The White House just debuted a plan to expand the grid’s capacity by upgrading 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years.
The power sector can achieve this goal by deploying grid-enhancing technologies like high-performance conductors and dynamic line ratings that enable existing transmission lines to carry more power.
It’s a fast and cost-effective way to unlock hundreds of gigawatts of additional clean energy, increase grid reliability and resilience, reduce grid congestion, and cut energy costs.
Grid-enhancing technologies would be deployed on existing lines in tandem with building new lines.
To ensure 100,000-miles-in-five-years goal is achieved and to mobilize private and public sector leaders, the Biden administration has made funding available through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) program for upgrades to existing transmission lines. Plus, the US Department of Energy today simplified the environmental review process for transmission line upgrades.
Julia Selker, executive director of the WATT Coalition, said:
Grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) are so inexpensive that they can be installed and paid for themselves within months by increasing transmission capacity.
GETs put the goal of upgrading 100,000 miles of transmission lines in five years within reach – it’s high time that utilities and system operators embrace Dynamic Line Ratings, Advanced Power Flow Control, and Topology Optimization as the lowest-cost, fastest-to-deploy solutions to transmission capacity expansion.
Other grid upgrade initiatives the White House announced today include a final rule to make federal permitting of new transmission lines more efficient, which sets a standard two-year timeline, and up to $331 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for a new 285-mile transmission line that will carry more than 2 gigawatts (GW) of transmission capacity from Idaho to Nevada.
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EVs got a little more affordable in May, and Tesla’s price drop had a lot to do with that. According to new data from Kelley Blue Book, the average transaction price (ATP) for a new EV in May was $57,734. That’s down from $59,123 in April. Year-over-year, that’s a 1.1% drop.
At the same time, incentives are heating up. The average EV incentive in May hit $8,225, or 14.2% of the ATP. That’s more than double the average incentive across the broader auto industry and higher than last May’s 12%. According to Cox Automotive, that makes May the most incentive-heavy month since what Cox Automotive calls the beginning of the modern EV era, which is when EVs passed the 1% market share mark, in 2018.
Tesla’s prices played a big role in this shift. The company’s ATPs dropped 1.5% in May, landing at $55,277. Year-over-year, Tesla prices are down 2.8%.
The Model 3 and the Cybertruck inched up in price in May, but just barely – less than 1%. Every other Tesla model saw prices fall month-over-month. The Model Y, Tesla’s top seller and the most popular EV in the US, dropped 2.9% from April to an average price of $53,895.
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Toyota’s new electric SUV is about the size of a Tesla Model Y, but half the cost. The bZ5 officially launched in China on Tuesday, starting at around $18,000. Can it keep pace with BYD, Tesla, and others in China?
Toyota’s new bZ5 EV lands in China for $18,000
We knew it was coming soon. Toyota’s joint venture partner in China, FAW Toyota, announced last week that it was planning to officially launch the bZ5 on June 10.
The bZ5 is available in four trims: Joy, Pro, Pro Smart Edition, and an extended range Pro model. It’s offered with two BYD Blade battery options: 65.28 kWh and 73.98 kWh.
Powered by the standard battery, the Joy, Pro, and Pro Smart Edition models are rated for a CLTC range of 550 km (342 miles). Upgrading to the Pro trim with the larger battery provides a range of 630 km (391 miles). All trims can be recharged from 30% to 80% in approximately 27 minutes.
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The base model starts at 129,800 yuan ($18,000) while prices range up to 159,800 yuan ($22,000) for the Pro Smart Edition and extended range variants.
Toyota launches the new bZ5 electric SUV in China (Source: FAW Toyota)
With a unique style, including Toyota’s new hammerhead front-end design, a full-length light bar, and a crossover fastback-like silhouette, the bZ5 is a sleek, sporty-looking EV.
The bZ5 is 4,780 mm in length, 1,866 mm in width, and 1,510 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,880 mm. For comparison, the Tesla Model Y measures 4,797 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,624 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,890 mm.
In China, however, Toyota’s new EV is about half the cost. The base Tesla Model Y starts at 263,500 yuan ($36,700) in China, more than double the price of the bZ5, but offers a CLTC range of 593 km (368 miles).
Although the interior is relatively minimalistic, it’s packed with advanced tech and safety features. A 15.6″ infotainment sits at the center with a smaller driver display cluster.
Powered by Momenta 5.0 smart driving tech, the bZ5 is equipped with a new Toyota Pilot ADAS system. The system utilizes 33 sensors, which enable over 30 ADAS features, including assisted highway and city driving, as well as parking assistance. Higher trims include an added LiDAR sensor.
The bZ5 will sit between the bZ3X and bZ4X as Toyota expands its EV lineup in China. It follows the bZ3X, which launched in March starting at just 109,800 yuan ($15,000).
Kia’s three-row electric SUV, the EV9, is back for 2026 with smaller up-front rebates, but thanks to the federal EV tax credit, you could still come out ahead.
The 2025 Kia EV9 started at $56,395 and came with up to $10,000 off, thanks to Kia’s generous deals. That helped clear out inventory fast. Now, for 2026, Kia is dialing its deals back a bit.
According to a dealer bulletin seen by CarsDirect, the 2026 EV9 is launching with a $4,000 Customer Cash incentive available on all trims for buyers. On top of that, there’s a $1,000 Competitive Bonus Program for shoppers who either lease or buy the EV9 by July 7. That bonus is open to anyone who owns a 2014-2026 vehicle from a competing brand – think BMW, Tesla, Toyota, and others. No trade-in is required.
That means eligible shoppers could knock $5,000 off the sticker price. And since the 2026 EV9 qualifies for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit (at least most trims), total savings could climb to $12,500.
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Leasing instead of buying? Kia’s also offering a $399 per month introductory lease deal on the 2026 EV9.
That $4,000 rebate is a step down from the up to $10,000 off the 2025 model, but most 2025 EV9s weren’t eligible for the $7,500 tax credit. The 2026 version is, as long as you’re looking at a trim that qualifies. The high-performance EV9 GT is built in South Korea, which makes it ineligible under current federal rules, but the other EV9 trims built in Georgia qualify.
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