Which electrical vans slated for supply later this 12 months confirmed an EPA vary topping 400 miles?

Does EV fast-charging degrade the long-term vary of Teslas? 

That is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Inexperienced Automotive Stories—for the week ending September 3, 2023.

Rivian’s Enduro motor unit, made by the corporate itself in Illinois, cuts weight, cuts prices, and supplies almost the identical gut-dropping acceleration because the Quad-Motor variations, Inexperienced Automotive Stories summed in a comparability of Quad-Motor vs. Twin-Motor Rivian EVs. It’s set to be the quantity drive system for the R1S SUV, R1T pickup, and EDV supply vans, 

Rivian plant in Regular, Illinois, manufacturing its Enduro drive unit

Mercedes-Benz confirmed U.S. pricing and availability for its first electrical vans, that are additionally attributable to be U.S.-made. The 2024 Mercedes eSprinter will begin at $74,181, with all variations getting a 113-kwh battery pack more likely to ship extra vary than some other American-market electrical van but.

The upcoming 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid made an official bow this week as a part of a refreshed Sonata lineup. Whereas pricing, trim particulars, and mpg stay but to be disclosed, search for paddle-shifters and adjustable regenerative braking as a part of a sportier but doubtlessly extra environment friendly expertise—in addition to a brand new panoramic curved show inside, with the shift lever moved behind the steering wheel to liberate extra cabin house.

In accordance with an annual roundup from the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) and its Freeway Loss Knowledge Institute (HLDI), electrical autos are stolen far much less steadily than gasoline fashions. As for why precisely that’s the case: It may need one thing to do with the place EVs are parked for charging.

Tesla Mannequin 3 (Europe-market refresh)

Tesla on Thursday night time revealed a revamped model of the Mannequin 3 for Europe. Though it’s about the identical dimensions because the outgoing model, a design and styling refresh improves aerodynamics. What Tesla calls an all-new inside doesn’t look all that a lot totally different than the present model, however upgraded supplies, ventilated entrance seats, and revamped infotainment and premium sound may go a good distance. There’s no phrase but on how EPA vary would possibly change with these fashions—and even, on the time of writing, after they’ll be provided within the U.S.

Rivian disclosed that its R1T with the 180-kwh Max pack achieves as much as an EPA-cycle 410 miles. Deliveries for the primary Max pack fashions are due later within the 12 months. 

Fisker Pear

Fisker has revealed a couple of new particulars relating to its upcoming $29,900 Pear city EV. The Pear will supply 180 or 320 miles of vary, Fisker claims, from two totally different battery packs. All-wheel drive and an Excessive efficiency mannequin are additionally within the works. The mannequin, with seating for as much as six and a singular “Houdini trunk” association, may present a much-needed shakeup for small-car packaging norms. 

BMW Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse

The Munich auto present has introduced the introduction of a number of EV fashions that dig deep in respective manufacturers’ design heritage—slightly than making an attempt to remake all of the design cues as a part of it. The BMW Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse provides up a design that’s concurrently a throwback to the E30 3-Collection with a much-simplified interface, plus next-generation EV tech that guarantees extra vary, sooner charging, and extra effectivity. And the Volkswagen ID.GTI Idea EV provides up how VW plans to re-up its fun-to-drive compact automotive for the electrical period. 

Volkswagen ID.GTI Idea

Additionally on the present, Mini confirmed the primary of a future lineup of EVs taking type. Its upcoming Mini Cooper and Countryman electrical fashions, badged E or SE, will get much more vary than the present-day Mini Cooper SE, in addition to a simplified interface targeted round a spherical central show display screen with obtainable head-up show. These fashions’ exterior designs look very like their predecessors although.

Audi is delivering 300 EPA miles for its Q8 E-Tron, as promised. However as official EPA rankings reveal, that’s for the sleeker Sportback model. The Audi Q8 E-Tron SUV will get 285 miles, made doable by a bigger battery and effectivity enhancements versus its E-Tron SUV predecessor. 

2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron

A possible subject in 2021-2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid sedans may trigger them to speed up unintentionally. It’s led to a recall for what the automaker describes as a “motor synchronization fault,” however brakes are nonetheless operational and acceleration is light so Hyundai is suggesting these fashions are nonetheless drivable till the recall repair. 

In Texas, Tesla Powerwall homeowners are serving to help the grid. As a part of a pilot undertaking initially affecting two areas round Houston and Dallas, Powerwall homeowners will promote surplus energy when wanted to the grid—forming “digital energy vegetation” that may remove the necessity for “peaker” vegetation at peak use occasions.

Tesla Powerwall – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

Does frequent fast-charging degrade EV vary over the long run? A research from Recurrent, which tracks the battery well being of used EVs, finds that isn’t essentially the case—if in case you have a Tesla. hundreds of Tesla autos and evaluating autos that have been fast-charged 90% of the time vs. people who have been fast-charged lower than 10% of the time, it discovered “no statistically vital distinction in vary degradation.” That mentioned, following some easy recommendation we embody on what to not do at these charging stops would possibly assist guarantee your battery pack lives lengthy.

As an American EV fast-charging community is being put collectively by seven automakers, together with Mercedes-Benz, the German automaker confirmed Monday that its upcoming Mercedes’ Excessive-Energy Charging Community will probably be “an extra key element of the corporate’s total electrification technique”—that means it is going to be differentiated from and along with the opposite effort. Mercedes’ personal community will embody greater than 2,000 DC fast-charging connectors by the tip of 2024, situated at Charging Hub oases.

Mercedes-Benz EV charging station

A U.S. hydrogen financial system doesn’t really exist but, but it surely’s beginning to ramp up round hydrogen incentives that haven’t but been outlined by the federal authorities. Whereas some suppliers corresponding to Bosch are readying efforts to supply gear like electrolyzers, the end-use carbon footprint of merchandise utilizing hydrogen will rely on how true inexperienced hydrogen, from renewables and never pure fuel or methane, will probably be incentivized. 

Regardless of targets looking for EVs as the majority of gross sales some years forward and, even in some instances, finish dates for inside combustion fashions, a number of full-line automakers are quietly preventing EV-focused EPA emissions targets. In GM’s case, that seems to imply preventing the decrease tailpipe emissions limits themselves.

And EVs are 5% or extra of the new-vehicle market in 23 international locations, with 5 of these international locations reaching the brink this previous 12 months. Utilizing a complete vary of expertise adoption and the commonly-referred-to S-curve as a foundation, that’s extensively seen as the purpose at which EV gross sales speed up. However elements like value and charging infrastructure may imply that EVs are totally different.

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