Electric Cars

When we drove the Renault Twizy on the island of Ibiza last month, we asked whether Renault would actually sell any. A vehicle that's virtually ideal for a sun-drenched island may not work so well in a rainy country like the U.K, or the colder climates of Eastern Europe. We did find it very much...

Several years ago, the world's auto industry heard a constant refrain: "The Chinese are coming, the Chinese are coming!" With low labor costs and a government imperative to create globally competitive car companies, Chinese makers were expected to follow in the footsteps of the Japanese and Koreans...

Remember the monstrosity we showed you that'll be your next electric car charging plug? Well, it hasn't disappeared in the intervening months, and eight global automakers are set to demonstrate the new standardized fast-charging technology this month. Developed by the International Society of...

Like many premium automakers, Porsche has been working on hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology for some time now. But at the recent Vienna Motor Symposium, Porsche Executive Wolfgang Hatz reiterated that the German automaker views plug-in hybrids as a real part of its future, not just a...

Since last year, you've likely heard a lot about electric cars. You'll hear much more in the years to come. But whether you're a fan or a foe, understand this: A few of the battery-electric cars you've heard about are "real"--meaning their makers want to sell as many as they can. But quite a few of...

If you’ve followed electric cars for a while, you’ll probably be familiar with the concept of swapping out a depleted battery pack with a freshly-charged one in the same amount of time it takes to fill a car with gasoline. Better Place, the first company to try and commercialize that...

In order to become an official automaker-approved dealer, dealers often undergo a lengthy process to prove they meet with sales and service requirements before the automaker will allow them to sell its cars. For prestige, luxury or specialist cars like high-performance sports cars or plug-in...

We’ve passed spring break, the weather is getting warmer and you’ve turned your weekend attentions to camping trips, DIY projects and outdoor sports. For many Americans, that means digging roof racks out of their winter storage and securing them on top of the family car for the season...

You may remember that last August, we broke the story that what is now called the 2014 Cadillac ELR electric coupe got the green light for production by GM's overlords. An abashed GM confirmed the story a few days later and released the name of the new model, known until then as the Converj concept...

Sales of plug-in electric cars fell last month, with especially low sales of the Nissan Leaf, following their strong showing in March. Last month, just 370 Nissan Leaf battery-electric cars were sold, down from 579 in March, and bringing this year's Leaf sales to only 2,103 in the first four...

Last week we brought you news that the latest high-tech electric supercar was now available to order. Made by Croatian firm Rimac and known as the Concept_One, the sleek vehicle will go on sale for a not-so-sleek $980,000. The video above explains in more detail how the car's propulsion system...

Import tariffs are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they're necessary to protect national industry, making it more expensive for overseas companies--who may have cheaper production costs--to sell their products here, allowing domestic brands to compete. On the other, it makes it more...

For people in the electric-car world, next week is a big deal. And Toyota is taking advantage of it. The company will formally launch its Toyota RAV4 EV next Monday at noon Pacific (3 pm Eastern) at the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26), which takes place in Los Angeles from...

Back in January, we told you about IBM’s quest to build a rechargeable lithium-air battery that could theoretically let an electric car travel 500 miles on a single charge. Since then, more firms have joined IBM on its Holy Grail adventure, leading to a flurry of stories heralding the end to...

California and the Pacific Northwest may be the undisputed capital of electric cars in the U.S., but in Europe, that accolade is currently held by Norway. Last week, Nissan Europe announced it had sold 1,000 of its Leaf electric cars in just six months in the nation. In February, Leaf sales...

If you live in California, you’ll know that buying a green car can come with impressive perks, including purchase rebates of up to $2,500 and access to the state's High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. But you can't just start driving in the HOV lanes if you own a qualifying electric, hydrogen...

Plug-in electric cars are now on sale from several carmakers, and their sales will rise slowly over the next decade. Right now, most of the marketing for those electric cars focuses on green themes or cost savings on the gasoline drivers don't have to buy. But there's one factor no electric-car...

Nobody envies the country that follows China in hosting the Olympic Games. With huge, spectacular and immaculately choreographed opening and closing ceremonies to compete with, London has chosen a different tack for its games: Green. That's why the London Olympic organizing committee has teamed up...

While the popularity of electric cars grows, it's reassuring to know that it isn't only the automakers that are committed to the concept. General Electric Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt has confirmed that the company will continue to back EVs, even if initial sales haven't been as high as many hoped...

The main task for Fisker Automotive right now is to sell enough 2012 Fisker Karmas to keep the company solvent. It must take in enough cash to market the car, expand into new markets, and simultaneously develop its next vehicle, the Fisker Atlantic unveiled at the New York Auto Show. Now we learn...