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Hyundai casts Kevin Bacon as the ultimate EV Dad in new IONIQ 6 ads [Video]
Ever played “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?” If you have, you’ll understand that Hyundai’s “Bacon Number” sits at one now that the automaker has tapped the renowned actor for a series of new ads with the IONIQ 6. As you’ll see in the video below, Bacon perfectly portrays the average dad but one who has made the switch to a Hyundai EV. Much like a new snowblower or a gloomy weather forecast, Dad can’t stop talking about it.
Hyundai’s brand-new model, the IONIQ 6, debuted last summer and is set to arrive later this year. My first impression of what the automaker describes as an “electrified streamliner” was admittedly “meh” compared to the IONIQ 5, but once I was able to explore this new EV inside and out, I quickly ate my words.
In addition to arriving as one of the most aerodynamic and efficient vehicles on the market, the IONIQ 6 will be extremely safe to drive, which is part of the reason why it sold out in the European market in less than 24 hours.
IONIQ 6 pre-orders are expected to begin in the US this spring, so naturally, Hyundai will begin rolling out ads to begin hyping up the new streamliner. Previous Hyundai ads have featured names like Ozark’s Jason Bateman, which aired during last year’s Super Bowl. Before that, we saw the accent-heavy “Smaht Pahk” spot featuring Bostonians Chris Evans, John Krasinski, and Rachel Dratch. Oh, and let’s not forget Big Papi.
During the NFL conference championships this weekend, Hyundai will broadcast a new campaign of ads featuring the IONIQ 6 and who else but Kevin Bacon embarrassing his actual daughter, Sosie.
Kevin Bacon goes full dad mode with the Hyundai IONIQ 6
Hyundai announced the new IONIQ 6 campaign today by uploading two ads to YouTube before they air on TV this Sunday, January 29. The new campaign’s theme is titled, “It’s Time to Go Electric,” explaining that if your not-so-tech-savvy dad is driving an EV, it’s probably time you do so as well.
Bacon is still portrayed as an early adopter of EVs because that this point, anyone who buys one is still ahead of the curve in many ways. Like many decisions dads make, however, doing something cool before everyone else comes with its fair share of conversations about it, even to strangers at the charging station, but especially to their own children. Hyundai Motor America CMO Angela Zepeda elaborated about the new IONIQ 6 ads:
With the introduction of the IONIQ 6, Hyundai is once again making the electric vehicle lifestyle more accessible and convenient than ever before. If you are someone on the fence of going electric, we hope this campaign starring Kevin and Sosie Bacon will show how early adopters, at any stage in their life, can easily make the switch.
In one of Hyundai’s new 30-second ads titled “Grandkids,” Kevin Bacon explains how his IONIQ 6 purchase supports the Earth’s next generation, which, of course, triggers his daughter, Sosie, who is tired of being nagged about having children. I’m sure many other consumers will relate to that conversation, I certainly can. The ads were directed by the duo of Will Speck and Josh Gordon and produced by Furlined.
If you happen to be watching football this Sunday, keep an eye out for Kevin Bacon in the new IONIQ 6 ads, but if you don’t want to wait, here’s “Your dad is going electric” from Hyundai:
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Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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