Green Car News

The U.S. government isn't the only one that gives grants and loans to help automakers develop advanced-technology vehicles. The U.K. government's Technology Strategy Board does it as well, for companies that build cars there. Luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, collaborating with Lotus Engineering...

Another day, another hybrid braking problem. Only this time, it's not Toyota. It's Ford. Late yesterday, Ford announced a "customer satisfaction program" that will ask that owners of 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid models built before October 17 to bring the cars to their...

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } Chicago, commonly referred to as the "Windy City" perhaps fittingly now holds the title of having the first wind powered electric vehicle charging station in the U.S.  Officially, the station is located in Highland Park, Illinois, a suburb a distant 30 miles from the...

And the winner is, the Nissan Leaf.  The Leaf has once again been honored for its outstanding achievements before it's even available to the public.  No, you can't buy one yet and you may not be able to for a few years, but the awards keep coming in. This time around, Nissan was awarded the Green...

The Braking Issues On the 2010 Prius Rear Their Head

Things are moving fast in the land of Toyota safety issues and recalls. Yesterday, we told you that the 2010 Toyota Prius was being investigated for braking problems in Japan. Today, Toyota has admitted that most 2010 Prius models (those built between the start of production last spring and late...

Better Place is a company most widely known for their batter swapping technique.  The battery swapping idea allows electric vehicles with depleted batteries to pull into the battery swapping station and change out their batteries for fresh ones.  The idea does draw some criticism from those who...

How do you find out if the city that you live in is ready for the electric car revolution?  Well there are several ways.  Search for the nearest charging station in your area, contact local utilities and ask about rates for charging vehicles during off peak hours, find out if your area has smart...

UPDATE, February 8, 2009: Speaking in a sort-of-webchat on Digg, Toyota president Jim Lentz said of the Woz complaint, "We are working with him on the operation of the cruise control." Please forgive us while we quietly smirk. ++++++++++ It's obviously pile-on-Toyota week. Transportation Secretary...

The Tesla Roadster may be going out of production in 2012, but Tesla drivers--and electric vehicle drivers in general--are nothing if not resourceful. First, in December, the company managed a cross-country road trip, driving a Roadster from Los Angeles to Detroit. Now, we find that a Colorado...

Hybrid buses take advantage of combined diesel and electric technology to create a people mover that is extremely fuel efficient given its large size.  Furthermore, the hybrid application is ideally suited to the typical driving routine of buses.  Trips include short jaunts with frequent stops at...

The North American International Auto Show brings together automotive writers from around the globe.  Alongside many of the writers, at least those who attend during public show days, there are interested people.  Potential buyers are on scene offering their opinion about a particular vehicle or...

By Tim Healey Toyota's Yaris sometimes gets lost in the small-car shuffle, losing press to the Honda Fit, the Nissan Versa, and Toyota's own (admittedly larger) Corolla. The little subcompact quietly soldiers on with minimal changes for 2010. The biggest news is the addition of standard traction...

Some Are Calling the New Focus the Come Back Kid

It's going to take Audi a long time to live down its U.S. chief's infamous quote that anyone who buys a Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle is an "idiot." But after sticking to diesel for a long time as its sole green strategy, Audi is now storming ahead into smaller, hybrid, and...

How fast is fast enough when talking about charging an electric vehicle?  The question is surely debatable.  Many consider the typical usage of an EV to consist of daily commuting followed by overnight charging.  For some, this would simply not be feasible.  They prefer the fast charge setup...

Understanding the cars of tomorrow is an important steps towards adoption.  With the right knowledge, potential buyers may feel confident in trying out new technologies.  Since plug-in hybrids and EVs are incredibly different than the traditional gasoline powered vehicle, the buyer must be...

Toyota Takes More Heat For Automotive Recall Problems

Whenever we're asked whether electric-car startup Tesla Motors will make it, we respond with our own question: What's the last carmaker started from scratch in the U.S. by entrepreneurs that's still with us, and when did it launch? The answer is Chrysler, and the year was 1924. In other words...

We've always been big fans of the Honda Fit subcompact hatchback, with fuel economy ratings of 28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway for the five-speed manual model. In its review of the newest 2010 Honda Fit, our sister site TheCarConnection lauded the Fit for: City-friendly steering and maneuverability...