3 Reasons Why the Future Belongs to Ford

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Ford has staked its claim as the future’s top automaker. It has had an amazing year in 2021. The Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV is selling well. The automaker’s Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck has received over 120,000 orders. Things are looking good for the blue oval brand. Here’s why Ford and its electric vehicles are going to become even more popular in the future.

Ford has the reputation that electric vehicle manufacturers lack

Ford CEO James Hackett (3rd L) and team members reveal the Mustang Mach-E | Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

What makes a person purchase a certain car make and model? Some consumers may like certain specs and features, but most consumers need a knowledge base of the nameplate to trust it to be reliable. You may not like Honda Civics, but you recognize them as affordable compact cars that are reliable with cheap maintenance costs. Automakers that have been around for as long as Ford have built reputations over decades of sales.

Electric vehicle automakers like Tesla and Rivian are very much the new kids on the block. Ford, on the other hand, is the elder statesman. The blue oval is synonymous with power and reliability. Automakers like Tesla are still building up a rapport with consumers. Reliability is still very much in question, and the company is only now beginning to produce vehicles that are accessible to most consumers.

Ford has earned consumers’ trust with muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and work trucks like the Ford F-150. We know what to expect from the automaker, and its foundational values are still present in its electric models. It’s easier to spend money on a product from a brand with a long history than a brand that still needs to prove itself.

Ford’s lineup is the best of both worlds

The Ford Raptor | Sjoerd van der Wal via Getty Images

Ford has built its name on long-lasting, powerful gas-powered vehicles and won’t be leaving them behind completely anytime soon. The beauty of Ford’s current lineup is it lives in the past, present, and future simultaneously. Ford has highly-rated gas-powered vehicles like the Ford F-150 available. It also offers new innovations like the Ford Maverick’s hybrid powertrain to fit in with the changing times. Its electric truck and SUV reflect the future of the automotive industry.

Ford has managed to wade into scary, uncharted waters without losing its core following. The automaker cleverly brought two of its most popular nameplates into the future by giving them fully electric redesigns. The company also proved that EVs can be exciting and capable.

Timing is everything

A red 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E First Edition near a horse
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E First Edition | Allison Barfield

Ford’s timing is impeccable. Ford models are currently some of the most in-demand models in the United States at the moment. Semiconductor chip shortages have slowed production and orders, yet the orders are still piling in. Why? Ford has given consumers vehicles that are well worth the wait and completely novel to the automotive industry in their own unique ways.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is an electric performance SUV capable of great range and horsepower. According to Car and Driver, it is one of the best-selling EVs on the market. The Ford F-150 Lightning is an electric pickup that promises to do the F-150 name justice. It carries a legacy on its back while introducing new features like its awesome frunk. The future clearly belongs to Ford, and it looks extremely bright.

RELATED: Is the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach- E Replacing the Mustang?

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Here’s How Iron Air Batteries 1-Up Lithium-Ion Batteries

by Gabrielle DeSantis

As of right now, the best electric car batteries available are lithium-ion based. But lithium is buried deep under the earth’s surface, and some fear we could run out as more EVs are built. Iron, on the other hand, is abundant and cheap. And in some ways, iron-air batteries are shaping up to be better than lithium-ions.

Iron Air Battery Diagram | Rachel McKerracher

What is an iron-air battery?

In order to best portray this complex process, I’ll explain it in fancy scientific terms, and then dumb it down. Iron-air and other metal-air batteries turn the metal into oxide by breathing in oxygen. From there, a liquid electrolyte creates a current using the stored energy of the oxide. This reverts the oxide back to metal, discharging the battery.

Confused? Don’t worry, I was too. And while I used fancy words like “oxide” and “liquid electrolyte,” this is the chemical process that turns iron into rust. That’s right, you’re future electric car might be rust-powered.

The energy itself is stored in the rust since that’s a bond between iron and air. The liquid electrolyte cleans the rust off the iron but, in the process, utilizes the energy that mashed those two elements together. It’s rusting and de-rusting the battery over and over again to charge and discharge the battery, and already has some advantages over lithium-ion.

How are iron-air batteries better than lithium-ion batteries?

Extracted Iron (top) and Lithium (bottom)
Extracted Iron (top) and Lithium (bottom) | John St. James/Pablo Cozzaglio via Getty Images

The two most obvious upsides: iron is cheap and abundant. Lithium is closer to the earth’s core, whereas iron rests near the surface and isn’t as harmful to collect. But what’s more important is the fact that iron-air, and other metal-air batteries, could store more energy than lithium-ion. The theoretical lifespan of an iron-air battery is 100 to 150 hours of electricity.

And if iron is cheaper to harvest, the batteries are cheaper to build. Lithium-ion costs anywhere from $50 to $80 per kWh of storage according to the Wall Street Journal. Iron-air, on the other hand, will cost just $20 per kWh on a full-sized battery. And the battery itself would be nontoxic and nonflammable.

And speaking of economics, Form Energy, the startup turning iron-air batteries into a reality, is already backed by some of the biggest names in corporate America. Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and others pledging to go renewable support the cause. But what about the auto industry?

When could we see them in electric cars?

Charging station for electric cars
Electric Car Charging | Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images

Trick question: we might not. While production iron-air batteries should start to show up around 2025, they aren’t targeted at electric cars yet. Their main purpose is to store energy for large warehouses and grids, which they’ll be very capable of doing. So the power that charges your electric car may be stored in an iron-air battery, but the pack inside will likely still be lithium-ion.

That’s not to say iron-air batteries haven’t been experimented with though. Tesla patented lithium-iron batteries in 2017, but never used them. But according to Green Car Reports, they’re focused on making larger lithium packs for half the cost.

So there’s always a chance that iron-air batteries could end up in electric cars, rusting and de-rusting as we drive. But right now, their intended use is for large factories and businesses, and maybe the grids we use to charge our EVs.

RELATED: California’s “Nightmare on Earth” To Become Major GM Lithium Mine

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Edmund’s Top-Rated Luxury Sports Coupes: Porsche and BMW Beat By American Muscle

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Driving a sports car can be a fun and enjoyable experience, but it isn’t always practical for most drivers. On the other hand, many luxury cars offer comfort but aren’t always as exciting to drive. Luckily there is an uncompromising middle ground of luxury sports coupes, which offer comfortable rides with all of the features and tech you want from a modern car without compromising your driving experience. If you’ve taken an interest in one of these high-end sports car options, chances are you’ve seen that there are more than a handful of options on the market today, but what is sitting at the top of the list, according to Edmunds, stands out from the rest of their top five ranked luxury sports coupes.

Ranked #4 and #5 is two very different BMWs coupes

A BMW M2 | Manfred Schmid, Getty Images

Sitting at the bottom of the top five rated luxury sports coupes rated by Edmunds is two BMWs that are very different from each other. The higher of the two was the BMW 8 Series, one of the brand’s larger coupes, with an overall scoring of 8.1 out of 10. It is especially noted for the performance options and refined interior, but it is far from the most affordable BMW option on the market, with a base model MSRP of $88,995.

Ranking it at #5 is the BMW M2, which is one of the smaller coupe options from the brand, which is very different from the 8 Series in both size and style. The BMW M2 is only ranked below the 8 Series by a small fraction of a point, scoring an overall 8.0 out of 10.

Ranked #2 and #3 are both Porsches

Not so surprisingly, Porsche made the list of the top 5 rated luxury sports coupes, not once but twice. It first made the list at #1 with the Porsche 911, which ranges dramatically in price from a base model MSRP of $119,340 to over $226,260 before additional options and customizations. Because of its high-end luxury features and performance, it receives an overall score of 8.2 out of 10. Like most previous generations of the 911, this year is noted for its exquisite handling and power output.

At #3 is another Porsche, the Porsche 718 Cayman, though it still starts at a relatively high $101,550. Like the 911, the 718 Cayman offers next-level handling and power that makes every road feel like a track, and it’s just as comfortable to enjoy driving in traffic as it is zooming down the highway. It received an overall score of 8.1 out of 10, just ever so slightly below the 911.

#1 is an American muscle car

Coming in at the top of the rankings is the new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette, which may come as a surprise to some readers. Along with the history of Corvette performance that we’ve come to know and love, the newest generation focuses on becoming a borderline supercar with its mid-engine placement giving the car an upgraded handling experience and more aggressive styling. Compared to previous years, the C8 is also relatively luxurious, with a driver-focused cockpit, soft leather interior, and sportier interior design that is incomparable to previous generations of the car. It received an overall score of 8.5 out of 10.

RELATED: The Dodge Viper is the Supercar Designed for Muscle Car Fanatics

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The Best Used Cars Under $10,000 According to Cars.com

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Some of the best used cars might not cost you more than $10,000. According to Cars.com, plenty of used cars on the market won’t break the bank, like the 2014 Kia Soul. While everyone else is fighting over the 2021 Kia Telluride, going back a few more years might net you significant gains.

The 2014 Kia Soul is one of the best used cars under $10,000

The 2014 Kia Soul is one of the best used cars under $10,000 | Dünzlullstein bild via Getty Images

Remember when the 2014 Kia Soul was the funky little vehicle that entered the scene with hamsters on the commercial. What makes it one of the best used cars? Cars.com says it was a four-door, five-seat hatchback that got about 26 mpg. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Soul the Top Safety pick rating for 2014 and 2015. The soul was roomy, funky, and had top-of-the-line tech for drivers.

Median price: About $11,000-$12,000

Cars.com thought the 2012 Chevrolet Volt was one of the best used cars

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt was a four-door, four-seat, hybrid plug-in hatchback. The Volt still looks like nothing else on the road. According to Cars.com, the Volt has an EPA combined fuel economy of 94-98 mpg-equivalent, with 37 mpg after 35-38 miles of all-electric range on a full battery charge. That’s a lot to take in, however, it is a good thing. The Volt has a 149 hp motor and takes about 10-12 hours to get a full charge.

Median price: About $9,500-$10,500

Don’t overlook the 2012 Mazda3

The 2012 Mazda3 has quite a following. The 2012 Mazda3 is a four-door, five-seat sedan or hatchback option. Both get between 21 mpg and 32 mpg, and the IIHS gave the Mazda3 a Top Safety pick for 2012 and 2013. The Mazda3 is fun to drive and has a few trim levels and engine options available, making it one of the best used cars. All of which offer plenty of power and handing for buyers.

Median price: About $9,500-$11,000

Always on the list of best used cars is the 2013 Toyota Corolla

Pretty much any year of the Toyota Corolla is one of the best used cars. The 2013 Toyota Corolla was a four-door, five-seat sedan that got 29 mpg. The IIHS picked the 2013 Toyota Corolla as a Top Safety Pick. The engine isn’t very inspiring, with a 1.8L four-cylinder getting low horsepower. However, the Corolla is about as reliable as it gets. If you are looking for a low-priced sedan that you can run for 200,000 miles, the 2013 Toyota Corolla works.

Median price: About $10,000-$11,000

The 2013 Toyota Prius is a winner

The 2013 Toyota Prius is a four-door hybrid or plug-in hybrid hatchback. It is one of the more expensive options on the Cars.com list, but it has a lot to offer. 48 mpg from the hybrid, 95 mpg-e with 50 mpg after 11 miles of all-electric range for the plug-in hybrid isn’t bad either. The IIHS gave the 2013 Toyota Prius the Top Safety Pick award. It offered enough technology to appease buyers, even today and has tons of space. The battery warranty is eight years/100,000 miles, which is still suitable for a few years.

Median price: About $10,500-$12,500

While the used car market is going through a few growing pains right now, buyers can still find these cars for a steal. Some of the best used cars won’t break the bank upfront and won’t have you in the shop every weekend. Be sure to find a Certified Pre-Owned option or get an inspection if you purchase an older vehicle.

RELATED: Consumer Reports: Best SUVs Under $40,000 With Standard Safety Features

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