Sedans are making a comeback. Volkswagen’s all-new upper midsize electric ID.7 sedan has finally shown its face without camouflage. Ahead of its world premiere on Monday, April 17, in China, the full details and images of VW’s fully electric ID.7 saloon have emerged.
The new ID.7 is based on VW’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) dedicated EV platform and will be the automaker’s sixth fully electric vehicle.
Volkswagen’s newest model will be the sixth fully electric vehicle in the ID. series, joining the ID.3, ID.4 SUV, ID.5, and ID.Buzz electric van (which just got a solar panel upgrade). In addition, VW sells the ID.6 in China.
The flagship model will be launched in the upper midsize segment in key regions, including Europe, China, and North America.
With a newly developed electric drive motor, VW claims the ID.7 will have significantly more power and efficiency than other MEB-based models as it’s designed for long-range travel. VW even goes as far as calling it an “electric limousine.”
Volkswagen introduced the ID.7 prototype at CES this year, initially claiming the electric sedan would have over 700km (over 434 miles) of range. The automaker included a special camouflage that creates an electroluminescent light effect.
Last month, the first images of the VW ID.7 without the special camo (still lightly disguised) emerged after a German newspaper reader spotted the new EV on a test drive and sent photos in.
We are finally seeing the production version after the Chinese Ministry of Information and Technology (MIIT) released images and specs of the VW ID.7.
Full specs and images of the VW ID.7 revealed in China
Regulatory officials released a list of cars that went through the approval process, showing images and specs of new vehicles, according to Car News China. Tuesday, it released the long-awaited VW ID.7 details.
VW ID.7 electric sedan production version (Source: Car News China)
From the images, the VW ID.7 incorporates elements from its ID Aero and ID Vizzion concepts, but the final design is unique on its own. The front end is about what you would expect from Volkswagen, with a curiously similar look to the iconic Passat model.
The production version shows a full light bar across the front, something that was not included in the prototype shown in January.
In the photo of the rear, you can see the name Vizzion included, which the concept did include full-width light bars on the front and rear, suggesting it could be called the “ID.7 Vizzion” in China.
Dimension-wise, the ID.7 is 4,956 mm long, 1,862 wide, 1,537 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,965 mm, which is very similar to the VW ID.6.
The maximum speed from the 201 hp electric motor and 77 kWh battery is 155 km/h, or less than 100 mph.
Electrek’s Take
Although the ID.7 specs and images have yet to be confirmed by VW, how does the company expect the electric sedan to be a flagship global EV with this kind of power?
It’s likely the ID.7 will have more range and power when it comes to North America, as it’s expected to go on sale in early 2024 after launching in Europe by the end of this year.
Volkswagen is promising a long-range model with over 400 miles range; something is likely to change when it comes to the US, or the term “flagship” will not be fitting.
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EV charging arm bp pulse has cut the ribbon on a long-promised new hub near LAX Airport. This is the first of many “Gigahubs” in the works and has opened as bp pulse’s largest EV charging station in the US.
bp pulse has risen as one of the world’s more prominent EV charging networks while simultaneously operating under the umbrella of one of the most notorious oil companies. To date, bp pulse has implemented over 40,000 EV charge points worldwide, including over 8,000 locations across 46 states in the US.
Part of that strategy includes a sub-network of bp pulse Gigahubs—large EV fast-charging hubs designed to serve ride-hail and taxi fleets near US airports and other high-demand regions. In October 2022, BP Pulse announced plans to bring its first Gigahub and implement EV charging near LAX Airport through a collaboration with Hertz, partially funded by a $2 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC).
Two and a half years later, bp pulse has officially cut the ribbon on its new LAX charging hub, which will soon formally open to the public.
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Source: BP Pulse
bp pulse offers EV charging, lounge, and WiFi near LAX
According to a release from bp pulse today, the new EV charging Gigahub is located two miles from LAX Airport and features 48 DC charging piles. The chargers offer a mix of 150kW and 400kW options as well as CCS and NACS plugs.
During a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by bp pulse executives and key stakeholders, the EV charging business said the LAX Gigahub is its largest charging station in the US to date, and is the first of several more hubs in its pipeline that will be erected in collaboration with Hertz. Sujay Sharma, CEO of bp pulse Americas, spoke:
Our new hub near LAX is another example of how we’re bringing fast, reliable charging to our customers when and where they need it, alongside convenient amenities. We’re committed to expanding our charging network to more metro and airport locations like this one to support EV drivers and ride-hailing fleets in a simple, reliable, and cost-effective way.
In addition to an array of EV fast charging options, bp’s new LAX hub features a lounge, vending machines, restrooms, and complimentary WiFi. Per bp, the new Gigahub will be open to the public very soon.
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Kia plans to introduce a series of new models based on the PV5. During its PV5 Tech Day event on Tuesday, Kia revealed plans for seven new body types, including a camper (for the van lifers out there), a “Premium” luxury model, and a pickup truck.
Kia converts the PV5 EV van into much more
During the event on Tuesday, Kia gave us a closer look at what it’s calling “the world’s most useful electric mobility vehicle.”
The PV5 is Kia’s first electric van from its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business. According to Kia, the PBVs, or electric vans, are “total mobility solutions,” combining its most advanced software with fit-for-purpose EVs.
“The PV5, which marked the beginning of future mobility, implemented innovations encompassing space maximization, expandability, and connectivity through active communication with customers from the early stage of development,” Joo Su-ha, a managing director at Kia’s R&D headquarters, explained at the event.
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Kia claims to be the first to use a unique new development process, enabling a wide range of uses. In fact, Kia found over 1,000 user scenarios through a 3D verification process with local government and institutions.
The E-GMP.S platform powers all Kia PBV EV van models (Source: Kia)
To unlock its full potential, Kia plans to introduce seven new body types based on the PV5 EV van. These include Passenger and Cargo models, a Cargo Compact (available in 3- and 4-door configurations), and a Cargo High Roof, which was launched in Europe and South Korea last month.
Kia’s flexible platform enables a wide range of variations and use cases (Source: Kia)
New variations will include an open bed, Light Camper, Prime luxury passenger, built-in truck, and a refrigerated truck.
Kia plans to begin delivering PV5 Passenger and Cargo Long models in its home market next month, followed by Europe and other global markets, starting in the fourth quarter.
Kia PV5 Tech Day event (Source: Kia)
With new variants on the way, we’ve already caught a glimpse of a few out in public testing. Last month, we got our first look at the PV5 with an open bed. In May, the Conversion model, which will host new top hats including the Light Camper, was spotted on a car carrier in Korea.
Kia opened pre-orders for the PV5 Passenger and Cargo models in the UK on May 1, starting at £32,995 ($44,000) and £27,645 ($37,000), respectively.
It’s available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh. The PV5 Passenger has a WLTP range of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo model has the same battery pack options but is rated for a range of either 181 miles or 247 miles.
Kia aims to sell around 3,000 to 4,000 PV5 electric vans in its first full year of sales. But by the end of the decade, the Korean automaker expects to sell around 17,000 PBVs annually.
Following the PV5, Kia will introduce the larger PV7 in 2027 and PV9 in 2029. Kia builds all PBV models at its Hwaseong EVO plant in South Korea, which has the capacity to produce up to 150,000 units per year.
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Enbridge is going big on solar again in Texas, and Meta is snapping up all the solar power it can get.
Last month, Electrek reported that the Canadian oil and gas pipeline giant just launched its first solar farm in Texas. Now it’s given the green light to Clear Fork, a 600 megawatt (MW) utility-scale solar farm already under construction near San Antonio. The project is expected to come online in summer 2027.
Once it’s up and running, every bit of Clear Fork’s electricity will go to Meta Platforms under a long-term contract. Meta will use the solar power to help run its energy-hungry data centers entirely on clean energy.
The solar farm project’s cost is around $900 million. Enbridge says it expects Clear Fork to boost the company’s cash flow and earnings starting in 2027.
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Enbridge EVP Matthew Akman said the project reflects “growing demand for renewable power across North America from blue-chip companies involved in technology and data center operations.”
Meta’s head of global energy, Urvi Parekh, added that the company is “thrilled to partner with Enbridge to bring new renewable energy to Texas and help support our operations with 100% clean energy.”
Meta’s first multi-gigawatt data center, Prometheus, is expected to come online in 2026.
Clear Fork is part of a growing trend: tech giants like Meta, Amazon, and Google are racing to lock down renewable energy contracts as they expand their fleets of AI-ready data centers, which use massive amounts of electricity.
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