bring.
People with high-end vehiclesare often like-minded. It’s a sign that they are ready for networking and want to enter specific social circles. Sometimes, it can be a minor shortcut to connections that would be challenging to forge otherwise.
Exclusivity
At the same time, a lot of people spend a lot of money on vehicles for the exclusivity they offer. When you spend more than, say, $60,000 on a car, you’re entering a rarified club that only a small portion of people can afford.
This exclusivity can go all the way to one-of-a-kind vehicles. In today’s economy, it is possible for people to get their hands on cars that nobody else owns through customizations and specialist workshops that adjust supercars to their client’s requirements.
This exclusivity is another appealing element of spending a lot of money on vehicles. Most luxury buyers want exclusivity more than anything else, making it a compelling reason to spend more than most.
Comfort
Then, of course, there is the comfort of expensive cars. They’re just so much better than anything else on the road. Manufacturers put massive investment into making them as smooth as possible, investing in things like adaptive suspensions and high-quality seats.
This level of comfort goes well beyond anything found in the standard sedan or hatchback. Luxury vehicles feel like stepping into the best hotels, thanks to their stunning beauty and unparalleled sensations. Many luxuriate their occupants with unique features, like ambient lighting and even specialist aromas to delight all the senses on command.
Resale Value
Added to this is the resale value of many of these vehicles. People are willing to spend a lot of money on these cars because they tend to retain their value—or perhaps even rise in value.
Resale value increases usually only occur with limited-edition models that later become classics. However, it is possible with rare runs or even cars that become cult classics later.
Of course, owners who want their cars to retain their value need to look after them. Mint condition models are those that tend to sell for the most (especially if they have most of their original parts). However, even refurbished vehicles can sometimes sell for a lot of money if a market for them develops in the future.
Brand Loyalty
Brand loyalty is another reason people can sometimes get sucked into spending more on a vehicle. Many buyers want cars with the quality of a well-known manufacturer behind them.
Some car makers, like Jeep, have an excellent reputation despite lackluster reliability. Purchasing from these companies is less of a win for the consumer, but many still do it, simply because of what the label means to them. They want to drive a Jeep more than anything else, so they’re willing to pay a premium. The same is true of other luxury car makers, like Jaguar and Cadillac.
Financing Schemes
Of course, car financing schemes are another reason people spend so much on cars. The availability of seemingly “easy” credit tempts many people to make purchases, even though they know they shouldn’t.
This trend is evident in the car market today. Many people buy vehicles by taking out loans without thinking through how it might affect them financially long-term, and what it could mean for their future.
Furthermore, many of them wind up making car finance claims because of unscrupulous practices in the industry. Some creditors and lenders employ dishonest tactics to try to get customers to spend as much on vehicles as possible, even if they can’t afford them.
Lifestyle Integration
Another reason for the high spending on cars is lifestyle integration. People want vehicles that slot into the way they live and fit their values.
This is one of the reasons people buy Porsches and Bentleys. They want cars that slot into their lives and allow them to do the things they want to do, like go touring or driving on the race circuit.
Psychological Gratification
Perhaps the most important reason people spend a lot of money on vehicles, though, is the psychological gratification it provides. It just feels good.
Owning a luxury car is a personal reward for hard work. It’s something that a lot of people get for themselves to reward all their effort and everything they put into obtaining the wealth that allowed them to purchase a rare and exotic vehicle.
There’s also the self-esteem that can come with making one of these purchases. It just feels good to know that you have the means and resources to buy one of the best cars in the world.
Performance
Of course, there’s no denying that there are a lot of car enthusiasts out there who simply spend a lot of money on vehicles because they want the performance. For them, it is all about the raw speed and power, combined with cutting-edge handling and technology. When spending a lot of money on a vehicle, the driving experience is often completely different and isn’t something you can replicate while spending less. Many times, buyers just have to bite the bullet if they want a unique experience.
Therefore, spending a lot of money on a vehicle can feel justified. Often, it just seems right to the person doing it because that’s what they need to do to indulge their driving hobby.
The post Why Do Some People Spend So Much on Cars first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.
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Author Aaron Borderman
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Rivian on Wednesday unveiled new limited editions of its R1T electric pickup truck and R1S electric SUV inspired by California’s desert dunes.
Available on Tri-motor versions of the 2025 R1T and R1S, the California Dune Edition treatment cloaks the updated electric vehicles in a Desert Storm color palette and adds off-road accessories. Production will be capped at a certain number of each model, but Rivian didn’t have specific numbers available at press time.
2025 Rivian R1S California Dune Edition
2025 Rivian R1S California Dune Edition
A new paint color, also called California Dune, is contrasted with the darkened badging from the Darkout Package that’s standard on Tri-motor models. The interior features a two-tone arrangement of Sandstone and Black Mountain, with floor material that Rivian promises is easy to clean after a day in the dunes.
California Dune Editions also include the All-Terrain Package, which encompasses reinforced underbody shielding and 20-inch wheels that can either be painted in the same California Dune finish as the rest of the exterior or a dark finish. Off-road recovery boards with mounts, dark-finished cross bars, and a power bed tonneau for the R1T are included as well.
2025 Rivian R1S California Dune Edition
As before, Rivian’s Tri-motor powertrain consists of a single front motor and two rear motors, which together generate 850 hp and 1,103 lb-ft of torque. That will get either the R1T or the R1S from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, according to Rivian.
While the California Dune Edition can only be had with the Tri-motor powertrain, Rivian also offers two- and four-motor configurations—all using the automaker’s in-house designed motor systems and inverter tech for 2025. This headlined a number of changes for the 2025 model year—significant enough that Rivian considers these to be second-generation models—that helped the R1S earn a spot as a Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2025 Finalist.
The 2025 Rivian R1T and R1S California Dune Editions are available to order now. Pricing starts at $101,700 for the R1T and $107,700 for the R1S, in both cases with the mandatory $1,800 destination charge included.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)
#Rivian #California #Dune #Editions #ready #storm #desert
Fun Electric Off-Roader Designed for the American Market
When the Ioniq 5 was first introduced in 2022, Hyundai blurred the traditional look of a sedan, crossover and hatchback. At the time the company said the Ioniq 5 is “redefining the electric mobility lifestyle for a new generation of eco-savvy customers.” Three years later Hyundai continues to redefine the Ioniq 5 with new iterations of its best-selling EV.
In early 2024 Hyundai introduced the performance-oriented, track-ready 2025 Ioniq 5 N and now it adds the off-road capable 2025 Ioniq 5 XRT. Mike Evanoff, senior manager product planning, said “The XRT will appeal to the off-road enthusiast buyer who didn’t have a lot of choices in the EV world.”
A real off-road EV
Hyundai brought the international media to Palm Springs to get seat time in the refreshed 2025 Ioniq 5 and then turned us loose in the desert in the Ioniq 5 XRT. Translating XRT into “extreme rugged terrain” Hyundai aims to answer the question: “How good can an EV be off-road?” After an afternoon of doing just that, our response is: “We had a blast!”
Silently Crushing Rocks and Sand
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT is only available with Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive with two motors producing 74 kW (front) + 165 kW (rear) for a total of 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. The EPA rates the all-electric range at 259 miles.
The Ioniq 5 XRT is quick off the line with 0-60 times around five seconds. This is plenty fast to get up to freeway speeds and easily handle all daily driving needs while providing some fun at the same time.
The XRT can go fast or slow–road or no road
However, our time in the XRT was spent driving much slower off-road on a desert course that offered very slow ruts, good-sized rocks, sandy straights with a washboard surface and tightly banked corners with deeper sand.
The XRT unibody design, which uses high-strength steel, felt solid. The front suspension of MacPherson struts and high-performance dampers, and the rear with a 5-link set-up and high-performance dampers, easily handled the varied terrain.
Xtreme Rugged Terrain territory
The XRT suspension, handling, torque and traction were put to the test. Pressing the Terrain Mode button on the bottom of the steering wheel opened a window in the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster where we scrolled through the Mud, Sand and Snow drive modes.
We set the i-Pedal to zero and experimented with each drive mode to get a feel for how they handled the loose, rocky and sandy path. Our favorite was Sand as it had less intervention and allowed the wheels to move around a bit more, slipping as we attacked the higher-speed sandy corners. The slipping allowed us to feel each wheel grabbing and then letting go based on which needed the most traction. This happens instantaneously and seamlessly partly due to the Hyundai designed and developed processors and chips. It was fun!
Unique Design: Exterior
The 2025 Ioniq 5 XRT has sides with crisp lines and an Origami-like crease, including a geometric triangle on the doors that begins at the A-pillar and culminates at the 45-degree angled C-pillar. The LED tail lights replicate the rectangular headlight design. Hyundai says the “parametric pixel lighting design is visually interesting and aerodynamically efficient.”
A touch of Orgami
The distinctive rear end features a horizontal light band with a small square pattern and a dominant I-O-N-I-Q-5. The power hands-free lift gate carries two badges—the Hyundai stylized “Flying H” logo and a small “HTRAC,” which is Hyundai’s proprietary all-wheel drive system. So how do you know this is the most off-road capable Ioniq 5? Look very closely in the lower right corner of the lift gate—there is the most subtle-of-subtle embossed “XRT” in the trim.
The bold and unique 18-inch wheels, shod with 235/60R all-terrain tires, make a serious statement of strength. The XRT-only front and rear facia and fender brush guards have a digital-camo design pattern. The bright red recovery hooks, jutting from the all-black front facia, are there in case of an emergency.
Body color flush automatic pop-out door handles, power exterior mirrors with black caps and the privacy, solar and laminated acoustic glass completed the look.
The Ioniq 5 XRT has a longer wheelbase than the three-row Hyundai Palisade SUV (118.1-inch vs. 114.2) and a more aggressive stance than the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 5 N. It sits higher with seven inches of ground clearance vs. six and has an approach angle of 19.8º vs. 17.5º and a departure angle of 30º vs. 25.4º. What this means is there is a bit more possibility of not scraping the underside protection plates.
The 2022 Ioniq 5 XRT comes in one trim level and two XRT-only colors of Cosmic Blue Pearl and Ultimate Red Metallic.
Modern, Spacious Interior
The 2025 Ioniq 5 XRT, built on Hyundai’s dedicated EV-only platform, has a completely flat floor, providing spacious leg, shoulder and head room for up to five occupants. A center console is moveable and incorporates cup holders and charge ports. The flat floor allows the console to slide 5.5 inches, so in its most rearward position front occupants can slide across the seats to exit the vehicle from either side.
Room inside
Sustainability is the interior theme where the seats, headliner, door panels and flooring are made from eco-friendly, sustainably-sourced materials, such as recycled plastic, plant-based or natural wool yarns. The XRT has H-Tex, which is an artificial leather, seating surfaces. The driver and passenger get 8-way power adjustable and heated seats with XRT debossing. The heated and tilt and telescoping 3-spoke steering wheel is leather-wrapped and has audio, telephone and cruise controls.
Wide second-row access led to the comfortable rear seats that offered ample head and leg room, partially due to the flat floor. The split 60:40 rear bench seat slides and reclines, producing 58.5 inches of cargo space when folded down. Without an engine up front, there is a front trunk/frunk for stashing smaller items.
The low slung dash has dual 12.3-inch horizontal color screens standard on all trim levels, one for the digital instruments and the other for the infotainment system. Sounds came from an 8-speaker Bose premium audio system with AM/FM/SiriusXM, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Bluetooth connection is for up-to two devices, front and rear USB-C power and data ports and wireless phone charging. The Hyundaivoice recognitionworked well to control phone, radio, navigation and other vehicle functions.
Tow hooks just in case
Stopping
A very useful feature on the Ioniq 5 XRT isi-Pedal driving. Make sure to have the Hyundai dealer sales associate demonstrate how using and setting this regenerative braking technique will increase your electric efficiency, driving range and driving enjoyment.
Regenerative braking, which uses the motors, not the brakes, to slow the car, recharges the battery when slowing or coasting. It converts kinetic energy into electric energy, which is stored in the battery. The degree of regenerative braking can be controlled by steering wheel paddles.
The Ioniq 5 has standard ABS and power-assisted, ventilated front and rear solid discs. Handling and driving confidence was also aided by the standard electronic stability control, electronic brake-pressure distribution and brake assist.
Charging
The Ioniq 5 XRT has a 10.9 kW onboard charger that can charge at 400 volts, but can also go up to 800 volts at a 350 kW charger. The 84 kWh lithium-ion battery has pre-heating, a battery conditioning setting that will improve charging and performance as it will heat the battery to the optimal charging temperature. Look for the four squares on the center of the steering wheel that light-up depending on the state of charge.
Tires ready to hit the dirt
The Ioinq 5 XRT can be trickle charged with a 120V wall plug, but expect replenish times to be long and slow. The best bet for owners will be to install a Level 2 240V home charger that will take the battery from 10-100% charge in 7.2 hours. When in a time crunch, you can go 10-80% in 20 minutes on a 350 kW DC Fast Charger.
To make it easier to charge, new Ioniq 5 XRT owners will receive a ChargePoint Level 2 home charger or the option of $400 charging credit at any of theChargePoint public stations. The Ionig 5 XRT has a Tesla-designed North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port, so it can use more than 17,000 charging points on the Tesla Supercharger network. It can also use an adapter for the Combined Charging System (CCS) system.
For even more convenience, the Ioniq 5 has Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), where power can flow out with the battery acting like a portable generator. It can power and charge e-bikes, camping and outdoor equipment, run your office while traveling, and even be an electricity source during a power outage.
Pricing
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT HTRAC comes in one trim level. The base price, including the $1,475 delivery charge, is $56,875.
Observations: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
Clean Fleet Report had the opportunity, in late 2024, to drive the all-new 2025 Ioniq 5 N at the world-famous Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. We came away with a huge smile on our face, indicating how great it was Hyundai thought to make a high-performance, track-ready electric car.
It’s about expanding EV fun
This obviously was not enough for Hyundai engineers and designers. Now they have introduced the 2025 Ioniq 5 XRT that not only is perfectly fine for everyday driving, but is rugged enough to get dirty.
Mike Evanoff told us: “Hyundai feels the Ioniq 5 XRT will be of interest to people that live in the non-smile states or the winter states, like the upper mid-West and Northeast, where they will like the raised ride height and traction. Other areas that are near the great outdoors, such as Denver, Seattle, Portland and Salt Lake City, are key markets. But so is Southern California, because for someone that wants to be recreational with the vehicle, with public charging, we aren’t too far from the country and the wilderness.”
Evanoff closed with the importance of the Ioniq 5 XRT to Hyundai by saying: “It is the flexibility,
where we want to give our customers options. The Ioniq 5 line-up gives a different flavor for whatever you want.”
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Hyundai.
[See image gallery at cleanfleetreport.com]
Disclosure
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.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and other efficient powertrains. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
The post Flash Drive: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.
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Author John Faulkner
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After scrapping plans to build a $2.6 billion battery energy storage system factory in Georgia, FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY) has rebranded itself as T1 Energy (NYSE: TE).
FREYR turned T1 Energy also has a new strategy: It says it’s committed to “becoming a vertically integrated US solar + battery storage leader from its new corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas.” T1 Energy expects to start trading under its new NYSE symbols on March 3.
In August, then-CEO Tom Einar Jensen told investors that a surplus of cheap Chinese batteries had made it harder to raise money to manufacture batteries, so the company switched its focus to solar panel manufacturing.
On December 24, FREYR announced closing its acquisition of China-headquartered Trina Solar’s 5-gigawatt (GW), 1.35 million-square-foot solar panel factory in Wilmer, Texas. The company renamed the factory G1 Dallas, and it employs more than 1,000 people. T1 says the solar panel production ramp is on schedule.
Daniel Barcelo, T1’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer, said, “More than 80% of new US electricity capacity in 2024 was solar and batteries. T1 plans to lead in the solar and battery markets by enabling the growth in energy supply required to support AI, data centers, reshoring, and electrification – to restore American industrial capacity and leadership in future advanced industries.”
T1 is moving forward with site selection for its upcoming US solar cell factory, G2, and expects to lock in a location by Q1 2025. Construction is still on track to kick off in mid-2025.
Read more: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens
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It’s still the Ioniq 5 you know and love, with some useful tweaks plus hot-rod and XRT versions.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 crossover utility vehicle is now a familiar site in regions where electric cars are popular. Entering its fourth model year in North America, the square-edged hatchback gets some minor updates to styling, inside and out, and to its mechanical specs and charge port.
It also adds two new versions that greatly expand the range. The Ioniq 5 N is the wild-child, high-performance hot rod version—one so well executed and such fun to drive that it’s won multiple awards in multiple countries. For a different audience, the Ioniq 5 XRT is an off-road-inflected model with more ground clearance, brawnier tires, and an added overlay of butch in its trim. So far it’s sold only in North America.
Ioniq 5 XRT. Photos by John Voelcker.
Rather to the industry’s surprise, Hyundai sold more EVs in the U.S. in 2024 than any maker except Tesla—beating Ford, GM, and BMW in volume. Its electric mainstay, the Ioniq 5, had its best year ever in 2024, with sales up 31 percent to 44,400 (note the Tesla Model Y sold nine times that number). And the company, long one to watch in EVs, isn’t letting up at all on its battery-powered efforts. To that end, all 2025 Ioniq 5s sold in North America except the 5 N are now built at its new Metaplant in Ellabell, Georgia, about 25 miles outside Savannah.
We’ve only gotten an hour or so with the 5 N, but eagerly await the loan of one in late February. Meanwhile, we spent Valentine’s Day driving both the updated 2025 Ioniq 5 and new Ioniq 5 XRT in and around Palm Springs, California.
Photo Couresty of Hyundai.
Mild style evolution … very mild
You’ll be forgiven for not noticing the exterior changes in the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5. There are new wheel designs, and the front fascia—the plastic shield below the sheet metal—is slightly taller and squarer, with a protruding lower edge that makes it “more robust, more crossover-like,” in the words of Brad Arnold, head of exterior design. The best way to tell a 2025 from its older brethren, in fact, may be the presence of a rear wiper—a much-requested item among owners.
2025 Ioniq 5. Photos by John Voelcker.
The interior got somewhat more substantial changes. The company responded to owner feedback by adding knobs and buttons for audio volume and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) controls like heated seats and steering wheel. That puts Hyundai very on trend: hard controls are coming back after years of makers moving everything possible into the central touchscreen, often distracting drivers at speed who must hunt through menus for a specific function.
All 2025 Ioniq 5 versions now get dual 12.3-inch screens and USB-C ports—and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay remain standard, both wirelessly and via cable. They also get Hyundai Pay, which the company suggests will soon be usable to pay for parking and/or charging. We’d still prefer standard Plug and Charge, but we’ll hold off on that judgment until we try it.
A bit more battery, a bit more range
The 2025 Ioniq 5 range gets new and updated cells. Battery capacity and EPA-rated range improve across the board. The Standard Range pack goes from 58 to 63 kilowatt-hours, while the Long Range pack grows from 77.4 to 84 kWh. Rated range for all-wheel-drive versions rises accordingly, from 260 to 290 miles (SE and SEL) or 269 miles (Limited). All three trims with rear-wheel-drive go from 303 to 318 miles, while the Standard Range version with its smaller pack stretches from 220 to 245 miles. Finally, the new-for-2025 Ioniq 5 XRT with standard AWD is EPA-rated at 259 miles.
On the road, the latest Ioniq 5 feels … well, pretty much like the previous three years’ worth. The ride is just this side of soft, in contrast to Tesla’s more BMW-like suspension tuning. But the Ioniq 5 hung on perfectly well as we tossed it through twisty mountain roads—at least until we rose above the snow line around 6,000 feet.
Photos Couresty of Hyundai.
Hyundai continues to offer three levels of regenerative braking, as well as its “i-Pedal” one-pedal drive mode. Annoyingly, while the regen level persists through power cycles, i-Pedal doesn’t. You have to remember to ask for it each time you start the car, something that GM, Ford, and others conquered as much as a decade ago. Why? Hyundai execs couldn’t say.
In the off-road portion of our test day, the Ioniq 5 XRT—it stands for ‘Extreme Rugged Terrain’—coped fine with rutted, ridged, bumpy trails in soft sand, and an occasional rocky path as well. It’s hardly a rock-climbing monster like a Jeep Wrangler, however, and isn’t meant to be. Instead, it’s probably best suited to people like this reviewer. In snowy winter weather, my steep, curving, uphill driveway in the Catskill Mountains is steep enough that it’s pretty much impossible for any front-wheel-drive vehicle to climb—and ground clearance gets a lot more important.
For more details on the Ioniq 5 XRT, stay tuned for a comparison of that model against the Ford Mach-E Rally, the equivalent trim for the electric Mustang SUV (which outsold the gasoline Mustang last year … but we digress).
NACS port and a free charging station
A final note on equipment: All U.S.-built Ioniq 5s—meaning the whole lineup except the hot-hatch 5 N version, built only in South Korea—come with NACS charging ports as standard. Hyundai moves fast; those cars are the very first ones offered in the U.S. with native NACS ports other than Teslas. Laudably, Hyundai includes a CCS-to-NACS adapter with every new Georgia-built Ioniq 5—and it will soon announce a program to allow owners of its CCS-equipped EV models to get a free NACS-to-CCS adapter, letting them take advantage of the Supercharger network too.
Using the adapter provided with a 2025 Ioniq 5, a CCS charging cable capable of delivering 257 kW can charge any Ioniq 5 from 10 to 80 percent in just 20 minutes. Hyundai has also added the ability for drivers to pre-condition the battery if they’re headed for a charging station—even if they haven’t put it into the navigation as a destination, which triggers battery conditioning if needed.
Ioniq 5s will still charge faster at CCS fast-charging stations than at Tesla Superchargers, though, due to the E-GMP platform’s 800-volt battery architecture. Version 3 Tesla Superchargers charging an Ioniq 5 will peak at roughly 135 kW, meaning they will take 30 minutes from 10 to 80 percent for a Long Range Ioniq 5 or 24 minutes for a Standard Range model. (Upcoming Version 4 Superchargers switch from low-voltage, high-current power delivery to higher voltage with lower current, meaning they should charge just as fast as CCS.)
As for overnight charging, with an 11-kilowatt onboard charger, Hyundai quotes Level 2 charging times from 10 to 100 percent at 7 hours, 20 minutes for the Long Range pack and 5 hours, 40 minutes for the Standard pack.
Hyundai believes the offer of free home charging sells more EVs. To that end, it includes a free ChargePoint Level 2 charging station with every Ioniq 5—or, for owners who can’t use it or already have one, a $400 credit to use at public charging stations. Hyundai does not, however, go as far as Ford. The Dearborn maker throws in not just the free charging station but free “standard” installation as well—and it credited its “Ford Power Promise” program with its highest-ever quarterly sales of the Mach-E crossover in Q4-2024.
From $44K to $60K
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 range starts with the SE Standard Range, with its lower-capacity battery and no all-wheel-drive option, priced at $43,975. Rear-wheel-drive SE and SEL trims are $48,025 and $50,975 respectively; AWD adds $3,500 to each. The top-of-the-line Limited model costs $53,675 (RWD) or $59,575 (AWD), and the new XRT model is $56,875 with AWD standard. At present, Hyundai isn’t offering a la carte options for the lineup. All prices quoted include the mandatory delivery fee of $1,475.
All 2025 Ioniq 5 SE, SEL, Limited, and XRT versions are built in Georgia and come with a NACS port as standard. Hyundai expects to switch to battery packs with US-built cells for those models, perhaps as soon as March, which would qualify them for the full EV purchase incentive—if it remains in force. The 2025 Ioniq 5 N performance model is built only in South Korea; it continues with a CCS port “for the moment,” though Hyundai execs hinted it will be updated to align more closely with the US-built cars in future.
Hyundai provided airfare, lodging, and meals to enable Charged to bring you this first-person drive report.
Source link by Charged EVs
Author John Voelcker
#Drive #updated #Hyundai #Ioniq #adds #XRT #offroad #model #growing #lineup
More than 50% of U.S. sales in 2025 are likely to be “electrified” (hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs)
Same exec previously suggested 2025 sales topping 50% from hybrids alone
North Caroline battery sourcing may help in the electrified push
While it’s still struggling with sales of all-electric vehicles, Toyota has seen substantial growth in hybrids and plug-in hybrids that’s further displacing sales of pure internal-combustion models.
Sales of what Toyota calls “electrified vehicles”—including EVs, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles—accounted for 43% of the automaker’s U.S. sales volume in 2024, according to Toyota’s annual sales roundup released last month.That’s up from 29% in 2023, according to Toyota sales figures.
That gets even closer to what Toyota’s been expecting: more than 50% hybrid sales in its U.S. lineup. Toyota is expected to top 50% electrified sales (including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, EVs, and hydrogen fuel-cell models) in 2025, as David Crist, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager for North America, recently pointed out to Automotive News.
Crist has made an even more impressive claim in previous interviews from recent months—including to Reuters last August: that hybrids alone will top 50% of its sales.
Toyota Greensboro-Randolph Megasite (North Carolina) – under construction
And as Toyota has emphasized for a couple of years, the ratio of hybrids will keep climbing as a new North Carolina battery plant comes online, easing the supply chain.
Toyota announced the North Carolina plant in 2021, saying at the time that it would be ready to build battery cells for hybrids and EVs starting this year. In 2022, still during early days of work on the factory, Toyota announced a $2.5 billion expansion to add EV battery manufacturing capacity. That will help pave the way for more U.S.-market EVs from Toyota, which currently sells only the bZ4X and its luxury-branded Lexus RZ sibling in this market.
2025 Toyota bZ4X
The North Carolina factory is also expected to supply batteries for a Kentucky-made three-row electric SUV starting in 2026, and Toyota has even debated ending sales of pure internal-combustion cars in the U.S., but hybrids and plug-in hybrids will likely continue to make up the bulk of its “electrified vehicle” sales for the time being.
Nearly every model in Toyota’s U.S. lineup now offers a hybrid powertrain option, and the bread and butter Camry midsize sedan is now sold exclusively as a hybrid. Toyota also sells plug-in hybrid versions of the Prius and RAV4, as well as the Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle. But sales of that sedan are limited to California, and slow sales forced Toyota to slash its price to around $17,000 in January.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)
#Toyota #expects #car #sales #electrified
Renault’s new solution to extinguish electric vehicle fires can help first responders take out flames faster and more efficiently.
EV fires are statistically rarer than ICE vehicles, but in the rare cases when EV batteries catch fires, it’s difficult to get them under control.
The French automaker has made its EV fire safety tech freely available to encourage broader adoption improve overall safety.
A growing number of automakers and battery companies are racing to solve the risk of fires in electric vehicles. Now Renault has introduced its own fix called the “Fireman Access” system, designed to douse flames more effectively and quickly.
The French carmaker’s innovation can apparently help first responders extinguish fires in roughly the same time as a combustion engine vehicle. The tech relies on an adhesive disc inside the high-voltage battery pack, positioned over an opening. If the battery catches fire, water pressure from an external hose dislodges the disc, flooding the pack and cooling all cells at once.
It claims this is an effective way of stopping thermal runaway, a phenomenon where battery cells burn uncontrollably for hours. The system is already installed on new fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles sold worldwide by Renault, Dacia and its quadricycle sub-brand Mobilize. Now the tech is also open to other automakers as part of the brand’s free licensing policy.
Renault claims the Fireman Access system takes only a few minutes to extinguish flames and reduces water usage tenfold. Studies have shown that EV fires are statistically rarer compared to internal-combustion car fires. But in the rare cases when batteries do ignite, the fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and that process can often take hours.
There are also different types of fire suppression solutions out there. Last year, battery giant LG Chem said it had developed a safety layer thinner than the size of a human hair which can prevent thermal runaway. Battery scientists in South Korea have also created a new lithium metal battery that uses a solid polymer electrolyte with a layer that prevent fires entirely.
All new EVs come with comprehensive and sophisticated cooling and thermal management systems designed to keep things in check. But improving fire prevention and suppression tech remains crucial, not just to make EVs safer, but also to boost consumer confidence in what’s still a relatively new technology.
Have a tip? Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
Source link by Battery Tech – News and Trends | InsideEVs
Elon Musk’s visit to India may have been more about Tesla than any mission for the US government, if recent job listings at Tesla are to be believed. Plus, we’ve got news that construction on the first Tesla Semi truck stop is underway in California – and only six years behind schedule! All this and more on today’s (also late) episode of Quick Charge!
We’ve also got news Hyundai and Kia have plans to get back their $7,500 Federal tax credits, are set to launch a new, 509 hp version of the hot-selling EV9 GT, and there’s a new battery factory coming to Louisiana. Enjoy!
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