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.
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.
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580: range, price, release date, and more
Rumors about a full-size electric G-Class have been circulating for some time, but it's official now. The G-Wagon is going electric, in the form of the new fully electric "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yep, the name is a mouthful -- taking the name from the concept version of this car, the Concept EQG, might have been a better move. Bu, regardless, the vehicle is sure to appeal to those who want a G-Wagon while getting all the benefits of an EV.
Curious about the G580 with EQ Technology? Here's everything you need to know.
Design
The G580 retains many of the design aspects of the G-Class you already know and love, and while the concept iteration had some modern touches, like light bars on the exterior of the car, the real-world version looks pretty similar to the non-electric G-Wagon, though that's not to say there aren't any design changes whatsoever.
Don’t get stranded: The best portable tire inflators in 2024
There’s nothing worse than getting stranded on the side of the road because of a bad tire. That’s why it pays to drive around with a portable tire inflator hanging out somewhere in your car or truck. These devices aren’t very big, and you probably won’t even use it that much. That being said, when your tire-pressure sensor lights kicks on, you’ll be happy you have it.
Here are five of the best portable tire inflators you can toss in your trunk for 2024.
