Hello! Thank you for checking out this week’s EV North Newsletter!

Welcome to The EV North - a weekly newsletter that brings together some of the biggest EV news stories and delivers them to your inbox. There is a focus on Canada & North America but you’ll also find EV news from around the world!

Also, be sure to check us out on X / Twitter and LinkedIn!

In this issue:

• JOLT Secures $194M Investment to Expand Free EV Charging in Canada.

• Stellantis Halts Brampton Factory Conversion Amid North American Strategy Shift.

• The Rivian February 19th reveal! … .. .

• Hyundai IONIQ 5 N TA Spec Sets EV Lap Record at Tsukuba Circuit.

• Kia Expands EV Lineup with EV4 Sedan, Hatchback, and Concept EV2.

• Lucid Motors Announces CEO Transition and Reports Strong Q4 2024 Financial Results.

• Volvo ES90 Electric Sedan with 700 km Range and Rapid Charging with March 5th Reveal.

• + more!

Canada

JOLT Secures $194M Investment to Expand Free EV Charging in Canada.

JOLT has partnered with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) on a $194 million CAD investment to accelerate the installation of 1,500 fast-charging stations across Canada. These streetside chargers, integrated with 3,000 digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising screens, provide up to 7 kWh of free charging per user daily, offering around 50 km of driving range in 15-20 minutes.

JOLT’s unique model funds free charging through advertising partnerships, with brands like Volkswagen, Audi, and the Ontario Government already onboard. The company has begun rolling out its network in the Greater Toronto Area, with plans for significant expansion to support urban EV drivers who lack access to home charging.

JOLT’s global charging sessions have surged by 188% year-over-year, reflecting growing demand for accessible charging solutions. The partnership aligns with Canada’s national goals to deploy 84,500 EV chargers by 2029 and transition to 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. With over 13 million EVs projected on Canadian roads by 2030, JOLT’s expansion aims to reduce charging barriers, support EV adoption, and contribute to Canada’s climate strategy.

Are you on Reddit? Check out our subreddit at https://reddit.com/r/evcanada 

Stellantis Halts Brampton Factory Conversion Amid North American Strategy Shift.

Stellantis has paused the conversion of its Brampton, Ontario plant, which was being retooled to produce electric and gasoline-powered Jeep vehicles. The automaker cited an ongoing review of its North American product strategy, though it emphasized that planned investments in its Windsor facility and development center remain unchanged.

The Brampton plant, employing approximately 3,000 workers, was set to manufacture the next-generation Jeep Compass for the North American market in both gasoline and electric variants. Meanwhile, the European version of the Compass will continue production in Melfi, Italy, using the STLA Medium platform, meaning the halt in Canada will not impact availability in Europe.

The unexpected pause has raised concerns from Unifor, the union representing Canadian autoworkers. Union leaders fear delays in the production timeline, which could disrupt local suppliers and impact workers. Unifor President Lana Payne pointed to broader uncertainty in the North American auto industry, citing potential threats such as U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles and shifting EV policies in the United States, where support programs for electric mobility have stalled and government fleets are moving away from new EV purchases.

While Stellantis has not provided specifics on the strategy reassessment, analysts speculate that the company is evaluating its vehicle lineup and market demand, particularly as the U.S. EV market faces regulatory uncertainty. The delay in Brampton's transition raises questions about the automaker’s commitment to EV production in Canada and how it will navigate shifting policies in key markets like the U.S.

The Rivian February 19th reveal! … .. .

Turns out the “big secret” from Rivian that was revealed on February 19th was nothing more than a “California Dune Edition” - inspired by California’s iconic dunes. 🙃 

Rivian launching “special editions” and here I am still unable to order one:

👋 Hello, one quick thing. If you’re enjoying this, can you do me a favour and forward it to a friend? Thank you!

EV Around the World 🌏

Hyundai IONIQ 5 N TA Spec Sets EV Lap Record at Tsukuba Circuit.

Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N TA Spec has set a new EV lap record at Attack Tsukuba 2025, clocking in at 57.446 seconds with professional driver Nobuteru Taniguchi behind the wheel. This performance surpassed the previous EV record by nearly two seconds, reinforcing Hyundai’s presence in Japan’s expanding electric vehicle market.

The IONIQ 5 N TA Spec is a motorsport-tuned version of the IONIQ 5 N, featuring 687 PS of power, upgraded suspension, high-performance brakes, and 18-inch Yokohama ADVAN 005 slick tires. Despite these enhancements, it retains critical production components, including the battery, motors, and control electronics, demonstrating Hyundai’s advanced EV technology.

This achievement follows the IONIQ 5 N TA Spec’s previous victory at the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, further establishing Hyundai’s high-performance EV capabilities.

Hyundai Mobility Japan also showcased the IONIQ 5 N DK Edition, developed in collaboration with Autobacs Seven and Keiichi Tsuchiya (the "Drift King"). This edition features N Performance Parts designed to enhance both road and track performance, signaling Hyundai’s commitment to bringing enthusiast-focused EVs to a global audience.

With Hyundai’s continued push into performance EVs, this record-setting run at Tsukuba I don’t think there’s anything that can match the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N when it comes to performance and price.

Kia Expands EV Lineup with EV4 Sedan, Hatchback, and Concept EV2.

At Kia EV Day 2025 in Tarragona, Spain, Kia unveiled the EV4, its first electric sedan and hatchback, along with the Concept EV2, a preview of a future B-segment electric SUV. These models aim to increase EV adoption and appeal to a new generation of drivers.

Designed for both city and long-distance driving, the EV4 is available in two body styles and comes with two battery options:

• 58.3 kWh standard battery

• 81.4 kWh long-range battery with up to 630 km (WLTP) of range

Equipped with a 150 kW front-mounted motor, the EV4 can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds. A 10-80% charge takes just 31 minutes using a 400V fast-charging platform. It also features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities, enabling power use beyond driving.

The EV4’s aerodynamics include a 0.23 Cd drag coefficient and full underbody covers, maximizing efficiency. The interior features a 30-inch widescreen display with YouTube and Netflix streaming, Digital Key 2.0, and over-the-air (OTA) updates for added convenience.

The Concept EV2 previews an urban-focused B-segment electric SUV with a spacious, flexible interior, rear-hinged doors, and advanced connected technology. Designed for city life, it features expandable seating, pop-up luggage dividers, and customizable ambient lighting.

The EV4 sedan will begin production in South Korea in March 2025, with global sales following later in the year. The EV4 hatchback, built in Slovakia, is primarily targeting the European market. The Concept EV2 is expected to enter production in 2026.

Do you enjoy one or all of the following?

• Learning about EVs?

• Deep dives on EVs and the EV industry as a whole?

• An email with character and humour?

• Someone else connecting the EV dots so you don’t have to?

Then The EV Universe if the place for you! Check it out below:

Lucid Motors Announces CEO Transition and Reports Strong Q4 2024 Financial Results.

Lucid Group, Inc. has announced that CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson is stepping down from his roles and will transition to Strategic Technical Advisor to the Chairman of the Board. Chief Operating Officer Marc Winterhoff has been appointed as Interim CEO. The Board has initiated a search for a permanent CEO to lead Lucid into its next phase.

In Q4 2024, Lucid produced 3,386 vehicles and delivered 3,099, contributing to an annual total of 9,029 vehicles produced and 10,241 delivered. This represents a 79% increase in deliveries compared to Q4 2023 and a 71% increase year-over-year. The company reported quarterly revenue of $234.5 million and annual revenue of $807.8 million. Lucid ended the year with approximately $6.13 billion in total liquidity.

Looking ahead, Lucid has set a production target of approximately 20,000 vehicles for 2025. The company plans to ramp up production of the Lucid Gravity SUV, advance its midsize platform vehicles, and continue developing its low-cost Atlas drive unit. Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff emphasized the team's focus on these initiatives to position the company for long-term growth and improved gross margins.

Volvo ES90 Electric Sedan with 700 km Range and Rapid Charging with March 5th Reveal.

Volvo Cars is set to unveil the ES90 on March 5th, an electric sedan that sets new benchmarks in the company's EV lineup. Built on an 800-volt architecture, the ES90 can add 300 kilometers of range in just 10 minutes using a 350 kW fast charger, and offers a total driving range of up to 700 kilometers on a single charge.

This advancement aligns Volvo with industry leaders utilizing high-voltage systems to reduce charging times and enhance efficiency. To support this architecture, Volvo has upgraded components including battery cells, motors, inverters, and thermal systems. The ES90 also features in-house-developed battery management software from Breathe Battery Technologies, reducing charging time from 10% to 80% by up to 30%, achieving this in approximately 20 minutes.

Sustainability is a key focus for the ES90, incorporating recycled materials such as 29% aluminum, 16% polymers, and 18% steel. Interior wood panels are crafted from FSC-certified wood. Additionally, Volvo introduces a blockchain-based battery "passport" to track raw materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite, ensuring ethical sourcing and transparency.

The ES90 is expected to be available as early as spring 2025, positioning it as a strong competitor in the electric sedan market alongside brands like BMW and Mercedes.

With the ES90, Volvo continues its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and delivering high-performance electric vehicles to the global market.

QuickEV

• Polestar wants to poach Tesla customers with this trade-in promo.

• Tesla loses two of its top car designers.

• [VIDEO] New Jaguar EV Spied Looking Gigantic.

• Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre is the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history.

• Tesla was hit by a wave of protests over Musk, sales are crashing, insiders are waking up.

• First look at the Genesis GV90 with coach doors: The next ultra-luxe EV.

• Tesla issues recall for more than 375,000 EVs over steering issue.

EV Tweet of the Week