Electric Cars

Today, the least expensive Tesla in the lineup is the approximately $38,000 Model 3.
Tesla
Ultraperformance $140,000 Plaid models and fancy self-driving tech are cool (and certainly what brings all the fanboys to Tesla’s yard,) but I think that the only way electric cars will ever have a shot at replacing the combustion engine type is to bring the price way down. Fortunately, it seems Tesla CEO Elon Musk also knows this and he’s “confident” that the electric car company can build a $25,000 electric vehicle in the next few years.At Tesla’s annual shareholder’s meeting and Battery Day 2020 event, Musk and Drew Baglino, Tesla senior vice president of Powertrain and Energy Engineering, outlined an extensive plan to reduce the cost of battery and electric vehicle manufacturing with changes to nearly every aspect of how Tesla builds cars.

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Tesla estimates that a 14% reduction in cost per kilowatt-hour can be achieved with its new “biscuit-tin” battery cell design and a further 18% from its new smaller, more efficient Terafactory manufacturing design. By streamlining how the batteries are put together, Tesla estimates that it will be able to manufacture 100 gigawatt-hours’ worth of battery capacity by 2022 — that’s on top of the cells that it buys from suppliers LG and Panasonic — stretching to 3,000 GWh (3 terawatt-hours) of production capacity by 2030.
Tesla
Further gains from new silicon anode chemistry, innovations in lithium recycling and nickel cathode chemistry and a new “structural battery construction” technique — which also leads to a lighter, stiffer EV chassis — add up to an estimated 56% total reduction in cost per kWh. The benefit is an estimated 54% increase in vehicle range from the same energy capacity and lower manufacturing cost. And the company is sure that it can pass that reduced cost onto the consumer.”What does this mean for our future products? We’re confident that long-term we can design and manufacture a compelling $25,000 electric vehicle,” Musk stated to the honking applause of his socially distanced audience, viewing the presentation drive-in-style in individual Tesla Model 3 sedans — the automaker’s current approximately $38,000 affordable electric sedan. It’s worth noting Musk hinted at a much cheaper EV in the past already, so it’s not the first time a cheap Tesla’s been on his mind. This time, though, it sounds like the program has some legs.Tesla shareholders showed their socially distanced approval by honking the horns of their individual Model 3s.
Tesla
“Our first car was an expensive sports car and then a slightly less expensive sedan and then the mass-market premium Model 3 and Model Y,” continued Musk. “But in the early years, it was always our goal to make an affordable electric car. I think probably in about three years from now we can make a very compelling $25,000 electric vehicle that’s also fully autonomous.”This is maybe not the most bombastic claim that Elon has made (or the most controversial), but the impending arrival of EVs with usable range and compelling value is probably the most exciting bit of news today for fans of the intersection of affordable cars and electric ones. During the course of his presentation, Musk also stated a goal of eventually building 20 million cars per year — a number derived from a desire to replace “a least 1% of the total vehicle fleet on Earth.”Of course, Musk then capped off the show with a sizzle reel highlighting the ultraperformance Model S Plaid’s “beyond Ludicrous” track time at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. I suppose you’ve gotta finish with a bang.

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Today, the least expensive Tesla in the lineup is the approximately $38,000 Model 3.
Tesla
Ultraperformance $140,000 Plaid models and fancy self-driving tech are cool (and certainly what brings all the fanboys to Tesla’s yard,) but I think that the only way electric cars will ever have a shot at replacing the combustion engine type is to bring the price way down. Fortunately, it seems Tesla CEO Elon Musk also knows this and he’s “confident” that the electric car company can build a $25,000 electric vehicle in the next few years.At Tesla’s annual shareholder’s meeting and Battery Day 2020 event, Musk and Drew Baglino, Tesla senior vice president of Powertrain and Energy Engineering, outlined an extensive plan to reduce the cost of battery and electric vehicle manufacturing with changes to nearly every aspect of how Tesla builds cars.

For more like this
Subscribe to the Roadshow newsletter, receive notifications and see related stories on CNET.

Tesla estimates that a 14% reduction in cost per kilowatt-hour can be achieved with its new “biscuit-tin” battery cell design and a further 18% from its new smaller, more efficient Terafactory manufacturing design. By streamlining how the batteries are put together, Tesla estimates that it will be able to manufacture 100 gigawatt-hours’ worth of battery capacity by 2022 — that’s on top of the cells that it buys from suppliers LG and Panasonic — stretching to 3,000 GWh (3 terawatt-hours) of production capacity by 2030.
Tesla
Further gains from new silicon anode chemistry, innovations in lithium recycling and nickel cathode chemistry and a new “structural battery construction” technique — which also leads to a lighter, stiffer EV chassis — add up to an estimated 56% total reduction in cost per kWh. The benefit is an estimated 54% increase in vehicle range from the same energy capacity and lower manufacturing cost. And the company is sure that it can pass that reduced cost onto the consumer.”What does this mean for our future products? We’re confident that long-term we can design and manufacture a compelling $25,000 electric vehicle,” Musk stated to the honking applause of his socially distanced audience, viewing the presentation drive-in-style in individual Tesla Model 3 sedans — the automaker’s current approximately $38,000 affordable electric sedan.Tesla shareholders showed their socially distanced approval by honking the horns of their individual Model 3s.
Tesla
“Our first car was an expensive sports car and then a slightly less expensive sedan and then the mass-market premium Model 3 and Model Y,” continued Musk. “But in the early years, it was always our goal to make an affordable electric car. I think probably in about three years from now we can make a very compelling $25,000 electric vehicle that’s also fully autonomous.”This is maybe not the most bombastic claim that Elon has made (or the most controversial), but the impending arrival of EVs with usable range and compelling value is probably the most exciting bit of news today for fans of the intersection of affordable cars and electric ones. During the course of his presentation, Musk also stated a goal of eventually building 20 million cars per year — a number derived from a desire to replace “a least 1% of the total vehicle fleet on Earth.”Of course, Musk then capped off the show with a sizzle reel highlighting the ultraperformance Model S Plaid’s “beyond Ludicrous” track time at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. I suppose you’ve gotta finish with a bang.

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2021 Lucid Air vs. Tesla Model S: EVs go head-to-head

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Tesla
At Tesla’s Battery Day event on Tuesday, CEO Elon Musk announced that the long-rumored Model S Plaid is now available to order, with deliveries beginning in late 2021. The Model S Plaid has its fair share of superlatives in a seemingly obvious dig at rivals like the Porsche Taycan and the recently revealed Lucid Air: A range of over 520 miles, a top speed of over 200 mph, a 0-to-60-mph time of under 2 seconds and a quarter-mile time of under 9 seconds. Tesla says the Plaid powertrain uses three electric motors and has more than 1,100 horsepower, but there aren’t many more details beyond that. Musk previously said the Plaid would set a new lap record at the Nürburgring, and prototypes were spied last year circling the track with enhanced aerodynamic bits, larger wheels with sticky tires, big brakes and other modifications. Musk has also said the Plaid car would have a battery pack larger than 100 kilowatt hours and mark the return of the Model S’ rear-facing third row of seats, although the latter seems to not yet have come true.
The only thing more insane than Ludicrous is Plaid. Arrives late 2021— Tesla (@Tesla) September 22, 2020

During the announcement a short video played showing a Plaid prototype with those same aero enhancements at the Laguna Seca race track. Musk said the Tesla team was at the track over the weekend and set a time of 1 minute, 30.3 seconds, adding that they expect to be able to chop a few more seconds off that time. That would make it one of the quickest production cars around Laguna Seca — of all time. More

Tesla
At Tesla Motors’ annual shareholder meeting and Battery Day 2020 event, CEO Elon Musk announced that the electric automobile manufacturer is preparing to release a private beta of the “full self-driving version” of its Autopilot driver-aid software in the coming months.”It’s kind of hard for people to judge the progress of Autopilot,” Musk told a crowd of shareholders present at the event, each social distancing in their own Tesla Model 3, drive-in style. “I’m driving a bleeding edge, alpha build of Autopilot, so I sort of have insight into what is going on.”

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Musk went on to explain how Tesla’s engineers recently had to overhaul major parts of the Autopilot, including a rethinking of how the system sees the world.”We had to do a fundamental rewrite of the entire Autopilot software stack… We’re now labeling 3D video, which is hugely different from when we were previously labeling single 2D images,” Musk explained, referring to the way the Autopilot software understands what the objects it sees with its eight cameras are, and how it should react to them. “We’re now labeling entire video segments, taking all cameras simultaneously and labeling that. The sophistication of the neural net of the car and the overall logic of the car is improved dramatically.”Musk hinted that drivers may get a chance to experience this more sophisticated version of Autopilot soon. Tesla shareholders showed their socially distanced approval by honking the horns of their individual Model 3s.
Tesla
“I think we’ll hopefully release a private beta of Autopilot — the full self-driving version of autopilot — in, I think a month or so? And then people will really understand the magnitude of the change,” said Musk adding, “It’s profound. You’ll see what it’s like, it’s amazing.”Attendees showed their approval for Musk’s promise by honking the horns of their safety bubbles.We’ll be keeping an eye out for this next-generation of Autopilot over the next few weeks. In the meantime, check out the rest of our coverage of Tesla Battery Day 2020 for more announcements and breaking news.  More

Audi/Ford/Nissan/Rivian
More and more electric cars are coming. Today, there may only be a baker’s dozen on sale, but over the next few years, the choices will grow tremendously. It’s a big switch from the traditional internal-combustion engine, but honestly, we’re excited for some great new cars that happen to run on battery power.To prove it, in this list, each of our editors picks the electric car they’re most excited about and explains why. We left it open to EVs already announced but awaiting launch, EVs we know only slivers of info about and some that are already sale today that await new variants. Be sure to let us know what EVs get you excited in the comments, too.

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Volkswagen
Volkswagen ID BuzzYes, in spite of a slew of sexy and high-power electric performance cars on the horizon, the EV launch I’m most excited about really is a minivan. But not just any minivan, I’m amped for the production version of the Volkswagen ID Buzz, the battery-powered revival of the brand’s legendary Type 2 Microbus.Due in 2022, VW’s electric Bus revival will hopefully get a better name, but even if it doesn’t, this charismatic-looking thing promises to provide guilt-free performance, flexible seating configurations and more utility than most SUVs.The ID Buzz is slated to be built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, riding atop VW’s MEB platform. Packing available all-wheel drive, gobs of tech, plenty of range (well over 300 miles) and wrapped in nostalgia-soaked looks, VW’s ID Buzz doesn’t just look like a winner, it has the potential to create a new vehicle category all by its lonesome.– Chris Paukert
Ford
Ford Mustang Mach-EThe upcoming electric vehicle I’m anticipating most is the Mustang Mach-E. Yeah, I get it, this is pretty low-hanging fruit, but hear me out. Not only is this vehicle a fashion-forward SUV, it has available all-wheel drive, should offer potent performance and is far more versatile than any vehicle that Ford’s ever put the Mustang name on before. It has the potential to be a truly groundbreaking new product and transform this hallowed nameplate in the 21st Century.As Tesla’s proven, there is a market for upscale, feature-rich EVs, something mainstream automakers have taken nearly a decade to figure out. Instead of building another boring hatchback with kidney bean-like proportions and utterly forgettable features, designers and engineers in Dearborn decided to do something different, to build an aspirational electric car. Like various Tesla models, the Mach-E is intended to show that battery-powered vehicles can be sporty, fun and interesting. One look at the specs sheet and it sure looks like they’ve succeeded. Another reason I’m excited about the Mach-E launch is because I want to see how the Mustang community reacts to such an “imposter.” Diehard fans were quick to decry this EV when it was unveiled late last year, and I’m sure their disdain has only grown during COVID-19 quarantine. Keep a bowl of popcorn handy, because once this thing starts showing up at dealerships and your local cars and coffee, there will be some heated discussions and likely a few epic tantrums.– Craig Cole
Tim Stevens/Roadshow
Polestar 2From a pure aesthetics standpoint, it’s hard for me to not be drawn in by the look of the Polestar 2. It’s handsome and simple, and while I wish it had more of a proper hatch on the back, inside and out it has the clean vibe that I’ve come to love about modern Volvos. It’s one of the few EVs that genuinely makes me look twice, and that’s doubly so thanks to the interior. It’s like slotting into a cool, relaxing cabin.Beyond aesthetics, that interior also is the first on the road to feature Android Automotive, which takes many of the concepts of Android Auto and effectively expands that to control the entire car’s interface. No more need to pair your phone, it’s Android all the way — maybe a little concerning if you’re not into Google, which I appreciate, but if you are, it’s amazing to just sign in to the car and have everything already there.But most importantly, this is just a great car. I’ve been lucky enough to spend a day in one and it’s quick, fun, comfortable, smooth and, of course, quiet. 275 miles of range is plenty for me. My only concern? The price. $60,000 is a little rich for my blood right now. Not to say that it’s not worth it, of course.– Tim Stevens
Hyundai
Hyundai Ioniq 6The Hyundai Prophecy EV concept has the look. Now, the Korean automaker has me hyped after announcing the Prophecy will indeed enter production as part of its spun-off Ioniq sub-brand. This sexy design will become the Ioniq 6, scheduled for launch in 2022. Crappy name, great-looking car.I’m basing my excitement on the hopes Hyundai designers find a way to keep the lovely bodywork just as stunning for production, but if recent Hyundai designs are any indicator, I think they’ll be successful. There’s just something refreshing about the Prophecy’s looks. Perhaps it’s the utter shunning of jagged angles and angry, slanted headlights. The Prophecy looks friendly, curvy and sort of like a 993-generation Porsche 911. It just looks good. I don’t know squat about the powertrain other than it will be totally electric. That was the only major criteria for this list.What’s even cooler, if Hyundai manages it, is that the Ioniq 6 should have suicide doors. This is actually a sedan, and the concept sports some killer doors that reveal a plaid-laden cockpit. If Hyundai wants its upcoming Ioniq division to snap some necks, I think the 6 is going to accomplish the mission with ease. Just don’t screw it up, please.– Sean Szymkowski
Rivian
Rivian R1TThe Rivian R1T is the first truck to get the full-EV treatment. What’s even better, the thing looks to be more than just a grocery getter with a bed. The biggest 180-kilowatt-hour battery is allegedly good for 400 miles of range and it boasts some fairly impressive off-road numbers.Ground clearance is a remarkable 14 and a half inches while approach and departure angles are 34.8 degrees and 30.5 degrees, respectively. Further, it can ford 42.7 inches of water. For those keeping score, those numbers beat the dirt-slaying Ford F-150 Raptor and its challenger the Ram 1500 TRX.While it still remains to be seen how the R1T will perform in the real world, its range should be enough for day trips into the wild. The design is pretty boss, too, with some cool pass-through storage behind the rear seats and a spare tire that hides neatly in the bed. It won’t go on sale until 2021 due to a coronavirus shutdown, but the company assures me it’s working to bring the R1T to consumers as soon as possible.– Emme Hall
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
Mercedes-Benz G-ClassI love the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. Like, really love it. So when news broke that an electric version of the G would be coming within the next few years I got extremely excited. All the best parts of the G-Class without the horrible gas mileage? Sign me up.Sure, part of the G’s appeal is the burbly V8 and side-exit exhaust, but I think the SUV’s character will lend itself really well to EV power. A large battery pack should be a benefit to the G’s center of gravity too, thus making it a little less tippy in corners. While I don’t know any powertrain details yet, the electric G is sure to be as immensely good off-road as the normal one, and it will probably be the quickest version, as well. And if going electric can allow the G to continue on for decades to come, we should all be grateful.– Daniel Golson
Steven Ewing/Roadshow
Porsche MacanThe Porsche Macan is an outstanding midsize SUV. Porsche has already proven its EV prowess with the Taycan. It stands to reason, then, that a combination of the two should be pretty freakin’ righteous.While there’s still a whole lot I don’t know about the forthcoming Macan EV, I do know that it’s already in the works, and that it should arrive within the next year or two as part of the Macan’s generational overhaul.Moving the Macan to an electrified platform will be quite interesting for the segment as a whole. Will there be notable holdouts who continue to cater to gas-guzzling buyers, or will Porsche become a pioneer and set the course that everyone else follows? It’ll be an interesting few years to come.– Andrew Krok
Rivian
Rivian R1SThe R1S brings back the undeniably cool aesthetics of the Range Rover Classic with a modern twist and that’s a good thing. It’s also a reasonable size and the interior (at least on the prototype) is sensible and looks hard-wearing. That sensible thing is a big part of the attraction to Rivian, at least for me. There’s not much in the way of kooky concept stuff going on. It’s all practical and I could easily imagine living with one on a day-to-day basis.The R1S (and its R1T sibling) are exciting from an engineering standpoint. The way that Rivian has designed the battery pack and its enclosure as well as its ability to tank turn, etc., make it look like a beast off-road and also well-suited for bragging in the Whole Foods parking lot.– Kyle Hyatt
Audi
Audi E-Tron GTThough we’ve only seen the Audi E-Tron GT in concept form, it’s supposed to go into production by the end of 2020. The four-door sedan has quite a bit in common with the Porsche Taycan, which is a good thing, packing some slick looks and good dollop of performance.With a 90-kWh battery and pair of electric motors on each axle, Audi says the GT will pack a not-shabby-at-all 590 hp, capable of getting the four-door to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds. It’ll have wireless and 800-volt charging capabilities. When hooked up to the latter, it means adding 200 miles of range after just 20 minutes of charge time.And yes, I like the GT’s looks. The front end isn’t as rounded off as its Porsche counterpart with more defined lines. It’s hunkered down with a fast roofline and high beltline. The chunky taillights, meanwhile, have the Roadshow staff split. I personally think it looks all right but will reserve judgment until I see it in production form. — Jon Wong
Volvo
Volvo XC40 RechargeA compact SUV makes a lot of sense as an electric vehicle. It allows for better battery packaging without sacrificing passenger or cargo space. And as far as small SUVs go, the Volvo XC40 is definitely my favorite. That’s why I’m stoked about the upcoming XC40 Recharge.The XC40 Recharge will share a lot with its platform-sharing corporate sibling, the Polestar 2, and that’s no bad thing. It should be relatively quick, able to accelerate to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, and with a low center of gravity and Volvo’s already-great chassis and steering tuning, hopefully pretty nice to drive. Plus, it’ll have the same modern, high-quality interior as the standard XC40, not to mention Google’s new Android Automotive infotainment system, which is some seriously sweet tech.No, it won’t have crazy driving range — I’m guessing low-to-mid-200-mile stuff — but that’ll be plenty for most buyers. More importantly, it takes solid EV tech and puts it in a usable, stylish, premium package. I could totally see myself in one of these as a daily driver.– Steven Ewing
Nissan
Nissan AriyaOne look at the original Leaf tells you everything you need to know about Nissan’s EV designers: they’re insane. And they’re at it again with the upcoming Nissan Ariya. The electric SUV seamlessly blends angular and organic elements to create a look that is sure to polarize. Then again, the best designs often do. Personally, I love that there are so many weird and smart details to discover around the body. Meanwhile, the cabin is deceptively simple with a minimalist dashboard and illuminated buttons that disappear when deactivated.With optional all-wheel drive, a low center of mass due to its battery pack and 50:50 weight distribution, Nissan has a pretty good jumping off point for tuning the EV’s ride and performance. Two battery sizes will be offered — 63 and 87 kWh — with the larger good for an impressive 300 estimated miles per charge.EV shoppers will soon be spoiled for choice with a number of compact electric SUVs hitting the market in the around-$40,000 range in 2021, including the Volkswagen ID 4, Ford’s Mach E, Audi’s Q4 E-Tron and more. More choice and competition for affordable EVs can only be a good thing for consumers and for pushing electric cars into the mainstream. The Ariya will arrive to the party with very competitive range and style that certainly stands far apart from the rest of the pack when it begins production in late 2021.– Antuan Goodwin

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