Green Car News
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There is a lot to consider when it comes to purchasing an electric-car charging station, as it can affect the ownership experience and the convenience of using the car. While some owners of plug-in hybrids may stick with the 120-volt charging cord that comes with the car, virtually all buyers of battery-electric models should install a charging station at home or where they park—if that's possible. Those who don't have their own garages or parking slots may choose to rely on public charging stations, which are generally far more durable and robust than the ones described here. DON'T...
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European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-May 2017Another month, and another round of European electric car sales data is ready for dissemination. Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles continue to earn a healthy share of the European car market, and it's clear there's still a definitive electric car for Europeans. That is the...
Sean Szymkowski -
Tough Audi decision alleged: diesel-emission gear or profitable high-end audio systems?Although it's not been in U.S. news much lately, the VW diesel scandal continues to unfold in Germany, as prosecutors continue their investigations over whether criminal acts were committed under German law. That doesn't mean U.S. investigations have finished, however. Last week's arrest in Germany...
John Voelcker -
Equinox Diesel prices, Formula E electric-car racing, Renault Zoe, why China doesn't care: Today's Car NewsToday, we've got coverage from the weekend's Formula E race, some context on why China really doesn't care what non-Chinese automakers think, and the latest sales figures for Europe's best-selling electric car. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Over the weekend, we ran down the top green-car...
John Voelcker -
11 things you need to know about Formula E electric-car racingWe've just spent a packed, very hot weekend at the New York City ePrix, the first time the FIA Formula E electric-car racing series has come to the country's media capital. It was our first Formula E race, and like many who follow electric cars, we learned a lot. More than that, we got a better...
John Voelcker -
Renault Zoe still dominates Europe electric-car sales; longer range boosts salesAsk a North American driver to name companies that make electric cars, and you'll probably hear Tesla, maybe Nissan, and perhaps Chevy or BMW or Toyota. Chinese drivers may be more likely to say BYD (and perhaps Tesla), but Europeans will likely name Renault. (And Tesla.) The Renault Zoe, now in...
John Voelcker -
Every now and then, resourceful journalists dredge up automotive news before it emerges in a sanitized press release from the maker in question. So it is with the pricing on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel, one of two diesel-powered compact crossover utility vehicles expected to hit the U.S. market this year. While combined EPA ratings haven't been published, Chevy projects the Equinox Diesel to hit 32 mpg in the city and up to 40 mpg on the highway. DON'T MISS: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox crossover: only turbo engines, diesel optional Opting for all-wheel drive will cost 1 mpg on the city...
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China electric-car rules 'impossible,' say carmakers; more deference to regulators needed?It may be human nature to avoid doing things that are for the long-term good but impose short-term costs. Exercising more, giving up smoking, or paying more for a car that is better for the environment all challenge many otherwise responsible citizens. And it's abundantly clear that the emergence...
John Voelcker -
Several states want far cleaner diesel trucks; EPA to start rulemaking?Almost one-third of the heavy trucks on U.S. roads now use the most stringent emission-control systems, which radically reduce their emissions of nitrogen oxides, soot, and other pollutants. Commercial trucks log much higher annual mileage than passenger cars, especially the semi tractors that haul...
John Voelcker -
Bolt EV sales, Lucid vs Tesla, 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid, cleaner diesel trucks: The Week in ReverseHow's the Chevy Bolt EV electric car doing in sales after six months in the market? What was missing from President Trump's speech on U.S. energy policy? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending on Friday, July 14, 2017. Friday, we...
John Voelcker -
Good news on diesel trucks, 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid, Tesla to rule the world? Today's Car NewsToday, we've got news on an important new hybrid mid-size sedan, some good diesel news for a change, and a skeptical look at why one German analyst's enthusiasm for Tesla could be misplaced. All this and more on Green Car Reports. We published yesterday's green-car news roundup later than usual (in...
John Voelcker -
2018 Honda Accord Hybrid: more trunk space, higher fuel economy promisedOver three sporadic model years, the hybrid version of the Honda Accord mid-size sedan has led a peripatetic life. The 2014 and 2015 Accord Hybrid was built in Marysville, Ohio, along with almost all the rest of the Accords sold in North America, its largest market. It skipped 2016 altogether, and...
John Voelcker -
There's no denying Tesla has accomplished a lot since the Model S was introduced in 2012. It pioneered the luxury electric car segment and put an unrivaled charging network into place through its Supercharging stations. On one side, it certainly seems like Tesla is poised for electric vehicle domination—and that's what one German analyst believes. DON'T MISS: Why Tesla's Elon Musk Must Sell 6 Million Electric Cars To Make History Analyst Alexander Haissl of Hamburg, Germany's Berenberg Bank predicts Tesla will ultimately end up with an electric car monopoly, according to Forbes. How has...
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Diesel trucks with latest emission controls displacing dirtier, older ones on U.S. roadsThe phrase "clean diesel" has largely fallen into ill repute after it was associated with Volkswagen's diesel emission deceit, but the latest diesel technology can honestly be described with such a phrase. Semi trucks using the latest-generation diesel technology have reached a new...
Sean Szymkowski -
Another Bolt EV road trip, best green-car deals, BMW electric-car sales, child seats: Today's Car NewsToday, what lessons did a Chevy Bolt EV electric-car driver learn from his 1,300-mile road trip? Do you know what to do if your car seats are in a crash? And how many plug-in electric cars did BMW sell over six months? All this and more on Green Car Reports. You may recall some previous Chevy Bolt...
John Voelcker -
BMW's plug-in car sales rise, keeping it in same class as Tesla, Nissan, GMTesla may garner much of the buzz surrounding electric cars, but BMW has quietly become a significant challenger in the electric-vehicle sales race. Nissan, General Motors, and Tesla have all 100,000 to 300,000 plug-in vehicles globally, but this year, BMW and its Mini brand are on track to deliver...
Sean Szymkowski -
Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for July 2017The month of July brings plenty of juicy deals on battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, conventional hybrid, and fuel-efficient vehicles. Much like last month, many of the deals remain. However, there are a few newcomers to the list for July—including one vehicle that may startle a few consumers...
Sean Szymkowski -
Electric-car road trip: lessons learned in Chevy Bolt EV over 1,300 milesLaunched in December, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is the first mass-priced electric car to go on sale with a rated range of more than 200 miles: 238 miles combined, according to the EPA. Most owners use their Bolt EVs for daily commuting and trips, just like any other car. But road trips are an...
John Voelcker -
Today, we've got upcoming plug-in hybrids from German luxury makes, another look at Tesla's sales plateau, and an educated assessment of the Lucid Air all-electric luxury sedan. All this and more on Green Car Reports. After our piece a few days ago on Tesla's first-half sales, we took another look at whether sales of the Model S and Model X have plateaued, updating an article from four months ago with the latest information. The 2019 Audi A8, the German brand's flagship large luxury sedan, will have a plug-in hybrid version, but every A8 will come with at least a mild-hybrid system as...
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Lucid Air electric luxury sedan: a Tesla Model S owner's takeIt’s a cool spring morning in Menlo Park, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. In a two-story concrete-and-glass building on Constitution Avenue, just down the block from Facebook’s vast fortress, a group of automotive engineers and designers is working to create the...
David Noland -
2019 Audi A8 to offer plug-in hybrid version; 48-volt mild hybrid on all modelsAudi may have taken an evolutionary approach to the design of the newest, largest luxury sedan, but it is positioning the car as a technical force to be reckoned with. The 2019 Audi A8 ushers in a new era for the German luxury brand—starting now, every single model will soon feature a...
Sean Szymkowski -
Update: Have Tesla Model S, Model X electric-car sales plateaued?Often there seems to be no middle ground in discussing electric-car maker Tesla Motors. The challenge of reading large volumes of Tesla coverage is that it tends to be either sharply negative or rabidly positive. And the California company's stock is so obsessively analyzed both by supporters and...
John Voelcker -
VW needs gigafactories, 2018 Leaf pricing poll, CA rebates halt, 235-mph electric car: Today's Car NewsToday, our followers speculate on the price of a 2018 Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen says it'll need dozens of battery gigafactories, California electric-car buyers wait for cash, and Faraday Future's future looks grimmer. All this and more on Green Car Reports. We asked our Twitter followers what they...
John Voelcker -
VW says it needs '40 gigafactories' for electric-car batteries by 2025VW Group remains one of the world's three largest carmakers, along with Toyota and General Motors, but the German automaker foresees challenges ahead. Specifically, Volkswagen believes the industry will face a shortage of lithium-ion batteries if new investment is not made soon for additional cell...
Sean Szymkowski