Author: EVAI

Kia on Thursday unveiled the Concept EV2, which previews an electric subcompact crossover expected to enter production in 2026.

Shown at the automaker’s EV Day presentation in Tarragona, Spain, alongside a handful of other electric vehicles, the boxy EV2 almost looks like an heir to the Kia Soul EV, which was sold in the U.S. in limited numbers from model years 2015 to 2019. A second-generation Soul EV was offered in other markets but it never made it to the U.S., even though it had an official 243-mile EPA range rating.

Kia Concept EV2

At 169.3 inches long, the EV2 is 4.1 inches longer than the current gasoline Kia Soul, and about the same length as the Kia EV3 electric crossover unveiled last May. That footprint puts both Kia vehicles between the Hyundai Kona Electric and Volvo EX30, two of the smaller EVs to reach the U.S., excepting the Fiat 500e that’s more than two feet shorter than the EV2. 

Fanciful features like suicide doors (which Kia fully committed to by deleting the central roof pillar) likely won’t make it to production, but the flat floor, wide-opening tailgate, and pop-up cargo divider system might. The interior also features removable triangular speakers, a dashboard-spanning display, and the ability to project messages onto windows to communicate with other road users. Kia also claims to be developing an AI voice assistant for future EVs.

Kia Concept EV2

Kia has provided few technical details, but the EV2 is expected to use the same lower-cost version of the E-GMP dedicated EV architecture as the EV3. Cost-cutting is expected to include 400-volt charging in place of the 800-volt charging in other E-GMP models, although Kia said the EV2 will retain the bidirectional charging capability built into that platform.

The Concept EV2 was revealed alongside the production-ready EV4, a compact model to be offered in sedan and hatchback body styles, and the PV5 electric van. Kia has indicated that it’s mulling bringing the EV3 and EV4, as well as the PV5 van to the U.S., but it’s unclear if the EV2 might be sold here as well.

Kia has revealed the PV5 as the first of its planned range of purpose-built vehicles The PV5 is an electric midsize van that Kia will offer in passenger and cargo forms Sales start this year but U.S. availability hasn’t been announced Kia has revealed the PV5, an electric midsize van, during a special Kia EV Day presentation in Tarragona, Spain…

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Flat-towing an electric vehicle—that is, towing it with its wheels in contact with the road—is more difficult than with internal-combustion vehicles. But automakers are working on solutions.

When internal-combustion vehicles are flat-towed, their transmissions are shifted into neutral, or prop shafts are removed or disengaged, to allow the normally-driven wheels to rotate freely without risking damage to mechanical components. But mechanically decoupling electric motors from the wheels they normally drive isn’t as straightforward with EVs.

Stellantis EV flat towing patent image

In a patent filing published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Jan. 30, 2025 (and submitted Jul. 24, 2023), Stellantis proposes an alternative, for vehicles equipped with permanent-magnet synchronous motors, at least. A high-voltage bus could be used to induce field weakening, reducing the torque of the motors and allowing them to spin more freely, while being isolated from the battery pack.

It’s a somewhat simpler solution than the one proposed by Rivian in a patent filing that surfaced just about a year ago. In that filing, the automaker discusses using software to disconnect the motor or motors that would normally power the rear axle, while still applying torque to the front wheels to keep the vehicle from rolling out of sync with the tow vehicle.

Rivian free-wheel towing patent image

In earlier patent application, published by the USPTO in 2021, Ford takes things a step further by suggesting that EVs could selectively be charged when towed. That also opens up the possibility of using the EV to help boost the tow vehicle up hills, similar to what startups Pebble and Lightship have built into travel trailers.

While flat-towing might not be a primary concern for all EV shoppers, it’s popular with RV owners, and could also make it easier to recover stranded EVs, reducing the need for flatbed trucks. So these patented ideas could prove quite useful if they’re ever applied to production vehicles.

• NACS will debut in Nissan-branded pure EV in 2025, be available in 2026
• Unclear whether that’s refreshed Ariya, or next-generation Leaf
• Nissan won’t immediately renew home charging around NACS

Nissan was the first Japanese automaker to confirm a switch to the Tesla-based North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector for future U.S.-market EVs. 

It announced back in July 2023 that Nissan EVs with a NACS port would begin arriving in 2025, and in a recent check-in with Green Car Reports, Nissan confirmed that it remains on-track for that target—with a few intriguing details.

Nissan is now offering a NACS adapter for the Ariya, which has a CCS charge port, so that it can take advantage of the Tesla Supercharger network and other additional NACS connectors. That’s ahead of a message that Nissan is now adding a little more detail to: It confirmed Wednesday its plan to “introduce” a Nissan-branded pure EV with a native NACS port later this calendar year, with on-sale availability assured for calendar-year 2026. 

That potentially pegs a refreshed Ariya as the first U.S. Nissan with a NACS port, but Nissan wouldn’t confirm that’s the case. Further, its hint of “introduce” opens the door to a different model potentially leading the transition, at least from a show stand. A next-generation Nissan Leaf is likely to be previewed globally before the end of the year, for instance, but its U.S. arrival and timing are unclear as of yet.

Nissan Chill-Out concept – December 2021

Nissan Chill-Out concept – December 2021

Nissan Chill-Out concept – December 2021

In advance of this, Nissan updated its app earlier this year so that you can now see live station availability, compatibility with your vehicle, and what equipment is needed to achieve the peak charge rate. You can also start and stop charging sessions—even those on the Supercharger network—with the app. 

To prepare for the adapters and then that bigger shift, Nissan already has all compatible Supercharger stations listed in the Nissan app, according to Ansu Jammeh, an engineer overseeing charging compatibility and development at Nissan in the U.S. 

Nissan app – network filters including Tesla Supercharger

Nissan app — ability to send Tesla Supercharger guidance to vehicle

With NACS compatibility, Nissan added an additional 20,000 DC fast-charger posts. That essentially doubles the charge connectors available to a Nissan customer, Jammeh recently noted to Green Car Reports.

Regardless of what happens with a range of factors such as the federal charging buildout, Nissan is expecting “steady growth” in U.S. charging infrastructure over the next few years, according to Jammeh. “Industry-wide, we still see the customer want, and the necessity, behind more charging infrastructure,” he underscored. 

Home charging remains a big part of it, too, and Jammeh emphasized that part of it won’t be changing immediately—and it doesn’t need to, with adapters playing their part. 

Nissan Ariya at Tesla Supercharger station

“The beautiful part is that, between J1772, CCS1, and NACS, they’re compatible,” said Jammeh, referring to what’s assured by the developing J3400 standard around the NACS connector. “So in terms of a customer, do they actually need to change their home infrastructure? No, they can utilize the same equipment they have.”

As for that adapter, it’s available now, and it can be purchased for $235 through Nissan dealers or directly from Nissan. 

Nissan strongly advises against using a third-party adapter—or for that matter, even the Tesla Magic Dock, and cautions that it’s prohibited under Nissan’s own terms and may also violate Tesla’s terms of use for the Supercharger Network. In Nissan’s design specifically, a plastic tab that fits within the adapter helps it fit securely. 

The adapter fully supports the Ariya’s peak charge rate of 130 kw, which allows it to charge from 10-80% in as little as 35 minutes, according to Nissan. 

2023 Nissan Ariya at EVgo charging station

Jammeh said that looking ahead, Nissan “will support any change that needs to be done on the vehicle design or equipment side to make sure customers are best-equipped.” But the engineer couldn’t yet say whether or not that means better support in its electric vehicle products for bidirectional charging—just that it hopes to adopt those technologies in the future. 

Future charging technology announcements, Jammeh hinted, might also correspond with Nissan’s plans to offer an all-solid-state battery in at least one global vehicle by 2028. 

Nissan, on a global basis, has emphasized the importance of bidirectional charging tech, including vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, and it once said those capabilities were built into the Ariya. In the U.S., Nissan does support Leaf bidirectional charging, but the only compatible (and warranty-supported) unit at present is one that enables V2G rather than home-backup capability. 

2023 Nissan Leaf

The Leaf is Nissan’s only U.S. vehicle to use the CHAdeMO charge port. A 2026 Nissan Rogue plug-in hybrid has also been confirmed, and seeing that its Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV cousin uses CHAdeMO, it will be interesting to see whether it arrives with that, CCS, or NACS. Nissan also has several Mississippi-made EVs in the works, but those have now been pushed out to 2028 and will surely offer NACS. 

In the meantime, with such variance in upcoming EVs, adapters, and different charge ports, it’s going to be much more of a challenge for automakers to communicate what to plug into—both within apps and in-person.

AC Cars has teamed up with T-engineering for production of its Cobra GT T-engineering was founded by ex-Saab engineers and is based on the former Saab plant in Sweden AC is also building the Cobra GT in the U.K. AC Cars has turned to an unlikely partner for support in building its modern take on the iconic Cobra sports car. The British company…

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• Upcoming ES90 will get 800-volt architecture, 350-kw fast-charging
• Smaller battery than EX90 electric SUV, yet a longer range
• Recycled plastics, certified wood, and battery passport all part of eco credentials

The Volvo ES90 electric sedan will be the first of the Swedish automaker’s electric vehicles with an 800-volt electrical architecture, and will continue Volvo’s emphasis on sustainable materials.

First teased last fall, the ES90 is due to be revealed Mar. 5, but Volvo is releasing some details to build up hype ahead of that. On Wednesday, the automaker sent out a press release focused on charging and sustainability aspects of the new sedan.

On the charging side, Volvo confirmed an 800-volt electrical architecture that will allow European-spec versions of the ES90 to charge at up to 350 kw and recover up to 186 miles of range in 10 minutes of charging at that power level.

The automaker also expects the time for a 20-minute 10-80% charge, compared to 30 minutes for the EX90 SUV, with 400-volt hardware. But it hasn’t yet said whether the ES90 will also offer the bidirectional charging capability that’s been promised for the EX90.

2025 Volvo EX90

Volvo is aiming for 435 miles of range, as measured on the European WLTP testing cycle. That’s based on a dual-motor powertrain and 106-kwh battery pack, although Volvo didn’t specify whether the battery capacity was usable or gross. For reference, the EX90’s pack is 111 kwh gross, with 107 kwh usable. And it’s worth remembering that WLTP numbers don’t directly translate to the U.S. EPA cycle, although the ES90 should still manage well over 300 miles in EPA testing.

Volvo also claims that it will keep the overall carbon footprint of the ES90 with meaningful use of sustainable materials. The automaker claims 29% of the aluminum, 18% of the steel, and 16% of the plastic polymers used in the car will be recycled material, while all wood trim will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as sustainably harvested.

The ES90 will also have a blockchain-based “battery passport” that tracks the sourcing of raw materials—including cobalt, graphite, lithium, and nickel—as well as the overall carbon footprint of the battery, according to Volvo.

Volvo ES90 teased ahead of debut on March 5, 2025

While still based on the SPA2 architecture used by the EX90, the ES90 is shaping up to be a true evolution of that platform, rather than just the same components packaged in a new body style. In addition to its 800-volt electrical architecture, the ES90 will debut more powerful chips for Volvo’s Superset tech stack. Those chips will be retrofitted to EX90 models as well, under a timeline and details yet to be confirmed.

The ES90 is one of 10 new and updated models Volvo plans to introduce over the next two years. In addition to more EVs, some of them will be longer-range plug-in hybrids as Volvo backs away from a previous goal of going all-electric by 2030.