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Mercedes’ electric vans get a U.S. price tag. We look at how Rivian Dual-Motor models compare to Quad-Motor models. And what makes green hydrogen worthy of a federal incentive? This and more, here at Green Car Reports Rivian’s Enduro motor unit, made by the company itself in Illinois, cuts weight, cuts costs, and provides nearly the same gut-dropping acceleration as the Quad-Motor versions, Green Car Reports summed in a comparison of Quad-Motor vs. Dual-Motor Rivian EVs. It’s set to be the volume drive system for the R1S SUV, R1T pickup, and EDV delivery vans,  Mercedes-Benz confirmed U.S. pricing and availability…

After a fire broke out at Kia’s No. 3 plant in Hwaseong, South Korea, Tuesday, the automaker is pausing production until September 6. Kia’s EV6 electric crossover is one of the models built at the facility. Kia shuts down SK plant where EV6 is built over a fire Kia, a Hyundai Motor Company affiliate, is suspending operations at its Autoland Hwaseong 3 plant just south of Seoul. According to the Korea Economic Daily, the temporary closure could impact the production of thousands of vehicles, including the EV6 crossover. Other models affected include the K5 and K8 sedans. The fire started…

Mercedes-Benz has announced US pricing for its first fully electric van in North America, the all-new eSprinter based on Mercedes-Benz Vans’ new Electric Versatility Platform. The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is available for order at authorized US dealerships starting now with a starting MSRP of $74,181, including a $2,295 destination and delivery charge. You may be tempted to think that the high price is due to the Chicken Tax, but that’s not the case because the eSprinter for North America will dodge that as it will be assembled in Charleston, South Carolina. Now, it’s worth pointing out that while the Ford E-Transit starts…

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed pricing for its full-size, cargo- and upfit-oriented electric van lineup, called eSprinter, and orders for these EVs are now open. In Standard Output form, the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter starts at $74,181, Including the $2,295 destination charge, while the High Output version starts at $77,611. These two versions are rated at 100 kw (134 hp) and 150 kw (201 hp) respectively, with torque at up to 295 lb-ft.   All U.S.-spec eSprinter models will be made in South Carolina and initially will come with a 113-kwh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, with cells supplied by CATL. The company has…

California-based Motiv Power Systems recently introduced the company’s new Argo Series electric trucks. They can be used for a number of applications, such as shuttle buses, box trucks, step vans, and refrigerated vehicles. Electric vehicles used for personal transportation tend to get the most press these days. There is also a significant amount of bickering online about electric cars, trucks, and SUVs versus their internal combustion engine vehicle counterparts. What is somewhat overlooked is the fact that electrification of transportation includes larger vehicles used in fleets, and these EVs have some advantages over gas and diesel service vehicles. Fortunately, Motiv…

Earlier this year, Rivian expanded its plant in Normal, Illinois by nearly 20% to manufacture its Enduro drive unit. It’s an about-face from the drive units supplied by Bosch in Rivian’s Quad-Motor models, and should help mitigate the bottlenecks to ramping production of the R1T adventure pickup truck, R1S three-row SUV, and EDV electric delivery van.  Equipped in the EDV and Rivian’s new Dual-Motor models, the Enduro drive unit was designed and developed in house to be more efficient, less expensive, and better insulated from supply chain shocks that quaked the industry during the pandemic, right as Rivian began production…

The U.S. Department of the Treasury missed its deadline to release guidance defining what kind of hydrogen production will qualify for maximum tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The agency had a year from the passage of the IRA last August to release this guidance, which will help producers determine how to net tax credits of up to $3 per kilogram of hydrogen, according to Automotive News. The tax credit is meant to incentivize climate-neutral “green hydrogen” over other methods that are carbon-intensive. Producers now expect the guidance in September or October, according to Automotive News, which cited…

The 2024 model year of the Audi e-tron GT and Audi RS e-tron GT brings an interesting boost in EPA efficiency and range. According to the recently published ratings, both versions have an EPA Combined range of 249 miles, which is several percent more than before (in 2022MY and 2023MY). 2024 Audi e-tron GT 20-inch: 249 miles[up 11 miles or 4.6% vs. 2023MY] 2024 Audi RS e-tron GT 20-inch: 249 miles[up 17 miles or 7.3% vs. 2023MY] The range increased without a change to the battery pack, which still holds 93.4 kilowatt-hours (83.7 kWh usable), according to the company’s website.…

In the first four weeks of August, China’s NEV retail penetration was 39.67 percent, while it was 33.70 percent year-to-date. (Image credit: CnEVPost) From August 1 to August 27, retail sales of passenger new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China stood at 538,000 units, up 28 percent year-on-year and up 2 percent from the same period last month, according to data released today by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). So far this year, retail sales of passenger NEVs in China were 4.265 million units, up 35 percent year-on-year. From August 1 to August 27, China’s wholesale sales of passenger NEVs…

The Xpeng X9 will be launched at the end of the fourth quarter and will likely make a limited contribution to this year’s deliveries, the EV maker’s management said earlier this month. A spy photo and a video circulating on Chinese social media show more details of Xpeng’s (NYSE: XPEV) new X9 model, which is set to be launched in the fourth quarter. The front of the Xpeng X9 MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) carries over the current family design of Xpeng models, featuring run-through headlights, as shown in the spy photo and video widely circulated on Weibo today. What may…