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Category: ElectricVehicleTrends

ElectricVehicleTrends

  • Germany Clearing Autonomous Vehicles for Regular Use

    Germany Clearing Autonomous Vehicles for Regular Use

    Germany is poised to be the first country to clear autonomous vehicles for everyday use.

    According to Deutsche Welle, Germany’s lower house of parliament has passed a bill that paves the way for autonomous vehicle integration, with the bill moving to the upper chamber for passage. The bill would allow autonomous vehicles to be a standard part of daily traffic, with minimal restrictions.

    “Individual permits, exceptions and requirements — such as the presence of a safety assurance driver who is always ready to intervene — would not be necessary,” the Transportation Ministry said in a statement.

    In order to qualify, however, they must be Level 4 autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicles are ranked (via TechRepublic) from Level 0 to Level 5, with Level 0 having no autonomous ability and Level 5 requiring no human control whatsoever. Level 4 is still considered “fully autonomous,” even though it may not cover every conceivable driving scenario. Instead, Level 4 is focused on “operational design domain (ODD)” performance.

    Currently, there are no Level 4 vehicles available. In fact, Honda recently made headlines when it announced the world’s first Level 3 autonomous vehicle. As a result, it may be some time before there are vehicles available that meet Germany’s threshold. Nonetheless, once the bill goes into effect, Level 4 vehicles should be approved as of 2022.

    “Germany will be the first country worldwide to take autonomous vehicles from the research laboratories to the streets,” said Transportation Minister Andreas Scheuer in a statement. “We are now a major step closer to that goal.

  • Tesla Car Spotted With Lidar Sensors

    Tesla Car Spotted With Lidar Sensors

    Tesla appears to be testing a car with lidar sensors, a technology used to help automakers develop self-driving vehicles.

    Elon Musk famously said “lidar is a fool’s errand,” at Tesla’s “Autonomy Day” in April 2019. “Anyone relying on lidar is doomed.” Musk has maintained his company can build full self-driving (FSD) vehicles without resorting to lidar.

    Despite those statements, pictures have been circulating on Twitter showing a Model Y with lidar sensors on the roof.

    According to Bloomberg, Tesla purchased the lidar sensors from Luminar, whose stock rose as a result. What’s not clear, however, is what the company is working on. While the obvious conclusion is that Tesla is doing an about-face, experts are not convinced.

    “The more likely scenario is they are using the Luminar lidars to validate their camera-based FSD system,” Guidehouse analyst Sam Abuelsamid told Bloomberg. “If they made that change, it would effectively deprecate their entire fleet of vehicles. They are not going to retrofit one million vehicles.”

    One strong possibility is that Tesla is simply testing their vehicles to see how they compare with lidar-equipped competitors.

  • Tesla Hit With a Whopping Norwegian Fine Over Throttling Charging Speed

    Tesla Hit With a Whopping Norwegian Fine Over Throttling Charging Speed

    Tesla has been ordered to pay customers in Norway $16,000 each for throttling battery charging speeds and capacity.

    Tesla rolled out two software updates, 2019.16.1 and .2, which impacted the Model S and Model X containing 85 kWh battery packs. As Electrek reports, many users of those models started reporting range decreases of 12 to 30 miles, as well as slower charging times at Supercharger stations.

    At the time, the company told Electrek the software update was designed to “protect the battery and improve battery longevity,” and that only a small percentage of users were impacted. The reassurance did little to stop a spate of lawsuits from Tesla owners whose vehicles were suddenly not performing as well as they were previously.

    Norway’s court has now sided with users, finding Tesla guilty and ordering the company to pay $16,000 to each impacted owner. Although there were only 30 Tesla owners behind the lawsuit, it’s estimated there may be as many as 10,000 affected Norwegian owners, making the outcome potentially very expensive for the company.

    It remains to be seen if Tesla will appeal, but the victory is sure to help similar lawsuits in other countries.

  • Elon Musk Open to Setting Up a Tesla Factory in Russia

    Elon Musk Open to Setting Up a Tesla Factory in Russia

    Elon Musk has signaled his willingness to open a factory in Russia, according to a new report.

    Russia is not currently one of Tesla’s main markets. In fact, according to TheStreet, only 700 new Teslas were purchased in the entire country last year, along with less than 5,300 used vehicles.

    Nonetheless, it appears Musk has his eye on eventually changing that, even having a factory in Russia.

    “I think we’re close to establishing a Tesla presence in Russia, and I think that would be great,” Musk said according to a Bloomberg report, via TheStreet. “Over time, we will look to have factories in other parts of the world, potentially Russia at some point.”

    Musk also commented on the talent and energy that exists in Russia, and his hope it will lead to positive changes.

    “Hopefully that energy continues into the future, and I would just like to strongly encourage people to strive to make the future better than the past and to be optimistic about the future.”

  • California DMV Reviewing Tesla Over Self-Driving Claims

    California DMV Reviewing Tesla Over Self-Driving Claims

    Tesla is currently “under review” by California’s DMV to determine if the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology claims were misleading.

    Like many companies, Tesla has been working toward autonomous driving technology. Autonomous driving software is ranked on a scale of 0 to 5, with 0 having no autonomous capabilities and 5 requiring no driver control. Currently, Tesla’s FSD is considered a Level 2 technology. Tesla’s tech has recently come under fire for being easily fooled and endangering people’s lives.

    In spite of its limitations, Musk has touted FSD, even going so far as to exaggerate claims about the technology. Those exaggerations have helped bring unwanted scrutiny on Tesla, with The L.A. Timesreporting the California DMV is reviewing the company’s claims. In particular, the company’s labeling its technology as “self-driving,” let alone “Full Self-Driving,” could pose legal issues.

    “Tesla seems to be asking for legal trouble on many fronts,” law professor Bryant Walker Smith told the L.A. Times. “From the FTC and its state counterparts for deceptive marketing. From the California DMV for, potentially, crossing into the realm of autonomous vehicle testing without state approval, from competitors with driver assistance systems, competitors with actual automated driving systems, ordinary consumers, and future crash victims who could sue under state or federal law.”

    Although California law holds the driver responsible for any accidents, the DMV still has the authority to impose penalties on companies that make misleading claims. The penalties could range from withholding autonomous deployment permits to revoking manufacturing and dealership licenses.

  • Cornell Researchers Discover Way to Charge Cars on the Road

    Cornell Researchers Discover Way to Charge Cars on the Road

    Cornell University researchers may have solved one of the biggest issues with electric vehicle adoption, finding a way to wirelessly charge vehicles while driving.

    Virtually every major automaker is planning on transitioning to electric vehicles in the next decade. Unfortunately, one of the biggest challenges to widespread adoption is range and fast charging. In fact, some 20% of California drivers end up trading their electric vehicles in for traditional gasoline models because of the long charge times and limited range.

    Researchers at Cornell appear to have solved the issue, developing technology that could pave the way (pun intended) for special ‘charging lanes’ that would wirelessly charge an electric vehicle driving on them.

    In an interview with Business Insider, lead researcher and associate professor Khurram Afridi, outlined how the technology could work.

    “Highways would have a charging lane, sort of like a high occupancy lane,” Afridi said. “If you were running out of battery you would move into the charging lane. It would be able to identify which car went into the lane and it would later send you a bill.”

    While Afridi’s work may sound too good to be true, it’s based on technology many already take for granted.

    “Wireless power transfer is based on the same underlying physics used to send messages through radio waves to spacecraft in deep space, things like Voyager,” Afridi said. “Except now we are sending much more energy across much shorter distances, to moving vehicles.”

    The technology is still five to 10 years from being deployed, but it promises to solve the biggest issue with electric vehicles and make ‘recharge worry’ a thing of the past.

  • Harley-Davidson Announces LiveWire Electric Motorcycle Brand

    Harley-Davidson Announces LiveWire Electric Motorcycle Brand

    Harley-Davidson has announced its own electric motorcycle brand, LiveWire, as it works to reinvent itself and cash in on the move to electric vehicles.

    Automakers around the world are racing to deploy electric vehicles, with governments viewing electric vehicles as a key component of the fight against climate change. Harley-Davidson is getting in on the action with the announcement of its LiveWire brand of electric motorcycles.

    “One of the six pillars of The Hardwire Strategy is to lead in electric – by launching LiveWire as an all-electric brand, we are seizing the opportunity to lead and define the market in EV,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “With the mission to be the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world, LiveWire will pioneer the future of motorcycling, for the pursuit of urban adventure and beyond. LiveWire also plans to innovate and develop technology that will be applicable to Harley-Davidson electric motorcycles in the future.”

    Harley-Davidson said the the LiveWire motorcycle will be launched July 8, 2021 and premiere at the International Motorcycle Show on July 9.

  • Tesla Raises Prices on Model 3 and Model Y

    Tesla Raises Prices on Model 3 and Model Y

    Tesla has raised prices on some of its electric vehicles, thanks to a global semiconductor shortage.

    The pandemic has sparked a major shortage of semiconductors, one that is being felt across industries. Tech companies have struggled to keep up with demand as remote workers, gamers and distance learners have driven demand for computers, tablets and consoles. Even Apple, a company renowned for its supply chain management, has reportedly had to delay some rollouts as result of the shortage.

    Automakers have also experienced issues, with multiple companies slowing or shutting down production temporarily. Tesla is the latest to give indications it is being impacted.

    According to TheStreet, the Model 3 Standard Range, Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor AWD and. the Model Y Long Range Dual Motor AWD will see a price increase of $500.

  • Kroger and Drone Express Testing Autonomous Drone Grocery Deliveries

    Kroger and Drone Express Testing Autonomous Drone Grocery Deliveries

    Kroger is working with Drone Express, a division of TELEGRID Technologies, to test autonomous drones for grocery deliveries.

    Multiple companies are working to deploy drones, with plans to use them for autonomous deliveries. Late last year, the Federal Aviation Administration cleared unmanned drones for night flights and flights over people, a critical next step in widespread adoption.

    Kroger is now the next major company looking to deploy autonomous drones for deliveries, and is turning to Drone Express to help it. Kroger will test its pilot program around the Kroger Marketplace in Centerville, Ohio.

    “Kroger’s new drone delivery pilot is part of the evolution of our rapidly growing and innovative e-commerce business – which includes pickup, delivery, and ship and reached more than $10 billion in sales in 2020,” said Kroger’s Jody Kalmbach, group vice president of product experience. “The pilot reinforces the importance of flexibility and immediacy to customers, powered by modern, cost-effective, and efficient last-mile solutions. We’re excited to test drone delivery and gain insights that will inform expansion plans as well as future customer solutions.”

    “Autonomous drones have unlimited potential to improve everyday life, and our technology opens the way to safe, secure, environmentally friendly deliveries for Kroger customers,” said Beth Flippo, Chief Technology Officer, TELEGRID. “The possibilities for customers are endless – we can enable Kroger customers to send chicken soup to a sick friend or get fast delivery of olive oil if they run out while cooking dinner.”

  • 20% of California EV Owners Revert to Gas Vehicles

    20% of California EV Owners Revert to Gas Vehicles

    Electric vehicle (EV) adoption has a problem keeping people long-term, as 20% of California EV owners switch back as a result of inconvenience.

    EV adoption is one of the main thrusts many governments and companies are promoting as a way to slow greenhouse gases and fight climate change. Many automakers have already committed to transitioning their entires lineups to hybrid or fully electric vehicles within the next decade.

    Unfortunately, a large portion of EV owners ultimately end up going back to gasoline vehicles because of the inconvenience surrounding charging. A study by Nature Energy, regarding plug-in electric vehicles (PEV), found that “PEV discontinuance in California occurs at a rate of 20% for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle owners and 18% for battery electric vehicle owners.”

    Much of the issues stemmed from issues “related to dissatisfaction with the convenience of charging, having other vehicles in the household that are less efficient, not having level 2 (240-volt) charging at home, having fewer household vehicles and not being male.”

    The low-voltage of outlets, in particular, are a major issue, with some users reporting a mere few miles range on an hour’s charge.

    Nature Energy’s study illustrates the importance of continued development in battery technology that provides faster charging and higher capacities.

  • Ford Moving EV Battery Production In-House

    Ford Moving EV Battery Production In-House

    Ford has taken a major step toward moving its electric vehicle (EV) battery production in-house, with the announcement of Ford Ion Park.

    Ford Ion Park is the company’s facility dedicated to pioneering various methods of battery production. The project will bring together a cross-functional team of 150 experts to help address the entire scope of battery production, from mining to development to manufacturing to recycling.

    Like most manufacturers, Ford is leaning heavily into hybrid and EV development, and taking a more hands-on approach to its battery development will give it a competitive advantage over some of its rivals.

    “We’re already scaling production of all-electric vehicles around the world as more customers experience and crave the fun-to-drive benefits of electric vehicles with zero emissions,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer. “Investing in more battery R&D ultimately will help us speed the process to deliver more, even better, lower cost EVs for customers over time.”

    “We are creating new tools and solutions we need for a carbon-free, affordable and better future,” Thai-Tang added. “We are modernizing Ford’s battery development and manufacturing capabilities so we can better control costs and production variables in-house and scale production around the world with speed and quality.”

    The 200,000 square-foot lab is in Southeast Michigan, with the team already underway. An additional $185 million collaborative learning lab will also be build in the area, “dedicated to developing, testing and building vehicle battery cells and cell arrays opens late next year.”

  • LG May Produce the Apple Car

    LG May Produce the Apple Car

    Apple is reportedly close to striking a manufacturing deal for the rumored Apple Car — with LG as the likely partner.

    Apple has been rumored to be working on the Apple Car, code-named “Project Titan,” for years. The company was close to a deal with Hyundai earlier this year, but the negotiations ultimately broke down.

    One of the likely issues was Hyundai’s loose lips. The company initially confirmed it was in talks with Apple, before realizing that the first rule of working with Apple is: Don’t talk about working with Apple. The car manufacturer quickly issued subsequent statements walking back its initial confirmation, but apparently not in time.

    It appears Apple has found a willing partner in the form of LG, in combination with its partnership with Canada-based Magna International. The two companies’ joint venture is tentatively expected to be called LG Magna e-Powertrain. According to The Korea Times, the venture is “very near” to signing a deal with Apple.

    The most significant part of The Korea Times story, however, is this line: “LG officials declined to comment on the matter.”

    It appears LG is already off to a better start than Hyundai.

  • Elon Musk Is Now ‘Technoking’

    Elon Musk Is Now ‘Technoking’

    Elon Musk has officially dubbed himself ‘Technoking of Tesla’ and CFO Zach Kirkhorn is now ‘Master of Coin.” Seriously, this title change was in an SEC filing. In other news, Howard Stern is still ‘King of All Media’, and Dwayne Jonson would like to be called Dwayne Johnson but says calling him ‘The Rock’ is also fine.

    UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION filing:

    “Effective as of March 15, 2021, the titles of Elon Musk and Zach Kirkhorn have changed to Technoking of Tesla and Master of Coin, respectively. Elon and Zach will also maintain their respective positions as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.”

    This title change by Musk is not to be confused with Techno King Zenki Fujiyoshi, who made this techno video that garnered over 600,000 views on YouTube:

    Obviously, Musk has a penchant for messing with all of us and especially the SEC since they took away his Board Chairman title.

  • Motional Taps Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 For Next-Gen Robotaxi

    Motional Taps Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 For Next-Gen Robotaxi

    Driverless tech company Motional has announced it will use Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 for its robotaxi deal with Lyft.

    Motional and Lyft signed “the world’s largest robotaxi deployment partnership.” Beginning in 2023, Lyft customers will be able to book a Motional robotaxi, instead of a traditional Lyft.

    The company, which was founded by Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, plans to use Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 midsize electric crossover.

    The futuristic IONIQ 5 is an all-electric, midsize crossover utility vehicle designed for the passenger experience. With a unique and luxurious living space and a sleek, modern exterior, Motional and Lyft riders will experience their fully autonomous rides in comfort and style. Built on Hyundai’s dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform, the IONIQ 5 delivers innovation in both mobility and sustainability.

    Motional emphasizes the vehicles it will use are not the consumer version of the IONIQ 5, but ones with its Level 4 autonomous software integrated in. Autonomous driving software is graded from Level 0 to 5, with 5 being completely autonomous vehicles that never require human involvement.

  • Electrify America and Jeep Putting Charging Stations at Trailheads

    Electrify America and Jeep Putting Charging Stations at Trailheads

    Electrify America and Jeep are partnering to place charging stations at trailheads, coinciding with the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid launch.

    Virtually every automaker is working on the transition to hybrid and electric vehicles, and Jeep is no exception. While several electric vehicle makers are working on charging networks, as a leader in off-road vehicles, Jeep is focusing on off-road trailheads charging.

    “Electrification opens a new chapter in the Jeep brand story, and it brings an entirely new level of excitement and enjoyment for our enthusiastic owners,” said Christian Meunier, Jeep Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “Key to making Jeep brand the greenest SUV brand is assuring our owners can enjoy the benefits of electric propulsion wherever they go, including the most iconic off-road trails in the country.”

    The Jeep 4xe Charging Stations will use the electrical grid where possible, or solar power when off the grid.

    The Jeep 4xe Charging Network trailhead chargers will deliver Level 2 (240-volt) charging. With Level 2 charging, the 17 kilowatt-hour battery pack in the Jeep Wrangler 4xe can be fully recharged in about two hours, delivering up to 21 miles of electric range. Recharge times will be shorter for Wrangler 4xe owners looking to just top off the battery pack before heading out on the trail.

    The charging network will provide a valuable option for Jeep drivers wanting to take full advantage of their vehicle’s electric capabilities.

    “It is our goal to provide electric vehicle drivers with the freedom to get to where they want to go – whether it be on a highway or off-road – and we look forward to bringing Jeep enthusiasts along on the journey,” said Giovanni Palazzo, president and chief executive officer of Electrify America. “Through the customizable electric vehicle charging offerings of our Electrify Commercial B2B brand, we were able to work with Jeep to identify where their drivers will need charging access most, and make it a reality.”

  • Xiaomi Will Begin Making Electric Vehicles

    Xiaomi Will Begin Making Electric Vehicles

    Smartphone maker Xiaomi will begin making electric vehicles (EV), using Great Wall Motor Co Ltd’s factory.

    Xiaomi is one of the world’s largest smartphone makers, but is looking to diversify its business. Since it primarily makes Android-powered smartphones, it doesn’t enjoy the same margins as Apple, and depends on volume to remain profitable. The company has also faced challenges as a result of bans by the US, with officials citing the security risk it poses.

    According to Reuters, the company is looking to follow a similar path as many believe Apple is following, branching out from a smartphone maker to an EV maker. The company is planning on having Great Wall handle the manufacturing, the first time the latter has offered its manufacturing services to an outside company.

    According to Reuters’ sources, Xiaomi plans to sell its EVs to the mass market, mirroring its approach to the smartphone business.

  • Telsa Now Accepts Bitcoin As Payment

    Telsa Now Accepts Bitcoin As Payment

    Tesla now accepts bitcoin as payment, several weeks after Elon Musk first teased the prospect.

    In a tweet early Wednesday morning, Musk announced that bitcoin is now an acceptable payment method for buying a new Tesla. The CEO also made it clear that Tesla is only using internal and open source software to process the payments, and that the company will retain the payments in bitcoin, rather than transfer them into USD.

    The news has sparked a rally for the cryptocurrency, with it reaching as high as $57,000 shortly after the tweet. Musk also announced the company will be expanding the program internationally later this year.

  • Consumer Reports: Tesla’s In-Vehicle Cameras a Privacy Concern

    Consumer Reports: Tesla’s In-Vehicle Cameras a Privacy Concern

    Consumer Reports has raised concerns about Tesla’s in-vehicle cameras, saying they represent a privacy concern.

    Vehicles are increasingly moving toward automation, and a big part of that is cameras that monitor the driver. In many cases, these are to measure the driver’s response and ensure they are paying attention to the road.

    While several automakers include monitoring cameras, Tesla’s approach is much different than its competitors. According to Consumer Reports, BMW, Ford, GM and Subaru’s cameras are all close-circuit systems. The cameras are used exclusively in-vehicle, and do not record or transmit their footage.

    In contrast, Tesla has admitted that its cameras both record and transmit video to the company, which it then studies and analyzes to improve its self-driving technology.

    If drivers enable the cabin camera, Tesla says it will capture and share a video clip of the moments before a crash or automatic emergency braking (AEB) activation to help the automaker “develop future safety features and software enhancements,” according to Tesla’s website. Tesla did not respond to CR’s emailed request for additional information about its in-car monitoring systems.

    Tesla’s actions raise concerns about who benefits most from its monitoring systems, especially since the company has a habit of quickly blaming the driver when an accident occurs while the vehicle’s Autopilot is engaged.

    “We have already seen Tesla blaming the driver for not paying attention immediately after news reports of a crash while a driver is using Autopilot,” said Kelly Funkhouser, CR’s program manager for vehicle interface testing. “Now, Tesla can use video footage to prove that a driver is distracted rather than addressing the reasons why the driver wasn’t paying attention in the first place.”

    There’s also concern that Tesla’s system could be used in the future for some yet-to-be-disclosed purpose.

    Ultimately, the questions about Tesla’s in-vehicle monitoring system make a case for greater consumer protection — and buying a competitor’s offering.

    “Advanced features in cars can bring consumers enormous benefits, but it’s important for our laws to make sure that automakers put people ahead of their bottom line. Automotive innovation must come hand-in-hand with strong and sensible consumer protections,” says William Wallace, manager of safety policy at CR.

  • Goldman Sachs Warns of Rising EV Battery Costs

    Goldman Sachs Warns of Rising EV Battery Costs

    Goldman Sachs is warning that electric vehicle makers will face rising battery costs, thanks to increased popularity.

    Automakers around the world are committing resources to the transition to electric vehicles. Governments are lending their support, committing to climate change and putting pressure on automakers to speed up the transition.

    According to CNBC, however, Goldman Sachs is warning the increased demand for EVs will lead to significantly increased battery cost. In fact, Goldman’s analyst predicts a rise of 18%. Given that the batteries account for 20% to 40% of a vehicle’s cost, an 18% rise in battery cost could significantly impact the EV market.

    “Prices for the three main natural resources have been rising since the start of 2021,” said Goldman’s report. “We believe that in order to promote sustainable EV industries, some countries may consider implementing policies to increase national stockpiles.”

  • Ford Executive Calls Tesla’s Self-Driving Software ‘Vaporware’

    Ford Executive Calls Tesla’s Self-Driving Software ‘Vaporware’

    A Ford executive has upped the rivalry with Tesla, calling Tesla’s self-driving software “vaporware.”

    Ford is widely seen as Tesla’s biggest competition, with the company’s Mustang Mach-E eating into Tesla sales. Edmunds recently did a head-to-head comparison of the Mach-E and the Model Y, giving a slight edge to the newcomer.

    There are a lot of great things about the Tesla Model Y including vast amounts of interior space, exciting driving performance and access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. These two EVs are closely matched, but the Ford Mustang Mach-E wins this comparison thanks to its superior comfort and user-friendly technology.

    Tesla has helped pioneer self-driving vehicles, but a Ford executive is calling out the company’s software.

    https://twitter.com/mrlevine/status/1373646122548301833?s=20

    Between Tesla pitting the Cybertruck against the F-150, and now Ford dissing Tesla’s software, it appears the rivalry between the two automakers is just getting started. That’s probably a good thing for consumers.

  • Rivian Announces Plans For Charging Network

    Rivian Announces Plans For Charging Network

    Rivian plans to roll out a network of 10,000 charging stations across the US and Canada by the end of 2023.

    Rivian is one of the biggest names in electric vehicles. The company is backed by Amazon and its technology will be used in Ford vehicles, giving it the backing, funding, technology and scope to potentially challenge Tesla.

    The company has now announced its plans to establish a network of 10,000 charging stations, a major step in widespread acceptance of the platform. According to TechCrunch, the company plans to roll out 3,500 DC fast chargers, as well as thousands of “waypoint” Level 2 chargers.

    While the fast chargers will only be accessible to Rivian’s customers, the waypoint chargers will be available to everyone. Even more significant, unlike Tesla’s proprietary chargers, Rivian’s will use the J1772 plug, which is the North American standard for electric vehicles.

    The company also plans on its stations being powered by 100% renewable energy, thanks to deals it will make with utility companies.

    Rivian’s announcement is good news for its customers, as well as the electric vehicle industry at large.