Author: Stephen Edelstein

Report: Toyota dedicated EV platform may be five years off

Toyota Compact Cruise EV conceptIn what would be a major strategy shift, Toyota is considering a dedicated EV platform similar to what other automakers have to compete more effectively with Tesla, The Asahi Shimbun reported this week. However, Toyota doesn't plan to deploy this platform until 2027 or 2028, when it believes consumer demand for EVs will be sufficient to warrant...

Report: GM mulling cylindrical cells for future EVs

2024 Chevrolet Blazer EVIn a potentially significant shift for the Detroit automaker, General Motors is considering cylindrical battery cells for future EVs, according to TheElec, a battery-focused South Korean trade publication. GM has favored pouch cells supplied by South Korean supplier LG Energy Solution, but could switch to the 4680-format cylindrical cells used by...

Report: Uber working on EVs for ride-hailing, deliveries

Uber appUber is working with unnamed automakers to design EVs customized for its ride-hailing and delivery services, according to The Wall Street Journal. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi confirmed the project last week at an event hosted by the paper, but declined to say which automakers the company was working with. Ride-hailing could have seats that allow...

US shift toward wind and solar will cut coal, make EVs cleaner

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in United Arab EmiratesIncreased use of renewable energy will help reduce electricity generation from coal and natural gas power plants, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) in turn making EVs cleaner. The EIA forecasts that wind and solar will together account for 16% of total electricity generation in 2023, up from 14% in 2022 and 8% in 2018...

Luxury EV leases are already tapping into $7,500 EV tax credit

2023 Lucid Air PureNew federal EV tax credit rules have set price caps that are narrowing the field of qualifying EVs; but a leasing loophole is already opening up a much wider field eligible for federal subsidies The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) re-upped the federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500 for qualifying vehicles. It added price caps of $55,000 for cars and...