Kona Electric review, Toyota solid-state future, EV9 bidirectional charging: The Week in Reverse

Which EVs obtained enhancements to journey and dealing with delivered over the air this week?

Which automaker confirmed an electrical scooter that folds up suitcase-sized?

That is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Inexperienced Automobile Reviews—for the week ending September 15, 2023.

Based mostly on some temporary first driving impressions of the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric, we are able to confirm that when once more it’s the best-driving of the lineup, offering an expertise that’s extra refined in each method. Solely with last pricing not but disclosed for the U.S., we’ve but to see the way it components in with respect to worth—particularly with the addition of a base-battery model. 

2024 Kia EV9

The upcoming Kia EV9 is noteworthy for a lot of causes, and certainly one of them is the best way the EV9 will allow access to bidirectional charging from the beginning. With the Wallbox Quasar 2, homeowners of the EV9 can have an automaker-approved technique of tapping into the electrical SUV for each dwelling energy backup and easing the load on the grid. We lately noticed firsthand how this works.

Lotus has rolled out one other EV that’s something however the small and light-weight the model has signaled previously. The 2025 Lotus Emeya is a giant hatchback, the scale of a Porsche Taycan or Tesla Mannequin S, with efficiency and dealing with anticipated to maintain up with each of these. Precise vary figures land nearer to these of the Taycan although, from first indications.

Lotus Emeya

Regardless of its comparatively few EVs out there now, Toyota has large plans to make a number of large developments in battery tech the core of its upcoming EVs. In an replace this week, Toyota laid out the timeline for solid-state batteries, and emphasised that to maximise vary and effectivity in future EVs, battery packs will probably be thinner. 

Rivian’s newest software program replace brings improved ride and handling to the electric trucks, in each drive mode, the corporate says. It’s one other testomony to the continual enchancment that over-the-air updates can deliver to EVs particularly—and the way the tuning of the automobile doesn’t finish at supply. 

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Genesis Electrified GV70 are among the many newest EVs to attain IIHS Prime Security Decide+ standing—which means they’ve earned high crash-test rankings and met different requirements for headlights and active-safety methods. The Lexus RZ additionally made it on the checklist, echoing the top-tier crash-test efficiency of the Toyota bZ4X and incomes the highest spot with higher headlights. And the 2024 Mazda CX-90 plug-in hybrid has been named a Prime Security Decide+ by the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS). It’s one of many few PHEVs to make that checklist, regardless that vital particulars concerning this mannequin, resembling EPA vary and mpg, haven’t but been launched. 

The Honda Motocompacto folding electric scooter can go up 12 miles, weighs simply over 40 kilos, and might pack up the scale of a suitcase that might simply slot in a trunk or cargo space. The Honda-engineered design revival is trying like the best accent for certainly one of Honda’s upcoming EVs, just like the Prologue EV. 

Honda Motocompacto folding electrical scooter

Mercedes is reportedly trying to use BYD’s Blade LFP batteries in Chinese language-market variations of its upcoming EVs—even perhaps the next-generation, efficiency-focused EVs heralded by its Mannequin 3–sized Concept CLA-Class. Would possibly the identical apply within the U.S. or Europe?

The Chinese language battery maker Gotion is setting itself as much as be a U.S. battery maker—with the addition of a $2 billion EV battery factory in Illinois. Set to begin manufacturing in 2024, the large facility will make LFP battery packs and cells—for purchasers not but revealed, though it’s honest to say that Gotion is a key accomplice of VW in Germany for its new PowerCo enterprise. 

2024 Audi e-tron GT

Battery points are prompting a recall of the 2023 Porsche Taycan and 2023 Audi E-Tron GT. No different mannequin years are affected, the automakers underscore. A change to the sealant used for the packs for the 2023 mannequin 12 months may show costly, with some homeowners doubtless receiving new packs.

BMW, Ford, and Honda have allied for tech enabling EVs to support the grid. With an organization known as ChargeScape, the automakers hope to navigate all the small print between {hardware} and electrical utilities for “EV-enabled grid providers,” in order that EV homeowners may help assist the grid and be rewarded in doing so. 

2023 Lucid Air Touring

A current proprietor examine has discovered that Tesla loyalty remains very strong, whereas Rivian and Lucid are among the many manufacturers luring homeowners away. The Mannequin Y additionally lacks a companion mannequin to step as much as, it discovered—though current value cuts to the Mannequin X and the pending arrival of the Cybertruck might change that.

California this week introduced the opening of a $38 million program to subsidize EV fast-chargers for disadvantaged communities. This helps coordinate with the state’s strikes to revamp EV incentives themselves towards low-income drivers.  

And which U.S. states are falling short in supporting the growing EV fleet, and that are maintaining? The placement-data firm HERE, with SBD Automotive, investigated, just a few components past the sheer variety of chargers. It discovered a number of the identical high and backside state performers as final week’s J.D. Energy examine suggesting U.S. EV adoption is turning into polarized based mostly partly on coverage.

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