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.

The 2026 Kia EV9 will arrive at dealerships in the second half 2025. Click here to find a local dealer that will stock the 2026 Kia EV9. –trusted affiliate link

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The electric microbus might soon have a little sibling. Volkswagen is considering adding a smaller, more affordable EV minivan that would sit below the ID.Buzz.

Is Volkswagen launching a cheaper EV minivan?

After launching on March 14, 2003, the Volkswagen Touran quickly became one of the most successful multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) in its class.

After celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023, VW said it had sold over 2.6 million Tourans globally. Although it remains one of the top-selling vehicles of its kind in Europe, the MPV has lost its luster with the growing demand for SUVs over the past few years.

An updated, all-electric version could spark a comeback. Volkswagen is reportedly looking to add a smaller, cheaper EV minivan to replace the Touran. Sources familiar with the project told Autocar that Volkswagen recently brought back several MPV concepts from storage, hinting at what the new EV would look like.

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One of the concepts was the BUDD-e from 2016, an electric minivan concept that was expected to be the first VW vehicle based on the MEB platform, which underpins its current ID lineup.

Although most details are still secret at this point, the new electric minivan is expected to draw inspiration from other concepts, such as the 2011 Bulli, as well as past models, like the 2014 Golf SV.

Volkswagen’s EV minivan could also debut with new features. Insiders claim VW is working on new sliding doors and seats to rival emerging Chinese brands like Zeekr.

Specs are also yet to be confirmed, but the ID.Buzz’s smaller sibling will likely ride on a new version of VW’s MEB+ or SSP platforms. Battery options are likely to fall within the 60 kWh to 80 kWh range, with both FWD and AWD powertrain configurations.

If Volkswagen goes through with it, the electric minivan could arrive by 2027 or 2028. With plans to drop the ID naming system, it could be the electric Touran replacement.

Several electric MPVs are already rolling out, particularly in China. Last week, we caught a glimpse of Hyundai’s first electric minivan, the Staria EV, after it was spotted on the road for the first time.

The ID.Buzz starts at around 55,000 euros ($63,000) in Europe and $59,995 in the US, so you can expect prices to start slightly lower.

Would you buy an electric Volkswagen Touran? You might have the chance soon. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Smart meter maker Sense just launched a new tool that helps utilities get smarter about how EVs are charging on the grid, and it doesn’t need cloud computing or special hardware to work.

Sense’s new EV charging software is called EV Analytics, and it runs through AMI 2.0 smart meters. That means it can process data directly at the grid edge, without needing to send information back and forth to the cloud. By analyzing high-resolution waveform data locally, EV Analytics can spot EVs on the grid and figure out when they start and stop charging, how much energy they’re using, and whether it’s a Level 1 or Level 2 charger.

This is Sense’s first grid-edge product built specifically for utilities. And it could be a game changer for how utilities plan, forecast, and roll out managed charging programs.

“You can’t measure what you can’t see,” said Nancy Riley, SVP of product at Sense. “We’ve focused our energy on finding all EVs on a grid, including those ghost EVs that utilities are often blind to because they use Level 1 chargers.”

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Here’s what utilities can do with Sense’s EV Analytics software:

• Spot every EV and charger: No matter the brand or charger type, the software detects charging events without needing car telematics or integrations.
• Use edge computing: Built-in AI and machine learning on the meter analyzes high-resolution waveform data locally, which delivers more accurate results than older 15-minute interval cloud models.
• Run better programs: Utilities can improve the efficiency of managed charging programs and save money by getting real-time charging data right from the grid edge.
• Scale easily: It works with multiple communication protocols, like cellular, mesh, and wifi, so it fits right into existing systems.

The goal is to make it easier for utilities to manage the growing demand for EV charging, while giving all customers a chance to participate in programs that help cut costs and keep the grid reliable.

EV Analytics is already available for utilities using Landis+Gyr’s Revelo smart meters through the Sense EV Analytics App. Sense says EV Analytics is the first in a suite of grid-edge data software solutions the company will deliver “over the coming months.”

Learn more about how Sense’s EV Analytics software works here:

Read more: With a $30M raise, SparkCharge takes EV fleet charging off-grid

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