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Another version of the Lucid Air is reaching reservation holders, so naturally, that means it was also time for me to get behind the wheel of it and test it for myself. My latest Lucid EV loan was with the Touring – the third in the lineup and second most affordable option behind the Air Pure. I’ve pushed the Air Dream Edition’s 1,111 horsepower out on the highways of Arizona and have driven the Air Grand Touring up the California coast, but the Touring might just offer the most bang for your buck.

The Touring was part of the original four models of the Air announced by Lucid Motors before production even began. That journey kicked off with the limited-run Dream Edition, followed by the Air Grand Touring.

Lucid has since introduced a Performance version of the Grand Touring, as well as a freaky fast tri-motor Air called Sapphire. I’m admittedly frothing at the mouth to experience the 2.6 second 0-60 mph the Sapphire is touting, but recently I had to “settle” for the Touring. Poor me.

That being said, I was not disappointed.

In fact, having driven two of the three higher-end models of the Lucid Air, I would now argue that the Touring is the best option, given the luxury and performance you still get but at a lower MSRP. Don’t get it twisted, though – this all-electric sedan still starts north of $100k, so a small segment of consumers will be in the market for one.

Still, if you’ve got the money, Touring is worth a look. Here are my thoughts.

The Air Touring stays true to Lucid’s design and performance

The Touring is a Lucid Air in every sense, from its sleek aerodynamic exterior to the strategic blend of touchscreens and physical buttons inside and meticulously curated textiles throughout.

As the second most affordable model currently available, the Touring is not the fastest, nor does it go the furthest – but it’s still a Lucid Air, where the specs still top nearly every other EV on the road, with unmatched efficiency to boot.

Let’s start with some pertinent specs just to give you a feel for what I was working with as I cruised up and down the winding roads of Palos Verdes in less-than-ideal weather this past week:

  • Powertrain: Dual Permanent-Magnet Electric, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power: 620 bhp
  • Torque: 885 lb.-ft.
  • Battery Capacity: 92 kWh
  • Platform Architecture: 700V+
  • DC Charge Rate: Up to 250 kW
  • Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds
  • EPA Est. Range: 425 miles (19″ wheels)
  • Efficiency: 4.6 mi/kWh (19″ wheels)

No matter what model of the Lucid Air you’re in, the acceleration is an absolute thrill. Anything under 3.5 seconds is good in my book, but I’ve been spoiled in recent years with nasty all-electric speed, and I’m not going back to 4+ seconds, OK?

As I’ve mentioned countless times, I’m a huge proponent of stiff regenerative braking and love one-pedal driving. I don’t ever want to use the brake anymore, and the Lucid Air Touring allows for that. The American automaker has some of the best regen in the game, in my opinion. Not only does the EV come to a complete stop when you let off the accelerator, but it stays there.

If you’re into rolling when stopped, you can turn that setting on, but I personally have zero use for it. The design of the one-pedal driving doesn’t end at stop lights; its overall feel is easily the most comfortable and responsive I’ve come across in all my drives. A slight push of the ankle forward on the accelerator or backing off to create space is instant and seamless, adding welcomed joy to driving through the ebbs and flows of tenacious LA traffic.

The sedan drives as intuitively as you want without delay, like you almost become one with it as your muscular instincts move to push forward or slow down. I know that’s a lot of time spent talking about regenerative braking, but that was my biggest takeaway this go around, and it’s something you should absolutely seek out to experience for yourself, even if it’s just a test drive.

Onto the interior.

With my Air Touring, it was the first time I got to see Lucid’s Tahoe interior design, which is hands down my favorite to date. I don’t think it would fit every exterior color of the sedan, but its caramel sustainably sourced leather beautifully compliments the Infinite Black exterior and the darker materials of the front seat.

Spaceship cockpit up front, business lounge in the back: All the Lucid Airs feature this unique separation of passenger spaces using color and materials that deliver two separate spins on luxury.

Lucid has rolled out a few OTA updates since my last drive, so I found the overall software and UX a lot less buggy. I connected my phone via Bluetooth with ease but still had some trouble using the Tidal app and getting my music to begin playing again after I had exited the EV, locked it, and returned later. Minor issues.

Overall, the Lucid Air Touring was a joy to drive, despite Mother Nature’s best attempts to thwart my acceleration at any open opportunity. I found its performance miles beyond ample and didn’t really miss any of the additional bells and whistles present on higher-tier models of the sedan. For that reason, I feel like this may be the sweet spot for consumers interested in the Air.

I can’t say for certain, however, until I drive the Air Pure and get a chance to push Sapphire to its my limit. Those opportunities are sure to come this year, so stay tuned for the next one!

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It floats, it flies, it works: World’s first hydrofoil electric ferry is crushing it

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It floats, it flies, it works: World's first hydrofoil electric ferry is crushing it

It flies, it floats, it’s electric — and now it’s officially a hit. The world’s first electric hydrofoil ferry, a Candela P-12 vessel named Nova, has wrapped up its first season of public service in Stockholm, and new data confirms what many suspected: this sleek, silent, water-skimming machine isn’t just a cool piece of tech — it’s also wildly successful.

The Nova, which first entered Stockholm’s public transport system last fall, uses a combination of electric propulsion and hydrofoil technology to quite literally lift above the water. This reduces drag, increases efficiency, and makes it the fastest electric passenger vessel in the world, cruising comfortably at 25 knots (around 29 mph or 46 km/h).

As it prepares to return to the water on April 15 after a winter pause, Stockholm’s public transport authority has released performance data from Nova’s autumn run. The numbers reveal that the boat isn’t just fast — it’s popular, green, and pulling people out of their cars.

Compared to the diesel ferries it operates alongside, Nova emits 95% less CO₂ and uses 84% less energy per passenger-kilometer. That translates to just 23 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometer, compared to 439 grams for the older diesel vessels. In other words, it’s a drop in a bucket compared to the old standard.

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It’s not just an environmental win — it’s a rider favorite too. With 80% average occupancy (and many trips fully booked), Nova has become quite literally one of the hottest tickets on Stockholm’s Route 89. Some of that success may come from its 30-minute travel time between Tappström and Stockholm City Hall — roughly half the time it takes to get there by car or bus.

The numbers are clear with the data revealing that Nova attracts more people to travel on water, with a 30% increase in ridership on route 89. According to Candela CEO Gustav Hasselskog, this shows that high-speed, comfortable waterborne transit can actually convert car commuters into ferry riders — a holy grail for sustainable city planning.

In response to the strong demand, Region Stockholm will expand Nova’s service from five to six days a week this spring, and to daily operations by May. In August, the pilot program will be evaluated — and Candela is already eyeing more routes across Stockholm’s vast archipelago.

The P-12’s combination of speed, silence, and ultra-low operating costs makes it ideal for routes with moderate passenger volume — a gap that many traditional ferries struggle to serve efficiently.

Candela isn’t stopping in Sweden, either. The company already has customers lined up in Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and the U.S., suggesting that this may be just the beginning of the era of flying electric ferries.

“We are incredibly happy that Region Stockholm has enabled us to demonstrate the hydrofoil technology in the city’s public transport. We see that waterways in most cities have enormous potential for fast, low-cost, and emission-free transport that can relieve road networks and increase accessibility,” said Hasselskog. “This is just the beginning.”

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Candela C-8 electric speedboat sails alongside a Candela P-12 electric ferry

Electrek’s Take

I’ve followed Candela with such interest over the years not just because of their fun electric speedboats (though I love those too, as you can tell from my first ride video below), but also because of the company’s ability to help take more cars off the road and switch commuters to ferry riders.

As someone who lives a largely car-free lifestyle, that’s huge for me. When we talk about reforming urban transportation, such lofty goals require a holistic approach and we should include a diverse field of options that can work together to achieve those intentions. Flying electric boats might not be most people’s first thought, but they achieve the same goal as many other alternatives, shifting commuters to more sustainable alternatives to cars.

We’ve already seen how capable electric hydrofoil ferries like these are, even watching the Candela P-12 tackle large swells in open seas. So short commutes like these that allow rapid recharging via DC Fast Charging at each stop make so much sense for such a capable machine.

Even when compared to traditional electric ferries, which are already an improvement by reducing emissions, electric hydrofoil ferries like these go so much further. They not only use even less energy than a traditional electric ferry, but they offer a faster trip and a smoother ride, making the idea of ferry travel that much more enticing. In this case seen in Stockholm, commuters get to arrive faster, more comfortably, and in a pretty cool way. That’s a win-win-win if you ask me!

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World surges past 40% clean power in record renewables boom

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World surges past 40% clean power in record renewables boom

Renewables and nuclear provided 40.9% of the world’s power generation in 2024, passing the 40% mark for the first time since the 1940s, according to a new global energy think tank Ember report. 

Renewables added a record 858 TWh in 2024, 49% more than the previous high in 2022. Solar was the largest contributor for the third year running, adding 474 TWh to reach a share of 6.9%. Solar was the fastest-growing power source (+29%) for the 20th year in a row. 

Solar has doubled in just three years, providing more than 2,000 TWh of electricity in 2024. Wind generation also grew to 8.1% of global electricity, while hydro – the single largest renewable source – remained steady at 14% of global electricity.

“Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition,” said Phil MacDonald, Ember’s managing director. “Paired with battery storage, solar is set to be an unstoppable force. As the fastest-growing and largest source of new electricity, it is critical in meeting the world’s ever-increasing demand for electricity.”

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Ember’s sixth annual Global Electricity Review, published today, provides the first comprehensive overview of the global power system in 2024 based on country-level data. It’s published alongside the world’s first open dataset on electricity generation in 2024, covering 88 countries that account for 93% of global electricity demand, as well as historical data for 215 countries.

What drove the rising power demand

The analysis finds that fossil fuels also saw a small 1.4% increase in 2024 due to surging electricity demand, pushing global power sector emissions up 1.6% to an all-time high.

Heatwaves were the main driver of the rise in fossil generation, accounting for almost a fifth (+0.7%) of the increase in global electricity demand in 2024 (+4.0%), mainly through additional use of cooling. Without these temperature effects, fossil fuel generation would have risen by only 0.2%, as clean electricity generation met 96% of the demand growth not caused by hotter temperatures.

“Amid the noise, it’s essential to focus on the real signal,” continued MacDonald. “Hotter weather drove the fossil generation increase in 2024, but we’re very unlikely to see a similar jump in 2025.”

Aside from weather effects, the increasing use of electricity for AI, data centers, EVs, and heat pumps is already contributing to global demand growth. Combined, the growing use of these technologies accounted for a 0.7% increase in global electricity demand in 2024, double what they contributed five years ago. 

Clean power will grow faster than demand

Ember’s report shows that clean generation growth is set to outpace faster-rising demand in the coming years, marking the start of a permanent decline in fossil fuel generation. The current expected growth in clean generation would be sufficient to meet a demand increase of 4.1% per year to 2030, which is above expectations for demand growth. 

“The world is watching how technologies like AI and EVs will drive electricity demand,” said MacDonald. “It’s clear that booming solar and wind are comfortably set to deliver, and those expecting fossil fuel generation to keep rising will be disappointed.”

Beyond emerging technologies, the growth trajectories of the world’s largest emerging economies will play a crucial role in defining the global outlook. More than half of the increase in solar generation in 2024 was in China, with its clean generation growth meeting 81% of its demand increase in 2024. India’s solar capacity additions in 2024 doubled compared to 2023. These two countries are at the forefront of the drive to clean power and will help tip the balance toward a decline in fossil generation at a global level.

Professor Xunpeng Shi, president of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS), said: “The future of the global power system is being shaped in Asia, with China and India at the heart of the energy transition. Their increasing reliance on renewables to power demand growth marks a shift that will redefine the global power sector and accelerate the decline of fossil fuels.”

Read more: Made-in-America solar just got a big win in Louisiana


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Nissan’s new LEAF EV was caught at a Tesla Supercharger in Canada

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Nissan's new LEAF EV was caught at a Tesla Supercharger in Canada

The next-gen LEAF is almost here, and it’s looking better than ever. This isn’t the electric hatch you are used to seeing. Nissan’s new LEAF EV has more range, a fresh crossover design, and yes, it can finally charge up at Tesla Superchargers with an NACS port. With the official reveal just around the corner, someone already spotted the new LEAF at a Tesla charger in Canada.

Nissan is launching the new LEAF in the US and Canada

A little over a week ago, we finally got our first look at the third-generation LEAF. Nissan’s iconic electric hatch has grown into a “sleek and spacious family-friendly crossover.”

The US and Canada will be the first to see the reimagined LEAF later this year. It will join the Ariya in Nissan’s North American EV lineup as it looks to spark growth in one of its most important markets.

Based on the CMF-EV platform, the same one underpinning the Ariya, Nissan promises the new LEAF will have “significant range improvements.” Although no other details were revealed, Nissan’s vehicle programs chief, Francois Bailly, told TopGear.com that it’s expected to have WLTP driving range of up to 373 miles (600 km).

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It will likely be lower on the EPA scale, but anything even close to 300 miles would be a major improvement over the current 212 EPA-estimated miles offered on the 2025 LEAF SV Plus.

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Nissan’s new LEAF EV (Source: Nissan)

The next-gen LEAF will also be Nissan’s first EV to feature an integrated NACS charging port. With its official debut later this year, the new model is out for testing and was just caught testing at a Tesla Supercharger in Canada.

Nissan’s next-gen LEAF charging at a Tesla Supercharger in Canada ahead of its debut (Source: KindelAuto)

If you didn’t know what vehicle it is, the LEAF is hardly recognizable. The new image from KindelAuto gives us a closer look at the new crossover design. It almost looks like a Tesla sitting in front of the charger.

The new LEAF is one of 10 new and refreshed Nissan vehicles set to launch in the US and Canada. It will arrive later this year, followed by the fourth-gen Rogue in 2026, which will be available as a PHEV for the first time.

Nissan-new-LEAF-EV
Nissan’s upcoming lineup for the US, including the new LEAF EV and “Adventure Focused” SUV (Source: Nissan)

Nissan also plans to build a new “adventure-focused SUV” at its Canton, Mississippi, plant in late 2027. The teaser shows what appears to be a rugged electric Xterra. We’ll have to wait for more details on that one.

Nissan will reveal additional info about the upcoming LEAF mid-year. Check back soon for more updates.

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