Audi Q8 E-Tron assessment, Rivian vary increase, Tesla low cost, ID.4 worth hike: The Week in Reverse

How is steel foil the repair for the most recent fire-related Chevy Bolt EV recall?

How can Porsche Taycan homeowners lower their dwelling charging time in half?

That is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Inexperienced Automobile Experiences—for the week ending December 23, 2022.

The Audi E-Tron SUV and Sportback have been given an even bigger battery, higher effectivity, and quicker charging as a part of a revamp that features a title change. In a assessment of the 2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron lineup, we discovered it repositioned proper in the course of a panorama together with the BMW iX, Cadillac Lyriq, Mercedes EQS SUV, and Rivian R1S, amongst others. 

2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line (RWD)

As we wound via our 5 finalists for Inexperienced Automobile Experiences Greatest Automobile To Purchase 2023—with the winner to be introduced Jan. 4, we took a have a look at how the Genesis GV60 forges a brand new path for luxurious EVs. Then we examined how the Kia EV6 pushes the bar a bit of greater, with a whole lot of panache. And the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV isn’t excellent, however with three rows of seating, a real off-road mode, and greater than 300 miles of vary in some variations, it’s a standout. 

The 2024 Hyundai Kona lineup took a bow earlier this week, with Hyundai emphasizing this time that it’s an “EV-led design,” with a brand new Kona Electrical and a Kona hybrid among the many fashions on the best way. Search for it to be bigger throughout, with lighting themes that borrow from the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 fashions’ “parametric pixel” look. 

2024 Hyundai Kona

The 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt has been recalled over hearth considerations—sure, but once more. However this time it’s not battery-related or associated in any method to electrical propulsion. In accordance with GM, the recent gases seat belt pretensioners can produce in a collision are sufficient to ignite the carpet. And the repair is foil.

Tesla has upped reductions on the Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y to $7,500—plus 10,000 miles of free Supercharging. However earlier than you rush out for the deal, bear in mind that not even $7,500 brings Mannequin Y costs again the place they have been earlier than all the value hikes of the previous 12 months. 

Within the new 12 months, costs on the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 are being elevated $1,500, VW confirmed Thursday. The across-the-board worth hike applies to fashions constructed from Jan. 4 on, and it’s as a result of rising prices of battery supplies.

2023 Volkswagen ID.4

An improve supplied on Porsche Taycan fashions going again to the 2020 mannequin 12 months can doubtlessly lower their dwelling charging time in half. The 19.2-kw onboard charger improve isn’t low-cost, and it’ll require high-power dwelling {hardware} able to delivering that, however with it a full 240-volt cost can occur in lower than 5 hours. 

Rivian has improved cold-weather livability with a Snow mode and preconditioning for its R1T and R1S electrical vehicles. And thru a collection of over-the-air updates it’s improved the vary of its fashions sufficient to warrant a retest—boosting the R1T and R1S to 328 and 321 miles, respectively. That makes the R1T, by a couple of miles, the brand new longest-range electrical pickup.

Rivian introduces Snow mode on R1T and R1S

That wasn’t the one excellent news for Rivian this previous week. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) introduced that the Rivian R1T has earned the very best Prime Security Choose+ distinction. Making use of to 2022 and 2023 R1T fashions—however not the R1S—the outcomes affirm prime crash-test scores plus prime scores for safety-related options like headlights and crash-prevention tech. 

With a $2.9 billion plan introduced final week, California plans to double the variety of public EV chargers over the following a number of years, in addition to increase the charging infrastructure for electrical buses and industrial vehicles. 

There was surprisingly a lot coming from Washington, D.C., this previous week. The EPA introduced finalized emissions guidelines for heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and vans. Whereas they’re the hardest ever federal guidelines on soot and smog-forming emissions from diesel exhaust, they’re not as strict as California guidelines which can be held up pending an EPA waiver. And the U.S. Postal Service has made one other about-face from its plan to purchase largely internal-combustion supply vehicles for its next-generation fleet. Now it plans to solely purchase EVs from 2026 on, with 75% of its deliberate 60,000-vehicle fleet because of be absolutely electrical.

USPS Subsequent Era Supply Automobile – Oshkosh Protection

U.S. Division of Vitality analysis resulted in a latest paper summing up findings on EV charging infrastructure cybersecurity, and it finds a variety of vulnerabilities—maybe serving as extra of a name to motion for {hardware} makers and networks, as most such safety stories up till now have been sponsored by firms with companies to promote.

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

And automakers, dealerships, and customers proceed to be confused over what EV tax credit score quantity customers may be eligible for beginning Jan. 1, and for what mannequin. This week, the U.S. Treasury Division delayed the discharge of steering on EV tax credit score {qualifications} till March 2023. Though the 200,000-unit ceiling that’s saved GM and Tesla consumers from claiming the credit score will carry Jan. 1, it’s not but clear whether or not that may maintain again $3,750 of the potential $7,500 whole credit score over a crucial battery mineral content material issue but to be outlined.

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