Category: General
SunPower files bankruptcy, was to be GM’s Ultium Energy home installer
- SunPower filed bankruptcy on Monday
- SunPower was originally going to be GM’s installer for home energy storage systems
- A decade ago SunPower was the most popular choice amongst companies for solar installations
Solar company SunPower, which was once set to be the designated installer for General Motors home energy storage systems, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S.
As reported by Electrek, SunPower submitted its bankruptcy filing to a Delaware court late Monday. In the filing, SunPower reported its assets and liabilities to be between $1 billion and $10 billion, and said it would sell parts of its business to Complete Solaria for $45 million in cash.
2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV with GM Ultium Home energy system
A decade ago, SunPower was the most popular choice among big corporations seeking to add solar installations. But in recent years it seems to have had trouble keeping up with the competition on cost. And Tesla’s continued struggles with solar underscore it’s not an easy market to squeeze into.
SunPower was also at the leading edge of the convergence of EV charging and solar, with a partnership with Wallbox in 2021 pretty much assuring that it would have a role in this merging of market segments. GM initially tapped SunPower as the installer for its Ultium Home systems, but a few months ago the automaker announced that it was switching to Qmerit.
2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV with GM Ultium Home energy system
“GM and SunPower reached a mutual decision to discontinue their work together earlier this year. GM Energy remains committed to delivering its residential suite of products to customers alongside our preferred installer, Qmerit,” the automaker said in a statement.
GM said in 2023 that it would add bidirectional charging to all EVs using its Ultium component set, with vehicle-to-home (V2H) hardware supplied buy its new GM Energy business allowing these EVs to serve as backup power sources. That hardware takes the form of the Ultium Home V2H Bundle GM detailed last year.
Porsche gives used Taycan batteries second life powering plant
- Used Taycan batteries are helping power Porsche’s Leipzig factory in Germany
- The batteries are from pre-production vehicles that were used for testing
- Porsche said the batteries provide up to 5 megawatts of energy
After they’ve degraded too much for continued use in EVs, battery packs still have plenty of usable capacity for stationary energy storage. Porsche is giving some used Taycan batteries a second life doing just that.
The automaker on Tuesday announced that it’s using an energy storage system consisting of 4,400 used Taycan battery modules to help power its factory in Leipzig, Germany. Taken from pre-production vehicles used in testing, the modules add up to 5 megawatts of capacity.
Energy storage system utilizing Porsche Taycan battery modules
“We wanted to create electricity storage capacities for the Leipzig plant in order to make the site even more economical and to increase its degree of self-sufficiency,” Jonathan Dietrich, head of the battery-storage project, said in a statement. “So it was only logical to use batteries from Taycan preseries vehicles instead of recycling them.”
Battery modules were installed into the energy-storage array without any technical changes, Porsche claims. They’re divided into four containers, each connected to an inverter and transformer. The system is designed for a useful life of more than 10 years, and individual battery modules can be replaced as necessary.
Energy storage system utilizing Porsche Taycan battery modules
The Taycan battery modules store power from an onsite solar array, which has a maximum capacity of 9.4 megawatts. Electricity can be stored for use during peak periods, helping to reduce strain on the grid by keeping electricity demand more consistent. Virtual power plants of EVs could also play a role in this, using vehicles themselves as an alternative energy source and reducing the need for burning fossil fuels.
Several other automakers have experimented with different second-life uses for EV batteries. In 2015 Nissan and General Motors demonstrated energy-storage systems using Leaf and Chevrolet Volt batteries, respectively, while Toyota turned Camry Hybrid battery packs into a power source for buildings at Yellowstone National Park. That said, there is also debate over whether reuse or recycling is the better option.
Tesla testing 320+ kw output with Superchargers and Cybertruck
While the future of Tesla’s Supercharger team still remains uncertain, the automaker is testing higher outputs at some of its DC fast-charging stations.
YouTuber TesLatino recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) about finding a Supercharger station with a significantly higher output than normal. Instead of the typical peak around 250 kw, TesLatino saw a peak of 323 kw.
Screen shot of X post from Tesla engineer Wes Morrill explaining higher-power Supercharger trial
Wes Morrill, lead engineer for the Tesla Cybertruck, responded with an explanation that this was part of a trial Tesla was running on V3+ Supercharger stations, meaning those with a V3 cabinet and V4 charge post—so not yet taking advantage of the Cybertruck’s 800-volt charging capability some have demonstrated with higher-voltage non-Tesla chargers. This hasn’t rolled out to all stations with the applicable hardware, Morrill noted, but Tesla drivers can now look forward to being pleasantly surprised by higher power levels at certain stations, it seems.
Kyle Conner from Out Of Spec Studios connected with TesLatino during the charging experience and noted the charger was outputting over 900 amps to get to the 320-plus kw charging power. Tesla’s V3 Superchargers were originally rated at 425 amps, while Tesla’s V4 chargers were rated to 615 amps at 1,000 volts.
That might indicate some very special thermal considerations designed into the Cybertruck—particularly its charging inlet—to allow such a rate without excess heat.
The Cybertruck itself was unveiled in production form in November 2023, but didn’t come anywhere close to the $39,900 starting price or range of up to 500 miles Tesla suggested when the truck premiered. Tesla is no longer discussing 500 miles even with an extra range-extender battery pack that fits into the bed.
2025 Tesla Cybertruck – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk earlier this year fired nearly the entire Tesla Supercharger team, but later promised a $500 million expansion funding “thousands” of new chargers, separate from any costs associated with keeping the current network running.
The decision to pull back on Supercharger operations did not appear to affect the plans of Ionna, the charging network for the U.S. and Canada that is directly funded by seven automakers. Shortly after Tesla’s firing of its Supercharger staff, Ionna re-upped its commitment to build a network of more than 30,000 high-power connectors. BP has said it will gladly take over Supercharger sites Tesla no longer wants to run as it builds out its own charging network.
Lucid gets $1.5B cash injection from Saudis
Lucid Group on Monday announced that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), the automaker’s largest shareholder, will inject up to $1.5 billion in cash.
The deal will keep Lucid sufficiently funded until the fourth quarter of 2025, reports Reuters, and comes as Lucid prepares to grow its lineup beyond the Air sedan. The PIF took a $1 billion stake in Lucid in 2018, which helped to finally get the Air into production.
Lucid Gravity
Lucid also reported second-quarter revenue above analysts’ expectations, according to Reuters, after price cuts helped increase sales of the Air during Q2. Lucid cut prices by up to 10% earlier this year, allowing the base Air Pure to undercut the Tesla Model S.
The cash injection will likely help Lucid get its Gravity SUV into production. The automaker unveiled its second model at the 2023 Los Angeles auto show, and aims to start production later this year. After an ever-so-brief prototype test drive, we concluded that the Gravity just might defy segments, mixing the qualities of SUVs, minivans, and wagons.
Teaser for Lucid Project Midsize – Photo credit: John Voelcker
Lucid in January also teased a somewhat smaller electric SUV, likely about the size of the Tesla Model Y, called “Project Midsize.” CEO Peter Rawlinson said at the time that engineering prototypes had already been built, while Reuters reports that Lucid is targeting a 2026 launch window for the new model.
The smaller electric SUV was announced at the opening of the second manufacturing stage at Lucid’s factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. According to Lucid, the 3 million square-foot buildout effectively quadruples the size of the factory. It will support the ramp-up of the Gravity, as well as expanded production of the Air, until the third model arrives.
Rivian Large+ battery is a software-locked Max Pack
- Some Rivian R1 vehicles with the Max Pack battery will be delivered as Large+ models
- Vehicles with the Large+ battery pack feature a software-locked usable capacity
- It’s unclear if Rivian will allow Large+ owners to unlock the extra battery capacity later
Rivian is selling its revamped 2025 R1T and R1S with the largest Max Pack software-locked down to a lower usable capacity.
First spotted by RivianTrackr, the new option is called Large+ and matches the capacity and price of the true Large Pack being offered on Dual-Motor R1T and R1S models. That means 109.4 kwh of usable capacity, compared to 141.5 kwh for the unlocked Max Pack and 92.5 kwh for the Standard Pack.
Rivian is opting to produce Max Pack vehicles software-locked down to Large+ spec due to high demand and the desire to get vehicles to customers sooner.
2025 Rivian R1T
“To meet the high customer demand and accelerate delivery our second-generation Dual Large vehicles, we’re software-updating the range of certain Max pack R1 vehicles to match the starting pricing and range (up to 330 miles) of our Large pack,” Rivian spokesperson Mikhael Farah told Green Car Reports. “These Dual Large+ vehicles provide all the same performance, range, and features customers expect with a Dual Large vehicle.”
In posts on Threads, RivianTrackr also claims that the Large+ pack can be charged to 100% in daily use, citing anonymous sources within the company. That seems logical, as charging to 100% of the software-enabled capacity of the Large+ pack wouldn’t actually be using 100% of the pack’s physical capacity. But Rivian is still recommending the same charging practices, meaning 70% for daily use, 85% for “extended drives,” and 100% for road trips only.
Software limitation also leaves open the possibility of customers paying to unlock more battery capacity at a later date, but Rivian isn’t announcing anything at this time. Customers also can’t specify the Large+ option on the Rivian configurator. They’ll continue to select “Dual Large” and may be contacted by Rivian to select the Large+ option.
2025 Rivian R1S
Software-locked battery packs aren’t new. Tesla once limited battery capacity in certain Model S configurations to avoid having to produce multiple battery-pack sizes. BMW also limited the fuel-tank capacity on range-extended versions of its i3, although that was to comply with California regulations.
R1 models get a host of updates for 2025, fixing things existing owners wanted to see changed, adding new features to bring additional customers into the fold, and ensuring forward compatibility with the eagerly anticipated R2 lineup, due in 2026.
2023 Nissan Ariya recalled due to potential loss of drive power
Nissan has recalled 2023 Ariya electric SUVs due to a software error that could cause a loss of drive power.
The recall covers 1,188 vehicles, all of which were previously recalled for an inverter issue, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The vehicles being recalled this time, which may include a mix of front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models, have not had that issue addressed.
In the affected vehicles, a current sensors inside the battery junction box may detect a gap in the current ripple frequency of the motor when operating at high speeds, according to the NHTSA. This could cause the inverter’s power electronics box to cut power, sending the vehicle into a fail-safe mode without warning.
2023 Nissan Ariya e-4orce
If this fail-safe mode is triggered, the vehicle may shut off completely, although may be possible to restart it, according to the NHTSA. Drivers will see a dashboard light and “EV System Off” message on the instrument cluster.
The Ariya is compatible with over-the-air updates for the entire vehicle, but as with the previous inverter recall, this one will require a dealer visit. Dealers will verify which software version the recalled vehicle’s inverters are currently running and update if necessary, free of charge.
2023 Nissan Ariya e-4orce
Nissan plans to begin mailing owner notification letters Sept. 9, 2024. Owners can also contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 for more information. Nissan’s number for this recall is R24A8.
The Ariya launched for the 2023 model year after several delays. The relatively small number of vehicles sold in that first model year have been subject to multiple recalls, including the previous inverter recall, one for steering wheels that might detach, and one for something EVs rarely have—an oil leak.
Wireless EV charging record set with Porsche Taycan prototype
- A Porsche Taycan wireless charged at a rate of 270 kw
- The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) partnered with Volkswagen Group for the test
- No timeline was given to put a system like this in production, but testing will continue
In a recent test, the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) wirelessly charged a Porsche Taycan at 270 kw, setting what researchers claim is a new record for wireless charging of light-duty vehicles.
Existing wireless-charging systems for light-duty vehicles charge at much lower power levels, ORNL noted in a press release. Commercially-available hardware generally reaches 11 kw with 92% efficiency, according to ORNL, and standards cover power levels of up to 20 kw. A system deployed in 2020 with a fleet of Jaguar I-Pace taxis in Oslo, Norway, was able to achieve 50 kw in 6-8 minute bursts.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory tests 270-kw wireless EV charging system
However ORNL claims its system, which was tested in collaboration with Volkswagen Group of America as part of a research project announced in 2021, can rival the power of many conventional DC fast-charging stations, with 95% efficiency. It can also achieve a 50% increase in state of charge in 10 minutes, ORNL claims.
The system uses lightweight polyphase electromagnetic coils measuring just over 19 inches in diameter, which ORNL claims allows for the highest power density possible. The receiver coil mounted on the underside of the Taycan is in fact 8 to 10 times more power dense than existing systems, lead researcher Omer Onar said in a statement. Charging was conducted with a 4.75-inch gap between the coils on the car and the ground.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory tests 270-kw wireless EV charging system
This hardware could allow for higher-power wireless charging without bulky components that would be difficult to package in passenger cars, according to ORNL. The lab will continue to work with VW Group of America to bring the system closer to production readiness, but no firm timeline was given.
In the meantime, a handful of companies offer their own wireless charging systems. Tesla appeared to have purchased one of those companies, the German firm Wiferion, in 2023, hinting that the automaker was moving ahead with plans to offer wireless charging for its vehicles.
Test drive: 2024 BMW i4 M50 dials up the numbers, not the fun
- The M50 is the top-performance model of the BMW i4 lineup
- Acceleration numbers aside, it’s not the best handling or riding i4
- The M50 offers less driving range than other i4s but charges quickly and predictably
Until BMW’s lineup of Neue Klasse vehicles arrives in 2025, with the “outsider” i3 EV far in the rearview mirror, the i4 remains the entry point for electric vehicles in the German automaker’s lineup. However, at nearly $90,000 for the top-performance i4 M50 version I recently drove, it feels like the most unlikely of entry EVs.
In the two years after the arrival of the i4 hatchback, the market around it has changed a bit. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 has shown that a sedan with something close to its rakish roofline can be remarkably roomy and efficient. The Polestar 2 has made a switch to a focus on rear-wheel-drive. And perhaps most notably, the Tesla Model 3 Performance has been completely refreshed.
2024 BMW i4 M50
2024 BMW i4 M50
2024 BMW i4 M50
Getting more time driving the i4 reminded me that this family of electric vehicles is a solid rival to those models but has a completely different set of priorities—aimed more to carry BMW’s signature driving experience forward to the realm of EVs. And it helped me realize that lesser versions of the i4 deliver that in a less heavy-handed way than the M50.
Whether this is the Ultimate Driving Machine of EVs or not, time spent with the i4 M50 made me appreciate its well-integrated wireless Apple CarPlay, impressive Harman Kardon sound, abbreviated interface from the i5 and i7, and sharp head-up display that left a lot of interface flexibility.
Over a few days this spring, I took the i4 M50 from Portland to an event at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, and back. No, I didn’t take it out on the track, sadly. But throw in some favorite backroads and some in-town errands, and here are the pros and cons of the i4 as I experienced it.
2024 BMW i4 M50
2024 BMW i4 M50
2024 BMW i4 M50
Pro: M50 has punchy responses, quick steering
BMW i4 M50 acceleration feels forceful and verging on supercar-quick. That’s because a rear-power-biased pair of permanent-magnet motors makes 469 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque (or 536 hp and 586 lb-ft in Sport Boost mode). At 3.7 seconds officially to 60 mph for the M50, it feels far quicker than the rear-wheel-drive i4 eDrive40 and its roughly 5.4-second 0-60 mph time from its 335 hp and 317 lb-ft motor—partly, perhaps, because the M50’s tires are so good at delivering all the traction they need. The M50 also has very quick, precise steering that mates well with the personality of the AWD electric powertrain, though we would like more feel through the wheel.
2024 BMW i4 M50
Con: It’s not a 3-Series driving experience
Take the i4 off on a backroad and it feels very heavy, especially in this M50 build. It feels much more like it should have an 8-Series badge than a 4-Series one. The i4 M50 tips the scales at an official 5,018 pounds. That’s about roughly 1,000 pounds more than today’s 840i coupe and nearly 1,500 pounds more than a base 2024 3-Series. While I only momentarily got close to the immense cornering potential of the sticky, low-profile Pirelli P Zero PZ4 Elect summer performance tires—255/35R20 in front, 285/30R20 in back—the steering doesn’t load up in a reassuring way or give signals from the road surface the way the steering does in the iX electric SUV. Or, for that matter, the eDrive40 I drove on some of the same roads two years ago. Interstate-tarmac ride quality in the M50 isn’t great either. Between the air suspension, adaptive M dampers, specially tuned anti-roll bars, and a front strut tower brace, something just doesn’t compute. If it’s not weight, that thing might be simplicity.
2023 BMW i4 eDrive40
Pro: BMW i4 has predictably quick charging times
The i4 isn’t quite one of the fastest-charging EVs, or an EV that charges at an especially high power level. But BMW EVs have offered “no surprises” DC fast-charging since the i3, and this i4 M50 is no exception. On a road trip stop, with a 350-kw EVgo connector plugged in at a 4% state of charge, the i4 quickly blipped to around 205 kw and after just 30 minutes had reached 71%.
2024 BMW i4 M50
As Green Car Reports has emphasized before, using a 150-kw connector instead won’t slow you down much at all. With the previous i4 eDrive40 I’d plugged into a 150-kw connector at just 3% and in 30 minutes I was at 67% Just to see what would happen with a peace-of-mind plug-in in a sub-optimal situation, I plugged the M50 into a 150-kw connector at 40% and in 10 minutes I’d gained a 22% charge.
2024 BMW i4 M50
2024 BMW i4 M50
2024 BMW i4 M50
Con: M50 underdelivers on range and efficiency
The i4 M50 I drove had the available 20-inch wheels, with corresponding M wheels, M Sport brakes, and Shadowline trim and lighting. The stance of the i4 with this combination is fantastic, but the wheels cost more than the $2,500 up front. Ride quality isn’t the same with them, and you take a huge dip in range by selecting them over the 19-inch wheels that otherwise come with the M50. The official EPA range of the M50 drops from 269 miles with the 19-inch wheels, and down to 227 miles with the 20-inch wheels this test car had. That’s already a dip from the 301 miles the eDrive40 version can extract from the same 80.7-kwh usable battery capacity.
2023 BMW i4 eDrive40
Note that much of the 2025 BMW i4 lineup does get a modest range boost, plus a refreshed look inside.
Over the 336 miles I drove the i4, it averaged 2.6 miles per kwh, according to its trip computer, over a highway-focused mix, with ambient temps in the range of 55 degrees and the climate control set on auto to 69-72 degrees. While the eDrive40 seemed to overdeliver on its range, I quickly found 227 miles to be optimistic for the M50 in real-world conditions. I’m quite sure the Polestar 2 with the Performance package beats it in real-world driving, as it does by its 247-mile EPA rating.
2024 BMW i4 M50
2024 BMW i4 M50
2024 BMW i4 M50
Pro: i4 front-seat comfort
The BMW i4 has fantastic front sport seats, including extendable thigh support as well as width adjustment for the driver. Yes, the center console feels a little limiting versus wide-open layouts like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model 3, but I got used to it quickly and those seats left me refreshed after hours on the highway.
2023 BMW i4 eDrive40
Con: Backseat everything
The 3-Series has never been great for backseat space, and the i4 follows in that tradition and then some. The i4 has narrow door cuts and a low roofline in back, especially around the door openings, so it’s hard to get into. With the front seat adjusted for a 6-footer there was next to no legroom in back, and anyone near 6–foot will be mashing their head into the soft headliner. On window stickers and in marketing, BMW is labeling the i4 as a Gran Coupe in 2024, whereas it wasn’t in 2023, so this may be part of an effort to get shoppers to see that this is the cost of a more fashionable roofline. Cargo space with the back seat up is just 10.0 cubic feet but more than 45.6 cubic feet with them folded. Just go for the latter; it’s a hatchback—and a coupe in spirit.
2023 BMW i4 eDrive40
2024 BMW i4 M50
Base price: $70,695
Price as tested: $87,845 (M Sport Package Pro, HP tire package, various other trim and tech options)
Propulsion: Dual permanent-magnet motors, 469 hp and 538 lb-ft combined, 536 hp and 586 lb-ft in boost mode; all-wheel drive
EPA efficiency: 227 miles of electric range, 2.4 mi/kwh combined
The hits: Punchy powertrain, quick steering, predictable charging times, supportive front seats.
The misses: Tight backseat space, heavy-handed dynamics, poor M50 range and efficiency.