Connect with us

Published

on

Hyundai launched its first small electric work truck in Korea on Wednesday, starting at around $42,000 (55.95 million won). The Chassis Cab EV work truck was launched alongside a new Special High-Top Model, rounding out Hyundai’s ST1 lineup.

Hyundai launches its first Chassis Cab electric work truck

After unveiling its first commercial electric van, the ST1, last April, two new models are joining the lineup.

Hyundai launched the ST1 Cargo (for logistics) and Cargo Refrigerated (for delivery) in Korea earlier this year.

A company official said the ST1 is “a business platform with a variety of expansion possibilities.” Although the first models were designed for delivery and logistics, the platform can be “tailored to various purposes in the future.”

The new ST1 Chassis Cab is Hyundai’s first small commercial electric work truck. The company said that with the back removed, the model is suitable for several business uses.

Powered by a 76.1 kWh battery, the EV work truck can drive up to 203 miles (327 km) on a single charge. Hyundai’s ST1 Chassis Cab is 5,465 mm long, 2,015 mm wide, and 2,005 mm tall. It starts at around $42,00 (55.95 million won). Prices do not include incentives.

Hyundai-first-electric-work-truck
Hyundai ST1 Chassis Cab electric work truck (Source: Hyundai Motor Group)

Hyundai also launched the ST1 Special High Top model, which has more loading capacity for logistics and delivery.

The Special model starts at around $43,000 (57.4 million won) and has a driving range of up to 180 miles (289 km). Both models feature fast charging (10% to 80%) in about 20 minutes.

Hyundai-first-electric-work-truck-interior
Hyundai ST1 interior (Source: Hyundai Motor Group)

Hyundai equipped its electric work vehicles with cloud-based navigation to show real-time information, such as nearby EV charging stations. Once selected, a site will also display the battery level and possible driving distance to the charger.

Hyundai’s sister company Kia, is also launching its first electric commercial vehicles. The first, due out next year, the PV5, was spotted last week, revealing its boxy design (see the video here).

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears

Published

on

By

U.S. crude oil falls below  a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears

A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025. 

Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters

U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.

Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.

Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.

Stock Chart IconStock chart icon

hide content

Oil futures, 5 years

The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.

Continue Reading

Environment

What EV sales slump? Illinois’ EV sales outpace the nation by 4:1

Published

on

By

What EV sales slump? Illinois' EV sales outpace the nation by 4:1

Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.

Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.

Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)

What’s going on in Illinois?

File:Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker (33167937268).jpg
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at the Chicago Auto Show; by Ray Cunningham.

While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).

We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.

SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

XCMG launches XE215EV battery swap electric excavator ahead of bauma

Published

on

By

XCMG launches XE215EV battery swap electric excavator ahead of bauma

The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.

Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.

XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.

We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).

Advertisement – scroll for more content

XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?

Easy in, easy out

XCMG battery swap crane; via Etrucks New Zealand.

The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.

You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.

SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending