EV SALES MIXED

New EV Sales for June

Cox Automotive has released their EV sales numbers for the month.

Seems the numbers of new EV sales slowed over last month by 1.4% and down 3.4% when compared to the previous year.

Top new EV brands by sales for the month of June:

Tesla
Chevrolet
Hyundai
Ford
Cadillac

Used EV Sales for June

While used EV sales dropped 7.5% over last month, they maintained their 2.1% share of the overall U.S. used-vehicle market. Compared to last year, used EV sales rose 51.3%.

Top used EV models ranked by sales for June:

Tesla Model 3
Model Y
Model S
Chevrolet Bolt
Telsa Model X

Source: Cox Automotive

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‘26 Q6 LANDS

Overview

Our closing story is the launch of the 2026 Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron quattro.

This new e-tron sees the Q6 riding on Audi’s Premium Platform Plus architecture has the Q6 Sportback using the same platform as the Porsche Macan.

According to Audi, the roof has been completely revised providing improved aero. Along with a 100kWh battery (94.4 kW usable), the Q6 Sportback achieved an EPA-estimated 319 mile range.

Charging stops should be a breeze as the charing rate peaks at 270kW on a compatible DC Fast Charger. This means a charge from 10% to 80 in about 21 minutes.

Other areas that received updates includes the suspension, and interior. Also updated are the Matrix LED lamps which offer when optioned, the ability to select between several patterns.

Pricing

The 2026 Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron quattro is available in two models, Q6 and SQ6.

MSRP for the 456 horsepower Q6 Sportback starts at 69,600 for the Premium trim, 73,40 for Premium Plus, and 75,400 for Prestige trim.

MSRP for the 509 horsepower SQ6 Sportback e-tron begins at 76,300, 79,700 in Premium Plus spec, and 81,700 in Prestige trim.

Source: Audi Newsroom

EV CHARGING GROWS

Charging availability is often cited as a deal breaker for many considering the purchase of a battery electric vehicle. But new data from the International Energy Agency and charted by Canary Media, shows how in the U.S., public EV charging continues to grow.

Within just the four years between 2020 and 2024, the nations public charging network has doubled to over 200,000 ports. Of these, roughly 60,000 are considered ‘Fast Charging’ (over 60kW). Continued growth at this rate would put the number of installed ports to half-a-million.

While the chart, or supporting text, provide any details on how many projects have been put on hold due to the current administrations clawing back of previously allocated public funding for charing infrastructure, newcomers like IONNA–a consortium of eight major auto manufactures, GM Energy, Walmart Energy, and bp pulse, join stalwarts like Tesla and Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint in this expansion.

Source: Canary Media

WEEKLY FAST CHARGER UPDATE

Progress on building out the U.S. DC FC continues this week with an additional 898 stalls installed this week.

I should note that while 898 stalls went live this week, the count which follows does not equal 898. The installation numbers provided by Walter on his “The Network Architect Channel” on YouTube cover a subset of the total numbers. Walter considers the most popular/familiar public charging providers.

Total Installed Count

69,985

DC FCs Installed This Week by Provider

ChargePoint - 20

Electrify America - 3

EV Connect - 7

EVgo - 1*

Pilot/Flying J - 3

Red-E

Rivian - 2

Tesla - 8

Source: The Network Architect Channel

Two automakers state tariffs as reason for having to delay or pause production on new electric vehicles.

JLR Delays Range Rover

The Guardian reports that Jaguar Land Rover is delaying the release of its highly anticipated Range Rover electric SUV.

Production was set to commence in Q4 2025, but customers have been informed that production of the new EV will be pushed back into next year. Also expected to start production next year is the all-electric Range Rover Velar.

The cause of the delay is directly related to tariffs imposed by the U.S. causing a 15.1% drop in sales for the automaker after it temporarily paused exports to the U.S.
Source: The Guardian

Volvo Presses Pause

Tarrifs of 27.5 % on imported cars manufactured in Europe and more than 100% on those arriving from China have impacted Volvo sales to the point that some models will force the automaker to pause sales of some gas and electric powered sedans and SUVs.

In the U.S., Volvo plans a brief sales pause on the EX40. Tariffs have also cut into sales of the brands most anticipated model, the EX30. Even the U.S. manufactured EX90, a luxury SUV built in South Carolina, is indirectly penalized as it’s comprised of parts manufactured in Europe. These parts are subject to a 25% tariff.
Source: Reuters

SHOWDOWN AT THE DTC CORRAL

State franchise laws prevent automakers from selling direct to consumer. These laws being called into question by an automotive trade group and an automaker who has yet to launch a single vehicle.

As reported by Wards Auto, The Alliance for Automotive Innovation is seeking to have the U.S. Department of Justice determine if franchise dealers laws stifle competition. Scout Motors, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group is seeking to have the D.O.J. eliminate state franchise law. The National Auto Dealer Association (NADA), a national lobbing groups representing some of the largest auto dealer networks in the U.S., considers the inquiries to be, quote: “a direct attack on franchise law.”

Like Tesla before it, Scout Motors plans to sell their trucks and SUVs using a direct to consumer business model. Also like Tesla, dealer franchise laws prevents this in many U.S. states.

According to Wards, Scout Motors submitted their letter to the D.O.J. Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force.
Source: AutoNews Daily (YouTube)

UNCHARTED SUBARU

On Thursday Subaru announced the reveal of its latest EV model, the 2026 Subaru Uncharted EV.

The Uncharted will soon join the recently announced Trailseeker EV and the refreshed Solterra EV. With the Uncharted, Subaru is directly targeting Hyundai and Kia with this model as the Hyundai Kona EV and Kia Niro EV are called out in the press release by name.

Based Toyota’s recently revealed CH-R, the Uncharted takes the platform up a notch giving it off-road chops starting with 137 more horsepower and 40 more miles of range than the Korean siblings. The Uncharted bests the Kona/Niro EVs with its 338 horsepower and 290 miles of range in Sport or GT trim. Even the entry level Premium FWD trim beats Kona/Niro with 221 horses and 300 miles of range.

Energy is stored in a 74.7 kWh battery capable of being charged at up to 150 kW at any CCS or NACS DC fast charger using a NACS connector or CCS to NACS adapter. Expect to get from 10-80% in roughly 30 minutes.

The new 2026 Uncharted will get a raft of features in all trim levels including Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance suite, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, heated seats and mirrors, power liftgate, and interior ambient lighting.

The Uncharted Sport trim t adds X-MODE® Dual-Mode with Grip Control, heated steering wheel, panoramic view monitor, and more.

And stepping up to the Uncharted GT will get you a panoramic moonroof with motorized shade, 20-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, Harman Kardon® premium audio system, smart rearview mirror, and more.

Pricing for the 2026 Subaru Uncharted has not been set.
Source: Subaru

ID.4 Redo

Europe’s Autocar reports that VW is about to fully redesign the ID.4. The goal is to directly associate to the Tiguan. So much so that according to the report, Volkswagen’s internal naming for the car is ‘electric Tiguan’.

Expect the new ID.4 to take on many design queues of the ID.2 ALL concept revealed back in December 2023.

Autocar notes that VW CEO Thomas Schäfer has stated how extensive the new design is, saying quote: “We'll re-do the ID 4 completely inside and out. It will be a completely different car - a huge step up.” Also mentioning the upcoming ID.4 will be “really beautiful”.
Source: Autocar

DC FC UPDATE

Walter Schultz is a self-professed data nerd. He’s taken his SQL skills to drill into the Alternative Fuels Database for the data and presents it in a human digestible form.

With his channel, Walter tracks where new DC fast chargers have been installed, connector counts, whether or not the site has a canopy, and what facilities, if any, are available at a few of the locations.

Here are Walter’s numbers for the week:

Total DC FCs Install Count:

69,087

Quantity of DC FCs Installed Last Week By Vendor:

• IONNA: 2

• Red-E: 6

• bp pulse: 4

• Tesla: 3

• Electrify America: 3

• ChargePoint: 21

• EVgo: 2

• Rivian Adventure Network: 1

• Francis Energy: 2

• Jule: 46 (mostly in Ontario)

Source: The Network Architect Channel (YouTube)

A story from Germany's "Handelsblatt" business journal as retold by Wards Auto reports Volkswagen denies a halt order was placed on ID.Buzz vehicles headed to the U.S.

A Volkswagen spokesperson speaking to Wards Auto said there has been no offical call for a halt, and confirms ID.Buzz vehicles remain in transit to the U.S.

The spokesperson also mentioned that U.S. spec ID.Buzz vehicles are under a recall due to a rear bench seat that exceeds the permitted width allowed by U.S. Safety regulators.
Source

RIVIAN QUAD ORDER BOOK

On Thursday, Rivian announced the order book for the flagship Quad First Edition pickup truck and SUV is open for orders.

The Quad R1T features include:

• four motors, one for each wheel

• 1025 hp and 1198 lb-ft of torque

• zero - 60 in 2.5 seconds

• an EPA estimated 374 miles of range and 400 miles in 'Conserve' mode

Both the R1T and R1S will get:

exclusive wheels, colors, and NACS charging ports.

Pricing for the R1T starts at $119,990

and $125,990 for the R1S.
Source

AUDI LAUNCHES 26 Q6

Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron annouced

On Friday, Audi realeased images and specs on the latest e-tron family member.

The Q6 Sportback e-tron will derive from Audi's Premium Platform Electric architecture and feature EPA estimated 319 miles range from a thermal managed 100kwH battery pack on an 800-volt electrical system allowing for 10-80% charges to complete in 21 minutes with optimal conditions.

The Q6 Sportback e-tron will be available in two flavors, a Q6 Dual Motor quattro with 456 hp and a SQ6 Dual Motor quattro sporting 509 hp.

Both models will go on sale by the end of July.
Source

FINE MATTER AT DC FAST CHARGERS

A recently published study by researchers from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and UCLA Samueli School of Engineering found that Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) emit more potentially harmful particulate matter than locations without DC FCs installed.

The team performing the study surveyed the air quality around 50 DCFCs run by a variety of operators around Los Angeles County.

The findings were compared with gas stations and other types of sites without DCFCs.

Researchers discoverd higher than normal levels of PM2.5 . PM2.5 are particulate matter measuring around 2.5 micrometers or less.

The stations surveyed showed average daily concentrations ranging between 7.3 to 39.0 micrograms per cubic meter. The same tests run at a variety of non-EV charging sites revealed levels around 3.6 to 12.4 micrograms per cubic meter.

A UCLA Fielding scholar and first author of the study, Yifang Zhu, suggests the cause may be attributable to cooling systems within the cabinets 'resuspending' the particulates during the charging process or by the cooling systems used to keep the internal compenets cool may be drawing air, dust, and dirt from inside the cabinet and expressing this material externally via the cooling fans.

Lead author of the study and professor in the UCLA Fielding’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yifang Zhu notes how EV charging is vital to California acheiveing its climate goals and said “To fully deliver on its health promises, we must also address unintended emissions from DCFC stations to ensure that clean transportation truly means clean air for all.”
Source

ROVE DIGS COSTA MESA

Costa Mesa, CA will have a new full-service charging location this Winter when Rove completes construction on it's latest charging stop.

The new location will host 28 NACS, 12 CCS, and two CHAdeMo connectors. All covered by a solar canopy and offering fresh hot food at the ReCharge by Gelon's also going in at the location.

This Rove location, like the live site in Santa Ana will host station attendant to assist you if you encounter issues during your visit. A link to our video on the Santa Monica location is available in the description.
Source

BigAuto: Incentives are good for business

In what is a reversal of previous statements, the National Automobile Dealers Association, including Carmax, Carvana, and other retailers, with the support of Recurrant and the Electric Vehicle Association, submitted a letter to congress imploring the Senate to keep three EV tax incentives and remove the proposed federal registratin tax on electric and electrified vehicles.

The group argues the incentives are critical to the continued growth of their respective business models. Dealers are looking to keep in place, tax credits for new and used electric vehicle purchases, the credit to incentivize battery production, and the credit for installation of charging equipment at a business or personal home, as well as drop all federal registration fees for battery electric and electrified vehicles.

The letter includes the following quote, “Dealerships like ours have invested billions of dollars as small businesses to serve our communities, to improve EV education, and offer exceptional service.”

It continues, “We need a stable and consistent market for our dealerships to plan, invest, and grow.”

Automotive News notes one dealer, David O'Brien, used-car sales manager, Campbell Auto Group VW and Nissan signed the bill because the EV tax credits have reduced costs for consumers and generated new business.

We will continue to follow this story.
Source

Top 10 List
States with highest EV registrations

States with the most EV Registrations according to Car and Driver magazine.

Even with the tumult of tariffs, higher average prices compared to gas counterparts, and the impending loss of tax credits, electric vehicles sales, while slower, continue to grow.

In California, 1 in 4 registrations are for full electric vehicles.

This list was compiled by Car and Driver using the latest data available (2023) from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Coming in at number 10: Arizona with 89,798 EVs registered

Number 9: The mile high state of Colorado with 90,083. Huh?

Number 8: The peachiest state in the union, Georgia with 92,368 EV registrations.

Number 7: Home of DA BEARS! Illinois at 99,573 EVs

Number 6: New York has the sixth highest number of EVs registered at 131,250.

Breaking in at Number 5: New Jersey with 134,753.

Landing at Number 4: Washington and it's 152,101 EV registrations.

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Alright, back to the list of the Top 10 States with the highest electric vehicle registations.

At Number 3: Texas! With 230,125 EVs registered, the state best known for black gold and amazing BBQ, Texas is home to the third highest number of full electric vehicles.

Our Number 2: The dangling participle better known as Florida. Not including golf carts, Florida hosts 254,878 electric cars, trucks,and SUVs. They also boast a robust charging infrastructure with over 12,201 and one ports.

Finally, Number 1? Okay, it's no surprise that the Golden State of California takes the top spot with EV registrations at whopping 1,256,646!

Add to this, Car and Driver notes the state is home to over 52,442 charging ports.

Look for an upcoming sight visit to one of the states most recent charger installs with a total of 48 ports comprising both CCS1 and NACS ports.
Source

Mazda takes another swing

After its disastrous foray on the mound with their premier EV, the MX-30, Mazda is back in the batting cages working out its next EV, a replacement for the venerable MX-5.

Auto Express reports patents filed for the new model features batteries placed in the transmission tunnel with the motor positioned behind the seats. This orientation will raise the center of gravity slightly, which will help Mazda retain the nimbleness associated with the MX-5. A transmission tunnel also hints at the cars ability to support dual or triple powertrains–full BEV, ICE and possibly Hybrid or Plugin Hybrid.

The patents also note the vehicle will have a single motor in the rear in keeping with tradition of lighter weight and rear-wheel bias.

There are no indications of battery size or motor performance, nor if the vehicle will be available in the U.S.
Source

EV batteries outlast their host

A new study reported by Autoblog reveals how EV batteries degrade slowly and will well outlast the life of a gas powered vehicle.

Geotab, a U.K.-based telematics company has analysed the data of over 10,000 electric cars and learned that EV batteries, on average, degrade by 1.8% annually and after twenty years will retain, on average, up to 64% of their original capacity. The average life span of a gas powered vehicle is 14 years.

Geotab's study also revealed that EV batteries have a failure rate of less than 0.5%.

As newer battery chemestries and solid state batteries make their way into the market, the failure rate may drop even lower.
Source

Old EV batteries find a new life

Wish your Nissan Leaf had a larger battery? Well, how far would you go with a 2.1MWh battery?

I'll let you do the math. But 2.1MWh is the size of a battery storage unit made from used Nissan Leaf batteries. The unit was installed near Italy's largest transport hub, Aeroport di Roma Fiumicino Airport.

The batteries make up a key component in the airport's battery energy storage system storing the energy collected by 55,000 solar panels. Together they can generate upto 31GWh of electricity.
Source

And finally, a look at EV sales for the month of May

New EV sales rose by 4.2% month over month to 103,435 units maintaining EV market share of 6.9%. Looking at year over year for May, sales were down by 10.7%. The biggest winners are Tesla who continues to maintain market leader status despite only seeing a 0.6% month to month increase. Following Tesla are GM, Hyundai, Ford, and Honda.

Used EV Sales for My show growth. Sales increased 1.1% reaching 36,609 units. This keeps EVs at a 2.2% market share. Meanwhile, year over year sales reached 32.1%.

The best selling used electric vehicles for the month of May were the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X, and the Chevy Bolt.
Source

Senate republicans are working to undo the stringent emissions rules and electric vehicle incentives put into place by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2024 under the Biden administration.

On Friday, the Senate parliamentarian threw a spanner into their plans ruling that republicans could not roll back the rules with a simple majority vote and instead would require 60 votes of the senate to rescind the laws currently in place.

Earlier in the week, Senate republicans sought to repeal the $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle and remove fines on automakers for not reaching Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules. The CAFE rules have been in place since 1975 when enacted during the Ford administration.++

In a previous ruling by the Senate parliamentarian, Senate republicans disregarded a similar decision set by the parliamentarian and went on to repeal EPA waivers allowing California to enforce stricter emissions rules than those imposed by the EPA, as well as ban the sale of gas-powered light duty cars and trucks.
Source

A NEW LEAF DROPS

On Tuesday, Nissan lifted the covers off of the fully revised Nissan LEAF. Since making its debut in 2009, Nissan has sold more than a 700,000 globally. Now sixteen years later, a vastly improved LEAF arrives with a crossover shape, improved range and charging capabilities, and a fresh new interior with updated tech.

The car features a tall yet narrow teardrop shape comprising aero bits that direct air over and around the car help Nissan net a 0.26 drag coefficient. The sleek design aides in the new LEAF in attaining (Nissan-reported) 300 miles of range.

The new LEAF is based on the same chassis as the Nissan Aryia. Two liquid-cooled battery packs will be available. A 52kWh battery connected to a motor capable of 175 horsepower and a 75kW pack mated to a motor churning out 215 horses. Some trim levels feature navigation-integrated active battery pre-conditioning. US models with the 75kW battery are estimated to see 303 miles of range and will recharge from 10-80% in "as little as" 35 minutes.

Other notable features include a NACS port, availability of a 'Vehicle to Load' (V2L) adapter. While 'Vehicle to Home' is also built-in, V2H will only be available on European models.

The new Nissan LEAF will be available later this year as a 2026 model.
Source

NEW VINFAST DEALERSHIP

If you live in or around the San Diego area and are looking for an EV, then this next story is good news!

This week VinFast announced their first dealership partner in Calfornia, Sunroad Automotive Group, has opened the first VinFast dealership in San Diego, California.

The new dealership offers sales and support for the full VinFast lineup.

Paul Filmore, General Manager of VinFast San Diego said of the new opening, "We believe in VinFast’s strong potential to make a lasting impact in the North American market."

Speaking on the new store, Mike Nolte, Vice President, VinFast US said, "Adding our first dealership in California signifies VinFast's next strategic step in our business model transition and the development of our global dealership network."

VinFast has a goal of operating authorized VinFast dealerships in all fifty states. They currently have 30 across 15 states.
Source

A SPAT OF REPORTS IDENTIFY ROAD BLOCKS TO EV UPTAKE

INITIAL COSTS SITED

David Bunch, Shell's Chief for Mobility and Convenience recently said, "The single biggest barrier to entry is the cost of the vehicle. Range anxiety is still there but it's diminishing." In a report commissioned by Shell, the key issue confronting buyers considering a new EV is not range, not public charging, nor road tripping.

The biggest road block preventing new car owners from selecting an electric vehicle is price. The report calls out the average electric vehicle costs around 30% more than a comparable gas-powered car.

The global survey of 15,000 drivers proved to offer a few other bits of information. One of these is how 31% of US drivers say they would consider switching to an electric car.

Another interesting bit of news is that 80% of US electric vehicle owners report that the pace of charging had improved. And 71% of respondents found public charging offered value.
Source

TOYOTA CLICKS ON MORE INFO

A recent survey commissioned by Toyota revealed the average new car buyer simply isn't as knowledgeable about the nuances of battery-electric vehicles.

This lack of knowledge and experience leads to uncertainty with questions like how long does it take to charge, what are the different charging types and networks, battery replacement costs, etc....

According to Imad Zahid, AI Design Engineering Manager-Toyota North America says it all boils down to the potential buyer asking, "Is it worth me changing my lifestyle, changing my cost of ownership, changing my experience with an automobile, to move to an electrified vehicle?"

So to help resolve these questions, Toyota is aiming to prioritize education on BEVs, as well as other electrified vehicle (EV) types, to help alleviate any consumer concerns. Zahid says that charging is the largest area of confusion for potential battery-electric shoppers, specifically around types of chargers, speed, connectors, and adapters.

No information was provided about format, or when the program will begin.
Source

MAKING THE LIST

Cars dot com answers the question, "If I wanted to buy the most American-made car, what are my options?"

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the list and with it some history was made.

• Six of the top ten are battery-electric vehicles.

• Tesla topped the list.

• This manufacture not only made the list for the first time, but they arrived with the most 'American-made' car, a car containing 80% of US/Canadian parts, the highest percentage of all vehicles considered. The company, Kia. The car? The EV6.

The following five factors are considered when determining placement:

• - Location(s) of final assembly

• - Percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts

• - Countries of origin for all available engines

• - Countries of origin for all available transmissions

• - U.S. manufacturing workforce

Here are Cars dot com's Top 10 Most American Cars:

10. Volkswagen ID.4

09. Honda Passport

08. Honda Odessey

07. Honda Ridgeline

06. Kia EV6

05. Jeep Gladiator

04. Tesla Model X

03. Tesla Model S

02. Telsa Model Y

01. Telsa Model 3

Source

In a signing ceremony at the White House on Thursday, President Trump officially signed three resolutions:

- One blocking California's authority to ban the sale of light duty gas-powered vehicles by 2035.

- Another preventing California from phasing out the sale of medium and heavy-duty diesel vehicles.

- And a third overturning California’s rules on reducing tailpipe emissions from trucks.

Before the signing ceremony ended, California attorney general Rob Bonta held a press conference announcing a challenge to the resolutions in court.

Seventeen other states, which account for approximately 30% of the U.S. auto market, had adopted California’s rules.
Sources: GM, AP, NBC

GM CHANGES LANES

In 2023, GM's CEO Mary Barra said the automaker plans to move to all-electric sales by 2035.

On Tuesday, that changed when General Motors announced a $4 billion investment to increase production of new gas-powered light and medium duty trucks and SUVs while on-shoring Chevrolet Blazer and Equinox production–both currently built in Mexico.

A 2023 plan to build electric trucks at GM's Orion Assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan by 2027, will now see new gas-powered full-size SUVs and light-duty pickups being built there.

GM still plans to start production on the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV by the end of this year, but it will do so while adding the production of the gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox to the Fairfax Assembly line.

At its Spring Hill, Tennessee plant, GM will add the gas-powered Chevrolet Blazer where it is building the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq electric vehicles, and the gas-powered Cadillac XT5.
Source: Reuters, Reuters

FEE THE PEOPLE

If you live in California, expect to pay more to the dealer to process the paperwork.

In a departure from a bipartisan agreement to lower cost for Californians, the senate here has instead voted in favor of Senate Bill 791. The bill will increase the fee dealers can charge for document processing. The current cap sits at $85. The new rule will allow dealers to charge as much as 1% of the purchase price with a cap at $500.
Source: CalMatters, SB 791, NADA

CR SAYS NO

Consumer Reports had urged Republican lawmakers to kill the federal EV registration fee.

To boost electric vehicles sales, the previous administration chose to forego charging a federal registration fee to be collected by states and leave in place a registration fee for gas-powered light-duty vehicles and trucks. This fee averages out to about $85 per car.

The current administration, seeking to recoup the lost revenue to bulk up the federal road maintenance funding, has proposed a $250 fee on EVs and a $100 fee on plugin hybrid vehicles. This works out to roughly three to seven times owners of gas vehicles pay.

According to reporting by Reuters, Chris Harto, senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports said the EV fees were "punitive taxes designed to confiscate fuel savings from consumers who just want to save money for their families."

The bill was passed by the Senate as written, and on Thursday, signed by the president.
Source: CR Advocacy, Reuters

MINNESOTA TWINS EV FEE

According to the Minnesota House of Representative website, funding to maintain Minnesota's public roads is generated by three sources:

• A motor fuels tax of 31.8 cents per gallon on both gasoline and diesel.

• Motor vehicle sales taxes

• Motor vehicle registration taxes.

Representative Natalie Zelenznikar representing the Fredenberg Township has authored HF189, a bill that proposes increasing the current registration surcharge on electric vehicles to $150, up from $75.

The bill as written will:

- double the surcharge on the purchase of all-electric vehicles;

- direct annual transfers from the General Fund to the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund based on vehicle registration count

- establish indexing of the surcharges and transfers, based upon changes in the tax rate on gasoline

The surcharge is in addition to the base registration fee of $10 plus 1.575% on MSRP.

The intent of the increase is to make up for the pending shortfall as fully electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles, which require zero fuel or a reduced quantity of fuel, continue to creep further into sales of conventional gas-powered and diesel light-duty cars and trucks.

The bill also imposes increases on the following surcharges:

• $75 for plug-in hybrid vehicles

• $30 for fully-electric motorcycles

• $15 for plug-in hybrid motorcycles

Nick Haeg, Senior Associate, Electric Vehicles of Fresh Energy, a Minnesota-based clean energy advocacy group says, “According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s November 2024 report on options to address the highway user tax distribution funding gap, electric vehicles already contribute sufficient tax revenue through higher sales tax and tab fees to offset the lost gasoline tax revenues from internal combustion vehicles they replace.”
Sources: KIMT, MN.GOV, HF189, MN 168.013, Fresh Energy

RARE EARTH EFFECTS

The curb to access and processing of rare earth metals by China is affecting automakers differently.

Some, like Ford, have been caught flatfooted and are finding it difficult to maintain supplies. The issue has forced Ford to pause production at one of its factories.

One automaker is doing better, but only slightly. Stellantis Europe COO Jean-Philippe Imparato has told Automotive News quote, "We're all fine for June." The COO continues with the COO stating some "tough hours" have been had working through the issue.

Meanwhile, Hyundai, along with Kia, have amassed a stockpile large enough to continue producing electric and electrified vehicles without interruption for the rest of the year.
Sources: Automotive News, Automotive News, Reuters

THIS CADDY AIN'T IQ

Cadillac will have another option for Tesla conquest sales with it’s recently revealed performance EV, the Optiq-V SUV.

With its 519 horses and 650 lb-ft of torque when using ‘Velocity Max’ mode, the SUV will be capable of 3.5 seconds zero-60. The power specs will take some range out of the battery. Cadillac notes only 275 miles of range. Expect about 220 in the winter.

It arrives sporting a revised design colors and trims specific to call out its V-series cred.

Will it arrive with a NACS port you ask? Of course it will!

Pricing has been set at $67,300.
Source: Cadillac

TESLA UP CHARGES

Telsa has updated its website with revised specs and pricing for the Model S and Model X. Along with the revisions is a $5,000 price hike.

The consensus of EV media is that while the changes are subtle, the price bump is not.

A few of the refinements include a small bump in range to 410 miles from 402—most likely from revised wheel designs and improved aero.

The 2026 cars also get a new 'Frost Blue' color; revised suspension and tuning to improve ride and handling; camera updates featuring a new front camera and weather hood for rear camera; interior tweaks including dynamic lighting, decreased NVH from previously mentioned aero updates and improved Active Noise Cancellation.

New pricing for the Model S is $84,990 and the Model X at $89,990.
Sources: Tesla, Electrek

NEW FEDERAL EV RULES IN HOUSE BILL

Forbes provided a ‘greatest' hits’ from the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ of what will affect EV buyers most:

• Auto Finance Interest Will Be Deductible

New auto buyers will be able to claim up to $10,000 for interest paid on a new-car loan. This applies only to cars assembled in the U.S. Interest on leases and commercial vehicle purchases are not deductible.

• EV Tax Credit abolished

The sun will set on the $7,500 EV tax credit for new, and $4,000 credit for used vehicles, on December 31, 2025 for automakers who have sold more than 200,000 qualifying electric vehicles. Buyers purchasing vehicles from automakers who have sold fewer than 200,000 qualifying products will be eligible through December 31, 2026.

• EV Registration Tax

A new federal registration fee of $250 for EVs and $100 fee for hybrids will go into effect. The fee as written is intended to make up for the loss of revenue during the Biden administration for not implementing a fee in order to incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles. Source

AUTOMAKERS

AUTOMAKERS HIT BY BLOCK OF ROCKS

Rare earth minerals are a key ingredient to the automotive industry. Rare earths are needed for magnets and magnets can be found in a multitude of products from your visor mirror’s door to the magnet in the stator of your electric car’s motor. General Motors, BMW, to Bosch and ZF are affected by curbs in place by China on the export of rare earth minerals it produces.

China processes roughly 90% of the world’s rare earths. While some of it may be mined in other countries, only China has the factories to extract the rare earth minerals need by the auto industry.

China is using export controls and added administrative layers on rare earth as a cudgel against the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers said several production lines have shut down after running out of supplies.

Mercedes-Benz production chief Joerg Burzer said he was talking to suppliers to build up stockpiles to protect against threats to supplies.

Some in the industry foresee the potential for parts shortages similar to those experienced during the Covid pandemic. The problem is forcing the EU and other countries to seek ways to reduce the dependency on China for processing these minerals.

Both the U.S. and Chinese presidents are expected to hold talks this week in an effort to work out their differences with the curbs on rare earths to be near the top of the list of issues to address.
Source

A NEW LEAF TURNS AT NISSAN

Since 2010, the Nissan Leaf has been a stalwart in the march to electrification. With close to 700,000 LEAFs sold globally, Nissan estimates this works out to approximately 28 billion kilometers traveled on 100% electric energy.

So it is a big thing when Nissan announces plans a new LEAF is stepping into the shoes of its predecessor.

The new LEAF will sit on the same platform as the Aryia and include a glass panoramic sunroof with dimming feature which aides in aero efficiency.

Vice President, Global Product Strategy Richard Candler states three clear pillars they’ve tried to reach.

1. Being a “credible alternative to a combustion car”

2. Owners should be able to take a holiday journey of three hundred to five hundred kilometers before stops.” (186-310 miles.)

3. Easy and seamless charging anticipating 200 miles of charge in 14 minutes.

On that last pillar, specs for the new indicate the new LEAF will arrive with a NACS connector.

Nissan’s announcement notes U.S. and Canada to be the first countries to see the new LEAF on dealer lots before the end of the year.

The announcement also states a new “adventure-focused SUV” built in Nissan's Canton, Mississippi plant and will include U.S. built batteries. The yet to be named SUV will arrive in 2027.
Source

VOLVO SALES SEE SPRING FALL

Reuters reports Volvo Cars sold 59,82 cars in May, a 12% drop from a year earlier.

This coincides with news from other EV makers reporting lower sales on account of tariffs and uncertainty brought on by the current administrations trade policies.

While EV sales have slowed, EV sales continue to increase year over year
Source

INFRASTRUCTURE

WALMART FIVE + ONE SAMS = 10

Walmart has recently announced the construction of five new Walmart and one new Sam’s Club locations by the end of September.

A Walmart spokesperson told USA Today that the company will open 10 locations by the end of the year.

Why is this EV news? Because of Walmart’s earlier announcement that all Walmart and Sam’s Club stores will be outfitted with Walmart Energy branded DC Fast Chargers.

Look for the five new Walmart locations in:

Tuscalossa, AL

Mountain View, CA

Eagle Mountain, UT

Milton, FL

Pace, FL

The Sam’s Club will be located in Tempe, AZ.
Source

GM SHIFTS EV INVESTMENTS TO ICE

RIVIAN SALES TRIGGERS $1B FROM VW

HYUNDAI DELIVERS FIRST 9

EV APP REPORT

IEA GLOBAL SALES SUMMARY

AUTOMOTIVE

GM SHIFTS EV INVESTMENTS TO ICE

On Tuesday, General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced an investment of $888 million toward the Tonawanda plant to build the sixth generation V8 engine for full-size trucks and SUVs–a shift from a prior commitment to invest $300 million to build new electric drive motors at the same plant.

The announcement comes after successfully lobbying congress to rescind California’s electric-vehicle rules, among them, California's plan to end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035. A plan which had been adopted by 11 other states representing a third of the U.S. auto market.

While GM continues to claim the automaker is committed to sell only electric light-duty vehicles by 2035, the company has pulled back on previous plans including selling its stake in a battery plant it planned to build with LG Energy.

CEO Mary Barra has said GM will "be responsive to where the customer is."

General Motors currently manufactures ten fully electric vehicles in production across its brands including Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac with new vehicles expected to launch in 2025 and 2026. Source

RIVIAN SALES TRIGGERS $1B FROM VW

In a conference call with analysts on May 6, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe announced the company’s second consecutive quarterly gross profit. The event triggered the release of $1 billion from Volkswagen AG. Part of a $5 billion investment by Volkswagen into the electric startup.

An initial $1 billion was included when the partnership was announced back in June of 2024, with the remaining funds to be dispensed upon Rivian meeting pre-determined targets.

The latest round of funds is expected to arrive by the end of June. Source

HYUNDAI DELIVERS FIRST 9

Hyundai announced today that a Georgia couple became one of the first to take delivery of the recently launched full electric IONIQ 9 SUV. The handoff took place at Mountain View Hyundai of Dalton, Georgia.

The couple previously owned an IONIQ 5 but switched to the IONIQ 9 for the SUV’s space, tech, and design. Source

EV APP REPORT

Nearly every automaker offers an app for the cars they produce. These apps offer an overview of the cars health, error messages, maintenance scheduling and for EV owners, the ability to locate, initiate, and pay for charging whether at home or on the road.

According to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. OEM EV App Report^SM , EV owners are not very likely to use the apps provided by the automaker.

Here are a few highlights from the report:

32% of non-Tesla owners use their app on every drive. This is up from 17% a year ago. 79% of Tesla owners use the OEM app now, a 10% increase over last year.

Like modern websites, users balk at waiting more than 5 seconds for a command to execute. Tesla owners expect responses within 2 seconds.

37% of non-Tesla app users report connectivity to be their top frustration with OEM apps. While Tesla user complaints around connectivity have dropped to just 19% from 37% the previous year.

70% of non-Tesla app users say they want more features like the ability to schedule charging, plan trips with charging stop, and pay for charging from within the app. Yet according to the report, 43% never tried to schedule a charger, 44% have never used the app to plan trips, and 54% never attempted to pay for charging through their manufacturer’s app.

HOW THE APPS RANK

The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. OEM EV App Report^SM ranks the apps in two categories, Premium and Mass Market manufacturers.

Among the Premium makers Tesla stands out at the top with Mercedes-Benz taking second. BMW’s app placed third.

For Mass Market auto apps, Hyundai takes the cake with it’s sibling Kia coming in second. Mini finished a close third. Source

IEA GLOBAL SALES SUMMARY

And finally this weekend, the International Energy Agency released its executive summary, The Global EV Outlook 2025. The summary reports the electric car sales exceeded 17 million globally in 2024.

EV SALES CONTINUE TO BREAK RECORDS

In 2024, 17 million EVs were sold globally up from the 13.5 million sold in 2023. The 3.5 million difference in sales from 2023 to 2024 alone exceeds the total global sales reported back in 2020.

EV car sales grew by about 10% year on year in the U.S. reaching more that 1 in 10 cars sold.

SALES EXPECTED TO GROW IN 2025

The report sees expected sales to increase to 20 million globally. This would represent more than a quarter of cars sold worldwide. Incentives for replacing older vehicles and falling electric car prices means EVs are projected to reach 60% of total car sales in China.

Sales in Europe are expected to reach 25%—this in spite of the EU deferring requirements for automakers to meet emissions requirements.

Policy uncertainty in the U.S. is expected to remain steady at 10% growth in the first quarter of the year, and are projected to increase to 11% as consumers take advantage of tax credits which are set to expire at the end of the year.

The big takeaway from the sales portion of the summary is that despite uncertainties in the outlook, the share of electric cars in overall car sales is set to exceed 40% in 2030 under today’s policy settings.

The summary also highlights how EV charger coverage is the key to growing adoption of electric vehicles. Source

That’s it for this edition of ‘The Rollin’ Green Podcast’.

Thank you for listening.

Home plate for GreenCarGeek is on Substack. There you can catch new videos a week before they go public on YouTube, engage in chat, polls, and receive all the latest updates before it’s shared on Threads, Instagram, and Linkedin.

NATIONAL

HOUSE ENDS EV INCENTIVES

On Thursday, the House voted to pass a tax and spending bill which effectively ends the climate policy established by the Inflation Reduction Act passed by the Biden Administration in favor of drilling, mining, and other carbon producing energy production.

The bill ends tax credits for rooftop solar, ends the EV tax credit after 2025 with an exception for automakers that have sold fewer than 200,000 cars that qualified for the incentive.
Source

Any project which received credits will now have their funding cut if the project is not started within 60 days of the bills signing in favor of a previously proposed three-year phase-down.

A provision allowing the sale of 460,000 acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah did not make it into the final bill.
Source

SENATE BLOCKS CALIFORNIA CLEAN CAR RULES

In related news, the Senate on Thursday voted to prevent California’s plan to end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035. A rule which 11 other states have adopted. Collectively the 11 states make up one-third of the market.

The vote also rescinds California’s rule that electric cars must make up at least 80% of sales by 2035.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a group representing GM, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Stallantis (makers of Dodge and Chrysler products), lobbied to remove the rules.

In a separate vote on Thursday, California’s plan to increase the number of zero-emission heavy duty trucks as well as prevent California’s low NOx regulations on heavy-duty and off-road vehicles and engines.
Source

STATES

GOVERNORS COMMIT TO CLEAN CARS

The United States Climate Alliance, a bi-partisan coalition of 22 US Governors and the territories of Puerto Rico and Guam have agreed to continue the pursuit of a national clean car standard through the ‘Nation’s Clean Car Promise”

A press release by the alliance calls for a common-sense approach that protects the role of states at the negotiating table and establishes a strong, national standard that:

• Achieves continuous, meaningful annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants while saving consumers money.

• Provides regulatory certainty and enhances the ability to invest and innovate by avoiding extended periods of litigation and instability.

• Preserves good jobs in the auto sector and keeps new vehicles affordable for more Americans.

Some of the states making up the alliance include, Arizona, California, Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Vermont.
Source

AUTOMAKERS

VOLVO PASSES TARIFFS TO CUSTOMERS

Volvo’s CEO Hakan Samuelson told Reuters on Friday that Volvo would push a large part of the tariff-related cost increases to the customer. The tariffs would make it impossible to import one of its most affordable cars to the United States.

Samuelson also stated the a 50% tariff would limit the ability of Volvo Cars to sell its Belgium-made EX30 electric vehicle in the United States.

With a planned starting price of $35,000, hefty tariffs imposed on cars made in China led Volvo to delay selling the car in the U.S. market until production started in Ghent, Belgium, which happened in April of this year. The car's starting price is now at $46,195.

Samuelsson said he was hopeful that Europe and the United States will soon come to an agreement despite the threat of rising tariffs.

"I believe there will be a deal soon. It could not be in the interest of Europe or the U.S. to shut down trade between them." said Samuelson.
Source

BASE CHARGER GETS UNPLUGGED

With sales of less than 2,000 units in its first three months, Dodge has decided to end the sale of the R/T edition of the Charger. The news does not affect the sale of more powerful fully electric Scat Pack version of the car.

In a statement, Dodge CEO Matt McAlear said “production of the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T is postponed for the 2026 model year as we continue to assess the effects of U.S. tariff policies.”
Source

HONDA SCALES BACK

Honda has announced that tariffs and slower sales are forcing them to reconsider their electric vehicle plans.

Honda said on Tuesday that it was scaling back its investment in electric vehicles given slowing demand and would be focusing on hybrids. It has also slashed planned investments in electrification and software by 30% to $48.4 billion.

Earlier this month, Honda announced it had put on hold for about two years a $10.7 billion plan to build an EV production base in Ontario, Canada.
Source

RIVIAN R2 IN TESTING

A recent announcement from Rivian revealed the R2 has entered validation phase. This is where production-intent builds of a vehicle are set out on extended mileage runs, in addition to extreme cold and hot weather testing. All in order collect data to ensure the vehicles perform at the level the manufacturer expects them to.
Source

The Rivian R2 is expected to be available in the first half of 2026.

VW ID.2 GOES INTO PRE-PRODUCTION

Seat S.A., part of the Volkswagen Automotive Group, has announced in a recent press release the first pre-series battery systems have already rolled out of the Martorell factory and has started pre-series production of body parts.

These parts will be used for the two electric models it will produce in Martorell in 2026, starting with the CUPRA Raval, followed by the production version of the Volkswagen ID. 2all.

The ID.2all is a small compact EV comparable in size to a Volkswagen Polo. If you’re not familiar, a Polo is a European model which is smaller than the Golf. However, the ID.2 is expected to have a compact exterior, the interior will rival that of its larger sibling.

The VW ID.2all is expect to arrive in the EU and UK in 2026 starting at $27,000. VW has not confirmed if the ID.2all will make it to the U.S.
Source

A TRUCK TO BOSS THE TRAILS

Chevrolet has announced a new off-road edition to the Silverado EV dubbed ‘Trail Boss’.

The Trail Boss will feature a 2” lift, trim-exclusive Terrain mode offering additional low speed control. ‘Terrain’ mode offers sharper “4-Wheel Steer” for maneuvering through areas with uneven terrain. Additionally, the Trail Boss will also arrive with Sidewinder mode.

In addition to the suspension updates, the Trail Boss also receives redesigned front facia to improve the approach angle, 35” all-terrain tires on 18 rims, as well as trim specific graphics and color options.

The Silverado EV Trail Boss starts at $72,095 with an Extended range battery with 410miles of EPA-estimated range, while the Max battery increases in price to $88,695 with a GM-estimated range of 478 miles.
Source

MISCELLANEOUS

BUYERS STILL WANT EVS

Our final story ends this on a positive note.

Even amid market uncertainty, a recent survey by J.D. Powers finds consumer demand for EVs remains unchanged compared to a year ago. The study reveals that 24% of vehicle shoppers say they are “very likely” to consider purchasing an EV and 35% say they are “somewhat likely.”

The survey points out four key findings:

Cross-shopping is a thing. Seems those who identify as ‘very likely’ to consider an EV cross-shop 2.9 brands while those who identify as ‘somewhat likely’ cross-shop 2.8 brands. EV shoppers will compare a mass market brands like Chevrolet and Hyundai to a premium brand like Volvo or Audi.

It’s the charging stupid. Concerns around charging rated high as 52% of shoppers stating charging station availability as their primary reason for not considering an EV.

A dichotomy between younger and high-income earners. Younger adults have high interest, but low incomes, while high-income earners have the means but show less interest.

Midwest states have low enthusiasm toward EVs. In states like Wisconsin, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio, the percentage of those who considered themselves ‘very likely’ interested in purchasing an EV floated between 16-18%. Concerns around cold-climate performance and loyalty to traditional automakers weighing heavy on this point.
Source

HOUSE BUDGET COULD PULL PLUG ON EV TAX CREDIT

House Republicans on Monday proposed scrapping EV tax incentives and curb ICE emissions standards in an effort to pass a tax reform bill.

The tax credit which remove both the $7,500 new-vehicle credit as well as the $4,000 used-vehicle credit.

Also under threat is the NEVI charger funding program. The program was intended to get chargers installed every 50 miles along major transportation corridors. Source

According to Parn, an EV charging analytics firm, there are currently 75 NEVI funded sites with 395 ports. This accounts for 0.7% of the total DC Fast Charging locations across the U.S.

Loren McDonald, chief analyst at Paren says, “The rich are going to get richer and the poor are going to get poorer, meaning that we’re going to see more and more stations being built in Miami and Atlanta and Los Angeles and San Francisco and Austin and New York and Boston — not so much in Bismarck, N.D.” Source

The proposal also cuts funding to loans which would aid automakers buildout of manufacturing plants. Examples include:

• $9.63 billion to a joint venture between Ford Motor and South Korean battery maker SK On for construction of three battery manufacturing plants in Tennessee and Kentucky.

• $7.54 billion to a joint venture of Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and Samsung SDI for two EV lithium-ion battery plants in Indiana.

• $6.57 billion to Rivian (RIVN.O) for a plant in Georgia to begin building smaller, less expensive EVs in 2028. Source

TARIFFS RAISE INSURANCE RATES

You might see your auto insurance rates rise about 10% by the end of the year as a result of the 25% tariff on auto parts.

The tariffs on auto parts is forcing manufacturers to raise their prices and in turn, wholesalers–covering their costs raise prices to vendors, who then increase prices when sold to your local repair shop.

Matt Brannon, a data journalist for Insurify says, "When you get into an accident, your insurer often has to pay to replace the auto part. And if auto parts were more expensive because it comes from out of the country, then those costs often get passed on to consumers…the average popular new car would see about a 15% increase because of tariffs and in terms of insurance, it would go up about six percent year over year on top of what it was already going to up." Source

STATE

VERMONT GOV PULLS THE PLUG ON EV REQUIREMENTS

On Tuesday, Vermont Governor Phil Scott pulled the plug on their zero-emissions target for 2035.

Vermont is one of 11 states which had adopted California’s zero-emissions rules. The rules require 35% of light-duty vehicles sold by 2026 to be zero-emissions models.

Scott cited warnings from automakers that they could limit supply of gas-powered vehicles to dealers in the state because of the EV rules.

"It's clear we don't have anywhere near enough charging infrastructure and insufficient technological advances in heavy-duty vehicles to meet current goals," said Scott.

Last month, Maryland Governor Wes Moore delayed enforcement of the rules until the 2028 model year, citing concerns about tariffs and charging infrastructure funding. Source

NORTH CAROLINA SHARES EVS

Charlotte residents can now reserve a Chevy Bolt EV thanks to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Affordable Mobility Platform.

The Peppertree Apartments, located in an underserved neighborhood in Charlotte, has recently undergone an $8 million renovation. The location acts as a commercial center for nearby neighborhoods. The EV sharing program was an important part of the renovation.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement, “By investing in electric vehicle access in our Corridors of Opportunity, we’re giving families the tools they need to reach better jobs, education, and services, while building a more sustainable future for Charlotte.”

The Deparment of Energy’s Affordable Mobilty Platform leverages electric vehicles to tackle two needs in one vehicle access and improving air quality in underserved areas. Source

AUTOMAKERS

HYUNDAI FLAME-LESS BATTERIES

Hyundai’s manufacturing business, Hyundai Mobis, just announced a new technology that prevents thermal runaway. That’s engineer speak for ‘fire’.

By combining heat-resistant materials with real-time temperature monitoring, and voltage sensors, the system can identify an event almost immediately and activate an onboard tank of suppressant to put out the fire.

The system doesn’t just delay the fire, it’s the first technology that will prevent the fire from spreading.

Battery safety is a major concern for not only the automotive market but the energy sector too seeks to increase safety of large battery storage systems which collect unused energy and store it for later use. Source

BABY KIA SPOTTED IN THE US

The Instagram account ‘@KindelAuto’ shared a video of a Kia EV3 in the wild somewhere in the US.

The vehicle is heavily camouflaged, but with a close look, one can make out the front light signature of the EV3.

The EV3 is expected to land globally in 2026, and sometime in the future for the US market. Source

TOYOTA ADDS TO EV LINEUP

Toyota has pulled the covers off it’s latest EVs.

Compact CH-R

The CH-R uses the chassis of the recently refreshed bZ (formerly bZ4x), but is shorter in length and narrower in width. Even though the size is compact, the car will sport 25.4-cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats.

The new EV arrive with 338 horsepower, a Toyota estimated 290 miles of range, and will be able to charge from 10-80% in under 30 minutes on a DC fast charger. The car will arrive with a NACS port (Tesla-style connector).

Look for the CH-R is expected to arrive in 2026. Source

bZ Woodland

Another new EV from Toyota is the Woodland. Subaru will release a twin dubbed the ‘Trailseeker’. The Toyota Woodland is an off-road inspired design with all wheel drive and 8.3” of ground clearance. An all-terrain tire option will be available. The vehicle is more about getting to a trailhead with your gear rather than running down the trail in the Woodland.

It will arrive with 375 horsepower and will be rated for 3,500 pounds of towing capacity. As with all new Toyota EVs, it too will feature a NACS charging port. Source

‘busy forks’ no more

Finally, Toyota has also announced a refresh of the bZ4x. The car is now known simply as ‘bZ’.

It has received new front and rear facia treatments which get rid of the black fender arches. The interior has also been revised.

The car now offers 338 horsepower, increased range and a NACS charging port. Source

AUDI SAFETY SCORE

If you’re in the market for a safe, two row SUV, Audi has announced the 2025 Q6 e-tron has earned the Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS–the highest rating awarded by the IIHS. Source

VW LEANS ON RIVIAN

And finally, cheap cars don’t need to be low tech.

In a conversation with the Business Insider, Waasym Bensaid, Rivian's chief software officer, was quoted saying, "Inexpensive cars shouldn't have low technology, and this is the beauty of the setup that we're enabling through the joint venture."

Waasym was referring to the collaboration with Volkswagen on the German automaker using Rivian software in the ID.Every1, a small hatchback which Volkswagen has not announced if it will arrive in the U.S. The ID.Every1 is expected to enter the market at $22,500.

The software will also be used in Rivian’s own small car, the R2 which is expected to launch in 2026.

The use of Rivian’s software in the ID.Every1 will allow Volkswagen to lower production costs. Source

On Wednesday, a lawsuit was filed against the Trump administration by District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, California and other states claiming the federal government is illegally withholding billions in EV charger funding previously approved by Congress and allocated to the states.

The states argue the administration's decision to suspended $3 billion in funds intended to help augment the number of EV chargers across the nation, "will devastate the ability of states to build the charging infrastructure necessary for making EVs accessible to more consumers, combating climate change, reducing other harmful pollution, and supporting the states’ green economies."

The funds are part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund which itself was part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by the Biden administration.

Source

US HOUSE REPUBLICANS ADVANCE $250 EV FEE

Reuters reports that US House Republicans advanced a new $250 annual fee on electric cars and a $100 fee on hybrids. It does not include a fee on ICE cars. The fee originally proposed was $20 and it would apply to all cars. The fee is intended to fund road repairs as part of a tax reform bill under consideration.

Sam Graves, head of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee when speaking about the highway trust fund facing a $142 billion shortfall over five years says "The system for funding our federal surface transportation is broken."

The Electrification Coalition, an EV advocacy group, said the $250 fee was unfair since an average gas-powered vehicle pays just $88 yearly in federal gas taxes.

Source

Ingrid Malmgren, Senior Policy Director for Plug In America, an EV advocacy group says, “EV drivers want to pay their fair share, but they don’t want to be punished.”

39 states now impose an EV registration fee according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. These fees vary by state. One example, Texas charges a fee that is $120 more than that which is being levied on ICE cars. While California charges a fee that is $170 less than the fee for gas cars.

Source

VOLVO RECALLS 400,000 VEHICLES

In an effort to resolve an issue of rearview cameras not displaying when a vehicle is placed into reverse, Volvo is recalling 413,151 cars.

The issue will be addressed via an over-the-air software update. This recall comes one week after Polestar recalled 27,000 Polestar 2's for a similar issue.

Taking a look at automakers

TARIFFS CAUSE PRICE INCREASES

Effective May 2nd, Ford will be the first US automaker to raise prices on Mexican-sourced cars and light trucks. The prices increase is a direct result of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

According to Ford, the trade war would raise costs by $2.5 billion for 2025 but said it would lower the exposure to about $1 billion.

The Maverick pickup, Bronco Sport,

and Mustang Mach-E will see changes on dealer invoices effective May 2nd. These vehicles are expected to arrive on dealer lots by late June.

General Motors said it expects the tariffs will raise their costs by $4-$5 billion but expects to be able to offset this by at least 30%.

Source

Rivian and Lucid have also indicated that tariffs will increase production costs.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe told Reuters the cost per vehicle was expected to rise by "a couple of thousand dollars" due to tariffs. He also said Rivian is was working on adjusting its supply chain to mitigate tariff costs.

Rivian incresed its forecast for capital expenditures to $1.8 billion and $1.9 billion. They had previously predicted costs to be $1.6 billion and $1.7 billion. This on account of tariffs affecting plant expansion costs.

Lucid's interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said the company expects a rise of 8% to 15% in overall costs due to tariffs, without taking into account any mitigation efforts.

Source

RIVIAN TO BUILD $120M SUPPLIER PARK

Rivian also said it would invest $120 million to bring key suppliers closer to its Illinois plant ahead of production of the highly anticipated R2 mid size SUV.

"This will be a key enabler to increasing production at the plant in 2026 when we start to build R2 in addition to R1 and our commercial vans," CEO RJ Scaringe said in a blog post.

Source

HYUNDAI INTRODUCES PLUG-AND-CHARGE

Hyundai has announced that owners of electric vehicles now have the ability to locate, initiate, and pay for a charge across multiple EV charging networks, all through the MyHyundai app. An active BlueLink subscription is required to utilize the feature.

Additionally, owners will be able to locate a charger and send it's location to their cars navigation system via the MyHyundai app.

The service integrates charing and billing for the following network providers:

• IONNA

• Tesla Supercharger

• EVgo

• ChargePoint and all ChargePoint Roaming Partners

• which includes:

• BC Hydro

• Blink

• Circuit electrique

• EV Connect

• Flo

• Shell Recharge

• Mercedes Benz Charging Network

• SemaCharge

Hyundai also announced Plug and Charge for the

• 2025 IONIQ 5

• 2026 IONIC 9

and all future IONIQ and electric models also get Plug-and-Charge.

Plug and Charge allows owners to simply pull up to a charger, connect and automatically initiate charging. Payment is taken care of in the background within the vehicles infotainment unit. To take advantage of Plug and Charge, owners will need to have Plug and Charge enabled within their MyHyundai app and have an active BlueLink subscription.

Source

INFRASTRUCTURE

MINNESOTA PUSHES FORWARD WITH $10M CHARGER EXPANSION

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announces 12 future locations of new electric vehicle charging stations along interstates 90 and 94 funded with nearly $10 million in combined state and federal funding.

The federal funds derived from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which was part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021.

While the federal NEVI program was recently suspended and its future is uncertain, Minnesota DOT secured $4.5 million for this second round of funds and will provide another $4.7 million in state funding to total $10 million.

So Minnesota, expect to see new DC Fast Chargers installed in these following locations:

• Barnesville

• Fergus Falls

• Rockville

• Lake Elmo

• Luverne

• Worthington

• Jackson

• Blue Earth

• Albert Lea

• Austin

• Stewartville

• and St. Charles

Source

WALMART ANNOUNCES AN EV CHARGING NETWORK

Walmart officially announced plans to install new EV fast-charging stations at thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the country.

This network is not an extention of their agreement with Electrify America. This new charging network is in addition to the existing Electrify America units.

According to the announcement, Walmart has a store or club located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of America. That means underserved population centers will now have access to high speed charging improving access and potentially aiding in electric vehicle adoption.

Walmart plans to complete the build out by 2030.

Source

TESLA LAUNCHES CHEAPER MODEL Y

On Tuesday, Tesla announced their long range rear-wheel drive Model Y costs $44,990. For those eligible for the federal tax credit, that cost decreases to $37,490.

The long range all-wheel drive Model Y remains unchanged at $48,990.

Source

EV SALES NUMBERS

Numbers for March

New EV Sales increased by 18.5% month over month according to Cox Automotive data. The top five selling new EV models, ranked by sales volume, were the Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Chevrolet Equinox and Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Meanwhile, used EV sales increased by 45% month over month in March. The top five selling models by volume were the Tesla Model 3, Model Y and Model S, followed by the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Chevrolet Bolt, collectively accounting for 48% of the market share for the month.

Retail share for EVs in the used market hit 2% for the first time ever.

March Transaction Prices

The average transaction price for new electric vehicles was $59,205, this is a 3.8% increase from the previous month and a 4.4% increase from the previous year.

The average listing price for used electric vehicles was $36,929, a 2.9% decrease from the previous month and a 2.2% increase compared to the same period last year.

Source