synd-vehicle-history
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It's not surprising that the powertrains of electric cars differ quite a bit from traditional internal-combustion engines. Although they have fewer moving parts, the rare-earth magnets that help power electric cars can be quite complex to fabricate. So, what is there to know about rare-earth magnets—and how do automakers choose which kind of magnet is best for an electric car's motor? DON'T MISS: Better electric motors can boost electric-car efficiency First, there are four main types of magnets: ceramic (ferrite), AlNiCo, Samarium Cobalt (SmCo), and Neodymium (NdFeB). The latter is the...
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The 2018 Nissan Leaf has three types of cruise control: how they differWhen the 2018 Nissan Leaf electric car arrives at dealerships early next year, it will offer fresh styling inside and out, more power, a 150-mile range, and an array of standard or optional active-safety features. It will come in Nissan's standard three trim levels—base S, mid-level SV, and...
John Voelcker -
Porsche Mission E electric sport sedan: 200-mile recharge in 15 minutesWhile there have been lots of concept cars and production announcements, the first serious German competitor to the Tesla Model S and Model X won't arrive for at least another year. And what could prove the most potent of them all—the production version of the stunning Porsche Mission E...
John Voelcker -
Chevy Bolt EV, Sonic, Bolt, Sonic: GM mingles gas, electric cars on same assembly lineGeneral Motors didn't have to construct an all-new assembly plant to build its affordable, mass-market Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car. In fact, it produces the electric car at the existing Orion assembly plant in Michigan, which opened in 1983. That's not the most interesting aspect of Bolt EV...
Sean Szymkowski -
2017 electric cars with more than 100 miles of range (updated)These are the 2017 electric cars with more than 100 miles of range.
Stephen Edelstein -
How did Proterra get an electric bus to cover 1,100 miles on a charge? A bigger battery, of courseThe laws of physics tend to be immutable, at least until you get into esoteric disciplines like quantum science. In the case of electric vehicles, one law provides that higher energy capacity in a battery allows a vehicle to travel further. That's the principle electric-bus maker Proterra has used...
John Voelcker -
Model years can be confusing: the 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf electric car just went on sale this month, at a time when some other makers have already rolled out 2018 models. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, meanwhile, went on sale since last December; at some point this fall, we expect to get information on the 2018 version. Comparing the two 2017 compact electric hatchbacks shows significant differences in range and lease cost. DON'T MISS: 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf, 125-mile electric car, starts at $31,315 Surprisingly, the top version of the electric car with the lower EPA-rated range (the 2017 VW...
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California plans for its post-fossil-fuel future in electricity, carsFor 50 years, the state of California has led the United States when it comes to renewable energy and electric cars. The state features many programs to incentivize electric-car ownership, and 29 percent of the state's 2016 energy production came from solar, wind, and other renewable power sources...
Sean Szymkowski -
Volkswagen ID electric car to launch in 2020 along with new VW GolfVolkswagen has a critical year coming in 2020, when the German brand will launch two incredibly important vehicles nearly back-to-back. The next-generation Volkswagen Golf will arrive that year, and then, one month later, the brand will launch its first mass-market electric car, the ID hatchback...
Sean Szymkowski -
Honda CR-V Hybrid displayed in Frankfurt; US likely next, but when?Five months ago, Honda showed a hybrid version of its CR-V compact crossover utility vehicle at the Shanghai auto show. Now, a European version of the Honda CR-V Hybrid is being shown at this week's Frankfurt auto show. Having teased it twice around the world, will the hybrid crossover come to...
John Voelcker -
GM CEO Barra attacks China gas-car ban, suggests buyers should decideGeneral Motors CEO Mary Barra met with reporters in Shanghai on Friday, discussing the company's vision of the future: "a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion." The company doesn't think, however, that China should be quite so hasty in pushing to ban cars that actually do...
John Voelcker -
Electric cars near 2 percent of German market (plug-in hybrids included), surging past USWhile Volkswagen's diesel scandal has fallen out of the public eye in the United States, its effects continue to be felt in Europe, where diesel-powered cars have long reigned supreme. Falling sales of diesel vehicles in many European countries are somewhat balanced by a boost for electric and...
Sean Szymkowski -
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the sole plug-in hybrid minivan for sale anywhere in North America, but it hasn't had a particularly smooth rollout. Its seven seats and 33 miles of EPA-rated electric range make it appealing to families who want a plug-in vehicle with more than five seats and more than 20 miles of range. But while sales began in April, they were halted in June when Chrysler issued a recall related to a potentially faulty diode within the power inverter module. DON'T MISS: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: first drive of plug-in hybrid minivan That part could stop functioning...
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States to force emission, fuel-economy rules showdown with Trump Administration?Continuing political turmoil and news coverage of the Trump Administration haven't stopped the president's agency heads from drastically reshaping policies on energy, the environment, and emissions. Comments are now being taken on the reopened EPA limits on vehicular carbon emissions for 2022...
John Voelcker -
European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-July 2017The data has been crunched and the latest round of sales figures has arrived for a look at European electric and plug-in hybrid sales through the month of July. With another month on the books, Europe still continues to choose one specific electric car and one plug-in hybrid over all the other...
Sean Szymkowski -
Toyota Prius owners: Hyundai will give you $1,000 to buy an Ioniq HybridThe Toyota Prius is undoubtedly the world's best-known hybrid car, and it's now been in production over four generations for more than 20 years. There have been more than 6 million Priuses built so far, and the U.S. represents the car's largest single market. That means lots of current Prius...
John Voelcker -
2020 Mazda electric car to share Toyota underpinnings, technologyMazda is a tiny carmaker on a global scale, producing just 1.6 million vehicles a year. It competes with four companies (GM, Nissan-Renault, Toyota, and VW Group) that each sell around 10 million a year, as well as numerous other smaller makers still larger than Mazda. In a world where reducing the...
John Voelcker -
Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for September 2017Another month has gone by, which means it's time for another round of superb deals for hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars. For September, many of last month's cars hold their place on the list, though incentives have gotten better for some of them. As always, offers listed here reflect the...
Sean Szymkowski -
China made headlines around the world on Sunday when state media reported that the country is developing a timetable to end production and sales of new vehicles with gasoline engines. While Norway, The Netherlands, France, and the U.K. have adopted different timetables for various versions of such a ban, China is both the world's most populous nation and the world's largest vehicle market. But it's important to note that the world's second most populous nation, India, plans to do exactly the same thing. DON'T MISS: China developing timetable to end sales, production of gasoline cars India has...
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2017 Volkswagen e-Golf, 125-mile electric car, starts at $31,315The 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf gets several notable updates, including a larger battery pack and more powerful electric motor.
Stephen Edelstein