A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article “<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/04/do-you-think-used-ev-prices-will-drop-by-4000-in-3-months/">Do You Think Used EV Prices Will Drop By $4,000 In 3 Months?</a>” and polled readers on how much you thought used electric car prices would drop after September 30 when the $4,000 used EV tax credit goes away — by $4,000, by $1,000–3,000, or not at all. Now it’s time to share the results.
The argument is that used EV prices are inflated due to the $4,000 you can get from the federal government when you buy one. Once that is gone, the idea is that used EV prices have to drop in order to find buyers. Is the market completely set and end cost what matters most in this market, meaning prices will drop by right around $4,000? Are buyers largely unaware of the $4,000 when shopping for a used electric car and prices will therefore not change much? Or is it somewhere in the middle and prices will drop by $1,000 to $3,000?
Of course, we can’t really answer this question, since there are various factors that influence used car prices. However, we can look at prices for cars the week or two before the subsidy ends and then look at them a week or two after the subsidy ends and see how they change, on cars with similar age, mileage, and features or even on specific individual cars. Either way, though, it’s important what people think right now about this matter. So, on to your responses….
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Used-electric-car-price-drop-after-subsdy.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356691" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Used-electric-car-price-drop-after-subsdy.png" alt="" width="1764" height="809" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Used-electric-car-price-drop-after-subsdy.png 1764w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Used-electric-car-price-drop-after-subsdy-400x183.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Used-electric-car-price-drop-after-subsdy-800x367.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Used-electric-car-price-drop-after-subsdy-768x352.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Used-electric-car-price-drop-after-subsdy-1536x704.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1764px) 100vw, 1764px"></a>
Most of you (57%) came to the conclusion that prices would drop, but not by the full $4,000 amount. So, it would still presumably make more sense to buy a used EV before September 30 and get the full $4,000 off.
Another 33% don’t think we will get price cuts on used EVs at all, meaning that you should really buy a used EV before losing the $4,000 discount. Used electric cars will effectively cost $4,000 more starting in October according to this group.
On the flip side, 10% of voters believe that used EV prices will drop by $4,000 or so in October, meaning it won’t make much difference to buyers when they buy a used electric car. The federal government will just spend less money, and people selling their electric cars will take a big hit when it comes to depreciation and resale value (which would also certainly lead to some of those people holding out on buying a new EV and selling their existing one).
As I indicated, we will try to find a way to measure this. I hope more rigorous scientific research will also be conducted at one of the USA’s acclaimed universities as well, or some other research outfit. This has been the first used EV tax credit or rebate the country has had, so it will be interesting to find out what happens when it goes away. The results will help to tell us how useful the policy is. Though, again, even if prices drop by $4,000, making no real difference for used EV buyers, that would mean a significant hit to EV resale value, which would have a negative effect on the new-EV market….

How Much Used Electric Car Prices Will Drop After Subsidy Cut — You Respond (Chart)

After years and years of discussion and delay, Tesla is finally starting to sell cars in India! The company has launched a store in Mumbai, the banking center of India, and you can now buy the Tesla Model Y in India.
On to the bad news. Thanks to India’s high tariffs on imported vehicles, the starting price for a Model Y in India is about $69,800. That’s far above the starting price in the US, $44,990, and other markets.
So, on the plus side, people in India can finally buy a Tesla electric crossover, but on the minus side, they really do have to be rich to do so.
Joining Tesla’s Mumbai store, the company will also be launching one in the country’s capital city, New Delhi, soon. Service and delivery centers, Tesla charging stations, logistics hubs, and more elements of the Tesla ecosystem are also on the way.
India is the 3rd largest auto market in the world. However, its high import tariffs make it hard for foreign automakers to find much success there. Elon Musk tried to get Tesla around those tariffs with some kind of exception for years, but he apparently gave up on the effort after India wouldn’t budge. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Musk not long ago when Musk was in President Donald Trump’s good graces, and many assumed Tesla might finally get special treatment and enter India on the cheap. However, that clearly didn’t lead anywhere for one reason or another.
There’s a 70% tariff on EVs in India, and a 30% luxury tax. It is what it is. Selling a $70,000 vehicle in India, Tesla will compete with luxury brands and will find buyers. However, this is no mass-market offering there. “The question is whether they are going to threaten the mass market,” Vivek Vaidya, global client leader for mobility at research firm Frost &amp; Sullivan, told CNBC. “The answer to that is no because the most popular selling cars probably sell at one-tenth of this price.”
We will finally get to see, though, how much demand there is for Tesla vehicles in the giant auto market of India.
“India first announced a new <a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2014874" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EV policy</a> last year that promised to reduce duties for companies that commit to building up a local supply chain. While this could help Tesla push its prices down, the company has yet to commit to building any local manufacturing plants in India,” CNBC adds.
If Tesla decided to produce cars in India, that is surely far down the line. It would still need to cut costs tremendously to appeal to the mass market there, and the company currently uses its massive production facilities in China to build cars and ship them to other countries in the region. With Tesla sales drooping instead of rising, there’s no need to maximize existing production facilities let alone build big new factories.
Anyway, I’m very curious to see how Tesla can do in India. Will it be enough to make a difference, or will it just be a blip in the numbers?
Oh, as a final note that just came to mind, this is just another example showing that demand for the new Tesla Model Y — and Tesla vehicles in general — is not soaring. Tesla wouldn’t enter a new market and try to offload Model Y vehicles there if it had too much consumer demand for the Model Y in its existing markets. Or perhaps the plan is to produce and sell a new, more affordable electric car after all; Tesla sees India as an important market for that; and it’s just getting its foot in the door now with a “luxury” Model Y. Hmm … we will see. Sales are either going to go up or down, and we’ll see what India means for the company in coming years — now that Tesla’s finally in the market.

Tesla Starts Selling Vehicles in India — Finally

US President Donald Trump can throttle down EV sales here in the US, but he can’t stop the global decarbonization movement. Besides, the US market has already become somewhat irrelevant. The latest report from the firm Rho Motion shows that global EV sales grew 28% year-to-date compared to the same period in 2024, while in the US they grew by only 6%, including plug-in hybrids as well as 100% battery EVs.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Global EV Sales Snapshot: Where, Oh Where, Is The USA?</h3>
To be clear, the US is still a major EV market. In addition, the lowly 6% year-to-date showing is still EV sales growth — and it does not include the potential impact of the new tax bill (the “Big Beautiful Bill”) on total sales for 2025. Passed by the Republican majority in Congress, the bill eliminates the $7,500 EV tax credit on September 30. It remains to be seen if a gigantic surge of EV-curious drivers makes up their collective mind to <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/12/how-republican-policies-to-kill-ev-solar-incentives-could-lead-to-more-ev-solar-sales-with-1-critical-component/">take advantage of the tax credit</a> before it expires, but that’s a distinct possibility.
Then there’s the impact of brand switching. Earlier this year, CleanTechnica took a look at the Q1 track record for 100% battery-electric vehicles, and noted that non-Tesla EV sales in the US were up 32% compared to the same quarter last year, while <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/14/non-tesla-us-ev-sales-up-472-vs-2021/">Tesla sales were down 9%</a>. The difference going back to Q1 2021 is even more dramatic. Since then, non-Tesla sales grew 472%. Tesla sales also grew between 2021 and 2025, but only by 85%.
Tesla is still the US sales leader by volume, by a wide margin. However, compared to 2021, the company has lagged far behind other automakers in terms of growth. That reflects a significant mental leap for prospective EV buyers here in the US and <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/03/dog-bites-man-as-tesla-sales-continue-to-crash-in-europe/">elsewhere around the world</a>.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Will The US EV Sales Trickle Turn Into A Flood?</h3>
In particular, EV drivers in the US have been conditioned to want a Tesla, a Tesla, a Tesla, and only a Tesla. After all, Tesla is a homegrown US startup. Tesla was the first automaker to produce successful EVs at volume in the US, the company has diligently cultivated a reputation for safety as well as performance, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been touted far and wide as an Edison-level genius. By the time the Big Three legacy automakers got their EV act together, Tesla was way out in front in name recognition as well as sales volume.
As competition from other automakers rose, it was up to Musk to keep the Tesla sales momentum going. He succeeded brilliantly at first and kept on succeeding for several years, even as EV buyers overlooked an increasingly concerning series of episodes involving Musk’s personal and political behaviors.
Last year’s hookup with US President Donald Trump was a bridge too far, though. Prospective EV buyers who had their hearts set on a Tesla have had to re-calibrate. Owning an EV is not a no-brainer any more. Car shoppers who want to avoid buying a Tesla have had to research the alternatives and make a choice. With the $7,500 tax credit in hand, the clock was not ticking, but now it is.
Just a wild guess, but it’s possible that a last-minute rush to buy EVs before the tax credit expires could exceed expectations, as fence-sitting brand switchers are forced to make a decision or lose the credit.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Factor</h3>
If you have any thoughts about that last minute tax credit rush, drop a note in the comment thread. Rho Motion has this to say (break added for readability):
Following President Trump signing the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ into law on 4 July 2025, all IRA consumer tax credits for new, used, and commercial EVs are withdrawn and will be terminated on 30th September 2025.
Just over half of EVs sold in the US this year have been eligible for the tax credit. We therefore <a href="https://rhomotion.com/news/global-ev-sales-up-28-in-2025-2/">expect a rise in EV sales</a> before the elimination of the tax credit at the end of Q3, and then a sharp decline in demand in the final quarter of the year.
How sharp? It could be dramatically sharp, at least over the short term. Meanwhile, consider that household income for EV owners tends to skew higher. Households on a budget have been holding off, waiting for that elusive “affordable” EV — or buying used EVs.
General Motors is among the automakers seeking to chase down budget-conscious EV buyers by reducing the cost of the battery. Undeterred by the impending loss of the tax credit, yesterday, GM announced that it will be expanding its lineup to include more affordable vehicles sporting its <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/14/gms-ultium-cells-venture-what-if-electric-vehicles-survive-the-new-tax-bill-after-all/">new LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries</a>. The new batteries won’t be available until late 2027, long after the tax credit expires. However, sales of the Cadillac LYRIQ and other high end vehicles could help keep the EV part of GM’s business afloat until then.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Global EV Sales Leave The US Behind In The Dustbin Of History</h3>
In terms of the global transition to electric vehicles, the US already has a lot of catching up to do. “Today’s EV sales figures of the first half of 2025 show that China and Europe are steaming ahead in terms of the electric transition,” Rho Motion notes. “Over one in two electric vehicles sold in the world are being bought in China and around half of purchased new cars in the country are electric.”
“Despite some nervousness over subsidies, we expect this strong EV sales trend to continue over the course of the year,” Rho Motion concludes, while “the USA could struggle to see any growth in the EV market overall in 2025.”
Ouch! Still, hope springs eternal. Tesla aside, keep any eye on goings-on in the luxury EV market after September 30. Just another wild guess, but households that can afford to buy a Cadillac LYRIQ or such can afford to eat the tax credit, too.
On its part, Tesla — and its carefully cultivated safety reputation — are hanging in the balance in Florida, where a wrongful death suit involving the company’s so-named <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/14/nx-s1-5462851/tesla-lawsuit-autopilot-florida">FSD (Full Self Driving)</a> technology is finally going to trial by jury.
“This is one of many lawsuits against Tesla that question the safety of the company’s driver-assistance systems and accuse the company of exaggerating their capabilities,” National Public Radio reported on July 14.
“But few of these cases have actually gone to trial, with Tesla often settling claims outside the courtroom,” NPR added.
Publicity over the trial could add yet another damper onto EV sales for Tesla, which has already been suffering through a fresh round of reputational hits <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/09/robotaxi-3-way-match-shaping-up-between-zoox-waymo-and-the-mechahitler-grokmobile/">involving Musk’s “Grok” chatbot</a>.
Photo by Kyle Field | CleanTechnica.

Earth To USA: Global EV Sales Are Going Up, Where Are You?

Look, I’ve got some good friends who are Tesla [NASDAQ:TSLA] shareholders. They are really good people. A few of them have had shares in the company for well over a decade. A couple of others joined the party more recently, but still years ago. I held Tesla shares for years, but as I saw more and more warning signs, I got out of the stock.
Naturally, as an open minded person, I know that there’s plenty of possibility Tesla’s stock price is much higher in a decade than it is now. Perhaps the company ends up being disruptive in AI, robots, robotaxis, or other fields. If so, those friends will be happy campers if they continue to believe in the company and hold onto the stock. For that matter, think of all the Tesla staff working their butts off who will be able to reap the rewards of their efforts.
But those are all points that are far away from the topic of this article, an article I’ve been thinking to write for months. In fact, it was most likely those people I know who indirectly blocked me from writing this article. I don’t want to criticize them at all — they are great, smart people — and I don’t want to hurt their feelings. And, of course, they must not agree with my point of view. However, as the Tesla story plays out, it’s very hard to conclude that anyone owns shares in the company for reasons other than greed or fantasy.
As we’ve pointed out for a long time, Tesla has been showing signs of weakening consumer demand. Elon Musk claimed that the company would have sales growth in the midst of that, but then the company saw sales decline. (Not a good sign when your CEO is making incorrect claims and forecasts.) The market cap of the company is absolutely insane compared to other automakers. A big part of that for years was that the company was supposed to be growing 50% a year. It was for a while, but now it’s declining, so how can a market cap so far out of the ballpark make sense?
Tesla’s original thesis and mission was simple. Make great electric cars, and drive down the costs of these electric cars as sales volume goes up. Basic. Simple. Clear. That’s what it did. Tesla pushed the auto industry — in the US at least — into the electric car era. But with sales now dropping, the market cap doesn’t make any sense without some kind of separate miracle breakthrough. Before moving on to that, though, it’s probably important to emphasize that a refreshed Tesla Model Y — the best selling vehicle in the world — was supposed to revive sales growth. Production lines in three factories across the world were revamped in Q1 to switch to production of the new Model Y. In Q2, presumably, we should have seen the results of that. But sales were still down year over year! Some people I know don’t believe in the other sides of Tesla’s business, but still believe its vehicle sales will grow a lot. How? Based on what evidence? It’s hard to see how that’s supposed to happen when the Cybertruck has been a total flop sales wise and the new Model Y is already not impressing.
Tesla’s market cap is $993 billion. Ford’s market cap is $47 billion, and GM’s is $51 billion. Ford and GM sell a lot more cars and trucks than Tesla. Even Toyota’s market cap is just $274 billion, and BYD’s is $139 billion. If you think the future of the auto market is electric vehicles, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/12/byd-sales-growth-leaves-tesla-in-the-dust-charts-graphs/">BYD is clearly winning there</a>.
So, why is Tesla’s market cap so freakin’ high? Yes, Tesla <del>fans</del> shareholders will talk about robotaxis and robots and AI, and perhaps nearly limitless future profits. However, I think it boils down to two things:
<ol>
<li>Greed. A lot of people have made a lot of money on Tesla stock, and they want that to continue forever. The expect the stock to soar in the future because it soared in the past, and that would be great for their bank accounts. They don’t want to sell stock and have to pay taxes on it. In other words, they want to be rich, and richer and richer. Human nature at play. You seldom find a big Tesla fan these days who isn’t a Tesla shareholder. Finances and dreams are tied up in the stock, and as I just said, the stock soared in the past despite haters and critics, so logic tells us it should soar in the future again in the face of haters and critics. (I know — that’s not great logic objectively, but that is a big part of the thinking.) People want a magic solution to make them rich. TSLA has been that. So, the thinking is that it will continue to be that. Never mind stagnant or declining sales. Never mind failed robotaxi targets. Never mind soaring AI costs. Never mind a completely flopping Cybertruck, the Semi being years behind schedule, a non-existent Roadster 2.0 nearly a decade after it was “revealed.” The stock has to rise, because it just has to.</li>
<li>Fantasy. As I noted higher up, Tesla’s original mission and business plan was simple and clear, and there was a huge market opportunity left there. Now, Tesla’s valuation is based on fantastical dreams of robotaxis, humanoid robots, and AI conquering the world. There’s an idea among Tesla <del>fans</del> shareholders that Tesla is somehow best equipped to lead all of these big emerging markets. Past failures are brushed off, a decade of missed targets are dropped, arguments about much more competitive Chinese firms and even big US tech firms are written off. Maybe they are right, but in my eyes, it’s fantasy. It’s a dream of something Elon Musk — a talented marketer — has sold them/us for years. It’s the belief that just because Elon said it, it must be true — despite <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/02/from-solar-tiles-to-starship-the-decade-musk-failed-to-deliver-puts-semi-at-risk/">so many failed projects and products</a>, and so many shockingly wrong and absurd statements on a large variety of matters. Tesla’s tech is great, amazing, but the idea that the company’s going to live up to its nearly $1 trillion market cap seems to be pure fantasy to me. I love Marvel movies, I love Star Wars. I get the appeal of a dreamy futuristic utopia. But I don’t see Tesla achieving its goals, quarter after quarter and year after year. I see a lot of hype and cool Hollywood set dream worlds — literally. Tesla has been selling fantasy, and investors have been eating it up.</li>
</ol>
Reportedly, BYD has more R&amp;D engineers than Tesla has total staff. If one of these two companies was going to lead us into a futuristic world, is it more likely to be Tesla — led by a highly distracted person involved in all kinds of different matters and also the father to at least 13 kids — or is it more likely to be BYD? Ignoring BYD, you’ve got Waymo (Google/Alphabet) rolling out actual commercial robotaxis in more and more cities, you’ve got Volkswagen Group and other automakers seeing strong EV growth, you’ve got several other Chinese EV companies seeing rapid growth. Tesla is looking more and more like a bloated, complacent company that is living on its legacy and trying to find excuses for why it’s not growing.
Anyway, the company’s market cap is $993 billion and it’s stock price is almost $317, and maybe that’s not going to drop much as long as greed and fantasy rule the day. However, if the company does continue to see sales declines and then runs into financial problems, well, one has to wonder what will happen….
Full disclosure: I own shares in BYD. I do not provide investment advice of any kind — seriously. Consult an investment professional before making any important investment decisions.
Update/addendum: Under another article, a reader wrote the following <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/12/byd-sales-growth-leaves-tesla-in-the-dust-charts-graphs/#comment-6737293924">similarly themed comment</a>:
<blockquote>Tesla Market cap: 1 Friking Trillion dollars, ($993 billion at time of writing)
BYD Market cap: 127 billion, about 1/8th.
TSLA investors, IMHO, are sitting on a bubble and bubbles eventually pop. I understand that Tesla is not just a car company, or so they say, but is the rest of the company worth 7 BYDs?
…and BYD makes their own batteries in PRODUCTION, not a test facility.
Tesla 20 million cars a year by 2030 now seems a bit far fetched, to put it kindly.
DOJO is MIA and presumed dead. 
Cyber Truck is a disaster, 
The Semi is 5 years behind schedule. 
The humanoid is a long shot in a crowded field. 
The Solar Roof/Cousins Bailout did not perform as promised. 
Storage uses third party cells, and recently FinDreams. *
People believe because they want to believe, even over evidence.
* Megapacks use mostly CATL cells, and now FinDreams has become a supplier. FinDrems is a BYD subsidiary.</blockquote>

Tesla’s Humongous Market Cap Is Simply Greed & Fantasy

<a target="_blank" href="https://cleantechnica.fundjournalism.org/contribute/"><img decoding="async" class="bannerad aligncenter wp-image-321274 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screen-Shot-2024-11-22-at-11.08.15-AM.png" alt="" width="300" height="160"></a>

<hr>In cities where traffic, parking, and pollution are daily headaches, the ZET electric quadricycle offers a refreshing new take on mobility. Built by German company ZETmobil, this four-wheeled, pedal-assisted vehicle blends the best of e-bikes and cargo bikes into a modular, car-like form — minus the emissions, licensing hassle, or bulky footprint.
The ZET (short for Zero Emission Transportation) is essentially an electric cargo bike with four wheels and car-like stability. Unlike traditional bikes, it features a sturdy, low-to-the-ground chassis that supports multiple configurations: passenger transport, family rides, grocery hauling, or commercial delivery.
Crucially, it’s legally treated as a pedelec (pedal electric cycle), which means it typically doesn’t require a driver’s license, registration, or insurance in many parts of Europe, including Germany. With electric assist up to 25 km/h (15.5 mph), the ZET keeps you moving efficiently without breaking a sweat.
<figure id="attachment_356668" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-356668" style="width: 2048px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-356668" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_URBAN_2-Sitzer_3-2048x1366-1.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_URBAN_2-Sitzer_3-2048x1366-1.jpg 2048w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_URBAN_2-Sitzer_3-2048x1366-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_URBAN_2-Sitzer_3-2048x1366-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_URBAN_2-Sitzer_3-2048x1366-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_URBAN_2-Sitzer_3-2048x1366-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-356668" class="wp-caption-text">The ZET Urban 2-seater</figcaption></figure>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Models For Every Kind Of Urban User</h3>
ZETmobil offers a modular range of configurations to meet different needs:
<ul>
<li>Urban 2-Seater: Designed for two adults, this model is perfect for commuting, carpooling, or just zipping around town together.</li>
<li>Urban KidSeat: One adult plus a child seat with a four-point harness — great for parents doing the school run or weekend errands.</li>
<li>Urban Pure: A single-seater with a rear cargo module that can be used for pets, groceries, or delivery gear.</li>
<li>Transport Pure: The base platform, ready to be customized with different rear modules.</li>
<li>Family: A covered cabin with seating for up to four children, weather protection, safety belts, and even storage — like a minivan, only greener.</li>
<li>Box: Designed for serious cargo, this version holds up to 670 liters and 225 kg of payload, secured inside a lockable container.</li>
<li>Pickup: An open-bed model with a foldable tailgate and adjustable loading area — perfect for small tradespeople or bulky items.</li>
</ul>
<figure id="attachment_356667" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-356667" style="width: 2048px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-356667" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_FAMILY_2-2048x1366-1.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1366" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_FAMILY_2-2048x1366-1.jpg 2048w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_FAMILY_2-2048x1366-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_FAMILY_2-2048x1366-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_FAMILY_2-2048x1366-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ZETmobil_FAMILY_2-2048x1366-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-356667" class="wp-caption-text">The ZET Family</figcaption></figure>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Why The ZET Is Turning Heads</h3>
The ZET isn’t just another attempt at an e-cargo bike, rather, it’s a potential car replacement. With weather protection (in some models), space for multiple passengers, and no fossil fuels involved, it’s aimed at families, delivery services, and city dwellers looking for a sustainable alternative to the car.
Its four-wheel platform provides more stability than a typical two- or three-wheeled cargo bike, especially when loaded. It’s narrow enough to ride in bike lanes, yet robust enough to carry everything from kids to crates of vegetables. And because it stays under the 25 km/h speed cap for pedelecs, it avoids the red tape that comes with scooters or microcars — at least in Germany and similar EU markets.
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="ZETmobil Lastenrad Modelle" width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uQ49m8ZcMLc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Pricing &amp; Availability</h3>
Prices for the ZET start around €7,790 (~$9,088) for the entry-level Urban Pure model. That includes a battery offering up to 50 km of assisted range, depending on use and terrain. Higher-end models like the Box or Family variants cost more, topping out near €10,990 (~$12,817). Delivery is currently projected to begin in late 2025, with preorders open on the company’s website.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Big Picture</h3>
With cities pushing for cleaner, quieter, and more space-efficient transport, the ZET hits a sweet spot: it offers the utility of a small car without the emissions or licensing hassle. While it’s not a highway vehicle, it could comfortably replace many short daily car trips, especially those involving school runs, deliveries, or urban errands. Find out more at <a href="https://www.zetmobil.de/das-zet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ZETmobil</a>.
All images courtesy of ZETmobil.

The ZET Electric Quadricycle Is A Clever & Compact Car Alternative For Urban Living

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<hr>US President Donald Trump has spent the first six months of his second term in office attempting to make electric cars not happen, but signs of life keep emerging. In the latest news, the Ultium Cells EV battery branch of General Motors has just announced plans to launch its low-cost LFP EV battery into the market by late 2027.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Tax Credits Or Not, Here Come The Affordable Electric Vehicles Of The Future</h3>
LFP stands for Lithium Iron Phosphate, a less expensive version of the conventional lithium-ion batteries commonly used in electric vehicles. LFP batteries have been late to the party because the initial iterations underperformed compared to their lithium-ion counterparts. However, the kinks have been ironed out in recent years, with both performance and cost factoring into the affordability equation (<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2023/08/18/new-superfast-charging-ev-battery-from-catl-slams-the-door-on-gasmobiles/">here</a> and <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/09/27/hyundai-cooks-up-a-low-cost-ev-battery-scheme-for-the-affordable-ev-of-the-future/">here</a> are some recent developments).
Ultium Cells sprang into life in 2019, when GM hooked up with the well known firm LG Energy Solution. Although GM dropped the “Ultium” branding in 2023, the company’s <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/10/16/this-explains-why-gm-ditched-the-ultium-ev-battery-label/">EV battery journey</a> continued taking shape on through 2024, including steps needed to nail down a lithium supply chain (see more <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/?s=ultium">Ultium battery background here</a>).
Despite the anti-EV fervor gripping elected officials in Congress as well as the White House, the journey continues. Earlier today, Ultium Cells announced a new makeover for its existing battery cell factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee, aimed at <a href="https://www.ultiumcell.com/newsroom/News/2025/07/14/Ultium-Cells-to-upgrade-Tennessee-plant-for-lowcost-EV-battery-cell-production">scaling up LFP battery production</a> for electric vehicles.
“Conversion of battery cell lines at Spring Hill to produce LFP cells will begin later this year, with commercial production expected by late 2027,” Ultium explained in a press statement.
Kurt Kelty, the former longtime Tesla battery chief hired by GM last year, also chipped in his two cents. “At GM, we’re innovating battery technology to deliver the best mix of range, performance, and affordability to our EV customers,” said Kelty, who holds down the position of VP of batteries, propulsion, and sustainability at GM.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Who’s Afraid Of The Big, Beautiful Bill?</h3>
“This upgrade at Spring Hill will enable us to scale production of lower-cost LFP cell technologies in the U.S., complementing our high-nickel and future lithium manganese rich solutions and further diversifying our growing EV portfolio,” Kelty affirmed indicating that GM is forging ahead with its electric vehicle lineup even though tax credits for new and used EVs will soon expire under the new tax bill (the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill”).
Wonjoon Suh, executive VP and head of the Advanced Automotive Battery division at LG Energy Solution, also affirmed the company’s intent to satisfy the demands of electric vehicle buyers in the US. “We will bring our extensive experience and expertise in U.S. manufacturing to the joint venture facility, further accelerating our efforts to deliver new chemistries and form factors that effectively capture the unmet needs in the EV market,” Suh stated, with “unmet needs” apparently referring to drivers who seek affordability over battery range.
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“With LFP battery technology, GM is targeting significant battery pack cost savings compared to today’s high-nickel battery pack while increasing consumer EV choice,” Ultium emphasized.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">This Is Why Electric Vehicles Are Here To Stay</h3>
Of course, loss of the tax credit is going take some steam out of the electric vehicle movement here in the US. Or, will it? As pointed out by CleanTechnica editor Zachary Shahan, the new tax bill will most likely spark a short term <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/12/how-republican-policies-to-kill-ev-solar-incentives-could-lead-to-more-ev-solar-sales-with-1-critical-component/">surge in demand for EVs</a>, which could help stimulate the demand for a more favorable tax policy in the near future.
That remains to be seen. However, loss of the tax credit may not be the deal-breaker that anti-EV lawmakers are hoping for. From the beginning, the up-front cost of owning an electric vehicle was a bridge too far for households on a budget, leaving the field to higher-income households. All else being equal, those upper-echelon households don’t necessarily need a tax break to keep buying electric vehicles. They just need a good reason to make the switch to electric mobility.
If you’re thinking that a spike in the cost of gasoline is an effective motivator, that’s one key factor. Despite the higher up-front cost, the total cost of ownership (TCO) for electric vehicles is already competitive with gasmobiles, partly due to the cost of gasoline.
Another important consideration is the unlocking of new markets in the higher income brackets. As recently reported by <a href="https://www.ecmag.com/magazine/articles/article-detail/home-is-where-the-charge-is-for-homebuilders-including-usb-and-ev-chargers-makes-good-dollars-and-cents">Electrical Contractor Magazine</a>, new home builders are installing EV-supporting wiring hand over fist. New home buyers that may have been locked out of EV charging in their former situation can now walk into a more seamless environment for electric vehicles.
Millions of renters and owners in multi-household buildings are also among those currently locked out of the opportunity to charge up at home. If even a small fraction of them had access to EV charging on the premises, that would make have a huge impact on the pace of electric vehicle sales, as surveys consistently show that the overwhelming majority of EV owners prefer to charge up at home.
Innovative startups are beginning to uncork that bottleneck with new <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/10/12/onsite-ev-charging-for-renters-is-finally-coming-so-is-yet-another-headache-for-fossil-fuels/">charging-as-a-service options</a> that enable property-owning entities to obtain on-site EV chargers without up-front costs. The installer takes on all the headaches including ongoing operation and maintenance chores.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Electric Vehicles Are Coming For Your Fleet</h3>
The fleet electrification movement is another pressure point that can contribute momentum to the EV sales picture in the US. In one particularly interesting development in that area, Siemens has begun marketing a new accounting service that enables fleet managers to accurately reimburse <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/04/new-home-ev-charging-solution-tells-gasmobiles-get-off-my-fleet/">employees who recharge their company cars at home</a>, even if other electric vehicles use the same charger.
In April, the analytics firm Trellis Group took stock of the impact of both tariffs and tax laws on <a href="https://trellis.net/article/the-state-of-fleet-electrification-why-87-of-companies-plan-to-add-evs-in-the-next-five-years/">the fleet electrification situation</a> in the US. “Even amid today’s uncertain landscape — from shifting tariffs to evolving U.S. policy — many companies remain committed to their goals for electric vehicle adoption,” Trellis stated.
“Despite higher acquisition costs, fleet owners are more satisfied with EVS than with internal combustion vehicles, according to the survey,” Trellis added, citing a Cox Automotive survey. “They deliver lower costs over the lifetime of a vehicle, higher efficiency and cleaner operations.”
What do you think, is there enough momentum in to overcome the obstacles set forth in the new tax bill, along with the “TACO” Trump tariffs, and anything else the anti-EV movement can throw into the pot?
Image (cropped): <a href="https://www.cadillac.com/content/dam/cadillac/na/us/english/index/vehicles/2025/electric/lyriq/01-images/mov/my25-lyriq-mov-feature-story-styling-v4.jpg?imwidth=2400">Cadillac LYRIQ</a> electric vehicle courtesy of Cadillac.
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GM’s Ultium Cells Venture: What If Electric Vehicles Survive The New Tax Bill After All?

BYD has been an electric vehicle leader for the past decade+. Tesla got much more attention for its leadership, and I think rightfully so, for several years, but BYD made more and more progress with its LFP battery cost cutting and vehicle development, and it then started to really shake up the market in China and grow faster. In recent years as it has grown faster and faster and Tesla has stalled or declined, I’ve seen Tesla fans (read: shareholders) try to wave away BYD’s progress and leadership in various ways. I think we’ve fully gotten to the end of the line with these claims, but many people still don’t realize it.
First of all, people said that BYD didn’t only sell EVs, so it wasn’t a fair comparison. That’s fine, I agreed. But then BYD stopped selling anything that wasn’t a plug-in vehicle, which was a notable step forward. Still, people critiqued the company noting that perhaps BYD sold more plug-in vehicles, but it didn’t sell as many full electrics (BEVs) as Tesla. That’s a fair, fine point. But the trends were telling us that argument wouldn’t last too long, and it didn’t. BYD started outselling Tesla in BEVs late last year, and it <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/12/byd-sales-growth-leaves-tesla-in-the-dust-charts-graphs/">has left Tesla in the dust in that regard in 2025</a>. That’s when we get to some financial arguments that have been circling around for years, and used to be true, but no longer are.
Tesla fans (i.e., shareholders) are keen to say that BYD loses money on its BEVs (it doesn’t), that it’s vehicle gross margin is much lower than Tesla’s (it’s not), and that Tesla makes much more in profits (it doesn’t). In response to some of these claims from a reader yesterday, one of our diligent BYD fact finders, Larry Evans, shared the following useful comment:
“BYD has higher revenue, gross margin and net profits as of recent quarters. And all major metrics are rising, while Tesla declines. (multiply by .14 to convert RMB to USD)
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-financials.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356663" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-financials.png" alt="" width="879" height="755" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-financials.png 879w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-financials-400x344.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-financials-800x687.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-financials-768x660.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 879px) 100vw, 879px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tesla-financials.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356662" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tesla-financials.png" alt="" width="843" height="747" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tesla-financials.png 843w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tesla-financials-400x354.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tesla-financials-800x709.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tesla-financials-768x681.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 843px) 100vw, 843px"></a>
“Tesla would have lost money last quarter without regulatory credit sales. Those credits are essentially going away. With a P/E approaching 200 and declining metrics, TSLA is massively overvalued.
“TSLA’s one advantage is having banked billions in tax subsidies that they can carry forward for years, even though most new subsidies are now going away. Tesla has never paid US corporate income tax and, at current rates, will not pay anything through at least the end of the decade.”
No need for funny business or crunching numbers yourself — just look at Yahoo!Finance and compare the useful public information. I’ll do the currency exchange on a few of those numbers to show how they compare in USD (all numbers in thousands):
<ul>
<li>Trailing 12-month (TTM) gross profit: $22,311,910 for BYD vs. $16,907,000 for Tesla.</li>
<li>1st quarter of 2025 gross profit: $4,785,909 for BYD vs. $3,153,000 for Tesla.</li>
<li>TTM net income common stockholders: $6,277,675 for BYD vs. $6,107,000 for Tesla.</li>
<li>1st quarter of 2025 net income common stockholders: $1,281,698 for BYD vs. $409,000 for Tesla.</li>
</ul>
Yes, the 1st quarter was a particularly bad quarter for Tesla, but so was the 2nd quarter and it wasn’t supposed to be. Also, the sales trends have clearly been positive for BYD and negative for Tesla. In any case, all of those claims about Tesla’s huge lead over BYD are just wrong.
Doing a little more googling, I find that BYD’s gross margin in Q1 2025 was 20.07% (down from 20.71% in Q1 2024), while Tesla’s was 16.3% (down from 17.4% in Q1 2024).

Tesla Finances vs. BYD Finances — Nonsense & Myths Long Out Of Date

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<hr>Kenya’s electric mobility sector is growing nicely, with several players getting significant traction. According to the <a href="https://e-mobilitykenya.org/">Electric Mobility Association of Kenya (EMAK)</a>, there are over 56 players active in Kenya’s electric mobility sector.&nbsp; These various entities play pivotal roles in driving progress, shaping policies, and contributing to the overall growth of Kenya’s electric mobility industry. EMAK says these companies are active in a wide range of sectors, including the importation, distribution, manufacture, operations, and assembly of various categories of EVs, in installation and operation of charging networks, research and development, as well as carbon credits and financing.
This growing ecosystem has helped propel Kenya to be one of the leading countries in the promotion of electric mobility in Africa. An example of a sector that is growing at a good pace in Kenya is the electric motorcycle sector. Motorcycles make up over 50% of Kenya’s fleet. It’s no surprise then that motorcycles are seeing most of the action in Kenya, and at the moment, the motorcycle sector is the main driver of electric vehicle adoption. In 2024, just over 7% of new motorcycle registrations were electric, followed by 4% for electric tuk tuks, 1.1% for electric buses and minibuses, and then 0.18% for electric cars. The KNBS Economic Survey Report (2025) shows that 68,804 new motorcycles were registered in Kenya in 2024. Of these, 4862 motorcycles were electric, according to data presented by the Electric Mobility Association of Kenya (EMAK). That is where the 7.1% market share comes from.
2025 looks to be even better as several firms in the electric motorcycle market are scaling up. One of the leaders in this space is Roam. Roam has recently launched the second generation of its Roam Air motorcycle. The growing number of electric motorcycles on the road gives firms such as Roam a massive opportunity to get a lot of real use case data from the users of their electric motorcycles. This data can then be used to make improvements and adapt the product offering to meet users’ needs. Roam has therefore incorporated a lot of feedback from users of their Roam Air Gen 1 to produce the much improved Gen 2 Roam Air. Roam says the new Gen 2 Roam Air features over 40 practical improvements and has been extensively tested in both urban and rural settings. Roam says the Roam Air 2 was designed and engineered by Roam’s in-house team and showcases a strong commitment to local innovation and manufacturing.
As companies such as Roam scale up and also launch new iterations of their motorcycles, the next critical pillar that needs to be unlocked is financing, to lower the barriers to entry for consumers. Roam has just partnered with Fortune Credit, a licensed Digital Credit Provider and microfinance institution, to launch the first-ever financing program aimed at unlocking access to electric motorcycles for both individuals and businesses. The partnership begins with an initial order of 600 Roam Air Gen 2 motorcycles, marking one of the largest electric fleet financing deals ever recorded in Kenya.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356644" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1.-Official-document-handover-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya-.jpg" alt="" width="2550" height="1702" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1.-Official-document-handover-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya-.jpg 2550w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1.-Official-document-handover-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1.-Official-document-handover-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--800x534.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1.-Official-document-handover-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--768x513.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1.-Official-document-handover-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1.-Official-document-handover-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2550px) 100vw, 2550px">
That 600 is a big deal. That’s equivalent to over 12% of all electric motorcycles sold in all of 2024 in just one deal! And these kinds of large financing deals will go a long way to help scale electric mobility. That’s because while demand for electric motorcycles continues to rise, particularly among delivery firms, access to financing has remained a major barrier, limiting many businesses to cash purchases and preventing scale. Roam’s new financing arrangement with Fortune Credit aims to reduce that bottleneck and accelerate Kenya’s shift to clean, cost-efficient mobility. Fortune Credit has tailored the financing model to match the real income flows of small business owners and informal sector riders. Customers pay a KES 25,000 deposit, followed by KES 527 daily for 24 months, with full ownership of both the motorcycle and battery. The package also includes motorcycle insurance, Hospicash health cover, and access to Roam’s charging infrastructure, including portable home charging and Roam Hubs. 
The motorcycles financed under this program are the newly launched Roam Air Gen 2 models, featuring over 40 rider-informed upgrades, including a stronger 240 kg frame, dual battery range of up to 160 km, improved waterproofing, safer battery locking, and enhanced comfort. With 36% of components now locally manufactured — surpassing Kenya’s Legal Notice 112 — the partnership is set to boost local value chains, create jobs, and strengthen Kenya’s electric mobility ecosystem. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356642" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3.Group-photos-of-the-partners-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1710" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3.Group-photos-of-the-partners-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3.Group-photos-of-the-partners-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3.Group-photos-of-the-partners-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3.Group-photos-of-the-partners-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3.Group-photos-of-the-partners-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3.Group-photos-of-the-partners-2048x1368.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px">
Fortune Credit has built a reputation for financing grassroots entrepreneurship through inclusive and innovative credit solutions. Its entry into electric mobility financing reflects growing demand from individuals and businesses aiming to cut fuel expenses, reduce emissions, and benefit from lower operational costs associated with electric motorcycles. The program is further supported by Fortune Credit’s risk-sharing facility with Green for Access Fund LLC (G4A), which aims to scale access to clean income-generating technologies across Kenya. This partnership enables Fortune Credit to offer more affordable loans for electric motorcycles and other climate-smart solutions while minimizing credit risk. It reinforces Fortune’s capacity to serve informal and small business sectors with tools that cut emissions and increase productivity.
Habib Lukaya, Regional Sales Operations Manager at Roam, says: “This partnership isn’t just about selling Roam Air, but it is about breaking systemic barriers. By offering a locally made, zero-emission motorcycle with a flexible ownership model, we’re enabling more riders and businesses to switch to electric, save money, and create jobs. This is the future of transport in Kenya — clean, affordable, and built for us.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356643" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2.Official-signing-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1710" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2.Official-signing-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2.Official-signing-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2.Official-signing-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--800x534.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2.Official-signing-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--768x513.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2.Official-signing-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2.Official-signing-by-Bernard-Mwonyonyo-and-Habib-Lukaya--2048x1368.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px">
Janet Kuteli, Founder &amp; CEO of Fortune Credit Limited, says: “This partnership with Roam Electric and GreenMax Capital through their Green For Access first-loss facility reflects our commitment to empowering underserved riders and small businesses with clean, income-generating assets. By offering affordable financing bundled with asset insurance, health insurance, and financial education, we’re not just enabling ownership — we’re building resilience. We’re proud to pioneer innovation and impact in a space many have considered too risky for too long.”&nbsp;
David Ekabouma, Managing Director – Fund Management, GreenMax Capital Group, said: “This initiative embodies what the Green for Access Fund was created to do—break down financial barriers that have kept underserved communities and entrepreneurs locked out of the green transition. By sharing risk with trusted financial institutions like Fortune Credit, we enable inclusive lending that accelerates the adoption of clean, productive-use technologies. This partnership is a milestone for Kenya’s e-mobility sector and a model for the region. This program demonstrates how blended finance—strategically combining donor capital with commercial execution—can catalyze transformative change in emerging markets. G4A’s support empowers local lenders to meet rising demand for clean technologies while building financial resilience for small-scale entrepreneurs.”&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Images courtesy of Roam

Kenya’s First Business Financing Program For Electric Motorcycles Kicks Off With 600+ Units

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<hr>Ship-induced methane emissions from shallow seabed sediments have recently emerged as a previously overlooked greenhouse gas pathway. Recent research published in high-impact factor journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02344-8">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a> has provided substantial new data on ship-induced methane emissions. While my initial math on oceanic cargo shipping suggest that such emissions remain negligible compared to the broader maritime carbon footprint in the class, analysis of large coastal vessels, particularly cruise ships and large roro and ropax ferries, indicates a potentially more meaningful climate impact.
Methane emissions have increasingly come into focus in global climate policy due to methane’s pronounced warming effect in the short term. Over a 20-year period, methane has a global warming potential 82.5 times greater than carbon dioxide. As policy makers increasingly prioritize rapid emission reductions in the coming decades, accurately identifying and mitigating methane sources becomes strategically important.
The mechanism by which ships trigger methane release is straightforward. Large vessels with draughts over 9 meters traveling at speeds exceeding 12 knots in shallow coastal waters generate significant underwater turbulence and pressure reductions beneath their hulls. These rapid changes in pressure and the resulting disturbance of seabed sediments can liberate methane stored within organic-rich sediment layers, allowing it to escape into the atmosphere. The recent data from field measurements at Neva Bay near St. Petersburg, Russia, demonstrated clearly measurable methane release from seabed sediments disturbed by ships with draughts exceeding nine meters.
<figure id="attachment_356636" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-356636" style="width: 1905px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-8.48.49 AM.png"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-356636" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-8.48.49 AM.png" alt="" width="1905" height="826" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-8.48.49 AM.png 1905w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-8.48.49 AM-400x173.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-8.48.49 AM-800x347.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-8.48.49 AM-768x333.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-8.48.49 AM-1536x666.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1905px) 100vw, 1905px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-356636" class="wp-caption-text">Table of ship classes, draughts and speed ranges by author.</figcaption></figure>
A quick examination of the oceanic cargo shipping sector showed why these emissions remain marginal for that segment. Oceanic cargo vessels primarily travel through deep waters, limiting their exposure to the shallow sediment-rich areas necessary for significant methane emissions. My napkin math using the Neva Bay data for major global ports such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Houston, and Shanghai suggested methane-related carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions of roughly 7,300 tons per port annually even at methane’s high GWP20. Given the enormous scale of international shipping emissions, approximately one billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, these port-area methane emissions represent a minuscule fraction of the shipping sector’s total climate impact.
Dredging activities in major ports represent another source of methane emissions due to sediment disturbance. Routine dredging involves mechanical removal of organic-rich sediments, which often contain substantial reservoirs of methane produced through anaerobic decomposition. Such operations can trigger short-term releases of methane into the atmosphere, with single dredging events typically producing emissions in the tens to hundreds of tons of CO₂-equivalent, depending on sediment type and the scale of disturbance. However, dredging events generally occur only periodically — annually or biennially at most major ports — and therefore generate emissions that&nbsp; also remain negligible when compared to the billion tons of CO₂ emitted annually by oceanic cargo shipping worldwide.
As the rest of shipping decarbonizes, it will become important to clean up edge case emissions, but it’s not the first order of business for shipping. The International Maritime Organization’s fuel carbon price is the first order of business, as are operational efficiencies like slow-steaming, hull interventions for lower drag, biofuels and of course <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/05/why-the-maersk-institute-was-right-about-ship-batteries-but-wrong-on-price/">batteries</a>.
However, shifting focus toward large coastal vessels provides a different picture. Cruise ships and large roro (roll on, roll off) and ropax (roro + passengers) ferries consistently operate in shallow, sediment-rich coastal zones worldwide. Regions such as Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, coastal North America, and Alaska feature substantial fleets of such vessels operating in estuarine and near-coastal waters. These ships commonly transit shallow waters multiple times daily, continuously disturbing methane-rich seabed sediments.
A conservative estimate demonstrates why these coastal vessels likely have a more significant impact. Suppose globally there are roughly 1,000 large vessels between cruise ships and major coastal ferries combined that regularly pass through sediment-rich shallow coastal routes. Each vessel might disturb approximately 2.5 square kilometers of seabed per day, considering typical wake width and transit distances. Using the Neva Bay methane emission data, this scenario would produce roughly 3,600 tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per vessel annually over a typical 200-day operating season.
Extrapolating this figure across a global fleet of approximately 1,000 coastal vessels yields around 3.6 million tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions each year. This emission volume far exceeds estimates calculated from major port areas associated with oceanic cargo ships, illustrating that while oceanic cargo shipping’s seabed methane emissions remain negligible, coastal passenger and ferry services could represent a more substantial methane emission source globally.
The global distribution of shallow coastal waters further amplifies this concern. Shallow estuarine and coastal environments rich in organic sediments occur extensively along heavily trafficked ferry and cruise ship routes. Furthermore, methane production peaks seasonally, driven largely by warmer water temperatures during summer months, which closely aligns with peak tourism and passenger ferry seasons. This seasonal overlap exacerbates the potential methane emissions from coastal passenger ships precisely when maritime activity is highest.
Fortunately, addressing ship-wake methane emissions from these large coastal vessels appears straightforward and economically viable. Operational measures such as reducing vessel speed within critical shallow methane-sensitive zones can significantly curtail emissions. For instance, implementing modest speed limits of approximately 6 to 8 knots within these shallow coastal areas during high-risk summer months could meaningfully reduce methane emissions. Such speed reductions might add only minutes or at most a few hours to typical ferry or cruise ship voyages, making these interventions both economically feasible and operationally practical.
Yet, current estimates remain preliminary and speculative, based mainly on a single comprehensive dataset from Neva Bay. To effectively guide policy and regulatory decisions, a more robust dataset is necessary. Replicating the Neva Bay study in multiple regions globally, especially in high-traffic coastal ferry and cruise ship routes, would provide a far clearer understanding of emission magnitudes, regional variability, and practical mitigation potential.
Although ship-induced seabed methane emissions initially appeared negligible within the vast context of global oceanic shipping emissions, closer scrutiny reveals coastal passenger vessels as a potentially notable methane source. Given methane’s potent short-term climate forcing effects, swiftly addressing these emissions through targeted operational strategies offers practical, easily implementable solutions.
Policy makers and regulatory bodies should prioritize further research and measurement campaigns in these methane-sensitive coastal areas. Accurate, location-specific measurements would allow for the establishment of well-defined speed limit zones during high-emission periods. Incorporating these targeted operational measures into maritime sustainability policies represents a simple, low-cost pathway for rapidly reducing short-term greenhouse gas emissions.

Slow Down, Cool Down: Reducing Methane From Coastal Shipping

June’s auto market saw plugin EVs take 35.9% share in the UK, up from 28.2% year on year. BEVs grew volume 38%, and PHEVs grew 29%. Overall auto volume was 191,316 units, up some 7% YoY. The UK’s leading BEV brand was Tesla, with a 16.1% share of the BEV market.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/June-2025-UK-Passenger-Auto-Registrations.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-356629 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/June-2025-UK-Passenger-Auto-Registrations.png" alt="EVs Take 35.9% Share In The UK" width="1104" height="758" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/June-2025-UK-Passenger-Auto-Registrations.png 1104w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/June-2025-UK-Passenger-Auto-Registrations-400x275.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/June-2025-UK-Passenger-Auto-Registrations-800x549.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/June-2025-UK-Passenger-Auto-Registrations-768x527.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/June-2025-UK-Passenger-Auto-Registrations-130x90.png 130w" sizes="(max-width: 1104px) 100vw, 1104px"></a> 
June’s sales totals saw combined plugin EVs take 35.9% share in the UK, with full electrics (BEVs) taking 24.8% and plugin hybrids (PHEVs) taking 11.2%. These compare with June 2024 shares of 28.2% combined, 19.0% BEV, and 9.3% PHEV.
If we set aside December months — when automakers often heavily push BEV sales to meet full-year emissions requirements — June’s auto market actually represents a new record high in plugin share (just ahead of November ‘24). This is a good result, and reflects the efficacy of the ZEV mandate scheme that the UK embarked upon starting in 2024.
It also reflects that PHEV share has recently been as strong as ever, thanks to the new generation of PHEVs that can typically drive at least 50 miles in electric-only mode.
Finally, it reflects the fact that the month of June in the UK habitually shows a BEV uptick (check the historical chart below) largely thanks to Tesla making a strong end-of-Q2 push. June 2025 was no exception, with Tesla delivering 7,719 combined units of the Model Y (making it June’s 3rd best-selling vehicle overall) and Model 3 (6th best-selling). This appears to be Tesla’s biggest monthly volume since March 2023.
Meanwhile, HEV share was down by some 11% YoY, petrol-only share was down by 3.5%, and diesel-only share was flat. Combined combustion-only share stood at 51.6% and will likely dip below 50% by the end of Q3.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-356627 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share.png" alt="EVs Take 35.9% Share In The UK" width="920" height="671" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share.png 920w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share-400x292.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share-800x583.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share-768x560.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px"></a>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Best-Selling BEV Brands</h4>
As noted above, Tesla had a big month in June, and led the BEV brand chart by a wide margin, ahead of the Volkswagen brand and the BMW brand.<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-BEV-Brand-_-Est.-June-2025-B.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-356631 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-BEV-Brand-_-Est.-June-2025-B.png" alt="" width="595" height="703" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-BEV-Brand-_-Est.-June-2025-B.png 595w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-BEV-Brand-_-Est.-June-2025-B-339x400.png 339w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px"></a>
The biggest mover in the monthly rankings was Tesla, up from 4th in May to the top spot in June. Most other changes in ranking were minor shuffles. Though, further back, Polestar also jumped up, from 13th in May to 7th in June.
Outside the top 20, the Alpine brand rose from 37th to 28th, due to the first substantial volumes (over 130 units) of its A290 model. Likewise, Xpeng climbed from 40th to 32nd, thanks to over 100 registrations of its G6 SUV — the first decent volume month in the UK from the innovative brand.
As usual, we don’t have fully accurate data on individual models (with many DVLA registrations listed as “unknown” models), but we can pencil out some rough trends. The Skoda Elroq continued to do well, at over 800 units in June, slightly ahead of its May volume, but below its big push in March. For context, the Elroq is still behind its sibling, the Enyaq (one of the top 5 with over 1,000 units). It’s also marginally behind the BYD Seal, which saw over 860 units in June.
At the affordable end, the Dacia Spring continued to do well, with 709 units in June, though a bit down from its 766 units in March. Its closest competitor, the Leapmotor T03 saw 77 units in June, barely growing over its 68 units in March (both of these import models tend to see peak shipping quarterly). So, for now, Dacia has the circa-£15,000 price segment well in hand, but more on this below.
Stepping up to the more competent A-B segment models, the Renault 5 stepped up to its highest volume of over 620 units in June (from a little over 500 in May). This means that it leads the segment, ahead of the Hyundai Inster, which saw a decent 448 units in June (from 228 in May). The Renault starts from £22,000 (40 kWh usable), whilst the Hyundai starts from £23,495 (39.0 kWh). Both offer larger battery options for more money.
The other of the “legacy affordable trio,” the Citroën e-C3, was some way down in June, with 241 units, below its March peak of 301 units. It’s too early to say whether this is simply a supply limitation or a demand limitation, but it’s not a great look for the Citroën to be at barely over a third of the Renault 5’s monthly volume, particularly given its slightly earlier UK debut.
Renault is about to pull further ahead, with the Renault 4 just having made its debut in June, with 51 initial units. As we know, the Renault 4 shares the same platform with — though is about 10% larger than — the Renault 5, and has more ground clearance. There’s no sign yet of Citroën’s equivalent, the e-C3 Aircross.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BYD-Dolphin-Surf-EU.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-354709 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BYD-Dolphin-Surf-EU.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="890" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BYD-Dolphin-Surf-EU.jpeg 1600w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BYD-Dolphin-Surf-EU-400x223.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BYD-Dolphin-Surf-EU-800x445.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BYD-Dolphin-Surf-EU-768x427.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BYD-Dolphin-Surf-EU-1536x854.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"></a>
Despite this seeming lead by Renault, there’s now a new kid on the block, in the form of the BYD Dolphin Surf. Having debuted with a modest 11 units in May, the Surf stepped up to a significant 197 units in June. It is therefore already snapping at the heels of the Citroën e-C3.
The Surf is priced starting from £18,650 for the entry (30 kWh) variant. Meanwhile, the Citroën e-C3’s entry £21,990 variant comes with a 44 kWh battery. However, the entry e-C3 is still at an almost identical price (per kWh of battery) as the equivalent Dolphin Surf, which is the 43.2 kWh “Boost” variant, with an MSRP of £21,950. So, the two are closely aligned once you equalise the basic specs.
If you think this price alignment is merely a coincidence, it is likely not. One of the EU’s now under-discussion conditions of BYD (and other Chinese brands) doing business in Europe is to be able to forgo tariffs if they <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/eu-china-start-talks-lifting-eu-tariffs-chinese-electric-vehicles-handelsblatt-2025-04-10/">agree to submit to minimum pricing</a> (i.e. price fixing) to keep European legacy automakers happy. Price fixing is strictly illegal, but these anti-consumer practices should be no great surprise — I’ve previously reported on legal findings of the <a href="https://newagebd.net/post/mis/261356/eu-uk-fine-carmakers-600m-over-recycling-cartel">cartel behaviour</a> of Europe’s automakers (including their lobbies, the SMMT, and ACEA).
It would be interesting to know the sales split between the two different battery sizes of the BYD Dolphin Surf. The affordable base 30 kWh version has a modest WLTP range of 137 miles, similar to the Dacia Spring, but has much more power and a significantly higher top speed than the Spring (93 mph vs 78 mph), so is arguably more suited to highway driving and has more all-around ability. It also has faster 10–80% DC charging (29 mins vs 38 mins) and a more sophisticated ride, interior, and infotainment than the Spring. These advantages may justify the entry Surf’s higher price over the Spring (£18,650 vs £14,995) for some buyers.
Meanwhile, the Leapmotor T03 (£15,995) has a better WLTP range (165 miles) than either, and similar power to the Surf, though a lower top speed (81 mph) and the slowest DC charging (52 minutes for 10–80%). If you had to choose between one of these three, given their respective prices, which would it be?
At £21,950, the mid-trim 43.2 kWh Surf is an 18% step up in price compared to the base model, but has a more useful WLTP range of 200 miles, the same as the entry Citroën e-C3. There’s even a top-spec surf for £23,950 which adds more power and some interior niceties, though has similar range. Where’s the sweet spot here? I guess it depends on one’s situation, but let us know in the comments.
Anyway, it’s good to see the competition increasing at these relatively affordable price points, and hopefully (unless the EU and legacy auto get their way) more models will quickly join the fray, leading to even better value for consumers.
Here’s the trailing 3-month chart:<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-BEV-Brand-_-Est.-June-25-Trailing-Qtr-B-.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-356630 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-BEV-Brand-_-Est.-June-25-Trailing-Qtr-B-.png" alt="" width="621" height="707" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-BEV-Brand-_-Est.-June-25-Trailing-Qtr-B-.png 621w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UK-BEV-Brand-_-Est.-June-25-Trailing-Qtr-B--351x400.png 351w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px"></a>
Tesla’s big splash in June saw it narrowly retake the lead over the Volkswagen brand. BMW came in third, just ahead of Ford.
This was a relatively good result for Ford, which increased its volumes 22% over Q1 and climbed from 9th to 4th. Likewise, thanks to the new Elroq, Skoda climbed from 11th to 6th, up in volume by 35%.
Omoda also climbed into the trailing-3-month top 20 for the first time, thanks to consistent sales of its E5 SUV.
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Outlook</h4>
The UK ZEV mandate appears to be having the intended consequences, with the UK now pulling strongly ahead of <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/06/evs-at-24-0-share-in-france-tesla-model-y-tops-chart/">France</a> and <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/tag/germany-ev-sales/">Germany</a> in EV share.
The UK’s broader macroeconomy is also marginally healthier than its neighbours’, with <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/indicators">2025 Q1 YoY GDP hitting 1.3% growth</a> (latest) on top of the 1.5% growth from Q4. Inflation marginally cooled to 3.4% in May from 3.5% in April. Interest rates remained at the new 4.25% rate set in early May. Manufacturing PMI improved again to 47.7 points in June, from 46.4 points in May.
What are you expecting from the transition in the UK? Where will EV share finish the year? Please share your thoughts and perspectives in the comments below.

EVs Take 35.9% Share In The UK — Tesla Back On Top

<a target="_blank" href="https://cleantechnica.fundjournalism.org/contribute/"><img decoding="async" class="bannerad aligncenter wp-image-321274 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screen-Shot-2024-11-22-at-11.08.15-AM.png" alt="" width="300" height="160"></a>

<hr>In many markets European carmakers are falling behind Chinese EV manufacturers as they have little to offer to aspiring drivers in the Global South right now.
Last year Luca de Meo took me aside at the Geneva motor show to explain his vision for Europe’s automotive future. The Renault CEO assured this environmental advocate that smaller, more affordable electric cars, like the Renault 5, would revive the fortunes of European carmakers. Fast forward 16 months, and the outlook for the west’s auto industries has darkened further while de Meo is ditching cars for luxury goods, a sector where Europe still rules the roost.
What stymied the hoped-for revival? On the back of Trump’s erratic tariffs and the withdrawal of EV tax credits, electric car sales have slumped in the US and the turmoil is hitting carmakers’ bottom lines.
In both the EU and the UK the car industry is asking for the previously agreed EV targets to be reversed. The European Commission has already agreed to delay its 2025 target by two years, with the fate of the 2035 engine phase-out up for debate after the summer.
Add to this the resurgence of hybrid cars — growing faster than battery electric vehicles in some markets — and you might be forgiven for thinking that western carmakers are right to pump the brakes on EVs.
But this would be a big mistake.
Globally, electric car sales are on a steady rise, growing by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iea.org/news/more-than-1-in-4-cars-sold-worldwide-this-year-is-set-to-be-electric-as-ev-sales-continue-to-grow" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more than a third</a>&nbsp;in the first quarter of 2025. The models coming on the market boast ultra-fast charging, longer ranges and state-of-the-art software while costing drivers less and less.
Nowhere is this more prominent than in China, the largest car market globally. The sales of all types of plug-in cars have now overtaken petrols.&nbsp;<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/20/53-ev-share-in-china-may-2025-sales-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Every third car sold in China</a>&nbsp;in May was battery electric, making this the most popular powertrain in the country.
But China is not an outlier. Following an expected dip due to the absence of EU targets last year, EV sales are also ticking up across Europe, registering a 26% increase in the first quarter of 2025. This is the result of carmakers finally starting to bring affordable models priced under €25,000 to comply with the stricter 2025 emissions standard. The introduction of the Renault 5 boosted the carmaker’s sales by over 80% following its introduction late last year.
Crucially, judging the health of EV sales by the state of these markets misses the full picture. Western carmakers should also worry about the silent currents across the rest of the world.
A less reported but more consequential race for the automotive future is happening in the larger emerging car markets of Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America. There, cheap Chinese electric cars are fast eroding western carmakers’ market share.
EV sales shares in Thailand and Ethiopia are already above many European countries. EV sales in Brazil, which buys nearly as many cars as Germany, surged 90% last year, while they more than doubled in Indonesia.
T&amp;E estimates that Chinese players have already taken half of the EV market in Africa and the Middle East (compared to just 15% in the overall car market). After decades as a stronghold for the likes of VW, many European auto executives complain in private meetings that they are fast losing the South African market.
Once dominated by Japanese and South Korean carmakers, at least 30% of the EV market in the Asia Pacific region (outside China) has now been captured by Chinese brands. And once a stronghold for the likes of Renault and Fiat, a whopping 80% of South American EV sales now comes from the Chinese.
This is not due to changing political or consumer preferences. The lesson is that consumers will flock to electric cars when good, competitively priced models are available. The problem is that western carmakers have little to offer to aspiring drivers in the Global South right now. Unhelpful policy rollbacks in the EU, UK and the US risk pushing them further behind.
Which brings us back to the French carmaker which de Meo turned around and led to record profits. With hardly any US sales and no presence in China, Renault is likely to remain a mid-level player globally. Other European car manufacturers may have to resign themselves to a similar status if they fail to bring the models drivers in emerging markets want to buy.
Article from <a rel="canonical" href="https://www.transportenvironment.org/articles/de-meos-mid-level-player-renault-could-be-europes-automotive-future">T&amp;E</a>. By Julia Poliscanova, Senior Director, Vehicles &amp; Emobility Supply ChainsBrussels (EU)

De Meo’s Mid-Level Player Renault Could Be Europe’s Automotive Future

<a target="_blank" href="https://cleantechnica.fundjournalism.org/contribute/"><img decoding="async" class="bannerad aligncenter wp-image-321274 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screen-Shot-2024-11-22-at-11.08.15-AM.png" alt="" width="300" height="160"></a>

<hr><a href="https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/10/30/european-tariffs-on-chinese-electric-vehicles-all-you-need-to-know#:~:text=%22By%20adopting%20these%20proportionate%20and%20targeted%20measures,European%20Commission%20Executive%20Vice%2DPresident%20Valdis%20Dombrovskis%20said.">Last year’s tariff increases from the EU on Chinese BEVs</a> weren’t exactly a surprise. What was a surprise was that plugin hybrids weren’t affected by the rising tariffs, which caught most Chinese OEMs by surprise. Previously, they had been betting in launching BEV models in Europe, with the PHEV market being an afterthought. But this seems to be changing, as the BYD Seal U PHEV’s success shows.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-0.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356028" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-0.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1000" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-0.jpg 2000w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-0-400x200.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-0-800x400.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-0-768x384.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-0-1536x768.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356027" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-1.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1000" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-1.jpg 2000w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-1-400x200.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-1-800x400.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-1-768x384.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BYD-Seal-U-PHEV-1-1536x768.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px"></a>
Comparing the best selling Chinese BEVs’ competitiveness to the local competition, and then doing the same for the best selling Chinese PHEVs, we notice the difference that increased tariffs make and the reason why I think China’s top OEMs will focus on the PHEV market in the near future.
As such, looking at the specs of the three best selling Chinese BEVs in Europe — the MG 4 (11,000 units), BYD Seal (8,000 units), and BYD Dolphin (7,000 units) — and comparing them to the local direct competition — the VW ID.3 in the case of the MG 4 and BYD Dolphin, and the VW ID.7 in the case of the BYD Seal — here’s what we get:
<ul>
<li>MG 4 (51 kWh version): 350 km WLTP range, 88 kW DC charge, 33,000 euros (in the Netherlands);</li>
<li>BYD Dolphin (61 kWh version): 427 km, 88 kW DC change, 37,000 euros;</li>
</ul>
vs.
<ul>
<li>VW ID.3 (52 kWh version): 388 km, 145 kW DC charge, 30,000 euros.</li>
</ul>
And …
<ul>
<li>BYD Seal (61 kWh version): 460 km, 110 kW DC charge, 42,000 euros;</li>
</ul>
vs.
<ul>
<li>VW ID.7 (77 kWh version): 615 km, 190 kW DC charge, 49,000 euros.</li>
</ul>
As we can see, the ID.3 manages to be cheaper than the two Chinese EVs, and it doesn’t really lose much on specs. On the contrary, it charges almost twice as fast as the Chinese models, while regarding range, is stays roughly between the two. So, it’s a win for the German hatchback.
As for the midsize EVs, while the German model has much better specs, and is more spacious, and offers a wagon body, all plus points in Europe, the Seal compensates by being a whole 7,000 euros cheaper. So … you get what you pay for. It’s a tie between these two.
Interesting note: Have you noticed that regarding DC charging, both German EVs are in a different league compared to their Chinese competitors? For all the talk of Chinese EVs being years ahead of the competition, as with everything, they also have their weak spots, which legacy OEMs can explore. And DC charging is one of them. Another is efficiency. Because kWh are cheap in China, local makes do not focus much on efficiency. A third disadvantage is the little experience they have on the European market, which makes it harder to adapt their models to local tastes. Case in point: station wagons.
Now, looking at the specs of the three best selling Chinese PHEVs in Europe — the BYD Seal U PHEV (22,000 units), MG HS PHEV (10,000 units), and Chery-owned Jaecoo 7 PHEV (3,500 units) — and comparing them to the local direct competition — the Volvo XC60 PHEV and VW Tiguan PHEV in the case of the MG HS and BYD Seal U, and the Ford Kuga PHEV in the case of the Jaecoo 7 — here’s what we get:
<ul>
<li>BYD Seal U PHEV: 80 km WLTP electric range, 18 kW DC charging, 40,000 euros;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.mg.co.uk/new-cars/new-mg-hs-plug-in-hybrid">MG HS PHEV</a>: 103 km electric range, no DC charging, 41,000 euros;</li>
</ul>
vs.
<ul>
<li>Volvo XC60 PHEV: 82 km electric range, no DC charging, 62,000 euros;</li>
<li>VW Tiguan PHEV: 100 km electric range, 50 kW DC charging, 47,000 euros.</li>
</ul>
And…
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jaecoo.co.uk/jaecoo-7">Jaecoo 7 PHEV</a>: 90 km electric range, no DC charging, 38,000 euros;</li>
</ul>
vs.
<ul>
<li>Ford Kuga PHEV: 56 km electric range, no DC charging, 39,000 euros.</li>
</ul>
In the first case, looking just at specs, the Volvo model is completely out of its depth here, charging some 20,000 euros extra for a badge and extra power. Even there, the MG HS has a combined power of 340 hp, so it’s no slouch either…. So, the Volvo is out. By a mile….
As for the German crossover, it is not only closer in price to the Chinese competitors, but it also has competitive specs — namely, the 50 kW DC charging. But, still, it is 6,000 to 7,000 euros more expensive than the MG and BYD models…. Does DC charging makes that much of a difference in a plugin hybrid? So, the two Chinese EVs tie at the top, thus beating the Volkswagen model.
Finally, comparing the little known Jaecoo 7 with the Ford Kuga plugin hybrid versions: while pricing wise they are more or less equal, with the Jaecoo earning a slight edge thanks to being 1,000 euros cheaper, when it comes to electric range, it’s a no-brainer, with the Jaecoo having 61% more range than the Ford (90 miles vs. 56 miles) and the Spanish-made Ford looking like it’s a whole generation behind the Chery-owned crossover. A clear win for the Jaecoo.
So, while in the BEV field the odds seem to favour the locally made brands, in the PHEV field, the lack of significant tariffs allows for competitive pricing of the Chinese models, which changes everything. Either local OEMs go after competitive specs, at the cost of being priced out by the Chinese competition, or, when betting on price, the specs are one step behind those of the direct competition coming from China.
And there you go. As they are, the increased BEV tariffs create a level playing field for local makes, without isolating them from the Chinese competition. So, while they remain temporarily protected, they cannot sit on their laurels, because while neutered from their main selling point, price, the Chinese competition will continue to evolve. Current weak spots, like DC charging, will not last forever, so either European OEMs invest in competitive BEVs now, allowing them to go head to head with the best of China in a few years, or the Chinese EVs will win the race — not because they are cheaper, but because they are better.
Images courtesy of <a href="https://www.byd.com/eu/electric-cars/seal-u">BYD</a>.

Tariffs and the Difference between Chinese BEVs & PHEVs

EVs are picking up in Europe, with some 305,000 plugin vehicles being registered in Europe in May. That’s up 34% year over year (YoY), its fastest growth rate since August 2023.
The 2025 growth rate is also accelerating, now at +24% YoY, or 1.4 million units, which means that after the so-so year of 2024, Europe’s EV market is back on track, despite Tesla’s woes (-31% YoY in May).
This is a particularly positive sign when considering that the overall market (currently at ~5.6 million units YTD) is stagnant this year (2% growth in May, 0% YTD).
Interestingly, while BEVs seem stuck at twenty-something growth rates, growing 28% YoY in May to 195,000 units, PHEVs are the ones pushing the market upwards, jumping 48% YoY in May. That’s PHEVs’ highest growth rate in over three years. They were spearheaded by the #3 BYD Seal U PHEV (aka euro-spec BYD Song PHEV), while the two automotive juggernauts Volkswagen and Toyota also helped things along thanks to the #12 VW Tiguan PHEV and #14 Toyota C-HR PHEV, respectively. PHEVs scored close to 110,000 sales in May, and their YTD numbers are now up 18% to 478,000 units.
As such, May saw the plugin vehicle share of the overall European auto market grow to 28%&nbsp;(18% full electrics/BEVs), pulling the year-to-date numbers up by one percent, now at 26% (17% for BEVs).
Considering the previous numbers, while BEVs should stay on a 20-something percent growth rate in the near future, it could be the case that, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/chinese-ev-makers-sell-more-plugin-hybrids-eu-avoid-tariffs-research-firm-says-2025-05-01/">as more Chinese PHEVs land</a> and Volkswagen Group ramps up its portfolio of new PHEVs, plugin hybrids could witness a surge in sales in the near future, allowing them to become a new growth engine for plugins.
Finally, while both BEVs and PHEVs were the fastest growing powertrains in May, looking at the sales breakdown between the remaining powertrains, there is the usual steep fall of diesel and petrol sales. The former is down 28% YoY to 8% share now, and the latter is dropping by 20% YoY, with their share falling to 28%.
The real news is that plugless hybrids are starting to lose <del datetime="2025-05-29T08:47:38+00:00">steam</del> charge, with HEV sales growing 14% YoY in May, less than both BEVs and PHEVs. Their market share was at 34% in May.
Will this slowdown mean that we will see Peak HEV sometime in 2026?
Anyway, as it stands, 62% of all car sales in Europe in May had some kind of electrification.
With these numbers in mind, one can say that diesel sales should effectively be&nbsp;dead&nbsp;in about three years time, while petrol should share the same fate a few years later (2031? 2032?), which will mean that by 2032, the whole European market will be at least partially electrified.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-EV-Models-May.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356021" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-EV-Models-May.png" alt="" width="2040" height="2825" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-EV-Models-May.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-EV-Models-May-289x400.png 289w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-EV-Models-May-578x800.png 578w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-EV-Models-May-768x1064.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-EV-Models-May-1109x1536.png 1109w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-EV-Models-May-1479x2048.png 1479w" sizes="(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
But let’s get back to May’s sales. The big highlight this month was the BYD Seal U (Euro-spec BYD Song) winning its first European podium, thanks to a record 7,135 sales. Here’s a more detailed analysis on the top 5 EVs this month:
#1 Tesla Model Y — Tesla’s crossover won Best Seller status in May, thanks to 10,630 registrations. This is a 6% drop over its sales in May 2024. With the German-made EV profiting from its recent refresh, the crossover is looking to reach its sales levels of 2023 and 2024, or at least get close. At least, considering all the hubris around the Texan brand, a 6% drop is not that bad, especially when comparing to the Tesla Model 3, which saw its sales nosedive by more than 50% in the same period…. Basically, Tesla is still floating thanks to the Model Y.
#2 Skoda Elroq — The recently introduced Elroq scored another record performance, 9,412 registrations in May. Will we see it go north of the 10,000-unit mark in June? Although not as spacious as its bigger sibling, the Enyaq, it compensates for that with a competitive price, starting at 34,000 euros, which makes it one of the cheapest compact crossovers on the market, Chinese included. Could this be the new value-for-money king? This great performance allowed Skoda to score close to 15,000 BEVs in May, a great result for the Czech brand, which meant that Skoda outsold Tesla in May…. Not bad, huh?
#3 BYD Seal U (BEV+PHEV) — BYD’s star player delivered a record 7,135 units (883 of them being of the BEV variety), providing the model (and the OEM) with its first podium presence in Europe. While the Seal U, the euro-spec version of the veteran Song, isn’t class-leading specs-wise, it compensates for that with competitive pricing, which is especially appealing in the PHEV version that starts just below 40,000 euros, a killer price for a midsize SUV. Just for an idea, the value-for-money minded Skoda Kodiaq midsize SUV starts at 45,000 euros, with a 1.5 MHEV engine and 150 hp, while the cheapest Seal U PHEV costs 5,000 euros less, is more powerful, has a combined power of 217 hp, AND, as a cherry on top, still offers 80 km electric WLTP range. Not bad, eh? But more on the Chinese PHEV price advantages is included in the <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/02/tariffs-and-the-difference-between-chinese-bevs-phevs/">next article</a>….
#4 Volkswagen ID.4 — The compact crossover won another top 5 presence in May, with the MEB-platform model scoring 6,923 deliveries. This represented a 15% improvement over the same month last year. With improved specs and lower prices (and the small detail that Volkswagen Group needs to sell more BEVs to keep up with the EU’s CO2 rules…), the German crossover is experiencing a second youth. While not the EV enthusiasts’ choice, the ID.4 has enough going for it to attract a wide audience.
#5 VW ID.7 — The electric Volkswagen Passat scored 6,664 registrations in May. That represented exponential growth YoY, with the mid-to-large German model now officially becoming the new company-car darling in Europe. And one can see why — besides all the tangible strong points, like above average interior space, wagon availability, and long range (up to 702 km/436 mi WLTP), there are also a couple of intangibles helping. Those include the familiar badge and predictable residual value policies, and the fact that it is coming from a local brand, intangibles that in 2025 count significantly for that segment of buyers.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-May-2025.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356024" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-May-2025.png" alt="" width="1383" height="1912" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-May-2025.png 1383w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-May-2025-289x400.png 289w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-May-2025-579x800.png 579w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-May-2025-768x1062.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-May-2025-1111x1536.png 1111w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1383px) 100vw, 1383px"></a>
Outside the top 5, the highlight comes from Audi, which saw not one but two models reach record scores in May, with the #8 Q6 e-tron midsize SUV getting 5,359 registrations in May while in the same period the full size A6 e-tron made a top 20 presence, in #18, thanks to 3,581 registrations. That also crowned it as the undisputed new leader of the full size category, ahead of models like the BMW i5 and Volvo XC90 PHEV.
But it wasn’t all roses for Audi, as its compact EV, the Q4 e-tron, suffered from a 40% drop, ending the month in #15 with fewer than 4,000 registrations. Still, with seemingly many of the prospective Q4 clients going for the bigger (and more expensive/profitable) Q6, the German make can’t really complain, can it?
In the PHEV field, we are witnessing a generational change. While the Volvo XC60 PHEV and Ford Kuga PHEV were the longstanding sales champions, a new generation is taking over. Not only did the BYD Seal U become the best selling PHEV, but the new VW Tiguan PHEV is surging (#12 with 4,634 sales), profiting from a new generation and improved specs, and the Toyota C-HR PHEV (#14 with a record 4,172 sales) is profiting from an apparent change of heart from the Japanese carmaker (they seem to have discovered that If you build it, they will come). Expect more changes to this category as new models show up.
Another conversation topic is the somewhat disappointing performance of the Renault 5, only in 9th with 5,294 registrations. Sure, it was still enough to beat the B-Segment/Subcompact competition, but … we expected more.
Outside the top 20, there wasn’t that much to mention. One exception was the ramp-up of the bug-eyed Hyundai Inster (3,192 units) — expect it to join the table soon. Also, the BYD Dolphin Surf, aka Euro-spec BYD Seagull, has just landed on European shores with a discreet 724 registrations. Expect volumes to rise significantly in the following months, with the question being: Where will the demand ceiling be for the littlest of BYDs? Will it be top 5 material?
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-YTD-EV-Models-January-May.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356023" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-YTD-EV-Models-January-May.png" alt="" width="2040" height="2825" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-YTD-EV-Models-January-May.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-YTD-EV-Models-January-May-289x400.png 289w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-YTD-EV-Models-January-May-578x800.png 578w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-YTD-EV-Models-January-May-768x1064.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-YTD-EV-Models-January-May-1109x1536.png 1109w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-20-YTD-EV-Models-January-May-1479x2048.png 1479w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
Looking at the 2025 ranking, there were plenty of changes, with the Volkswagen Group once again benefitting the most from them:
<ul>
<li>The VW ID.7 jumped two positions, to 3rd, and now has a realistic chance to sustain June’s Tesla Model 3 delivery peak, now some 3,000 units behind, and effectively become the best selling midsize car on the table, all while ending the first half of the year on the podium.</li>
<li>Its sibling, the VW ID.3, was also up two spots, in this case to 5th. There were therefore three Volkswagens in the top 5. Will the ID.3 be able to surpass the Renault 5 next month?</li>
<li>Finally, the new Skoda Elroq is surging, having jumped 7 spots last month to #12. With a top 10 presence a certainty in June, one wonders where the Czech EV will stop. Maybe a top 5 spot by the end of the year?</li>
</ul>
Another significant model on the rise is the BYD Seal U, with the SUV jumping to 9th in May. The Chinese model will probably rise a couple more positions in the next few months.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-January-May-2025.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356025" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-January-May-2025.png" alt="" width="1379" height="1909" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-January-May-2025.png 1379w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-January-May-2025-289x400.png 289w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-January-May-2025-578x800.png 578w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-January-May-2025-768x1063.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Europe-EV-Sales-Table-January-May-2025-1110x1536.png 1110w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1379px) 100vw, 1379px"></a>
The remaining changes allowed the Kia EV3 to climb one position, to 7th, while at the bottom of the table, we have a new model joining, with the Toyota C-HR PHEV replacing the Cupra Born and joining the table in #19.
Will the Japanese crossover hold steady on the table? Well, it depends on how committed the Japanese make is to this version, not only regarding production, but also regarding pricing, because Chinese PHEVs are becoming a bigger threat to established plugin hybrids than Chinese BEVs…. But more on this is coming in the <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/02/tariffs-and-the-difference-between-chinese-bevs-phevs/">next article</a>.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Brands-May.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356022" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Brands-May.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1634" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Brands-May.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Brands-May-400x320.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Brands-May-800x641.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Brands-May-768x615.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Brands-May-1536x1230.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
Looking at the plugin auto brand ranking, the title could be Volkswagen Group wins, everyone else loses.
Looking closely at the month-on-month evolution, while Volkswagen continued its never ending rise and rise (11.5% in May vs. 11.2% in April), everyone else in the top 5 lost share.
This even allowed for Audi (5.2%) to surpass Tesla (5.2%, down 0.2% compared to April) and kick the Texan make from the table.
This is an end of an era in the European plugin market. After three years of full Tesla domination, there are new brands calling the shots.
Sure, Tesla will recover the 5th position in June — after all, only 400 units separate these two brands — and it could even reach 4th if all goes well, but … we are talking about the trophy holder. Tesla’s 2024 title was its 3rd in a row. And now it is fighting for a spot in the top 5….
Below the top 5, the fast growing #7 Skoda rose from 4.7% in April to its current 5% share. The Czech brand is probably the greatest threat to Tesla’s standing on the table, and also a welcome addition to the table, as Volkswagen is the single mainstream brand in the top 5, followed by four premium makes.
Having Skoda on the best sellers table will be a good sign of EVs going mainstream. Fingers crossed….
A deserving mention also goes to BYD, which is already appearing on the radar with 4% share, a 0.2% increase over April.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Auto-Groups-May.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-356020" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Auto-Groups-May.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1634" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Auto-Groups-May.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Auto-Groups-May-400x320.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Auto-Groups-May-800x641.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Auto-Groups-May-768x615.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-05-Europe-Top-EV-Auto-Groups-May-1536x1230.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
Arranging things by automotive group, Volkswagen Group is firmly in the lead, having gained 0.5% share in May. It rose to 28.1% share, a market share that is comparable to BYD’s in China and Tesla’s in the USA. This is an important metric for the German conglomerate if it wants to stay relevant in a fully electrified global automotive market.
If you can’t win at home….
BMW Group (10.6%, down from 10.8% in April) remained in the runner-up position in May, while #3 Stellantis is still on its long hard road in hell (9.5% in May vs. 9.7% in April). With models like the Opel Frontera-e, Citroen e-C3 Aircross, and Fiat Grande Panda EV still in ramp-up mode, the OEM will need significant volumes from these new models if it wants to stop the sales bleed and keep its podium position.
Hyundai–Kia (8.1%) remained in 4th, while Geely (7.7%, down 0.1%) kept its 5th position.

Europe EV Sales Report — King Volkswagen Rules in a Fast Growing (+34% YoY) EV Market

“This new chapter is about putting the driver first,” Sylva Yu, CEO of Geely Motor Philippines (GMP), declared as she introduced the all-electric Geely EX5 and the hybrid Geely Okavango Elite on June 30th in a simple launch ceremony called “EnerGeely.”
The simultaneous launch underscores Geely’s strategic focus on addressing the evolving needs of Filipino motorists, offering solutions for both urban efficiency and versatile family transport. It is also polishing off a brand image tainted by troubles it had with the Geely Coolray, once the darling of the compact SUV market, hurt by poor after-sales responses and a barrage of social media slurs.
Since July 2024, the operations of Geely in the Philippines have transitioned to Geely Automotive International Corporation (GAIC), which is based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. GAIC directly manages its operations in the country. Back then, GMP President Willy Wan promised to resurrect the brand and introduce a lineup of new energy vehicles. The EX5 EV and Okavango Hybrid seem to be the fulfillment of those promised.
“These are vehicles built for real-world roads and everyday routines,” Yu added, highlighting the brand’s renewed emphasis on consumer-centric offerings, promising vehicles that are not just packed with features but genuinely adapt to the daily lives of Filipinos. “Whether it’s the quiet torque of the EX5 or the hybrid practicality of the Okavango Elite, we’re delivering performance, comfort, and adaptability that Filipino motorists will immediately feel.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Geely EX5</h3>
Leading Geely’s charge into the fully electric segment is the Geely EX5, an all-electric SUV priced at P1,799,000 (~$32,000) and the first for the brand in the Philippines. Positioned as a “next-generation SUV,” it says that it is built on five pillars it identifies as new energy, safety, comfort, intelligence, and design.
<figure id="attachment_355964" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355964" style="width: 2048px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-355964" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyEX5-1.jpeg" alt="" width="2048" height="921" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyEX5-1.jpeg 2048w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyEX5-1-400x180.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyEX5-1-800x360.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyEX5-1-768x345.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyEX5-1-1536x691.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355964" class="wp-caption-text">The Geely EX 5 BEV. (Photo for CleanTechnica by Ramon “Monch” Henares)</figcaption></figure>
Under the hood, the EX5 boasts Geely’s innovative short blade battery technology, coupled with an 11-in-1 intelligent electric drive system. This advanced setup promises impressive efficiency, with a rapid charging capability that sees the battery jump from 30% to 80% in just 20 minutes — a crucial factor for urban dwellers with busy schedules. Its energy efficiency is further optimized through IGBT technology, making it well-suited for the stop-and-go nature of city driving.
Safety remains paramount for Geely, and the EX5’s global credentials are highlighted by its dual 5-star crash ratings from both Euro NCAP and ANCAP. The vehicle’s structural integrity is enhanced by its CTB (cell-to-body) architecture, while a comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) provides real-world protection, including features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Lane Keeping Assist.
The cabin is minimalist but spacious and technologically advanced. There are amenities like the front-row massage seats, featuring a large 15.4-inch touchscreen, a 13.8-inch Head-Up Display (HUD), and multi-language voice control. Drivers will also appreciate the 360° panoramic parking and “transparent chassis view” for enhanced maneuverability. Geely calls this the Flyme Auto cockpit, and is part of the “intelligence” pillar.
Design-wise, the EX5 sports modern aesthetics with flush electric door handles, a panoramic sunroof, and an interior made with antibacterial materials, catering to a more wellness-minded driving experience.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Okavango In Hybrid</h3>
Joining the EX5 is the refreshed Geely Okavango Elite, a hybrid 7-seat SUV priced at P1,368,000 (~$24,300). Building on the Okavango’s reputation for spaciousness and versatility, the Elite variant refines these characteristics.
<figure id="attachment_355965" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355965" style="width: 2048px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-355965" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyOka-1.jpeg" alt="" width="2048" height="921" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyOka-1.jpeg 2048w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyOka-1-400x180.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyOka-1-800x360.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyOka-1-768x345.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GeelyOka-1-1536x691.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355965" class="wp-caption-text">The Geely Okavango Hybrid. (Photo for CleanTechnica by Ramon “Monch” Henares)</figcaption></figure>
Geely insists that it is the “go-to choice for big days and bigger families.”
A standout feature of the Okavango Elite is its seating configuration; it’s the only model in its segment to offer seven fully independent seats. This design allows for unparalleled flexibility, with over five configurable layouts and a cavernous maximum cargo space of 2,050 liters (enough for 20 large suitcases). This adaptability makes it ideal for a wide range of needs, from daily school runs and carpooling to extended family trips or even light business deliveries.
The Elite variant boasts refreshed exterior styling and a more refined interior, enhancing its premium appeal. Safety is also upgraded with a wide-angle 360° camera system and a high-strength steel framework, providing improved protection for occupants. Crucially, its hybrid engine delivers a harmonious blend of performance and efficiency, a significant advantage for a vehicle designed for frequent use.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Slalom</h3>
To prove the handling and power of the EX5, Geely conducted a quick gymkhana for members of the media.
The launch of the EX5 and Okavango Elite under Geely Motor Philippines’ direct subsidiary model signifies a more focused and agile approach to the local market. Both vehicles automatically qualify for a green plate under the Philippine EV Incentives Act (Republic Act No. 11697).
This provides owners with significant perks, including exemption from the dreaded number coding scheme and priority in vehicle registration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), making EV ownership even more appealing.

Geely Philippines Updates Its SUV, Introduces New EV

As expected, earlier today Tesla reported an impressive total of 384,000 EVs delivered around the world for Q2 of 2025, though the celebratory mood was somewhat tempered by a sharp downslide compared to the numbers for the same quarter last year. Oopsies…
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Don’t Hold Your Breath For That Final Report</h3>
Those of you waiting for a full Q2 report from Tesla can relax and begin breathing normally. Although lots of media attention has been focused on July 2, the company’s Investor Relations office advises that the financial results won’t be posted until late in the day on Wednesday, July 25, after the markets close. “At that time, Tesla will issue a brief advisory containing a link to the Q2 2025 update, which will be available on Tesla’s Investor Relations website,” the company explains.
For those of you interested, on the 23rd, Tesla management will conduct a live Q&amp;A at 5:30 pm Eastern Time “to discuss the Company’s financial and business results and outlook.”
In the meantime, Investor Relations posted Tesla’s <a href="https://ir.tesla.com/press-release/tesla-second-quarter-2025-production-deliveries-deployments">Q2 production and delivery figures</a> this morning.
For Model 3/Y, Tesla counts 396,835 produced and 373,728 delivered, with 2% falling into the operating lease accounting category.
All other models combined hit a total of 13,409 produced and 10,394 delivered, with 7% under lease accounting.
The overall total of 384,000 is not particularly bad as a standalone figure, but it reflects badly upon Tesla’s own expectations. In widely reported remarks at a shareholder meeting last October, Tesla CEO Elon Musk assessed that the company would see its <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/musks-bold-2025-prediction-tesla-sales-faces-skepticism-scrutiny-2024-10-28/">sales increase in the range of 30%</a> for 2025. That’s not the same as what just happened. The Q2 results were down significantly from the same quarter last year, in which Tesla reported 444,000 deliveries.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">GM Is Catching Up To Tesla In The US</h3>
Despite its steep and well-documented <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/01/best-cage-match-ever-tesla-ceo-elon-musk-vs-us-president-donald-trump/">downward sales trajectory</a> in recent months, Tesla continues to dominate EV sales in some markets including the US (see lots more <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/?s=tesla+sales">EV sales background here</a>). However, that may not last much longer.
Last year, General Motors seized the opportunity to proudly tout itself as the #2 EV maker in the US market. GM has a long way to go, but it is eager to close the gap. “Driven by our broad portfolio of 13 EVs from Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC, GM has solidified its position as <a href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/topic/us/en/2025/jun/0609-Chevrolet-brand-now-2-in-US-EV-sales.html">the #2 seller of EVs in the U.S.</a>, with more than 62,000 EVs sold in the U.S. year to date through May,” GM reported on June 9, in anticipation of its Q2 report on July 1.
In a rather sideways poke at Tesla’s much-maligned Cybertruck, GM also took particular note of its lineup of “highly capable full-size trucks,” including the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
GM posted its Q2 results as planned on July 1. Emphasizing that “our EVs continue to grow faster than the industry,” GM racked up an EV sales increase of more than 100% for the quarter. “During the quarter, Chevrolet became the best-selling EV brand,” GM added. “Cadillac is the luxury EV market share leader in Q2, and had its best retail market share since 2014.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Tesla Semi To The Rescue, Or Not</h3>
Although somewhat distracted by his former role as head of President Trump’s <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/01/best-cage-match-ever-tesla-ceo-elon-musk-vs-us-president-donald-trump/">“DOGE” budget-cutting office</a> earlier this year, Musk left the White House in May just in time to see the rollout of his Robotaxi service, which did not go over quite as well as planned.
The soft (to put it kindly) Robotaxi launch follows a disappointing sales record for the Tesla Cybertruck, so it’s unclear how Musk expects to send the company’s sales back into recovery mode.
The next vehicle to come down the line is much-hyped but much-delayed Tesla <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/23/musk-to-sell-tesla-semi-electric-truck-in-europe-and-re-write-all-of-human-knowledge/">Semi Class 8 truck</a>. Unveiled in 2019 to much fanfare, the truck has yet to go into full volume production. That step is anticipated before the end of this year, which is just around the corner.
However, in the meantime other electric truck makers have already launched zero emission Class 8 trucks into the market, so it remains to be seen if Musk can convince truck buyers to choose the Tesla brand over all others.
Image (cropped): Tesla is banking on the electric Tesla Semi class 8 heavy duty truck to help breath new life into the company’s EV sales <a href="https://digitalassets.tesla.com/tesla-contents/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/IR/Mobile_PressReleases">after disappointing results for Q2</a> (courtesy of Tesla Investor Relations).

Tesla Closes Out Q2 2025 With A Bang… Or Was That General Motors?

<a target="_blank" href="https://cleantechnica.fundjournalism.org/contribute/"><img decoding="async" class="bannerad aligncenter wp-image-321274 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screen-Shot-2024-11-22-at-11.08.15-AM.png" alt="" width="300" height="160"></a>

<hr>Ride-hailing giant Grab is adopting electric vehicles into its taxi fleet in the Philippines and Singapore.
Earlier last month, Grab launched its fully electric taxi service, “GrabTaxi Electric,” in collaboration with EV Taxi Corp. The country’s first fully electric, on-demand taxi fleet&nbsp;was given the go-signal by the Philippines Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). This July an all-electric fleet will also be operating in Singapore, adding to the already ‘green’ selections in the Grab Singapore app.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Grab’s Electric Leap In The Philippines</h3>
Currently under testing in the Philippines, Grab’s EV taxis are only accessible to select users and ply key cities in Metro Manila, including Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Paranaque, and Pasay. The initial fleet incorporates the Chang’an Eado EV460.
This rollout follows a successful pilot study conducted in June 2024 with BYD Philippines, which assessed the operational and financial viability of EVs for drivers and fleet operators. This pilot is part of a broader regional partnership between Grab and BYD, aimed at expanding access to up to 50,000 BYD EVs for Grab’s driver-partners across Southeast Asia.
Beyond Metro Manila, Grab intends to extend its electric taxi and GrabCar EV services to other regional cities like Davao and Cagayan de Oro. The initiative aligns with national efforts to promote EV adoption, specifically supporting the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) and the Department of Energy’s push for sustainable transport solutions, ultimately aiming to foster “green livelihoods” for drivers and offer cleaner, quieter rides for commuters.The taxis seem to to moving about near and around the airports. Not many taxis have been deployed yet.
“This is not just about offering another ride option,” Grab Philippines Country Head Ronald Roda said. He explained that Grab PH’s broader eco-mobility strategy, which includes expanding EV adoption across its GrabCar fleet in regional cities such as Davao and Cagayan De Oro within the year.
“It’s about fundamentally changing the DNA of urban transport in the Philippines — one that aligns with our sustainability commitments, empowers Filipino commuters, and creates meaningful green livelihoods. Sustainability cannot be a distant ideal; it must be something you can book, ride, and feel today,” Roda added.
GrabTaxi Electric will be done in a phased rollout which will be supported by in-app sustainability features such as voluntary contributions for environmental conservation efforts for every Grab transaction, and deeper collaboration with government and private sector partners to accelerate EV ecosystem readiness nationwide.
“As a local operator, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this transformation,” said EV Taxi Corp President Frankie Ang. “Our partnership with Grab proves that when multinational platforms and local innovators work together, we can fast-track a cleaner, more inclusive future for transport — one that delivers value for both passengers and drivers alike.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Grab’s Electric Push in Singapore</h3>
Grab has also intensified its commitment to EV adoption in Singapore with the introduction of “GrabCab” in July 2025. There is an existing Grab Taxi fleet in Singapore using a variety of ICE taxis. It also has collaborations with taxi services to use its app for ride hailing.
<figure id="attachment_355977" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355977" style="width: 1408px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-355977" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GrabSGPrius.png" alt="" width="1408" height="622" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GrabSGPrius.png 1408w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GrabSGPrius-400x177.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GrabSGPrius-800x353.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GrabSGPrius-768x339.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355977" class="wp-caption-text">The Toyota Prius is the car of choice for the GrabCab operations in Singapore. (Photo from Grab)</figcaption></figure>
GrabCab’s new taxi fleet is entirely composed of hybrid and electric vehicles, signifying a substantial move towards decarbonizing the city-state’s public transport.
GrabCab initially debuted with 40 fifth-generation Toyota Prius (hybrid) vehicles. The company plans to progressively integrate more low- and zero-emission models, such as the Hyundai Kona hybrid, starting in August 2025, with the ultimate goal of transitioning to a fully electric fleet within the year. Having received its street-hail service operator license in April 2025, GrabCab is now Singapore’s sixth taxi operator.
The company has a three-year grace period to expand its fleet to meet a minimum size requirement of 800 taxis. GrabCab’s model integrates traditional street-hail services with Grab’s digital platform, enabling drivers to switch seamlessly between street-hail and app-based bookings. This hybrid approach aims to bridge accessibility gaps for commuters while enhancing operational efficiency through technology.
GrabCab also offers various benefits for drivers, including medical leave, instant fare payouts, safe driving bonuses, and discounts on fuel and EV charging across four providers islandwide. Vehicles are equipped with integrated mobile data terminals and AI-powered tools (KartaDongle and KartaDashcam) to bolster safety, efficiency, and real-time road condition data collection. GrabCab fares adhere to existing taxi industry rates, including applicable surcharges and booking fees. Grab’s strategy with GrabCab is to “grow the pie” by attracting new and inactive taxi drivers, thereby increasing the overall supply of available taxis in Singapore.

Grab Launches EV Taxis in Manila, Next Up Singapore

Europe’s leasing companies have made little to no meaningful climate commitments, despite their growing influence and key role in decarbonising the automotive sector.
Across Europe, leasing has become the main way of accessing new cars. The sector already accounts for over 50% of new registrations, a figure expected to rise to 70% by 2030.
This shift gives leasing companies — subsidiaries of carmakers (e.g. Mobilize for Renault) or banking groups (e.g. Ayvens for Société Générale, Arval for BNP Paribas) — significant power in shaping the EV transition. These companies are key intermediaries between carmakers and clients. They set listed monthly prices for new models, which influence how attractive electric vehicles are to clients. They also guide customers through the transition — or fail to do so. And they manage the resale of vehicles at the end of the lease period, shaping the second-hand market, where eight out of 10 Europeans buy their cars.
<h3 dir="ltr">Worrying lack of transparency, weak and inconsistent climate targets</h3>
1.&nbsp;Reclaim Finance and T&amp;E have analysed the climate disclosures [1] of 20 major leasing companies [2]. The findings are concerning: 
12 out of 20 leasing companies publish no public information specifically about their leasing activities. Among them are major players like Stellantis Financial Services, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and Toyota Financial Services.
2.&nbsp;Even in the case of the 8 companies that disclose information, none provide a transparent detailed breakdown of their fleets by vehicle type, country, or year, making it impossible to evaluate their decarbonisation progress.
3.&nbsp;Only 9 companies have climate targets, but these are fragmented, short-term, poorly detailed. Some have recently been weakened or suspended, as seen with Arval (BNP Paribas), Ayvens (Société Générale), and Mobilize (Renault).
4.&nbsp;No leasing company has committed to stop financing new ICE vehicles in Europe, even after 2035, when the EU plans to ban their sale.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Leasing-companies-failing-to-cut-emissions-in-Europe.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355955" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Leasing-companies-failing-to-cut-emissions-in-Europe.png" alt="" width="1441" height="956" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Leasing-companies-failing-to-cut-emissions-in-Europe.png 1441w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Leasing-companies-failing-to-cut-emissions-in-Europe-400x265.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Leasing-companies-failing-to-cut-emissions-in-Europe-800x531.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Leasing-companies-failing-to-cut-emissions-in-Europe-768x510.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1441px) 100vw, 1441px"></a>
“Unlike carmakers, leasing companies are not subject to any specific climate regulations. There is currently no requirement for emissions transparency, no binding targets, and no phase-out timeline for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. It’s hardly surprising, then, that the warning lights are flashing red when it comes to decarbonisation — and that no leasing company has committed to moving away from fossil fuels,” explains&nbsp;Lucie Pinson, Executive Director at Reclaim Finance.
<h3>Regulation is urgently needed</h3>
The conclusion is clear: policymakers need to introduce policies to reverse this trend and ensure that leasing companies play their role and become real green leaders.
Reclaim Finance and T&amp;E call on the European Commission, Members of the European Parliament and Member States to include binding measures in the upcoming EU Fleets law, expected by the end of 2025:
1.&nbsp;Mandate transparency on leasing fleet data: vehicle types, emissions, and fleet composition — broken down by country and year;
2.&nbsp;Set regulatory targets for the electrification of leasing fleets, including a phase-out of new ICE vehicle financing, by 2030 at the latest.
“This report is a wake-up call for policymakers. Without regulation, leasing companies will continue to dodge their responsibilities in the climate transition—even though they hold many of the levers,”&nbsp;concludes&nbsp;Stef Cornelis, Fleets and Freight Director at T&amp;E.
<a href="https://www.transportenvironment.org/uploads/files/TE-Reclaim_Too-big-to-ignore_VF_compressed-1-compressed.pdf">Download/read the report</a>.
Notes to Editors
[1] Given the limited number of comprehensive climate reports published by leasing companies, all public communications related to climate were reviewed, including sustainability reports, websites, press releases, etc.
[2] The 20 companies analysed are: Alphabet (BMW), BMW Financial Services, Arval (BNP Paribas), Cofica Bail (BNP Paribas), Crédit Agricole Personal Finance and Mobility (Crédit Agricole), Crédit Agricole Leasing and Factoring (Crédit Agricole), Leasys (Crédit Agricole, Stellatis), Crédit Mutuel Leasing (Crédit Mutuel), FCE Bank (Ford), BPCE Lease (Groupe BPCE), Hyundai Capital, Athlon (Mercedes-Benz), Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (Mercedes-Benz), Mobilize Financial Services (Renault), Ayvens (Société Générale), CGI Finance (Société Générale), Stellantis Financial Services (Stellantis), KINTO (Toyota), Toyota Financial Services (Toyota), Volkswagen Financial Services (Volkswagen).
<a href="https://www.transportenvironment.org/uploads/files/TE-Reclaim_Too-big-to-ignore_VF_compressed-1-compressed.pdf">Download/read the report</a>.
News release from <a href="https://www.transportenvironment.org/articles/leasing-new-automotive-giants-lack-a-credible-climate-strategy" rel="canonical">T&amp;E</a>.

Leasing: New Automotive Giants Lack A Credible Climate Strategy

Swedish truck and bus manufacturer Scania has quietly but steadily grown its presence and influence across Australia, especially through its focus on sustainable transport, advanced vehicle technology, and a commitment to road safety.
In a press statement, the company announced developments that showcase a multi-faceted approach to the Australian market, addressing the needs of various sectors from public transport to heavy haulage and even autonomous mining.
Last May, the company introduced new battery-electric trucks equipped with large 624 kWh batteries. This particular model was first released in Europe in 2022 and has undergone four major technology and cosmetic upgrades, and has recently gained approval for sale in Australia.
A 500 kW motor powers the NG G Series trucks, the first of which has already made its way to the Total Logistics Solutions (TLS) fleet in Victoria. This highlights the logistics provider’s shift toward zero-emission last-mile deliveries. The 12-ton trucks (with extended range batteries) can carry a payload of 29 to 31 tonnes. The expected range is up to 350 km (~218 miles), and charging time is as little as 1 hour and a half using 375 kW DC chargers.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Electric city buses</h3>
Scania has started production of 60 new battery-electric city buses for the South Australian government to be used in Adelaide. Notably, the state uses wind and solar energy to meet over 60 percent of its local grid demand annually, peaking at 70 percent from renewables last year, making it a global leader.
<figure id="attachment_355947" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355947" style="width: 1021px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-355947" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/scania-first-bev-bus-tim4656-2.jpeg" alt="" width="1021" height="680" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/scania-first-bev-bus-tim4656-2.jpeg 1021w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/scania-first-bev-bus-tim4656-2-400x266.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/scania-first-bev-bus-tim4656-2-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/scania-first-bev-bus-tim4656-2-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355947" class="wp-caption-text">Scania’s first BEV bus released in 2023. (Photo from Scania).</figcaption></figure>
“This landmark deal means Scania will support&nbsp;South Australia’s&nbsp;transition to a cleaner, more sustainable public transport network,” said Anna Ställberg, Head of Urban Solutions at Scania Group, adding that the deal will boost “our penetration of the Australian electric vehicle market.”
The new vehicles—the K-series two-axle low-entry buses—will begin delivery in November 2025. They will serve the city of&nbsp;Adelaide. Coachbuilder Volgren will supply the bodies built on the Scania powertrain, with seating for 43 to 45 passengers and a maximum range of over 400 kilometers (248 miles).
The buses will feature Scania’s complete suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, including pedestrian recognition and lane keeping. This will enhance road safety by helping the driver maintain proper vehicle positioning while also managing speed and distance from other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
“This order is not only strategically significant for Scania; it also demonstrates the strength of our ongoing partnership with DIT,” said Steven Godbold, Contract Manager Government Bus — SA/TAS, Scania Australia, in a distributed press statement. Additional buses may be ordered until June 2029 if the South Australian government is satisfied with the initial batch of electric buses.
Adelaide Metro took delivery of Scania’s very first fully electric bus in late 2023. As its program progressed, nine more buses were built. The additional 60 buses mark South Australia’s plan to electrify its extensive 1,000-bus fleet, which currently includes 825 Scania non-electric vehicles. The electric buses may complete the lineup and could potentially replace the entire fleet by 2029, Scania insiders told CleanTechnica.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Autonomous mining transport</h3>
Scania is also exploring the frontiers of autonomous transport in Australia’s mining sector, with a long-term vision to shift to fully electric autonomous solutions.
Collaborations with companies like Regroup and Fortescue focus on developing and deploying autonomous mining truck fleets, including the world’s first fleet of autonomous in-pit mining trucks in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. These trucks are currently diesel-powered, but transitioning to clean energy sources is a priority. These initiatives aim to improve efficiency, enhance safety by reducing human exposure in hazardous environments, and minimize the environmental footprint of mining operations.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Road safety for large vehicles</h3>
Road safety remains a key focus for Scania in Australia. The company recently launched a light-hearted yet impactful campaign, “It’s not you. It’s me. I need space,” to raise awareness about safe driving practices around trucks. This initiative, supporting the Australian Road Safety Foundation’s Fatality Free Friday, uses relatable language and visuals to explain why heavy vehicles need more space for braking, turning, and reducing blind spot risks.
This campaign reinforces Scania’s broader partnership with the Australian Road Safety Foundation, aimed at encouraging safer driving behaviors and promoting safety practices that will become the new norm, even as electric vehicles become more common.

Scania Adds Electric Trucks & Buses to South Australian Fleet

As I just reported, NIO’s June sales were up strongly year over year. The whole Chinese EV market has been going up and up and up, but NIO’s sales are up more. That said … XPENG has shot through the roof and is on the way to the moon.
XPENG’s sales rose 224% in June 2025 compared to June 2024! In Q2 as a whole, the company’s sales were up 242% compared to Q2 2024.
XPENG had 34,611 deliveries in June, and had 103,181 deliveries across the 2nd quarter, putting the company on track for more than 400,000 sales a year. Additionally, June was the 8th month in a row that XPENG had more than 30,000 deliveries in the month.
In the first half of 2025, XPENG had 197,189 vehicle deliveries, which is more than the company had in all of 2024.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355943" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1352" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-400x265.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-800x530.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-768x509.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-1536x1018.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355941" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1352" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-400x265.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-800x530.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-768x509.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-1536x1018.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
XPENG had some other highlights from the month to share as well with its monthly sales update. “XNGP achieved a monthly active user penetration rate of 85% in urban driving in June 2025. Most recently, XPENG was invited to present its advancements in foundational models for autonomous driving at the 2025 Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), the sole Chinese automotive company to receive this industry distinction.” Interesting. It remains, in my eyes, that XPENG is one of the automotive leaders in self-driving or driver-assist hardware and software.
“On June 19, 2025, XPENG launched its flagship model, XPENG X9, in Indonesia. The Company also announced that the right-hand drive X9 model for the Indonesian market will be manufactured locally in July, marking a crucial milestone in its global expansion roadmap. As of June 2025, XPENG has entered more than 40 countries and regions worldwide.”
More than 40 countries and regions! XPENG is already in 40 countries! I hadn’t realized the company had already expanded that much. It’s still young and new in most of those countries, too, so there’s plenty of room to grow a presence, grow customers, and boost overall global sales.
I keep thinking that XPENG’s massive sales growth has to slow down sometime, and I keep wondering if this is the last month of super-powered growth. Well, this is another month of stunning growth, so it’s not slowing down yet.
Circling back to that NIO comparison, below are charts on NIO’s sales over time versus XPENG’s sales over time — on a monthly basis and then on a quarterly basis.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355940" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="3240" height="1720" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png 3240w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-400x212.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-800x425.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-768x408.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-1536x815.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-2048x1087.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3240px) 100vw, 3240px"></a> <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355942" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="3240" height="1720" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png 3240w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-400x212.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-800x425.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-768x408.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-1536x815.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-2048x1087.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3240px) 100vw, 3240px"></a>

XPENG Sales Soar 242%!

NIO’s sales continue to rise, not astronomically, but actually quite solidly and strongly.
The company’s sales — all fully electric vehicles of course — were up 17.5% in June compared to June 2024. Across the whole quarter, sales were up 25.6%.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355938" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1352" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-400x265.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-800x530.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-768x509.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-1536x1018.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355939" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1352" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-400x265.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-800x530.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-768x509.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-1536x1018.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
In June, the company had 24,925 vehicle deliveries. In the 2nd quarter of the year, the company had 72,056 vehicle deliveries.
Naturally, NIO now has its sales split amongst a few brands. This is how those June deliveries were split:
<ul>
<li>14,593 sales of the NIO brand (premium brand)</li>
<li>6,400 sales of the ONVO brand (“family-oriented” brand)</li>
<li>3,932 sales of the FIREFLY brand (small but high-end car brand)</li>
</ul>
Cumulatively, NIO has reached 785,714 vehicle sales. (At what point is it no longer a startup — 1 million sales? 1 million sales a year?)
NIO also received some notable accolades last quarter. “NIO’s products have been highly recognized in the 2025 J.D. Power studies. The ET5 and ET5T ranked first among mid-size battery electric sedans in the China NEV-IQS study, while the EC6 claimed the top spot in the premium BEV segment in the China NEV-APEAL study. With superior product quality and exceptional user satisfaction, NIO has secured first place in its segment in J.D. Power’s quality research for seven consecutive years since 2019,” the company notes.
NIO and XPENG have almost always been closely linked due to the timing of their market entries, the types of vehicles they sell, and how similar their rises up the sales charts have been. For a while, NIO was coming out ahead in that comparison, but XPENG is winning lately. Before publishing on XPENG’s June and Q2 sales, here’s a teaser, a comparison of NIO’s and XPENG’s sales over time.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355940" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="3240" height="1720" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png 3240w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-400x212.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-800x425.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-768x408.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-1536x815.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-2048x1087.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3240px) 100vw, 3240px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355942" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="3240" height="1720" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo.png 3240w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-400x212.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-800x425.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-768x408.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-1536x815.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Xpeng-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-quarterly-deliveries-June-2025-logo-2048x1087.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3240px) 100vw, 3240px"></a>

NIO Sales Up 26% Year Over Year

<ul>
<li>A range test by State of Charge host Tom Moloughney results in a&nbsp;Cadillac Escalade IQ going 607 miles on a single charge.</li>
<li>Moloughney does this by driving at a constant 60 mph on the highway, as EVs erase range quickly above 70 mph.</li>
<li>The Escalade IQ is officially rated at 465 miles of range.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
What difference does 10 mph make on an electric road trip? Apparently, a very, very big one—at least as far as the electric Cadillac Escalade is concerned.&nbsp;
And "far" is a great way to describe the new <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/753628/cadillac-escalade-iq-electric-review/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22753628%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22cadillac-escalade-iq-electric-review%22%7D">Escalade IQ's</a> performance in a long-distance video test by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of Charge host</a> and <a href="https://insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsideEVs</a> Contributing Editor Tom Moloughney. In&nbsp;Moloughney's latest video, the Escalade IQ manages to go a staggering 607 miles on a single charge.&nbsp;

"Has any other production EV ever gone 600-plus miles at highway speeds?" Moloughney told us the other day. "I can't remember any EV doing that." I tend to concur—not in this country, anyway.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
If this sounds familiar to another test&nbsp;Moloughney recently conducted, <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/763595/cadillac-escalade-iq-range-test/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22763595%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22cadillac-escalade-iq-range-test%22%7D">where the 2026 Cadillac Escalade also exceeded its official range estimates</a>, you are not experiencing déjà vu. That last test involved driving the big electric SUV at a constant 70 mph until it ran out of range.&nbsp;
For this exercise,&nbsp;Moloughney dropped things down to 60 mph, and it's a great illustration of the difference speed alone can make when you're trying to preserve range on a long drive.&nbsp;
<section contenteditable="false" draggable="true" data-widget="video"> <div class="video-wrapper"><img class="sizer" draggable="false" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAJCAYAAAA7KqwyAAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAABpJREFUeNpi/P//PwMlgImBQjBqwLAwACDAAOVfAw9/ZDvcAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" alt="" pinger-seen="true"> <div class="video-player"></div> </div> </section>
As a refresher,&nbsp;Cadillac says the new Escalade IQ will go a whole 460 miles on a full charge, which is about 100 miles more than a&nbsp;Tesla Model X&nbsp;and 50 miles more than a Rivian R1S. However, it does so in a fairly controversial way: not with a laser focus on efficiency like a Lucid Air, but with a huge 205 kilowatt-hour battery. That's about twice what you get in the aforementioned Model X.<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
While the "big battery approach" is one way to get things done, it's often seen as not very environmentally friendly due to the sheer amount of critical materials needed to produce such a unit. That battery is also a lot to charge; Cadillac says it will add 100 miles of range in approximately 10 minutes on a 350-kilowatt fast-charger, but on one of those and a home Level 2 charger, you could be there for a while if you need to get it to 100%.
But you can't argue with the range on order here. By driving the Escalade IQ at a constant 60 mph on the highway, "the results were beyond my expectations,"&nbsp;Moloughney said.&nbsp;
<section data-is-mosaic="0" contenteditable="false" draggable="true" data-widget="image" data-border="" data-id="8177208">
 
 
 
 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/jl0KMk/s1/escalade-iq-range-test.jpg" alt="Escalade IQ Range Test">
 <div class="photo-title">
Escalade IQ Range Test
</div>
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: YouTube</div>
</section>
For this test,&nbsp;Moloughney enlisted his buddy Pete to do the 60 mph test right after he did the 70 mph test. The latter took more than seven hours of driving,&nbsp;Moloughney said. Pete had it even worse. His test took 10.5 hours. (Yes, he stopped for bathroom breaks, thankfully. But this is still some real dedication.)&nbsp;
In the green box I added above, you can see the most relevant portion of the test results. When the Escalade IQ went 70 mph in the previous test, it went 482.2 miles—handily beating its "official" EPA range estimate.&nbsp;
But slowing down on the highway, which reduces aerodynamic drag on the car and the amount of energy needed to drive the electric motors, makes a significant difference. What's really interesting to me is that the amount of energy consumed in these two tests isn't that different; Moloughney only used about one fewer kilowatt-hour in the slower test.&nbsp;
In other words, this ended up being less about energy for speed and more about aerodynamics. "It really goes to show you how&nbsp;much wind resistance takes effect once&nbsp;you get up over 50, 60, 70 mph," Moloughney said. "It becomes&nbsp;an enormous factor in how far the&nbsp;vehicle can go."
I'll readily admit that driving slowly isn't something I have much patience for, especially on the highway and in a powerful EV like this one. But the results here are obvious. If you have a lot of distance to cover, or you're running low on range and still have a ways to go, the answer is simple: slow the heck down. Keep the EV under 70 mph, and who knows what you'll accomplish.&nbsp;
Just stay out of the left lane when you try this, okay?
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

This 'Incredible' 607-Mile EV Range Test Makes A Crucial Point About Slowing Down

By Mike Tidwell
Want to drive a brand-new Rivian electric SUV or pickup truck? How about a Lucid Air with 500-mile range? Or, dare we say, an electric Porsche? <a href="https://bit.ly/evRaffleCT2025" rel="nofollow sponsored">Now is your chance.</a>
<a href="https://bit.ly/evRaffleCT2025" rel="nofollow sponsored"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-355709 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN.png" alt="" width="1858" height="1039" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN.png 1858w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-400x224.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-800x447.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-768x429.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-1536x859.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1858px) 100vw, 1858px"></a>
The Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund (CCAN Action Fund) just launched their 7th annual electric car raffle to raise money for their nonprofit’s work fighting for a cleaner environment. Last year’s first-prize winner, Glen Parker of Florida, got a free Rivian R1T, and he told us that driving electric is “so much fun…. It’s everything I thought driving electric would be.” And the second-prize winner, Patricia Hersey from Massachusetts, won a Hyundai Ioniq 5!
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/evRaffleCT2025" rel="nofollow sponsored">GET YOUR TICKET TODAY. ONE TICKET = THREE CHANCES TO WIN!</a></h3>
This year they’re offering six amazing first-prize options to choose from: a Rivian SUV or Rivian truck, a Lucid Gravity or Lucid Air, or a Porsche Macan EV or Porsche Taycan up to $110,900 in value. The raffle lets you pick the car you want! Meanwhile, the second-prize winner will also have a choice between the VW ID. Buzz or a Hyundai Ioniq 5. And for the first time, they’re offering a third-place prize: the Chevy Equinox EV LT.
<a href="https://bit.ly/evRaffleCT2025" rel="nofollow sponsored"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-355708 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-1st-Prize.png" alt="" width="1863" height="714" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-1st-Prize.png 1863w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-1st-Prize-400x153.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-1st-Prize-800x307.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-1st-Prize-768x294.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-1st-Prize-1536x589.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1863px) 100vw, 1863px"></a>
As a CleanTechnica reader, you’re among the first to know about this raffle. Only 10,000 tickets total will be sold, and each ticket gives you three chances to win. Those are AMAZING odds of winning a new EV! All proceeds benefit CCAN Action Fund. Your $200 ticket helps create a world where electric cars, wind farms, and rooftop solar power are the norm in society. It’s a win, win, win.
CCAN Action Fund will even pay your federal and state taxes on the prize along with other fees associated with purchasing the car (Tariffs? No problem!). All this for a raffle ticket of just $200. Again, only 10,000 tickets will be sold total and you’ll have three chances to win. Those are great odds!
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/evRaffleCT2025" rel="nofollow sponsored">ENTER TODAY FOR THREE CHANCES TO WIN.</a></h3>
CCAN Action Fund is a scrappy nonprofit and is raffling an EV for the 7th year in a row to support their work fighting for a cleaner and healthier planet. The prizes have never been more exciting. Rivian vehicles are an EV enthusiast’s favorite and are made for adventure. The Rivian R1S SUV and R1T truck offer all-wheel-drive and a tri motor option, have up to 850 horsepower, and provide great towing capacity. Meanwhile, the Lucid Air is the champion of long-range EVs, with an estimated range of up to 512 miles, and it’s just been joined by the brand new Lucid Gravity SUV which has maximum features for luxury and range. Finally, Porsche needs no introduction.
The it automaker of sports cars offers two stunning EV options — the Macan SUV and the sporty Taycan. In one of these, you’ll turn heads no matter where you go.
<a href="https://bit.ly/evRaffleCT2025" rel="nofollow sponsored"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-355707 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-2nd-Prize.png" alt="" width="1863" height="569" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-2nd-Prize.png 1863w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-2nd-Prize-400x122.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-2nd-Prize-800x244.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-2nd-Prize-768x235.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-2nd-Prize-1536x469.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1863px) 100vw, 1863px"></a>
The second-place winner will get to choose between the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, a truly family-friendly vehicle that doubles as an ideal camping companion, or a Hyundai Ioniq 5, a high-tech, high-performance SUV which has won three World Car Awards.&nbsp;
The third-place winner will win the Chevrolet Equinox EV LT, ranked #1 for new vehicle quality among compact SUVs. Combined with an EPA-estimated range of 319 miles, this SUV is a powerhouse. And, again, CCAN Action Fund covers state and federal taxes on the prizes along with other tax-associated fees!
The raffle runs all summer long, with the drawing on September 2. But they’re selling just 10,000 tickets — and right now, they’ve sold … well fewer than 2,000. So, your chances of winning are great with one ticket purchase — even better if you buy multiple tickets.
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/evRaffleCT2025" rel="nofollow sponsored">GET YOUR TICKET TODAY!</a></h3>
<a href="https://bit.ly/evRaffleCT2025" rel="nofollow sponsored"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-355706 size-medium" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-Team-400x279.png" alt="" width="400" height="279" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-Team-400x279.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-Team-800x557.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-Team-768x535.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-Team-392x272.png 392w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-Team-130x90.png 130w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EV-Raffle-CCAN-Team.png 1271w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px"></a>Your raffle ticket not only gives you three chances to win a new EV, it makes you a champion for clean energy and a healthier planet. CCAN Action Fund has been called “the best regional climate organization in the world” by the legendary writer and climate activist Bill McKibben. They fight for clean energy policies — including electric vehicle advancement and public transportation — at the state and regional level, and on Capitol Hill.
One of CCAN Action Fund’s goals is to get you and everyone else behind the wheel of an electric vehicle. Why? Because cars, trucks, and other forms of transportation account for nearly 30 percent of America’s climate pollution. Whether you’re going on a road trip or cruising city streets, when you sit behind the wheel of an electric vehicle, you’re helping preserve the natural world for generations to come (and avoiding high gas prices!). By driving an electric car, you’ll be part of the national movement towards cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable transportation. And with public EV charging more convenient than ever, it’s never been a better time to go electric.&nbsp;
Make this your year to join the EV driving community and leave a lasting impact on our planet. Purchase a ticket today and enjoy the payoff for years (and generations) to come!
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/evRaffleCT2025" rel="nofollow sponsored">GET YOUR EV RAFFLE TICKET TODAY. SUPPORT A NONPROFIT.</a></h3>
Raffle will close at 6:00 PM ET on Tuesday, September 2, and the winner will be announced at 7:00 PM ET the same day. You must be 18 years old to participate and must purchase the ticket in the United States, must reside in the United States, and must pay taxes in the United States. Click <a href="https://ccanactionfund.org/legal-details-for-the-ev-raffle/" rel="nofollow sponsored">HERE</a> for all the legal details.
This article is supported by CCAN Action Fund.

7th Annual EV Raffle Launches: One Ticket, Three Prizes! Win a Rivian, Lucid, or Porsche. Tickets Support Fight For Clean Energy.

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<hr>Pioneer Philippine vehicle manufacturer Francisco Motors Corporation (FMC) officially the rolled out its electric public utility vehicle (PUV), the Pinoy Transporter. FMC Chairman Elmer Francisco told CleanTechnica in an email that his company introduced the vehicle’s final version after months of prototyping.
Pinoy (meaning Filipino) is an iconic Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV), popular during the early 80s to the late 90s, known for its small footprint but generous payload. Today, Pinoy is the sub-brand of FMC that will handle its new energy vehicles which includes the H-trike, which is a hydrogen powered three-wheeler.
The Pinoy Transporter inherits none of the traits of its grandparent. Not only is it bigger, it is also powered by a battery-electric powertrain designed by FMC and built by engineering partners in China.
This modern rendition of the jeepney aligns with the requirements of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the Philippine Department of Transportation.
According to Francisco, the launch of the Pinoy Transporter marks a pivotal moment for his company.
After the war, his grandfather Antonio established Francisco Motors. The elder Francisco salvaged the hundreds of US Army jeeps scattered in Manila after the war. He repaired and extended the frames and bodies of these junked US Army jeeps, converting these into the colorful and iconic jeepney so popular in the Philippines.
Leveraging its decades of automotive expertise, FMC assembled vehicles for Hyundai and Mazda. In 1980, it was given the license to assemble and distribute the Mazda B25 pickup and Ford Econovan. It also moved into the creating brand new jeepneys — using pressed body parts and chassis as well as new engines from Mazda. It also built the Pinoy and the Anfra (a <span class="c5aZPb" role="button" data-enable-toggle-animation="true" data-extra-container-classes="ZLo7Eb" data-hover-hide-delay="1000" data-hover-open-delay="500" data-send-open-event="true" data-theme="0" data-width="250" data-ved="2ahUKEwjItcvxkZGOAxUIUGcHHRSKGzsQmpgGegQIJRAD">portmanteau of Antonio Francisco), a tough and reliable AUV used extensively by telecom providers and school transport operators due to its safety features and construction.
<figure id="attachment_355682" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355682" style="width: 1492px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-355682" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyTransporter.png" alt="" width="1492" height="916" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyTransporter.png 1492w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyTransporter-400x246.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyTransporter-800x491.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyTransporter-768x472.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1492px) 100vw, 1492px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355682" class="wp-caption-text">The completed FMC Pinoy Transporter ready for homologation. (Photo from FMC)</figcaption></figure>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Not The First Time</h3>
This is not the first time that FMC made an electric jeepney.
In 1998, the late Philippine Senator Raul Manglapus suggested to then FMC Chairman Antonio Francisco to create both a Filipino car and an electric jeepney. Manglapus and Francisco established the Centennial Philippine Motor Corp. (CPMC) and the Filipino Car Foundation to prototype this electric dream.
The first e-jeep came out in 2000. It was half the size of a normal jeepney. It ran on a bank of primitive lead acid batteries, was heavy, and could only run for short distances. The second version in 2001 was based on the Anfra AUV with an electric motor directly hooked up into the differential. It had a motor controller and a double-pole switch to activate forward and reverse, instead of a transmission. The third and most successful prototype, in 2002, had a blue, yellow, and red striped design with a half sun on the side.
This version of the electric jeepney had a US-sourced direct drive, brushless DC motor, and a crude potentiometer throttle similar to that found in golf carts. It ran on a higher density, marine-grade deep cycle lead acid battery bank and was said to be capable of about 50 kilometers. It also had a complicated battery swapping set-up.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Commitment To Sustainable Mobility</h3>
<figure id="attachment_355683" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355683" style="width: 400px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-355683 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyBack.jpeg" alt="" width="400" height="400" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyBack.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyBack-150x150.jpeg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355683" class="wp-caption-text">Interior of the FMC Pinoy Transporter. (Photo for CleanTechnica by DBET)</figcaption></figure>
Chairman Francisco has declared his commitment to sustainable mobility. An engineer by training and entrepreneur by vocation, he said that he got his visionary thinking from his grandfather.
In an email reply to several questions from CleanTechnica, he said that his studies on hydrogen fuel cells as well as EV batteries prove that he is able to develop cost effective EVs for public transport.
He also disclosed that Francisco Motors “established a factory in China for our global market while waiting for the very slow process of the Philippine government so that we could start the localization process at our 30-hectare integrated manufacturing facility at our Special Economic Zone in Camarines Norte.”
He added that only after extensive development and compliance processes, the first batches of these electric vehicles are anticipated to steadily hit the roads. His efforts promise to “transform traditional routes with their clean energy, advanced features, and enhanced passenger experience.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">E-Jeepney Is A Rethink</h3>
Designed as a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic jeepney, the Pinoy Transporter boasts a robust steel frame and the distinctive panels that are a trademark of FMC. It is built to accommodate the bustling demand of Philippine commutes, offering seating for 18 passengers with ample space for an additional 12 standing, ensuring high capacity per trip.
Francisco highlights that the Pinoy Transporter prioritizes passenger comfort and safety.
It features a fully air-conditioned cabin, an infotainment display with Wi-Fi connectivity, and USB charging ports. Safety is paramount, with a comprehensive 4-channel CCTV system, dash and backing cameras, and a robust build designed to withstand the rigors of daily operation. The vehicle’s battery also boasts an IP67 rating, ensuring water resistance.
<figure id="attachment_355684" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355684" style="width: 250px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-355684" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyBackInside.jpeg" alt="" width="250" height="250" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyBackInside.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyBackInside-150x150.jpeg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355684" class="wp-caption-text">A wheelchair ramp is part of the standard equipment of the Pinoy Transporter (Photo for CleanTechnica by DBET)</figcaption></figure>
Underneath its classic-meets-modern exterior, the Pinoy Transporter is propelled by a full electric drivetrain, eliminating tailpipe emissions and significantly reducing noise pollution. It is equipped with a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery, capable of achieving a 30% to 90% charge in just 30 minutes using a CCS2 fast-charging port. This efficient charging capability is crucial for maintaining continuous service on busy routes.
The Transporter is engineered for full compliance with the strict standards of the PUVMP. It falls under the Class 2 category for modern jeepneys, meeting the requirements for passenger capacity (allowing standing passengers) and overall vehicle dimensions. This adherence to Philippine National Standards ensures the vehicle’s roadworthiness, safety, and suitability for integration into the new consolidated transport routes mandated by the government program. Its Euro 4 equivalent electric powertrain plays a vital role in the government’s push for environmentally sustainable public transport.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Create A Global Automotive Brand</h3>
Francisco Motors Chairman Elmer Francisco has expressed the company’s ambition to not only modernize the local fleet but also establish FMC as a global Filipino automotive brand in the new energy vehicle sector.
When asked about his expansion plans and partnerships, he told CleanTechnica that he prefers his company to remain a local, multinational venture as opposed to transnational corporation.
“As a multinational corporation, we carry the Philippine flag wherever we go and most, if not all, parts and components will come from the Philippines.” He also made reference to an agreement he made with Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist Emmanuel Akpakwu to export the Pinoy Transporter and Pinoy H-trike, saying that in the near future FMC is going to export to 13 African countries “whether they are completely built units (CBU) or completely knocked down (CKD) for local assembly in Nigeria.”
On the FMC website, the Pinoy Transporter is quoted at at approximately ₱2,800,000 (~$49,477).
<figure id="attachment_355686" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355686" style="width: 720px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-355686" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyz.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="405" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyz.jpg 720w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FMCPinoyz-400x225.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355686" class="wp-caption-text">Front and back view of the Pinoy Transporter (Photo for CleanTechnica by DBET)</figcaption></figure>

Filipino Automotive Pioneer Releases All-New Electric Jeepney

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<hr>CAFE — corporate average fuel economy — is a term that has been an integral part of the US auto industry since the OPEC oil embargoes of the 1970s. When gasoline was in short supply, it made sense for the government to encourage automakers to design more fuel efficient cars. One way to do that was to impose financial penalties if certain minimum fuel economy targets were not met.
Initially, those targets were quite modest, but over time they have ratcheted up considerably, to the point where the <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/06/08/usdot-finalizes-new-fuel-economy-standards-for-model-years-2027-2031/">latest rules</a>, which were written as the Biden administration, raise the standard for passenger cars sold in the US to 65 miles per gallon — up from 48 miles per gallon today.
Under the current CAFE rules, a manufacturer is fined $16 for every tenth of a gallon below the standard its cars and trucks achieve. That number is then multiplied by the total number of vehicles that company produced. That can be a big number. According to Brad Plumer and Jake Ewing of the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/climate/republicans-fuel-economy-standards.html">New York Times</a>, General Motors has paid more than $128 million in penalties since 2022, while Stellantis — parent company of Jeep, RAM, and Chrysler — has paid almost $583 million in penalties since 2018, according to <a href="https://explore.dot.gov/t/NHTSA-CAFE/views/CAFEPICReport-CivilPenalties/SummaryofCAFECivilPenaltiesCollectedDashboard?%3Adisplay_count=n&amp;%3Aembed=y&amp;%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y&amp;%3Aorigin=viz_share_link&amp;%3AshowAppBanner=false&amp;%3AshowVizHome=n">government data</a>.
And where does that money go? Most of it has gone to Tesla. Under the CAFE program, manufacturers whose average fuel economy exceeds the current standard can sell credits to those who don’t. Companies that manufacture only electric vehicles — like Tesla and Rivian — are the primary beneficiaries. In fact, some cynics suggest that Tesla was designed from the start as a way to harvest the income from selling those CAFE credits.
In fact, for several quarters, that income is the only thing that has put the company in the black. That has been a significant factor in keeping Tesla’s stock price high, which in turn has made its major shareholder the wealthiest person in human history. Some will be indignant at the insinuation that Musk deliberately hatched a plan to grab the lion’s share of CAFE credit income and others will slam him for being such an opportunist. But the truth of the matter is the system was in place long before Musk or Tesla arrived on the scene. Taking advantage of opportunities is part and parcel of being successful in business.
But the gravy train is about to come to a screeching halt if Republicans in Congress have their way. Revoking, repealing, or redefining the CAFE program would take a prodigious amount of work. Under the Administrative Procedures Act, such revisions require carefully planned steps that included opportunities for public comment and reams upon reams of data. Even then, somebody is sure to challenge the outcome in court. It could be years before the Red Team is able to push its dastardly plan across the finish line.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Keep CAFE, Ditch The Fines</h3>
Or you can do an end run and neuter the whole CAFE process in one fell swoop. How? Congress can simply vote to reduce the penalty for noncompliance to zero. That is precisely the plan being circulated in the halls of Congress, according to Plumer and Ewing.
Naturally, there would be winners and losers if the plan actually becomes law. Companies that have worked the hardest to meet the spirit of the CAFE rules would suffer. Toyota is often criticized on these pages for dragging its feet on EVs, but its hybrids are more fuel efficient than most cars from the Detroit automakers. Honda and Hyundai have also been pulling their weight when it comes to bringing efficient cars to market.
GM — which doesn’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows — recently cancelled plans to expand the production of electric motors at a facility near Buffalo, NY. Instead, it now says it will invest $888 million into building V-8 gasoline engines for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. “This new generation of engines is expected to deliver stronger performance than today’s engines while benefiting fuel economy and reducing emissions,” GM claims.
Crosstown rival Stellantis — which is the perennial winner of the “Least Fuel Efficient Vehicles In America” prize — issued a statement saying it “supports improving fuel efficiency as evidenced by the range of powertrain options in our lineup, but the current standards are out of sync with the market and the Senate proposal is necessary to preserve affordability and freedom of choice.”
This is a favorite trick of the auto industry to blame regulations for every penny of higher sticker costs. It’s never about inflation, or making cars and trucks safer, or adding touchscreens and computers. It’s always the fault of those damned regulations! And there is a sinister undertone to the “freedom of choice” argument. In a perfect world, shouldn’t consumers be “free” to use DDT on their gardens or Freon in their air conditioners? Why can’t we vape on an airplane if we want to or drive on the left side of the road?
What is omitted entirely from the conversation is any thought about not making the Earth so hot that humans will no longer be able to thrive in many places. What about the freedom to exist at all?
But I digress. What you will not hear anywhere else is how the automakers gamed the system. After the Great Economic Meltdown in 2007, GM and FiatChrysler (now Stellantis) went shuffling up the back stairs of the White House looking for help to stave off bankruptcy. The Obama administration said it would do what it could but it wanted something in return — tighter fuel economy standards. The companies readily agreed. In fact, GM promised it would use the money it got from Uncle Sugar primarily to bring more economical cars to market. All it wanted was a little wiggle room on the CAFE standards for larger vehicles.
That made perfect sense to the Obamans, and so the “footprint rule” was brought into play. It allowed larger, heavier vehicles to meet lower fuel economy standards. Almost as soon as the ink dried on the paperwork, GM, Ford, and Stellantis began killing off their passenger cars and putting their money into developing SUVS and pickup trucks. Voila! After watching hundreds of millions of dollars worth of auto industry ads, Americans decided they didn’t want no stinking sedans. They wanted trucks and SUVs — the larger the better.
The Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze, and Impala? Gone. Chevy S-10? Gone. Ford Focus, Fusion, and Ranger? Gone. Chrysler 300 and Dodge Dart? Gone. The Chevy Volt made a brief appearance, but soon sank beneath the waves.
And here’s the other thing. There is no direct connection between CAFE numbers and EPA fuel economy numbers. People hear that cars are supposed to get 65 mpg in 2031 and go crazy. But here’s the thing. THERE ARE NO CARS MADE BY AMERICAN AUTOMAKERS THAT HAVE TO MEET THAT STANDARD ANYMORE! Ford, GM, and Stellantis stopped making them so they wouldn’t have to comply and nobody noticed or cared. And yet, Republicans continue to beat their breasts and play the “Ain’t it awful how the deep state engages in such blatant government overreach” game.
The truth is that the 48 mpg CAFE standard in effect right now has almost no effect on the vehicles for sale at your local Ford, GM, or Stellantis dealer. CAFE numbers are calculated based on complex formulas that are unrelated to real world driving, Because of the enormous slippage between CAFE and EPA, the best cars for sale today get about 32 mpg. Is that so awful?
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Tesla Will Take It On The Chin</h3>
After we cut through all the political posturing, the company that will be hurt the most by this is Tesla. After spending almost $300 million of his own money, Elon’s reward is that the cars Tesla makes will no longer be eligible for the $7500 federal tax credit because the Big Beautiful Bill is going to eliminate it. And Tesla will no longer be raking in hundreds of millions of dollars in CAFE credits because, if there are no fines, there will be no money to distribute to those who have credits for sale.
There year ago, Musk argued for <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2021/09/24/tesla-pushes-for-stricter-cafe-penalties-in-usa/">stricter CAFE penalties</a>. Way to go, Elon. You sure played your cards right this time! You must be so proud of yourself. Now you know what happens when amateurs try to play with professionals.
As a final thought, it will surprise some of you to hear that I am actually glad to see the CAFE scheme get blown out of the water. It was so convoluted and complex that ordinary people had no idea how it worked; it was riddled with exceptions and exclusions; and it made it far too easy for people to play the “government overreach” card.
Instead, the focus should be on educating consumers so they demand more <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2023/11/16/the-2024-fuel-economy-guide-can-help-you-choose-your-next-fuel-efficient-vehicle/">fuel efficient vehicles</a>. Let’s honor the consumers’ right to freedom of choice by allowing them to vote with their wallets for a world that is not melting in part because of the cars and trucks we drive. One of the bedrock principles of a successful business was articulated years ago by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syms_Corporation">Sy Syms</a>, who maintained that, “An educated consumer is our best customer.” As is always the case, if the people will lead, their leaders will follow!
Democrats were too clever by half when they constructed a plethora of rules-based strictures they thought were safe from attack by the opposition. In reality, those rules gave their opponents a club they could use to beat Democrats over the head with and they were only too happy to use it. It’s time to stop doing that and to craft smarter ways to address a warming planet that work toward progressive goals instead of against them. Blowing up the CAFE rules may be the perfect opportunity for progressives to begin creating a new playbook.

Republican Plan Would Gut CAFE Rules

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<hr>A 2015 Tesla Model S 70D with over 470,000 miles has received a battery upgrade — a “new” 100 kWh battery. The “new” battery was actually a used one in good condition. The fact that a Tesla Model S can be driven 470,000 miles and still be functional is news on its own.
Some online trolls and liars falsely claim electric vehicles can only go about 60,000 miles before they need a new battery. They are lying to make electric vehicles look bad. Secondly, they claim, again falsely, that a new battery will cost $50,000 or more. Well, no. Even a brand new battery does not cost anywhere near that much, which is clear from the fact that you can get a whole EV for less than $50,000 — several different models are priced lower than that in the USA. There are also used batteries in excellent, very good, or good condition costing less than a new one.
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe title="How Much It Cost To Upgrade My 470,000mi Tesla Model S Battery &amp; More Questions Answered" width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nncuYJB462w?start=226&amp;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
There are now enough used and wrecked EVs to provide a reasonable supply of used EV batteries available for battery replacements.
The used 100 kWh battery pack for the Model S only cost $8,500 plus a $1,000 freight charge. The Teslas’s owner is an <a href="https://www.wattworks-ev.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EV mechanic</a> and he said his cost was below average for such a battery pack. He also did the battery swap himself in his own shop. So, there was no labor cost to him.
For a customer, with the labor cost, a battery pack swap like the one he did on his own car would be about $12,000, he says.
There is an idea for a battery pack with some issues to try a module swap, but he says module swaps can be tricky and may not result in a lasting fix — maybe just a couple of years. Depending on the situation, that might work for some customers rather than a whole battery pack swap.
The mechanic dispels a myth that a Tesla Model S that had a smaller pack can not accommodate a 100 kWh battery pack. He says the larger pack doesn’t really weigh that much more, so it actually is feasible. If the weight difference between the older 85 kWh pack and the 100 kWh pack is just about 66 pounds, it isn’t that significant relative to the whole vehicle’s weight. The difference between the original 70 kWh battery pack and the 100 kWh pack might be about 240 pounds or less. He says just about any Model S or Model X could have the larger battery pack installed.
The 100 kWh battery pack can Supercharge and the 2015 Model S still has unlimited free Supercharging.
The previous pack when it was new had about 240 miles of range on a full charge. Over time and with high mileage, that range degraded to about 207 miles. When the 100 kWh pack was installed and charged to full, the car estimated the range to be about 303 miles. The real-world driving range might be about 280 miles because the estimates made by older Teslas may have erred on the high side.
Personally, while this video is really illuminating in terms of the validity of buying and installing a used battery pack because doing so is more affordable, there is another validating insight that stands out. The owner is an EV mechanic and he bought the Model S with about 400,000 miles on it. The vehicle did have some repairs along the way. At the same time, if an EV mechanic trusts an electric vehicle with a huge number of miles on it to the point of installing a replacement battery pack, the situation seems to indicate he expects the vehicle still has significant life in it.
Some time ago, I wrote about a guy in the UK who has two Model S vehicles, each with <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/07/14/another-tesla-with-over-400000-miles-on-one-battery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hundreds of thousands</a> of miles on original batteries. Of course, that doesn’t mean every Tesla battery will last that long. It does prove such high mileage in an electric vehicle is possible.
So, what do you say, will the 100 kWh battery pack last another 10 years?

A Tesla With 470,000 Miles Gets A Battery Upgrade

Even though we don’t talk about it much, having a backup charger on hand — one that can be plugged into an indoor or outdoor outlet — is extremely helpful in a number of unforeseen situations.
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Though most people are concerned about how rapid a charger is and how long charging lasts, I also enjoy how convenient it is to plug in almost anywhere. I tested the new Schumacher Electric charger and found it to be an effective replacement for my old one. I tested the new charger in the outlet outside some friends’ garage while visiting them, and it made a nice impression. They have considered transitioning to electric automobiles. The light turned on instantly, and the charging process began. Convenience. Even though they just had one outlet, I could sense their immediate curiosity and interest.
I explained that to get a full charge would take the night. It is easily doable to adapt to the simple instant plug-in power. Their astonishment was evident. It took no time at all to start the charge. It’s simply not quick charging, but most people don’t require that at home.
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Last fall, once again, I understood how vital my older level 1 charger was to my older, limited-range BMW i3. Previously, it was undoubtedly convenient to commute the 2-hour distance from Sarasota to Naples. When I arrived in Naples, I would immediately plug in an extension cord to the garage. The next day, I was fully charged without having to search out an EV charger and wait anywhere. That convenience inspired another friend <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2020/03/07/1st-time-driving-a-volkswagen-e-golf-gas-car-driver-finds-surprise-excitement-joy-grace/">to switch to an EV</a> as well.
Traveling along the South Carolina coast to North Carolina, from the Gulf Coast to the Appalachians, was also quite comfortable for me thanks to my Level 1 charger. Although I found a few hotels that had Level 2 chargers, I often booked an overnight stay and charged with my Level 1 charger overnight while connected to a lamp post with a handy outlet.
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When 98% of Asheville lost power the morning after Hurricane Helene, I found an outdoor outlet downtown to charge my computer and phone. I considered how I would charge my EV overnight by plugging it in. I didn’t have to, as I found the single charging station in Asheville operating the following day; otherwise, I would have. Meanwhile, the gas stations were not operating at all. Anywhere.
Of course, we all use the fast chargers regularly, whether at a station near us or just off the highway. But never discount the convenience of a Level 1 charger in an unusual situation.
<figure id="attachment_354931" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-354931" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-354931 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SEV1670-PR-materials_SEV1670_01-min-1-scaled-e1749833903911.jpg" alt="" width="1600" height="1600"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-354931" class="wp-caption-text">The Schumacher Electric SEV1670 12 Amp Level 1 portable EV charger. The SEV1670 delivers up to 12 amps of charging power using a standard household outlet.</figcaption></figure>
“Schumacher Electric Corporation, a global leader of power conversion products, announced the launch, making it a convenient solution for everyday use. Equipped with a universal J1772 connector, it’s compatible with the majority of electric vehicles on the road today, ensuring reliable and hassle-free charging for most EV models sold in the U.S.” The product hit the market — online and via select retailers — in May.
“At Schumacher, our mission is to make EV ownership simpler, smarter, and more accessible for everyone,” said Mickey Leech, CEO of Schumacher. “Our new SEV1670 was designed with real drivers in mind — offering a user-friendly experience, reliable performance, and robust safety features, all in a compact and convenient form. It’s more than just a charger; it’s a peace of mind wherever the road takes you.” I certainly can vouch for this.
“Designed with convenience and safety in mind, this user-friendly EV charger features a 20-foot cord to easily reach tight or hard-to-access spots, along with a durable rubber cover that protects against water and dirt. The SEV1670 includes built-in LED indicators that provide real-time updates, allowing you to monitor your charging status at a glance.
“Equipped with comprehensive safety features, including protection against leakage, undervoltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, overheating, ground faults, and relay faults, this charger ensures both your vehicle and charger stay safe. Whether you’re on a road trip or simply charging before work, this all-in-one solution keeps you powered up and prepared for any situation.”
Here are some more specs and features, as noted by <a href="https://www.schumacherelectric.com/">Schumacher Electric</a>:
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Fully Automatic Charging</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Easy Operation – Simply insert the NEMA 5-15 plug into an AC outlet and connect the charging gun to your EV’s charging port</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Universal J1772 Connector</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Charging Level – Level 1 (120 volts)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Input Voltage—120 volts</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Max Input Amperage—12 amps continuous</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Output Voltage—120 volts</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Output Power – 1.44 kW</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Plug Type – NEMA 5-15</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Cable Length—20 feet</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Portable Charging</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Indoor and Outdoor Use</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Ingress Protection—IP66 housing</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Comprehensive Protection—Leakage, undervoltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, overtemperature, ground fault, and relay fault protection</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">LED indicators</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Comfort Grip Handle</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Rubber Cap on Charging Gun</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Certifications—ETL, Energy Star</li>
</ul>
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More Than An EV Charger — It’s Peace Of Mind Wherever The Road Takes You

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Following a successful pilot in New York, National Grid and Leap expand collaboration to bolster grid reliability.
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SAN FRANCISCO &amp; BOSTON —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.leap.energy/">Leap</a>, a leading virtual power plant (VPP) platform, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalgridus.com/Default.aspx">National Grid</a>, one of world’s largest energy utilities, today announced the expansion of their grid services collaboration to selected National Grid facilities in Massachusetts. Building on a successful&nbsp;<a href="https://www.leap.energy/news/national-grid-piloting-leap-s-distributed-energy-platform-at-four-new-york-city-offices">pilot project</a>&nbsp;in New York, this initiative will enable the Massachusetts facilities to easily access virtual power plant (VPP) opportunities that help advance the state’s climate goals.
Through Leap’s software-only solution, select National Grid office buildings in Massachusetts will participate in the state’s Clean Peak Standard and ConnectedSolutions grid services programs. This will lower the buildings’ electricity usage during periods of grid strain.
“We’re proud to expand our collaboration with National Grid and bring the advantages of VPP solutions to these Massachusetts facilities,” said Thomas Folker, Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder of Leap. “National Grid’s program underscores the immense potential of using grid-interactive buildings as resources to strengthen and decarbonize the energy system.”
At National Grid’s most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ngpartners.com/stories/nextgrid-alliance-summit-2024-meeting-the-moment-for-energys-future">NextGrid Alliance Summit</a>&nbsp;in Boston, Folker joined senior officials from the U.S. Department of Energy for a breakout session on how VPPs can help reduce customer costs and balance grid demand. Folker shared insights from Leap’s initiative facilitating VPP participation for National Grid’s New York facilities. The annual Summit brings together utilities, regulators and startups to focus on innovative solutions for grid transformation.
“By operating our office buildings as a virtual power plant, National Grid will enhance local grid resilience and lower carbon emissions, benefiting Massachusetts residents and advancing the state’s climate goals,” said Amanda Downey, VP of New England Operations Support at National Grid. “It’s important to walk the walk and continue demonstrating the critical role distributed energy solutions can play in the energy transition.”
Leap’s technology enables distributed energy resources (DERs) such as smart thermostats, EV chargers, and HVAC systems to easily participate in energy markets. By aggregating loads from DERs into virtual power plants, Leap enables operators to balance the grid with less reliance on fossil-fueled “peaker” plants.
Massachusetts’ Clean Peak Energy Standard program offers incentives to clean technologies that boost energy supply or reduce demand during seasonal periods of peak demand. ConnectedSolutions provides incentives to residential and commercial electric customers that allow their excess energy to be used as virtual power plants during times of peak demand.
National Grid Partners, the utility’s venture investment and innovation arm, is an investor in Leap. The organization invests in startups whose technology has potential to help National Grid’s business units accelerate the energy transition.​
About Leap
<a href="https://www.leap.energy/">Leap</a>&nbsp;is the leading platform for generating new value from distributed energy resources (DERs) through integration with energy markets. Through its software-only solution, Leap facilitates fast, easy and automated access to high-value grid services revenue streams for the providers of batteries, electric vehicle charging, smart thermostats, HVAC systems and other flexible assets. By aggregating the DERs enrolled on its platform, Leap supplies virtual power plants (VPPs) to balance the grid. Leap enables its partners and their customers to unlock new value streams and help create a more flexible, resilient grid powered by renewable resources.
About National Grid
National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalgridus.com/Default.aspx">website</a>, follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/nationalgridus">Twitter</a>, watch us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/NationalGrid">YouTube</a>, friend us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NationalGridUK/">Facebook</a>, and find our photos on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nationalgrid/?hl=en">Instagram</a>.
About National Grid Partners
National Grid Partners is the venture investment and innovation arm of National Grid plc., one of the world’s largest investor-owned energy companies. By providing corporate venture capital, business development counsel and direct integration with National Grid’s innovation teams, National Grid Partners is accelerating the energy transition and helping innovators reach critical scale faster. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, National Grid Partners has offices in Boston, London, and New York. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ngpartners.com/">ngpartners.com</a>&nbsp;or follow us on Twitter&nbsp;(<a href="https://x.com/ngpartners_">@ngpartners_</a>) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/national-grid-partners/">LinkedIn</a>.

Leap Powers National Grid’s Virtual Power Plant Initiative in Massachusetts

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<hr>District will use charge management to maximize solar consumption and minimize utility bills
Turlock, California — Turlock Unified School District (TUSD) celebrated the delivery of nine electric buses and charging infrastructure with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at their transportation center. They were joined by project partners&nbsp;<a href="https://perspectives.se.com/">Schneider Electric</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mobilityhouse.com/usa_en/">The Mobility House</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tid.org/">Turlock Irrigation District</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://a-zbus.com/">A-Z Bus Sales</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.valleyair.org/">Valley Air District</a>, and <a href="https://www.nv5.com/">NV5</a>.
The electric Blue Bird buses will replace diesel buses in the TUSD fleet, reducing air pollution and contributing to the district’s goal to transition to an all-electric fleet by 2035. The buses will be charged by a combination of AC and DC chargers, with power from the solar canopies shading the parking lot. The charging logic of the charge management system, provided by The Mobility House, maximizes the use of on-site solar energy and minimizes the cost of energy purchased from the electric utility.
“I am so proud to congratulate Turlock Unified School District for this important step towards zero emissions transportation, powered by zero emissions energy,” said Greg Hintler, CEO of The Mobility House North America. “Solar energy and electric buses are complementary technologies that provide a vision for the future of sustainable school transportation.”
Schneider Electric and The Mobility House have jointly deployed several electric school bus charging infrastructure projects in California to date, including previous installations at Stockton Unified School District and Modesto City Schools, with further deployments planned for later this summer.
“California school districts like Turlock are leading the way towards our electric future,” said Elliott Feldman, Program Manager at Schneider Electric. “Their ambition and drive to implement sustainable solutions is a testament to the role they play in their community.”
About The Mobility House
The Mobility House is dedicated to shaping a&nbsp;zero-emissions&nbsp;future in energy and mobility. The company provides resilient charging technology that is reliable and flexible, ensuring drivers can benefit from zero emissions, zero cost charging. By integrating flexible charging with energy systems, The Mobility House helps stabilize the grid while moving away from fossil fuels. The company currently manages more than 2,500&nbsp;EV fleet charging&nbsp;facilities globally, charges hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles, and manages energy storage of more than 100 MWh.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a global leader in energy management and automation. With a commitment to innovation and sustainability, Schneider Electric provides integrated solutions to make energy safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable.

The Mobility House and Schneider Electric Unveil Solar Charging Depot for Turlock Unified’s Electric School Bus Fleet

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<hr>Full self driving. What does that even mean? Let’s look at it from the point of view of a person who is about to buy a new car. The salesperson says, “This car comes with full self driving.” Would that customer be wrong to assume the car could drive itself like a horizontal elevator? Get in, select a destination, then sit back, eat a sandwich, check your email, or DM with with peeps until you arrive.
Elon Musk and Tesla have a different interpretation. They claim full self driving means “you, the driver, must pay strict attention to the road ahead, keep your hands on the wheel, and be actively engaged in the driving process and ready to take control of the car as required.” Does that sound like full self driving to you?
<h3 style="text-align: center;">France Could Fine Tesla €50,000 A Day</h3>
In France, the Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes, otherwise known as the DGCCRF, this week came to the conclusion that Tesla has engaged in “deceptive commercial practices” that are harmful to consumers. The investigation began in 2023 as the result of multiple complaints submitted by French drivers to a government website.
According to <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250624-france-orders-tesla-to-end-deceptive-commercial-practices,">France24</a>, the DGCCRF identified several violations, particularly “deceptive commercial practices regarding the fully autonomous driving capabilities of Tesla vehicles, the availability of certain options and vehicle trade-in offers.” While Tesla has been a leader in promoting advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), European regulators are tightening scrutiny on how such features are marketed — especially where claims of “full autonomy” may mislead consumers, it said in a report.
Tesla now has four months to rectify the issues found to be harming French customers. If it does not, the company will incur a daily penalty of €50,000. The other findings primarily involve the marketing and sale of Teslas in France. The primary finding of the agency (translated) is as follows:
“In the event of failure to comply within this period, given the particular seriousness of the practice, the injunction aimed at ceasing the deceptive commercial practice regarding the fully autonomous driving capability option of certain TESLA vehicles is accompanied by a penalty payment of 50,000 euros per day of delay.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Tesla Buffeted In Europe</h3>
<a href="https://www.electrive.com/2025/06/26/france-orders-tesla-to-halt-misleading-marketing-over-autonomous-driving/">Electrive</a> reports the action by the DGCCRF comes at a time when Tesla is experiencing a number of headwinds in the European market that have led to a <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/25/dog-bites-man-as-tesla-sales-crater-in-europe-and-trump-embarasses-himself-at-nato-summit/">steep decline in sales</a>. Sales in France last month struggled to exceed 700 units. Part of that is due to increased competition from European automakers, including Renault, and Chinese imports. But Tesla has not helped itself by failing to update is model lineup significantly.
And then there are the drug-induced antics of Elon Musk, who has been alienating many potential customers with his supercharged embrace of neo-Nazi themes. Spending $300 million or so to get the dumbest person ever to occupy the Oval Office elected hasn’t helped either.
<a href="https://insideevs.com/news/763712/tesla-fsd-marketing-france-58k/">Inside EVs</a> has a little more context on this story. In addition to the Full Self Driving finding, the French government leveled five additional complaints against the company based upon its business practices. Those additional findings involve the company’s contractual and monetary practices concerning the issuance of sales contracts without delivery details and being slow to make refunds to those who elected not to complete their purchase or lease of a Tesla vehicle, based on the consumer complaints to the DGCCRF.
Disgruntled Tesla drivers in France have also sued Tesla to force it to take back cars they have leased from the company, not because they have any actual defects but because of Musk’s political activities have turned the cars into “<a href="https://insideevs.com/news/762443/tesla-politics-court-france-cm/">strong political symbols” and “veritable extreme-right ‘totems</a>.'”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Frustration With European Bureaucrats</h3>
True to his pugnacious “in your face” nature, Elon Musk is pressuring European regulators to approve Full Self Driving. At issue is whether drivers are allowed to remove their hands from the wheel. If they can’t, the EU considers a system to be only Level 2. If they can, such as with Mercedes vehicles equipped with the Drive Plus system, they are considered Level 3 and may be marketed as autonomous cars. Even at that, the only place where Mercedes drivers may legally remove their hands from the wheel is on certain sections of the Autobahn.
When Mercedes announced that system, it stressed the importance of “redundant system architecture for safety.” What that means is that steering, braking, and other important functions must have a double circuit so that if one fails, the other can continue driving the car safely. That sort of redundancy is standard in aircraft, and Mercedes is saying it is vital in self-driving cars as well. It also claims that lidar technology was essential to any Level 3 ADAS system, something Musk stubbornly refuses to consider.
Musk personally resents officious officials, and so he is trying to work the refs by releasing videos showing a Tesla taking on the notoriously frantic traffic around the Ard de Triomphe in Paris and in Rome, which is often regarded as the world’s most dangerous city to drive in.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
FSD Supervised can handle Arc de Triomphe no problem
If there is a bigger roundabout in France, please let us know in the comments 😀
Pending regulatory approval <a href="https://t.co/IPR0jLiOW7">pic.twitter.com/IPR0jLiOW7</a>
— Tesla Europe &amp; Middle East (@teslaeurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/teslaeurope/status/1923302585034756360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Obtaining regulatory approval in the EU is usually more difficult that in the US, where Musk can wield his considerable political clout to force regulators to bend to his will. According to Inside EVs, officials in the EU want to know who is responsible if a self-driving car crashes, an issue that needs more clarification both in Europe and elsewhere.
Musk is clearly frustrated by the slow pace in Europe. It goes against his “move fast and break things” nature. Recently, he blamed things on “Dutch authorities” and the need for “the EU to approve.” How can these ignorant bureaucrats not see that Full Sell Driving is a blessing for European drivers when Tesla’s own internal data shows FSD cuts the risk of injury fourfold? That internal data also claims FSD is 10 times less likely to get into a crash than a human driver.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Austin Update</h3>
And yet, the actual real-world experience in Austin this week suggests Tesla FSD is <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/24/how-long-can-tesla-robotaxis-drive-around-breaking-the-law/">not yet ready for prime time,</a> as it allowed a robotaxi to enter a lane reserved for oncoming traffic and let passengers off in the middle of a busy street with multiple lanes. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/tesla-robotaxi-videos-mistakes-self-driving-cars-b2777818.html">The Independent</a> on June 26 ran a story that collected some of the glitches, foibles, and foul-ups committed by those robotaxis in just the first few days. Granted, some of them are silly or little more than niggles, but some suggest the advanced FSD algorithm installed in those robotaxis is just not up to the task, no matter what Musk says.
We have seen in comments to prior stories here at CleanTechncia that readers are passionate about the Robotaxi experiment in Austin. There were reports of one car experiencing several instances of <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/17/tesla-phantom-braking-pedestrian-safety-concerns-continue/">phantom braking</a>, but the person who took the video is a well known Tesla detractor and no one else has reported similar concerns, so we are not going to pay much attention to that claim.
Dan Ives, a Wedbush Securities analyst who is bullish on Tesla’s future, brushed off the mistakes as growing pains. “Any issues they encounter will be fixed,” he told the Associated Press, insisting that the Austin test run was a “huge success.” Of course, Ives has been pumping the stock for years, so he may also not be the most reliable observer.
In a statement, NHTSA said it was “aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information. Following an assessment of those reports and other relevant information, NHTSA will take any necessary actions to protect road safety.”
Let’s leave the discussion there for the moment, pending new information. Here at CleanTechnica world headquarters, we tend to agree with Mercedes — redundancy and lidar are two essential components of any system that purports to be Full Self Driving. Make of that what you will.

European Authorities Push Back On Tesla FSD

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<hr>It’s officially summertime now, and there’s always less news in the summer, but the cleantech news never truly pauses globally, so we still have a number of big stories to share from the past week.
1. Tesla’s tiny robotaxi pilot started in Austin, Texas. Tesla fans/shareholders are super enthusiastic about it and seem to think it’s already a great success. Others have noticed <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/23/tesla-robotaxi-launch-in-austin-the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping/">multiple issues with the driving</a>, and I have raised the question of <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/24/how-long-can-tesla-robotaxis-drive-around-breaking-the-law/">how long Tesla robotaxis will be allowed to drive around the city — and potentially others — breaking the law</a>.
2. Tesla sales continue to stumble in Europe. We’re well past the start of production of the new Tesla Model Y, and remember that there’s a Tesla gigafactory in Germany producing this model too. Yet, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/25/dog-bites-man-as-tesla-sales-crater-in-europe-and-trump-embarasses-himself-at-nato-summit/">Tesla sales were still down tremendously again in May</a> year over year in Europe. That’s not a good sign for claims that sales would bounce back big time once the new Model Y arrived. In fact, it seems to be a big warning sign. If June doesn’t finally provide Tesla with some good news in Europe, this could be a disaster for the company.
3. Waymo robotaxis launch in Atlanta with Uber. Coming back to the topic of robotaxis, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/24/waymo-launches-in-atlanta-with-uber/">Waymo has now expanded into another city, Atlanta</a>. Like in Austin, it is partnering 100% with Uber there. If you want to ride a Waymo, you need to do so through the Uber app. Connecting this story to #1 above, there’s also: “<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/26/is-waymo-worth-way-more-than-45-billion-in-midst-of-tesla-robotaxi-launch/">Is Waymo Worth Way More Than $45 Billion In Midst Of Tesla Robotaxi Launch?</a>”
4. Trump bombed Iran, and there’s a cleantech angle to that of course.&nbsp;As Michael Barnard points out, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/23/trumps-iran-bombing-will-accelerate-global-electrification-biofuels/">this is going to lead to higher oil/gas prices and a quicker transition to electrification and biofuels</a>.
5. Ethiopia doubles down on its commitment to EVs. Rather than going backward and weakening the strong stance the country took banning the import of fossil-fueled vehicles, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/21/ethiopia-updates-ice-vehicle-import-ban-to-include-imports-of-skd-ckd-kits/">Ethiopia extended the ban to knocked down kits</a> (semi-knocked-down and completely-knocked-down fossil-powered vehicle kits). My big question is <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/22/ethiopia-could-open-ev-floodgates-across-africa-asia-and-beyond/">when other countries will follow suit and implement similar bans</a>. It seems highly logical to do so, and as long as Ethiopia is showing it’s going well, why wouldn’t other countries follow its lead?
6. Solar + batteries ready to truly dominate. Yes, solar power has been the leading source of new power capacity for a few years now, and battery energy storage has been growing fast, but a new report from Ember argues that <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/21/ember-claims-battery-storage-and-solar-can-almost-do-it-all/">they are really on the verge of taking over</a> — or at least have the potential to. “Batteries are now cheap enough to unleash solar’s full potential, getting as close as 97% of the way to delivering constant electricity supply 24 hours across 365 days cost-effectively in the sunniest places,” they note. And things are only going to get better. Buckle up, because our solar-powered future is arriving.
<figure id="attachment_355407" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355407" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ember-June-2025.png"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-355407" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ember-June-2025.png" alt="Ember solar and battery" width="1200" height="666" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ember-June-2025.png 1200w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ember-June-2025-400x222.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ember-June-2025-800x445.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ember-June-2025-768x426.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355407" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: Ember</figcaption></figure>
7. BYD’s profit margins very healthy despite price war drama. One of the biggest stories recently has been EV price wars in China, and even a bit beyond. BYD has led those. However, that doesn’t mean it’s been cutting its car prices down to unsustainable levels. In fact, even as it has initiated “price war” after “price war” over the past few years, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/20/byds-profit-margin-looks-quite-good-amidst-price-war-allegations/">its profit margin has actually gone up, considerably</a>. So, claims that this price war is damaging EV producers and threaten their existence may be true for several companies, but it seems BYD is absolutely fine.
8. Plugin vehicles reach 53% of Chinese auto sales, BEVs 31%. Jose Pontes <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/20/53-ev-share-in-china-may-2025-sales-report/">brought his latest China EV sales report to town</a>, and it showed the Chinese EV market is as good as ever and looking to hold steady at more than 50% plugin vehicle sales.
9. BYD’s expansion to export markets continues, with some pushback. Most of BYD’s sales are in China, but it is quickly expanding into new markets with low-cost, competitive electric vehicles. Raymond Tribdino <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/20/byd-set-to-dominate-nev-market-in-southeast-asia-starting-with-thailand/">reported on how it is set to dominate the plugin vehicle market in Southeast Asia</a>, starting in Thailand. It’s also on the verge of becoming a serious player in Brazil, and <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/19/push-for-tariffs-on-chinese-evs-in-brazil-as-byd-comes-to-town/">now auto industry players there want to slap tariffs on its vehicles</a>. And then it’s <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/25/byd-in-midst-of-unmatched-flurry-of-product-launches-in-europe/">in the midst of a huge series of product launches in Europe</a>.
10. US EV sales could surge in 2025, and then crash. Coming back around to the US, one of the biggest EV stories of the year is that Republicans look intent on removing EV subsidies. If this happens as it’s expected to, there will be a phasing out of the subsidies that will <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/19/there-could-be-a-huge-surge-in-us-ev-sales-in-rest-of-2025-and-then-big-crash/">likely lead to a surge in EV sales in the second half of this year, and then a big crash in 2026</a>.
11. Ireland is done with coal. It may not be the biggest country in the world, but <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/20/ireland-shutters-its-last-coal-fired-generating-station/">Ireland has now closed down its last coal power plant</a>. “Ireland recently became the 15th European nation to stop burning coal to make electricity,” Steve Hanley reports.
12. E-bike conversion kit. Want to <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/20/kamingo-converts-any-bike-into-an-e-bike-in-seconds/">turn a normal bike into an electric bike (e-bike) on your own</a>? Kamingo has launched an e-bike conversion kit, via a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.
13. Solar &amp; EV chargers for LA schools. It may not be a huge scale, but <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/26/five-la-middle-schools-to-get-2-7-mw-of-solar-power-and-ev-chargers/">five schools in Los Angeles are getting solar roofs and EV chargers</a>, and that’s great news and a good example for other schools across the <del>country</del> world. Sooooooooo many schools should have solar power and EV chargers by now!
14. Rapid electric motorcycle expansion in Africa. While electric cars get a lot more attention, sales of electric motorcycles and scooters are also growing fast and are extremely important. Remeredzai Kuhudzai just highlighted <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/25/spiros-rapid-progress-on-the-african-continent-shows-that-the-transition-to-evs-is-well-underway/">Spiro’s huge growth and expansion across Africa</a>.
15. Great EV charger from EVIQO. To wrap up, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/19/eviqo-evipower-gen-2-home-ev-charging-station-review-plus-video/">I recently got the EVIQO EVIPOWER GEN 2 home EV charging station</a> and provided a video and article review for you all. Check it out if you missed it and are in the market for a charging station.
This is an update for <a href="https://mailchi.mp/cleantechnica/weekly-newsletter">weekly newsletter subscribers</a>. Sign up via that link if you want cleantech news updates in your inbox.

Tesla Robotaxi Pilot, Big Tesla Sales Drop in Europe, BYD Growth & Profits — 15 Top Cleantech Stories of the Week

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<hr>The Wall Street Journal published an article today bringing up the question in the title. Now that Tesla has launched a kind of robotaxi trial in Austin, Texas, with a small number of cars and it’s clearly not perfect, one could ask if Waymo is being massively undervalued compared to Tesla. “Waymo was last valued at just $45 billion, while autonomous technology drives most of Tesla’s $1 trillion value,” the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/tesla-robotaxi-waymo-alphabet-23837d43">WSJ</a> writes.
It’s an interesting point, and there are multiple possibilities here. Let’s roll through some of them, and feel free to chime in with any more down in the comments if you have them.
<ol>
<li>Tesla’s robotaxi capability is sub-optimal and cannot scale widely right now or for years into the future. In the meantime, Waymo keeps scaling up and Tesla sales are just stable or drooping. In this scenario, Tesla’s market cap certainly seems far too high, but does it also mean Waymo’s valuation is too low? For that to be true, Waymo still needs to show that it can scale up massively and make a profit — or make a lot of profit. That’s certainly a possibility if Waymo can exponentially scale, but we don’t have confirmation of that yet.</li>
<li>Tesla’s robotaxi capability improves in coming months, rapidly expands to more cities and regions, and hangs in head to head with an also fast-growing Waymo. In such a case, the question is still how much they can both scale and how much they can make a profit on such service. Even if they both scale up a ton, that doesn’t mean the service will be profitable. Sure, you can question whether a $1 trillion market cap makes sense for Tesla, but you can also question whether a $45 billion valuation for Waymo makes sense — even in this scenario. But, yes, being very positive, you can also include in this scenario massive profits as the companies scale up and dominate the taxi/robotaxi/ride-hailing market.</li>
<li>Tesla’s robotaxi capability is deemed adequate in coming months, scales up rapidly to other markets, and comes to dominate the taxi/robotaxi/ride-hailing market via significantly lower costs and easy expansion. I don’t see this happening, since I don’t see the software as being good enough or improving quickly enough. (I also think a good portion of the potential market won’t consider riding in a Tesla robotaxi due to Elon Musk’s reputation.) However, this is a clear possibility and is what most Tesla fans/shareholders seem to be expecting — or at least hoping for. This would also, theoretically, lead to more demand for Tesla vehicles/sales.</li>
</ol>
In one of these scenarios, Waymo’s valuation could, in theory, be far too low. However, in multiple scenarios, it could still be inflated. The more prominent possibility is that Tesla’s market cap is far too high. There’s one scenario there where it might make sense, assuming both massive scaling up and massive profits from the robotaxi operations. But widespread expectation of that — as is evident in the company’s stock price/market cap — seems more to do with Tesla being a meme stock and people just believing that Elon Musk and Tesla will succeed because they succeeded in some previous efforts, most notably scaling up production and demand for electric cars. As it stands, though, note that Tesla’s stock price is more or less the same as it was before the robotaxi trial launched. At the moment, as I’m writing this, it is down 0.16% from 5 days ago.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Tesla-stock-price-after-robotaxi-trial-launch.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355659" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Tesla-stock-price-after-robotaxi-trial-launch.png" alt="" width="1748" height="1495" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Tesla-stock-price-after-robotaxi-trial-launch.png 1748w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Tesla-stock-price-after-robotaxi-trial-launch-400x342.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Tesla-stock-price-after-robotaxi-trial-launch-800x684.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Tesla-stock-price-after-robotaxi-trial-launch-768x657.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Tesla-stock-price-after-robotaxi-trial-launch-1536x1314.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1748px) 100vw, 1748px"></a>
Getting back to the question in the headline, just because Tesla’s robotaxi launch wasn’t perfect and is tiny in scale doesn’t mean Waymo deserves a valuation above $45 billion. Waymo needs to have — and show — a path to massive profits. It can’t just be better than Tesla. As far as I’m aware, Waymo hasn’t put out a real presentation on that, and no public information makes it evident. Though, presumably, they have such a plan mapped out internally and have presented it to investors. We’ll see if the company can execute, but before it’s talking about this publicly, I think we can presume there’s still a lot of risk and a ways to go.

Is Waymo Worth Way More Than $45 Billion In Midst Of Tesla Robotaxi Launch?

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<hr>Nissan at Auto Shanghai in April <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/16/dongfeng-nissan-bets-on-a-china-first-strategy-with-the-n7-sedan/">launched the Dongfeng-Nissan N7</a> and presented the Frontier Pro Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), which will be delivered by about the last quarter of this year. (Scroll all the way to the end for some exclusive insights on how well the truck is doing with customers.)
Though, this is not a real surprise to the automotive world, because a sibling (with no EV powertrain yet) already exists in the Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile Co., Ltd. (ZNA) garage. The pickup was designed and built specifically for the Chinese market.
<figure id="attachment_355648" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355648" style="width: 928px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-355648 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierProBackpreview-928x522-1.jpg" alt="" width="928" height="522" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierProBackpreview-928x522-1.jpg 928w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierProBackpreview-928x522-1-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierProBackpreview-928x522-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierProBackpreview-928x522-1-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355648" class="wp-caption-text">Another view of the Nissan Frontier PHEV. Photo from Nissan Press Center.</figcaption></figure>
There are three other vehicles Nissan will introduce in China by 2026, plus another 5 by 2027. They are part of a larger, “domestic first, global after” (sounds strangely similar to Mao Zedong’s “take the cities from the countryside”) strategy. Nissan placed its bets on China to strengthen its global position and the money is on the table, supported by a 10 billion yuan (~$1.37 billion) investment over the next three years. Nissan, once the leader in the EV sphere, clearly wants to regain this market position.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Not just badge engineering</h3>
The Frontier signifies more than just a new model for the struggling Japanese automaker. It is a critical strategic move in the company’s long-standing relationship with Dongfeng. The Chinese pickup truck market has experienced burgeoning sales since 2020. Not as large as the US or as expansive as Thailand, but it has seen growth of between 10% to 12% each year.
Dongfeng already has an EV pickup, called the Rich 5 EV. A lot of rethinking and re-engineering went into this pickup, so it is unfair to merely label it a Nissan Navarra electrified.
Versions sold in the Philippines can do up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) on a single charge and the truck has a one-tone payload.
The first-generation Dongfeng (DF) pickup is based on the Nissan D-platform. The two brands go that far back. This chassis designation gave the US market the D21 Hardbody pickup truck and the WD21 Pathfinder SUV.
<figure id="attachment_355647" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355647" style="width: 928px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-355647 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierPro_preview-928x522-1.jpg" alt="" width="928" height="928" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierPro_preview-928x522-1.jpg 928w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierPro_preview-928x522-1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierPro_preview-928x522-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierPro_preview-928x522-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FrontierPro_preview-928x522-1-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355647" class="wp-caption-text">Nissan Frontier PHEV. Photo from ZNA.</figcaption></figure>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Is it a Dongfeng or a Nissan?</h3>
So, is the Frontier Pro PHEV primarily a Dongfeng product or a Nissan design built by Dongfeng? Neither.
If the N7 is a Dongfeng–Nissan product, the Frontier Pro PHEV is a Zhengzhou–Nissan release. Neither is it a Zhengzhou Z9, which is a totally different brand and DNA. Though a collaborative effort, it is definitely all Nissan in DNA — a clear expression of the design language and technological advancements the brand is known for.
This includes distinctive exterior styling cues based on Nissan’s “Rugged Tech” design philosophy. It includes the illuminated Nissan logo and the LED headlight array as well as the hefty 18-inch alloy wheels with 265/65R18 tires. There are some elements inspired by the 1980s Nissan D21 Hardbody — the three slots on the front of the hood, the side body cladding, and the chiseled edge side mirrors.
<figure id="attachment_355649" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355649" style="width: 1000px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-355649 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/250423-01_Frontier_Pro_PHEV_and_D21_Full_01_inline.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="562" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/250423-01_Frontier_Pro_PHEV_and_D21_Full_01_inline.jpg 1000w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/250423-01_Frontier_Pro_PHEV_and_D21_Full_01_inline-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/250423-01_Frontier_Pro_PHEV_and_D21_Full_01_inline-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/250423-01_Frontier_Pro_PHEV_and_D21_Full_01_inline-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355649" class="wp-caption-text">The Nissan PHEV shares design cues with the Hardbody. Photo from Zhengzhou-Nissan.</figcaption></figure>
The “Rugged Tech” engineering means a plug-in hybrid system with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor mounted on the transmission. The system produces over 300 kW of power and up to 800 Newton meters of torque. Pure battery range is up to 135 km (83 miles).
It uses a 5-link rear suspension with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, which manages torque to the front and rear wheels using a rather old-school thought, but new tech in engineering, electromechanical rear differential lock. Since the electric motor is integrated into what Nissan calls a “dedicated hybrid transmission,” the result is a powertrain speedy on the road and capable for off-road use. There are four drive modes (for obvious reasons): ‘Hybrid,’ ‘Pure Electric,’ ‘Performance,’ and ‘Snow.’
<figure id="attachment_355650" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355650" style="width: 1862px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-355650 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Zhengzhou_Z9.png" alt="" width="1862" height="924" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Zhengzhou_Z9.png 1862w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Zhengzhou_Z9-400x198.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Zhengzhou_Z9-800x397.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Zhengzhou_Z9-768x381.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Zhengzhou_Z9-1536x762.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1862px) 100vw, 1862px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355650" class="wp-caption-text">The Zhengzhou Z9 PHEV has a personality all its own. But the shared DNA is obvious. (Photo from ZNA)</figcaption></figure>
The US will never get the Frontier PHEV in this trim. Something else is planned for North America.
According to CleanTechnica sources at ZNA, sales inquiries have piled up quicker than expected. Our source requested not to reveal the actual figure, but it was in the tens of thousands already! The email reply to CleanTechnica just requested we say the “response is overwhelming.” Our source also did not reply if sales orders are already being accepted, but we expect Nissan’s communications team will soon put out a press release on the pre-selling numbers.

Frontier Pro PHEV: Is This Nissan’s Future Of Global Pickups?

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<hr>US President Donald Trump suspended the NEVI program for new EV charging stations earlier this year. Now a judge has ruled that the program must go forward. Even without NEVI, though, clever new startups are bringing more charging stations to more drivers. That includes heavy duty fleet vehicles, helping to make zero emission mobility a more attractive for fleet owners looking to ditch diesel.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">New EV Charging Station Bumps Diesel Off The Map</h3>
The latest EV charging solution to hit the road comes from the California-based global hardware firm L-Charge in partnership with the software provider Epic Charging.
The two partners are pitching their <a href="https://epiccharging.com/news/tpost/4at2gimo41-l-charge-and-epic-charging-partner-to-ex">transportable EV fast charging station</a> to property owners with some extra room in their parking lots, including motels, hotels, restaurants, and concert venues.
In years past, installing a new EV fast charging station typically meant a sizable investment in new electrical infrastructure along with trenching work, permit requirements, a long pre-planning period, and a potentially long wait before a grid connection is available.
Some startups have figured out a workaround consisting of EV fast charging in tandem with battery storage. Instead of sucking electricity straight from the grid to service impatient EV drivers, the charger-plus-battery suite recharges itself whenever grid conditions are optimal, enabling drivers to get a fast charge off the battery at their convenience.
Another option is to provide the charging station with its own fuel for a completely independent experience, eliminating the need for any grid connection at all. The FIA-endorsed Extreme E racing series, for example, has deployed hydrogen fuel cell-enabled <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/06/30/extreme-e-rebrands-to-extreme-h-featuring-green-hydrogen-and-fuel-cells/">transportable charging stations</a>. Designed for remote use, the charging stations can make their own green hydrogen on site from sunlight and water.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Off-Grid EV Charging: Say Goodbye To Diesel Fuel</h3>
L-Charge has pursued the off-grid option. Its transportable chargers run on generators that use various types of gas including RNG (renewable natural gas), and flare gas.&nbsp; In a press release earlier this year, L-charge noted that conventional gas and <a href="https://l-charge.net/news/press-release-l-charge-enables-alto-to-expand-ev-fleet-with-no-upfront-cost/">hydrogen</a> are also in play.
I’ve reached out to the company for some additional details about their fuel sources and emissions controls. Of note, the retail locations involved in the Epic Charging partnership are just part of the company’s business model. L-Charge also lists <a href="https://l-charge.net/resources/">construction, agriculture, and school bus fleets</a> among its target markets, indicating a focus on pushing diesel fuel out of those sectors.
As noted by L-Charge, fleet owners can use their property to provide its off-grid charging stations for the general public as well as their own fleets and clients. “In a hybrid-use deployment, L-Charge’s off-grid chargers were installed in a matter of days at a location with no existing grid connection,” L-Charge explains. “The site now serves both fleet vehicles and the public, illustrating how one installation can serve multiple needs and get diesel vehicles off the road without waiting for utility upgrades.”
That’s not a complete solution in terms of overall decarbonization, but it does offer heavy-duty fleets a rapid. pathway to on site electrification, while providing workers and community residents with relief from diesel emissions at the tailpipe.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">EV Charging, Coming Soon To A Tire Shop Near You</h3>
As for retail locations characterized by non-diesel traffic, the emissions tradeoff would manifest over time as the growing convenience of EV charging motivates more EV-curious drivers to make the switch. For a perspective on that, L-Charge and Epic cite the tire and wheel seller Discount Tire among the first of their joint clients.
<a href="https://www.discounttire.com/about-us">Discount Tire</a> is billed as the largest independent auto parts retailer of its kind in the US, with more than 1,100 locations in 37 states, red and blue alike. On-site EV charging adds another dimension to its driver services.
“L-Charge and Epic Charging allow us to expand our services quickly without waiting on the grid or taking on major capital investment,” Discount Tire explained in a press statement. “We can now offer EV charging to both public and our own fleet customers using the space we already have, turning our depots into more versatile, revenue-generating locations.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Who’s Gonna Pay For All This?</h3>
To ice the EV charging cake, L-charge offers a site evaluation and a trial use period.&nbsp; The L-Charge business model is also a charging-as-a-service system, requiring no money up front from the property owner.
The partnership with Epic also enables L-Charge to provide both property owners and drivers with a seamless payment model, similar to the experience that motorists expect when they pull up at a gas station. In other words, no clunky series of window to open on your smart phone. “Users can easily locate, start, and pay for a charging session using Epic’s mobile app or Payter credit card readers without any app download or account setup,” the partners explain.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">NEVI Or Not, Here Comes Vehicle Electrification</h3>
The NEVI saga is a bit wonky for those of you new to the topic, but it’s worth going over latest development for some further insights into the EV fast charging situation in the US.
NEVI stands for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, launched during the Biden administration with $5 billion in funding carved out from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The aim was to provide states with federal grants to install new charging along major throughways, building a robust interstate network of EV fast chargers for long distance travel as well as shorter hops.
For various reasons, not all states obtained their fair share of the NEVI pot before Biden left office on January 20. Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump summarily suspended the program, Of course, that was illegal and unconstitutional — after all, the program was funded by an Act of Congress, not an executive order.
In addition, the EV charging cat was already out of the bag. By mid-February new <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/02/12/new-ev-charging-station-schemes-thwart-trumps-nevi-squeeze/">private sector charging solutions</a> were already beginning to emerge, including systems aimed at enabling retailers to gain <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/03/11/trump-or-no-trump-ev-charging-is-getting-easier-than-ever/">new revenue from charging stations</a>.
Regardless of the ongoing spurt of <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/22/with-war-at-hand-what-will-happen-to-all-those-new-ev-charging-stations/">new charging station schemes</a> in the US, the last time we checked an Act of Congress was an Act of Congress, and Trump has been holding up funds allocated by Congress for new EV fast charging stations. Earlier this year, sixteen states and Washington, DC sued to get their rightful allocations, and on June 25 a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration must release most of the remaining funds (Washington and two of the states were not included in the ruling).
As reported by AP among other news organizations, the NEVI ruling will go into effect on July 2 — unless the Trump administration appeals, of course.
Photo (cropped): A new off-grid EV charging service aims to push diesel vehicles aside and generate <a href="https://l-charge.net/">new revenue for property owners</a>, too (courtesy of L-Charge).

NEVI Or Not, New Off-Grid EV Chargers Spell Doom For Diesel Fuel

Five middle schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) — Northridge Middle School, Pacoima Middle School, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, Sun Valley Magnet School, and Sutter Middle School — will get solar PV systems and EV charging infrastructure. The project developer is Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy solutions provider. Ameresco will also operate and maintain the technology systems.
The solar power and EV charger project at the five middle schools is part of a larger program to install solar power at 21 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Lou Maltezos, President of Central &amp; Western USA and Canada Regions at Ameresco, answered some questions about the work at the <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250521911877/en/Ameresco-Drives-Cost-Savings-for-Los-Angeles-Unified-School-District-With-Over-2.7-MW-in-Solar-PV-Projects">middle schools</a>.
How did Ameresco partner with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)&nbsp; for the solar power and EV charger project?
In 2022, LAUSD issued a request for proposals (RFP) to industry, seeking a qualified partner to support the District’s ambitious goal to achieve 100% clean, renewable energy by 2040 through a turnkey solution for the engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance of solar PV systems and EV charging infrastructure at several schools throughout the district. In 2023, LAUSD selected Ameresco to deliver these projects at five middle schools as part of a larger initiative that will implement similar projects at 21 schools in total.
What will be the solar power capacity and where will the solar panels be installed?
Ameresco will provide over 2.7 MW of solar capacity across five schools — Northridge Middle School, Pacoima Middle School, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, Sun Valley Magnet School, and Sutter Middle School.
How many EV chargers will be installed and what will their charging rates be?
Ameresco will install a total of ten (two per school) Level 2 EV chargers.
Will the EV chargers operate only on solar power?
No, they will also operate on grid power. The EV chargers will be used when needed, which could be when the solar is operating or not.
Will all the solar panels be installed on shade structures?
All of the solar panels will be installed either on shade structures — providing significant relief to students during the increasing number of extremely warm days experienced Districtwide — and on carport structures to provide shade for staff, parents, and visitors while parking.
Will any battery storage be paired with the solar power?
The Ameresco team thoroughly evaluated pairing the PV systems with battery energy storage systems (BESS) to enhance energy resiliency at these five schools in the event of a utility disruption. However, since each of these schools are located in Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) territory as opposed to SCE territory, the rate tariffs and utility bill profiles at these schools did not yield a strong economic justification for BESS. Being responsible stewards of taxpayer funding, LAUSD made the prudent financial decision to forego installing BESS as part of these projects.
Will the chargers have shade structures too?
Most will be located under a carport so they will be shaded.
Who will use the chargers?
That will be determined by LAUSD.
When will the project be completed and what will be the cost?
Start date of the first school is March 2025. End date of the last school is March 2027. The total turnkey cost of the projects — including all engineering, design, construction, operations and maintenance (O&amp;M) activities, and system performance guarantees (PeGu) — is $20.7 million.
Where is the money coming from for the project?
There are two sources of funding being used for these projects. For the construction/implementation portion (approximately $15.2 million), existing bond funds will be utilized. For the ongoing, multi-year O&amp;M and PeGu service agreements (approximately $5.5M), LAUSD’s general fund will be utilized. No new taxes were levied to fund these important clean energy projects. A significant portion of the actual cost of the project will be repaid through the savings over time from avoided cost of energy generated by the solar panels.

Five LA Middle Schools To Get 2.7 MW Of Solar Power & EV Chargers

The European Commission missed a big opportunity to create a cleantech bazooka.
New EU state-aid rules&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1598" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published today</a> are a setback for the European cleantech and battery industry, green group T&amp;E has said. The rules maintain a ban on production aid — subsidies for each unit actually produced — despite the US using similar aid to successfully build a battery industry from scratch and overtake Europe’s.
The new rules (known as CISAF) allow governments to take equity in cleantech companies, ease aid to projects vetted by the EU Innovation Fund, and suggest that aid for foreign investment in the automotive sector will be conditional on IP and skills transfer. But T&amp;E said this is not an adequate solution to the lack of competitiveness of EU cleantech manufacturing. CISAF remains based on complex, project-by-project and opaque aid procedures.
William Todts, executive director at T&amp;E, said:&nbsp;“The EU missed a big opportunity to create a cleantech bazooka, with simple, predictable and bankable aid for manufacturing in Europe. The game changer the EU battery industry needs is IRA style production aid, tied to resilience criteria, as promised by Ursula von der Leyen in the auto action plan.”
T&amp;E said the Commission still has the opportunity to design impactful EU-wide support schemes under the €1.8bn still earmarked for batteries under the Innovation Fund later in 2025, or in the Competitiveness Fund in the next EU budget. But the new funding cycle will only start in 2028, when it’s unclear if there will still be many European cleantech players to support.
The new rules allow state aid for types of hydrogen that are at odds with the EU’s climate ambition, T&amp;E said. Member states will be able to support projects producing hydrogen from fossil gas. This risks prolonging the financing of the fossil fuel industry at the expense of real decarbonisation and hampering the uptake of green hydrogen needed for aviation and shipping fuels.
News release from <a rel="canonical" href="https://www.transportenvironment.org/articles/eu-rules-out-production-aid-in-blow-to-battery-and-cleantech-industry">T&amp;E</a>.

EU Rules Out Production Aid In Blow To Battery & Cleantech Industry

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<hr>Swedish radio station <a href="https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/forsta-budet-pa-northvolt-hela-verksamheten-kan-saljas">SverigesRadio</a> broke the news on June 25 that one or more interested buyers for the remaining assets of Northvolt have made themselves known to bankruptcy administrator Mikael Kubu. He said a foreign investor is interested in acquiring the entire bankruptcy estate, including the factory in Skellefteå and the development center in Västerås.
According to Kubu, negotiations are progressing. This initial, non-binding offer is expected to open the door to further negotiations. At the same time, Kubu said he expects to receive yet another expression of interest shortly. The identities of the interested parties have not yet been made public. “We now have an indicative bid on the table and hope for more indicative bids. At the same time, there are a number of conditions when it comes to such bids and these conditions must be possible to fulfill,” Kuba said in a statement. “We can probably say that we expect to receive another indicative bid during the day,” he added.
In a subsequent report, <a href="https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/scania-diskuterar-nu-kop-av-northvolt-i-vasteras">SverigesRadio</a> claimed that several other companies have now expressed an interest in purchasing all or parts of Northvolt’s assets that are now in the hands of the bankruptcy administrator. One of them is understood to be Swedish truck manufacturer Scania, which is part of Volkswagen Group. Others have expressed an interest in purchasing the Northvolt development center in Västerås, CEO Christian Levin said. “The discussion is ongoing. We are among those who are prepared to invest the most in this, but we cannot and do not want to do it ourselves.”
But Scania is only one of several interested parties. On Tuesday, the bankruptcy trustee announced that an initial bid for Northvolt’s entire operations had been received from a foreign investor and that further bids were expected, which could lead to a battle over who gets to buy what.
Kubu said this is the first time since the bankruptcy was filed that an interested party has placed a bid for the all of the assets of Northvolt currently in his possession and that there are now a total of three possible buyers for the business. This increases the likelihood of a buyer taking over the entire Northvolt business has increased significantly — a hopeful sign Kubu said.
Negotiations are progressing, but many difficulties will need to be overcome before a final agreement is concluded. “Yes, it is moving forward. Then it is clear that there is limited time and the problem is that there are fewer and fewer employees and a buyer naturally does not only want to buy machines but also needs the right skills. It is still a race against time,” Kubu said. “A buyer would, of course, not only want to buy machines but would also need the appropriate staff on site.
The bankruptcy estate includes the main plant called Northvolt Ett in Skellefteå, where production will be stopped for the time being. It also includes the development center called Northvolt Labs in Västerås, for which the truck manufacturer Scania wanted to put together a consortium to rescue it. In addition, the planned battery factory in Heide, Schleswig-Holstein, is still being prepared for construction, thanks to subsidies. A Northvolt spokesperson told the press, “It shows that there is still great interest in the site in Heide.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">An Investor For Northvolt</h3>
According to Michael Kubu, this is the first time that an investor has shown interest in the entire Northvolt company and not just in individual components. The company has already disposed of a number of assets in the days leading up to the bankruptcy. Volvo Cars acquired all of Northvolt shares in the battery cell joint venture Novo Energy, Scania acquired the battery module production facility in Gdansk, Poland, as well as a research and development centre in Tomteboda near Stockholm. Both were owned by Northvolt Systems Industrial. US battery developer Lyten has taken over the Californian battery production facilities of <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2023/05/04/northvolt-cuberg-unveil-batteries-designed-for-electric-aircraft/">Cuberg</a>, a subsidiary of&nbsp; Northvolt.
Kubu declined to share details about which companies had submitted offers recently, saying only that all three were not from Sweden. Kubu did not specify whether any were even based in Europe. According to Swedish news organization <a href="https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/northvolts-konkursbo-i-forhandling-med-tre-kopare">SVT</a>, it is unlikely a Chinese buyer would be acceptable to Sweden, as the supervisory authority for strategic products (ISP) has said no to Chinese interests owning similar commercial enterprises.
<a href="https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/northvolts-konkursbo-i-forhandling-med-tre-kopare">SVT</a> did say that, according to documents from the Stockholm District Court, Northvolt’s debts amount to well over 80 billion kronor — equivalent to more than 7.2 billion euros. At the same time, the assets of Northvolt AB and Northvolt Ett, the main plant in Skellefteå, are estimated at just over two billion kronor, or 180 million euros. Sales in bankruptcy seldom result in deals that reflect full retail value, so it seems safe to assume Northvolt creditors will get a significant haircut when their claims are settled.
The Northvolt bankruptcy was a painful blow to Europe’s pride. As <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/12/03/lessons-for-europe-north-america-from-northvolt-collapse/">Michael Barnard</a> pointed out recently, the European Union lost a couple billion euros from loans and grants that went bust when the company filed for bankruptcy. It also lost the prospect of a supply of Europe-made batteries. But the biggest loss for the EU, Barnard said, was the belief that anything China could do, it could do better.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">High Hopes And Bad Analytics</h3>
On its way to bankruptcy, Northvolt blew through €15 billion. An equivalent battery factory woud cost €1.5 billion in China or €3 billion outside of China. How did Northvolt spend five times that amount and still fall short of its goal? Barnard says the seeds of Northvolt’s destruction began with not understanding the market and underestimating China. Northvoilt thought that there was going to be a big shortage of batteries because no one could possibly scale to meet demand. But that’s not what happened.
“China scaled up to five times Northvolt’s prediction. Getting China wrong is a major western failure right now, and until they get China right, they will continue to fail. Partly because they predicted a massive shortage, the batteries they managed to produce were too expensive for the market. They predicted battery prices would remain high — a common and fundamental failure in a lot of the west — and so they did not work tirelessly to bring their unit production costs down,” Barnard said.
Next, the company chose to build its factory in Skellefteå near the Arctic Circle because it offered an abundance of low-cost hydropower. But it had no skilled workforce and the engineers it hired for its R&amp;D center refused to decamp with their families to the frozen tundra in the north of Sweden. A comedy of errors or a tragedy of relying on hopes instead of hard headed busiess principals? Perhaps it was a little of both.
Europe initially was proud of its homegrown battery supplier. None other than <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2020/07/17/bmw-signs-2-billion-battery-supply-contract-with-northvolt/">BMW signed a contract for delivery of Northvolt battery cells</a>, but when the company could not deliver conforming battery cells on time and at the agreed upon price, that’s when the <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/22/eu-news-byd-overtakes-tesla-northvolt-suspends-production/">wheels started to come off the Northvolt wagon</a> and it was a steep ride downhill fr0m there.
Barnard says the number one lesson here is, “Never underestimate China.” Sadly, the United States is firmly commitred to doing precisely that. Some people just refuse to learn.

Buyers Emerge For Northvolt

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<hr>The Cadillac Escalade IQ, Cadillac’s new electric Escalade, was its top-of-the-line model for a while. However, there’s another EV from the brand that is more than double the price, in a league of its own in the Cadillac fleet. That’s the <a href="https://www.cadillac.com/electric/celestiq">Cadillac CELESTIQ</a>. The model starts at $330,000 and has a note saying “By enquiry only” in the place where you normally see “Build &amp; Buy” on the <a href="https://www.cadillac.com/">Cadillac website</a>. Now, deliveries of the CELESTIQ have begun.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-2.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-313145" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-2.png" alt="" width="2297" height="1137" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-2.png 2297w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-2-400x198.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-2-800x396.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-2-768x380.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-2-1536x760.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-2-2048x1014.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2297px) 100vw, 2297px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-313144" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-1.png" alt="" width="3187" height="1312" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-1.png 3187w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-1-400x165.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-1-800x329.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-1-768x316.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-1-1536x632.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cadillac-Celestiq-EV-1-2048x843.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3187px) 100vw, 3187px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-4.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355627" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-4.png" alt="" width="3287" height="1436" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-4.png 3287w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-4-400x175.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-4-800x349.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-4-768x336.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-4-1536x671.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-4-2048x895.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3287px) 100vw, 3287px"></a>
“This week, the first hand-built Cadillac CELESTIQ was delivered to its owner in a private ceremony at the General Motors Global Technical Center. The bespoke ultra-luxury electric sedan, built to the client’s individual specifications, was handed over at an event at&nbsp;<a href="https://news.cadillac.com/newsroom.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2023/mar/0329-cadillac.html">Cadillac House at Vanderbilt</a> — a state-of-the-art facility where CELESTIQ clients can curate their vehicle design through a highly personalized experience,” GM writes.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-7.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355624" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-7.png" alt="" width="2049" height="958" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-7.png 2049w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-7-400x187.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-7-800x374.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-7-768x359.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-7-1536x718.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2049px) 100vw, 2049px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-6-Super-Cruise.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355625" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-6-Super-Cruise.png" alt="" width="2065" height="1021" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-6-Super-Cruise.png 2065w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-6-Super-Cruise-400x198.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-6-Super-Cruise-800x396.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-6-Super-Cruise-768x380.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-6-Super-Cruise-1536x759.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-6-Super-Cruise-2048x1013.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2065px) 100vw, 2065px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-5.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355626" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-5.png" alt="" width="3567" height="1717" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-5.png 3567w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-5-400x193.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-5-800x385.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-5-768x370.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-5-1536x739.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-5-2048x986.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3567px) 100vw, 3567px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-8.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355623" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-8.png" alt="" width="1425" height="956" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-8.png 1425w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-8-400x268.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-8-800x537.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-8-768x515.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1425px) 100vw, 1425px"></a>
GM then has some flowery words about the car’s ultra-luxury nature, performance, tech, and custom design. It even reached back to 1908, when the car called itself “Standard of the World.” I’m going to skip all that flowery language and self-congratulation, but here are some key specs for the car:
<ul>
<li>655 horsepower</li>
<li>646 lb-ft of torque</li>
<li>3.7 seconds from 0–60 mph (with Velocity Max)</li>
<li>303 miles of range on a full charge</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-3.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355628" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-3.png" alt="" width="2000" height="992" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-3.png 2000w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-3-400x198.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-3-800x397.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-3-768x381.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-3-1536x762.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-2.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355629" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-2.png" alt="" width="2000" height="923" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-2.png 2000w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-2-400x185.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-2-800x369.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-2-768x354.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-2-1536x709.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-355630" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-1.png" alt="" width="2000" height="914" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-1.png 2000w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-1-400x183.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-1-800x366.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-1-768x351.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-CELESTIQ-1-1536x702.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px"></a>
“Each CELESTIQ is built to order. Transaction MSRP will be determined by each client’s individual level of curation, starting in the mid-$300,000 range. Every CELESTIQ is assembled at the newly established Artisan Center on the GM campus in Warren, Michigan,” notes in closing out its announcement.
<figure id="attachment_355619" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-355619" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-Celestiq-production.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-355619" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-Celestiq-production.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="685" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-Celestiq-production.jpg 1280w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-Celestiq-production-400x214.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-Celestiq-production-800x428.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cadillac-Celestiq-production-768x411.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355619" class="wp-caption-text">Cadillac CELESTIQ illuminated in a sleek glow within the light booth at the Artisan Center at General Motors Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.</figcaption></figure>
$5 to the first CleanTechnica reader who spots one on the road.

Extremely Expensive Cadillac CELESTIQ Deliveries Begin

<ul>
<li>DC fast charging (DCFC) stations in the U.S. are getting noticeably larger.</li>
<li>New data from research firm Paren shows that from January through May, the average number of ports per newly opened station has climbed to 4.7.</li>
<li>Previously, one to two ports were the norm at fast-charging stations.</li>
</ul>
Drive an electric vehicle long enough and you know this feeling well. You find a DC fast-charging (DCFC) station on your favorite mapping app, roll up to get some electrons, and then realize that the station only has two plugs—and maybe one of them is some format your car doesn't even use.&nbsp;
That's not a fun day of electric driving.&nbsp;
Fortunately, that situation is getting better and better, a new report from the&nbsp;charging data firm <a href="https://www.paren.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paren</a> has found. Its latest study indicates that most new DCFC projects have four to five charging ports on average—4.7, if you want to get technical.
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/OoJRBY/s1/paren-charger-port-growth-data.jpg" alt="Paren Charger Port Growth Data">
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Paren Charger Port Growth Data
</div>
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Paren</div>
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"This marks a clear shift from the earlier norm of 1–2 port installations that left drivers frustrated with long wait times and low charger availability," the Paren report said. And it indicated that this trend is part of the overall growth and maturing of the fast-charging industry, which is quickly learning what works and what doesn't and avoiding the mistakes of the Charging 1.0 era.&nbsp;
"Encouragingly, many of the most aggressive adopters of this 'bigger is better' model are newer entrants," the study said. Those players include New York-based rideshare and charging company <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/750255/revel-new-york-charging-funding/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22750255%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22revel-new-york-charging-funding%22%7D">Revel</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/683881/mercedes-first-charging-hubs-fall2023/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22683881%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mercedes-first-charging-hubs-fall2023%22%7D">Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://insideevs.com/news/757648/walmart-ev-charging-network-revealed/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22757648%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22walmart-ev-charging-network-revealed%22%7D">Walmart</a> and <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758341/ionna-ev-charging-network-doubled-in-size-last-month/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758341%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ionna-ev-charging-network-doubled-in-size-last-month%22%7D">Ionna</a>. But Tesla, long the gold standard for charging, continues to lead the way with multi-stall Supercharger stations.
<section data-is-mosaic="0" contenteditable="false" draggable="true" data-widget="image" data-border="" data-id="8021569">
 
 
 
 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/YAg9ny/s1/tesla-v4-supercharger.jpg" alt="Tesla V4 Supercharger">
 <div class="photo-title">
Tesla V4 Supercharger
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Tesla</div>
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Even some companies that have been late to multi-port installations are upping their game, Paren's report said. ChargePoint once averaged 1.5 ports per DCFC project, but now that number is up to 2.3. And by some metrics, the port averages are more like six per charging station.<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
"That’s a strong indicator of where the rest of the market is headed," the Paren report said. "All signs point toward a fast-charging landscape dominated by larger, higher-capacity stations. In fact, 82% of all new stations in 2025 so far have three or more ports."
Once again, EV fast-charging <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/761388/public-ev-charging-reliability-study/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22761388%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22public-ev-charging-reliability-study%22%7D">is getting better and better in America</a>, even if that's not always obvious.
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

EV Fast Charging Is Growing Up, And Growing Bigger

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<hr>Europe has, of course, put high tariffs on electric cars built in China. One way around that for Chinese automakers is going to be setting up factories in Europe. BYD has a new factory in Hungary already, and the company is reportedly prepping for a flurry of product launches. Already, BYD is in the midst of what it thinks is an unmatched flurry of product launches in Europe.
According to Autocar, BYD “believes it is about to introduce more models more quickly than any car company ever has before.” The company is currently the largest pure electric vehicle (BEV) seller in the world. Most of those sales take place in China, but more and more, the company is bringing models to new markets and ramping up sales in foreign markets.
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BYD just launched the Dolphin Surf in the UK. The initial units of the Surf are coming from China, but they will be produced at the company’s Hungary factory soon. At the launch event, “Alfredo Altavilla, BYD’s special advisor for Europe (and former COO at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and chairman of ITA Airways) said: ‘I have zero problem in saying I don’t think there has ever been such a product offensive done in Europe as the one that BYD is doing. We have been launching six cars in less than a year. We are covering all of the most important segments of the European car market and the Dolphin Surf was the missing piece in the A/B-segment.'”
So, a lot of cars have already hit the European market, but more are coming. It apparently takes a lot of work to modify models to meet European market preferences. As a result, the Surf is arriving in Europe 18 months after deliveries commenced in China and South America.
“We’re going to get together again after the summer break for another important reveal, and through the end of the year, there will be others. All this is fundamentally building the image of a brand where technology never stops, and this is allowing a set of new cars to be available in Europe in really no time,” Altavilla added. “As we go forward into 2026, more and more of the BYD line-up will be specific to this region and this is a big step forward compared to the other Asian brands,” he also said. “BYD top management has clearly seen that if you want to play big in Europe, you have to have a dedicated product line-up and this is what we will have.”
Of course, there’s the BYD brand, but there’s also BYD’s Denza brand (luxury vehicles like Mercedes and BMW offer) and BYD’s Yangwang brand (high-tech cars). Those brands get new premium features and tech before the BYD brand in order to make them more exclusive and higher class/cost.
BYD is still a niche player in Europe. Many assume that’s how it will stay forever, especially because of domestic brand loyalty in Europe. But BYD has other plans. “With the technology we have, coupled with the localisation of the production of the most important cars, we have everything we need to be one of the key players,” Altavilla added. “Whether it’s number one, one of the big three, one of the big five, it doesn’t matter, but [BYD will be] one of the big players in the region.”

BYD in Midst of Unmatched Flurry of Product Launches in Europe

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<hr>“I hopped on to an electric motorcycle in Kigali, Rwanda, and I was happy to see that the motorcycle taxi operator was a woman. It’s been a while since I got onto a motorcycle operated by a woman. I was very excited because getting one is like winning the lottery. The rider, Ange Uwingeneye, has an extraordinary story: both her and her husband work as moto-taxi drivers! A very powerful story. She earns 15,000 Rwandan francs per day. She says it’s all thanks to her Spiro motorcycle, which makes it easier for her to do the job.”
This is one of the incredible testimonies Spiro received recently. The lower total cost of ownership means that riders get to take home more than they would using fossil fuel motorcycles for the taxi business. Spiro adds that the company is actively working to empower and grow the number of female riders. The Spiro bike, being electric, is much smoother and easier to maneuver and operate compared to the traditional fossil fuel motorcycles.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-355612" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00349-800x533.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00349-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00349-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00349-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00349-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00349-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px">
<a href="https://www.spironet.com/">Spiro’s</a> CEO&nbsp;Kaushik Burman is very passionate about the social impact companies like Spiro can have in the market where they operate. Before joining Spiro, Kaushik spent five and a half years at Gogoro, the Taiwanese company that is best known for revolutionizing battery swapping networks for 2-wheelers. He also spent over seven and a half years working in the infrastructure space for electric vehicles. He is now driving Spiro’s vision to electrify Africa.&nbsp; 
Spiro is now the largest electric vehicle company in Africa by vehicles deployed. Spiro is also the fastest growing battery swapping network operator on the continent. Spiro has deployed over 60,000 LFP batteries on its battery swapping network, which spans across 8 countries. These countries are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Cameroon. This battery swap network is currently powering Spiro’s ever growing fleet of electric motorcycles, which currently stands at a stunning 35,000 electric motorcycles. This network has done over 20 million battery swaps since inception. This makes Spiro the world’s second largest company in terms of battery swaps done. Riders of Spiro’s motorcycles have helped reduce emissions in their countries by saving 33,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-355613" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00395-800x533.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00395-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00395-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00395-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00395-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00395-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px">
To support its operations as the company accelerates its growth plans, Spiro now has 4 operational assembly plants on the African continent. These facilities are in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Nigeria. The largest one is in Kenya and has a production capacity of 50,000 electric motorcycles per year. This plant has already been provisioned to expand production to 100,000 electric motorcycles a year as needed. Spiro is driven by a passion to localize production, initially focusing on retooling of available facilities, upskilling of workers, and maximum possible value addition of local materials and resources. Spiro is also building a network of local component manufacturers on this journey. At the moment, Spiro has already started local assembly of the electric motor and controllers for their motorcycles in the Kenya factory. As demand grows, Spiro plans to add local manufacturing of the motorcycle frames. Spiros says this would need a minimum critical mass of at least 50,000 motorcycles per year. Kaushik says the company has already created over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs from these assembly plants in these four countries, showcasing the impact the transition to electric mobility can have on the African continent.&nbsp;
Kaushik says the company is focusing heavily on local assembly and ultimately local manufacturing because Spiro wants to help kick start a new age of industrialization in Africa. The CEO says electric motorcycles have more electronic components than their ICE motorcycle counterparts and the whole ecosystem, including the batteries and software to manage the battery swap station, as well as the associated telemetry systems, will enable a whole new technology and skills transfer to the African continent from China, South Korea, India, North America, Europe, and other places. He emphasizes the fact that over a sustained period of time, this will create a great ecosystem for component manufacturing, vehicle assembly, wholesalers and retailers of spare parts, as well as dealers and operators of vehicle showrooms, along with innovative asset financing and fintech platforms, customer service and support, call centers, and energy network franchises. Spiro wants to help launch the renaissance of industrialization to support these ecosystems, hence its move to launch the four plants in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Nigeria.
Once it reaches critical mass, this e-mobility ecosystem will be self-sustaining and help anchor the development and growth of other sectors. With Spiro already assembling the motor and controllers locally in Kenya, the next stage will be to manufacture these in Kenya and then add the local manufacturing of the motorcycle frames once the critical mass thresholds have been reached. Adding the local assembly of the battery packs to the assembly process would take the contribution of locally assembled components to over 75% of each motorcycle.&nbsp;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-355610" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00403-800x533.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00403-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00403-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00403-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00403-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATU00403-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px">
Spiro is now on its third generation motorcycle, called the Ekon model. Spiro says the new Ekon electric motorcycle is already 30% cheaper to purchase on an upfront purchase basis than equivalent ICE motorcycles, which is a game changer as the upfront cost of electric vehicles has historically been higher than ICE vehicles and been a major barrier to adoption. With the total cost of ownership of electric motorcycles already lower than that of equivalent ICE versions, this makes going electric a no-brainer. Motorcycles are a really big deal in a lot of African countries, with most of them deployed as taxis. Close to 30 million motorcycles on the continent are used in this motorcycle taxi industry. With almost 99% of them still being internal combustion engine motorcycles, there is a huge opportunity and a large addressable market for electrification. This is why it’s great to see that there are now electric motorcycle options that are not just approaching parity with ICE equivalents, but are already cheaper than ICE ones.&nbsp;
Having launched operations in Kenya in October 2023, Spiro is now well on the way to scaling its operations. Spiro has introduced over 3,000 electric motorcycles in Kenya over the past 12 months up to June 2025. This is a really big deal as 4,862 electric motorcycles were sold in Kenya in the whole of 2024! Spiro has now quickly spread its presence to over six cities and towns in Kenya, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Kisumu. To support this growing fleet, Spiro now has over 100 swap stations in Kenya and also over 100 swap stations in Rwanda. It’s great to see that the transition to electric in Africa’s electric motorcycle sector is accelerating.
&nbsp;
Images courtesy of Spiro

Spiro’s Rapid Progress On The African Continent Shows That The Transition To EVs Is Well Underway

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<hr>Tesla CEO Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump were joined at the hip earlier this year, gleefully giving thousands of federal workers the axe, including those tasked with investigating purported misdeeds by Tesla, among other Musk ventures. Trump and Musk have reportedly gone to Splitsville in recent weeks, but their storylines remain the same: Tesla sales are still going down and Trump is still a figure of international ridicule.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Tesla Sales Crash In Europe, Again</h3>
Musk’s excellent White House adventure may or may not be completely over. Either way, the damage he did to the Tesla brand in just a few short months as a “special” employee of the US government is is already done.
For that matter, the reputational risks to Tesla began surfacing long before this year, including Musk’s vociferous misdirection on COVID prevention and vaccination in 2020, to be followed quickly by his ham-handed acquisition of the social media site formerly known as Twitter in 2022, and then of course the record-breaking sum he staked to buy himself a seat in the Oval Office during the run-up to Election Day 2024.
Leaving all that aside for now, let’s look at the latest news from Europe. CNBC is among the news organizations reporting on the body count earlier today, and they did not mince words.
“<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/25/teslas-european-car-sales-fall-as-customers-switch-to-chinese-evs.html">Tesla new car sales in Europe</a> fell 27.9% year on year in May,” reads the headline, and then it all goes downhill from there.
Between the EU, Britain, and the European Free Trade Association, CNBC notes that Tesla sold only 13,863 units this May, according to data collected by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
“The U.S. EV maker has sustained brand and reputational damage in part due to CEO Elon Musk’s incendiary rhetoric and political activity,” CNBC summarized, taking note of the strong performance of Chinese automakers and their more affordable EVs in the same market (see lots more <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/?s=tesla">Tesla background here</a>).
<h3 style="text-align: center;">How Low Can Tesla EV Sales Go?</h3>
Ouch! To be clear, Tesla still hangs onto its position as a leader in global EV sales. However, global EV sales are on the upswing, which makes going in the opposite direction a sign that serious mistakes have been made. It’s not like May was an anomoly, either. As noted by CNBC reporter Sam Meredith, May marks the 5th consecutive month that Tesla sales in Europe have circled the drain.
“Tesla’s European market share also dropped to 1.2% from 1.8% in May 2024,” Meredith reported, citing EAMA figures for the overall auto market.
“Musk spent nearly $300 million to help elect U.S. President Donald Trump to a second term and subsequently led a tumultuous initiative to slash federal agencies. Protests erupted at Tesla dealerships across Europe in response,” Meredith further observed.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Somebody Missed The Electric Fleet Boat</h3>
Tesla sales aside, EVs have turned in a strong performance in Europe so far this year, especially when hybrids are included in the count alongside 100% battery EVs.
Of course, Tesla does not make hybrids, so there’s no news for the company to exploit in the hybrid market. The German news organization DW also attributes <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/electric-vehicles-europe-china-tesla-elon-musk-batteries-trump-tariffs-exports-v2/a-72820823">the strength of the European EV market</a> partly to the demand for zero emission mobility devices from fleet operators, which is another area largely untapped by Tesla.
Tesla sales did enjoy a boost of fleet sales adrenaline back in 2021, when the US firm Hertz announced its intention to add <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2023/10/26/hertz-has-35000-teslas-in-its-fleet-not-close-to-100000-and-why/">100,000 Tesla sedans and SUVs</a> to its roster of rental cars. That effort ended ignominiously last year (for the record, Hertz took much of the blame).
Other than that, Tesla has shown little interest in promoting itself as a maker of commercial fleet vehicles. Other EV makers have already rolled out a long list of fleet vehicles including pickup trucks (actual pickup trucks), commercial vans, box trucks, school buses, and everything on up to Class 8 heavy duty long haul electric trucks, while Tesla is still struggling to bring its much-hyped and long delayed Tesla Semi truck into full volume production.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Trump Dumps On Tesla Sales, Again</h3>
Last week, Musk reminded everyone that he does <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/23/musk-to-sell-tesla-semi-electric-truck-in-europe-and-re-write-all-of-human-knowledge/">expect to sell the Tesla Semi in Europe</a>, regardless of the company’s recent track record there. In an epic case of perfect timing, who should appear in Europe this week to remind every fleet owner in Europe that the Tesla brand is attached at the hip to the Trump brand?
That’s right, Trump himself arrived at The Hague in the Netherlands yesterday to remind every fleet operator in Europe of his malevolent incompetence. The occasion was the latest NATO summit, which is taking place as nerves all around Europe are frayed by the possibility that Russian might turn its attention to the rest of the continent after having savaged Ukraine for the past 3-1/2 years.
Barely one day into the summit, Trump already sucked all the air out of NATO with his usual stream-of-consciousness bloviating at a media appearance, including the obligatory Festivus-style airing of grievances against the media.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Robotaxi To The Rescue…Or Not</h3>
Defense News is among the news organizations to gently remind everyone that Trump’s support for the NATO alliance shifts with the wind. “New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee who traveled to The Hague and met with several foreign leaders at the summit, said other countries raised ‘understandable questions,’ about the U.S.’s commitment to the alliance, ‘certainly given President Trump’s past statements,'” Defense News reported earlier today.
Questions about the success, or lack thereof, of Trump-ordered bombing raids on Iran’s nuclear facilities also dominated the military news of the week, further roiling public sentiment against Trump in Europe. If this keeps up, the prospects for a bounceback in European Tesla sales for June are dimming by the minute.
To be fair, it’s not all Trump’s fault. Tesla was also a hot media topic this week, when the much-hyped, long delayed public launch of <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/06/24/how-long-can-tesla-robotaxis-drive-around-breaking-the-law/">Musk’s new Robotaxi venture</a> finally took place in Austin, Texas, earlier this week. Despite the buildup, the event was about as exciting as week-old rice pudding, except for the parts where some serious, serial law-breaking occurred.
The failure to follow basic traffic rules on the first day of launch does not exactly inspire confidence. To the surprise of no-one, Tesla stock was down 4.3% as of about 2:00 pm today. Not to worry, though. Musk is sure to come up with another announcement to reassure his die-hard fans that there is nowhere to go but up.
Photo: Tesla sales in Europe went down for the 5th straight month in May, marking a sharp contrast with the upwards trajectory of other automakers in the same market (via CleanTechnica archive).

Dog Bites Man As Tesla Sales Crater In Europe And Trump Embarasses Himself At NATO Summit

Tesla’s network of Superchargers is the envy of the entire automotive industry. It's extensive, it's reliable and it's seamless. But as more and more drivers from other electric-vehicle brands get on the Tesla charging network as well, they should know that they can lose a lot of money if they leave their cars plugged in too long.
But some Tesla owners have figured out a clever workaround to what's known as "idle fees." TikTok user Marshmello Cloud (<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@marshmello.cloud" target="_blank" rel="">@marshmello.cloud</a>) recently filmed himself sprinting to avoid additional fees while using one of the company’s Superchargers.

“POV: you’re sprinting back to your Tesla to beat the Supercharger idle fees,” a text overlay on Marshmello’s TikTok video says.&nbsp;He crosses the street as fast-paced music plays in the background. When he arrives at the charger, he immediately removes the charging cable from his car. The video closes with him placing the cable back in its docking port.
According to a caption in the post, he often does the "Tesla Sprint" when he’s Supercharging his EV.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
<h2>What Is A Tesla Supercharger Idle Fee?</h2>
Tesla’s Supercharging network is meant to be used in small doses. The idea is that a short boost of supercharging, perhaps just 15 minutes or so, can make sure people can get where they’re going. While some EV owners depend entirely on DC fast-charging networks—often because they have no choice—this is generally not recommended for long-term battery health reasons.
Still, it gets the job done. Depending on the car and its battery size, the various Teslas can charge to 80% in about 30 to 45 minutes on a Supercharger.&nbsp;&nbsp;This varies based on the battery’s size and age, ambient temperature, vehicle configuration, and starting state of charge.

‘Oldest Trick in the Book’: Tesla Driver Says He Always Has To 'Sprint' To Avoid Supercharger Idle Fees. Here's What To Do

<ul>
<li>A federal judge has halted President Donald Trump's unilateral freeze of&nbsp;billions of dollars in funding for DC fast-chargers.</li>
<li>The chargers were being funded under the&nbsp;National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, launched under the Biden administration.</li>
<li>Sixteen states and the District of Columbia&nbsp;sued&nbsp;over the move.</li>
</ul>
The oil-and-gas-loving Trump administration has led an assault on everything from <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/763463/trump-tariffs-ev-costs-cheaper/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22763463%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22trump-tariffs-ev-costs-cheaper%22%7D">electric vehicle tax credits</a> to <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/759442/epa-auto-start-stop-fix/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22759442%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22epa-auto-start-stop-fix%22%7D">the stop-start feature</a> on internal-combustion vehicles. But not all of its plans have worked out when the courts get involved.
In the latest setback to the administration's electrification walkback goals, a federal judge in&nbsp;Washington state overruled <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758913/states-sue-trump-nevi-charger/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758913%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22states-sue-trump-nevi-charger%22%7D">Trump's freezing of the&nbsp;National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program</a>, which allocated billions of dollars for public EV fast-charging.&nbsp;

According to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuit-ev-chargers-trump-washington-california-2a94e98f11d838f91ecf98cf2f939f01" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>,&nbsp;U.S. District Judge Tana Lin ordered charger funding to be released in 14 states. Lin ruled that the Trump administration overstepped its constitutional authority when it halted charger funding, which was approved by Congress, at the outset of the year.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>
Sixteen states and the District of Columbia&nbsp;sued&nbsp;over the move; Lin ruled that D.C.,&nbsp;Minnesota and Vermont "did not provide enough evidence that they would face 'irreparable harm' if the money wasn’t immediately freed up."
Where this goes next is unclear. The order will go into effect in July unless the Trump administration appeals. If it does not, it secures billions of dollars in EV charger funding once thought to be lost, and the buildout of America's DC fast-charging network will continue with federal support.&nbsp;
About $3.3 billion&nbsp;in funding had already been unlocked by states, but much of it has not yet been spent or committed to projects. The program was left in a sort of gray area after the&nbsp;Trump administration ordered its funding to be rescinded.&nbsp;
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BMW iX Charging
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Tim Stevens/InsideEVs</div>
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The NEVI program was established by the&nbsp;Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed during the Biden administration. It allocated $5 billion&nbsp;to establish a nationwide network of EV chargers over a span of five years. Federally funding DC fast-charging projects is widely seen as key to getting America's electric infrastructure up and running, convincing buyers to go electric and speeding up the entire EV industry. NEVI money was allocated to the states, which then doled it out to private-sector grant applicants.
The NEVI projects were a frequent source of criticism, however. By mid-2024, only&nbsp;eight NEVI-funded charging stations had opened in six states, despite the program kicking off three years earlier. Many of them ran into the same <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/722801/charger-permitting-delays-slow-rollout/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22722801%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22charger-permitting-delays-slow-rollout%22%7D">complex permitting issues</a> that any DC fast-charging project might encounter, but they were perceived as moving too slowly to keep up with EV adoption.
But&nbsp;as&nbsp;<a href="https://insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsideEVs</a> Contributing Editor and&nbsp;State of Charge&nbsp;host Tom Moloughney <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/751074/nevi-funding-update-2025-trump/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22751074%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22nevi-funding-update-2025-trump%22%7D">explained earlier this year</a>, the final rules for the program weren't even available until February 2023, and many projects were well outside of state officials' expertise. All things considered, charging advocates said, the program moved more quickly than people realized.&nbsp;
While the private sector is continuing to build out chargers, losing NEVI funding was widely seen as a blow to America's charging efforts. Nonetheless,&nbsp;charging projects in general have accelerated in recent months, even with the NEVI program in limbo. As we reported recently,&nbsp;DC fast-charging ports are <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/762719/ev-dc-charger-installs-2025/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22762719%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ev-dc-charger-installs-2025%22%7D">now being installed at the highest pace the&nbsp;U.S. has ever seen</a>&nbsp;and the year should end with thousands more plugs built than in 2024.
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

EV Charger Funding Finally Gets Some Good News

<ul>
<li>The 2026 Optiq is confirmed to be the first General Motors vehicle to come to market equipped with a native Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug.</li>
<li>The Optiq-V, announced earlier this month, will follow it.</li>
<li>For 2026, the Optiq also gets a rear-wheel-drive entry version.</li>
</ul>
Ask any electric-vehicle driver: any kind of Tesla Supercharger access is a godsend on a road trip. But the adapter life isn't for everyone, and that's why more and more EVs with a native Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) port make for an even sweeter deal.
Soon, you can add General Motors' EVs to the list of cars dumping the conventional CCS port, starting with the 2026 <a href="https://insideevs.com/cadillac/optiq/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="1" data-params="%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22cadillac%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22optiq%22%7D">Cadillac Optiq</a>.
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/3WnMWA/s1/2025-cadillac-optiq.jpg" alt="2025 Cadillac Optiq">
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Cadillac Optiq (2025 model shown)
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Cadillac</div>
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A Cadillac spokesperson confirmed to <a href="https://insideevs.com" target="_blank">InsideEVs</a> that the Optiq will be GM's first-ever car with a NACS plug, followed soon after by the performance-focused Optiq-V, which was <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/762117/2026-cadillac-optiq-v-gets-tesla-charging-port/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22762117%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222026-cadillac-optiq-v-gets-tesla-charging-port%22%7D">announced earlier this month</a>. "By integrating a NACS port directly into the vehicle, GM provides customers with direct access to 21,500-plus reliable and convenient fast charging options across North America," the automaker said in a statement.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>

In doing so, the Optiq joins the <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/751141/2025-hyundai-ioniq-5-first-drive/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22751141%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222025-hyundai-ioniq-5-first-drive%22%7D">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/761017/hyundai-ioniq-9-tesla-supercharger/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22761017%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22hyundai-ioniq-9-tesla-supercharger%22%7D">Ioniq 9</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/733259/lucid-gravity-tesla-nacs-charging/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22733259%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22lucid-gravity-tesla-nacs-charging%22%7D">Lucid Gravity</a>, Kia EV9 and a growing field of other EVs to feature a NACS port straight from the factory. Previously, GM's EVs could access the Supercharger network via an adapter. Now, they will use another adapter for conventional charging stations, like the ones offered by Electrify America and others.
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Cadillac Optiq
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The previously dual-motor, all-wheel-drive-only Optiq will get a new entry-level rear-wheel-drive version for 2026. That one's rated at 315 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. In doing so, Cadillac has upgraded the AWD version significantly; it now gets 440 hp and 498 lb-ft of torque, up from just 300 hp previously. All Optiq models get an 85-kilowatt-hour battery pack.<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile"></div>
Range stays consistent at 300 miles, Cadillac said, and DC fast-charging maxes out at 150 kilowatts. That's not class-leading, but it can still add nearly 80 miles of range in 10 minutes.
As an added bonus, the Optiq adds a version of Super Cruise—GM's hands-free driving assistance system—that integrates directly with Google Maps and can&nbsp;automatically adjust speed to match posted speed limits on command.&nbsp;
Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but the outgoing Optiq started at&nbsp;$54,390 before any destination fees. It has proven to be a hit for Cadillac, with 75% of Optioq buyers coming in from other brands. Expect more details closer to its release this fall.
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

The 2026 Cadillac Optiq Will Be GM's First Tesla-Plug EV

<ul>
<li>Seattle-based DC fast-charging provider Electric Era installed a charging station at a North Port, Florida Costco location in just 54 days.</li>
<li>The station includes three 200-kilowatt EV charging stalls.</li>
<li>Normally, installing charging stations can take up to half a year, if not more.</li>
</ul>
Public DC fast chargers are designed to get electric-vehicle drivers back on the road quickly. They're also notorious for not getting built with much haste themselves.
But anyone who charges up at the Costco location in&nbsp;North Port, Florida should know that they're enjoying the perks of a project that went up at breakneck speed.

Seattle-based EV charging provider Electric Era told InsideEVs that its new station at the big-box retailer went up in what may be a new industry record: a mere 54 days from start to finish. The project broke ground on April 7 and went live on May 30, company officials said.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
Now, North Port's EV drivers can enjoy three <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/743982/costco-adding-more-ev-fast-chargers/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22743982%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22costco-adding-more-ev-fast-chargers%22%7D">200-kilowatt chargers</a> with six plugs during their next shopping trip or road trip break.&nbsp;The North Port station includes three CCS plugs and three Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs.&nbsp;
"We're always trying to push that bar down," Kyler Schmitz, the&nbsp;Chief Revenue Officer of Electric Era, said of the company's installation-time goals. "Even in the worst-case scenarios where <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/763146/cover-materials-june-18-2025/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22763146%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22cover-materials-june-18-2025%22%7D">we look at [the rate of]&nbsp; EV adoption</a>, there are more EVs being sold than there are DC fast chargers being installed, and that gap is growing."&nbsp;
Thanks to <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/722801/charger-permitting-delays-slow-rollout/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22722801%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22charger-permitting-delays-slow-rollout%22%7D">permitting issues</a>, coordinating between business owners and various local government entities, power supply challenges and other types of red tape, fast chargers can often take months or even the better part of a year to build. And every charging site can have its own specific variation on those needs.&nbsp;
Last year, the Biden administration's&nbsp;National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program was a frequent punching bag during the election over the millions of dollars in taxpayer money spent <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/why-is-the-feds-ev-charger-rollout-so-slow-these-people-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">to yield only a few charging stations nationwide</a>. (The North Port Costco project was not a NEVI one, officials said.)<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
Recent data suggests <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/763153/erevs-are-growing-faster-than-you-think/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22763153%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22erevs-are-growing-faster-than-you-think%22%7D">EV charger construction and installation is starting to accelerate</a>, however;&nbsp;data from the charging data analytics firm Paren indicates 2025 will end with 3,000 more plugs installed than last year.
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Electric Era Costco
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Electric Era</div>
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In&nbsp;Electric Era's case, company officials said their proprietary technology is a big part of why this Costco station went up so quickly. The company's chargers draw from both the electric grid and a shared pool of battery-energy storage, and its vertically-integrated hardware and software stack manages that energy flow to ensure reliability. "Our solution is unique in that we can draw from the grid and the battery simultaneously," Schmitz said. Other chargers that operate this way may rely on grid limits when their storage batteries are depleted.
"If demand charges are high, so the cost of electricity is high, we can lend more energy from the battery. If the grid connection is not supporting the amount of power requirements drawn from the vehicles, we can supplement that with the battery," Schmitz added.
This allows Electric Era to get a station like the North Port one up relatively quickly. "A lot of other providers have to upscale the grid, they have to get a different transformer on site, some of the lead time on that can take years," Schmitz said.&nbsp;And while Florida's somewhat more laissez-faire&nbsp;approach to various regulations may help this process somewhat, Schmitz said Electric Era just did a similar site in Washington, where the deployment time was only about 10 weeks.&nbsp;
The company's internal studies indicate that charging installations can often take between 48 and 156 weeks from start to finish.
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 <div class="spi_wrapper"><a class="lightzoom" href="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/electric-era-deployment-timleline-north-port-costco.png"> <img class="custom-image" draggable="false" src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/thumbnail/electric-era-deployment-timleline-north-port-costco.png" alt="electric-era-deployment-timleline-north-port-costco" width="2386" height="1222" loading="lazy" pinger-seen="true"> </a></div> <div class="source-title">Photo by: Electric Era</div> </section>
So while this particular project may be somewhat unique to Electric Era, it does show that the entire charging industry seems to be getting more serious about getting stations up quickly. And it's a bit of good news for the EV industry amid a year when it's facing a loss of incentives and even <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/763016/senate-kills-the-250-dollar-ev-fee/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22763016%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22senate-kills-the-250-dollar-ev-fee%22%7D">proposals like tax penalties</a> for electric drivers. Despite industry headwinds, Schmitz said Electric Era has about 20 other sites built or near completion and about 30 more in development.&nbsp;
"We're going to keep charging ahead, one way or another," Schmitz said.
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

EV Fast-Chargers Take Forever To Build. This Went Up In 54 Days

<ul>
<li>BMW demonstrates the charging power of the new iX3 in a social media video.</li>
<li>The vehicle peaks at 403 kW while charging, which is even higher than its claimed peak of 400 kW.</li>
<li>The iX3 debuts later this year with a native NACS plug in the United States.</li>
</ul>
With China leading the way in EV charging, the West has some catching up to do. But now BMW is one manufacturer whose next-generation EVs will charge quicker than ever, with speeds of up to 400 kilowatts.
In a recent video from the manufacturer, a camouflaged prototype for <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/762593/bmw-ix3-neue-klasse-drive/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22762593%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22bmw-ix3-neue-klasse-drive%22%7D">the upcoming iX3</a> can be seen charging even more quickly, showing a peak of 402 kW.
The iX3 is the first in BMW’s <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/759924/bmw-neue-klasse-evs-appearance/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22759924%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22bmw-neue-klasse-evs-appearance%22%7D">line of Neue Klasse electric models</a>, which improve upon the manufacturer’s current EVs in every single way. They are built on an 800-volt platform that is the key to achieving higher charging speeds, but they also feature new generations of motors and batteries.
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With 400-kW charging, BMW says the iX3 can add 217 miles (350 km) of WLTP range in just 10 minutes. That’s well over twice the range that the manufacturer’s current CLAR platform-based EVs can muster, and the 10% to 80% dash takes 20 minutes. The iX3 can deliver up to 497 miles (800 km) of WLTP range, which is around 62 miles (100 km) more than the current iX, which is a bigger vehicle with a bigger battery than the iX3.
The Euro-spec prototype in the video is charged through a CCS2 port, but it’s getting a native NACS port for North America. The iX3 for America won’t come from BMW’s new factory in Hungary—that only supplies Europe—but from <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/739793/bmw-mexico-neue-klasse-battery/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22739793%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22bmw-mexico-neue-klasse-battery%22%7D">the San Luis Potosi factory</a> in Mexico.
BMW plans to make the electric counterparts of the bigger X5 and X7 in its South Carolina facility. After the iX3 debuts later this year, it will be followed by the iX5 next year and the iX7 in 2027.
<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
We were <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/762593/bmw-ix3-neue-klasse-drive/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22762593%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22bmw-ix3-neue-klasse-drive%22%7D">blown away by how good a BMW iX3 prototype felt</a> during a recent drive. It handles great and it feels very precise on the road. InsideEVs contributor Tim Stevens actually watched the iX3 charging and peaking at 403 kW, and he noted that over a 10-minute charging session, the prototype averaged 318 kW, which is more than the peak of BMW’s current crop of EVs and substantially better than their average.
In the text accompanying the short charging video, BMW stressed that even though the iX3 runs at 800 volts, it is “of course, staying compatible with 400V stations.”
That ‘of course’ may be a nod to the recent news that another new 800-volt EV, <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/753620/mercedes-cla-good-not-great/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22753620%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mercedes-cla-good-not-great%22%7D">the Mercedes-Benz CLA</a>, would not be <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758859/mercedes-cla-ev-400v-charging-impossible/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758859%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mercedes-cla-ev-400v-charging-impossible%22%7D">compatible with 400-volt chargers</a>. Mercedes has since announced that it’s <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/759522/mercedes-cla-ev-400v-charging-supercharger-us/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22759522%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mercedes-cla-ev-400v-charging-supercharger-us%22%7D">changing things</a> so that it won’t be the case.

Watch A Next-Gen BMW EV Charge At 403 KW

<ul>
<li>How charging works on the new Nissan Leaf:</li>
<li>The Tesla (NACS) plug on the passenger side of the car is used for fast-charging.</li>
<li>The J1772 plug on the driver's side is used for slow and Level 2 charging on conventional chargers.</li>
<li>If you want to slow-charge at one of Tesla's Destination chargers, you need an adapter for the J1772 plug.</li>
<li>If you want to fast-charge at a conventional station like Electrify America, you need an adapter for the NACS plug.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
The American EV landscape is caught between two disparate charging connectors. The Combined Charging System (CCS) and its slow-charging component, the J1772 plug, are already everywhere.
But the entire industry is transitioning to Tesla's <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/743912/nacs-277-volt-power/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22743912%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22nacs-277-volt-power%22%7D">North American Charging Standard (NACS).</a> That'll surely be a better solution in the long term, but there's one hang-up: What do we do in the meantime?
Right now, the vast majority of non-Tesla EV chargers use CCS or J1772 plugs. Tesla Superchargers are great, but they weren't designed for other vehicles, leading to weird issues. Plus, if you already have a home charger from a previous EV, are you going to need an adapter at home?
So which do you choose? In both Mercedes' and Nissan's case, the answer appears to be both.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
<section contenteditable="false" draggable="true" data-widget="special_image" data-align="center" data-source="{&quot;source_id&quot;:&quot;36&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;InsideEVs&quot;}">
 
 <div class="spi_wrapper"><a class="lightzoom" href="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/dji-20250604125323-0179-dmp400-00-06-07still001.jpg"> <img class="custom-image" draggable="false" src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/thumbnail/dji-20250604125323-0179-dmp400-00-06-07still001.jpg" alt="dji-20250604125323-0179-dmp400-00-06-07still001" width="3840" height="2160" loading="lazy" pinger-seen="true"> </a></div> <div class="photo-title">The NACS port on the 2026 Nissan Leaf.</div> <div class="source-title">Photo by: InsideEVs</div> </section>
Both the upcoming <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/741249/nacs-ccs-mercedes-cla-ev/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22741249%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22nacs-ccs-mercedes-cla-ev%22%7D">Mercedes CLA EV</a> and the 2026 Leaf will get both NACS and J1772 plugs. I've already given away the catch, though. The J1772 port is for slow-charging only. If you want to use a CCS charger, you'll need a CCS to NACS adapter. Yet that might not be the only plug you'll need.&nbsp;
Because, as Nissan confirmed to <a href="https://insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsideEVs</a>, the NACS port will not support slow charging. The NACS port will only support direct current (DC) connections. That's easier for Nissan to design, as the car doesn't have to detect the difference between an AC and a DC power source. They go to separate ports, and if you plug a Tesla-style slow charger into the Leaf, it'll just warn you that it won't work.&nbsp;
<section contenteditable="false" draggable="true" data-widget="special_image" data-align="center" data-source="{&quot;source_id&quot;:&quot;36&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;InsideEVs&quot;}">
 
 <div class="spi_wrapper"><a class="lightzoom" href="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/dji-20250604125555-0182-dmp400-00-05-13still001.jpg"> <img class="custom-image" draggable="false" src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/thumbnail/dji-20250604125555-0182-dmp400-00-05-13still001.jpg" alt="The J1772 charging port on the 2026 Nissan Leaf." width="3840" height="2160" loading="lazy" pinger-seen="true"> </a></div> <div class="photo-title">The J1772 charging port on the 2026 Nissan Leaf.</div> <div class="source-title">Photo by: InsideEVs</div> </section><div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
That's going to be a bit confusing for users. They'll show up at a hotel or public lot with a Tesla-style Level 2 Destination Charger. They'll plug it in, see it fits perfectly, and then, oops, error message.
If there's a J1772 charger, problem solved. But if a Tesla Level 2 charger is your only option, as it was at multiple hotels I called during my Bryce/Zion National Park trip, too bad.
Worse still, the problem will get worse, not better. As the rest of the industry transitions to NACS, most are opting for single charging ports that use NACS for AC and DC connections. All other connections require an adapter. That's annoying in the short term, but it will fade away as the entire infrastructure adopts NACS as its only plug type.&nbsp;
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When that happens, Nissan Leaf and Mercedes CLA buyers will have to carry adapters long after the rest of us have moved on. It's an imperfect solution, in an imperfect time.
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:Mack.Hogan@insideevs.com">Mack.Hogan@insideevs.com</a>.&nbsp;

The 2026 Nissan Leaf Has One Weird Charging Compromise

<ul>
<li>A new study indicates DC fast-charging ports are being installed at the highest pace the&nbsp;United States has ever seen.</li>
<li>Tesla alone installed more than 600 new ports in May.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The U.S. could see 3,000 more&nbsp;DC fast charging ports installed in 2025 than in 2024.</li>
</ul>
You may think that the electric-vehicle industry has permanently hit the skids in 2025. That after several years of promising (if uneven) growth, a combination of still-high prices, a hostile presidential administration and automakers losing their nerve might keep the EV revolution from truly taking off.
While it's true that the American car industry's EV transition <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/762687/us-ev-sales-slowed-in-april/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22762687%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22us-ev-sales-slowed-in-april%22%7D">faces more headwinds</a> than it did a year ago, there's one big bright spot that proves that this kind of thing isn't going anywhere: public charger installations. That's actually doing better than you may think.

New data from the charging data analytics firm Paren indicates that various charging networks are set to deploy as many as 3,000 more&nbsp;DC fast charging ports in 2025 than they did in 2024. Along with <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/752872/cheap-evs-vw-kia-america/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22752872%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22cheap-evs-vw-kia-america%22%7D">affordability</a>, access to charging is widely seen as one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
And while the U.S. had admirable charger growth last year, the process was <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/722801/charger-permitting-delays-slow-rollout/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22722801%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22charger-permitting-delays-slow-rollout%22%7D">infamously bogged down by permitting challenges</a> and other concerns. This led many critics to write EV charger projects off as a kind of boondoggle that would take months to materialize, if they did at all.&nbsp;
Now, Paren's chief analyst Loren McDonald indicates that things may be changing for the better. "The fast charging industry is deploying new [DC fast-charging] ports and stations at its highest pace ever in the U.S.,"&nbsp;McDonald <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lorenmcdonald_us-charging-networkscpos-are-on-pace-to-activity-7338703046958297088-JyW5?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAABjBh7YBTbfohXdZSvPK1RcNtLBqWpWr7KQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted on LinkedIn</a> this week. "Don't believe the <a href="https://www.netlingo.com/word/fud.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FUD</a>. The charging industry is moving full speed ahead, building larger, higher-power stations with amenities, greater reliability, and a better customer experience."
<section contenteditable="false" draggable="true" data-widget="special_image" data-align="center" data-source="{&quot;source_id&quot;:&quot;2314&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Paren&quot;}">
 
 <div class="spi_wrapper"><a class="lightzoom" href="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/1749683151668.jpeg"> <img class="custom-image" draggable="false" src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/thumbnail/1749683151668.jpeg" alt="1749683151668" width="1218" height="786" loading="lazy" pinger-seen="true"> </a></div> <div class="photo-title">Data: Paren</div> <div class="source-title">Photo by: Paren</div> </section>
Interestingly, and despite implementing cuts to its charging team last year, Tesla's Superchargers are driving the lion's share of the installations. "While Tesla could finish 2025 opening fewer new Supercharger ports than in 2024, the company had a monster May with 646 new ports opened, accounting for 42% of all new ports last month," McDonald said. And as we reported recently,<a href="https://insideevs.com/news/761388/public-ev-charging-reliability-study/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22761388%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22public-ev-charging-reliability-study%22%7D"> the reliability of new chargers</a> is improving dramatically all of the time.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
That's great to see, especially as more and more automakers pivot to Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug and allow their EVs to access the vast Tesla charging network. As my colleague Mack Hogan wrote recently, <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/761985/tesla-superchargers-for-non-tesla-evs/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22761985%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22tesla-superchargers-for-non-tesla-evs%22%7D">that hasn't been the silver-bullet solution for charging access</a> that some people hoped, but more ports are always better. And <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/761292/chevy-blazer-ev-tesla-supercharger/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22761292%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22chevy-blazer-ev-tesla-supercharger%22%7D">a NACS adapter has saved several of us</a> on our road trips as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/Oo26NL/s1/2025-rivian-r1t-review.jpg" alt="2025 Rivian R1T Review">
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2025 Rivian R1T Review
</div>
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Patrick George</div>
</section>
And other charging providers are quickly leveling up from the "always-broken station located behind the garbage dumpsters at a strip mall" model that felt like the industry standard for so long. As McDonald said, many new players—often backed by automakers—are including covered areas, bathrooms, lounges for resting and other amenities to offer a much more pleasant experience when charging is needed on the road. Those networks include&nbsp;automaker-powered <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758341/ionna-ev-charging-network-doubled-in-size-last-month/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758341%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ionna-ev-charging-network-doubled-in-size-last-month%22%7D">Ionna</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/726856/starbucks-ev-charging-mercedes/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22726856%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22starbucks-ev-charging-mercedes%22%7D">Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/757648/walmart-ev-charging-network-revealed/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22757648%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22walmart-ev-charging-network-revealed%22%7D">Walmart</a>, Pilot Flying J, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/760076/waffle-house-bp-pulse/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22760076%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22waffle-house-bp-pulse%22%7D">BP Pulse</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/743379/rivian-adventure-network-joshua-tree/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22743379%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22rivian-adventure-network-joshua-tree%22%7D">Rivian</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://insideevs.com/news/695838/mercedes-charging-hubs-bucee-travel-centers/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22695838%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mercedes-charging-hubs-bucee-travel-centers%22%7D">Buc-ee's</a>, among many others. McDonald calls this the "Charging 2.0" era, and it should represent bigger and more serious leaps than what the industry has delivered until now.
The reason is simple. Even if EV sales growth isn't expected to continue at some breakneck pace, the technology itself isn't going anywhere, and those owners will always need places to charge. And since study after study indicates <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/729112/edmunds-tesla-trade-ins-debunked/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22729112%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22edmunds-tesla-trade-ins-debunked%22%7D">EV owners rarely go back to gas-powered cars</a>, they're going to be in this for the long haul.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, home Level 2 Charger installations are rising very quickly as well. That's especially true now that many automakers have figured out <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/714992/automaker-provide-level-2-home-ev-charger/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22714992%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22automaker-provide-level-2-home-ev-charger%22%7D">how crucial it is to toss in chargers when someone buys the</a> car, which can help eliminate a substantial amount of range anxiety.&nbsp;
All in all, the charging space seems to be growing up, even if <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758913/states-sue-trump-nevi-charger/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758913%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22states-sue-trump-nevi-charger%22%7D">federal funding for it is in the crosshairs</a> of the new administration. And that's great news for anyone looking to break up with gasoline.
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

EV Fast Chargers Are Growing Much More Quickly Than You Think

<ul>
<li>Michigan's first lamppost charger is now live.</li>
<li>Voltpost, a New York-based startup, made that happen.</li>
<li>The company's solution is to retrofit existing street light poles with a modular EV charger.</li>
</ul>
Voltpost’s first publicly available lamppost charger for electric vehicles in Michigan is now online. It’s a big moment for the four-year-old New York-based startup founded with a big idea: turn regular old street lights into EV chargers.
The startup’s solution is to retrofit existing lampposts with its modular Level 2 charger, so that any city street in the world can offer EV charging without costly infrastructure upgrades or bulky hardware.
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/bglLLw/s1/voltpost-s-lamppost-level-2-ev-charger.jpg" alt="Voltpost's lamppost Level 2 EV charger">
 <div class="photo-title">
The lamppost EV charger can have up to four retractable cables.
</div>
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Voltpost</div>
</section>
Voltpost’s first Michigan installation can be found at the American Center for Mobility’s campus in Ypsilanti Township, near Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. This is just the beginning, though, with 11 more installations due to go online later this year at several strategic locations in the Detroit are. Last week, the startup also turned on its first-ever publicly available lamppost charger in Oak Park, Illinois.<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>
“Deploying this charger is a meaningful step toward making EV charging more accessible and equitable for all communities,” said Jeffrey Prosserman, CEO and co-founder of Voltpost. “ACM’s testbed provides the perfect proving ground to launch Voltpost Michigan. This collaboration lays the groundwork for a cleaner, more connected mobility future in Detroit, the nation’s epicenter of transportation innovation.”

This Is Michigan’s First Lamppost EV Charger

<ul>
<li>Consumer Reports tested 30 EVs to see which ones measure up to their stated EPA range estimates.</li>
<li>Most vehicles that fell short only missed their EPA estimates by a handful of miles. Some were egregious offenders. A few others beat their estimates by 40 miles.</li>
<li>The publication ran fully charged vehicles at a steady speed of 70 mph until their batteries were depleted.</li>
</ul>
Even the most ardent electric-vehicle fan will tell you there's often a big gap between the range that you're supposed to get and what you actually get. An EV's actual range can depend on a great many things, like outside temperatures, tires, how smooth the acceleration is and how fast it's going on the highway.&nbsp;
I'll say this from experience, too: Nothing is worse than getting far less range than you expected to, especially when you're crossing long distances in a hurry. But many modern EVs actually exceed the range estimates handed down by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the automakers themselves—even on the highway.
Consumer Reports has been in the habit of buying and range-testing EVs at highway speeds until they die for some time now. It's an extreme test, and one that ends with a car being flatbed-towed to a charger when its battery is fully depleted. So far, CR is up to 30 different 100% to 0% range tests. (Also speaking from experience: 30 different towing bills can be difficult for some publications to justify to their parent company.)&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/real-world-ev-range-tests-models-that-beat-epa-estimates-a1103288135/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The publication's latest test</a> actually shows a good deal of improvement in highway range, and range consistency. "Most vehicles that fell short only missed their EPA estimates by a handful of miles," CR said. One offender was especially bad: the Ford F-150 Lightning. "Its battery ran out after just 270 miles—a 50-mile difference from the EPA estimate," CR said.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/JO9W9X/s1/ford-f-150-lightning-pro.jpg" alt="Ford F-150 Lightning Pro">
 <div class="photo-title">
Ford F-150 Lightning Pro
</div>
 
</section>
That doesn't exactly come as a surprise. The F-150 Lightning is an excellent electric truck, but it's big, heavy and aerodynamic as a brick. I had a close call in one once, too.&nbsp;
But CR's latest test has a few surprising winners that exceed—in a few cases, handily—their EPA-stated range. The <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/758248/2024-bmw-ix-cold-weather/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758248%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222024-bmw-ix-cold-weather%22%7D">BMW iX</a> is one of the big winners here, pulling 370 miles of range when it should only do 309 miles. Even better is the <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/723446/2024-mercedes-eqs-suv-epa-range/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22723446%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222024-mercedes-eqs-suv-epa-range%22%7D">Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 </a>sedan. Benz's controversially styled electric four-door is a range king, managing 380 miles on the highway. While that's only nine miles more than its EPA rating, it's the best result among this test group.
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/bglJpl/s1/updated-bmw-i4-edrive40-2025.jpg" alt="Updated BMW i4 eDrive40 (2025)">
 <div class="photo-title">
Updated BMW i4 eDrive40 (2025)
</div>
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: BMW</div>
</section><div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
Overall, BMW in particular had a great showing in CR's testing. The BMW i4 significantly outperformed its EPA estimate on the highway by 51 miles, and the i5 did nearly as well at 45 miles. Even the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N did 15 miles better than expected, which is a nice outcome for all the performance it offers too. Interestingly, the Lucid Air Touring—among some of the American market's longest-range and most efficient EVs—was off the mark by a whole 33 miles here.
Want to know which EVs will over-deliver on your next road trip? Head over to <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/real-world-ev-range-tests-models-that-beat-epa-estimates-a1103288135/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Reports</a> to see these latest results.&nbsp;
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

These EVs Far Outperform Their EPA Range On The Highway

<ul>
<li>Electrify America started has a couple of pilot charging stations where both CCS1 and NACS cables are available.</li>
<li>Each stall can provide up to 400 kW to an EV.</li>
<li>One station is in Orlando, Florida, and the other is in Waterford, Connecticut.</li>
</ul>
Electrify America, one of the largest DC fast charging networks in the United States, has begun rolling out stations that can charge both <a href="https://insideevs.com/tesla/" data-inline-widget="internal-links">Tesla</a> and non-Tesla electric vehicles at the same time without an adapter.
The Volkswagen Group-owned operator currently has two pilot sites stateside that offer Combined Charging System 1 (CCS1) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) cables on the same stall. The plan <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/674460/electrify-america-add-nacs-connectors/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22674460%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22electrify-america-add-nacs-connectors%22%7D">was announced in 2023</a>, and the first stations went online in recent weeks.
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/P3ALWK/s1/electrify-america-charging-station-with-ccs1-and-nacs-cables.jpg" alt="Electrify America charger with CCS1 and NACS cables">
 <div class="photo-title">
Electrify America charger with dual CCS1 and NACS cables
</div>
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: RivianTrackr</div>
</section>
The two sites, one in Orlando, Florida, and the other in Waterford, Connecticut, have three stalls each, and each stall can charge two cars at the same time. The Alpitronic dispensers have a total of four cables–two for CCS1-equipped EVs and two for NACS-equipped EVs. Drivers can use the Electrify America app to initiate a charging session and pay, and there’s also a contactless payment system on-site.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
Cars like the <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/752033/2025-rivian-r1t-review/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22752033%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222025-rivian-r1t-review%22%7D">Rivian R1T</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/743541/chevy-equinox-ev-of-the-year/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22743541%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22chevy-equinox-ev-of-the-year%22%7D">Chevrolet Equinox EV</a>, and <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/709597/2024-honda-prologue-first-drive/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22709597%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222024-honda-prologue-first-drive%22%7D">Honda Prologue</a> come from the factory with a CCS1 inlet, but a lot of automakers have said that their American-spec EVs will get NACS ports from the factory, now that Tesla has opened its Supercharger network to pretty much all makes out there.

Electrify America’s New Chargers Work With Tesla And Non-Tesla EVs At Once

<ul>
<li>BYD teams up with two Chinese charging powerhouses to deploy 15,000 1,000-kilowatt (1-MW) EV chargers in China.</li>
<li>It already has two models capable of charging at that rate, with plans to launch more soon.</li>
<li>BYD is China's leading EV charging company, but competitors have announced they are working on 1.2- and 1.5-MW charging solutions.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
When BYD revealed its one-megawatt (1,000 kW) <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/755010/ev-fast-charging-mercedes-byd/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22755010%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ev-fast-charging-mercedes-byd%22%7D">five-minute chargers</a> in mid-March, it broke the internet. Everybody was covering it, arguing whether such high charging speeds were really needed and whether having a large network of such chargers was even feasible. But BYD didn’t do it for the publicity and is pushing ahead with bold plans to have thousands of these chargers up and running in China.
It already has more than 500 1-MW chargers operational today, which cover the most important urban centers in the country, but it’s partnering up with third parties to vastly expand the network. It recently announced it was joining forces with companies Xiaoju Charging and LongShine.
The former has pledged to build or upgrade 10,000 charging points to 1 MW, while the latter has committed to an additional 5,000, although a clear time frame for when they would be ready was not provided.
<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
Both partner companies are big players on the Chinese EV charging scene with their own large networks, and while they will build the chargers, BYD will supply energy storage to enable 1 MW charging even in areas where the electricity grid wouldn’t support it.
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Only cars built on BYD’s new Super e-Platform 2.0 support 1 MW charging, and only two such models are currently available: <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758257/byd-han-tang-frunk-charging/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758257%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22byd-han-tang-frunk-charging%22%7D">the Han L sedan</a> and Tang L SUV, both launched in April. Both models sold over 10,000 units in their first full month on sale, indicating that ultra-fast charging is a feature that buyers in China are seeking.
We saw the former charging from such a station in China and were blown away by <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758625/byd-megawatt-charging-demo-china/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758625%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22byd-megawatt-charging-demo-china%22%7D">how quickly its range was being replenished</a>. It really is about as quick as putting fuel in a combustion car, eliminating one of the biggest downsides that drivers say was keeping them from going electric.<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>

BYD's Five-Minute 'Megawatt' Chargers Are A Big Deal. 15,000 More Are Coming

<ul>
<li>Electric vehicle drivers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania will be majorly affected by the removal of dozens of Tesla Superchargers along the Interstate 95.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Applegreen Electric chargers will take their place. The two networks co-exist at some plazas. Going forward, they won't be allowed to co-locate.</li>
<li>Tesla offered better terms and upgrades. But NJTA awarded exclusive rights to Applegreen for the chargers at travel plazas along the Turnpike.</li>
</ul>
At a time when the U.S. desperately needs more EV chargers across its cities and highways, something bizarre happened over the weekend.
Tesla Charging <a href="https://x.com/TeslaCharging/status/1928498999549637029" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said on X</a> that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) asked it to decommission 64 Supercharger stalls along one of the busiest highway corridors in the Northeast. Starting June 2, those stalls will be replaced with chargers made by Applegreen Electric, according to an NJTA <a href="https://www.njta.com/newsroom/service-advisory-turnpike-service-areas-transitioning-fully-to-universal-ev-chargers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">service advisory</a>.
The move could be a setback for EV drivers in the region. The Turnpike, or Interstate 95, isn’t just vital for drivers in New Jersey. It’s a key artery for motorists in New York and Eastern Pennsylvania too. The Northeast is one of the fastest-growing EV markets in the U.S. and Tesla’s Supercharger network is ubiquitous in the area with arguably the best reliability and uptime. It's now opening to non-Tesla EVs as more automakers adopt the Tesla-developed <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/743912/nacs-277-volt-power/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22743912%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22nacs-277-volt-power%22%7D">North American Charging Standard (NACS)</a>.
Here’s what Tesla said:<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>
<blockquote>
"NJTA's decision to remove, rather than add, critical charging infrastructure is a setback for New Jersey's EV adoption goals of 100% Zero-Emission New Car Sales by 2035. It removes Turnpike access to the most reliable (99.9% uptime), least congested (&lt;1% waiters) and cost-effective (~30% lower $/kWh) charging."
</blockquote>
<a href="https://insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsideEVs</a> reached out to NJTA for a comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication.
Tesla says it’s been preparing for this outcome for years, by installing 116 Supercharger stalls off the Turnpike. Its onboard trip planner will now automatically reroute drivers to those locations. But it’s not just Tesla owners who’ll feel the impact. Drivers of non-Tesla EVs from Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai and others who’ve also been using these Superchargers will now be forced to use an alternative network that likely won’t match Tesla’s reliability.
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Applegreen is an Irish company which operates travel plazas in the U.K., Ireland and the U.S.—many of which are on the NJ Turnpike. A few years ago, it won a bid to operate key travel plazas in New Jersey and also install charging stations at those locations. That agreement gave them the exclusive right for charging stations, as our pals from YouTube channel <a href="https://youtu.be/SPqznBl2sUs?si=XcYWE6y3zoAkax6v" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Out Of Spec Reviews</a>&nbsp;have noted—meaning they would be the sole charge point operator at these locations. But by that time, Tesla had already massively invested in the region with its Superchargers.
Some of the Applegreen stations offer up to 400 kilowatts of maximum charging speeds and they also have Tesla-style NACS cables. But they appear to have far fewer stalls per charging station compared to Tesla Superchargers, which often have up to 12 dispensers and sometimes even more. Most Tesla fast chargers in the U.S. have 250 kW of maximum output, although the upcoming V4 dispensers are designed for a maximum 500 kW, though they haven't hit the market yet.
The automaker apparently tried to negotiate with NJTA to allow its Superchargers to coexist alongside the new Applegreen stations. It offered what it called “above-market commercial terms,” including building Superchargers at every Turnpike service plaza and upgrading existing stalls so non-Tesla EVs could charge there too—something the company has been rolling out nationwide. Tesla argued that co-location—having chargers from multiple providers at a single site—eases strain on any one network and improves access for everyone. But NJTA seems to have rejected Tesla’s offer regardless.
<blockquote>
"Tesla offers to have both NACS &amp; CCS1 natively for these locations, eliminating the need for adapters and truly serving all EVs at each stall. Tesla offers to co-locate and advocates against exclusivity. Reliable chargers should be added, not removed."
</blockquote>
Some Reddit users <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/electricvehicles/comments/1l11i3e/applegreen_charging_rates_grok_misinformation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">claim</a>&nbsp;the Applegreen Electric chargers are cheaper than Tesla Superchargers, citing a flat $0.35 per kWh rate. But that doesn’t hold up. A quick check on the Tesla and Applegreen apps shows Superchargers along the NJ Turnpike range from $0.20 to $0.45 per kWh depending on the time of day. Applegreen, on the other hand, varies from $0.35 to $0.59—meaning it’s actually more expensive, not less. Although the Superchargers cost marginally more during peak hours.
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/7J8KW/s1/superchargers.jpg" alt="Superchargers">
 
 
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Over the past two years, I’ve used multiple charging stations along the NJ Turnpike. It’s always the non-Tesla ones that have caused troubles for me. At one station in Elizabeth near the Jersey Gardens Mall, there are a dozen Tesla Superchargers and a handful of Electrify America stalls. The EA chargers are frequently out of order, with long lines and wait times—though, to be fair, they’re improving. Nearby EVgo stations face similar reliability issues, even as they slowly get better.
Meanwhile, watching Tesla drivers pull in, charge and drive off effortlessly is undeniably enviable. That seamless experience is finally expanding to non-Tesla EVs too, thanks to the growing adoption of NACS plugs.
Here’s hoping the industry doesn’t make a habit of decommissioning functional chargers. EV chargers are critical infrastructure. The more, the merrier.
Have a tip? Contact the author: <a href="mailto:suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com</a>

Why Are Tesla Superchargers Suddenly Getting Removed In New Jersey?

<ul>
<li>Public EV chargers in the U.S. saw an uptick in reliability in Q1.</li>
<li>In the first three months, 16% of charging sessions were unsuccessful, according to J.D. Power.</li>
<li>That's the best number from the last four years.</li>
</ul>
For the first time in four years, public electric vehicle chargers in the United States have seen an uptick in reliability.&nbsp;
According to an analysis from J.D. Power first cited in <a href="https://www.autonews.com/ev/an-public-ev-charging-improvement-0528/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Automotive News</a>, 84% of the public charging attempts in the United States were successful in the first quarter of this year. In other words, 16% of attempts have been unsuccessful, which represents a notable improvement over the numbers from the last four years.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/kol9vR/s1/gmc-hummer-ev-charging-at-an-evgo-fast-charger.jpg" alt="GMC Hummer EV charging at an EVgo fast charger">
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GMC Hummer EV charging at an EVgo fast charger
</div>
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: General Motors</div>
</section>
Since 2021, the failure rate has hovered around 20% yearly. In 2024, for instance, J.D. Power reported that <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/752187/ev-charging-getting-worse-nevi/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22752187%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ev-charging-getting-worse-nevi%22%7D">one in five drivers</a> (20%) were unable to charge at a public dispenser, up from 18% in 2023. So the beginning of this year looks bright, despite charging companies having to deal with the huge elephant in the room. In February, the Trump administration kneecapped the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program that had put aside $5 billion to help states build more DC fast chargers along highways.<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>
<a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758913/states-sue-trump-nevi-charger/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758913%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22states-sue-trump-nevi-charger%22%7D">States are fighting back in court</a>, hoping they’ll be able to unlock federal funding, but a lot of damage has been done already.
As a result, charging operators have shifted their attention to improving the chargers that are already installed. And the reason is simple: money. Two years ago, EVgo, one of the largest EV charging companies in the U.S., reported a usage rate of 9%. Now, that number is at 24%, thanks to the growing number of electric vehicles on the road.
“If a charger is down, it’s costing you money,” said Loren McDonald, chief analyst at EV charging data analytics company Paren, in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autonews.com/ev/an-public-ev-charging-improvement-0528/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Automotive News</a>. “The companies that are getting into this space are getting better,” he added. “A lot of the industry started to focus much more on improving and updating and replacing and fixing existing stations that had issues.”

Public EV Charging Is Finally Getting Better

Tesla opening up its huge Supercharger network to cars from other brands is maybe the best thing to happen to electric vehicles in America since the federal $7,500 tax credit. Heck, maybe even the&nbsp;lithium-ion battery itself.&nbsp;
It could be a game changer for thousands or, someday, millions of drivers mulling over a switch to an EV. And I can personally attest to the fact that Supercharger access saved my ass when I was traveling in a <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/757261/chevy-blazer-ev-ss-first-drive/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22757261%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22chevy-blazer-ev-ss-first-drive%22%7D">Chevrolet Blazer EV SS</a>.&nbsp;
Up until that point, I hadn’t visited a Supercharger in a non-Tesla since the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-charging-non-tesla-at-supercharger-kia-2023-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early days of the Magic Dock</a>, an early solution for enabling non-Tesla cars to work with some Superchargers. A lot has happened since then.&nbsp;

Pretty much the entire car industry has announced a gradual <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/743912/nacs-277-volt-power/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22743912%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22nacs-277-volt-power%22%7D">switch to Tesla’s plug design</a>, known as the North American Charging Standard, or NACS. In recent months, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/735724/non-tesla-ev-tesla-supercharger-access/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22735724%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22non-tesla-ev-tesla-supercharger-access%22%7D">over a dozen brands</a> have announced access to well over 15,000 Supercharger stalls across North America, mainly via adapters that convert the NACS plug to the prevailing non-Tesla port design, CCS.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>
I understood in theory how revolutionary widespread Supercharger access can be for drivers of Chevys, Rivians and the like who are tired of crummy, hard-to-find public charging infrastructure. But I’d never experienced it firsthand. Now I’m sold.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/G3eEEq/s1/2025-chevrolet-blazer-ev-at-a-tesla-supercharger.jpg" alt="2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger">
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2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Tim Levin/InsideEVs</div>
</section>
I spent the long weekend up in Nevada City, California, a charming mining town about a 150-mile drive from my apartment in the Bay Area. After seeing the sights for the weekend, the Blazer I was testing was down to around a 30% state of charge. I knew I’d have to stop and charge on the drive home at some point. Or, ideally, before setting out. Because I’d rather just crush the three-hour drive in one go.&nbsp;
When I searched for nearby charging stations, I found that the immediate vicinity around Nevada City is pretty much a ghost town as far as EV charging is concerned. With one exception: There was a 12-stall Supercharger—one open to non-Teslas—less than a 10-minute drive away.<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile"></div>
Plus, this oasis in a charging desert was in the right direction, and the Tesla app showed eight stalls available as I set out.
Huzzah. I plotted a route in the Blazer and set off.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/6Z422r/s1/2025-chevrolet-blazer-ev-at-a-tesla-supercharger.jpg" alt="2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger">
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2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Tim Levin/InsideEVs</div>
</section>
Don’t get me wrong. There were other options on the route home, too. Mainly, a seven-stall Electrify America station that I would’ve hit about an hour into my journey. But this being Memorial Day in Northern California, I was worried about charging stations being backed up with other road trippers. And it was already lunchtime, so it was the right time to hit the day’s charging stop. A big, dependable Tesla station located a mere six miles away was a big score.&nbsp;
Tesla owners have always enjoyed the best and easiest charging experience in America, and now others are getting a taste of that magic.
For one, there are simply lots of stations all over the place. That’s what happens when you have an EV company that needed to build out infrastructure for its earliest adopters and continued doing so for well over a decade. The other edge Superchargers have is the number of plugs per station. Whereas other charging stations often have two, or four, or six plugs, Superchargers often have 12 or far more. And they're known to be more reliable than the often-broken and glitchy chargers that every EV driver has seen more than once.&nbsp;
Superchargers are also easy to use, even for outsiders, as I found when I arrived at the Grass Valley station. I had already loaded my billing info into the Tesla app. So when I showed up, all I had to do was find an open stall, plug it in using the Chevy-approved adapter that came with my loaner and initiate a charge via the app. The juice started flowing within seconds and quickly peaked at 183 kilowatts.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/zxAKKK/s1/2025-chevrolet-blazer-ev-at-a-tesla-supercharger.jpg" alt="2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger">
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2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Tim Levin/InsideEVs</div>
</section>
Let me give a quick shout-out to the Tesla app here, too. It was super sleek and intuitive. And, much like Tesla’s in-car interface, it felt like technology made by a tech company, not an automaker. After all was said and done, the Blazer had recharged from 30% to 76% in 25 minutes, giving me more than enough range—242 miles—to get on my way.
When I got to the station, I thanked my lucky stars that it had a couple of pull-through stalls, where the charging post itself is situated on the line between two parking spots. That meant I could easily plug in the Blazer, despite its charging port being in <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/741740/kia-ev6-charging-port-tesla/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22741740%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22kia-ev6-charging-port-tesla%22%7D">the “wrong” spot</a> for most Superchargers. You see, Superchargers were designed with short cords that only reach a car’s back left corner—because that’s where the charging door is on every Tesla.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/ZnvPPZ/s1/2025-chevrolet-blazer-ev-at-a-tesla-supercharger.jpg" alt="2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger">
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2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Tim Levin/InsideEVs</div>
</section>
That orientation poses a problem for lots of non-Teslas, and it means <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/710789/tesla-ford-multiple-supercharger-stalls/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22710789%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22tesla-ford-multiple-supercharger-stalls%22%7D">sometimes you need to block two Supercharging spots</a>, like a jerk. The guy in an F-150 Lightning next to me and I were spared that embarrassment. And in that way, this was kind of an ideal non-Tesla Supercharging experience.&nbsp;
I was so enamored by the whole thing that I decided I’d start using Superchargers whenever possible—starting with the next time I needed to charge the Blazer. I felt like a whole world of abundant, dependable chargers had been unlocked. That glee didn’t last long.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/2NQMXx/s1/chevy-blazer-ev-long-term-owner-review.jpg" alt="Chevy Blazer EV Long term owner review">
 <div class="photo-title">
Chevy Blazer EV owner Mack Hogan illustrates the parking issue.
</div>
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Mack Hogan/InsideEVs</div>
</section>
Back home in Berkeley, there are several Superchargers, including a few open to non-Teslas. But the whole double-parking issue nuked my enthusiasm. I got lucky that the Grass Valley station had multiple spots friendly to non-Teslas, but that’s not always the case. I found one in my city where about half of the 12 stalls were available, but every other plug was taken.
In the Blazer, I’d need two spots side by side. And even then, I didn’t want to be that guy. I hit up my local EVgo station instead.&nbsp;
Tesla is working on this, deploying both pull-through spots and next-generation posts with longer cords.&nbsp;
Supercharger access for non-Teslas is a big, big deal—as evidenced by the two Rivians and F-150 I saw charging in Grass Valley. When it’s good, it’s really good. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some kinks to iron out.&nbsp;
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com</a>

A Tesla Supercharger Saved My Ass In A Chevy Blazer EV

<ul>
<li>Rivian partnered with Ionna, the DC fast charging networked backed by several automotive heavyweights.</li>
<li>For R1T and R1S owners, this means they'll be able to plug and charge seamlessly at Ionna Rechargeries.</li>
</ul>
Rivian owners are about to have an even easier time on their upcoming road trips.
The startup automaker has partnered with the nascent charging network <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758341/ionna-ev-charging-network-doubled-in-size-last-month/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758341%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ionna-ev-charging-network-doubled-in-size-last-month%22%7D">Ionna</a>&nbsp;to enable plug-and-charge functionality at those stations,&nbsp;reported by <a href="https://www.emergingtechbrew.com/stories/2025/05/29/rivian-smart-charging-program-fast-charging-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tech Brew</a>. This essentially means that drivers will just have to plug in, and the charging session will start automatically, as long as a payment method has been set up in the smartphone app.
Ionna is a new DC fast charging network backed by eight of the largest automakers in the world: BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota. The charging consortium’s goal is to blanket the United States with 30,000 charging bays by 2030.
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/7Zo2Wo/s1/ionna-rechargery.jpg" alt="Ionna Rechargery">
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Ionna's so-called Rechargeries have canopies, lighting, and restrooms.
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: InsideEVs</div>
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Currently, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758341/ionna-ev-charging-network-doubled-in-size-last-month/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758341%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ionna-ev-charging-network-doubled-in-size-last-month%22%7D">Ionna has 12 charging stations</a> in the U.S. offering 400-kilowatt chargers with both Combined Charging System 1 (CCS1) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors. Some locations have restrooms, food and beverage amenities, and a full canopy, making them feel more like traditional gas stations than barebones EV chargers.
The fact that Rivian partnered with an up-and-coming charging network doesn’t mean the EV startup will abandon its <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/743379/rivian-adventure-network-joshua-tree/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22743379%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22rivian-adventure-network-joshua-tree%22%7D">own charging networks</a>. The company runs the Rivian Adventure Network of DC fast chargers, as well as the Rivian Waypoints network of Level 2 chargers, which are slower.

Rivians Will Get Seamless Plug-And-Charge At Ionna Stations

Hyundai sells some of the quickest-charging electric cars around. That has helped transform the South Korean company into one of America’s automotive tech leaders, and its Ioniq 5 crossover into one of the country’s most sought-after electric vehicles.&nbsp;
There’s just one obstacle: Tesla’s charging network—the country’s largest—isn’t capable of charging Hyundai's vehicles fast enough.&nbsp;

Take the automaker’s new <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/760084/hyundai-ioniq-9-suv-review/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22760084%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22hyundai-ioniq-9-suv-review%22%7D">Ioniq 9 three-row SUV</a>, for example. Hook Hyundai’s family hauler up to a sufficiently powerful charger—say, 350 kilowatts—from Electrify America, EVgo or the like and it’ll charge up from 10% to 80% in a breezy 24 minutes, per Hyundai's estimate.
Go to a Tesla Supercharger, and that same stop stretches to 40 minutes, the company says.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>
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The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is among the first non-Teslas to come from the factory with the Tesla-designed NACS charging port.&nbsp;
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Tim Levin/InsideEVs</div>
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So even though the Ioniq 9’s charging port was designed to interface seamlessly with Superchargers—and even though Hyundai drivers just <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/754495/hyundai-tesla-nacs-adapter-ioniq/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22754495%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22hyundai-tesla-nacs-adapter-ioniq%22%7D">gained access</a> to Tesla’s enormous network—owners will have to go elsewhere if they want the absolute fastest charging speeds.&nbsp;
It just goes to show that the EV industry’s messy transition to Tesla’s charging plug design is still very much in its awkward phase.&nbsp;
<h2>Why Voltage Matters</h2>
The specific challenge here is <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/722934/chevy-equinox-ev-ultium-platform/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22722934%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22chevy-equinox-ev-ultium-platform%22%7D">voltage,</a>&nbsp;which is the pressure that pushes electrons through a charging system and is often likened to water pressure in a pipe. Hyundai Motor Group’s latest and greatest EVs are all 800-volt vehicles, so they work best at stations that can supply at least that much voltage. Count stations advertising 350 kW or more in that category, along with even the 150-kW version of Electrify America chargers. Teslas have always operated at around 400 volts, so its charging network does too.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile"></div>
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2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5
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And that's a hurdle. For now, at least. "When Tesla decides to go to their higher-voltage chargers, our vehicles will be able to charge at higher powers there,” Karl Holodnick, engineering manager for propulsion and charging at Hyundai America’s Technical Center, said at the Ioniq 9’s press launch in Savannah, Georgia this month.&nbsp;
These two voltage levels don’t mesh automatically. So Hyundai built hardware into its vehicles, including the Ioniq 9, that can boost a Supercharger’s 400V connection up to the 800V that its batteries are designed for. Still, that process isn't as quick as using a native 800V charger. The Ioniq 9 can take in far more juice at higher-voltage non-Tesla plugs.&nbsp;
The SUV is able to pull 237 kW of peak charging power, placing it near the top of the EV market. Hence the quick, 24-minute pit stop. On a Supercharger, it’s limited to 126 kW, Holodnick said. But he said the Ioniq 9 should be able to hit that 126 kW quickly and sustain it for most of a charging session.

Hyundai Ioniq 9 On A Tesla Charger: Here's Why Voltage Matters

<ul>
<li>Rheinmetall's Curb Charger fits neatly into the sidewalk.</li>
<li>It doesn't have a support structure, meaning pedestrians can still enjoy the full width of the sidewalk.</li>
<li>The Level 2 charger can provide up to 22 kW of power through a 400V three-phase electrical connection.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Curbside electric-vehicle charging is great. It’s very convenient, especially when you need to do stuff for a few hours away from home. The <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/category/charging/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="8" data-params="%7B%22section_route%22%3A%22news%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22charging%22%7D">chargers</a> are usually mounted on some sort of pole or support structure—maybe shaped like a parking meter, or even a lamppost itself—but that can take away some space for pedestrians.
Now, though, there’s a solution, and it comes from a rather unusual company. Rheinmetall is Europe’s largest arms maker, but the German company is also knee-deep in the mobility game. And its solution is to simply replace concrete curbs with discrete Level 2 EV chargers.
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Rheinmetall</div>
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The product is called simply the Curb Charger, and it’s exactly that. A 176-pound (80-kilogram) modular lump of stainless steel and aluminum that houses all the necessary equipment to deliver up to 22 kilowatts of power to an electric vehicle.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
It has an integrated 4G modem and Ethernet port, as well as an RFID reader and a display. The charger can be controlled via a smartphone app or by scanning an RFID card or QR code. It’s IP68 rated, meaning it can be submerged in water that’s at least 3.2 feet (1.0 meter) deep for at least 30 minutes.

This Curbside EV Charger Fits Right Into The Sidewalk

<ul>
<li>Dimaag's mobile battery charger has four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering.</li>
<li>It has a nearly 300-kilowatt-hour battery.</li>
<li>The MWCS can output between 1 and 6 megawatts of power.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Heavy machinery like excavators and other <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/760026/autonomous-electric-mining-truck-fleet-china/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22760026%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22autonomous-electric-mining-truck-fleet-china%22%7D">earth-moving equipment</a> is slowly but surely going electric. That’s great for cutting emissions from jobsites, which are usually dirty, smelly, and noisy places. Going electric is also good for business owners because, over time, running costs go down compared to diesel-powered machinery.
But how do you go about recharging a 30-ton behemoth that has a maximum speed of 5 miles per hour? In a regular, road-going EV, a quick stop at a DC fast charger is the answer, but in a mine, not so much. But now, a Silicon Valley-based startup claims to have a solution.
It’s called a Megawatt Mobile Charger, and it’s exactly what it says on the box. Developed by Dimaag-AI, a startup founded by one of Tesla’s co-founders, it’s basically a huge battery on wheels that can go almost anywhere without having someone behind the steering wheel. It doesn’t even have a steering wheel–it’s remotely operated from the warmth of a heated control center.
That’s cool and all, but it’s the charging capabilities that stand out. With a 295-kilowatt-hour battery pack on board, the four-wheel-drive machine can output up to 6 megawatts of power to multiple connected EVs, making recharging slow and heavy machinery a breeze. That’s thanks to a modular DC to DC converter that can send a minimum of 1 MW of power through a Megawatt Charging System (MCS) connector. In this configuration, the driverless buggy can send a maximum of 1,000 Volts and 1,500 Amps.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>

Driverless Battery On Wheels Can Deliver Up To 6MW Of Power

The Toyota bZ4X—<a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/759938/2026-toyota-bz-first-look/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22759938%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222026-toyota-bz-first-look%22%7D">now the bZ</a>—has come a long way. What started as a mediocre taxi-spec electric vehicle has now grown up into something you might actually want to own. I drove it in Texas this week and nearly every aspect of it felt improved: It now has more range, more features and even a Tesla-style charging port right from the factory.
However, in one key area, it's still the same as the outgoing version: maximum charging speed, which is still capped at 150 kilowatts. Slow charging speeds were one of the <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/746469/toyota-ces-bz4x-ogawa/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22746469%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22toyota-ces-bz4x-ogawa%22%7D">biggest complaints</a> for existing bZ4X owners. For cabbies in cities like New York who drive the bZ4X all day, spending 45 minutes to an hour at a charging station can mean losing money and passengers.
So why hasn’t Toyota pushed the new bZ into a fast-charging EV like some of its rivals? It all comes down to production costs, Toyota said.
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Suvrat Kothari</div>
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“If we want a shorter charging time, we have to upgrade to an 800-volt system,” Daisuke Ido, the chief engineer of bZ Woodland and C-HR told InsideEVs in an interview. The bZ still runs on a 400-volt electrical architecture, which limits charging speeds. In simple terms, lower pack voltage equals lower charging speeds.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
Toyota has some catching up to do here. <a href="https://insideevs.com/hyundai/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="2" data-params="%7B%22alias%22%3A%22hyundai%22%7D">Hyundai</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/kia/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="2" data-params="%7B%22alias%22%3A%22kia%22%7D">Kia</a> and <a href="https://insideevs.com/general-motors/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="2" data-params="%7B%22alias%22%3A%22general-motors%22%7D">General Motors</a> have already embraced 800-volt architectures, unlocking faster charging and better roadtripping capabilities for some of their vehicles. The <a href="https://insideevs.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="1" data-params="%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22hyundai%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ioniq-5%22%7D">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> charges quickly and doesn’t cost much more than the Toyota. Even Tesla, which also sticks with 400 volts on the <a href="https://insideevs.com/tesla/model-y/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="1" data-params="%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22tesla%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22model-y%22%7D">Model Y</a>, manages faster charging speeds thanks to more optimized systems.
“From a customer point of view, that can be costly," Ido said. "The question is will the customer pay [extra] for it?”&nbsp;
Making EVs is capital intensive. Tesla is the only big name turning a profit on EVs here, and cost matters in an environment where <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/760459/house-republicans-ira-evs-vote/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22760459%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22house-republicans-ira-evs-vote%22%7D">EV incentives are being rolled back</a> and tariffs are now in place. Toyota, despite its scale and financial muscle, isn’t rushing to eat those extra expenses—at least not yet.
Still, Toyota said the charging curve on the upgraded bZ is better, so it should hold higher charging speeds for longer durations. That should get the bZ from 10 to 80% state of charge in 30 minutes. That's not blazing fast, but it should be better than before. (We haven’t done a full charging test yet, but it’s on our to-do list.)<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Suvrat Kothari</div>
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“The actual customer doesn't wait for 30 minutes,” Ido said, implying that many customers do shorter charging sessions like 30-80% or 50-90%, and that’s something the bZ is now theoretically better at. It’s also worth noting that the all-wheel-drive version previously maxed out at just 100 kW. For the 2024 model year, Toyota bumped that to 150 kW.
For 2026, things get even better. The bZ now supports battery preconditioning to optimize pack temperature for faster charging and, crucially, comes standard with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug. That means seamless access to Tesla’s sprawling Supercharger network, which is a major upgrade to the day-to-day EV experience.
On the Superchargers, Toyota confirmed to InsideEVs that it will get plug and charge, which means you won’t have to fiddle with credit cards and smartphone apps after the initial payment account is set-up. Just plug in and walk away. Some other networks will also get plug and charge, and those will be disclosed at a later date.
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Toyota's NACS to CCS adapter for current and older model year vehicles to charge at Tesla Superchargers.
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Suvrat Kothari</div>
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/QeKxJ0/s1/toyota-nacs-adapters.jpg" alt="Toyota NACS adapters">
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Toyota's CCS to NACS adapter for the 2026 model year vehicles to charge at non-Tesla stations.
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Suvrat Kothari</div>
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Then there are other big upgrades. The front-wheel-drive XSE Plus trim now offers up to 314 miles of range. Toyota’s app-based route-planning will help locate charging stations on the fly. And inside, the cabin finally feels premium and tech-forward.
We’ll see how it performs under real-world conditions—especially once Northeast winter hits—but based on first impressions, the bZ has grown into a more complete vehicle. It won't be the fastest-charging EV on the market, but don’t let that overshadow the bigger picture.
Have a tip? Contact the author: <a href="mailto:suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com</a>

Why The 2026 Toyota bZ Doesn’t Get Crazy Fast Charging Speeds

The United States doesn't have five-minute fast-charging for electric vehicles like China does. That's just an unfortunate reality. But it doesn't mean that EVs for sale over here aren't making tremendous progress at charging more quickly.
You'll pay top dollar for them, but right now, America's fast-charging kings are the <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/707284/2025-porsche-taycan-range-test/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22707284%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222025-porsche-taycan-range-test%22%7D">2025 Porsche Taycan</a> and the <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/755865/lucid-gravity-fastest-charging-ev-in-north-america/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22755865%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22lucid-gravity-fastest-charging-ev-in-north-america%22%7D">2026 Lucid Gravity</a>. Both cars boast <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/710280/400-volt-800-volt-evs-explained/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22710280%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22400-volt-800-volt-evs-explained%22%7D">high-voltage electric architectures</a>, advanced motors and batteries and a laser-focus on both efficiency and getting you back on the road as quickly as possible.

The Gravity can&nbsp;theoretically accept up to 400 kW of peak charging power, while the Taycan is rated at up to 320 kW. But given the Taycan has a smaller battery that should take less time to charge up, in a head-to-head test, that may be a fair fight.
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And that's exactly what <a href="https://insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsideEVs</a> Contributing Editor and State of Charge YouTube channel host <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Moloughney</a> did recently. It's a showdown between America's two fastest-charging EVs, and indeed some of the fastest-charging cars, period, save for the <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758625/byd-megawatt-charging-demo-china/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758625%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22byd-megawatt-charging-demo-china%22%7D">stuff made by China's BYD and the rest</a>. "If there was such a thing as an EV charging drag race, today's video would be it," Tom said.
The average session at a DC public fast-charger in America was around 42 minutes in 2024, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/average-public-ev-charging-times-are-not-so-fast-study-finds-b3313909" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the U.S. Department of Energy</a>. But real-world results obviously depends on any number of factors: the individual car's battery size, its starting charge level, the speed of the charger itself, the weather outside and so on. Many EVs boast much quicker charging times; <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/744180/kia-ev6-november-december-2024/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22744180%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22kia-ev6-november-december-2024%22%7D">my own Kia EV6</a> can generally charge from about 10% to 80% in 20 minutes on a 350-kilowatt charger, for example. And then we get into each car's <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/735794/ev-peak-charging-metric/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22735794%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ev-peak-charging-metric%22%7D">charging curve</a>, a fancy term for how long it can hold its maximum speed while charging.&nbsp;
So if you hooked up a Taycan and a Gravity to a 350 kW station—in this case, the same EVGo charger—under the same conditions, and both started from 0%, how would they do?
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EVGo Taycan Lucid
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Well, in Tom's test, the Gravity starts pulling 350 kW speeds almost immediately, while the Taycan needs a minute to get going. After five minutes, the Taycan has a higher state of charge because the battery is smaller. The Gravity is still seeing more energy dispensed more quickly—30 kWh to the Taycan's 23 kWh—and at higher charging speeds. At 10 minutes in, the Taycan is at 48% and speeds of 311 kW, while the Gravity is at 42% and 277 kW. However, the charger has dispensed more energy to the Lucid than the Porsche.
Fifteen minutes in, there's only a 2 kWh difference in the amount of energy dispensed into the cars. But the Taycan is at almost 70% while the Gravity is at 55%. By 19 minutes in, the Taycan reaches that ideal 80% state of charge for road trips—it's rarely advisable to go all the way to 100% on a public DC fast-charger, but Tom does it here—and the Gravity is at 64%. Yet the Gravity is pulling faster charging speeds, still. The Gravity later hits 80% in 27 minutes.&nbsp;
But 80% charge on the Taycan means fewer driving miles than 80% charge on the Gravity. More on that in a bit.&nbsp;
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Gravity Taycan Charging
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Seems like the Taycan is the winner, right? Not so fast. "The Gravity's charger has dispensed 10 more kilowatt hours, and that alone can account for 40 to 50 miles of driving range with Gravity, and that has to be considered," Tom said.&nbsp;Eventually, the Porsche hits 100% after 53 minutes, because the remaining 20% after 80% takes way longer. And the Lucid gets to 100% full after 74 minutes.&nbsp;
Any EV veteran will tell you it's that whatever-low-number-to-80% stat that really matters, especially for two luxury cars with bigger batteries like these two. And both get that done in under a half an hour from totally empty. "If you know anything about electric vehicle charging, you were impressed by that," Tom said. These two vehicles can add the kilowatt-hours like nothing else I've ever recorded. They are charging beasts and, for sure, are the two fastest charging electric vehicles you can buy here in North America currently."&nbsp;
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Gravity Taycan Charging
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: YouTube</div>
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But in the end, Tom notes that the Gravity was kind of handicapped here. It was working off a 350 kW charger when it can do up to 400 kW. There just aren't many 400 kW chargers out there yet, and of the widely available options, 350 kW is pretty much as good as you get. It's a question of what the Gravity's true potential is, Tom said. The rest of the test assesses this from data from another charging test where the Gravity was able to use a 400 kW charger.&nbsp;
And when you look at how long it takes to add actual miles of driving range—not just a battery percentage number—the Gravity is the clear winner.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/pbzBlP/s1/porsche-taycan-vs.-lucid-air.jpg" alt="Porsche Taycan vs. Lucid Air">
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Porsche Taycan vs. Lucid Air
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Tom thinks, as I do, that it's only a matter of time before the five-minute charging EVs seen in China and the&nbsp;technology behind them come stateside. Until we do, and until anything shows up to beat it, the Lucid Gravity seems to be America's fast-charging champion.
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

Two EVs Charge Faster Than the Rest. But One Is Clearly Better

<ul>
<li>Hyundai's automatic charging robot is up and running in Korea.</li>
<li>The robot automatically detects an EV's charging port and plugs in.</li>
<li>More robots are on the way, with Hyundai already bagging Korean and European certifications for safety.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
A decade ago, Tesla wowed tech and EV enthusiasts with a snake-like robotic arm that could automatically find its way to the charging port of a Model S. The idea was that the owner could just park their EV in the garage and the robot would plug in the charging cable, all on its own.
Tesla dropped the idea, but others kept working on it. That includes the <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/700324/inside-hyundai-ioniq-5-microfactory-singapore/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22700324%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22inside-hyundai-ioniq-5-microfactory-singapore%22%7D">Hyundai Motor Group</a>, which has now started a public demonstration program in its home country using a pair of artificial intelligence-powered EV charging robots.
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By partnering with the Incheon International Airport in South Korea, Hyundai Motor has become one of the first companies in the world to offer a commercial-grade AI-based EV automatic charging robot (ACR) system.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
Similar to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMM0lRfX6YI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">what Tesla showcased 10 years ago</a>, Hyundai’s tech does everything automatically, from grabbing the charging handle from its cradle to opening the charge port on the EV and plugging in the DC fast charger cable.
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Hyundai Charging Robot
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Hyundai</div>
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So, if you happen to need a top-up while dropping off someone at Korea’s largest airport, there’s a pair of automated DC fast chargers somewhere on the premises. That’s not a particularly enticing proposition, but it’s just the start of something that could potentially be a game changer. Sure, plugging in a DC fast charger is as simple as pie, but why not take advantage of the latest technology to make your life easier?&nbsp;

Tesla Promised Charging Robots 10 Years Ago. Hyundai Just Did It

In the American South, the Waffle House is always there for you when you need a breakfast fix. (If it's closed, you should probably get the hell out of town.)
Now, the famously always-open diner chain is adding electric vehicle fast-charging to its repertoire. And that's great news for road-trippers and waffle enthusiasts looking to break up with gasoline. The company announced today that BP Pulse will start adding 400 kilowatt fast-charging stations to its restaurants starting in 2026. The charging stations will feature both conventional CCS and <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/735724/non-tesla-ev-tesla-supercharger-access/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22735724%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22non-tesla-ev-tesla-supercharger-access%22%7D">North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs</a>, so they'll be able to serve Tesla's EVs and non-Tesla EVs that have adopted that standard.

“Adding an iconic landmark like Waffle House to our growing portfolio of EV charging sites is such an exciting opportunity," said&nbsp;Sujay Sharma, the CEO of BP Pulse, in a statement. " We’re building a robust network of ultrafast chargers across the country, and this is another example of third-party collaborations enabling access to charging co-located with convenient amenities for EV drivers.”
A BP Pulse spokesperson declined to say how many charging sites are planned, but added that an initial tranche of 50 sites is currently underway.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>
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bp pulse charging station
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"Amenities" is a key part of that sentence. Automakers, charging companies and related entities in the EV space have increasingly realized that charging access is one of the biggest barriers to electric adoption—and part of the problem is isolated chargers in random locations and no food stops or restrooms in sight. It's why <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/757648/walmart-ev-charging-network-revealed/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22757648%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22walmart-ev-charging-network-revealed%22%7D">Walmart</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/694307/mercedes-benz-simon-ev-charging-partnership/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22694307%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mercedes-benz-simon-ev-charging-partnership%22%7D">Simon Malls</a>, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/726856/starbucks-ev-charging-mercedes/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22726856%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22starbucks-ev-charging-mercedes%22%7D">Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging</a>, the Ionna network and many others are working on charging stations that make the experience a lot better. Those features include snack shops, indoor lounge areas, covered charging stalls and, yes, restrooms.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/QeKAK8/s1/waffle-house.jpg" alt="Waffle House">
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Waffle House
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: InsideEVs</div>
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But here, any EV driver can pop in and get some waffles, or biscuits and gravy, or an omelette, or a patty melt—or some combination of those things—while their car snags some electrons. As far as charging experiences go, it sounds like an utter delight.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile"></div>
Perhaps no one agrees more than&nbsp;David Repp, the Director of Innovation at Waffle House (I'm thrilled to announce they have one of those): "Charging up while fueling up on an All-Star Special will be convenient and fast—a perfect option for enjoying the Waffle House experience while charging your EV on the go.”
Moreover, it's always going to be open, unless things really hit the fan. Waffle House is famous for being open 24/7, unless the area it's in has been hit with a severe disaster like a hurricane or a tornado—and even then, it may be operating. In fact, the federal government has an informal metric called <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/waffle-house-index-closures-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-fema-1494259" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the "Waffle House Index"</a>&nbsp;to gauge how bad a disaster really was. As one former FEMA official <a href="https://www.npr.org/2018/09/13/647559570/what-is-the-waffle-house-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">once told NPR</a>, “If the Waffle House is open, everything’s good.”
And soon, you can add EV charging to its repertoire as well.
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

Rejoice, America: Waffle House Is Getting DC Fast-Charging

<ul>
<li>The U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz CLA EV will be compatible with both 800V and 400V fast chargers.</li>
<li>Initially, the company said the four-door EV would be restricted to 800V to maximize charging speeds.</li>
<li>The U.S.-bound CLA will come with a 400V converter, allowing it to use the vast majority of DC fast chargers, including Tesla Superchargers.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
The <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/753620/mercedes-cla-good-not-great/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22753620%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mercedes-cla-good-not-great%22%7D">Mercedes-Benz CLA</a> electric sedan will be compatible with both 400-volt and 800-volt DC fast chargers when customer deliveries start in the United States early next year. This is a big deal, and it means the four-door compact EV will be able to use the vast majority of fast chargers in the U.S.
Last week, we reported that <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/758859/mercedes-cla-ev-400v-charging-impossible/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22758859%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mercedes-cla-ev-400v-charging-impossible%22%7D">the U.S.-bound CLA will be restricted to 800V charging infrastructure</a> to ensure it can achieve its maximum charging power of 320 kilowatts. However, this decision meant that owners of the German EV wouldn’t be able to use the largest DC fast charging network stateside, which is the Tesla Supercharger network. To make matters worse, the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV comes with a Tesla-designed NACS charging port in the U.S., meaning owners couldn't use a vast majority of the 800V stalls it was designed for without an adapter for CCS1 connectors.
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The U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz CLA will come with a NACS charging port for DC fast charging and a J1772 port for AC home charging.
</div>
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Andrei Nedelea</div>
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In an email to InsideEVs, the automaker explained that the U.S.-spec entry-level electric sedan will be fitted with a 400V converter, allowing it to use the majority of DC fast chargers in North America.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: 1.5s linear;"></div>
“Public charging point technology varies across the world, and the networks widely available in the U.S. and Europe are different,” a Mercedes-Benz USA spokesperson told InsideEVs over email. “We’re committed to offering our customers the best experience and believe fast charging at 800V gives the best and most convenient experience. After the initial limited delivery of cars late this year for demonstration of the CLA’s fast-charging abilities, 2026 U.S. customer orders from early next year will feature a converter and be capable of charging at 400V and faster 800V, meaning the largest number of U.S. charging points, currently over 140,000.”

The Mercedes CLA EV Will Work With Tesla Superchargers After All

The launch of the all-electric ferry China Zorrilla, expected to be operating between Argentina and Uruguay, represents a landmark event in global maritime electrification. Commissioned by Buquebus, a major regional ferry operator connecting Buenos Aires and Montevideo, this vessel is—for now—the largest battery-electric passenger and vehicle ferry in the world. Its launch signals a pivotal shift in maritime transportation, aligning closely with ambitious decarbonization targets and highlighting South America’s emerging role in sustainable transport innovation.
The ferry’s name, China Zorrilla, honors Concepción “China” Zorrilla (1922–2014), a beloved Uruguayan actress, director, and cultural icon. Renowned across the Río de la Plata region, she had a prolific career in theater, film, and television, leaving an indelible mark on both Uruguayan and Argentine arts. Her legacy as a bridge between the two nations makes the naming of this vessel—set to connect Argentina and Uruguay—a tribute to her enduring influence.
<figure id="attachment_320411" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-320411" style="width: 1308px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MT-Liquid-Fuels-Shipping-by-decade-through-2100-2.png"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-320411 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MT-Liquid-Fuels-Shipping-by-decade-through-2100-2.png" alt="Megatons of diesel-equivalent energy required for martime shipping through 2100 by Michael Barnard, Chief Strategist, TFIE Strategy Inc." width="1308" height="737" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MT-Liquid-Fuels-Shipping-by-decade-through-2100-2.png 1308w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MT-Liquid-Fuels-Shipping-by-decade-through-2100-2-400x225.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MT-Liquid-Fuels-Shipping-by-decade-through-2100-2-800x451.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MT-Liquid-Fuels-Shipping-by-decade-through-2100-2-768x433.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-320411" class="wp-caption-text">Megatons of diesel-equivalent energy required for martime shipping through 2100 by Michael Barnard, Chief Strategist, TFIE Strategy Inc.</figcaption></figure>
The scale of the China Zorrilla and the speed with which it arrived is as I expected. My <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2022/04/01/global-shipping-less-of-co2e-problem-today-than-aviation-more-by-end-of-century/">projection of maritime shipping demand and decarbonization through 2100</a> expects all inland and most short sea shipping to be fully electric in the end game, with battery electric hybrid systems burning biofuels only in international waters, and in declining ratios to electrons for voyages over time. Most inland crafts hulls are amenable to electrification, so there will be a brisk business in retrofits, at least outside of the United States, which barely has a non-military shipbuilding industry left due to the <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/27/europe-usa-sailing-against-tide-asia-sails-with-it-in-decarbonizing-shipping/">no-longer-fit-for-purpose Jones Act</a> and the deindustrialization that resulted from their adherence to the market is always right ideology since 1980.
As a reminder, demand is going to diminish in my scenario because 55% of tonnage is for fossil fuels and raw iron ore, both of which are in structural decline now. (That scenarios by other organizations like the IPCC and IMO don’t reflect this reality is perplexing, but I expect sanity to prevail eventually.)
The choice of route between Argentina and Uruguay is noteworthy. The ferry will operate across the Río de la Plata, covering approximately 100 nautical miles (185 km) one way, a journey well suited to electrification given current battery technology capabilities. The Río de la Plata is a vast, estuarine waterway formed by the confluence of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, creating a natural border between Argentina and Uruguay and serving as a vital shipping and transportation route for both countries.
This high-frequency route services substantial passenger traffic, primarily tourists and commuters, providing a practical and economically viable setting for this pioneering effort. The Buenos Aires–Montevideo route has long sought sustainable solutions, given the significant pollution from diesel ferries, prompting both countries to prioritize decarbonization efforts in transport infrastructure.
At 130 meters in length and 32 meters in width spanning its twin hulls, the China Zorrilla is built from aluminum to reduce overall weight, a critical consideration in electric ferry design. Its size positions it firmly within the large-scale commercial ferry category, capable of carrying up to 2,100 passengers and approximately 225 cars per crossing. This capacity is notable, as many existing electric ferries are smaller and service shorter routes. The vessel’s ability to maintain this passenger and vehicle volume with zero direct emissions underscores the technological advancement represented by this deployment.
Central to the ferry’s groundbreaking capabilities is its massive 40 MWh battery system supplied by Corvus Energy and Wärtsilä. This represents a dramatic leap beyond previous electric ferries like Norway’s pioneering Ampere, which operates on just over 1 MWh, and other medium-scale vessels that typically range between 3 and 5 MWh. The scale of the China Zorrilla’s battery installation required significant advancements in marine battery technology, thermal management systems, and energy density improvements, as well as specialized integration for high-capacity maritime propulsion systems. Powering the ferry’s electric propulsion is a multi-megawatt, eight electric waterjet propulsor configuration, leveraging a direct-drive approach to minimize transmission losses and further enhance efficiency.
Equally impressive is the charging infrastructure necessary to sustain operations. The China Zorrilla will use ultra-high-capacity DC fast chargers installed at both Buenos Aires and Montevideo ports, capable of delivering several megawatts of instantaneous power, typically recharging for 20% to 80%—24 MWh—in 40 minutes at turnaround. Achieving this necessitated substantial upgrades to local grid infrastructure, supplemented by grid-scale buffer batteries to manage peak loads. Charging also occurs overnight during lower-demand periods, taking advantage of Argentina and Uruguay’s increasing share of renewable energy generation, particularly wind and solar. Despite substantial infrastructure costs, these upgrades are expected to deliver long-term operational savings and significant emissions reductions.
Incat Tasmania, the company behind the groundbreaking&nbsp;ferry, is a prominent maritime engineering firm headquartered in Hobart, Tasmania. Founded in 1977 by Bob Clifford, Incat has established itself globally as a leader in the design and construction of high-speed, lightweight catamaran ferries, known for their efficiency, speed, and innovation. With a longstanding focus on pioneering maritime technologies, Incat has increasingly moved toward sustainable shipbuilding, cementing its reputation through ambitious projects like the China Zorrilla.
From an economic perspective, while the upfront capital investment for this electric ferry was substantially higher compared to a traditional diesel-powered equivalent—estimates place total vessel and infrastructure investment at around $120 million USD—the long-term operational economics look promising with payback in 5-8 years expected. Electricity as fuel provides cost stability and significant reductions in operational expenditure, potentially lowering total lifecycle costs substantially over the vessel’s anticipated 25- to 30-year operational life. Moreover, maintenance requirements for battery-electric propulsion systems are considerably lower than for diesel engines, offering further economic advantages. Battery replacement costs remain a significant future expense, but anticipated improvements in battery longevity and cost reductions due to scaling in manufacturing mitigate this risk over time.
This ferry will pay for itself without any carbon pricing, a key point that will drive rapid transition of this vessel class.
Globally, the China Zorrilla represents the pinnacle of current ferry electrification efforts, substantially larger than previous frontrunners like Norway’s Ampere, Bastø Electric ferries, or Sweden’s Aurora Botnia, a hybrid-electric vessel. Hybrids, such as the Color Hybrid operating between Norway and Sweden, typically rely on smaller battery systems complemented by diesel engines to extend range and flexibility, whereas the China Zorrilla is purely electric, thus completely eliminating direct emissions.
Environmentally, the ferry’s zero-emission propulsion delivers immediate and tangible benefits by eliminating local air pollution entirely and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel alternatives. While battery production involves considerable initial emissions, particularly given current lithium-ion chemistries, lifecycle analyses consistently show substantial overall emission savings, especially as the electricity grid continues to decarbonize. Additionally, the electric propulsion system significantly reduces underwater noise pollution, benefiting sensitive marine ecosystems in the Río de la Plata estuary.
Uruguay’s grid is renewables-heavy, so its CO2e / kWh is a fairly light 100 grams, while Argentina is still running some coal, so its average 313 grams CO2e / kWh. That’s still a lot less than the U.S. average of 384 CO2e / kWh, and Argentina isn’t standing still. As of 2023, approximately 31.8% of Argentina’s electricity generation came from renewable sources, including hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass. This represents a significant increase from previous years, reflecting the country’s efforts to diversify its energy mix. Looking ahead, Argentina has set ambitious targets for renewable energy generation. According to its National Energy Transition Plan, the country aims to generate 57% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Looking forward, the implications of the China Zorrilla’s successful operation are profound. While current battery capacities and charging infrastructure constraints limit fully electric ferries primarily to short and medium-range operations, this project demonstrates feasibility at previously unimaginable scales. Continued improvements in battery energy density, charging speeds, and port infrastructure investments could enable larger vessels and longer routes to transition to full electrification over the coming decade. Emerging battery technologies promise further breakthroughs, doubling or tripling current energy densities within the coming years and allowing dramatically reduced charge times.
Regulatory dynamics will also shape the future of maritime electrification significantly. International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations increasingly push maritime sectors toward stricter emission targets, while regional policies, such as those within the EU’s emission control areas, will accelerate adoption in high-traffic maritime regions. Financial mechanisms from international organizations, including IFC and regional development banks, will provide necessary incentives and funding support to overcome upfront capital cost barriers. These regulatory and financial forces combined are expected to drive widespread adoption of electrified ferries globally, initially in Europe and North America but increasingly across Asia and South America.
Ultimately, the successful operation of the China Zorrilla ferry matters profoundly beyond its immediate geographic context. It sets a practical, technological, and economic benchmark, proving the viability of large-scale ferry electrification. Replicating this success globally offers substantial environmental and economic benefits, creating opportunities for advanced technology exports, manufacturing job creation, and leadership roles in maritime decarbonization. The era of maritime electrification is upon us, and vessels like the China Zorrilla illustrate clearly that the future of passenger and vehicle ferry transport is electric.

China Zorrilla: How The World’s Largest Electric Ferry Changes Maritime Electrification

In response to an article I wrote last week, a reader pointed out that the US Department of Energy <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/tag/loan-programs-office/">Loan Programs Office</a> has stopped providing any loans from the loan program that once helped Tesla through a very tough time. “Presumably, the DOE will be concentrating more on its primary mission to build and maintain nuclear weapons and not get distracted by this green stuff,” <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/29/trump-wants-to-kill-policy-that-made-tesla-profitable-last-quarter/#comment-6696953663">the reader wrote</a>.
It’s a great point, and we have neglected to write much about it. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-doe-spending-freeze.html">Earlier this year</a>, the Trump administration paused any disbursements from the loan program, and it is reportedly looking to rework the program to support fossil fuel industries. This program has been used extensively for supporting early-stage cleantech companies, including Tesla back at a critical time in its development. It’s questionable if Tesla would have survived and ever produced mass-market electric cars if it wasn’t for the <a href="https://www.energy.gov/lpo/tesla">$465 million loan the company received back in January 2010</a>.
This comment followed my article about Donald Trump wanting to kill the California Clean Air Act waiver that allows the state to require higher average fuel economy for cars sold in the state.
Another commenter was a bit more expansive and blunt about the Trump administration’s widespread attacks on clean technologies and the idiocy of it all. <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/29/trump-wants-to-kill-policy-that-made-tesla-profitable-last-quarter/#comment-6697001275">Mike Shurtleff wrote</a>:
<hr>
<hr>
Of course the Orange Idiot wants to kill a pro-EV policy. Same as he wants to kill solar PV, wind, and battery production. He proposed at least two federal budgets cutting both the ITC and PTC during his 1st term. Back then Republicans in Red states on the Great Plains were benefitting from lower cost wind-generated electricity and prevented those cuts. There were “guardrails” then. There are none now.
We’re talking about a complete business moron, who blew threw most of his Daddy’s real-estate empire. He was responsible for multiple bankruptcies. He failed to make a freaking casino profitable. Casinos are just money generating machines.
… So the Chinese said they would take market share in the auto industry during the transition to EVs that was coming. … AND THEY ARE … BIG TIME … but the Orange Idiot wants to eliminate any progress Biden made in battery/EV production in the USA. Brilliant!!!
Coal has been losing out to natural gas for more than a decade, because natural gas generated electricity COSTS LESS. Now most new electricity generation in the USA is wind and solar PV, because they COST EVEN LESS than natural gas. The Orange Idiot tried to mandate more coal in his first term, because coal was more reliable, but the conservative FERC said “more reliable” was a falsehood and killed the mandate … so now he wants to subsidize coal-generated electricity. He wants to subsidize a centuries-old source of electricity, which can no longer compete in a free market on cost. That’s real business genius, that is!!! Dude! Lower cost is what wins in the market!!! Higher cost fails!!! … And there is no question, in spite of all the fossil fueled headwinds, that wind, solar PV, and battery storage are growing! They are winning! Pretty tough concept for a business genius like Chump.
Who voted for this imbecile anyway?
… I could rail on about tariffs leading to inflation and market collapse … or random massive firings of government workers with no transition plan to smaller, more effective government, or transition plan for private employment of those people … or about violation of laws and the “inalienable rights” of USA citizens … or about the complete clown car of White House appointees …but that’s enough for now.
Why isn’t Pete Hegseth in chains already for security violations? I would have been for less than he has done.
Yes Chump, go ahead and subsidize coal, go ahead and kill battery/EV production in the USA, fire all federal workers, put huge tariffs on all imports but give no incentives or time for USA production. Here’s some more rope from me. Hang yourself. Idiot!
Sorry, guess that was not enough.
<hr>
<hr>
Indeed.

Trump Attacks on Loan Program that Sustained Tesla, EV Charging Program, Fuel Economy Standards — What Next?

This article was originally written in Spanish and published on one of the most important regional blogs regarding EV adoption: AleTech. It was written, translated, and abridged by Mario Duran Ortiz, a civil engineer in Costa Rica with ample knowledge on transportation and who has been reporting on the EV transition in his country and the region. All the credit for this regional report goes to him.&nbsp;
<hr>
By Mario Duran Ortiz
Sales of new all-electric passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks) in Costa Rica reached a record of 11,373 units in 2024, up 80% from 2023. This sales volume exceeded cumulative registrations of light-duty pure electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2010 through 2023. The segment’s market share achieved a record 15.4%, up from 11.6% in 2023, making Costa Rica the leader in all-electric car penetration in Latin America for the third consecutive year.
Sales of light-duty electric vehicles in Costa Rica are higher than formal registrations reported by MINAE (for 2024 a total of 9,647 cars plus 483 units, mainly pickups and light-duty vehicles). Since the registration process can take up to several months — until the green EV license plate is issued — there is a significant gap between the number of vehicles sold and those registered. According to AIVEMA, the number of imports is a better proxy to sales than registrations because, in general, dealer lot inventory is low.
Furthermore, as shown in the following graph, Costa Rica’s BEV market share in 2024 even surpassed the uptake achieved by Canada (10.9%) and the United States (7.8%). When accounting for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), Costa Rica also surpassed its North American neighbors. Therefore, the Central American country achieved the largest market share in the combined EV segments (BEV + PHEV) in the Americas for the third year-in-a-row.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Top-PEV-Market-shares-Americas-2024-EN-cc.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-352727 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Top-PEV-Market-shares-Americas-2024-EN-cc.png" alt="" width="998" height="909" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Top-PEV-Market-shares-Americas-2024-EN-cc.png 998w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Top-PEV-Market-shares-Americas-2024-EN-cc-400x364.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Top-PEV-Market-shares-Americas-2024-EN-cc-800x729.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Top-PEV-Market-shares-Americas-2024-EN-cc-768x700.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px"></a>
The graph below shows that Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Panama are the only countries located along the 45-degree diagonal line, where the BEV share is equal to the PEV share. This is because the sales of plug-in hybrids in these countries are minimal, as existing fiscal incentives solely benefit 100% electric vehicles. When considering only the BEV segment, Uruguay ranks third in the Americas, after Costa Rica and Canada, surpassing the United States.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_PEV-vs-BEV-market-shares-America-2024-EN-diagonal-cc.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-352725 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_PEV-vs-BEV-market-shares-America-2024-EN-diagonal-cc.png" alt="" width="1139" height="1023" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_PEV-vs-BEV-market-shares-America-2024-EN-diagonal-cc.png 1139w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_PEV-vs-BEV-market-shares-America-2024-EN-diagonal-cc-400x359.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_PEV-vs-BEV-market-shares-America-2024-EN-diagonal-cc-800x719.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_PEV-vs-BEV-market-shares-America-2024-EN-diagonal-cc-768x690.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1139px) 100vw, 1139px"></a>
Within the Latin American region, Colombia ranks third behind Costa Rica and Uruguay with a 4.6% BEV market share, and rises to 5.6% when PHEVs are added. Both Uruguay and Colombia significantly increased sales of all-electric vehicles compared to 2023, by 217.9% and 147.1% correspondingly. Brazil ranks fourth in the region with a 2.5% BEV market share thanks to an outstanding sales growth of 219.1% from 2023, the highest in Latam. When PHEVs are included, Brazil’s market share rises to 5.1%. Mexico also saw significant BEV growth, 165.6% from 2023, and its market share rose from 0.9% in 2023 to 2.1% in 2024, and increases to 4.7% when PHEVs are included. Sales of PHEVs in both Brazil and Mexico are higher than BEVs, as illustrated in the graph, pushing the BEV/PHEV ratio of the combined Latam countries to 54/46.
BEV sales in Chile also had strong growth, 183.8% from 2023, reaching a BEV market share of 1.5%, rising to 1.9% when PHEVs are added. The BEV share in Panama increased from 0.9% to 1.4% in 2024. Both Paraguay and Ecuador for the first time ranked among the Latam leading countries in the BEV segment in 2024, with a market share of 1.4% and 1.5% respectively, and with sales growth from 2023 of 118.3% and 85.4%, correspondingly.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Plugin-electric-car-sales-and-market-share-in-the-Americas-in-2024.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-352726 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Plugin-electric-car-sales-and-market-share-in-the-Americas-in-2024.png" alt="" width="899" height="483" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Plugin-electric-car-sales-and-market-share-in-the-Americas-in-2024.png 899w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Plugin-electric-car-sales-and-market-share-in-the-Americas-in-2024-400x215.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Plugin-electric-car-sales-and-market-share-in-the-Americas-in-2024-800x430.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Plugin-electric-car-sales-and-market-share-in-the-Americas-in-2024-768x413.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 899px"></a>
As shown in the table, and within Latin American region, Brazil continued in 2024 to be the country with the most BEV sales (61,615), 3.2 times more than in 2023, and also the country that sold the most PHEVs (64,009), 1.9 times more than in 2023, for a combined record 125,624 plug-in cars. Brazilian EV sales represented 53.6% of the plug-in segment sales by volume among the leading Latam countries, and surpassed Mexico (29.7%), the second-largest automotive market in the region, by a wide margin. It is also worth noting that the market share of the Brazilian plug-in electric segment increased from 2.4% in 2023 to 5.1% in 2024.
In terms of sales volume for the BEV segment, Costa Rica is surpassed only by the large markets of Brazil and Mexico for the third consecutive year. Colombia follows with 9,193 units, Uruguay with 5,856, and Chile with 4,507 units.
Costa Rica’s successful EV adoption has been the result of the combination of three key factors: tax exemptions worth over 50% as compared to the price of fossil fuel vehicles; a wide variety of models available in all price categories since 2023; and, most importantly, the significant price reductions that took place in the most popular segments since 2023 due to increased price competition between auto dealers and cheaper direct imports from China (gray market). As widely reported by the international press, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/why-byds-ev-exports-sell-twice-china-price-2024-04-26/">Chinese EV makers charge higher prices for exports</a> to dealerships in Europe, Latam, and Australia as compared with prices in the local Chinese market. Direct imports or “gray market” imports consist of the direct purchase of a new EV in mainland China at local market prices by private individuals or small businesses. Then, the EVs are shipped by sea to Costa Rica, resulting in lower prices than purchasing the EV from a local dealership in Costa Rica.
Despite the exponential growth of its all-electric fleet, Costa Rica had just over 19,000 cars and light-duty vehicles in use at the end of 2024, representing only 1.3% of passenger vehicles and pickup trucks on the road. There is still a long way to go, and the country is facing several challenges in 2025 that may slow its rapid pace of adoption in the foreseeable future.
As illustrated in the graph below showing the adoption curve for new technologies, Costa Rica was at a critical threshold at the end of 2024, precisely near the end of the “early adopters” phase with a market share of 15.4%. Therefore, in 2025, it must make the leap across the always difficult “chasm” that begins after an uptake of 16.5% and between “early adopters” and the “early majority” phases. The leap is very important because the most pragmatic mass-market users are key to keeping a stable pace of EV purchases. Most countries in the Americas are still in the “innovators” or just entering the “early adopters” phase. Only Costa Rica and Canada are about to make the leap to the mainstream market.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Plugin-electric-car-Technology-Adoption-Curve-by-country-ENGLISH-cc.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-352722 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Plugin-electric-car-Technology-Adoption-Curve-by-country-ENGLISH-cc.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1333" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Plugin-electric-car-Technology-Adoption-Curve-by-country-ENGLISH-cc.png 2000w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Plugin-electric-car-Technology-Adoption-Curve-by-country-ENGLISH-cc-400x267.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Plugin-electric-car-Technology-Adoption-Curve-by-country-ENGLISH-cc-800x533.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Plugin-electric-car-Technology-Adoption-Curve-by-country-ENGLISH-cc-768x512.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Plugin-electric-car-Technology-Adoption-Curve-by-country-ENGLISH-cc-1536x1024.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px"></a>
A short-term challenge for Costa Rica in successfully bridging the “chasm” is the imminent substantial tax increase that coincides with this critical phase. As a reference point, Germany had a 24.6% plug-in electric vehicle market share in 2023, already in the “early majority” phase. However, after ending incentives in 2024, its market share dropped to 20.3% in 2024. The same experience has occurred in Sweden several times over the past 10 years. EV adoption relies heavily on fiscal incentives to match the cost of internal combustion engine vehicles.
By mid-2025, tariff exemptions will be reduced, a 7.5% selective consumption tax and 0.25% of the customs value will come into effect. In addition, at the beginning of 2025, the exemption to the annual road tax was reduced from 60% to 40%, and VAT rose from 2% to 3%. The cumulative effect of all these taxes compared to 2024 prices is around 10%, with projected price increases ranging from about US$2,000 to US$10,000 or more for the luxury segment (assuming there are no additional price increases related to the current global trade war). Sales are expected to peak before June 2025, followed by an anticipated decline due to price elasticity of demand.
Another challenge is <a href="https://alemonterotech.com/reformas-necesarias-a-la-ley-9518-para-aumentar-la-infraestructura-de-carga-para-vehiculos-electricos/">the lack of adequate charging infrastructure</a>. The rapid growth of the EV fleet in 2024 has outpaced the development of public fast-charging infrastructure. The most frequented stations, particularly outside the Greater Metropolitan Area, often experience EVs queuing on weekends and holidays.
<figure id="attachment_352724" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-352724" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Three-EVs-charging-CFIA-CRI-08-2024-4685.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-352724 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Three-EVs-charging-CFIA-CRI-08-2024-4685.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Three-EVs-charging-CFIA-CRI-08-2024-4685.jpg 1920w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Three-EVs-charging-CFIA-CRI-08-2024-4685-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Three-EVs-charging-CFIA-CRI-08-2024-4685-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Three-EVs-charging-CFIA-CRI-08-2024-4685-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/thumbnail_Three-EVs-charging-CFIA-CRI-08-2024-4685-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-352724" class="wp-caption-text">EVs queuing to charge at a one-point fast-charging station in Costa Rica.</figcaption></figure>
Public electric utilities responsible for the national fast-charging infrastructure must enhance their maintenance practices and ensure more prompt repair services to minimize downtime at the stations. Furthermore, it is imperative to enhance the density of the fast-charging infrastructure network to reduce the distance between stations along national highways. Also, an increase of the number of charging points per station is required, especially at stations on routes to major tourist destinations, such as the Caribbean and Southern Pacific coasts.
Due to capital expenditure limits set by the national government on public electric utilities, private sector investments are crucial for expanding charging infrastructure. Although ARESEP, the national utilities regulator, has clarified that private companies can offer charging services under the current legal framework, only small investments in Level 2 charging points have been made so far. Companies looking to build fast-charging stations in Costa Rica want clear legal authorization to ensure investment security. Bill No. 24.171 presented to Congress in early 2024 aims to address this issue and is nearing approval. Though, its enactment date is still unclear.
How Costa Rica addresses these challenges could determine whether Canada or Uruguay might take the lead in EV adoption in the Americas in 2025.
Translated and abridged by Mario Duran Ortiz. Originally published by&nbsp;<a href="https://alemonterotech.com/author/mario/">Mario Duran Ortiz</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://alemonterotech.com/por-tercer-ano-consecutivo-costa-rica-alcanzo-la-cuota-de-mercado-mas-alta-de-america-en-2024-para-el-segmento-de-autos-100-electricos/">AleTech</a>.

Costa Rica Achieved the Highest EV Market Share in the Americas for 3rd Consecutive Year in 2024

The howling maniac who occupies the White House snuffed out the $5 billion public fast charging NEVI program earlier this year, but he can’t do anything to stop the home EV charging juggernaut. After all, the overwhelming majority of EV owners prefer to recharge at home. Fleet owners also like the home EV charging idea, but first someone has to figure out an accurate reimbursement system…. Oh, wait….
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Why All The Fuss Over Fleet Electrification</h3>
The media spotlight has shone on Tesla so brightly and for so long that sometimes it’s easy to forget that the EV market is far more expansive than the iconic US automaker’s longstanding commitment to sedans and SUVs.
If you have any thoughts about how the company’s <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/23/tesla-misses-the-electric-truck-boat-again/">Edsel-adjacent Cybertruck</a> and the forthcoming <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/02/more-headaches-for-tesla-mack-truck-muscles-into-the-class-8-electric-truck-market/">Tesla Semi Class 8 truck</a> fit into that picture, drop a note in the comment thread. Meanwhile, there is some serious EV&nbsp;sales momentum taking place among <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/10/22/chargepoint-pitches-affordable-level-2-ev-charger-for-commercial-fleets-for-just-699/">commercial fleets</a> that count larger, heavier vans and trucks on their rosters. It’s not a headline grabber, but it’s there.
Cox Automotive is among those paying attention. The firm took the temperature of <a href="https://trellis.net/article/the-state-of-fleet-electrification-why-87-of-companies-plan-to-add-evs-in-the-next-five-years/">the commercial fleet electrification movement</a> last year and came up with this nugget:
“Fleet operators that currently employ EV, the new study reveals, have a striking 90% likelihood of acquiring additional EVs in the next acquisition cycle. Among the total sample of fleets owners (those with and without EVs), a vast majority – 87% – expect EVs to be added to their fleets in the next five years.”
The fleet electrification movement also deserves props from a save-the-planet perspective. According to a 2022 report from the US EPA (such as it was back then), only 5% of vehicles on the road fall into the medium- and heavy-duty classes. However, they collectively account for an outsized 23% share of transportation-related <a href="https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions">greenhouse gas emissions</a>, due to the use of diesel fuel among other factors.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Home EV Charging Difference</h3>
If you’re wondering where home EV charging comes into the commercial fleet picture, that’s a good question. Some commercial fleet owners require drivers to return to their depot at the end of a shift. However, parking at home is also common and that’s where the EV sales momentum can be sustained. Home-parked fleet managers can accelerate their electrification plans when more employees have an EV charger at home.
As for employees without an EV charger, perhaps some forward-thinking fleet owners will expand their employee benefits package to include incentives for installing a new home EV charging station. That’s a win for the fleet owner’s vehicle electrification plans, and it could inspire EV-curious drivers to go out and buy an EV for their private use, too.
Having both a commercial and private vehicle use the same home EV charging station gives rise to an accounting challenge, but solutions are emerging. Among those to surface on the CleanTechnica radar is the “Depot360® Home Charging Reimbursement” system, newly launched in the United States by the US branch of Siemens.
As described by Siemens, Depot360 enables fleet managers to reimburse employees for home EV charging accurately, even if other cars are charged at the same port. The system deploys telematics data unique to the fleet vehicle based on its location.
“Siemens works with telematics providers to access real-time vehicle data to provide insights into home charging sessions to enable fair and accurate reimbursement,” Siemens explains.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">There Is So Much More To Home EV Charging Than Meets The Eye</h3>
Home EV charging is popular from a convenience perspective, and home charging is also less expensive than public charging. In addition, EV owners are beginning to take advantage of utility incentives for <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/03/23/a-7-50-monthly-credit-for-off-peak-ev-charging-imagine-doing-that-with-your-gasmobile/">off-peak charging</a>. Deploying the EV battery as a <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/02/26/new-ev-charging-scheme-taps-into-big-juicy-ev-sales-opportunity/">grid-connected energy storage platform</a> is another avenue of opportunity beginning to open for individual EV owners.
Siemens is already looking forward to applying these benefits to the fleet electrification field, beginning with itself. The company’s US fleet currently consists of 11,000 cars, trucks, cargo vans, bucket trucks, and tractor trailers, among others, and Siemens expects all of them to be covered by Depot360 within the next five years or so.
“Depot360 Home Charging Reimbursement offers multiple benefits for fleet operators,” Siemens enthuses. “These benefits could include cost reduction by avoiding the need for networked chargers and dedicated meters, simplified management through automated payroll integration, and the ability to reimburse only fleet vehicles, while allowing private vehicles to use the same charger.”
“This solution not only reduces upfront infrastructure costs and ongoing operational expenses, but streamlines home charging reimbursement programs, enabling operators to scale their electrification plans with greater efficiency, flexibility, and confidence,” emphasizes Adam Orth, the US Head of Fleet at Siemens Mobility Services.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Optimizing Home EV Charging For The Fleet, Trump Or No Trump</h3>
Siemens plans to use data from its Depot360 deployments to fine tune the system and apply it on a whole-of-operations basis. “If a fleet is charged at different locations — such as depots, public chargers, and homes — the platform may predict the optimal charging mix for these locations and suggest options to reduce the overall cost of charging,” Siemens explains.
“This makes home charging an integral part of broader corporate charging strategies,” the company emphasizes, suggesting that the fleet electrification movement will continue to gain momentum regardless of the malevolently incompetent Commander-in-Chief who currently occupies the Oval Office.
In that regard, it’s important to note that the rosy fleet electrification report from Cox Automotive was based on a survey taken in January of 2024, a full 12 months before the Trump–Musk continuum erupted in a tsunami of destructive policy-making. Among other disasters to boil out of the chaos, shipping industry observers anticipate significant fleet shrinkage as the Trump tariffs kick in.
Although that could impact fleet EV sales, the unfolding crisis also underscores the bottom line advantages of a fleet electrification plan that includes home EV charging.
“Home charging will also give the opportunity for fleet operators to reduce energy costs by leveraging scale via aggregation,” Siemens explains. “It will play a key part in the continued development of Depot360 solutions to support fleet operators in unlocking additional energy savings and revenue streams, for example, by enabling fleets to participate in energy programs.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Wait, What About Renters?</h3>
A big, as-yet untapped opportunity for EV sales lies in the residential rental market, where an estimated <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/09/30/ford-ceo-jim-farley-targets-19-million-potential-ev-buyers-with-new-ford-power-promise/">19 million potential EV buyers</a> have been all but boxed out of the opportunity for home EV charging.
Landlords typically don’t want to deal with the installation expenses, and tenants aren’t willing to fork over the money to improve someone else’s property. New <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/02/26/new-ev-charging-scheme-taps-into-big-juicy-ev-sales-opportunity/">home EV charging-as-a-service</a> systems are beginning to crack that market wide open, so keep an eye out for indications that muiltifamily and rental residences will dovetail with the fleet electrification movement, too.
Photo (cropped): Siemens is introducing a new accounting system for home EV charging, aimed at enabling US fleet managers to accelerate their electrification plans (courtesy of Siemens via email/Google drive).

New Home EV Charging Solution Tells Gasmobiles: Get Off My Fleet!

We’ve had a few articles recently highlighting problems with the idea of a robotaxi revolution. (See <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/27/more-flaws-in-the-robotaxi-revolution-dream/">here</a>, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/24/flaws-in-the-robotaxi-revolution-dream/">here</a>, and <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/18/tesla-robotaxis-profit-centers-or-loss-centers/">here</a>.) However, there are definitely some upsides to robotaxis, and there’s one in particular that deserves a nod.
A reader shared <a href="https://waymo.com/blog/2024/12/new-swiss-re-study-waymo">this study</a> with us in a comment thread, and it is something we covered when it came out, but I actually forgot about it until it was brought up by this reader. The overall point: robotaxis are safer. Well, Waymo robotaxis at least.
Here’s what Waymo wrote when it announced the findings, which come from a prominent third-party organization: “Today, we’re sharing our&nbsp;<a href="https://waymo.com/research/do-autonomous-vehicles-outperform-latest-generation-human-driven-vehicles-25-million-miles/">new cutting-edge research</a>&nbsp;with Swiss Re, one of the world’s leading reinsurers, analyzing liability claims related to collisions from 25.3 million fully autonomous miles driven by Waymo. The study uses auto liability claims aggregate statistics as a proxy for at-fault collisions and expands on our&nbsp;<a href="https://waymo.com/blog/2023/09/waymos-autonomous-vehicles-are-significantly-safer-than-human-driven-ones/">previous research</a>. It demonstrates that as we’ve scaled operations across Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, the Waymo Driver significantly outperforms both the overall driving population and the latest generation of human-driven vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).”
In other words, Waymo robotaxis are much less likely to get into an accident than other cars. I feel like I’ve seen an accident a day in the past week around here, including a really disastrous one. If more of the cars around us were Waymo robotaxis, I certainly feel like we’d all be safer off.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Waymo-Swiss-Re.jpeg"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-352717" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Waymo-Swiss-Re.jpeg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Waymo-Swiss-Re.jpeg 1920w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Waymo-Swiss-Re-400x225.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Waymo-Swiss-Re-800x450.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Waymo-Swiss-Re-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Waymo-Swiss-Re-1536x864.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px"></a>
Here’s more from Waymo on the findings of the study noted above: “The study compared Waymo’s liability claims to human driver baselines, which are based on Swiss Re’s data from over 500,000 claims and over 200 billion miles of exposure. It found that the Waymo Driver demonstrated better safety performance when compared to human-driven vehicles, with an 88% reduction in property damage claims and 92% reduction in bodily injury claims. In real numbers, across 25.3 million miles, the Waymo Driver was involved in just nine property damage claims and two bodily injury claims. Both bodily injury claims are still open and described in the paper. For the same distance, human drivers would be expected to have 78 property damage and 26 bodily injury claims.
“Notably, the Waymo Driver’s safety advantages hold true even when compared to newer vehicles (2018-2021 models) equipped with modern safety technology. This includes advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assistance, and blind spot warning. When compared to this group, the Waymo Driver showed an 86% reduction in property damage claims and 90% reduction in bodily injury claims.”
An 88% reduction in property damage claims and 92% reduction in bodily injury claims — that’s a big deal. Despite other issues with robotaxis (like increased traffic), it’s hard to not look at those numbers and think that we should have a massive shift into robotaxis. That said …
Perhaps instead of rolling out robotaxis exponentially, we will see Waymo’s self-driving tech make its way into consumer cars in the coming years, with the opportunity to turn on Waymo Driver and sleep, eat, watch something, game, or just watch the landscape on the way to work, to pick up kids, to go shopping, etc. I’d take that! Of course, there’s a similar hope that Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) will provide this one day, but I have FSD (I’ve had it for almost 6 years now) and I have much less hope in that coming about than Waymo tech continuing to lead the market.
“Auto insurance claims data, traditionally used to assess human driver liability and risk, is a powerful tool in evaluating the safety performance of autonomous vehicles,” said Mauricio Peña, Chief Safety Officer at Waymo. “This is a truly groundbreaking study that not only validates the Waymo Driver’s strong safety record, but also provides a scalable framework for ongoing assessment of the impact autonomous vehicles make on road safety.” Indeed. It is.
You can <a href="https://waymo.com/research/do-autonomous-vehicles-outperform-latest-generation-human-driven-vehicles-25-million-miles/">read the full scientific paper on this study here</a>.
<div class="inline-image"><picture class="_picture_1c1m7_2"><source srcset="//images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?fm=webp&amp;q=90 2x, //images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?w=1440&amp;fm=webp&amp;q=90" type="image/webp" media="(min-width: 600px)"><source srcset="//images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?q=90 2x, //images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?w=1440&amp;" type="image/png" media="(min-width: 600px)"><source srcset="//images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?fm=webp&amp;q=90 2x, //images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?w=1024&amp;fm=webp&amp;q=90" type="image/webp" media="(min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1023px)"><source srcset="//images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?q=90 2x, //images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?w=1024&amp;" type="image/png" media="(min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1023px)"><source srcset="//images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?fm=webp&amp;q=90 2x, //images.ctfassets.net/e6t5diu0txbw/4DrqaDoUPTsRzgugaWGvU2/08b2be3ec94d982a1ae8722156f1dbb3/SwissRe_Waymo_InfoGraphic.png?w=1024&amp;fm=webp&amp;q=90" type="image/webp" media="(max-width: 599px)"></picture></div>

The One Big Robotaxi Benefit — Safe Driving

April’s auto market saw plugin EVs at 25.3% share in France, up from 24.3% year-on-year. BEVs were slightly up in share YoY, whilst PHEVs were fractionally down. Overall auto volume was 138,697 units, down some 6%YoY. The Renault 5 was France’s best selling BEV in April.
<img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-352710" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/April-2025-France-Passenger-Auto-Registrations-800x566.png" alt="EVs at 25.3% share in France" width="800" height="566" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/April-2025-France-Passenger-Auto-Registrations-800x566.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/April-2025-France-Passenger-Auto-Registrations-400x283.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/April-2025-France-Passenger-Auto-Registrations-768x543.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/April-2025-France-Passenger-Auto-Registrations.png 1086w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px">
April saw combined EVs at 25.3% share in France, with full battery electrics (BEVs) at 18.4%, and plugin hybrids (PHEVs) at 6.9%. These compare with YoY figures of 24.3% combined, 16.9% BEV, and 7.4% PHEV.
Recall the context of France’s EV transition:
<ul>
<li>The BEV eco-bonus purchase incentive was trimmed from €7,000 down to €4,000 from January 1st 2025. PHEVs have (from January 1st) lost their previous waiver on weight-based taxes, leading to a loss in share.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The successful 2024 “Social Leasing” scheme gave a boost to BEVs in the 2024 March to September period (affecting the baseline for YoY comparisons). <a href="https://media.roole.fr/transition/voiture-propre/leasing-social-ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-la-voiture-electrique-a-100-euros-par-mois">This scheme will return</a> (at a significantly more modest level) in September 2025, so we will see some hold-back effects on BEV sales, as we get near to its restart.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>General tightening of the CO2 emissions threshold for “malus écologique” taxes (from 113 g/km in 2025, and 105 g/km in 2026) means that emissions are increasingly heavily penalised. For example, vehicles emitting over 193 g/km can face penalties up to €70,000! This is encouraging a fast conversion of remaining ICE-only powertrains over to HEV and MHEV (see timeline graph below), and also helping EV sales somewhat.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>More broadly, the EU commission, in early March 2025, proposed a watering down of previously agreed 2025 EU vehicle emission targets. It was proposed that the previous plan for a year-by-year tightening, be replaced by a broader “averaged” compliance window (over 2025-2027), effectively making 2025 progress now voluntary, if compensated for in 2027. As of time of writing, this loosening of former targets is still <a href="https://law-tracker.europa.eu/procedure/2025_70?lang=en">a proposal making its way through the EU legislative maze</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Finally, there are now several somewhat-affordable compelling BEVs available in the French market (Citroen e-C3, Renault 5, Fiat Grande Panda, Hyundai Inster, and others). The BYD Dolphin Mini may come to European markets later in the year, at an even lower price point. That these BEVs are now real choices in the market – even in the event their delivery times may require some patience – makes ICE alternatives relatively unattractive.</li>
</ul>
Against this backdrop, April market share figures are understandable. BEVs continue to slowly but surely grow, whilst PHEVs remain consistently below their 10% peak share of 2023. HEVs (and MHEVs) are a quick-and-cheap short term emissions reduction step for legacy auto, but not a long term solution.
Meanwhile combustion-only powertrains continue to diminish. Diesel-only fell from 7.7% share to 4.8% YoY. Petrol-only fell from 32.2% share to 20.9% YoY.
<img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-352712" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share-800x556.png" alt="EVs at 25.3% share in France" width="800" height="556" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share-800x556.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share-400x278.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share-768x534.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share-392x272.png 392w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share-130x90.png 130w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-Monthly-Powertrain-Market-Share.png 886w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px">
Best Selling BEV Models
The Renault 5 was once again the best selling BEV in April, marking its 4th pole-position of the past 6 months. Its larger sibling the Renault Scenic took second spot (up from 3rd in March). The Citroen e-C3 took third.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-352713" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-BEVs-April-2025.png" alt="" width="645" height="792" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-BEVs-April-2025.png 645w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-BEVs-April-2025-326x400.png 326w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 645px) 100vw, 645px">
There were few big moves in the top 10 positions. The Tesla Model Y, in second place in March (Tesla’s normal peak volume month) fell back to 11th in April (a normal low-ebb month). Volume deliveries of the Juniper refresh are expected to begin in May or June, though it may take until the end of Q3 for a new steady-state to emerge.
The Kia EV3 climbed up to a record 10th place, with 551 registrations, from around 20th in the past couple of months. The new Skoda Elroq climbed into the top 20 for the first time, in 13th place with 519 units. It overtook its older and more expensive sibling, the Enyaq, let’s see if this new family pecking order is sustained.
The BYD Seal also entered the top 20 for the first time, in 14th spot, with 503 units, after having been on sale in France for around 18 months. This may be a record single-model volume for BYD in France (the Atto 3 saw 470 units back in December 2023).
The new Opel Frontera also saw its first top 20 ranking, in 18th spot, with 454 units.
We can also see that the new Citroen e-C3 Aircross landed in the top 20, in 16th position, with 495 units, a good result. Although our source data is limited to the top&nbsp; 20 models, it seems the Aircross may have seen modest initial customer volumes starting around February (let us know in the comments if you know more). Let’s see how popular it is compared to its ~10% smaller sibling, the regular e-C3.
Here’s the trailing 3-month chart (note that volume for Mini is estimated +/- 5%):
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-352714" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-BEVs-April-25-Trailing-Qtr-2.png" alt="" width="645" height="571" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-BEVs-April-25-Trailing-Qtr-2.png 645w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/France-BEVs-April-25-Trailing-Qtr-2-400x354.png 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 645px) 100vw, 645px">
The Renault 5 is now consolidating its leadership in the French market, having led consistently for most of the past 6 months. The Citroen e-C3 is back in second place, and the Renault Scenic is in third.
We unfortunately don’t yet have enough data to define the 3-month rankings beyond 13th spot, but it is possible the Kia EV3 may have joined in around 20th spot for the first time, and its strong April result suggests it can climb further.
<h4 style="text-align: center">Outlook</h4>
April saw the overall French auto market return to the recent down-trend, with a 6% YoY volume decline. Only one month of the past 12 has avoided falling auto volumes YoY. In the broader French economy, we now have Q1 2025 GDP figures, showing <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/france/indicators">0.8% YoY growth</a> – lacklustre and slightly below the Euro area average of 1.2%, but ahead of Germany (in recession). Inflation remained low at 0.5% and ECB interest rates declined to 2.4%. Manufacturing PMI improved slightly to 48.7 points in April, up from 48.5 in March.
With the Reanult 5 now taking a strong lead, and other small and affordable models climbing (and more coming) it seems the French market is finally putting the necessary ingredients in place for the mass-market BEV transition. It now just depends on decent available volumes of these models, and some degree of competition between them.
What are your thoughts on France’s EV transition? Please join the discussion below with your perspective and questions.
&nbsp;

EVs At 25.3% Share In France – Renault Top Two

A new study from the German Automobile Club (ADAC) tells us what we’ve always suspected would be the case — electric cars are much more reliable than gasoline-powered cars.
German Automobile Club (ADAC) is the largest roadside assistance organization in Europe. If you’re American, think AAA. With an enormous amount of its own data — responding to 3.6 million breakdowns last year, for example — ADAC can really dig in and come to some solid conclusions. Also, it’s apparent they are doing things the right way, eager to come to correct conclusions, not just a preferred talking point. With more EVs on the road, and enough EVs getting older, ADAC was able to come to some important findings.
“For the first time in 2024, the ADAC said it had enough data to make a confident call on EV reliability, and that call favors electric,” Carscoops writes. “With another year of data behind them, the case has only grown stronger. While it responded to more EV calls for service than ever before, those accounted for just 43,678 out of the 3.6 million total or just 1.2%.” But what does that mean in broader context?
“For cars first registered between 2020 and 2022, electric vehicles experienced 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles,” Handelsblatt writes. In comparison, cars powered by fossil fuels (petrol, diesel) had 10.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles. Wow! That’s a huge difference.
So, for all the claims that electric cars are just as unreliable and likely to break down because of one story here or there, that’s just misleading. With high volumes, there are going to be issues that sneak through or pop up, and even “lemon” cars. However, overall, electric cars are clearly much less likely to leave you unable to drive on the side of the road.
Perhaps just as interesting, the EV breakdowns largely come down to one simple issue. In 50% of EV breakdowns and 45% of fossil fuel car breakdowns, it was a 12V battery dying that left drivers stranded. (I will say that one update I have gotten in my Tesla Model 3 since I bought it in 2019 is Tesla now provides a warning on the screen when you need to replace your 12V battery. This should be the norm and helps a ton.)
However, beyond the 12V battery, electric cars are just more reliable. “In almost every single category over the last few years, combustion cars have seen more or equal issues when compared to EVs, including the electrical system, engine management, and lighting,” Carscoops adds.
Naturally, we don’t have solid long-term studies to lean on yet on these matters. Not enough electric cars were being sold 10 years ago to have this kind of research yet. However, simple logic and understanding of the simpler drivetrains of electric cars implies that we will have similar results for cars that have been on the road for a decade. In fact, one would think that’s especially where EVs shine, as that’s when many components of gas/diesel cars break down — components that EVs don’t have. Stay tuned. In the meantime, feel assured in your more reliable electric cars, and be sure to watch out for your little 12V battery dying.

Electric Cars Are More Reliable Than Gas Cars — New Study

The Chicken Littles are nattering endlessly about how the EV Revolution is over, and if you live in the US, you can be excused for thinking that way, given that the failed administration of the current president is doing everything it can think of to hold back the transition to electric vehicles. But outside the US, Hyundai and Kia don’t seem to be paying much attention to what is happening in the US as they ramp up their EV programs in Europe and the UK. Both <a href="https://www.hyundai.news/eu/articles/press-releases/hyundai-motor-tuerkiye-prepares-for-ev-production.html">Hyundai</a> and <a href="https://www.kianewscenter.com/news/global-news/2025-kia-ceo-investor-day--kia-to-strengthen-growth-engine-through-launch-of-new-ev--pbv-and-pickup-/s/40c9896e-8f01-4790-ab6c-e60b11b92f8b">Kia</a> plan to launch several budget-friendly EVs next year, targeting both developed and emerging markets.
Based on information contained in internal product planning materials for Hyundai Motor Group, Korea Economic Daily recently published a report saying Hyundai and Kia are preparing a new product offensive to counter the slowdown in the auto industry and upcoming tariffs in the US. They will introduce 35 new and refreshed products in 2026, including smaller and cheaper electric cars. Another electric car company which shall remain nameless plans to sail serenely into the future with <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/27/why-i-think-teslas-most-affordable-model-will-be-a-big-success-for-reasons-nobody-is-talking-about/">decontented versions</a> of its two most popular models. One of those strategies will be successful.
Hyundai is working on a small electric hatchback, codenamed “BJ1” in the internal planning documents. The company plans to bring that car to market in August of 2026, possibly as a competitor to the upcoming ID.2 from Volkswagen. In March, Hyundai announced it plans to start manufacturing EVs at the İzmit factory in Turkey in 2026, so perhaps the BJ1 will be manufactured there as well. That factory currently builds the i10, i20, and Bayon, leading <a href="https://www.electrive.com/2025/05/02/hyundai-and-kia-to-double-down-on-budget-friendly-evs-next-year/">Electrive</a> to speculate that an electrified version of the i20 may be planned as well.
Two weeks after the Hyundai announcement, L’argus reported the first electric model the company plans to build at the İzmit plant will take the form of a B-segment hatchback and borrow Kia’s EV2 platform. That supports the theory that the BJ1 will be that model.
The BJ1 will offer customers a choice of either LFP or NMC battery packs that deliver roughly 300 km (185 mi) to 400 km (250 mi) of range in the WLTP testing cycle. Hyundai plans to introduce an Inster-inspired dedicated EV codenamed “HE1i” also in 2026, according to Autocar Professional. That car will be built on the E-GMP (K) platform, with sales beginning in India in the second half of this year. Kia will strengthen its budget EV portfolio next year with two models. The company plans to start manufacturing the Euro-focused EV2 in February 2026 and could begin shipping it to dealerships in the spring. In April, it will unveil the electric variant of the Syros, its India-focused small SUV.
Globally, Kia plans to build a diverse EV range comprising 15 models by 2030. Hyundai has reduced its EV sales projections for 2030 from 1.6 million units to 1.26 million units annually. Hyundai has set more aggressive goals, aiming to expand its EV lineup to 21 models and increase its annual EV sales to two million units by the end of the decade.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Kia Targets The Commercial Market</h3>
One market segment that has gone under-represented in the electric vehicle space is the cargo vans that are the backbone of many small businesses, from carpenters and painters to passenger vans that shuttle people from place to place at airports, hospitals, and hotels. At the IAA Transportation Show in September of 2024, Kia presented four concepts of its battery electric PBV commercial vehicles that include the diminutive PV1, the midsize PV5, and the larger PV7.
The <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/02/27/the-kia-pv5-1st-dedicated-pbv-from-kia-unveiled/">KIA PV5 Cargo</a> is now available for pre-order in the UK, and is the first offering from the company’s “Platform Beyond Vehicle” strategy. The PV5 is 4.70 meters (15.5 feet) long, making it very similar in size to the standard-wheelbase <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2022/08/20/volkswagen-id-buzz-cargo-now-open-for-orders-in-uk-479-month-starting-price/">Volkswagen ID. Buzz</a>. Both the ID. Buzz and the PV5 are based on a dedicated electric vehicle platform rather than a reworked chassis designed primarily to be powered by an internal combustion engine, as is the case with many of the competition.
The ID. Buzz, however, was originally designed as a passenger vehicle, and so its cargo capacity is limited t0 500 kg (1100 lb). The KIA PBV models do not use the E-GMP of the electric cars, but their own E-GMP.S platform optimized for light commercial vehicles. That gives them the flexibility to accommodate a a wide range of variants, including a passenger version for driving services as well as cargo-hauling, package-delivery, and mobile-workshop models for people in the trades.
In the UK, the <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/02/21/new-kia-pv5-design-unveiled/">Kia PV5 Cargo</a> can be pre-ordered in the ‘Essential’ configuration from £27,645 ($36,708) net with a 51.5 kWh standard range battery. With the Long Range battery, the base price goes up to £30,145 ($40,027). By comparison, the ID. Buzz Cargo lists for £31,380 ($41,667) but comes with a 79 kWh battery, faster charging, and a more powerful motor. For the PV5 Passenger in the basic “Essential” trim, Kia UK is asking £32,995 ($43,800). Prices of the upmarket “Plus” trim have not been announced at this time.
Deliveries of the PV5 Cargo are set to begin in late 2025. <a href="https://www.kiapressoffice.com/releases/1833">Kia UK</a> says that “other PV5 Cargo variants, as well as PV5 Crew and PV5 Chassis Cab, pricing will be revealed later this year.” There is also no information on the market launch or price of the other battery variants. The version mentioned is the medium, 51.5 kWh battery, but the 71.2 kWh long-range battery will also be available at launch. A 43.3 kWh LFP battery especially for delivery services with a defined area of use is to follow later, but only for the PV5 Cargo, not the PV5 Passenger.
The PV5 has a 400-volt system and the DC charging capacity will probably not exceed 150 kW. “When connected to a 150kW charging point, the PV5’s battery (both standard range or long range) can be topped up from 10-to-80% in less than 30 minutes,” the company says. That is in line with the Kia EV3 on the 400-volt passenger car version of the platform, which has a maximum charging capacity of 130 kW with its 81.4 kWh battery.
What is clear from all this news is that Hyundai and Kia are forging ahead with new electric cars. If some lunatic wants to start a trade war, they are prepared to adapt and adjust without deviating from their primary goal of being leaders in the EV revolution. There are some very smart people running things at Hyundai Motor Group, people who don’t let their business model get interrupted when market upheavals take place. The US could benefit from some zero-emissions work vehicles, but it will have to wait until the tariff turmoil settles down — or buy from Rivian. In the meantime, Hyundai Motor Group is following the lead of BYD by selling in markets that actually want its products and ignoring those that don’t. That sounds like smart thinking.

Hyundai & Kia Have The EV Bit Between Their Teeth And They Are Not Slowing Down

NIO had a solid month of sales growth again in April, growing 53% compared to April 2024. The company had 23,900 vehicles delivered to customers in the month.
That was also a 59% increase over the month before, March 2025 — going from 15,093 sales to 23,900 sales.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-352698" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1352" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-400x265.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-800x530.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-768x509.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-1536x1018.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
The sales breakdown by brand was 19,269 sales of NIO vehicles, 4,400 sales of ONVO vehicles, and a trickle of initial deliveries (239) of NIO’s new “small smart high-end electric car brand,” Firefly.
Regarding that new brand, NIO highlights it as such: “Our small smart high-end electric car, firefly, was officially launched on April 19, 2025. Built upon NIO’s expertise in research and development, design capabilities, safety standards, and intelligent technologies, firefly embodies the brand DNA of being ‘vivid, thoughtful and solid.’ It offers a vivid driving experience where users can embrace the freedom to glow. Following the product launch, firefly started deliveries in China in late April 2025, with plans to gradually reach global markets in the near future.”
Let’s see how much the new Firefly brand and propel NIO forward! Also, I’m curious (and hopeful) that NIO can revive growth of its core NIO brand. Let’s see….
Also see: <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/03/xpeng-sales-up-313-in-2025/">XPENG Sales Up 313% in 2025!</a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-352699" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="3240" height="1720" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png 3240w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-400x212.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-800x425.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-768x408.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-1536x815.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-2048x1087.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 3240px) 100vw, 3240px"></a>

NIO Sales Up 53% in April

XPENG sales continue to soar. The company had 273% more sales last month than in April 2024! Through the first 4 months of 2025, sales are up 313%!
That said, month-to-month, the explosion has slowed down. XPENG sales were only up 5.5% in April compared to March.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-352697" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1352" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-400x265.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-800x530.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-768x509.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-1536x1018.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
Overall, 35,045 XPENG vehicles were delivered in April, and 129,053 were delivered in the first 4 months of the year.
Other highlights include that:
<ul>
<li>The MONA M03 already surpassed 100,000 sales.</li>
<li>The XPENG P7+ reached 50,000 vehicles produced in just 5 months.</li>
<li>“In addition to robust delivery growth, XNGP achieved a monthly active user penetration rate of 84% in urban driving in April 2025. On April 28, XPENG officially launched its ADAS Insurance Service in China. Priced at RMB 239 per year, this service offers additional coverage when NGP is in operation and is made available to all XPENG models through partnership with leading insurance providers in China.”</li>
</ul>
That’s a solid list of accomplishments in recent months.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-352699" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="3240" height="1720" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo.png 3240w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-400x212.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-800x425.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-768x408.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-1536x815.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/XPENG-vs-NIO-vehicle-sales-monthly-deliveries-April-2025-logo-2048x1087.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 3240px) 100vw, 3240px"></a>

XPENG Sales Up 313% in 2025!

Charging an electric car still isn’t as quick as grabbing gas. But it’s getting there, and the tech is moving faster than ever.
Last month, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/753913/byd-ev-one-megawatt-charging/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22753913%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22byd-ev-one-megawatt-charging%22%7D">China’s BYD unveiled next-generation vehicles</a> that promise to add 250 miles of range in just five minutes of charging. Then CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, said “hold my beer” and <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/757229/catl-beats-byd-5-minute-charging-tech/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22757229%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22catl-beats-byd-5-minute-charging-tech%22%7D">announced a pack</a> that it claims can add over 323 miles in the same short period. Factoring in <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/343231/heres-how-to-calculate-conflicting-ev-range-test-cycles-epa-wltp-nedc/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22343231%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22heres-how-to-calculate-conflicting-ev-range-test-cycles-epa-wltp-nedc%22%7D">China’s overly optimistic range estimates</a>, we’re looking at around 170 miles of real-world range for the BYD and 210 for the CATL pack—still super impressive, and unlike anything the industry has ever seen.&nbsp;
Here in the U.S., Lucid Motors is the new charging king. The Gravity SUV hits the general public this month as the <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/755865/lucid-gravity-fastest-charging-ev-in-north-america/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22755865%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22lucid-gravity-fastest-charging-ev-in-north-america%22%7D">quickest-charging EV outside of China</a>, according to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L_H9kInVNU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">testing</a> by <a href="https://insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsideEVs</a> contributor and State of Charge YouTube host Tom Moloughney.&nbsp;
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2026 Lucid Gravity
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So when I attended a <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/756457/lucid-gravity-first-drive-2026/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22756457%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22lucid-gravity-first-drive-2026%22%7D">media preview for the Gravity this month</a>, I was eager to catch up with Emad Dlala, Lucid’s senior vice president of powertrain, about charging tech. Dlala gave me the download on how Lucid got its SUV to charge so quickly and why BYD’s news may not be all it’s cracked up to be.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: height 1.5s linear;"></div>
<h2>The Gravity: A 400 kW Charging Monster</h2>
First, though, just how fast does this SUV juice up? For that, we turn to Tom’s test at a 350-kilowatt EVgo dispenser.&nbsp;
The Gravity is theoretically able to accept <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/748736/lucid-gravity-nacs-charge-rate/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22748736%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22lucid-gravity-nacs-charge-rate%22%7D">400 kW of peak charging power</a>. In Tom’s test from a depleted battery, it maxed out at 375 kW. That’s only a bit more than EVs like the <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/707284/2025-porsche-taycan-range-test/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22707284%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222025-porsche-taycan-range-test%22%7D">Porsche Taycan</a> or <a href="https://insideevs.com/gmc/hummer-ev/" data-inline-widget="internal-links">GMC Hummer EV</a>, which top out at 350 kW.
What may be even more important is that the SUV also sustained high charging power for a significant chunk of the charging session. The way charging power ramps up and then declines over the course of a fueling stop is known as an EV’s “charging curve,” and the Gravity has a very good one. It charged at over 300 kW until almost a 40% state of charge. It maintained over 200 kW up to nearly 50%.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/bglnP6/s1/2025-lucid-gravity.jpg" alt="2025 Lucid Gravity">
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The 2026 Lucid Gravity
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In mileage terms, the Gravity added 100 miles of EPA-rated range in just over five minutes, 200 miles in 10.9 minutes, 250 miles in 15 minutes and a whopping 300 miles in 20 minutes. These numbers are pretty much unheard of this side of the Pacific.&nbsp;
<h2>How Lucid Did It</h2>
So, how did Lucid beat Tesla, <a href="https://insideevs.com/rivian/" data-inline-widget="internal-links">Rivian</a>, Hyundai and everybody else at charging? That started with a new battery cell capable of accommodating lots of energy in a short period of time, Dlala said. Lucid worked with Panasonic to develop a new cell with better energy density (800 watt-hours per liter) and charging abilities than what came in the startup’s first car, the <a href="https://insideevs.com/lucid/air/" data-inline-widget="internal-links">Air</a>.&nbsp;
According to Dlala, the new cell also performs better in extreme heat and cold. It’s a cylindrical 2170 cell, meaning it’s 21 mm wide and 70 mm tall.&nbsp;
There’s always a push and pull between how much energy (aka miles) a battery can store and how quickly it can recharge. This is because packing more active material into a cell creates resistance as lithium ions flow from one electrode to the other.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/7Z3BEo/s1/2025-lucid-gravity.jpg" alt="2025 Lucid Gravity">
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2026 Lucid Gravity
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“Here's the thing people still don't understand: You can get a power cell that gives you much less energy, but gives you much faster charging speed,” Dlala said. Importantly, he said, Lucid’s new cell charges quickly without compromising energy density. That helped the Gravity land a stellar EPA range rating of 450 miles.
The battery was just the start. Lucid then had to engineer the rest of the Gravity to also accept super-fast charging speeds. “We had to also rethink and redesign the entire thermal system and architecture in order to support this very high-power cell,” Dlala said. Thermal issues are a big reason why many cars cannot charge at peak rates for too long. Overheating can cause parasitic <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/703437/10-minute-ev-charging-speed/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22703437%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%2210-minute-ev-charging-speed%22%7D">reactions in a battery</a> that degrade its capacity over time, for example.&nbsp;
The Gravity isn’t just a taller, longer Air. It uses an entirely new powertrain and platform. It runs at 926 volts—more than double the voltage of typical EVs—which was <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/756260/byd-five-minute-charging-america/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22756260%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22byd-five-minute-charging-america%22%7D">key for increasing charging speeds</a>. At higher voltages, you need less current (aka fewer amps) to achieve the same level of charging power and speed (aka kilowatts). That’s a big help because more current generates exponentially more heat.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/G3eoQG/s1/2025-lucid-gravity.jpg" alt="2025 Lucid Gravity">
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2026 Lucid Gravity
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To help manage the heat of faster charging, Dlala’s team developed a new thermal system. They changed the layout of the vehicle’s radiators, optimized for better air intake up front, installed separate cooling systems for the drive units and charging system and developed a new cooling plate for the battery pack.&nbsp;
Why doesn’t every automaker do this? Many are moving in the direction of higher-voltage systems. But the development costs are higher, and there are <a href="https://www.magna.com/stories/inside-automotive/2023/over-1000-v-in-the-future--integration-of-hv-battery-and-drivetrain-in-the-electric-car" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more 400-volt components available</a> off-the-shelf. Excluding engineering costs, Lucid’s 926-volt system doesn’t add much cost to the Gravity, if any, Dlala said. That likely wouldn’t be true for legacy automakers, though, which often source many components from existing suppliers. Lucid, Tesla and other newer companies design far more components in-house, making it easier to transition to higher-voltage systems.
Since the system is working at a lower current, Lucid actually saved money on cables, connectors, inverters and motors, he said. The battery management system gets a little more expensive because it’s dealing with more cells. “So overall I think it’s a wash, or $100, $200 more expensive,” he said.&nbsp;

Efficiency is also a critical ingredient here that many other automakers overlook. (Looking at you, General Motors, with your 9,000-lb <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/753628/cadillac-escalade-iq-electric-review/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22753628%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22cadillac-escalade-iq-electric-review%22%7D">electric Cadillac Escalade</a>.) Maximizing the distance the Gravity can travel per kilowatt-hour goes a long way toward shortening charging stops. The Gravity can go just about as far as the Escalade, but the latter has an additional <a href="https://insideevs.com/tesla/model-y/" data-inline-widget="internal-links">Tesla Model Y</a>’s worth of battery capacity. So even though the Escalade offers up to 350 kW charging, its real-world charge time on a road trip will be far longer.
Dlala said <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/726704/lucid-air-2025-efficiency-range/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22726704%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22lucid-air-2025-efficiency-range%22%7D">Lucid thinks about efficiency</a> in terms of three major areas: rotating parts (wheels, brakes, motors), electronics (the battery and other systems) and aerodynamics.&nbsp;
“You break it down in those families of energy consumption sources, and you start tackling all of them,” he said. Small improvements can have cascading effects across the whole vehicle. For example, by making the motors more compact, the automaker was able to also shorten the overall height of the vehicle and reduce drag.
<h2>The Tesla Supercharger Problem</h2>
One challenge was making sure the Gravity could perform well on Tesla Superchargers. The Gravity is among the first EVs to come from the factory with the Tesla-designed North American Charging System port that <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/743912/nacs-277-volt-power/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22743912%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22nacs-277-volt-power%22%7D">the auto industry is slowly migrating toward</a>. And the Gravity, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/735724/non-tesla-ev-tesla-supercharger-access/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22735724%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22non-tesla-ev-tesla-supercharger-access%22%7D">like an increasing number of EVs from non-Tesla manufacturers</a>, can access the formerly exclusive Tesla Supercharger network.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/VzgGxG/s1/embargo-1-28-9-am-et-lucid-gravity-nacs.jpg" alt="EMBARGO 1/28 9 AM ET: Lucid Gravity NACS">
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The Lucid Gravity plugged into a Tesla Supercharger station.
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The problem is that most Superchargers operate at 500 volts, because most Teslas can’t accept more than that. Lucid needed a way to step the electricity coming from a Supercharger up to 926 volts, or else charging wouldn’t work. So it repurposed the Gravity’s rear drive unit to act as a voltage booster. I won’t pretend to understand how this works, but you can listen to <a href="https://youtu.be/0L_H9kInVNU?feature=shared&amp;t=426" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dlala explain it in-depth here</a>.&nbsp;
The Gravity still can’t do 400 kW on most Superchargers—that’s only possible on more modern 1,000-volt dispensers like those from Electrify America and EVgo—but it can manage a solid 225 kW. Tesla is also slowly rolling out its so-called V4 chargers, with 1,000-volt capability. They currently support <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/748952/tesla-v4-supercharger-speed-boost-325kw/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22748952%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22tesla-v4-supercharger-speed-boost-325kw%22%7D">charging speeds of up to 325 kW</a>, and promise to <a href="https://x.com/MdeZegher/status/1889172565425615117" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">support 500 kW later this year</a>.
Dlala said Lucid also developed the first NACS port rated for 500 amps and 1,000 volts.&nbsp;
<h2>Charging Showdown: Lucid vs. BYD</h2>
So what about <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/756144/byd-han-l-megawatt-charging/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22756144%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22byd-han-l-megawatt-charging%22%7D">BYD’s bombshell charging breakthrough</a>? I was curious to hear Dlala’s thoughts, given that the Chinese firm beats Lucid’s charging performance on paper. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he sees some drawbacks to BYD’s approach and thinks Lucid’s tech is better.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/AkNxwy/s1/byd-tang-l-e-han-l-china.jpg" alt="BYD Tang L e Han L (China)">
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The BYD Tang L and Han L (pictured above) are the first to use the automaker's new "flash charging" platform.
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He said that BYD clearly prioritized charging power and speed over energy density and range for its new battery, which isn’t Lucid’s style. Sure enough, the BYD Han L, which uses its “flash-charging” tech, has an EPA-equivalent range rating of under 300 miles.&nbsp;
Plus, BYD’s tech works best with 1,000-kilowatt charging stations. Dlala doubts the usefulness of that, given that that caliber of infrastructure isn’t widely available right now. The highest-powered chargers in America dispense 350-500 kW.&nbsp;
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BYD and other Chinese manufacturers are deploying chargers rated for 1,000 kW and above.&nbsp;
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Of course, you could also argue that the reason we don’t have even beefier chargers is that we don’t have any vehicles that could use them. In China, BYD, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/755163/chinese-evs-1-megawatt-chargers/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22755163%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22chinese-evs-1-megawatt-chargers%22%7D">Huawei and Zeekr</a> are deploying ultra-high-powered charging dispensers to meet demand from a new generation of fast-charging cars. And, to BYD’s credit, its new cars have dual charge ports and can juice up from two stalls simultaneously. That means they can get a lot out of current EV charging infrastructure.&nbsp;
“We could even make this charge faster. But is it going to be utilized on our infrastructure? And also: Is it worth the added cost and, of course, compromising some of the range? That’s the question,” he said. “I think we really hit the right balance.”
Got a tip about the EV world? Contact the author: <a href="mailto:Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com</a>

How The Lucid Gravity Became A Fast-Charging Monster

It’s no secret that Walmart has been quietly working on its own electric vehicle charging network. The <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/661274/walmart-add-thousands-ev-charging-stations-stores-2030/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22661274%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22walmart-add-thousands-ev-charging-stations-stores-2030%22%7D">company announced</a> as much over a year ago. However, since then, it has been tight-lipped about how it would go about doing so—until now.
I secured an exclusive interview with Adam Happel, Walmart’s General Manager of Retail EV Charging, as the company agreed to talk in detail about the Walmart EV charging network plans for the first time.
After my 20-minute interview with Happel, it’s clear to me that Walmart plans to do what Walmart always does, and that's offer its customers a better overall shopping experience than competitors, including cost, convenience, and value. After all, Walmart didn’t become the largest retailer in the world by accident.
<h3 class="subheader">High-Speed, Reliable Fast Chargers Everywhere</h3>
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Happel explained that the retailer intends to install Walmart EV charging stations at “thousands of its locations by 2030” and continue installing more in the next decade. He didn’t offer any specific number of stalls per location, only that “each site stall count will depend on market conditions”. Happel said they will take into consideration the number of EVs in each specific market as well as how many other networks operate nearby.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: height 1.5s linear;"></div>
If there aren’t any other EV charging stations in the area, Walmart will install more charging stalls than if there are other fast charging options. He also explained that Walmart will monitor utilization, and the sites will be designed to easily add more chargers when needed to prevent customer queuing.
After testing charging equipment from various vendors, Walmart has selected Alpitronic and ABB as suppliers for its initial sites, although I was told it is brand-agnostic. Customers use the Walmart app to initiate and pay for charging, and the process will be the same regardless of the brand of charger at the site.
I also asked Happel what happens to the chargers that are on the other networks that currently operate on Walmart properties. <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/752565/electrify-america-2024-charging-sessions/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22752565%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22electrify-america-2024-charging-sessions%22%7D">Electrify America</a>, for instance, has many of its sites on Walmart grounds. Happel said that Walmart's partners have been great to date, and as they continue to grow the Walmart network, they will reassess how they move forward with their partners.&nbsp;
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I visited Walmart's first official network site (there are currently two other sites—one in Texas and the other in Arkansas, but they are pilot test sites) in McKinney, Texas, to test out the network and charged a rented <a href="https://insideevs.com/gmc/hummer-ev/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="1" data-params="%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22gmc%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22hummer-ev%22%7D">GMC Hummer EV</a> on a 400 kW Alpitronic charger. That site has four chargers that serve eight charging bays. Each charger has one NACS and one CCS1 connector and can charge two EVs at once, dynamically splitting the 400 kW and offering each cable up to 600 amps. Unfortunately for <a href="https://insideevs.com/nissan/leaf/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="1" data-params="%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22nissan%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22leaf%22%7D">Nissan LEAF</a> owners, there will not be <a href="https://insideevs.com/tag/chademo/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="7" data-params="%7B%22tag%22%3A%22CHAdeMO%22%2C%22originalTitle%22%3A%22chademo%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22chademo%22%7D">CHAdeMO</a> connectors at any of the locations.
The Hummer took in over 300 kW for a while, and I charged from 1% to 53% in 27 minutes, and the charger dispensed 100 kWh of electricity. I was billed $42.00 as this site is currently set to charge $0.42 per kWh. Happel told me Walmart won't have consistent pricing throughout the network. Instead, it will do as most other EV charging networks do, which is adjust pricing from site to site depending on local electricity rates. Happel also indicated that Walmart Plus customers may get a discount on charging, just like they do on other goods and services offered by the company.&nbsp;
<h3 class="subheader">Walmart Charging Will Be Different</h3>
Walmart currently operates over 4,600 stores and over 600 Sam’s Clubs in the United States, giving it over 5,200 potential locations. In fact, over 90% of the US population lives within 10 miles of one of its stores, and the remaining &lt;10% live mostly in extreme rural areas where electric vehicle adoption is currently very low.
That fact is important because one of the biggest challenges EV charging networks face is securing locations. Until now, every EV charging network has had to search for potential locations, contact the property owner, and attempt to negotiate a long-term lease deal for dedicated parking spaces to install its chargers and power cabinets. The new Ionna network is a slight exception because it is purchasing the properties for some of its locations, which are typically abandoned gas stations, which we love to see.

Walmart owns most of the real estate where the stores sit, so it doesn’t need to find locations or ask anyone for permission. Plus, as utilization increases, it can simply add more chargers to accommodate more EV throughput without an issue. No other network can do that.
Another challenge facing EV charging networks is the extraordinary capital needed for each site. The cost of a single 10-stall 350 kW DC fast charging site can cost $300,000 to over $500,000 in some cases. Walmart’s 2025 revenue is projected to be over $700 billion, so allocating whatever funds are necessary to build a comprehensive nationwide network isn’t a question of can they, it’s will they.
Additionally, since its retail stores are on-site, so are its employees. So if an EV charging customer needs help, a trained Walmart employee will be there to assist during business hours, which typically range from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
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I believe having chargers on your property with employees on hand may also help reduce a problem that many networks struggle with: identifying and repairing broken chargers. You can be sure that as soon as a charger goes offline or a connector is damaged, customers will be very quick to walk into the store and report it to management. The way broken charger reporting is done with all of the other networks is by leaving a comment through the app.
Confronting a Walmart manager in person and complaining about broken chargers will most likely have a much deeper impact than a remote customer service representative reading a comment left the night before from a user who’s 500 miles away. The manager will be personally involved and incentivized to repair it quickly. After all, they won’t want to see that same person a week later asking them why it’s still broken.
<h3 class="subheader">The Walmart Charging Impact</h3>
Make no mistake about it, the Walmart charging network has the potential to be a game-changer for the industry in the US. Imagine if by 2030 it builds out 2,000 to 3,000 charging stations with 25,000 to 30,000 stalls that can charge CCS and NACS-equipped vehicles at speeds up to 400 kW.
To put that into perspective, Tesla currently has about 2,600 Supercharger locations with 30,000 stalls in the US. Walmart could match what it took Tesla 13 years to do in under five years. It has the money, the locations, and it appears the desire to do so.&nbsp;
Additionally, think about the impact this will have on Walmart's competitors like Costco and Target. I believe they will have to step up their own EV charging plans or risk losing their EV customer base to Walmart. If they can get the same goods at Walmart and charge while they shop, why not just go there?
I believe the Walmart charging network will be appreciated more by individuals who cannot charge at home and rely on public infrastructure than those using fast chargers for long-distance travel. They can now charge their EVs without inconvenience while they perform their usual weekly shopping. And Walmart, being a value brand, I'm sure will offer competitive pricing for EV charging if not find a way to undercut the competition.&nbsp;
I know a lot of people with EVs, and others thinking of buying one were concerned with the Trump administration's decision to shutter the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan. However, with Walmart now committed to building a nationwide network, the <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/750250/ionna-rechargery-reliability/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22750250%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ionna-rechargery-reliability%22%7D">Ionna network</a> just getting started, and Tesla, Electrify America, EVgo, and the other networks continuing to expand, high-speed public EV charging in the US is going to be just fine.&nbsp;

Walmart Opens Up About Its EV Charging Network: Charge Better

<ul>
<li>Kia EVs finally have access to the Tesla Supercharger network in the U.S.</li>
<li>Customers with the EV6, EV9 or Niro EV can now plug-in at 21,500 additional DC fast charging ports in the country.</li>
<li>The rollout was delayed by about four months.</li>
</ul>
Kia's electric vehicle customers can now hit the open road with a lot less charging anxiety. After a four-month delay, the carmaker has officially unlocked access to Tesla’s massive Supercharger network for its electric lineup.
<a href="https://insideevs.com/tesla/" data-inline-widget="internal-links">Tesla</a> offers by far the most comprehensive public fast charging network in the U.S., and also the most reliable one. If you pull into a charging station, the chances of you finding dispensers that are out of order or broken are extremely low. Although the reliability for non-Tesla networks such as Electrify America and EVgo is also steadily improving.
<a href="https://insideevs.com/kia/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="2" data-params="%7B%22alias%22%3A%22kia%22%7D">Kia</a> EV owners can now access more than 21,500 DC fast charging ports in the Tesla Supercharger network. The model year 2025 <a href="https://insideevs.com/kia/ev6/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="1" data-params="%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22kia%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ev6%22%7D">EV6</a> and 2026 <a href="https://insideevs.com/kia/ev9/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="1" data-params="%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22kia%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ev9%22%7D">EV9</a> get the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) port right from the factory. <a href="https://insideevs.com/kia/niro-ev/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="1" data-params="%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22kia%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22niro-ev%22%7D">Niro EV</a> owners and those with older model year EV6s and EV9s can use the NACS-to-CCS adapter to plug into the Superchargers.
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Owners will also be able to find and navigate to the Tesla Superchargers through the infotainment screens and via the Kia smartphone app which can also show charger availability, status and pricing. Enrollment is required for the Tesla charging program though, which can be accessed through the app.
The automaker said before the Tesla deal, its owners had access to about 22,000 public fast charging stations across the country. Tesla Supercharger access doubles that number, with combined access to more than 40,000 ports. That could fundamentally improve road trips for Kia drivers, likely making that experience much, much easier.
“Tesla Superchargers are critical infrastructure, and Kia America condemns the recent attacks that disrupt the availability of convenient and affordable charging for our customers,” Kia said in a statement.
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The Tesla Supercharger network now supports 11 brands, including Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and more. Access is coming soon to nine more carmakers, with BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Honda, Acura, Toyota, Subaru, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche next in line.
Have a tip? Contact the author: <a href="mailto:suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com</a>

Kia’s Fast Charging Network Just Doubled In Size

Electric vehicle sales have exploded, with over 3 million of them hitting U.S. roads in the last three calendar years alone. Is America’s public EV charging infrastructure keeping up? It’s a surprisingly tough question to answer. But it’s an important one, given that a perceived lack of charging stations is one of the biggest hurdles to wider EV adoption.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Simply calculating the ratio of EV chargers to EVs across the country doesn’t tell the whole story, said Loren McDonald, chief analyst at Paren, a charging data firm. If it were that simple, then a place like Oklahoma, which has tons of chargers but few EVs, would be considered an EV owner’s paradise.&nbsp;

“Using those ratios could lead you to the wrong conclusion,” he told <a href="https://insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsideEVs</a>. What’s more useful is comparing utilization across key markets—that is, how busy charging stations are throughout the day. Crunch the numbers, and you realize that the answer to the question of “do we have enough chargers?” varies drastically depending on where you are in the country.&nbsp;
For <a href="https://www.paren.app/reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a report on the state of the EV charging industry</a> out on Tuesday, Paren tracked utilization of EV fast chargers during the peak hours of 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in major markets. Las Vegas had the highest utilization rate at 43.3%. Columbus, Ohio, had the lowest at 14.3%.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: height 1.5s linear;"></div>
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 <div class="spi_wrapper"><a class="lightzoom" href="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/utilization-rate-at-peak-hours-12pm-6pm.png"> <img class="custom-image" draggable="false" src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/thumbnail/utilization-rate-at-peak-hours-12pm-6pm.png" alt="EV fast charger utilization during peak hours" width="1000" height="1142" loading="lazy" pinger-seen="true"> </a></div> <div class="photo-title">DC fast charger utilization during peak hours.</div> <div class="source-title">Photo by: Paren</div> </section>
According to McDonald, that means you’ll likely have to wait in line for a charger in some of the top markets. But on the flip side, there’s more than enough infrastructure to meet demand in many U.S. cities and states. On the whole, he says the U.S. is doing pretty well.&nbsp;
“In most of the country, we have plenty of charging infrastructure, at least in the core markets,” he said.&nbsp;
Average utilization has surpassed 25% in several markets, which McDonald says is an encouraging sign for a business that’s historically struggled to make ends meet. It’s part of why he says the EV charging industry has entered a new era: “Charging 2.0.”&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: height 1.5s linear;"></div>
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 <div class="spi_wrapper"><a class="lightzoom" href="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/industry-snapshot-q1-2025.png"> <img class="custom-image" draggable="false" src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/thumbnail/industry-snapshot-q1-2025.png" alt="Paren EV Charging Industry Snapshot: Q1 2025" width="2168" height="1218" loading="lazy" pinger-seen="true"> </a></div> <div class="photo-title">Paren EV Charging Industry Snapshot: Q1 2025</div> <div class="source-title">Photo by: Paren</div> </section>
“We’re moving from those sort of pimply-faced teenage years into being an adult,” he said. McDonald points to a few signals that things are moving in the right direction.&nbsp;
New, serious players are moving aggressively into the space. Convenience store and gas station chains like Wawa, Sheetz, 7/11, <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/693405/bp-pulse-tesla-fast-charging-hardware-us/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22693405%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22bp-pulse-tesla-fast-charging-hardware-us%22%7D">BP</a> and Circle K see dollar signs in the longer duration of EV pit stops. Plus, car companies now realize they need to provide better charging to sell more cars. That’s enticed <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/696433/mercedes-north-america-fastest-ev-charging-network-400kw/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22696433%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mercedes-north-america-fastest-ev-charging-network-400kw%22%7D">Mercedes-Benz</a>, Rivian and <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/722916/ionna-chooses-durham-nc-headquarters/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22722916%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ionna-chooses-durham-nc-headquarters%22%7D">Ionna</a>—funded by a super-group of automakers—to launch charging networks of their own, like Tesla did back in the day.&nbsp;
“All these major players are coming in with lots of capital and a different reason for building charging stations,” McDonald said.&nbsp;
<section contenteditable="false" draggable="true" data-widget="special_image" data-align="center" data-source="{&quot;source_id&quot;:&quot;2314&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Paren&quot;}">
 
 <div class="spi_wrapper"><a class="lightzoom" href="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/utilization-rate-of-all-fast-charging-stations.png"> <img class="custom-image" draggable="false" src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/custom/thumbnail/utilization-rate-of-all-fast-charging-stations.png" alt="utilization rate of fast charging stations Paren" width="2160" height="1210" loading="lazy" pinger-seen="true"> </a></div> <div class="photo-title">Utilization rate of DC fast charging stations by state in Q1</div> <div class="source-title">Photo by: Paren</div> </section>
According to Paren’s report, EV charger reliability among non-Tesla sites—a nagging issue for years—improved in Q1 too. The firm’s reliability index ticked up from 81.2 to 82.6 quarter-over-quarter. It says that's thanks to efforts to replace aging hardware.&nbsp;New stations are getting bigger as well. The average new non-Tesla site built in Q1 had 3.9 ports, up from 2.7 during the same period last year. And the U.S. gained 3,667 chargers and 794 stations in the first three months of 2025.&nbsp;
To be sure, large swathes of rural America are still sorely in need of more charging stations. Not helping matters: the uncertain fate of funds from the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The Trump administration <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/749891/trump-nevi-program-rescinds-approval/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22749891%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22trump-nevi-program-rescinds-approval%22%7D">effectively paused that initiative in February</a>, as InsideEVs was first to report.&nbsp;NEVI was designed to subsidize the buildout of fast-charging stations along major travel corridors, and especially in places where charging networks might not see a business case.&nbsp;
With that money in jeopardy, charging firms will focus on the high-demand areas where they know they can make money, McDonald said, potentially widening the charging infrastructure divide and keeping more potential EV buyers on the fence.&nbsp;&nbsp;
“There’s no money to be made in Wyoming and Montana and places like that. And the whole point of NEVI was to solve that problem,” McDonald said. “The good news is fast charging has grown up, and it’s now a business. But it’s not a business everywhere.”
Got a tip about the EV world? Contact the author: <a href="mailto:Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com</a>

Does America Have Enough EV Chargers? It's Complicated

It was a delight to see the new <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/756687/2026-kia-ev4-us-official-specs-range-charging/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22756687%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222026-kia-ev4-us-official-specs-range-charging%22%7D">2026 Kia EV4</a> in U.S.-spec form at the New York Auto Show this week. It's no secret that the American market isn't exactly kind to sedans these days, especially electric ones, but the EV4 should be something pretty special. It packs up to 330 miles of range, striking looks and an anticipated mid-$30,000 price tag. Plus, its standard Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug sweetens the deal.&nbsp;
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Patrick George</div>
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2026 Kia EV4
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I have a strange affinity for seeing NACS plugs on non-Tesla cars, because let's face it; having such easy Tesla Supercharger access will make your next road trip a lot easier. But when I went to check out the EV4's charging port at the show, I realized the car is getting something else right about EV charging.&nbsp;

Unlike its bigger brothers, the <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/741756/2025-kia-ev6-specs-us/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22741756%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222025-kia-ev6-specs-us%22%7D">Kia EV6</a> and <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/752679/kia-ev9-v2h-wallbox-quasar2/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22752679%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22kia-ev9-v2h-wallbox-quasar2%22%7D">EV9</a>, the EV4 does away with the motorized charging door for a simpler flap that pops open, just like a gas-powered car. Let me tell you, folks: This is how it should be.<div class="item m1-ap-native " style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: height 1.5s linear;"></div>
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 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Patrick George</div>
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2026 Kia EV4
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The powered charging door is one of my least favorite features on modern EVs. My own EV6 works like that; you walk up to it, press the little notch in the door (or a button inside the car) and then pray that it hasn't broken and will still open without any headaches.
Granted, I've never had an issue with the power door on my car. But I worry about it constantly. What if some tiny motor inside it breaks? What if dirt or debris gets inside? What if it somehow gets damaged from the outside? How will I charge my car if any part of this system fails? It's such a vital part of the car ownership process that it needs to be as simple as possible, and motorizing the charging door—while it may feel "futuristic" and "luxurious"—adds a concerning degree of complication.&nbsp;
Let me put it this way: In all of my years covering the auto industry, and in more than two decades of driving myself, I've never heard much about the failure rates of the good, old-fashioned gas tank flap. When things aren't broken, they don't need to be fixed.&nbsp;<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: height 1.5s linear;"></div>
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<a href="https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/charge-door-not-opening.268555/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Forums</a>, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModelY/comments/1c7z07m/charge_port_door_stuck/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reddit</a> and <a href="https://x.com/SnazzyLabs/status/1806499423637426549" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">social media accounts</a> are full of horror stories about charging door failures. Above, you can see <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/BlazerEV/comments/1gfndso/charge_door_issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a video</a> about a busted door on the Chevy Blazer EV, which has a motorized port where the Equinox EV and related Honda Prologue do not. Note, too, that the <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/680875/2024-chevrolet-blazer-ev-ppv-has-498-horsepower-250-mile-range/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22680875%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222024-chevrolet-blazer-ev-ppv-has-498-horsepower-250-mile-range%22%7D">police version of the Blazer EV</a> gets a manual charge door—a tacit admission that, if you're relying on the car, you really can't afford to have such a crucial part fail.
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/JOBl9g/s1/hyundai-kona-electric.jpg" alt="Hyundai Kona Electric ">
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: InsideEVs</div>
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Hyundai Kona Electric
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Granted, it's not as if every EV has a powered charging door. Not even every Hyundai Motor Group EV offers one. The standard flap seems to be reserved for the lower-end, more affordable EVs, like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xEP32DzSbc&amp;t=11s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Hyundai Kona Electric</a> and Kia Niro EV. (Naturally, the EV4's sibling, the boxy <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/732165/kia-ev3-first-drive-ama/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22732165%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22kia-ev3-first-drive-ama%22%7D">EV3 crossover</a>, also works the same way.) But I think that the manual door flap should spread to all of its EVs, and even become some kind of regulated industry standard. At the very least, cars should be required to offer a manual backup option if there is a failure. Keeping this process as simple as possible seems like the best way to avoid problems with arguably your EV's most important function.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/9L3pG/s1/polestar-2-charging.jpg" alt="Polestar 2 charging">
 
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Polestar 2 charging
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Now, some automakers have argued that including a motorized door gives these cars a more "premium" feel. But I would argue that every Polestar I have driven so far has been a pretty nice car, yet none of them&nbsp;have had a motorized door. They do just fine with the good ol' gas cap-style part instead. Unfortunately for the paranoid among us,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DoNCR8P_Ew" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the new Polestar 4</a>&nbsp;goes the power route, and I don't think the car is any better for it.
My worst experience with this feature happened last year <a href="https://insideevs.com/reviews/752033/2025-rivian-r1t-review/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22752033%22%2C%22section%22%3A%222%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%222025-rivian-r1t-review%22%7D">on a Rivian R1T</a>, which I otherwise found to be extremely impressive. That truck's charging door got stuck in a half-closed, half-open position after the mechanical arm that moves it out and around broke off in a car wash.
Granted, part of the problem was user error. I went looking for Rivian's <a href="https://insideevs.com/features/377816/electric-vehicle-car-wash-info/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22377816%22%2C%22section%22%3A%223%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22electric-vehicle-car-wash-info%22%7D">Car Wash mode</a>, but couldn't find it in the software system. That feature keeps the door locked so that the charging door won't pop open when the brushes come out or it's being blasted with water. Then again—why does any car need a Car Wash mode? Are normal users really going to remember every time, and be on the hook for a hefty repair bill if they don't enable it? It feels like all of this can be avoided by just having a normal access door for your charging plug.
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/mMq1Nv/s1/rivian-broken-door.jpg" alt="Rivian Broken Door">
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Patrick George</div>
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Rivian Broken Door
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As EVs move on from being expensive spaceships and become more mainstream vehicles that everyone can drive, it's time the auto industry also moves on from this&nbsp;unnecessary complication. It's not a dealbreaker for any EV, at least in my mind; but if you ask me, the EV4 is doing this right.&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/2N0YOK/s1/2026-kia-ev4.jpg" alt="2026 Kia EV4">
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Patrick George</div>
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2026 Kia EV4
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Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

The 2026 Kia EV4 Gets One Thing Very Right About EV Charging

When I saw the recent article on the early <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/14/the-1969-all-electric-gm-xp-512e-concept/">GM electric car prototypes</a>, it reminded me of how the company over the years has been way out in front of its peers from an engineering perspective, but failed to turn that first mover advantage into success in the showroom. When the Detroit Big Three finally decided to address the challenge of the Japanese imports, Ford and Chrysler came up with parts bin specials like the Falcon and Valiant that were as exciting as week-old Wonder bread. GM countered with the Corvair, which although saddled with a flawed rear suspension, featured a lot of creative new thinking. It was the first mass production car in America to offer a turbocharged engine — a decade or more ahead of its peers.
GM next introduced the Chevy Vega, a tidy little hatchback with an aluminum overhead cam four-cylinder engine while Ford and Chrysler continued with iron block pushrod engines. Next came the Fiero, the first mid-engine car from a US manufacturer, and the Cadillac Allanté, a car that was so crazily over-engineered that it was a nightmare to keep running. Fast forward to the EV1 and the Chevy Volt, both of which were on the cusp of the EV revolution but flamed out before reaching exit velocity.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">GM Is Building Compelling EVs</h3>
Now GM is bringing compelling electric cars to market like the Cadillac Lyriq, the Chevy Equinox EV, and the Chevy Blazer EV. The next generation Chevy Bolt is nearing production, while the electric Hummer, Silverado, and Suburban will be on sale soon. All those cars are going to need batteries, and for that GM has partnered with LG Energy Solution to build a new battery manufacturing facility near Nashville, Tennessee. When completed, that factory and another one in Ohio will be able to produce enough cells to make a new EV battery pack every minute. Already they are producing more battery cells than Tesla, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-04-14/inside-gm-mary-barra-s-35-billion-bet-on-electric-cars">Bloomberg Hyperdrive</a>.&nbsp;Josh Tavel, the head of project engineering and manufacturing at GM, told Bloomberg recently, “If the market wants more EVs, we can make them.”
Mary Barra, the CEO of GM since 2014, has a goal to make the company a leader in electric vehicles. The past year has been difficult for Barra and GM. First, interest in EVs has cooled somewhat in the US. Second, the new administration is hellbent on smashing what it calls the “green new scam.” While those factors have convinced Ford and Stellantis to pivot to building more conventional cars, Barra has mostly stayed the course. She has hired Tesla veterans to make GM’s battery capabilities more competitive and taken steps to slash costs in order to achieve the goal of “low cost EV architecture.”
As part of that plan, GM is building another battery factory in Indiana and has made investments in US-based mines for lithium and other minerals. Eventually, Barra’s vision is to create a nationwide supply chain similar to the one BYD has in China. “We’re about giving customers choice. Over the long term, we think EV demand will grow,” Barra said.
GM depends on a global supply chain. The absurd tariff policies of the new administration are raising costs for automakers across the board. GM executives say electricity simply makes for a better car and represents the future of transportation. Batteries are key to solving the cost equation, according to Barra. “There has to be more of a charging infrastructure. There has to be more choice at the lower price points. I think it will happen over time,” she says. “Core battery technology will continue to get better.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">To Ultium And Beyond!</h3>
In 2018, Barra and GM president Mark Reuss came up with a plan to push harder into EVs by investing in the battery design that would become Ultium. The idea was to use the same battery cells and modules for every model the company produces and all developed in-house. With one system for every electric car, development costs for new EV models could be dramatically reduced over time. Government subsidies, such as the ones lawmakers would later bundle into Biden’s IRA, didn’t factor into the equation, Reuss says. “This whole business and strategy was planned without any IRA benefit,” he says. Nevertheless, “Kicking the can down the road and hoping for different legislative and greenhouse gas rules happening is a pretty tough way to play the business.”
Kurt Kelty used to work for Tesla. Mary Barra tried to recruit him for years but he didn’t believe GM was serious about its EV intentions. What changed his mind was a tour of GM’s low cost EV architecture of the future. Kelty is now vice president for battery, propulsion, and sustainability. “This is my passion in getting us off fossil fuel,” he told Bloomberg.
His success at GM is largely measured in cost reductions. The company slashed the cost of its battery packs by $60 per kilowatt-hour last year, Kelty says. That achievement was primarily the result of increased sales volume and improved production yields at the cell plants. This year he wants to take out another $30 by selling more cars and enhancing yields even further.&nbsp; That would get the cost of GM battery packs to about $100 per kilowatt-hour — 50% less than in 2022. Kelty said if that happens, GM’s battery costs will be lower than they are for Tesla.
Kelty’s long term solution is to take a different approach to batteries. Currently GM and LG use a mix of lithium, nickel, manganese, and aluminum in their Ultium cells. The cells are stacked and stuffed into boxes known as modules. Two dozen cells make a module, and 10 modules make up the battery pack for an entry level Blazer or Equinox. The separate modules are necessary to protect the cells, but they also add significant weight. Kelty, who was deeply involved in the development of the 4680 cylindrical battery cells at Tesla, now thinks prismatic cells are the future.
Contrary to their name, prismatic cells are not shaped like prisms. They are more like bricks that stack neatly together. They are encased in hard metal, which provides structure without requiring individual modules. They are the ideal combination of light and space-efficient, Kelty says. (BMW used to use prismatic cells but has now <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/10/bmw-getting-cylindrical-batteries-from-catl/">transitioned to cylindrical cells</a> similar to the ones Tesla uses for its next generation Neue Klasse electric cars. Clearly, there is no agreement yet within the auto industry regarding which battery format is best.)
GM signed a deal to purchase its first batch of prismatic cells from Samsung SDI, and will develop its own version of the technology with LG. Over time, GM will convert more of its batteries to prismatic, Kelty says. As part of that transition, he plans to ditch the Ultium name. “The beauty of prismatic cells is that we can reduce the part count by about 50%,” he says. “You reduce your labor, you reduce your initial investment. Overall, you just get a massive price reduction.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Advantages Of LFP Technology</h3>
Using different battery chemistries can also lower costs, and for that reason GM is incorporating lithium iron phosphate cells into some cars. Although they store less energy than traditional lithium-ion batteries, they are significantly less expensive. GM will use them in the new Chevy Bolt and a version of its Chevy Silverado pickup. Instead of 490 miles a charge, the truck will go 350 miles on a battery charge, Kelty says, but it will cost $6,000 less.
Kelty is also trying to make GM less reliant on foreign suppliers. EV batteries require graphite, 90% of which comes from China. Kelty wants to switch from graphite to <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/12/no-graphite-no-problem-silicon-ev-batteries-really-are-coming/">silicon</a>, which can be sourced from suppliers in the US. GM also formed a $625 million joint venture with Lithium Americas Corp. in Nevada to mine lithium closer to home. These moves require significant upfront investment in the short term but, especially in the age of tariffs, could bring costs down in the long term, especially if the current tariff insanity persists.
GM EV sales doubled in 2024 and maintained nearly the same pace in the first quarter of 2025. Executives regard EVs as a big opportunity to introduce GM brands to drivers who never would’ve considered them before. More than 60% of the company’s EV customers have never owned a GM car before, says Tavel, the project engineering head. If GM can get the cost of its EVs closer to that of gas cars, sales will take off, he says. “Every customer that buys one will tell you the same thing,” he says. “To me, it’s a no-brainer.”

GM & Mary Barra Place A $35 Billion Bet On EVs

Which auto brands and auto groups are now ruling the US pure electric vehicle (EV) market? How much competition is there at the top now? Let’s roll into the numbers and charts and see.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-brand-q1-2025-logo.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351743" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-brand-q1-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="2130" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-brand-q1-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-brand-q1-2025-logo-383x400.png 383w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-brand-q1-2025-logo-766x800.png 766w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-brand-q1-2025-logo-768x802.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-brand-q1-2025-logo-1471x1536.png 1471w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-brand-q1-2025-logo-1961x2048.png 1961w" sizes="(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-q1-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351744" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-q1-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="2130" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-q1-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-q1-2025-logo-383x400.png 383w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-q1-2025-logo-766x800.png 766w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-q1-2025-logo-768x802.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-q1-2025-logo-1471x1536.png 1471w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-q1-2025-logo-1961x2048.png 1961w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
First of all, yes, despite <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/14/non-tesla-us-ev-sales-up-472-vs-2021/">Tesla losing sales year over year for two years in a row</a>, it is still far and away the king of the US EV market. (And, again, this ain’t no democracy.) That said, whereas Tesla used to be so far in the lead that it was unfathomable it could ever be caught, Ford is now at the point where it “just” needs to grow its EV sales 5.7 times over in order to catch the leader. I know — that’s still really, really far away. But it’s something one could imagine happening over time … if Ford was growing its EV sales more notably. The <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/14/tesla-model-y-model-3-continue-to-dominate-us-ev-market-but/">Ford Mustang Mach-E increased its sales by 2,018 units year over year</a> and the Ford E-Transit grew by 865 units, but the F-150 Lightning’s sales declined by 556 units year over year. Ford got closer to Tesla much more because of Tesla’s large drop in sales.
Anyway, after Tesla’s 43.2% share and Ford’s 7.6% share, Chevrolet’s 6.5% share of the US EV market was the only other share above 5%. BMW, as a smaller premium brand, does fairly well to score 4.6% market share, and then you’ve got mass-market builders Hyundai (4.3%), Honda (3.2%), Volkswagen (3.2%), and Kia (2.9%) before EV startup Rivian (2.9%, but a lower 2.9%) and luxury automaker Cadillac (2.7%). The rest, well, do they deserve mention at such low volumes?
I think most interesting there is how quickly Honda shot up from being a zero-EV-sales laggard to 6th in the ranking. It’s brand reputation and customer loyalty pushed it forward quickly, despite the Honda Prologue actually being a Chevy Blazer EV underneath (and with the Prologue even beating the Blazer EV).
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351745" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1218" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo-400x239.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo-800x478.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo-768x459.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-BEV-sales-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo-1536x917.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351746" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1218" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo-400x239.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo-800x478.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo-768x459.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Share-of-US-BEV-market-by-auto-group-q1-2025-logo-1536x917.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
Looking at auto groups or alliances together, Tesla remains in the same position, of course, but GM looks much more significant and dangerous (to Tesla’s #1 spot) after consolidating all of its brands and EV models. In fact, GM’s 10.8% share is exactly ¼ of Tesla’s 43.2% share. Could this competition get interesting one day? I don’t know. We’re a long way off from that, but at least its a discussion that could be had now. What GM needs, though, is to double the output of some of its more popular models (most notably, the <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/01/05/chevrolet-equinox-ev-wins-cleantechnica-car-of-the-year-in-usa/">2024 CleanTechnica Car of the Year Chevy Equinox EV</a>) and also roll out some more popular electric models. Then it could get interesting.
Notice that we’re talking about GM not Ford now, as Ford Motor Company’s got a narrower brand and EV model portfolio. Ford relies completely on … Ford for its EV sales. It’s a bit weird in a market where luxury vehicle brands have the highest proportion of their sales coming from EVs that Lincoln has been sitting on its hands, but this is where we are.
In fact Ford Motor Company isn’t even third, with Hyundai–Kia taking the last podium position. Hyundai and Kia get a lot of praise for their EVs, and they are doing “better than the rest,” but I have been disappointed with these automakers for years that they don’t push out their EV models more. They have potential, and we all know that it’s the ones with potential who can really let you down. It’s good to see Hyundai–Kia in 3rd, not 10th, but I think we could really see a lot more EV sales from Hyundai and Kia if they put a little more effort into it.
Volkswagen Group rounds out the top five, being the German version of GM with a boatload of brands to benefit from. It’s not doing horribly, easily beating a lot of other large automakers thanks to its wide and compelling lineup, but it could certainly be doing much better and is another company I was hoping to see a little more from. I’d love to see Volkswagen Group — like Ford Motor Co. and Hyundai–Kia — rise above 30,000 sales a quarter soon. Next quarter? Though, of course, they are now at the whims of a tariff-crazed lunatic who is more intent on firing people, deporting people, and raising living costs for people than actually doing something to help Americans. We’ll see what the rest of the year brings, but I guess I can’t say I’m hopeful.

Auto Brands Leading the US EV Revolution — CHARTS

The AITO M9, a flagship SUV from the Chinese carmaker, Seres is poised to redefine the Philippine luxury electric vehicle market with its blend of advanced technology and sophisticated design. First presented at the 20th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) 2025, the M9 is distributed by QSJ Motors.
According to company executives at the MIAS launch, the M9 was assembled with software and hardware technology from Huawei and components from leading global suppliers. The “M9 aims to deliver a transformative driving experience for discerning consumers,” Kevin Chiang, managing director of QSJ Motors, said.
QSJ Motors Philippines first showcased the Seres 5, Seres 5 Saker Falcon Edition (SF), and Seres 7 in July last year.
<figure id="attachment_351732" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351732" style="width: 2048px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/att.Ye0b44vPCGkB31EVAwYC5pnQ0IrOESZpxSLkXFoR_7c.jpeg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-351732 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/att.Ye0b44vPCGkB31EVAwYC5pnQ0IrOESZpxSLkXFoR_7c.jpeg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/att.Ye0b44vPCGkB31EVAwYC5pnQ0IrOESZpxSLkXFoR_7c.jpeg 2048w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/att.Ye0b44vPCGkB31EVAwYC5pnQ0IrOESZpxSLkXFoR_7c-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/att.Ye0b44vPCGkB31EVAwYC5pnQ0IrOESZpxSLkXFoR_7c-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/att.Ye0b44vPCGkB31EVAwYC5pnQ0IrOESZpxSLkXFoR_7c-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/att.Ye0b44vPCGkB31EVAwYC5pnQ0IrOESZpxSLkXFoR_7c-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351732" class="wp-caption-text">Other Seres vehicles on display. (Photo by Deriq Bernard Tribdino)</figcaption></figure>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">A Huawei-on-wheels</h3>
China’s leading tech supplier Huawei has been behind Seres in the development of AITO, which according to company executives means “Adding Intelligence to Auto,” after Huawei sold its electric vehicle trademark Aito to Seres, its car manufacturing partner, late last year. This strategic move underscores the Shenzhen-based technology conglomerate’s evolving focus towards becoming a primary supplier of automotive systems and technological expertise, rather than a direct competitor in the vehicle market. This decision marks a notable adjustment in Huawei’s approach to the burgeoning EV sector, where it initially explored the possibility of direct vehicle manufacturing.
Seres, after co-developing the AITO brand in collaboration with Huawei, last July announced its intention to acquire the complete trademark and patent portfolio of the brand for a sum of 2.5 billion yuan (approximately US$343 million). This transaction was finalized by the close of 2024, as indicated in a filing by the Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed Seres in March 2024.
This announcement serves as a reiteration of Huawei’s long-held position that it will not independently engage in the production of automobiles, instead opting to empower its partners with its advanced technological innovations. This strategic pivot allows Huawei to capitalize on the growing EV market as a key enabler, supplying critical components and software without the capital-intensive undertaking of establishing its own car manufacturing operations.
<h3 style="text-align: center;" data-sourcepos="11:1-11:820">The AITO M9</h3>
The exterior of the M9 presents a striking aesthetic, characterized by a streamlined two-tone body that evokes a sense of both elegance and power. Measuring 5230mm in length, 1999mm in width, and 1800mm in height, with a 3110mm wheelbase, the vehicle is designed for both urban maneuverability and stable, comfortable long-distance travel. Its aerodynamic profile, achieving a drag coefficient of 0.279 Cd, is complemented by distinctive Galaxy headlights and Starlight taillights, enhancing its visual appeal.
<figure id="attachment_351733" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351733" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/att.k6QWxrQ7Yhx0CPfhXwx6Rh5BLTWEtisLKn61vYYPLBc-e1744722540680.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351733" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/att.k6QWxrQ7Yhx0CPfhXwx6Rh5BLTWEtisLKn61vYYPLBc-e1744722540680.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1066"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351733" class="wp-caption-text">The AITO M9 at the Manila International Auto Show. (Photo by Deriq Bernard Tribdino)</figcaption></figure>
Performance is a key attribute of the AITO M9, featuring a smart dual-motor all-wheel-drive system that delivers 365 kW of power and 675 Nm of torque. This enables the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. The 52 kWh battery provides over 200 kilometers of electric range, while the intelligent Range Extender platform, utilizing an efficient onboard generator, extends the total range to over 1,200 kilometers. The fuel tank, capable of being filled in just five minutes, effectively acts as a range extending “power bank.”
Inside, the M9 prioritizes passenger comfort and luxury. The spacious cabin features flexible seating arrangements, including Zero Gravity seats designed for optimal support. High-quality materials such as white ash wood trim, crystal knobs, genuine leather seats, and a panoramic sunroof contribute to the vehicle’s premium feel. An adaptive dual armrest, a 25-speaker sound system, intelligent storage spaces, a dual-mode in-car refrigerator, a fragrance system, and 16.8 million color LED ambient lights enhance the overall experience.
Technological integration is central to the M9’s design, with a seamless connection between the instrument cluster, central control, and passenger screens. Intelligent driving systems, including million-pixel intelligent headlights and real-time power management, are designed to ensure a worry-free driving experience.
Safety is paramount in the AITO M9, which boasts a robust vehicle body structure and advanced safety features. It is equipped with nine airbags and has achieved a “super” five-star rating from the China New Car Safety Assessment Program, with a record-breaking score of 93.9%. The vehicle includes a comprehensive suite of 20 active safety features, providing advanced front, lateral, and rear protection.
<h3 style="text-align: center;" data-sourcepos="11:1-11:405">AITO as a strategy</h3>
By consolidating the AITO brand under Seres, Huawei signals a clear intent to operate as a Tier 1 supplier, similar to established global automotive technology providers. This approach allows Huawei to potentially partner with a wider range of automakers in the future, offering its specialized technologies to enhance their EV offerings. For Seres, acquiring full ownership of the AITO brand provides greater autonomy in its market strategy and strengthens its position as a significant player in the EV landscape.
The financial transaction also provides Seres with valuable intellectual property, further solidifying its long-term growth prospects in the rapidly expanding electric vehicle sector.
The AITO M9 pre-orders and reservations are currently being accepted.
With reporting from Deriq Bernard Tribdino

Huawei-Backed AITO Releases M9 SUV at Philippine Auto Show

150,000 Miles, 5 Years, & 5+ Months on My 2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range — Where Do I Stand Now?

By Sam McEachern, <a href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/topic/us/en/2025/apr/0414-1969-all-electric-GM-XP-512E.html" rel="nofollow">GM News</a>
<figure id="attachment_351716" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351716" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351716" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="853" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV.jpg 1280w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351716" class="wp-caption-text">Front ¾ view of the GM 512E.</figcaption></figure>
In the first quarter, General Motors saw sales of its electric vehicles nearly double from the comparable year-ago quarter — we’re now the #2 seller of EVs in the U.S.1 But this was no overnight success story — GM has been dabbling with electric cars for more than half a century.
The GM EV1, which debuted in 1996, was the first mass-produced electric car from a major automaker. The Chevrolet Volt, which first hit the market in 2010, was the first commercially available plug-in hybrid in the U.S.2&nbsp;But there’s a far more obscure (and tinier) GM EV that debuted&nbsp;much&nbsp;earlier:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gm.com/heritage/collection/gm-concept/1969-512-electric-experimental">the 1969 XP 512E concept car</a>.
While the car was never sold commercially, there is no question about this: it’s simply adorable.
The 512E – more formally known as the 512 Electric Experimental – debuted in May 1969 as part of GM’s “Progress of Power” exhibition for innovative vehicles. This tiny runabout boasted a wheelbase of 52 inches, an overall length of 86.3 inches and was just 56 inches wide. It had a fiberglass body with a steel floor pan, and weighed in at 1,250 pounds. With a lightweight 84-volt lead acid battery pack and a DC electric motor mounted on the rear axle, the 512E could travel up to 58 miles at 25 mph, or 47 miles at its top speed of 30 mph. It could accelerate from 0-30mph in a sluggish 12 seconds. This was no speed demon.
<figure id="attachment_351717" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351717" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-interior.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351717" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-interior.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="853" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-interior.jpg 1280w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-interior-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-interior-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-interior-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351717" class="wp-caption-text">The GM 512E with the canopy top raised and front entry door opened.</figcaption></figure>
The 512E was unveiled well before the arrival of modern Level 2 chargers; the 512E’s battery juiced up using a typical 115-volt household outlet, which would take around 7 hours. The charger would also supplement the onboard 12-volt battery, which was used to power the car’s onboard accessories, which included a heater-defroster, head and tail lamps, turn signals, windshield wipers, and a horn.
Watch video of GM 512E in action at GM’s Warren Tech Center in Michigan <a href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/topic/us/en/2025/apr/0414-1969-all-electric-GM-XP-512E.html">here</a>.
A side-pivoted canopy top and lower front entry door made entering the rather tight interior a breeze, where passengers were greeted with a bench seat, a regular throttle and brake, a steering wheel and even an ashtray. The 512E was designed to be driven with the canopy front raised in nicer weather, which gave the car a “unique convertible appearance,” according to GM’s press release announcing the car. The canopy was also removable, allowing users to transform it into a tiny electric roadster.
<figure id="attachment_351718" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351718" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-creator.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351718" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-creator.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="821" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-creator.jpg 1280w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-creator-400x257.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-creator-800x513.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-creator-768x493.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351718" class="wp-caption-text">A GM engineer sits in the 512E with the canopy top raised.</figcaption></figure>
The 512E was one of three 512 city car concepts that GM showed at Progress of Power — which was held at the company’s Warren Technical Center in Michigan. The other two included a gasoline powered roadster model with a fuel-sipping 12-horsepower two-cylinder engine, as well as an impressive plug-in hybrid model that could operate in either all-electric or hybrid mode. The plug-in could travel up to 150 miles with a full fuel tank and battery, sipping only three gallons of gasoline for the trip.
<figure id="attachment_351719" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351719" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-lineup.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351719" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-lineup.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="960" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-lineup.jpg 1280w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-lineup-400x300.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-lineup-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GM-512E-EV-lineup-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351719" class="wp-caption-text">(From right) The GM 512 Hybrid, 512 Electric, 512 Gasoline, and the three-wheeled XP511 on display at the 1969 Progress of Power exhibition in Warren, Michigan.</figcaption></figure>
The 512E was one of three 512 city car concepts that GM showed at Progress of Power — which was held at the company’s Warren Technical Center in Michigan. The other two included a gasoline powered roadster model with a fuel-sipping 12-horsepower two-cylinder engine, as well as an impressive plug-in hybrid model that could operate in either all-electric or hybrid mode. The plug-in could travel up to 150 miles with a full fuel tank and battery, sipping only three gallons of gasoline for the trip.
Editor’s note: Retro Rides highlights noteworthy vehicles from the long history of General Motors. Over more than a century, GM has produced a huge variety of cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, station wagons, and even buses, some fondly remembered and sought after by collectors, others largely forgotten but worthy of rediscovery. With Retro Rides, we’re casting a fresh spotlight on some of GM’s great design, engineering and technology ideas of the past. Big thanks to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gm.com/heritage">GM Heritage Center and Archives</a>&nbsp;for making this series possible. If there’s a GM vehicle you think we should revisit, reach out to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:news@gm.com">news@gm.com</a>.

The 1969 All-Electric GM XP 512E Concept

We just looked at overall electric vehicle sales in the United States in the 1st quarter of 2025 compared to the 1st quarter of the previous four years. Overall, the sales trend is great. Sales of fully electric vehicles (EVs) were up 200% compared to Q1 2021. While Tesla still accounts for 43% of the market, though, it saw sales declines compared to the previous three years, and non-Tesla EV sales were up 472% (rather than 200%) in Q1 2025 versus Q1 2021. But — let’s look more closely model-specific sales.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-by-model-logo.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351669" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-by-model-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="5170" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-by-model-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-by-model-logo-158x400.png 158w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-by-model-logo-316x800.png 316w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-by-model-logo-768x1946.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-by-model-logo-606x1536.png 606w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-by-model-logo-808x2048.png 808w" sizes="(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
The Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3 are still far ahead of any other models — so far ahead that they warp the chart. However, they warp the chart less than in previous quarters! In fact, rather than their sales being about 10 times higher than all non-Tesla models, the Model Y and Model 3 are now seeing “just” about 5 to 6 times more sales than the 3rd and 4th best selling electric models. Those would be the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Chevrolet Equinox EV, respectively, the only other models to have more than 10,000 sales in the quarter.
After those top models, there’s actually a pretty consistent, gradual slide downward in 1st quarter sales. Small to midsize SUVs/crossovers seem to do particularly well, but the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck also sneak into the top 10. Interestingly, the F-150 Lightning actually took back the title of #1 electric pickup truck from the Cybertruck. Meanwhile, the BMW i4 joined the Tesla Model 3 as the only other car in the top 10.
In terms of year-over-year sales increases and decreases …
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351670" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="3954" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-206x400.png 206w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-413x800.png 413w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-768x1489.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-792x1536.png 792w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-1057x2048.png 1057w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
… The Honda Prologue broke the chart, going from 19 sales in the 1st quarter of 2024 as it began to trickle into the market to 9561 sales in the 1st quarter of 2025. So, yeah, I had to remove that from the chart, and also dropped the Chevy Blazer EV while I was at it since it grew from 600 sales in Q1 2024 to 6,187 sales in Q1 2025.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351706" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="3780" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-216x400.png 216w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-432x800.png 432w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-768x1423.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-829x1536.png 829w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-change-logo-1105x2048.png 1105w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
Looking at the adjusted chart, it’s a very interesting mix of vehicles at the top of the chart for sales growth — Toyota BZ4X (+196%), Subaru Solterra (+173%), Mercedes EQB (+142%), Tesla Cybertruck (+129%), Chevy Silverado EV (+125%), GMC Hummer EV (+109%), Nissan LEAF (+103%), Genesis GV70 (+72%), Tesla Model 3 (+70%). There’s no real rhyme or reason to that list.
Unfortunately, a couple dozen models saw their sales decline, and not just discontinued models. Well, I guess this is another sign of a maturing market, though. There are dozens of models, and some are beating out others in their class. And that can flip back and forth for various reasons — new model entrants, promotional campaigns, refreshes, etc.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351705" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="5170" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-logo-158x400.png 158w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-logo-316x800.png 316w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-logo-768x1946.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-logo-606x1536.png 606w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Chart-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-logo-808x2048.png 808w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
Just looking at volume change, we get a bit of a different story. The Tesla Model 3 rebounded a bit for the biggest volume growth year over year (+21,678), the Chevy Equinox EV was a clear second (+10,329), and the Honda Prologue was a strong third place (+9,542). On the other end, the Tesla Model Y lost 32,678 sales, the Chevy Bolt EV/EUV (discontinued) lost 7,027 sales, and the Mercedes EQE lost 4,371 sales.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-351674 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-logo-e1744669357656.png" alt="" width="2037" height="3425" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-logo-e1744669357656.png 2037w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-logo-e1744669357656-238x400.png 238w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-logo-e1744669357656-476x800.png 476w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-logo-e1744669357656-768x1291.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-logo-e1744669357656-914x1536.png 914w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-logo-e1744669357656-1218x2048.png 1218w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2037px) 100vw, 2037px"></a>
Here, again, we have an extreme case — massive growth from the GMC Hummer EV going from 2 sales to 3,479 sales. So, let’s look at the chart with the Hummer EV removed.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-new-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-351675 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-new-logo-e1744669412368.png" alt="" width="2040" height="3404" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-new-logo-e1744669412368.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-new-logo-e1744669412368-240x400.png 240w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-new-logo-e1744669412368-479x800.png 479w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-new-logo-e1744669412368-768x1282.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-new-logo-e1744669412368-921x1536.png 921w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-change-new-logo-e1744669412368-1227x2048.png 1227w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
In general, given that this is a two-year change, we see a lot of models at the top of the chart here that were introduced about two years ago and have matured into much higher sales levels. And then the bottom of the chart has models that have been phased out.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-new-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351673" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-new-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="5474" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-new-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-new-logo-149x400.png 149w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-new-logo-298x800.png 298w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-new-logo-768x2061.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-new-logo-572x1536.png 572w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2023-new-logo-763x2048.png 763w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
To end, looking at volume change from two years ago, we have several new models at the top (Chevy Equinox EV, Honda Prologue, Tesla Cybertruck, Chevy Blazer EV, Acura ZDX), but we also have significant increases in sales from some older models (Ford Mustang Mach-E, Rivian R1S).
Down at the bottom, we have the huge drop in sales of the Tesla Model Y (which has a refreshed version coming, and had production line retooling in Q1, but also suffered from backlash to Elon Musk’s extreme political shenanigans). Then we’ve got the discontinued Chevy Bolt EV/EUV again. Unfortunately, several other EVs dropped in sales by more than a thousand units with less obvious reasons, including the Rivian R1T, Mercedes EQS, and Volkswagen ID.4 — but perhaps that’s just the price to pay for growing competition.
Are there any other notable highlights (or lowlights) you see in the charts above?

Tesla Model Y & Model 3 Continue to Dominate US EV Market — But …

Hydrogen vs. Battery Buses: A European Transit Reality Check

<a href="https://www.electrathonamerica.org/">Electrathon America</a> is an organization that provides hands-on opportunities for participants to learn about STEM principles as they design and build an electric vehicle for competition. The race is not always won by the swiftest. In Electrathon competition, each contestant starts the race with a the same amount of electrical energy. The race lasts one hour and the winner is the car that has traveled the farthest when the checkered flag drops. That means efficiency is a priority, rather than top speed.
Florida Power and Light is an active supporter of Electrathon America in Florida. It supplies dozens of teams of high school students from around the state with starter kits consisting of the basic chassis, the motor, the motor controls, and running gear, including wheels and brakes. The students then design and build the bodywork for the cars, test their vehicles to determine their energy usage under various conditions, and plan how to get the most distance out of their cars at the next race.
<figure id="attachment_351692" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351692" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351692" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Electrathon-America-Pace-Car-.jpg" alt="Electrathon America" width="1200" height="668" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Electrathon-America-Pace-Car-.jpg 1200w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Electrathon-America-Pace-Car--400x223.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Electrathon-America-Pace-Car--800x445.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Electrathon-America-Pace-Car--768x428.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351692" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: Steve Hanley for CleanTechnica. All rights reserved.</figcaption></figure>
On April 12, 2025, the latest Electrathon America event took place at Homestead-Miami Raceway as part of the Formula E race weekend. My wife and I were guests of Jaguar TCS Racing, one of eleven teams that participate in the Formula E series that brings all electric racing to venues around the world. As we were waiting for our introduction to the team, we wandered into the FPL area outside the grandstands were a dozen teams were busy preparing for their competition later that day.
What captured our attention was not the cars themselves but the sense of excitement rippling through each school’s team area. Students were working feverishly to prepare their entry, adjusting this, tweaking that, and generally having a wonderful time. This is a curriculum that excites students. No one was on their phone or stuck off in a corner playing video games. They were all engrossed in what they were doing and having the time of their lives while learning valuable lessons about science, technology, engineering, and math.
“You can learn about being a leader or a problem solver. You can learn about wiring or turning wrenches. You can learn about body paneling and graphic design, getting sponsorships,” Isabella Buckhardt, an associate project manager for FPL told <a href="https://lakeonews.com/stories/south-central-and-west-florida-students-build-electric-go-kart-with-fpl,71881">Lake Okeechobee News</a> earlier this year. “Building cars, racing them; I come from a long line of racing and building cars and ever since I can remember,” said Rhet Osterhoudt, a junior at Okeechobee High School. “I’ve been in and out of race cars and building them throughout my family.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Electrathon America And Florida Power &amp; Light</h3>
2025 is the third year FPL has supported students across the state as part of the Electrathon America initiative, providing materials and training to more than two dozen high schools from Miami to Pensacola. Electrathon America offers an exciting, hands-on opportunity for students to dive into engineering concepts by designing, building, and racing their own electric go-karts. The program aligns with FPL’s commitment to empowering the workforce of tomorrow with vital STEM skills and fostering future careers in the field.
Electrathon America is not restricted to bulked-up gym rats, and there were as many young women involved in the pre-race preparations as young men. This is an educational opportunity that not only focuses on STEM skills, it also teaches teamwork, cooperation, and sharing of ideas and strategies. It goes without saying that the teams seek out the lightest member of the team to drive the car.
Once the green flag waves, the race begins. Each car starts with a maximum of 1000 Watt-hours (1 kWh) of electrical energy. Lead acid batteries are used in the events sponsored by FPL because they are readily available and inexpensive. They also do not require a battery management system, which adds complexity and costs. Lithium-ion batteries are allowed in national Electrathon America events. The competition focuses on how efficiently each car and driver can travel with unpredictable traffic and a variable road course. One hour after the green flag, the checkered flag is waved and the car that traveled the farthest wins.
Electrathon America is partly funded through a modest membership fee of $30 for the first team vehicle, and $15 for each vehicle thereafter of the same team. Event entry fees range from free and up, averaging around $25 per car.&nbsp; Costs vary widely because each team decides what parts and components to buy. Frame materials, system voltage, motor type, battery and so forth are up to the designers, although in Florida, FPL does supply the basics for each car. Typical vehicle costs from new parts will likely fall between $2000 (scratch built) and $5000 (a kit). Electrathon America says that building a car from used parts can save significantly on costs. It also has a resource manual with links to parts suppliers to assist teams that are just starting out.
The racing is just as intense as any motorsports event, even if the speeds are considerably slower. Reliability issues are often a big factor in the competition. Chains and sprockets tend to break or become misaligned. Electrical connections fail and batteries don’t always perform as expected. Nevertheless, the contestants remain undaunted and there are always opportunities for celebration and camaraderie when the competition is over. Contestants share their experiences and may pick up hints from other teams that will serve then well in future events.&nbsp;Here is a video of the Electrathon America sponsored by FPL event a year ago at Homestead-Miami Raceway.
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="High School Students Take Over Homestead-Miami Speedway for Electrathon Go-Kart Race" width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u1XpGMRhw4w?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
The Electrathon America series is designed to appeal to young students of all ages. It encourages them to include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in their lives and develop skills that will stand them in good stead for securing good paying jobs in the future. In addition to building an electric car for the competition, the team needs to figure out the complex mathematics required to travel the maximum distance possible with the limited amount of electrical energy available.
There is a tremendous desire to go as fast as possible from the start, but that will just leave you with a flat battery on the side of the track as other contestants who drive more judiciously catch up and pass. This is a real world application of the lessons we all learned in elementary school about the tortoise and the hare — life lessons that will endure long after the competition is finished.
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Aesop's Fables | The Hare And The Tortoise | HooplaKidz" width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pjokVI0LJzw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

Electrathon America Comes To Homestead-Miami Raceway

US electric vehicle sales continue to grow. 100% electric vehicle (EV) sales were up 200% in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2021. They were up 66% compared to Q1 2022, up 12% compared to Q1 2023, and up 11% compared to Q1 2024.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-logo.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351679" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="494" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-logo-400x97.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-logo-800x194.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-logo-768x186.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-logo-1536x372.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-change-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351681" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-change-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="494" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-change-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-change-logo-400x97.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-change-logo-800x194.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-change-logo-768x186.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-USA-EV-sales-q1-2025-vs-q1-2024-q1-2023-q1-2022-q1-2021-change-logo-1536x372.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
That said, there are very notable changes in the market. Tesla has gone from dominating it to … well, it’s still far ahead of the competition with about 43% of all US EV sales. However, that’s down from a peak of about 80% and years sitting between 60% and 80%.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-BEV-market-Q1-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351677" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-BEV-market-Q1-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1282" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-BEV-market-Q1-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-BEV-market-Q1-2025-logo-400x251.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-BEV-market-Q1-2025-logo-800x503.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-BEV-market-Q1-2025-logo-768x483.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NEW-US-BEV-market-Q1-2025-logo-1536x965.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
Also, while the overall EV market has been growing, Tesla sales were down a lot compared to Q1 2024, down even more compared to Q1 2023, and even down slightly compared to Q1 2022! That means that non-Tesla EV sales are actually growing stronger than the overall trend indicates, since Tesla is bringing that overall trend down.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/New-US-BEV-market-volume-change-Q1-2025-logo.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351676" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/New-US-BEV-market-volume-change-Q1-2025-logo.png" alt="" width="2040" height="1124" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/New-US-BEV-market-volume-change-Q1-2025-logo.png 2040w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/New-US-BEV-market-volume-change-Q1-2025-logo-400x220.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/New-US-BEV-market-volume-change-Q1-2025-logo-800x441.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/New-US-BEV-market-volume-change-Q1-2025-logo-768x423.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/New-US-BEV-market-volume-change-Q1-2025-logo-1536x846.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2040px) 100vw, 2040px"></a>
Looking at specific percentage-change figures, Tesla sales were down 9% compared to Q1 2024, down 21% compared to Q1 2023, and down 1% compared to Q1 2022. They were up 85% compared to Q1 2021.
On the other hand, non-Tesla EV sales were up 32% compared to Q1 2024, up 63% compared to Q1 2023, up 244% compared to Q1 2022, and up 472% compared to Q1 2021.
In coming articles, I’ll provide charts and dive into sales figures and rankings on the EV model leaders and the EV brand and automotive group leaders in the US market. Stay tuned!

Non-Tesla US EV Sales Up 472% vs. 2021!

There are actually <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/752136/level1-ev-charging-rivian-r1t/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22752136%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22level1-ev-charging-rivian-r1t%22%7D">lots of ways</a> to live with an electric vehicle even if you don't have access to a home Level 2 charger. But in general, if you can install a home plug, you'd be kind of crazy not to. Of all the benefits to going electric, that one is probably the strongest.
Evidently, more and more EV drivers are figuring this out. Charging installation giant <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/339965/qmerit-aims-to-simplify-ev-home-charger-installations/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22339965%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22qmerit-aims-to-simplify-ev-home-charger-installations%22%7D">Qmerit</a> told <a href="https://insideevs.com" target="_blank">InsideEVs</a> that the first quarter of 2025 was the best one in the company's nine-year history for home charger hook-ups in North America. In fact, installations even went up 57% compared to the final quarter of 2024.

Those results <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/756400/ev-sales-q1-tesla-slump/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22756400%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ev-sales-q1-tesla-slump%22%7D">mirror the EV sales growth seen in the United States over the past few months</a>, even as many experts predicted a downturn if tax credits were to go away. They have not yet, and many customers could be rushing to buy new cars before any tariffs go into effect. But no matter the reason they're buying cars, they're turning to home plugs more and more as part of the deal,&nbsp;Qmerit Chief Operating Officer Oliver Phillips said in an email.
"Once they experience the convenience of home charging, of waking up every morning with a fully charged vehicle, then that sows&nbsp;the seeds for more acceptance,"&nbsp;Phillips said.<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>
<section contenteditable="false" draggable="true" data-widget="image" data-border="" data-id="7882906">
 
 
 
 <img src="https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/3W4Qyp/s1/2025-hyundai-ioniq-5-n-owners-can-get-either-a-complimentary-home-charger-or-450-in-chargepoint-credits.jpg" alt="2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N owners can get either a complimentary home charger or $450 in ChargePoint credits">
 <div class="source-title" data-source-id="">Photo by: Hyundai</div>
 
</section>
Qmerit declined to offer the exact number of installations it performed in Q1, but said that&nbsp;they happened across a wide swath of the U.S. and not just a few electric-friendly states.&nbsp;"Our numbers&nbsp;not only signal that EVs can grow, but that they can cross geographic and ideological boundaries,"&nbsp;Phillips said. "EVs can represent the next chapter in that story as charging becomes more reliable, home-based and streamlined."&nbsp;&nbsp;
Qmerit is one of a growing field of companies that offers <a href="https://qmerit.com/faq/how-does-the-installation-process-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full-service EV charger installation</a>, from home assessment to permitting to the job itself. That process can sometimes be a complex and onerous one, especially if electrical work is needed that a contractor isn't familiar with.
But Qmerit may want to thank the car companies for <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/753185/home-charging-ev-study-installation/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22753185%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22home-charging-ev-study-installation%22%7D">getting their acts together here</a> above all.<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile"></div>
For the longest time, automakers wanted to focus solely on making electric cars while other companies handled everything else. They never had to get into the gas station business, for example, and few wanted to deal with the potential liabilities involved with a home installation.
Now, however, more and more of them are realizing they need to make charging easy from the get-go, and that includes throwing in a home charger—and sometimes helping with or covering install costs—when the car is purchased. <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/714992/automaker-provide-level-2-home-ev-charger/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22714992%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22automaker-provide-level-2-home-ev-charger%22%7D">Several automakers offer this</a>&nbsp;now, including General Motors, Honda, Ford, Hyundai and others. Many will partner directly with Qmerit for this service, while others simply refer new EV drivers to the company.&nbsp;
Most EV drivers charge their cars at home. But in recent years, as automakers sweetened purchases with deals around free public fast-charging, many of them treated those as replacement gas stations instead—leading to <a href="https://www.marketplace.org/episode/2023/12/21/long-lines-and-broken-chargers-demand-for-powering-evs-outpaces-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">long lines at chargers</a> when they could be doing it at home more easily and cheaply. The emphasis finally seems to be shifting to home chargers instead, and that's the better way to go for anyone with a garage and a panel.&nbsp;
"The power of partnerships is reflected in these numbers," Phillips said. "We are working creatively with automakers and dealers to reduce the friction in acquiring home charging—to make it a less expensive, more embedded part of the car-buying experience."
Contact the author: <a href="mailto:patrick.george@insideevs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patrick.george@insideevs.com</a>

Home Level 2 Charger Installations Are Skyrocketing

About a dozen years ago, more battery-based energy storage projects began to be completed, which was exciting because they were, and continue to be, a solution to the “intermittency problem.” Sunshine and wind are not available 24/7, so it is necessary to store some solar and wind power electricity for the down times.
There is a similar situation with electric vehicle chargers because they are one solution to electric vehicle “range anxiety.” Manufacturing electric vehicles with 600 miles of range or more is not necessary because the more obvious solution is simply to install more EV chargers in places that don’t have any or have too few. Reducing the distance between public chargers is the solution, not having EVs with absurdly large batteries. At some point, if there are enough public EV chargers within an easily reachable distance of every EV, there will be no reason for anxiety. For the people who are unaware, most EV charging happens at EV owners’ homes, and another big chunk of EV charging happens at their workplaces. In that sense, there are already enough EV chargers for local driving for many EV owners.
While most EV news is about the vehicles themselves, expanding EV charger infrastructure developments are at least as important. On that matter, Kempower Senior Product Manager Kevin Lindley answered some questions for CleanTechnica about the <a href="https://kempower.com/america/news/kempower-announces-flex-satellite-for-public-charging/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flex Satellite chargers</a>.
What is the Flex Satellite and what about it is new?&nbsp;
The Kempower Flex Satellite is designed for public charging applications, providing light-duty EV drivers with an accessible and functional fast-charging experience while helping meet NEVI Formula funding requirements and state regulations. While allowing for faster charging and a better user experience, the Flex Satellite provides a dual-cable satellite with (1) DC input from the Kempower Power Unit, and a choice of either 400 A CCS1 or 380 A J3400/NACS connectors for each parking space, allowing drivers to choose which connector is needed for their vehicle for reliable charging without the hassle of adapters.&nbsp;
<figure id="attachment_351640" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351640" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Satellite-3.png"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-351640 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Satellite-3-e1744640189196.png" alt="" width="2000" height="2000"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351640" class="wp-caption-text">Image Credit: Kempower</figcaption></figure>
Is it compatible with CCS1 or NACS?&nbsp;
Yes, the Kempower Flex Satellite allows drivers to select the best connector for their vehicle, saving time and money. The dual-cable satellite allows for an adapter-free experience with the ability to choose between CCS1 and J3400/NACS connectors seamlessly.&nbsp;
What is the charging rate or rates?&nbsp;
The Kempower Flex Satellite is capable of charging some current or future vehicles at over 300 kW using continuous rated, 400 Amp CCS1 or 380 Amp J3400/NACS connectors. For many EV drivers, this results in a typical charge time of less than 30 minutes.
What are the best places to install it?&nbsp;
Designed for public charging applications, the Kempower Flex Satellite can be installed in confined spaces while still providing superior performance. More than six states require CCS1 and NACS to be offered at NEVI-funded charging sites, making the Kempower Flex Satellite the optimal solution. The Kempower Flex Satellite works well when one Flex Satellite is installed for each parking space, allowing every driver to have a choice of both common connectors.
What is the installation cost and time?&nbsp;
The Kempower Flex Satellite is typically installed within one day on a prepared site.
Who will be the customers?&nbsp;
The Kempower Flex Satellite is intended for general public charging applications, designed with NEVI-funded charging sites in mind.
What is the cost of the Satellite?
The Kempower Flex Satellite is part of the Kempower Satellite Charging System that combines a centralized Power Unit with distributed Satellites for charging where it is needed the most. The flexibility of the Kempower solution can accommodate the unique needs of each site, allowing for cost to be optimized. Please contact a Kempower Sales and Service Partner or Kempower directly for more information.
Where is it available?&nbsp;
The Kempower Flex Satellite is available for charging sites in the US and Canada.&nbsp;
What is the expected lifespan and warranty?&nbsp;
Though every site has its own unique environmental and other factors that can affect the lifespan, the Kempower Flex Satellite is designed for up to 10 years or more of reliable service.
How much space is required to install and operate it?&nbsp;
The Kempower Flex Satellite base occupies approximately 1 square foot, allowing it to be mounted in applications where space is limited. An installation only requires appropriate clearance for charging cable use and space in front of the satellite for service and driver interaction.

Kempower Announces Fast-Charging Flex Satellite EV Chargers

What's your biggest issue with owning and driving an electric vehicle? I'm guessing it's related to public charging, and you're not alone. <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/708414/public-ev-charger-reliability-availability-jd-power-q4-2023/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22708414%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22public-ev-charger-reliability-availability-jd-power-q4-2023%22%7D">Fast chargers are getting better</a>, but there still aren't enough of them across the country—and they <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/753915/shell-ea-evgo-tesla-cahrging/" data-inline-widget="internal-links" data-type-id="0" data-params="%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22753915%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22shell-ea-evgo-tesla-cahrging%22%7D">don't always work</a>.&nbsp; And nothing is worse than arriving at a station with a nearly empty battery and finding every stall filled.
A new study suggests that giving people that knowledge alone could bring more buyers into the EV world. The National Bureau of Economic Research believes EV sales could rise 8% by 2030 if there was better real-time data for charging locations.
Mind you, that's an 8% rise solely based on knowing where the functional chargers are, and if they're being used. It doesn't take into account improvements in charging speeds, reliability or an expanded network of charging stations.

The study, called <a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w33342" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Charging Uncertainty: Real-Time Charging Data and Electric Vehicle Adoption</a>, monitored PlugShare for a six-month period from March through August 2024. Specifically, researchers focused on DC fast chargers along six major U.S. highways—I-5, I-10, I-75, I-80, I-90 and I-95—covering 13,538 miles across 40 U.S. states. All charging stations in the study were located within two miles of a highway exit, mirroring what a typical EV driver might explore while traveling. To go even deeper, the study reduced that off-highway distance to just a half-mile in densely populated areas to account for heavier traffic.<div class="item m1-ap-native "></div>
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EV6 ABRP Route
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What did the study find? Drawing on information from the PlugShare app, it was found that only 33.2% of all charging stations reported real-time data. However, with Tesla and Electrify America excluded from the data set, the real-time reporting goes up to 70.9 percent. These two companies account for a significant number of fast chargers but don't play well with PlugShare.
Of course, you can get real-time info for both EA and Tesla Supercharger stations but it requires having the specific app for each company. It's free to find stations and check real-time status, but both apps also offer a premium subscription that provides other benefits. The study points out that accessing multiple apps to find real-time information on chargers is an inconvenience at best. At worst, drivers may not be able to switch between and search through multiple apps while driving. PlugShare is proposed as a convenient, universal solution since it's free to use and already incorporates numerous charging networks.
So, real-time reporting on chargers could definitely be better. But how does this correlate to more EV sales? Researchers surveyed EV and non-EV owners, asking the same series of questions about EV chargers, locations, and the probability that they'd be able to successfully charge up at various locations. 1,820 completed surveys were received, the majority of which came from non-EV owners.<div class="item m1-ap-native m1-ap-native-mobile"></div>
Based on the answers to those questions, researchers found that prospective EV buyers would be more apt to pull the trigger if they had more information on chargers. After a plethora of equations, the study reached an 8% bump by 2030.
The full study also shows potential impacts on emissions should those 8% buyers step up, but the takeaway is that knowledge is power. If real-time reporting on chargers could be consolidated, it would benefit current EV owners while bringing new owners to the segment.

One Simple Charging Feature Could Could Boost EV Sales: Study

In April 2025, the International Maritime Organization did something rare for a UN body: it passed a <a href="https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/pages/IMO-approves-netzero-regulations.aspx">binding climate policy</a>. Not advisory, not aspirational, but actual mandatory rules. The agreement commits international shipping to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions “by or around 2050,” and despite the ambiguity of that phrasing, the intent is clear. The industry that accounts for roughly 3% of global CO₂ emissions is now officially on the clock. That’s not nothing. But before we break out the low-sulfur champagne, it’s worth unpacking what, exactly, this agreement commits to—and more importantly, what it ignores.
The strengths of the IMO agreement are obvious if you squint through the regulatory fog. It’s the first global climate mandate for an entire industry. It includes a global greenhouse gas fuel intensity standard, phased in from 2027, and a two-tiered carbon pricing mechanism that will penalize ships for emissions exceeding their annual allotment. At the lower tier, ships pay $100 per ton of CO₂ for moderate non-compliance. At the upper tier, that penalty jumps to $380 per ton. For a large vessel burning 100 tons of fuel per day and emitting roughly 3.1 tons of CO₂ per ton, that’s over $117,000 in fines per day of operation if they’re significantly over the benchmark. Over a 20-day trans-Pacific voyage, you’re staring down more than $2 million in carbon costs. That’s not a rounding error.
But the weaknesses are just as plain. The 2030 target—a 20% to 30% reduction in absolute emissions—is unlikely to be met, even with these rules, because the carbon pricing doesn’t bite until 2028. The agreement gives ships another three years of business-as-usual, precisely when cuts are most urgent.
Worse, the path to 2040 is a mystery. The current structure ends with 2035 fuel intensity targets, and the next set of rules won’t be decided until 2032. That means the trajectory to 70% emissions reduction by 2040 is based on policy that doesn’t yet exist.
And of course, the current four-year version of the United States walked out. The same country that was once pushing the IMO for stronger targets abruptly reversed course, reportedly calling the carbon levy “unfair to American shipping.” That’s rich, considering the U.S. barely has any international flag carriers left to be taxed and makes fewer commercial ships than either tiny Norway or fashion- and wine-giant Italy every year. The combination of the <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/27/europe-usa-sailing-against-tide-asia-sails-with-it-in-decarbonizing-shipping/">Jones Act, a fetishization of unregulated markets and zero interest in industrial policies for 45 years</a> has led to the USA, once the biggest ship building country in the world, mostly building a few very, very expensive military ships.
<figure id="attachment_319704" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-319704" style="width: 1308px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-319704" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Global-Shipping-in-Megatonnes-of-Freight-1.png" alt="Megatons of freight shipping through 2100" width="1308" height="737" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Global-Shipping-in-Megatonnes-of-Freight-1.png 1308w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Global-Shipping-in-Megatonnes-of-Freight-1-400x225.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Global-Shipping-in-Megatonnes-of-Freight-1-800x451.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Global-Shipping-in-Megatonnes-of-Freight-1-768x433.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-319704" class="wp-caption-text">Megatons of freight shipping through 2100 by author</figcaption></figure>
What the IMO agreement fails to reflect is that the problem it’s trying to solve is shrinking. It’s based on legacy assumptions that shipping demand will continue to rise in step with global GDP, and that the only way to deal with emissions is to swap out fuels while keeping fleet size and cargo volumes constant. Their modeling is based on 40 or so people who apparently never heard of climate change projecting shipping volumes into the future based on 1990 to 2019 numbers. But that’s not what the real-world decarbonization trajectory looks like.
The most basic fact the IMO, or at least its preferred source material, doesn’t account for is that global trade in fossil fuels makes up nearly 40% of all seaborne tonnage. Coal, oil, gas—these aren’t just big emitters when burned; they’re big shippers. And in a decarbonizing world, they go away. Coal shipping collapses first, already down in key markets. Oil demand peaks in the 2020s. LNG persists longer but still declines before mid-century. That alone wipes out 40% of maritime volume. And that’s before considering the 15% of shipping currently devoted to iron ore, much of which becomes obsolete when China stops building infrastructure and nations start making steel from recycled scrap in electric arc furnaces located near demand.
The IMO’s projection? Doubling of bulks through 2050. However, their target is zero before my projection gets there. Aggression is good sometimes.
When you strip out the declining fossil cargo, switch to electrified inland and coastal shipping, and introduce modest efficiency improvements, the remaining deep-sea shipping problem shrinks fast. In my <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2022/04/01/global-shipping-less-of-co2e-problem-today-than-aviation-more-by-end-of-century/">2022 projection</a>, I estimated that by 2100, shipping emissions would plummet without relying on synthetic fuels or radical redesigns—just through declining fossil trade, electrification of sub-1,000 km routes, and a rational energy transition. The IMO, in contrast, has designed a zero-carbon regulatory apparatus to solve a problem multiples of the size of what will actually exist by mid-century. It’s planning to replace all bunker fuel, when in fact a lot of that demand is going away.
Which brings us to the solution that actually fits the scale of the remaining problem. If the goal is to decarbonize the remaining deep-water cargo routes, covering voyages longer than 2,000 km and vessels over 5,000 gross tons, the IMO agreement limit, then you don’t need e-methanol or ammonia for every ship. You need a battery on board, a tank of biodiesel, and some math. Let’s run it.
Start with the port and nearshore segments. For environmental and regulatory reasons, these are the zones most urgently in need of zero-emissions operation. A 200 nautical mile stretch from shore in each direction, 400 NM total, is enough to cover emission control areas (ECAs), port maneuvering, and loading and unloading windows. ECAs are zones designated by the IMO where ships must meet stricter limits on sulfur, nitrogen oxides, and particulate emissions to protect coastal air quality. There are currently four ECAs: the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, North America, and the U.S. Caribbean.
For a 5,000+ ton vessel using about 2.4 MWh per NM, you need roughly 960 MWh of battery capacity. At 300 Wh/kg LFP cells, that’s a battery weighing 3,200 metric tons. On a 60,000 DWT containership, that’s about 5% of payload. It’s a tradeoff, but not a dealbreaker. At $65/kWh, the latest LPF BESS price out of China’s auctions , the full battery costs ~$60 million. Assuming a 3,000-cycle life, it can be amortized over a 30-year vessel lifetime and contribute less than $20 per MWh delivered. The electricity to charge it at port? In countries with clean grids or dedicated renewables, figure $0.10/kWh, or ~$100,000 per voyage segment. Total nearshore energy cost: less than $300,000 per voyage. Zero local pollution. Zero carbon emissions. Zero future retrofit cost.
For the remaining 3,400 NM on a trans-Atlantic or 6,100 NM on a trans-Pacific route, the battery isn’t going to cut it. That’s where the fuel comes in. But it doesn’t need to be ammonia or e-methanol. It doesn’t even need to be fancy. It just needs to be biodiesel. At 42 MJ/kg and roughly 85% lower lifecycle GHG emissions than fossil marine gasoil, HVO biodiesel does the job. A ship burning 1,600 tons of biodiesel for the Atlantic or 2,900 tons for the Pacific pays about $1,100 per ton, or $1.8 to $3.2 million per trip. That’s more than fossil fuel, but not dramatically so—and it avoids $1.5 to $2.8 million in carbon fines at $380 per ton of CO₂. Better yet, it doesn’t require engine replacement, retrofitted bunkering tanks, or a multi-decade port fuel transition plan. It just goes in the same tank as before.
Biomethanol costs more, but may be required simply because—as chemical process engineer and plant designer Paul Martin points out when we discuss this—the molecules matter, and the molecules in biodiesel are somewhat limited, hard to make and absolutely required for long haul aviation. The numbers may crunch out to biomethanol being what ends up in much bigger fuel tanks for crossing oceans. Bigger because methanol has 45% the energy density of current bunker fuels.
Synthetic methanol, by contrast, costs about $1,400 per ton, and that energy density bites hard. For the same 6,100 NM trans-Pacific crossing, that’s 5,300 tons of fuel, or $7.4 million. You save the carbon penalty, sure, but you still pay more than double the biodiesel hybrid. Green ammonia is even worse: you need over 5,700 tons of fuel for the same trip, at $1,000 per ton, and you also need cryogenic or pressurized tanks, new combustion tech, and safety systems for a fuel that’s toxic, corrosive, and flammable in all the wrong ways. Ammonia’s only advantage is that it doesn’t contain carbon. But neither does logic, and logic says you don’t carry around three times the volume of a fuel that will kill the crew if you don’t have to.
What the IMO needs to do now is match policy to physics. The shipping sector is not going to decarbonize on a one-size-fits-all molecule. It’s going to decarbonize on fewer ships, fewer kilometers, and fewer tons of fuel. Most short-sea shipping will go electric. Inland shipping already is. Fossil cargo will vanish. Trade will regionalize. The long-haul shipping sector will shrink. And what remains can be served by batteries and biofuels for virtually all trips. That’s the map. Anything else is drawing zero-carbon lines on an evaporating ocean.

Net-Zero by 2050: The IMO’s Victory—and the Case for Less Fuel, Not More

To be honest, I hadn’t thought a lot about Waymo’s market share in the cities it operates in. I just figured it’s still fairly small and niche as it works hard to improve its software and hardware. However, it turns out Waymo is getting a lot more business than I expected.
<figure id="attachment_351238" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351238" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Waymo-robotaxi-Phoenix.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-351238 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Waymo-robotaxi-Phoenix.jpg" alt="" width="1600" height="890" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Waymo-robotaxi-Phoenix.jpg 1600w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Waymo-robotaxi-Phoenix-400x223.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Waymo-robotaxi-Phoenix-800x445.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Waymo-robotaxi-Phoenix-768x427.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Waymo-robotaxi-Phoenix-1536x854.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351238" class="wp-caption-text">Photos by Paul Fosse/CleanTechnica.</figcaption></figure>
I know that we report on total trips provided and total miles driven from time to time here, and they are always impressive figures, but it’s hard to really judge much looking at large numbers. That doesn’t let us judge how much market share the company has unless we have an absurd knowledge of the taxi industry in our heads. So, I didn’t know — and it hadn’t even crossed my mind — that Waymo’s market share had risen as much as it had.
Venture capital firm A16z’s Alex Immerman reportedly indicated that Waymo had scooped up 22% of the San Francisco rideshare market by last November, equal to Lyft and eating into Uber’s lead. More than one-fifth of the rideshare market?! Already as big as Lyft in San Francisco?!
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-phoenix-arizona-tempe-autonomous-robotaxi-lidar-KYLE-08-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-325189" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-phoenix-arizona-tempe-autonomous-robotaxi-lidar-KYLE-08-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="2448" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-phoenix-arizona-tempe-autonomous-robotaxi-lidar-KYLE-08-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-phoenix-arizona-tempe-autonomous-robotaxi-lidar-KYLE-08-400x382.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-phoenix-arizona-tempe-autonomous-robotaxi-lidar-KYLE-08-800x765.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-phoenix-arizona-tempe-autonomous-robotaxi-lidar-KYLE-08-768x734.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-phoenix-arizona-tempe-autonomous-robotaxi-lidar-KYLE-08-1536x1469.jpg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-phoenix-arizona-tempe-autonomous-robotaxi-lidar-KYLE-08-2048x1958.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"></a>
<figure id="attachment_325200" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-325200" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-autonomous-robotaxi-phoenix-glendale-tempe-arizona-scottsdale-KYLE-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-325200" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-autonomous-robotaxi-phoenix-glendale-tempe-arizona-scottsdale-KYLE-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1871" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-autonomous-robotaxi-phoenix-glendale-tempe-arizona-scottsdale-KYLE-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-autonomous-robotaxi-phoenix-glendale-tempe-arizona-scottsdale-KYLE-400x292.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-autonomous-robotaxi-phoenix-glendale-tempe-arizona-scottsdale-KYLE-800x585.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-autonomous-robotaxi-phoenix-glendale-tempe-arizona-scottsdale-KYLE-768x561.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-autonomous-robotaxi-phoenix-glendale-tempe-arizona-scottsdale-KYLE-1536x1123.jpg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.02-waymo-autonomous-robotaxi-phoenix-glendale-tempe-arizona-scottsdale-KYLE-2048x1497.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-325200" class="wp-caption-text">Waymo in Arizona. Photos by Kyle Field/CleanTechnica.</figcaption></figure>
Data from YipitData also indicates that Waymo is getting a much faster start in new cities it’s entering. In Austin, it reportedly had more than an 80% faster start than in San Francisco (looking at the first 27 days). That is to be expected, though, as the company was at a much earlier stage of development and capability when it starting providing fully driverless, paid rides in San Francisco than it was when it did so in Austin. Nonetheless, it’s good to see that confirmed. I expected the DC, Miami, and Atlanta rollouts will be even faster than the Austin one again.
But, really, when you consider all of that, how long until Waymo has 20–25% of the rideshare market in those cities? Or even how long until it has +30% market share? And how about we throw on the next 5–10 cities Waymo will enter? Things are getting big and significant quickly.
Every account I see of Waymo from first-time riders is that they love it. It’s calm, peaceful, clean, and enjoyable. So, it’s no surprise the service is becoming popular fast. Aside from stealing customers from human-driven ride-hailing companies, I imagine there are people who didn’t use such services who feel comfortable using Waymo and enjoying the privacy of the ride and no social pressure of any sort.
<figure id="attachment_336748" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-336748" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Waymo-Zeekr.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-336748" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Waymo-Zeekr.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="890" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Waymo-Zeekr.jpeg 1600w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Waymo-Zeekr-400x223.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Waymo-Zeekr-800x445.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Waymo-Zeekr-768x427.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Waymo-Zeekr-1536x854.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-336748" class="wp-caption-text">Waymo Zeekr concept robotaxi. Image courtesy of Waymo.</figcaption></figure>
I’m eager to see how much and how fast Waymo grows in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami, Atlanta, and Washington, DC. Probably even more so, though, I’m very eager to see what cities it provides services in next. When will it enter New York City? When will it enter Chicago? When will it enter Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and other cities large and small across the South, Southwest, and rest of the country? Also, will it have limits to what size cities it enters? And when will Waymo vehicle be willing to go from one city to another — for example, Orlando to Miami?
There are numerous questions to have answered, but at least the company is now providing service beyond Phoenix and we’re seeing how fast geographic expansion, customer uptake, and market share can grow.

Waymo’s Quickly Taking More Market Share Than I Expected

EV sales in the United States rose 11 percent during the first quarter of 2025, to about 300,000 cars and light trucks, according to <a href="https://www.coxautoinc.com/market-insights/q1-2025-ev-sales/#:~:text=Nearly%20300%2C0001%20new%20electric,of%2011.4%25%20year%20over%20year">Cox Automotive</a>. That is much better than the overall new car market, which showed no increase from 2024. Overall, about 8 percent of new domestic car sales were electric, Cox said, a slight increase from 2024. “Despite many obstacles — and what you may read elsewhere — electric vehicle sales continue to grow at a healthy pace in the US market,” Cox said.
One electric car company that is not experiencing growth is Tesla. It still is the electric car sales leader in the US, with 44 percent of the market according to Cox Automotive, but a year ago in the first quarter it had 51 percent of the market. Its performance in the US mirrors its performance globally. Tesla sales in March were 337,000 cars worldwide, 13 percent fewer than in March of 2024. CleanTechnica readers know the reasons — an aging selection of models, poor sales of the Cybertruck, increasing competition, retooling production lines for the new Model Y, and Musk’s embrace of MAGAlomaniac policies which has led to protests at Tesla dealerships and alienated many buyers.
Sales of the Cybertruck were 6,400 in the first quarter — double the total from a year ago — but the company was just ramping up production last year, so any comparison is skewed. The true test of what is happening with the Cybertruck is the fact that Tesla now refuses to accept them as trade-ins for new Tesla vehicles, a policy no other manufacturer has ever instituted. If Tesla doesn’t want its own vehicles, why would anyone else? It is now attempting to boost sales by lowering prices on decontented models, but would you buy any vehicle if you knew the manufacturer would refuse to give you ten cents for it after you take delivery?
The big winner appears to be GM, which delivered 10,300 Chevy Equinox EV cars in the first quarter, a strong showing for a car went on sale toward the end of last year. The <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/02/02/driving-the-chevy-blazer-ev/">Chevy Blazer EV</a> is now in showrooms and enjoying strong interest from customers. All together, sales of GM electric cars, including Cadillac and GMC, accounted for 11 percent of the electric vehicle market in the first quarter — up from 6 percent a year earlier. While GM suffered through slow and sometimes painful product launches for its electric cars in 2023 and 2024, those models are now starting to see significant numbers of sales.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">GM Is An EV Sales Leader</h3>
More than 30,000 EVs from General Motors brands were sold last quarter, nearly doubling the volume from a year ago and passing both Ford and Hyundai along the way. The Ford Mustang Mach-E was the best selling EV in the US that was not a Tesla, while Honda and Acura added more than 14,000 EVs to the US market last quarter. That’s up from zero a year ago. Anyone who tries to say the EV revolution in the US is dead is either misinformed or lying.
The rest of 2025 will likely be a volatile one for EV sales in the US, despite the introduction of new models. If the new auto tariffs hold, they will pose a monumental challenge for many automakers, particularly due to the tariffs on steel and aluminum. About two-thirds of the EVs sold in the U.S. last year were assembled in the US, but like all modern automobiles, the required parts and components are sourced from around the globe. China is the world’s leading supplier of EV battery materials, which suggests the current tariff war between the US and China will distort the market significantly.
The current so-called president loves nothing more than forcing others to “kiss his ass,” as he is so fond of saying. How classy. Add to that the heavy speculation that the new administration will reverse Biden-era EV sales incentives and the story for EV sales in Q2 and beyond is murky at best. Cox Automotive analyst Stephanie Streaty said, “The year certainly started strong, but the road ahead will be anything but smooth.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">EV Sales Are Up Worldwide</h3>
A week ago, my colleague Jose Pontes <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/03/global-ev-sales-1-2-million-units-in-february-49-growth-yoy/">reported</a> that sales of EVs — both plug-in hybrids and battery electrics — were up 49 percent in February 2025 compared to February 2024 and now account for 19 percent of the global new car market. In Norway, well over 95 percent of all new cars have plugs and Pontes speculated that Singapore will likely be the next new car market to become virtually all EVs. It should be noted that EV incentives in many countries have been reduced or eliminated recently. Germany in particular has sharply curtailed its incentive program, which led to a steep drop in EV sales in 2024.
However, in the first few months of this year, EV sales in Europe have been <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/03/europe-ev-sales-report-in-2025-bev-sales-jumping-49-excluding-tesla/">up strongly</a> — up 17 percent in February despite the overall market being down 3 percent. That last stat should grab your attention. Globally, new car sales are declining. Fewer new cars are being sold, and more of them are battery electrics or plug-in hybrids.
And yet, the mood in America about electric cars is still quite chilly. The major US automakers have a plan to counter the new tariff insanity from the Moron of Mar-A-Loco and it is this — build more pickup trucks and large SUVs. The furor over Elon Musk’s fascist diatribes has had a knock-on effect on all electric cars because, for the past decade or more, America has associated electric cars with Tesla. In my condo community in DeSantistan, a modest proposal to add two EV chargers is facing opposition from owners who are convinced they will make their insurance premiums go up and subject their pets to electrocution. We have neighbors who still tell us we cannot drive our Tesla through a puddle or take it to a car wash.
Fortunately, despite their mania for bigger, heavier vehicles, Ford and GM have kept their electric car programs alive, with Chevrolet now the leading electric car company not named Tesla. The Equinox EV is selling well and the Blazer EV is now readily available after a rocky start caused by software glitches forced the company to suspend production for a while to figure things out. The new updated Chevy Bolt will be in production soon. Hyundai now has its first dedicated EV factory in operation near Savannah, Georgia, and continues — along with Kia — to offer Americans a selection of appealing electric and plug-in hybrid models at affordable prices.
The EV revolution in the US may be taking longer than many of us had hoped, but it continues to build momentum. EV advocates like to tout a long list of benefits that come from owning an electric car — no oil changes, no smelly gas pumps, no transmission repairs, fewer brake jobs, etc. — but the best reason to own one is the driving experience. People need to feel the effortless flow of instant power, the joy of regenerative braking, and the quietness of the ride for themselves. It is like the difference between an old fashioned propeller-driven airplane and a jet. Once you experience it, there is no going back.

US EV Sales Rise As Tesla Sales Fall

In motorsport, Formula E is still new to a lot of sports fans. It was conceived as being net zero carbon right from the start, and it is an organization that is trying to advance electric vehicle (EV) technology while providing a competitive racing spectacle — after all, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/01/12/taking-it-to-the-tracks-ev-development-pushes-the-need-for-racing-speed/">that’s what fans demand</a>. When Jaguar TCS Racing secured last season’s ABB FIA Formula E Teams’ World Championship title — Jaguar’s first world title victory since 1991 — it was a feat to celebrate. Their two drivers competed against some heavy competition and some of the biggest names in motorsport — and they came away with the trophy.
So, when CleanTechnica got the chance to conduct an exclusive interview with Jaguar TCS Racing driver Mitch Evan, who has been with the team for eight years, we grabbed it.
The venue was <a href="https://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/">Homestead-Miami Speedway,</a> and the event was the <a href="https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/523825#:~:text=The%20legendary%20Homestead%2DMiami%20Speedway,on%20Saturday%20April%2012%2C%202025.">ABB FIA Formula E Miami e-Prix</a> weekend. It was a hot spring day prior to practice sessions. The air hung thickly with humidity.
The 26-year-old New Zealander made his <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/11/abb-fia-formula-e-miami-e-prix-empowers-young-women-in-motorsport/amp/">ABB FIA Formula E</a> debut with Panasonic Jaguar Racing in 2016 when the British team returned to racing. Sitting under a black umbrella embossed with the Jaguar logo, Evans laughed, saying that he has been racing “from the moment I was born.” He started karting at the age of six and was, at 16, the youngest driver ever to win the NZ Grand Prix.
Evans started 2024–2025 Season 11 with a record-breaking <a href="https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/515368">victory</a> from last on the grid, a win he attributes to “a bit of luck and good strategy from me and the team.” The team put together “good speed, the right calls with Attack Mode. On the first lap I made up 10 places.”
Evans really likes that São Paulo track layout, and “street circuits are my favorite.” In fact, he wishes more Formula E races were set on street circuits rather than dedicated tracks. “I much prefer to be racing around the streets,” he admitted. “With zero emissions, we should be in the streets to promote this amazing technology.”
Newly engineered for Season 11, the Jaguar TCS Racing team introduced the new Jaguar I-TYPE 7 — which they hope will make them competitive enough to obtain another championship. Faster and more efficient than its previous iteration, with all-wheel-drive technology, the I-TYPE 7 can reach 60 mph in just 1.82 seconds. That’s faster than today’s Formula 1 cars. An F1 car typically accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about <a href="https://www.redbull.com/us-en/how-fast-do-f1-cars-go">2.1 to 2.7 seconds</a>.
Formula E regulations require all teams to adopt the same chassis, bodywork, and battery. The Jaguar I-TYPE 7’s powertrain, which consists of an inverter, motor generator unit, and transmission, though, are specific to the company. So is the software that helps the devices understand what to do and how to do it. The Jaguar I-TYPE 7 can switch seamlessly between 350kW all-wheel-drive traction and 600kW regenerative braking.
We learned from our garage tour that the Jaguar needs no rear disc brakes and begins the race with only 60% of the energy it needs to finish. The remainder of the energy is derived from <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2023/09/06/does-the-new-language-of-evs-baffle-you-this-guide-should-help/">regen</a>.
To maintain physical strength for racing, Evans says, “I like running, cycling.” He also noted that, “there’s no power steering in the car,” with the implication that driving the I-TYPE 7 is exerting in and of itself. There’s no hydration system built into the car, unlike F1, but, “with 45 minutes” of race duration, “you can get away with it.”
His diet prior to the competition is to “eat clean,” but he actually doesn’t “eat much on race weekends.” The adrenaline and excitement take over, so he eats “nothing too heavy. Outside of the track, I eat healthy.”
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Day of the Race</h3>
Evans came into the Miami e-Prix with 25 points to the season. He and his partner, Nick Cassidy, had a lackluster qualifying, and Evans was stuck in 16th place for the early part of the race. All the cars were monitoring their energy usage at this point. Cassidy variously jumped ahead and then stayed close by Evans in the running. When Evans engaged Attack Mode, he jumped up to 8th place on lap 13. He used up his allotment, though, and fell quickly back to 16th place.
When Nick DeVries went off the track at lap 18, a safety car was deployed, so drivers in the middle of Attack Mode were disadvantaged. A queue of cars bunched together down a straight as the safety car was released. The green flag came with seven laps left in the race. Evans had 36% energy remaining then. At lap 20, however, he had six minutes of Attack Mode, but so did several of the cars ahead of him.
Three cars crashed in the chicane, and Evans was one of them. Günther punched into the wall, and Evans had no place to go but into the back of Günther. Evans told his engineer there was damage “probably to the front wing and suspension.” Evans, however, was able to maneuver back to the pit. He sat in position 20 near the back of the grid under a red flag with the race stopped. Team principal Jame Barclay said Evans was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Teammate Cassidy found himself moved up to 8th position during the race stoppage, which meant that there would be a frantic conclusion to the end of the race — four laps to go, with an almost flat-out sprint to the finishing line. The cars whirred and screamed, sounding like a jet engine accelerating, then poised in place for a standing start. After the restart, Cassidy moved up and down the rankings, while Evans made a little progress from the back of the field.
The exciting end of the race was punctuated by several teams that were not able to fulfill their allotment of Attack Mode time due to the safety car. Nato came across the finish line first, but Weirlein was named the <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/09/nissan-formula-e-team-looking-to-maintain-championship-lead-in-miami/">actual winner</a> due to all the sporting penalties.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Final Thoughts about Jaguar TCS Racing</h3>
Evans is the Dow Ambassador for Jaguar TCS Racing, which is one of the sponsors for the Jaguar TCS Racing team. All of its sponsors are technical partners of the team: Wolfspeed, Google Cloud, Tata, and Dow. “We are lucky that all partners are integrated into the team through material science — efficiency, thermally,” Evans allowed, “which helps us to go quicker.”
Evan paused, then added, “Everyone wins out.”
He is proud of the effect that the Jaguar TCS Racing team has on everyday driving, noting that Formula E is about more than mere racing. “We’re racing to make electric driving better for everyone,” acknowledging that Formula E is a <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/01/27/legacy-automakers-turn-to-formula-e-as-a-laboratory-for-ev-technology/">test bed</a> to develop new EV technologies for the benefit of future EV customers.

Formula E Miami E-Prix: A Look Inside Jaguar TCS Racing — A CleanTechnica Exclusive

Rwanda is one of the countries with some of the most progressive electric vehicle policies. A &nbsp;couple of years ago, Rwanda introduced some really cool incentives for EVs that included:
Fiscal Incentives:
<ul>
<li>Electricity tariffs for charging stations to be capped at the industrial tariff. This means that charge point operators will be billed at close to USD 10 cents/kWh instead of close to 20 cents/kWh.</li>
<li>Electric vehicles will also benefit from reduced tariffs during off-peak periods.</li>
<li>Electric vehicles, spare parts, batteries, and charging station equipment will all be exempted from import and excise duties. All of these would also be treated as zero rated VAT products and will also be exempt from withholding tax.</li>
</ul>
Non-Fiscal Incentives:
<ul>
<li>Rent-free land for charging stations on land owned by the government.</li>
<li>Provisions for EV charging stations in the building code and city planning rules.</li>
<li>Green license plates to allow preferential parking for EVs and free entry into any future congestion zones.</li>
<li>Access to dedicated bus lanes.</li>
<li>Provide preference to electric vehicles for government-hired vehicles.</li>
<li>Regulate the importation of used vehicles by imposing an age limit.</li>
<li>Establish restricted zones where only green vehicles can have access.</li>
<li>Enforcement of existing emission standards to discourage the purchase of polluting vehicles.</li>
</ul>
Rwanda is actively encouraging investment in the e-mobility sector, and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) also gave a presentation outlining some of the initiatives to encourage investment. Some of these incentives include a preferential corporate income tax rate of 15% for investors operating in e-mobility. Firms operating in the energy, ITC, and mass transport industries also qualify. And from January 1, 2025, only electric motorcycles can be registered in Rwanda.
Hybrids also benefited from incentives, but some of these incentives are now being rolled back. Hybrids will continue to get import duty exemptions, but will now pay VAT. In a market dominated by used vehicle imports, the Rwanda government wants to encourage newer hybrids that still have good battery health and discourage older hybrids. Therefore, there is now a new excise duty for hybrids that varies with the age of the vehicle. For vehicles that are 3 years and below from the age of manufacture, the excise duty is 5%. This excise duty will be 10% for vehicles between 4 and 7 years, and 15% for vehicles older than that.
We are already starting to see the benefits of these kinds of incentives. Although Rwanda is a much smaller market than some of its regional peers, these incentives have led to Rwanda having more electric cars than most of the larger markets in East Africa. There are about 360,000 vehicles registered in Rwanda, with about 30,000 added each year. 99% of these vehicles are still ICE vehicles. Since the introduction of incentives for EVs, there has been some significant traction, though, with Rwanda now having an estimated electric car fleet of around 700 vehicles. This number becomes more impressive for this small market when you look at larger markets in the region such as Kenya. Kenya has a fleet of around 4 million vehicles (across all vehicle categories), and about 100,000 cars are added each year. Kenya doesn’t have all these nice EV incentives yet, and it shows, as there are still just about 200 electric cars in Kenya. This means Rwanda now has 3.5 times the number of electric cars in Kenya, despite being a much smaller market.
<figure id="attachment_351604" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351604" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-House.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351604" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-House.jpg" alt="" width="1600" height="890" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-House.jpg 1600w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-House-400x223.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-House-800x445.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-House-768x427.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-House-1536x854.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351604" class="wp-caption-text">Kabisa says its new Kabisa EV House is more than a car showroom, the centre will provide charging stations, tech-enabled maintenance facilities, meeting space for community events and training, and staff headquarters for the fast-growing EV player Kabisa. Image courtesy of Kabisa.</figcaption></figure>
One of the companies leading this growth in Rwanda is Kabisa. <a href="https://gokabisa.com/">Kabisa</a>, is one of East Africa’s leading providers of electric vehicle (EV) sales, maintenance, and charging. Kabisa recently held a grand opening reception last month at <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/AriHEY13Me7QNgDWA">EV House</a>, their new headquarters in Kigali located above Camp Kigali on KN 77 Street.
<figure id="attachment_351605" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351605" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-showroom.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351605" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-showroom.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1291" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-showroom.jpg 2000w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-showroom-400x258.jpg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-showroom-800x516.jpg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-showroom-768x496.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kabisa-EV-showroom-1536x991.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351605" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of Kabisa</figcaption></figure>
Kabisa intends for EV House to serve as a one-stop-shop for EV owners in Rwanda, providing charging and maintenance services for EVs regardless of where they’re purchased. The new telemechanic-enabled diagnostics bay and maintenance facilities are custom-built for the needs of EV owners and drivers. The space will also host events, meetups, and training sessions for all interested parties, from executives to drivers to technologists.
Given the growing e-mobility landscape in Rwanda, partnerships are core to Kabisa EV House. Clean energy infrastructure company Meshpower took the lead in installing new solar panels at EV House, meaning customers can charge off-grid at the facility using renewable solar power. At the grand opening, SLS Energy (specializing in battery operations and recycling) offered demonstrations of its battery technologies in a nod to the full range of partners sharing the mission to move Rwanda to a clean, sustainable transportation future.
At the ground floor showroom, Kabisa’s most popular vehicles were on display and available for test drives, including Farizon commercial trucks and vans, the BYD Song Plus SUV, the Radar pickup, and the Chery iCar SUV.
At the Grand Opening, Pophia Muhoza, Kabisa Rwanda Managing Director, thanked the 130+ attendees and acknowledged the progress and potential of e-mobility in Rwanda: “It’s a blessing to see so many customers, supporters, partners, and friends gathered in our new space, an exciting physical representation of the progress we are making — but we’re truly only getting started.”
To support this growing fleet of electric vehicles in Rwanda, Kabisa also recently launched a new ultra-fast charging facility at SP’s Kanombe station, in Kigali. The ultra-fast charging facility has chargers with a power capacity of up to 240 kW, compared to most of the existing charging stations in Kigali averaging 7.43 kW to 22kW. The six charging bays allow both private electric cars and entire commercial fleets of electric trucks, vans, or buses to charge simultaneously. Electric vehicles will charge up to 10 times faster with the ultra-fast charger compared to normal AC or DC chargers — so most vehicles can charge in 15–25 minutes instead of more than one hour at conventional charging stations. This will go a long way in enticing operators of commercial fleets to transition to electric, as they need their vehicles to be on the road more often than drivers of personal vehicles do, who can have the luxury of charging at home or at the office where the vehicles spend most of their time parked.

Kabisa EV House Opens in Kigali as New Hub for e-Mobility in Rwanda

The 2025 Manila International Auto Show opened its doors on April 10. It includes a larger presence than ever before of electrified vehicles as new and existing brands present their latest innovations and strategies for a more sustainable automotive future. CleanTechnica is covering the event, and below is a list of the notable players at the Philippines’ now longest running automotive show, with a track record of 20 years.
<figure id="attachment_351585" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351585" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0041.jpeg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-351585 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0041-e1744467774882.jpeg" alt="" width="960" height="675" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0041-e1744467774882.jpeg 960w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0041-e1744467774882-400x281.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0041-e1744467774882-800x563.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0041-e1744467774882-768x540.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0041-e1744467774882-130x90.jpeg 130w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351585" class="wp-caption-text">Aito M9 EV. (Photo by Ron de los Reyes)</figcaption></figure>
First on the list is AITO, a new entrant to the Philippine market under QSJ Motors Philippines. It introduced its flagship M9 SUV. This premium vehicle is notable for offering consumers a choice between a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) configuration, providing longer driving distances without range anxiety, and a battery electric vehicle (BEV) variant for those prioritizing pure electric driving. Pre-orders for the AITO M9 were initiated at the show, signaling the brand’s intent to establish a strong presence in the burgeoning electrified segment.
BAIC showcased its commitment to electrification with the introduction of the B60e Beaumont rEV, marking the brand’s entry into the full-size electrified SUV category. This vehicle features a range-extended electric powertrain coupled with an intelligent all-wheel drive system, boasting a substantial total driving range. Alongside this debut, BAIC also presented the B30e Dune, a hybrid model already part of their lineup, further illustrating their multi-pronged approach to offering more fuel-efficient vehicles.
BYD, a prominent global player in the electric vehicle market, made significant announcements at MIAS 2025. The brand officially launched the eMAX 7, introducing the Philippines to its first fully electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), available in both six- and seven-seat configurations, catering to families and businesses alike. Furthermore, BYD showcased the Shark, a plug-in hybrid pickup truck, demonstrating the versatility of electrified powertrains extending into traditionally fuel-dependent vehicle segments.
Changan significantly expanded its electrified vehicle offerings under the Nevo sub-brand. The fully electric Lumin Battery EV was officially launched, entering the compact EV segment. Changan also introduced the Nevo Q05 Plug-In Hybrid EV, a compact SUV combining electric driving with the flexibility of a gasoline engine. A groundbreaking introduction was the Nevo Hunter K50 Range-Extended EV, touted as the world’s first range-extended electric pickup truck. Additionally, Changan provided an initial glimpse of the Nevo A05 Plug-In Hybrid EV, a plug-in hybrid compact sedan, hinting at future additions to their electrified lineup.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0053.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-351587 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0053.jpeg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0053.jpeg 960w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0053-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0053-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0053-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"></a>
Chery is the pioneer in electric vehicles in the Philippines, having introduced the first commercially viable QQEV and M1 EV at the 2011 MIAS. It is previewing the Tiggo ReV C-DM. This 7-seat SUV features Chery’s advanced Dual Motor (C-DM) plug-in hybrid technology, promising a long combined driving range and highlighting the brand’s strategic shift towards more sustainable powertrains. The existing Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV was also present, reinforcing the company’s current electrified offerings. The anticipated fully electric Chery eQ7, previously showcased, was also a point of interest, suggesting its potential future launch in the Philippine market.
GAC Motor offered a glimpse into its electrification strategy by unveiling the M5 PHEV, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. This introduction indicates GAC’s intention to incorporate electrified options into its range, catering to a growing demand for more fuel-efficient and environmentally conscious vehicles.
Jaecoo, a newer brand in the Philippine market, previewed the J7 SHS PHEV. This model features Jaecoo’s Super Hybrid System, underscoring the brand’s focus on integrating advanced hybrid technology into its vehicles. The preview included opportunities for test drives, allowing attendees to experience the capabilities of their hybrid system firsthand.
Kia, under ACMobility, presented a strong portfolio of electrified vehicles. The fully electric Kia EV9, the brand’s flagship electric SUV, took center stage, showcasing its design and technology. Alongside the EV9, Kia also highlighted the Kia Carnival, now available with a hybrid powertrain, offering a more fuel-efficient option for the popular MPV. The enhanced Kia Sorento Turbo Hybrid was also showcased, further demonstrating Kia’s commitment to providing a diverse range of electrified choices across its model lineup.
Lynk &amp; Co, another relatively new brand in the Philippines, debuted its first all-electric vehicle, the 02 EV. This compact electric crossover signifies the brand’s entry into the pure electric vehicle segment, appealing to consumers seeking stylish and sustainable urban mobility solutions. Lynk &amp; Co also displayed the 08 EM-P, a plug-in hybrid SUV with a focus on long-range capabilities, hinting at future expansions of their electrified offerings.
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0042-1-e1744447683741.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-351586 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0042-1-e1744447683741.jpeg" alt="" width="720" height="622" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0042-1-e1744447683741.jpeg 720w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0042-1-e1744447683741-400x346.jpeg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px"></a>
MG Philippines made its foray into the hybrid market with the introduction of the MG ZS Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV). This marks a significant step for the brand, combining a traditional gasoline engine with an electric motor and battery to offer improved fuel efficiency and a more eco-conscious driving experience within their popular compact SUV model.
Amidst the turmoil in the U.S., Tesla made its presence at the show. The brand showcased its currently available models, the Model 3 and the Model Y, which were also offered for test drive. Tesla’s debut at MIAS 2025 signifies a potential shift in the local electric vehicle landscape, hinting at a more direct engagement with Filipino consumers in the future.
<figure id="attachment_351588" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351588" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0052.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-351588 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0052.jpeg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0052.jpeg 960w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0052-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0052-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0052-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351588" class="wp-caption-text">Awaiting the VinFast VF6 launch. (Photo by Deriq Bernard)</figcaption></figure>
VinFast officially launched of the VF 6, a fully electric B-segment SUV available in Eco and Plus variants priced at P1.419 million ($24,751) and P1.610 million ($28,074). Sales inquiries for the cars are being accepted and processed and deliveries of the Eco variant will begin in May 2025. “We hope it will replicate its segment-leading success in Vietnam and receive the same enthusiastic response as it had in Europe,” Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia said in a press statement. The brand also showcased its broader lineup of electric vehicles, including models like the VF 3, VF 5, VF 7, and VF 9, reinforcing its ambition to be a key player in the country’s EV transition. It also announced the opening of 60 more dealerships in the country within 2025.
— Reporting and coverage by Deriq Bernard Tribdino.
<figure id="attachment_351591" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351591" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0049.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351591" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0049.jpeg" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0049.jpeg 960w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0049-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0049-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0049-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351591" class="wp-caption-text">Over 200,000 are expected to flock to his year’s Manila International Auto Show. (Photo by Deriq Bernard)</figcaption></figure>

Manila International Auto Show Marks 20 Years, Displays More Electrified Vehicles Than Ever Before

After sending me 5 emails trying to sell me a Tesla Cybertruck in the past month and a half, Tesla sent one more earlier today. It was announcing a new “Long Range” Cybertruck. The new version offers a range rating of 362 miles on a full charge. It’s also cheaper than the pre-existing All-Wheel Drive model and Cyberbeast model. The Long Range trim starts at $69,990 (or $62,490 after the US EV tax credit brought into law by Joe Biden and Democrats, which Donald Trump and Republicans haven’t repealed yet), while the All-Wheel Drive trim starts at $79,990 ($72,490 after the tax credit) and the Cyberbeast starts at $99,990 (not eligible for a tax credit).
<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tesla-Cybertruck-Price-Cut.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-351577" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tesla-Cybertruck-Price-Cut.png" alt="" width="2100" height="1173" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tesla-Cybertruck-Price-Cut.png 2100w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tesla-Cybertruck-Price-Cut-400x223.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tesla-Cybertruck-Price-Cut-800x447.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tesla-Cybertruck-Price-Cut-768x429.png 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tesla-Cybertruck-Price-Cut-1536x858.png 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tesla-Cybertruck-Price-Cut-2048x1144.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2100px) 100vw, 2100px"></a>
Typically, a significant step down in price increases the buyer pool exponentially. So, one has to ask, will a $10,000 lower price — point combined with more range — lead to significantly more Cybertruck demand and sales?
Tesla sold 6,406 Cybertrucks in the 1st quarter, up 128.5% from the 2,803 Cybertrucks sold in the 1st quarter of 2024. Though, notably, Elon Musk expected to sell 150,000 Cybertrucks a year, and 6,406 sales a quarter translates to just 25,624 sales a year, just over one-sixth of that 150,000 vehicle target.
Also, of course, it was long hyped that there had been over a million reservations for the Cybertruck, but a tiny fraction of those turned into sales, perhaps because the vast majority of interested consumers were waiting for a cheaper version of the truck and more range. Or perhaps because people decided they didn’t like the Cybertruck that much anyway, expected Full Self Driving to actually be robotaxi capable by now, or just got sick of Elon Musk. Who knows?
The question now is how much this price drop and range increase will help move more Cybertrucks. It’s got to help, but I’m a bit skeptical that it will do much. A starting price of $69,990 (or $62,490 after the US EV tax credit if it doesn’t get axed by Republicans soon) is still quite a hefty starting price. (It’s too much for me to spend.) Also, 362 miles for a truck (not towing) is plenty for a normal person using it for basic commuting and kid duty, but many people buying a truck do want to use it for more and might still be unsure about that range. (I think such range is probably fine for the vast majority of people, but I’m not a truck person and I know many people massively inflate their range needs in their heads.)
More than anything, though, the Cybertruck stands out a lot — and I don’t think in a good way. Someone pointed out in a comment thread here that it looked like a dumpster, and I can never unsee that. I’ve actually seen a handful of dumpsters that bear a striking resemblance. Overall, though, even if you don’t have the dumpster comparison in your head, it is super clunky looking, the stainless steel isn’t exactly pretty, and the vehicle looks so different from the trucks people normally buy that I just have a hard time believing it could attract a mass-market customer base.
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<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@mclovin.caplock.queen/video/7374576406954593566" data-video-id="7374576406954593566">
<section><a title="@mclovin.caplock.queen" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mclovin.caplock.queen?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@mclovin.caplock.queen</a> HAVING TROUBLE TELLING THE DIFFERENCE <a title="cybertruck" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cybertruck?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#cybertruck</a> <a title="cybertrucktesla" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cybertrucktesla?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#cybertrucktesla</a> <a title="garbagecan" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/garbagecan?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#garbagecan</a> <a title="electric" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/electric?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#electric</a> <a title="fyp" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#fyp</a> <a title="fypage" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fypage?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#fypage</a> <a title="fypシ゚viral" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp%E3%82%B7%E3%82%9Aviral?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#fypシ゚viral</a> <a title="easttennesseegirl" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/easttennesseegirl?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#easttennesseegirl</a> <a title="tennessee" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tennessee?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#tennessee</a> <a title="tiktok" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#tiktok</a> <a title="look" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/look?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#look</a> <a title="plugin" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/plugin?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#plugin</a> <a title="♬ Stressed Out - twenty one pilots" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Stressed-Out-6704980690787633153?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Stressed Out – twenty one pilots</a></section>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@wavecamper23sonic/video/7487462833488153899" data-video-id="7487462833488153899">
<section><a title="@wavecamper23sonic" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@wavecamper23sonic?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@wavecamper23sonic</a> spot the difference <a title="cybertruck" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cybertruck?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#cybertruck</a> <a title="nocyberbulling" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/nocyberbulling?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#nocyberbulling</a> <a title="meme" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/meme?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#meme</a> <a title="♬ original sound - adrianaaaa" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7183349001629010730?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound – adrianaaaa</a></section>
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<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height: 500px;" data-embed-height="740"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/CyberStuck/comments/1d42jwy/i_see_the_inspiration_now/">I see the inspiration now…</a> 
by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/wandpapierkritiker/">u/wandpapierkritiker</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/CyberStuck/">CyberStuck</a></blockquote>
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Can Tesla double its sales of the Cybertruck with this new Long Range Version? I don’t think so, but maybe. But even if it can, what does that mean — 26,000 sales a year? That’s almost nothing!
Any other thoughts on the new Cybertruck option and consumer demand for the model?

Will New Lower-Cost Tesla Cybertruck Double Cybertruck Sales?

Andrew Forrest has scoffed at “net zero” and challenged the mining industry and maritime shipping to go for “real zero.” To this end, he has purchased battery electric mining equipment — <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/12/09/steps-to-achieving-real-zero-at-fortescue/">we wrote about it here</a>. Now, the big news is that he is expanding his renewable energy resources to power that equipment. By the end 2030 (5 years away) Fortescue aims to have 100% of its electricity demand met by renewables — “real zero.” Two to three GWh of energy generation will be needed to do this — consisting of wind, solar, and battery storage. Fortescue’s Pilbara mining operations use millions of litres of diesel per year.
<figure id="attachment_344981" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-344981" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-344981" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fortescue-electric-mining-truck.png" alt="Fortescue" width="1200" height="667" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fortescue-electric-mining-truck.png 1200w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fortescue-electric-mining-truck-400x222.png 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fortescue-electric-mining-truck-800x445.png 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fortescue-electric-mining-truck-768x427.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-344981" class="wp-caption-text">Fortescue electric mining trucks trucks.</figcaption></figure>
Fortescue Metals’ latest move is to propose a <a href="https://www.pv-tech.org/fortescue-proposes-644mw-solar-pv-plant-to-decarbonise-mining-operations-in-western-australia/">644 MW solar power plant at Turner River</a> to augment its existing renewable energy ecosystem in the Pilbara, West Australia. The ecosystem will consist of solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries all connected by a 750 km transmission network, the Pilbara Energy Connect (PEC) transmission system. This will aid Fortescue’s ambition to run its iron ore operations on “real zero” emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency is yet to approve the project.
The Western Australian state government is encouraging the decarbonisation of mining in the Pilbara and wants to transform the area “into a renewable powerhouse and future-proof our economy, communities, and environment.” It is supporting Fortescue in its endeavours.
The Pilbara is acknowledged as a major global hub for mineral and energy resources. In the process, it produces 40% of the state’s emissions, and currently uses only 2% renewable energy. By contributing nearly 20% of Western Australia’s total economic output, it drives the state’s economy. “Additionally, the Pilbara is renowned for its environmental and cultural significance, boasting one of the largest and most diverse collections of rock art worldwide.” The government believes that by reducing emissions, it will future proof the Western Australia (WA) mining industry. As such, its policies will dovetail with those of Fortescue Metals. You can read more about WA’s plans <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/energy-policy-wa/pilbara-energy-transition-plan">here</a>. A helpful map is included.
The first stage of the PEC was completed last year — a 100 MW solar farm at North Star, 145 km south of Port Headland. The farm consists of 196,188 solar panels which tilt to follow the sun for maximum generation. Construction on the next project — the Cloudbreak Solar Farm — was due to start last month. The North Star and Turner River solar farms will help to decarbonise the Iron Bridge magnetite mine 25 km away. Fortescue’s solar farms are expected to have a lifespan of at least 25 years.
Twiggy Forest still hasn’t given up on green hydrogen to produce green iron. Just a few months ago, he <a href="https://www.fortescue.com/en/articles/fortescue-starts-works-on-green-metal-project">took hold of the shovel again</a> for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Christmas Creek Green Energy Hub. With production to begin this year, the project is expected to produce 1,500 tonnes per annum of green iron metal. Green hydrogen will be supplied by Fortescue’s gaseous and liquid hydrogen facility. High-purity green metal will be produced in an electric smelting furnace. The Green Energy Hub is also home to Fortescue’s battery electric haul truck and a three-megawatt fast charger prototype.
At the ceremony, Dr Forest said: “Today is a celebration of innovation, collaboration and stretch targets, and marks a pivotal moment in Fortescue’s journey to build a green metal supply chain.Iron and steel are the backbone of our infrastructure, however traditional iron and steel production processes are among the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. By rethinking the entire iron and steel value chain we can produce an entirely new, green industry here in Australia.
“Today’s milestone is the culmination of bringing together green sustainable mining, large-scale renewable power and green hydrogen to produce green metal. Right now, we have a once in a generation opportunity to build a green supply chain, and Fortescue is wasting no time to seize it.”
Fortescue’s green hydrogen plant produces 530 kg of hydrogen per day. It is powered partly by solar during the day. The hydrogen is currently used to refuel a fleet of 10 fuel cell powered coaches. The hydrogen refuelling station was supported by a AU$2 million grant from the WA government. 
The Western Australian government sees hydrogen as an important part of the energy mix at remote mine sites.
<figure id="attachment_331419" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-331419" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-331419" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dji_20240425132350_0872_d-01-scaled-e1715599901382.jpeg" alt="Fortescue" width="1600" height="797" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dji_20240425132350_0872_d-01-scaled-e1715599901382.jpeg 1600w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dji_20240425132350_0872_d-01-scaled-e1715599901382-400x199.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dji_20240425132350_0872_d-01-scaled-e1715599901382-800x399.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dji_20240425132350_0872_d-01-scaled-e1715599901382-768x383.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dji_20240425132350_0872_d-01-scaled-e1715599901382-1536x765.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-331419" class="wp-caption-text">Fortescue Green Pioneer.</figcaption></figure>
In breaking news, the <a href="https://www.fortescue.com/en/articles/fortescue-green-pioneer-makes-splash-in-uk-as-critical-moment-looms-for-global-shipping">75 m Fortescue Green Pioneer,</a> powered by ammonia, has arrived in London from Singapore, <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/11/un-shipping-agreement-a-victory-for-multilateralism-but-a-failure-for-the-climate/">giving a nudge to international shipping at a key time</a> — it’s time to transition to greener fuels. The arrival was timed to coincide with the King’s Sustainable Markets Initiative 5th Anniversary.
“Leading CEOs and VIP guests attending the Terra Carta Roundtable &amp; Exhibition joined Fortescue Executive Chairman and Founder Andrew Forrest for a tour of the vessel.” The vessel demonstrated the use of ammonia in its converted engines. The UN International Maritime Organisation’s Safety Committee approval in December 2024 of interim guidelines for the use of ammonia fuel onboard vessels marked an important step towards ammonia becoming a viable fuel for shipping.
The UN International Maritime Organisation is considering a global shipping carbon levy.
Stop the presses! As I wrote that last line, news just in from <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/11/un-agrees-deal-on-shipping-emissions-despite-us-threats">al Jazeera</a>: “A majority of countries at the IMO voted on Friday to approve a scheme that from 2028 will charge ships a penalty of $380 per metric tonne on every extra tonne of CO2-equivalent they emit above a fixed emissions threshold, plus a penalty of $100 a tonne on emissions above a stricter emissions limit.”
This is a step on the path to shipping’s complete decarbonisation by 2050. Of course, Trump is not happy. Dr Forest is advocating for the bypassing of transitional fuels such as LNG and biofuels. Green ammonia is seen by many as the long-term solution. The Fortescue Green Pioneer is on a world tour to make that point. “This will not only deliver a better future for the planet but accelerate a reduction in shipping costs through the widespread adoption and scaling of renewable energy,” Dr Forest says.
In the meantime, Fortescue continues to <a href="https://www.fortescue.com/en/articles/transforming-youth-safety-in-the-pilbara">build community capital</a> at home, recently launching the Hedland and Newman Safe Spaces programs. This initiative is designed to provide essential support and safety for at-risk children and young people. “The Safe Spaces Program is a collaborative initiative led by the Pilbara Development Commission in partnership with Department of Communities and codesigned with locally based ACCOs Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation in Hedland and Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Aboriginal Corporation in Newman to support vulnerable and at-risk children and young people.”
This critical program will be funded over the next 5 years in partnership with BHP to the tune of AU$22 million. The program will provide a temporary safe space and transport home for unsupervised and vulnerable children found on the streets at night.
“The Pilbara Safe Spaces Program is about more than just providing a safe place; it’s about creating real opportunities for young people to build a brighter future. Fortescue is committed to supporting initiatives that drive meaningful change and help create safer, stronger communities,” Warren Fish, Director Approvals, Communities and Environment, said. This program will facilitate culturally responsive services such as: life skills development, education, and employment pathways to create long-term positive change.
It looks like Fortescue is progressing on all fronts to preserve the Earth and be socially responsible. I hope more billionaire CEOs follow his example on the path to real zero.
The future of mining and shipping is bright, electric, and green.

Green Mining, Green Iron, Green Shipping, and Community Support — the Andrew Forest Report

Arran from <a href="https://regenevcharginginstall.com.au/">Regenev</a> has bought himself an electric Mercedes! No, not a luxury sedan to swan around in, but a van to cart around his stuff for installing EV chargers. The eVito Tourer has proven itself economical and fit for purpose, a better choice than the vans bought for the ARENA trials I reported on <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2025/03/29/fleet-electrification-in-australia-lessons-learnt/">here</a>. Perhaps one of the lessons learnt might be — don’t go for the cheapest option or wait for a little bit.
<figure id="attachment_351561" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351561" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351561" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Unknown-scaled.jpeg" alt="Mercedes eVito" width="2560" height="1356" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Unknown-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Unknown-400x212.jpeg 400w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Unknown-800x424.jpeg 800w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Unknown-768x407.jpeg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Unknown-1536x814.jpeg 1536w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Unknown-2048x1085.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351561" class="wp-caption-text">RegenEV Mercedes eVito. Photo courtesy RegenEV</figcaption></figure>
If you are interested in the specs, <a href="https://www.mercedes-benz.com.au/content/dam/australia/vans/models/vito-panel-van-fl/Mercedes-Benz%20Vans%20Australia%20-%20VS20%20Vito%20Technical%20Data%20(SEPT2024).pdf">you can check them here</a>. Here are the basics:
<ul>
<li>Engine power: 204 hp (150 kW)</li>
<li>Vehicle length: 5.14 m</li>
<li>Vehicle height: 1.89 m</li>
<li>Seats (series/max. count): 8/9</li>
<li>Payload: 652 kg</li>
<li>Gross vehicle weight: 3.5 t</li>
</ul>
In a wise move, Mercedes-Benz doesn’t quote a range.
Arran was impressed with the 90 kWh battery and the 300 km range, even when not in eco mode. The eVito Tourer is designed as a people mover. Arran and his family spent the first week driving it around as the family car. Then, when he was sure of the vehicle, he ripped out the extra seats and had the van kitted out for work — livery and all. Now he has a van with six cubic metres of space!
<figure id="attachment_351563" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351563" style="width: 768px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/0da58af4-0c88-4c69-a8df-77afb727d66a.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-351563 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/0da58af4-0c88-4c69-a8df-77afb727d66a-e1744428945155.jpg" alt="Mercedes eVito" width="768" height="930" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/0da58af4-0c88-4c69-a8df-77afb727d66a-e1744428945155.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/0da58af4-0c88-4c69-a8df-77afb727d66a-e1744428945155-330x400.jpg 330w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/0da58af4-0c88-4c69-a8df-77afb727d66a-e1744428945155-661x800.jpg 661w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351563" class="wp-caption-text">Mercedes eVito. Photo courtesy RegenEV</figcaption></figure>
Removing the seats was quite a task. “I was surprised at how heavy they were. Naturally that made a difference to the range. I think it added about another 200 km!” When empty, Arran gets about 500 km. The van is now a working vehicle, fitted out with racks and stock, and he gets about 450 km of range, which is plenty for a normal day’s run around Queensland’s tourist capital, the Gold Coast. If “the boys” have to go further for an installation (say, to the Sunshine Coast — 100 km away), there are plenty of Tesla Superchargers to keep them on the road.
Arran has long driven electric vehicles, starting with a Nissan Leaf. He reminisces: “The Leaf had a 42 kW battery on board, the range was around 260 km most days. The problem I had with the Leaf was, when we stacked it with the pod and ladders on the top of the roof, it reduced the range. I’m estimating it would have been reduced by 80 to 100 km, leaving me not enough to run around Brisbane and back to the coast without a DC fast charge. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great car as a run around, we purchased the Nissan Leaf new from a dealership on the Gold Coast, I owned the Leaf for a year and a half, it was white with the ReGenEV logos and printing.”
<figure id="attachment_322780" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-322780" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/422882015_364604969647028_1421664046071356125_n-scaled-e1707528267601.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-322780 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/422882015_364604969647028_1421664046071356125_n-scaled-e1744429137330.jpg" alt="Mercedes eVito" width="600" height="703" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/422882015_364604969647028_1421664046071356125_n-scaled-e1744429137330.jpg 600w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/422882015_364604969647028_1421664046071356125_n-scaled-e1744429137330-341x400.jpg 341w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-322780" class="wp-caption-text">Tesla Model 3 loaded. Photo courtesy of RegenEV.</figcaption></figure>
Arran’s small business fleet now consists of two Tesla Model 3 sedans, one Model Y, a Model X (mainly used for trade shows), and of course the Mercedes eVito. He has his eye on an MG Cyberster. I joked that the MG would be his “midlife crisis car!” The Mercedes van is replacing the Model Y. “It is better to get all the equipment inside the van, rather than stacked on top of the SUV. The ladders and equipment pod really reduced the efficiency of the vehicle,” He explained.
<figure id="attachment_351568" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351568" style="width: 473px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3f3b068d-42d8-4671-97be-7af46c1d67b3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-351568 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3f3b068d-42d8-4671-97be-7af46c1d67b3.jpg" alt="Mercedes eVito" width="473" height="1024" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3f3b068d-42d8-4671-97be-7af46c1d67b3.jpg 473w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3f3b068d-42d8-4671-97be-7af46c1d67b3-185x400.jpg 185w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3f3b068d-42d8-4671-97be-7af46c1d67b3-370x800.jpg 370w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351568" class="wp-caption-text">Loaded Tesla, ready for work. Photo courtesy RegenEV.</figcaption></figure>
In 2021, Arran started looking for a van for his business. He needed significant range and the ability to carry stock and tools. The closest he found was the newly introduced MG ZS EV, but the range was too low. The vans I wrote about in the CleanTechnica article above were not available in 2021. So, the Model Y it was. Arran had also been using his Model 3s as packhorses, loaded up and with tools on top. Not ideal! <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/12/01/outback-charging-odyssey-getting-the-regions-ready/">Especially when going bush</a>!
Australia has had a couple of good options arrive in the last few months. He checked out the VW ID. Buzz Cargo (Arran thinks he will buy one of these just for the nostalgic fun!) and the LDV eDeliver 7 (the range wasn’t high enough). But when a Regenev customer told him about the Mercedes eVito Tourer that he had driven on holidays in New Zealand, Arran took a looksee. (This demonstrates the power of word of mouth.) The tourer is the same price as the Mercedes tradie van version, but with a better battery. Perhaps Mercedes should spend some money and advertise this vehicle.
<figure id="attachment_351566" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351566" style="width: 768px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/69ac118a-d254-4b8c-9ecb-d5052a7da2a5.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-351566 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/69ac118a-d254-4b8c-9ecb-d5052a7da2a5-e1744429450433.jpg" alt="Mercedes eVito" width="768" height="639" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/69ac118a-d254-4b8c-9ecb-d5052a7da2a5-e1744429450433.jpg 768w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/69ac118a-d254-4b8c-9ecb-d5052a7da2a5-e1744429450433-400x333.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351566" class="wp-caption-text">Charging the eVito. Photo courtesy RegenEV.</figcaption></figure>
At AU$80,000, the Mercedes offered the best value for money. The electric version is still AU$20,000 more expensive than the diesel model, but I am sure the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) will even that out. Plus. Customers might be left scratching their heads if an EV charger installer showed up in a vehicle powered by diesel.
Arran has driven the van for over 6,000 km during the last 3 months, so I asked him what the pros and cons were. He enthusiastically replied: “The regen is fantastic. The van has heaps of room. The efficiency is unbelievable. The range on the Y would go down as you watched, when fully loaded. The Mercedes seems to manage the energy better. Combining regen with eco mode and not having the equipment pod on the roof gives greater efficiency. If I turn off the air conditioning, the range goes up another 30 km!”
On the downside, the Mercedes does not have the “smarts” to take into account external factors like wind speed and gradient when calculating range. “The software is not as sophisticated as the Tesla,” he told me. “Yet,” I added.
One day, just as “the boys” were returning from a job, the Mercedes bricked itself. Thankfully they were only a few hundred metres from the depot and on a slope. They were able to roll the van down the hill and into the driveway. Arran had to use the key to restart the vehicle. I asked him if he opened and shut the windows. Apparently, this has happened a couple of times — but so far, not in a dangerous situation. Arran is yet to discuss this issue with Mercedes.
<figure id="attachment_351562" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351562" style="width: 576px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-351562" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/5c46d257-34f2-46b6-9dbf-c25ec5f4fa1b.jpg" alt="Mercedes eVito" width="576" height="1024" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/5c46d257-34f2-46b6-9dbf-c25ec5f4fa1b.jpg 576w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/5c46d257-34f2-46b6-9dbf-c25ec5f4fa1b-225x400.jpg 225w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/5c46d257-34f2-46b6-9dbf-c25ec5f4fa1b-450x800.jpg 450w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351562" class="wp-caption-text">End of the day for the eVito. “The boys” need to tidy up. Photo courtesy RegenEV</figcaption></figure>
Regen braking has to be turned on each time you drive. A bit annoying. Another time, the brakes took a couple of seconds to respond.
In 2025, Australia is seeing more and better electric utes and vans becoming available. I’m looking forward to seeing all niches of the electric vehicle eco system well represented on our roads. The future for tradies is bright and electric.
<figure id="attachment_351567" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351567" style="width: 576px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/7bc7abc8-0ac3-4838-9992-cf368fbbed7c.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-351567 size-full" src="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/7bc7abc8-0ac3-4838-9992-cf368fbbed7c-e1744429827617.jpg" alt="Mercedes eVito" width="576" height="734" srcset="https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/7bc7abc8-0ac3-4838-9992-cf368fbbed7c-e1744429827617.jpg 576w, https://cleantechnica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/7bc7abc8-0ac3-4838-9992-cf368fbbed7c-e1744429827617-314x400.jpg 314w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-351567" class="wp-caption-text">Tidy Mercedes eVito. Photo courtesy RegenEV.</figcaption></figure>
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