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Rimac, the Croatian EV maker behind the record-setting Nevera electric supercar, is launching a robotaxi service. With Kia’s help, the new robotaxi will be revealed in just a few months.

Founded in 2009, Rimac Automobili has focused on building the most powerful electric hypercar. The startup designs, develops, and manufactures its supercars in-house.

After CEO Mate Rimac’s BMW E30 gave out during a race, he set out to build a more reliable powertrain. Rimac’s first model, the Concept_One, was introduced in 2016 and was already considered one of the fastest production models.

In 2018, the Concept-Two was born, which morphed into the Nevera Hypercar. The all-electric Rimac Nevera broke 23 performance records last year in one day – a record itself.

Most recently, the Nevera set a new record, lapping the Nurburgring in 7:05:298. That’s 30 seconds faster than the Tesla Model S Plaid (Porsche also just ran a 7:07:55 lap in a pre-series Taycan).

Powered by four independent, carbon-sleeve electric motors, four inverters and gearboxes, and software-controlled torque vectoring, the Nevera packs a whopping 1,914 hp. It can sprint from 0 to 60 in 1.74 seconds. In comparison, the Tesla Model S Plaid has a 0 to 60 mph in 1.99 seconds.

Rimac-Nevera-US
(Source: Rimac Automobili)

Electric supercar maker Rimac to launch robotaxi service

It looks like Rimac has bigger plans. The electric supercar maker plans to launch a robotaxi with backing from Kia.

Rimac’s CEO told Autocar that the Nevera would serve an important role for the Robotaxi. However, the project aims to “change the lives of more people” with accessible electric mobility options.

electric-supercar-robotaxi
Rimac Nevera (Source: Rimac)

Starting at $2.15 million, the Nevera isn’t exactly accessible. Rimac said the robotaxi “is a car but a completely different type.” The service can be premium, but “that doesn’t mean expensive or posh,” Rimac said.

The company’s founder believes it “could change the way people move around cities.” It’s expected to be capable of driving without human control. It will operate within a network Rimac is developing that includes charging, parking, and storage.

electric-supercar-robotaxi
(Source: Rimac)

The robotaxi will be under a new Rimac Group brand called Project 3. Project 3 is based in Croatia, with a research center in the UK. The brand’s first task is building a dedicated robotaxi factory.

Rimac is reportedly in talks with 20 European and Middle Eastern cities to offer the service. The robotaxi is expected to be revealed next year and will be in operation in 2026. The network will expand to Germany and the UK the following year.

Electrek’s Take

Kia is set to unveil its new purpose-built EVs next week. The automaker aims to make electric PBVs a core part of its business as it shifts to a “mobility solutions provider.”

After investing around $758 million (1 trillion won), Kia began construction on its first PBV factory (and first dedicated EV plant) in South Korea in April. Mass production is expected to start in the second half of 2025. Once up and running, Kia plans to produce 150,000 units per year.

With a new dedicated “eS” platform for PBVs and the facility to build them, Kia could serve as a key partner as the electric supercar maker looks to launch its own robotaxi service.

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Loren McDonald stops by Quick Charge to discuss EV charging, Paren, and more

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Loren McDonald stops by Quick Charge to discuss EV charging, Paren, and more

Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.

Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Click here to learn more.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news!

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.

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Chevy EV owners in Texas now get free overnight home charging with Reliant

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Chevy EV owners in Texas now get free overnight home charging with Reliant

Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.

Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).

Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”

This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”

Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.

Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.

Read more: Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes


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Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes

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Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes

Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.

NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.

The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.

NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.

Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.

This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.

In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.

Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:

NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.

This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.

Read: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens


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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*

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