Connect with us

Published

on

Former Canadian FM Chrystia Freeland on Trump tariff pause: What happened is common sense prevailed

Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on Tuesday called for President Donald Trump to definitively take the threat of tariffs off the table, arguing that the U.S. will need Canadian energy in the race to achieve dominance in artificial intelligence.

Trump on Monday paused 25% tariffs on goods and 10% levies on energy resources imported from Canada after reaching an agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The halt will remain in effect for at least 30 days as discussions between Washington and Ottawa continue.

Freeland, who is running to replace Trudeau as Liberal Party leader and prime minister, slammed the tariffs as “the dumbest trade war in history,” echoing a Wall Street Journal editorial. She said the U.S.-Canada trade relationship is largely balanced when oil, gas and electricity are excluded. The tariff threat needs to be taken “definitively off the table,” she said.

“You are really lucky that Canada is the country that sells you oil and gas and electricity,” Freeland told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Tuesday. “We are a much more reliable supplier than, say, Venezuela. And the fact is, particularly with AI, America’s needs for energy are only going to increase.”

Freeland negotiated the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement during Trump’s first term. She resigned as Trudeau’s deputy prime minister and finance minister in December, precipitating his decision to step down as prime minister and party leader in January.

Freeland said the U.S. should thank Canada for being “a great partner” that will help deliver “the energy that we need to dominate in the AI space.”

Many utilities and power companies in the U.S. are expecting electricity consumption to increase substantially as more data centers are built to support AI. The emergence of China’s AI model DeepSeek, however, has raised questions among investors about whether the estimates may be inflated.

Trump has made increasing energy production to support AI a priority, recently saying that he would use emergency authorities to expedite the construction of power plants for data centers.

Continue Reading

Environment

Honda, Hyundai, Ford, Subaru, and Kia EV sales climb in January

Published

on

By

Honda, Hyundai, Ford, Subaru, and Kia EV sales climb in January

Several automakers, including Honda, Hyundai, Ford, and Kia, reported higher EV sales in the US in January. Here’s a look at some of the top-selling EV models (outside of Tesla) last month.

EV sales in the US by model in January 2025

With nearly 133,000 electric vehicles sold in December, EVs accounted for 8.8% of new car sales in the US, a new record.

According to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book, the strong end-of-year sales helped push total EV sales to 1.3 million in 2024, up 7.3% from 2024.

With Trump reportedly planning to end electric vehicle incentives, like the $7,500 federal tax credit, demand is expected to pick up as buyers look to lock in the savings before they disappear.

Several automakers reported US sales numbers for January, giving us a better idea of how the EV market is playing out.

Ford sold 5,666 EVs last month, up 21% and a new January record. The Mustang Mach-E had its best January with 3,529 models sold, up 173% from January 2024. Last year, the Mach-E was the second best-selling electric SUV behind Tesla’s Model Y. This year, it’s already losing ground.

EV-sales-January
Ford Mustang Mach-E (left) and F-150 Lightning (right) (Source: Ford)

Despite higher demand for the Mach-E, Ford F-150 Lightning sales slipped 15% to 1,907 units. Ford’s E-Transit electric van sales also fell 80%, with only 230 models sold last month.

Kia sold 1,542 EV6 models sold last month. However, sales of its three-row EV9 were down slightly (1,232 vs 1,408 in January 2023).

EV-sales-January
2025 Kia EV6 US-spec model (Source: Kia)

Sister company Hyundai notched double-digit sales growth with its popular EV models. As the upgraded 2025 model (with more range and an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers) rolled out, Hyundai IONIQ 5 sales climbed 54%, with 2,250 units sold in January. Although IONIQ 6 sales were up 15% year over year (YOY), only 871 models were sold.

EV model January 2025 sales
Honda Prologue 3,744
Ford Mustang Mach-E 3,529
Hyundai IONIQ 5 2,250
Ford F-150 Lightning 1,907
Kia EV6 1,542
Kia EV9 1,232
Subaru Solterra 1,052
Hyundai IONIQ 6 871
US electric vehicle sales by model in January 2025

The biggest surprise, again, was Honda. Honda’s electric Prologue continued to take the US by storm with another 3,744 models sold last month.

After delivering the first models last March, the Prologue was the seventh best-selling EV in the US in 2024. Honda sold over 33,000 Prologue’s in the US in 2024, beating out the Chevy Equinox EV (28,874) and Rivian R1S (26,934).

EV-sales-January
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)

GM doesn’t report monthly US sales numbers, so we’ll have to wait until April for quarterly sales to compare. Several others have yet to report January US sales. Check back for the latest numbers.

Tesla doesn’t report monthly US sales numbers, but earlier today, Electrek reported that the EV maker saw its first annual drop in sales in California last year.

Are you in the market for a new electric vehicle? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to find deals on some of the most popular EVs in your area.

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

Continue Reading

Environment

Genesis GV90 spotted looking like the ultimate ultra-luxury EV [Video]

Published

on

By

Genesis GV90 spotted looking like the ultimate ultra-luxury EV [Video]

Genesis is preparing to launch its largest, most luxurious electric SUV yet. The Genesis GV90 EV was spotted for the first time in South Korea, revealing its ultra-luxury design.

Genesis GV90 spotted as a new ultra-luxury EV

Although we actually got our first look at the Genesis GV90 last week after it was spotted on a carrier, the latest sighting gives us a much closer look, with a view from nearly every angle.

Genesis previewed the full-size electric SUV with the Neolun concept last March. The concept featured an impressive “reductive” design, with the signature Genesis two-tone headlamps and Crest grille displayed upfront.

With premium features, including coach doors, the GV90 is expected to compete with ultra-luxury brands like Rolls Royce and Bentley.

The GV90 will serve as a “tech beacon” for Hyundai and its luxury Genesis brand as it scales up. Inside, you can expect to see Hyundai Motor’s latest OS and connectivity tech. Like the Hyundai IONIQ 9, the GV90 is expected to include dual 12.3″ clusters and infotainment screens in a panoramic curved display, but the Genesis model will be over the top.

Genesis-GV90-EV-spotted
Genesis Neolun electric SUV concept (Source: Genesis)

A new video from HealerTV gives us a better idea of what to expect. Despite the camouflage, you can see that the GV90 maintains much of its design based on the concept.

From the back, it almost looks like the GV70 Electrified, but you can tell it’s even bigger. Genesis kept other design elements, like the connected rear lights and bumper design, shown in the concept.

Genesis GV90 ultra-luxury EV spotted for the first time (Source: HealerTV)

The side view shows slight changes from the concept, including the turn signals on the fender. Despite a slightly more “rounded” profile, much of the design remains the same. The two-line daytime running lights and other design elements are pulled from the concept.

Genesis is expected to unveil the GV90 later this year, with mass production set to begin in early 2026. It’s expected to be available in two trims: Standard or Exclusive.

Genesis-GV90-ultra-luxury-SUV
Genesis Neolum full-size electric SUV concept (Source: Hyundai Motor)

The Standard model is rumored to start at around 100 million won ($80,000), while the Exclusive trim, which will include ultra-luxury features like the coach doors from the concept, could cost upwards of 200 million won ($160,000). It’s like to be limited to just a few models.

The Genesis GV90 will be the first Hyundai Motor EV to ride on its new “eM” platform, set to replace its current E-GMP. It will be built at Hyundai’s Ulsan EV plant in South Korea.

Would you buy the Premium Genesis GV90 model for around $160,000? In comparison, a 2024 Bentley Bentayga costs just over $200,000. Let us know what you think in the comments.

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

Continue Reading

Environment

KORE Power kills $1 billion Arizona EV battery factory plans

Published

on

By

KORE Power kills  billion Arizona EV battery factory plans

KORE Power has scrapped plans for its $1 billion lithium-ion battery factory in Buckeye, Arizona, and its CEO and founder has resigned.

Idaho-based KORE Power announced plans to sell the site in Arizona originally designated for its 2-million-square-foot KOREPlex factory.

In an emailed statement, KORE said:

The company has recently undertaken a restructuring to provide more benefit to our customers and position the company for long-term success.

Plans for the KOREPlex in Buckeye, Arizona, will not move forward at this time.

The project, which was awarded an $850 million US Department of Energy loan in June 2023, was projected to bring around 3,000 jobs to the state. It was also positioned to be the first US-owned lithium-ion battery plant in the US.

KOREPlex would have featured multiple production ‎lines to make batteries for EVs and battery storage systems. The factory would have produced nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium-ion iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells.

CEO Lindsay Gorrill also announced on LinkedIn that he is stepping down, and that president Jay Bellows is taking over as the new CEO. Gorrill will remain a member of the company’s board.

It is with great excitement that I announce Jay Bellows as the new CEO of KORE. Jay is a remarkable leader whose expertise, integrity, and dedication will undoubtedly take KORE to new heights. Having worked closely with him, I am confident in his ability to build on what we’ve achieved and lead KORE into a dynamic and successful future.


To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% 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 Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

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

Continue Reading

Trending