Welcome to the EV Fast Five where I share with you EV content worth paying attention to. There’s a ton of EV content out there - there are around 500M daily tweets and, 720K hours of video uploaded daily to YouTube.

This weeks’ issue will be highly focused on new EVs and EV related news coming out of CES.

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#1

It’s been some time in the making but the Afeela 1, an electric vehicle developed by Sony Honda Mobility (SMH), was unveiled at CES 2025. It will be offered in two trims: the Origin, priced at $89,900 USD, featuring 19-inch wheels and a black exterior, and the Signature, priced at $102,900 US, which includes 21-inch wheels, rear-seat entertainment screens, and enhanced camera systems. The exterior design does not offer controversial features or straight lines, keeping it simple yet attractive. Both trims come with a three-year complimentary subscription that includes Level 2+ driver assist and an AI-powered personal assistant. The vehicle features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing 360 kW (483 hp) with a 91 kWh battery, offering up to 300 miles of range and supporting DC fast charging up to 150 kW, along with compatibility with Tesla's Supercharger network.

The Afeela 1 is equipped with 40 sensors, including cameras, LiDAR, radars, and ultrasonic systems, enabling advanced driver assistance and semi-autonomous capabilities. Inside, it offers a panoramic dashboard screen, Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound technology, noise-canceling systems, and an AI personal assistant. An innovative media bar on the front bumper can display messages and charge status. Production will take place at a Honda plant in Ohio, with pre-orders currently open to California residents for a refundable $200 deposit. Deliveries are expected to begin in mid-2026 for the Signature trim and 2027 for the Origin trim.

#2

I’ve been following the Aptera for quite some time now and it’s been a bit of a roller coaster. There’s been Aptera pre-production models at a few automotive events which created a lot of hype in the beginning but it’s taken quite some time to get to this production-intent Aptera version. There’s been quite a few public funding rounds and I have high hopes that this gets built and actually makes it’s way to people’s driveways. Check out the video for an in-depth look.

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#3

At the time of this writing, nothing has been announced officially by Tesla, other than the the updated Model Y appearing on the Tesla China website (https://www.tesla.cn/).

I personally think the refreshed look is simple and nice. It does seem to follow some design similarities with other manufacturers such as the taillight expanding across the rear of the vehicle and minimal front headlights (which are the two most obvious changes with the Model Y). I find it refreshing as Tesla isn’t trying to get too crazy and bold as some people would say they did with the Cybertruck.

Here’s the first bit of information as it relates to the new Model Y, but keep an eye out for the weekly newsletter where I’ll share all the information that gets released in the coming week as it relates to price, availability and other features.

Exterior Updates:

• Front light bar and revised tail light design

• New front bumper camera

• Aerodynamic improvements (drag coefficient: 0.22)

• Lighter by ~11 lbs

• Larger rear diffuser and repositioned license plate

• New wheels: 19” "Interactive" and 20” "Spiral"

Performance Enhancements:

• 3% increased range (up to 719 km/447 mi CLTC)

• Peak charging rate remains at 250 kW

• Improved suspension, wheels, and tires for a smoother, quieter ride

Interior Upgrades:

• Ventilated seats and power-reclining rear seats

• Ambient lighting and acoustic glass for a quieter cabin

• Larger 15.4” front touchscreen (smaller bezels) and 8" rear touchscreen

• 16 speakers (up from 14)

• Return of indicator stalk ("precision-engineered")

• Frunk with a drain hole for liquid removal

Colors:

• Pearl White Multi-Coat, Glacier Blue (new), Stealth Gray, Quicksilver, Ultra Red

Special "Launch Series" Model Y Features:

• Vegan suede black interior

• Exclusive branding details (badges, door sill plate, charging console wordmark)

• All-Wheel Drive with Acceleration Boost

Availability:

• Deliveries in China start March 2025; Australia deliveries in May

• European availability expected April-May (pending Giga Berlin retooling)

#4

Honda 0 Series were debuted at CES. The Honda 0 Saloon and the Honda 0 SUV. Take a page out of jaGuaR’s handbook and going for a futuristic design language, these vehicles have some interesting features such as yoke steering wheel, futuristic rear taillight and also lots of room inside - which from the inside out, looks like you’re trapped in a glass box. The Honda 0 Series vehicles will feature the latest in technology as it relates to driver assistance, operating system, and has the capability to be a virtual power plant (VPP).

A production model of the Honda 0 Saloon – built at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio – is scheduled to be introduced first in the North American market in late 2026, followed by global markets, including Japan and Europe. Let’s see how close the production version of these models are when they hit the streets in an optimistic timeline of late 2026.

#5

This is really cool! I don’t have much to say except for “wow”! and… who really needs this? I mean most people don’t need an electric drone transport vehicle, but hey - it’s cool!

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