With Fisker Group still in bankruptcy, the Fisker Ocean electric SUV is the subject of yet another recall, this time for a fault that could cause vehicles to roll away.
The recall encompasses 7,745 vehicles, representing all 2023 and 2024 Oceans produced for the U.S., according to a disclosure on Monday from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A braking-system issue may allow these vehicles to roll in drive and reverse with zero accelerator-pedal pressure, the safety regulator said, adding that some customers also reported an inability to shift into park.
2023 Fisker Ocean
Fisker told the NHTSA that it is aware of one injury related to this issue, which the company believes affects 100% of the vehicles in the recall population. It’s also an issue that should have already been addressed.
Fisker released a free over-the-air (OTA) software update on Mar. 11, 2024, adding an automatic-hold feature that activates when the brake pedal is depressed while stationary, and holds vehicles in place even when the brake pedal is released. This is listed as the remedy to this recall, perhaps because not all vehicles received the update. Owners can contact Fisker customer service at 1-844-347-5371 for more information.
2023 Fisker Ocean
The Ocean has been involved in multiple recalls addressing everything from regenerative braking issues to doors that don’t open, but getting recall work done has become more complicated since the company declared bankruptcy in June.
In September, Fisker said that it would continue providing free software updates, but that owners would have to pay at least some of the cost of recall repairs. The Fisker Owners Association (FOA) has worked to identify shops willing to service and fix Oceans as the company’s bankruptcy proceedings continue.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)
#Fisker #Ocean #recalled #roll #issue
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! As you enjoy time with your loved ones enjoying full meals, we have a few select Green Deals for you to browse at your leisure, starting with Blix’s Black Friday sale that is taking up to $700 off a selection of e-bikes starting from $1,399 with 30% accessory discounts, some free gear, and more. Next, there’s Hiboy’s updated Black Friday sale which has lowered some prices across its lineup even more and still features the 2024 P6 Fat-Tire All-Terrain e-bike at its new $940 low. We also have two appliance deals for you today, with the first being Traeger’s Pro 575 Electric Pellet Grill and Smoker at the $599 low, while Anker’s EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Electric Cooler 50 has fallen to a new $569 low for today only. Plus, all the other live Green Deals from Black Friday sales are in the links at the bottom of the page, collected together in our seasonal shopping hub for your one-stop-shopping needs.
Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.
Featured deal: Buzz Bicycles is bringing readers an exclusive promotion this Black Friday to save $400 on its Centris class 2 folding e-bike that drops costs to the best price of the year on top of including a free accessory – all for $799, after using the promo code ELECTREK200 at checkout. Featuring a step-thru and folding frame, you’ll enjoy cruising through the streets at 20 MPH top speeds for up to 40 miles, making it a great entry-level model for new riders as well as veteran riders seeking a more affordable option. There are two colorways here to choose from, and plenty of solid features like the 4-inch fat tires, front suspension, front and rear lighting – and even front and rear cargo racks too. Adding an electric solution to your commuter needs doesn’t have to break the bank with this deal.
Featured deal: With more than 130 years in the bicycle business, Huffy is well-known across the market, especially for its large lineup of kid-friendly models. For Black Friday, the brand is providing some exclusive savings on its iconic Electric Green Machine Trike at $419, after using the promo code ELECTREKGM at checkout for 30% off. Ideal for riders aged 8+ and falling under the 180-pound max weight, it gives kids the chance to experience 15 MPH top speeds thanks to its 250W front hub motor alongside the 36V battery. This model will also grow with your child, as its seat provides three different adjustable settings to keep them safe while they tear up the pavement with plenty of spins and drifts.
Blix Black Friday sale takes up to $700 off e-bikes starting from $1,399 with 30% accessory discounts and more
‘Blix’s full Black Friday sale is in full swing, taking up to $700 off e-bikes, and up to 30% off accessories, while also giving away free gear and extra savings when buying two models together. Among them is the Packa Genie Cargo e-bike which is down to $1,599 shipped while the savings last. This model would normally cost you $2,099 at full price, with most of the discounts dropping things between $1,699 and $1,899, though we did see one fall to the $1,499 low in April. It’s coming in today at the second-lowest price we have tracked, beating out last year’s Black Friday and Christmas rates by $100 to save you $600 in total here. Along with your purchase, you’ll also be getting free running boards and a rear rack cushion valued at $148. Don’t forget that if you buy any two e-bikes together, you can get an additional $200 off your order by using the promo code RIDETOGETHER at checkout.
Blix’s Black Friday sale has the Packa Genie cruising into view at 20 MPH with a 40-mile travel range thanks to the combination of its 750W geared rear hub motor (peaking at 1,350W) and the 672Wh battery – plus, there is a dual-battery option for $400 more that bump its travel distance to 80 miles on a single charge. There are five levels of pedal assistance to see to it that you get the full scope of its mileage, as well as a throttle for pure electric action which cuts down its expected travel range to around 25 miles.
It comes with some nice extra features on Blix’s Packa Genie for the Black Friday rate, with a full digital display that even has a USB port for charging your phone as you ride – which is always appreciated as someone who uses my phone’s GPS to navigate the city streets. There’s also puncture-resistant tires, fenders over top both of those, integrated head and taillights, a smart bell, hydraulic disc brakes, 7-speed gear shifter, as well as the obvious mounting points along the rear rack which boasts a 200-pound payload. A rear wheel net guard has even been thrown on, which is essential, in my opinion, if you plan to take any kids on the ride with you.
Featured deal: Mokwheel Bikes is offering up to $900 in savings across its e-bike lineup this Black Friday, with free gear coming along with select purchases too. You can buy any two ebikes and get a FREE accessory or FREE Gift Package ($499.99~$699). The biggest of these deals comes in on the brand’s latest models, the Obsidian and Obsidian ST Power Station e-bikes at $2,099, down from $2,999, with a choice between three different gifts, all worth $599. Coming with either the standard high-step or step-thru fames, what makes these newer models stand out is their built-in power station capabilities when you choose to receive the 1,000W inverter as your free gift, providing on-the-go juice for your devices using the bike’s 940W battery (on top of solar charging functionality too)
Hiboy’s Black Friday savings drops the 62-mile 2024 P6 fat-tire e-bike to new $940 low (Save $540)
Hiboy launches its Black Friday sales that will be running through December 2 and taking up to 50% off its lineup of e-bikes and e-scooters. A notable standout is the price drop on the brand’s 2024 P6 Fat-Tire e-bike for $939.99 shipped. Normally this newer model would run you $1,480, with most sales we’ve seen this year keeping costs above $1,000, though just before these early Black Friday deals switched into gear, we saw it down at the short-lived former $960 low during the brand’s Halloween sale. That rate is being beaten here today as you’ll get a 36% markdown that cuts $540 off the price tag to land it down at a new all-time low price. You’ll even find it matching in price over at Amazon right now too.
Hiboy’s P6 fat-tire e-bike arrives onto the scene with a 750W brushless geared hub motor alongside a removable 11.6Ah waterproof battery that provide a 28 MPH top speed and enough power to tackle 20% inclines. With two main options for cruising (and the third “bike” option for manual pedaling), the travel distance can reach up to 62 miles when utilizing the five pedal assist modes, or you can get up to 30 miles using only the throttle for pure electric action. While many of the features are pretty standard for entry-level e-bikes, for such a low price, you’re mostly getting your money’s worth in its performance capabilities. Some of the standout features include the hydraulic suspension fork and puncture-resistant tires, as well as the more standard Shimano 7-speed derailleur, mechanical disc brakes, 26-inch by 4-inch fat tires, and a simple control panel for adjusting through the settings.
Hiboy Black Friday e-bike deals:
Hiboy Black Friday e-scooter deals:
Hiboy Black Friday kids’ EV deals:
Hiboy Black Friday bundle deals:
Take your cooking to the next level with Traeger’s smart Pro 575 electric pellet grill and smoker at $599 low
As part of its Black Friday sale, Amazon is offering the Traeger Grills Pro 575 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker for $599 shipped. Down from $800, we’ve been seeing regular discounts as low as $650 over 2024, with occasional dips lower to $600 and one previous fall to $599 back during Labor Day sales. Today, you can score 25% off the going rate, saving you $201 while upgrading your BBQ game at the lowest price we have tracked for only the second time that we’ve seen.
Designed for simpler and easier meals throughout the year, the Pro 575 model from Traeger uses wood pellets for six different functions: grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ – all with one versatile device. It can reach temperatures up to 500 degrees, and offers the brand’s WiFIRE tech, giving you connectivity through a Wi-Fi network to the companion app for remote smart controls. You can even go hands-free with your voice through Alexa too – with either option of controls allowing you to pre-heat the grill without stepping outside, for example, which is especially handy for fall and winter use. The main body boasts 575 square-feet of cooking space that can accommodate “24 burgers, five rib racks, or four chickens.”
More Traeger Black Friday deals:
Anker’s 53L EverFrost dual-zone portable electric cooler falls to new $569 low through the rest of the day
Running alongside Best Buy’s Black Friday sale and part of its Deals of the Day, the outlet is offering the Anker EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Cooler 50 for $569 shipped through the rest of the day. Normally priced at $949 most of the time, we’ve seen a mix of some sales inclusions with an overwhelming amount of one-day discounts like this one – often taking costs down between $699 and $799 – though, we did spy it earlier in November hitting $599. For today only, you can score $380 off its usual going rate, giving you the biggest and most advanced of Anker’s three electric coolers at a new all-time low price.
Anker’s EverFrost cooler series makes ice runs a thing of the past thanks to its battery-powered system, with this 53L model sporting what its two smaller counterparts lack: dual-zone refrigeration and freezing capabilities. It comes with an internal battery that provides a 299Wh capacity which keeps your stowed food and beverages cold and crisp for up to 27 hours on a single charge. A nice feature that Anker has included here is the 100W solar input maximum that lets you benefit from solar charging (as well as three additional recharging options) to further extend its battery life.
You can even utilize its two USB-A ports or one USB-C port to recharge your devices while it’s taking care of your perishables. It also comes designed for portability too, with an EasyTow handle and two 6-inch wheels to provide support when walking to your destination while also including an extendable table, a built-in bottle opener, and remote control of its settings via the Anker app.
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.
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Source link by Electrek
Author Reinette LeJeune
#Black #Friday #sales #Blix #ebikes #Hiboy #EVs #Traeger #grill #smoker #lows #Anker #cooler
The 2025 Lexus RZ electric crossover is now $11,200 less expensive than last year thanks to a new entry-level grade.
In this nameless trim level, the single-motor front-wheel-drive RZ 300e costs $43,975 with the mandatory $1,175 destination fee. That’s down from $55,175 for the 2024 RZ 300e Premium grade, which was the entry-level version for 2024.
The RZ 300e is still available in Premium trim for 2025, with prices of $48,175 and $49,415 with 18-inch and 20-inch wheels, respectively. The single-motor model is also available in high-end Luxury spec for $53,905.
2025 Lexus RZ
With the new entry-level grade, the dual-motor all-wheel drive RZ 450e now starts at $48,675—an effective price cut of $11,200 from the 2024 model. The RZ 450e Premium costs $52,875 with 18-inch wheels and $54,115 with 20-inch wheels, while the Luxury grade costs $58,605.
Single-motor RZ 300e models are still rated at 201 hp, while dual-motor RZ 450e models continue with 308 hp enabling 0-60 mph in a Lexus-estimated 5.0 seconds. RZ 300e models have a 72.8-kwh CATL battery pack, while RZ 450e models have a 71.4-kwh pack from Prime Planet Energy, a joint venture of battery supplier Panasonic and Lexus parent Toyota.
2025 Lexus RZ
EPA-estimated range still maxes out at 266 miles for RZ 300e models equipped with 18-inch wheels. That drops to 224 miles with 20-inch wheels. RZ 450e models continue to offer 220 miles of range with 18-inch wheels and just 196 miles with 20-inch wheels. But Lexus has prioritized features, not range, since the RZ arrived as a 2023 model.
While it has sold the UX 300e crossover in Europe since 2020, the RZ is the only all-electric Lexus currently sold in the U.S. Lexus is expected to launch another, larger electric crossover in 2026, previewed by the LF-ZL concept shown last year, on the way to becoming an all-electric brand by 2030.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)
#Lexus #price #cut #entrylevel #grade
The Los Angeles Auto Show (LAAS) for years has been the “green” auto show with most of the vehicle debuts electrified in some fashion. It could be mild hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric or hydrogen-fueled electric. The 2024 LAAS had a mix of these, but also numerous vehicles powered by a more traditional internal combustion engine (ICE). This is noteworthy as it recognizes not everyone is ready for an electrified car, truck or SUV, and that gasoline engines are becoming more efficient and still have a place on the country’s roads and in people’s driveways.
While there were several “announcements” of vehicles promised to come out sometime in 2026 and beyond, we will stick with what we saw at this year’s LAAS that will be on-sale sometime in 2025. In alphabetical order:
2025 Acura ACX
This all-new premium compact SUV is the entry model to the Acura line-up, offering “young buyers” the opportunity to get into the performance side of Honda for less than they could in recent years. Available in three trims—ADX, ADX A-Spec and ADX A-Spec with Advance, even the base ADX will deliver plenty of performance and handling prowess before stepping-up both A-Spec line. Standard engine will be a turbocharged 1.5-liter VTEC four.
Final pricing will be announced close to the on-sale date, but is estimated being in the mid-$30,000 range. Deliveries to your local Acura dealer will be in early 2025.
2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
If you live for the sound of a rumbling, crackling exhaust and the smell of gasoline and burning rubber, then the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is for you. This high-performance, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, 2-passenger, 2-door targa or convertible sports car, which features a carbon-fiber aero package, is powered by a 5.5-liter flat-plank crankshaft V8 producing 1,064 horsepower (hp) and 828 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque. Make sure to hang on to something when tromping the accelerator pedal as the 8-speed automatic will do the quarter mile in under 10 seconds, can hit 233 miles per hour, and go 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds.
Final pricing will be announced closer to when the ZR1 goes on-sale in mid-2025.
2025 Chrysler Pacifica FAV
Before you pop a vein, FAV translates in Chrysler speak to Family Adventure Vehicle. Take the popular Chrysler Pacifica minivan and load it with black 18-inch wheels, all-weather floor mats, a Thule rooftop cargo carrier and some design cues from the Chrysler Halcyon Concept EV (see below in the Concept section). Families on the go now have a seriously roomy and capable vehicle in which to get away. Clean Fleet Reportlast reviewed the Pacifica plug-in hybrid in 2022 and were big fans. Upgrades and improvements since then, plus the FAV package, should make the Pacifica even better.
Pricing has not been announced but is expected to be in dealers in early 2025.
2025 Fiat 500e EV Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition
Fiat reintroduced the Cinquecento, or 500e, in the United States in 2024. The five-year hiatus since the original 2019 model allowed Fiat to refine the 500e. At the time Fiat announced several Special Editions were coming with the most recent being the 500e EV Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition that was introduced last week in Los Angeles. Available in two colors—Dark Green and custom shade created by Armani that combines gray and beige, Ceramic Greige, it has a matching tone-on-tone eco-leather interior.
Pricing starts at $38,000 when it arrives in early 2025.
2026 Genesis Gasoline and Electrified GV70
The updated 2026 GV70 gasoline and electrified GV70 will remain as top sellers among premium midsize SUVs. The refinement and power plant options continue to make these Genesis models must-be-considered when looking at their pricier competition. This is the story we wrote after seeing them at a private event two days before the 2024 LAAS.
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9
Hyundai made a big splash at the LAAS with the introduction of its first all-electric seven-passenger SUV. This sharp-looking SUV EV will feature second-row seats that swivel when the Ioniq 9 is not in motion, fast charging (10-to-80% in 24 minutes using a 350 kW charger), Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, 0-60 mph in the Performance model of 5.2 seconds, 16 exterior colors and 19, 20 and 21-inch wheel options.
Pricing has not been announced, but the Ioniq 9 is scheduled to be in dealers in the first half of 2025.
2025 Kia EV6
The popular EV6 retains its self-identifying look, but has evolved and been refined for a sportier edge. Changes include new head and tail lights, front and rear bumpers and newly designed 19-21-inch wheels. The biggest changes for 2025 are the available 84.0 kWh battery that in the rear-wheel drive Light LR, Wind, GT-Line trims is targeted to have a 319 all-electric driving range. The EV6 line, excluding the EV6 GT, will now all be built in West Point, Georgia.
Pricing will be announced close to when it goes on-sale in the first half of 2025.
• 2026 Kia EV9 GT
Since Kia introduced the 2024 EV9, the automotive media has raved about it and, based on the sales, so has the driving public. As if they can’t help themselves, Kia is taking the EV9 performance (remember what they did with the EV6 GT) up a few notches with the 2026 EV9 GT.
This three-row, six-passenger all-electric SUV has e-AWD with a 160 kW motor up-front and 270 kW motor in the rear. The combined 501 horsepower is a 122 horsepower increase that will deliver estimated 0-60 mph times of under 4.3 seconds. Add-in the driver-selectable electronically controlled suspension and the driver-selectable drive modes that adjust the shock damping, steering and brake feel, the EV9 GT should be one of the fastest ways to get the kids to school.
Pricing will be announced close to when it goes on-sale in the latter half of 2025.
2025 Kia Seltos
First launched in 2021, Kia did a major refresh of its compact utility vehicle in 2024. Now the 2025 Seltos gets further refinements to the digital gauges, a new power sunroof, 17-inch wheels standard on the base S trim, and updated interior materials and finishes.
The 2025 Seltos is available with two gasoline powertrains—a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 146 hp, and a 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine producing 195 hp. No mention of a hybrid or plug-in hybrid model coming anytime soon.
Pricing, excluding the destination and handling fee, ranges from $25,090 to $31,090. The 2025 Seltos is in dealers now.
2026 Kia Sportage
Kia’s top-selling model has been extensively updated with design, technology and convenience features. While still considered the fifth generation model, the upgrades almost give an all-new feel.
The three propulsion options of gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, are offered across several trims designed for everything from commuting and around town driving to those who want to be more adventurous and get a bit dirty in sand, mud and snow. Each power plant delivers very good-to-great fuel economy, so there should be one trim best fitting every driving needs and lifestyle.
Clean Fleet Report last reviewed the 2023 Sportage Hybrid and became big fans of this compact crossover.
Pricing will be announced closer to when the 2026 Sportage is in dealers in mid-2025.
Honda Passport and Passport TrailSport
The 2026 Honda Passport has a new design “expressing its adventure-ready character” with the Passport TrailSport the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever. With increased ground clearance, off-road-tuned suspension, steel skid plates, specially developed AT (all-terrain) tires and, what every off-road adventurer needs—bright orange recovery hooks. Honda is hoping owners will test its rugged capabilities, not just buy it as an aspirational vehicle. The Passport TrailSport is designed and built to be tested in something more demanding than the freeway or grocery store parking lot.
All 2026 Passports have the new 285 hp 3.5-liter V6 engine, paired with the model’s first 10-speed automatic transmission that has been tuned exclusively for Passport. Adding to Passport’s off-road cred is the Honda torque vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system that optimizes traction in all driving scenarios, especially slick and off-road conditions.
Interior occupants are treated to the new Passport’s improved rear seat legroom, increased cargo space and more standard tech than on previous Passport models. This includes a 10.2-inch digital driver instrumentation display, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto all standard.
The fourth generation Passport will come in three trims—RTL, TrailSport and TrailSport Elite with the base price starting in the mid-$40,000s. Final pricing will be announced closer to when the 2026 Passport is in dealers sometime in early 2025.
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan 4Motion
Volkswagen pulled the sheet on the all-new 2025 Tiguan two-row midsize SUV the night before the LAAS Media Day. Journalists were invited to get up-close to the brand’s best-selling model in North America. What they showed revealed a refined exterior, upgraded interior, more power and better fuel economy. Typical for Volkswagen, everything of the all-new Tiguan is an evolution and tasteful, nothing radical that would scare away Tiguan owners from upgrading to the new model.
Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, the 201 horsepower is up from the previous 184. There was no announcement but a hybrid Tiguan wouldn’t surprise anyone, opening the door for consumers who want some level for electrification in their next SUV.
The new Tiguan weighs around 170 pounds less than the outgoing model, helping both fuel economy and acceleration. EPA-estimated fuel economy is not yet available, but should be higher than the current model’s25 mpg combined. The weight savings are in large part due to the use of aluminum in the suspension and high-strength hot-formed steel in the body structure.
The interior has premium materials and continues with the clean design Volkswagen is known for. Just like the exterior, no gimmicks here or overwhelming tech. The third generation Tiguan has a standard 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system and a new central infotainment system featuring a standard 12.9-inch display.
Standard features include wireless charging and app-connect for seamless connectivity, with standard automatic climate control with front seat heat and ventilation. Available are a head-up display, 15-inch infotainment screen, 10- or 30-color ambient lighting depending on trim, and a premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
Pricing of the all-new 2025 Tiguan will be announced closer to launch, which is expected in mid-2025.
How About Some Concepts
These concepts were shown at the LAAS, earning “Oohs” and Aahs” from the public.
Acura Performance EV Concept
The world debut of the Acura Performance EV Concept was at the 2024 Monterey Car Week in August, but the LAAS is the first time the general public has seen it. Acura says an all-new SUV, based on the Performance EV Concept, will go into production in late 2025, at theHonda EV Hubin Marysville, Ohio. This is acloser look at what could be the next EV from Acura.
• Chrysler Halcyon EV
It must have been a blast to be on the design team for the all-electric Halcyon Concept. It would never go into production the way it looks now, but that completely misses the point of the vision the Halcyon offers. It is a work of art that displays technological possibilities with a creative interior focusing on occupant comfort and safety. Go hereto see more on this beautiful vehicle.
• Hyundai Initium Hydrogen Concept
Hydrogen-fueled electric propulsion for light-duty vehicles offers a big upside, but sales of these cars has been pretty much a California thing, since that’s virtually the only place with refueling stations. Hyundai has had the Nexo FCEV, fuel cell electric vehicle, on the market for a few years with limited sales, but Hyundai’s hydrogen commitmentis strong worldwide, especially for heavy trucks. So it was a nice surprise to see the Initium Hydrogen Concept on the stage in Hyundai’s LAAS display. Except for the design, this is what was revealed about this concept.
Pricing and the on-sale date were not announced. (Or even hinted at!)
Kia P5 WKNDR Electric Van Concept
Kia debuted the P5 WKNDR electric van concept at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) trade show earlier this month. The LAAS was the first time the general public had the opportunity to see this futuristic van. Technology is the theme with the WKNDR including hydro turbine wheels that rotate separately from the off-road tires to generate electricity. This happens when moving down the road or set-up in a camp. The solar roof adds to off-grid capabilities.
The interior has flexible, modular seats that pull-out, fold, rotate and convert into a dining surface. A pop-out platform can accommodate large items, such as a refrigerator, trash bin or act as a compact cooking area. Sleeping space includes the pop-top roof.
The WKNDR and the Chrysler Halcyon EV were the coolest concepts at the show. Will Kia produce the WKNDR? If the attention it drew is any indication, we can only hope so!
Tesla Cybercab
This self-driving, battery-electric is a two-passenger robotaxi. No steering wheel or pedals. Projected start of production is fuzzy, but the end of 2026 is the target. However, since Tesla has never hit any of its announced production or delivery dates, put this one on your watch list for updates and developments. Tesla announced in October that autonomous taxi operations would start with its existing models after an upgrade to its Full Self Driving (Supervised) software.
Make sure to opt-in to the Clean Fleet Report newsletter (top right of page) to be notified of all new stories and vehicle reviews.
Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner, Anne Proffit, and the manufacturers.
[See image gallery at cleanfleetreport.com]The post Event: 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.
Source link by Clean Fleet Report
Author John Faulkner
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The Pine Point Resilience Hub would serve an elementary school and community center in Pine Point, an Anishinaabe village of about 330 people on the White Earth Reservation.
In June, the project was selected to receive $1.75 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4SE) Program, which helps underserved and frontline communities leverage energy storage to make electricity more affordable and reliable. It’s part of a slew of Biden administration funding related to grid resilience and energy equity that has spurred several tribal microgrid projects across the country.
The developers, locally owned 8th Fire Solar and San Francisco-based 10Power, hope to finish the project next year, and have also secured funding from Minnesota’s Solar for Schools program and foundation grants, but said they still need to raise about $1 million. They’re also counting on receiving about $1.5 million in federal tax credits, which face an uncertain future with the incoming Trump administration.
“The idea of the microgrid is to help with infrastructure,” said Gwe Gasco, a member of the White Earth Nation and the program coordinator with 8th Fire Solar, a thermal solar company based on the reservation.
Tribal communities were largely bypassed during the massive, federally funded push under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to bring electricity to remote rural areas of the country. As a result, grid infrastructure on many reservations remains insufficient to this day, with an estimated 1 in 7 Native American households on reservations lacking electricity connections, and many more contending with unreliable service.
On top of higher-than-average electric reliability issues, tribal communities also generally pay higher rates for electricity and face higher energy burdens due to poverty and substandard housing.
On the White Earth Reservation, these challenges are most pronounced in Pine Point, where one-third of residents live in poverty. Gasco said the area is among the first to suffer from outages, with eleven occurring over the last five years, according to the Itasca-Mantrap Electric Cooperative that serves the area.
The Pine Point Resilience Hub project will build on an existing 21-kilowatt solar array, adding another 500 kilowatts of solar capacity along with a 2.76 megawatt-hour battery storage system, enough to provide about 12 hours worth of backup power for residents to be able to charge cell phones, power medical equipment, or stay warm in the event of a power outage.
Gasco said the microgrid could be especially important in the winter, given the area’s “brutally cold” weather and reliance on electric heat. They also hope it will reduce utility costs, though they are still negotiating with the local electric co-op on rates for power the system sends and receives from the utility’s grid. Itasca-Mantrap President and CEO Christine Fox said it doesn’t set net metering rates, which are determined by its electricity supplier.
The project developers hope to qualify for additional federal tax credits by using equipment largely produced in the U.S., including Minnesota-built Heliene solar panels, inverters made in Massachusetts, and Ohio-produced solar racks.
The developers have partnered with the Pine Point School District, which plans to incorporate the microgrid into an Ojibwe-language curriculum on renewable energy. A monitoring interface will allow students to see real-time data in the classroom.
“It’s powerful to me that this [project] is at a school where we’re hoping to inspire the next generation of kids,” said Sandra Kwak, CEO and founder of 10Power, a for-profit company that specializes in developing renewable energy projects in tribal communities.
Corey Orehek, senior business developer for Ziegler Energy Solutions, which has been hired to do the installation, said they plan to work with a local community college to train students for solar jobs.
“One of the things that we want to drive in this is workforce development,” Orehek said. “We want to leave something that’s not only a project that’ll last 30 years but provide the training and experience for community members to either start their own energy companies or become contractors in the clean energy workforce.”
The resilience hub is the second such project announced by a Minnesota tribe in recent months. The Red Lake Nation received $3.15 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Local Government Energy Program in late September for a behind-the-meter microgrid project at a secondary school.
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is also working with Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative to build a $9 million microgrid with U.S. Department of Energy funding. The electric cooperative will install a 4 megawatt-hour energy storage system and add a 1 megawatt solar system at the reservation in suburban Minneapolis.
It’s unclear whether federal funding for such projects will continue in President-elect Trump’s second term, but for now tribal energy advocates see microgrids as a good solution to both lower energy burdens and improve reliability.
“This is a great opportunity to create a success story in terms of leveraging cutting-edge technology, being able to help frontline communities, and for tribes and co-ops to work together,” Kwak said.
Why Fleet Electrification Makes Economic Sense And How To Transition To EVs For Long-Term Success: Webinar, December 11, 2024, 12:30 pm EST
Whether you’re considering electrifying your fleet or already have some EVs on the road, this session is for you. We’ll challenge the current paradigms and processes around EV charging, and present new ways to think about your EV fleet operations and how to best solve electrification-related business problems.
In this webinar we’ll discuss:
The business case for fleet electrification
Critical areas to address for long-term success
Successful EV fleet operations to improve your overall business – even if you’re already running an EV fleet
Join us to get tangible takeaways for implementing a future-proof electrification strategy that drives your fleet business forward.
Reserve your spot—it’s free!
See the full session list for the December Virtual Conference here.
Broadcast live on December 10-12, 2024. This virtual event will span all things EV charging in two main tracks:
Track 1: Deploying EV Infrastructure & Fleets Content for fleet/facility managers, charging network operators, public transport planners, etc.
Track 2: Design & Manufacturing of Charging Systems Content for engineers who are building, testing, and manufacturing charging systems.
The free-to-attend conference will feature live presentations, interactive Q&As, on-demand webinars, and whitepaper downloads. All live webcast sessions are free to attend and will be recorded and available to watch on-demand after the event. Register to reserve your spot to watch it live or on-demand.
Source link by Charged EVs
Author Charged EVs
#Making #business #case #fleets #Webinar
Kia hasn’t yet confirmed EV3 or EV4 for the U.S.—but we might get both
Unclear if EV3 arrives, whether Niro EV would continue
Kia PV5 WKNDR electric camper van is a test for U.S. interest
The future of compact EVs for Kia in the U.S. could be as simple as this: It doesn’t have to be an either/or.
And that might mean that U.S. EV shoppers could get the more interesting compact EV market that America has been largely missing out on—thanks to the possibility of Kia’s EV3 and EV4.
In October 2023, at its Kia EV Day event, the brand revealed the upright EV3 compact electric crossover, which is close to the same size as the Volvo EX30, and the somewhat longer, lower EV4 compact electric hatchback. At the same event, it also showed a production version of the EV5 electric crossover, which is sized closely with the Kia Sportage, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4.
While Kia was quick at that time to say that the EV5 was not U.S.-bound, it left the door open for the EV3 and EV4.
Kia EV4 concept
The production EV4 is expected to bow globally within the next few months. But Kia has already, since last year’s event, shown the production-bound EV3, with deliveries of it starting earlier this month in Europe. Amid that, there hasn’t yet been a U.S.-market confirmation for either the EV3 or the EV4.
Last week, at the Los Angeles auto show, Green Car Reports asked Kia America chief operating officer and executive vice president Steven Center which of these two EVs we might see.
“We may see both,” replied Center. “And I think that’s just a matter of segment management.”
Center elaborated that these are two quite different EVs, referring to the EV4 as an electric equivalent to the K5 sedan, and the EV3 as “sort of a Soul EV.”
2023 Kia Niro EV
Whether that means borrowed time for the Kia Niro EV, which Kia opted to bring to the U.S. instead of the current Soul EV, Center wouldn’t say for sure—but he hinted that Niro EV is built on an internal combustion platform, and it’s the second-generation of a vehicle that was conceived when the company’s E-GMP EV platform didn’t exist.
Center also noted that at some point soon, Kia will have two lines of vehicles—an internal combustion line, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids, and one that’s pure EV.
Meanwhile, the number of U.S. Kia EV models will continue to grow over the next year, confirmed Center. Whether that means EV3, EV4, PV5, or something else completely—or a reference to the higher-power Kia EV9 GT also revealed at the show—rest assured it’s not sidelining its EV push in 2025.
Kia PV5 WKNDR concept
Kia PV5 WKNDR concept
Kia PV5 WKNDR concept
For a tease of what that something else might be, Kia showed what we interpreted as a wild card at the LA show. Its upcoming PV5 electric van may primarily be focused toward commercial use and future robotaxis, the company has said up until now. But the recent debut of the PV5 WKNDR electric camper van concept at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas earlier this month, together with its prominent display at the LA auto show, beg another question.
Is the brand getting ready to pitch the electric vans in the U.S. as compact, activity-focused alternatives to the Volkswagen ID.Buzz—or, perhaps, even more in line with the original ethos of the cult-favorite Honda Element?
Kia America vice president for marketing Russell Wager replied to GCR, also at the LA auto show, that PV5 remains confirmed only for Korea and Europe, and the purpose behind the SEMA concept was to test American customers’ reactions to “more of an overlander concept.”
“So we’re still evaluating what that means, potentially, for the U.S. market,” said Wager.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Bengt Halvorson)
#Kia #EV3 #EV4 #EVs #USbound #PV5 #van
This year’s shopping holidays are set to reveal some of the best electric bicycle and e-scooter sales we’ve ever seen thanks to the perfect storm of overstocked models, meeting year-end sales targets, and good ol’ relentless competition. The e-bike industry has been hammered for a couple of years now, and while that has put many companies in a squeeze, the upside is consumers are getting some of the best deals we’ve ever seen. With countless electric bicycle brands operating now in the US and even more models to choose from, here’s some help separating the wheat from the chaff.
It’s nearing the end of November, and that means my inbox has been absolutely flooded by Black Friday deal pitches from dozens upon dozens of e-bike and e-scooter companies.
There’s a whole section of this site dedicated to ramming as many of those deals as possible into our readers’ eyeballs. For me though, I’ve always tried to take a more targeted approach to recommend models based on substance, and so here are the Black Friday deals that actually mean something to me. As someone who has likely reviewed more electric bikes than just about anyone on the internet, these are all models I’m actually considering for myself or my family because I know they’re a combination of good quality and good pricing. And if I’d put myself or a family member on it, I’d put you on it too.
Lectric Ebikes Sales
Lectric is basically my go-to brand when someone asks me for the best bang-for-their-buck in the world of electric bikes. I’ll never tell you that these are the best e-bikes in the world. On the quality spectrum, they’re mid-level, at best. And for most people, that’s exactly the right level. Not everyone needs a $3,000 or $6,000 e-bike, especially not when an $800 or $1,300 e-bike will fit their needs. Plus, Lectric is known for standing behind its products with a great customer service team (and is incredibly generous, too). Put it all together and you can see why Lectric often floats to the top of my list.
You can find all of Lectric’s sales here to peruse at your leisure. Many of them are based around popular bundles with tons of free accessories. But to guide you a bit better, here are some of the highlights:
Lectric XP 3.0 folding e-bike: Save $454 on a great bundle
Lectric XP Trike: Save $419 on the best-selling electric trike
Lectric XP Lite 2.0: Save $365 on the best-performance lightweight folding e-bike
Lectric XPress 750: Save $365 on what is likely soon to be the best-selling commuter e-bike
Lectric XPedition 2.0: Save $296 on the first cargo e-bike I recommend to nearly everyone
Ride1Up E-Bike Sales
San Diego-based Ride1Up has consistently been another value leader in the US e-bike market. While the company doesn’t have the size of Lectric, it has perhaps an even broader selection of e-bikes ranging from cruisers and off-roaders to urban bikes and even high-power electric mopeds. The recently released Ride1Up Revv1 DRT is a great example of how the company took its existing SUPER73-style moped and turned it into essentially an off-road scrambler electric motorbike.
Even more impressive is the pricing on the Ride1Up Portola, designed to be an entry-level folding e-bike that offers much better performance and ride quality than anyone would have expected in this budget class.
Many of Ride1Up’s deals are either outright discounts on their bikes, bundles of free accessories/spare batteries, or both. Below are some of the highlights, but it’s worth checking out their entire list of Black Friday deals here.
Ride1Up Portola: Save $100 and get 50% off of some accessories
Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser: Save up to $350 and get 50% off a second battery
Ride1Up LMT’D V2: Save $400 on this awesome commuter e-bike for urban riding
Velotric E-Bike Sales
Velotric burst onto the scene with some very nice initial offerings several years ago. Ever since, I’ve been watching closely as Velotric continuously improves its models, resulting in today’s highly refined offerings. Their more premium models are where I send friends and family who want something a bit nicer than Lectric or Ride1Up, including features like tracking for anti-theft as well as more app connectivity and features you might not expect – such as fully submersible batteries.
Velotric has a bunch of great Black Friday sales, mostly centered around deeply slashed price tags. Here are some of the highlights, but you can check out all of the deals here.
Velotric Discover 1 Plus: Save $550 (plus even more on accessories)
Velotric Fold 1: Save $350 on this 750W folding e-bike
Velotric Packer 1: Save $650 on this highly refined cargo e-bike
Velotric Nomad 1 Plus: Save $550 on this go-anywhere off-road e-bike
Photo: Velotric
Priority Bicycles Sales
Priority Bicycles is my go-to brand for higher-end electric bikes. When someone wants a model that uses higher-tier components (the kind of stuff bike shop folks consider ‘the good stuff’), this is the company to consider. Priority Bicycles was started by actual bike shop folks, but the kind that enjoy an electric bike as much as a good old-fashioned acoustic bike.
My favorite of Priority’s electric models is the Priority Current, which offers great value for a mid-drive commuter-style e-bike. The company has since added the Priority E-Coast electric cruiser which is a beautiful e-bike that embodies Priority’s higher quality ethos in a more affordable package. The Priority E-Classic Plus takes that idea even further, giving us an affordable commuter-style bike with a much sleeker design – and belt drive, to boot! In fact, all three models feature belt drive for a cleaner and quieter pedaling experience (though you’ll be glad to know there are throttle options too!).
Priority Bicycles’ Black Friday Sale is very simple this year, creating a tiered discount based on the order total. You can learn more about it here, but the basic summary is that you’re getting around 15-25% off of everything!
JackRabbit Micro E-Bike Sales
If you don’t know about JackRabbit yet, boy are you in for a treat! These micro-ebikes are technically more of a seated e-scooter due to the lack of pedals, but everything else about them feels like an e-bike. You get the same stable seating position, 20″ bike wheels for a nimble yet taller (than a scooter) ride, and even bicycle handlebars.
The main difference is just that the entire thing is more compact and lighter, making it easy to stow away when you aren’t using it. The handlebars even pivot 90 degrees so the entire JackRabbit is around 7 inches wide! Try to stash a typical e-bike behind a couch or under a bed – you could never get it as compact as a JackRabbit.
These aren’t the best bang-for-your-buck since you pay a bit of a premium for the novel design and innovation that comes with producing a unique, purpose-built micro e-bike instead of just choosing parts out of a catalog. But I think these are absolutely worth it for folks who prize the type of portability offered by JackRabbit’s various models.
Speaking of the options, there are multiple JackRabbit models available but the XG and OG2 are both on sale with a great Black Friday deal providing a free RangeBuster battery that offers 240% more range!
I’ve been following VMAX more closely over the past year and have enjoyed getting the chance to test out multiple models of electric scooters from this Switzerland-based electric scooter company. After expanding into the US market, VMAX has really made a name for itself with an impressive combination of performance and affordability. Their scooters are also UL-compliant and SGS-certified for safety and integrity.
When testing both the mid-range VX2 Extreme and the budget-priced VX5, I found myself accidentally popping Wheelies, that’s how powerful and torquey these e-scooters are in their max power setting. But they’re also quite controllable (and you don’t HAVE to use the max power mode!).
I also really like that the same scooters are often available with two or three different battery sizes, meaning you can save money on a lighter and lower range model, or you can decide to spend a bit more to get twice or more range. That kind of customization is almost never seen in the e-scooter industry, and definitely not at this price range.
Below are some of my favorite VMAX deals this Black Friday, but you can check out their entire page of sales here.
VMAX VX5 / VX5 Pro: Starts at just $249, which is an insane deal for these scooters
MOD Bikes is an Austin-based electric bicycle retailer that offers national service yet has a local bike shop feel. The company’s bikes are admittedly more expensive than others, but they come with more features (like cool helmet-mounted turn signals) and heavier-duty designs than most other e-bikes in this price range.
MOD makes one of the only sidecar electric bikes available in the US, which I’ve personally tested out with my nephews and the family dog as willing passengers, and it rocks!
The company is also dedicated to other innovations, such as a really cool charging station designed for safely locking and storing e-bike batteries, all developed in-house.
MOD’s Black Friday sales cover nearly everything in their lineup, so you’ll want to check out the entire list here.
Aventon E-Bike Sales
Aventon is another one of those electric bike makers that has simply gotten more and more refined as time has gone on. Each new launch showcases more of the brand’s chops, combining power and performance with style and design.
This year I’m particularly glad to see sales on several of the brand’s commuter e-bikes, which have long been Aventon’s forte. You can check out all of Aventon’s Black Friday sales here.
Aventon Soltera.2: Save $300 on this super-affordable metro-styled commuter e-bike
Aventon Abound: Save $300 on Aventon’s premier cargo e-bike
Aventon Aventure.2: Save $400 on this step-through adventure-style fat tire e-bike
I’ll keep an eye out for any other great Black Friday sales in the e-scooter and e-bike world. Like I said at the top of this article, there are hundreds of sales out there, and so this isn’t an exhaustive list.
Rather, these are several of the companies and sales I think are actually worth considering closely based on my experience covering the entire industry.
There are, of course, plenty of other good models out there, and you might find something great for you that wasn’t even on this list. That’s awesome! The important thing is that we’re all out there riding and having a good time. More two-wheelers and fewer four-wheelers is the name of the game, folks!
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Source link by Electrek
Author Micah Toll
#Black #Friday #ebike #escooter #deals #care
Can thousands of houses equipped with remote-control thermostats and other devices mimic what big power plants do for utility grids?
EnergyHub, a software and services company that operates virtual power plants (VPPs) for about 70 utilities in 30 states, says yes — and it has a trove of data from three major U.S. utilities that shows how it can be done.
This week, EnergyHub is publishing the results of trial runs it conducted this spring and summer with Arizona Public Service in Arizona, Duke Energy in North Carolina, and National Grid in Massachusetts. Over several afternoons and evenings, EnergyHub tested its capabilities to get thousands of smart thermostats — and for National Grid, rooftop solar-charged batteries as well – to help the grid.
The company says its approach, known as dynamic load-shaping, will allow it to more precisely manage the 2 gigawatts of flexible capacity it now controls from about 1.4 million customer devices, said Paul Hines, EnergyHub’s vice president of power systems. The company is hoping that the successful test cases will help convince utilities and regulators that “virtual power plants can become a core part of their infrastructure,” he said.
Getting customers to turn down their air conditioners, water heaters, and other appliances to deal with rising electricity demand is a lot cheaper than building new power plants. Hines cited a U.S. Department of Energy report estimating that 80 to 160 gigawatts of VPP capacity could be unleashed across the country by 2030, enough to meet 10 to 20 percent of U.S. peak grid needs and save utility customers roughly $10 billion in annual costs.
“There’s broad agreement that there’s a need for this stuff,” he said. “But when you talk to grid operators, they still have a ton of skepticism about whether virtual power plants can be a valuable part of the core resource mix.”
That’s because traditional demand response programs that pay customers to let utilities turn down their thermostats and other appliances have some well-known features that can make them unreliable, he said.
A typical demand response event – say, one reacting to a heatwave — involves two key steps: The first is “precooling,” or ordering thermostats to ramp up air conditioning earlier in the day when the grid isn’t yet stressed, so that homes can ride through the hotter hours ahead. The second is the demand response event itself, during which temperature settings on thermostats are raised to reduce air-conditioning power use when overall grid demand reaches its peak.
EnergyHub
Hines pointed out two significant issues that can crop up as a demand response event unfolds. First, there’s the “decaying response” factor. “You get a ton of load shed in hour one,” he said. But as people grow less comfortable with rising temperatures and start to override their thermostat settings, the energy savings decrease.
Then there’s the so-called snapback effect — the surge in electricity use when a demand response period ends and a large number of thermostats reset, triggering a bunch of air conditioners to turn on at once. “You get this big spike in load at the end,” he said — and that secondary peak can cause grid problems of its own.
These are standard problems for a smart-thermostat-based program, Hines said. “The question is, can we turn that into a more reliable, schedulable resource?”
EnergyHub, a subsidiary of Alarm.com, says its technology enables it to do that. In 2022, the company purchased Packetized Energy, the startup that Hines co-founded with two fellow University of Vermont professors in 2016. In simple terms, Packetized Energy’s software analyzes how much energy every device connected to the system needs to do its work — in the case of thermostats, keeping air conditioning and heating on to deliver set temperatures — over long periods.
That data is then fed into mathematical models that analyze how much each individual customer can be expected to reduce their electricity use during a demand response event. Some homes have poor insulation or older air conditioners that don’t perform as well when it’s time to precool homes, and some people may be less comfortable putting up with multiple hours of hotter-than-usual indoor temperatures, for example. Other homes are better insulated and have more efficient cooling systems, or their residents have previously demonstrated a willingness to sweat it out for longer periods.
EnergyHub’s system divides all those customers into different categories. “We use some fairly sophisticated machine learning, differential equations, to build a mathematical model” to predict what’s going to happen to the power consumption of each group when their setpoints change, Hines said.
That’s very different from simply broadcasting a signal to every customer’s thermostat to turn up by several degrees and then waiting to see how many customers actually let those commands stand for hours at a time.
This grouping approach also allows utilities to create a three-hour load-reduction event out of programs that allow utilities to ask their customers to turn over their thermostat controls only for two hours, he noted.
That’s what EnergyHub did with Duke Energy, the sprawling utility with operations in six states. In North Carolina, dynamic load-shaping test runs this spring and summer “combined a whole bunch of two-hour events, staggered them in a smart way so we got a three-hour constant load-shed event, and minimized snapback, to get it as close to zero in that final hour,” he said. “We fed that into an optimizer that essentially explored an enormous space of what-if scenarios, to figure out what is the optimal combination of 15–20 events to get the load shape you want.”
“The result was a bunch of different schedules from different devices,” he said.
Below is a chart displaying this, with target load reductions in yellow and actual load reductions in black, followed by a second chart that color-codes the different groups that EnergyHub assembled to do the job. (Note that this chart uses positive numbers to indicate how much load reduction is happening and negative numbers to show greater-than-normal electricity consumption during precooling and postevent snapback.)
Kia is serious about boosting PHEV electric miles—and sales
It’s still working on hybrid, ICE development
Range-extended EVs could be the future of hybrids
While Kia works to expand sales of American-made EVs, it’s also aiming to broaden sales of hybrids, while expanding a plug-in hybrid lineup that may keep growing—not just in sales but in electric miles.
According to Steven Center, Kia America’s chief operating officer and executive vice president, the plug-in hybrid electric range to meet or beat is 60 miles.
That number, said Center to Green Car Reports last week at the Los Angeles auto show, may arrive in Kia production models in as little as “a couple years”—enabled by a number of factors including the continuous improvement of batteries, as well as upcoming vehicle platforms that are being laid out to allow more space for PHEV battery packs.
A PHEV with 60 miles of electric range would be a big jump from present numbers. Kia revealed refreshed 2026 Sportage hybrid and plug-in hybrid models at the auto show. Currently, the Sportage plug-in hybrid comes EPA-rated at 34 miles, and 35 mpg combined after that. That’s for the 2024 model; outputs are up slightly for 2025 and it’s unclear as of yet whether that and the refresh might alter those numbers.
2025 Kia Sportage
Center didn’t elaborate about which models might get the long-range PHEV treatment first, but he noted that the 60-mile figure was informed by an “engineering statistic” relating to the total daily-driving distance for Americans—enough to be an EV in daily driving, plus more for road trips.
That happens to be very close to California’s target of 70 miles of electric range that serves as a way automakers can earn bonus points in upcoming fleet standards.
California does mandate EVs, but in the push toward them it’s allowing automakers some added flexibility, starting with the 2026 model year, if they deliver plug-in hybrids with more range. In short, they can apply plug-in hybrid models certified at 70 miles of electric range or higher at the same fleet-credit value as an EV, while PHEVs rated at 43-69 miles qualify at a partial value of an EV.
It’s quite the engineering challenge in itself right now to get there. A top Nissan executive for product planning in North America told Green Car Reports earlier this year that to achieve 70 miles of plug-in electric range, the necessary 30- to 40-kwh battery packs remain prohibitively large and heavy. But next-generation batteries will bring down the size and weight and be easier to package.
2023 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Center reiterated the benefits of battery improvements. Kia also continues to develop internal-combustion engines, but it’s mainly in the context of hybrid systems. For instance, according to Center, it’s considering extended range EV tech, although it’s not yet confirmed in any future vehicle from the brand. In a series-hybrid layout with the engine running as an efficient onboard generator, this type of application might warrant an entirely new kind of engine.
For instance, on the pickup front, Ram has been working on that formula, and it’s on the way next year in the 1500 Ramcharger truck. Ram claims that it will be able to get to about 145 miles of electric range with a 92-kwh battery pack and the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine that it’s put in base-level pickups for years, put to task here only as a generator—amounting to 14,000 pounds of towing capacity and 690 miles considering an initial battery charge and full tank of gas.
While some automakers continue to see plug-in hybrids as a confusing middle ground—including examples like that Ram truck—Kia isn’t holding back in plans to emphasize them over the next few years especially.
2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid
The brand is aiming to have more of them, said Center of PHEVs, calling them “the gateway drug for electrification.”
Kia is currently selling its plug-in hybrids in all 50 states, and it’s already pushed for its dealerships to be not just EV-savvy, but plug-in-hybrid-savvy. Kia Motors America marketing director Russell Wager told Green Car Reports that it’s not an easy message for dealerships to deliver—that plug-in hybrids can go 30 or 35 miles of electric range without running the gasoline engine—but it’s already done some of this hard work.
Kia isn’t naming target volumes or percentages for its hybrid vehicles, Wager asserted. “We don’t have a goal; and the reason we don’t have a goal is the customer is going to determine.”
2024 Kia Niro
“That’s why we have three choices, so that if the customers are saying we want more hybrids, we’ll build more hybrids,” Wager explained, pointing to the flexibility not only built into the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant in Georgia that will source some upcoming Kia vehicles, but to Kia’s West Point, Georgia, plant, where the majority of Sportage production will happen—and to Korea, where additional hybrids can come from if need be.
“We’re working on the supply chain to increase what we need for hybrids,” said Center. “Customers want them, dealers will have no trouble selling them, and it’s better for the environment.”
And thus, whatever new path regulators hand to the auto industry, come January or next year, the flexibility is helping Kia look very prepared.
Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Bengt Halvorson)
#Kia #PHEVs #coming #miles #electric #couple #yearsquot
