Electric Cars
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Last year, China's BYD sold more plug-in electric cars than any other company in the world. That includes General Motors, Nissan, and Tesla. Now GM has launched the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the second-generation Nissan Leaf is just days away, and advocates, analysts, and enthusiasts are watching how quickly production ramps up for the Tesla Model 3. DON'T MISS: China's BYD built more plug-in cars than any other maker last year The Bolt EV and Model 3 have rated ranges of more than 200 miles, and at least one version of the 2018 Nissan Leaf is expected to offer 200 miles or more as well. Meanwhile...
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Tesla wins Michigan court fight to get e-mails by lobbyist, lawmakerAs a Tesla lawsuit over the state of Michigan's dealership franchise law grinds on, the Silicon Valley automaker scored a recent legal victory. A federal magistrate has ordered two Michigan lawmakers to turn over their communications to the company's lawyers, including emails they sent to lobbyist...
Sean Szymkowski -
2018 BMW i3 electric car range adds sportier i3s versionWhile the 2018 BMW i3 will formally debut next week at the Frankfurt auto show, the company has released details ahead of time on the updates to the lineup of its compact electric car. While battery range stays the same as last year, a new i3s model (for Sport) has been added, with revised...
John Voelcker -
Transparent solar cells to let Audi capture energy from glass roofsSolar energy has long generated electricity both on building roofs and in huge "solar farms" for utility companies, but only a few cars have had solar panels on their bodies. Solar roofs aren't a new concept, but Audi and Alta Devices' solution would be the most transparent photovoltaic solar roof...
Sean Szymkowski -
Electric cars and public charging: hot dog and bun, not chicken or egg?It's an old cliche used to indicate an unsolvable problem: which came first, the chicken or the egg? Sometimes it's applied to the challenge of electric-car charging stations: which comes first, sales of the cars or installation of public charging to support them? Well, Jeff Allen isn't having any...
John Voelcker -
Nissan has sold electric-car battery unit AESC to Chinese investor GSR (updated)With the global introduction of the second-generation Nissan Leaf electric car due next week, one open question concerns the source of its battery cells. To date, Automotive Electric Supply Corporation—a joint venture between Nissan and Japanese electronics giant NEC—has supplied...
John Voelcker -
It's well-known that electrical outlets in the United States and elsewhere vary, but it also makes for somewhat different charging experiences with the Tesla Model S. In Europe, the standard voltage is higher than the United States, which means more power can be drawn from a standard wall outlet. However, higher-rated charging connectors, such as a NEMA 14-50 in the United States, don't translate to Europe. DON'T MISS: Electric-car charging stations rated: what's best, what's cheapest, what to avoid? A video from a user named "Like Tesla" highlights the major differences (and similarities)...
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2017 Chevy Bolt EV battery may fail due to faulty cell; new pack needed for a few GM electric cars (updated)General Motors has informed "a few hundred" owners of 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric cars that their cars could suffer from a problem with the lithium-ion battery pack that could cause it to fail without warning. The cars were among the very earliest Bolt EVs produced for public sale, so are...
John Voelcker -
UK Royal Mail electric vans now entering serviceThe United Kingdom's Royal Postal Service has entered a new era as its first electric mail vans enter service. In total, nine electric postal vans from local company Arrival will enter the Royal Post's fleet, along with another 100 electric vans to be added in December from French brand Peugeot...
Sean Szymkowski -
Tesla semi reportedly has 200 to 300 miles of rangeTesla's first foray into the commercial vehicle sector—an all-electric semi truck—is expected to debut next month, but specifics surrounding the electric-car maker's latest project have been few and far between. An exclusive report may have revealed Tesla's range figure as it prepares...
Sean Szymkowski -
New LG Michigan plant could boost GM electric-car domestic contentThe question of where consumer goods are made has become more prominent in our political discourse of late, cars among them. Every automobile sold in the U.S. carries a listing of content sources, specifying what percentage by value of its overall content comes from which countries or regions...
John Voelcker -
Tesla Model S beats Lamborghini Aventador in 1/4-mile drag race; so does Model X SUVTesla has not only put some of the world's longest-range electric cars into production, but its cars also happen to house some serious performance specifications. Everyone knows the P100D versions of the Tesla Model S sedan and Model X SUV are capable of accelerating at lightning speed, thanks to...
Sean Szymkowski -
Electric-car drivers know that range anxiety abates quickly once you start using an electric car and get confident with its abilities. Although a range of 60 to 90 miles covers the majority of daily car use in the U.S., it isn't enough for many drivers with longer commutes—especially at high speeds or in very hot or cold weather, which can cut rated range by 30 percent or more. Tesla understood that from the start, which is why every one of its cars has 200 miles or more of range. DON'T MISS: How Many Miles Are Enough To Kill Electric-Car Range Anxiety? (Jul 2012) But how much rated...
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Chevy Bolt EV vs Tesla's Model 3, Model S: CNET, Consumer Reports compare electric carsFive years ago, the only true battery-electric cars on the market were the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf, while the Chevrolet Volt offered a plug-in hybrid solution. A lot has changed since then, and choices for those interested in an electric car have become more abundant. Specifically, the...
Sean Szymkowski -
2018 Nissan Leaf teaser: electric car will 'amaze your senses'With the 2018 Nissan Leaf electric car due to be unveiled to the world in Japan on September 6, the company continues to release bits and pieces of teaser information. Yesterday, Nissan issued a video promoting a list of the new model's features. It also provided a photo of the electric hatchback's...
John Voelcker -
Faraday Future, short on cash, to leave Formula E electric-car race series: reportFaraday Future may abandon its Formula E racing efforts to save precious funds as the electric-car startup company scales back many of its ambitious plans. The FIA Formula E series, which will receive an influx of new competitors in 2019, has become a de facto arena for automakers to test battery...
Sean Szymkowski -
Ford pairs with Chinese maker Zotye for electric-car expansionFord was the first U.S. maker to build hybrid cars, starting in 2004, and it launched its Focus Electric hatchback in December 2011, just a year after the arrival of the Nissan Leaf. It also continues to sell Energi plug-in hybrid versions of its mid-size Fusion sedan and its compact C-Max tall...
John Voelcker -
Electric cars now 5 percent of California new-car sales: reportCalifornia continues to lead the country in adoption rates for cars that plug in, both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. The state offers numerous local and statewide incentives, and many utility companies reward customers for choosing an electric car over a fossil-fuel powered vehicle...
Sean Szymkowski -
Much of the electric-car world is waiting to see how quickly production of the Tesla Model 3 will ramp up over the balance of this year. Will it reach the remarkable level of 5,000 cars per week by December 31 that CEO Elon Musk has set as a goal? Analysts and industry commentators are skeptical, owners and advocates are hopeful, and now at least 30 Model 3s are in owners' hands. Stay tuned. DON'T MISS: Does Tesla Model 3 compete with Bolt EV and Leaf, or BMW 3-Series? With at least some Model 3s coming out of the assembly plant in Fremont, California, a longer-term question rises to the...
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Chevy Bolt EV: looking at electric car's long-term challengesThe electric car that became the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV reset industry norms overnight when it was unveiled as a concept car at the 2015 Detroit auto show. The most important parts wasn't the car's shape, or its interior space, or hatchback configuration: it was the combination of price (below...
John Voelcker -
DC's electric-taxi drivers have no public place to charge, they sayThe availability of charging stations for electric cars is likely to remain a major factor for many would-be owners as plug-in cars become more popular. While the United States boasts tens of thousands of charging stations, some areas remain better-covered than others. Unfortunately for taxi cab...
Sean Szymkowski -
Fisker EMotion electric luxury sedan to be shown at CES in JanuaryHenrik Fisker, legendary automotive designer and the man behind the now-defunct Fisker Automotive company, is getting ready for his grand return to the industry. Spearheading the return will be the Fisker EMotion, which will arrive from the designer's new company, Fisker Inc. Although we only have...
Sean Szymkowski -
Volkswagen ID Buzz drive: electric VW bus offers unique EV conceptWhen you see a concept car drive onto the stage at an auto show, don't be fooled into thinking it's what you'll drive out of the dealer a couple of years later. We got to drive the Volkswagen ID Buzz all-electric Microbus concept car Saturday for a couple of miles along the oceanside road outside...
John Voelcker -
Volkswagen to build ID Buzz electric Microbus, cargo vans too, on sale in 2022The Volkswagen ID Buzz concept, an all-electric reinterpretation of the iconic VW Microbus, generated huge enthusiasm and public crowds when it debuted in January at the Detroit auto show. Today, the company announced its board had officially approved production of the vehicle, a distinctive entry...
John Voelcker