The Rivian R2, nan EV maker’s much-anticipated affordable electrical SUV, will beryllium powered by U.S.-made batteries promising to shop six times arsenic overmuch power arsenic those presently used.
South Korea’s LG Energy Solutions announced it will beryllium supplying LG’s 4695 cylindrical batteries to Rivian arsenic portion of a five-year agreement.
Within nan first twelvemonth of production, nan batteries will beryllium manufactured astatine LG’s stand-alone works successful Arizona to beryllium delivered to Rivian’s Normal, Illinois works for usage successful nan R2 model, nan institution said successful a statement. Both LG and Rivian reaffirmed their commitment to nan Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Under nan IRA, EVs whose cardinal components are made successful nan U.S. are eligible for a $7,500 taxation inducement upon acquisition aliases signing of a lease agreement.
The larger size of LG’s 4695 cylindrical artillery promises to connection some agelong scope and a precocious level of safety, while featuring six times nan capacity of existing 2170 cylindrical batteries, LG says.
The LG artillery besides aligns good pinch Rivian’s plans to trim its manufacturing costs, hence keeping nan R2 connected way to beryllium nan EV maker’s astir affordable mass-market model. Rivian said it expects nan artillery battalion assembly processing to amended by astir 45% compared to nan R1’s platform.
Earlier this year, Rivian made nan R2 disposable for pre-orders pinch scheduled deliveries owed to commencement successful nan first half of 2026. With a starting value of $45,000, nan R2 is being promoted by Rivian arsenic its first genuinely accessible EV model, comparable to Tesla’s “Model 3 moment”. Price-wise, however, it’s competing pinch nan likes of nan Tesla Model Y and nan Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The R2 promises acceleration of 0-60 mph nether 3 seconds and an estimated scope of complete 300 miles. It’s packed pinch exertion allowing for automated driving and besides carries uncommon features, specified arsenic a rear-window that folds down to supply an “open-air experience”.
Stellantis’ 2027 Dodge Charger Daytona mightiness characteristic solid-state artillery tech
The conflict to usage cheaper, much efficient, and safer EV batteries is heating up among automakers. At nan bosom of this battle, nan improvement of solid-state artillery technology, an replacement to highly flammable and costly lithium batteries, is garnering much and much attention.For proof, Stellantis, nan world’s fourth-largest automaker, is betting connected nan exertion for its adjacent procreation of electrical vehicles. The Netherlands-based institution announced that it will motorboat a objection fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs that will characteristic solid-state artillery tech made by U.S. startup Factorial.The demo fleet, expected to motorboat by 2026, will supply a real-world appraisal of Factorial’s technology. Factorial has been partnering pinch Stellantis since 2021 and is besides partnering pinch nan likes of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.Besides Dodge, nan exertion would yet beryllium deployed connected nan Stellantis STLA Large multi-energy platform, which includes brands specified arsenic Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.Stellantis said that nan integration of solid-state artillery exertion will output “improved performance, longer driving ranges, and faster charging times successful nan coming years.”Factorial, meanwhile, says its exertion provides higher power density, reduced weight, improved performance, and nan imaginable for further simplification successful full conveyance costs complete time. Stellantis, Daimler, and Hyundai aren’t nan only ones to stake connected solid-state artillery tech. Toyota, nan largest automaker successful nan world, has heavy invested successful nan technology. It besides created a conjugation pinch Nissan and Panasonic to boost its accumulation successful Japan. So far, making solid-state batteries has remained an costly endeavor. But steps specified arsenic nan Stellantis demo fleet and accumulation astatine standard by nan likes of Factorial are expected to amended manufacturing processes and costs complete time.Other automakers, meanwhile, are moving connected ways to amended lithium batteries. Volkswagen, for one, is processing its ain unified artillery compartment successful respective European plants arsenic good arsenic 1 works successful Ontario, Canada.
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Costco partners pinch Electric Era to bring backmost EV charging successful nan U.S.
Costco, known for its discount state stations, has near EV drivers successful request of juicing up retired successful nan acold for nan past 12 years. But that seems astir to alteration now that nan big-box retailer is putting its marque sanction connected a DC fast-charging position successful Ridgefield, Washington.
After being 1 of nan early pioneers of EV charging successful nan 1990s, Costco abandoned nan offering successful 2012 successful nan U.S.
While opening conscionable 1 position whitethorn look for illustration a timid move, nan velocity astatine which nan position was installed -- conscionable 7 weeks -- could bespeak large plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, nan Seattle-based institution making and installing nan charging station, promises to connection “hyper-reliable, battery-backed accelerated charging exertion successful grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls tin present up to 200 kilowatts and travel pinch built-in artillery storage, allowing for little energy rates and nan expertise to stay operational moreover erstwhile powerfulness grids spell down.
If that sounds for illustration it could very good rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s nary coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is simply a erstwhile SpaceX engineer.
Costco besides seems assured capable successful nan institution to person put its marque sanction connected nan EV-charging station. Last year, nan wholesaler did unfastened a aviator position successful Denver, this clip partnering pinch Electrify America, nan largest charging web successful nan U.S. However, Costco did not put its marque sanction connected it.
In an question and reply pinch Green Car Reports, Electric Era said it was still successful talks pinch Costco astir nan opening of caller locations. Last year, Costco said it was readying to instal accelerated chargers astatine 20 locations, without providing further details. It has maintained EV-charging operations successful Canada, nan UK, Spain, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, nan wholesaler’s U.S. EV-charging plans mightiness very good lucifer those of rival Walmart, which past twelvemonth announced it was building its ain EV fast-charging web successful summation to nan arrangements it already had pinch Electrify America.
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The UK’s Wayve brings its AI automated driving package to U.S. shores
It mightiness look that nan autonomous driving inclination is moving astatine afloat velocity and connected its ain accord, particularly if you unrecorded successful California.Wayve, a UK startup that has received complete $1 cardinal successful funding, is now joining nan crowded statement by launching on-road testing of its AI learning strategy connected nan streets of San Francisco and nan Bay Area.The announcement comes conscionable weeks aft Tesla unveiled its Robotaxi astatine nan Warner Bros Studios successful Burbank, California. It was besides successful San Francisco that an mishap past twelvemonth forced General Motors’ robotaxi work Cruise to extremity its operations. And it’s mostly successful California that Waymo, nan only functioning robotaxi work successful nan U.S., first deployed its fleet of self-driving cars. As portion of its move, Wayve opened a caller agency successful Silicon Valley to support its U.S. description and AI development. Similarly to Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD) software, nan institution says it’s utilizing AI to supply automakers pinch a afloat scope of driver assistance and automation features.“We are now testing our AI package successful real-world environments crossed 2 continents,” said Alex Kendall, Wayve co-founder and CEO.The institution has already conducted tests connected UK roads since 2018. It received a immense boost earlier this twelvemonth erstwhile it raised complete $1 cardinal successful a move led by Softbank and joined by Microsoft and Nvidia. In August, Uber besides said it would put to thief nan improvement of Wayve’s technology.Just for illustration Tesla’s FSD, Wayve’s package provides an precocious driver assistance strategy that still requires driver supervision.Before driverless vehicles tin legally deed nan road, they must first walk strict information tests.So far, Waymo’s technology, which relies connected pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar), is nan only of its benignant to person received nan motion from U.S. regulators.
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