Following Tesla’s lead, EV startup Rivian, which turned heads at the LA Auto Show with its prototype electric pickup and SUV, doesn’t plan to use traditional dealerships to sell its vehicles in most areas. Buyers will order Rivians directly from the company – it’s already accepting pre-orders, secured by refundable $1,000 deposits. Unlike Tesla, however,… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "dealerships "
Even in the Nordic countries, car dealerships are a major barrier to EV adoption
It’s not really news that auto dealerships are a significant roadblock to wider EV adoption. A 2017 study found that most traditional dealers have few EVs in their inventory, and are unprepared to answer customers’ questions about EVs. In some cases, dealers actively discourage buyers from going electric. A new study from Aarhus University in… Read more »
Porsche plans fast chargers at all US dealerships, exec disses Tesla
Porsche’s upcoming Mission E sedan is expected to feature a 95 kWh battery pack and 310 miles of range. Such a generous range is sure to create demand for faster charging times, so the German luxury brand has developed a new charging system that can deliver up to 800 V and 350 kW. Now Porsche… Read more »
Surprise! New study finds auto dealerships unprepared for EVs
EV boosters have long been frustrated by the lack of electro-enthusiasm at most auto dealerships. Market research company Ipsos RDA recently investigated the situation, and found that the EV sales process at traditional dealers “has not been differentiated from the traditional process and is, in effect, passive. The [lack] of inventory, as well as critical… Read more »
Honda Clarity Electric arrives at California and Oregon dealerships
The 2017 Honda Clarity Electric sedan arrived at the beginning of August at select dealerships in California and Oregon. The Clarity Electric features a 120 kW electric motor that produces 221 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 25.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It offers DC fast charging using the SAE CCS standard (is this the… Read more »
Kia brings Soul EV to Washington and Oregon, installs charging stations at dealerships
Kia is continuing its progressive launch of the Soul EV (which was profiled in the January/February 2015 issue of Charged), adding 12 EV-certified dealers in Washington and 8 in Oregon. Each dealership will be equipped with two Level 2 chargers, and 10 of them will also have a 50 kW Signet DC fast charger. Charging… Read more »
Vietnam’s VinFast signs first California dealership
Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast has signed its first authorized dealership in California, part of its strategy to expand its sales model through a network of dealerships across the US. The company’s VF 9 full-size electric SUV is currently available in the US. VinFast San Diego, part of the Sunroad Automotive Group, will give consumers the… Read more »
XCharge and Hypercharge to deploy GridLink chargers across Canada
High-power EV charging and battery-integrated systems provider XCharge North America has formed a strategic partnership with Hypercharge Networks, a North American EV solutions provider, to bring GridLink chargers to Canada. XCharge will supply GridLinks to Hypercharge, which will distribute the chargers to automotive dealerships and other customers across British Columbia and Ontario. As part of… Read more »
New York state announces additional $30 million in funding for EV purchase incentives
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $30 million in new funding for the state’s Drive Clean Rebate program. Also, incentives for installing EV chargers through the Charge Ready NY 2.0 program have been increased. The Drive Clean Rebate Program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), offers a point-of-sale… Read more »
REE Automotive’s modular REEcorners enable unprecedented flexibility in EV design
Taking the EV skateboard chassis to another level Q&A with Dr. Peter Dow, REE Automotive’s VP of Engineering. To a large extent, vehicles are designed around their propulsion systems. The first generation of modern EVs shoehorned an electric motor and a battery into a vehicle that was designed around an engine, a transmission and a… Read more »