| | | | | | | Presented By Enbridge | | | | Axios What's Next | | By Alex Fitzpatrick, Jennifer A. Kingson and Joann Muller · Sep 09, 2022 | | Could a relatively affordable e-SUV convince car buyers on the fence about going electric? It's certainly possible — and Joann has the details. - Join Axios' Alexi McCammond and Alayna Treene in Washington, D.C., next Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET for a conversation on the state of voter access ahead of the midterms. Register here to attend in person or virtually.
Today's newsletter is 952 words ... 3½ minutes. | | | | | | 1 big thing: The family SUV goes electric |  | | | The 2024 Chevy Equinox 1LT electric SUV will start around $30,000. Photo courtesy of GM | | | | General Motors is introducing an electric version of its top-selling Chevrolet Equinox SUV with a roughly $30,000 base price aimed at families who want an EV but haven't been able to afford one, Joann Muller reports. Why it matters: A relatively affordable SUV that runs on electrons, not gasoline, could open the floodgates for EV adoption in the U.S., a market that so far has been dominated by $60,000 Teslas. - "Having a vehicle in that size class, at that price point, with at least 250-300 miles of range — there's nobody even close to that," says Sam Abuelsamid, head of e-mobility research at Guidehouse Insights.
- For example: The average transaction price on a comparable Tesla SUV, the Model Y, is $68,079, according to Kelley Blue Book. Ford's Mustang Mach-E sells for an average $59,693.
Details: The 2024 Equinox will come in a variety of trim levels, with the base model 1LT starting at around $30,000, per GM. - It will have a range of up to 300 miles, depending on the battery size. All-wheel-drive versions will have slightly less range.
- The midsize Equinox is the latest in an EV blitz from GM, which includes the electric Chevrolet Silverado pickup, the Blazer SUV and the Bolt EUV crossover, as well as the Cadillac Lyriq SUV and the GMC Hummer.
Yes, but: The Equinox doesn't go on sale for another year, and the first versions will be fancier models. The $30,000 base Equinox should be available in early 2024. - Plus, whether GM can deliver on its value promise remains to be seen.
- Soaring inflation and widespread supply chain constraints have been driving up prices for EVs, which rely on expensive batteries containing nickel, cobalt and lithium.
What they're saying: "We have every intention to build and sell the vehicle that will start in that price range," Scott Bell, Chevy's vice president of global sales, told reporters during a virtual press briefing. The big picture: Every segment of the vehicle market is going electric: cars, SUVs, pickup trucks and delivery vans. - Jeep said Thursday it will launch four all-electric SUVs by the end of 2025, including a Wrangler-inspired Jeep Recon and a premium midsize Wagoneer S. A smaller Jeep Avenger is aimed at the European market.
- Also Thursday, Rivian and Mercedes-Benz announced a joint venture to build electric commercial vans.
The bottom line, summed up in a statement from GM CEO Mary Barra: "We are at a turning point where EVs will be the mainstream choice for the next generation of customers, and Equinox EV will lead this charge for us." Share this story. |     | | | | | | 2. Table for two, 7:30, please |  Data: OpenTable; Chart: Axios Visuals Dining out is back to pre-pandemic levels and then some, according to new data from OpenTable, Axios' Emily Peck reports. Why it matters: While the fight rages on over going back to the office, other areas of our lives have returned to something like normal. What's happening: The number of people dining in restaurants in the U.S. who reserved on OpenTable in August and September was higher than during the same months in 2019. Share this story. | | | | | | | | 3. United doubles down on "flying taxis" |  | | | An artist's rendition of a United Airlines flying taxi. Courtesy of United Airlines | | | | United Airlines is buying 200 electric air taxis from aviation startup Eve Air Mobility, Axios' Jacob Knutson reports, with options for 200 more. Why it matters: Electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) could one day provide a cheaper, faster and cleaner mode of short-range aerial transportation. - They could, for instance, whisk passengers from a city's downtown area to an airport on its outskirts.
Details: United is expecting the first deliveries from Eve, a Brazilian startup subsidiary of Embraer, as early as 2026. - The airline is also investing $15 million in Eve.
- United recently placed a $10 million order with Archer Aviation for 100 of its eVTOLs.
The big picture: eVTOL projects are ramping up but still face major technical and regulatory hurdles. - United said its investment in Eve "was driven in part by confidence in the potential growth opportunities in the [urban air mobility] market" and its relationship with Embraer.
Share this story. | | | | | | | | A message from Enbridge | | At Enbridge, our focus is on tomorrow | | |  | | | | At Enbridge, we're advancing the energy transition by investing in lower-carbon solutions and modernizing our systems with one goal in mind: to achieve net zero. Find out how we're bridging to a cleaner energy future in our latest sustainability report. Get the details. | | | | | | 4. 📸 Hey robot, which way to Gate B9? |  | | | Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images | | | | An AI-powered robot assists passengers at Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, China. - The voice-activated robot, which is undergoing testing, can help passengers find their gate or offer directions to various locations around the terminal.
- Other airports around the world, such as Philadelphia International and London's Heathrow, are also experimenting with robots for everything from cleaning to security checks.
| | | | | | | | 5. What you're saying: Smart thermostat lockouts |  | | | Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios | | | | What's Next readers had plenty of thoughts about people getting locked out of their smart thermostats. Catch up quick: Thousands of Colorado residents were recently unable to blast their A/C during a heat wave because their energy supplier prevented them from changing the temperature. - Those affected had signed up for a voluntary program that offers bill credits in exchange for allowing the utility to control their temperature settings during times of high demand.
What you're saying: - "I just purchased smart thermostats from my utility at a discount," says Roger Schulman. "They offered a much bigger discount if I allowed them to control the settings, assuring me that I would always have the option of overriding their dial twist. What could possibly go wrong? I passed."
- "I live in San Antonio and have been participating in our local utility's program for the past four years," writes Bill Cole. "It's not been a big disrupter for us even though we work from home. This is probably not for everyone, but it works for us."
- "While the average consumer can certainly do their part to help, the bigger impact would be from businesses, which are contributing far more by comparison," emails Staci Stanton.
| | | | | | | | A message from Enbridge | | Tomorrow is happening now | | |  | | | | The global transition to a lower-emissions future is underway and Enbridge is pioneering the clean energy systems of tomorrow while lowering emissions today. The goal: Bridging to a cleaner energy future. Find out more in Enbridge's latest sustainability report. | | | | A hearty thanks to What's Next copy editor Amy Stern. Was this email forwarded to you? Get your daily dose of What's Next by signing up here for our free newsletter. |  | | Are you a fan of this email format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 300 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications. | | | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here.
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