THE CAR AND TRUCK FLEET AND LEASING MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE
Overall vehicle costs and perceptions of battery lifespan regarding battery-electric vehicles are some of the biggest barriers to EV adoption for dealers and consumers according to a report by Cox Automotive on the path to EV adoption, which also reflects trending fleet perceptions of the segment.
Included in this groundbreaking total cost of ownership study for fleets are battery-electric models including BMW i3, Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf, and Tesla 3, as well as plug-in hybrid electric models such as Chevrolet Volt and Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.
On an early morning in March, a 2018 Tesla Model 3 electric-powered passenger vehicle crashed into a tractor-trailer near Delray Beach, Florida. The National Transportation Safety Board now says the car’s autonomous control system was engaged at the time of the accident.
Tesla has raised the price of its cheapest Model 3 electric vehicle by $400, and is now $35,400.
Long Range versions of Tesla Model S and Model X are now available with extended drive ranges, increasing to 370 miles and 325 miles, respectively.
During Tesla’s first quarter 2019 earnings call, the company indicated that production of the Tesla Semi would begin in 2020, later than the initial projection of 2019.
New legislation to raise the electric vehicle sales cap for automakers from 200,000 to 400,000 cumulative sales was proposed by a group of bipartisan lawmakers.
Tesla unveiled a battery-electric, midsize SUV called the Model Y that will feature a minimum driving range of 230 miles and will be available at a starting price of $39,000.
While 10 automakers reported equipping more than 50% of the vehicles they produced between Sept. 1, 2017 and Aug. 31, 2018 with automatic emergency braking, the top four among these managed to equip 90% or more with the crash avoidance technology.
The Trump administration has plan to cut the $7,500 federal tax credit that has supported sales of battery-electric vehicles as part of its 2020 budget proposal.