Mercedes-Benz, the German automaker known for pioneering the internal combustion engine, says electric vehicles will be the dominant car on the road, particularly luxury EVs. The automaker’s CEO says he sees the switch to luxury EVs happening step-by-step within this decade.
It was New Year’s Eve, 1879, when the first stationary gasoline engine ran for the first time, according to Mercedes-Benz. The one-cylinder, two-stroke engine was developed by Carl Benz, a German engineer.
Seven years later, on January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his “vehicle with gas-engine drive” (model no.1) that helped spark the auto industry.
Fast forward over 100 years, and the auto industry is undergoing one of the most significant transitions since the creation of mass-produced gas-powered vehicles.
The switch from internal combustion engines to EVs is happening quicker than most expected. As technology advances, allowing superior range, more power, and new features, consumers are converting faster than ever.
Electric vehicle sales in the US hit another record in the first half of 2022, jumping to 196,788 to claim 5.6% of the overall market. Most automakers released their September sales this week, and although EV sales continue climbing, sales of gas-powered vehicles are declining. For example, Ford reported September 2022 sales showing a nearly 9% decline in total vehicle sales from 2021. Toyota, GM, Stellantis, Honda, Nissan, and more are seeing similar figures.
Tesla, which only makes electric vehicles, delivered a record 343,000 EVs in Q3, representing 43% growth from Q3 2021.
Mercedes Benz sees this trend expanding as consumers will increasingly switch to EVs over internal combustion engines, especially luxury buyers.
The switch to EVs from internal combustion engines is happening
In an interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius said, “Step-by-step, we see the market turning” from internal combustion engines to EVs.
Mercedes-Benz plans to become an all-electric brand within this decade, launching an EV alternative for every model they offer by 2025. Furthermore, all new vehicle architectures will be built for electric-only models from 2025 on.
Kallenius continues to say the switch may happen quicker than most expect with luxury EVs, stating:
I really believe that in this decade, we will flip from being based upon high tech internal combustion engines to going dominant electric, if not all electric, in the luxury segment.
Mercedes plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2039, working to reduce CO2 across its supply chain through mineral recycling initiatives and sourcing components from IRMA-certified mines. The automaker admits climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed.
We’ve all realized that climate change is real, the CO2 problem needs to be solved. And where does that problem end? It ends on the desks of our engineers.
As the switch to EVs accelerates, Mercedes-Benz believes it’s better for the planet and can also boost business.
We do it because we think it’s right. But we also do it because we think it’s going to be the better business. I don’t think there’s any question for a modern company, a forward-thinking modern company, that we need to decarbonize.
The German luxury automaker’s chief concluded, hinting as EVs advance, buyers will prefer them, claiming:
As long as you give the customer a superior product to what they had before, they’re open minded for a switch. The experience for the customer in terms of the torque, the performance, everything is fantastic.
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The UAW union’s Stellantis Council met yesterday to discuss the beleaguered carmaker’s “ongoing failure” to honor the agreement that ended the 2023 labor strike, and their latest union memo doesn’t pull many punches.
In an email sent out by the UAW earlier today (received at 4:55PM CST), UAW President Shawn Fain wrote, “For years, the company picked us off plant-by-plant and we lacked the will and the means to fight back. Today is different. Because we stood together and demanded the right to strike over job security—product commitment—we have the tools to fight back and win … We unanimously recommend to the membership that every UAW worker at Stellantis prepare for a fight, and we all get ready to vote YES to authorize a strike at Stellantis.”
Kia promises the new EV9 GT will have “enormous power,” but that’s not all. For the first time, the Kia EV9 GT was caught with an active spoiler, giving us a sneak peek at potential new upgrades.
The brand’s first three-row electric SUV is already making its presence known in the US, helping push Kia to back-to-back record sales months. Meanwhile, a more powerful, sporty variant is on the way.
Kia confirmed the EV9 GT will top off the electric SUV’s lineup in April. Packing “enormous power,” the high-performance GT model can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 4 secs.
With a “high-output” dual-motor (AWD) system, the EV9 GT can quickly pick up speed despite weighing over 5,000 lbs.
Kia also equipped it with other high-performance features, such as a reinforced suspension and electronic braking system, for better control and stability.
We’ve already caught a glimpse of the performance electric SUV out testing, revealing aggressive new bumpers and wheels. Now, a new design feature has been spotted.
Kia EV9 GT could come with an active rear spoiler
The latest video from HealerTV shows the EV9 GT with what appears to be an active spoiler. As the reporter noted, it could be similar to the one spotted on the Genesis GV70 Magma.
Tesla’s Model X also used to come with an active spoiler until it was dropped a few years back. Although the GT model was spotted with one, Kia could just be testing new features, so don’t get too excited yet.
Earlier this week, a video from HealerTV showed the front row of the EV9 GT, comparing it to the current GT-Line model.
Several differences can be immediately noticed, including a more aggressive, all-black design with a yellow stripe down the center of the seat.
Kia is set to launch the EV9 GT in early 2025. It will rival other performance SUVs like the Tesla Model X Plaid.
Although prices have yet to be confirmed, the GT model is expected to sit above the current GT-Line at $73,900. In comparison, Tesla’s Model X Plaid starts at $94,990 and can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 secs.
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Consumer Reports and EV charging app Chargeway are working together to give drivers a better way to rate public chargers, report uptime, and address maintenance issues.
The technical collaboration with Chargeway is part of a larger effort called the EV Charging Community, which engages with a number of different EV advocacy groups including Plug In America, GreenLatinos, and Generation 180, and leverages the mobile app to rate public EV charging experiences based on various factors, with the findings reported back to industry stakeholders like EVSE manufacturers, CPOs, and utilities.
Be heard
“We are very excited to be partnering with Consumer Reports,” says Chargeway founder, Matt Teske. “From day one, Chargeway has focused on a driver first app design to provide easier EV charging experiences as well as transparency for what drivers can anticipate at (the) station they choose … we share Consumer Reports’ goal to give drivers a voice in the public EV charging reliability conversation. Now, instead of posting complaints on social media and feeling ignored, EV drivers can use the Chargeway mobile app to provide their feedback to the leading consumer advocacy organization.”
Consumer Reports says it’s already seen nearly a third of its 1,600 enrolled community members experience a problem with public charging, so it’s a real problem. “Charging stations are critical services, but when they’re out of order or barely functional, it wastes consumers’ valuable time,” explains Drew Toher, Consumer Reports’ sustainability campaign manager.
Consumer Reports points out that EV drivers who don’t use Chargeway can also enroll to be part of the community at this link.
Electrek’s Take
Chargeway founder Matt Teske is an old friend. He’s a good friend, too, so it’s great to see his top-shelf EV charging app starting to get some of the recognition it deserves. The CR tie-up and added visibility these ratings will give to industry stakeholders are only going to make things better for EV drivers everywhere.
That up there? That’s one of my early interview episodes of Quick Charge featuring a walkthrough of Chargeway+, another collab between Matt and Austin Energy. Enjoy!
SOURCE | IMAGES: Chargeway, Consumer Reports.
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