Rivian twin vs. quad, electrical VW GTI, Sonata Hybrid and Mannequin 3 refreshes: The Week in Reverse

Which electrical vehicles slated for supply later this yr confirmed an EPA vary topping 400 miles?

Does EV fast-charging degrade the long-term vary of Teslas? 

That is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Inexperienced Automobile Reviews—for the week ending September 3, 2023.

Rivian’s Enduro motor unit, made by the corporate itself in Illinois, cuts weight, cuts prices, and supplies almost the identical gut-dropping acceleration because the Quad-Motor variations, Inexperienced Automobile Reviews summed in a comparability of Quad-Motor vs. Twin-Motor Rivian EVs. It’s set to be the quantity drive system for the R1S SUV, R1T pickup, and EDV supply vans, 

Rivian plant in Regular, Illinois, manufacturing its Enduro drive unit

Mercedes-Benz confirmed U.S. pricing and availability for its first electrical vans, that are additionally as a result of be U.S.-made. The 2024 Mercedes eSprinter will begin at $74,181, with all variations getting a 113-kwh battery pack prone to ship extra vary than some other American-market electrical van but.

The upcoming 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid made an official bow this week as a part of a refreshed Sonata lineup. Whereas pricing, trim particulars, and mpg stay but to be disclosed, search for paddle-shifters and adjustable regenerative braking as a part of a sportier but probably extra environment friendly expertise—in addition to a brand new panoramic curved show inside, with the shift lever moved behind the steering wheel to unlock extra cabin area.

In keeping with an annual roundup from the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) and its Freeway Loss Information Institute (HLDI), electrical automobiles are stolen far much less steadily than gasoline fashions. As for why precisely that’s the case: It may need one thing to do with the place EVs are parked for charging.

Tesla Mannequin 3 (Europe-market refresh)

Tesla on Thursday night time revealed a revamped model of the Mannequin 3 for Europe. Though it’s about the identical dimensions because the outgoing model, a design and styling refresh improves aerodynamics. What Tesla calls an all-new inside doesn’t look all that a lot completely different than the present model, however upgraded supplies, ventilated entrance seats, and revamped infotainment and premium sound may go a great distance. There’s no phrase but on how EPA vary would possibly change with these fashions—and even, on the time of writing, once they’ll be supplied within the U.S.

Rivian disclosed that its R1T with the 180-kwh Max pack achieves as much as an EPA-cycle 410 miles. Deliveries for the primary Max pack fashions are due later within the yr. 

Fisker Pear

Fisker has revealed a number of new particulars concerning its upcoming $29,900 Pear city EV. The Pear will provide 180 or 320 miles of vary, Fisker claims, from two completely different battery packs. All-wheel drive and an Excessive efficiency mannequin are additionally within the works. The mannequin, with seating for as much as six and a novel “Houdini trunk” association, may present a much-needed shakeup for small-car packaging norms. 

BMW Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse

The Munich auto present has introduced the introduction of a number of EV fashions that dig deep in respective manufacturers’ design heritage—slightly than trying to remake all of the design cues as a part of it. The BMW Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse presents up a design that’s concurrently a throwback to the E30 3-Collection with a much-simplified interface, plus next-generation EV tech that guarantees extra vary, sooner charging, and extra effectivity. And the Volkswagen ID.GTI Idea EV presents up how VW plans to re-up its fun-to-drive compact automobile for the electrical period. 

Volkswagen ID.GTI Idea

Additionally on the present, Mini confirmed the primary of a future lineup of EVs taking kind. Its upcoming Mini Cooper and Countryman electrical fashions, badged E or SE, will get much more vary than the present-day Mini Cooper SE, in addition to a simplified interface targeted round a spherical central show display with obtainable head-up show. These fashions’ exterior designs look very similar to their predecessors although.

Audi is delivering 300 EPA miles for its Q8 E-Tron, as promised. However as official EPA scores reveal, that’s for the sleeker Sportback model. The Audi Q8 E-Tron SUV will get 285 miles, made doable by means of a bigger battery and effectivity enhancements versus its E-Tron SUV predecessor. 

2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron

A possible subject in 2021-2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid sedans may trigger them to speed up unintentionally. It’s led to a recall for what the automaker describes as a “motor synchronization fault,” however brakes are nonetheless operational and acceleration is light so Hyundai is suggesting these fashions are nonetheless drivable till the recall repair. 

In Texas, Tesla Powerwall homeowners are serving to help the grid. As a part of a pilot mission initially affecting two areas round Houston and Dallas, Powerwall homeowners will promote surplus energy when wanted to the grid—forming “digital energy vegetation” that may eradicate the necessity for “peaker” vegetation at peak use instances.

Tesla Powerwall – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.

Does frequent fast-charging degrade EV vary over the long run? A research from Recurrent, which tracks the battery well being of used EVs, finds that isn’t essentially the case—you probably have a Tesla. Taking a look at hundreds of Tesla automobiles and evaluating automobiles that have been fast-charged 90% of the time vs. people who have been fast-charged lower than 10% of the time, it discovered “no statistically vital distinction in vary degradation.” That stated, following some easy recommendation we embrace on what to not do at these charging stops would possibly assist guarantee your battery pack lives lengthy.

As an American EV fast-charging community is being put collectively by seven automakers, together with Mercedes-Benz, the German automaker confirmed Monday that its upcoming Mercedes’ Excessive-Energy Charging Community can be “an extra key element of the corporate’s total electrification technique”—that means it will likely be differentiated from and along with the opposite effort. Mercedes’ personal community will embrace greater than 2,000 DC fast-charging connectors by the tip of 2024, situated at Charging Hub oases.

Mercedes-Benz EV charging station

A U.S. hydrogen economic system doesn’t actually exist but, but it surely’s beginning to ramp up round hydrogen incentives that haven’t but been outlined by the federal authorities. Whereas some suppliers akin to Bosch are readying efforts to provide tools like electrolyzers, the end-use carbon footprint of merchandise utilizing hydrogen will rely on how true inexperienced hydrogen, from renewables and never pure fuel or methane, can be incentivized. 

Regardless of targets in search of EVs as the majority of gross sales some years forward and, even in some circumstances, finish dates for inside combustion fashions, a number of full-line automakers are quietly preventing EV-focused EPA emissions targets. In GM’s case, that seems to imply preventing the decrease tailpipe emissions limits themselves.

And EVs are 5% or extra of the new-vehicle market in 23 nations, with 5 of these nations reaching the edge this previous yr. Utilizing a complete vary of expertise adoption and the commonly-referred-to S-curve as a foundation, that’s broadly seen as the purpose at which EV gross sales speed up. However elements like value and charging infrastructure may imply that EVs are completely different.

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