Green Car News
-
61 mpg. That's the figure everyone will want to know, so that's the one I'm starting with. 61 mpg is what I've managed so far from the 2001 Honda Insight I bought back in March, over a distance of more than 5,000 miles. That, for the record, is eight miles per gallon better than the figure buyers would have seen on the car's window sticker back in 2001. It has required no special techniques to achieve, and could be replicated by anyone--not a bad achievement given that plug-in vehicles aside, no manufacturer has yet matched that official 53 mpg combined rating, let alone sixty-plus. That...
-
Audi SQ7 SUV Confirmed To Get Electric Turbocharger In 2016: UPDATEElectric turbocharging will debut on a sporty version of Audi's next-generation Q7 SUV.
Stephen Edelstein -
First RHD Tesla Model S Electric Cars In Asia Delivered In Hong KongRight-hand drive Tesla Model S electric cars have already begun to trickle out in the United Kingdom, but now they're hitting the Asian markets too. The first Asian right-hand drive Model S have now been delivered to the first eight customers in Hong Kong. MUST SEE: Decoding Toyota's Electric-Car...
Antony Ingram -
New Lithium-Ion Battery Uses Peroxide To Boost Energy Density By 7 Times: ReportAll electric vehicles currently in production use some form of lithium-ion chemistry in their battery packs. Finding ways of improving that chemistry is therefore very important--the aim being to make future electric car batteries cheaper, more stable and more energy-dense for longer range. MUST...
Antony Ingram -
Electric Harley Ride, VW Golf Diesel Vs Electric, Ford F-150 Intrigues Buyers: The Week In Reverse (VIDEO)What's the new Harley electric motorcycle concept like to ride? And why did Tesla stop building its Model S electric sedan? This is the Week In Reverse for Friday, July 25, 2014, right here at Green Car Reports. Our writer Ben Rich was able to take a test ride on the Harley-Davidson Livewire...
John Voelcker -
Electric-Car Torque Confusion, Quiet-Car Rules, 2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid: Today's Car NewsToday's top stores include Porsche's latest plug-in hybrid and a noisy disagreement over quiet-car rules.
Stephen Edelstein -
Over the past few years, it's become clear that the German prestige makers are determined to offer plug-in electric vehicles across their various ranges. Some makers are more aggressive (BMW), some less so (Mercedes-Benz)--but by the end of next year, there will be a dozen or more vehicles with plugs from the combined forces of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen. The latest to be officially announced is the 2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, which adds a plug-in hybrid powertrain to the sports car maker's large, fast, and very profitable sport-utility vehicle. DON'T MISS: 2014...
-
Quiet-Car Rules Must Be Delayed, Automakers Say: NHTSA Not ReadyThe concern that very quiet hybrid and electric cars may pose a danger to unaware pedestrians has been around for a decade or more now. Back in 2010, Congress required the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop rules for adding alert noises to cars running on silent electric...
John Voelcker -
Nissan Leaf Vs BMW i3 Vs Volkswagen e-Golf: German Magazine ComparesThe BMW i3's styling has been divisive since its launch earlier this year but one thing that most agree on is its abilities--it's among the best electric cars yet. When Volkswagen launches its e-Golf though, BMW will face tough competition--and worldwide, the Nissan Leaf is still a best-selling...
Antony Ingram -
Toyota Prius Hybrid: Ultimate Guide To 50-MPG Mid-Size HatchbackToyota's Prius hybrid has undoubtedly done more to raise awareness of green vehicles and improving fuel efficiency than any other single model on sale today. First launched in the U.S. in 1999 and styled by a design team in California, the Prius name has since been applied to two further...
Antony Ingram -
Fiat 500e Vs Chevy Spark EV: How Electric-Car Torque Figures Can Be DeceptiveThe 2014 Fiat 500e has far lower power and torque numbers than the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV; yet at city speeds, of below 40 mph or so, the 500E feels (and is) quicker. Given their nearly identical curb weights, the numbers would suggest the Spark being far quicker. The Chevrolet Spark EV is rated...
Bengt Halvorson -
2015 Nissan Leaf Specs, Harley Livewire Ridden, 2015 Toyota Yaris Revealed: Today's Car NewsAn electric car, an electric motorcycle, and a fuel-efficient subcompact make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein -
In the next few years, American customers will be able to purchase an all-new Toyota Yaris, based on the next-generation Mazda 2 and built in Mexico. In the meantime, Toyota has refreshed the existing car with a new front facia and upgraded equipment levels. Toyota has injected the refreshed Yaris with what it calls "a distinct European flavor". ALSO SEE: Harley-Davidson Livewire Electric Motorcycle Concept: Test Ride That might seem unusual for a Japanese brand but the Yaris is Toyota's highest-selling model in Europe, so there's little surprise it's adapted the car with that in mind. The...
-
Nissan Leaf $5,500 Battery Replacement Loses Money, Company AdmitsLast month, electric-car owners finally learned the price of a replacement battery pack for the Nissan Leaf: a surprisingly low $5,500 after the old pack is traded in. Many advocates and Leaf owners promptly seized on the price to "prove" that Nissan could now build batteries for less than $250 per...
John Voelcker -
Rising Gas Mileage Means Cars & Trucks Use Less Of U.S. Transportation EnergyLight-duty vehicles will account for a smaller percentage of U.S. transportation energy in the coming years.
Stephen Edelstein -
Has China 'Messed Up' Its Electric-Car Charging Standards?Recent electric car news from China might lead you to believe things are finally on the up, after years of poor sales and uncertainty. There is still though one major hurdle the country needs to overcome before electric cars are fully viable--charging standards. It's an issue debated in every...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Nissan Leaf: Full Details, Pricing ReleasedOut with the old, in with the new: It's hard to believe the Nissan Leaf is already entering its fifth model year. With the 2015 Nissan Leaf models that are already reaching dealerships, there's no boost in range or performance, but there are some minor feature improvements that might be cause to...
Bengt Halvorson -
2015 VW e-Golf Vs. Golf TDI, Tesla Model X Prep, 2015 Ford F-150 Engine Details: Today's Car NewsFord, Tesla, and Volkswagen make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tesla Motors has halted production of the Model S electric car while it upgrades the assembly line for its next vehicle--the Model X crossover. A two-week production hiatus will give the firm enough time to complete a full $100 million upgrade to the plant, before production restarts at increased speed. According to Bloomberg, the upgrade will add 25 robots and allow Tesla to build the Model X on the same assembly line as its sedan sibling. The upgrade is the "single biggest investment in the plant since we really started operations", spokesman Simon Sproule explained. When the plant comes...
-
Ford Details Small Fuel-Saving Engine For Big F-150 LineupIt's been a while since full-size trucks have used engines as small as 2.7 liters, but that's exactly what the 2015 Ford F-150 will use when you tick the Ecoboost box in the dealership. It's not just 2.7 liters, of course--you also get six cylinders and two turbochargers, and it's those that Ford...
Antony Ingram -
Electric Cars Equal Gasoline Cost Of Just 75 Cents A GallonThe last time you could buy a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. for 75 cents was around the late 1970s. If you own an electric car today though, the price you're paying for electricity is equivalent to about 75 cents per gallon. READ: Tesla's Important Not Only For Electric Cars But For Silicon...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Vs. Golf TDI: Back-To-Back Test DriveWith the introduction of the 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf late this year, VW will be the only automaker to offer (in the U.S.) both diesel and all-electric versions of the same model in the U.S. While we expected to plan a back-to-back drive of these two models at some point, we didn’t expect it to...
Bengt Halvorson -
2015 VW e-Golf Driven, Audi A8 e-tron Diesel, Confirmed Hydrogen-Car Logic: Today's Car NewsDiesel, battery-electric, and hydrogen power make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein -
Opel Ampera (Euro Chevy Volt) Axed Over Slow Sales?European buyers may soon have one fewer plug-in vehicle to choose from, with news that the Opel Ampera--European cousin to the Chevrolet Volt--could be dropped due to slow sales. The Ampera arrived to much critical acclaim, just as the Volt did in the U.S. While expensive--it hit the market at just...
Antony Ingram