Charles Benoit
Electrek.Co
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Past articles by Charles:
This dealer went from selling used gas cars to used EVs, and even new Teslas
J.N. Auto, a long time independent car dealer in rural Quebec, made the transition from selling and servicing used gas vehicles to used electric over five years ago, and even more recently to being one of the largest independent retailers of brand new Tesla Model 3s anywhere on the planet. Here’s the story of how … → Read More
Triscuit crackers were the 'Electric Baked Biscuit' made in 'Palace of Light'
Triscuit crackers are having a viral moment on social media as people delight in discovering that the name comes from an amalgamation of the words “Electricity” and “Biscuit.” Check out a photo tour of the “Palace of Light” electric factory below. In a refreshing distraction from the global pandemic, New York City comedy writer Sage … → Read More
Rivian wins big as Colorado passes electric vehicle direct sales law
Coloradans can look forward to a Rivian store of their own in the not-too-distant future, thanks to a new law allowing electric vehicle makers to sell direct. Last month, we reported that Rivian was helping to push legislation that would let it sell direct in Colorado. Tesla could sell direct in Colorado but others couldn’t, … → Read More
EVgo offers help to those who need to drive during Coronavirus pandemic
EVgo is stepping up to help anyone who still needs to drive their EV for work or are otherwise experiencing hardship due to COVID-19. EVgo owns and operates more than eight hundred 400V and higher direct-current fast charging (DCFC) locations and more than a thousand 208-240V alternating-current (Level 2) chargers in 66 metropolitan markets, making … → Read More
Electrify America promo code for Hyundai EVs makes billing less bad for a bit
Hyundai Kona and Hyundai Ioniq EV drivers can get some relief from the pain of Electrify America’s opaque billing practices, at least until the end of the year. But you have to sign up with a promo code through the app. And only in the USA, not Canada. And your rate will almost double at … → Read More
DC's EV charging law will have residents paying double to triple
DC has proposed a law that will govern EV charging on public streets, and it shows how forgoing utility-operated and regulated-charging costs residents → Read More
Tesla signs Supercharger deal with New Jersey Turnpike
Tesla has signed a deal with the New Jersey Turnpike to expand its Tesla Supercharger presence and build utility infrastructure for other charging stations → Read More
NYC will get curbside EV charging, but ConEd’s pricing will make people sad
Electric vehicle charging in New York City is going to be expensive, and New Yorkers will pay for it even if they don’t use it. Consolidated Edison (ConEd) wants to build 60 curbside electric vehicle charging stations with its ratepayers’ money, and sell that electricity to ratepayers two times over in the same transaction for … → Read More
Largest public fast charging station in USA opens with help from Tesla
Less than a year ago, the Pasadena City Council voted to join Tesla in building the largest public fast charging station in the USA. That station is now live, offering twenty 50kW stalls each with both Chademo and CCS/SAE ports, accompanied by another 24 parking stalls each with their own 72kW Tesla urban Supercharger stalls. … → Read More
EV group says zoning law, not building code, is best for EV infrastructure
Is using the building code to promote EV readiness the best approach? An EV group says no. We spoke with them, and also the City of Vancouver, which switched from the building code to zoning law and now has a flexible approach promising a minimum of 12 kWh over 8 hours in every residential parking … → Read More
Electric Vehicle Freedom Act risks IONITY style sticker shock in USA
Congressman Andy Levin and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled the Electric Vehicle Freedom Act this week. The EV Freedom Act would provide federal grants to private businesses to build direct current fast chargers (DCFCs) along US Interstate highways. Let’s jump right into the particulars. (Full bill text in PDF) Purpose and Definitions Section 2(b) sets out … → Read More
Hydro Quebec wants kWh pricing, Tesla plugs at its DCFCs, but hurdles remain
Hydro-Québec wants to offer per-kWh pricing, as well as Tesla plugs alongside CCS and Chademo connectors at its hundreds of DCFC stations. So what’s holding them back? Blame Canada (and Tesla, respectively). Hydro-Québec is a massive vertically integrated power generation, transmission, and distribution company owned by the people of Quebec. The company has 36.8GW of … → Read More
Ford Mustang Mach-E: sleeping cozy and frunk-gating [Gallery]
The Ford Mustang Mach-E didn’t steal the show at the Washington Auto Show, it was the show. Pictures below. GM had the floor space up front by the entrance, and the 2020 Chevy Bolt was the first on display. Electrek staff debated whether it was a good idea to show off EVs while they’re plugged … → Read More
China must increase imports of US-made cars; Tesla likely key beneficiary
Phase One of the new US-China Trade deal was signed last week, and its unconventional approach is likely to lead to a nice jolt for Tesla Model X and S sales from California to China. The Chinese “Made in USA” buying spree Unlike most trade deals which set tariff rates and non-discrimination clauses, this deal … → Read More
Watch Jeff Bezos drive Amazon's new electric rickshaw
Following a successful pilot across several cities, Amazon India has announced that by 2025, its delivery fleet will include 10,000 electric vehicles. The 10,000 EVs will include both 4-wheeled vehicles as well as 3-wheeled rickshaws, pictured above. The rollout begins this year in Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Nagpur, and Coimbatore. This is the … → Read More
IONITY to increase electric vehicle charging prices 500%
IONITY, a European EV charging network owned by BMW, Daimler, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and VW Group (with Audi and Porsche) has announced that prices will be going up over 500% starting January 31 as they transition to a pay-per-kWh system. Previously, IONITY charged a flat, fixed rate of €8 for a DCFC charging session. This … → Read More
Ford Mustang Mach-E's Sequential Turn Signals Spotted Live
The Ford Mustang Mach-E‘s signature tri-bar sequential LED taillights have been spotted in the wild for the first time. Sequential taillights became a signature mark of a Ford Mustang going back to the 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, according to automotive history experts Hagerty. They first appeared on Ford’s 1964 Thunderbird, but by 1967 they … → Read More
Tesla Model Y VINs appear in NHTSA database ahead of deliveries
The Tesla Model Y is now a listed model on NHTSA’s manufacturer page for Tesla, and Model Y VINs can now be decoded using the official NHSTA decoder. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) are used to indicate when and where a vehicle was manufactured, as well as indicate certain characteristics of the vehicle, and finally include … → Read More
NYC pays bounties for reporting idling; D.C. has an easy app
New York City and the District of Columbia are enlisting residents in the battle against vehicle emissions. NYC even has a generous idling bounty program → Read More
California looking to ban gas-powered lawnmowers, leaf blowers: SF Chronicle
Fresh off the heels of a ban on billing-per-minute for electric vehicle charging, California is turning its sights to a ban on gas-powered lawn devices, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. According to a tracker maintained by HD Supply, at least sixteen California cities and three in Colorado have already banned gas-powered leaf blowers. The … → Read More