Category: General
2020 Kia Niro EV recalled for power system defect
Early Kia Niro EV models are being recalled for drive-unit components that may have been improperly sealed. The recall is very small, however, affecting just 872 vehicles from the 2020 model year. The recall involves the electric power control unit (EPCU), one of the most critical and expensive components in an EV. It controls the flow of power…
$2.5B DOE loan backs GM’s Ultium EV plan
The U.S. Department of Energy confirmed Monday morning a $2.5 billion federal loan to Ultium Cells LLC, for financing the construction of plants to supply many millions of future GM electric vehicles. The loan will fund the construction of joint-venture GM and LG Energy Solution battery plants in Ohio, Tennessee, and Michigan, and the confirmation…
Hyundai EV range boost, $6,250 solar EV, Best Car To Buy finalists: Today’s Car News
Today we name our five Green Car Reports’ Best Car To Buy 2023 finalists. Hyundai and Kia EVs may soon be getting a range boost from silicon carbide tech. And is there a U.S. need for a low-speed solar city car? This and more, here at Green Car Reports. Based on a recent announcement from a superconductor firm, at least some of…
Tech update may boost range of future Hyundai and Kia EVs
Hyundai and Kia EVs may soon get new silicon-carbide power modules aimed at boosting range. Semiconductor firm STMicroelectronics (ST) said last week in a press release that it has been chosen by Hyundai to supply its silicon-carbide power modules for EVs based on the automaker’s E-GMP platform, which underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and…
$6,250 Squad solar EV coming to US—wherever 25 mph is enough
It will soon be possible to get a solar-charging EV in the U.S. for just $6,250—with a catch. The Squad Solar City Car is the product of Dutch firm Squad Mobility, which was founded in 2019. Unveiled last May, it uses sunlight to recharge its battery pack. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2024, and Squad recently confirmed that the…
Used EV prices, EV battery pack costs, AAA mobile charging, ID.4 software upgrade: The Week in Reverse
Which automaker revealed a hydrogen-combustion performance-car concept? Can government agencies really get the Ford F-150 Lightning? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending December 9, 2022. In a series of introductions in Europe this past week, Toyota continued to go against the…
F-150 Lightning was first electric pickup open to federal agencies
The Ford F-150 Lightning was the first electric pickup truck available to federal agencies for fleet use—but because it’s currently sold out, those agencies can’t order any of the trucks. Outside first reported that the United States Forest Service (USFS) is currently evaluating the Lightning, and that it is the only electric pickup…
2021-2022 VW ID.4 gets long-awaited software upgrade
Volkswagen is preparing to release a software upgrade for ID.4 electric crossovers aimed at improving infotainment system performance, while adding some new features. The upgrade will roll out to 2021 ID.4 models first, followed by certain 2022 ID.4 models, Volkswagen of America said in a press release earlier this week. Owners will be formally…
EV battery cost soared in 2022, hampering EV affordability
EV battery costs have soared in 2022 due to rising raw material and battery component prices, according to a Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) report. The volume-weighted average for lithium-ion battery pack prices reached $151/kwh this year, a 7% increase over 2021, according to the report. It marks the first time average pack prices have…
GM aims for rural EV drivers with vast Level 2 charging network
General Motors is about to undertake what it claims is the largest deployment of Level 2 EV chargers in North America. The automaker this week announced the official launch of its Dealer Community Charging Program with the installation of the first charging stations in Wisconsin and Michigan. GM aims to install up to 40,000 Level 2 chargers in the…