Today, the Japanese-market Nissan Note e-Power is the first model to use the carmaker's new hybrid powertrain, dealers and carmakers make special offers to Volkswagen diesel owners taking buybacks, and the U.S. passes half a million plug-in electric car sales. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

The U.S. passed 500,000 plug-in electric car sales in September, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Are you a Volkswagen diesel owner taking a buyback? Then you already have quite a few trade-in deals to consider.

We updated our October plug-in electric car sales report with additional sales figures.

A modified Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid set a land speed record for production-based hybrid vehicles, hitting over 150 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Renewable-energy growth hit a record pace in 2015, and will likely continue accelerating, says the International Energy Agency.

See how the Japanese-market Nissan Note e-Power hybrid builds on Nissan's electric-car expertise.

Sales of plug-in electric cars have remained ahead of hybrids for five years, according to the Consumer Federation of America.

We compare the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf compact cars.

Finally, Volvo says China will eventually become the sole producer of its S90 luxury sedan. U.S.-market cars will come from there instead of Sweden, where they are produced now.

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