Virginia to become the next zero-emission vehicle state


The Virginia Senate has passed a bill that would establish California-style clean car standards in the state. The bill, HB 1965, creates low-emission vehicle (LEV) and zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) programs. It will strengthen regulations on tailpipe emissions, and require automakers to sell a certain number of ZEVs in Virginia. Governor Ralph Northam is expected to… Read more »

Bluebus electric minibus, with solid-state LMP batteries, operating in France


The French city of Triel-sur-Seine has launched a trial of an electric shuttle service that uses a six-meter electric bus made by Bluebus, a subsidiary of the Bolloré Group. The minibuses, which will be delivered this summer, are part of an order for up to 800 e-buses from three manufacturers by Île-de-France Mobilités, an agency… Read more »

Tesla may get $1.2 billion worth of German subsidies


The European Commission recently approved a multinational project to support battery innovation, which will involve 42 companies, including several automakers. One of those automakers is Tesla, which may receive a cool billion euros ($1.2 billion) in public funding from the federal government of Germany and the state of Brandenburg, the site of the company’s Gigafactory… Read more »

New report outlines cooperation between utilities and school districts to finance electric school buses


A new report from the United States Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG) outlines ways that utility companies and school districts can come together to deploy electric school buses across the country. Electric school buses are ready to roll—the technology is here, and protecting school children from noxious diesel fumes is a cause that draws a… Read more »

Ford says all its passenger vehicles in Europe will be electric by 2030, invests $1 billion in Cologne EV plant


A game of one-upmanship seems to be developing between America’s top two legacy automakers, and we’re cheering them on. In January, GM made a weaselly (but still significant) announcement of its “aspiration to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035.” A week later, Ford announced that it would double its planned investments in… Read more »

Kia unveils a roadmap for a shift to electrified vehicles, including 11 new EVs by 2026


Kia announced an update to its Plan S mid- to long-term roadmap at the company’s 2021 CEO Investor Day event. The new strategy features a renewed emphasis on the transition from ICE vehicles to electrified models. “Kia is being reborn in 2021 with a new logo, new design, and new corporate name,” said CEO Ho… Read more »

Lordstown announces battery supplier for Endurance pickup, plans to produce electric van in 2022


Lordstown Motors has released an update on its business plans that includes several bits of news. The Ohio-based EV builder confirmed that it has signed a multi-year battery supply agreement with LG Chem for the Endurance. The upcoming electric pickup will use 2170 cylindrical cells like the ones used in Tesla’s Model 3 and Model… Read more »

Jaguar announces plan to electrify by 2025


The iconic British car brand Jaguar became the latest automaker to reveal a plan to phase out fossil-fuel engines, announcing its intention to go fully electric by 2025. Jaguar Land Rover, which is owned by Indian conglomerate Tata Motors, hopes the move will help repair the fortunes of the struggling 86-year-old Jaguar brand. JLR said… Read more »

2022 Bolt EUV model that Chevy calls an SUV joins an updated Bolt EV priced from $31,995


For 2022, the Chevrolet Bolt lineup will expand from one to two models, with a new, so-called SUV version added alongside the original hatchback. Importantly, the Bolt siblings will take on a new role as the most affordable entries in a lineup of Chevrolet electric vehicles expected to grow significantly by 2025. Chevy dubs its… Read more »

Proposed legislation would restore federal EV tax credit to GM and Tesla


Democrats in the House of Representatives have reintroduced the GREEN Act (Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now), which among many other tax code revisions would once again allow Tesla and GM customers to claim federal EV tax credits. A similar bill failed to pass in 2020, but the prospects for passage seem bright under the… Read more »