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After teasing glimpses of its first all-electric 5 Series for weeks, BMW has globally debuted the first two available trims of the i5, including an M performance version with 590 horsepower. The German automaker has introduced a lot of new technology in its latest generation of its long-running series, including in-car gaming, a range conservation mode, and eye activated lane changes.

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Finally! The all-electric BMW 5 Series has arrived

We’ve been talking about an all-electric 5 series for six years now, but it wasn’t until recently that BMW began hinting at its inevitable arrival.

As a combustion model, the 5 series has been a staple in BMW’s lineup since 1972 and remains the German automaker’s second best-selling vehicle behind the 3 series. We saw BMW kick off its all-electric models with the i3, and the automaker has used that now-defunct EV as an appetizer to larger, better-performing models, like the revamped i4 sport coupe, iX SUV, and i7 sedan.

For months now, we’ve known an all-electric version of the 5 Series was in the works alongside plug-in and combustion variants, but we didn’t really get a feel for what to expect in the new i5 until late April when the sedan was seen enduring summer testing. Still, those images were camo’d.

Last week, we got our first genuine image of the all-electric BMW i5 which we can now recognize as the eDrive40 (seen below). Today however, BMW has pulled the entire veil off both all-electric 5 Series variants, and there’s a lot to get excited about if you’re a fan of the brand.

The electric BMW i5 is longer, wider, taller, and lit up

Boy are German automakers passionate about their work. Their pride in new features is apparent in their consistently “detailed” press releases that leave no tidbits of information left to the imagination. There’s only so much we can cover before you scroll on, so we recommend checking out BMW’s latest press release for all the details of the i5.

The new lineup of the 5 Series is larger all around compared to its previous generation. Its length has been stretched by 3.4 inches to 199.2, it’s wider by 1.3 inches (74.8 in total), and it’s taller by 1.4 inches (59.6 inches in all). As a result of the length, the 5’s wheelbase has been increased by 0.8 inches to 117.9, adding a tad of interior seating space, particularly in the back.

At launch, BMW will provide two all-electric variants of the i5 that feature the automaker’s fifth-generation eDrive technology. Customers can choose from a single-motor RWD i5 eDrive40, or an M60 xDrive performance model, positioned as the pinnacle of the entire 5 Series range.

The M60 variant especially showcases some new exterior features joining the 5 Series, including a black front apron with large air intakes, a grill featuring horizontal slats and the recognizable M performance logo, side skirts and exterior mirror caps finished in high-gloss black, and 19″ M light-alloy wheels.

BMW has also introduced an M Sport Package available to add to all versions of the 5 Series that includes an illuminated kidney grill framed in high-gloss black (seen above), M Shadowline headlights, and a rear spoiler. Customers can also add red calipers to the brakes if they just co choose.

Game on! The 5 Series gets an interior facelift

Moving inward, BMW has introduced a new fully-digital curved display which the automaker states now “represents the heart of the interior redesign.” The electric i5 models will come standard with a new Interaction Bar complete with ambient lighting in the instrument panel and door areas, plus a new gear selector switch in the center console.

The new frameless curved display is comprised of a 12.3″ information screen behind the steering wheel and a 14.9″ control display, merged into one high-­resolution unit powered by BMW’s latest generation Operating System 8.5 – complete with a new graphic display, start screen, and “QuickSelect” access.

BMW says OS 8.5 offers more digital information and entertainment to future drivers, including new streaming programs and for the first time ever in a 5 Series – in-car gaming thanks to the AirConsole platform.

While the EV is stationary, the driver and their passengers can connect their smartphones using a QR code on the curved display, and use them as controllers to begin gaming instantly. BMW says AirConsole already has about 20 game titles including Go Kart Go, which looks similar enough to MarioKart that I’m surprised legal action has not been taken.

Anyways, you can game while you charge, nice!

electric BMW i5

Hands-free driving and eye activated lane changes

One of the cooler features on the upcoming electric i5 is BMW’s optional Driving Assistance Professional package, which includes Highway Assistant. This ADAS features enables the i5 driver to operate hands-free at speeds up to 85 mph where conditions and speed limits allow, as long as they keep their eyes up.

The driver’s attention is continuously monitored by an interior camera, and they are fully responsible for driving and anything that happens on the road, even when Highway Assistant is activated. That means this is still a Level 2 autonomy feature at best.

BMW has utilized its eye monitoring technology in a new and unique way that alleviates the need to activate a turn signal in order to initiate a proposed hands-free lane change. When BMW begins deliveries, electric i5 owners will be able to confirm the movement by simply peering over to the respective sideview mirror.

The i5 can recognize the visual cue, then perform the lane change at speeds again, up to 85 mph (traffic conditions and speed limits permitting). Can’t wait to try this feature out.

Specs, pricing, and an introductory video

Alright, it’s been a journey to get here, but let’s dig into how these two versions of BMW’s first all-electric 5 Series break down. As we previously mentioned, initial customers will get to choose between the standard RWD i5 and the dual-motor M variant.

The i5 M60 xDrive as well as an eDrive40 donning the optional M Sport package, come equipped with a shift paddle left of the steering marked “Boost” that can be tapped to activate the electric BMW’s full drive power and trigger maximum acceleration. The i5’s electric sound design also automatically shifts to “sport” to add to the sensory driving experience.

The single motor in the rear of the electric BMW i5 eDrive40 delivers a maximum power output of 335 hp and of 295 lb-ft maximum torque (317 lb-ft when the Sport Boost or Launch Control function is activated). Its acceleration from 0-60 mph is laggard 5.7 seconds and its max speed has been electronically limited by BMW to 120 mph. The automaker also described what the i5 M60 is packing:

Two highly integrated drive units on the front and rear axles, in which the electric motor, power electronics, and transmission are compactly combined in a common housing, form an electric all-wheel drive system that enables the BMW i5 M60 xDrive to deliver captivating dynamic performance. The electric motor acting on the rear wheels generates a maximum power output of 335 hp, while the motor at the front axle produces 257 hp. The total system torque generated by both motors is 549 lb-ft, or 605 lb-ft when M Sport Boost or the M Launch Control function is activated.

The new BMW i5 M60 is significantly quicker than the eDrive40, accelerating 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Its max speed has been electronically limited to 143 mph when equipped with performance tires (130 mph with all-season tires).

Like the motors themselves, BMW’s battery packs also make up its fifth-generation iDrive unit and consist of four modules with 72 battery cells each and three modules with twelve cells each. The modules combine for a usable capacity of 84.3 kWh and deliver the following estimated ranges and charge rates:

  • The i5 eDrive40 is estimated to travel up to 295 miles on a single charge on 19″ wheels (BMW estimated, not EPA)
  • i5 M60 xDrive delivers a (BMW) estimated 256 miles of range
  • Combined Charging Unit enables Level 2 AC charging up to 11 kW
  • The i5 can reach a rate of 205 kW on a DC fast charger, replenishing from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes

To help conserve range during dire situations, BMW has introduced a new drive system function owners can activate called Max Range. In this mode, drive power and top speed are restricted, while comfort functions are reduced to conserve battery power. Per BMW:

Max Range mode is primarily for critical situations where drivers are unable to recharge mid-journey where they had originally planned and must continue to an alternative charging point. The Max Range mode can be selected using the control display’s touchscreen functionality, the iDrive Controller, or voice commands to the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. It can also be deactivated by full-throttle acceleration (kickdown), engaging the M Sport Boost function, or switching the window defrost to maximum.

Still with us? Almost done, promise.

The new all-electric i5 models will be be built at Plant Dingolfing, BMW’s largest European plant – which has been home to Series 5 production since its birth 50 years ago. The global market launch will begin in October 2023 with the all-electric versions and will be followed by plug-in hybrid variants in the US in 2024. Here’s how initial pricing will break down.

  • i5 eDrive40 – $66,800 (+ $995 destination and handling)
  • i5 M60 xDrive – $84,100 (+ $995 destination and handling)

Want to see more? Check out the introductory video of the all-electric i5 posted to BMW’s YouTube page today.

Are you into the first electric 5 Series? Is the eye activated lane change a gimmick or the future of hands-free? Tell us what you think in the comments!

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Volvo delivers 5,000th electric semi with little fanfare, sending a BIG message

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Volvo delivers 5,000th electric semi with little fanfare, sending a BIG message

With the Tesla Semi making headlines consistently since its first public appearance waaay back back in 2017, you might think they were some kind of market leaders. Meanwhile, Volvo Trucks has quietly delivered its 5,000th electric semi truck … and they’re just getting started.

Volvo delivered its first all electric semi truck 2019. Since then, Volvo customers in more than 50 countries around the world have logged more than 100 million miles (170 million km – and almost half of that in the last 14 months as the size of its deployed fleet grows) in real-world commercial operations, eliminating massive amounts of CO2 and NOx emissions and reducing traffic noise. All the while, they’re making life a little cleaner and quieter for the people who live and work near the roads they travel.

They’re massive achievements, and Volvo Truck executives are very rightly proud of themselves for making them happen.

“It’s rewarding to see that transport companies continue to embrace the benefits with electric trucks in a wide range of transport segments,” offers Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks. “Volvo’s battery-electric trucks are available here and now, providing our customers and transport buyers with a more sustainable alternative that makes business sense, and many of our customers are coming back to us to grow their electric fleets.”

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King of the electric road


Volvo Trucks electric
VNR Electric; via Volvo Trucks.

They say comparison is the thief of joy. That’s especially true if you suck and you compare yourself to people who are awesome – and since Elon sucks like it’s his job, I’m thieving a ton of joy by comparing the 140-odd number of Tesla Semi trucks out there to Volvo’s much larger, less-sucky 5,000-plus number.

With a head start like that, more than half a decade of production delays, and a “dramatic” price increase to something like $420,000 each, it seems like it would be tough for Tesla to catch up (even if they do manage to begin series production in 2026).

That seems especially true in Europe, where Volvo Trucks has established itself as the leader in the heavy electric truck segment for the last five consecutive years with a 47% market share – though the story is a bit different the US and Canada, however, where Volvo’s share of the electric truck segment was “just” 40% in 2024.

Volvo Trucks electric lineup

That said, Tesla has beaten legacy brands with massive, seemingly insurmountable leads before – but the good news is that, when it comes to EVs, whoever wins, we kind of all win, you know? Even Elon! That’s my take, anyway. Head down to the comments and let me know yours.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo Trucks.


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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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An energy star inside U.S. homes is under attack from Trump, with the cost to homeowners uncertain

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An energy star inside U.S. homes is under attack from Trump, with the cost to homeowners uncertain

Donald Trump, as both a citizen and president, has railed against modern dishwashers, washing machines, light bulbs, showerheads and toilets, claiming that onerous government regulations render them less effective and more expensive.

Since returning to the White House in January, he’s turned his ire into an edict.

On April 9, Trump issued an executive order directing certain federal agencies “to incorporate a sunset provision” into a laundry list of regulations governing energy production, including those covering appliances. A month later, he issued a memorandum, entitled “Rescission of Useless Water Pressure Standards.”

Following that, on May 12, the Department of Energy announced that it was preparing to eliminate or modify 47 federal regulations “that are driving up costs and lowering quality of life for the American people.”

Many of the rules are covered in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), a decades-old law that mandates energy-efficiency and water-conservation standards for home appliances and plumbing fixtures.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency said it is planning to eliminate the Energy Star program, a popular voluntary initiative that manufacturers employ to rank their appliances based on energy conservation and cost savings, displayed on familiar blue labeling at retail as comparison-shopping guides.

Trump’s actions have been met with a mix of resistance from consumer protection groups and appliance manufacturers, as well as support from deregulation hawks and decriers of the nanny state. And while the administration continues to review the current standards and solicit comments before considering any official changes, legal challenges to the efforts are being weighed.

A new era of ‘buyer beware’ in electric bills

Originally passed in 1975, EPCA ensures that the entire array of products covered by the law all meet a basic level of energy- and water-efficiency performance, reflected in different price points. A prime example are the ubiquitous yellow Energy Guide stickers affixed to appliances that indicate their annual energy usage and cost. “Consumers who are shopping primarily, if not exclusively, on price also get reasonable efficiency performance [information],” said Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, a coalition of environmental and consumer groups, utilities and state governments, based at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit research organization.

Without that level of regulated consumer protection, deLaski said, “It’s buyer beware.”

Consumers would face the risk of less-efficient appliances entering an unregulated marketplace, he said, “and you’re not going to know it until you get the [higher] electric bill.”

Separate from EPCA, the Energy Star labeling program was established by the EPA in 1992 as a public-private partnership. Managed and jointly funded by the DOE, it sets energy-efficiency standards that manufacturers can choose to display on appliances, building products, electronics, lighting fixtures, HVAC equipment and other products as a way for consumers and businesses to make informed purchase decisions.

The EPA estimates that 90% of households recognize the Energy Star label and that over its 33 years, the program has saved five trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by four billion metric tons and saved $500 billion in utility costs. The program’s 2024 operating budget was $35.7 million. To date, every dollar spent has resulted in nearly $350 in energy cost savings.

Americans support energy-efficient appliance efforts

Consumer Reports conducted a national survey in March which found that 87% of respondents support energy-efficient home appliance standards. Nearly a third said that saving money on energy bills would motivate them to buy a more efficient large home appliance.

Last month, in response to plans to shutter Energy Star, the organization issued a statement urging the EPA to preserve the program. “The loss would hit especially hard at a time when people are dealing with unpredictable energy bills and trying to cut expenses,” said Shanika Whitehurst, associate director for Consumer Reports’ product sustainability, research and testing team.

The nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy, a bipartisan coalition of consumer, environment, business and government groups, suggests that EPCA and Energy Star actually promote the White House’s goals of lowering families’ energy bills and making the nation energy dominant. “If you start to dismantle the energy-efficiency programs, American households are going to pay for that,” said Jason Reott, ASE’s senior manager of policy. “Energy dominance begins at home, by eliminating energy waste.”

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, which represents more than 150 manufacturers, has historically supported efficiency regulations, but pushed back against the Biden administration’s updates of EPCA standards for gas stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers and other appliances. The law requires the DOE to review standards at least once every six years, a process that has often led to rule changes.

“We have always been able to produce products at higher efficiency levels,” said Jill Notini, vice president of communications and marketing for AHAM, “but there’s a tipping point where you have to stop and say, you have to have the technology that allows those standard levels.”

“We very much appreciate the intent behind [President Trump’s] goals of deregulatory actions,” Notini said. “Our industry needs it after looking at our products and how far they have come in terms of energy efficiency and water use,” alluding to the eight rounds of EPCA reviews, updates and revisions over the years.

Already at or near peak efficiency, industry says

Today’s appliances are at or near their peak efficiency, a result of federal standards and manufacturers’ investment in technology and innovation, Notini said. “So there needs to be a recognition that we can’t stay on this path and continue to ratchet up standards and expect high-performing products,” she added.

AHAM favors revising EPCA standards, she said, based on technological advances rather than the every-six-year requirement. What the association does not endorse, however, is Trump’s request for the DOE to waive federal preemption of states’ regulations regarding the water efficiency of showerheads, faucets and toilets.

“It’s concerning to us that we may not have federal preemption, which creates that certainty that the industry is looking for,” Notini said, noting that several states have established their own efficiency standards on some EPCA-covered products. Federal preemption “truly is what has made energy efficiency such a success.”

AHAM member LG Electronics USA has mixed views on efforts to roll back EPCA, according to senior vice president John I. Taylor. “Generally deregulation is good for business, but there are some specific things in EPCA that are beneficial to American consumers and the American economy,” he said. “Our company has been a leader in driving energy efficiency, so regardless of how the regulations end up, we’ll continue to keep our foot on that accelerator.”

In March, nearly three dozen industry groups and appliance companies, including the Chamber of Commerce, Bosch, Carrier and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) sent a letter to EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, urging him not to end Energy Star. In April, the U.S. Green Building Council, along with more than 1,000 signatories — among them LG, Miele and Samsung Electronics America — wrote to Zeldin to express concerns about proposed cuts at the EPA, including Energy Star.

Energy Star very popular with consumers, according to retail sector

While major appliance retailers, such as Lowe’s, Home Depot and Best Buy, have not publicly commented on any of these pending regulatory changes, the National Retail Federation, one of several consumer products, manufacturing, real estate and retail organizations that sent a letter on June 6 to a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders, asking them to “strongly support continuation of the non-regulatory and non-partisan Energy Star program within the federal government.”

“Consumers have said overwhelmingly that they support voluntary environmental standard-setting programs like Energy Star,” said Scot Case, vice president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability and executive director for the NRF’s Center for Retail Sustainability. And that’s why retailers the trade group represents “want to make sure they’re able to share the benefits of those programs with the consumer,” he said.

Trump’s tribulations with energy-efficiency and water-conservation standards echo those of libertarians and free-marketers who maintain that regulations often represent government overreach and restrict personal choice. For instance, the libertarian Cato Institute has called Energy Star “a very coarse piece of energy information that may crowd out efforts” to develop more accurate ways to measure energy-operating costs.

“I’m a big proponent of energy efficiency, but I don’t think we need the federal government overriding the choices and preferences that consumers may have when purchasing an appliance,” said Nick Loris, vice president of public policy for C3 Solutions, a conservative energy think tank. He said rolling back EPCA standards is “a step forward in reducing government intervention into decisions that should be best left for producers and consumers.”

Where legal challenges are headed

As with a mounting number of actions taken by the Trump administration this year — from tariffs to immigration — tinkering with EPCA is expected to be challenged in federal courts. The law includes a so-called anti-backsliding provision, which prevents rolling back standards that have already been finalized. A 2004 case deLaski referred to, NRDC v. Abraham, upheld the provision. “Once a DOE standard has been updated and published in the Federal Register, you can’t go backward,” he said of the precedent.

The administration may seek legal authority to enact these deregulation orders by citing the “good cause” exception in the Administrative Procedures Act as a way to avoid the APA’s public notice-and-comment processes. Yet legal experts, environmental groups and state attorneys general have warned that skipping APA procedures — especially for weakening energy- and water-use standards covered by EPCA — would likely be deemed “arbitrary and capricious” and illegal.

Ultimately, considering the success and popularity of EPCA and Energy Star — with consumers, manufacturers and retailers — as well as the legal underpinnings, it’s entirely possible that both will remain intact, if perhaps with a few tweaks. “In one form or another,” Taylor said, “we expect both will.”

“We know consumers want the information, and the interesting thing about consumers is, they are also voters,” Case said.

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CASE expands compact equipment lineup with new CX25EV electric excavator

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CASE expands compact equipment lineup with new CX25EV electric excavator

CASE CE is expanding its mini excavator lineup with the launch of four models this week, including an all-new electric model designed to delivers emissions-free performance that rivals any of its comparably-sized diesel counterparts — including its CASE-branded siblings!

CASE calls the CX25EV a “highly versatile machine,” highlighting the excavator’s hydraulic flow settings and three auxiliary circuits that can be paired with a quick coupler and a variety of attachments. The mini excavator is also equipped with electrohydraulic controls that are fully customizable to the operator’s taste for speed, ramp-up speed and smoothness, while its short-radius design makes it easy to move around in tight, indoor spaces during trenching and precision demolition jobs.

The belief is that the new machine will enable construction crews to take on more challenging jobs that face unique noise, emission, or vibration requirements, the CX25EV electric mini excavator, originally announced last spring as part of a broader electric equipment launch, the new machine is now in production, on sale, and on its way to customers. Customers, it’s hoped, who will be able to keep operators happier and healthier without the loud diesel engines of the past.

And that is hugely important for the industry.

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Use your indoor voices


CASE Bolsters Mini Excavator Lineup to Give Crews More Versatility on Tight Jobsites
Bringing it indoors, without emissions; via CASE.

“Labor shortages, close-quarter environments, more stringent jobsite requirements — the challenges crews are up against today are more varied than ever,” says Terry Dolan, head of CNH Construction Brands, North America. “Helping crews meet the demands of the modern worksite is what drives our practical approach to innovation, and it’s why we’ve focused heavily on enhancing our robust lineup of mini excavators to offer the most efficient solutions. These new models deliver big on power, but they’re also easier to transport, move around the jobsite, operate, maintain and own, compared to larger machines.”

The CASE CX25EV ships with a 32.3 kWh li-ion battery that can be DC fast charged from 20-80% in under an hour, or from 0-100% in less than two hours. CASE says the new electric mini excavator offers operators 4,950 lbs. of traction force as well, and has provided a complete and comprehensive set of specs that I’ve included, below.

CASE CX25EV specs


SOURCE | IMAGES: CASE.


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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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