All articles tagged with #electric vehicles
China’s largest car recall covers more than 4 million vehicles, including 2.98 million Teslas, due to retractable door handles that can be hard to locate or operate in emergencies; Tesla will add warning labels and push a software update to lower windows after a crash.
Lucid’s Air Sapphire electric sedan blasted to 0-200-0 mph in 25.7 seconds on a 2.2-mile taxiway, beating the Corvette ZR1X (31.8 s) and McLaren 750S (37.7 s) in Car and Driver’s test, with the Porsche 911 Turbo S failing to reach 200 mph; the run underscores how power and aero enable EVs to outpace traditional supercars, completing the full run in under a mile.
A new GridLab/Kevala/Energy and Environmental Economics study finds that enrolling 10% of California’s projected EVs in vehicle-to-grid programs by 2036 could yield about 9 GW for 12 hours (108 GWh), more than a third of the state’s long-duration storage target; the report argues for standardized, performance-based V2G programs and broader demand flexibility (EVs, home batteries, smart devices) to cut reliance on new plants and major grid upgrades, while noting current rules vary across utilities and that even one-way smart charging can help.
Ferrari’s first fully electric model, the Luce designed by Jony Ive, sold for $40 million at Sotheby’s during Monterey Car Week, a new-car auction record that far surpassed its roughly $1.1 million presale estimate; the one-off car benefits the Ferrari Foundation, and despite controversy over its design and a leadership shake-up, Ferrari is pursuing strong Luce uptake with an eye on around 500 units this year and a solid 2026 target.
A wave of recalls warns that high-voltage batteries in modern EVs and plug‑in hybrids can ignite even when the car is parked, forcing owners to seek safe parking and repair options amid lawsuits alleging ‘key-off fires’ as vehicles become more electrified.
Global EV sales rose 9% in July to about 1.85 million, lifting 2026 year-to-date to 11.5 million, but growth was uneven: Europe up 33% YoY and the Rest of World nearly doubled, while North America fell 27% to 140k; China declined 5% in July though BEV sales rose 6% and BEVs captured a larger share of NEV retail. More than 500k NEVs were exported in July, a monthly record. The US loss of federal EV incentives and regulatory headwinds helped drive NA weakness. Overall, growth exists but isn’t broad-based, with Europe and ROW offsetting NA decline while China shifts toward BEV dominance.
Despite years of anti-EV rhetoric, the Trump administration unveils about $3 billion for domestic mineral projects (graphite, magnets, silicon anode material) and related loans/stakes to strengthen U.S. battery supply chains, a move officials frame as national security-driven and beneficial to EV makers and defense tech. The initiative complements existing programs with commitments to companies like Westwater Resources, Sila Nanotechnologies, Lithium Americas, and Niron Magnetics, and could accelerate domestic EV production as mineral independence becomes a policy focus.
Tesla drained California’s MyFirstEV rebate pool in five days after the Aug. 3 launch, with roughly half of the $135.5 million state fund plus automaker matches exhausted by Aug. 8—about $18 million in rebates for Teslas alone. The program offers $3,500 off a new EV under $50,000 or $1,750 off a used one under $25,000, with no income cap and rebates applied at purchase. Tesla’s CA sales leadership—more than half of ZEV registrations through June and 54,327 Model Y registrations in H1—made it likely the brand would exhaust its share quickly, while price-cap waivers for CA-headquartered EV-only brands like Rivian and Lucid could influence who benefits most as the program rolls out.
California announced a one-time incentive offering up to $3,500 off a new zero-emission car (price cap under $50,000) or half that for used EVs (under $25,000), funded with about $135 million and matched by automakers; initial eligible brands include Hyundai, Tesla, and Lucid, with Ford, Rivian, Chevrolet, Kia and others to join later, aimed at boosting EV adoption and cleaner air.
A roundup finds five four-door family cars that beat the base C8 Corvette Stingray in acceleration: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Rivian R1T/R1S (quad‑motor), BMW M3 Competition xDrive, Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric, and Tesla Model 3 Performance. These four‑doors post roughly 0–60 times from about 2.1–3.0 seconds and quarter‑mile ETs around 9.5–11.0 seconds, illustrating how modern, practical performance vehicles can outpace the older Corvette on drag tests. The list covers both EVs and a pure ICE option, notes price ranges (from around $55k to well over $100k, with Cayenne EV near $165k), and relies on instrumented tests against the 2020 Corvette Stingray data, acknowledging newer Corvette models may shift the comparisons.
Chinese EV brands expanded across Western Europe, boosting BEV share to 14.2% in the first five months (about 171,800 sales) as demand remains strong and the UK maintains lower tariffs. Brands like BYD, Chery, SAIC and Xpeng now offer over 120 models, with Italy’s spike linked to Leapmotor subsidies; EU duties can reach 35.3% plus a 10% standard import tax, and there are debates about extending levies to PHEVs. Analysts warn BEV share may have peaked as attention shifts to plug-in hybrids, while Tesla posted a 60% YoY sales rebound in Europe and the Model Y was a top seller.
Gear Patrol’s motoring desk picks the 10 most exciting new cars announced or due to debut in 2026 (plus a notable 2027 entry), including Mitsubishi’s Pajero/Shogun/Montero revival, Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC with track-ready upgrades, a potential new Subaru WRX STI, the 2027 Rivian R2 aimed at sub-$50k BEVs, Aston Martin Vanquish 25, Toyota Corolla GRMN, the revival of the Nissan Xterra, Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport with the new LS6, the next-gen Nissan Skyline with a six-speed manual, Honda Super N, and an honorable mention for Bovensiepen’s 05 GT wagon.
A new poll finds about 66% of California adults and likely voters oppose Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2035 ban on selling new gas-powered cars, with half of Democrats in opposition; Newsom defends the mandate and reveals $3,500 new-EV rebates and $1,750 used-EV discounts funded by California’s smog/ cap‑and‑invest program and automakers to spur EV adoption amid high gas prices.
Lucid is delaying Cosmos, its planned sub-$50k mass-market EV, to early 2027 after posting a roughly $1 billion net loss in Q2 2026 and launching a restructuring to reduce cash burn. Cosmos will be built at a new Saudi Arabia plant with a 2027 ramp; the current Arizona facility isn’t suitable for this model. Despite the loss, Q2 revenue rose 56% to $405 million, with deliveries up to 3,953 and production to 4,774 as Lucid works to better align output with demand and improve customer experience. Cosmos specs include about 300 miles of range from a 69 kWh pack, 4.5 miles/kWh efficiency, 14-minute fast charging, 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, and a 36-inch central screen.
Lucid Motors has pushed its Cosmos mid-size SUV to at least 2027 as part of an ongoing operational reset, following a wider Q2 loss and unchanged 2026 guidance. The company is pursuing cash-flow improvements, a leadership refresh, and reorganizational changes, while insisting it has liquidity to carry it into 2027 and denying bankruptcy rumors. The delay underscores a cautious approach before releasing a new model amid a tougher financial footing and prior skepticism about a rapid Cosmos launch.