At Auto Shanghai 2019, Mercedes-Benz is premiering the close-to-production show car Concept GLB and the Mercedes-AMG A 35 L 4MATIC developed exclusively for China. Alongside the Concept GLB are the battery-powered EQC (electricity consumption combined: 20.8 – 19.7 kWh/100 km) (earlier post) and the new GLE, both of which celebrate... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced that the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, has achieved sales of 200,000 units worldwide since its launch in 2013. Since making its debut in Japan, the Outlander PHEV has been rolled out to more than 50 countries across the world. It... Read more →

In a paper being presented at WCX SAE World Congress Experience in Detroit this week, a team from MIT is proposing the use of a flex-fuel gasoline-alcohol engine approach for a series-hybrid powertrain for long-haul Class 8 trucks. In this approach the engine would provide comparable (or possibly greater) efficiency... Read more →

Geely Auto Group (Geely) has selected Ricardo to assist with the development—right through to production implementation—of a new advanced transmission for range-extended plug-in hybrid vehicles. Key requirements for the transmission are high efficiency and competitive cost for high volume A and B-segment products. The approach taken is highly collaborative and... Read more →

A rebate project to increase access to electric vehicle (EV) chargers throughout California’s Sacramento County is launching with up to $15.5 million in funds available for qualifying local businesses and nonprofit organizations. The rebates will be available through the Sacramento County Incentive Project to install both commercial-grade Level 2 chargers... Read more →

The fuel cell plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL (combined hydrogen consumption: 0.34 kg/100 km, combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km, combined power consumption: 13.7 kWh/100 km) has successfully passed its 360° environmental check. The results have been verified by the TÜV Süd technical service. The environmental check is based on an... Read more →

Ford has revealed the 2020 Escape; the small SUV will make its first public appearance at the New York International Auto Show. Escape, which debuted the world’s first hybrid SUV in 2005, brings back two hybrid choices for 2020—a standard hybrid and a plug-in variant—and introduces technologies ranging from drive... Read more →

SEAT, a member of the Volkswagen Group, presented its electric strategy which, until the beginning of 2021, includes six electric and plug-in hybrid models. The electric version of the Mii and el-Born will be the brand’s first two fully electric models, while the new generation Leon and the Tarraco will... Read more →

At Auto Shanghai 2019 in April, BMW Brilliance Automotive will present the new edition of the BMW X1 xDrive25Le. The compact Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) developed exclusively for the Chinese automotive market with extended wheelbase and plug-in drive now achieves an electrically powered range of up to 110 kilometers (68... Read more →

From 2017 to 2018, PEV sales doubled in North America, and sales in Europe and China increased 39% and 77%, respectively, according to a new report from Navigant Research. In 2019, multiple deployments of long-range battery EVs (BEVs) in crossover classes, as well as Tesla reaching full-scale production on the... Read more →

SEAT, a member of the Volkswagen Group, presented two concept cars for the first time globally at the GenevaMotor show: the el-Born, its first 100% electric vehicle based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform (earlier post), and the CUPRA Formentor, a high-performance plug-in hybrid CUV with CUPRA DNA which is... Read more →

At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, BMW announced the market launch of a plug-in hybrid variant of the globally popular BMW X3. This makes it the first model of the brand to be offered with both a conventional combustion engine and a plug-in hybrid system—with the addition of a purely... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) unveiled a twin-motor, four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) crossover concept—the Mitsubishi Engelberg Tourer—at the Geneva International Motor Show. The Engelberg Tourer takes MMC’s Twin Motor PHEV system fostered and developed in the Outlander PHEV and, using next-generation electrification and all-wheel control technologies, evolves it. The combination of... Read more →

XL unveiled its plug-in hybrid electric Ford Super Duty F-250 pickup truck (earlier post) at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. As the company first revealed in February, XL’s newest product expands its successful plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) product family, which also includes the XLP Ford F-150 that the... Read more →

At the Geneva International Motor Show, Jeep presented its new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models: the Jeep Renegade and Jeep Compass. The new PHEVs have a pure electric range of approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) and a top electric speed of about 130 km/h (81 mph). CO2 emissions are... Read more →

BMW Group sales of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the US totaled 1,110 in February 2019, a decrease of 42.7% over the 1,936 sold in the same month a year ago. The company said that model changeover has limited the current BMW Group electrified lineup to five models... Read more →

According to a new report from the California Center for Jobs and the Economy, California’s cumulative plug-in vehicle (PEV, including PHEVs and full EVs) sales are at 10.5% of the state’s 5-million ZEV unit goal for 2030. True ZEVs—battery electric vehicles and the handful of fuel cell electric vehicles—are at... Read more →

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. will invest a total of $4.5 billion in five of its existing Michigan plants, and will work with the city of Detroit and state of Michigan on building a new assembly plant within city limits. The move would increase capacity to meet growing demand for its... Read more →

In 2018, 4.28 million BEVs, PHEVs and HEVs were sold globally—an increase of 28.6% over the year prior—amounting to 5.2% of total global passenger vehicle sales, according to Adamas Intelligence. Not only is the EV market growing extremely rapidly, the modern EV itself is also undergoing a rapid technological evolution,... Read more →

Audi is presenting plug-in hybrid variants of the models A8, A7 Sportback, A6 and Q5 with an electric range of more than 40 kilometers (25 miles) in the WLTP cycle at the Geneva Motor Show. The new plug-in hybrid models will be available for order during the course of the... Read more →

PEUGEOT is presenting the 400 hp hybrid Concept 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED at the upcoming Geneva motor show. A derivative of the PEUGEOT 508 HYBRID sedan, the concept delivers high performance with low emissions. PEUGEOT SPORT was given the task of developing this new model line. For this concept vehicle,... Read more →

Volvo Cars is releasing upgraded and newly-developed electrified powertrain options to be made available across its entire model range going forward. The company has upgraded its existing T8 and T6 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrains, while at the same time confirming that plug-in options will now be available on every... Read more →

Borg-Warner reported that a major European commercial vehicle manufacturer has chosen the company’s proven High Voltage Hairpin (HVH) 410 electric motor for a plug-in hybrid electric truck (PHEV) to be launched in 2019. Generating 130 kW (174 hp) of power and 1,050 N·m of torque, the HVH motor will work... Read more →

Overall sales of BMW Group Electrified vehicles increased by 1.4% compared with January last year, with a total of 7,234 delivered to customers around the world. By the end of this year, the number of BMW Group electrified vehicles on the roads around the world will total more than half... Read more →

Volkswagen has revealed some of the features of the updated Passat, which will launch later this year. Among the technical updates are an upgrade to the plug-in hybrid system in the Passat GTE that extends the all-electric range to to up to around 55 km (34 miles) in the WLTP... Read more →

XL, a provider of connected vehicle electrification solutions for commercial, utility and municipal fleets, will unveil a plug-in hybrid electric version of the popular Ford F-250 pickup truck at the NTEA Work Truck show, 5-8 March in Indianapolis. In 2018 at the NTEA show, XL displayed a hybrid-electric F-250, as... Read more →

BMW’s new 7 Series features a number of powertrain changes, including a plug-in hybrid drive system with a new design offering an increased electric range, enhanced performance and lower consumption. The new BMW 7 Series is also available with gasoline and diesel engines using six, eight and twelve cylinders. The... Read more →

XL, a provider of electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, today, announced that the Tacoma Public Utility, Clark Public Utilities and the City of Palo Alto are the latest West Coast municipalities and utilities to electrify portions of their fleets with XL-equipped vehicles. XL plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) Ford... Read more →

Ford will begin commercial trials of the plug-in hybrid Transit Van in Cologne, Germany. This will extend to a third European city research into the use of plug-in hybrid electric vans that run solely on electric power for most city trips. From spring 2019, Ford, supported by the City of... Read more →

In London, Land Rover unveiled the New Range Rover Evoque luxury compact SUV. The new Evoque offers a choice of three- and four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline and diesel engines, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system (MHEV) and a 3-cylinder plug-in hybrid system (PHEV). The compact footprint is almost identical to its predecessor’s at... Read more →

Subaru Corporation is introducing its first plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, in the US. Offering real all-wheel capability in a hybrid package, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Hybrid features the new Subaru StarDrive Technology that uniquely integrates electric motors, a 2.0-liter direct-injection SUBARU BOXER engine, Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive,... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz has handed over the first GLC F-CELL (earlier post) vehicles to selected customers in the German market. The Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL (combined hydrogen consumption: 0.34 kg/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, combined electrical consumption: 13.7 kWh/100 km) features both fuel cells and a battery drive which can be... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz is delivering the first new third-generation plug-in hybrids—labelled EQ Power—to customers now and over the coming months. Mercedes-Benz is initially using this type of powertrain in the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class. The 13.5 kWh battery in the hybrid vehicles is paired with either a gasoline engine or, for the... Read more →

The third generation of the plug-in hybrid from Mercedes-Benz is due to be launched. (Earlier post.) The new S 560 e (combined fuel consumption: 2.6-2.5 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 59-57 g/km, combined electrical consumption: 20.2-20.0 kWh/100 km) can be ordered from today. The modified components and the intelligent powertrain... Read more →

By 2022, Mercedes-Benz’ entire product range will be electrified. There will be electric alternatives in every segment from smart to SUV, with well in excess of 130 variants in total, ranging from 48-volt on-board electrical system with EQ Boost to plug-in-hybrids to all-electric vehicles with batteries or fuel cells. As... Read more →

The FCA Melfi, Italy plant is beginning preparations to produce the Jeep Renegade Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) scheduled for market launch in early 2020. The Renegade PHEV will be produced alongside the Renegade and 500X full combustion engine products that are currently produced at the Melfi vehicle assembly plant.... Read more →

BMW unveiled the new seventh-generation 3 Series at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris; market launch is from 9 March 2019. The new 3 Series powertrain technology offers higher output, greater pulling power and optimized efficiency. Six engine variants will be available from launch: four-cylinder gasoline models, four-cylinder diesels, plus... Read more →

ŠKODA, a member of the Volkswagen Group, is unveiling the VISION RS plug-in hybrid concept at the Paris Motor Show. The study provides the first glimpses of the next evolutionary stage of ŠKODA’s sporty RS models and the design of a future compact vehicle. ŠKODA is also demonstrating the use... Read more →

Peugeot is introducing gasoline plug-in hybrid systems for the Peugeot 3008 and 508 and 508 SW engines. The HYBRID engine and the HYBRID4 (four-wheel-drive) engine will be available for the second quarter of 2019. Peugeot 3008 PHEV. The 1.6L PureTech engine has been adapted, including with the addition of a... Read more →

Brazil-based Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus, part of the TRATON Group, introduced the e-Delivery electric truck (earlier post)—a battery electric version of the company’s Delivery mode—at IAA Commercial vehicles. The model is in the test phase and is to go into production by 2020. The company also introduced the e-Flex flexible... Read more →

Cummins Inc. unveiled PowerDrive, a suite of plug-in hybrid electric powertrain solutions spanning light-, medium- and heavy-duty applications, at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show. The Cummins PowerDrive offers both parallel and series capabilities. The PowerDrive replaces the conventional transmission and switches in real time between two hybrid and two... Read more →

Ford revealed the production version of the new Transit Custom plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) at IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, Germany. The Transit Custom PHEV targets an all-electric driving range of 50 kilometers (31 miles), and uses the multi-award-winning Ford 1.0-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine as a range extender... Read more →

Geely Auto’s flagship B-segment hybrid sedan Bo Rui GE has been selected as an official diplomatic concierge vehicle by the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions. The Bo Rui GE comes in either a MHEV 48V mild hybrid or full PHEV plug-in hybrid version. The Bo Rui GE MHEV is... Read more →

The new Mercedes-Benz GLE features a number of significant innovations, including the 48V active suspension system E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL—a world first. Driving assistance systems take another step forward with Active Stop-and-Go Assist. The GLE will receive a completely new range of engines on market launch in early 2019. At a... Read more →

Ford will present its latest generation of connected and electrified Transit products at the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, Germany, from 20-27 September 2018. Ford’s Transit Custom plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will make its show debut in production form, and the new Transit with a segment-first 48-volt mild hybrid (mHEV)... Read more →

The BMW X5 xDrive40e, introduced in 2015, was the first plug-in hybrid production car from the BMW core brand. (Earlier post.) BMW will introduce a new X5 plug-in hybrid, the BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance, in Europe in 2019, to be followed by a US model in 2020. The new x5... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors’ 2019 Outlander PHEV, featuring a redesigned powertrain, is now on sale in Japan. The 2019 model, unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva show (earlier post), features a more advanced PHEV system that gives this SUV a stronger EV flavor. Mitsubishi made improvements to 90% of the major... Read more →

A new report from the California Center for Jobs & The Economy indicates that cumulative plug-in vehicle (plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles) sales in California have reached 8.6% of the 2030 goal of 5 million units. Full battery-electric vehicle sales are at 4.4%. Source: “State’s Progress on 5 Million... Read more →

FCA US has awarded the production of the power electronics module for the Jeep Wrangler PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) to its Toledo Machining Plant. As part of the Capital Markets Day presentation in June, FCA committed to expanding its electrified propulsion systems in global architectures spanning the full range... Read more →

Ford has released the first images of the new Territory, a mid-size SUV targeted at new buyers in emerging cities in China. Ford developed the Territory together with its joint venture partner, Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC). Territory customers can choose between a fuel-efficient gasoline engine option; 48V mild hybrid with... Read more →