Volvo Cars continues to offer fresh tidbits pertaining to its upcoming all-electric flagship SUV – the EX90. Ahead of its full debut in November, we have now learned that the latest EV will the first Volvo to include bi-directional charging, arriving with the technology to power your home, devices, and eventually send surplus energy back to the electrical grid.
Volvo Cars currently offers several electrified models, including the XC40 Recharge and most recently, the C40 Recharge. That being said, Volvo has only delivered a plug-in hybrid version of its XC90 SUV, its most flagship vehicle in the fleet.
For over a year, Volvo has been promising an all-electric version of the XC90, alongside news that it would come standard with LiDAR sensors. In September, we learned that instead of making the XC90 SUV all-electric as a “Recharge” model, Volvo has instead announced a successor called the EX90.
So far, we’ve learned that the EX90 will in fact come standard with LiDAR technology, offering an “invisible shield of safety” to its driver and their passengers. According to CEO Jim Rowan, the safety will “beyond any Volvo that came before it.”
Following a similar trend, we now know that the upcoming EV will be the first Volvo to feature bi-directional charging capabilities, opening up a whole new chapter of possibilities for sustainable energy use.
Volvo’s EX90 EV is bi-directional capable, but may take time
The automaker shared the latest news surrounding its upcoming EV model in a press release today, sharing some of its capabilities, while mostly focusing on its future potential rather than what it will be able to achieve when deliveries begin. Per the release:
We believe that with bi-directional charging, electric cars can have the potential to contribute to an easing of this strain while plugged in – together with many other electric cars forming a virtual power plant. It can also help power your own home energy needs and, when unplugged, become a battery on wheels powering your life on the go – for your cookout, power tools or music system.
With bi-directional charging capabilities, the Volvo EV will be able to send energy both ways, whether it’s to a mini fridge at a tailgate, an e-bike out in the mountains, or your home while safely parked in the garage.
What’s key here is that Volvo is describing the EX90 EV as “hardware-ready” for bi-directional charging. As you’ll see in the video below, Volvo sees the EX90, and assumedly its EVs that will follow, as part of a holistic energy management system that includes charging, wall boxes, the cloud, and the Volvo app.
From the get-go, the EX90 should be able to power outside devices as a vehicle-to-load (V2L) energy storage system. However, other capabilities like powering your home and selling energy back to the grid will take time to be to roll out, will require additional equipment, and may only be available to customers in certain areas.
So far, a lot of the charging prospects outlined by Volvo and its upcoming EV are scenarios left to the imagination, but the point the automaker is driving home is that if and when these scenarios do become reality, the EX90 will already be equipped with the technology to assist.
One thing you may have noticed from the images above is the lack of a Volvo EV seen charging. That’s because the automaker has not officially unveiled the EX90 yet, which will happen on November 9, when we are sure to learn more about what this new SUV can do.
If we learn anything else before then, trust we will keep you in the know. For now, here’s that video from Volvo explaining the potential of its EVs charging bi-directional capabilities:
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The Mockingbird Solar Center, Ørsted’s largest solar project globally, is now online, next to protected prairie donated by the renewable energy giant.
This massive 468-megawatt (MW) solar farm is set to power 80,000 homes and businesses, providing a major boost to the Texas grid.
But the launch of Mockingbird Solar isn’t just about clean energy – it’s also about restoring precious ecosystems. Ørsted has donated 953 acres of the Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland, which sits next to the solar center, to The Nature Conservancy. The donated land is now the Smiley Meadow Preserve, a protected area for tallgrass prairie that’s home to more than 400 species of grasses and wildflowers.
Tallgrass prairies are some of the rarest ecosystems in the US, with less than 1% of Texas’ original tallgrass prairies still in existence. Tallgrass prairie does a lot of heavy lifting for the environment, including storing carbon, preventing floods, and providing crucial habitats for pollinators.
“Native prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas – so much so that many people have never seen one,” said David Bezanson, land protection strategy program director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. He added that preserving Smiley Meadow will not only conserve one of the best prairie remnants left but also help restore other prairie habitats and boost regional biodiversity.
The Mockingbird Solar Center, a half-billion-dollar project, is part of Ørsted’s $20 billion push to expand renewable energy production across the US. Beyond generating electricity, it will inject $75 million into local property taxes, benefiting schools and other public services. The project also created over 550 construction jobs and will continue to be supported by operations staff moving forward.
Ørsted worked with US companies, including First Solar, for solar panels and partnered with local businesses like Drake Construction and Pfifer Farms for construction materials. It also gave more than $50,000 to local volunteer fire departments in Roxton and Brookston.
With Mockingbird Solar now up and running, Ørsted has more than 6 gigawatts of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects either in operation or being built across the US.
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CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday said companies related to natural gas and oil will thrive under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration and a majority Republican Congress.
“We’re hearing about all sorts of Trump trades right now, and many of these things have made insane moves in less than three weeks, to the point where, actually, they’re feeling precarious to me,” he said. “If you want a sustainable Trump trade, I say bet on the natural gas ecosystem. This is an industry that already had a lot going for it, it just needed some cooperation from the federal government, which it is about to get.”
President Joe Biden’s administration is largely opposed to fossil fuels, Cramer said, and the federal government has worked to block pipelines and paused new liquified gas export authorizations. This dynamic, coupled with a weaker global economy, caused the sector to underperform for much of the year, he suggested. But Trump has shown more favor to the industry, and Cramer pointed out that he tapped prominent oil executive Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy.
Cramer recommended several stocks in the sector, including energy producers EQT and Coterra. The former is focused on natural gas and recently acquired peer Equitrans, raising the combined company’s valuation to an estimated $35 billion, Cramer noted. He added that Coterra is a good long-term holding and called the company “one of the shrewdest operators in the industry.”
He highlighted pipeline companies, including Energy Transfer and Kinder Morgan, and said he was especially bullish on Enbridge. Enbridge says it transports about 20% of all natural gas consumed in the U.S., and Cramer claimed the Canadian outfit has “strategically located assets.”He also named Cheniere and Sempra, saying the former is the “best play” for liquified natural gas exports.
“Seasonally, this is a good time for the commodity,” he said, pointing out that natural gas itself has climbed since the election. “But I also think there’s some optimism about the future of the industry driving this move.”
Jeep’s first global luxury electric SUV will arrive at US dealerships any day. Despite its $72,000 price tag, lease prices for the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV start at just $599 per month.
Jeep claims the Wagoneer S packs “exhilarating performance.” With 600 hp and 617 lb-ft of torque, the big-body SUV can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its 100 kWh battery pack also gives it a driving range of over 300 miles.
The electric SUV is unmistakably still a Jeep, but it did get several upgrades to distinguish it as an EV. The grille is now enclosed without the need to cool a massive engine, giving it a sporty, more modern look.
Jeep revamped its design with a new illuminated seven-slot grille with ambient cast lightning. It also fine-tuned its profile, adding flush door handles, a rear wing, and integrated fins for better airflow.
The first Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition models get exclusive dark accent design elements like 20″ Gloss Black Wheels.
Inside, the electric SUV is loaded with the latest tech and connectivity, including a best-in-class 45″ of usable screen space. The setup includes a 12.3″ center screen and an exclusive 10.25″ interactive front passenger screen.
Jeep already announced that the 2024 Wagoneer S EV will start at $71,995, but now the company has revealed lease prices for the first time.
According to Jeep, the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition can be leased for $599 per month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). The deal includes $4,999 due at signing and a $7,500 EV incentive. However, you may want to act fast, as Jeep’s offer is only good until December 2, 2024.
Jeep Wagoneer S vs Tesla Model Y
Starting Price
Range
Lease Price
Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition
$71,995
+300 miles
$599/mo
Tesla Model Y RWD
$44,990
320 miles
$299/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD
$47,990
308 miles
$399/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD Performance
$51,490
279 miles
$599/mo
In comparison, Tesla Model Y RWD lease prices start at $299 for 36 months with $2,999 down (10,000 miles). The Performance AWD model starts at $599 per month. In an end-of-year promo, Tesla also offers 3 months of free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving.
Ready to drive off in your new electric SUV? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to view offers on the Jeep Wagoneer S and Tesla Model Y at a dealer near you.
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