For a while, it all seemed like it might just work out. By one estimate, about 130,000 American jobs were said to be riding on the electric-vehicle boom sparked by the Inflation Reduction Act. Other estimates put that number around 160,000; if you include indirect but related fields, it may be closer to half a million. Regardless, it’s clear that the Biden-era legislation that laid out incentives to manufacture EVs and batteries domestically, along with penalties if automakers don’t, was set to drive a lot of employment. Add in the potential to catch up to China’s decades-long lead on battery technology and the potential for less air pollution, and America’s EV race seems like a win for all involved. So why would President Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress be so
Tag Archives: EV
May
Tesla’s Vice President of Engineering said the Model S and Model X will get some “love” this year. They need it, as Tesla’s flagship sedan and SUV are both starting to feel pretty old. New spy shots show Tesla testing a revised Plaid on the Nürburgring, so maybe a change is on the way soon. Here’s an open secret. While legacy automakers have long been (accurately) criticized for being too slow to adapt, Tesla is not as fast-moving as it pretends to be. Take the Cybertruck: It took nearly 5 years from being “revealed” to production starting, and when it arrived it was clear the company skipped a lot of steps in validation and testing. The best example, though, is the Model S, as these spy shots from the Nürburgring show.
Feb
Renault unveils a trio of all-new electric vans. The Estafette E-Tech, Goelette E-Tech and Trafic E-Tech share the same 800V platform. They go on sale next year. With over half a million vans to its name, the Estafette was a staple of Renault’s commercial vehicle lineup between 1959 and 1980 before being retired. Now, the French automaker has revived the iconic Estafette nameplate for a brand-new, all-electric commercial vehicle based on a newly developed 800-volt skateboard architecture. And that’s not all because the Estafette is joined by two other historic names—the Goelette and Trafic—in an aggressive push from Renault toward the electrification of the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment in Europe. All three models share the same underpinnings that were designed by Renault’s subsidiary Ampere. Each is front-wheel drive and
Jan
Zeekr’s second electric shooting brake model looks great, has impressive specs and is coming to Europe. The model will be called the Zeekr 7GT when it arrives in Europe in the second quarter of 2025. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it will surely cost more than its $30,000 price tag in China. Even though crossovers seem to be the body style of choice for new car buyers, wagons are still pretty popular in Europe. So we’re pretty sure the sleek Zeekr 007 GT shooting brake will have no trouble finding fans. It’s set to debut in Europe in the second quarter of 2025, and while it could sell on looks alone, its range and charging performance put it at the top of its class. The name will change for Europe