Vitesco Technologies, a leading international supplier of advanced powertrain technologies and electrification solutions, is now making electrical catalyst heating available in high-voltage hybrid vehicles as well. With a new DC/DC converter, the heating discs of the electrically heated EMICAT catalyst (earlier post) can now also be supplied with electricity in... Read more →

Audi has upgraded the battery capacity for the Q5, A6, and A7 Sportback PHEVs. The TFSI e models now come with 14.4 kWh net (17.9 kWh gross), which supports an increased electric range of up to 91 kilometers (57 miles), measured in accordance with the NEDC cycle (73 km (45... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) announced pricing and availability of the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) crossover. Outlander PHEV is substantially upgraded for 2021, and features a revised powertrain, an enlarged battery pack offering extended all-electric range, and increased performance from a new, more efficient, 2.4... Read more →

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) plans to debut three new electrified models—two BEVs and a PHEV—in the US market this year. Toyota currently has more than 40% share of the total alternative fuel vehicle market, which includes a 75% share of the fuel cell market and a 64% share of... Read more →

XL Fleet Corp. has entered into a strategic partnership with Curbtender, a market leader in Under CDL (vehicles that do not require a Commercial Drivers License) refuse trucks and a pioneer in automated side-loader collection. Under the terms of the agreement, XL Fleet and Curbtender will jointly develop a series... Read more →

Starting 2021 on a strong note, Volvo Cars reported the best January in its history as Europe, China and the US all reported increasing sales. Global sales rose by 30.2% to 59,588 cars, boosted by a strong year-on-year performance in China where the company more than recovered losses from earlier... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz experienced a sharp increase in xEV deliveries in 2020, with more than 160,000 plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles sold worldwide (+228.8%), including about 87,000 units in the fourth quarter alone. We more than tripled sales of our plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars. Demand for these vehicles increased sharply, especially... Read more →

In 2020, e-mobility became more popular in Germany, despite a 20% decline in registration numbers in the year of the COVID 19 pandemic. Alternative drives (battery-electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell, gas, and hydrogen) took up around a quarter of all new light-duty vehicle registrations in Germany in 2020,... Read more →

Volkswagen’s plug-in hybrid version of its Tiguan SUV—the Tiguan eHybrid (earlier post)—is now available to configure and order in Europe; the starting price in Germany is €42,413.11 (US$51,500). The Tiguan eHybrid has an all-electric range (WLTP) of up to 50 km (31 miles). In Hybrid mode, the electric motor supports... Read more →

SEAT continues to expand its range of electrified vehicles, as the SEAT Tarraco e-HYBRID enters production this week. The plug-in hybrid version of the brand’s flagship delivers a maximum power of 245PS (180kW), making it the most powerful Tarraco produced to date. With a 13 kWh lithium-ion battery back, it... Read more →

Volkswagen’s new Arteon and Arteon Shooting Brake are available in Europe as plug-in hybrid models. Prices in Germany start from €51,064.37 (US$60,800) for the Arteon eHybrid with a hatchback and from €51,927.06 (US$61,900) for the Arteon Shooting Brake eHybrid. Volkswagen now offers the Golf, Tiguan, Passat, Passat Estate, Arteon, Arteon... Read more →

Three of the most popular plug-in hybrids in 2020 all emitted more CO2 than advertised when tested in the real world, according to tests commissioned by European environmental NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). T&E said governments should therefore end the purchase subsidies and tax breaks for plug-in hybrids. T&E has... Read more →

XL Fleet announced that the Company’s XLP plug-in hybrid electric drive technology is being expanded for use across a range of fleet vehicles from General Motors. The platform is expected to begin shipping on select configurations of the Chevrolet and GMC Silverado / Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD pickup... Read more →

BYD launched its DM-i hybrid technology alongside the official announcement of the high efficiency version of the 1.5L Xiaoyun engine, which is dedicated for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). After defining new performance standards for PHEVs with its DM-p technology, BYD is prioritizing ultra-efficient fuel consumption with the DM-i technology. The... Read more →

Hyundai committed to offer ten electrified vehicles by the end of 2022, including seven SUVs and three car models. This product blitz includes eco solutions for many of Hyundai’s current products as well as all-new models, such as the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. Product details for these Hyundai models... Read more →

Hyundai announced a sustained product blitz of 12 new and enhanced SUVs continuing through the 2021 calendar year. The fresh pipeline of new SUV products will include new and refined internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in, BEV and N performance models. These models include the Tucson, Santa Fe, Kona, Santa Cruz and... Read more →

In the third quarter of 2020, 9.9% of passenger cars sold in the EU were electrically-chargeable vehicles, compared to 3.0% during the same period last year, according to data from the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA). The support measures introduced by various countries to stimulate car demand amid the... Read more →

As part of its newly announced 30-year environmental plan, Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) says that it will raise the proportion of electrified vehicles in its total sales—with a focus on its plug-in hybrids) to 50% by 2030. The plan, which represents a medium- to long-term perspective, comprises three parts: MMC’s Environmental... Read more →

Porsche has increased the electric range of all its Cayenne plug-in hybrid models. The gross capacity of the high-voltage battery is now 17.9 kWh rather than 14.1 kWh, which boosts the electric range by up to 30%. Measured in line with the WLTP EAER City cycle, the Cayenne E-Hybrid can... Read more →

Volkswagen is ramping up its hybrid offensive. The Touareg is now available to order in two different plug-in hybrid versions: the Touareg eHybrid and the Touareg R. Both variants are characterized by an electric range of up to 47 kilometers (WLTP) and low average consumptions. Touareg eHybrid (left) and Touareg... Read more →

Now on sale nationwide in the US, the 2021 Audi Q5 TFSI e, A7 TFSI e and A8 TFSI e plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) combine Audi’s premium appointments and driving dynamics with integrated hybrid technology and smartphone app functionality. The 2021 Audi Q5 TFSI e, updated with sharpened design and... Read more →

HUBER+SUHNER, a leading supplier of high voltage connectivity solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), unveiled its RADOX EV-C Multi-Core cable system which has been specifically engineered for use with auxiliary devices within Electric Vehicles (EVs). Designed with the growing trend of electrification in mind, the new EV-C Multi-Core cable system is... Read more →

In August 2020, cumulative US plug-in vehicle sales reached 1.6 million units, according to data gathered by Argonne National Laboratory. Plug-in vehicles consist of both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Source: Argonne National Laboratory, Light Duty Electric Drive Vehicles Monthly Sales Updates, August 2020. A... Read more →

A new analysis of the real-world usage of more than 100,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles shows a large deviation between on-road CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency and the official vehicle type-approval values. The results of the joint study, released by German Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI and... Read more →

The California Center for Jobs & The Economy has released an updated report (earlier post) on the progress of ZEV sales in the state during the first half of 2020, drawing on sales data from the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA). For a baseline, the report uses the goal... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) released a first look at the redesigned Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, the next step in the company’s commitment to delivering a showroom full of new and extensively redesigned vehicles in the United States by the second quarter of 2021. The new Eclipse Cross will offer a plug-in... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Company launched the all-new Hyundai Tucson. The fourth-generation compact SUV (C-SUV) is a global model, with a long-wheelbase variantand a short-wheelbase variant for meeting various customer needs. It offers roominess, state-of-the-art digital experiences and an array of powertrains, including internal combustion, hybrid and plug-in hybrid. 2022 Tucson The... Read more →

In the second quarter of 2020, the market share of electrically-chargeable vehicles increased to 7.2% of total EU car sales, compared to a 2.4% share during the same period last year, according to figures from ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association). Source: ACEA The overall decline in passenger car registrations as... Read more →

Jeep unveiled an all-new Grand Wagoneer Concept, including an electrified powertrain and 4x4 off-road systems. The original Jeep Wagoneer was an SUV marque of Jeep, and sold from the 1963-1993 model years. The Grand Wagoneer made its debut in 1984 and marked the beginning of the premium SUV. The Grand... Read more →

The Jeep brand has introduced its new Wrangler 4xe plug-oin hybrid. Jeep Wrangler 4xe models will be available in Europe, China and the United States by early 2021. The Jeep Renegade 4xe and Compass 4xe models—introduced last year in Geneva—began arriving in Europe this summer. The new Jeep 4xe models... Read more →

Volkswagen is electrifying the eighth generation of the Golf with two new plug-in hybrid versions: the Golf eHybrid and Golf GTE. Sales of both models are starting now. The Golf eHybrid is designed for maximum comfort and delivers an output of 150 kW (204 PS). Price in Germany starts at... Read more →

ComEd’s new fleet electrification plan calls for replacing all of its light duty vehicles with electrified vehicles (EVs and PHEVs) by 2030. ComEd will replace end-of-life internal combustion vehicles with plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, reducing fuel and maintenance costs and creating savings that will be passed on to... Read more →

With almost 50,000 units, BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid models were the most successful electrified models in the BMW Group’s portfolio worldwide in 2019. With an increase from two to five models featuring innovative plug-in hybrid drive by November 2020, the new BMW 5 Series offers the largest range of... Read more →

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) and Germany-based Trailer Dynamics GmbH (Trailer Dynamics) signed a battery supply agreement for a new way to electrify long-haul trucks. According to the agreement, CATL will develop, manufacture, and supply batteries for the Newton eTrailer, which will launch in 2023 to promote sustainable road... Read more →

Half of all plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) on the road in the US in 2019 were mid-size cars. However, PEVs are available in size classes ranging from two-seaters to minivans. Together, compact cars and large cars accounted for nearly 30% of the PEV population. Standard sport utility vehicles (SUVs) accounted... Read more →

In a recent report assessing multiple properties of plug-ion electric vehicles (PEVs) solid in the US, a team from Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) estimates that the energy savings in the United States due to light-duty PEVs in 2019 was 44.8 trillion Btu, up 47% from 2018. The reduction of energy... Read more →

Buick has strengthened its commitment to electrification in China with the launch of the VELITE 7 electric vehicle and VELITE 6 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The VELITE 7 is the first all-electric SUV in Buick’s new energy vehicle portfolio, offering 500 kilometers (311 miles) of range on a single... Read more →

Jeep is taking orders in Europe for the Renegade 4xe and Compass 4xe plug-in hybrids (earlier post)—the first electrified Jeep models in the EMEA Region. The Jeep 4xe models will debut in Jeep showrooms across Europe in September with three trim levels: ‘Limited’, ‘S’ and ‘Trailhawk’, two power levels—190 or... Read more →

LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) is launching the VN5, its new electric light commercial van. Available to order now, first VN5 deliveries will commence in RHD form in Q4, with LHD models available from March 2021. Based on the same architecture and proven eCity range-extender technology as LEVC’s TX electric... Read more →

Rheinmetall Automotive AG, part of technology group Rheinmetall AG, has received a major order from an international OEM for electrical vacuum pumps. The order extends to a lifetime volume of €250 million. The components will be manufactured by Pierburg Huayu Pump Technology (PHP), a Shanghai-based joint venture company of Rheinmetall... Read more →

Buick is adding the VELITE 6 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to its new energy vehicle (NEV) portfolio in China. The model is expected to be launched this month. The VELITE 6 PHEV will be powered by Buick eMotion electric drive technology that leverages GM’s global electrification expertise. It will... Read more →

Volkswagen has premiered the new Tiguan, now available with a plug-in hybrid drive option for select markets (not including the US), the Tiguan eHybrid. (Earlier post.) Tiguan eHybrid The Volkswagen Tiguan is Europe’s most successful Sports Utility Vehicle and one of the top-selling SUVs in the world. More than six... Read more →

Volkswagen will offer a plug-in hybrid drive generating 160 kW (218 PS) for the updated Arteon product line for the first time, in addition to offering TSI (gasoline) and (in some markets) TDI (diesel) options. The Arteon has been the Volkswagen Gran Turismo since 2017. Volkswagen is now unveiling a... Read more →

BMW has launched the second-generation plug-in hybrid X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, the X5 xDrive45e, in the US. (Earlier post.) The US X5 xDrive45e arrives with a SULEV Super ultra-low emissions vehicle rating which can bring additional benefits in states which offer special consideration to drivers of electrified vehicles, such as... Read more →

Toyota has launched the new model RAV4 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) (earlier post) through dealerships in Japan. Since its debut in 1994, RAV4 has pioneered the crossover SUV market, and remains the market leader. The fifth generation RAV4 was released in April 2019. It has been popular with many... Read more →

The new Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid, with a fourth-generation technology system, offers a best-in-class EPA-estimated economy rating of 100 MPGe combined and an EPA-estimated 37 miles of all-electric driving range. The original Ford Escape was the world’s first hybrid SUV and the all-new Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid represents how far... Read more →

Groupe PSA and Punch Powertrain have signed an agreement to establish a second Joint Venture and to expand their strategic partnership in the field of electrification. Punch Powertrain holds majority control in the new Joint 61/39 Venture, which will design, manufacture, and supply Punch Powertrain’s DT2 dual clutch transmission for... Read more →

From 2015 to 2019, the market share of plug-in vehicles in China more than quadrupled, reaching 5.1% in 2019, according to figures presented by the US DOE. During that same period, Europe saw its plug-in vehicle sales share reach 3.0%. In the US, plug-in vehicle market share in the United... Read more →

BMW will launch the new X2 xDrive25e SAC (“Sport Activity Coupé”) PHEV, announced in January (earlier post), in Europe in July 2020 with pricing from €47,250 (US$51,800). The new BMW X2 xDrive25e features the fourth and latest generation of BMW eDrive technology developed for the plug-in hybrid models. An electric... Read more →

BMW announced the updated, 2021 7th generation 5 Series Sedan. The MY2021 models feature improvements in exterior and interior design, aerodynamics and technology, plus the introduction of a new 48-volt mild hybrid system and a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain. The 2021 BMW 5 Series lineup includes the: 248 hp 530i... Read more →