Author: john@provenroi.com
Solid state batteries have been a hot topic in the world of electric vehicles, with many automakers and battery plants working hard to bring this technology to the market. The promise of longer ranges, faster recharging, and improved performance has made solid state batteries a highly anticipated development in the EV industry. However, Kia has recently cautioned that the road to commercializing solid state batteries is longer than some might expect. At Kia’s 2025 EV day, Hyundai’s Global Product Planning Chief, Spencer Cho, stated that the commercialization of solid state batteries for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis EVs may not be…
Tesla’s NACS Charging Standard Wins MotorTrend Best Tech Award MotorTrend has announced the winner of their Best Tech of 2025 award for Public Charging System, and it goes to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), also known as the Tesla Plug. NACS is Tesla’s proprietary connector standard that has become the norm in North America. Tesla made the decision to open up this connector standard in November 2022, inviting other automakers to collaborate on a more efficient and user-friendly charging standard. Initially, CCS was gaining popularity as the industry standard, but with Teslas being the most common EV on the…
Tesla is making moves to enter the ride-hailing market in California, as the company has applied for regulatory approval to launch a transportation charter-party carrier service. This permit would allow Tesla to operate its own fleet of vehicles, similar to Waymo, Alphabet Inc.’s self-driving taxi unit. CEO Elon Musk has been vocal about Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions, with plans to launch a driverless ride-hailing service in Austin as soon as June. However, the company has not yet received approval to test or deploy fully autonomous vehicles in California. Recent filings from Tesla discuss driver’s license verification and drug-testing protocols, indicating that…
NACS will introduce a Nissan-branded pure EV in 2025, with availability in 2026 It’s unclear if this will be a refreshed Ariya or the next-generation Leaf Nissan won’t immediately update home charging around NACS Nissan made headlines as the first Japanese automaker to confirm the adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector for upcoming U.S.-market EVs. The company announced in July 2023 that Nissan EVs equipped with a NACS port would start rolling out in 2025. In a recent update, Nissan reaffirmed its commitment to this timeline, with some interesting developments. Nissan has now introduced a NACS adapter…
Elon Musk, the enigmatic CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has recently made headlines once again, this time for his interactions with The Daily Show. It seems that Musk and the late-night show have come to an agreement, as indicated by their posts on the social media platform X. The recent episode of The Daily Show featured a discussion about Musk’s cryptocurrency, Dogecoin (DOGE). Host Jon Stewart expressed his support for eliminating government waste but suggested that DOGE could be more effective in targeting subsidies for industries like oil and gas. Stewart also criticized DOGE’s efforts to reduce the federal government’s…
The European Union is making significant strides towards accelerating electrification and decarbonization with a new $105 billion deal. This deal is not only aimed at revitalizing Europe’s industrial sector but also at making it greener and more productive. The timing of this initiative is crucial as the United States has been distancing itself economically and diplomatically from its longtime ally. For over a decade, there have been discussions about the “re-industrialization of Europe” or “Europe’s industrial renaissance.” Despite previous efforts, Europe has not been able to reclaim its status as a manufacturing powerhouse. Like the United States, Europe has heavily…
Lucid recently hinted at the design of its upcoming midsize SUV and provided a timeline for production. During the company’s earnings call, interim CEO Marc Winterhoff revealed that the midsize vehicle will be unveiled either late this year or early next year. In September, Lucid teased an image of the midsize SUV on Twitter, announcing that production is scheduled for late 2026 with a price tag of less than $50,000. Winterhoff confirmed that the advanced engineering phase of the midsize variants has been approved, and the team is now progressing to the development and industrialization phases. The crossover SUV is…
Tesla Starts Deliveries of New Model Y in China Ahead of Schedule Tesla has officially started deliveries of the new Model Y in China, ahead of the originally anticipated schedule. Tesla first unveiled the new Model Y in China and other Asia-Pacific markets on January 10, 2025. The Model Y is an all-electric compact SUV that has been highly anticipated in the Chinese market. With its stylish design, impressive performance, and advanced technology features, the Model Y is poised to be a popular choice among Chinese consumers. Tesla’s decision to start deliveries ahead of schedule is a testament to the…
Kia recently unveiled the Concept EV2 at their Kia EV Day event, giving a glimpse into the future of super-small, super-affordable electric SUVs. The Concept EV2 is set to come with two battery options – LFP and NCM, with prices starting at 30,000 Euros ($31,500). Expected to go on sale in 2026 in Korea, Europe, and other regions, the U.S. market is unlikely to see this model. The Concept EV2 is built on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, designed for the European city car segment. It features a rugged and purposeful design with squared-off wheel arches and vertical lights, following…
The sedan market is facing some challenges, but Kia is ready to shake things up with the new EV4. Unveiled at Kia’s 2025 EV Day in Barcelona, the EV4 comes in both sedan and hatchback versions, offering a range of batteries, eye-catching design, and a potentially affordable price tag. Based on the E-GMP platform, the EV4 offers buyers a choice between a 58.3 or 81.4kWh battery, delivering 201 hp to the front wheels. While it’s not a mechanical twin to the Hyundai Ioniq 6, the EV4 does offer the potential for a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variant. With a low drag coefficient…