Study: Michigan Toll Roads Could Cost $10B Now to Raise $2B by 2030

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Jan. 24, 2023

The Michigan Department of Transportation has commissioned a study about enacting highway toll roads to raise revenue to fix roads.

The study follows a growing tax revenue hole from increasing fuel efficiency that leads to fewer fill-ups at the pump and more electric vehicles whose drivers don’t pay state or federal fuel tax.

Michigan roads lost out on $50 million in state gas tax from 2019-2021 because EVs charge instead of filling up at the pump.

The study found toll roads could raise a substantial amount of revenue, but estimated capital costs for toll

Florida Senate Committee Discusses Possible Fee Hikes on EVs

Written by Andrew Powell, The Center Square
Published Jan. 24, 2023

The Florida Senate Committee of Transportation met in Tallahassee on Jan. 24 to discuss fees to be imposed on Floridians who drive electric vehicles.

The committee was tasked to work out appropriate fees, depending on what type of EV was being used. Battery-only cars would have a higher fee than a hybrid that uses an internal combustion motor in tandem with the battery.

According to Committee Chair Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, legislation has been filed in 31 states over the past three years to impose new registration fees on electric

Cox Automotive Pilots New Mobile EV Battery Health Tool

PublishedJan. 24, 2023

Trust matters when it comes to car buying in both wholesale and retail. To drive confidence and transparency in the new and used EV market and help optimize battery first life, Cox Automotive on Jan. 24 announced the next phase of its pioneering approach to EV Battery Health scoring and diagnostics.

The company will set the foundation for the industry standard in EV battery inspection and valuation with its VIN-specific battery grading system unlike any other solution available today. The pilot of Cox Automotive's EV Battery Health mobile app and Bluetooth® dongle will launch at 10 Manheimlocations across the

Tesla to Unveil Plans for $3.5B Semi Plant in Nevada

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Jan. 24, 2023

In his first State of the State address Jan. 23, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo referenced Tesla’s reported plans for a $3.5 billion facility in northern Nevada to produce its Class 8 all-electric truck, the Tesla Semi. 

During his address, Lombardo said the central focus of his economic and business strategy is to reposition Nevada as a state that supports businesses and development. Among the most promising avenues for growth in Nevada, he said, is providing incentives for the development and expansion of new businesses and industries. 

Lombardo said he would be

Tesla Asks for Support of VA Bill to Streamline Showroom Opening Process

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Jan. 24, 2023

Teslais asking for help in a new fight against dealerships, as the automaker is pushing for a Virginia House bill to be passed through a transportation subcommittee Jan. 31.

House Bill 2468 would allow manufacturers who have already gone through administrative hearings in Virginia for new sales locations to open subsequent locations without additional hearings. Tesla called it a “common sense solution” that would save companies and the state time and money.

Tesla is encouraging owners and fans to reach out to the House Transportation Committee members to

Pennsylvania Bill Defrays Charging Station Cost for EV Owners

By Anthony Hennen, The Center Square
Published Jan. 24, 2023

Electric vehicle owners could see some savings thanks to the state government, but the benefits would flow to the already well-off.

The boost comes in the form of a tax credit, worth up to $2,000, to install an EV charging station or port.

The proposal, Senate Bill 157, is sponsored by Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia.

“While more is being done at both the state and federal levels to make the purchase of EVs more affordable, there are currently no state incentives for the purchase of residential EV charging stations,” Hughes wrote in a legislative memo.

GM and LG Call Off Partnership for 4th Battery Plant; GM Seeks New Partner

Written by Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press
Published Jan. 23, 2023

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have tentatively called off plans to build a fourth battery cell plant in the U.S. together as part of their joint venture Ultium Cells LLC, after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on details for that fourth plant, a person familiar with the plans confirmed to the Detroit Free Press on Jan. 20.

GM is expected to seek a new battery cells partner for the fourth plant, the person said. The person asked to not be named because negotiations are private.

GM spokesman

Chevrolet Releases Silverado EV’s Towing Capacity Test Results

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published Jan. 23, 2023

General Motors said the ChevroletSilverado EV RST---expected to hit the market by 2024--will offer up to 10,000 pounds of max towing on some variants.

Chevrolet aims to push the Silverado EV WT (Work Truck) model's towing capacity up to 20,000 pounds.

In a recent validation test, Chevrolet’s engineering team hitched a 7,700-pound RV to a 2024 Silverado EV WT. The test was conducted with the Silverado EV running at low and high speeds. The all-electric pickup truck reportedly drove smoothly and responded well to driver feedback.

“It’s so important for

Tesla Cybertruck Casting Molds Reportedly Arrive at Giga Texas

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published Jan. 23, 2023

As Teslaapproaches Cybertruck production, supposed to begin this year, the community of watchers has been uncovering more details on a regular basis.

Now, it seems some of the molds that will be used to diecast the Cybertruck have arrived at the EV maker's Texas factory and

GM Has Designed a Small Electric Pickup Truck to Gauge Interest

Written by Adrian Padeanu, Motor1.com
Published Jan. 20, 2023

The ChevroletS10 is a small truck General Motors refuses to sell in the U.S. to compete with the FordMaverick and HyundaiSanta Cruz. Instead, GM is toying with the idea of a purely electric pickup that would have two doors, a low roofline and a 4- to 4.5-foot-long bed.

Automotive News saw marketing images of the zero-emission workhorse while visiting GM's design studio in Warren, MI. It's apparently "futuristic and sporty," while being slightly smaller than the compact gas trucks from Ford and Hyundai.

It's unclear which badge it

Court Rules Rivian, Lucid May Sell Vehicles Direct to Consumers in Illinois

Written by Seyfarth Shaw, JD Supra
Published Jan. 20, 2023

On Dec. 19, an Illinois state trial court issued an order dismissing, with prejudice, a complaint filed by the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association (IADA) and numerous individual franchised dealers against Rivian, Lucidand the Illinois Secretary of State.

Rivian and Lucid are EV manufacturers that sell their vehicles direct to consumers rather than through franchised dealers. In 2021, the Secretary of State granted Rivian and Lucid motor vehicle dealer licenses allowing them to sell their vehicles directly in Illinois.

In their complaint,

Report: Tesla ‘Uses Its Profits as a Weapon’

Written by Mark Kane, InsideEVs
Published Jan. 20, 2023

Tesla's recent worldwide price reduction continues to be a hot topic, as it might significantly affect other manufacturers.

A recent Reuters article said CEO Elon Musk started the EV price war, using the company's "superior profitability as a weapon."

Well, it seems an exaggeration to call the recent move a war and that Musk started it. The world is more complex.

In the second half of 2022, Tesla's estimated order backlog consistently decreased, to less than 100,000 vehicles as of the end of December. In other words, the market conditions triggered

GM Investing $918 Million in 4 U.S. Facilities for V-8 Engine Production, EV Components

PublishedJan. 20, 2023

General Motors Co. announced Jan. 20 plans to invest $918 million in four U.S. manufacturing sites, including $854 million to prepare these facilities to produce the company’s sixth generation Small Block V-8 engine and an additional $64 million in Rochester, NY, and Defiance, OH, for castings and components to support EV production.

These investments will enable the company to strengthen its industry-leading full-size truck and SUV business and continue to support the company’s growing EV product portfolio. Product details, timing, performance and features related to GM’s next gen V-8 engine are not

J.D. Power Creates Index to Measure Roadblocks to EV Adoption, Parity to Gas-Powered Vehicles

PublishedJan. 20, 2023

J.D. Power, a global leader in data analytics and consumer intelligence, on Jan. 17 announced the introduction of the J.D. Power EV Index, an analytics tool to track the growing EV market in the U.S.

Each month, the index will arrive at one number, on a 100-point scale, to make it easy to understand the progress to parity of EVs with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The sub-category numbers will represent all the roadblocks to parity.

Today, the EV Index score is 47, based on the most recent available data from November, with some categories improving and others

Virginia Rejects Ford Battery Plant Investment Over Partner’s Political Ties

Written by Dan Mihalascu, InsideEVs
Published Jan. 19, 2023

In December, reports surfaced about Ford Motor Company's plans to build a new battery plant in the U.S. with Chinese EV battery powerhouse CATL.

The states of Michigan and Virginia were listed as favorites to host the new facility, but it looks like the Old Dominion voluntarily dropped out of the race.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a potential Republican candidate for president in 2024, rejected the $3.6 billion investment.

In a statement to The Detroit News, Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter

Tesla Begins Implementing Automated Quality Control at Fremont, CA, Factory

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Jan. 19, 2023

Teslais beginning to implement an automated quality control system at its Fremont, CA, factory to monitor build quality in vehicle interiors.

One of Tesla’s biggest points of criticism is vehicle build quality, and the company has made numerous strides over the year to improve. Tesla began posting job descriptions for quality inspection engineers several years ago, to “apply their experience with vehicle assembly lines and manufacturing software systems to lead the installation and operations of automation camera inspection systems into existing manufacturing

Tesla Roadster Delayed as Company Focuses on ‘Mass Electrification’

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published Jan. 18, 2023

The TeslaRoadster has been pushed to the back burner, according to a recent interview with Tesla Head of Design Franz von Holzhausen.

The Tesla Roadster has captured the imagination of fans since its original announcement, especially as its specifications became more ambitious. According to comments from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, not only will the vehicle go from 0-60 mph in less than two seconds, it will also hover.

Fans may be forced to wait even longer than anticipated, as von Holzhausen said the vehicle has been delayed as the company

Shell Buying EV Charging Company Volta for $169 Million

PublishedJan. 18, 2023

Volta Inc. on Jan. 18 announced Shell USA Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc, will acquire Volta in an all-cash transaction of about $169 million.

The transaction brings Volta's powerful dual charging and media network to Shell's established brand and seeks to unlock robust, long-term growth opportunities in EV charging.

Shell USA Inc. will acquire all outstanding shares of Class A common stock of Volta at $0.86 per share in cash upon completion of the merger, which represents an approximate 18% premium to the closing price of Volta stock on Jan. 17, the last full trading day prior to the

Edmunds Announces 2023 Top Rated Awards

PublishedJan. 18, 2023

The car shopping experts at Edmundson Jan. 18 announced the winners of the Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2023.

The awards are determined by a combination of proprietary data and insights from Edmunds' extensive new vehicle testing and rating process, and the winners represent the finest vehicles on sale in 2023.

The winners of the Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2023 are:

• Top Rated Car: HondaCivic
• Top Rated Electric Car: ChevroletBolt EV
• Top Rated SUV: KiaSportage Hybrid
• Top Rated Electric SUV: HyundaiIoniq

Tesla Phantom Braking Class Action Lawsuit Includes Model 3, Model Y

Written by David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com
Published Jan. 17, 2023

A Teslaphantom braking class action lawsuit alleges 2021-2022 Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y vehicles suddenly brake even though there are no objects in the road.

The Tesla vehicles are equipped with Autopilot, a feature allegedly rushed to market before the technology was safe.

The Tesla phantom braking lawsuit also alleges the automatic emergency braking (AEB) is defective and was sold to consumers as a safety feature.

Yet the ...

Well, That Was Quick: Resolution to Ban EVs in Wyoming Dies in Committee

Written by Kevin Killough, Cowboy State Daily
Published Jan. 17, 2023

A Wyoming Senate resolution to phase out electric vehicles in Wyoming has died.

If it had passed the full Legislature, Senate Joint Resolution 4 would have made it a goal that the sale of new electric vehicles (EV) in the state be phased out by 2035.

It requested that Wyoming industries and residents voluntarily limit their sales and purchases of new EVs.

It failed to gain traction with the Senate Minerals,

Hertz Added EV Rentals and Went from Bankruptcy to Huge Profits

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published Jan. 17, 2023

It wasn't that long ago rental car company Hertzwent bankrupt. It also wasn't that long ago Hertz hired NFL superstar quarterback Tom Brady to promote the fact it had placed an order for 100,000 Teslasto rent to customers across the globe. Now, it's back to making a profit.

Hertz's Tesla order was big news---not only because it had to do with Tesla, but also because Brady was involved, and it seemed Hertz was doomed not long before it happened.

According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Hertz had to order its Teslas just like any other

U.S. EV Sales Grow 65% in 2022 Despite Overall Auto Market Decline

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Jan. 17, 2023

Sales of electric vehicles in the U.S. grew by 65% in 2022, despite a decline in total new vehicle sales for the first time since 2011, new data from Kelley Blue Book showed.

According to Kelley Blue Book, for the first time in just over a decade, Americans bought fewer new cars than the year before. However, EV sales grew year over year by a significant margin.

EV sales topped 800,000 units and will likely continue to rise for years to come. Cox Automotive suggested 2023 will be the first year EV sales will beat 1 million units.

Boosted by

Tesla Files for $59M Die Shop at Giga Texas

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Jan. 16, 2023

Teslahas filed for a $59 million diecast shop at Giga Texas, new filings show.

Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas is still moving closer to Cybertruck production, based on recent comments from Chief Vehicle Designer Franz von Holzhausen on the "Ride the Lightning" podcast.

As the facility is

Study: 90% of Households Would Save on Energy Costs Switching to EVs

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Jan. 16, 2023

A study from the University of Michigan says more than 90% of vehicle-owning households in the U.S. would reduce the percentage of income spent on transportation energy if they switched to electric vehicles.

However, more than half of the lowest-income U.S. households, or about 8.3 million households, would continue to experience high transportation energy burdens, defined as spending more than 4% of household income on filling the tank or charging up.

Study author Joshua Newellfrom the university's Center for Sustainable Systems said the results

Tesla Cybertruck Appears to Be on Track, but It’s Missing One Big Thing

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Jan. 16, 2023

Tesla's Cybertruck production has been delayed several times over the past few years, but appears to be on track to begin in early 2023. 

But as manufacturing of the pickup nears, there is still one big thing missing: the Cybertruck’s price.

After being unveiled in late 2019, the Tesla Cybertruck was slated to begin production a year later, in late 2020. However, unforeseen circumstances, like the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent supply chain disruptions, prevented Tesla from initiating the production of its first all-electric pickup

Wyoming Moves to Ban Sales of New EVs by 2035

Written by Tom Moloughney, InsideEVs
Published Jan. 16, 2023

Change is hard. Humans are creatures of habit and it's in our nature to avoid change. Transitioning our personal transportation fleet from vehicles that burn fossil fuels to plug-in electric vehicles is going to be a massive undertaking.

And as with all new disruptive technologies, there will be winners and losers, as the old tech is shuttered while the new technology proliferates. The oil and gas industry already knows electric vehicles are poised to replace the internal combustion engine vehicles it caters to, and the demand for its products will radically decrease in the coming years.

But that

Tesla Giga Texas Steps Towards Cybertruck Production with More Equipment Deliveries

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Jan. 13, 2023

To say Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas is a busy site these days would be an understatement.

Per recent images and footage taken of the facility, Tesla’s Austin factory continues to be abuzz with activity, from construction to vehicle production to the installation of

More Tesla Semis Ready to Deliver After Final Inspections

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published Jan. 13, 2023

More newly completed TeslaSemis were seen at the automaker's Nevada facility, reportedly being readied for delivery. 

Tesla still owes PepsiComany more electric Semis, and while a great deal was learned at the recent electric semi-truck delivery event, there are still many unanswered

Rivian Executives Leave Company Following Production Miss

By Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published Jan. 13, 2023

Several of Rivian's leading executives left the company over the last few months, and most recently, more departed following the electric truck maker's 2022 production miss.

Some key players for the electric startup were among those who decided to leave, including Randy Frank, Rivian Automotive's vice president of body and interior engineering, and Steve Gawronski, vice president in charge of parts purchasing and supply chain. Both executives have been with Rivian for a long time and left at the beginning of this year.

Rivian officially confirmed the