Solar-powered cars, like flying cars, have long been a sci-fi staple, but thanks to ever-more-efficient PV panels, they could soon enter the realm of reality. Aptera says its upcoming EV will be able to incrementally charge from solar panels, and Hyundai/Kia has announced plans to add panels to certain models. Now the Dutch startup Lightyear,… Read more »
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Rivian rushes to ramp production as it prepares to launch 3 EV models
Bringing a new vehicle into production is an undertaking that has bankrupted many a would-be automaker. EV trend-setter Tesla started out with just one low-volume model, and narrowly survived the experience. Electric truck startup Rivian Automotive plans to launch three new vehicles in the space of a few months. Rivian-watchers say the company is counting… Read more »
Florida legislature proposes a yearly tax on EV owners—again
A bill that would impose a yearly tax on EV owners is quietly making its way through the Florida legislature. The bill (actually a pair of bills, Senate Bill 140 and House Bill 819) appears to be similar to one that was proposed during last year’s legislative session, but did not pass. It would impose… Read more »
EV startup Canoo plans to produce electric pickup in 2023
EV startup Canoo has announced plans for an electric pickup truck. Executive Chairman Tony Aquila said the Los Angeles-based company will begin taking pre-orders in the second quarter of 2021, and aims to launch the truck in the first quarter of 2023. “This is like no truck you’ve ever seen,” Aquila said at a recent… Read more »
Ford Mustang Mach-E turns heads with its looks, closes the deal with practicality and price
Man, this car is an attention-getter! The Ford Mustang Mach-E has been drawing far more comments and questions from passers-by than any of the dozens of other plug-in vehicles I’ve evaluated, including the Porsche Taycan and several Teslas. As I’ve been driving it around town, at least a dozen people per day have asked me… Read more »
JB Straubel’s Redwood Materials inks recycling deal with Nissan’s battery supplier
Redwood Materials, the battery recycling venture founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, has signed an agreement to recycle scrap and defective battery cells for Envision AESC, which manufactures batteries for the Nissan LEAF in Smyrna, Tennessee. Recycling batteries is not only environmentally sound, but it may soon become an economic necessity, as demand for… Read more »
Heavy-duty electric trucks start to appear in fleets
Charged has been reporting on electric trucks for a decade, but the electrification of real-world fleets has been frustratingly slow, and several would-be e-truck builders have gone bust waiting for fleet operators to conduct years-long pilots. Now we’re finally starting to see some large orders. Will 2021 be the year of the electric truck? A… Read more »
Lucid Motors goes public in long-awaited SPAC deal
Lucid Motors has confirmed that it is going public through a merger with Churchill Capital IV (CCIV). The deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, is said to be the largest to date between a SPAC and an EV startup. The transaction values Lucid at an initial pro-forma equity value of about… Read more »
Volvo XC40 Recharge and Polestar 2: EV cousins offer different takes on “premium”
You might not know it to look at them, but these two cars—one Swedish, one Chinese—share underpinnings and a parent company. Volvo and its Chinese parent Geely are very serious about selling cars that plug in. Starting in 2016, the Swedish brand has included plug-in hybrid versions of pretty much every new vehicle it sells… Read more »
Is aviation the best application yet for hydrogen fuel cells?
Q&A with ZeroAvia CEO Passenger cars are well on their way to going electric, and the path to a big market share for heavy-duty EVs such as buses and delivery trucks is becoming clearer. However, aviation remains a new frontier for zero emissions. There are several new powertrain options, and none has yet proven itself… Read more »