Plug-In Hybrids
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For the 2020 model year, the 41-mpg Kia Optima Hybrid includes active-safety items such as active lane control and adaptive cruise control.
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BMW doubles battery production in US for coming X3 and X5 plug-in hybrids
BMW has opted to stay the course with plug-in hybrids in the U.S., while other automakers move to focus on electric cars.
Eric C. Evarts -
First drive review: Is 2019 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid electric enough?
With Porsche banking its performance future on electric, the latest Cayenne E-Hybrid is a mainstream move and an incremental step.
Bengt Halvorson -
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid gas mileage review: The ideal family hauler
We crossed the country in a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid to see how efficient the family hauler is, away from charge points.
Joel Feder -
Analysis finds hybrids make better use of scarce batteries than pure EVs
Per kwh of battery capacity, researchers found that hybrids deliver 14 times the emissions-reduction benefit of pure electric cars.
Eric C. Evarts -
BMW isn’t finished with internal combustion engines yet
Despite big plans to go electric, BMW thinks that gasoline and diesel engines are going to be part of the plan for a long time.
Bengt Halvorson -
Lobbying efforts are intensifying on Capitol Hill over a proposal to extend the ceiling of the EV tax credit upward to 600,000 vehicles per automaker.
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BMW pulls ahead its electrification plans by two years
BMW is anticipating that sales of electric cars will increase by 30 percent per year through 2025, and it now plans 25 electrified models by 2023.
Eric C. Evarts -
BMW M Next concept points to i8 successor: More electric range, a lot more power
The Vision M Next is a plug-in hybrid sports car concept that uses the quirky i8 as a jumping point to something more exotic.
Bengt Halvorson -
Electric Jaguar XJ flagship to compete with Tesla Model S
Jaguar's next XJ luxury sedan will debut as an electric car and will be the first model built on a new modular platform. Gasoline versions will follow.
Eric C. Evarts -
Bosch puts diesel scandal behind, pivots to electric—and fuel cells?
The German supplier at the root of Dieselgate aims to diversify into the world of plug-ins and EVs, but hasn’t quite let go of diesel yet.
Bengt Halvorson -
Lincoln plug-in hybrids and EVs are part of its renewal, not just for California
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator and 2020 Lincoln Corsair that arrive this year both have plug-in hybrid versions, and they pave the way for a 2021 Lincoln electric car.
Bengt Halvorson -
The plug-in version of the 7-Series, called the 745e xDrive, gets a bigger engine for 2020 and a bigger battery.
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Ford electric vehicles and hybrids: Here are some of the many models arriving soon
From Bronco to Mustang and F-150, Ford and Lincoln will soon have many more electric cars, trucks, and plug-in hybrid choices.
Bengt Halvorson -
Karma gets farther from Fisker with 2020 Revero GT, electric car concept
Karma Automotive has shown three vehicles at the Shanghai auto show to give a glimpse of its future—potentially in the U.S. as well as China.
Bengt Halvorson -
2020 Ford Escape revealed: Hybrid returns teasing nearly 40 mpg, plug-in hybrid version with 30 electric miles
The 2020 Ford Escape hybrid will manage up to 550 miles of range, according to the automaker and eventually offer a plug-in hybrid variant.
Bengt Halvorson -
No deal for Chevrolet Volt, Chevy Bolt EV buyers in final days of tax credit
Consumers have less than three days to buy a plug-in Chevy Volt or Bolt EV from GM and still qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax. And yet Chevrolet isn't making any final push to clear out inventories of either car. Nor does GM have any plans to cut prices after the tax cut expires on Monday...
Eric C. Evarts -
10 lessons from the short life of the Chevy Volt, 2011-2019
On February 15, GM ended production of the innovative Chevrolet Volt with little fanfare. Over two generations and nine model years, the company sold more than 150,000 of the compact plug-in hybrid hatchbacks. In automotive time, nine model years isn’t that long. The best brand names live for...
John Voelcker -
Those just transitioning to an electric car, like the 2019 Kia Niro EV, face some potentially daunting decisions well beyond the vehicle itself—not just how they’re going to charge up the vehicle in their own garage or driveway, but how they’re going to charge it quickly enough. The 2019 Niro EV starts arriving to dealerships next month while the 2020 Soul EV is expected a couple of months later. Both of these models will offer a big 64-kwh pack that Kia says in the Niro EV can charge to full in about 9.5 hours—if you use a Level 2 charger like you might find at a...
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Mazda range-extended electric car may help the rotary live on
The Wankel rotary, the peculiar pistonless internal combustion engine design that Mazda built so much of its heritage around, may see a resurgence after all. Earlier reports and remarks from Mazda executives have suggested that while the rotary will make a comeback, it will be relegated to...
Bengt Halvorson -
Fully electric Porsche Macan due by 2022 will replace gasoline model entirely
Porsche has somewhat publicly, for months if not years, been examining the possibility of producing an electric version of its top-selling model, the Macan. It turns out that may not have been the whole truth, and what's actually now confirmed is a huge step beyond just another version to satisfy...
Bengt Halvorson -
GM rolls last Chevy Volt off Detroit assembly line
With the end of Chevrolet Volt production last week, it looks more like pure electric cars are winning the race to transform driving over more complicated, if versatile plug-in hybrids. GM built the last 2019 Chevy Volt on February 15, and in a ceremony last Tuesday it rolled off the assembly line...
Eric C. Evarts -
Tesla Model 3 owns the EV market, outsells all other plug-ins combined in the fourth quarter race
Last year, Tesla changed the game for plug-in and electric-car sales as it ramped up production of its relatively affordable Model 3 to almost 5,000 cars a week. As we noted early this month, the Model 3 by itself outsold most whole luxury brands and some entire mainstream makes. (Are you...
Eric C. Evarts -
2020 Hyundai Ioniq: First look at refreshed interior, new features
Although the Hyundai Ioniq lineup of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric models has only been for sale in the U.S. for about two years, this rival to the Toyota Prius is already due for some significant changes later this year, for what will be its third model year. Based on early details...
Bengt Halvorson