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sunroofs seem to be a dying thing. not used by big chunks of buyers. heavy. unaerodynamic. buffeting noise. leaks. panoramic roofs provide a much bigger view of the sky and area, etc.
I wouldn't say that, with EVs they seem to be being replaced with unopening panoramic glass which is a weight savings is my guess.
Originally Posted by BayeauxLex
I honestly don’t see myself getting rid of the Prius unless/until the hybrid battery starts to fail. Whatever replaces it would be the new beater/work commute car/car we don’t mind putting miles on and will park near store’s entrance of parking lots. Thing is if it’s an EV I sure hope the charger can reach outside of the garage because it won’t replace what’s inside the garage 🫣
Of course it will reach lol. Like any other electric cord they come in different legnths.
sunroofs seem to be a dying thing. not used by big chunks of buyers. heavy. unaerodynamic. buffeting noise. leaks. panoramic roofs provide a much bigger view of the sky and area, etc.
Some come with both. But I agree with you. I don't remember the last time I opened the roof! But not all panoramics are the same. I want to be able to block the light/heat. I always want to see how the iX's roof works during day with heat but have not been justified enough to go test drive it. My wife thought it were in 50s. Lol
If you’re charging at under 48 amps and have the right breaker headroom A2Z and others make J1772 extension cables that add another few feet and would solve the problem. They extend at the J1772 end, not the power/EVSE end. You’re not pushing DCFC levels of current through the cable and this would work fine assuming everything else is ship shape and not jerry-rigged.
As an aside, A2Z have a NACS DCFC extension cable in development. Assuming it gets released, it basically solves the Tesla supercharger port placement problem for non-Tesla vehicles.
I know this is off topic a bit, but since it's battery related, I thought, why not .
Last year the company I work for leased a new building in Fremont for manufacturing, and we (IT) inherited a state of the art server room built with no expense spared by J&J. One of the pieces of equipment they left behind...a giant UPS that takes up one and a half server racks. This is not your average UPS, it is a Leibert UPS that was carefully planned and directly wired into the panel. It has enough batteries to power a few racks for a few hours.
Anyway, the UPS started to sound alarms, and it turned out that a few of the battery modules went bad. This is not a UPS system I am familiar with (I'm most familiar with APC), and doing some research, I found out that only one vendor is authorized and handles Liebert UPS systems, and they wanted a pretty penny...$4k to change the bad modules, and on top of that, $9k a year for a maint contract . Well, that's just highway robbery. So the Facilities Manager and myself pulled out some tools, headed to the server room, and pulled out one of the bad modules:
There are 6 lead acid batteries in each module, and doing a search on trusty Amazon, we found the EXACT batteries brand new with one year warranties for $33 each . Since two modules are bad, we ordered 12 x batteries ($396 plus tax). Plus we ordered a special Torque bit for the power driver, and high heat silicon to hold the temp probe ($20), saving the company nearly nearly $13k plus $9k a year 👍
UPS is now happy, and when other modules start to go bad (they will), we will just order more batteries from Amazon, roll up my sleeves and do a little bit of grunt work. I better get a raise after this!
Very nicely done! Looks like that module is for the APS series? That would make it a direct replacement for the Liebert nFinity UPSes I supported 15 years ago. Rock solid units--I know from personal experience that they continue to work while on fire.
We eventually replaced them with a pair of EXMs that took a 480V 3-phase input and output 208V 3-phase. We always had them under contract, but the batteries were literally car batteries just sitting on a tray. So they would have been dead easy to replace.
Agree that $9k/year on one APS is highway robbery. I think we paid about $10k/year for two EXMs, an ASCO 7000 automated transfer switch and Generac 130kW diesel generator.
Very nicely done! Looks like that module is for the APS series? That would make it a direct replacement for the Liebert nFinity UPSes I supported 15 years ago. Rock solid units--I know from personal experience that they continue to work while on fire.
We eventually replaced them with a pair of EXMs that took a 480V 3-phase input and output 208V 3-phase. We always had them under contract, but the batteries were literally car batteries just sitting on a tray. So they would have been dead easy to replace.
Agree that $9k/year on one APS is highway robbery. I think we paid about $10k/year for two EXMs, an ASCO 7000 automated transfer switch and Generac 130kW diesel generator.
Correct, it's the APS series
Not sure what J&J spent on it, but I'm sure it was a lot. They had money coming out of their ears, so they had consultants doing everything. Even though it's not my money, no way I'm going to spend $9k a year maintaining it. Probably all the battery modules are going to go bad as it's been running a few years, but I'm ready to change them out as they go bad
2026 GMC Sierra EV Drops Base Price by $28,000, Adds AT4 Trim
The Sierra EV has more battery choices than before, a new off-road-focused AT4 model, and an entry-level Elevation trim that brings the base price to $64,495
The 2026 GMC Sierra EV adds two new trims, an off-roading AT4 model and a base Elevation trim that drops the price to $64,495.
There's also a new Standard Range battery, available on the Elevation and Denali, which lowers the Denali's base price to $71,795.
The 2026 Sierra EV is due to reach dealerships this summer
The GMC Sierra EV, which first arrived for the 2024 model year, has so far only been available in the decadent Denali trim. But GMC is expanding the luxury electric pickup truck's arsenal for 2026 with new variants and battery options. The Denali remains atop the lineup, but the Sierra EV's base price drops by almost $28,000 with the introduction of the Elevation trim. There's also a new AT4 model promising off-road capability.
A Trio of Batteries
The 2024 Sierra EV's 205.0-kWh battery provides 440 miles of range on a charge. GMC has since added to the range, introducing an Extended Range battery for 2025, when the existing 440-mile unit was renamed the Max Range battery. Now, for the 2026 model year, GMC is offering an entry-level Standard Range battery
The Elevation trim can be had with the Standard or Extended Range battery, while the AT4 will feature the Extended or Max Range battery and the Denali can be fitted with any of the three. GMC didn't provide specific capacities in kilowatt-hours, and range estimates won't be revealed until closer to the 2026 model's arrival.
The different batteries do affect the tow rating. The Extended Range unit provides the best numbers, able to pull 12,500 pounds in the Elevation and Denali trims and 12,300 in the AT4 guise. With the Standard Range battery, the Sierra EV can tow up to 8500 pounds, while the Max Range pack is good for 10,200 pounds.
Horsepower and torque output also differ depending on the battery. The most potent is the Denali Max Range with 760 ponies, while the AT4 Max Range is capped at 725 horsepower. The AT4 Extended Range churns out 625 ponies while the Elevation and Denali Extended Range make 645 hp. Both Denali variants make 785 pound-feet of torque, while both AT4 models make 775 pound-feet and the Elevation Extended Range is good for 765 pound-feet. No figures were provided for the Standard Range battery models.
Lastly, each battery charges differently too. The Max Range and Extended Range units are built on an 800-volt architecture, with the former charging at up to 350 kW while the latter recharges at up to 300 kW. The Standard Range battery is a 400-volt unit, capping out at 220 kW.
Adventurous AT4
GMC first hinted at a rugged AT4 model when the Sierra EV was revealed in 2022. It's finally here, sporting distinctive red tow hooks, an illuminated red GMC badge on the grille, and two extra inches of ground clearance. One inch comes from 35-inch all-terrain tires, while another inch is added via the lifted coil-spring suspension. The AT4 also gains a front skid plate.
There's also an exclusive Terrain Mode, integrated with the one-pedal driving mode and automated braking. The AT4 also receives standard rear-wheel steering, enabling GMC's CrabWalk diagonal driving feature. Super Cruise, General Motors' hands-free driving system, and a head-up display are also standard. The cabin can also be fitted in an exclusive Forest Storm color.
The Premium package, available with the Extended Range battery, includes the MultiPro MidGate, which opens up the rear of the cab to allow owners to carry items measuring almost 11 feet long in the truck's bed. The package also adds a panoramic glass roof and the 10.2-kW Energy Transfer Pro system, which fits 240-volt and 120-volt outlets in the bed.
Elevation Brings the Price Down
Below the AT4, the Sierra EV has a new base model called the Elevation. Its starting price of just $64,495 represents a massive drop from the $92,290 required for a 2025 Sierra EV Denali. The Elevation, which rides on 18-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch all-season tires, still features the 16.8-inch touchscreen, power-operated frunk, and adaptable MultiPro tailgate.
The Premium package, available for the Extended Range battery, adds the trick MultiPro Midgate, a spray-on bedliner, ventilated seats, and a Bose sound system. Buyers can also spec the Energy Transfer system, Super Cruise, and 22-inch wheels, with the latter two requiring the Premium package to be added first.
The Denali still occupies the top spot in the lineup but has more variation for 2026. The Denali comes standard with 22-inch wheels, LED illumination around the perimeter of the grille trim, and Super Cruise. The Premium package adds the Extended Range battery, MultiPro Midgate, glass roof, and 7.2-kW Energy Transfer system. The Reserve package takes things even further with four-wheel steering, 24-inch wheels, adaptive air suspension, and the 10.2-kW Energy Transfer Pro setup. The Denali also gains four new paint colors for 2026: Glacier White Tri-Coat Metallic, Coastal Dune, Deep Bronze Metallic, and Magnus Matte.
The 2026 Sierra EV will hit the road this summer, with the Elevation dropping the starting price dramatically: $64,495 nets the Elevation with the Standard Range battery, with $8200 needed to upgrade to the Extended Range pack. The AT4 starts at $81,395 for the Extended Range battery with another $10,300 required to get the Max Range unit, which automatically adds the Premium package.
The entry point for the Sierra EV Denali is far lower in 2025 thanks to the Standard Range battery, which costs $71,795. The Extended Range pack raises the price to $79,995 and can be had with the Premium or Reserve package, while the Denali Max Range, which automatically checks off the Reserve package, costs $100,695.
When did it grow on me? The sedan also looks good to me now. i5 also looks nice.
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. Well, that's just highway robbery. So the Facilities Manager and myself pulled out some tools, headed to the server room, and pulled out one of the bad modules:
