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The first fully electric Lexus SUV in the US, the RZ 450e, is now available to pre-order. Lexus is asking drivers to “experience the difference between an electric vehicle and an electric Lexus,” but is the RZ 450e worth more than a Tesla Model Y?

Under parent company Toyota’s command, Lexus has fallen far behind in the race to introduce a fully electric luxury vehicle.

After several years of neglecting fully electric technology to focus on hybrid and fuel cell tech, Toyota finally came around, announcing its luxury Lexus brand will go fully electric with a full range of zero-emission EVs by 2030.

Lexus revealed many early-stage concepts in 2021 designed to be “symbolic” of the brand’s transformation, finally unveiling its first production model based on the Toyota BZ4x.

As such, the RZ 450e rides on the e-TNGA platform, with a 71.4 kWh battery pack that features an up-to-220-mile driving range and 313 total system horsepower. In addition, its DIRECT 4 all-wheel-drive system and new steering control enable a dynamic driving experience.

Unlike the BZ4x, the Lexus EV will include the luxury feel with an intelligent 14-inch touchscreen display, a 13-speaker sound system, heated and ventilated front seats, a wireless charger, a panoramic sunroof, and more.

The Lexus RZ 450e is available in two options – Premium or Luxury. But up until now, we have not caught wind of what the price range will be.

Lexus RZ 450e is priced higher than a Tesla Model Y

According to Lexus’ website, the Premium RZ 450e trim prices start at $59,650, while the Luxury model will run you $65,150.

Lexus-RZ-450e-Tesla-1
Lexus RZ 450e (Source: Lexus)

The RZ 450e luxury includes added safety features, advanced park, a 10-inch head-up display, acoustic front and rear side glass, and ambient lighting. For the RZ Premium, 18- and 20-inch rims are available; 20-inch split 10-spoke alloy wheels with a dark metallic finish are available for the Luxury.

As for the exterior, the electric SUV features a typical Lexus appeal with modern EV-looking upgrades. For example, the Lexus spindle grille is replaced by a spindle body that maximizes aerodynamics.

The Lexus RZ 450e will face stiff competition, especially with more established players like Tesla offering its Model Y with 330-mile range for a starting price of $54,990.

Electrek’s Take

Lexus may have a challenging introduction to the EV market, with prices for its first electric SUV to hit the US upward of $60,000.

With the Model Y priced $5,000 lower and offering over 100 additional mile range, extensive charging network, etc., where will the Lexus fit in? Tesla has already caused several automakers to drop prices to remain competitive.

Will the RZ 450e fill the role it needs to spark Lexus’ transition to an EV-centered brand like it badly needs? It can, but it may be a tough sell at those prices.

Volvo’s electric SUVs, the C40 and XC40 Recharge, both start at $55,300 and $53,000 with more range and the brand’s impressive safety and tech features. Perhaps, more importantly, Volvo is releasing its smallest and cheapest EV this summer while many other automakers, like GM, are looking to claim a similar market.

Audi’s small Q4 e-tron electric SUV starts at $49,800, with an EPA estimated range of up to 265 miles.

With all of this, I ask again, where does the electric Lexus fit in? What do you think? Will an electric Lexus SUV sell for $60,000?

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Quad-motor Rivian debuts, Lucid kills range anxiety, and no, EV sales aren’t down

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Quad-motor Rivian debuts, Lucid kills range anxiety, and no, EV sales aren't down

On today’s exciting episode of Quick Charge, we don’t even mention “you know who,” focusing instead on EV news from Rivian, Lucid, Nissan, Ford, and what it takes to make a MAN in the heavy truck space. Check it out!

Sure, Nissan is pushing back production estimates on its yet-to-begin-production Nissan LEAF and Ford’s EV sales were down significantly in Q2, but there’s more to the story than the “Faux News” crowd would have you believe. Plus: some new electric success stories from Porsche and a disappointing (but still cool) dive into some new home backup battery tech.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (most weeks, anyway). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

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Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.


he 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. 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. It has 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 Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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EVs are 73% cleaner than gas cars – even with battery production

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EVs are 73% cleaner than gas cars – even with battery production

Battery electric cars sold today in Europe produce 73% less life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than gas cars, even when factoring in production, according to new research from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). That’s a big improvement from 2021, when the gap was 59%.

Meanwhile, hybrids and plug-in hybrids haven’t made much progress. The study confirms what clean transportation advocates have been saying for years: If Europe wants to seriously slash emissions from its dirtiest mode of transport – ICE passenger cars, which pump out nearly 75% of the sector’s pollution – it needs to go all-in on battery EVs.

“Battery electric cars in Europe are getting cleaner faster than we expected and outperform all other technologies, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids,” said ICCT researcher Dr. Marta Negri. Credit the continent’s rapid shift to renewables and the higher energy efficiency of EVs.

The makeup of the EU’s power grid is changing fast. By 2025, renewables are expected to generate 56% of Europe’s electricity, up from 38% in 2020. And that’s just the beginning: the share could hit 86% by 2045. Since cars bought today could still be on the road two decades from now, the growing use of clean electricity will only boost EVs’ climate benefits over time.

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Gas-powered cars, on the other hand, will stay mostly tied to fossil fuels as the cost and availability of biofuels and e-fuels are still uncertain.

Hybrids and plug-in hybrids only cut lifetime emissions by 20% and 30%, respectively, compared to gas cars. That’s partly because plug-in hybrids tend to run on gas more than expected. So while hybrids aren’t useless, they’re just not good enough if we’re serious about climate goals.

Countering EV myths with hard data

There’s been a lot of noise lately about whether EVs are really that green. The ICCT study takes aim at the bad data and misleading claims floating around, like ignoring how the grid gets cleaner over time or using unrealistic gas mileage figures.

It’s true that manufacturing EVs creates more emissions upfront – about 40% more than making a gas car, mostly due to the battery. But EVs make up for it quickly: that extra emissions load is usually wiped out after about 17,000 km (10,563 miles) of driving, which most drivers hit in a year or two.

“We’ve recently seen auto industry leaders misrepresenting the emissions math on hybrids,” said Dr. Georg Bieker, senior researcher at the ICCT. “But life-cycle analysis is not a choose-your-own-adventure exercise.”

ICCT’s new analysis includes emissions from vehicle and battery production and recycling, fuel and electricity production, and fuel consumption and maintenance. It even adjusts for how the electricity mix will change in the coming years – a key detail when measuring plug-in hybrid performance.

Read more: Volkswagen’s 47% BEV sales jump includes a 24% boost in the US


The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. 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. It has 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 Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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Here’s our closest look at the Kia EV2 caught testing in the Alps [Video]

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Here's our closest look at the Kia EV2 caught testing in the Alps [Video]

The EV2 may be Kia’s smallest electric vehicle, but it has a big presence on the road. Kia promises it won’t feel so small when you’re inside, thanks to clever storage and flexible seating. After a prototype was spotted testing in the Alps, we are getting our closest look at the Kia EV2 so far.

Kia EV2 spotted in the Alps offers our closest look yet

Kia first unveiled the Concept EV2 during its 2025 EV Day event (see our recap of the event) in April, a preview of its upcoming entry-level electric SUV.

Despite its small size, Kia claims it will “redefine urban electric mobility” with new innovative features and more. Kia has yet to say exactly how big it will be, but given it will sit below the EV3, it’s expected to be around 4,000 mm (157″) in length. The EV3 is 4,300 mm (169.3″) in length.

Looking at it from the side, it sits much higher than you’d expect, similar to Kia’s larger EV9. During an exclusive event at Milan Design Week in April, Kia gave a sneak peek of the interior.

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Kia said the interior is inspired by a “picnic in the city,” or in other words, a retreat from the busy city life. With a flat-floor design and flexible seating, you can quite literally have a picnic in the city.

Kia-EV2-closest-look
Kia Concept EV2 (Source: Kia)

Although we’ve seen the EV2 out in public testing a few times, a new video provides the closest look at Kia’s upcoming electric SUV.

The video, courtesy of CarSpyMedia, shows an EV2 prototype testing in the Alps with European license plates. There’s also a “Testfahrt” sticker on the back, which translates to “Test Car” in German.

Kia EV2 entry-level EV caught testing in the Alps (Source: CarSpyMedia)

As the prototype drives by, you can get a good look at it from all angles. Like in past sightings, the front features stacked vertical headlights with Kia’s signature Star Map lighting. Even the rear lights appear to be identical to those of the concept.

The interior will feature Kia’s next-gen ccNC (connected car Navigation Cockpit) infotainment system. The setup includes dual 12.3″ instrument clusters and infotainment screens in a curved panoramic display. Depending on the model, it could also include an added 5.3″ climate control screen.

Last month, a crossover coupe-like model was spotted on a car carrier in Korea, hinting at a new variant. The new model featured a design similar to that of the Genesis GV60.

Kia’s CEO, Ho Sung Song, also recently told Autocar that a smaller, more affordable EV was in the works to sit below the EV2. Song said the new EV, priced under €25,000 ($30,000), was “one area we are studying and developing.”

With the EV4 and EV5 launching this year, followed by the EV2 in 2026, it could be closer toward the end of the decade before we see it hit the market. Next-gen EV6 and EV9 models are also due out around then.

The Kia EV2 is set to launch in Europe and other global regions in 2026. Unfortunately, it’s not expected to make the trip to the US.

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