All posts tagged: gaspowered

Rivian targets gas-powered Ford and Toyota trucks and SUVs with ,000 ‘electric upgrade’ discount

Rivian targets gas-powered Ford and Toyota trucks and SUVs with $5,000 ‘electric upgrade’ discount

Rivian is offering discounts up to $5,000 on its EVs — and a year of free charging — to customers willing to trade in their gas-powered trucks and SUVs. The deal, which kicked off April 22, is aimed directly at some of the best-selling and most ubiquitous gas-powered trucks and SUVs on the market today, including the Ford F-150, Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Wrangler. Rivian is even going after German automakers Audi and BMW. The price cut varies between $1,000 and $5,000 depending on the model. Rivian is offering discounts on three R1T pickup truck trims and one R1S SUV model. The company promoted Monday the “electric upgrade offer” in an email to prospective customers as well as posts on social media. The discounts come as demand for premium and luxury EVs has softened across the industry, prompting automakers such as Ford, Lucid and Tesla to reduce prices. Faced with uncertain demand, many legacy automakers have also pared down plans to shift their portfolios to only battery-electric vehicles. Gas-powered vehicles and hybrids are back en …

Porsche retires gas-powered Boxster in the EU with EV version due

Porsche retires gas-powered Boxster in the EU with EV version due

The gas-powered Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman models are being discontinued in Europe as an all-electric version approaches its debut. Porsche retires gas-powered 718 Boxster, Cayman cars After announcing plans to retire its best-selling SUV in Europe, the Macan, Porsche will do the same with its 718 Boxster and Cayman models. Porsche retired the gas-powered Macan early due to new cybersecurity rules. Its availability ends in July 2024. The gas-powered 718 Boxster and Cayman are now set for the same fate. In a statement to Auto Express, Porsche said as a result of the rule changes “sale of the 718 models with an internal combustion engine is discontinued in the EU and some states that apply EU legislation from now on, thereby ensuring that the vehicles can be delivered to customers and registered by the deadline.” Porsche did note the 718 Cayman GT4 RS and 718 Spyder RS are not impacted “due to small series regulations.” Porsche Macan EV (left) and Turbo (right) versions (Source: Porsche AG) Although the regulation applies to all vehicles (ICE …

BYD’s new lower-cost EV platform will crush gas-powered car sales

BYD’s new lower-cost EV platform will crush gas-powered car sales

BYD is leading an offensive against ICE vehicles. A new report claims BYD’s new EV platform will slash costs even further as the automaker kicks off a “liberation battle” against gas-powered cars. Best known for its low-cost EVs, such as the Dolphin, Atto 3, and sleek Seal sedan, BYD is taking its game up a notch in 2024. After surpassing Tesla to become the largest EV maker globally in the last three months of 2023, BYD says Tesla is not the competition. It’s gas-powered cars. BYD launched a price war on ICE vehicles last month with the new Qin Plus EV and PHEV models. Starting at $15,200 (109,800 yuan), the new EV officially opened a “new era of electricity is cheaper than oil.” The DM-i (PHEV) version is even cheaper, starting at around $11,000 (79,800 yuan). It includes up to 74 mi (120 km) NEDC all-electric range. The all-electric Qin Plus is offered with 48 kWh or 57.6 kWh battery packs for up to 261 mi (420 km) or 316 mi (510 km) CLTC range, …

Ethiopia set to become FIRST country to ban gas-powered cars

Ethiopia set to become FIRST country to ban gas-powered cars

Ethiopia spent nearly $6 billion to import fossil fuels last year — with more than half of that spending going to fuel vehicles. In response, Ethiopia’s Transport and Logistics Ministries have announced that automobiles cannot enter Ethiopia, unless they are electric. (!) Last February, the European Union approved a law that would ban the sale of combustion engine cars in its member states from 2035 — joining several US states, Canada, Japan, Singapore, India, New Zealand, and a number of other nations with similar bans already on the books (see chart, below). Ethiopia, however, isn’t waiting for 2035. Ethiopia is trying to ban ICE vehicles now. According to a news update from the parliament, Alemu Sime, the Ethiopian Minister for Transport and Logistics, announced the completion of the nations Logistics Master Plan Monday. Details were scarce, but he has announced that, “a decision has been made, that automobiles cannot enter Ethiopia unless they are electric ones.” Planned phase-out of ICE cars, by nation Official targets for the complete phase-out of the sale of new ICE cars, …

BMW declares ‘tipping point’ in gas-powered cars to EVs

BMW declares ‘tipping point’ in gas-powered cars to EVs

BMW has crossed the “tipping point” as the automaker shifts from gas-powered vehicles to EVs. According to BMW’s CFO, from here on out, most of its growth will come from electric vehicles. After nearly doubling (+74%) EV sales last year with over 375,000 electric models sold, BMW doesn’t see the growth slowing. In the fourth quarter, BMW saw demand pick up with 129,316 EVs handed over, up 47.7% year-over-year (YOY). With that, BMW’s EVs accounted for 15% of total sales last year, hitting its target. BMW brand EVs were in high demand, with over 330,500 models delivered last year. The BMW iX1 and BMW i4 were the top sales drivers. Meanwhile, with the launch of the i5 last year, BMW now has an all-electric option in each of its main segments. The fully electric BMW i4 M50 remained the top-selling BMW M car for the second straight year. Jochen Goller, BMW board member, said the brand expects “to sell more than half a million fully-electric vehicles in 2024.” BMW i5 production (Source: BMW) The automaker …

The 2025 Ram Ramcharger is an electric truck that gets its EV juice from a gas-powered generator

The 2025 Ram Ramcharger is an electric truck that gets its EV juice from a gas-powered generator

Don’t call it a plug-in hybrid. Or a gas-powered vehicle either. Stellantis brand Ram wants the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which was revealed November 7, to be viewed as a battery electric truck. The Ramcharger does have a 92 kilowatt-hour battery pack with 145 miles of range. It also happens to have a 3.6-liter V6 engine on-board 130 kilowatt generator. That combo gives the Ramcharger a targeted range of 690 miles, the company says. Ram said the end result, at least in terms of performance is a truck with the ability to travel from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds, 663 horsepower and more than 615-pound feet of torque. Importantly for truck customers, the Ramcharger will have 14,000 pounds towing capability with a class 5 hitch and maximum payload capacity of 2,625 pounds. Ram hasn’t shared pricing information on the Ramcharger. Customers can also plug in and charge the battery, if they so desire. According to the company, a 400-volt DC fast charger can add up to 50 miles of all-electric range …

California urges EPA to approve ban on new gas-powered car sales by 2035

California urges EPA to approve ban on new gas-powered car sales by 2035

California is urging the Biden administration to grant approval for its proposal that mandates all new vehicles sold within the state by 2035 to be exclusively electric, hydrogen-powered or plug-in electric hybrids (PHEVs), according to a letter seen and reported on by Reuters. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the plan in August, but it still needs a green light from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to enforce its own vehicle emissions standards. On Monday, CARB asked the EPA to approve a waiver under the Clean Air Act that would allow it to implement its new rules. Specifically, the rules mandate that PHEVs, EVs or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles make up 35% of new car sales by 2026, 68% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. The regulation would allow automakers to sell up to 20% PHEVs by 2035, but they’d need a minimum 50-mile all-electric range to qualify. Crucially, the requirements don’t ban combustion engine vehicles from roads, nor do they halt any used car sales in the state. But the end …