Welcome to fall! While the seasons are changing, so is the electric vehicle (EV) market. Read the newest edition of our quarterly Car Corner to learn about new developments: which EVs are available for purchase or lease, upcoming EVs, the latest news on the North American Charging Standard (NACS), and updates on local rebates & incentives.

We celebrate new developments in the EV industry, but it is important to remember that it is best to choose the smallest vehicle and battery pack that suits your needs to minimize your environmental impact.

Readily Available

We track the market, so you don’t have to. Below is a diverse list of readily available EVs for purchase or lease.  

Chevy Equinox EV & Chevy Blazer EV  

We recently published a blog about two Chevy EVs, the Equinox EV and the Blazer EV. These two 2024 models are popular due to their affordability and versatility.  

The Blazer EV is a widely available sporty and midsize SUV. Slightly larger than its sister model, the Equinox EV, the Blazer EV contains General Motors’s signature Ultium battery pack. The 2024 model is equipped with an 85-kWh battery pack with a capacity for 279 miles of range. It may charge up to 150 kW with a DC fast charger. The vehicle is easily responsive with an impressive acceleration time of six seconds to reach 60 miles per hour. The Blazer EV is an affordable EV that begins with a MSRP of $48,000, before any federal or state incentives. (The Blazer EV qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit, $3,500 state rebate in Massachusetts, and $1,500 state rebate in Rhode Island.)

Enter the 2024 Equinox EV, a more affordable sister model to the Chevy Blazer EV. The Equinox EV starts at $41,900 before the federal tax credit ($7,500) or state incentive ($3,500 in Massachusetts, $1,500 in Rhode Island) is applied. This model is more compact than the Blazer and has received the  America’s Most Awarded Compact SUV for Quality 2015-2024 Award from JD Power. This vehicle boasts a large range of 319 miles on the same 85-kWh battery pack as the Blazer model and has similar acceleration capabilities. In fact, the Equinox EV is the most affordable EV available with a range of over 300 miles.

Kia EV 9 

The Kia EV 9 is something for the charts. Released in tandem with a gas-powered SUV, the Telluride, the EV 9 is a full-size SUV. The EV9 demonstrates significant developments in the world of EVS, as it is one of the first three-row electric SUVs. The Kia EV9 accelerates faster than its internal combustion engine counterpart and has a longer wheelbase. The EV9 is available with either all-wheel drive with a 230-mile range or rear wheel drive with a larger 304-mile range. With a base price of $54,900 the EV9 does not qualify for the Massachusetts state rebate because the delivery brings the total cost over the rebate limit of $55,000. The EV9 does not currently qualify for the federal tax credit, but it may soon, as  Kia moved production of this vehicle to Georgia to meet strict battery requirements. However, the EV9 qualifies for the Rhode Island $1,500 rebate as the Manufactured Suggested Retail price (MSRP) is under the state limit of $60,000.

Mercedes-Benz EQB 

Mercedes-Benz offers its smallest electric SUV, the EQB, as an electric counterpart of the GLB. The EQB is equipped with an optional third row and can seat up to seven. The EQB is considered a luxury car for its customizable lighting in the interior, virtual voice assistant, and built-in navigation system that accommodates range anxiety. Additionally, this EV stands out for its touch-sensitive steering wheel and rose gold trim on the interior. Depending on the model, the EQB has a range between 201 and 251 miles. The EQB is considered a luxury car at a fraction of the cost with a starting price of $53,050. The EQB does not qualify for the federal tax credit or the Massachusetts state rebate because it is likely that the delivery and destination fee exceeds the price cap of $55,000. The EQB qualifies for the Rhode Island state rebate of $1,500 if the trim is under the MSRP limit of $60,000.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a classic electric SUV. The 2025 model will range in battery capacity from 77.4kWh to 84 kWh, boasting a mileage range between 220 and 310 miles, depending on the trim you choose. The 2025 model will be equipped with a NACS charging port at the end of this year, allowing for seamless fast charging without the need for an adapter. The Ioniq 5 impressively reaches 68 miles of charge in just five minutes when DC fast charging. Hyundai has announced that it will distribute ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 chargers or a $450 credit to ChargePoint’s charging network for those who purchase or lease a new Ioniq 5.

Chevrolet Silverado EV  

Chevrolet’s Silverado EV is readily available to purchase or lease after experiencing longer wait times, as we described in our last Car Corner. With a starting price of $74,800, the Silverado EV is eligible for the federal $7,500 clean vehicle tax credit and the Massachusetts MOR-EV Truck $7,500 rebate. This model is not currently eligible for the Rhode Island rebate. The Silverado EV possesses a high range of 250 miles, and it can reach 100 miles of charge in ten minutes when connected to a DC fast charger. This is a work truck, and the Silverado EV can tow up to 10,000 lbs. The Silverado EV is built on the GM Ultium battery, reaching 60 miles per hour in as little as 4.1 seconds, and is equipped with several safety features, including lane assist.

Upcoming Vehicles

Lucid Gravity 2 SUV 

The Lucid Gravity 2025 is a new three-row SUV that should be available for purchase later this year. With up to a 440-mile range, this SUV begins at a base price of $80,000. With foldable seats, the Gravity offers up to 122 cubic feet of cargo space. A luxury EV, the Lucid Gravity is equipped with comfortable features that include a 34-inch curved digital display and several driving modes that include co-pilot. The Gravity model will be available in five color trim options. This SUV is quick to charge, reaching up to 200 miles in 25 minutes when connected to a DC fast charger.

2025 Hyundai Tucson PHEV 

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid is a compact SUV available with all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive options. The plug-in hybrid contains a 13.8 kWh battery that enables 33 miles of electric driving. The Hyundai Tucson PHEV can be charged with its 7.2 kW onboard charger and offers three driving modes, including Green Zone mode which enables pure electric driving. According to the EPA, the Hyundai Tucson PHEV possesses a combined rating of 80 MPGe (this includes its electric range of 33 miles). Inside, the dashboard features a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. With a starting price of $40,775, this plug-in hybrid does not qualify for the federal tax credit or Massachusetts state rebate, but it does qualify for the Rhode Island PHEV rebate of up to $1,000.

NACS News

You may recall that the Tesla charging port has become the North American Charging Standard (NACS) and that all major car manufacturers pledged to make their vehicles compatible with the NACS port, either via adapter or by adding the port to future vehicles. This way, EVs across the board can access all of Tesla’s 27,000 charging stations. 

So far, drivers from three automakers have access to Tesla chargers via an adaptor, and a couple others are on the way.  

• Ford and Rivian drivers have started receiving adapters from the manufacturer, as we wrote about in this blog. 

• General Motors just recently made adaptors available for sale to its customers for $225. All GM vehicles are expected to be compatible with the adapters, although some Chevrolet Bolts may require a software update at the dealership. With the adaptor in-hand, GM consumers may initiate charging via their vehicle or Tesla’s app. For step-by-step instructions on utilizing the adapter to initiate charging, check out this State of Charge video. 

• On September 24th, Kia announced that NACS adapters and Tesla Supercharger access will be available early next year. Specifically, customers who recently purchased a 2024/2025 EV9 or EV6 before September 4th will receive a complementary NACS adapter. For all other customers, the adapter will be available for purchase for an unspecified price. Kia is expected to ship adapters in early 2025 and Supercharger access is expected to go live on January 15th, 2025. 

We mentioned in our last Car Corner that slow distribution of adapters, from Tesla to car manufacturers, may be attributable to a mass layoff of Tesla employees who worked on the Supercharger team. Many of these employees have since been rehired. Unfortunately, the process is still taking longer than we would have hoped.

A Quick National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Update

Although the promise of NACS accessibility has been slow to fulfill, the Biden administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program is underway and gradually working to develop charging stations that are within one mile from each other on alternative fuel corridors. This fall, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and NEVI program staff are facilitating a series of open houses, at which the public may petition for targeted charging deployments throughout the state, at which the public may petition for targeted charging deployments throughout the state.

In Rhode Island, the state recently was the first in the country to complete Phase 1 of the NEVI program, meaning four fast chargers were installed along Interstate 95. Rhode Island is expected to move to phase two and conduct community-based outreach on public charging soon.

For a detailed breakdown of the status of mass charging accessibility in the US, check out this article. 

Updates on Rebates & Incentives

In Rhode Island, the Office of Energy Resources and the RI Infrastructure Bank recently rolled out a rebate program for at-home EV charging. There are two types of rebates available, the standard and income-qualifying rebate. Rebate amounts vary depending on whether an upgrade is needed to your electrical system during charging installation. For rebate details, read here.

Finally, Happy National Drive Electric Week!

We invite you to attend one of our events, whether that be our Drive Green in the Park or any of out upcoming EV webinars.