All articles tagged with #battery packs
Ahead of Prime Day on July 16 and 17, Amazon is offering significant discounts on USB-C chargers and battery packs, with prices starting as low as $8. Deals include a 30-watt USB-C charger for $8 and a three-port 65-watt charger for $14, both requiring on-page coupons. These deals are limited-time offers, so early purchases are recommended.
Anker is offering up to 30 percent off on its battery packs and chargers, including the Anker 334 MagGo MagSafe battery pack, which has dropped to a record low of $31.49, down from its usual $45. This pack can magnetically attach to iPhone 12 and later models and has a capacity of 10,000mAh. Additionally, the Anker Prime 20,000mAh 200W power bank is available for a record low of $104, featuring two USB-C ports and one USB-A port capable of delivering a total charging output of 200W.
Toyota will debut a manual transmission EV, likely in 2026, alongside its next-gen battery packs. The simulated manual will feature a clutch pedal and simulated engine noises to give the driver a traditional combustion engine-like driving experience. Toyota's next-gen lithium-ion batteries are expected to exceed 600 miles of range in the next three years, and its first solid-state battery will debut in 2027 with around 745 miles and a recharge time of just 10 minutes.
The new Lexus GX SUV's ladder frame platform could also be used for future EVs with modifications, according to Lexus Chief Engineer Koji Tsukaski. The body-on-frame design provides flexibility in battery pack placement and weight distribution, allowing for different drivetrain configurations. The platform is expected to have a long life cycle and can underpin other vehicles, including trucks and large SUVs. The combination of flexibility and longevity should allow Lexus to continue refining its mobility strategy ahead of future all-electric mandates in Europe and several US states.
Insurance companies are writing off electric vehicles (EVs) involved in minor accidents due to the difficulty of recycling battery packs in the US, which can render the whole pack unusable if even a tiny amount of damage is sustained. Carmakers including Ford and General Motors are developing battery packs that are easier to repair, replace and reuse, but Tesla and other EV makers are reportedly going in the opposite direction. The inability to reuse these batteries is revealing a hole in the green “circular economy” touted by carmakers, according to Reuters.
Insurance companies are being forced to write off electric vehicles (EVs) with minor damage due to the high cost of repairing or assessing slightly damaged battery packs. This is leading to higher premiums and undercutting the sustainability gains of going electric. Battery packs can cost tens of thousands of dollars and represent up to 50% of an EV's price tag, often making it uneconomical to replace them. While some automakers have made battery packs easier to repair, Tesla has taken the opposite tack with its new structural battery pack, which experts say has "zero repairability." The lack of repairability is also exposing a hole in the green "circular economy" touted by carmakers.