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During Tokyo Auto Salon 2024, Hyundai Motor Company offered a glimpse of a more customizable future for its “N” performance brand EVs. During the show, the Korean automaker unveiled the IONIQ 5 N NPX1 – a customized concept featuring several upgrades from N Performance Parts that will be available to customers in the future.

Hyundai Motor’s N and N Line performance sub-brands remain relatively young but have already begun transitioning into electrification, like their parent company, to bring track-friendly designs and parts upgrades to Hyundai EVs like the IONIQ series.

We saw the N brand’s first all-electric model – the IONIQ 5 N, officially debut in North America in November of 2023, following months of teasing. Compared to its standard IONIQ 5 predecessor, the N version EV saw several performance improvements, including 42 additional welding points and 6.9 feet of other structural adhesives, reinforcing the EV’s battery and motors while creating extra rigidity.

The track EV also debuted new features like N Launch Control and N Active Sound+, which can emit fighter jet noises while you’re doing a hot lap. Already known for performance, Hyundai’s N brand is introducing a new line of parts to further enhance the tuning experience for drivers – a facet of autos that hasn’t quite made its way over to EVs just yet.

To showcase some of these new performance parts, Hyundai used them to build a concept called the IONIQ 5 N NPX1, seen below.

Hyundai N parts
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 NPX1 concept / Credit: Hyundai Motor

Hyundai to launch performance EV parts for N brand

Similar to how Hyundai’s N and N Line performance brand has been building track-friendly versions of its combustion cars for years, N Performance Parts had been previously developing and selling tuning upgrades and is now going electric.

That process began in Tokyo today when Hyundai unveiled a prototype N Performance Parts line, implemented on a one-of-a-kind IONIQ 5 N concept seen above. The all-electric NPX1 concept features a carbon front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, rear wing spoiler, lightweight hybrid carbon wheels, high-performance brake pads, and lowering springs.

Inside the EV’s cockpit, Hyundai N has installed Alcantara textiles and racing bucket seats (not pictured). Joon Park, vice president of N brand management group, spoke to the new like of Hyundai performance parts:

In 2024, Hyundai Motor Company will take a step forward as a leader in new tuning parts suitable for the high-performance EV era as demonstrated with the ‘NPX1’ concept model. Not limited to tuning parts, we are also developing software customization such as sound and vehicle calibration by OTA updates which will open a completely new category of EV customization for an exciting future ahead for the tuning community.

Hyundai says it will continue to develop the prototype N Performance Parts showcased on and within the NPX1 concept today as it prepares for sales to the public later this year. Those parts will first be available for IONIQ 5 N tuning but will eventually be expanded to all N-brand vehicles.

Electrek’s take

Honestly, what isn’t Hyundai Motor Group doing right now? The company is dabbling in a little bit of everything in electric mobility, and it’s still doing it better than most in those segments.

There are plenty of automakers out there that make EVs that go super fast in a straight line, but how many of them are being specifically built for hairpin turns and track racing? Better yet, how many of them offer tuning upgrades?

Hyundai N is going electric in its own right, and its first example in the IONIQ 5 N is a beauty, and the IONIQ 6 N is not far behind. Unique and customized already, it’s awesome to see the N brand introducing even more performance parts for someone who doesn’t want to simply drive stock.

Options like this can draw a wider audience of car enthusiasts and potentially (hopefully) swap some more ICE drivers to come over to the green side. What do you guys think?

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Puerto Rico just got $1.2B in DOE financing to boost its grid with solar + storage

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Puerto Rico just got .2B in DOE financing to boost its grid with solar + storage

The US Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $1.2 billion in financing to replace Puerto Rico’s fossil fuel plants with solar and battery storage through 2032.

The DOE’s Loan Programs Office announced two conditional commitments and one loan closing to power producers in Puerto Rico. Each supports a project contracted with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. The announcements include:

  • The closing of a $584.5 million loan guarantee to subsidiaries of Convergent Energy to finance a 100 MW solar farm with a 55 MW (55 MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) in the municipality of Coamo and BESS installations in the municipalities of Caguas (25MW/100MWh), Peñuelas (100MW/400MWh), and Ponce (up to 100MW/400MWh)
  • A conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $133.6 million to a subsidiary of Infinigen for a 32.1 MW solar farm with an integrated 14.45 MW (4.76 MWh) BESS, and a co-located standalone 50 MW (200 MWh) BESS expansion in the municipality of Yabucoa
  • A conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $489.4 million to a subsidiary of Pattern Energy for three stand-alone BESS in the municipalities of Arecibo (50 MW/200 MWh), and Santa Isabel (50 MW /200 MWh and 80 MW/320 MW), and a 70 MW solar farm with an integrated BESS in the municipality of Arecibo.

If all are finalized, these projects would more than double LPO’s support for utility-scale solar generation and battery energy storage in Puerto Rico.

LPO provides low-cost financing and a rigorous due diligence process, making it a valuable resource for Puerto Rico as it works to rebuild an affordable, reliable, and clean energy system. As a result of reliance on imported fuel, the persistent threat of tropical storms, and underinvested infrastructure, Puerto Ricans today face average energy costs that are twice the US average – all while consuming only one-quarter of the energy of the US per capita.

LPO’s initial loan to a power producer in Puerto Rico, Project Marahu, closed in October 2024, and when complete will add more than 200 MW of solar and up to 285 MW of stand-alone energy storage to Puerto Rico’s grid.

Through its September 2023 partial loan guarantee to Project Hestia, LPO also supports virtual power plant (VPP)-ready rooftop solar and battery storage installations in Puerto Rico. As a nationwide project, Hestia’s sponsor is committed to at least 20% of installations under Project Hestia going to homeowners in Puerto Rico.

As part of its procurement plan, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority seeks to install 1,500 MW of battery storage and requires a minimum capacity of storage to be co-located with each utility-scale solar project. Energy storage systems currently online in Puerto Rico are being dispatched every day.

When including Marahu, LPO’s closed and conditionally committed financing supports over 100% of the capacity Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority aimed to procure under its initial request for energy storage project proposals, the first of six.

Read more: Cleantech investments to top fossil fuels for the first time in 2025


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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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Chevy launches sweet new Equinox and Blazer EV deals that can slash prices by $5,000

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Chevy launches sweet new Equinox and Blazer EV deals that can slash prices by ,000

Chevy just introduced new deals on the Equinox and Blazer EV models to make them even more affordable. With 0% interest and a new trade-in bonus, Chevy is offering over $5,000 in savings.

Chevy adds new Equinox and Blazer EV deals in January

Although the Chevy Equinox EV is already “the most affordable” EV in its class with over 315 miles range, it’s getting even cheaper.

Earlier this week, Chevy launched new deals on the 2024 Equinox and Blazer EV models. According to a note sent to dealers, viewed by CarsDirect, the electric SUVs are now available with 0% APR financing for 60 months. You can also choose from 0.9% AP for 72 months and 2.9% APR for 84 months.

This marks the best financing offer on Chevy’s newest EVs to date. The previous best rates were 0.9% APR for 60 months, 3.9% for 72 months, and 5.9% for the longer 84-month option.

On a 7-year $45,000 loan, online auto research firm CarsDirect estimates the new deals amount to around a $5,200 price cut. The lower APR rates are already offered on the Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup.

Chevy-Blazer-EV-deals
2024 Chevy Blazer EV RS (Source: GM)

In addition, Chevy is offering a trade-in bonus of up to $3,000 on the Silverado EV and $1,000 on the electric Equinox and Blazer models. If you choose to lease, the bonus is cut in half: $1,500 for the Silverado and $500 for the electric SUVs.

Chevy’s new EV deals started on January 14 and run through March 3, 2025. The deals come as rivals like Hyundai and Ford recently launched new EV promotions.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-deals
2024 Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

On Thursday, Hyundai launched a new promo on the upgraded 2025 IONIQ 5, which includes monthly leases as low as $199 and a free ChargePoint home EV charger (or $400 charging credit). Meanwhile, Ford extended its “Power Promise” program earlier this month, which also includes a free home charger, among several other benefits.

The 2024 Chevy Equinox EV started at $41,900 with up to 315 miles range. Prices for the electric Chevy Blazer start at $43,690 with up to 279 miles range.

If you are ready to try out Chevy’s new electric SUVs for yourself, we’ve got you covered. You can use our links below to view offers on the Chevy Equinox, Silverado, and Blazer EV models near you.

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Podcast: non-Tesla EV Supercharger access, Cybertruck sales, Rivian $$$, and more

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Podcast: non-Tesla EV Supercharger access, Cybertruck sales, Rivian $$$, and more

In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss non-Tesla EVs getting Supercharger access, Cybertruck sales in the spotlight, Rivian getting some money from Biden, and more.

The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):

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