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The first BMW EVs powered by all-solid-state batteries are now on the road for testing. BMW used an i7 to test the “holy grail” of EV battery tech, promising longer driving range at a lower cost.

BMW tests first EVs with all-solid-state batteries

BMW hit a milestone on Monday after completing its first on-road tests using Solid Power’s all-solid-state battery (ASSB) cells.

Often called the “holy grail” of EV battery technology, ASSBs promise significantly higher energy density than current batteries. Since they can pack higher energy density into a smaller space, all-solid-state batteries have the potential to boost driving range at a lower cost.

The i7 test vehicle is based on BMW’s current Gen 5 architecture, using new prismatic cells in modules. To integrate Solid Power’s ASSB cells, BMW modified the platform using new module concepts.

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BMW and Solid Power have been working together since 2022 to advance the new EV battery tech. In December 2022, BMW revealed plans to license Solid Power’s tech for a new solid cell prototype line at its Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Parsdorf.

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BMW i7 equipped with all-solid-state EV battery cells from Solid Power (Source: BMW Group)

The German automaker will continue to test sulfide-based electrolytes in solid-state battery packs over the next few months.

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BMW i7 equipped with all-solid-state EV battery cells from Solid Power (Source: BMW Group)

BMW follows Mercedes-Benz, which announced in February it had put “the first car powered by a lithium-metal solid-state battery on the road” through its partnership with US-based Factorial Energy.

Mercedes used a modified EQS, fitted with solid-state batteries. With an expected 40% weight savings compared to current Li-ion batteries, Factorial aims to unlock over 600 miles of driving range.

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Mercedes EQS modified with a solid-state battery (Source: Mercedes-Benz)

The milestone also comes after Martin Schuster, BMW Group’s vice president of next-generation battery tech, told Autocar in February that solid-state batteries were still too expensive and that current lithium-ion batteries have “a long way to go.”

Electrek’s Take

German automakers are not the only ones advancing the promising new battery tech. Global battery leaders CATL and BYD are also expected to launch EVs with all-solid-state batteries over the next few years.

Sun Huajun, the CTO of BYD’s battery business (Shenzhen BYD Lithium Battery Co), said earlier this year that the company expects its first EVs with all-solid-state batteries to arrive in 2027. Production will be limited for the first two years, but by 2030, BYD expects ASSBs to enter the mass market.

In the initial phase, BYD will use a sulfide-based solution in some of its higher-end models. Like BYD, CATL reportedly plans to begin production of all-solid-state EV batteries in 2027, but in small volumes.

Several others, including Hyundai, Nissan, Stellantis, Toyota, and Honda, are racing to develop the next generation of EV batteries.

Which will be the first to launch all-solid-state EV batteries on a mass scale? CATL and BYD already lead the market by a wide margin, but others are quickly advancing with on-road testing. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source: BMW Group

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Hyundai is temporarily halting IONIQ 5 and Kona EV production in Korea

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Hyundai is temporarily halting IONIQ 5 and Kona EV production in Korea

Hyundai is shutting down a production line at its Ulsan plant in Korea, where the IONIQ 5 and Kona EV are built. Although it’s only for a few days, the move comes as the automaker faces slower exports.

Why is Hyundai pausing EV production in Korea?

For the third time this year, Hyundai is planning to pause production of some of its most popular EV models in Korea.

Industry sources said on May 20 (via Newsis) that Hyundai will shut down Line 2 at its Ulsan plant in Korea, where it builds the IONIQ 5 and Kona Electric. The pause will start on May 27 and end on May 30.

Despite launching a new discount campaign in Korea earlier this month, offering over $4,300 (6 million won) in savings on the IONIQ 5, sales are still lagging. In particular, Hyundai has exported significantly fewer IONIQ 5 models this year.

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Through April, Hyundai exported just 9,663 IONIQ 5s, down from 27,476 sold overseas in the same period last year.

Kona EV exports have also fallen sharply. Through April 2025, Hyundai shipped just 3,428 Kona EV models, down 42% from nearly 6,000 last year.

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Hyundai IONIQ 5 refresh in Korea (Source: Hyundai)

According to the report, Hyundai said in an internal note, “The sluggish sales in the global electric vehicle market have not improved,” adding, “We have made every effort to secure additional orders, but we are currently unable to secure the quantity.”

Following a temporary halt in February and April, this will be Hyundai’s third time pausing EV production in Korea this year.

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Hyundai Kona Electric N Line (Source: Hyundai)

In a turn of events, Hyundai’s joint venture in China, Beijing Hyundai, announced losses improved by over 100 million won ($72 million) in Q1. With its first custom-tailored electric SUV launching in China later this year, Beijing Hyundai could turn a profit by the end of 2025.

The Korean automaker reported its seventh consecutive record sales month in the US. The IONIQ 5 remains a top seller with over 12,000 units sold through April, up 14% from last year.

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Hyundai IONIQ 9 three-row electric SUV (Source: Hyundai)

IONIQ 6 sales, on the other hand, are down 10% this year, with 4,424 sold through April, and Hyundai doesn’t give a breakdown for Kona EV sales.

Hyundai is also offering generous discounts in the US right now with up to $12,500 in upfront savings on the new three-row IONIQ 9. The 2025 IONIQ 5 is a steal with leases starting at just $209 per month.

Ready to try out Hyundai’s electric vehicles for yourself? We’ve got you covered. You can use our links below to find popular Hyundai EV models in your area.

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Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful’ bill will cause a US energy shortage – SEIA

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Trump's 'Big, Beautiful' bill will cause a US energy shortage – SEIA

The US solar industry just raised the alarm over the GOP’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” warning it could kneecap America’s energy future and trigger a massive power shortage in its current form.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is warning that legislation recently passed by the House Ways and Means Committee could shut down or prevent nearly 300 solar and battery storage factories from opening. If this bill becomes law without changes, the US could lose enough solar generation by 2030 to power the state of Pennsylvania for a year. That’s 145,000 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity that could vanish.

The SEIA analysis paints a grim picture: Nearly 300,000 US jobs are at risk, including 86,000 in solar manufacturing alone. And here’s the twist, as I’ve pointed out before – about 80% of the jobs and factories at risk are in red states that voted for Trump.

“There is still time to improve this bill, which, as written, represents a crisis for America’s ability to build the energy infrastructure we need to meet surging demand,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper.

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The SEIA says the legislation would slam the brakes on solar and storage investments just as energy demand is soaring, thanks partly to the explosion in AI and data centers. SEIA estimates the bill could wipe out $220 billion in potential investments by 2030.

The House bill also repeals the Section 25D residential solar tax credit, which has been a critical driver of solar adoption for middle-class families. Without it, installing solar gets way more expensive – and out of reach for many households.

As Electrek reported last week, solar and wind accounted for almost 98% of new US electrical generating capacity added in Q1 2025, according to new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) data.

Solar and wind also made up an impressive 100% of new capacity in March, and March was the 19th consecutive month in which solar was the largest source of new capacity.

The US needs to add 206.5 gigawatts of new energy capacity by 2030. Solar is expected to deliver nearly three-quarters of that. If the bill guts solar incentives, we’re looking at higher electricity bills and slower economic growth. SEIA says the rollback could drive up consumer energy costs by $51 billion.

Hopper didn’t mince words: “Passing this bill would create a catastrophic energy shortfall, cede AI and tech leadership to China, and damage some of the most vital sectors of the US economy.”

She added that the Senate can still step in with a smarter proposal that aligns with Trump’s push for US energy dominance.

SEIA’s message to lawmakers? Fix the bill or energy production will plummet, blackouts will become more frequent, and the US will face a devastating – and completely avoidable – energy shortage.

Read more: The House draft budget kills the 30% residential solar tax credit


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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*

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Lucid Gravity flexes its power at the Nürburgring alongside other upcoming EVs [Video]

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Lucid Gravity flexes its power at the Nürburgring alongside other upcoming EVs [Video]

Lucid’s Gravity is a three-row electric SUV, but it’s faster than most sports cars. Boasting up to 828 hp, the luxury SUV can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds. The Lucid Gravity was spotted ripping around the Nürburgring track in Germany, showing off its power and agility. Check it out in the videos below.

Lucid Gravity hits the Nürburgring for testing

As it ramps up production of its first electric SUV, Lucid is preparing for another big year of growth. Last week, Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, told Bloomberg that the company would enter new parts of Europe and the Middle East this year.

Two Lucid Gravity test vehicles with European test plates were recently spotted testing at the Nürburgring, hinting that an official launch could be coming soon.

In a video from StateSideSuperCars posted last week, you can catch a glimpse of the Gravity (skip to 9:45) showing off its agility, handling, and control as it rips around the race track.

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Another video, courtesy of EMS Sport TV, shows the Gravity test vehicle alongside several other current and upcoming EV models, including BMW’s Neue Klasse SUV, Mercedes CLA EV, and what appears to be the Kia EV4 sedan.

Lucid Gravity electric SUV testing at Nürburgring (Source: StateSideSuperCars)

During the Gravity’s “Celestial Arrival” in March, Winterhoff said Gravity deliveries would resume by the end of April. Lucid delivered the first models in December 2024, but those were for family, friends, and employees.

The Lucid Gravity Grand Touring is available to order in the US. Prices start at $94,900 with up to 450 miles of range. Later this year, Lucid will launch the Gravity Touring model, starting at $79,900.

Lucid Gravity electric SUV testing at Nürburgring (Source: EMSSportTV)

On Lucid’s website, the Gravity SUV is still unavailable to order in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, or Norway.

The Lucid Gravity Grand Touring and Touring models are available in Saudi Arabia, starting at SAR 487,715 ($130,000) and SAR 416,645 ($111,000), respectively.

Another luxury electric SUV was recently spotted at the Nürburgring. The “ultra-luxe” Genesis GV90 was caught with less camo, giving us our best look at the upcoming flagship SUV.

Source: Lucidowners.com

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