Category: General

Honda is looking to expand a battery-swapping service from Asia to Europe, but the focus will remain on two-wheeled vehicles like mopeds and scooters.

The automaker currently offers battery-swapping in Japan, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, but in a Tuesday press release said it’s now working with Swedish scooter rental startup GoCimo on testing of the concept in Malmö, Sweden, for one year beginning in February 2025.

Honda battery swapping

The test program, which will utilize Honda EM1 scooters already sold in Europe, will look at the suitability of battery swapping for the European urban environment, as well as business feasibility, the release said.

Instead of entire battery packs for cars and trucks, as with other battery-swapping services, Honda focuses on smaller modules. The Honda Mobile Power Pack modules are about 1.5 kwh each, which should be adequate for scooters or perhaps for very small urban EVs if used in multiple. That makes each unit much more powerful than what’s used by the trendy Motocompacto the automaker aimed to ship out with some 2024 Honda Prologue EVs in the U.S.

Honda battery swapping

These modules are charged on a rack, and users simply check them out as needed. This allows urban residents to get by without home charging, may also be a particularly good solution in European cities, where parking and space constraints limit streetside charging options. To find out, Honda will supply 30 EM1 scooters, 60 Mobile Power Pack batteries, and three Power Pack Exchanger swap stations to GoCimo for the test program in Sweden’s third-largest city.

Honda has shown swappable-battery systems, essentially the same as this system, since CES 2018, and suggested it may be headed to some motorcycles, as part of a swappable-battery consortium with Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. It’s since said—last year, most recently—that the Mobile Power Pack format will be used in “various electric products.”

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election reaches its conclusion, politics may be playing less of a role in EV interest, data from research firm AutoPacific shows.

AutoPacific’s EV Consumer Insights Study from June 2024—when election rhetoric was already charged—surveyed 12,000 Americans, including a mix of electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid owners, non-owners with interest in EVs, and those who totally reject EVs.

In line with previous studies, owners of these vehicles tended to be more left-leaning, with 54% of current EV owners and 60% of current plug-in hybrid owners identifying as Democrats compared to 30% of EV owners and 26% of plug-in hybrid owners identifying as Republicans. The gap shrinks for “acceptors” who either intend to get or will consider an EV in the future, at 46% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 24% Independent or third party.

Reasons for not wanting an EV (from AutoPacific 2024 EV Consumer Insights Study)

However, Americans generally aren’t rejecting EVs for political reasons, according to AutoPacific. Just 8% of respondents said they would not consider an EV because “EVs are not aligned with my political beliefs”—down from 10% the previous year. Of that group, 62% identified as Republicans and 13% identified as Democrats.

Political beliefs were ranked last among 27 options for not considering an EV. The top concerns were belief that charging times were too long (52%), that respondents did not have a place to charge at home or at work (51%), and concern that EVs are too expensive to buy and/or operate (49%).

Such results should be a relief to auto industry CEOs. The push to make EVs political has surprised General Motors CEO Mary Barra and saddened Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, the two executives said earlier this year.

2025 Cadillac Lyriq

Republicans, on the other hand, might want to consider that anti-EV rhetoric puts them on the losing side of this issue. Donald Trump has suggested that he plans to gut EV policy, while relying on tariffs to increase the portion of goods—including vehicles—made in America.

Yet a 2022 poll conducted by a leading EV advocacy group found that such a divide between Republicans and Democrats is disconnected from reality, with bipartisan support for EV-friendly policy.

It’s left many Republicans puzzled about when the tide turned against EVs as representing energy independence and why politicians are detached from their constituencies, in this case—even when top Republicans have now become closely aligned with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. 

• The latest recall addresses the failed software fix for the previous Bolt EV fire recall
• The software fails to detect modules that need replacement
• The recall is limited to 107 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV models

General Motors is once again recalling the Chevrolet Bolt EV because the installation of diagnostic software to address a previous battery-fire recall may have been done incorrectly.

The incorrectly-installed software could fail to detect defective battery modules that require replacement, increasing the risk of a potential fire, according to GM. Just 88 different 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV hatchbacks and 19 different Chevrolet Bolt EUV models have this issue.

This is the second recall related to battery diagnostic software in Bolt EV models. GM issued a recall this past July when it internally identified that its service system software would, in some cases, allow a technician to process a vehicle’s warranty claim without complete installation of the software.

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV

This time, the recall stems from a customer complaint that a 2022 Bolt EUV remained limited to 80% state of charge after an “evaluation period,” and thus past the point where the software should have been restricting charging, GM said in recall paperwork. It attributes this to a “malfunction in the software programming tool,” adding that it is not aware of any incidents related to this issue.

Instructions for owners of affected vehicles are the same as the previous software-related recall: Set the target charge level to 90%; avoid depleting the battery below 70 miles of range remaining; park outside after charging; do not charge the vehicle indoors overnight.

Owners will have to take these steps while waiting for an appointment with dealers, who will reinstall the diagnostic software free of charge. GM plans to mail owner notification letters Dec. 16, and owners can contact a dedicated Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM’s reference number for this recall is N242470160.

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Like the previous software-related recall, this is a very small subset of GM’s massive 2021 battery recall effort, which eventually spanned all 140,000 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV models in North America. Many owners of earlier 2017-2019 Bolt EVs ended up with new battery packs, resulting in more driving range than they originally had.

As part of a class-action settlement against GM and battery supplier LG Energy Solution, owners are also likely eligible for $700 to $1,400 in compensation.

The Bolt EV went out of production in December 2023, but as GM reported in July it remained Chevy’s top-selling EV for the first half of 2024. GM CEO Mary Barra said earlier this year that when it returns later in 2025 the 2026 Chevy Bolt EV will be the most affordable EV in the U.S.

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UPDATED with clarification from GM that the software issue relates to the ability to detect battery modules that need replacement.

Costco is once again offering members discounts on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, this time covering 10 all-electric models and two plug-in hybrids from Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Polestar, and Volvo.

Running from Nov. 1, 2024 to Jan. 2, 2025, the biggest discount is $2,000 off the purchase or lease of a 2025 Polestar 3 electric SUV, as well as the purchase or lease of a 2024 or 2025 Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid. Built in the U.S., the Polestar 3 recently started deliveries, while the XC90 is due to get a major refresh partway through the 2025 model year.

2024 Volvo C40

A $1,500 discount is also available for 2024 and 2025 Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrids, while all-electric 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge models are eligible for a $1,000 discount. The two EVs are due to be renamed, with the XC40 Recharge becoming the EX40 and the C40 Recharge becoming the EC40.

A $1,000 discount is also available for a number of General Motors EVs. The list includes the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Blazer EV, Chevy Equinox EV, Chevy Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV Pickup and SUV, and the GMC Sierra EV.

2025 Cadillac Lyriq

Costco offered deals on many of the same models earlier this year, along with a $2,000 discount on the Polestar 2. It also offered a $1,000 discount on the Blazer EV in December of last year. It’s also offered substantial discounts of up to $3,000 on Audi EVs in the past.

The company is now also jumping back into EV charging to support the vehicles it’s incentivizing. Costco was one of the first big-box retailers to install Level 2 charging stations at some locations. It did so in the 1990s, but pulled the plug on its original stations in 2011 and 2012. Now it’s adding them back, although a top executive said just last year that Costco has no plans to retire its lucrative gas stations.

As the automaker prepares to launch its first all-electric models, Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser believes electric vehicles are about to undergo rapid change.

The auto industry is now coming to the end of the first phase of EV development, Walliser said in a recent interview with Autocar. The second phase, which Walliser expects to begin around 2027, is shaping up to be something of a technological holding pattern as automakers look to grow EV adoption while awaiting new battery tech.

Bentley Continental GT Speed in Gravity Grey

“In the second phase, you’ll get bigger batteries, longer ranges, and greater usability,” Walliser said. “Some will say their batteries are too big, but their long ranges will help customers make the switch and get over their range anxiety.”

The third phase, which Walliser predicts will start around 2035, will see further development of battery chemistries and maturation of charging infrastructure, allowing for smaller battery packs and reduced vehicle weight. Perhaps conditions will then finally be right for Bentley to finally commit to EVs long-term.

Bentley Continental GT Speed in Gravity Grey

In 2020, Bentley laid out plans to make its entire lineup plug-in hybrids by 2026 and all-electric by 2030. And in 2022, the automaker said its first EV would arrive in 2025. After a change of plans, that first all-electric model is now set to debut in 2026, with a market arrival in 2027.

The delays are in line with a bearish view of luxury EVs from management. In another interview earlier this year, Walliser said the luxury-car market was rejecting EVs.

This wouldn’t be the first time Bentley has gotten cold feet. The automaker first began discussing EVs in 2016, showing a pair of concepts, only to back away by 2019 following a change in leadership.

• Base prices for EQE SUV lineup carry forward unchanged
  
• EQE SUV continues with CCS charge port, amid shift to Tesla NACS
• Base model is priced for the EV tax credit (purchase), but it appears not to qualify

Mercedes-Benz continues to offer its EQE electric vehicle in both sedan and SUV body styles, with the latter receiving only small changes for the 2025 model year.

The only changes to report are newly-standard rear-seat headrest pillows, a center airbag between the front seats, and digital key functionality. Most models are now also available with front-seat headrest cushions and soft-close doors. A new paint color—Manufaktur Moonlight White Metallic—also joins the palette.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is once again offered in single-motor EQE 350+, dual-motor EQE 350 4Matic and EQE 500 4Matic, and AMG EQE performance guises. EQE 350+ models produce 288 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque, while EQE 350 4Matic models increase torque to 564 lb-ft.

2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV

The EQE 500 4Matic steps up the dual-motor powertrain to a higher combined output of 536 hp and 633 lb-ft, while the AMG EQE dials things up even further with 677 hp and 738 lb-ft and a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds. That compares to 4.6 seconds for the EQE 500 4Matic, 6.2 seconds for the EQE 350 4Matic, and 6.3 seconds for the EQE 350+.

While the 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan receives a bigger battery pack expected to yield more range, it appears the EQE SUV will stick with its 108-kwh pack. Expect EPA range to remain at 307 miles for the single-motor EQE 350+, 282 miles for the EQE 500 4Matic, 265 miles for the EQE 350 4Matic, and 235 miles for the AMG EQE SUV.

Mercedes plans to adopt the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) port for future models, but for now the EQE SUV continues to use the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) port. A maximum power rate of 170 kw allows for a 10%-80% charge in 32 minutes, while a 9.6-kw onboard charger can fully recharge the pack from a 240-volt source in 9.5 hours.

2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV

Introduced for the 2023 model year, the EQE SUV is the middle model in the Mercedes electric crossover lineup. It sits between the EQB—an all-electric derivative of the gasoline GLB-Class—and the 3-row EQS SUV. It received an updated regenerative braking system for the 2024 model year, shared with the EQE sedan and the EQS models.

Pricing starts at $79,050 (including a $1,150 destination fee) for both the EQE 350+ and EQE 350 4Matic models. This pricing, which is unchanged from the 2023 model year, previously allowed the Alabama-built EQE SUV to slide under the price cap for the federal EV tax credit. But this Mercedes no longer qualifies after stricter rules related to battery-material sourcing went into effect at the beginning of 2024. The EQE 500 4Matic and AMG EQE are priced at $90,650 and $110,450, respectively.

Drivers of Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning electric vehicles are getting more EV trip-planning options, via Google Maps, in Ford’s latest over-the-air software update.

Part of Android Auto, this feature makes use of vehicle data to show an estimated battery level upon arrival at a destination, suggest charging stops along the way, and estimate the amount of charging time needed. The feature was announced at CES 2024 in January but is now rolling out, Ford product manager Anthony Phillips explained last week in a LinkedIn post.

Ford already offers Apple Maps EV trip planning, via Apple CarPlay, on the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. That system, as this Google system, taps into the vehicle’s state-of-charge data and includes battery preconditioning functions.

2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally

The update also lets Google Maps show Tesla Supercharger stations, where Ford EV owners can charge with adapters the automaker began shipping earlier this year (some of which already need to be replaced). For all DC fast-charging stations, trip planning includes en-route preconditioning of the battery pack once one of these stations is selected as a stop.

This feature requires both the most recent Ford over-the-air (OTA) update for vehicles and the most recent version of Google Maps for smartphones. Once drivers have downloaded both, they can access EV route planning by opening Android Auto.

2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Flash

In addition to the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto trip planning, Ford also offers its own embedded navigation features.

Google first added EV charging sites to its navigation app in 2018, but only as points of interest. Only in early 2023 did it announce a deeper level of data on charging stations, allowing some EVs with Google built-in features to contribute state-of-charge and range estimates necessary for dynamic navigation with charging stops. This has been essentially limited to brands using Google-based infotainment systems, including Volvo, Polestar, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC.

Meanwhile, as this Ford update rolls out, Google also on Friday marked the debut of new Gemini AI-curated Maps functionality, which appears to extend to route planning, and previewed it as headed into Rivian vehicles.

Google teases AI summaries in Rivian EVs

The tech giant pointed to its initial ability set as able to generate custom visualizations relating to EV chargers, services, and more.

“Next month, Rivian will start using this feature to show summaries of restaurants, shops and supermarkets on their infotainment screens—so drivers can quickly and easily learn more about a place,” said Google.

Ford couldn’t yet comment to Green Car Reports on how this next twist will impact the in-vehicle experience, but it’s clear that it’s among the automakers aiming to provide drivers with plenty of information to make road trips easier.

The Chevrolet Silverado EV is getting its own version of the CrabWalk mode already available on its GMC Sierra EV sibling, Chevy confirmed Friday.

Chevy’s version is called Sidewinder, not CrabWalk, but it provides essentially the same functionality. It utilizes the Silverado EV’s rear-wheel steering to turn all four wheels in the same direction, allowing for diagonal driving at speeds up to 20 mph.

2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV Sidewinder mode

Drivers can select Sidewinder mode by going to the Rear Steering page under the Controls menu in the infotainment display. Graphics on the display, as well as a confirmation message in the instrument cluster, appear when the mode is activated.

Sidewinder mode is standard on the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST and will be added to 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition models via an over-the-air update. That update will be pushed to both leftover 2024 models still on dealer lots and trucks already in customer hands, Chevy confirmed.

2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV

The CrabWalk-branded version of this feature first appeared on the GMC Hummer EV, and was standard on the 2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1. That was the main difference between the Edition 1 and the Silverado EV RST First Edition—the low-volume launch versions of each truck. The same feature will also be available on the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ SUV, branded as Cadillac Arrival Mode.

Other changes to the Silverado EV for 2025 include range increases to 460 miles for the RST grade and 492 miles for the base WT model, with the larger Max Range pack, plus a new LT grade slotting in between those models.

Polestar on Friday confirmed its first customer deliveries of U.S.-built electric vehicles.

Every Polestar model to date has been manufactured in China, but the 2025 Polestar 3 is assembled at a South Carolina plant shared with Volvo. Production started there in August following software-related delays.

First U.S. Polestar 3 deliveries

The Polestar 3 is a platform-mate of the Volvo EX90, which is built at the same South Carolina plant. But where the Volvo offers three rows of seats, the Polestar sticks to two, with total seating for five, with a sportier character. It offers up to 315 miles of range from a 111-kwh battery pack, with a standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain rated at 489 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque, or 517 hp and 671 lb-ft in optional Performance Pack spec.

The Polestar 3 has a base price of $74,800 that’s under the $80,000 federal tax-credit cap for electric SUVs. But even with that, and U.S. assembly, it’s unlikely to qualify for a federal tax credit for the foreseeable future. In addition to more stringent sourcing requirements, new “foreign entity of concern” language disqualifies subsidiary companies if a “parent entity” in China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea holds more than 50% in the company.

First U.S. Polestar 3 deliveries

Polestar has said it will pass on a $7,500 credit for leases, following the approach of other automakers in exploiting what’s being called the EV leasing loophole. This allows use of a provision intended for commercial vehicles by automakers with captive financing arms to claim a credit and pass the savings on to customers even if vehicles don’t otherwise qualify.

Building cars in the U.S. does at least avoid recently-hiked tariffs on Chinese EVs. In a more complex solution to the same problem, U.S.-market versions of the coupe-like Polestar 4 will be built at a Renault plant in South Korea. That’s scheduled to start in the second half of 2025.

Ford will pause production of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck from Nov. 18 to Jan. 6, reports Reuters.

“We continue to adjust production for an optimal mix of sales growth and profitability,” the automaker said in a statement to Reuters regarding the six-week production pause, which overlaps with a week in December when all Ford factories are closed for the holidays.

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning pre-production

Ford said this month that U.S. EV sales for its namesake brand were up 45% this year, and that Lightning sales had more than doubled to 7,100 trucks in the three months ending Sept. 30, Reuters noted, adding that this means the Lightning makes up a tiny 3.6% of total F-150 sales.

The production pause comes after Ford in April cut production to just one shift. The automaker also slowed production in 2023 rather than further lowering prices as demand for pricier Lightning variants dried up. Ford initially promised that the Lightning would cost around $40,000 but, even with a few price cuts, prices remained much higher than that throughout 2023.

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning pre-production

Prices continued to fluctuate into 2024, with Ford cutting the sticker price of certain versions by up to $5,500 this past April—the same month as the most recent production cut. Those changes only affected models in the middle of the lineup, with prices for both the base F-150 Lightning Pro Standard Range and the range-topping Platinum Extended Range unchanged.

Ford has been resetting its EV plans. In August, the automaker said it was nixing a three-row electric SUV, adding an electric midsize pickup, and pushing back the launch of the Lightning’s replacement from 2025 to 2027. More hybrids are also part of this plan, particularly in bigger segments where battery costs could make all-electric models less profitable.