Everything Electric: Your Weekly Guide to the Biggest EV News!
Ford expands their EV presence, while others face bumpy roads. And summer sun inspires car and truck accessories and new technology.
This week’s news was largely dominated by Ford’s industry-shaking debut of the F-150 Lighting EV. Ford managed to produce a powerful all-electric truck that has the chops to wear the F-Series badge. But they aren’t done yet. In other electric truck news, start-up Lordstown is fighting battles on two fronts. As the mercury rises, so does the interest in hitting the road, even in a Mini. And two companies are changing how we use can use the sun’s rays to improve mobility.
Ford Developing More EV Platforms
Hot on the heels of their recent Lightning truck, Ford has more electric vehicles in their sights. The automaker is developing two dedicated EV platforms which will debut in 2025. According to Reuters, one platform will be for full-size pickup trucks and SUVs and the other for cars and smaller SUVs.
These dedicated platforms gives Ford the chassis components, motors, and battery packs to underpin more electric vehicles. It will also reduce the costs across the board. As a key component to Ford’s multi-year, multi-billion-dollar plan, more information on the platforms is expected this week.
Trouble in Lordstown
Lordstown Motors came on the scene as a promising start-up focused on electric pickup trucks. But now they face an uncertain future as the company cut their original 2021 production goal substantially.
“If we don’t get any funding, we might only make half of what we thought,” Lordstown’s chief executive, Steve Burns, told The New York Times.
That might be tough. Currently the automaker is seeing their shares drop; and faces allegations that they faked pre-order data.
As the company behind the (now ironically named) Endurance truck, Lordstown plans to turn to loans, or even using their plant or other assets as collateral.
Mini Vacation
Mini Cooper just introduced the greenest–and most adorable–camping fleet.
Genius!
With the electric pickup truck market gaining traction, Worksport has developed a charging system that everyone will love. The TerraVis tonneau cover uses solar power to expand range.
Using solar panels on tonneau covers or truck bed covers to drink up the rays, the TerraVis adds 12 to 15 miles of range to an electric pickup truck–30% of the power needed for the average daily commute.
It is a smart and simple solution, and it looks great. Best of all, the TerraVis will work with most any make and model.
A Solar-Powered SUV?
Humble Motors just revealed its first electric crossover, the Humble One. According to the the company, this will eventually become the world’s first solar-powered SUV.
Humble One generates electricity from solar energy to power its motor. This is made possible by adding a solar roof, electricity-generating sidelights, regenerative braking, and fold-out solar wings.
An electric SUV that can recharge its own battery using the sun is definitely ground-breaking. As are the results. The Humble One can generate a driving range from 10 to 60 miles a day.
New rides, new technology, and new adventures. All in all, a pretty great week for EVs.
Photos: Ford; Lordstown; BMW Group; Worksport; Humble Motors