Any new plug-in vehicle from a maker that hasn’t previously offered one is cause for excitement, even if volumes are low at first. So I approached my six-day test of the new plug-in Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid with anticipation. Sure, its rated 17-mile electric range is below the curve, but at least it’s a start –… Read more »
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Alliance Ventures invests in Chinese charging platform startup PowerShare
Alliance Ventures, the venture capital arm of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, has invested an undisclosed amount in PowerShare, an EV charging platform startup based in China. PowerShare, which received investment from BP Ventures just weeks before this latest investment, offers an online platform that connects EV drivers, charge point operators, and power suppliers. The startup’s cloud-based system enables… Read more »
Rivian secures $700 million in new investment round led by Amazon
Amazon will lead a $700-million investment round in EV startup Rivian Automotive. Also investing in this round is Rivian’s long-term investment partner, Saudi auto distributor Abdul Latif Jameel. Although it was reported earlier that GM was also in talks with Rivian, the automaker is not involved in this round. Rivian has been raising eyebrows since… Read more »
Renault’s Alliance Ventures invests in California battery maker Enevate
Alliance Ventures, the venture capital arm of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, has joined heavyweights LG Chem and Samsung in investing in Enevate, a battery technology company based in Irvine, California. Enevate licenses its HD-Energy technology, which is designed to offer fast charging times, superior low-temperature operation and low cost, to various battery and EV manufacturers and suppliers worldwide…. Read more »
Ghosn scandal causes Nissan to postpone launch of next-gen LEAF
For the last couple of years, EV fans have been eagerly awaiting a new version of the LEAF with a 200-mile range to match that of the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3. Nissan did launch a redesigned 2018 LEAF, with a 40 kWh battery pack and 150 miles of range, early this year, but… Read more »
Rivian reveals impressive electric pickup truck and SUV
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, pickup trucks are popular – they made up 16% of US auto sales in 2017 (per Trucks.com). If EVs are to move into the mainstream, somebody needs to produce a mass-market pickup. Startups Workhorse, Havelaar and Bollinger have pickups in the pipeline; Tesla has been talking; and Ford finally feels… Read more »
Renault-Nissan head Carlos Ghosn arrested, ousted as Chairman
Carlos Ghosn, the head of the Renault-Nissan Alliance and one of the global auto industry’s most prominent proponents of electrification, has been arrested in Tokyo over “financial misconduct.” Along with Nissan Director Greg Kelly, Ghosn was arrested for “reporting compensation amounts in the Tokyo Stock Exchange securities report that were less than the actual amount,… Read more »
The Kia Niro PHEV is a fine vehicle, but…
Kia plans to pursue a “pick your powertrain” policy with the Niro. The hybrid version is now available in the US, and the PHEV version is available in select markets (a Florida dealer told us that it could be special-ordered). The EV version recently went on sale in Korea, and is to arrive in Europe… Read more »
Nissan head: EV range issue has been solved, now we’ll focus on affordability
Carlos Ghosn, Chairman of the Nissan/Renault/Mitsubishi alliance, says EV range anxiety is pretty much a thing of the past, and that his companies will now focus on lowering vehicle prices. “We have seen that consumers do not talk anymore about range or autonomy as long as you guarantee more than 300 km,” Ghosn recently told… Read more »
Automakers and state governments cooperate on ad campaign for EVs
A lack of advertising is often cited as a main reason for the slow pace of EV adoption, so it’s welcome news that a consortium of automakers and Northeast states intends to cooperate on an EV ad campaign. The Drive Change Drive Electric campaign, launched at the recent New York International Auto Show, will focus… Read more »