This week, Nissan invited a select group of writers up to Wine Country to test drive the pre-production models of its all-electric 2023 Ariya crossover SUV. This was my first experience in the Ariya and I was excited at the opportunity to try out Nissan’s AWD e-4ORCE technology. It did not disappoint. These upcoming Ariya EVs deserve a look as a viable EV option loaded with standard features you won’t find in many of its competitor’s EVs, but the automaker may still have trouble standing out from the pack.
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2023 hopes to be a promising year for the Nissan Ariya
The Ariya sits as Nissan’s first all-electric SUV and second BEV model behind the long-beloved LEAF. The compact crossover made its initial debut in the summer of 2020 as Nissan’s first EV on its new CMF-EV platform.
Production was slotted for 2021 but delayed until 2022 due to chip shortages brought about by the pandemic, but we did get a chance to test out a pre-production version of the FWD Ariya last spring, ahead of the first customer deliveries this past fall.
Mikey G’s impressions of the front wheel version were overall positive, but ever since then, I’ve been looking forward to experiencing Nissan’s e-4ORCE AWD technology after it was introduced around that same time. This week, I had that much-anticipated opportunity to experience plenty of driving throughout Sonoma County, California in a 2023 Ariya Platinum+ – Nissan’s top-tier trim of the crossover EV.
The 2023 AWD Nissan Ariya is a beyond adequate EV
In spending an entire day behind the wheel of the 2023 Ariya through the rolling hills of Northern California, the track at Sonoma Speedway, and the winding coastal roads of Bodega Bay, I can say with certainty that Nissan has produced an electric SUV that many consumers are going to love – whether they’re loyal to the Japanese brand already, or they’re making the switch over to it.
Nissan’s team told us that 62% of customers purchasing an Ariya are new to the brand, encouraging news for an automaker that has promised 27 new electrified models by 2030, 19 of which will be BEVs. I told them they’d better get a move on, but it’s nothing they’re not already aware of. We will save that story for another day.
For now, my focus, as well as Nissan’s, is on the 2023 Ariya, of which my Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD version offered the following specs.
Powertrain: Dual Motor AWD with e-4ORCE
Battery Capacity: 91 kWh
EPA est. Range: 265 miles
Horsepower: 389 hp
Torque: 442 lb.-ft.
0-60 mph: 4.8 seconds
Wheelbase: 109.3 inches
Max Cargo Capacity: 59.7 cubic-feet (3 golf bags)
Overall, this is a truly delightful SUV to drive as it offers all the comforts and technologies you want in an EV, placed intuitively in a comfortable environment throughout the cabin. From the haptic switches to the dual 12-inch displays on the dash, the Nissan team has found a nice balance of updatable touchscreen functions and physical switches on the dash and center console. Features like the retractable table in the center dash (see images below) contribute to the cabin’s versatility as an office or place for entertainment while charging or parked.
I found the driver’s display too busy at first, but quickly learned I could switch to different options, whether it was settings, or the radar display of cars around the Ariya, thanks to its ProPILOT Assist 2.0 ADAS – another huge perk worth noting.
I started off my drive down the freeway and had the opportunity to test out ProPILOT Assist hands-free driving and it couldn’t have been easier. I simply tapped a button on the steering wheel to activate the technology, then pushed “set” to engage it.
Like similar ADAS hands-free tech like BlueCruise and Super Cruise, ProPILOT Assist uses HD mapping, sonar, and radar on specifically programmed roadways, allowing for three different levels of driver assistance. The first is a white light shown on the driver display as well as across the top of the dash for passengers – that’s Intelligent Cruise Mode, similar to your typical lane assist.
Next, the Ariya switched to green, stepping in to drive, but requiring hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. From there, ProPILOT Assist moved to blue, which is hands-free driving with eyes on the road. I let this run for a solid 20 minutes with no issues and only had to step in one time due to a stream of cars merging from an on-ramp to my right. Check it out:
Like much of the design and technology in the 2023 Nissan Ariya, I found ProPILOT Assist 2.0 more than adequate and think its technology is well on its way to further autonomy – perhaps with the help of Luminar?
While ProPILOT Assist 2.0 was certainly a highlight of my drive in the Ariya, it’s Nissan’s e-4ORCE that stood out as the main feature to relay to you, readers.
e-4ORCE steals the show in this EV
As you can see from the specs above, the 2023 Nissan Ariya is not really a leading EV in any performance category. It can and will, by all means, compete with the likes of the Mustang Mach-E and Hyundai IONIQ 5, but where it can really stand out to consumers is with e-4ORCE… as long as they experience it themselves.
e-4ORCE is Nissan’s proprietary electric-drive four-wheel-control system that helps efficiently control driving force using integrated control of the front and rear motors and brakes. Per Nissan:
The system calculates the driving force required to turn, accelerate, and decelerate in response to the driver’s operation and in accordance with ever-changing driving and road conditions, then controls the driving force of the four wheels via the front and rear motors and the left and right brakes. This realizes driving from everyday driving to slippery road driving.
Our first stop on our drive was Sonoma Speedway, where the Nissan team had set up a short but sweet course for us to experience the unmatched stickiness of e-4ORCE. They wetted down a sharp turn on the course and advised me to give it hell (which I did) – and wow was I impressed. All that instant torque and speed coming around that bend, right when you feel like your back end is going to fishtail out, it simply corrects itself, stays on track, and keeps chuggin’.
This was the same through some slaloms which I also went full bore through. Again, there were zero doubts about my complete control of the crossover in keeping the shiny side facing up. That was an experience indeed, but I didn’t truly learn to appreciate the grip of e-4ORCE until I was driving from Bodega Bay back to Healdsburg through countless winding turns ranging from speed limits of 20 to 55 mph.
I admittedly put the 2023 Nissan Ariya through its paces whenever possible, and it stuck to every curve, wet road, and everything else I threw at it. I found myself accelerating much harder than usual through turns, and I just kept pushing it to no avail. Out of everything I experienced in this compact SUV, e-4ORCE is hands down the most impressive and exciting feature to me.
I think those who experience it themselves will agree, and this could be a huge selling point for Nissan, which is looking to catch up from previous Ariya production woes and get more of these EVs out into the world. But how do they do it?
You can read my words and read all about the technology that goes into e-4ORCE, but it’s something you have to experience for yourself to truly understand and appreciate. It might be a hurdle for Nissan to relay how innovative its AWD system is, but if it can succeed, it should wrangle even more customers.
e-4ORCE dominating a soaking wet turn at the Sonoma Speedway / Credit: Nissan
The 2023 Nissan Ariya is a viable option for consumers
After spending an entire day behind the wheel of the 2023 Nissan Ariya, I can see why the team is excited about its potential and its role as a sort of kicking-off point for its incoming lineup of BEVs. It’s off to a good start, especially with ADAS like ProPILOT Assist 2.0 and e-4ORCE.
I personally found the regenerative braking far too loose for my liking, as the EV never really comes to a full halt, and it will roll when you take your foot off the brake. Contrary to my preference, that sort of regen style could better serve consumers that are not used to one-pedal driving, so it sort of goes both ways.
The exterior and interior were well done, the cabin was quiet enough thanks to acoustic laminated glass, and I really liked the haptic switches, which I think blended nicely into the dash and center console. The overall specs leave a bit to be desired on paper, but when you’re actually driving the Ariya, the acceleration feels more than adequate and is quite fun when paired with e-4ORCE.
Granted, I was in the top-tier trim of the 2023 Ariya, but there are still plenty of amazing specs and features as you go down the row. In fact, the 2023 Ariya should do well in its specific compact SUV segment as Nissan offers a ton of features standard on its base level Engage FWD trim (which starts at $43,190). Other competitors charge thousands in add-on fees for features standard on every trim of the Ariya, such as Head Up Display (HUD), heated rear seats and steering wheel, plus ambient interior lighting.
Overall, I think the 2023 Ariya is an amazing option for consumers new to EVs or those who are perhaps coming from the Nissan LEAF or something comparable. Experienced EV drivers will certainly still enjoy the ride and the SUV’s features, but may not be as impressed on the performance side.
I’m looking forward to the next drive event with Nissan and can’t wait to see how e-4ORCE and ProPILOT Assist are further implemented and improved in future EVs. Remember, Nissan still has close to 20 models it needs to introduce in the next seven years. I’ll be watching and waiting!
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Construction and mining giant Caterpillar has reached a major milestone for its autonomous haulage system (AHS), reaching one million tons (!) of aggregate hauled by the company’s massive self-driving trucks.
The milestone was reached as part of an ongoing collaboration between Cat and Luck Stone’s Bull Run Quarry in Chantilly, Virginia to help demonstrate the worth of Caterpillar’s in-house AHS solution, and goes a long way towards proving to doubters of autonomous technology that AHS has what it takes to safely and dependably operate in a working quarry.
Reaching the one million tons hauled autonomously milestone confirms that autonomous haulage can deliver consistent, repeatable performance. It also signals how autonomous solutions will address skilled labor shortages, improve site safety, increase operational efficiency, and upskill quarry employees to run autonomy.
With the success of the Luck Stone pilot at Bull Run, however, that mining/quarry imbalance may not be the status quo for much longer.
“This milestone is a powerful demonstration of what’s possible when we collaborate with our customers to deliver solutions for their critical needs,” explains Denise Johnson, Caterpillar Group President, Resource Industries. “Reaching one million tons hauled autonomously at Bull Run shows that autonomy isn’t just for mining – it’s scalable, reliable, and ready to transform the aggregates industry. We’re proud to collaborate with Luck Stone to lead that transformation.”
Caterpillar hopes the Bull Run project sets a precedent for the broader aggregates industry, and they continue to explore opportunities to expand autonomy across additional Luck Stone sites and operations.
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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The Northwest Seaport Alliance has announced the recipients of its inaugural incentive program for zero emission drayage trucks – and they’ve turned to the logistics experts at Zeem to deploy 19 battery electric semi trucks to serve the Seattle-Tacoma gateway.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance incentive program is funded by a $6.2 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and will see bring 19 zero emission Class 8 semi trucks (like the Kenworth T680, shown) and their associated charging infrastructure to the Puget Sound region.
“We are thankful to the Northwest Seaport Alliance for helping the region adopt electric trucks, and we invite truck operators to experience how well they are matched to the job of hauling drayage,” says Paul Gioupis, CEO of Zeem Solutions. “We have served truck fleets for several years, and our goal is to make it a compelling business decision for fleets, that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.”
19 trucks, hundreds of charging customers
NWSA announcement event, via Zeem.
In a bid to help make electrification an even more compelling option for PNW truck fleets, the new Zeem facility won’t just serve its fleet of 19 electric semi trucks – the project also includes a charging depot that will be able to serve up to 250 electric vehicles per day, with overnight parking capacity for up to 70 vehicles, including heavy-, medium-, and light-duty vehicles.
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“Nearly 4,000 short-haul trucks serve the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, traveling to nearby distribution centers and warehouses,” reads the official press release. “… operators will be able to switch to electric trucks and charging without the large amount of upfront capital typically needed for heavy-duty EVs and charging infrastructure.”
The charging site will be located near the new I-5 exit ramp just south of SeaTac Airport, along SR-99 (International Blvd./Pacific Hwy.), convenient for nearby warehouse and distribution centers that see a large volume of truck deliveries.
Electrek’s Take
Drayage trucks are typically heavy-duty Class 8 trucks that work short haul routes from ports to warehouses or loading facilities. They frequently travel back and forth along local roadways, meaning they have a high impact on air quality in a given area. And, depending on who you believe, truck emissions represent about 6% of all seaport-related diesel pollution and about 30% of all seaport-related climate pollution in the Puget Sound region – emissions that disproportionately impact communities living near port operations and along freight corridors.
As such: more electric drayage is more good news.
We had a chance to talk to Zeem CEO, Paul Gioupis, as one of our guests on Quick Charge last summer, and a lot of that discussion is still relevant today. Give it a listen (above), then let us know what you think of all this in the comments.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Zeem Solutions.
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The California Senate dropped a controversial provision of an upcoming solar law which would have broken long-standing solar contracts with California homeowners after significant public backlash over the state’s plans to do so.
For several months now, AB 942 has been working its way through the California legislature, with big changes to the way that California treats contracts for residential solar.
The state has long allowed for “net metering,” the concept that if you sell your excess solar power to the grid, it gives you a credit that you can use to draw from the grid when your solar isn’t producing.
Some 2 million homeowners in California signed contracts with 20-year terms when they purchased their solar systems, figuring that the solar panels would pay off their significant investment over the coming decades by allowing them to sell power to the grid that they generated from their rooftops.
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But this has long been a sticking point for the state’s regulated private utilities. They are in the business of selling power, so they tend to have little interest in buying it from the people they’re supposed to be selling it to.
As a result, utilities have consistently tried to get language watering down net metering contracts inserted into bills considered by the CA legislature, and the most recent one was a bit of a doozy.
The most controversial point of AB 942 was that it would break rooftop solar contracts early. At first, it was going to break all existing contracts, then was limited to only break contracts if a homeowner sells their home. The ability to transfer these contracts was key to the buying decision for many homeowners who installed solar, as the ability to generate your own power and lower your electricity bills adds to a home’s value.
This brought anger from several rooftop solar owners and organizations associated with the industry. 100 organizations signed onto an effort to stop blaming consumers who are doing their best to reduce emissions and instead focus on the real causes of higher electricity, which the groups said are associated with high utility spending and profits.
It also resulted in several protests outside CA assemblymembers’ offices, opposing the bill. And California representatives received a high volume of comments opposing the plan to break solar contracts.
But, as of Tuesday, the language which would break rooftop solar contracts has been removed by the CA Senate’s Energy Committee, chaired by Senator Josh Becker, who led the effort. Language which blamed consumers for utility rate-hikes was also removed from the bill, according to the Solar Rights Alliance.
The bill is still not law, it has only moved out of the Energy Committee. But bills that advance through committee in California do not usually meet a significant amount of debate when they come to a floor vote, due to the Democratic supermajority in the state. It seems likely that if this bill advances to a vote, it will pass.
Electrek’s Take
The bill is still not perfect for solar homeowners. It disallows anyone with a yearly electricity bill of under $300 from getting the “California Climate Credit,” which is a refund to state utility customers paid for by California’s carbon fee on polluting industry.
The justification is thin for removing this credit from homeowners who are doing even more for the climate by installing solar… but it turns out that limitation probably won’t affect many customers, because most solar customers will still pay a yearly grid connection tax of around $300/year, and most solar customers still have a small electricity bill anyway at the end of the year.
Now, the question of a grid connection fee is another point of possible contention. This has been referred to as a “tax on the sun” in some jurisdictions, and it does feel like an attempt to nickel-and-dime customers who are contributing to climate reductions and should not be penalized for doing so. However, there is at least some rationality in the concept that they should pay to use infrastructure (but then… isn’t that the point of taxes, to build infrastructure for people to use?).
In short, even if it’s not perfect for every solar homeowner, we can consider this a win, and an example of how, at least with functional governments (unlike the US’ one), the public can and should be able to stop bad laws, or bad portions of laws, with enough public effort.
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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