This week we travel to Chevy’s Milford Proving Grounds in Detroit, Michigan to get an intimate look at the design and engineering process the manufacturer puts its cars through. We also had a chance to get hands-on with the 2012 Chevy Cruze and just-introduced Sonic, and that included watching Chevy put the new compact car through a crash test. The Sonic was 100 meters at 40 MPH with the driver’s side going head first into the metal object. Chevy says the Sonic is built to keep its frame as much as possible in the event of a crash.
The Tesla Model Y is at its lowest price yet — but should you buy one?
Despite increased competition in the space, the Tesla Model Y is still one of the best EVs out there. It has access to the best charging network, plus it offers among the best software experiences, as well as a solid range, especially in the longer-range models. And the Model Y is now down to its lowest price yet, meaning that if you were considering getting one, now is probably the time to buy.
The base price of the Tesla Model Y is down to $42,990 at the time of this writing, which represents a pretty huge price cut. That's before any tax incentives too -- and considering the car is eligible for the full $7,500 tax credit, that means you could get it for as low as $35,490.
Here’s how EVs charge as they drive on a stretch of Michigan road
Charging remains one of the biggest hurdles for mass EV adoption. Public charging infrastructure still isn’t extensive enough to merit driver confidence, and even the fastest chargers still require lengthy stops compared to refueling a gasoline car. But the State of Michigan and Israeli startup Electreon hope to prove that EVs can charge as they drive.
As detailed in a recent CleanTechnica explainer, the Michigan Department of Transportation is demonstrating in-road wireless charging hardware from Electreon on a quarter-mile stretch of 14th Street in Detroit. It’s being billed as the first such roadway in the U.S.