CleanMPG

The second-gen Niro will arrive as a larger and more efficient compact CUV with the very latest infotainment and safety features.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – April 13, 2022


The all-new second gen 2023 Kia Niro CUV made its debut at the New York International Auto Show. And unlike the first gen - it took a while for the 2018 PHEV and 2019 BEV to be introduced after the 2017 Niro HEV was, the 2023 Niro will launch with the HEV, PHEV, and all-electric BEV available nationwide at launch this fall.

2023 Kia Niro Exterior Design

The 2023 Niro exterior offers the same drag coefficient as its predecessor at 0.29. New is a reflective strip along the entire top of the front fascia just below the hood edge, angular undercutting DRLs with projector headlamps to...

Wind tunnel testing will play key role as Honda prepares for its own electrified future.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – March 21, 2022


This morning, Honda opened its brand new $124 million wind tunnel facility, ushering in a new era of development testing capabilities for Honda and Acura products. The new Honda Automotive Laboratories of Ohio (HALO) facility, located at the independent Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC) in Central Ohio, is the world's most advanced wind tunnel, with three separate state-of-the art testing functions — aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, and racing — in one location.

Honda created the HALO facility to reinforce its commitment to developing fuel-efficient vehicles. One of the most advanced of its kind...

New collaborations signal the company’s leadership in deploying technology to help stabilize pricing to support the ever larger numbers of EV owners.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – March 19, 2022


Electrify America has now installed onsite, over 30 MWs of behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems (BESS) at over 140 DC fast charging stations around the country, including more than 90 installations in California. This is the largest roll-out of onsite behind-the-meter battery energy storage coupled with ultra-fast DC chargers in North America.

The battery energy storage systems store power when electricity costs are low and supplement power during high points of consumption, minimizing impact on the electrical grid and mitigating demand surges to help Electrify America maintain consistent...

Based on the exceptional demand for the Award winning and record holding Taycan, Porsche is going all in with all-electrics.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – March 18, 2022


Here is a ridiculous thought experiment about power, energy, and how far you can drive an electric vehicle on it. Please check my math at your earliest convenience to make sure.

• Niagara Falls generates a total of 4.9 GW of Power between the US and Canadian Power Stations
• There are 8,760 hours in a year
• Over a year, 42.924 TWh of Energy is generated
• 42.924 TWh = 42,924 GWh = 42,924,000 MWh = 42,924,000,000 KWh
• A Porsche Taycan takes 85 KWh to charge from flat to full and provides 225-miles of range
• Niagara Falls 42.924 TWh output over a full year...

Convenient, networked and sustainable solutions for charging BEVs.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – March 19, 2022


Outside of Tesla, VW is the second high-volume manufacturer to offer its customers a universal and seamless eco-system for charging their electric models. The service with the name “We Charge” will be enhanced step-by-step to offer higher performance, convenience and sustainability with new charging solutions for home and mobile charging and soon, bidirectional charging.

Like all OEMs, VW is attempting to convince future owners that an EV is capable of being your primary car without compromises.

Charging at home – Electrically powered VW models can already be conveniently charged in the garage at home. Customers can choose...

More fun then the original and far more sustainable.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Mar. 9, 2022


Volkswagen has finally, officially, introduced its ID. Buzz lineup. This EV minivan uses design cues from the iconic T1 Microbus. The short overhangs, spacious interior and two-tone color palette pay homage to the past, while the high-tech interior, sustainably crafted design features, and EV technology makes it a vehicle of the future.

The ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo will come onto the market in the first few European countries as a 2023 in the third quarter of this year. The features and specifications that follow apply to European models; details for the U.S. version will be available closer to launch sometime in late 2023 as a 2024.

With the ID. Buzz, Volkswagen...

The General finally looks to be targeting the mainstream buyer!

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Mar. 1, 2022


Chevrolet is getting ready to expand its already robust near-term future lineup with yet another EV announcement. This time, the Equinox EV will be released in the fall of 2023 as a 2024 MY compact CUV.

The most interesting item regarding this announcement is that it is a compact CUV that everyone seems to be in love with and it should become available with a $30,000 MSRP! Like all GM pronouncements as of late, take that retail with a grain of salt. With the $7,500 Fed TC having sunset a while back, $30k for this looks to be a stunning deal. Except the $30k model will probably be an unavailable stripped LT trim with 225-miles of...

The U.S. winegrowing communities sustainability mission is alive and well with Ford EVs – E-transit and Lighting, charging, and telematics services.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Jan. 26, 2022


Ford Pro and the Sonoma County Winegrowers, a group of more than 1,800 grape farmers in Northern California, are launching a pilot program that will add Ford F-150 Lightning Pro pickups, E-Transit cargo vans, and Ford Pro Intelligence products and services to three pilot farms in Sonoma County, one of the world’s most renowned wine regions.

The heart of the mission is to demonstrate how electric vehicles and web-based fleet management tools can have a positive impact on the agriculture industry in terms of increasing productivity, improving sustainability and...

The brand of four rings luxury marque is going full electric in a big way.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Feb. 13, 2022


Beginning with the e-tron, in 2019, Audi has quickly rolled out a number of BEVs across its lineup. Along with the e-tron SUV, they soon after offered the e-tron Sportback, a more efficient large hatch vs the SUV body of the original e-tron. In 2022, the brand of four rings introduced two new e-trons, the Q4 e-tron, a compact CUV and now the e-tron GT/RS GT Sports sedan.

This write-up will focus on the e-tron GT which is available at Audi dealerships nationwide and supported by an Audi ecosystem designed to make going electric seamless. The 2022 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT are the brand’s first electric sports sedans that are the backbone of...

It may be decades away but DCFCers will eventually be as ubiquitous as the gas station.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Feb. 10, 2022


Washington DC -- The U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy today announced nearly $5 billion that will be made available under the new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program established by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to build out a national electric vehicle charging network, an important step towards making electric vehicle (EV) charging accessible to all Americans.

The program will provide nearly $5 billion over five years to help states create a network of EV charging stations along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors,...

Who needs a Powerwall when you have a 2022 Ford F-150 Electric?

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Feb. 2, 2022


With the soon to arrive, all-electric, 2022 F-150 Lightning pickup, Ford is the first in the U.S. to offer the ability for customers to power their homes with an electric truck when the grid goes dark, providing new capabilities that enhance the energy independence for future owners. Not just a few appliances but Your Entire Home!

Ford is partnering with Sunrun, the nation’s leading solar company, to enhance home energy management, leveraging the substantial onboard battery capability of the all-electric F-150 Lightning. Americans experienced the most power interruptions on record in 2020, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration;...

Moving from ICE to EV as if the Corporations life depended on it. It does.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Feb. 8, 2022


This morning, Ram announced its new Ram Revolution, an exclusive insider program that invites enthusiasts to join Ram on its journey to revolutionize the pickup truck market. This time with the new Ram 1500 BEV in 2024.

The Ram Revolution, including the new RAM Revolution Hub, provides consumers with a closer connection to the brand and its BEV philosophy, meaningful updates with unique visuals and content, and an ongoing dialogue that will include the opportunity to provide input as Ram EV trucks are developed.

As part of today’s Ram Revolution announcement, the brand showcased images of another Concept that is being developed with...

The Adorable Robo Dog falls for the all-new, Kia EV6.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Feb. 3, 2022


Debuting ahead of the big game this coming weekend, Kia returns with a :60-second spot featuring the all-new, all-electric Kia EV6.

The marketing campaign includes broadcast, print, out-of-home and social media elements, a special Robo Dog “Turn Around Dance” on TikTok and a QR Code-based “Robo Dogmented Reality” experience that allows users to search for adoptable animals in their local areas through a partnership with the Petfinder Foundation.

Kia’s 13th Super Bowl spot, entitled “Robo Dog,” opens on an electronics store where a lonely robotic puppy stares out the window as a “real” dog is lovingly petted by a passerby out for a walk. Robo Dog then notices a young man unplug his Kia EV6...

Another good looking sedan concept from Chrysler but years late.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Jan. 5, 2022


The Chrysler brand revealed its Chrysler Airflow Concept is the fuel that will drive Chrysler’s future or demise.

The new connected vehicle isn’t simply about moving from point A to point B. The Chrysler Airflow Concept is being designed to deliver seamless connectivity to transform the experience for driver and passengers. The concept creates a connected hub that brings a consumer’s digital lifestyle into the vehicle, using advanced technology to create a customized space for each occupant. Remember, this is nothing more than a concept.

Seamless Connectivity Optimizing Customer Experiences

Designed with a SmartCockpit, the user experience in the...

An EV charger network status and performance improvement project turns into a World Record setting, shortest time at the charger to cross the country.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Jan. 28, 2022


New York City, NY -- As many here know, I was working on an Electrify America Charging Network status and improvement project with Porsche whose impetus was to complete a truly standout Guinness World Record (GWR) after the fact. Over the course of 6-weeks late last fall, I drove a 2021 Taycan over 20k miles to more than 80 Electrify America Charging locations and attached to over 200 individual 350 KW charge points in 22-states…

Before any project or GWR attempt was contemplated, there was a review soon after...