Car-Free Olympics in 2028, Charging Satisfaction on the Rise, the Scoop on EREVs, and Other News

Here’s what you might have missed this week in outdoor, innovation, and EV news.

Ford Pivots from Electric to Hybrid SUVs

Ford announced this week that it's moving away from its planned three-row electric SUV, instead pivoting to a hybrid model. The automaker's EV focus will switch to pickup trucks and commercial vans, a more strategic market for the company. While it will continue to sell its current EV models, Ford hopes that the move to hybrid SUVs will help its bottom line.

Read More (from NPR) 

L.A. Plans to Host Car-Free Olympic Games in 2028

Los Angeles, a city notorious for its non-stop gridlock traffic, has pledged to host a green, no-car Olympics in 2028. Per L.A. mayor Karen Bass, the plan to accomplish this relies heavily on expanding the city's public transportation system, in part by borrowing thousands of buses from around the country.

Read More (from New York Times) 

What's It Like Camping in 120 Degrees?

With rising temperatures and new heat records come the need to adjust to a potential new reality in the outdoors. Should you go camping when it's 120 degrees? Probably not, but an Outside Online writer found himself doing just that, in Death Valley National Park—known as one of the hottest places on earth. The article provides some advice on how to prepare and survive.

Read More (from Outside Online)

Could EREVs Bridge the Gap Between Hybrids and EVs?  

The electric vehicle ecosystem is full of acronyms, and the latest to hit the enthusiast vocab is EREV, or Extended Range Electric Vehicles, which have become popular in China. A kind of plug-in hybrid, the EREV features a small gas engine that functions as a generator, charging the car's battery while driving. Since it requires a smaller battery, this vehicle type is cheaper than a traditional EV, and offers an extended driving time.

Read More (from CleanTechnica) 

EV Fast-Charging Satisfaction Is on the Rise

Charging reliability has long been a point of contention for EV drivers, especially among those not utilizing the Tesla charging network—but according to a new J.D. Power survey, things are moving in the right direction. Satisfaction with DC fast-charging has improved in the first half of 2024, but Level 2 charging still has some catching up to do.

Read More (from Green Car Reports)

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