With initial production at its new manufacturing facility underway, electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies has begun setting up charging infrastructure to support its ongoing interstate flights. The company held a groundbreaking ceremony in North Carolina today, where it will install the first electric aircraft charging station in the entire state.
BETA Technologies is a fully integrated electric aircraft and systems developer based in Vermont that we’ve covered since 2021 when we caught a glimpse of its first aircraft – an eVTOL called the ALIA-250. That model has since been renamed the ALIA VTOL.
The VTOL has since been joined by an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) plane called the ALIA CTOL, which had already flown over 22,000 test miles as of March 2023. That particular aircraft has already undergone evaluation flights for FAA certification and is targeting full approval for commercial operations by 2025.
In its test flights from Vermont, one of BETA Technologies stops has been North Carolina, the birthplace of flight, thanks to the Wright Brothers 120 years ago, with contributions from the coastal state’s strong winds. Yesterday, BETA broke ground on a new electric aircraft charging site in the Tar Heel State as it continues to expand its operations in the US.
Credit: BETA Technologies
Electric aircraft charging coming to the birthplace of flight
Yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony held at Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford, North Carolina, featured executives from BETA as well as state Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins, director for Raleigh Executive Jetport Bob Heuts, and speakers from NCDOT, US Air Force program AFWERX, United Therapeutics, and AUVSI.
There was another special guest at the ceremony too – BETA’s CTOL electric aircraft (seen above), which flew in for the groundbreaking on its way down to Florida.
BETA will eventually install multimodal charging stations to support both electric aircraft and passenger electric vehicles. When complete, the site will house a Level 3 fast charging cube, capable of replenishing BETA’s electric aircraft in under an hour, supported by a new Charge Center for the crew to rest during the process.
The Raleigh site will also include the addition of a Level 2 car charger, which will be installed in the airport’s parking lot. BETA COO Blain Newton spoke to this infrastructural milestone:
The future of transportation is electric, and as we look to make this new technology a widespread reality in aviation, forward-leaning partners and investment in infrastructure will be critical. We have certainly found that in North Carolina. We are excited to have been able to fly our all-electric ALIA aircraft into Raleigh Executive Jetport from Burlington, Vermont, and chargers like the ones we will install together are what will power these types of missions in the future. This state has always been a first mover in aviation, so it’s no surprise that we’ve found support for the next generation of sustainable aviation solutions, too.
BETA shared that the new electric aircraft charging site is expected to be operational by Q1 of 2024. Simultaneously, the aircraft developer continues the installation of its assembly tooling and production lines of various adjacent systems at its new 188,500-square-foot manufacturing facility in Vermont.
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Tennessee EV charging infrastructure developer PowerUp America just ordered a minimum of 100 new DC fast chargers in Q3 from Kempower, the Finnish company with a manufacturing hub in North Carolina.
PowerUp America, a relatively new player in the DC fast-charging station scene, is preparing to launch its first-ever DC fast-charging station in Kentucky by the end of the year.
These chargers are headed to NEVI-funded sites, which means they must all comply with the Build America, Buy America rules. PowerUp America posted on X/Twitter in October that the 400 kW chargers were already rolling off Kempower’s manufacturing line.
🚀 ROLLING OFF THE LINE IN NORTH CAROLINA!
Our Kempower DC Fast Chargers are officially off the manufacturing floor and ready to power the road ahead. ⚡
Here’s where they’re going, in addition to the fast charging station in Manchester, Kentucky: five new stations in Tennessee and two in Virginia. That Kentucky site features amenities such as pull-through stalls for easy towing, a full turning radius, a canopy for shade and weather protection, and on-site facilities (likely including snacks and restrooms – you know the drill).
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Each charger will offer both CCS1 and NACS connectors and will support tap-to-pay or app-based payments.
Josh Turner, CEO of PowerUp America, said, “Every new site is more than just a charger; it’s an investment in local economies, workforce development, and the transportation future we’re building across the Southeast.”
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Hyundai’s at it again. The automaker is extending its IONIQ 5 lease offer, keeping one of the most affordable EV deals in the US alive at just $189 per month.
Hyundai extends IONIQ 5 lease deal for $189 a month
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is one of the most popular vehicles in the US, and for good reason. Hyundai updated it for the 2025 model year with more driving range (up to 318 miles), a revamped look inside and out, and a built-in NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers.
Hyundai was also offering IONIQ 5 leases as low as $189 per month, making it one of the most affordable options for those looking to go electric.
The offer was set to end on November 3, but Hyundai has extended it for at least another month. Through December 1, you can still lease a 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD for just $189 per month for 36 months. With $3,999 due at signing, the effective cost is about $300 a month.
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2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited (Source: Hyundai)
That’s still a pretty good deal, considering the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select RWD is listed for lease at $219 a month for 24 months. With $4,499 due at signing, the effective cost is $406 a month, or over $100 more than the IONIQ 5.
Upgrading to the IONIQ 5 SEL RWD with 318 miles of range costs just $50 more per month. The offer is listed at $239 for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing, or an effective rate of $350.
Hyundai reduced prices on the 2026 model year by nearly $10,000 on some trims after the federal tax credit expired at the end of September.
Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim
Driving Range (miles)
2025 Starting Price
2026 Starting Price*
Price Reduction
IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range
245
$42,600
$35,000
($7,600)
IONIQ 5 SE RWD
318
$46,650
$37,500
($9,150)
IONIQ 5 SEL RWD
318
$49,600
$39,800
($9,800)
IONIQ 5 Limited RWD
318
$54,300
$45,075
($9,225)
IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD
290
$50,150
$41,000
($9,150)
IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD
290
$53,100
$43,300
($9,800)
IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor AWD
259
$55,500
$46,275
($9,225)
IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD
269
$58,200
$48,975
($9,225)
2025 vs 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 prices and range by trim
The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was listed for lease starting at $289 per month, but that offer also ended on November 3. Hyundai has yet to update lease offers for the new model. We’ll keep you updated as soon as it’s posted.
Hyundai’s electric SUV remains one of the most affordable EVs in the US, alongside the Chevy Equinox EV and new Nissan LEAF.
For those looking for a spacious, efficient, reasonably priced SUV, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is still worth checking out.
Polestar is about to make staying on course and finding your exit on the highway a lot less stressful. The EV maker is rolling out Google Maps’ new live lane guidance feature right onto the 10.2-inch driver display in the Polestar 4 – and it’s the first car brand to do so.
If you’ve ever missed an exit because you couldn’t get over in time, this one’s for you. Google Maps’ feature uses in-car AI to determine exactly which lane you’re in by analyzing road elements like road signs and lane markings from one of the Polestar 4’s forward-facing cameras. Then, it gives you visual and audio reminders to change lanes in time. No more guesswork, no more “oh no, that was my exit” moments.
You’ll see every possible lane highlighted for your route, along with a clear indication of which one you’re in. It’s designed to calm the chaos of multi-lane driving, especially in rush-hour traffic or sprawling interchanges.
Sid Odedra, Polestar’s head of UI/UX, says of the company’s latest collaboration with Google: “Live lane guidance continues the path of Polestar’s driver-centric UX strategy, reducing driver stress and improving safety by making missed exits and last-minute lane changes much less of a worry.”
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The feature is coming first to Polestar 4 drivers in the US and Sweden “in the coming months,” via an over-the-air update. It’ll hit more markets and road types after that.
Google Maps’ Andrew Foster says this is just the next chapter in a partnership that began with the Polestar 2 in 2020, when it became the first car to ship with Google-built-in software. “Now, Polestar 4 will be the first to integrate our groundbreaking live lane guidance, which will help people drive with even more confidence.”
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