Kia EV9 Design Debuts, Volkswagen ID. 2all concept revealed

Kia has unveiled a preliminary glimpse of its forthcoming 2024 EV9 electric sports utility vehicle, which draws heavily from its 2021 eponymous concept prototype. Notably, the EV9’s rear seats will incorporate a 90-degree pivot for convenient access, or swivel capabilities to face the third row. Further details regarding this opulent model are expected to be revealed later in the month.

The Biden administration has formally launched the community EV charging program valued at a whopping $2.5 billion. This initiative is a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has allocated $7.5 billion for establishing a nationwide charging network, supplementing the state-level NEVI program that already boasts investments from Tesla and others, but primarily focuses on highways.

The upcoming 2024 GMC Hummer EV sports utility vehicle has been designed to accommodate vehicle-to-vehicle charging, capable of delivering 6 kW via a 240-volt charging cord. This could provide a substantial charge to smaller EVs, such as the Chevy Bolt EV, of over 20 miles per hour.

Volkswagen has unveiled the ID.2all concept car, offering a sneak peek at an affordable, sub-$30,000 electric vehicle that the carmaker is preparing for the European market, with potential for further markets.

7-Eleven, a prominent convenience-store chain, has announced an ambitious EV charging network expansion plan. The company seeks to establish one of the most substantial charging networks in North America, with many locations in the US, and eventually Canada. This initiative aims to support CHAdeMO and CCS charging, as well as Tesla charging, through an adapter.

Mitsubishi has pledged to electrify all its vehicle models, transitioning to EVs, plug-in hybrids, or hybrids by 2035, and aims to introduce nine electrified models over the next five years. This includes EVs developed through partnerships with Renault and Nissan, and a Mitsubishi electric pickup truck.

Porsche is set to launch two large electric sports utility vehicles in the coming years, including an electric version of the Cayenne and a larger vehicle above the Cayenne, built on VW’s Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), following the debut of an electric 718 sports car and electric Macan compact SUV.

Volkswagen’s PowerCo EV battery firm has selected Canada for its inaugural manufacturing facility outside Europe. This plant, which is essential to VW’s vertical integration strategy, as it scales up EVs, could potentially supply factories in the US and Mexico later in the decade, as well as the South Carolina facility for the new Scout truck brand.

BMW has confirmed that its Neue Klasse family of electric vehicles, set to launch starting in 2025, will feature a simplified dashboard and a panoramic head-up display extending across the windshield, akin to the i Vision Dee concept previewed earlier this year.

Hertz plans to triple its EV fleet in Houston, signaling the rental giant’s push to promote electric mobility and challenge Big Oil’s dominance in the city. The expansion will add 2,100 EVs to the Houston fleet and a charging hub at Hobby Airport.

Although battery fires are not a major safety concern, EVs’ additional weight poses a potential threat to other road users, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s research on electric vehicle safety.

Tesla is facing a class-action lawsuit from owners alleging antitrust violations, citing the automaker’s restrictions on competition, forcing customers to use Tesla’s service centers, and sourcing parts directly from the company.

J.D. Power’s latest survey results suggest that EV owners are less satisfied with their home charging experience than they were the previous year, with the 9% increase in residential electricity costs potentially being the primary reason, particularly the staggering 23% hike observed in New England.

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