Honda Prologue evaluation, GM plug-in hybrids, Mach-E value lower: The Week in Reverse

Which automaker pushed an vital EV goal again by 5 years?

Which model is no less than contemplating including synthetic engine vibration to its EVs?

That is our look again on the Week In Reverse—proper right here at Inexperienced Automotive Stories—for the week ending February 23, 2024.

In a first drive of the 2024 Honda Prologue EV, we discovered that this roomy, refined, and feature-packed electrical crossover suits in simply fantastic as an establishing assertion towards flashier Honda EVs arriving within the close to future. 

2025 Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid

The brand new-generation 2025 Porsche Panamera plug-in hybrid lineup revealed this week mixes in additional electrical miles, will get faster acceleration, and good points an energetic suspension system, amongst its many enhancements. 

The legions of legacy automakers saying delays to their EV plans grew once more this week, as Mercedes-Benz delayed its EV targets introduced earlier within the decade. Whereas it had deliberate for EVs and hybrids to make up 50% of its gross sales by 2025, it now expects to hit that concentrate on in 2030. It additionally seems to have scrapped its plan to solely promote EVs by 2030 the place market situations allowed. 

GM electrical pickup silhouette – from 2020 Ultium platform preview

Additional, GM is reportedly speeding plans for full-size plug-in hybrid pickups, because it pivots away from a brand new era of electrical vans and a smaller electrical pickup. And Hyundai’s Genesis could not shift to completely electrical on fairly the timeline it’s been detailing lately, in accordance with a report from South Korea. A report, citing insiders, means that the posh model now plans so as to add hybrids subsequent 12 months, whereas it had beforehand stated all additions to the lineup from 2025 on can be EVs or hydrogen fuel-cell fashions.

Ford on Tuesday  lower Mustang Mach-E EV costs by as much as $8,100. The worth adjustment brings base variations of remaining 2023 inventory to $41,695, or about $2,700 lower than the entry Tesla Mannequin Y. A bonus money incentive additionally chopped as much as $12,500 off F-150 Lightning electrical vehicles. 

2025 Volvo EC40 (Europe spec)

Volvo, alternatively, has not too long ago reaffirmed its plans to go all-electric by the tip of the last decade, and on the best way there it’s retiring its Recharge badge for plug-ins. Meaning including two new EV badges to align the outdated with the brand new—recasting the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge because the EX40 and EC40, respectively. Volvo additionally later within the week clarified precisely the way it will shed most of its stake in Polestar, because the EV startup struggles and has change into, as some have noticed, a drag on Volvo assets. 

In response to a number of experiences from earlier within the week, the Biden administration is contemplating pulling again on stricter emissions guidelines, in order to present full-line automakers extra time to ramp up EV manufacturing ranges and produce extra gas-guzzlers. The tweaks would reportedly “sluggish the tempo at which auto producers would wish to conform,” pushing sharper good points to 2030 and past.

Prepared for a European trip? The Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer electrical station wagon revealed Monday appears to be like all set for a household highway journey—and with the three-row ID.Buzz coming right here later this 12 months, it’s laborious to think about this enticing electrical wagon being U.S.-bound anytime quickly. 

2025 Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer

In response to a patent submitting made final 12 months and not too long ago discovered by way of a Mopar fan web site, mum or dad firm Stellantis could also be contemplating extra than simply noisemaking for its screaming-loud electrical muscle automotive, now due for a reveal March 5. A so-called “Energetic Vibration Enhancement” system may doubtlessly present a muscle EV with the shake of a V-8. 

Sono Motors is present process one thing of a revival, publish chapter, with a photo voltaic electrical bus equipment aimed toward changing industrial autos. However there’s no point out of the Sion photo voltaic EV challenge, which had beforehand seemed to be on the market. As of this weekend, the corporate nonetheless hasn’t responded to Inexperienced Automotive Stories relating to the standing of this system or its potential sale.

Sono Sion and different autos outfitted with Sono photo voltaic panels

Earlier than the tip of the last decade, EVs could also be cheaper than gasoline fashions. In response to a examine out this week from the Worldwide Council on Clear Transportation (ICCT), a glut of lithium plus Biden coverage will lead to decrease battery costs and, most significantly, a lot decrease EV sticker costs relative to gasoline autos. The affordability good points will occur even with out Biden incentives, simply extra slowly.

And as misinformation spreads about EV gross sales being down, ship your pals to an easy-to-read chart—exhibiting that 2023 EV gross sales blew previous 2022 ranges each single month of this previous 12 months.

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