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Road Test: 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited Long Range AWD

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Road Test: 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited Long Range AWD

Premium EV Sedan from Mainstream Brand

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
A salute to sedans

A big thanks to Hyundai for not abandoning sedans in deference to SUVs, as the all-electric Ioniq 6 offers stunning style, roomy interior, supple ride, fast charging, a comprehensive safety suite and impressive driving range. Value wise, it is easily the best EV sedan on the market.

Hyundai gets electrification. The Tucson, Santa Fe, Elantra and Sonata come as hybrid and/or plug-in hybrids; the Nexo is powered by electricity via a hydrogen fuel cell; and the Kona, Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 are battery electric, with the Ioniq 6 an electric sedan that can be compared with electric sedans costing twice as much.

Silent Propulsion and Driving Range

The Ioniq 6 comes in rear-wheel drive (RWD) with either single or double electric motors or all-wheel drive (AWD) with two motors:

RWD Standard Range

  • 111 kilowatt (kW) battery and 149 horsepower (hp) and 258 foot-pounds (ft.-lb.) of torque. The all-electric range (AER) is 240 miles.

RWD Long Range

  • 168 kW battery with 225 hp and 258 ft.-lb. of torque. This battery gets either 361 AER with 18-inch tires, or 305 AER with 20-inch tires.
2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
Tires will alter your range

AWD

• 74 kW front and a 165 kW rear motor producing 320 hp and 446 ft.-lb. of torque, with an AER of 316 miles with 18-inch tires and 270 miles with 20-inch tires.

These driving range differences are significant and may be the deciding factor for which Ioniq 6 best suits your needs. The choice becomes: AWD if necessary for your driving style and where you live versus the 361-mile all-electric driving range in the RWD model.

The shift-by-wire transmission has driver-selectable drive modes of Eco, Normal, Sport, and the customizable My Mode. All affect the drive feel through accelerator and steering adjustments. The driving range is also affected by driving style and drive mode as well as the tire size.

Pleasure on the Road

Clean Fleet Report had the opportunity to drive 313 miles around Southern California in a 2024 Ioniq 6 AWD where we averaged an impressive 4.2 miles per kilowatt hour. To see how each affected efficiency and performance, we experimented with the drive modes where there are significant differences in acceleration and steering feel. The sharpest change being when going in and out of Eco, where everything has been programmed for super efficiency. Intuitively you would want to be in this mode when on the freeway, but Normal offered a more secure feel and the electricity use was not noticeably less than in Eco.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
Ready for the road

Performance is best when in Sport where the AWD returned 0-60 mph times of about 5.0 seconds, which is plenty fast for freeway merging and passing big rigs.

The Ioniq 6 AWD has a balanced and confident ride, with the 4,616-pound weight (1,057 pounds from the under floor battery) low and centered. The Pirelli P Zero 245/40 all-season tires, mounted on 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, provided ample grip and a comfortable freeway ride. The all-wheel drive system automatically senses grip level and undetectably sends power front-to-rear and side-to-side. There was limited body roll and the ride was comfortable, confident; it was a pleasure to drive.

Wind and road noise were reduced partly due to acoustic laminated glass and sound-deadening insulation. The drag coefficient of 0.219 and the low 5.6-inch ground clearance are among the best in the car industry, especially for a midsize sedan. This impressive aerodynamic Cd number is reached by a design theory that incorporates external air flaps and an air curtain on the front lower fascia, a wheel gap reducer on the front fenders, a cover running the full length of the underside, and the rear spoiler with winglets. The Ioniq 6 is quiet and ready for a long range road trip.

The Ioniq 6 is a great handling driver’s car, with a composed ride and excellent body control.

The bottom line is the Ioniq 6 is very easy to drive, which means being relaxed when reaching your destination.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
A fast charger

Charging and Regeneration

There are two battery sizes, each with a different charging speed, that utilize the 10.9 kW onboard charger. The 53.0 kWh battery on the RWD Standard Range can get up to an 80-percent charge in as little as 18 minutes using a 350kw DC fast charger. At a standard and more common 240V Level 2 charger, like the type installed in a home, will take 5.2 hours for up-to an 80-percent charge.

The RWD and AWD get a 77.4 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery that will go to 80-percent charge in 18 minutes and take seven hours with a Level 2 charger.

Original owners can take advantage of three years of complementary unlimited charging at Electrify America stations.

I charged 21-to-81% in 35 minutes on a 150 kW ChargePoint public charger.

It is important to note cold weather can affect the charging time and driving range. The Ioniq 6 comes standard with a battery heating system to pre-condition the battery to a temperature that will take a faster and higher charge.

Charging is also through powerful motor regeneration that, when coasting or braking, converts kinetic energy into electric energy and returns it to the battery. With i-Pedal, or one pedal driving, the regeneration can be set to three levels of force with steering wheel paddles. It made it possible to do most driving without relying on the brakes.

The Ioniq 6 also has Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) where power, a maximum of 1.9 kW, can flow out of the battery and charge e-bikes, camping and outdoor equipment or run your office while traveling. It also can be a home electricity source for two days during a power outage.

Streamliner Silhouette

Character, sharp looks, bold and unique are only a few of the thoughts that come to mind when describing the 2024 Ioniq 6. Hyundai calls this the Streamliner concept that comes to life with a side profile that is like nothing else on the road. The smooth body surfaces, with power flush door handles and a side character line, are unencumbered with chrome, but have tasteful black strips around the side windows, the pillars and across the door sill. The rear features twin spoilers, with the upper incorporating the parametric pixel high brake light, and then more of the pixels across the trunk light bar.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
A slick streamliner

The Ioniq 6 comes in these exterior colors, with some of them carrying a premium price: Ultimate Red Metallic, Byte Blue, Digital Green Matte, Digital Green Pearl, Biophilic Blue Pearl, Transmission Blue Pearl, Nocturne Grey Matte, Nocturne Grey Metallic, Gravity Gold Matte, Curated Silver Metallic, Abyss Black Pearl and Serenity White Pearl, the color of our test car.

Spacious Interior

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
An interior console full of tech

The interior is open, spacious and comfortable with the substantial center console allowing for underside storage. The padded dash is divided into two horizontal spaces. The lower handles the dual-zone climate control, with the upper for the 12.3-inch, high-definition horizontal color touchscreen and a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument screen. The Bose infotainment system includes AM/FM/SiriusXM/HD radio with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A Bluetooth connection for up-to two devices, 12 volt outlets, USB power and data ports, wireless phone charging and a Wi-Fi hotspot complete the technology.

The interior comfort begins with either cloth or Hi-Tex artificial leather, heated and ventilated front seats, with memory and power adjustments, including side bolsters and massage. The cabin is quiet with the windshield having acoustic and laminated glass, the rear window is laminated and it has optional ($210) carpeted floor mats.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
A spacious rear

The rear seats have ample leg room for three adults with occupants getting adjustable head rests, a center folding armrest with cup holders, door cup holders, charge ports and ventilation vents. Trunk cargo storage is good and increases with the 60/40 rear seat folded. The small front trunk (frunk) adds enough space for a bag of groceries, or as we used it, to store the charge cord.

As to be expected on a premium car the Ioniq 6 has power everything. The leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel has controls for audio, telephone, the adaptive cruise control and controls for Stop-and-Go and Auto Hold. The radio can be controlled by the touchscreen, with volume and channel selection wheels on the center console. There was a very short learning curve for this outstanding entertainment system.

Other features are driver-selectable digital proximity key, remote trunk, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, heated and power side mirrors with turn signals, panoramic sunroof and wireless phone charging. Ambient lighting can be set to any of 64 colors using a dial, including 10 pre-set colors of Sunrise Red, Aurora Purple, Lightning Violet, Ocean Blue, Jade Green, Orchid Green, Freesia Yellow, Polar White, Moon White and Ice Blue.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
A functional trunk (& frunk)

Technology

The Ioniq 6 comes with an extensive list of standard safety features, beginning with front, side impact and side air curtain airbags. Hyundai’s SmartSense safety tech is robust with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including Highway Driving Assist 2 that allows for brief periods of hands-free driving.

The Hyundai Blue Link app provides access to vehicle systems, including remote start and remote charging, and the Digital Key provides extra convenience and safety.

Systems include a surround view camera, lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, forward collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic avoidance assist. Click the above links to learn about the Hyundai safety suite. Other features are hill start assist, auto hold, a surround and blind view monitor with parking sensors, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a tire repair kit in lieu of a spare tire.

Warranty

  • New Vehicle – Five years/60,000 miles
  • Powertrain – 10 years/100,000 miles
  • Battery – 10 years/100,000 miles
  • Anti-Perforation – Seven years/Unlimited miles
  • Complementary Maintenance – Three years/36,000 miles
  • Roadside Assistance – Five years/Unlimited miles

Pricing

The 2024 Ioniq 6 comes in six trims, with these base prices that include the $1,150 destination fee. These prices are before any tax incentives that would only come by leasing, not buying. So if leasing is palatable, take at least $7,500 off these prices for the federal tax credit, and possibly more from your state or local electric utility. (AER = All Electric Range.)

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
A variety of interior color options

RWD

SE Standard Range   $38,650      240 AER

SE Long Range           $43,600      361 AER

SEL                             $46,400      305 AER

Limited                        $51,300      305 AER

AWD

SE                                $47,100      316 AER

SEL                             $49,900      270 AER

Limited                        $54,800      270 AER

The value Ioniq 6 is the SE Long Range RWD. At $43,600, it gets a whopping 361 all-electric miles and comes very nicely equipped.

Observations: 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Hyundai made a statement when it introduced the all-new Ioniq 6 electric sedan in March 2023. In an SUV and truck world, Hyundai bucked the trend with this eye-catching sedan offering performance, efficiency, fast charging, driving range and comfort for thousands less than other electric sedans. Make sure to take note of the outstanding warranty.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
Looks and performance

How does the Ioniq 6 base price compare against other electric sedans?

  • Hyundai Ioniq 6                       $38,650
  • Tesla 3                                    $40,630
  • Polestar 2                               $49,900
  • Lucid Air Pure                        $69,900
  • Mercedes-Benz EQE 500        $74,900
  • Porsche Taycan                        $101,395

The Ioniq 6 is a pleasure to drive and even more-so to look at with its head-turning design. And if you haven’t experienced it yet, there is something very satisfying about driving an electric car. The lack of sound as it moves down the road is wonderful, and the instant torque from a stop, or even when at highway speeds, is something to enjoy. Never stopping at a gasoline station is a plus, too.

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 may be the best EV you can buy, everything considered.

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 and photos by John Faulkner.

[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 Road Test: 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited Long Range AWD first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.
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Author John Faulkner

#Road #Test #Hyundai #Ioniq #Limited #Long #Range #AWD
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Archer Aviation signs a joint venture with Soracle to bring eVTOL air taxi services to Japan

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Archer Aviation signs a joint venture with Soracle to bring eVTOL air taxi services to Japan

Japan is quickly becoming a hub for eVTOL and air taxi technology. This morning, Archer Aviation announced it is the latest sustainable aviation developer to sign a deal in the region and implement aerial taxi transportation, beginning with Soracle Corporation’s purchase of up to 100 Midnight eVTOL aircraft.

As mentioned above, Japan, although slow in the uptake of all-electric vehicles, appears to be fully embracing the prospect of air taxi networks via electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. As far back as 2021, the Osaka Roundtable, a Japanese organization, announced a partnership with Germany’s Volocopter to strategize on how to develop and implement air taxi networks.

Other companies like SkyDrive have partnered with Japanese OEMs like Suzuki to help build its eVTOL aircraft overseas and even saw government funding in their ventures to continue advanced air mobility (AAM) development.

Earlier this week, Joby Aviation completed its first eVTOL test flight demonstration in Japan alongside executives from Toyota, a large investor. Today, California-based air taxi developer Archer Aviation announced it is joining its competitors overseas and already has its first customer lined up for a potentially large eVTOL order.

eVTOL Los Angeles
Archer’s Midnight eVTOL / Source: Archer Aviation

Archer forms joint venture to establish air taxis in Japan

Per Archer Aviation, it has signed a joint venture with Soracle Corporation, which itself was established this summer as a joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Airlines, headquartered in Tokyo.

To get things started, Soracle intends to launch AAM operations in Japan using Archer’s flagship eVTOL aircraft in order to offer the public all-electric air taxi flights in cities where current ground vehicle transportation is constrained by traffic or geographic barriers.

As part of the joint venture, Soracle has secured the right to order up to 100 Midnight aircraft, totaling approximately $500 million. The terms of that potential purchase include pre-delivery payments based on certain milestones before the eVTOLs are delivered. Soracle CEO Yukihiro Ota shared his thoughts following a signing ceremony held between both companies on September 26, 2024:

Through the operation of eVTOL aircraft, Soracle aims to enrich lives and society by creating more accessible air transportation services in Japan. We will provide safe and reliable services to passengers by making the most of the wealth of knowledge we have accumulated at Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation. Today’s announcement is a first step towards making the future we envision a reality.

To support its incoming fleet of Midnight eVTOLs from Archer, Soracle said it will develop a network of air taxi flight routes in attractive areas that residents, as well as domestic and international visitors, can utilize for speedier travel around Japan. The company hinted that those route locations could include notable metropolitan areas like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hokkaido, Setouchi, and Okinawa.

To begin commercializing AAM and air taxi services in Japan, Archer and Soracle shared joint plans to conduct a public flight demonstration at the World Expo to build public support, demonstrate the future of technology, and accelerate investments from stakeholders. The World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, from April to October 2024.

With today’s news, Archer adds Soracle and Japan to its list of customers and partners around the world. A lineup that already includes Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, KaKaoMobility in Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

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Source link by Electrek
Author Scooter Doll

#Archer #Aviation #signs #joint #venture #Soracle #bring #eVTOL #air #taxi #services #Japan
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Smiths Interconnect’s Hypertac Green Connect socket boasts more efficient energy transfer, uses no lead or beryllium

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Smiths Interconnect’s Hypertac Green Connect socket boasts more efficient energy transfer, uses no lead or beryllium

Most EV drivers probably don’t think much about the connectors in their charging stations, but a higher-quality connector can deliver faster, more reliable charging and a longer service life.

Smiths Interconnect touts several advantages of its Hypertac Green Connect socket for CCS chargers. Designed to IEC 62196 and SAE J1772 standards, Hypertac Green Connect offers “unprecedented energy transfer, durability and long-term performance.”

Smiths explains that Joule heating (aka resistive heating) within CCS sockets causes power loss, leading to increased charging time.

The Hypertac Green Connect contact offers “unmatched low contact resistance and temperature rise even after 10,000 insertion and withdrawal cycles.” The hyperboloid contact reduces heat buildup, and the improved crimp design of the socket offers increased contact area between the contact body and the multi-stranded cable. The sockets are built to endure up to 60,000 mating cycles.

The connector is designed to minimize insertion and extraction force, making the ergonomics of the plug more user-friendly while reducing wear and tear on the connector.

Hypertac Green Connect technology is lead-free and beryllium-free, and the connectors are fully compliant with RoHS and REACH regulations, which restrict the use of hazardous substances in products. Eliminating beryllium and lead significantly reduces the burden of compliance documentation, according to the company, and eliminates the future costs associated with environmentally safe disposal of these materials.

“With its unrivalled performance to transfer energy in boost mode, long-term durability, and compliance with global standards, we are setting a new benchmark for high-performance connectors that will meet the needs of an evolving market,” said Mark Kelleher, Connectors BU Director at Smiths Interconnect.

Source: Smiths Interconnect


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Author Charles Morris

#Smiths #Interconnects #Hypertac #Green #Connect #socket #boasts #efficient #energy #transfer #lead #beryllium
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2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV teased with focus on efficiency

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2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV teased with focus on efficiency

A new generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class compact sedan arrives next year, with an all-electric variant as part of the lineup.

Mercedes first showed a camouflaged prototype of the CLA-Class EV in October, and on Wednesday it released a further tease in the form of a video of CEO Ola Källenius driving one of the prototypes.

Teaser for 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Underneath the camouflage, expect the CLA-Class EV to have styling based on the Concept CLA-Class unveiled at the 2023 Munich auto show. That concept also showed off the engineering of the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) that will be the basis for the CLA EV and other next-generation compact Mercedes models.

MMA will incorporate an 800-volt electrical architecture, which Mercedes said allowed for DC fast charging that could recover up to 248 miles of range in 15 minutes in the Concept CLA-Class, and is designed around smaller battery packs. Range will be achieved more through efficiency than pack size, incorporating lessons learned from the Vision EQXX concept, which traveled a record 746 miles on a single charge in 2022. 

The CLA EV will be unveiled in 2025, meaning it will likely reach the U.S. as a 2026 model. In the teaser, Källenius confirmed that a high-performance AMG version is in development alongside the standard CLA-Class. And a hybrid powertrain option is expected to be offered alongside the all-electric ones.

In addition to the CLA-Class, which is expected to retain the “four-door coupe” shape of the current car and the Concept CLA-Class, Mercedes is expected to introduce a range of small cars based on the MMA underpinnings, including a crossover that could serve as a Tesla Model Y rival.



Source link by Green Car Reports

Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)


#MercedesBenz #CLA #teased #focus #efficiency

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Tesla police cruiser, Trump voters love solar, and at least the mines will be nice

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Tesla police cruiser, Trump voters love solar, and at least the mines will be nice

On today’s episode of Quick Charge, I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords. I’d like to remind them that, as a trusted media personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves cobalt mines.

We’ve also got the world’s quickest police pursuit vehicle, an Amnesty International report highlighting Tesla and Mercedes’ efforts to improve worker conditions in the Congo, and an exploration of Trump voters’ love for solar power.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 50% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday pre-sale, now through November 11. Learn more by clicking here.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news!

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Read more: Cybertruck dually, overland Kia concepts, and electric Mopars at SEMA.

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Source link by Electrek

Author Jo Borrás


#Tesla #police #cruiser #Trump #voters #love #solar #mines #nice

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Beam Global receives first order for BeamSpot curbside EV chargers from Fortune 500 utility company

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Beam Global receives first order for BeamSpot curbside EV chargers from Fortune 500 utility company

Beam Global sells an innovative portable solar-powered EV charger that fits in a parking space and can be set up in mere hours. Obvious applications for the EV ARC include off-grid and/or temporary charging needs, such as events of disaster relief (a few of these would have come in handy here in St. Pete, Florida recently). However, when Charged spoke with CEO Desmond Wheatley back in 2022, he pointed out that there are numerous other applications too—just about anywhere that limited grid power and/or fast installation are issues.

We believe that curbside charging is shaping up as one of the hottest parts of the EV charging infrastructure universe—it’s the obvious solution for urban drivers who aren’t able to install chargers at home—so we were quite interested to read about Beam’s new BeamSpot curbside charging product line.

Now the company has announced that it has received the first order for its BeamSpot curbside chargers from an unnamed long-term customer, a “Fortune 500 company in the utility and energy solutions sector.” Multiple corporate offices will each install three BeamSpot systems for EV charging and street lighting.

The BeamSpot curbside charging system is a streetlight replacement that can be powered by solar, wind and/or grid-provided electricity, stored in Beam’s proprietary integrated batteries. The system integrates with existing streetlight electrical infrastructure and provides both EV charging and lighting. Suitable locations include urban areas such as city centers, residential neighborhoods, parking lots, multi-unit housing and public venues.

“While there are existing streetlight EV charging solutions on the market, those rely entirely on the streetlight’s electrical circuit, which is typically only equipped with enough capacity to power a light,” says Beam. “The BeamSpot solution combines three sources of electricity in its on-board batteries, allowing for a higher-capacity EV charge which is largely provided by renewable energy, and which will continue to operate during blackouts and other grid failures. The BeamSpot product will also continue to light streets during grid failures.”

“This first order demonstrates the marketability of the BeamSpot product,” said CEO Desmond Wheatley. “This product solves one of the toughest challenges facing the industry today—the need for ubiquitous, sustainable charging at the curb that can be deployed quickly and without major easements, construction or electrical work.”

Source: Beam Global



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Author Charles Morris


#Beam #Global #receives #order #BeamSpot #curbside #chargers #Fortune #utility #company

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How Trump’s second term could derail the clean energy transition

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The climate law is helping bring solar to more apartment buildings

But such logic may not prevail, MIT’s Wolfram said. If we’re building a lot of battery factories and solar plants in red congressional districts, hopefully that will insulate IRA from repeal,” she said. But I fear there’s a risk that Republicans would want to destroy Biden’s signature climate achievement, even if it’s against their economic interests.”

The GOP could also decide it would rather steer money earmarked to clean energy to other priorities — like tax cuts.

Wolfram co-authored a recent paper that suggested Republicans might seek to get rid of tax credits and other federal climate spending in an attempt to reduce the federal deficit because the deficit would be expected to balloon if they extend the tax cuts enacted by Congress during the first Trump administration, which are set to expire at the end of 2025.

What can Trump do on his own? 

While Congress would need to take action to fully repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, a Trump administration can make moves on its own to halt or at least complicate the provision of the IRA’s tax credits, Godfrey said, such as instructing the Treasury Department to amend, suspend, or delay implementation of the rules that determine how tax credits are calculated and disbursed.

There is space for an administration that wants to throw sand in the gears to come in and say, We’re suspending the rule, or we’re suspending the notice of proposed rulemaking,’” Godfrey said. People should be concerned about a Trump administration without complete control of Congress to use administrative powers to readjust those rules in a way that will be detrimental to their implementation.”

Beyond obstructing the Inflation Reduction Act rollout, other decisions fall squarely within the authority of the executive branch — and a future Trump administration has a blueprint to follow on those fronts.

Project 2025, the policy platform created by right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation, calls for restructuring federal agencies — including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Interior — in ways that would restrict or end their roles in promoting clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Trump has disavowed any knowledge of or support for Project 2025, but CNN has reported that at least 140 people who worked in the Trump administration were involved in the project, including six of his former Cabinet secretaries.

Among the proposals in Project 2025: reversing a landmark 2009 finding from the EPA that carbon dioxide emissions are a threat to human health, which is currently the basis for federal regulations on greenhouse gases. The platform also calls for EPA to reconsider rules limiting tailpipe emissions from road vehicles and withdraw California’s long-held option to set its own vehicle standards — an ability that has allowed it and more than a dozen other states to adopt more stringent emissions rules for cars, trucks, and buses than the federal government.

Project 2025 would also have the Interior Department prioritize fossil-fuel extraction on federal lands and have the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission end consideration of environmental impacts of new fossil-gas pipelines. And the blueprint calls for key programs within the Department of Energy to be eliminated or reformed,” including the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, Grid Deployment Office, and the ARPA-E advanced energy R&D program.

The $400 billion pool of loan authority under the DOE’s Loan Programs Office is also under threat. That program has already made tens of billions of dollars available to solar projects, battery factories, nuclear power plants, clean hydrogen production sites, critical-minerals mining, processing, and recycling, and a host of other climate-related projects. Project 2025 calls for eliminating the office, which under former President Obama gave crucial early loans to Tesla. News reports indicate some prospective Trump administration officials want to redirect the loan program toward fossil fuel projects instead.

A full-scale implementation of the Project 2025 agenda would harm not just U.S. clean energy and climate-related investments and economic growth, but also broader job growth and energy costs, according to an August report from think tank Energy Innovation. The analysis found that the policies called for in the blueprint would result in $320 billion in annual GDP losses, 1.7 million clean energy jobs lost, $32 billion in higher household energy costs, and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions of roughly 1 billion metric tons by 2030 compared to a scenario in which current policies were kept in place.

Godfrey expressed hope that a Trump administration would forgo the more drastic parts of Project 2025, such as eliminating whole arms of DOE” that support industries such as critical-minerals mining, processing, and recycling, which are seen as crucial to U.S. competitiveness against China.

Yet he also warned that companies that have won promises of loans and grants from agencies under the Biden administration but haven’t yet received them could face the threat of clawback. If you have an executed agreement in place, you should be OK. Anything short of that, I think there’s some risk there,” he said.

All of these threats run the risk not only of delaying urgent action on climate change, but of causing economic hardship in a world in which carbon-free energy is clearly beating fossil fuels on purely economic terms, said Tom Steyer, the billionaire founder of Farallon Capital Management who has backed a variety of climatetech investments and political and philanthropic causes.

The only political party on the globe that still is denying that climate change has an impact economically and environmentally is the Republican Party,” Steyer told Canary Media earlier this year. The cost of wind and solar and batteries is going to drop precipitously. The advantage they have in cost is only going to get bigger.”

For the U.S. to try to give up the future and go back to the 1950s — an internal-combustion-engine, fossil-fuel-driven world — it destroys jobs in the United States, destroys industries in the United States, and drives up inflation,” he said.

Gina McCarthy, former national climate advisor in the Biden administration and head of the EPA under the Obama administration, was defiant in a statement Wednesday morning.

No matter what Trump may say, the shift to clean energy is unstoppable and our country is not turning back,” McCarthy wrote. Our coalition is bigger, more bipartisan, better organized, and fully prepared to deliver climate solutions, boost local economies, and drive climate ambition. We cannot and will not let Trump stand in the way of giving our kids and grandkids the freedom to grow up in safer and healthier communities.”



Source link by Canary Media

Author Jeff St. John


#Trumps #term #derail #clean #energy #transition

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Kia PV5 WKNDR concept readies the electric van for adventures

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Kia PV5 WKNDR concept readies the electric van for adventures

  • Kia unveiled an electric camper van at SEMA
  • Based on the PV5, the WKNDR previews the potential for a recreational EV
  • Production of the PV5 and its variants is slated for 2025

The annual SEMA show in Las Vegas is typically a showcase for modified production vehicles and aftermarket parts, but this year Kia brought an adventure-ready electric concept vehicle.

The Kia PV5 WKNDR concept is an electric van derived from the Kia PV5, one of a series of Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) concepts Kia unveiled at CES earlier this year. These concepts previewed a line of flexible electric vans for commercial use, but the PV5 WKNDR is aimed at recreation.

Kia PV5 WKNDR concept

Kia PV5 WKNDR concept

A winch-equipped front bumper, chunky tires under flared fenders, and a pop-up camper attachment ready this van for off-grid trips, while built-in solar panels help ensure a level of self-sufficiency once there. An onboard air compressor can also be used to both deflate the tires for off-roading, or inflate an air mattress.

When parked, a modular storage system allows supplies and equipment to be securely stored outside, freeing up more interior space, while still offering easy access, according to Kia. This also includes a mobile kitchen assembly for cooking at a camp site.

Kia PV5 WKNDR concept

Kia PV5 WKNDR concept

As detailed by Kia at CES earlier this year, the PV5 and other PBV concepts differ significantly from current EVs. There’s been no mention of skateboard platform, but instead interchangeable upper bodies, secured to the chassis via magnetic couplings, that allow the same vehicle to serve different roles. One van could switch from a taxi during the day, to a delivery van at night, to a recreation vehicle like the WKNDR on, well, weekends.

Kia has set up a dedicated factory for its PBV business in South Korea that’s due to start production in 2025 with a targeted annual capacity of 150,000 units, and camouflaged prototypes of the PV5 electric van have been spotted testing. Kia views these electric vans as key products for its future EV push, and may use them as the basis for robotaxis should autonomous-driving tech ever reach maturity.


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Source link by Green Car Reports
Author news@greencarreports.com (Stephen Edelstein)

#Kia #PV5 #WKNDR #concept #readies #electric #van #adventures
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LiveWire unveils powerful electric maxi-scooter built on its motorcycle platform

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LiveWire unveils powerful electric maxi-scooter built on its motorcycle platform

LiveWire, the electric motorcycle company spun out of Harley-Davidson, is flexing the versatility of the company’s S2 Arrow powertrain with the unveiling of an electric maxi scooter.

A maxi-scooter is a type of large, powerful scooter designed for comfortable riding. Unlike traditional urban-oriented scooters, maxi-scooters typically have more powerful motors that make them suitable for highway travel. They tend to feature a more robust frame, larger wheels, and extra storage space, along with more premium amenities such as windshields, comfortable seating, and often more advanced tech features. LiveWire is likely to lean into all of those opportunities by leveraging its existing electric motorcycle S2 Arrow powertrain for the new design.

The S2 Arrow powertrain was first unveiled during the launch of the LiveWire S2 Del Mar. The powertrain includes the structural battery, electric motor, and the associated control hardware. LiveWire demonstrated the platform’s flexibility by quickly launching a second model, the S2 Mulholland, on the platform.

Now LiveWire is making a major leap to fully realize the platform’s broad appeal for designing diverse models, using it as the backbone for its upcoming electric maxi-scooter slated for launch in the first half of 2026.

With the success of electric maxi-scooters like the BMW CE-04, LiveWire has surely been looking closely at how the segment could leverage the performance of its versatile e-motorcycle platform.

LiveWire won’t rely only on its own platform to bring the electric maxi-scooter to market, but also on the expertise of KYMCO, a leading Taiwanese scooter company that has long dominated the market with its wide range of scooters, both gasoline and electric-powered.

“LiveWire is an iconic leader in electric solutions for urban mobility, explained KYMCO Chairman Allen Ko. “We are excited to partner with them as LiveWire embarks on the development of a S2-based electric maxi-scooter.”

KYMCO became an early investor in LiveWire and the two companies are now strengthening their relationship with increased collaboration on multiple electric motorbike models.

“The collaboration has been very smooth,” said LiveWire CEO Karim Donnez in an interview with Electrek. “We’ve found the KYMCO team very easy to work with.”

Donnez explained that the two companies have continued to strengthen their work together, with the hemispheric separation between them allowing the unique opportunity for nearly 24-hour progress. Plans are in the works for a geographic exchange of employees to further integrate the teams and allow more seamless collaboration between the two companies.

And the fruits of that cooperation are already showing with the unveiling of the updated KYMCO RevoNEX electric motorcycle, which has been redesigned based on the S2 Arrow platform. Assuming LiveWire’s electric maxi-scooter makes it to market first, the RevoNEX would become the fourth model launched on LiveWire’s S2 Arrow foundation.

Early responses have been largely positive to LiveWire’s release of concept images of its upcoming electric maxi-scooter on social media.

LiveWire’s branding and marketing has always sought to distinguish itself from the brand’s Harley-Davidson roots, allowing the young motorcycle company to emerge from behind H-D’s shadow and largely do its own thing, focusing on a different type of rider with distinct demands and desires.

The inclusion of a powerful electric maxi-scooter in the lineup is likely to help underscore that independence, with LiveWire continuing to focus on a younger, more urban audience that increasingly sees two-wheelers less as an identity and more as a lifestyle, merging fun riding with utilitarian commuting.

It’s of course far too early to tell how the bikes will ultimately be received. We’ve yet to see LiveWire’s electric maxi-scooter concepts in the flesh, indicating there’s likely still some significant design time left in the development cycle. But one thing is already for certain: LiveWire is increasingly doing its own thing and the company wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Source link by Electrek
Author Micah Toll

#LiveWire #unveils #powerful #electric #maxiscooter #built #motorcycle #platform
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Cybertruck dually, overland Kia concepts, and electric Mopars at SEMA

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Cybertruck dually, overland Kia concepts, and electric Mopars at SEMA

On today’s episode of Quick Charge, we find out what a one-ton Tesla Cybertruck looks like, check out some clever, off-road Kia overland EVs, witness the electric rebirth of Plymouth with a plugin street rod, and more!

We’ve also got a bunch of new, $300/mo. EV lease deals and talk up the rapid rise of the Ultium-based Honda Prologue, which is rocketing up the sales charts!

Today’s episode features our new title sponsor, BLUETTI – a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 50% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday pre-sale, now through November 11. Learn more by clicking here here.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news!

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Read more: New Honda battery electric lawn mowers will be made in the USA.

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Source link by Electrek
Author Jo Borrás

#Cybertruck #dually #overland #Kia #concepts #electric #Mopars #SEMA
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