Electric Dodge Charger EV arrives in Rockville (Photos)

The dawn of the electric muscle car age is upon us in Rockville. DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Rockville at 755 Rockville Pike has just received one of the first Dodge Charger EV coupes. It arrived a few days ago, according to a salesperson at the dealership. This is the Daytona Scat Pack Track version. While parent company Stellantis has expressed regret for its attempt to boost revenue via high prices in recent years, the $85,965 sticker price on this car will still induce shock to the faint of heart.

DARCARS says gasoline-powered V6 coupe and 4-door sedan versions will arrive later this year. Personally, I am thrilled with the new design that recalls the iconic 2-door 1969 Charger. Dodge has wisely made it available in orange. No word if "01" door numerals are an option.

Polestar EV on display at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Tesla has been a prominent presence at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for many years now. Competitor Polestar, which counts Volvo among its ownership team, is muscling in on Elon with a holiday display. The Polestar 3 (sounds a lot like Model 3) is described as "the SUV that drives like a sports car" (sounds a lot like Model X and Y). Depending which variant you buy, the Polestar 3 comes with up to 517 horsepower, and 350 miles of range. You can arrange a test drive by using a QR code at the display, but you can also use this link.

Upgraded Tesla Model 3 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Westfield Montgomery Mall is located in one of areas of the country with the greatest adoption of electric vehicles. It also has a Tesla store. Therefore, it's not surprising that the company has been showcasing the new upgraded Model 3 at the mall. The Model 3 now comes in the new color choices of Ultra Red and Stealth Grey. Changes to the interior include wrap-around ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, acoustic glass, "studio quality sound from every seat," and a rear touchscreen display.

Tesla Cybertruck deliveries picking up in Rockville (Photos)

Here's a rare sighting: A Tesla Cybertruck in the wild without an overpaid influencer behind the wheel. Deliveries of the king of trucks appear to be picking up at the Rockville Tesla facility at 1300 Rockville Pike. A purported halt of Cybertruck deliveries in mid-April due to an accelerator pedal issue clearly has ended, at least here in Maryland. 

There was only one Cybertruck on this car carrier loaded with Teslas, but at least three more could be seen parked on the top level of the facility's garage. It seems that the production numbers of Cybertrucks and Tesla stock are both trending in an upward direction.

Rockville Giant store to add electric vehicle chargers

The Giant at 9719 Traville Gateway Drive will soon add two electric vehicle charging stations outside the store, which is located at the Traville Village Center in Rockville. Giant began a partnership with Volta Charging to provide EV charging stations at its stores in 2020. The alliance was expected to eventually deliver more than 200 charging stations at the Ahold-owned supermarket chain's locations.  

“Providing our shoppers and communities free electric charging services is part of Giant’s larger sustainability efforts,” Giant Food President Ira Kress said in a statement. “We are excited to offer our customers who opt for electric cars the satisfaction of quick and free charging while they shop. It’s a value for our shoppers that also benefits the environment.”

Tesla touts EV tax credit at Rockville store

Tesla is promoting the $7500 electric vehicle tax credit outside its Rockville store at 1300 Rockville Pike. The tax credit provided by President Biden's 2022 Inflation Recovery Act can be challenging to receive if you are not a careful car shopper. A short list of EVs are eligible, if they are made in North America, and if a large-enough portion of their battery components made in the United States. 

New Model 3 and Model Y Teslas are on that list. Interestingly, according to the Associated Press, if you lease instead of buying your EV, you can receive the tax credit on any electric vehicle. An electric vehicle is in your future, whether you like it or not. By 2035, all cars sold in Maryland will have to be electric.

Rivian delivery truck stops traffic in Rockville...literally

The understated Rivian electric truck facility at 1300 Rockville Pike doesn't attract much attention, and the Rivian vehicles are rarely on the lot for long before they are delivered to their owners. But at noon on June 7, 2022, another rare Rivian sighting ended up making quite a scene. 

The 18-wheeler delivering one truck to the facility broke down while entering the driveway, blocking the northbound lanes of Rockville Pike for a short time. Is that an El Cap Granite Rivian? We've only seen Launch Green on-site so far.

Photo via Rockville City police

How do they get a Tesla in and out of an indoor mall Tesla Store? (Video+Photos)

How do they get the Teslas in and out of the Tesla Store at Westfield Montgomery Mall? I always imagined there was a large freight door somewhere beyond the public areas of the mall where cars could enter and exit. But one night recently a Tesla was caught exiting the mall, and was able to go through a regular doorway. Now how do they get combustion engine cars in and out without turning the motor on?

Polestar electric vehicles arrive at new Rockville dealership (Photos)

The Polestar showroom is still under construction at 15401 Frederick Road in Rockville, but the first significant inventory of Polestar 2 electric vehicles has arrived on-site. Previously, individual owners could take delivery of their vehicles at this location; this is the first time that vehicles have been parked outside the dealership. 

A Polestar logo obelisk has also been erected near the street, and a logo has been placed on a fence at the side of the showroom. Previously, like the new Rivian facility down Rockville Pike, the dealership property has had no signage to indicate its existence alongside a Volvo showroom. The Polestar 2 vehicles on display are in Snow, Midnight and Thunder colors.