Many Mercedes Gas Engines Are Gone Before 2025

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Carmakers in Europe can be slammed with fines of almost 100 Euros per car for not meeting CO2 emissions caps. Mercedes was able to avoid those fines in 2020 by meeting the numbers, but it was a struggle according to its CEO. And as the targets go up, it won’t get any easier. So, one way Mercedes is helping itself is by eliminating most of its engine variants.

Mercedes won’t say which of its engine families it is not going to offer in the US

Mercedes-AMG V8 BiTurbo Badge | Mercedes

It is not saying which ones will get killed but it is fairly easy to speculate. Since smaller engines have to work harder than larger displacement engines. In turn, they pollute more. So while the thought is that larger displacement engines would get axed, it might be the opposite. 

“(Mercedes-Benz) will reduce the number of engine variants, going through Euro 7, by about 50%,” said Markus Schäfer, the chief operating officer, in an interview with Autocar. Older engines are probably on the list to go as well. Obviously, their efficiency and emissions are inferior to more recently designed gas engines.

For 17 of next year’s models, Mercedes has already confirmed the hybrid 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 won’t be available in the US. But this is due mostly to supply chain issues as it is for CO2 reasons. But, if you order your Mercedes with the AMG GT option, it appears that it won’t affect those models. 

Some Mercedes E 63 orders have been replaced with E 53 models instead

2021 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S sedan parked on an open air strip.
2021 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S | Mercedes Benz

That means the AMG GT, GT C, and GT Black Series can still be ordered. Many of those who ordered one of the 17 V8 engines have had their orders canceled. Some, according to Reddit, have had their orders substituted from an AMG E 63 to E 53. 

Would Mercedes design a more CO2-friendly V8? No way. It has already gone on record as saying it is no longer developing gas-powered engines. Whether something like its 6.0-liter V12, found in the Maybach S680, could be redesigned, is also unlikely. 

Porsche, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen all are facing similar CO2 caps

Maybach printed in all capital letters on the back if the Mercedes Maybach with a gloved hand on the left.
Mercedes Maybach | Getty Images

All of the European manufacturers are facing the same legislation, which kicks into high gear by 2025. That is one reason for their big push into electrification. They’re finding that even hybrid applications don’t give them the carbon numbers they need. 

The ICE Porsche Macan is history. And cars like the Fiat 500 and Renault Twingo won’t be able to weather the carbon restrictions. So whether you’re for or against auto electrification, it is happening in real-time. 

Mercedes numbers for its straight-six engines are compatible with many of its V8 offerings. Why offer so many variants that basically do the same thing? So, while Mercedes is blaming an outside source for its decision, could it merely be that it can save costs by scuttling many of its engines? We will probably never know.

RELATED: Here’s Why Non-V8 Powered Mercedes-AMG Models Are Still True AMGs

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Electrify America Just Made Finding Charging Stations Easy

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you own an electric car, or know anything about them, you’ll know about the certain stigma of range anxiety. It’s a term folks with poor planning skills (like myself) use to criticize the limited range of an electric car. And while charging networks are expanding, they’re still not quite as robust as the tried and true gas pump. But Electrify America, home to the largest fast-charging network in the states, just made it easier than ever to find a charging station while on the go.

Electrify America For Apple CarPlay Android Auto | Electrify America

Electrify America just teamed up with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Most new cars rolling off the assembly line are featuring Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, with exceptions like the base model Mitsubishi Mirage. But even the cheapest electric cars, like the 2022 Nissan Leaf, all come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Making it the perfect way for Electrify America to integrate a universal, built-in database of electric car chargers.

From the in-car app, you’ll be able to locate and navigate to nearby charging stations. It’ll calculate your car’s estimated range, and find charging stations within your area. That way, you never have to worry about running out of juice before you get there, the car already knows exactly how far it can go. But on top of that, you can start and stop the charge session from your car (just don’t forget to unplug).

The Electrify America app will even link up with your free EV charging plan, such as FordPass. That means you don’t have to pay for electricity when using the app if you’re already on a plan. So even though there are brand-affiliated chargers, that could very soon change.

Brand-afilliated charging stations might be phased in favor of universal ones

A row of Tesla charges with trees in the background.
Tesla charging station | Getty Images

We mentioned FordPass, which includes Electrify America charging stations under its umbrella. And the Electrify America initiative itself is funded by Volkswagen. But they also have charging stations for their own cars, and are developing software to track their cars. According to Green Reports, GM is also developing a phone app to do exactly what this Electrify America in-car app can do.

But using a phone app isn’t useful while you’re driving. In most cases, it’s simply illegal. Electrify America’s strategy to build their software into cars means that it can be operated safely, even while in motion.

And automakers like Tesla are making their electric car charging stations universal. Originally, only Teslas could charge on a Tesla gird, but adapters will soon go on sale. This not only ensures everyone can charge their car from anywhere but increases business for whoever owns the stations.

Comparing electric car chargers to gas pump infrastructure

Electric Car Charging Station
Electric Car Charging Station | Fredric J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Think of it this way: imagine you’re driving your car and pull into a gas station. But for one reason or another, your gas type isn’t available. Only certain cars can fuel up at that station, and yours simply can’t.

If you drive a car that requires premium gasoline, then that may be a slight concern. But for the millions of Americans on the road, any gas will do. And I’ve had no trouble finding premium gas in the middle of nowhere either, it’s not exactly scarce. The point is, you can roll up to any Wawa or BP and fuel up, and we speculate that, someday, the same will be true for electric cars.

It wouldn’t make sense to cut a large portion of the market out. Sure, Ford sold 2.3 million cars in 2019 according to Statistica, but that’s half of the 4.7 million cars sold in America. They can either keep their charging network to themselves or double their revenue by opening them up to others. Seems like a no-brainer to me, though I’m no economist.

RELATED: Which Electric Vehicle Brands Are Offering Free Charging Subscriptions?

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Chevy Bolt Recall: May Affect Hummer EV and Cadillac LYRIQ

by Gabrielle DeSantis

A disturbing number of Chevy Bolts have caught fire due to battery cell malfunctions. GM issued two recall-level software updates, but neither solved the problem. Recently, GM recalled every Chevy Bolt for battery fires. These dramatic events have implications far beyond the Chevy Bolt, affecting all Ultium Platform electric vehicles, including the GMC Hummer EV and the Cadillac LYRIQ. The Chevy Bolt recall may even impact the future of EV battery cell manufacturing.

Chevy Bolt’s Ultium Battery Cell Is At The Heart of All GM EVs

The Ultium Platform | General Motors

General Motors is pioneering electric vehicles and new ways to manufacture them. According to GM, a standard power module made of long pouch battery cells is at the heart of all its planned EVs. The manufacturer intends to arrange these modules, in different numbers and configurations, to build the battery packs for EVs ranging from Chevy Bolts to GMC Hummer EVs. GM has branded this flexible technology the Ultium Platform.

After GM pledged to go all-electric by 2035, the company began looking for a battery manufacturing partner. GM finally announced a partnership with LG’s Energy Solutions division. As South Korea’s leading battery manufacturer, LG was an obvious choice to build GM’s Ultium Platform battery cells.

GM To Spend $1 billion To Expand The Recall of Chevy Bolt EV Due to Safety

The Chevy Bolt launched in May of 2017. Since then, these new EVs have begun to catch fire with alarming frequency. Eletrek.co maintains a list of known Bolt fires, all of which are believed to be battery-related. At least twelve Chevy Bolts caught fire in one year. GM then recalled certain Chevy Bolts two separate times, each time installing a software patch to reduce the battery’s capacity to about 60%. Newly manufactured Bolts came from the factory with the same software patch. Four recent fires affected post-software-patch models (several 2019s and one 2020). After these recent fires, GM announced a recall on every Chevy Bolt ever made. GM clarified that it would not be doing another software patch but replacing every Bolt’s battery instead. 

‘A Perfect Storm’ of Ultium Battery Cell Defects

SHENYANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 18: Robotic arms operate on the vehicle assembly line at a factory of Shanghai GM (Shenyang) Norsom Motors Co. Ltd on December 18, 2020 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province of China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images). Chevy Bolt Recall: May Affect Hummer EV and Cadillac LYRIQ
GM Factory | Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images

After GM announced the historic recall, Arts Technica interviewed the technical director of The University of Michigan’s Battery Lab, Greg Less. Less explained that two simultaneous defects would need to occur for a brand new battery module to catch fire. First, LG must have assembled one of the long pouch battery cells with the anode and cathode too close to one another (likely because of a torn anode tab). But every cell features a separator designed to keep the anode and cathode from touching. So the tech-giant must have also accidentally folded the separator during assembly. Less concluded, ““What we’re looking at is a perfect storm.”

Less speculated that a single “miscalibrated” robot on the assembly line could be both tearing anod tabs and folding separators. He specified that not every cell manufactured is compromised: LG and GE’s quality control would have flagged the issue if that were the case. But enough cells suffer the two simultaneous defects that multiple vehicles have caught on fire.

The Future of GM’s EVs: Hummer and Cadillac LYRIQ

DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 05: A GMC Hummer EV truck is shown at General Motors’ Factory Zero on August 5, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. Secretary Granholm is touring several manufacturing facilities in southeast Michigan today to help promote the Biden administration’s infrastructure proposal. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images), Chevy Bolt Recall: May Affect Hummer EV and Cadillac LYRIQ
GMC Hummer EV at General Motors’ Factory Zero | Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

GM’s Chevy Bolt recall will be a billion-dollar setback. But the Detroit giant’s woes do not end there. 

The compromised LG long pouch battery cells are at the heart of every upcoming Ultium Platform EV. This includes every Hummer EV and Cadillac LYRIQ that GM has already assembled. Unfortunately, GM will have to replace the battery modules in these vehicles, which will likely delay their release.

The harmful publicity is piling up for GM’s EV ventures: The GM-sponsored Lordstown Endurance prototype also went up in flame because of a battery issue (that was not even an Ultium Platform battery). Perhaps, under mounting pressure, GM will find a new battery assembly partner. Or perhaps GM and LG will reexamine and update their joint venture factories. Only time will tell how GM will address Ultium Platform concerns.

RELATED: 5 Best Electric SUVs for 2021 According to TrueCar

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Toyota Just Sold Its 50 Millionth Corolla

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Toyota Corolla has been around since 1966. And after 55 years, Toyota just sold its 50 millionth model. To put that in perspective, the Ford F-Series might be the world’s best-selling truck, they’ve only sold about 40 million of them in their 73-year run. So lets look back at how the Corolla grew to such popularity, and how it maintains a global best-seller.

First Generation Toyota Corolla | Toyota

The Toyota Corolla’s humble beginnings in America

The Toyota Corolla debuted in 1966, but didn’t make its way to America until 1968. And while it wasn’t the first Toyota to come to the states, it was the first massively successful one (obviously). Built around the idea that luxury features, such as a radio and center console, could come at a reasonable price. It cost just $1,700 back then, or about $14,000 today, and boasted Toyota comfort and reliability.

The engine was a 1.1L four-cylinder engine, and the only transmission available was a four-speed manual. Though both those options were considered luxuries at the time too, at least in Japan. You see, most Japanese automakers made 1.0L engines, so a 1.1L engine had an air of superiority. And the four-speed manual gave this 60 horsepower sedan a sportier feel, even if 0-60 took around 12 seconds.

But the Corolla rapidly grew in popularity, as by its second generation, the Corolla became the second best-selling car in the world.

A brief overlook at the Corolla’s generations and achievements

Third Generation, Sixth Generation, and Eleventh Generation Toyota Corollas
Third Generation (Bottom Left), Sixth Generation (Bottom Right), and Eleventh Generation (Top) Toyota Corollas | Toyota

The oil crisis and emissions regulations of the 70s gave small cars, like the Toyota Corolla, the edge against large American land yachts. And the Toyota Corolla capitalized on this, with the second generation becoming the second best-selling car in the world.

And as the years went on, Toyota kept adding luxury features to their affordable car. For the fourth generation, first released in 1980, the Corolla featured a rudimentary “seat memory.” It’s not electronic like the ones today, but could slide and return to the same predetermined angle.

And as the luxuries got better, so too did the engines. The fifth-generation Toyota Corolla AE86 became an infamous drift legend, partly thanks to its incredible styling, and partly due to the dual overhead cam 1.6L engine. It was a car born to go sideways, and was rather good at it.

The appeal of being a decently sporty, yet well-equipped car is universal, and in 1997, the Toyota Corolla became the best-selling car in the world. To celebrate, the brand did what it does best: stuff their commuter car with high-end features, and sell it at a reasonable $13,000 (about $22,000 today). And ever since then, the Toyota Corolla has reigned supreme.

A blue 2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback driving down an empty road, the 2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is one of the least reliable Toyota models
2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback | Toyota

In 2017, during the 11th generation of the Corolla, Toyota fitted it with a Safety Sense package as standard. This included lane departure alert with steering assists, radar-guided cruise control, and automatic high beams. As standard, in 2017!

And the idea of stuffing the best features into their simple commuter car didn’t change for the most recent 12th generation. Now available with a hybrid powertrain, the Corolla can crack 50 mpg combined while still keeping you safe and comfortable. Though, if you’re looking for a sportier trim, the Corolla GT-S comes with a 2.0L 169 horsepower engine, and even that still manages a combined 35 mpg.

In other words, the Corolla has blended the best of both worlds since 1966. It’s packed with fancy features, and it’s still affordable. They’re fun to drive, and they’re economical for daily urban use. And while some would argue they see too many of them on the road, there’s a reason people keep on buying them.

RELATED: 5 Reasons the Toyota Corolla is Still the Most Sold Car on Earth

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