I heard the birds chirping again this morning. It was still too cold for a Spring Day though. My dad was occupied in the mountains with snow blowing.
I look forward to warmer weather to get my Sur-Ron out and about more. Soon.
We have a sweet giveaway announcement. The winner gets to pick out any single item on Rivian’s Gear Shop for up to $50. To be entered, all you have to do is:
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Forward the newsletter to two friends and have them subscribe
Godspeed and enjoy the newsletter.
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”
-Henry David Thoreau
The Search Continues
In the first installment of this series, I delved into the various incentives available for EV buyers. If you missed Part 1, be sure to catch up here.
Today, I’ll continue my journey toward finding the ultimate EV within a budget of $80,000, focusing on SUVs and trucks.
Vehicle Availability. Living in a fast-paced world driven by next-day deliveries from Amazon, instant gratification plays a significant role in my decision-making process. I want an EV today! Knowing that and knowing that some EVs are hard to come by, I want to check on availability.
To begin my search, I’ll visit reputable platforms like CarGurus or even the manufacturer’s website directly, such as Tesla. Utilizing CarGurus’ advanced filters, I can quickly sort by:
Vehicle type
Fuel source (electric in this case)
Proximity
Price
Color and more
I kept this search simple and started with an electric truck within 25 miles of my house which is less than $80,000. My search yields a single result – a Ford F-150 Lightning with a stock photo marked as sold. To ensure its availability, I’d probably contact the dealership directly. We encountered a similar tactic looking for our current Lightning and oftentimes, these trucks were not actually available.
Given the scarcity of electric trucks, I could then expand my search to include SUVs, specifically the Tesla Model Y. Instead of using CarGurus this time, I will turn to Tesla’s site directly. I found a solitary Model Y within 25 miles by entering my preferences on Tesla’s website. I talked to Tesla and this Model Y is available for immediate pickup-up.
For this scenario, let’s just assume both options are readily available. I now face a critical decision: the brand-new Ford F-150 Lightning or the equally enticing Tesla Model Y?
Stay tuned for Part 3 of my comprehensive EV buying guide, arriving in next Tuesday’s newsletter. I’ll delve into the nitty-gritty and reveal the criteria that will ultimately determine my ideal EV selection.
In other EV News
As Lamborghini breaks records with over 9,000 vehicles delivered in 2022, the iconic brand faces an 18-month waiting list for its high-performance supercars. Even with surging demand, the legendary automaker is preparing for a paradigm shift by phasing out internal combustion engines in favor of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles by 2024.
The price of lithium, a key material used in electric vehicle batteries, has dropped nearly 20% since January, while cobalt has fallen by more than half, and copper has slipped around 18%
Foxconn, which now owns GM’s former Lordstown factory in Ohio, aims to become a key assembler for the world’s major EV manufacturers. Foxconn is targeting 5% of the global EV market and aims to make nearly half of the world’s EVs in the long term. By building EVs for name-brand companies, the EV outsourcing market is expected to manufacture 800,000 EVs worth $36 billion in 2025 and 3.2 million EVs worth $144 billion in 2030, according to Goldman Sachs.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management cleanup contractor UCOR is transitioning to an electric vehicle fleet with the first 11 vehicles received, and 150 more expected to be added this year.
More News
For more Electric Vehicle News and Autonomous Vehicle News, check out the rest of the free newsletter.
EPG is a staffing and recruiting company that is 100% focused on helping electric and autonomous vehicle clients hire the best people through their industry and product-specific expertise. To learn more, you can contact our CEO, Joe Rooney at Joe@EPGAmerica.com or schedule time on his calendar.
We try to stop by Rivian in Denver on occasion just to check out the scene. This was the most R1Ts and R1Ss I’ve seen over there. The parking lot was packed with what appeared to be new inventory. Some Rivian owners are going to be getting an early Christmas present.
“We really are striving to position ourselves as the company that enables and promotes adventure…”
-RJ Scaringe (Rivian Founder)
My Approach
Tax season has arrived, but don’t let the thought of crunching numbers dampen your dreams of owning a brand-new EV especially if you’ve got a refund headed your way! With an overwhelming influx of news and updates each day, it’s easy to feel lost. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Here’s how I’d approach the purchase of a new EV:
1. Pick Your Perfect Vehicle Type. As a parent who needs extra space for the kids and all-wheel drive for those frosty winter months, I’m narrowing my search down to SUVs and trucks.
2. Price, Incentives, and Setting Your Budget. Everyone’s budget will differ, but let’s assume I’m aiming to maximize the price and incentives for my purchase. Sounds simple, right? Well, sort of.
Federal Level Incentives: Bear in mind that the Treasury and IRS could update these qualifications. However, as of now, here are the rules to qualify for a $7,500 Tax Credit:
The vehicle’s MSRP must not exceed $80,000 for vans, SUVs, and trucks or $55,000 for other vehicles.
Modified AGI must not exceed $300,000 for married couples filing jointly, $225,000 for heads of households, or $150,000 for all other filers.
The vehicle must be for your personal use, not for resale.
The vehicle must be used primarily in the U.S.
State-Level Incentives: As a Colorado resident, I can take advantage of an additional $2,000 tax credit. Don’t forget to check your state’s incentives here. Also, it’s probably prudent to consult with your CPA.
With these guidelines in mind, I’m setting my budget at a maximum of $80,000 for an SUV or truck. Keep an eye out for part 2 of this series in Thursday’s newsletter, where I’ll share my approach to finding my perfect EV!
In other EV News
The Biden-Harris Administration has opened applications for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, providing $2.5 billion over five years to fund electric vehicle charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in communities across the US.
South Korean auto parts manufacturer Hyundai Mobis has successfully developed a groundbreaking in-wheel system, a first-of-its-kind technology that has not yet been mass-produced in the industry. The in-wheel system allows independent control of each wheel, significantly enhancing power efficiency and driving performance.
LiveWire has announced its entrance into the European market as part of its global expansion and electrification of motorcycling. On March 15th, the company introduced the LiveWire ONE to Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
7-Eleven announced its proprietary EV charging network, 7Charge, which is currently operating in select US locations and will soon expand to Canada, aiming to become one of North America’s largest retail EV fast-charging networks.
More News
For more Electric Vehicle News and Autonomous Vehicle News, check out the rest of the free newsletter.
EPG is a staffing and recruiting company that is 100% focused on helping electric and autonomous vehicle clients hire the best people through their industry and product-specific expertise. To learn more, you can contact our CEO, Joe Rooney at Joe@EPGAmerica.com or schedule time on his calendar.
My parents rented a Tesla for a trip from Charlotte, NC to Columbia, SC last week. They charged for free at the hotel overnight and spent exactly $0 on charging during their trip. Where you at ICE owners?
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“The most important investment you can make is in yourself.”
-Warren Buffett
More Electric Porsche
Porsche’s electrification strategy is to have 80% of its portfolio be electric by 2030 and includes an:
Electric Macan
Electric 718
Electric Cayenne
A secret electric SUV above the Cayenne
Porsche has also set ambitious sustainability targets, with the goal of achieving a net carbon-neutral value chain for its vehicles by 2030. Future BEV models will have a net carbon-neutral use phase, based on an expected total mileage of 200,000 kilometers per vehicle.
In Other EV News
The RZ 450e has been introduced by Lexus, its first globally available, all-electric vehicle. The RZ is priced starting at $59,650 MSRP. Additionally, Lexus aims to offer 100% BEVs globally by 2035 to contribute to a carbon-neutral society.
(Update)Mississippi Governor signs bill banning direct in-person sales of EVs. Hmmmm….
A Tesla Model S Plaid with the company’s new Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit was tested on a track and set a record for street-legal cars on non-semi-slick tires with a time of 1:33.610.
A tweak? Rivian and Amazon have reportedly been engaging in discussions with regard to a potential adjustment of the exclusivity clause in their agreement concerning electric delivery vans.
More News
For more Electric Vehicle News and Autonomous Vehicle News, check out the rest of the free newsletter.
EPG is a staffing and recruiting company that is 100% focused on helping electric and autonomous vehicle clients hire the best people through their industry and product-specific expertise. To learn more, you can contact our CEO, Joe Rooney at Joe@EPGAmerica.com or schedule time on his calendar.
We took a road trip in the Lightning this past weekend. This included a car show, snowboarding, and charging. Some highlights:
Multiple other EVs at the car show on Saturday morning including a Hummer EV, Rivian R1S, and a Ford Mustang Mach-E
New ChargePoint charging station in Fairplay, CO with up to 360 kW of charging speeds.
Charging while snowboarding at Breckenridge next to a Rivian R1S (see image above). It was only 7.3 kW, but it only cost $4.
100 kW charging speed Frisco, CO. The best part, for some reason it was free.
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“You’ve gotta work like there is someone out there trying to kick your a@$ cuz there is!”
-Mark Cuban
Challenge 2025
Mitsubishi shared its three-year plan known as “Challenge 2025“. This plan has set out Mitsubishi’s corporate direction in reinforcing the company’s environmental commitment to achieve a carbon-neutral future. Under Challenge 2025, the next three-year mid-term plan will accelerate efforts toward a sustainable carbon-neutral future, made possible through a reduction of vehicle CO2 emissions by 40% and a reduction in operational CO2 by 50% by 2030. Mitsubishi also aims to make 50% of global sales electric by 2030, and then 100% of the fleet electrified by 2035. “Drive your Ambition”
In Other EV News
Deliveries of the $36,500 EV with 436 miles of range will start this month in the form of the P7i from XPeng.
Automakers are using a tax loophole to incentivize car shoppers to lease electric vehicles, which has become an unexpected boon for them. Automakers that own the leased electric vehicles can keep the commercial EV credit earned or pass it along to the customer through a lower monthly lease payment.
A report from Drive Electric Long Island has revealed that fully electric cars now outnumber plug-in hybrids on Long Island, with 61% of EVs being fully electric. The growth of EVs on Long Island is attributed to expanded charging infrastructure, increased awareness, and state and federal incentives, with 35,426 EVs registered as of December 31 and the number increasing to 37,652 in February.
Ford has resumed production of the F-150 Lightning as of March 13, 2023.
More News
For more Electric Vehicle News and Autonomous Vehicle News, check out the rest of the free newsletter.
EPG is a staffing and recruiting company that is 100% focused on helping electric and autonomous vehicle clients hire the best people through their industry and product-specific expertise. To learn more, you can contact our CEO, Joe Rooney at Joe@EPGAmerica.com or schedule time on his calendar.
As I was working on this newsletter at 5 am yesterday morning, I heard a very unfamiliar sound and I immediately ceased what I was doing. It was a chirping sound. Was it birds perhaps? Is it almost springtime? Nah, can’t be.
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“Just stopping off for a quick breather, kid. Old Mack needs a rest.”
-Mack from Cars
EV Headlines
Mack Trucks launched its Mack MD Electric, its first electric vehicle in the medium-duty segment, during the National Truck Equipment Association 2023 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. The MD Electric, which will be produced at Roanoke Valley Operations in Virginia, will be produced in both Class 6 and Class 7 ratings and both will be exempt from the 12 percent Federal Excise Tax.
The MD Electric’s three-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor and all on-board accessories are powered by Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) Oxide lithium-ion batteries sized at 150 kWh or 240 kWh and can be charged through AC or DC charging units.
In Other EV News
How about a Fisker with over 300 miles of range? How about a Fisker with over 300 miles of range and a starting price of $29,900. This might become a reality with the Fisker Pear.
Clear your calendar in March, it’s almost here. Kia has released teaser video clips of the exterior design of its upcoming electric SUV, the Kia EV9. The videos showcase the vehicle’s sleek silhouette with the EV9 set to be revealed in mid-March, with product information to be disclosed during the Kia EV9 World Premiere in late March.
Despite grappling with production challenges that caused a temporary halt in the production of its Endurance electric pickup – only six vehicles have been produced – Lordstown Motors had over $220 million in cash reserves by the end of 2022. Lordstown has begun a pivot to a new EV program that will incorporate Foxconn, which invested $52 million.
Ever had a car repossessed? I haven’t and I hope you haven’t either. In the hopefully unlikely event you are in that position, Ford may have a new way of repossessing cars with a new patent they’ve been granted.
Essentially, the patent outlines a system that would allow a car to be repossessed remotely if the owner has defaulted on payments. The system would start with disabling the air conditioning and radio, followed by audio being activated to emit an unpleasant sound, and eventually escalating to vehicle lockouts and repossession. Oh, and the repossession may involve the car driving itself to a designated location.
However, it’s important to note that while the patent was granted earlier this year, there is no indication that Ford is actively pursuing the development of this technology at this time.
More News
For more Electric Vehicle News and Autonomous Vehicle News, check out the rest of the free newsletter.
EPG is a staffing and recruiting company that is 100% focused on helping electric and autonomous vehicle clients hire the best people through their industry and product-specific expertise. To learn more, you can contact our CEO, Joe Rooney at Joe@EPGAmerica.com or schedule time on his calendar.
My son and I had an electric showdown this past weekend. He was in his electric Jeep and I was on my e-bike. I don’t mean to brag, but he stood no chance. I won every race. Hope you did something electric.
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“I am not designed to come second or third. I am designed to win.”
-Ayrton Senna
EV Headlines
Mississippi’s House Bill 401, which would require car manufacturers to work with franchisees rather than operate their own dealerships, has passed the Mississippi Senate and is awaiting the signature of Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. The bill, which could prevent electric car companies such as Tesla and Rivian from expanding in the state, has divided lawmakers, with supporters saying it is necessary to ensure manufacturers play by the same rules as legacy car companies, and opponents calling it protectionism that could deprive Mississippians of new technologies. The bill would not restrict individuals from purchasing electric cars online, but if it becomes law, some EV manufacturers will essentially be barred from opening a dealership in Mississippi. If the Governor signs the legislation, the bill would take effect July 1, 2023.
In Other EV News
Tesla has reduced the prices of its Model S and Model X vehicles by between 4% and 9% with the Model S now costing $89,990 and the Model X now costing $99,990. The Plaid version of each also saw a price decrease with both coming in at $109,990.
Rivian has another addition to its expanding collection of eco-friendly pickup trucks and SUVs. This new version, called the R1S Dual-Motor Max Pack, boasts an impressive 390 miles of driving range, better than the current R1S Large Pack which gets an EPA estimates 321 miles.
Chinese automaker Lynk & Co plans to enter the US market with its upcoming all-electric car, which is due to go on sale in 2024. The new EV model will replace the 01 plug-in hybrid compact SUV and will use the same subscription sales strategy it has used in Europe.
For more Electric Vehicle News and Autonomous Vehicle News, check out the rest of the free newsletter.
EPG is a staffing and recruiting company that is 100% focused on helping electric and autonomous vehicle clients hire the best people through their industry and product-specific expertise. To learn more, you can contact our CEO, Joe Rooney at Joe@EPGAmerica.com or schedule time on his calendar.
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