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A group helps map out the federal EV charging network. Kansas looks at taxing charging. And will EV range keep getting longer as batteries improve? This and more, here at DriftBreath Reports. Will future EVs keep offering longer range than previous models? Consider the CEO of Mazda in the U.S. as among many executives who aren’t planning on it—and instead see a future of smaller batteries, lighter EVs, and faster charging. Lawmakers in Kansas have called for a tax on public EV charging, but not home charging. Some are criticizing the proposal for its “double taxation,” as the state already…
Partially camouflaged Audi Q8 prototypes have been spotted testing, pointing to a refresh coming for Audi’s flagship SUV in the not too distant future. The prototypes sport a revised grille up front and new internals for the headlights. The front fascia is also a new design, featuring a more triangular shape for the side intakes compared to the current model. It isn’t clear what’s changes are present at the rear but a revised design for the taillights is likely. The design changes are expected to better reflect elements found on the E-Tron electric SUV which itself was updated last year…
GMC’s Hummer EV SUV starts deliveries soon, but the rights to the first example are already gone. They were sold at auction this past weekend to help raise funds for charity. The auction also saw the rights to the first seventh-generation Ford Mustang go under the hammer. Mazda has revealed a three-row mid-size SUV called the CX-90. It rides on the automaker’s newly developed rear-wheel-drive platform, and offers the choice of a turbocharged inline-6 or a plug-in hybrid powertrain incorporating a 4-cylinder. Hyundai has been spotted testing a prototype for a redesigned Santa Fe. Judging by the tester, the next…
Volvo is committed to having a fully electric lineup by 2030, and that means the automaker will have some busy years ahead. It already offers two EVs in the form of the compact XC40 and C40 Recharge duo, and last November it unveiled the EX90 mid-size SUV as an electric alternative to the XC90. Reuters reported on Thursday that we’ll see at least six new EVs from Volvo through 2026, citing two people familiar with the plans. The six will include three SUVs, two sedans, and a minivan, according to the sources. The first of the SUVs is the EX90,…
Jeffrey Guyton, the president and CEO of Mazda USA, isn’t sold on the EV range race. Guyton told DriftBreath Reports at the 2024 Mazda CX-90 reveal that while electric vehicle buyers today are looking for 300 miles of range, the future’s not ever-longer range. Consumers will find they don’t really need even that much, he said. Second-time BEV owners will learn, evolve, and shift their priorities and needs based on experience, Guyton thinks. As charging infrastructure develops, people’s experiences will develop, charging at home will factor in, and the technology will improve. The executive noted that the adoption of EVs…
Mazda just took its first giant leap into the future and is ready to plug in while aiming to fit the entire family. On Tuesday, the 2024 Mazda CX-90 made its debut. With new hybrid powertrains, rear-wheel-drive-based platform, and three rows of seats, it has more boring competition in its sights. At this time, the CX-90 is light on details and flush with beautiful design elements that might get enthusiast families excited. Mazda said the CX-90 will go on sale this spring with pricing, fuel economy ratings, electric-only range, and actual vehicle dimensions to be announced closer to launch. 2024…
The Porsche Taycan is about to come in for an update, as evidenced by camouflaged prototypes spotted in the wild. The fully electric Taycan first arrived as a sedan for the 2020 model year and spawned the Cross Turismo soft-roader and Sport Turismo wagon body styles for 2021 and 2022, respectively. The complete updated range should arrive for the 2024 model year, meaning a market launch later this year is likely, though the launch may be pushed into early 2024. The prototypes reveal subtle changes at both ends. There appears to be revised fascias front and rear, as well as…
A Kansas House bill calls for a tax on public EV charging—but not home charging. The proposed tax of 3 cents per kilowatt-hour would go to a Kansas highway repair fund reliant on revenue, according to the Kansas Reflector, but it could force EV drivers to pay more than other drivers. Any tax on public charging would effectively be “double taxation,” one EV contemplator told the Reflector, because EV owners already pay higher registration fees. The Kansas legislature in 2019 passed a measure upping the fee to $100 for EVs, compared to $30 for internal-combustion vehicles, arguing that it made…
Toyota’s change at the top likely doesn’t change its position on EVs. GM says it’s flexible on battery format; read into that what you will. And the Hyundai Ioniq 6 pushes efficiency and range to new heights. This and more, here at DriftBreath Reports. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 beats the Tesla Model 3 in range and efficiency, with an EPA-rated 361 miles. And in rear-wheel-drive form, it ties the all-wheel-drive Lucid Air Pure for efficiency. Although GM has built a strong argument around the large-format pouch cells at the core of its U.S. Ultium EV push, it’s now suggesting it’s…
The driver lineup for the modified Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Next Gen NASCAR race car headed to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was confirmed on Saturday during the 24 Hours of Daytona. The three drivers confirmed were Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller. Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion, was widely rumored to be among the drivers for the NASCAR Le Mans program since the Next Gen racer will be fielded by his former team, Hendrick Motorsports. It will be fielded in Le Mans’ single-vehicle Garage 56 class designed for experimental vehicles. Johnson, who switched from NASCAR to IndyCar…