Preview drive: 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is buzzworthy, but a software update away from breakthrough

2021 Volkswagen ID.4The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV is such a tease. This was my second encounter with the ID.4 in prototype form, the first time was a walkaround of another prototype that felt rather complete minus its virtually non-functional multimedia system. But this time, I got to drive an ID.4 that again felt rather complete…minus some functions…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

Volvo CEO: Ban on gasoline cars makes more sense than EV credits and subsidies

2021 Volvo XC40 RechargeA ban on gasoline cars will be more effective than the current practice of electric-car incentives, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson told a Financial Times conference earlier this week. “No one can build a successful and profitable business by relying on incentives,” Samuelsson said. “While temporary incentives can help encourage…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

Environmental groups call out carmakers opposing cleaner California standards, EV mandate

2021 Toyota Tundra TRD ProFollowing a change of allegiance by General Motors, environmental groups are calling out the remaining automakers that still oppose California’s ability to set its own, stricter, emissions standards. On Wednesday, leaders of the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, National Resources Defense Council, and Union of Concerned Scientists issued a…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

Subaru electric crossover: How it could take form in 2021

Toyota-Subaru electric vehicle platformSubaru’s much-discussed electric crossover still appears to be on track, based on comments by the automaker’s CEO. Tomomi Nakamura mentioned the EV again in a (Japanese-language) interview this Reuters last month, discussing the automaker’s sales results. He said Subaru leadership is concerned about California’s ban on sales of new gasoline and…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

Nissan Note goes all-hybrid in Japan with revised e-Power system still due for the US

2020 Nissan Note e-PowerThe Nissan Note hatchback is going all-hybrid in Japan, dropping the non-hybrid powertrain completely as part of a redesign. Meanwhile, the United States is still waiting for Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system. The redesigned Note gets a second-generation version of e-Power, Nissan said in a press release. Electric-motor torque has increased by 10%…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

Arizona plant for Lucid Air electric sedan is complete, as company plans expansion for 2023 SUV

Lucid Motors AMP-1 factory, Casa Grande, ArizonaLucid Motors on Tuesday announced completion of construction on its factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. Pending further equipment installations, the factory is scheduled to start building the Lucid Air electric car in spring 2021. Dubbed AMP-1 (Advanced Manufacturing Plant, number one) by Lucid, the factory will be expanded beginning in 2021 in…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

Ford Mustang Mach-E Performance Edition might outperform Model Y Performance

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance EditionFord on Tuesday confirmed a little more information about the Mach-E GT Performance Edition, which will be offered for order in spring 2021 and delivered starting late summer 2021. The Performance Edition will deliver 480 horsepower and 634 pound-feet of torque through dual motors, and the 0-60 mph time looks promising as it matches that of the…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

Report: VW-based Ford electric vehicle will be built in Germany

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-EA previously-discussed Ford electric car based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform will be built in Germany, at one of the Blue Oval’s own factories, Automotive News reported Sunday. Ford will invest $1.2 billion in a factory located in Cologne to ready it for electric-car production, according to the report, which cited local newspaper Koelner-Stadt…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

GM nixes Nikola Badger electric pickup and investment, will supply fuel-cell tech

Nikola BadgerGeneral Motors and Nikola Corporation have finalized a partnership first announced in September. But unlike the deal originally discussed, the memorandum of understanding announced by the two companies Monday does not include plans for GM to manufacture the Nikola Badger electric pickup truck. GM will, however, supply its Hydrotec fuel-cell system…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

2022 Nissan Ariya prototype: First impressions, and 5 things to look forward to

Nissan Ariya prototype first look  -  Los Angeles, November 2020The 2022 Nissan Ariya is due in summer 2021, and last week at a studio in Los Angeles we finally got some face time with the battery-electric SUV in prototype form. After a long gestation, the Ariya we saw looked ready to burst out of its cocoon. This is not your standard prototype, and what was shown was very, very close to production. Nissan…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews