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Hyundai’s flagship SUV is going electric. According to sources, Hyundai is developing an electric Santa Fe and a new EV pickup truck for the US, but there’s more to it. Here’s what to expect from Hyundai’s new EVs.

Hyundai Santa Fe is finally going electric but as an EREV

The Santa Fe is Hyundai’s second-best-selling SUV in the US. Hyundai has sold over 65,600 Santa Fe models through July, more than double the IONIQ 5 (22,144) and 6 (7,690) combined.

Although Hyundai is expected to launch an electric Sante Fe, it may not be what you imagine. On Tuesday, industry sources revealed (via KED Global) Hyundai is developing a next-gen powertrain for extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs).

The system includes a fuel-based power unit to extend an electric vehicle’s range. An electric generator charges the vehicle’s battery, enabling longer ranges.

Hyundai recently established a new “xEV System” development team in Korea. Sources familiar with the matter said Yang Heui-won, Hyundai Motor Group’s R&D chief, will head the project.

The first models, Hyundai’s Santa Fe and the Genesis GV70 are expected to receive the tech in the next two to three years.

Hyundai-Santa-Fe-electric
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

After that, electric Hyundai and Kia pickup trucks will also gain EREV drivetrains. They are expected to begin rolling out in 2028 or 2029. The sources claim the new EV pickups will have over 330 miles (530 km) driving range.

Conquering the US market with pickups and SUVs

Hyundai aims to “conquer” the massive US pickup truck market, according to a report from Naver last week.

The report claimed Hyundai completed a teardown of the Tesla Cybertruck last month as it prepared to take on the US market. A Ford F-150 Lightning was also spotted with Korean test plates near Hyundai’s facility last month.

Hyundai-Tesla-Cybertruck
Tesla Cybertruck (Photo: Courtesy of Tesla Inc)

According to S&P Global Mobility registration data, Tesla’s Cybertruck was the fifth top-selling EV in the US in May. Ford’s F-150 Lightning was number 10.

Hyundai sells the Santa Cruz pickup, but sales are down 10% this year. Last year, the Santa Cruz ranked 12 in US pickup sales, with 36,675 models handed over.

Hyundai-Kia-electric-truck
Kia’s first pickup, the Tasman (Source: Hyundai)

With 2.86 million units sold in the US last year, pickup sales nearly doubled that of large sedans with 1.56 million.

Hyundai wants to compete with Ford’s F-series, the Chevy Silverado, and Ram for a piece of the US pickup market.

Hyundai-Santa-Fe-electric
Hyundai IONIQ 9 (SEVEN) electric SUV concept (Source: Hyundai)

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor, including Kia and Genesis, accounted for 10% of the US EV market through July. Hyundai is the second top-selling EV brand ahead of Ford (7.4%) and GM (6.3%) as it looks to close the gap with Tesla (49.7%).

Electrek’s Take

Hyundai is investing heavily in the US market. Its massive $7.6B Metaplant in GA is opening its doors later this year.

Electric cars produced at the facility are expected to qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit as Hyundai looks to outpace US rivals.

Hyundai is also expected to reveal its first three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, by the end of the year.

It is interesting to see the report claim that Hyundai is developing EREVs because of concerns over EV range and charging infrastructure. According to the Department of Energy and EPA, Hyundai already has eight of the top ten most energy-efficient EVs in the US this year.

Since EREVs still have internal combustion engines, the tech will be phased out as 100% EV powertrains and batteries progress.

Will EREVs help or hurt Hyundai in the US? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source: KED Global

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Lotus Cars quietly updates its 900+ hp Eletre and Emeya EVs for 2026

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Lotus Cars quietly updates its 900+ hp Eletre and Emeya EVs for 2026

Lotus Cars’ compelling, high-performance electric sports sedan and SUV received a number of fresh updates earlier this week, but packs superior infotainment tech, styling tweaks, and (of course) a mind-bending 905 electric horsepower. (!)

I haven’t checked the numbers, but I’d bet a dollar or three that Tesla moves more cars in a good week than Lotus sells in a year. Still, Lotus has managed to preserve its reputation as a maker of truly engaging drivers’ cars. Its latest EVs, the Emeya sedan and Eletre SUV, are generally regarded as dynamic, exhilarating machines that credibly carry Colin Chapman’s yellow badge.

For 2026, though, the Chinese versions of the updated Lotus EVs have black badges (the UK versions were announced back in April), but the new doesn’t stop there.

The next update on the list is the addition of 22″, 10-spoke ultralight alloy wheels across the entire Eletre lineup. Both the 600 and 600 SE variants retain last year’s 6-piston fixed front and floating rear brake calipers, while the top-tier 900 model gets a high-performance, 10-piston, carbon-ceramic braking system that’s more than capable of hauling the Eletre SUV down from speed, lap after lap.

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They’ll need those brakes, too – because these things are fast, and getting faster with seemingly every new software update. “Things can always go faster,” reads the official Lotus copy. “The new Eletre and Emeya ‘900’ provide unmistakable evidence, representing superlatives in terms of performance. Both rely on a 675 kW (~915 hp) strong dual-motor powertrain.”

Both Lotus 900s can put that power to the ground effectively enough to rocket from 0-62 mph (100 km) in a well under 3.0 seconds on their way to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph (256 km/h) in the Eletre, and 160 mph (265 km/h) in the Emeya. The 600s aren’t exactly slow, either, packing 405 kW electric motors (~600 hp) good for 0-60 times in the mid 4s.

Inside, the Eletre and Emeya designs carries over without major changes. Lotus enhanced the features list on various trims. The 600 models now include 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, as well as 15-speaker audio systems from KEF. The 600 SE further adds a PDLC smart panoramic sunroof, 20-way power-adjustable front seats, front seat massage function, and active rear-wheel steering.

CarNewsChina reports that the updated 900 model builds upon the 600 SE’s new offerings with an intelligent, active anti-roll control suspension system.

Pricing for the 2026 Lotus EVs starts at 538,000 yuan (74,800 USD) in China, and climbs to over 838,000 yuan (116,500 USD) for the top-shelf Lotus Eletre 900 SUV. All models carry the same two-speed transmission and 112 kWh battery (102 kWh in the UK), good for up to 610 km (~375 miles) of driving between charges.

No word yet on if or when these updates will make it to America.

Electrek’s Take


It wasn’t that long ago that a 900+ hp car was a cammy, rough-riding mess of a machine that you could barely take through a drive thru, but could probably land on the cover of a car magazine. Today, that same 900 hp in a quiet, smooth, reliable EV hardly generates a headline. And, almost in defiance of the “everything just keeps getting more expensive” truism, these mind-bending supercars can be had for less than what cars like this used to cost with gas engines and a third of the power.

How far we’ve come!

SOURCE | IMAGES: Lotus Cars, via CarNewsChina.


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E-quipment highlight: 50 kW portable DC fast charger from Lincoln Electric

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E-quipment highlight: 50 kW portable DC fast charger from Lincoln Electric

The welding equipment experts at Lincoln Electric know a thing or two about high-voltage equipment. Now, they’re bringing that electrical expertise to a whole new market with a portable, self-contained, 50 kW DC fast charger designed to deliver a quick shot of range and get stranded drivers back on the road.

Lincoln Electric’s Velion 50 kW DC fast charger is pitched as a durable, compact mobile charging unit that’s perfect for tow truck operators and construction fleets dealing with vehicles and fleet assets that couldn’t quite make their way back to a charger. So, you’re looking at this and thinking of one of those red, 5-gallon gas tanks that helps get drivers off the highway and to the next exit, congratulations: you get it!

“[Velion is] Designed for flexible, mobile use,” said Bruce Chantry, Vice President, Electric Vehicle Solutions at Lincoln Electric, during a buzzword-packed introduction of the new machine. “Designed in collaboration with the market and leveraging decades of expertise in power electronics, our solution is engineered to provide the flexibility customers need today, with a future-ready design to meet the demands of tomorrow.”

Designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States with over 70% domestic content, the Velion charger meets all National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) and Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements.

LINCOLN ELECTRIC

Lincoln Electric plans to sell the Velion DCFC to municipal fleets and state highway agencies, first, and envisions it being deployed in tough environments like construction sites, emergency response arenas, and complex fixed fleet depots. Car dealerships, museums, and probably ambulances too, could benefit – but I’m sure that’s just scratching the surface.

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Watch the Lincoln Electric launch video for the Velion from earlier this summer, below, then let us know how you’d like to see a mobile fast charger get deployed in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Lincoln Electric Velion DCFC


Velion 50 kW mobile charger; via Lincoln Electric.

The company hasn’t announced pricing or battery energy capacity (in kWh) for the new Velion, but I’d guess it’s something higher than 15 kWh, but less than 20. If you guys have a better guess, I’d love to hear it!

SOURCE | IMAGES: Lincoln Electric.


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How CATL is changing EV battery tech in Europe [Video]

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How CATL is changing EV battery tech in Europe [Video]

Electric vehicles have come a long way, but let’s be real—they still have their hangups: “range anxiety,” long charging times, and questions about safety and sustainability. But what if all those worries could be put to rest?

At IAA Mobility in Munich, CATL, one of the world’s biggest battery makers, unveiled a new technology that could revolutionize EVs.

Shenxing Pro: Go Far, Last Long

CATL debuted two versions of its next-gen Shenxing Pro battery. One is all about distance and durability. Picture this: a single charge gets you up to 758 km (or about 470 miles). That’s enough to drive from Houston to Memphis without a single stop. And it’s not just about the distance; this thing is built to last. It promises a lifespan of 12 years or 1,000,000 km, with only around 9% degradation after 200,000 km. That’s a huge leap from today’s EV batteries, which often lose up to 30% of their capacity over the same period.

Fast Charging, Even When It’s Freezing

Tired of waiting around for your car to charge? The second version of the Shenxing Pro is for you. It’s the Super Fast Charging model, designed to get you back on the road in minutes. CATL says it can add a whopping 478 km of range in just 10 minutes under perfect conditions. And here’s the best part: it holds its own in the cold. We all know how much cold weather messes with most EV batteries, but the Shenxing Pro still delivers up to 410 km of range in just 20 minutes at a chilling -20°C. That’s better than many EVs perform in normal temperatures!

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No Propagation 3.0: Safety First

Safety is a top concern with EV batteries, especially the risk of thermal runaway—that’s when one cell overheats and triggers a dangerous chain reaction. CATL’s new No Propagation 3.0 platform is engineered to stop that domino effect cold. It uses special fireproof coatings and a cell structure that quickly cools down and relieves pressure. In the rare event of a problem, the battery can still provide stable power for over an hour. That extra time is a lifeline, giving drivers the chance to get to safety and ensuring critical systems like advanced driver-assistance features stay online when you need them most.

Getting Greener, At Scale

CATL is also tackling the sustainability issue head-on. Through a new initiative called the Global Energy Circular Commitment (GECC), they aim to cut the use of new raw materials by half over the next two decades. They’re already a leader in this space, operating the world’s largest battery recycling network. Since 2024, they’ve recycled over 130,000 tons of used batteries, recovering 99.6% of crucial metals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese.

The Whole Package

What’s so impressive about the Shenxing Pro isn’t just one feature—it’s everything working together. By improving range, charging speed, safety, and sustainability all at once, CATL isn’t just fixing a single problem; they’re taking on the biggest obstacles to widespread EV adoption. If these batteries live up to the hype, the next wave of EVs could be more efficient, more reliable, and a whole lot greener.

The bottom line? CATL’s latest battery tech in tandem with other commitments could prove to be the building blocks for the next wave of EVs in Europe and beyond.

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