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Are plug-in hybrids an on-ramp to fully electric vehicles, or undue cost and complexity? Are they something consumers asked for, or something created by bureaucrats and regulators? At least in some respects the answer includes all of the above. It’s complicated. Plug-in hybrids’ greater complexity is intended to pay off by greening the ownership experience for a specific kind of driver—those who can plug in most days for the commute but need a gas tank because of road-trip charging concerns. Thus, PHEVs have an engine and, typically, a much larger battery than hybrids. If you don’t charge a plug-in hybrid,…
Among those considering the purchase of a new or used battery-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, or just curious about EVs, charging can still be the EV dealbreaker. Unless you don’t have a way to easily install or access home charging, your excuses are quickly disappearing, though. In 2024 public charging kept pace—or better—with the number of EVs on the highways. New EVs are charging quicker and more consistently in road trips; the options along the way have become more reliable; and with Tesla and other brands’ EVs all soon compatible with the same charge connectors, nobody’s excluded. That said, keeping…
William Li spoke about the reception of Nio’s share placement and said that the company’s autonomous driving chip and operating system are open to the entire industry. He also commented on the cooperation with CATL on battery swap and BYD’s 1-MW flash charging technology. (Nio founder, chairman and CEO William Li was interviewed by local media on the sidelines of the China EV 100 Forum in Beijing on March 29, 2025. Image credit: China EV 100 Forum) Nio (NYSE: NIO) founder, chairman and CEO William Li today spoke to local media in Beijing on the sidelines of the China EV…
Sierra EV Denali stands out with a GM-estimated 460 miles Midgate setup allows flexibility for items nearing 11-feet long Versatility from air suspension, rear-wheel steering, Super Cruise “I’ve been on that route, and it’s not one for a full-size pickup—let alone one weighing nearly 9,000 pounds.” That was what I noted, partly in disbelief, to my co-driver as we were shown into a 2025 GMC Sierra EV and sent off to wind up through narrow Bay Area Redwood highways and stretches of Skyline Boulevard. Memory served well about the roads; the route included some undulating ribbons of asphalt on ridges…
Stellantis may be looking to adapt planetary gear hybrid systems—like the one currently used in the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid plug-in hybrid minivan—to more rugged vehicles, a patent filing indicates. The Pacifica Hybrid uses a planetary power-split system to juggle its 3.6-liter V-6 and a pair of electric motors, which can both be used as generators for propulsion. But in a patent filing submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in July 2023, and published by that office Feb. 6, Stellantis claims such systems are not ideal for all applications. Stellantis planetary gear transmission patent imageStellantis planetary gear transmission…
For 2025, dozens of EV variants top 300 miles of range The top dozen contains pickups, SUVs, crossovers, sedans, and a hatchback Standouts like Lucid Air and Hyundai Ioniq 6 manage market-leading range without huge battery packs Less than a decade ago, 300 miles seemed like the holy grail for EV driving range. Now, even as the overdue reality of plentiful charging infrastructure and speedy roadside charging begins to take shape, some new EVs promise 500 miles of range. EVs got to 300 miles with the Tesla Model S in 2016. In the years since then there’s been no turning…
The Zeekr 9X can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds, the EV maker said. The Zeekr 9X will be officially unveiled at the Shanghai auto show in April and officially launched in the third quarter. (Zeekr 9X. Image credit: Zeekr) Zeekr (NYSE: ZK) today shared a preview video of the Zeekr 9X on Weibo, hinting that the hybrid SUV (sport utility vehicle) model will be a performance beast. The video shows the Zeekr 9X undergoing winter testing in snow at minus 39 degrees Celsius and with humidity as high as 72 percent. The Zeekr 9X…
Peugeot UK says its new E-EXPERT SPORT electric cargo van was inspired by the brand’s rich motorsport pedigree, and the desire to bring that racing heritage to the everyday working professional. And let’s face it, kids – if a fat-tired and bespoilered European cargo van doesn’t excite you, I don’t know what will! Built on the Peugeot LCV cargo van, the new E-EXPERT SPORT adds a unique body kit that, “reflects its sporty nature,” with a front lip spoiler and side skirts that provide the sporty van with an athletic and aggressive stance. The E-EXPERT SPORT also adds a special “Kryptonite”…
BYD has surpassed Tesla by hitting $107 billion in annual revenue for 2024. Next up: a gigantic factory the size of San Francisco. The 30-year-old automaker’s rapid growth could help to solidify China’s status as a new global powerhouse for auto manufacturing. Last year, Chinese automaker BYD cast a shadow on other manufacturers when it managed to out-produce EV juggernaut Tesla. And now, BYD has managed to do it again, but this time square in the pocketbook. Its revenue has now surpassed Tesla as well, hitting a cool $107 billion for 2024 versus Tesla’s $97.7 billion. It doesn’t just stop…
A German startup believes it has the recipe for electric vehicle battery cells that are cheaper, more energy dense, and less problematic for the environment than current lithium-ion cells. But commercialization seems a long way off. Theion announced Thursday in a press release that it is close to completing a 15 million euro (approximately $16.2 million at current exchange rates) Series A round to development of its sulfur-crystal battery chemistry. It’s based on proprietary anode technology that Theion hopes will extend battery life—one of the main obstacles to sulfur-based chemistries. Theion sulfur-crystal EV battery development With this chemistry, Theion is…