Category Archives: environment

IIHS Safety Award to Use Risky Driver Behavior Tech

Posted on 9 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Vehicle technology that can detect certain types of risky driver behavior will soon be added to the requirements for a safety award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Institute’s president, David Harkey, announced today during a roundtable on impaired driving organized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

“As part of our 30×30 vision to cut U.S. road deaths 30% by 2030, we are committed to addressing the risky – and often illegal – behavior that underlies most fatalities today,” Harkey said. “One way we plan to do that is to leverage our ratings and award programs to encourage automakers to adopt this new class of safety technology, just as we got them to improve vehicle structures, airbags and collision avoidance systems.” Continue reading →

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WEC – Porsche Penske Motorsport Finally Win

Posted on 8 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Porsche Penske Motorsport finally took its first victory of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign in monsoon conditions at Circuit of The Americas yesterday in Texas. United Autosports put McLaren in the winners’ circle in LMGT3. Corvette got thumped. Unseasonable rain in Texas resulted in the early stages of the six-hour race taking place behind the safety car, and following a red flag interruption, the competitive action finally got underway just before one-third of the distance. At the start, the front row-sitting #83 and #51 Ferraris led the 18-car Hypercar class, but the #6 Porsche driven by Laurens Vanthoor clung to third place, which became second when Philip Hanson lost more than half-a-minute due to a pit-stop delay. Continue reading →

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Porsche to Debut Wireless Charging on 26 Cayenne!

Posted on 4 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Porsche said today that it will offer an 11-kW charging system with a one-box base plate for wireless charging on its upcoming battery-electric vehicles. This at the moment appears to be breakthrough. If things go as planned, Porsche will be the first automaker to offer a convenient recharging system already in widespread use in cellphone apps.

“Ease of use, suitability for everyday use and charging infrastructure are still the decisive factors when it comes to the acceptance of electric mobility,” said Porsche Board Member for Development Dr. Michael Steiner. “We are proud that inductive charging will soon be available in series production at Porsche. Charging an electric car at home has never been so easy and convenient.” Continue reading →

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CARB Files Comments on DOE Climate Misinformation

Posted on 3 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“This DOE document relies on the old tobacco industry strategy of undermining established science, spreading doubt about established reality and carelessly endangering fellow human beings,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “If the endangerment finding is rolled back, it will clearly establish that the federal government is further stamping its approval on a proposal that puts profits before the health of the people the administration claims to represent.” Continue reading →

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Toyota Joins Tokyo Hydrogen Fuel Venture

Posted on 3 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM and 7203.T) announced today that it has joined “TOKYO H2,” a new project launched by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on 3 September aiming to make Tokyo a global leader in hydrogen. As part of this public-private initiative, the Crown has been introduced into the fuel cell taxi fleet to expand adoption.

“The Crown combines the exceptional quietness unique to a fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) with spacious rear seating and excellent ease of entry and exit, delivering comfortable and a premium travel experience unmatched by conventional taxis,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Trump Tarriff Chaos – GM EV Sales Set Record

Posted on 2 September 2025 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that U.S. electric vehicle sales likely set an all-time monthly record in August, as customers rushed to make purchases ahead of the expiration of Federal EV tax credits.*

“August was our best month ever for EV sales – and we expect that buying surge to pay long-term dividends, given our industry-leading manufacturer loyalty, and EV customers’ overwhelming commitment to the technology. I’m grateful to our team and our dealers for helping us outperform nearly every EV competitor,” said Duncan Aldred, GM Senior Vice President and President, North America. Continue reading →

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More Ford Motor Recalls – Air Bags, Brakes, Instrument Panels, Tail Lights, Trailer Lights

Posted on 1 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) is recalling ~1,592,809 vehicles for a variety of safety defects on Lincoln MKX and Aviator, Ford Edge, Explorer and Mustang models, according to documents made public by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Labor Day. During the first half of 2025 Ford Motor booked a $1.3 billion loss from repairs of vehicles under warranty, cancellation of plans to build an electric sport utility vehicle and other one-time costs. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its handing of recalls. The largest current recall covers leaking brake hoses made in Mexico. Continue reading →

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Genesis Adds In-App EV Charging, and Plug And Charge

Posted on 29 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Genesis today announced the availability of two new charging features for public charging. Along with the Genesis Home marketplace, these intuitive public charging features give owners increased flexibility and new options on charging. The announcement arrives in the midst of the Trump Administration’s war on EVs, imported cars and incentives for clean transportation.

“With the introduction of in-app charging and plug and charge, we are making it even easier for customers to recharge their electric vehicles while on the go,” said Tedros Mengiste, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America. “These new features reinforce our commitment to an elevated ownership experience for every customer.” Continue reading →

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Ford BlueOval SK Workers Vote to Join UAW

Posted on 28 August 2025 by Ken Zino

“There are 41 challenge ballots still outstanding. We believe they are illegitimate and represent nothing more than an employer tactic to flood the unit and undermine the outcome. We will fight these challenges to defend the democratic choices of these workers, as we always do when corporations try to interfere with workers’ democratic choice. The challenged ballots are not part of the group of workers who built their union from the bottom up. They deserve to have their own union, in an appropriate bargaining unit with a representative of their own choosing,” the UAW said. Continue reading →

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Ford Charge Launches at 320 Dealerships

Posted on 28 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today in a confusingly muddled concoction of press release and social media post that “Ford Charge Launches at 320 Ford Dealerships Nationwide.

“When my great-grandparents Rocco and Emanuela Grappone opened their Gulf gas station in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1924 with just one gas pump, they saw an opportunity to support their family by becoming part of the leap forward sweeping the country and experiencing the freedom that comes with owning a car,” said Amanda Grappone Osmer the Dealer Principal of John Grappone Ford in Bow, New Hampshire. Continue reading →

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Volvo Cars Selling New XC70 PHEV in China

Posted on 27 August 2025 by Ken Zino

The new Volvo (VOLCAR-B.STO)* XC70 SUV is Volvo Cars’ first long-range plug-in hybrid with an all-electric driving range of more than 200km (~124 miles) based on the CLTC testing cycle . This is the longest of any Volvo plug-in hybrid to date. No surprise that given its Chinese ownership customers can now pre-order the SUV in China. Yes, China – Europe, North America, and Scandinavia can wait. Volvo Cars said today it plans to bring the car to Europe at some later unspecified time. Continue reading →

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Environmental Pillage Agency attacks California

Posted on 25 August 2025 by Ken Zino

This proposed disapproval comes after two complaints filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal courts against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about the State’s enforcement of emissions standards through its so-called “Clean Truck Partnership” with heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers. This politicization of the Justice Department – long attacked previously by President Trump as a misuse of power and directly opposed to the Republican party’s long-standing support of States’ rights, is yet another baffling move by the Trump mis-administration. A better name for the agency given its actions under Trump 2.0 is the Environmental Pillage Agency in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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Toyota, Mazda Testing EV Battery Energy-Storage System

Posted on 21 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) said today that they have started field tests of Toyota’s Sweep Energy Storage System at Mazda’s Hiroshima Plant in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The system rapidly switches each battery’s power flow on and off, even when new batteries are connected to degraded or different capacity batteries.

“For the tests, the power system at Mazda’s headquarters campus, the only power generation system operated by an automaker in Japan, and Toyota’s system that uses batteries from electrified vehicles will be connected through their respective energy management systems. This will enable the verification of stable, high-quality, and efficient charging and discharging. In the future, the storage system will be used to regulate power supply and demand from renewable energy, which fluctuates depending on weather and time of day, contributing to carbon neutrality,” the companies said. Continue reading →

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Gen 3 2026 Nissan Leaf Less than $30,000?

Posted on 21 August 2025 by Ken Zino

The 2026 model year Nissan (7201T and NSANY ADR) Leaf* at dealerships this fall has a projected Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the S+ grade starting at $29,9902. This is the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the U.S. [ see footnote 3]. This of course depends on the whims and chaos of the Trump Administration’s ongoing trade policies. That is why the pricing and details on the entry-grade LEAF S will be announced at a later date. It might not appear in the 2026 lineup. Continue reading →

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Solid State Batteries – Nissan and LiCAP Partner

Posted on 20 August 2025 by Ken Zino

“Developing a dry electrode production process for cathode electrode is highly beneficial for the smooth production and commercialization of ASSBs. Compared to conventional solvent-process electrodes, dry-process electrodes eliminate the need for drying and solvent recovery, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and environmental impact. However, when considering future mass production, achieving high production efficiency remains a major challenge for dry-process electrodes,” Nissan said. Continue reading →

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