Electric Cars
-
If you happen to be in California, rejoice; the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric will arrive at dealerships in January, at just $37,495. That brings the effective total to $29,995 for the Kona Electric, provided you have enough taxable income to receive the full the federal electric vehicle tax credit. Now for the bad news: Although other California-emissions states that observe CARB’s ZEV mandate will see the Kona Electric soon after that, it won’t be available nationwide any time in the near future. DON’T MISS: 2020 Kia Soul EV has more punch, faster charging, and a lot more...
-
Infiniti readies electric SUV concept for Detroit auto showTesla has rocked the luxury car market in the U.S. to its core with the Model S and Model X, and is now doing the same to the aspirational lower end of the car market and even the mainstream market with its Model 3. That's the place where automakers like Acura, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, and Lexus have...
Eric C. Evarts -
Fun revival: Electric dune buggy could join VW I.D. lineUpdate: As if to confirm rumors that it is considering building a new electric beach buggy, Volkswagen included the sketch in this lead photo on its corporate Christmas card, sent to various journalists and others who have a relationship with the company. Autocar magazine reports that the concept...
Eric C. Evarts -
Faster fast chargers, Hyundai fuel cells, Prius and e-tron drives: The Week in ReverseWhich company's promised new diesel SUV won't be coming to America after all? What technology did Green Car Reports find we were happy won't make it to America in an electric car? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending Dec. 14...
Eric C. Evarts -
Super-fast Porsche charging, no Hyundai diesel, best deals: Today's Car NewsHyundai decides to bin its plans for a diesel-powered version of the new Santa Fe. Porsche ups the ante on fast charging speeds. A report reveals who's really funding the campaign to unwind fuel-economy and emissions rules. And we check out the best deals on plug-in, hybrid, and electric cars for...
Eric C. Evarts -
Oil industry funding supports campaign to roll back fuel-economy rulesA new investigative report by the New York Times has revealed the puppeteer pulling the strings in the Trump administration's efforts to undo fuel-economy and emissions improvements: no surprise, the oil industry. Backed by America's largest refiners and organizations tied to or funded by the Koch...
Eric C. Evarts -
The end of the year is almost always the best time to get a great deal on a car. This December, our partners at CarsDirect have found some great deals on electric cars for as little as $219 a month. Electric cars For buyers who want an all-electric car, the best deal is on the Nissan Leaf, as it often is. The Leaf is available for $219 a month for 36 months with $2,929 due at signing. The lease deal on the base Leaf S represents a huge $10,075 manufacturer discount, though that's down by $1,275 from a few months ago. Overall, the cost comes out $90 a month cheaper than the cheapest lease deal...
-
Porsche already has a prototype that will charge faster than its 350-kw TaycanThe Porsche Taycan, when it arrives toward the end of 2019, will likely have the quickest, highest-power DC fast charging of any production vehicle. But Porsche apparently is already setting its sights higher. Yesterday, as part of a research consortium that includes BMW, it presented a prototype...
Bengt Halvorson -
Toyota Prius AWD-e drive, Hyundai fuel cells, CO2 fines, Audi cameras: Today's Car NewsWe have a first chance to drive the new all-wheel-drive Prius AWD-e. Hyundai plans to build more fuel cells, but not necessarily for cars. Automakers face big fines for missing tight emissions targets for carbon dioxide in Europe. And our first experience driving with side-camera "mirrors" on real...
Eric C. Evarts -
2019 Audi e-tron side-camera system: Is the U.S. missing out?Side-camera systems, replacing side mirrors, have been one of the de rigueur symbols of the future on auto-show concept cars for, well, pretty much this entire century so far. While we’ve been eagerly anticipating the arrival of such systems for nearly as long—they’re not allowed...
Bengt Halvorson -
Automakers face big fines in Europe for missing CO2 targetsAs global leaders meet in Poland to hammer out details about how to meet Paris Climate Accord targets, a new study shows that European automakers aren't introducing electric cars nearly fast enough to meet European standards—and the delay could cost them. The European Union has set the...
Eric C. Evarts -
Affordable Audi electric, Ford police hybrids, Tesla refunds: Today's Car NewsAudi will build an upscale car on VW's affordable electric-car platform. Ford is taking orders from police departments for its more efficient hybrid police cruisers. Tesla will refund the full amount if it doesn't deliver cars in time for the full federal tax credit. And how do our readers see the...
Eric C. Evarts -
When General Motors announced in November that it would stop production of the Chevrolet Volt, it was a shock to many green car fans' systems. The Volt was one of the first two modern electrically powered cars to go on sale in 2010, and is still the longest-range plug-in hybrid on the market. Its faults are few, though perhaps critical: Mostly, its cramped back seat. DON'T MISS: GM to kill Chevy Volt production in 2019 (Updated) Americans have quit buying many small hatchbacks like the Volt, and Detroit automakers especially have all announced plans to quit building as many cars, focusing...
-
Compact Audi, flagship VW crossover could show upscale side of VW electric platformAudi has recently released several hints that we’ll soon see a first concept tease of its smaller, more affordable electric vehicle, to be built on Volkswagen’s modular electric-vehicle architecture, termed MEB. And secondly, the Volkswagen brand is also soon expected to give a first...
Bengt Halvorson -
Tesla Autopilot, Hyundai Nexo pricing, Rivian No. 3: Today's Car NewsTesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the company's Autopilot system will allow Tesla owners to commute with no driver input "soon." Speaking of Autopilot, our Twitter poll asks readers how often they use Tesla's new on-ramp to off-ramp Navigate on Autopilot system. Pricing is out for the Hyundai Nexo...
Eric C. Evarts -
How often do you use Tesla's Navigate on Autopilot? Take our Twitter pollTesla CEO Elon Musk sent out a tweet over the weekend imploring Tesla drivers to try the company's new Navigate on Autopilot system. "If you have a Tesla built in past 2 years, definitely try Navigate on Autopilot. It will blow your mind. Automatically passes slow cars & takes highway...
Eric C. Evarts -
Tesla owners will commute "with no driver input" soon, Musk saysOver the weekend, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla is testing new features on its Autopilot "self-driving" system, that will allow its cars to recognize stoplights and stop signs and negotiate traffic on roundabouts. "Your Tesla will soon be able to go from your garage at home to parking at...
Eric C. Evarts -
Rivian off-road rally performance car could follow electric pickup, SUVRivian announced a new electric pickup and SUV at the LA Auto Show—but apparently the startup electric automaker is so full of ideas it couldn't resist teasing yet another plan. Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe told British auto magazine Autocar that the company plans a third model that will take...
Eric C. Evarts -
Japanese prosecutors charged former Nissan chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn on Monday with underreporting his income for eight years. He was arrested Nov. 19 and has been held in a Tokyo jail since, but has not been formally charged until now. Ghosn is known as the father of the Nissan Leaf electric car, after committing the company publicly to the project in 2008 and bringing the car to market in late 2010. He's also presided over Nissan through a period of prosperity through a close alliance with Renault and then, more recently, another alliance with Mitsubishi. He also led French automaker...
-
Electrify America turns on first 350-kw fast charger in CaliforniaElectrify America installed its first 350-kilowatt fast chargers next to a Tesla Supercharging station at an outlet mall outside San Francisco last week. The two new 350-kw chargers are among the fastest publicly available units in the U.S., capable of recharging certain cars at up to 20 miles per...
Eric C. Evarts -
EPA rolls back emissions standards on coal plantsOn Thursday, EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced a new rule that will allow coal-fired power plants to emit more than 35 percent more global warming pollution than the current law allows. The proposal came on the eve of a climate summit in Poland that started over the weekend where...
Eric C. Evarts -
Electric cars could spell end of front-wheel drive, VW exec saysFirst it was Tesla, now Volkswagen. Ever since British designer and engineer Alec Issigonis developed the original Mini Cooper for 1959, front-wheel-drive vehicles have been consolidating their hegemony on the car market. Volkswagen itself was one of the main champions of front-wheel drive when it...
Eric C. Evarts -
Classic Aston Martin features plug-and-play electric powerWealthy buyers looking for an electric Aston Martin may not have to wait until the brand's new Rapide E performance car—at least not previous owners who may already have an old Aston Martin lying around. The company has joined other European automakers in developing an electric drive system...
Eric C. Evarts -
Electric-car and climate-change tipping points, Prius details, Audi e-tron drive: The Week in ReverseWhich automaker made a commitment to end gas engine production (eventually)? What electric car may finally have gotten a name? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending Dec. 7, 2018. This week our news came mostly from follow-up...
Eric C. Evarts