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Cadillac is adding a smaller, cheaper electric SUV to its lineup. The new OPTIQ EV is slated to sit below the Cadillac LYRIQ as the brand’s new entry-level EV.

GM’s luxury brand confirmed that a fourth EV will join its growing lineup Friday. The Cadillac OPTIQ is the brand’s new entry-level EV, slated to sit below the LYRIQ SUV.

Cadillac said that the “OPTIQ’s spirited driving dynamics are designed to appeal to global luxury customers.”

Although no other details were mentioned, the new EV will have a starting price under the LYRIQ’s $58,590.

The new entry-level OPTIQ EV is expected to go on sale as early as next year. It will likely be sold in global markets, including North America, Europe, and China.

The Cadillac OPTIQ will follow the LYRIQ, the $340K Celestiq, and the recently revealed ESCALADE IQ. The ESCALADE IQ is the all-electric version of Cadillac’s full-size SUV. It will be available next year, starting at $130,000.

Cadillac-OPTIQ-EV
Cadillac OPTIQ EV (Source: Cadillac)

Cadillac unveils new entry-level OPTIQ EV

We knew GM’s luxury brand was planning to release a cheaper electric SUV after filing for the name Cadillac OPTIQ with China’s MIIT in July.

Cadillac-Optiq-EV
Cadillac OPTIQ EV (Source: China MIIT)

In August, leaked images from China’s MIIT revealed the compact electric SUV in full. The report indicated the new EV will have 143 kW front and 68 kW rear electric motors. Its battery packs will also be supplied through a CATL and SAIC joint venture. At least in China.

Cadillac-Optiq-EV
(Source: China MIIT)

At 4,822 mm (190″) long, 1,912 mm (75″) wide, and 1,643 mm (65″) tall, the Cadillac OPTIQ EV will compete directly with the Tesla Model Y ((4,750 mm long, 1,912 mm wide, 1,624 mm tall).

Cadillac is transitioning its lineup away from gas-powered vehicles by 2030. The new entry-level EV will play a key role in the luxury brand’s transition as it aims to compete with leaders like Tesla.

Cadillac-EVs
2024 Cadillac Lyriq models (Source: GM)

The brand says additional details, including features and pricing, will be released next year.

Electrek’s Take

Cadillac’s new entry-level EV looks sleek from the first images. The OPTIQ EV is a smaller, cheaper sibling to the $59K LYRIQ.

Tesla’s Model Y currently starts at $43,990 with up to 260 miles range in the US. For Cadillac to compete, starting prices should be around $45K. However, GM has disappointed buyers by dropping the entry-level Blazer EV and pushing back production of the Equinox, Silverado, and GMC Sierra Denali EVs.

GM has struggled to ramp up production of its luxury brand EVs so far. Cadillac delivered 5,334 LYRIQs through September, with 3,018 in the third quarter.

The luxury brand recently expanded into Europe, Australia, and New Zealand as it looks to grow the brand.

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DHL picks Mercedes eSprinter as it expands its electric van fleet

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DHL picks Mercedes eSprinter as it expands its electric van fleet

DHL Express has more than 10,000 eSprinter vans in its global delivery fleet, but none of those have been deployed in North America – until now, that is! The company recently added 45 new Mercedes eSprinter panel vans, and they’ve got plans for plenty more!

While Mercedes offers its eSprinters with a promised 206 mile estimated range, DHL says it’s consistently seen them exceed 240 miles in stop-and-go delivery duty, making them the longest-range battery electric vehicles in DHL’s US fleet.

This extended capacity makes them ideally suited for urban logistics while expanding their potential use in longer delivery routes. The eSprinter vans also offer the same massive cargo capacity as their diesel-powered brothers, making them efficient last-mile delivery solutions that don’t compromise on payload or operational reliability.

And, of course, the eSprinter will do all of that without the noise, vibration, and harmful carbon emissions of diesel.

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“Electrifying our fleet is one of the most visible and impactful ways we are moving toward a more sustainable future,” explains Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express, US. “The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter brings an extended range and proven cargo capabilities that allow us to serve our customers with zero emissions, while also advancing our global goal of more sustainable logistics. These vehicles not only strengthen our operations in major US cities but also set the stage for future electric fleet growth across the Americas.”

The 45 eSprinters will see deployment in Chicago, Indiana, and Pittsburg, and will act as a first step DHL’s global Sustainability Roadmap, which will see the company electrify 66% of its last-mile US delivery fleet (and some of its long-haul fleet operations) by 2030.

Electrek’s Take


DHL reaches 50 electric truck milestone with Orange EV, plans to double down
Orange EV; via DHL.

In addition to these 45 vans, DHL is electrifying its European and Asian delivery fleets, ramping up its sustainable aviation fuel use, and even exploring electric semis, eVTOL and hybrid aircraft deliveries, and more.

In short, they’re doing the right thing – or seem to be, anyway. Whether or not that commitment to decarbonization will win them more American customers remains to be seen.

SOURCE | IMAGES: DHL, via PR Newswire.


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Enphase debuts a new US off-grid solar and battery system

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Enphase debuts a new US off-grid solar and battery system

Enphase Energy just launched a new off-grid system that lets homeowners power their homes without a utility connection – even for extended periods. The California-based Enphase says the off-grid setup delivers a seamless way to live independently from the grid while still using solar, batteries, and a standby AC generator.

A full off-grid setup

The new system combines Enphase’s IQ Battery 5P with embedded grid-forming microinverters, IQ8 Series Microinverters with Sunlight JumpStart, and a third-party standby AC generator. The components work together to supply power to a home and automatically manage energy sources to maximize efficiency and reliability.

If the batteries are drained and the generator runs out of fuel, the Sunlight JumpStart feature can automatically recharge the batteries the next morning once the sun comes up.

The IQ Battery 5P delivers 3.84 kVA of power per 5 kWh of capacity, and systems can be scaled up to 40 kWh and 15.4 kVA. That’s enough power to start big household appliances like HVAC systems or water pumps. The IQ System Controller 3G provides the backbone, managing solar, batteries, and generator inputs to deliver up to 46 kVA of off-grid power.

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Smarter control and connectivity

Each system connects to the cloud through Enphase’s IQ Combiner 5C HDK, which bundles solar interconnection, communications, and metering into one box. For homes without reliable broadband, the built-in 4G LTE Cat 4 modem keeps the system online for monitoring, firmware updates, and remote support.

Homeowners can manage everything from the Enphase App – from solar generation and battery status to generator integration and load control.

Why it matters

As grid outages become more common and homeowners look for ways to gain energy independence, off-grid systems like this are becoming more appealing.

“With the launch of our off-grid solution, we are giving homeowners a reliable path to complete energy independence,” said Nitish Mathur, Enphase’s SVP of customer experience. Enphase says over 100 homes are already operating entirely off-grid using its technology. The company plans to expand availability beyond the US in 2026.

Read more: Battery boom: 5.6 GW of US energy storage added in Q2


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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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Environment

Global offshore wind surges ahead as Trump sinks US progress

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Global offshore wind surges ahead as Trump sinks US progress

Global offshore wind targets are still strong enough to triple global capacity by 2030, despite the US’s offshore wind stagnation under Trump. A new analysis from energy think tank Ember and the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) shows that the rest of the world is charging forward, underscoring confidence in offshore wind as a cornerstone of future clean energy systems.

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