Author: Stephen Edelstein

Study: Gas-vehicle resale worries could drive subscriptions

Lincoln boutiques and dealershipsAutomakers are trying out subscription models for EVs as an alternative to traditional buying or leasing, but a new Deloitte report argues they may also play a somewhat surprising role in gasoline-car sales. With expected growth in EV adoption, concerns over the resale value of internal-combustion cars may drive subscription models, according to...

Here are the EVs and plug-in hybrids with top IIHS safety ratings

2023 Top Safety Pick awards by the IIHSDespite more stringent standards, a number of electric cars and plug-in hybrids were recognized with Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick awards for 2023. The IIHS strengthened requirements in a number of areas in 2023, and as a result only 48 models received awards, compared to 65 for 2022 (including eight EVs). Of that...

VW sees EV efficiency gains from optimizing its own components

2023 Volkswagen ID.4As automakers look to boost EV efficiency, Volkswagen believes bringing development of more components in-house will lead to big gains. VW announced this strategy shift at its Tech Day 2023 event, claiming efficiency improvements of up to 20% by developing its own optimized components. "The Volkswagen Group and its brands stand for first-class...

Report: Toyota might start EV production in Kentucky in 2025

2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWDToyota could start building electric cars in Kentucky as soon as 2025 by updating an existing factory, Nikkei reported Tuesday. The move could allow Toyota vehicles to qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit under new rules, instituted under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), requiring North American assembly of vehicles and battery packs...

Rivian looked to nature for the sounds in its R1T and R1S

2023 Rivian R1TEVs are by nature far quieter, so more thought needs to go into the sounds they make when doing routine things. Rivian saw this as an opportunity to reinforce the outdoorsy branding of its R1T electric pickup truck and R1S electric SUV, choosing sounds inspired by nature. Even without an internal-combustion engine, cars make lots of sounds. From...

One-pedal driving in EVs isn’t efficient, says Porsche

2023 Porsche TaycanOne-pedal driving allows EV drivers to decelerate without touching the brake pedal, while ramping up regeneration to recover energy. But Porsche thinks there's a better way. The Porsche Taycan makes greater use of coasting, only using regenerative braking when the brake pedal is actually pressed. In a recent press release, the automaker explains...