News

Unlike in decades past, there aren’t a ton of cars for sale outside the U.S. that we pine for. The Suzuki Jimny is a notable exception. While we can’t imagine many American buyers would go for such a small off-roader, we can’t help but want one. Unlike compact crossovers like the Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Renegade, the Jimny is a true, old-school off-roader with a ladder chassis and an honest four-wheel drive system.The Jimny EV teaser is seen at the top right.SuzukiThe latest Jimny was a huge hit in Europe, Japan, and elsewhere, and its successor will be electrified. Suzuki announced its roadmap to 2030 on Thursday, and naturally, it includes a lot of hybrids and EVs. The presentation made no specific reference to the new Jimny, but a slide teasing future models for Europe teased what is almost certainly a Jimny EV. Currently, the Jimny uses a 101-hp 1.5-liter four-cylinder, though it’s offered with a 660-cc turbo three-cylinder in Japan to comply with kei-car regulations. Suzuki recently launched a five-door version of the Jimny, which will be built by the company’s Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki. While a five-door, electric Jimny has a much broader appeal than an underpowered three-door, don’t expect to see it come to America. Suzuki says it will focus on Europe, Japan, India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Notably, the slides from its presentation indicate that Suzuki will only sell the Jimny EV in Europe. Instead, they’ll get an electric version of the Hustler, a Jimny-inspired crossover. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

BMW and battery developer Solid Power expand plans to collaborate on solid-state battery technology, with plans to begin testing vehicles will these cells in 2023. The automaker is preparing to build a prototype line in its Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Germany to test solid-state battery production.BMW says a working prototype with solid-state batteries will be presented before 2025, but market launch timing remains fluid for now.Several automakers and tech startups have been working on solid-state battery technology, with the promise of lighter weight and longer range in EVs being just two of the benefits. The race to offer solid-state batteries in production vehicles is arguably the single most important one when it comes to EV technology in this decade, with a number of developers pursuing different battery compositions, and working to scale them up from the lab to the production line.Battery developer Solid Power, backed by Ford and BMW, is working on using a sulfide-based solid electrolyte in place of the traditional liquid electrolyte in its battery design, with the same aim of offering a lighter battery and a higher energy density, compared to traditional lithium-ion designs.BMW revealed this week that Solid Power plans to deliver full-scale automotive cells for testing this year. The two companies have also expanded their joint development agreement, allowing BMW to build a prototype line in its Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) located in Parsdorf, Germany, near Munich. This expanded agreement will allow BMW and Solid Power to perform cell development and manufacturing activities at locations owned by both companies.Before the prototype manufacturing line gets rolling, BMW Group staff will work with the startup’s engineers to fine tune cell manufacturing processes. The automaker says a demonstrator vehicle with a solid-state battery on board will appear before 2025.”Expanding our relationship with BMW is further evidence that both companies believe in Solid Power’s technology development and the value of solid-state batteries,” said David Jansen, interim CEO, president, and chair of Solid Power.Other German automakers are also in the race, with Mercedes-Benz backing solid-state startup Factorial Energy, based in Boston and also backed by Stellantis and Hyundai, as well as solid-state developer ProLogium. Battery ProgressSolid Power has been developing sulfide-based solid electrolytes at a pilot scale, but they will soon be ready for testing in actual cars.Solid PowerBut BMW’s Neue Klasse EVs, due in 2025, won’t immediately benefit from solid-state tech. The automaker plans to introduce the next generation of cylindrical lithium-ion cells, dubbed Gen6, in Neue Klasse models, promising a 30 percent improvement in range in the WLTP cycle. So solid-state batteries aren’t quite around the corner by BMW’s estimates, even though the automaker will begin testing them in prototypes later this year.”The new BMW round cells come with a diameter of 46 millimeters and two different heights of 95 mm and 120 mm,” the automaker said in regard to its next-gen lithium-ion cells. “Compared to the prismatic cells of the fifth BMW battery cell generation, the cell’s volumetric energy density will improve by more than 20 percent.”However, BMW has refrained from predicting just when we’ll see solid-state batteries in its production cars, including the Neue Klasse models. BMW expects that before 2030, 50 percent of its sales will come from battery-electric models, but whether most of these will be its next-gen lithium-ion designs or solid-state compositions remains to be seen. BMW certainly knows other automakers also want to be the first to offer this technology in their cars.But Solid Power has a more definitive estimate, indicating it expects to scale its electrolyte production by 2028 to power 800,000 vehicles annually.”BMW remains committed to the pursuit of all-solid-state batteries, a technology which we believe has significant potential for the future,” said Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management for BMW, Development. More

EV charging rates are often referred to by their simple Level 1 (120V), Level 2 (240V), and Level 3 (400V and up DC) classifications, but within those categories can be a wide span of charging rates. Level 2, for example, can range from a 6.0-kW ChargePoint hookup you might encounter in a parking garage to the maximum rate of 19.2 kW. If you own an EV, you want to be charging at home as much as possible; it’s more convenient and far cheaper that way. And we think the sweet spot is the ability to recharge your vehicle’s battery roughly overnight: call it in 10 to 12 hours or so. For many EVs with moderate-size battery packs, this is possible with mainstream home-charging options, such as the ones featured in this roundup. But for vehicles with larger packs, such as the 131.0-kWh Ford F-150 Lightning, the 128.9-kWh Rivian R1S or R1T, or the 112.0-kWh Lucid Air, you’ll need substantially more juice for anything close to an overnight charge. For example, the charge time for a Lightning using a 6.0-kW outlet is roughly 24 hours, and a Hummer EV with its gigantic 212.7-kWh pack would take almost 40 hours. How Charge Rates and Times Are CalculatedA quick refresher: The rate is simply the power output, or voltage times current, e.g., 240 volts and 40 amps equal an output of 9600 watts, or 9.6 kilowatts. And an electrical circuit can run continuously at 80 percent of its rated capability, so a 50-amp, 240-volt circuit is required to be able to charge at 40 amps or 9.6 kW. To estimate an EV’s charge time, take the battery capacity, add 10 percent for losses, and divide by the charge rate.All About EV ChargingThe long charge times with some of these latest big-battery EVs on the 6.0-kW ChargePoint units we have at our office caused us to search out a replacement for the two Tesla Wall Connectors we also have at our office, both of which were wired to support 19.2-kW charging on the Model S, an option Tesla has long since discontinued. While we’ve used a Tesla-to-J1772 adapter to charge non-Tesla EVs, that connector is only rated for charging at half the 19.2-kW maximum. We landed on the Porsche Wall Connector, which sells for $1586. Expensive, yes, but there aren’t that many options for the fastest Level 2 charging. Ford’s Charge Station Pro goes for $1310, Lucid’s Connected Home Charging Station for $1200—both which support bidirectional charging. Clipper Creek is the rare third-party choice, and it goes for $2195. And the Porsche unit is the only one with a display on it, the same 5.0-inch touchscreen interface found on Porsche’s optional portable charging equipment, which is a $1120 option when purchasing a Taycan.Car and DriverWe were hoping we’d be able to view our charging remotely through the My Porsche app, but it turns out you have to be charging a Porsche that’s in your account to do so. We instead view the energy use on the screen to track EVs’ efficiency and can look back through previous charging activity if necessary. There’s also the possibility of connecting to the charging unit’s own hotspot to view activity, although we haven’t yet been successful in making that work. Try This at Home?To be able to charge at the maximum 19.2-kW rate, three things must align: your house must have a dedicated 100-amp circuit for EV charging, your charging equipment has to have the capability, and the vehicle must be able to accept it. For example, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, our 2022 EV of the Year, has a 10.9-kW onboard charger. So, it can’t charge at a higher rate than that on a Level 2 outlet no matter what charging equipment is installed. To be able to charge a Porsche Taycan at the maximum rate, you have to select the $1680 option for the 19.2-kW onboard charger when ordering, or there’s the possibility to retrofit it later. But, when all of these things align, the charge times are impressive: a Taycan with the large pack can be charged from empty to full in under five hours, a Lucid Air in about 6.5 hours, and a F-150 Lightning or Rivian R1S or R1T in about 7.5 hours. More

You may have heard of Let’s Make a Deal from the famous Monty Hall problem, a statistics brain teaser loosely based on the game’s format and named after its original host. That problem historically involves a contestant picking one of three possible doors, behind which could be a dream car—or a goat. Starting Monday, Let’s Make a Deal is kicking off its Fabulous Car Week, wherein one featured luxury car is a possible prize each episode. Starting Monday, January 30, and continuing each day until Friday, February 3, those prizes will consist of four luxury crossover SUVs and one luxury sedan. Here are the details on each one.Monday, January 30: Audi Q5, $57,000 (est.)Starting off on Monday, contestants on Let’s Make a Deal—or traders, as they are referred to on the show—will be able to win an Audi Q5. The car will be up for grabs in the game Go for a Spin, with odds getting as high as one in four to win the luxury crossover. At roughly $57,000, this Q5 is likely a nice mid-trim model. We’re glad it isn’t the more cramped Sportback, but we can only hope it comes equipped with the stepped-up 261-hp engine configuration.ALL THE SPECS ON THE Q5Tuesday, January 31: Lexus RX350, $56,000 (est.)The selected trader on Tuesday will compete in the Tic Tac Deal competition in an attempt to win a Lexus RX350. The RX350 starts at a little over $48,000, but a spokesperson from Let’s Make a Deal confirmed the car on the show is worth closer to $56,000. That puts it squarely into RX350 Luxury trim territory, with added luxuries like the larger 14.0-inch infotainment screen and leather upholstery, among other niceties. ALL THE SPECS ON THE RX350Wednesday, February 1: Mercedes-Benz E350, $63,000 (est.)Wednesday’s episode will feature the only non-SUV of the week, with contestants vying for a Mercedes E350 sedan. The 2023 E350 starts at $57,800, but a spokesperson for the show informed us the car they’re showing is worth more than $63,000. Contestants will compete in the Timeline game for a chance at the Merc. ALL THE SPECS ON THE E350 Thursday, February 2: Alfa Romeo Stelvio, $58,000 (est.)Contestants in Thursday’s Car Pong game will have a chance at an Alfa Romeo Stelvio. We were told the car will come in the Veloce trim, landing it in the middle of the lineup between the Ti and Lusso. Features aren’t quite as plentiful as the top two trims, but the furnishings are upscale and come together for an impressive vehicle in such a competitive segment. ALL THE SPECS ON THE STELVIOFriday, February 3: Jaguar F-Pace, $59,000 (est.)Rounding out the week, the feature car for the Friday episode will be the Jaguar F-Pace. It’s got sports-car-inspired handing, a responsive powertrain, and ample cargo room in any trim, but the $59,000 price of this model rules out the sportiest P400 R-Dynamic S trim. Even so, the lower two trim levels come standard with a 246-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Contestants in Friday’s Think Big game are the ones with a chance to drive home with these new wheels. ALL THE SPECS ON THE F-PACE More