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As electric school buses gain momentum across the US, Lion Electric announced Wednesday it produced its first “made in America” LionC zero-emission EV school bus at its Joliet, Illinois factory.

In May 2021, Lion Electric selected Joliet, Illinois, to be the home of its future US manufacturing facility. The 900,000-square-foot plant was touted as the largest dedicated production site of zero-emission medium and heavy-duty EVs in the US.

Lion Electric was a first mover in fully electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles like EV school buses with over 12 years of experience now.

Even before the “all in” mindset spread across the globe on EVs and zero-emission technology to limit the transportation sector’s environmental impact, Lion was entirely focused on electrification. The company’s dedication has paid off, with over 700 electric vehicles on the road 10 million miles utilizing its platforms.

Lion has several major clients across North America for its electric trucks (Amazon, Ikea) and buses (First Student, LA USD, STA, National Express, ZUM).

To help customers convert to electricity, Lion offers a complete turnkey solution, including EV selection, supporting charging infrastructure, grants assistance, financing, training, maintenance, and communications.

Until now, Lion has manufactured its electric vehicles at its dedicated 200,000-square-foot facility near Montreal, Quebec, which also serves as its headquarters and R&D center. With the site having a 2,500 EV annual production capacity, Lion is expanding its manufacturing footprint to assist the growing demand for electric school buses in the US with its Joliet factory.

During its second-quarter earnings, Lion said it was on track to produce its first electric school buses at its US-based factory by the end of the year, and today the company is making good on that claim.

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Lion Electric LionC zero-emission school bus Source: Lion Electric

The first Lion electric school bus produced in the US

“Today is a significant milestone for Lion,” Eric Pansegrau, GM of Lion’s Joliet factory, states as the first LionC electric school bus rolls off the line.

With the recent US climate and funding initiatives, Lion Electric is “well-positioned to support school districts with their transition,” offering their complete network approach. For example, the EPA Clean School Bus program (part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) supplies $5 billion in funding to accelerate the electric school bus rollout in the US. The first round of nearly $1 billion was just awarded to 289 school districts.

On top of this, several cities and states have committed to EV school buses, such as New York, which intends to electrify 100% of its school bus fleet by 2035.

Mr. Pansegrau continued:

We are excited to now be entering the ramp-up phase of production, with an initial focus on the all-electric LionC school bus. We will spare no effort in the gradual scale-up of manufacturing, which we anticipate will be spread out over the next few quarters.

Lion expects its Joliet factory to have an annual production capacity of 20,000 electric buses and trucks after it scales its manufacturing operations. The site will first focus on electric school buses to meet the surging demand.

Electrek’s Take

Lion Electric producing its first EV school bus in the US is a remarkable accomplishment for the company and the overall transition to fully electric vehicles.

As my colleague Fred Lambert said, Lion serves as the perfect example showcasing how companies can embrace the shift to electric vehicles. Lion was relatively small compared to other school bus manufacturers, but its early focus on electric propulsion has propelled them to emerge as a leading school bus maker across North America.

With the LionC E school bus now being produced in the US, I hope it can accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles for school districts.

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Tesla’s Full Self-Driving computer failure is leaving customers in bad situations

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Tesla's Full Self-Driving computer failure is leaving customers in bad situations

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving computer failure leaves customers in bad situations without many important features and depletes battery packs faster for months.

Last month, Electrek released an exclusive report about Tesla having a major issue with a new version of its onboard “Full Self-Driving computer,” AI4.1, failing due to a short circuit, and Tesla must replace the computers.

We found examples of the issue arising as far back as July. The problem can start quickly, within a few miles on a brand-new car or after a few hundred to a few thousand miles.

When the computer fails, many vehicle features stop working, like active safety features, cameras, and even GPS, navigation, and range estimations.

Tesla’s fix was to replace the computer completely, but sources also mentioned a temporary software fix to enable some of the features in the meantime.

It’s hard to estimate precisely the affected population. At the time of the article, we had received dozens of customer complaints and had sources inside Tesla estimating that, based on service requests, thousands of new Tesla owners are experiencing this issue.

We reported that this should lead to a recall since features like backup cameras are now considered a safety feature and required on new vehicles by NHTSA, but Tesla hasn’t released a service bulletin nor has a notice been posted with NHTSA.

Electrek contacted NHTSA to ask if they were aware of this issue. We will update if we get an answer.

There are now dozens of customer complaints about this specific issue on NHTSA’s Tesla Model Y and Model 3 pages.

Since publishing our original report on this issue last month, dozens of other customers reached out about the problem. They are reporting long wait times to get a new computer as Tesla tells them that it needs more parts, presumably the new computers.

Some showed documents to Electrek that showed they didn’t have an appointment to replace their computers until into February. For some customers, that would mean more than two months with severely handicapped vehicles.

On top of the previously mentioned disabled features, customers have voiced other problems living with their brand-new vehicles without a working computer. The computer appears to get stuck in an “auto-update loop”, which drains the battery faster.

A customer with this issue estimated that his Model 3 is consuming about 5 kWh per day when parked, doing nothing with this computer issue.

Some owners expressed concerns about faster battery degradation and wear on other components because of this issue. It’s also a major issue for people who don’t have home charging yet, and their vehicles are stuck discharging faster with this issue.

Electrek has seen documents showing that Tesla acknowledges that the computer issue is an “internal short.”

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Pebble unveils production-ready Flow design with key upgrades for 2025 deliveries

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Pebble unveils production-ready Flow design with key upgrades for 2025 deliveries

Just over a year after unveiling its flagship solar-electric travel trailer called the Flow, recreational mobility startup Pebble has revealed its updated production-intent design. We got a chance to do a walkthrough of the optimized trailer design, which features several upgrades and some truly intuitive features. Today’s unveiling also marks Pebble’s continuance of Flow pre-orders, but we now have a timeline for when initial deliveries will begin.

Pebble is a California-based startup and one of a few new tech companies attempting to reinvigorate a stale RV segment. The company was founded by Bingrui Yang, who previously led iPhone development at Apple for nine years before leading hardware development for major players in the autonomous robotaxi space, including Cruise and Zoox. Yang described the company in detail in June of 2023:

Pebble was developed to create a hassle-free way to live, work and explore. Consumers have been stuck with the same RV experience for decades. A lot of people want to get into such a lifestyle of freedom but are turned off by the pain points in today’s products. At Pebble, we are automating the hardest parts of the RV experience with the same technologies that power the most advanced automotive innovations, making the whole experience simply effortless and magical. If you know how to use an iPhone, you’ll be comfortable using our product.

That strategy to bring more advanced technologies to the world of RVs and travel trailers culminated in Pebble’s flagship product, Flow. In the summer of 2023, the startup emerged out of stealth mode with $13.6 million in seed funding to help get the Flow into production, teasing brief glimpses of the luxury travel trailer along the way.

The following October, Pebble officially unveiled the Flow to the public, opening pre-orders for an iteration of the travel trailer that started at $109,000. We learned then that the Flow trailer is 300% more aerodynamic than a conventional travel trailer, reducing drag and extending range.

Furthermore, the Flow comes equipped with its own dual-motor active propulsion assist system, which helps it bear the brunt of its load while helping it maximize range and efficiency regardless of whether an ICE or electric vehicle is towing it.

Today, just over 14 months after initially unveiling the pre-production version of the Flow, Pebble has emerged with a production-intent design featuring some welcomed upgrades in its space utilization and some genuinely remarkable functions – all controllable from a single tablet.

Pebble Flow to begin deliveries in first half of 2025

Pebble unveiled its production-intent version of the Flow this morning. According to the company, it was updated with features and optimized design elements based on feedback from its community to improve the overall experience for future owners.

Pebble shared that the community that worked closely with its design and engineering teams to identify key opportunities for improvement consisted of over 3,000 members, including “digital nomads,” young families, retirees, and tech enthusiasts (bummed I didn’t get an invite).

Last month, we took a virtual tour of a production-intent Flow travel trailer and explored several upgrades that make an already unique and innovative electric mobility vehicle even better. For example, Pebble optimized the interior of the production-intent Flow, increasing storage and moving some of the walls to utilize more of the interior. The startup also redesigned the interior cabinets to flip upward rather than down for easier access, especially for vertically challenged people.

The interior also feels much roomier thanks to new side and rear windows that flip open for better airflow and a vast new skylight moved to the front of the trailer above the dinette area. Per Pebble, the revamped Flow exterior now features integrated tail lamps, enhanced aerodynamics, and a more streamlined appearance, including several color variations for early adopters:

During our virtual tour, a few exterior upgrades truly stood out. First, the Flow’s pass-through storage tunnel has been made larger, and Pebble has added a hitch receiver to accommodate accessories like bike racks. However, the new technologies introduced were the most impressive.

For example, Pebble added optional all-terrain levelers through an “InstaCamp” feature that can balance and level out the trailer, no matter where it is parked. The images above show Pebble Flow’s new motorized awning, which can be deployed using the app. Other features include four exterior cameras for better visibility and safety on the road and when parking.

Pebble has also introduced a re-engineered dual-motor drivetrain and a new caster wheel, making the Flow’s Remote Control and Magic Hitch capabilities (arguably the two most remarkable features in the entire trailer) possible and easy to use. What’s perhaps most impressive is how virtually all of the Flow’s features are controllable from a single tablet, as seen here:

Source: Pebble

From our experience, the most exciting features include the 1.1 kW solar array on the roof, the Magic Hitch capabilities, InstaCamp, and the Remote Control option using the Pebble App. We highly recommend checking out all those core features in action in Pebble’s video below.

The Pebble Flow starts at $109,500, with an option to upgrade to the Magic Pack. This adds the re-vamped dual-motor drivetrain, enabling features like Active Tow Assist, Magic Hitch, and enhanced Remote Control. The Flow configuration with the Magic Pack starts at $135,500.

According to Pebble, Flow production is expected to begin in early 2025, with initial deliveries beginning this spring. These early delivery customers will receive an exclusive Founders Edition of the Pebble Flow, fully loaded with all options and upgrades, plus the opportunity to select a limited-edition color (seen above), all for $175,000. 

If you’re interested in a Pebble Flow, you can reserve one with a fully-refundable $500 deposit at pebblelife.com/preorder, and customize it to your liking.

Source: Pebble

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The new Genesis GV60 EV is finally here: Here’s our first look

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The new Genesis GV60 EV is finally here: Here's our first look

Genesis is giving its first all-electric vehicle a stylish new design, even more tech, and more in the updated model. The new Genesis GV60 EV is finally here. Check out the first look below.

Genesis reveals the updated new GV60 EV

The GV60 is the first dedicated EV to wear the Genesis badge. Launched in October 2021, the electric SUV helped establish Genesis as a true luxury brand in the EV space.

Four years later, Genesis is revamping it with its first major refresh. The new Genesis GV60 EV gains even more style, tech, and features.

Genesis unveiled the updated GV60 on Monday, showcasing its improved exterior and interior design for the first time. After the refreshed EV was spotted several times last year leading up to its official debut, we had a good idea of what design updates would be included.

One of the most noticeable features is the new front bumper. You can see Genesis fine-tuned the front end with a new bumper and headlamps.

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The updated Genesis GV60 (Source: Genesis)

The new GV60 features Genesis’ signature Two Line headlamps with Micro Lens Array (MLA) tech shown on other updated models like the Electrified GV70. The new Electrified GV70 was caught in public last month for the first time, revealing similar design updates.

Genesis infused its new “Athletic Elegance” design theme on the outside, while the luxurious interior features its “Beauty of the White Space” in-cabin experience.

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The updated interior of the new Genesis GV60 (Source: Genesis)

The tech-loaded interior includes a new 27″ connected car Integrated Cockpit (ccIC) infotainment system. Genesis says the new design “eliminates the bezel between the cluster and audio, visual and navigation (AVN) screen.”

In other words, it makes the interior feel more spacious. The sporty new three-spoke steering wheel also enhances the interior. Other signature elements, like the Crystal Sphere, included in the outgoing model remain.

Genesis will reveal prices and additional specs closer to launch. However, like the updated Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6, the new Genesis GV60 is expected to feature a bigger battery for more range.

The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 has an 84 kWh battery that provides an EPA-estimated range of up to 318 miles, compared to the 2024 model, which has a 77.4 kWh battery that offers a range of up to 303 miles.


2025 Genesis GV60 trim
Range
(EPA-est)
Starting Price*
Standard RWD 294 miles $52,350
Standard AWD 264 miles $55,850
Advanced AWD 248 miles $60,900
Performance AWD 235 miles $69,900
2025 Genesis GV60 prices and range by trim (*excluding $1,350 destination fee)

The 2025 Genesis GV60 starts at $52,350. A new AWD trim costs $55,850, $5,000 less than the Advanced AWD model. With up to 294 miles range on the current model, the new Genesis GV60 could get upwards of 300 miles.

Check back for more info soon. Genesis will launch the new model in Korea in Q1 2025, followed by other markets.

What do you think of the new Genesis GV60 design? Would you buy one for just over $50,000? Let us know in the comments below.

Are you ready to check out the electric luxury SUV for yourself? With the 2025 models arriving, Genesis is offering closeout prices on the 2024 lineup while they are still in stock. You can use our link to find offers on 2024 and 2025 Genesis GV60 models at a dealer near you today.

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