Connect with us

Published

on

Toyota is already developing the next-gen RAV4, and rumors suggest an electric model is in the works. According to internal documents, significant changes are expected. Here’s what we know about the upcoming Toyota RAV4 and a possible EV variant.

When will Toyota launch the electric RAV4 EV?

The RAV4 was Toyota’s top-selling vehicle in the US last year, moving over 475,000 units. Even more impressive, the compact SUV ended the Ford F-150’s nearly four-decade reign (except for 2009) as America’s top-selling vehicle.

Data from Jato Dynamics (via Forbes) shows Ford F-150 sales slipped 5% to 460,915 in 2024, while RAV4 sales climbed another 9% to over 475,000.

The RAV4’s growing popularity is mainly driven by the rising demand for hybrid and electric vehicles. With the current generation released back in 2018, Toyota is expected to reveal the updated RAV4 this summer.

According to local reports, internal documents reveal the next-gen RAV4 will ride on an improved TNGA-K platform. The updated SUV is expected to be slightly bigger than the current model, with an extended wheelbase to open up more interior space.

Toyota-electric-RAV4-EV
2025 Toyota RAV4 PHEV (Source: Toyota)

The design is expected to mirror the new Prius and Camry models with a sportier, more modern look. The front end is due for a new grille, and wraparound LED daytime running lights.

Inside, the new RAV4 will likely gain a new infotainment system with AppleCarPlay and Android Auto support. Other premium features could include a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, and a wireless charger.

Toyota-2025-bZ4X-interior
2025 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWD interior (Source: Toyota)

Toyota is expected to launch the next-gen RAV4 with several powertrain options, including ICE, hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and a possible electric (EV) variant.

Although no details have been confirmed, Toyota is said to be considering an electric RAV4 that will ride on a modified TNGA-K platform. The fifth-gen RAV4 is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) platform.

Electrek’s Take

The RAV4 is already about the size of Toyota’s electric bZ4X SUV. At 184.6″ long, the bZ4X is slightly longer than the RAV4 (180.9″ long), but if the rumors are true that the next-gen model will be bigger, it won’t make sense for both to be on the market.

With the bZ4X reportedly due for a rebrand, it could be sold as the “electric RAV4” or “RAV4 EV” as Toyota drops the bZ naming system.

Would you buy an electric Toyota RAV4? If so, what features and other specs would you be looking for? Let us know in the comments.

Source: ResponseJP

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

Continue Reading

Environment

Trump to shut down all 8,000 EV charging ports at federal govt buildings

Published

on

By

Trump to shut down all 8,000 EV charging ports at federal govt buildings

The Trump administration is shutting down EV chargers at all federal government buildings and is also expected to sell off the General Services Administration‘s (GSA) newly bought EVs.

GSA, which manages all federal government-owned buildings, also operates the federal buildings’ EV chargers. Federally owned EVs and federal employee-owned personal EVs are charged on those 8,000 charging ports.

The Verge reports it’s been told by a source that plans will be officially announced internally next week, and it’s seen an email that GSA has already sent to regional offices about the plans:

“As GSA has worked to align with the current administration, we have received direction that all GSA-owned charging stations are not mission-critical.”

The GSA is working on the timing of canceling current network contracts that keep the EV chargers operational. Once those contracts are canceled, the stations will be taken out of service and “turned off at the breaker,” the email reads. Other chargers will be turned off starting next week.

“Neither Government Owned Vehicles nor Privately Owned Vehicles will be able to charge at these charging stations once they’re out of service.” 

Colorado Public Radio first reported yesterday that it had seen the email that was sent to the Denver Federal Center, which has 22 EV charging stations at 11 locations.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The Trump/Elon Musk administration has taken the GSA’s fleet electrification webpage offline entirely. (An archived version is available here.)

The Verge‘s source also said that the GSA will offload the EVs it bought during the Biden administration, although it’s unknown whether they’ll be sold or stored.

Read more: Trump just canceled the federal NEVI EV charger program


If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you 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 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

Environment

Hackers steal $1.5 billion from exchange Bybit in biggest-ever crypto heist

Published

on

By

Hackers steal .5 billion from exchange Bybit in biggest-ever crypto heist

Ben Zhou, chief executive officer of ByBit, during the Token2049 conference in Singapore, on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. 

Joseph Nair | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has been hacked to the tune of $1.5 billion in digital assets, in what’s estimated to be the largest crypto heist in history.

The attack compromised Bybit’s cold wallet, an offline storage system designed for security. The stolen funds, primarily in ether, were quickly transferred across multiple wallets and liquidated through various platforms.

“Please rest assured that all other cold wallets are secure,” Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, posted on X. “All withdrawals are NORMAL.”

Blockchain analysis firms, including Elliptic and Arkham Intelligence, traced the stolen crypto as it was moved to various accounts and swiftly offloaded. The hack far surpasses previous thefts in the sector, according to Elliptic. That includes the $611 million stolen from Poly Network in 2021 and the $570 million drained from Binance in 2022.

Analysts at Elliptic later linked the attack to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking collective notorious for siphoning billions of dollars from the cryptocurrency industry. The group is known for exploiting security vulnerabilities to finance North Korea’s regime, often using sophisticated laundering methods to obscure the flow of funds.

“We’ve labelled the thief’s addresses in our software, to help to prevent these funds from being cashed-out through any other exchanges,” said Tom Robinson, chief scientist at Elliptic, in an email.

The breach immediately triggered a rush of withdrawals from Bybit as users feared potential insolvency. Zhou said outflows had stabilized. To reassure customers, he announced that Bybit had secured a bridge loan from undisclosed partners to cover any unrecoverable losses and maintain operations.

The Lazarus Group’s history of targeting crypto platforms dates back to 2017, when the group infiltrated four South Korean exchanges and stole $200 million worth of bitcoin. As law enforcement agencies and crypto tracking firms work to trace the stolen assets, industry experts warn that large-scale thefts remain a fundamental risk.

“The more difficult we make it to benefit from crimes such as this, the less frequently they will take place,” Elliptic’s Robinson wrote in a post.

WATCH: Crypto stocks plunge

Crypto stocks plunge despite SEC dropping suit against Coinbase

Continue Reading

Environment

Ford Mustang Mach-E is heavily discounted, you can even lease it for less than a Toyota Camry

Published

on

By

Ford Mustang Mach-E is heavily discounted, you can even lease it for less than a Toyota Camry

Ford is offering big savings opportunities right now on its electric vehicles. The Ford Mustang Mach-E can be leased for less than a Toyota Camry in some places despite costing over $10,000 more. Here’s how you can snag some savings.

Ford’s Mach-E is cheaper to lease than a Camry right now

With over 51,700 models sold in 2024, Ford’s Mustang Mach-E was the third best-selling EV in the US behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.

The electric Mach-E even outsold the gas-powered Mustang for the first time last year. To keep up with new models like the Honda Prologue and the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5, Ford introduced big discounts at the start of the year.

Ford extended its “Power Promise” program in January, offering all EV buyers a free Level 2 home charger. The company will even cover the cost of standard installation. If you already have a home charger, Ford will give you a $1,000 charging credit.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

According to online car research firm CarsDirect, the savings don’t stop there. Through March 31, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E can be leased for as little as $229 for 24 months in Southern California.

Ford-Mach-E-lease-Camry
Ford Mustang Mach-E at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Ford)

With $4,329 due at signing, the effective cost is just $409 per month. The deal is for the base 2024 Mach-E Select with an MSRP of $39,995 and includes a $7,750 lease cash bonus.

In comparison, the 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE (MSRP $28,400) is listed at $299 for 39 months and $3,598 due upfront, for an effective rate of $391 per month.

Ford-Mach-E-lease-interior
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E interior (Source: Ford)

Although that’s slightly less than the Mach-E, if you factor in Ford’s other incentives, it’s actually much cheaper. In addition to the $1,000 charging credit, Ford is offering current Tesla owners $1,000 in conquest bonus cash, which can be applied to the purchase or lease of a new vehicle.

The $2,000 in savings brings the effective monthly lease rate to just $326 per month. That’s even $10 cheaper than a 2025 Toyota Corolla LE with an MSRP of just $22,325, or over $17,500 less than the Mustang Mach-E.

Ford-Mach-E-lease-Camry
2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E (Source: Ford)

Alternatively, Ford is offering the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E for 0% APR for 72 months plus $2,500 in bonus cash.

Ford also introduced new incentives on the F-150 Lightning last week. The 2024 F-150 Lightning now features a nationwide 0% financing for 72 months offer with additional savings of up to $5,000 off MSRP.

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

The new Flash trim now features an up to $3,000 retail cash bonus, XLT and Lariat trims get up to $4,000, and the Platinum model gets a $5,000 bonus.

Ford’s electric pickup is eligible for the $1,000 Tesla Conquest bonus and public charging credit offer. Ram owners can snag an extra $2,000 from a serperate conquest program.

If you’re ready to test drive Ford’s electric vehicles for yourself, we can help you get started. You can use our links below to find Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E models at a dealer near you.

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

Continue Reading

Trending