The Hummer has always been ostentatious. So it should have been a surprise to no one that the Hummer EV is not only large, but also heavy, and really not all that efficient as an EV. But what it lacks in miles per kilowatt, it makes up for in over-the-top fun.
We had the opportunity to drive the larger-than-life SUV from GMC in the Arizona desert. It proved to be a capable off-roader that’s being used to showcase GM’s Ultium platform. It’s more Halo car than a daily driver, but it’s still a Hummer.
Volvo now offers over-the-air (OTA) software updates across its entire vehicle lineup, it announced. After first introducing it on all-electric models like the XC40, it’s bringing the feature over to all new XC90, S60 and V60 ICE and hybrid vehicles.
The latest update (Volvo’s eighth so far) will roll out to over 190,000 vehicles this week. Owners will get the latest version of Android Automotive OS with Android 11 on their infotainment systems, with new app categories on Google Play ranging from navigation to charging and parking. Video streaming is expected to arrive later in the year.
Volvo S60 interior
Volvo
It also brings feature improvements around energy management, climate timers and mobile app functionality. The energy management updates will help keep the battery temperatures stable in both warm and cold weather to boost range and lower charging times. You’ll also see more frequent charging percentage updates during sessions.
Tesla pioneered over-the-air software updates on its Model S, X, 3 and other vehicles, assuring buyers that their EVs would get features found on newer models. It not only updates the software for entertainment and other systems (SOTA), but also firmware controlling the hardware (FOTA). Most automakers now offer some form of OTA updates, but many (BMW, Audi, Fiat) only deliver SOTA updates to the infotainment systems.
Others, including GM and Ford, offer more extensive updates to vehicle systems, allowing them to improve range, performance and other factors. Volvo appears to fall into that category, improving not just the navigation and entertainment systems but charging and other features as well. It also promised that the infotainment system, developed jointly with Google, will feature on all new models across its lineup.
VanMoof is updating its core e-bike lineup for the first time in two years. There are two new models designed for different use cases.
The company created the S5 with longer rides in mind. It reworked the straight frame to increase the height of the riding position. It’s for riders between 165 and 210 cm tall (approximately 5’5″ to 6’11”). There are larger, 27.5-inch wheels and the base e-bike weighs 23kg (51 lbs).
As for the A5, that’s designed more for shorter trips and city rides. It has an angled frame with a lower step-in and it’s for riders between 155 and 200 cm in height (roughly 5’1″ to 6’7″). It has 24-inch wheels and weighs 22kg (48.5 lbs). There’s support for both rear and front carriers as well
The front one is designed to carry up to 10kg (22 lbs) and has an elastic cord to secure items. Both bikes can be equipped with rear carriers. The regular rack is designed for loads up to 15kg (33 lbs), while the heavy-duty option should comfortably support up to 27kg (59.5 lbs).
VanMoof
VanMoof has upgraded the motor on both bikes as well. With the 250W, 5V Gen 5 motor, the company says these models will provide the smoothest rides around. The motor has an e-shifter, torque sensor and integrated battery. The improved Turbo Boost will provide 68 Nm of torque, compared with 59 Nm in 2020’s S3.
Both models have a 26-cell, 47V permanent battery, though there are slight differences. The S5 has a 487Wh capacity, while the A5’s has a 463Wh capacity. At full power and in economy mode, the S5 will offer a range of up to 150 km (93 miles), while the A5 has a range of up to 140 km (87 miles). You can extend those by up to 140 km with the click-on battery.
Using the Gen 5 charger, you’ll be able to charge the battery to 50 percent of capacity in two and a half hours and fully in six hours and 30 minutes. The speed charger shortens those times considerably. You’ll be able to juice up your e-bike’s battery to half capacity in an hour and to 100 percent in four and a half hours.
VanMoof
New to the S5 and A5 is a halo ring interface with LED display integrated in the handlebar. There’s a phone mount with a USB-C charging port too.
The anti-theft tech includes a Gen 5 kick lock that you can arm with a tap of your foot. It’ll unlock automatically when you return. VanMoof is working on certification for Apple Find My support, and it’ll continue to employ its Bike Hunters. If that team can’t find and recover your bike within two weeks of it being lost or stolen, it will send you a replacement.
The S5 and A5 are both pricier than the S3 and X3, which cost $2,448. They’ll each cost $2,998/£2,298/€2,498. The company didn’t mention when it’ll ship the new models.
Tesla delivered 310,048 vehicles over the first three months of 2022, the automaker announced on Saturday. “This was an exceptionally difficult quarter due to supply chain interruptions and China Zero-Covid policy,” Musk said on Twitter shortly after T…
In a world where most e-bikes are trying to blend in, JackRabbit, well… stands out. In fact, it’s unique enough that you’re either going to love it or at the very least be curious. As a pedal-free e-bike, it’s aimed at those in the market for a scooter…
With its newly minted bi-directional charging capabilities, the Ford F-150 Lightning can now serve as a backup home power supply in a pinch. Soon, the automaker hopes it might do the same for your office space thanks to a new partnership with Cisco, makers of Webex conference software.
Ford CEO Jim Farley announced on Tuesday, “We’re going all in, creating separate but complementary businesses that give us start-up speed and unbridled innovation.” So far that effort has seen the company announce in recent months plans to separate its EV and ICE businesses, produce in excess of 600,000 EVs annually by in 2023, and introduce seven new EV models to the European market in the next few years.
And what better way for Ford to fully capture the hearts and minds of the American driving public than to outfit their electric vehicles with the internet’s most popular pastime since March 2020, online conference calling? “We’re looking at ways to bring the human connection in,” Darren Palmer, Vice President, Ford Electric Vehicle Programs, said in a press statement. “We don’t see why people wouldn’t be using their vehicles as a fantastic quality office, to be able to collaborate together.”
To that end, Ford and Cisco have partnered to “unlock the browser experience on SYNC4A,” the automaker’s infotainment system, and are currently developing a WebEx app capable of running natively on the HTML 5-centric OS. “Ford is excited to be collaborating with Webex by Cisco for next-gen experiences in our electric vehicles,” Palmer continued. “We see Webex as providing a secure and immersive collaboration experience.”
Your cat jumping in front of the webcam can be quite cute when you’re conference calling from home. Your kids loudly melting down in the back seat about who may or may not be touching whom is decidedly less adorable. To help prevent those high-decibel interruptions, future Ford EVs will be outfitted with Webex’s Optimize for My Voice feature which automatically mutes out everybody in the cabin who isn’t part of the meeting. To further minimize distractions to the driver, “We’ll make sure that any collaboration like Webex is deployed only when the vehicle is stationary, or audio-only when driving,” Palmer said. The companies did not disclose a timeline for the application’s eventual release.
It’s about to get easier for Ford Mustang Mach-E drivers to find the nearest charging station, thanks to a new iOS 15.4 update for Apple Maps. According to 9to5Mac, EV routing can now be activated on the Mach-E through Apple Maps on CarPlay, Apple’s in-car system. The feature was first previewed during WWDC 2020, and now it’s finally been released to the public. Right now, only this current year’s vehicle and versions of the 2021 model with specific software versions have the new feature, but Ford hopes to roll the feature out to all Mach-E drivers before 2023.
Mach-E owners in need of a charge usually find the nearest station using the Apple Maps or Google Maps app on their phone, Ford’s built-in charging station finder or the FordPass App. This is likely cumbersome for many, especially when embarking on a long road trip. Now, Apple Maps on CarPlay can generate a route and identify charging points along the way.
Ford has full instructions on its website for how to activate EV charging on Apple Maps, but it should be as simple as pressing “OK” on a pop-up message that says “Get EV routes for your Mustang Mach-E” the next time you fire up Apple Maps through CarPlay and enter a new destination.
It’s all too common for electric vehicle makers to delay releases, but GM claims it’s bucking the trend. The company says it has started production of the Cadillac Lyriq at its Spring Hill, Tennessee plant about nine months ahead of the initial schedule. GM didn’t say how many of the sold-out reservations for the luxury crossover translated to real purchases, but it will take more orders for the Lyriq starting May 19th. The EV is due to reach dealers in the first half of the year.
The Lyric is Cadillac’s first EV, and the first passenger vehicle to use GM’s Ultium platform beyond the Hummer EV. It won’t be as brawny as the Hummer with its estimate 340HP motor system, but it’s expected to net 300-plus miles of range and 190kW fast charging at compatible stations. You can also anticipate plenty of tech, including a 33-inch OLED screen and Super Cruise hands-free highway driving. More importantly, the Lyriq will start at $59,990 — still not cheap, but it’s far more affordable than the $79,995 minimum you’ll pay for the Hummer.
The Lyriq doesn’t quite represent the next generation of mainstream GM EVs. For that, you’ll have to wait until Chevy’s electric Silverado ($39,900) and Equinox (roughly $30,000). It does serve as a bridge between the Hummer and more affordable models, though, and it’s certainly easier to justify for those that don’t need the Hummer’s off-roading abilities.
After months of teasing, Formula E and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) announced today they will finally unveil their new Gen3 all-electric car at an event in Monaco on April 28th. The two organizations said fans would be able to watch the unveiling through their associated digital channels. Formula E teams will begin using the car at the start of the 2022-2023 season, with testing expected to begin this spring.
The FIA first shared details on the Gen3 at the end of last year, revealing it would feature a motor capable of outputting 350kW of power (about 470 brake horsepower) and a top speed of 200 miles per hour. It will also include front and rear powertrains, a first for a formula car. With a total of 600kW of power, the Gen3 will feature more than double the regenerative capability of Formula E’s current Gen2 vehicle. The FIA has also promised the Gen3 will be its most sustainable vehicle to date, with a net-zero carbon footprint thanks to recyclable carbon fiber parts and other design considerations.
Ford was slightly conservative with its initial range estimates for the F-150 Lightning. The automaker has shared final EPA range estimates for its electric pickup truck, and the Extended Range variants of the XLT, Lariat and fleet-only Pro offer up to 320 miles of driving, or 20 more than the original targets. The standard-range XLT, Lariat and Pro trucks still provide the 230 miles Ford first claimed, although Lightning Platinum buyers will be happy to know they’ll get an estimated 300 miles instead of the previously promised 280.
It’s unclear if these definitive EPA ranges factor cargo into the performance. Ford told YouTube personality Marques Brownlee last year that its estimates included a 1,000-pound payload, which would lead to considerably longer ranges in everyday driving. We’ve asked Ford if this factor is still present today, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Ford was just as cautious as before. Cargo significantly affects EV range, and the company might not want to oversell the F-150 Lightning to workers counting on that heavy-duty capability.
The F-150 Lightning will reach customers later this spring, with prices starting under $40,000 for fleet models. Provided the range claims hold up in real-world use, they’ll help Ford compete against rivals like the Chevy Silverado EV and Rivian R1T. The potential surplus battery power should also be helpful for charging work equipment, other Lightning trucks and even entire homes.
Update 3/21 2:22PM ET: Ford tells Engadget that the final EPA range numbers don’t include a payload. You’ll have to account for weight when you’re planning routes, then.
