E-Mobility

Car and Driver has recognised the Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric sedan as its 2023 EV of the year, with much of the credit for the win supposedly going to its unorthodox looks. The victory marks a winning streak for Hyundai's Ioniq line-up, with the Ioniq 5 taking home the same award for 2022. Despite this win, the looks of the Ioniq 6 still seem rather polarising.

It appears as if the dream of an electric Volkswagen Beetle will only live on in DIY custom conversions, if a recent statement by VW CEO is to be believed. Despite the brand revisiting the VW Bus in the form of the ID Buzz, VW CEO, Thomas Schäfer, has said in an interview that there are some historic models that have had their time in the sun, and that there is no real justification for reviving the Beetle. This news comes hot on the heels of a recent appearance of an electric Beetle in a Netflix animated film that caused quite a bit of excitement over the prospect of an electrified Beetle.

The S80 Solar Scooter has been unveiled, a new model which can be powered solely using its built-in solar panels. The EV has a 468Wh battery fueled by two integrated panels, with a full charge providing 35 km (~22 miles) of range. Other features include a kickstand, headlight and handlebar dashboard.

McLaren Applied has unveiled the LAVOIE Series 1 e-scooter, now available to order in the US, UK and EU. The vehicle has a patent-pending Flowfold system to make the gadget easier to store or transport. Other features include a digital dashboard, 900W motor and 468Wh battery.

Freebeat has launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for its Morph e-bike. The unusual model can be ridden outdoors, with an accompanying stand allowing you to work out indoors. You can use the indoor rides to recharge the 720Wh battery, with 30 minutes of exercise providing 10 miles (~16 km) of range.

Tout Terrain has unveiled its new Pamir One E-Expedition e-bike. The limited edition model uses the new Pinion E1.12 MGU, with an 85 Nm motor and 700Wh battery. Other features include a carbon fork, a luggage rack, mudguards and an accompanying app for route planning and journey tracking.

Tesla's biggest rival BYD already has a direct Model 2 competitor before Tesla has even announced its cheapest electric car. The BYD Dolphin is now launched globally and carries US$25,000 price in places like Australia where it immediately became the most affordable electric vehicle.

Stronger unions and overtime pay raise the labor costs in Tesla's upcoming Gigafactory in Nuevo León where the cheap Model 2 is supposed to be produced in mass numbers. Moreover, the gradual relocation of Chinese suppliers from the Shanghai factory and the sheer size of Giga Mexico have reportedly postponed its opening by a quarter or two.

Ford has announced plans to cut upwards of 1,000 jobs in the US in the coming months, citing, among other reasons, high costs of pivoting its production to electric vehicles and the lack of profitability in the electric vehicle market as reasons for the lay-offs. The lay-offs are expected to affect both salaried and contract engineers in its internal-combustion-engine division and software developers in its EV business. Ford also expects to continue losing money, to the tune of US$3 billion, on its electric vehicle division in 2023.

As more electric vehicle makers have joined the Tesla NACS bandwagon, the Society of Automotive Engineers International has seen fit to standardise Tesla's formerly-proprietary charging standard. While this step may seem insignificant, it goes a long way to legitimising the NACS connector as an open standard and alleviating some of the complaints levelled at the design by opponents to its widespread adoption. As part of the standardisation process, the SAE will develop the SAE NACS standard.

Polestar claims that it has increased the range of its 2024 Polestar 2 electric fastback sedan by improving motor efficiency and power usage. The Polestar 2 Long range Single motor now boasts a WLTP range of 654 km (~406 miles). In addition to the range increases, Polestar has managed to boost the charging speed of the Polestar 2 by up to 36% in some cases.

After similar moves from the likes of Ford, General Motors, and Rivian, among others, Volvo has announced that it will adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard charging hardware in its electric vehicles from 2025. This will give Volvo owners access to the immense Tesla Supercharger network, as well as a wealth of third-party fast charging providers that have recently also committed to using NACS.

Chevrolet has officially launched the Silverado EV electric pickup truck during a media event, announcing the previously-unknown specs and pricing for its electric pickup truck. The Silverado will initially be available in the 4WT spec with 450 miles of range for fleet customers, with a 350-mile 3WT and US$105,000, 400-mile First Edition RST trim coming before the end of 2023.

While Tesla owns the largest DC charger network for electric vehicles in the US, ChargePoint is the biggest overall with 48,946 ports spread across its Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast chargers. ChargePoint has finally announced that it will be adopting the Tesla NACS connector for new and existing stations.

Kia has announced a pre-order campaign for the EV6 GT in China, launching on June 28. Only 1,000 units of the electric crossover will go on sale at this point, with the official launch later this summer. The EV6 GT has an ultra-fast charging battery, recharging from 10 to 80% in 18 minutes.

The new 8,500-pound Silverado electric pickup truck by Chevrolet has a giant 200 kWh battery pack that takes a while to be filled even on faster chargers. Direct access to the vast network of Tesla Superchargers, however, isn't coming before the 2025 model year.

The Tesla Cybertruck has once again been spotted during its delivery to the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds, this time giving us a more detailed look at the inside of its sizeable frunk. Previously, it was confirmed that the Cybertruck would have the same style of frunk as the Ford F-150 Lightning, but this latest sighting gives us a better idea of the scale of the interior of the frunk.

At Amazon in the US, you can currently buy the Segway Ninebot Electric Kick Scooter F series with discounts of up to 45% off. The entry-level F25 has a top speed of 15.5 mph (~25 kph) and up to 12.4 miles (~20.0 km) range. The range-topping G65 has a more powerful motor for an 18.6 mph (~30 kph) peak speed and a maximum range of 40.4 miles (~65 km).

Volkswagen recently announced that it intends to take the sub-€25,000 (~US$27,000) segment of the car market by storm with the new ID. 2all. However, the company is now rumored to have an even cheaper electric vehicle (EV) in the works. The 'entry-level ID' is said to launch with a new platform and a super-compact build.

The Tesla Cybertruck automatic tailgate and tonneau cover motions, as well as its interior have been extensively filmed during its chief designer visit to an EV exhibit inauguration at Peterson's museum. The new shots also revealed a cool storage space under a lid in the truck bed as well as possibly vented seats.

The 2023 Flyer Goroc TR:X e-bike has been unveiled. The bicycles use the Pinion E1 MGU (motor gearbox unit) with an automatic gear shift feature and four assistance levels. Plus, the Goroc TR:X is equipped with a 700 Wh battery, and an optional range extender is coming next year.

The Decathlon Rockrider E-ST 500 e-bike is currently discounted in the UK, the Netherlands and France. Both the gender-neutral and women’s models are included in the sale, offering up to 11% off. The e-bike has a 250W BROSE C motor, a 420Wh battery and a SUNTOUR suspension fork.

Despite the Tesla Model Y's recent record-breaking sales, Autotrader seems to have skipped Tesla entirely when it put together its list of top ten EVs for 2023. Instead, the automotive site ranks brands like BMW, Hyundai, and Rivian among the best electric vehicles of the year. In Q1, 2023, Tesla's Model Y sold more than any other vehicle in the US, except for the Ford F-150, which has topped US sales charts for decades.

Bandit Bikes has launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for the X-Trail Pro, which it claims is the fastest street-legal e-bike available. Dual motors can power you up to 42 mph (~68 kph), and the built-in battery enables you to travel for up to 120 miles (~195 km) on a single charge.

Ford scored the largest outlay in the Energy Department's Loan Programs Office history as it will receive north of $9 billion from the federal government to build 3 EV assembly and battery factories. The plants in Kentucky and Tennessee are part of its BlueOval joint venture with SK On.

A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for the AcoPower TesFridge has begun. The freezer is designed to fit perfectly inside the Sub-Trunk of a Tesla Model 3, Model X or Model Y. The gadget can cool food and drink to temperatures as low as 4°F (~-20°C), with the largest model providing a 36L capacity.

Volkswagen has introduced its latest flagship SUV as a plug-in hybrid that will, as such, be able to handle acceleration off the line as it will in practical uses such as towing. The new Touareg R eHybrid is also backed to look good doing either, with "re-designed" front and back ends, a new matte finish and some high-tech tweaks in common with some ID.-series vehicles. The marque's "absolute top model" is available to order in Europe from now.

Tesla was recently granted a new steer-by-wire patent similar to the One Motion Grip system of the Lexus RZ 450e with a good reason, as it will reportedly use it in the upcoming Model 3 Highland refresh that may be released in the fall. The Model 3 Highland is tipped to include a full set of high-res HW4 cameras, too, including in the front bumper.

Mere months before the vehicle's scheduled August release, Tesla's Cybertruck has been spotted exiting an aircraft in New Zealand. Tesla has previously used the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground on the South Island of New Zealand for winter testing. Presumably, Tesla will be evaluating the Cybertruck's all-wheel-drive and handling performance as well as getting an idea of how the range holds up in snowy conditions.

The latest in the slow drip of information about Rivian's second electric vehicle platform reveals that the vehicle's design is set to make its debut in 2024. What we know so far is that the R2 platform will play host to a crossover SUV that is set to take on the likes of the Ford Bronco, topping out at a price of US$60,000. Given Tesla's recent Model 3 and Model Y pricing, it looks like tough competition lies ahead for the startup EV maker.

Ford has unveiled the custom 1,400 hp E-Transit SuperVan it plans to use during the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 25, 2023. This Hot Wheels van come to life sees a number of improvements over last year's competitor and is a far cry from the E-Transit van that it was based on. Ford worked with STARD (Stohl Advanced Racing and Development Motorsport) to realise the SuperVan 4.2.

The Hyundai Motor Group has announced a new electric vehicle platform that it says will allow the companies under its umbrella to develop electric vehicles in every segment, including electric SUVs and pickup trucks. Between Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, the group is putting a lot of work into filling out its electric vehicle line-up.

Buoyed by recent wider adoption of its open-source NACS charging system by GM, Ford, and others, Tesla's network of Superchargers is worth at least $40 billion, say analysts. Tesla will remain the dominant EV player in the US until at least 2027, too.

Despite recently reaching an agreement with Tesla to include NACS charging hardware, Ford's CEO, Jim Farley, has had some choice words about the Cybertruck, all but dismissing its viability as competition for the F-150 Lightning as a work truck. According to the Ford CEO, the two vehicles are aimed at different market segments, and the Cybertruck is more of a techie status symbol than anything else.

Thomus has revealed its TWINNER T1 Pro e-bike. The carbon frame S-Pedelec can reach top speeds of 28 mph (~45 kph) and has a 1,638 Wh battery with smart battery charging controls. Plus, you can choose to add unusual features such as a rearview camera and heated handlebars.

All EV charging stations in Texas for which the respective company has received state subsidies will have to include one Tesla NACS connector and one CCS plug. In the meantime, Tesla is co-opting more and more automakers or charging network companies to adopt NACS voluntarily.

Rivian just joined the growing list of EV makers that will migrate to Tesla's North American Charging Standard. This means that both the ports and connectors of Rivian electric vehicles can be hooked to Tesla Superchargers directly going forward.

Tesla Superchargers aren't yet fast enough for the 800V charging systems of Hyundai and KIA electric vehicles. According to a Hyundai exec, the company will consult with Tesla on adopting its NACS standard as long as it can provide more powerful Superchargers.

The 50% cheaper to make 4680 battery that Tesla promised a while ago is still a pipe dream as Tesla hasn't yet mastered the dry electrode coating production method at scale. VW, however, may beat it to the punch with dry-coated cathodes thanks to a partnership with a German printing firm.

After officially unveiling the EV9 in March of this year, Kia has started shipping the first production units of its seven-seater all-electric SUV in Korea, indicating that production is on-track. US and European shipments of the Kia EV9 are set to start sometime in the coming months of 2024, and at least some of the US trims will qualify for federal EV tax incentives.

There has apparently been a spell of 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 owners have experienced total power loss to the electric drive in their vehicles. 30 owners complained to the NHTSA about a "loud pop" followed by a sudden loss of power. The NHTSA has launched an investigation into the complaints, and the agency estimates that 39,559 vehicles are affected by the issue. Hyundai has indicated that it is working with the NHTSA during the investigation.

The Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Go appears to be about to launch in the EU. An EU Declaration of Conformity, Bluetooth listing and retailers in Hungary and Poland have provided details about the kick scooter. The new model has a 250W engine and can travel up to 18 km (~11 miles) on a single charge.

Ducati has unveiled the new E-Enduro Powerstage RR Limited Edition e-bike. The model is the company's first full-carbon electric mountain bike, with a 250W Shimano motor and 630Wh battery. Other features include Ohlins suspension, an integrated LCD and smartphone connectivity.

The Stromer ST7 Alinghi Red Bull Racing Limited Edition e-bike has been unveiled. The electric bicycle has a 940W motor for a top assistance speed of 45 kph (~28 mph) and up to 260 km (~110 miles) range on a single charge. Other features include an accompanying smartphone app with GPS location tracking.

Tesla is the only EV maker that will be able to meet US police departments' vehicle needs and its Model Y or upcoming Cybertruck can be retrofitted to serve as a police car just like the usual Dodge, Ford, or Chevy. A Tesla Model Y journey to a Model PD has now been detailed, complete with the cage and Windows computer inside.

Since its release, Model S Plaid owners have been testing their vehicles against all manner of supercars, with generally impressive results. This time, the Model S Plaid faced off against a top-spec Koenigsegg Agera RST, with 1,360 hp, and a supercharged Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle that produces 380 hp. The three vehicles competed in both a standing 1/4 mile and rolling-start 1/2 mile test, with results that highlight the strengths of an all-electric drivetrain very well.

Just like the all-electric Porsche Taycan and the very efficient Mercedes EQS, the upcoming Aehra Sedan targets very affluent buyers and is scheduled to hit the market in 2026 for prices starting at around US$170,000.

The new side repeaters that come with Tesla Hardware 4.0 are more power-efficient than the current Hardware 3.0 generation. They can't be plugged in place of a HW3 indicator, though, as a direct parts comparison shows new cameras, wiring harness, and different connectors.