However, Jeep has announced the expansion of its 4xe plug-in hybrid family, not with new models, but with the rugged base model 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe and special edition 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary PHEV, in the Grand Cherokee, offers up to 25 miles of all-electric under Jeep. The automaker confirmed this week that the 2023 Honda CR-V hybrid delivers 40 mpg, with the addition of a front-wheel drive hybrid version. In terms of pricing announced around the same time, the automaker touted the Hybrid as a premium version that it hopes will account for 50% of CR-V sales.
One of the biggest stories of the week was a major shift in how one of America’s largest automakers sells cars, starting with electric vehicles. With new rules for its dealers announced this week, which will go into effect in January 2024, Ford is putting an end to the haggling and ticking on electric vehicles. Dealers looking to sell electric vehicles can choose between two tiers, but both require non-negotiable prices. Automakers say electric vehicles are on display to the public, but at the Detroit auto show, which was once the focus of US automaker announcements, there were no new revelations about electric cars.
Will the $25,000 Tesla come? While comments from Tesla’s head of investor relations earlier this week seemed to once again preclude that possibility, they argue that Tesla needs more affordable models in its lineup product. The Ford Mustang Mach-E EV and Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid are among the first vehicles to receive an updated version of Ford’s Bluecruise driver assistance system, called Activeglide on Lincoln, that performs automatic lane changes. Volkswagen unveiled the rugged, all-terrain ID.4 concept. With more power, all-terrain wheels, and hints that there’s real potential beyond that rugged look,
VW can gauge the production model’s response or, possibly, plan ahead on how the platform will look. Its MEB platform can work for upcoming Scout EV models. Nissan has approved a two-way charger that works with the Leaf while keeping the factory warranty intact. Nissan says the approved unit is the first that can help bring electricity to the grid, although Ford beat Nissan with a system that can disconnect from the grid while running slowly and provide electricity for the home.
Solid-state batteries and battery swaps could also be part of this future.
According to the automaker, the Nissan Leaf EV battery should last a long time, which could promote the reuse and mass recycling of batteries in the future. Electric vehicle sales are disproportionately low in communities of color, although they are often hit hardest by traffic-related air pollution. It’s not because of a lack of interest in electric vehicles, according to a new study. Barriers to toll collection, tram education and the way incentives are structured all play a role, he suggests. Honda says it plans to roll out 10 models of electric motorcycles globally by 2025, with several models for the United States and even one for children.