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7 major automakers to build open EV charging network

A new joint venture established by BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis will build a new North American electric vehicle charging network on a scale designed to compete with Tesla's industry-benchmark Supercharger network. The 30,000-plus planned new chargers will accommodate both Tesla's almost-standard North American Charging System (NACS) and existing automakers' Combined Charging System (CCS) options, effectively guaranteeing compatibility with the vast majority of current and upcoming electric models — whether they're from one of the involved automakers or not.  "With the generational investments in public charging being implemented on the Federal and State level, the joint venture will leverage public and private funds to accelerate the installation of high-powered charging for customers. The new charging stations will be accessible to all battery-powered electric vehicles from any automaker using Combined Charging System (CCS) or North American Charging Standard (NACS) and are expected to meet or exceed the spirit and requirements of the U.S. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program." Critically, the automakers involved will have a say in how the charging tech is implemented, guaranteeing that the hardware will play nicely with each automaker's in-house charging systems. Hyundai and Kia, for example, were hesitant to jump on board the Tesla NACS bandwagon earlier this year over concerns that the Supercharger network is insufficient for powering the two automakers' 800-volt charging systems; similar tech is used by Volkswagen and Porsche.  In addition to providing much-needed capacity and high-output charging for America's growing fleet of electric cars and trucks, the new network will integrate seamlessly with each automaker's in-app and in-vehicle features, rather than forcing customers to use third-party tools and payment systems, as is the case with some existing public charging infrastructure.  "The functions and services of the network will allow for seamless integration with participating automakersÂ’ in-vehicle and in-app experiences, including reservations, intelligent route planning and navigation, payment applications, transparent energy management and more. In addition, the network will leverage Plug & Charge technology to further enhance the customer experience," the announcement said.

Jeep's new Chip Away commercial has us hunting Al Pacino's back catalog

Chrysler has done a pretty good job as of late turning its television commercials into pep talks or rallying cries, but for its first ad for the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, it turned to Al Pacino's inspirational speech from the movie Any Given Sunday. In the movie, Pacino's character talks about how football is a game of inches, but the commercial, titled Chip Away, focuses more on the attention to detail that Jeep has exhibited on its updated flagship SUV.
Centering around the newest Grand Cherokee model, the luxurious $47,995 Summit trim level, the commercial shows off some of the hand-stitched leathers and real metal and wood accents found inside the cabin. Check out the new 60-second spot by scrolling below.

eBay Find of the Day: 1977 Jeep J20 time capsule

Is it just us or has eBay really become, of late, a surprising time capsule of older, barely used automobiles? We've had the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT with 83 miles, the 2004 Ferrari Enzo with 175 miles, the 1987 Shelby Lancer with 22 miles, the 1989 Shelby Dakota with 23 miles - none of those four cars ever even registered - and the 1975 Cosworth Vega with 191 miles. You can add to that list a 1977 Jeep J20 - the kind of Jeep that enthusiasts point to when they beg the brand to make another pickup truck.
Listed on eBay by Masterpiece Classic Cars in Whiteland, Indiana, the Brandywine and Alpine White truck has used its 360-cubic-inch V8 paired with a three-speed automatic to go just 3,940 documented miles. Not surprisingly, it's listed in excellent condition and the images appear to bear that out. The three-quarter-ton pickup comes with its original manual and pamphlets, the Quadra-Track four-wheel drive probably just as ready to tackle the terrain as it was 36 years ago. If only it came with some John Denver to play in that AM/FM/8-Track stereo...
At the time of writing it hasn't garnered a single offer or bid, probably due to the above-top-dollar Buy It Now price of $34,900. Still, since this is likely the closest you'll get to a Jeep pickup for some time, we'd recommend admiring it in the gallery of photos above.