Green Power

CES 2024 Ushers In Era of “Software-Defined Vehicles”

by Paul Eisenstein | Jan 5, 2024 | *Daily News*, Autonomous Vehicles, BMW, Business, Chevrolet, Concept Vehicles, EVs and batteries, General Motors, Green Power, Mercedes, Safety, Sales, Technology, Tesla

Today’s cars already function as computers on wheels, some equipped with over 100 onboard microprocessors. But tomorrow’s vehicles will go significantly further, offering the sort of software-based features and functions found on Apple and Android smartphones and making use of the latest AI technology. Tomorrow’s “software-defined vehicles” will transform what motorists can do while driving – while generating hundreds of billions of dollars in new revenue streams for automakers. We’ll get a look at what this means at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Battery power dominates as Toyota Prius, Ford Super Duty and Kia EV9 Named North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year

by Paul Eisenstein | Jan 4, 2024 | *Daily News*, Auto Shows, Awards, Business, Car Culture, Consumer Guides, EVs and batteries, Ford, General Motors, Green Power, Kia, Toyota

A jury of 50 U.S. and Canadian journalists narrowed down an extensive field of new vehicles, with three models named the winners of the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards. At a ceremony in Detroit, the Toyota Prius was named Car of the Year, the Ford Super Duty taking top honors in the truck category. And the Kia EV9 was named Utility Vehicle of the year.

GM Will Cover Federal Tax Credits Lost by Some of its EVs This Year

by Paul Eisenstein | Jan 4, 2024 | *Daily News*, Automakers, Cadillac, Chevrolet, EVs and batteries, Ford, General Motors, Government, Green Power, Sales, Technology

Revised rules that went into effect on January 1 took away federal tax credits on all but about a dozen EVs. But General Motors will make up for that loss by offering up to $7,500 in discounts on EVs like the Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer EV, the automaker said. Ford, meanwhile, said it is raising the price on some versions of its F-150 Lightning by up to $10,000, while lowering the cost of premium models by as much as $7,000.

Nikola Helping Drive a Green Truck Revolution: Fuel Cell and Battery Electric

by Paul Eisenstein | Jan 3, 2024 | *Daily News*, Automakers, Business, Environment, EVs and batteries, Government, Green Power, Technology

At first glance, it looks pretty much like any of the semi cabs rolling across American roadways, though the design is a little sleeker, and the name on its grille is the giveaway. Nikola’s Class 8 tractor is one of a growing number of “green” commercial vehicles, in this case, replacing a traditional diesel drivetrain with a hydrogen fuel-cell system. Trucks deliver most of America’s freight, but they also create a disproportionate share of the transportation sector’s pollution. That’s starting to change as truck makers and truck fleet operators switch to alternative hydrogen and battery drivetrain technologies.

Tesla Sets Sales Record – But Still Misses its Target as BYD Closes the Gap

by Paul Eisenstein | Jan 2, 2024 | *Daily News*, Business, BYD, Environment, EVs and batteries, Green Power, Sales, Technology, Toyota

Tesla delivered 485,000 vehicles during the fourth quarter, bringing total sales for the year to 1.8 million, an all-time record. But the automaker fell short of the 2 million target CEO Elon Musk set early last year. And it has BYD, breathing down its neck, even though that major Chinese competitor has yet to enter the North American market.

EV Sales Could Slow as Tesla, Nissan, GM Lose U.S. Tax Credits on Some Models

by Paul Eisenstein | Jan 2, 2024 | *Daily News*, Audi, BMW, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Consumer Guides, EVs and batteries, Ford, General Motors, Government, Green Power, Nissan, Regulatory, Sales, Tesla, Volkswagen, Volvo

The New Year brings bad news for potential EV buyers as only a handful of models now qualify for federal tax credits of up to $7,500. That’s because of new requirements covering the sourcing of batteries and raw materials like lithium and cobalt. Among the brands impacted are Tesla, Nissan, General Motors and Ford. And analysts worry this could further slow growth of EV sales.

Despite Ongoing Feud with Unions, Tesla Captures Top Sales Spot in Norway

by Michael Strong | Jan 2, 2024 | *Daily News*, Automakers, Business, EVs and batteries, Green Power, Sales, Technology, Tesla, Union

Tesla’s been locked in a running disagreement with Norway’s unions for weeks now and has been feeling the effects. Well, everywhere but its showrooms where Norwegians continue to trek to and buy EVs. In fact, Tesla’s the topselling brand — for the third straight year. Get details at Headlight.News.

EV Tax Credits Will be Easier to Use, Harder to Find in 2024

by Paul Eisenstein | Dec 29, 2023 | *Daily News*, Automakers, Business, EVs and batteries, Government, Green Power, Sales, Technology

Federal tax credits can make buying an EV a lot more affordable. And the good news is that rule changes coming Jan. 1, 2024 make it easier for retail customers to get up to $7,500 on a qualifying vehicle, buyers no longer having to wait until the next time they file taxes. Commercial buyers also will find it easier to get EV incentives. The bad news is that a number of EVs no longer will be eligible for federal incentives this coming year. Headlight.News helps clear things up.

Dozens More EVs Coming in 2025 and 2026

by Paul Eisenstein | Dec 29, 2023 | *Daily News*, Acura, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Consumer Guides, Environment, EVs and batteries, Fisker, Ford, General Motors, GMC, Green Power, Honda, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes, Mini, Nissan, Polestar, Ram, Subaru, Technology, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen

At least 40 new battery-electric vehicles are due to reach U.S. showrooms in 2024 — and that’s a conservative estimate as we’ve had a number of surprises dropped on us by both domestic and foreign-owned brands. If anything, the flood of EV offerings will likely accelerate going forward. Here’s a look at some of the models we’re expecting in 2025 and 2026. Headlight.News checks out 45 of them.

Here are the 40+ EVs Coming to Market in 2024

by Paul Eisenstein | Dec 28, 2023 | *Daily News*, Acura, Audi, Auto Shows, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Car Culture, Chevrolet, Concept Vehicles, Consumer Guides, Dodge, EVs and batteries, Ford, General Motors, GMC, Green Power, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Lincoln, Lotus, Lucid, Maserati, Mercedes, Mini, Polestar, Porsche, Ram, Sales, Stellantis, Technology, Toyota, VinFast, Volkswagen, Volvo

As recently as 2019 you’d have to struggle to find an EV at your local showroom. Today, however, there are more than 50 different nameplates available in the U.S., the vast majority offered with range exceeding 200 miles – and some products doubling that figure. But the pace of introductions is only set to accelerate, with dozens of new battery-electric vehicles soon coming to market. Headlight.News checks out the most interesting and important products debuting in 2024.

Toyota’s Daihatsu Arm Halts Production After Admitting it Faked Decades of Safety Tests

by Paul Eisenstein | Dec 28, 2023 | *Daily News*, Business, EVs and batteries, Green Power, Recalls, Regulatory, Safety, Toyota

While its products are no longer available in the U.S., Daihatsu is an important part of the Toyota brand empire, with sizable markets in Japan and other parts of the world. But the minicar maker has halted Japanese production after it acknowledged that it has cheated on safety tests for the last 30 years. And that’s just the latest problem for Daihatsu, reports Headlight.News.

GM Sues San Francisco for $121 Million Due to Inflated Tax Bill

by Michael Strong | Dec 28, 2023 | *Daily News*, Automakers, Autonomous Vehicles, EVs and batteries, General Motors, Government, Green Power, Sales

General Motors filed suit last Friday against the city of San Francisco, claiming the city issued the auto company a tax bill that was too high. GM alleges incorrectly included Cruise self-driving car subsidiary to calculate its tax bill. Get the story at Headlight.News.