Electric vehicles

Volkswagen announced yesterday that it will be dropping $1 billion into Rivian -- and perhaps up to $5 billion over time.

This investment from a legacy automaker into a startup EV maker got me wondering -- what other legacy OEMs should put some cash into EV startups? Which startups should benefit?

Electric bikes seem to elicit mixed responses from the public, but the reaction to using them on bike paths and off-road trails almost always tilts toward the negative end of the spectrum. That said, they can be fun and useful in some situations, though a new Arizona law could make it illegal for kids to enjoy e-bikes.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of the state of California, recently vetoed a bill that would have the state help fund folks who wanted to turn their used internal-combustion engine car into an EV.

Hey there, it's time for another episode of the TTAC podcast!

We’ve been hearing about Fisker’s downfall for months, but it finally appears that the automaker has reached the end of the road. Last night, the company officially filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware, writing a post on its website confirming the development.

Today's TTAC podcast was all about exploring why used EV prices have fallen so much.

Welcome back for another edition of the TTAC podcast!

Regardless of how you feel about EVs and the tax credits offered by the federal government, the truth is that people are using the incentives. Since January 1, EV buyers have seen more than $1 billion in savings on their purchases, with around 150,000 new and used vehicle sales so far this year.

A recall has been issued for just about every Karma Revero EV sold inside the United States over an intermittent issue with the turn signals that place the model out of compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). While the defect isn’t dangerous in itself, the fact that turn signals could fail can exacerbate the likelihood of a crash.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Revero, don’t feel bad. Most people have never seen one.

The New York Times has an interesting piece on cars being used to store excess electricity.

Last week we brought you news that Fiat is bringing gas back -- and we also discussed Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru's decision to back off from full electrification.

Meanwhile, Nissan says it won't invest in any new gas engines.

What's going on?

Despite aggressively pushing for all-electric vehicles to supplant combustion models, the United States government seems to have suddenly realized that such a move could have some rather serious unintended consequences. This is nothing new, as U.S. regulations have shaped vehicle trends in ways the average motorist couldn’t even imagine. With that in mind, the automotive lobby wants to ensure it has the ear of legislators before they do anything that cannot be undone.

But the real question is: What exactly does it want?

Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru conducted a press event designed to explain why they’re walking away from full-blown electrification. While this is something numerous automakers have done in recent months, the “Multipathway Workshop” faced a predictable amount of criticism from EV acolytes.

General Motors’ luxury arm has just previewed the Cadillac Optic — which looks to be offering a tad more utility than the brand’s larger Lyriq EV. While it debuted in Paris, the model is to become a global model and suit the taste of luxury-minded consumers the world over.

We wrote about an EV that Volkswagen will be selling in Europe, though not here, earlier today.

It was only a short spell ago that we all learned Volkswagen is hitting the pause button on the ID.7 in this country, deferring to changing market dynamics as a reason for the move. Now, the brand is eagerly posting about the imminent introduction of a cheap-as-chips EV – in Europe.

Stats nerds at S&P Global Mobility have detailed some registration data for electric vehicles in this country through the first three months of this year – and the market share continues to sit at around 7 percent.

A new heavy-duty electric truck charging station is opening near the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles in southern California, but the electricity powering it isn’t as new-age as the vehicles it charges. Though capable of charging up to 96 trucks at a time, the station is backed by natural gas, which is cleaner than dozens of trucks burning diesel but not the green solution many had probably hoped for.

Alpine, the French performance brand tied to Renault Group, has frequently shared plans to break into the U.S. market. This has included rumors that the initial lineup would include a successor to the fabled A110. The brand is now fleshing out plans to expand into our market, stating that it hopes to begin U.S. operations by 2026.

General Motors president Mark Reuss threw some shade at the all-electric Ford “Mustang” Mach-E by suggesting an electrified Chevrolet Camaro would not go the crossover route if he had his druthers. However, he still said such a vehicle would ideally seek to broaden the model’s appeal beyond the hardcore enthusiast base. In related news, Ford CEO Jim Farley recently hinted that there’s a Mustang sedan under consideration — noting that the nameplate would hopefully play host to a V8 powertrain for as long as possible.

Two days ago President Biden announced heavy tariff increases on China that will push tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles past 100 percent.

The amount the United States has been spending to advance the proliferation of all-electric vehicles in recent years has been genuinely staggering. However, the allocated funding doesn’t appear to be doing much good. EV adoption rates are slowing and the $7.5 billion earmarked exclusively for the construction of charging stations has only resulted in a handful of operational locations.

While a few startup automakers have broken through with appealing vehicles and somewhat sound business practices, Fisker never really had solid ground under its feet. The automaker has recently warned that bankruptcy could be imminent if an investor or buyer doesn’t step in, and we’re now hearing reports that the company is shuttering its California headquarters.

The federal government has pumped billions into EV incentives and charging infrastructure initiatives, and now, it’s automotive suppliers’ turn at the bank. The Biden administration recently announced more than $100 million in funding to help smaller suppliers adapt to the changing automotive world.

While the impacts of Tesla recent Supercharger team layoffs remain to be seen, reports have surfaced that it’s giving up on another of its innovations. Reuters sources said the automaker has scrapped plans to further develop its gigacasting efforts, which drastically reduces the complexities involved with manufacturing unibody vehicles.

Yesterday, Tesla laid off the entire team responsible for working on its Supercharger stations. Considering that so many other automakers are in the process of switching to the Tesla charging standard, how is this going to affect the EV charging landscape?

While American politicians love to harp about TikTok’s Chinese owners and the national security issues that could bring, it may also be true that they worry that the platform is influencing an entire generation with quick hits of liberal political thought and economic theory. A recent survey from AlixPartners found that young TikTok users are increasingly seeing EVs on the app, with more than half of them saying they were aware of Chinese brands like Lynk&Co and BYD.

Electric vehicle naysayers have a whole host of arguments against moving away from internal combustion. Range anxiety is often one of the first to hit the table, but that’s quickly becoming a non-issue as most new EVs offer a serviceable driving range. Charging time is another argument, but it’s one that actually has some teeth. Even the fastest-charging models still take upwards of half an hour to recover a meaningful amount of driving range, but Polestar recently demonstrated that worries about charging times may become a thing of the past.

We brought you news this morning that Fisker founder and boss Henrik Fisker has apparently listed his L.A. mansion for sale for more than Fisker appears to be worth.

So, would you rather own the house or own a small automaker?

Fisker is on shaky ground, and while it might have a few interested buyers, nothing is certain, and things could go sideways at any time. Company founder and designer Henrik Fisker appears to be preparing for the worst, as he and his wife recently listed their Los Angeles residence for $35 million, more than the automaker is currently worth.

Earlier today we reported on Honda's plan to invest in EV manufacturing in Canada.

Will it pay off?

Today we covered Tesla's back-and-forth on whether it will or won't build an affordable EV.

Last month, I was chatting with Dave Thomas from CDK Global on the TTAC podcast. We were discussing electric vehicles, and Dave suggested that for many EV buyers, range isn’t that much of an issue.

While the future of electric vehicles in the United States is likely nowhere near as dire as many have portrayed, the current state of things hasn’t done much to inspire confidence. Flagging demand has led to cutbacks on new EV projects and investments in manufacturing facilities, and a recent Gallup poll shows that people who don’t already own an EV aren’t as interested in buying one as they were a year ago.

This week we sit down with Cody Stolle, research assistant professor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and the assistant director at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, to discuss a lesser-known problem with EVs and road safety.

The State of New Mexico has denied a petition put forward by automotive dealers to ease off on planned electric vehicle mandates. The groups had claimed that forcing electrification would hamper commerce by encouraging residents to purchase more vehicles from neighboring territories and were limiting residents freedom of choice. However, a governor-appointed state Environmental Improvement Board reportedly voted to deny the challenges late last week.

There’s no shortage of debate in this country about electric vehicles – and for good reason. For some, the technology just isn’t quite there yet to fulfil the daily duties they require of their primary vehicle. For others, existing levels of range being offered in the marketplace suits their needs just fine. Other considerations like affordability and performance are as much case-by-case as an individual’s dinner order at a restaurant.

One thing almost everyone can agree on? The appalling state of public charging infrastructure. Faced with broken chargers or a simple lack thereof, your decided to make the leap and install a Level 2 charger in the garage space attached to his home.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall at Fisker’s headquarters right about now. The struggling electric automaker is facing bankruptcy, accounting issues, and shaky reviews, but its troubles are far from over. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently said it opened a preliminary investigation into the company’s Ocean SUV after receiving reports that the latch handles prevented opening the EV’s doors.

As more electric vehicles hit the roads, states are grappling with the change in tax revenues they’re seeing as a result. EV buyers don’t pay gas taxes, slashing millions out of state highway budgets and making it hard to afford planned improvements. New Jersey is taking action on the issue with a controversial measure to charge EV owners an annual road tax, which will increase over the next four years to $290 in 2028.

Audi’s all-electric e-tron subbrand continues suffering from battery issues, with the company recently issuing a recall for the GT sedan and its zestier RS variant. The issue is that the high-voltage batteries equipped to the models might short circuit, posing a fire risk to owners and whatever they’ve parked their EV next to. The recall report stipulates that Porsche warned Audi of the possibility of “thermal events” after realizing that some Taycan models were suffering from battery defects.

Among many other things, the Inflation Reduction Act changed the way EV tax credits work in the United States. With an eye on reducing America’s dependence on Chinese batteries and materials, the Act incentivizes automakers to source materials from free-trade-compliant countries and build EVs in North America. Now, China is expressing its unhappiness with the legislation by raising a dispute with the World Trade Organization.

Fisker has been on thin ice for a while now, but one of its most promising lifelines has fallen through. Reuters reported that Fisker was unable to reach an agreement with Nissan and other potential investors, including up to five large automakers.

While it’s true that electric vehicles don’t require the same level of routine maintenance that gas vehicles do, EVs have some downsides. A main point of complaint for owners has been tires, as a new J.D. Power study showed that many are surprised that their heavy, torque-rich EV burns through rubber faster than when they had a gas vehicle.

The Biden Administration dropped a new rule limiting tailpipe emissions from passenger vehicles yesterday, and you know what that means.

Yes, it's lying season!

A new study is claiming that automakers lose an average of $6,000 for every $50,000 electric vehicle they sell. Boston Consulting Group, an American-based global management consulting firm that issued the report, said the figure accounts for customer tax credits — painting a rather bleak picture for the future of EVs.

New standards are coming for tailpipe emissions in the next few years. An announcement from the Biden administration this week unveiled the rules, which look to remove more than seven billion tons of carbon and other pollutants from our air.

Almost all of us have made a boneheaded purchase or three in our lives. But few are notable as the debacle at Hertz, a company which most gearheads know decided to buy tens of thousands of electric vehicles only to bin them at severely subvented prices. Now, the CEO is stepping down from his role.

Lithium Americas has broken ground on its Thacker Pass mining operations, potentially opening the door to what some are calling the largest lithium deposit in the entire world. However, it’s estimated to be another three years before refinement takes place and the materials can be adapted for use in battery powered products — including all-electric vehicles.

I've been in the automotive media since late in 2007, and over the course of all that time, I've seen EV-focused startups come and go. Some went and came back, even.

A recent study published in the Journal of Transport Geography has alleged that “car harm” cannot be undone by the world pivoting to all-electric vehicles. 

However, the paper doesn’t favor everyone running out to buy the largest diesel pickup they can afford. Instead, it adopts the same anti-driving nonsense we’ve seen from the Vision Zero Network and government regulators that have been caught up in its activism web. The issue, as framed in the study, isn’t that EVs still pose a problem. The complaint is that all vehicles are problematic and the paper recommends sweeping policy changes pertaining to how roads are managed to deal with the matter. 

A thesis will surely be written in the future about the yo-yo behavior of EV prices which are seeming to coincide with early adopters getting their fill while everyone else needs to be talked into the things. The latest? A round of cuts at Nissan on the tongue-twisting Ariya.

Muscle cars are going electric.

Well, maybe not across the board. The internal-combustion engine Mustang seems safe, at least in the short term. That said, there will be at least one muscle-car EV on the market soon: The 2024 Dodge Charger.

Electric vehicles are dominating the industry conversation, so we had a chat with someone who is a bit of an EV evangelist...as well as with a journalist who noted that his outlet elected seven electrified vehicles to its latest Top 10 list.

After a decade-long project that saw changes in approach, multiple delays, staff changes, planning and replanning, and conflicting reports, Apple’s Titan autonomous electric car project is dead. The company made an internal announcement on February 27th, 2024 which leaked to the press immediately via several Apple employees. The project’s cancellation created our most recent Abandoned History subject matter to date. Let’s start at the beginning, in 2014.

Love them or hate them, there are quite a few use cases in which an EV is the ideal vehicle. Public transportation, route deliveries, and school buses are great examples of vehicle types that would benefit from electrification, and New Jersey is putting money behind that thought to send electric school buses to 18 school districts.

Reports are circulating that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will soften vehicle emissions targets against the stringent metrics proposed by the group in 2023. This follows lackluster EV adoption rates that run counter to the plan and pushback from dealer organizations, automakers, and consumer groups. But we need to take a closer look at the story, because things are rarely as simple as initially presented.

This week we speak with Mike Spagnola, president and CEO of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), about a proposed ban on internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in Connecticut.

Hitting the powertrain of its pickup truck and SUV with a shrink ray has permitted Rivian to offer a new battery option – and a new price point – for its pair of all-electric models.