Kia EV5, Mercedes EQB, Leaf 2.0, electric convertibles, EV collision repair: The Week in Reverse

Which EV is the lowest-rated by the EPA in effectivity?

Which state is revamping its EV incentives towards low-income drivers?

That is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Inexperienced Automotive Studies—for the week ending August 25, 2023.

A sequence of tech and styling enhancements due within the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB EV will assist make this compact but boxy and spacious SUV—seating as much as seven—much more distinctive available in the market. Plug & Cost compatibility, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a brand new infotainment system are among the many upgrades.

Kia EV5

The Kia EV5 was formally revealed in China, but it surely seems to be a candy spot within the car market that will translate effectively throughout continents. The compact electrical SUV borrows design cues from the bigger EV9 however seems to measure up as a direct rival to gasoline best-sellers just like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4—in addition to electrical fashions just like the VW ID.4 and Nissan Ariya.

Volvo teased its first electric minivan, the EM90, as being “like a Scandinavian lounge on the transfer.” Though the mannequin gained’t be revealed till November, and it’s set for China not less than initially, the Zeekr 009 that units the template for it suggests a product that is likely to be the form of long-awaited reinvention of the minivan Individuals would take note of.

Teaser for 2024 Volvo EM90

Nissan has reportedly previewed a brand new “offensive” of electric vehicles due to arrive around 2025, together with a next-generation Leaf and a boxy counterpoint to the Ariya, along with the electrical Maxima alternative already because of be made in Mississippi. Nissan additionally once more reportedly delayed its e-Energy hybrid system a decade within the making—to a model of the Rogue not arriving till late 2026.

The EPA this week confirmed official efficiency and range figures for some versions of the GMC Hummer EV, and at as little as 50 MPGe mixed for some variations, they’ve the bottom score of any EV presently on sale. Put into context, that’s nonetheless significantly better in an emissions sense over the long term versus a 50-mpg gasoline automobile.

Vinfast VF 9

Vietnam’s Vinfast additionally revealed some EV vary information: Its three-row VF 9 electrical SUV, set to be made within the U.S., hits an EPA-cycle 330 miles of range. That’s larger than another upcoming three-row fashions just like the Kia EV9, though the VF 9’s beginning worth of $83,000 will restrict its enchantment subsequent to established premium manufacturers. 

Honda and Acura within the U.S. have confirmed plans to adopt the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector. The manufacturers haven’t but put out an official assertion or timeline for the shift, as a result of a lot relating to its subsequent a number of EVs is dependent upon GM. 

2024 Acura ZDX

In its newest spherical of trying on the first 90 days of car possession, survey big J.D. Energy discovered that EV owners experience more quality issues, versus homeowners of gasoline fashions. That’s not due to the propulsion system however due to all the extra tech sometimes packed into EVs—though EVs from Polestar and Genesis are top-showing exceptions.

In accordance with a examine trying into knowledge from the collision restore trade, crash repair remains more expensive for EVs than for gasoline fashions. Take Tesla out of the calculation and the quantity improved, however these costly battery packs seemingly proceed to skew the image.

2022 Rivian R1T IIHS crash testing

California has introduced that it’s going to part out its present EV incentive program and as a substitute, beneath Clear Automobiles 4 All, introduce one which incentivizes low-income drivers changing older, higher-polluting automobiles. 

Researchers have proven an AI mannequin to be helpful in benefiting from photo voltaic cells which can be put to make use of by an electrical motor—doubtlessly boosting the range of a solar EV. Though purely on the analysis stage, it’d assist show the economics round solar-supplemented EVs extra viable.

Sono Sion manufacturing mannequin

A latest Ford patent submitting means that the corporate is contemplating a bidirectional EV charging adapter that would assist make sense of a number of linked automobiles in fleets—letting them cost off one charging station, as an illustration, or discharging energy throughout peak-price vitality instances. Because it’s solely a patent, it’s only one risk within the toolbox that Ford’s Professional fleet companies would possibly make the most of in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later. 

Because the UAW hints that this spherical of contract negotiations gained’t go as simply for automakers as within the latest previous, and Trump speaking factors declare that Biden administration EV coverage will “decimate” auto trade jobs, the low-paying EV battery plants supported with federal cash have gotten an election flashpoint. Late within the week, that controversy was remedied with a 25% pay hike for workers on the GM-LG Ultium Cells plant in Ohio.

MINI Cooper SE Convertible (Euro spec)

And why can’t you discover convertible EVs or electric sports cars within the U.S.? Inexperienced Automotive Studies checked out a number of of the the explanation why you gained’t discover a single totally electrical drop-top passenger car in the marketplace—and few if any hybrids of any form providing up an open-air expertise. It comes down largely to the battery, and all of the puzzles it introduces. 

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