California’s EV market continues to grow, according to data gathered by Veloz, a non-profit which tracks and reports on growing electric vehicle (EV) sales data in California, market trends, and infrastructure build-out. Q1 2022 was the state’s strongest quarter for electric vehicle sales to date, with 81,292 electric vehicles sold—29%... Read more →

The all-new Kia Niro CUV made its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show. The 2023 Niro will launch in the United States with three electrified powertrains: hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric (EV). All Niro models are front-wheel-drive. A 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz xEV sales (plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles) rose 37% ub Q1 2022 to 67,800 units of which 21,900 (+210%) units were battery-electric vehicles (BEV). Overall, Mercedes-Benz Cars January to March deliveries fell 15% year-on-year to 501,600 units in a challenging environment primarily due to semi-conductor constraints. Mercedes-Benz also... Read more →

Volvo Car USA is bringing a new, improved Recharge plug-in hybrid powertrain is coming to the US in its 90 and 60 Series models, significantly extending electric range while lowering carbon dioxide emissions, increasing performance, and improving drivability. Volvo Cars’ new and improved hybrid powertrain brings the all-electric range up... Read more →

Mazda Motor Europe unveiled its new crossover SUV, the CX-60. The CX-60 is the first of Mazda’s Large Product group models, and offers (European specification model) e-Skyactiv PHEV, Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid system featuring a 2.5-liter in-line four-cylinder Skyactiv-G gasoline engine with a 100 kW electric motor and a 355V,... Read more →

Sales of new light-duty plug-in electric vehicles, including all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), nearly doubled from 308,000 in 2020 to 608,000 in 2021, according to data gathered by the US Department of Energy (DOE). Data: DOE EV sales accounted for 73% of all plug-in electric vehicle... Read more →

Kia unveiled the 2023 Sportage PHEV, the latest electrified model to join its lineup. Building upon the Sportage HEV, the turbocharged Sportage PHEV offers outstanding efficiency, with a 13.8-kWh battery and targeted all-electric range (AER) of 32 miles. As the longest running nameplate from the Kia brand, the Sportage underwent... Read more →

Volvo Cars reported sales of 47,561 cars in January, a decline by 20.2% compared with the same month last year. While production has continued to gradually improve, retail deliveries were held back due to an increase of cars in transit. The supply situation continues to ease, but component shortages will... Read more →

The French Ministry of the Interior has taken delivery of the first 395 screen-printed PEUGEOT 3008 Plug-in Hybrids for the Gendarmerie Nationale. The rechargeable hybrid systemÚ will now be used in screen-printed intervention vehicles, in addition to a rollout of unmarked versions in 2020. These new deliveries are a sign... Read more →

Land Rover has confirmed prices for the advanced Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid model and the Range Rover SV, while revealing performance figures for the plug-in hybrid electric powertrain. The P440e Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) offers a manufacturer-estimated EV range of 48 miles; EPA certification is pending. The new Range... Read more →

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, the first electrified Grand Cherokee, offers an all-new plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering 25 miles of all-electric range and 56 MPGe at a starting US manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $57,700. The new Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe lineup consists of four models: 4xe, Trailhawk 4xe,... Read more →

Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH has launched a new normally open (NO) 1-Form-A photorelay that is intended for use in a multitude of battery- and hybrid-electric vehicle applications including within the battery management system (BMS), ground fault detection and identifying faults with mechanical relays. The new TLX9160T consists of an infrared... Read more →

Mopar has introduced new, Wi-Fi-capable, Level 2 (240-volt) charging units for at-home charging for Jeep 4xe and Chrysler plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Available in plug-in or hardwired versions that supply 32 amps/7.7kW (maximum) of power, the new charging units provide a full charge in just over two hours, up to... Read more →

MINI increased worldwide vehicle sales by 3.3% to 302,144 units 2021. Sales of MINI models with electrified drive systems climbed by 64.3% to 53,243 vehicles—around 18% of total worldwide sales in 2021. MINI Electric & MINI Cooper SE Countryman The winner of the year was the fully electric MINI Cooper... Read more →

Kia has revealed the all-new next-generation Niro. Based on the third generation platform, the new Niro benefits from a larger body that realizes class-leading interior space and storage capacity. The all-new Niro features a trio of state-of-the-art electrified powertrains, including hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric (BEV)... Read more →

Lexus will debut the NX PHEV OFFROAD Concept and hydrogen-engined ROV (Recreational Off highway Vehicle) Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 held at Makuhari Messe (Chiba City) this weekend. The NX PHEV OFFROAD Concept is based on Lexus’ first PHEV model that went on sale in November 2021, the... Read more →

Over the entire lifecycle (with use over 300,000 kilometers and recycling), the new plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz S 580 e (earlier post) produces around 14.1 (charging with European power mix) or 36.2 percent (hydroelectric power) lower CO₂ emissions than its predecessor, the S 560 e, according to Mercedes-Benz’ 360° environmental check.... Read more →

Although overall light-duty vehicle sales were down in 2020 due to the pandemic, plug-in vehicle sales bucked that trend and saw growth in many markets. This was especially evident in Europe where the share of plug-in vehicle sales more than tripled, reaching 10.5% of all new light-duty vehicle sales, according... Read more →

At Art Basel’s 2021 Miami Beach show, BMW M GmbH presented the new BMW Concept XM; the concept car looks ahead to the most powerful BMW M car ever to go into series production, which is set to begin at the end of 2022. Electrification underpins an extraordinary driving experience... Read more →

The BMW Group is introducing its innovative eDrive Zones in another 20 European cities, including Copenhagen, Verona and Toulouse. A total of 138 cities in Europe are now benefiting from this technology; BMW expects to roll out the service in at least another 30 cities worldwide in the coming year.... Read more →

BYD sold 88,898 passenger vehicles in October, increasing 90.9% year on year (YoY) and 12.5% month on month (MoM), according to the official data. In particular, the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sales reached 80,003 units, soaring 262.9% YoY. By the end of October, the cumulative annual sales of BYD passenger... Read more →

Volvo Cars has sold 581,464 cars worldwide in the first 10 months of 2021, up 12.6% compared with the same period last year. In October, Volvo Cars global sales reached 50,815 cars, down 22.2% compared with the same period last year. The decline was related to a shortage of components... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) revealed online the fully redesigned plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) model of the Outlander crossover SUV. Sales will commence in Japan on 16 December, followed by Australia and New Zealand in the first half of 2022 and North America in the second half of 2022. The... Read more →

Stellantis will invest a total of $229 million in three of its Kokomo, Indiana, plants to help the company reach its goal of achieving 40% low-emission vehicle sales in the US by 2030. This announcement, which will retain 662 jobs, comes three months after the company laid out its long-term... Read more →

In Hiroshima, Mazda Motor Corporation announced plans to expand its SUV lineup globally starting from 2022. The new models will include the Mazda CX-50 to be produced in its new US plant, as well as models in our Large Product group, including the Mazda CX-60, Mazda CX-70, Mazda CX-80 and... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will use an evolved version of the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system in its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model of the all-new Outlander crossover SUV, which is scheduled for launch in Japan in the second half of this fiscal year and in the US in the second... Read more →

The Jeep brand has introduced the fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, including the first available plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee will arrive in Jeep dealerships in North America in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is scheduled to arrive... Read more →

In a livestreamed briefing on batteries and carbon neutrality, Toyota Chief Technology Officer Masahiko Maeda said that the company will invest ¥1.5 trillion (US$14.3 billion) in the development of a battery supply system and research and development by 2030. Toyota currently assumes it will go beyond the 180 GWh worth... Read more →

The 2022 Sorento Turbo Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) SUV is the latest addition to Kia’s ambitious ‘Plan S’ electrification strategy and the fourth-generation Sorento model range, which was introduced last year in both gasoline-powered and turbo hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) forms. The 2022 Sorento Turbo PHEV will arrive in showrooms in... Read more →

Volvo Cars’ Recharge line-up of chargeable Volvo models continued its strong momentum in July, accounting for 25.5% of all cars sold in the month. In Europe, more than 43% of all cars sold in July was from the Recharge line-up. Overall, Volvo Cars reported global sales of 56,883 cars in... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will launch a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model of the all-new Outlander crossover SUV with a new-generation PHEV system. The vehicle will roll out in Japan in the second half of this fiscal year (fiscal 2021 runs from April 2021 to March 2022) and in the US... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz is launching the new S 580 e plug-in hybrid, with which the fourth generation of the hybrid drive system is celebrating its premiere in the S-Class. The plug-in hybrid is available to order, in both short and long wheelbase versions, with price starting at €123,736 (US$146,000). S 580 e... Read more →

In a post published on Medium, Gill Pratt, Toyota Motor Corporation’s Chief Scientist and the CEO of Toyota Research Institute, explains why he is not a proponent of ditching ICE and switching to only BEVs as soon as possible. He argues that a diversity of electrified drivetrain types are better... Read more →

De Lijn, the public transport operator (PTO) in the Flemish part of Belgium, is ordering 44 new articulated plug-in e-hybrid buses; further, the operator confirmed the upgrade of 280 if its current hybrid buses into e-hybrids. Their extended zero-emission range will contribute significantly towards improving air quality in the cities... Read more →

Nearly 76 GWh of battery cell capacity was produced for the US plug-in vehicle market from 2010 to 2020, according to a recent analysis of the Li-ion battery supply chain by researchers at Argonne National Laboratory. Five companies (AESC, LG Chem, Panasonic, Samsung, and SK Innovation) produced almost all the... Read more →

Kia has presented the fifth-generation Kia Sportage SUV. Developed on a new architecture, the all-new Sportage will offer gasoline and diesel powertrains at market launch later this year, followed by hybrid-electric (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) models. The new Sportage debuts numerous technologies, including Kia’s E-Handling system that enhances... Read more →

Mazda Motor Corporation announced its new technology and product development plans, which include the introduction of a dedicated EV platform—SKYACTIV EV Scalable Architecture—in 2025, which can be adapted for various vehicle sizes and body types. Mazda has been continuously enhancing its internal combustion engines (SKYACTIV-X and new straight-six engines) and... Read more →

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory, with colleagues from Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, and National Renewable Energy labs, and the University of Tennessee, have published a comprehensive analysis of the total cost of ownership (TCO) for 12 sizes of vehicles ranging from compact sedans up to Class 8 tractors with sleeper... Read more →

Lexus announced the world premiere of the all-new NX, the first model of Lexus’ next-generation range. Under the “Lexus Electrified” initiative, the new NX accelerates the proliferation of electrified models by being Lexus’ first Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV); the NX is also offered as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV).... Read more →

Volvo Cars achieved its eleventh consecutive month of sales growth as the company’s global sales increased by 43% in May, compared with the same month last year. In May, Volvo Cars sold a total of 64,111 cars, up from 44,830 cars in the same period last year. The growth was... Read more →

ATC Drivetrain, an independent global remanufacturer of automotive powertrain and drivetrain systems, is launching remanufacturing capabilities for electric vehicle systems at its Oklahoma City, OK facility to serve the North American automotive market and at its Zhangjiang, China facility to serve the Asian automotive market. These investments will allow ATC... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has published a Beyond Tailpipe Emissions Calculator that provides estimates of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with driving an electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), including emissions from the production of electricity used to power the vehicle. The consumer chooses... Read more →

XL Fleet Corp., a provider of fleet electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, has acquired World Energy Efficiency Services, LLC (WEES) for total cash and stock consideration of approximately $16 million. WEES provides energy efficiency, renewable technology, electric vehicle charging station and other energy solutions to customers across the... Read more →

Discontinuance is the term applied to the abandoning of a new technology by someone who was once an adopter or user. A new study by Scott Hardman and Gil Tal at the University of California, Davis has found that discontinuance occurs at a rate of 21% for California plug-in hybrid... Read more →

In the first quarter of 2021, hybrid electric vehicles made up 18.4% of total passenger car sales in the EU, almost doubling their market share in a year, according to data from the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA). Demand for electrically-chargeable cars also increased in Q1: battery-electric vehicles made... Read more →

Hyundai’s 2022 Tucson, with its all-new design, will begin arriving in the US market this spring (gasoline and hybrid models), with plug-in models available in summer 2021. The new 2022 Tucson internal combustion models will be produced at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) and Ulsan, Korea. The new Tucson for... Read more →

Apex Clean Energy has ordered 19 electrified Ford F-series pickup trucks from XL Fleet, including ten plug-in hybrid electric and nine hybrid electric systems for pickups in its service fleet, for delivery in the second quarter of 2021. Apex is a leading clean energy company that develops, constructs, and operates... Read more →

Jeep is partnering with Electrify America to create the Jeep 4xe Charging Network. Jeep-branded EV charging stations will be installed at or near the trailheads of Jeep Badge of Honor off-road trails over the next year, allowing owners to take full-advantage of their electrified Jeep SUV. Trailhead chargers coincide with... Read more →

Hyundai is adding Plug-in Hybrid and N Line models to its 2022 Tucson line-up. Tucson N Line and Plug-in Hybrid SUV models will be produced in Ulsan, Korea and be available spring and summer, respectively. Hyundai had already announced a hybrid version of the 2022 Tucson. 2022 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid... Read more →

by Michael Sivak, Sivak Applied Research This brief post presents the results of an analysis concerning the types of electric light-duty vehicles sold in the United States in 2020. The raw monthly sales data came from Wards Auto via Argonne National Laboratory. The analysis examined three mutually exclusive types of... Read more →