When Tesla delivered its first Cybertruck during a livestreamed event last November, CEO Elon Musk made a point of talking about just how tough and “literally bulletproof” the electric pickup is, even showing a video of it being raked by gunfire. Rust, however, may be Cybertruck’s Achilles Heel. Reports by some members on Cybertruck owner forums indicate the panels on their trucks have begun showing corrosion. The extent of the problem is uncertain, as is the cause. But, if it proves to be more than a rare fluke it could cause serious problems for Tesla, as Headlight.News reports.
Paul Eisenstein
Shell Shutting Down All its California Hydrogen Stations
The struggling market for fuel-cell vehicles was handed another setback as Shell announced that it was shutting down all seven of its hydrogen refueling stations open to retail customers in California. That might seem an irrelevant number were this to involve its gasoline service network. But it represents nearly one in six of the hydrogen facilities in California and about 12% of the 59 open to the public nationwide.
Q&A: Chris & Julie Ramsey Talk About Their 10-Month, Pole-to-Pole Journey in an EV
Julie Ramsay had no idea what to expect when husband Chris Ramsey bought his first Nissan Leaf a decade ago — but the two quickly fell in love with EVs and, since then, have headed out on a series of adventures to test the limits of the technology and disprove many of the myths about battery technology. They first drove entirely around England, then took a 10,000-mile adventure to Mongolia. Their latest adventure set a new record, driving 22,000 miles over 10 months from the North to South poles. In an exclusive interview, Headlight.News spoke with the Ramseys about their pole-to-pole adventure – and what might be next.
Public Quick Chargers Becoming More Reliable, But Still in Short Supply
Public charging companies are starting to fix troubling problems with reliability, according to a new J.D. Power study — but EV owners find they fail nearly one in every five times they plug in. The study also found that public chargers remain in short supply, especially as the number of battery-electric vehicles on the U.S. roads continues to grow. Get the story at Headlight.News.
Chrysler Halcyon Concept Leans into “Fully Electric Tomorrow”
Chrysler — remember Chrysler? It’s a brand in desperate need of finding new product and purpose. With the debut of the Halcyon Concept the struggling automaker aims to give the world a sense of where it’s going. The all-electric show car offers an array of advanced technologies, from facial biometrics to fully driverless operation. It also turns to a potentially breakthrough battery technology that could be charged directly from the road, “allowing for unlimited range.” How much of that could wind up in production? More from Headlight.News.
Chevrolet Announces Range, Delivery Dates for Equinox EV – But Pricing Misses Original $30,000 Target
Chevrolet is rapidly ramping up its battery-electric vehicle lineup, with a mix of products soon to include the Chevy Equinox EV. With deliveries slated to begin “in coming months,” the bowtie brand has released range and other information about the all-electric compact crossover. But the Equinox EV won’t be as affordable as had originally been signaled. Get the details at Headlight.News.
Apple Vision Pro Goggles Could Take Distracted Driving to the Next Level
Distracted driving catches blame for about 10% of all U.S. highway fatalities, according to government data, but if driver’s texting and chatting on their smartphones hasn’t become a serious enough problem, the situation could soon get even worse. Federal regulators...
New Tesla Supercharger Rival Ionna Opens Up; Backed By Seven Major Automakers
A group of seven major automakers officially launched Ionna — aimed at becoming an EV charging network to rival the Tesla Supercharging system — and, in the process, give motorists more confidence they’ll be able to charge up their battery-electric vehicles wherever they travel.
As EV Sales Growth Slows, Automakers Accelerate Hybrid, Plug-In Plans
Volkswagen “remains committed” to its aggressive EV program, the automaker’s U.S. chief executive said. But, as sales growth slows, the German auto giant is also considering adding hybrids and plug-in hybrids to its American fleet. And it’s not alone. Other manufacturers who’ve made major commitments to EVs, such as Kia, are also turning to hybrids to help them meet emissions targets because of consumer resistance to all-electric vehicles.
2025 Kia Carnival Makes Windy City Debut
Kia pumped life into an otherwise quiet Chicago Auto Show today, launching two new models at the McCormick Place Convention Center, including a new version of the Carnival people-mover which adds new technology, an updated design and a fuel-saving hybrid drivetrain option. Headlight.News checks out the 2025 Kia Carnival.
First Look: 2025 Kia K5 Gets Midcycle Update
More power from a new base engine, more tech, new safety features and a midcycle design update, Kia rolls out the 2025 K5 sedan at the Chicago Auto Show. Headlight.News checks it out.
First Look: 2025 Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S
Months after rolling out the all-electric Mini Cooper SE, the British automaker has finally lifted the covers on two new gas-powered versions of the three-door hatchback, the 2025 Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S. More from Headlight.News.