Electric Vehicles

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Electric truck wars: 9 manufacturers ready to charge

Changing nearly as fast as gas prices, there’s seemingly constant news in the electric truck market. More manufacturers are debuting EV pickups while others have plans to do so in the not-too-distant future. At least nine manufacturers are in the electric truck business, led by Tesla and Rivian. Here’s a synopsis of arguably the top-two most anticipated EV trucks and a list of the manufacturers currently in the market. Telsa has plans to offer Cybertruck. Company founder and CEO Elon Musk changes his mind often. But the pending slate currently includes a tri-motor with all-wheel drive, a dual-motor AWD model and a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive. Electric trucks ready to charge Prices were announced starting at just under $40,000. The tri-motor option

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Future of U.S. mail delivery going postal again

Electric vehicle startup Workhorse, the only company among three finalists to submit an all-electric mail delivery proposal, has filed an official protest after losing the bid to make the U.S. Postal Service’s next-generation vehicle. The USPS instead gave the contract in February to defense contractor Oshkosh. It said its new postal truck is designed to run on gas and electric drivetrains. The contract could be worth $6 billion. The Ohio-based company filed a sealed bid protest in the US Court of Federal Claims. The result of the high-profile court fight could have an impact on how and when those vehicles switch over to electric power. President Joe Biden said he wants electric vehicles throughout the federal fleet. Mail delivery future

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2021 Honda Accord Hybrid: The best gets better

In its sixth decade, the Honda Accord is part of a small fraternity of vehicles that changed the automotive industry. Unveiled in 1976, the Accord was joined by the Toyota Camry six years later. The vehicles’ rivalry has continued since, with the carmakers’ healthy competition a constant in the always-in-flux family sedan segment. Key Takeaways Six decades of evolution pay off: The 2021 Accord Hybrid continues Honda’s rivalry with Toyota Camry, now in its 10th generation with refreshed styling and a sport sedan personality. 212-hp hybrid system erases stodgy reputation: The combined four-cylinder gas engine and electric motor deliver adequate power while achieving an estimated 43 mpg combined. Manual transmission is gone: Honda joined the growing manufacturer trend of eliminating

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Ford Lightning electric pickup truck pricing revealed

The Ford F-150 Lightning, the manufacturer’s recently announced electric truck, with be priced at just under $50,000 with its optional extended-range battery. Ford previously released a base price of $39,974 for the 2022 pickup truck. The newly announced detail has exactly a $10,000 premium for the trim with an estimated 300-mile range. The prices don’t include a yet-to-be-released destination fee and details of a potential $7,500 EV tax credit and other incentives. The Lightning is built with the same military-grade aluminum-alloy body as the gasoline versions of the F-150. However, a different frame helps accommodate the battery packs. Ford Lightning Trim Prices Revealed The base version of the F-150 Lightning Pro has 426 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque and

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2023 Cadillac LYRIQ: Carmaker’s first EV SUV pending

If there’s any doubt about how quickly the automotive industry is changing, consider the former gas-guzzler reputation of Cadillac. Once the automotive beacon for bigger meant better and better meant lots of fuel, Cadillac has just revealed its 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ. Key Takeaways Cadillac’s first EV arrives with 300 miles of estimated range: A 100-kWh battery pack, 340 horsepower, and rear-wheel-drive Ultium Platform underpin the brand’s shift away from its gas-guzzler reputation. Starting price expected at $59,997: Cadillac announced reservations would open in September 2021, with production at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee plant and deliveries beginning in the first half of 2022. 190 kW DC fast charging adds 76 miles in 10 minutes: Home charging uses a segment-leading 19.2 kW

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Volkswagen ID.4 first electric vehicle to claim world honors

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Volkswagen can rejoice. Its flagship electric vehicle, the ID.4, is the World Car of the Year 2021. The stylish sport utility claimed the honor, voted upon by 93 automotive experts from 28 countries. Volkswagen claimed its fifth overall title and won this year against thr BMW 4 Series, Honda e and Mercedes Benz GLA. Previous Volkswagen Car of the Year award winner included the Golf Mk. 6 (2009), Polo (2010), up! (2012) and Golf Mk. 7 (2013) marking a pattern of Volkswagen usually winning five times in 13 years. Ralf Brandstatter, Volkswagen CEO, Ralf Brandstatter, commented: “We are particularly pleased about our ID.4 being named World Car of the Year. Not only because it is one of the

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They’re back: New Hummer EVs still have swagger

Previously known for its outrageous design and as a favorite vehicle of actor and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the new GMC Hummer EV will look significantly different. And, finally, more details are now available for its pending debut. Its engine and many other features will also different than its extinct predecessor. The new Hummer will be an all-electric, full-size luxury pickup with a long driving range. Here are some new attributes: Crabwalk. In low-speed situations, the front and rear wheels can turn the same way for a “crabbing” type maneuver. The rear wheels can also turn opposite the front. The feature improves precise handling at higher speed and a tight turning radius at lower speeds. New Hummer: New

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It’s not a canoe. It’s a Canoo, a new electric pickup truck

There’s another new electric truck on the horizon, the oddly named Canoo. formerly known as Evelozcity, Canoo is an American manufacturer headquartered in Torrance, California. While specs and pricing weren’t announced, the start-up announced it will debut its trucks in 2023. The trucks will be offered with single-motor and dual-motor all-wheel-drive options. The latter version is touted to produce 600 horsepower and 550 foot-pounds of torque. Canoo said its trucks will have 1,800-pound payload capacitors and a 200-mile range. The Canoo will be built on the same modular platform as Canoo’s other vehicles. The company announced last December a lineup of delivery vans. Its new dual-motor truck will deliver up to 600 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. The Canoo

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Why You Should Buy An EV in 2021

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Maybe your car needs repairs often and costs too much money to maintain. Or perhaps your lease is expired. If so, are you thinking about buying a new car in 2021? An electric vehicle is an excellent choice and there are many advantages to consider: Maintenance is Cheaper Purchasing a new car can be a bad investment. New vehicles depreciate quickly and depending on the purchase price of the vehicle, a buyer can lose thousands of dollars while driving the vehicle from the dealership. It’s an investment most people would consider a substantial stock market loss. With a higher purchase lease agreement you pay monthly for a vehicle in a certain class, the approximate value of the car

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#166 EV expert Steve Birkett discusses growing industry

Steve Birkett is an electric vehicle expert who embraces the automotive technology of sustainable choices. Birkett, who lives and works in Boston, Mass., has owned several electric vehicles. He provides his expertise in the field and his advocacy of the industry on the website findthebestcarprice.com and other industry publications. And he’s our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Birkett the industry at-large. We ask Birkett about his family experiences with EVs. (He drives to visit relatives in Ohio on occasion in addition to daily car use). Bruce and I chat with our guest about how the alternative fuel industry has changed. EV industry rapidly changing And, of course, we

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New Rivian EV a success before its pending debut

The much-touted Rivian electric pickup truck has reached a milestone before one of its new trucks is sold. The start-up announced reservation slots for the futuristic-looking truck have sold. Rivian recently unveiled its final pricing and configurations for the first version of the R1T and R1S. The startup then opened up its configurator for pending owners who have placed reservations with a $1,000 deposit on its vehicles during the past two years. The pickup truck will be available to consumers in the summer of 2021 and with a starting price of $75,000. Rivian Pickup Still Pending Only Launch Edition versions of the trucks will debut. The R1T Launch Edition will start at $75,000; the R1S Launch Edition will start at

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#155, New book, speed record (not), electric trucks, oh my!

A new book, a speed record (not), new truck towing capacities, autonomous vehicles and the future of electric trucks. There’s always a lot happening in the automotive industry, and periodically Bruce Aldrich I just talk about a lot on The Weekly Driver Podcast. We’re are each other’s guests this week to visit the above-mentioned news items. And it’s the 155th episode of our slightly more than three-year-old, 30-minute broadcasts. First up this week is a new book by author Mike Mueller. It’s The Complete Book of Corvette, a coffee table-sized book details all generations of the “America’s Sports Car.” The book is an all-encompassing volume showcasing more than 60 years of Corvette history. Created in cooperation with General Motors and

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New Ford F-150 EV: fastest, efficient, far less cost

Ford believes its pending F-150 battery-electric pickup truck is still about two years away from consumer sales. But the manufacturer is already touting it will cost about half as much to operate as its current gas-powered stablemates. The new version of the country’s best-selling vehicle will also be the most powerful Ford truck ever made. With zero gas and oil usage, low electric charging rates and lower maintenance costs, the Ford F150 EV truck will thrive on its efficiency, according to Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president of the Americas and International Markets Group. Ford Ford F-150: Fast, Furious Scheduled to begin production in mid-2022, the Ford F-150 EV will have the fastest 0-to-60-mph time and produce the most torque and horsepower

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New Hummer EV cruises tough terrain in ‘Crab Mode’

Could the revitalized Hummer EV get more unique than the original? Yes. How about a feature called “Crab Mode?” The soon-to-debut, all-electric Hummer EV truck will include a feature allowing the vehicle to move terrain diagonally like a sand-dwelling crustacean. Crab Mode will be enabled by the electric pickup truck’s four-wheel steering capability. Its functionality is “tailor-made for off-roading customers,” the manufacturer said. Planned for a May debut, the anticipated return of the Hummer was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hummer EV has a military heritage The odd-looking, testosterone-loaded Hummer was first marketed when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. The brand endured different owners and hiatus production time frames. GM announced earlier this

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Ford announces next F-150 plus first EV truck

With several pickup trucks, including the much-touted all-electric options, competition is increasing. The Ford F-150 still rules, but the manufacturer isn’t resting on its success. As such, the production of the next generation of the popular F-150 pickup trucks series has started. The trucks will be made in the company’s Dearborn, Michigan, plant. They’re expected to go on sale in November. The launch of the country’s top-selling vehicle is “on time and on track,” said new company CEO Jim Farley. Ford will debut electric truck in 2022 The manufacturer also simultaneously announced it will join the highly competitive electric truck market in mid-2022. It’s when a battery-electric version is expected to debut. According to the manufacturer, the battery-electric version of

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Tesla Cybertruck: build me big in Texas, color me rainbow

As if the pending Tesla Cybertruck hasn’t received enough attention, leave it to company owner Elon Musk to generate more attention for the futuristic-looking machine. After announcing the electric-vehicle manufacturer’s plans to build a new factory in Austin, Texas, Musk hinted at a few of his new truck‘s color choices. The possible options are as unique as the car. Musk suggested a pure white option or a treatment to offer a rainbow option. If the Cybertruck in rainbow adornment is ever offered, it will likely be an aftermarket option, not a dealership choice. And it wouldn’t the first rainbow-colored Tesla. Several models have received rainbow wraps in Tesla‘s support of various events. Tesla Cybertruck: Color me rainbow The rainbow option

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