Connect with us

Published

on

Since Rivian began R1T pickup production in 2021, I’ve been trying to get behind the doors of its facility in my native Illinois and only managed to get arrested for trespassing once (kidding). Last week, I finally got a chance to tour the revamped EV plant and test drive the new Dual-Motor R1 vehicles featuring Rivian’s new Enduro drive unit and I’ve gotta say – it begs the question, “Do you really need the Quad-Motor?”

The R1T pickup kicked off Rivian’s official venture into passenger vehicles before being joined by an SUV sibling called the R1S. Combined with the Amazon EDV and Rivian Service Van (RSV), the young American EV automaker has plenty to keep its assembly lines humming.

After some growing pains, Rivian appears to have finally hit its stride in Normal, Illinois with the help of its Enduro drive unit – designed and engineered in house specifically for Dual-Motor Vehicles. Enduro consists of a 3-in-1 fully-integrated system of rotor, stator, and inverter all-in-one housing (see explosion image below). It also has a dynamic disconnect feature within the drive unit that can automatically switch to Single-Motor mode to maximize range.

By May, we were reporting that Enduro had begun being implemented in R1T and R1S Dual-Motor reservations. Because Rivian outsourced its motors for the Quad configurations from Bosch, which rolled out to customer first, the Dual-Motor came with a lot of hype because of its lower cost and the automaker’s promise it “does everything for most customers.” I won’t disagree.

Rivian began inviting customers to begin ordering the Dual-Motor configuration in July, and last week, we got the invite to take a Dual-Motor R1T out on the the automaker’s First Mile Adventure Test Track (see map below) to test out its speed on the road and its capabilities on rough terrain.

  • Rivian Dual Motor
  • Rivian Dual Motor

Rivian’s Dual-Motor R1 EVs sacrifice very little

Rivian is onto something with the Dual-Motor options powered by Enduro, and it knows it. Before I took my full tour of the Normal facility, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe spoke to our group about some of the technology we would see and experience during our visit, including the Dual-Motors.

When we got to Rivian’s delivery experience center, when reservations can visit in Normal and pick up their EV in person, I was the lucky first to go out on the track. The trip was short and simple – two laps around the loop, then a trip around the adventure path complete with rough road, a dry creek bed, two tilted turns and a pretty intimidating uphill climb.

The first pass was decent, I took the turn a bit timid but then saw the 70 mph signs on the straightaway and opened it up – what a rush. 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds (Performance OTA upgrade) is quite impressive for an EV on this size, but I immediately got comfortable and hit the second turn quite a bit faster with zero issues of not keeping the shiny side upright.

Once I got to the second straightaway, it was time for a complete stop and a launch. I was not disappointed. The higher gear ratio in the rear motor (13.7:1) compared to 11:1 up front helped distribute torque continuously yet biased rearward for better performance.

When it came to the adventure park, I am not the most seasoned off-roader, but I’d imagine most Rivian customers aren’t. Switching drive modes into All-Terrain mode, the R1T took everything I threw at it. I even got an A+ rating on my hill climb skills. Here’s what it looks like from the bottom:

… and here’s a video of one of the Dual-Motors coming down the other side of the hill after the climb.

For comparison, I then got to take the same route in a Quad-Motor R1T. To be honest, the acceleration was indeed slightly better, but I’d argue it would not be noticeable to the average consumer. The Quad version also handled the terrain better, especially the hill climb since it can rely on motors in each wheel to propel forward instead of the brakes like in the Dual-Motor.

Still, unless you’re attempting to scale Rubicon, the Dual-Motor Rivians should do just fine for you. At the end of the day, I think most people are going to gravitate toward the Dual-Motor option and Rivian knows it. I think everyone wins. Consumers save money and still get the performance they want plus the range desire depending on waht battery pack they choose, and Rivian sells more cars. It has plenty of space to scale in Normal, not to mention that giant new planty being erected in Georgia.

I think the Quad-Motor R1 EVs will go to those truly into off-roading and carving their own path in the outdoors, that’s the only reason you’d really need a motor in each wheel in my opinion. I think we’ll also see people springing for the Quad-Motor simply since its top of the line and enables bragging rights. Nothing wrong with that if you’ve got the extra cheddar, I just don’t think that way personally – the Dual Motor feels like the sweet spot now that I’ve driven both.

Enduro was exciting to learn about as well, especially since it’s essentially the heart of Rivian’s future platforms that will power the R2 models in a few years.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Hyundai cuts 2025 IONIQ 5 lease prices to just $179 per month

Published

on

By

Hyundai cuts 2025 IONIQ 5 lease prices to just 9 per month

Hyundai’s electric SUV is more affordable than ever. After cutting lease prices again this month, you can lease the new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5, which now features a longer range and a Tesla NACS charging port, for just $179 per month.

Hyundai cuts 2025 IONIQ 5 lease prices again in June

The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is better in every way possible compared to the outgoing model. It now boasts up to 318 miles of driving range, sleek new styling both inside and out, and an NACS port, allowing you to charge at Tesla Superchargers.

Hyundai’s electric SUV remains a top seller in the US with nearly 16,000 models sold through May. After cutting lease prices again in June, Hyundai looks to draw in even more buyers.

The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range RWD is now listed at just $179 for 24 months with $3,999 due at signing. That’s a notable difference from May.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Last month, IONIQ 5 lease prices started at $209 a month. Although that was considered one of the best EV deals, the new rate will save you $30 a month.

Hyundai-2025-IONIQ-5-lease
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited (Source: Hyundai)

The SE Standard Range trim starts at $43,975, with a driving range of up to 245 miles. However, the extended range SE model may be an even better deal. You can upgrade to the longer-range SE trim, which has up to 318 miles of range, for just $199 a month.

Hyundai-2025-IONIQ-5-interior
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited interior (Source: Hyundai)

You can even lease the off-road XRT variant for $299 a month right now. Hyundai’s offers end on July 7 and include the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.

2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim EV Powertrain Driving Range (miles) Starting Price*  Monthly lease price June 2025
IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range 168-horsepower rear motor 245 $42,500 $179
IONIQ 5 SE RWD 225-horsepower rear motor 318 $46,550 $199
IONIQ 5 SEL RWD 225-horsepower rear motor 318 $49,500 $209
IONIQ 5 Limited RWD 225-horsepower rear motor 318 $54,200 $309
IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD 320-horsepower dual motor 290 $50,050 $249
IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD 320-horsepower dual motor 290 $53,000 $259
IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor  AWD 320 horsepower dual motor 259 $55,400 $359
IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD 320-horsepower dual motor 269 $58,100 $299
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 prices and range by trim (*includes $1,475 destination fee)

As an added bonus, Hyundai is still offering a free ChargePoint Level 2 home charger with the purchase or lease of a new 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.

With Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” calling to end federal EV incentives, including the $7,500 tax credit, many of these savings will soon dry up.

Want to check out Hyundai’s electric SUV for yourself? With leases as low as $179 per month, it’s hard to pass up right now. You can use our link to find deals on the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 in your area (trusted affiliate link).

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Pipeline giant Enbridge just lit up its first Texas solar farm

Published

on

By

Pipeline giant Enbridge just lit up its first Texas solar farm

Canadian oil and gas pipeline giant Enbridge just launched its first solar farm in Texas, adding more clean energy to its “all-of-the-above” energy mix, mainly fossil fuels.

Enbridge’s Orange Grove Solar project in Jim Wells County now sends up to 130 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity to the Texas ERCOT grid. That’s enough to power around 24,000 homes. Roughly 300,000 solar panels stretch across 920 acres.

AT&T has signed a long-term virtual power purchase agreement for all the output from Orange Grove. That deal helps AT&T reduce its carbon footprint and stabilize long-term energy costs.

“We are pleased to be able to deliver additional zero-emission electricity into the grid in support of local and Texas state-wide economic growth and energy demand,” said Matthew Akman, Enbridge’s EVP of corporate strategy and president of its power business.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

This isn’t Enbridge’s first dip into renewables: it bought its first wind farm in 2002, and it says its renewable assets are part of its plan to achieve net zero by 2050.

But Enbridge is still ultimately best known for its oil and gas pipelines – and its troubled environmental history. In 1991, the company was responsible for the largest inland oil spill in the US, in Minnesota. It’s faced criticism for other spills and environmental risks tied to its pipeline network, which is the longest across North America and the largest oil export pipeline network in the world.

Enbridge is building a second, much larger solar farm southeast of Abilene in Callahan County. Called the Sequoia Solar project, it’s expected to generate 815 MW of power – more than six times the size of Orange Grove – making it one of the biggest solar farms in North America once it’s complete.

Both projects are part of Enbridge’s growing push into clean power, especially in Texas, where demand for electricity in the ERCOT market keeps climbing. It’s a notable shift for a company still deeply rooted in fossil fuels without plans to abandon them. But it’s now tapping into the sun as part of its evolving energy portfolio.

Akman continued, “Enbridge is proud to operate a wide range of critical energy infrastructure across the Gulf Coast area, including liquids pipelines and export facilities, natural gas pipelines and storage, as well as wind and now solar power.”

Read more: Texas just shot its wind + solar boom in the foot on purpose [Update]


To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to 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. They have 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 you share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

The Kia EV4 actually looks pretty sharp in real life [Video]

Published

on

By

The Kia EV4 actually looks pretty sharp in real life [Video]

Kia’s new entry-level EV was spotted driving in the US with its official launch just around the corner. The EV4 is Kia’s first electric sedan, and in real life, it looks even better.

Kia EV4 spotted in real life on US streets

We’ve been waiting since Kia’s first annual EV day in 2023, when we first saw the concept for the electric sedan, to finally arrive. The EV4 is part of the brand’s new lineup of entry-level electric vehicles, alongside the EV2, EV3, and EV5.

After opening EV4 pre-orders in Korea earlier this year, Kia is preparing to launch it globally. The electric car starts at about $30,000 (41.92 million won) in its home market.

Similar to Korea, the EV4 will be offered in the US with two battery options: 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh. The entry-level “Light” trim will come with a standard 58.3 kWh battery, which Kia estimates will provide a range of 235 miles.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The Wind and GT-Line trims will be available with the long-range 81.4 kWh battery, providing up to 330 miles of range.

Kia-EV4-real-life
2026 Kia EV4 (Source: Kia)

Kia says the EV4’s sports car-like design contributed to its impressive driving range. With a drag coefficient of just 0.23, the EV4 is Kia’s most aerodynamic vehicle yet.

It will also come with a built-in NACS port on the front passenger side for charging at Tesla Superchargers. With DC fast charging, the EV4 can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes (Light battery). The long-range (81.4 kWh) battery will take around 31 minutes.

Kia-EV4-real-life
2026 Kia EV4 electric sedan (Source: Kia)

The EV4 was recently spotted driving in the US ahead of its official launch, giving us a better idea of what Kia’s electric sedan looks like in real life.

The video, courtesy of KindelAuto, shows the EV4 with Michigan plates on public roads. You can see it’s not your average four-door sedan. Kia calls it an “entirely new type of EV sedan” with a wide, low stance.

2026 Kia EV6 spotted driving in the US ahead of upcoming launch (Source: KindelAuto)

Kia’s new “EV Tiger Face” design is showcased up front, featuring vertical headlights and its signature Star Map lighting.

The interior will feature nearly 30″ of screen space as part of Kia’s new connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system.

kia-ev4-interior
Kia EV4 GT-Line interior (Source: Kia)

The setup includes dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens, plus a 5″ climate screen. It also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

Kia will launch the EV4 in Europe later this year and in the US in early 2026. We will learn prices closer to when it arrives, but Kia’s electric sedan is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.

We also got a look at the upcoming EV4 GT this week, after it was spotted outside Kia and Hyundai’s facility in Korea.

What do you think about Kia’s first electric sedan? Would you buy one for around $35,000? Let us know in the comments.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending