Biden finalizes another softened fuel economy rule, still saves US billions
The Department of Transportation has finalized its newest Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, requiring an increase in fuel economy that will reduce pollution and save Americans $23 billion in fuel costs. But like other recently adopted standards, they are nevertheless softer than the administration had originally sought.
The new CAFE standards cover model years 2027-2031 and target a fuel economy increase of 2% per year, bringing average fuel economy for light duty vehicles up to 50.4 miles per gallon in 2031. The increases are larger for heavy duty pickups and vans, with 10% increases from 2030-2032 and 8% from 2033-2035, targeting 35mpg average for these vehicles by 2035.
The DoT says the new rule will save car and truck owners $600-700 over the lifetime of their vehicles, and save the country $23 billion in fuel costs total. They will reduce carbon emissions by 710 million tons and save 70 billion gallons of gas by 2050.
Nevertheless, these rules are much softer than the administration had originally proposed, as the proposed rule would have targeted 55.7mpg, rather than 50.4mpg.
(Note: CAFE fuel economy calculations are more lenient than EPA calculations, especially on electric vehicles (though that calculation just changed too), so cars won’t see an average of 50mpg in the real world)
These numbers are much lower than the effect of the EPA’s newly-finalized emissions rules, which the administration said will save $100 billion per year in fuel and health costs, cut 7 billion tons of climate pollution, and save $6,000 per vehicle. Those standards were also softened from the original proposal in response to automaker lobbying.
The two rules are meant to complement each other, attacking the problem of pollution and fuel costs from different angles.
The EPA’s rules regulate tailpipe pollution in a technology-agnostic way, allowing automakers flexibility in how they meet higher emissions standards. And CAFE simply sets an average fuel economy requirement – which is also technology-agnostic, and automakers can meet it by increasing efficiency in whatever way they see fit.
In either case, a higher electric vehicle share is the easiest way to meet the new numbers, so both will encourage automakers to offer more consumer choice of high-tech, low-polluting electric vehicles. The DoE also recently reduced how much “extra credit” EVs get, which means automakers can’t just sell a few EVs to meet higher targets, and will have to offer a greater EV share. This new calculation will make the new CAFE rules more effective, offsetting some of the disappointment from the lower mileage target.
The complementary rules will also be more resilient to legal challenges from a republican party that is hostile to human health and the pocketbooks of Americans. Senator Ted Cruz already said that he will try to reverse the money-saving rule through the Congressional Review Act, though it is unlikely that this effort will bear fruit.
In addition, several republican attorneys general have already filed suit against the EPA regulation, demanding that Americans be saddled with higher fuel costs and more poisonous air in order to satiate their donors in Big Oil. And the convicted felon running for president on the republican ticket has told oil companies he will take $1 billion in bribes in exchange for efforts to make cars more expensive for Americans.
But both are well within the purview of the EPA’s and DoT’s mandates, as has been recognized many times in the past. And even if the US supreme court ignores the law to rule against one (as they have done before), the other might survive for longer.
Reaction to today’s CAFE rule was mixed. Environmental and health groups were mostly positive on it with Sierra Club and American Lung Association supporting the changes, though Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity said the rules don’t go far enough and that the administration “caved to automaker pressure.”
Automakers, for their part, supported the changes, through the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the main automaker lobbyist. AAI President John Bozzella (who we have repeatedly covered for lying to support more pollution) said that the rule “works with the other recent federal tailpipe rules,” which was AAI’s main desire – to ensure that the various government rules were complementary of one another, instead of in conflict. That said, given his opposition to reasonable rules in the past, his acceptance of this rule does inspire some skepticism.
Beyond these rules, the administration has implemented lots of other policies to encourage the transition to EVs.
To take care of upfront costs, the Inflation Reduction Act includes credits for light- and heavy-duty EV purchases and charger installations, along with incentives for domestic manufacturing. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law incentivizes chargers further.
On the commercial/heavy side, ports get specific support from the Clean Ports Program, as do school buses, and the EPA is ensuring that California will remain a testbed for even better environmental rules. The administration also recently released a master infrastructure plan to electrifying all the US’ freight routes by 2040.
Biden also recently increased tariffs on EVs, supposedly to help encourage domestic manufacturing. But this is probably the wrong way to approach the problem.
Electrek’s Take
We can basically copy our Take from any other recent article on these emissions standards.
On the one hand, it’s great to see things moving forward, and the government does seem to be working on electrification from every angle.
On the other hand, this doesn’t move forward fast enough, and we need to stop listening to automakers begging government to let them go bankrupt as they refuse to move quickly enough on the transition.
The transition is coming, and within a couple decades, every car on the road has to be electric. Not only are they better, and consumer demand will move in the direction of EVs for that reason anyway (likely in advance of targets, as we’ve seen before), but rapid electrification of transport is required if we want to have any chance of avoiding the worst effects of climate change.
At this point, we cannot move to cleaner transport fast enough, and any standard yet proposed by any nation is not strong enough to meet the environmental needs of the planet. So all of these standards could bear to be stronger, this one among them.
We still need to celebrate movement in the right direction, and recognize that the opposition wants to move in a worse direction, which would cause more harm to Americans and to every living being on Earth.
But we can be disappointed and ask for more, which we do again today, as we have in the past.
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The Tesla Solar Roof tiles are still alive, but the product is on the back burner at Tesla as it failed to achieve its promises.
When launching the solar roof in 2016, CEO Elon Musk presented it as a critical product to accelerate solar power deployment, as it opens up the market to people who want to go solar but also need to replace their roof soon.
He said that he aimed for Tesla to produce 1,000 new solar roofs per week by the end of 2019.
However, Tesla didn’t reach volume production of the solar roof tiles until 2020, and even then, it was at a fraction of the deployment it was aiming for.
In 2022, Electrek reported that Tesla installed solar roofs for the first time and confirmed that the Company deployed 2.5 MW of solar roofs during the second quarter of 2022, equivalent to approximately 23 roofs per week, which is far short of its goal.
Since then, Tesla has even further pulled back its solar effort – and even stopped reporting its solar deployment.
Many people are asking what it means for the solar roof, which Musk touted as a revolutionary product.
In 2023, we reported that Tesla began phasing out its solar business, particularly its in-house installations.
Tesla shifted its focus on deploying Powerwalls and solar inverters through third-party installers.
The same thing is happening with Tesla’s solar roof tiles. The company appears to be giving up on installing them itself, but some installations are still happening with third-party certified installers.
Tesla doesn’t even give online quotes on its solar roof anymore and has people submit requests for quotes through third-party installers:
“In order to receive pricing and product information, Tesla will share your contact information with a Tesla Certified Installer.”
We are hearing less about solar roof installations lately, as Tesla has gone virtually silent on the program; however, some ongoing installations are still being carried out by third-party installers.
Weddle and Sons Roofing just posted about a new 20 kW Tesla Solar Roof installation in Topeka, Kansas:
It’s challenging to determine the exact deployment rate of the solar roof, but based on our checks with a few installers, it doesn’t appear to have increased since 2022.
Tesla-certified installers are even convincing potential buyers to opt for a regular roof with solar panels instead of a solar roof. Potential buyer Jeff Betty shared this text from an unnamed installer:
This is not entirely surprising, as the primary issue with the Tesla Solar Roof tiles is their pricing. Tesla aimed for the solution to be competitive with higher-end roofing options, but it remains expensive and much less affordable than many durable roof options, plus solar panels.
Electrek’s Take
In short, the Tesla Solar Roof is still alive, but it’s nowhere near the revolutionary product Tesla claimed it would be.
Instead, it has become a very niche higher-end roofing product that Tesla deploys in very low volume through third-party installers.
It’s not in any way a significant part of Tesla’s energy business, which is now almost entirely Megapacks and Powerwalls.
While Tesla’s solar roof is not for everyone, now is a great time to go solar with rooftop solar panels.
If you want to make sure you’re finding a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar – whether you’re a homeowner or renter. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20 to 30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.
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
Retrospec Valen Rev+: A fat tire e-bike with the spirit of an all-terrain scrambler [Video]
![Retrospec Valen Rev+: A fat tire e-bike with the spirit of an all-terrain scrambler [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/DSC08478.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
For the Valen Rev+, Retrospec managed to get the best out of that iconic moto-style scrambler spirit and put it into a comfortably handling fat tire e-bike while also keeping the performance bits that make it fun, and the best part is it comes at a reasonable price of just under $1,800
Aside from the looks and price this bike has a unique fun factor that comes from a combination of a few key components here.
One is the 20 by 4.0 inch Fat MTB tires with puncture protection and reflective sidewalls. Aside from these tires offering an extra layer of protection and suspension, Retrospec’s decision to offer wide tires also gives way more stability than a typical bike tire, which makes going through ruts, mud, or sand pretty effortless.
The second key component is the front suspension, which is fully adjustable and has 100mm of travel. Combined with the extra suspension from the fat tires, as mentioned earlier, this makes otherwise challenging terrain turn into fun detours that you’ll likely go out of your way to use.
The third component is the 750w rear hub motor, which gives the bike a 28 mph assisted top speed. Combined with the secure handling and added front suspension, the Valen Rev+ is the kind of bike you want to plan an adventure with. Whether that’s a dirt road shortcut on your commute or a day to the beach, the comfortable long seat makes it hard to say no to a trip with the Valen Rev+
On the practical side, Retrospec put some significant thought into the design and build of this bike to ensure that riders are cared for with those often less thought of yet still essential features. Starting with the battery, the fully integrated 720Wh battery uses LG 21700 cells for a total of 68 miles of range when fully charged. In addition, the battery is lockable and easily removable for both on- and off-bike battery charging. It’s also seamlessly integrated into the bike’s frame, making for a clean look.
For safety, Retrospec added Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with e-bike-specific rotors, which is an important upgrade, considering an improved rotor typically allows for better heat dissipation and better overall performance. There are also Integrated front and rear lights with 100 Lux illumination for the front. Safety aside, the design here for the front light looks amazing.
For the less thought-of yet essential features, Retrospec included an easy-change rear wheel removal system that uses braze-ons located at the lower part of the bike, so there’s no need to remove zip ties. Unlike other e-bikes, the Valen Rev+ kept it simple with the same axel nut for both the front and rear which means fewer tools, but what makes the process itself a lot easier is not having to wrestle the chain when re-installing the wheel thanks to the chain hanger.
One of the great feelings of the Retrospec Valen Rev+ e-bike is how simple yet stylish it is; the display is a center-mounted color display with controls on the left-hand side of the handlebars. The control panel has only three buttons, so it’s as simple as it gets. With the up or down control, you can change through 6 levels of pedal assist, but if you’re looking for more control, you can also use the controls on the right side of the handlebars to cycle through the eight speeds on the Shimano Altus derailleur.
For how comfortable the moto-inspired Valen Rev+ is, it also feels great to pedal on in case you’re looking for more exercise and want to opt for the pedal assist rather than the throttle only. Unlike other e-bikes on the market, Retrospec’s Rev+ makes riding very approachable. For those who are newer to riding, that long seat and wide tires add a level of stability, making the overall learning experience much more enjoyable. With how comfortable the bike rides, it might make you think more about leaving the car at home more often and opting for the bike paths.
For those looking to get as much fun as possible out of an e-bike aside from the fat tires and front suspension, Retrospec’s BMX style handlebars offer excellent geometry and height that gives you much more control over the bike in case you wanna stand up and tackle some of the more challenging trails. In addition, if you’re looking to forget pedaling altogether, you could even choose to get the optional footpeg accessories, which, combined with the BMX-styled handlebars, will make the bike much more functional for off-road riding.
Overall, Retrospec seems to have put a lot of effort into bringing that scrambler moto spirit into a comfortable bike with loads of features that other manufacturers haven’t quite nailed down. From the easy rear wheel removal to the BMX-styled handlebars and comfortable long seat, it’s a very approachable and easy-to-maintain e-bike that can still rip on trails for those who want to tackle more of that tough off-road terrain.
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![This is it: Mazda EZ-60 crossover interior revealed ahead of global launch [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-19-at-6.35.22 AM.png?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
We got our first look at the new-for-2026 Mazda EZ-60 electric crossover just last week, but Mazda played coy with the interior, leading many in the media (including us) to believe that the interior would be pretty similar to the EZ-6 sedan‘s. We were wrong.
I’ll cut right to the chase. The new Model Y rival from Mazda is coming for the Y’s old sales crown with a starkly elegant 26.45-inch 5K ultra-wide display with dual screens and (get this) a massive 100″ (!) augmented reality heads-up display (AR-HUD) that projects key driving information onto the windshield, alerting the driver of pedestrians, speed limits, etc.
You can check it out for yourself, below.
Mazda EZ-60 interior revealed
As you can see, the interior largely eschews buttons, knobs, or physical interfaces of any kind in favor of touchscreens. Those screens enable EZ-60 drivers and passengers to control and adjust a 23-speaker, 7.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos audio system, while a separate touchscreen in the rear allows drivers passengers to adjust climate and entertainment settings for themselves.
Other interior features include super-slick digital wing mirror displays (the exterior “side mirrors” are aerodynamic cameras), and fully twenty kid- and family-friendly storage compartments sprinkled liberally throughout the vehicle. A relatively small 350-liter (12.3 cu ft) rear trunk expands to 2,036 liters (71.9 cu ft) with the seats folded flat. A 126-liter frunk (4.4 cu ft, or about the size of the mini fridge in your college dorm) adds extra practicality.
The electric Mazda SUV itself is built on the Changan EPA1 platform, and is believed to be powered by an 80 kWh battery good for 295 miles of WLTP range, and a 93 kW charging speed that can take the EZ-60 from 30 to 80% charge in a little over 30 mins.
Following the crossover’s Chinese launch – officially slated for April 23rd. Changan Mazda plans to release the EZ-60 in overseas markets under the Mazda CX-6e nameplate.
Electrek’s Take
Mazda is on a hot streak right now – and not just in China, but in the US as well. The brand’s near-premium positioning is perfect, targeting middle class buyers who are willing to pay a premium to drive a vehicle with better fit and finish than the Ford, Chevy, and Stellantis offerings – but not enough of a premium to justify a move into Acura/Volvo territory. And, frankly, no one in the industry is doing paint as well as Mazda right now. Not until you start doubling the Mazda’s MSRPs, anyway.
Here’s hoping this one comes to the US.
SOURCE | VIDEO: Changan Mazda, via China Auto Show, Planet Car News.
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