Category Archives: Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicles, Exclusives, News

2025 Mercedes G 580 Revealed: What The Fully Electric G-Wagon Does With Four Motors

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From the skin, the variations are scant. The 2025 G-Class’ boxy silhouette stays, although the grille is now optionally fared-in (in addition to being illuminated round its edge). Compared to the gasoline model, the hood is barely raised and the rear wheel arches are a bit extra flared, with air curtain intakes reduce by means of to help with aerodynamics. At the rear, as a substitute for a spare tire, there is a new elective Design Box on the side-opening door. That can maintain the G 580’s charging cable or different equipment.

Mercedes-Benz G 580 Design Box openChris Davies/SlashGear

That rear door can also be the place the badge is, and there the electrical G-Class debuts not solely a brand new EV in Mercedes’ lineup, however — in eschewing the rumored EQG nameplate for the SUV — a revamped naming technique, too. While present electrical fashions just like the EQS and EQE will preserve their names for now, future EVs might be rolled into the automaker’s conventional product nomenclature and distinguished with their drivetrain know-how tagged onto the top of that. So, a future luxurious electrical sedan may very well be the “S Class with EQ Technology.”

Mercedes-Benz G 580 front cabinMercedes-Benz

Inside, options acquainted from the revamped gasoline G-Wagon are carried over. That means twin 12.3-inch dashboard shows, Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, normal Nappa leather-based, climate-controlled cupholders, ambient lighting, and a Burmester 3D Surround Sound system. Pride of place continues to be given over to the billet-like off-road drivetrain controls, although their perform is a bit modified within the G 580.

Electric Vehicles

2024 Fiat 500e First Drive: A Big Personality To Make Up For Small Range

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Next is the 500e’s charging prowess. It’s not a quick charging automobile by any means, with a most velocity of 85 kW. In 35 minutes, the battery will be charged from 0-85% per Fiat. A Level 2 charger as you’ll probably want at home takes six hours for a full cost. It’s strictly confined to town with these metrics. Fiat additionally has no plans to combine the 500e into Tesla’s Supercharger community, additional limiting charging choices. 

149 miles of vary additionally makes it one of many shortest vary EVs on the North American market. For comparability, the outgoing Chevy Bolt can go upwards of 259 miles on a cost. The 500e is precisely a metropolis automobile and nothing else. If it is advisable enterprise exterior the confines of dense city environments with plenty of charging stations, the Fiat 500e can’t take you.

The first 500e accessible within the U.S. is the RED particular version made for the RED AIDS charity. Later within the third quarter of 2024, in the meantime, we’ll additionally get the “Inspired By” variations that embody a extra highly effective JBL sound system, further driver help options like adaptive cruise management and lane-keep help, and some extra colour decisions. The “Inspired By” will retail for $36,000. I didn’t drive any of the upcoming variations of the 500e, though two Inspired By vehicles had been current on the occasion.

Autonomous Driving, Electric Vehicles, News

Tesla Robotaxi Reveal Set For August 8: Here’s What We Know

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Musk’s announcement on X wasn’t the one time Tesla’s Robotaxi was talked about on April 5. Just hours earlier, it was revealed that the long-awaited Model 2 project was essentially dead. Leaked inner emails from Tesla prompt that the corporate had pulled the plug on its plans to provide an ultra-cheap household automotive. These plans stretched again to the early days of Tesla, when Elon Musk prompt that the early concentrate on premium autos was all supposed to finally facilitate a platform that would provide low-cost, but high-quality, EVs to the plenty. This thought was fleshed out as time went on, and the primary price range Tesla was set to roll off the manufacturing line in early 2025. 

However, not like the repeatedly delayed Cybertruck, the Model 2 will probably by no means see the sunshine of day. Competition from Chinese EV producers, together with some that produce autos for lower than half of the Model 2’s purported MSRP, appears to be the rationale the mission was scrapped.

The one silver lining for these concerned appears to be Musk’s plans to construct a self-driving Robotaxi on the platform that the Model 2 would have used. While Musk is tight lipped on that — posting on X solely that “Reuters is dead” in response to the leaks — it could actually match with previous reports about the shared architecture. Whether we see an actual Robotaxi in August, or one thing nearer to a render or mockup, is anybody’s guess: in any case, we’re speaking about an organization whose first humanoid robotic “demo” was an individual dancing in a spandex go well with.  

Electric Vehicles, News

Prius Winning This World Car Of The Year Award Would’ve Been Unthinkable 18 Months Ago

When the first-generation Toyota Prius was launched nearly 27 years ago, the automobile wasn’t significantly identified for its enticing seems. What it was well-known for, nonetheless, was its credentials because the world’s first mass-produced hybrid automobile. So necessary was this label that Toyota was capable of maintain individuals fixated on the automobile’s eco-friendliness regardless of having some obvious points with the design.

Toyota would quickly discover that there are sufficient takers for a automobile that promotes itself as a inexperienced automobile that not solely pollutes much less but additionally boasts unimaginable gasoline effectivity figures. For some, the automobile’s ungainly design additionally meant their automobile stood out from the remainder of the automobiles on the street, giving them an odd sense of exclusivity. Despite the arrival of newer Hybrid automobiles, the Toyota Prius nonetheless sells in massive numbers within the U.S. and Japan.

An older generation Toyota PriusSue Thatcher/Getty

Between the first-gen Prius from 1997 and the fifth-generation Prius from 2022, there have been three separate generations of Prius automobiles that endured with the oddball design. The Prius has been promoting fairly properly for Toyota within the U.S. for a number of years. However, the numbers for the U.S. market plateaued round 2014 and have been taking place ever since.

With the arrival of handsome EVs and PHEVs out there, it now not made sense for Toyota to stick with an odd design for the 2023 Toyota Prius. It can be fascinating to see how a lot of an affect this design revamp has on precise gross sales figures, although.

Electric Vehicles

How Many Solar Panels Are Needed To Charge A Tesla?

If you buy and set up 250-watt photo voltaic panels in your dwelling, the essential method of two.77 kW divided by .25 provides you 11.08. This means you would want roughly 11 of these photo voltaic panels to cost your Tesla Model Y with the Long-Range battery. However, in case you set up 400-watt panels as an alternative, you’ll solely want seven. Of course, these equations have many variables as a result of even one alteration modifications every thing. The conclusions fluctuate even in case you calculate the period of time the solar is out in a different way.

The kind of Tesla an individual owns modifications every thing as effectively. Not each Tesla is designed equally, and so they every have totally different most ranges they’ll drive, in addition to differing battery capacities. Even a distinct Model Y will change the equation. The Model 3’s two totally different trims, for instance, comprise a 50 and 70 kWh battery. It’s essential to keep in mind that these equations solely calculate the variety of panels wanted for a Tesla. That’s on high of nonetheless many panels the remainder of the home must obtain adequate energy.

There are on-line calculators that simplify every thing, such because the one at 8 Billion Trees, nevertheless it’s unknown what it takes under consideration to come back to its conclusions. However, in case you do not belief your math abilities, a web-based calculator goes to assist drastically. There are a few common myths surrounding solar panels, however they’re undoubtedly as much as the duty of charging any automobile Tesla produces.

Concept Cars, Electric Vehicles

5 Of The Coolest Electric Cars With Solar Panel Roofs

Hyundai launched the unique Ioniq in 2016 in three variants: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV. The Ioniq 5 EV got here alongside in 2021, however Hyundai solely offered 153 Ioniq 5s to American patrons that 12 months. That determine skyrocketed to just about 23,000 items in 2022, making the Ioniq 5 the seventh-best-selling EV within the U.S. that 12 months. Sales jumped once more final 12 months, to simply beneath 34,000 vehicles. The Ioniq 5’s headliner, carpeting, and seat covers are created from recyclable sugar cane-based supplies, and the lengthy wheelbase and quick overhangs are designed to guard the occupants and batteries within the occasion of a crash. Interior highlights embody a 12.3-inch digital dashboard, and an equally-sized infotainment display screen of equal dimension that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

The Ioniq 5 additionally employs Hyundai’s vehicle-to-load charging system, which permits house owners to make use of the automobile to cost one other EV or energy house home equipment in an emergency. The rooftop photo voltaic panels are an choice on the Ioniq 5, and add as much as 6 kilometers per day to the Ioniq 5’s vary of roughly 375 km (233 miles).

Slashgear tested the upcoming 2025 Ioniq 5N, however there isn’t any phrase but if this 600-horsepower marvel will likely be supplied with the photo voltaic panel choice.

Electric Vehicles

What’s The Difference Between Tesla Model X And Model Y?

Owing to its measurement benefit, the Tesla Model X has 43.5 cubic toes of cargo area for the five-seat variant and 21.5 cubic toes in six or seven-seat configurations. Moreover, the Model X has a entrance trunk or frunk with 6.5 cubic toes of storage room, and it might tow up to 5,000 pounds with the suitable tools and specs.

The five-seat Tesla Model Y has 34.2 cubic toes of trunk area behind the second row, whereas a seven-seat Model Y musters 17 cubic toes of room. It additionally has a frunk or entrance trunk with 4.1 cubic toes of cargo area. In addition, the Model Y towing bundle unlocks as much as 3,500 kilos of towing on dual-motor AWD variants. 

The Tesla Model X and Model Y could have an analogous 5 or seven-seat cabin, however the former is a greater possibility for those who plan on ferrying greater than 5 passengers. The Model X has 32.2 and 29.8 inches of legroom within the third row for the six and seven-seat mannequin, whereas a seven-seat Model Y solely has 26.5 inches of legroom within the third row. 

Moreover, the Tesla Model X has these awesome-looking but considerably problematic Falcon-wing rear doors, an aesthetic characteristic that appears cool however has its drawbacks.

Electric Vehicles

This New Tech Could Make Volvo EVs Charge 30% Faster

While the charging tech is software-based, it may not make it into Volvo’s present era of EVs. In a weblog put up associated to the brand new battery system, Volvo claims it’s going to “implement the new technology in our new generation fully electric cars.” Volvo’s first all-electric automotive was introduced in 2019 and launched in 2020 — so it seemingly signifies that the quicker charging automobiles have but to depart the manufacturing line. Still, there shall be loads of all-electric Swedish cars utilizing this expertise sooner or later. Like many different electrical carmakers, Volvo plans to switch its entire output to electric vehicles by 2030.

If you wish to check out the brand new charging tech for your self, Volvo’s subsequent era of EVs is expected to start hitting customers’ driveways in 2025. Production of the ES90, one among Volvo’s new automobiles, is beginning in mid-2024 — so even if you happen to will not be driving one personally, you may even see the brand new charging system in motion sooner reasonably than later.

Electric Vehicles

2025 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 First Drive: Bigger Crossover, Better Value

In truth, it is robust to argue with the fact that electrical fits the MINI’s spirit — and its possible stomping grounds — so a lot better. For a begin it is charmingly perky, all that torque delivered from the get-go and sending you scurrying away from cease lights and junctions. 

Direct steering errs on the sunshine facet, and although the JCW’s slight sense of remoteness from the highway is current right here, too; it feels much more acceptable in a nimble EV. Multiple ranges of regenerative braking can be found, although MINI buries them in an infotainment menu. A faster solution to change between these ranges, equivalent to by means of steering wheel paddles as different automakers supply, could be good.

Where the 2025 MINI Countryman JCW feels every inch of its increased dimensions, in the meantime, its electrical counterpart shrinks round you. A softer tune for the suspension — to assist deal with that heavier curb weight, amongst different issues — pays dividends each in dynamics and total consolation. The Countryman SE ALL4 feels extra settled within the corners, and it does not threaten to ship you to a chiropractor just like the aggressively-stiff JCW.

2025 Mini Countryman SE ALL4 front wheelChris Davies/SlashGear

On a observe — or in a sequence of sweeping again roads that lacked the aggressively-cavalier oncoming vans commonplace in Lisbon, the place MINI invited SlashGear to check out the brand new Countryman — the John Cooper Works would undoubtedly be quicker and possibly extra rewarding for a eager driver. 

In the actual world, although, the point-and-squirt eagerness of the Countryman SE is simply extra playful. It looks like what it’s: An electrical crossover with added whimsy, fairly than aggressively making an attempt to be each sensible and sporty.

Electric Vehicles, News

2025 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid Is Faster On The Road And At The Charger

The Panamera E-Hybrid comprises a 25.9 kWh battery and its 11kW on-board AC charger permits it to be charged in two and a half hours, in response to Porsche. Plus, the Panamera’s E-Hold drive mode permits the driving force to protect the battery cost, whereas the E-Charge mode configures the gasoline engine to cost the onboard battery at speeds larger than 34 miles per hour. 

On the dealing with finish, the Panamera comes customary with Porsche Active Suspension Management which makes use of the onboard 400-volt electrical structure to energy a hydraulic pump to reinforce the air suspension whereas driving. 19-inch wheels are customary on the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid and 20-inch wheels include the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid, however could be optionally geared up with 21-inch wheels and a ludicrously beefy 10-piston carbon ceramic braking system. 

Porsche says each the $115,500 2025 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid and the $126,800 2025 Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid will likely be electrifying Porsche dealerships on the finish of subsequent month.