There’s a ton of news coming from the auto industry, and it’s easy to miss some of the biggest updates. We have you covered and have identified three major electric vehicle (EV) updates for the American auto market that you should be aware of.
GMC Sierra EV Is Coming Soon
The wait for the GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 pickup is ending soon. General Motors (GM) said that Edition 1 of the truck is arriving at dealers in the coming weeks. Reports in GM Authority confirmed the news.
GM first revealed the car in 2022 and started taking orders for the electric Sierra in 2024 amid the Ford F-150 Lightning’s surge in popularity. It now has to grapple with the Tesla Cybertruck (debatable on that), Rivian R1T (much less debatable), Hummer EV, Ram 1500 EV, and Chevy Silverado EV.
Some of these trucks are already on the streets, while others are still waiting for their launch date.
The Sierra Denali EV comes with 440 miles of range, 10,000 pounds of towing capacity, 1,450 pounds of payload, and 100 miles of charge returned in 10 minutes at 800V direct current fast charging stations.
GM hopes to gain ground on Rivian. The R1T has become increasingly popular for its efficiency, towing, payload, and accessible charging network. However, GM will have to contend with the price of the electric Sierra. The 2025 edition will cost $100,000, which means no clean vehicle tax credits. Be ready to pay up.
Photo Courtesy Lucid Motors
Lucid CEO Celebrates His Cars’ Stats
Peter Rawlinson, Lucid’s CEO, made history when the Lucid Air beat Tesla’s range out of the water. He continues to show just how far ahead Lucid is regarding efficiency than its rivals.
In a graph he posted on LinkedIn, Lucid stacked up better than Porsche, Mercedes, and Tesla. The graph claimed Lucid has higher efficiency ratings than other luxury EVs.
The Air Pure reached 146 MPGe, showing that the company has innovated a higher-range car with indefinite proof it is better than similar models.
The graph suggests that the second-closest efficiency rating from the Model S would take eight years to catch up to Lucid. The company anticipates its cars will reach 180 MPGe by 2032.
States like California are heading toward EV-only sales starting in 2035, scaring some residents that they won’t be able to travel smoothly by car. This data shows they have less to worry about, especially with long-range EVs like the Air becoming more affordable — to an extent.
Rawlinson has been vocal about Lucid’s developments and his confidence in the brand’s continued success. The automaker plans to launch a crossover and midsize sedan soon, including the highly anticipated Gravity, the company’s first SUV.
Screengrab from Unplugged Performance
Police Departments Switching To EVs
Municipal authorities have been switching to electric fleets to save money on fuel and lower their carbon emissions. Police departments are no different. More police departments are switching to electric fleet vehicles, using Tesla Model Ys or Hyundai IONIQ 5s as their pursuit vehicle.
For decades, many departments have invested in gas-powered Dodge Chargers, which were discontinued this year.
EVs share attributes similar to those of traditional police vehicles. They have incredible torque and acceleration. Some can reach 60 mph in just three seconds.
Teslas have even been recorded chasing Mustangs with no issues maintaining sight of the stolen vehicle. Departments like South Pasadena have embraced EVs fully. Georgia Tech Campus Police are using more Mustang Mach-Es in their fleet. Some have opted for the Chevy Blazer EV.
InsideEVs reported that the move to electric police cruisers is saving the American taxpayer up to $5,000 on fuel and maintenance yearly. Georgia Tech reported around $4,000 in annual fuel costs.
