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After losing to Tesla in the first round, BMW says it’s ready for another chance. BMW is taking aim at Tesla as it looks to win back drivers with longer-range, ultra-fast charging EVs, starting with the new iX3.

Will the new BMW iX3 go head-to-head with Tesla?

BMW promises its next-gen electric vehicles, dubbed “Neue Klasse,” are drastically more efficient, smarter, and more advanced than its current lineup.

The new iX3 will be the first to showcase BMW’s latest tech, which the German auto giant claims will “be the benchmark of the industry.”

Can it compete with Tesla, though? When the first-gen model launched in 2020, buyers essentially had two choices for a luxury EV: the iX3 or Tesla Model Y. We all know who won that rivalry. And it wasn’t even close. However, fast forward a few years, and BMW is preparing for round 2.

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According to CEO Oliver Zipse, the new BMW iX3 will have a driving range of up to 800 km (497 miles) on the European WLTP rating scale.

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A new BMW iX3 prototype during road testing (Source: BMW)

With up to 400 kW fast-charging, it can recharge enough to drive from New York to Washington, DC, in about 10 minutes.

Zipse told Bloomberg during a new interview that “this will be the benchmark of the industry.” For comparison, the Tesla Model Y Long Range has a WLTP range of up to 622 km (386 miles) and a maximum charging rate of 250 kW.

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A new BMW iX3 prototype during road testing (Source: BMW)

Longer range, faster charging, and advanced new tech

The upcoming Neue Klasse will show the world that BMW “can build superior electric cars, and the rest of the market will have to answer,” Zipse said.

BMW created its new EV platform from the ground up using the most advanced tech, batteries, and other components

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BMW Neue Klasse EV tech stack (Source: BMW Group)

The new “superbrain”, which powers the infotainment and other features like self-driving, packs 20 times the computing power of BMW’s current models. BMW used expertise from six global hubs, including Portugal, South Africa, China, India, Romania, and the US, to bring it to life.

BMW’s new cylindrical battery cells, which will power the new iX3 (and all Neue Klasse EVs), are 20% more efficient than their predecessors.

BMW-Tesla-new-iX3
(Source: BMW Group investor presentation)

During the interview, Zipse was asked if Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s rising unpopularity offered an opportunity for BMW. Zipse avoided the question, saying BMW is doubling down on vehicles that customers “enjoy and are proud to drive without having to justify their choice.”

Zipse went on to explain that Tesla’s dominance in the US market was largely due to regulatory credits. “What we’ve more or less witnessed is the transfer of funding from an allegedly ‘old’ industry to a so-called ‘new’ industry,” BMW’s boss explained.

Will the new iX3 go head-to-head with the Tesla Model Y? We will soon find out. BMW will begin building Neue Klasse models next year, starting with the iX3, with customer deliveries expected shortly after.

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California’s grid gets a record power assist from a 100k home battery fleet

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California's grid gets a record power assist from a 100k home battery fleet

More than 100,000 home batteries across California stepped up as a virtual power plant last week in a scheduled test event, and the results were impressive, according to new analysis from The Brattle Group.

Sunrun was the largest aggregator, Tesla was the largest OEM, and most of the batteries were enrolled
in California’s Demand-Side Grid Support (DSGS) program.

Sunrun’s distributed battery fleet delivered more than two-thirds of the energy during a scheduled two-hour grid support test on July 29. In total, the event pumped an average of 535 megawatts (MW) onto the grid – enough to power over half of San Francisco.

The event, run between 7 and 9 pm, was coordinated by the California Energy Commission, CAISO (California Independent System Operator), and utilities to prepare for stress on the grid during August and September heat waves. And it worked.

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Sunrun alone averaged over 360 MW during the two-hour window. The batteries kicked in right when electricity demand typically spikes in the evening, acting just like a traditional power plant, but from people’s homes.

Brattle’s analysis found that the battery output made a visible dent in statewide grid load, when the power is needed most. “Performance was consistent across the event, without major fluctuations or any attrition,” said Ryan Hledik, a principal at The Brattle Group. He called it “dependable, planning-grade performance at scale.”

The Brattle Group

Residential batteries, Hledik explained, don’t just help shave off demand during critical hours; they can reduce the need for new power plants entirely. “They can serve CAISO’s net peak, reduce the need to invest in new generation capacity, and relieve strain on the system associated with the evening load ramp,” he said.

This isn’t a one-off. Sunrun’s fleet already helped drop peak demand earlier this summer, delivering 325 MW during a similar event on June 24. The company compensates customers up to $150 per battery per season for participating.

Sunrun CEO Mary Powell summed it up: “Distributed home batteries are a powerful and flexible resource that reliably delivers power to the grid at a moment’s notice, benefiting all households by preventing blackouts, alleviating peak demand, and reducing extreme price spikes.”

Read more: The US’s largest virtual power plant now runs on 75,000 home batteries


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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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Hyundai’s new electric SUV may be heading overseas after all

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Hyundai's new electric SUV may be heading overseas after all

Hyundai’s new Elexio electric SUV, which is built in China, could be sold in overseas markets. The CEO of Hyundai Australia calls it “a promising vehicle” that could help the company regain market share from Tesla, BYD, and others.

Will Hyundai’s new Elexio SUV be sold overseas?

The Elexio SUV is the first dedicated electric vehicle from Hyundai’s joint venture with BAIC in China, Beijing Hyundai.

After unveiling it for the first time in May, Hyundai is preparing to launch the new Elexio in China in the next few weeks.

According to a new report, Hyundai’s new electric SUV could be sold in overseas markets, including Australia. Don Romano, the CEO of Hyundai Australia, told journalists (via EV Central) last week during the launch event for the new IONIQ 9 that the company has done a “terrible job” with its EVs so far.

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“And the only explanation for that is that we haven’t put enough focus into it,” he explained. However, Romano promises the automaker will do better.

Hyundai plans to boost marketing and support its dealership network, which only began selling IONIQ EV models a little over a year ago.

Hyundai's-new-electric-SUV-overseas
The Hyundai Elexio electric SUV (Source: Beijing Hyundai)

In what mostly went under the radar, Romano also suggested the new Elexio SUV could arrive in Australia. “It’s under evaluation now,” he said, adding, “it’s definitely a promising vehicle.”

Despite this, it may have a few hurdles to clear. Hyundai’s Australian boss explained, “I still have work to do to ensure that it’s the right vehicle in the right segment at the right price for our market. And I have not reached that level yet.”

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Hyundai Elexio electric SUV interior (Source: Beijing Hyundai)

Romano told journalists that a final decision needs to be made “in the next 60 to 90 days,” and to check back in three months when he will have a definitive answer.

Hyundai Australia is also looking to launch the IONIQ 2, a smaller, more affordable EV to sit between the Inster EV and Kona Electric.

Hyundai's-electric-SUV-overseas
Hyundai Elexio SUV (Source: Beijing Hyundai)

Romano said, “It’s a potential opportunity,” but didn’t provide any details. He said, at this point, he’s just glad Hyundai is producing it. “Now I just need to get the details and find out, will it fit into our overall product plan and create enough demand to where it becomes a viable option for us? So my initial thought is absolutely. Yep.” Hyundai Australia’s boss told journalists.

The new EVs would help Hyundai, which has been struggling to keep pace in the transition to electric, compete in Australia and other overseas markets.

Hyundai's-electric-SUV-global-test
Hyundai Elexio electric SUV during global testing (Source: Beijing Hyundai)

As of June 2025, Hyundai has sold only 853 EVs in Australia. In comparison, Tesla has sold 14,146 electric vehicles, and BYD has sold over 8,300. Even Kia is selling more EVs in Australia, with 4,402 units sold in the first six months of the year.

Measuring 4,615 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width, and 1,673 mm in height, Hyundai’s electric SUV is slightly smaller than the Tesla Model Y.

It recently underwent three consecutive crash tests among several other global evaluations, consistently outperforming benchmarks. Based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform that powers nearly all Hyundai and Kia EVs, the Elexio has a CLTC driving range of up to 435 miles (700 km)

Hyundai is set to launch it in China in the third quarter of 2025. Prices have yet to be announced, but it’s expected to start at around 140,000 yuan ($19,500).

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From $129 a month: 5 of the best EV lease deals in August

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From 9 a month: 5 of the best EV lease deals in August

Time’s ticking for snagging a great EV lease deal. With the 25% tariff on imported EVs already in place and the federal tax credit disappearing on September 30, automakers are rolling out serious deals. If you’re thinking about going electric, now’s the moment. Here are some of the best August EV lease deals our friends at CarsDirect found.

Honda-Prologue-sales-July
2025 Honda Prologue at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Honda)

2025 Honda Prologue lease from $159/month

Honda’s throwing down a wild lease deal on the 2025 Prologue if you’re in the right state. For a limited time, you can drive off in the all-electric SUV for the equivalent of just $200/month, but there’s a twist. Instead of monthly payments, Honda’s offering a rare One Pay Lease: you drop $4,800 upfront for a 24-month lease. That’s it. No monthly bills, and you save nearly 2% compared to standard rates.

If paying all at once isn’t in the cards, there’s still an option to pay $159/month for 24 months with $1,099 due at signing. Either way, the Prologue ranks among the cheapest new electric SUVs to lease right now.

There are some strings, though. These ultra-low prices are only available in California and other CARB states, and they include a $3,500 loyalty or conquest bonus, so you’ll need to be coming from a Honda lease or ready to ditch another brand.

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These deals rely on the EV lease loophole to pass through the $7,500 tax credit. Once that disappears on September 30, expect prices to jump. At that point, buying might make more sense than leasing.

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Honda Prologue in stock. –trusted affiliate link

2025 Volkswagen ID.4 lease from $129/month

Volkswagen just slashed the ID.4 lease – and it’s a big one. Right now, you can lease the 2025 ID.4 Pro RWD for just $129/month for 24 months with 10,000 miles a year. That works out to an effective cost of only $233/month, making it $264 less than it was before.

This isn’t just a good deal – it’s practically interest-free. The previous lease rate hovered around 1%, but now it’s basically 0%. On top of that, VW is stacking up to $9,250 in lease cash depending on which trim you pick. Even the base Pro RWD gets $7,500 in incentives. This deal only runs through August 31.

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Volkswagen ID.4 in stock. –trusted affiliate link

Hyundai-EV-IONIQ-5

2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 lease from $149/month

Hyundai just dropped one of the best EV lease deals of the summer. The refreshed 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range is going for $149/month for 36 months (10,000 miles a year) with $3,999 due at signing. That brings the effective monthly cost to just $260 – a nearly $100 drop from July’s offer. This deal is available through September 2.

If you’ve got little wiggle room in your budget, the SE Long Range might be worth the upgrade at $189/month with the same upfront cost – only $40 more a month for a lot more range.

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Hyundai IONIQ 5 in stock. –trusted affiliate link

Hyundai-free-charger-EVs-IONIQ-6
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Source: Hyundai)

2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 lease from $169/month

The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 SE Standard Range is going for $169/month for 24 months (12,000 miles a year) with $3,999 due at signing. That pencils out to an effective cost of $336/month, and with the current lease cash, it’s a solid bargain.

Hyundai is offering up to $11,750 in lease cash on the IONIQ 6, plus an extra $1,000 Inventory Coupon if you lease a car that’s been sitting on the lot for 180+ days. That’s even more than July’s offer.

These offers are good through September 2, so if sleek, efficient, and affordable is your vibe, the IONIQ 6 is a solid choice.

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Hyundai IONIQ 6 in stock. –trusted affiliate link

2025-Subaru-Solterra
2025 Subaru Solterra (Source: Subaru)

2025 Subaru Solterra lease from $279/month

The 2025 Subaru Solterra just became one of the most affordable EVs to lease. It’s going for $279/month for 36 months with just $279 due at signing. That brings the effective monthly cost to just $287, an incredible deal for an all-electric SUV with an MSRP pushing $40,000.

To put it in perspective: the 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid has an effective monthly cost of $486. So yeah, the Solterra wins this round. This offer’s available through September 2.

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Subaru Solterra in stock. –trusted affiliate link


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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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