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Bengt Halvorson

@ben-gt.bsky.social
251 followers 104 following 298 posts

Tracks and unpacks tech in the EV, efficiency, mobility space. Geeks out about cars. Former Green Car Reports mastermind. Now contrib to Car and Driver, others.

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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Wondering what happens next to ID. 4? Happy to already run a FIRST DRIVE of the VW ID. Tiguan, but bummed that U.S. assembly at serious volume isn't the plan this time around. www.wardsauto.com/news/first-d...
wardsauto.com
First drive: Volkswagen ID. Tiguan EV will be more than a new name
Time inside the ID.4’s replacement shows revised styling, an upgraded MEB+ platform and a redesigned interior as the automaker moves the look and feel of its electric lineup closer to mainstream.
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Reposted by Bengt Halvorson
Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
What I noticed this weekend was that diesel is now solidly over $7 a gallon here in the PNW -- and according to AAA it's well above $8 a gallon now in California. Rolling coal may be legal, but you have to pay up for it in a different way.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This appears to be the form of my much-touted regulatory relief. Oh that's not what you voted for? You missed the fine print that said "lower regulatory fees by being able to pass more of them along to customers."
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Earlier this evening something rare and distinctive in the rearview…
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Happy to see a throwback from @martinpadgett.bsky.social -- Land Rovers, Belize, 1994, in my feed this Saturday afternoon. Although LR was one of the earliest partners of "Tread Lightly!" Stewardship and, well... www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a735...
caranddriver.com
The 1994 Land Rover Discovery Doesn’t Need Roads
Good thing, because there aren’t many in the Belizean rainforest, where we drove Land Rover’s new Discovery.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The longer I chew on this, the less sympathy for those the most worked up about this. Poor parasites realizing that all their money spent gaming SEO suddenly isn't working. www.wsj.com/cmo-today/br... Reddit has survived a lot. Now I'm wondering how the GEO people are going to wreck it.
wsj.com
Brands Suddenly Care About Reddit. Redditors Don’t Return the Feeling.
Reddit has moved from marketers’ periphery to the core as they try to influence large language models and consumer choices.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Ionna-tops-Tesla fast-charging headline aside, satisfaction with public destination charging (yes the slower L2 kind) is way down. Why? Because more people have to pay for it now. Based on JD Power's EVX sample set, 60% got it in 2023 but just 34% in 2026. www.wardsauto.com/news/ionna-t...
wardsauto.com
Ionna tops Tesla Supercharger network in EV charging study
The network founded by eight legacy automakers is topping Tesla in satisfaction — and there are some very noteworthy reasons why.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Catching up with one of the most eye-catching new SUVs of the year — the Kia Telluride. So spacious, so comfortable. Wasn’t sure I’d warm up to the base turbo 4 here, but it’s smooth and I averaged 24 mpg over 300+ miles. About +15% vs the prev V-6. But hold out for the hybrid, right?
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
It's a slow news week, but the Prologue EV was always only supposed to be a three-model-year vehicle. Honda even said so back at the launch. Insight on what the economics looked like for Honda on this deal, whether GM said no to a renewal post 0 Series? Now THAT is the story. Wanna be my source?
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Critical for the top-selling F-150 and other go-light U.S.-made vehicles that use aluminum -- but finally ramping back up! www.wardsauto.com/news/novelis...
wardsauto.com
Novelis aluminum plant to resume operations following fire damage
The company has started commissioning the Oswego, New York, plant and expects to ramp up hot mill production in the coming weeks. Disruptions have negatively affected automakers for months.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Did Ferrari just out-Jaguar itself? Forwarding this story as it directly tackles how offbeat this exterior appears—a cab-forward Ferrari. Broadly I'm seeing so much flattery. Let's just say you had to have been there, with benefits? www.motortrend.com/news/first-l...
motortrend.com
The Polarizing Ferrari Luce Breaks Every Ferrari Rule We Know
The Ferrari Luce is Ferrari’s first EV, a 1,035-hp four-door with 193-mph performance, radical design, and seating for five.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Borrowed this charming ‘90s era Nissan Hardbody 4-cyl/5-speed from a friend for some hauling errands yesterday and now wondering if I want a simple truck back in my life.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Spotted on the neighborhood walk: Cadillac Allanté – and don't you dare forget the accent! A favorite subject of former Automobile Magazine boss David E. Davis Jr.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Last week, Hyundai revealed a firefighting robot, in-wheel motors and all www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/en/tv/CONT00...
hyundaimotorgroup.com
The Vision of the Unmanned Firefighting Robot | Hyundai Motor Group
#ASaferWayHome #HyundaiMotorGroup #HyundaiMobis #KoreaNationalFireAgency #UnmannedFirefightingRobot #Firefighting #Robot
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
The real world just wrote the sequel to Cocaine Bear. www.koin.com/news/nationa...
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Hello to Subaru's biggest passenger vehicle and what's effectively its new flagship! Made in Kentucky, batteries from Michigan. Home bidirectional charging goodness is on the way, and from time up close I can touch that this is all looking very competitive vs EV9. www.wardsauto.com/news/2027-su...
wardsauto.com
2027 Subaru Getaway EV primed for family fun
A smart strategy with Toyota brings Subaru an electric SUV that serves as a stealth flagship.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Lucid development chief Emad Dlala promises superior efficiency with Atlas/Midsize "compared to the newest, most optimized platforms in the world"—pointing to Chinese, German rivals.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Lucid design boss Jenkins nails the punchline, with a promise of "mechanical analog door handles" in Cosmos and Earth. "What a time to be alive."
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Lucid Cosmos and Earth confirmed for first two of three vehicles on its Midsize Platform. Together these vehicles may represent a 10x increase in its addressable market, it says.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Alt title: EPA gags itself on climate... What I'm hearing out there, sometimes between the lines, is that the auto industry is getting way more than it asked for—and it's not necessarily a good thing. www.wardsauto.com/news/trumps-...
wardsauto.com
Trump’s EPA scraps greenhouse gas emissions standards
The agency said its action would rescind the electric-vehicle "mandate" in place under the former Obama and Biden Administrations.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Excellent overview of how AD/AV investment is back in vogue from Dave Zoia—including some news-to-me PwC insight: That "automakers now see being among the first to offer higher levels of automated driving as the best near-term opportunity to gain market share." www.wardsauto.com/news/automat...
wardsauto.com
Automated driving is staging a comeback with the help of AI
Interest in self-driving waned as technology hit some snags and automakers invested in battery-electric vehicles. But autonomy is back in focus and headed to the market in a big way.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Today’s auto-tech-beat word that doesn’t mean what it sounds like it might: analog computer.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Not unsupervised. Double the cars /congestion. Double the energy consumed. electrek.co/2026/01/22/t...
electrek.co
Tesla didn't remove the Robotaxi 'safety monitor' – it just moved them to a trailing car
Earlier today, Elon Musk announced on X that Tesla had “just started Tesla Robotaxi drives in Austin with no safety...
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Happy tethering a stream of your trip and driving data in exchange for 50% off insurance? Definitely begs more dystopian questions about privacy.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Many of the 1.1M+ EVs leased under a juicy Biden policy loophole will soon be returning to base as Trump-era used cars, starting a surge of late-model EVs in 2026. At bargain prices vs. gasoline models, read why they may upend the market. www.caranddriver.com/news/a700209...
caranddriver.com
Why 2026 Will Be a Great Time to Buy a Used EV
A flood of off-lease EVs will soon start hitting dealers, driving down prices.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Is this really "it"? Lots of CES headlines peg Donut's CES buzz—of solid-state batteries headed to motorcycles in weeks, cars soon. With 3rd-party vetting, it might beat such projects bankrolled by global automakers, battery giants—and change the shape of cars. www.hagerty.com/media/news/a...
hagerty.com
Are Solid-State Batteries and In-Wheel Motors Coming for Electric Sports Cars? - Hagerty Media
Did tech just enable more electric sports cars? Donut Lab and WEVC think so, and they want to build your niche EV.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid is an excellent big family vehicle, with a fresh form, a cabin experience that's tech-forward but uncomplicated. Recently drove it for a few days and topped 30 mpg. If you're not plugging in, impressive for the three-row size and space. Kudos on the NACTOY win!
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
I recently followed up with the Ford Maverick Lobo...asking myself "What pickup?" With some of the driving flavor of a performance compact car, the Ford Maverick Lobo hauls. Congrats to Ford on the Truck of the Year win; now let's see how this can be channeled in a more electrified direction.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
I took that to be a nervous laugh from "environmentalist" Ford at first. But now I'm entirely second-guessing it. Thoughts?
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
EPA. Protecting a different sort of environment since 2025.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Pacifica Hybrid is an *excellent* PHEV—not just in terms of efficiency and drivability, but the accessibility of the tech. It doesn't intimidate drivers with a boggle of modes; it just makes your driving more electric. Should be the template for future PHEVs from these brands.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Yes, it's TWO new gasoline 8-cyl engines (a V-8 and a flat-8), from a Chinese automaker building on an era of consistent EV subsidies. Eye-opening? Delightfully contrarian? Simply part of the Chinese OEM surge at CES 2026 as most other automakers sat it out. www.caranddriver.com/news/a699468...
caranddriver.com
China's Great Wall Motors Flaunts Two 8-Cylinder Engines at CES That Could Reach Production
As Western automakers are purging V-8s from their lineups, China’s Great Wall Motors has a different idea.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Around CES I've driven a sample of vehicles from Geely Auto's core brands, inc Zeekr and Lynk & Co. The cars are ready for the U.S. Soon, with help from Volvo (or Renault) will they be delivered near the compelling price points they have in other markets? www.caranddriver.com/news/a699351...
caranddriver.com
Chinese Giant Geely Eyes Entering U.S. Market: Could These Cars Reach Our Shores?
The Geely Auto Group claims to be the fastest-growing automaker in the world, but it’s taking its time about entering the U.S. market.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
No, that’s not a poster backdrop… Out getting to know the Acura MDX in the Pacific NW. Checks *almost* all of the boxes. Time to electrify it.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
With the Prelude hybrid arriving now, let's look at Honda's original hybrid moonshot—the Insight! This quirky coupe was loaded with innovations handed down from F1 racing and the original NSX. But 25+ years on will it find its own halo and a place with collectors? www.hagerty.com/media/car-pr...
hagerty.com
MPG Moonshot: The Original Honda Insight Went Farther with Less - Hagerty Media
The original Honda Insight was no NSX when it comes to collectability, but there are undeniable parallels in the pair.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Rapid progress for lithium-ion, from smartphones to EVs. 6 yrs and 83% from constant use with no cooling! Basically same strategy that kept our OG Leaf fine on original pack: Avoid fast-charging when possible, don’t let it get too hot; don’t let it sit at 100%, and save those full charges.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Time to bring you what I saw in my first sample of real-world range and charging takeaways with Lucid Gravity: Efficiency and range picture not yet complete, but this EV charges on Superchargers exactly as spelled out.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Caught a sunny break in the Columbia Gorge to get to know the Lucid Gravity a bit better. SO well tuned for ride and handling!
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Ram shoppers who just want their trucks to make the right Hemi noise...
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
This is a reminder that on the way to next-gen cells, there's so much low-hanging fruit to improve EV charging performance within the pack. Here, a stepper motor and lots of smarts about how coolant is being moved around...
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Best format ever for just answering a lot of questions on an upcoming product—in this case, a much-anticipated affordable EV youtu.be/X0K3g4OCp8A?...
youtu.be
Slate Q&A with CEO Chris Barman
YouTube video by Slate Auto
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
What we all knew was coming. But still very much puzzled about how this EREV thing works well in a pickup... www.reuters.com/business/aut...
reuters.com
Ford retreats from EVs, takes $19.5 billion charge as Trump policies take hold
Ford Motor said on Monday it will take a $19.5 billion writedown and is killing several electric-vehicle models, in the most dramatic example yet of the auto industry's retreat from battery-powered mo...
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
Throwing this back into the conversation about kei cars -- delightfully offbeat and Leaf-like, and possibly my favorite urban drive of 2023. www.greencarreports.com/news/1141859...
greencarreports.com
Quick spin: Nissan Sakura EV highlights what America is missing
A drive of the bestselling EV in Japan underscores that the hurdles of EV adoption could be a lot easier in a smaller package.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
This. And as I've mentioned in so many venues, range/charging aside, this woulda-coulda been a sales hit at a $40k start (SWB, LWB upsell) + lots of dealer-installed accessories. It's really good for what it is, just a really self-limiting proposition by the numbers. Didn't have to be this way.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
There was a lot missing from last month's LA auto show—like the entire entry-luxury middle of the California market. But from the affordable fringes to the halo cars, and everywhere in between, electrified was there in full force. www.wardsauto.com/news/la-auto...
wardsauto.com
5 electrified takeaways from the 2025 LA Auto Show
Automakers made up for the relative dearth of luxury models by showing off a variety of electrified vehicles and SUVs.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Dear Tesla board and shareholders: Is there really any other way this could have gone? An inevitable market turn, huh? www.reuters.com/business/aut...
reuters.com
Exclusive: Tesla US sales drop to nearly 4-year low in November despite launch of cheaper versions
Tesla's U.S. sales dropped to a near four-year low in November, despite the automaker's rollout of new, cheaper versions of its best-selling electric vehicles, estimates from Cox Automotive given excl...
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
These brands' strategy with affordable vehicles in recent years, it's simply strange—a maneuver that willingly lets go of market share. www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
reuters.com
Inside Stellantis CEO's 'emergency room' rush to recapture market share
New Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa is prioritising vehicle sales growth over profits including resorting to lower-margin fleet sales and investing in affordable models to recapture market share in Nort...
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
The EX30 is no longer one niche model, and it's turned into a fantastic lineup of engaging little EVs. Volvo: More of this, please—maybe with a few more gauges and switches, though. www.wardsauto.com/news/first-d...
wardsauto.com
First Drive: The 2026 Volvo EX30 is exactly what the market needs
In both RWD and AWD Cross Country forms, the EX30 family points the way to stylish and affordable compact EVs.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Today I parallel-parked two vehicles behind a Honda Element and directly ahead of another one. Certain models, like this and Volvo 245s, seem to come here for retirement.
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Bengt Halvorson @ben-gt.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Fodder for the weight-and-size debate: I recently spent time with both of these vehicles. Unladen, one of them weighs nearly FIVE TIMES as much as the other.
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