BMW i5 review, GM EV home backup, VW opts for NACS, free fast charging: The week in reverse gear
Which EV models will lose their tax credit eligibility in 2024?
Which new plug-in hybrid from Toyota should travel 55 miles electrically in its home version?
This is our review of Week In Reverse – here at Green Car Reports – for the week ending December 22, 2023.
In one first drive with the BMW i5 EVWe found this electric sports sedan to be better all around than its BMW 5 Series petrol counterpart. With faster acceleration and more smoothness and peace the rest of the time, it’s a superior driving experience.
2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive
The 2024 Chevrolet Blazerthat Green Car Reports reviewed last week, is ready for bidirectional charging, GM officials emphasized at the recent launch of the Blazer EV. Although residential power backup features are not yet enabled, the company plans to introduce the home hardware and activation software next year, starting with the Silverado EV RST.
Want $1,000 for a Chevy Blazer EV? Just as GM’s midsize electric SUV hits U.S. dealers in greater numbers, the Blazer EV is eligible for a Costco vehicle discount. And that’s not the only discount right away.
2024 Lexus RZ
The 2024 Lexus RZ 300e extends the range of the Toyota luxury brand’s only electric vehicle in its U.S. lineup. With a slightly larger 72.8 kWh battery and single-motor front-wheel drive, it can achieve an EPA range of 266 miles – although with slower acceleration than the AWD 450e. Lexus has announced that it will go all-electric by 2030.
With a badge change from UX 250h to UX 300h 2025 Lexus UX Hybrid Gets more power and lower fuel consumption. The UX receives a few more technical improvements for the new model year, but these are carried over – still with no sign of the European-focused UX 300e on American soil.
Toyota Crown Sport PHEV
The long-awaited Toyota Crown Prime may have finally bowed – as Crown Sport Plug-In Hybrid. Although limited to Japan for now, the Crown Sport PHEV travels 55 miles on electric power in this market cycle and, for the first time, allows the battery pack to be used as a backup in the event of power outages or natural disasters – something some Toyota hybrid owners have been seeking in the aftermarket for years.
A The Nio ET7 has covered 650 miles The Chinese automaker claimed earlier this week that its 150 kWh semi-solid battery capacity would remain at 3%. It could be an indication that other models could soon catch up with Lucid in terms of efficiency, although this top version of the ET7 costs about the same as an Air.
2023 Nissan Ariya e-4orce
The Nissan Ariya is one of our Green Car Reports “Best Car To Buy” finalists. Even though it’s a little late to the game in a highly competitive cohort of electric crossovers, it has some secret weapons: its e-4orce all-wheel drive, a super-cushioned cabin, a comfortable ride and just the right interface. While the numbers don’t stand alone, the Ariya sets the stage for a very impressive family of future electric vehicles from Nissan and Infiniti.
With standardization documents from SAE International, the Tesla NACS connector becomes – according to its name – the Electric vehicle charging standard for North America. This sparked official support from the Biden administration, an indication that NACS is at least partially typical of the emerging federal charging network. And finally, VW, Audi, Porsche and Scout followed suit and confirmed that they will also use the Tesla-based connector.
Canada is in the process of introducing a framework that will create the conditions for this 2035 national EV mandate. On the way to this goal, the so-called Electric Vehicle Availability Standard will gradually increase the number of “zero-emission vehicles” – including plug-in hybrids – to 20% in 2026 and 60% in 2030.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS
EV drivers who get free fast charging take longer than those who pay. This, according to data recently provided by the US Department of Energy, could help automakers and charging networks manage congestion at public charging stations.
Electric vehicle tax credit requirements are getting tighter in the new year, and lots of them Electric vehicles from Ford and GM will lose their registration. GM notes that the changes will be temporary as procurement moves to locations that comply with new rules for the origin of electric vehicle components.
In a move that sounds quite familiar to the Biden administration’s policies, France announced last week revised incentives for electric vehicles These favor electric vehicles made in Europe and exclude those from China and offer the equivalent of up to $7,600 per vehicle with a price cap of up to $51,200.
BYD seal
China’s BYD has introduced one of the strongest competitors to the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 yet – to Mexico. Will the BYD Seal electric sedan cross the border?
With this in mind, the US is thinking about it Increasing the tariff rate of 25% on electric vehicles manufactured in China. Will it help encourage a broader range of electric vehicles built in the US, or will excluding potentially more affordable electric vehicles slow the rate of electric vehicle adoption?
And for a little perspective, sales of electric cars are increasing, and they now make up a much larger share of the U.S. vehicle fleet than they did a few years ago. However, it should be borne in mind that the size of the The US fleet of gasoline vehicles is growing.
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