Electric Cars
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Last month, the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid went on sale in the United Kingdom, offering British buyers a mass-priced compact wagon with 25 to 30 miles of electric range. While it shares its underpinnings with the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In model, the Niro has more of a wagon shape than Hyundai's five-door hatchback—good for European markets where wagons still sell well. So when will U.S. buyers be able to buy the same car? DON'T MISS: 2018 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid goes on sale in UK Industry sources tell us Korean production of Niro Plug-In Hybrid models for the U.S. actually began on October...
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Honda's second electric-car concept is Sports EV coupe unveiled in TokyoFollowing Honda's hit electric-car concept at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Urban EV, the company brought a second all-electric concept to the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show with more sporting intentions. The Honda Sports EV coupe concept debuted one show after the Urban EV concept, and this one's a...
Sean Szymkowski -
Oklahoma Supreme Court rules state's electric-car tax unconstitutionalWhen the Oklahoma Legislature passed a bill earlier this year that imposed new fees on owners of hybrid and electric cars only, it was swiftly sued by the Sierra Club. Now the Oklahoma Supreme Court has rendered its verdict in that suit, filed in August. In a 6-3 decision, the state's highest court...
Sean Szymkowski -
Electric cars are some of fastest-moving used vehicles in the U.S. (updated)Not every car buyer can afford a brand-new vehicle, which often makes gently used vehicles an appealing alternative. But while cars that plug in take only a small share of new-vehicle purchases today—about 1 percent—they apparently move quite fast off dealer lots once they're used. In...
Sean Szymkowski -
Tesla Model 3 fast-charging at Superchargers will not be freeBefore production of the Tesla Model 3 began, company CEO Elon Musk promised Tesla would offer owners some sort of free Supercharger use. Specifically, Musk said, "free long-distance charging is [included]," which led many reservation holders to believe they would receive free Supercharger credits...
Sean Szymkowski -
Toyota Fine-Comfort Ride fuel-cell concept targets 600 miles of rangeToyota continues to experiment with and develop various types of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles despite not yet offering a single production battery-electric car. The Japanese automaker now sells the Mirai, has announced it will begin studies of the Project Portal fuel-cell semi truck, and reportedly...
Sean Szymkowski -
The long-awaited all-electric crossover utility concept from Nissan finally made its public debut Wednesday morning on the first press day at the Tokyo auto show. Dubbed the Nissan IMx, the compact crossover concept includes both fully autonomous driving and an electric range given as more than 370 miles (600 km). That range is likely on a Japanese test cycle that might translate to a U.S. equivalent of 300 miles or so, although Nissan did not specify a battery capacity for its concept. DON'T MISS: Will Nissan have an electric SUV concept at Tokyo Motor Show? The shape of the IMx is that of a...
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Polestar's second, third cars will be all-electric, one to challenge Tesla Model 3While Tesla works out the production bottlenecks that plague the Model 3, rivals continue to gear up to challenge the Silicon Valley maker's more affordable electric car. Specifically, Tesla's latest announced competitor comes from the new brand at Volvo Cars Group, named Polestar, which has become...
Sean Szymkowski -
Who sold 10,000 plug-in vehicles last month? (Not Tesla, Nissan, or Chevy)When consumers think of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, most likely conjure thoughts of Tesla, or perhaps Nissan with its Leaf and Chevrolet with its Volt and Bolt EV. However, none of those three brands managed to sell 10,000 plug-in cars during the month of September. That sales honor...
Sean Szymkowski -
"Death of the internal combustion engine" is now a thingThe very first working four-cycle internal-combustion engine was invented by Niklaus Otto in 1876, and in due course it changed the world. A quarter of a century later, gasoline engines, steam-powered vehicles, and electric drive competed on an equal basis, but by 1915, it was clear the gasoline...
John Voelcker -
How will Tesla Model 3 do over the next year? Poll resultsIf ever a car were in "production hell"—to use Tesla CEO Elon Musk's memorable phrase—the Tesla Model 3 is, right around now. From the first hand-built Model 3s delivered in late July through the end of September, fewer than 300 cars have gone to buyers—far short of the 1,500...
John Voelcker -
EU announces launch of battery alliance to boost cells for electric carsAs it stands today, Asia dominates the production of electric-car battery cells globally, with Japanese and Korean companies representing the bulk of the industry outside of booming Chinese makers. Europe, however, lacks a single major player in the fabrication and assembly of lithium-ion battery...
Sean Szymkowski -
Activating any given public charging station to recharge an electric car can pose something of a hassle. Yes, plugging it in is simple enough, but public charging infrastructure in the U.S. is run by multiple independent companies—meaning electric-car owners are essentially required to carry multiple access cards to use various stations. ABB, a charging station company, aims to alleviate the multi-card hassle with a simple technology that requires no RFiD card or smartphone app. DON'T MISS: Car buyers have no idea electric-car charging stations even exist The company recently announced...
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Tesla to build electric-car factory in Chinese free-trade zone: reportChina is the world's largest car market, and the country plans to phase out sales of new vehicles with combustion engines in the future. Tesla makes and sells only electric cars, and it aspires to become a volume automaker, meaning China is key to its future. The Chinese government effectively...
John Voelcker -
Arizona joins 7 Western states in deal to expand electric-car charging networks (update)The Western United States will soon see an electric-car charging network that covers 5,000 miles of roadways. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper announced on October 4 that he and six other governors in western states have agreed to develop a network of fast-charge stations in the region. Now...
Sean Szymkowski -
Even luxury launches can go all-electric; Hinckley shows howElectrification is starting to surge through the automotive industry as countries implement emission regulations and the cost of batteries and associated technology drops. While the automotive sector will clearly affect a larger group of people, numerous companies have shown that boats too can go...
Sean Szymkowski -
Mazda all but confirms rotary range extender engine for electric carHow Mazda plans to integrate plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles into its range of increasingly efficient gasoline and diesel models is a topic that interests parts of the global auto industry. In 2019, the small Japanese maker will offer a combustion-engine technology never before...
John Voelcker -
Cummins buys Brammo electric-drivetrain group for future electric semiCummins has long been known for its diesel engines, but the company recently revealed its first concept truck using an all-electric powertrain. The Urban Hauler Tractor debuted last month and Cummins said it previewed a production model that could arrive by the end of this decade. Now, the...
Sean Szymkowski -
Nissan will roll out a new electric van concept at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, one that it believes will help solve urban delivery congestion. The e-NV200 Fridge Concept adds a refrigerated compartment to the existing e-NV200 electric small delivery van to keep various perishable goods fresh while in transit. The brand says the e-NV200's size will make urban deliveries easier, since larger refrigerated delivery trucks are sometimes banned from stopping and parking in inner cities. DON'T MISS: Nissan e-NV200 electric van gets longer-range battery; still no U.S. plans Although it's a concept...
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Volkswagen targets Pikes Peak with electric-car tech from future modelsThe next Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race is eight months away still, so a press release on a carmaker's entry into next June's event comes out of left field. But for Volkswagen, it's another small step to underscore its major commitment to battery-electric vehicles as its two-year-old...
John Voelcker -
Will Nissan have an electric SUV concept at Tokyo Motor Show?Automakers spend a lot of time trying to work out how electrified powertrains, autonomous driving technology, connectivity, and sharing will turn their industry upside down. Or not. Meanwhile, globally but especially in North America, one trend is clear right this moment: utility vehicles are hot...
John Voelcker -
Toshiba claims 6-minute recharge for new electric-car battery cellElectric cars pale in comparison to gasoline or diesel-powered cars when it comes to the time presently required to add energy for more driving distance. Although automakers have begun to curb "range anxiety" with longer-distance electric cars, battery charging times on lengthy road trips remain a...
Sean Szymkowski -
Mercedes, Smart, Daimler trucks update electric-car, electrification plansMercedes-Benz has already laid out its plans for a portfolio of electric and electrified vehicles, and now parent company Daimler has announced further strategy refinements for Mercedes-Benz and its other brands. The Smart brand will become all-electric, it said, while its commercial truck...
Sean Szymkowski -
UAW wakes up to job threat posed by electric cars, as German unions have alreadyWith an evolving shift to electrified and plug-in electric cars, the changes that will bring to the auto industry are far from limited to the powertrains. The entire mass-production and vehicle assembly process the industry pioneered a century ago will require major restructuring, it appears...
Sean Szymkowski