Which automaker teased the 800-volt way forward for its EVs sized like Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y?
Which automaker is utilizing a biogas-fed hydrogen fuel-cell plant to energy its largest U.S. port?
That is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Inexperienced Automobile Reviews—for the week ending September 8, 2023.
The Polestar 2 is coming into its fourth mannequin yr, and whereas it doesn’t look all that a lot totally different, a lot has modified about the way in which it drives—with a change from a front-wheel-drive bias to a rear-wheel-drive one. A first drive of the 2024 Polestar 2 on some Colorado mountain roads was sufficient to indicate that this Euro-flavored efficiency EV is perhaps price one other look in its easiest, most charming type—the place it now additionally will get an EPA-rated 320 miles of vary.
2024 Polestar 2 single motor
The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 is getting a lift in energy and acceleration versus 2023, VW revealed Monday. That enchancment, due to a brand new rear energy unit in fashions with the bigger 82-kwh battery pack, may even seemingly deliver improved driving vary, though EPA rankings haven’t but been launched.
The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally unveiled on Thursday presents a brand new twist on performance-oriented electrical crossovers, specializing in filth roads and looking out again to Ford’s wealthy rally-car historical past. With a particular RallySport drive mode, a lifted suspension, and the high-performance GT mannequin’s dual-motor all-wheel drive retuned, it’s a method not but represented in EVs.
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally
Regardless of their wonderful mpg, vary, and effectivity numbers, the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime plug-in hybrid are among the many autos touchdown a spot on the IIHS Prime Security Choose+ listing. It ought to be famous these revamped fashions are extra thrilling to drive and take a look at, too.
Ford is quickly including Apple Maps EV routing to the F-150 Lightning electrical truck. As within the Mustang Mach-E, utilizing Maps with CarPlay within the Lightning will be capable of entry the automotive’s state of cost, planning charging stops alongside the way in which when wanted.
Toyota Hilux hydrogen fuel-cell prototype
Toyota revealed a hydrogen fuel-cell electrical pickup truck—within the U.Ok., and based mostly on that market’s closest equal to the Tacoma, a Hilux. Up to now it’s only a prototype venture, funded partly with authorities cash, however such a truck might be launched later within the decade, Toyota says.
Honda has set the timeline for adopting Tesla NACS charging. And what which means, it appears, is that dealerships might want to assist help the CCS customary within the first EVs arriving subsequent yr, whereas these coming a yr later in 2025 may have the totally different NACS cost port.
Hilton motels add Tesla charging
Hilton has made a giant dedication to offering resort visitors the means to totally cost many EVs in a single day. It plans to put in as much as 20,000 Tesla Common Wall Connectors, offering L2 charging as much as 11.5 kw, at 2,000 motels within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Tesla’s unit can cost each the model’s personal fashions with the NACS port and all different fashionable EVs with the J1772 port.
Toyota is producing its personal fuel-cell energy for its big Lengthy Seaside port with a distributed hydrogen system that’s fairly the great resolution for slicing its emissions and vitality use. Beginning with agricultural methane piped in, the system not solely cuts its reliance on grid energy however can feed extra energy to the grid, generate hydrogen for port semis and new Mirai fuel-cell automobiles arriving at port, and generate water for laundry automobiles.
Toyota Mirai and fuel-cell semi, with FuelCell Power at Lengthy Seaside
In a research out this week, J.D. Energy discovered that EV adoption is changing into extra polarized by state, with EVs changing into way more well-liked in states which have supported them with insurance policies and incentives. Based mostly on this pattern, EVs will nonetheless surprisingly be the minority in states like North Dakota by 2035, it anticipates.
And eventually, over the Labor Day vacation weekend, as American turned away from display screen time to seashore time and barbecues—warmth waves allowing—the German auto business opted to introduce many essential EV ideas with world attain, on the Munich auto present. A number of of those dig deep in respective manufacturers’ design heritage, fairly than making an attempt to remake all of the design cues as a part of it.
BMW Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse
Amongst them: The BMW Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse affords up a design that’s concurrently a throwback to the E30 3-Collection with a much-simplified interface, plus next-generation EV tech that guarantees extra vary, quicker charging, and extra effectivity.
The Volkswagen ID.GTI Idea EV affords up how VW plans to re-up its fun-to-drive compact automotive for the electrical period.
Volkswagen ID.GTI Idea
BMW’s Mini confirmed the primary of a future lineup of EVs taking type. Its upcoming Mini Cooper and Countryman electrical fashions, badged E or SE, will get much more vary than the present-day Mini Cooper SE, in addition to a simplified interface targeted round a spherical central show display screen.
Rounding out the ideas making a debut ultimately weekend’s Munich auto present, Mercedes’ Idea CLA-Class EV idea touted the model’s effectivity focus for its upcoming compact EVs, which shall be constructed round an 800-volt drive system.
The Audi Q6 E-Tron electrical crossover will supply quicker charging and a platform designed round effectivity. However it additionally marks the debut of a brand new inside design theme, Audi outlined on the present, in addition to a brand new interface and consumer expertise—together with the introduction of a lightbar working the bottom of the windshield that may sign data like charging standing. A passenger-side display screen may even enable video viewing with a “digital blind” so the motive force doesn’t get distracted.
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