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Recharge Wrap-up: Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive is a rock star, FedEx tests electric trucks

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive is in a new music video for I Lived by OneRepublic. The band's singer, Ryan Tedder, has also been brought on as a brand ambassador for the German automaker. OneRepublic will also be performing the song at the Mercedes-Benz Media Night on the eve of the Paris Motor Show. No word if Mercedes plans to offer hordes of screaming teenage fans as an option package with the B-Class Electric Drive. See the video (the car shows up around the four-minute mark) or read more in the press release below. FedEx is testing converted electric delivery trucks with diesel range extenders. Looking to shrink its carbon footprint, the company has converted a handful of trucks as part of a pilot program. In addition to battery packs, each truck is equipped with diesel turbine generators (supplied by Ian Wright's company, Wrightspeed) to provide electricity when the battery is depleted. Because the diesel motors aren't powering the vehicle directly, they can continuously run at their most efficient speed, making the trucks about twice as efficient as those powered by traditional means. Read more at Wired. Ford's new aluminum-bodied F-150 will be 5 to 20 percent more efficient, the company says. The fuel economy gains depend on the particular version of the truck, but the biggest improvement will likely come from the 3.5-liter V6 and the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6. Automotive News predicts the F-150 SFE to be rated at 21 mpg city/28 highway/23 combined, which are identical figures to the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. The result could be a noteworthy fuel economy battle between Ford and Ram trucks. Learn more at Automotive News. The US Department of Energy is providing $25 million in funding toward reducing the price of algal biofuels. The goal is to get the price of these renewable fuels below $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent (gge) by 2019, and less than $3 per gge by 2030. The money will fund projects to develop better algal cultures that produce biofuel and other useful bioproducts, and projects to boost biomass productivity. The DOE says it wants to help develop a "bioeconomy" that provides jobs, helps the environment and ensures energy security. Read more at Energy.gov. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ram 1500 TRX and Toyota goes in on EVs | Autoblog Podcast #710

This episode of the Autoblog Podcast features Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore and Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder. John is beck from a recent first drive of the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, and has a 2022 Ford Bronco 4-Door Black Diamond in his driveway. Meanwhile, Greg just got out of a 2022 Ram 1500 TRX and back into Autoblog's long-term Acura TLX. After talking about the car's they've been driving, they dive into the news, including EV announcements from Toyota and Lexus, rumors of a turbo I6 Dodge Challenger, a list of future classics from Hagerty and a review of the sitcom American Auto. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Enjoy your holidays, and we'll see you in 2022. Autoblog Podcast #710 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown What we're driving: 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 2022 Ram 1500 TRX 2021 Acura TLX 2022 Ford Bronco Black Diamond News: Toyota and Lexus preview future EVs Dodge Challenger could get a downsized turbo straight-six Hagerty's list of future classic cars to buy before values take off NBC's American Auto fires on most cylinders Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related Video:

Shelby GT350 Mustang limited to 137 units for 2015 model year

Interest in the 2015 Ford Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustangs is already at a fever pitch, thanks performance goodies like a flat-plane-crank V8 and MagneRide dampers. Ford is ensuring demand stays stratospheric through at least the first half of the year, too, by keeping production of these muscular coupes very limited. In fact, just 137 of them in total are leaving the factory for the 2015 model year. As a way to commemorate the Shelby Mustang's 50th anniversary as a performance powerhouse, Ford is building just 37 examples of the 2015 GT350R. This is also a way to pay homage to Carroll Shelby. In 1965, the racing genius originally planned to build 35 GT350 production models, plus two prototypes. However, documents indicate only 34 of the ones meant for customers ever left the workshop. Now, he has gotten his wish. There are also 100 examples of the standard 2015 GT350 on the way. Of those, 50 get the Technology Package that includes things like MagneRide, a navigation system with Sync 3, and dual-zone climate control. The other 50 get the Track Package that has added cooling for the engine, transmission and differential, a strut tower brace, and the high-tech, magnetic dampers. Bear in mind, this limited output is only for the 2015 model year, not the calendar year. For the automotive world, 2016 should start in just a few months and allow for even more Shelby Mustangs to hit the streets. Related Video: FORD ANNOUNCES LIMITED RUN FOR 2015 SHELBY GT350; ONLY 37 GT350R MODELS TO BE BUILT Ford to produce limited run of 2015 Shelby® GT350 to commemorate the nameplate's 50th anniversary 2015 Shelby GT350 comes with a unique 2015 VIN – the envy of Shelby enthusiasts everywhere Limited run of 37 Shelby GT350R models to be built in homage to original GT350 competition model of 1965 In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Shelby GT350, Ford will build a limited run of Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustangs for 2015. The original Shelby GT350, introduced in 1965, established Mustang's performance credentials on racetracks around the world. The all-new Shelby GT350, featuring the most powerful naturally aspirated Ford production engine ever, re-establishes Mustang as a world-class sports car. Only 100 Shelby GT350 models will feature a 2015 model year designation before production switches over to 2016. Of these, 50 will be equipped with the Technology Package and 50 equipped with the Track Package.