Reverse Week: Equinox EV, Lucid Air Worth Lower, Kia Hybrid Minivan, EV9 Markups

Which automaker revealed a far-out idea EV however skipped the auto present?

And when did Republicans flip in opposition to EVs?

That is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Inexperienced Automotive Studies—for the week ending February 16, 2024.

The 2024 Chevy Equinox EV will qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit score and stays on account of begin at $34,995 with a 319-mile vary, GM confirmed initially of the week. However that entry mannequin received’t arrive first; a “well-contented” 2RS mannequin will lead the lineup, which appeared to get a worth minimize for prime trims. And dual-motor AWD and different variations are on the best way later within the 12 months. 

Lucid minimize costs on the 2024 Air lineup. Affecting all however the top-performance, tri-motor Sapphire model, the very long-range, fast-charging electrical sedan prices as much as $8,000 lower than it did yesterday. And the Lucid Air now undercuts the Tesla Mannequin S—in the event you don’t require all-wheel drive. 

Chrysler revealed the Halcyon Idea EV, powered by lithium-sulfur batteries, permitting a protracted driving vary and really quick charging—allegedly, 200 miles of vary with a five-minute cost—and incorporating in-the-road dynamic wi-fi charging. The large, butterfly-door sedan is strictly concept-car territory, however the Chrysler model plans to have an all-electric portfolio by 2028 and as we speak its solely plug-in product is the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. 

 

VW’s Scout Motors electrical truck model has damaged floor on a $2 billion plant in South Carolina that might ultimately make 200,000 EVs yearly. The trendy Scout lineup will embrace each electrical pickups and SUVs, though know-how and platform particulars haven’t but been disclosed.

Honda teased some modest styling adjustments for its upcoming hydrogen fuel-cell CR-V. In a video, Honda exhibits that the brand new mannequin, which does have a cost port, may also be capable of provide power-sharing for equipment and extra. 

Stellantis, the mother or father of Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, and extra, is pushing forward to revitalize the historic Italian model Lancia—inside just a few years, as an all-EV model. The brand new Lancia Ypsilon city EV revealed Wednesday marks the start of that revival—on account of prolong throughout Europe, with a crossover and bigger hatchback due later within the decade.  

Kia is reportedly pushing forward with a totally electrical Stinger successor, known as EV8. The high-performance EV would possibly arrive in 2026, get Kia’s largest battery pack but, and function a flagship automotive for the model when it comes to each vary and efficiency.

In response to a report from Japan, the three way partnership between Sony and Honda plans to observe its electrical Afeela sedan with two different fashions for the model targeted round apps and media—an SUV, and an inexpensive, Civic-sized EV. Whereas the Afeela sedan stays on account of arrive in 2026, the compact EV could not arrive till 2028. 

The highest Kia advertising govt within the U.S., on the Chicago auto present the place it launched the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid minivan, famous that plug-in hybrids are misunderstood—and a tougher promote given all of the misconceptions. However given evolving attitudes about hybrids and plug-in autos, Kia’s staying available in the market because it sees PHEVs changing into a “no brainer.”

In response to the newest survey on car dependability from the survey large J.D. Energy, EVs and plug-in hybrids stay extra trouble-prone than hybrids. It seems tires have been known as a part of dependability, although, they usually do put on out quicker on EVs.

Chrysler mother or father Stellantis confirmed that it’s adopting the proposed commonplace SAE J3400—sure, past the jargon, that’s the Tesla cost port. Because the final main automaker to undertake the Tesla commonplace, additionally known as NACS, Stellantis isn’t flaunting all the benefits of Tesla Supercharger entry as different automakers have.

Researchers on the College of Nebraska-Lincoln have carried out what they declare are the first-ever crash assessments taking a look at EVs and guardrails, and the outcomes aren’t so nice. With as we speak’s EVs weighing far more than passenger automobiles and light-weight vehicles that typical freeway guardrails have been designed for a number of many years in the past—much more in some circumstances than the heavy-duty pickups which can be additionally more and more frequent—outcomes counsel the necessity to minimize weight from EVs and rethink some freeway fundamentals. 

A survey of 1000’s of “future EV acceptors” level to conventional gas-station facilities like vacuums, automotive washes, and tire-pressure instruments as necessities for EV charging stations. That’s undoubtedly totally different than a variety of latest templates for next-generation EV charging, which have as an alternative emphasised lounge facets

EV curiosity will increase with EV expertise. That’s among the many findings of a latest Shopper Studies survey asking American shoppers about contemplating electrical autos—underscoring {that a} lack of EV expertise could also be holding again adoption. It additionally underscored that environmentalism is top-of-mind for comparatively few American shoppers.

Fiscal-hawk varieties used to see EVs as an incredible thought, for power independence and all types of different causes. When did Republicans flip in opposition to EVs? As a political advisor just lately underscored, it is difficult—and all of the heel-digging vs EVs does not really replicate constituencies.

Because the March 7 debut of the Rivian R2 approaches, the EV maker teased a primary element in regards to the R2 lineup’s design and styling—most notably, that it appears to be like poised to maintain the R1 lineup’s polarizing but distinctive entrance lighting scheme.

And Kia sellers are at it once more, marking up the EV9 electrical SUV by $7,000 or extra, regardless of efforts from Kia to reel in worth gouging earlier within the 12 months. With EV9 manufacturing on account of ramp up at increased charges in Georgia, and a few dealerships sticking to MSRP, there’s hope of getting one for its correct worth quickly. 

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