XC90 Recharge review, Polestar 3, Rivian R3, EV tax credit update: The Week in Reverse

Which automakers are contemplating a partnership that would span EVs, hybrids, and software program?

Which automaker stated it’s aiming for its future EV batteries to last more?

That is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Inexperienced Automotive Reviews—for the week ending March 15, 2024.

In a review of the 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge, GCR discovered that this already interesting Swedish SUV bundle provides extra electrical vary, extra energy, and extra refinement, making it now a virtually ultimate decide for households who aren’t at all times certain about the place they’ll be plugging in on the go.

2025 Polestar 3

The 2025 Polestar 3 will start at $74,800 when it arrives to the U.S. within the second quarter of 2024, Polestar confirmed earlier this week. That’s significantly decrease than what this mannequin had been slated to value, and it matches it up extra competitively versus the Volvo EX90, BMW iX, and Audi Q8 E-Tron. 

With the current addition of the Volkswagen ID.4 to the listing, we revisited and up to date our roundup of which 2024 EVs qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit. It’s nonetheless not an extended listing in comparison with final 12 months, resulting from a lot stricter guidelines for battery elements and significant minerals, nevertheless it’s rising. 

2024 Volkswagen ID.4

Honda and Nissan are finding out a partnership that could apply to EVs, hybrids, and software. Whereas the language stays tentative, such an answer may assist each automakers with EV affordability. 

In accordance with a examine launched final week from Shopper Reviews, Many retailers aren’t doing much to support EV charging. Huge-box retailers, with their massive parking heaps, might particularly be doing extra, CR says, whereas it notes that low cost “greenback” shops have finished successfully nothing to help EVs.  

In a lifetime carbon evaluation launched Thursday, Volvo reported that the LFP model not provided within the U.S. is the greener pick of the EX30 lineup. Trying on the pack alone, the battery within the NMC model provided to America has almost double the carbon impression whereas providing 35% extra capability. 

2025 Volvo EX30

China’s Nio and CATL have allied for longer-life EV batteries, in addition to the used of Nio’s battery-swapping tech. It stems partly from concern from Nio that batteries final so long as autos—though it experiences that packs utilized in its battery-swapping are lasting a dozen years or extra. 

An electrical cost—and magnets—could help curb brake-dust emissions in heavier autos together with vans and EVs the place the emissions have grow to be a priority.

2024 Toyota Prius

Greater than a third of Toyota Prius owners get another one, discovered the used-car retail large in an information pull taking a look at knowledge for all of 2023. The Prius emerged on prime because the nameplate with the very best stage of loyalty. It’s much more of a standout contemplating that by sort of car, buyers have probably the most allegiance to four-door SUVs come trade-in time.

A collection of Biden administration federal companies sketched out plans this week for main zero-emission freight trucking corridors. In a primary part for 2024-2027, charging and hydrogen meting out hubs might be established, serving as logistical factors, then within the second part from 2027-2030 a few of these hubs might be linked with one another. Two extra phases are supposed after that, because the U.S. targets 100% zero-emission for such autos by 2040.

Volvo introduced a charging partnership with Breathe Battery Applied sciences, in order to entry its software-based algorithms for optimizing EV cost charges. It sees the potential to make road-trip fast-charges 30% quicker with the tech, with out altering the battery pack or charging {hardware}. 

2022 BMW i4 eDrive40

BMW is including Shell Recharge Options public chargers, including access to more than 100,000 charge points via its My BMW app, which now aggregates a complete of 5 totally different charging networks while not having separate accounts or apps. It additionally plans so as to add Tesla Supercharger entry in 2025 and is likely one of the companions within the Ionna community beginning to take kind. 

However, a New York Occasions report uncovered how some automakers are creating wealth off promoting driving knowledge gathered by apps purported to assist make drivers safer and extra environment friendly. As a substitute they’re reporting drivers to a central database that’s driving up EV insurance rates with out a lot context or justification as to why. 

BYD Seal

Will a U.S. tariff hike on Chinese EVs hold them out? With bipartisan stress to dissuade Chinese language automakers from promoting their merchandise within the U.S., and hold them from doubtlessly making their U.S.-bound EVs in Mexico, it might be time to take motion—if Congress can come to an settlement on how precisely to do it.

And over the weekend we took a better have a look at how Rivian designed its R2 electrical SUV in addition to the shock R3 compact EV family collectively, and checked out how these small EVs may slot in. May the R3 and R3X revive a stagnant small-car market?

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