Syndicate
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We spend more time than we probably should in grumbling at media coverage of plug-in electric cars. Journalists try to get it right, in general, but often the specific and complex issues around electric cars, who buys them, and how they're really used get lost or ignored in general reporting. At one reader's suggestion, then, here are the five myths about electric cars we see most often. (1) Gas prices will hurt or kill sales of plug-in electric cars It's possible that this will happen, but as of yet, there'll little data to suggest that. And the data from a four-year study by Plug-In America...
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What Country Powered Itself Entirely On Renewable Energy For 75 Days?Costa Rica claims to have powered itself entirely with renewable sources, mostly hydroelectric.
Stephen Edelstein -
How To Drive A Tesla Model S Electric Car Free For 18 MonthsAn owner claims to have essentially driven a Tesla Model S for free for 18 months.
Stephen Edelstein -
2015 New York Auto Show: Green Car PreviewA preview of the green-car debuts we're expecting to see at the 2015 New York Auto Show.
Stephen Edelstein -
Elon Musk: Tesla Model S 'Ends Range Anxiety' With Smart Navigation, Trip PlannerEarlier this week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk teased us Model S owners with a tweet promising to “end range anxiety.” In a press conference this morning, Musk revealed the goods: an over-the-air firmware update that, while not increasing the range of the car, will at least set the...
David Noland -
Tesla Wins One In Jersey: Gov Christie Signs Bill To OK Four StoresTesla can now operate up to four of its retail stores in New Jersey.
Stephen Edelstein -
Scion's second new model will be a sedan called the iA.
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Kids React To Tesla Model S P85D 'Insane' Mode Launch: Video Shows How Fast It IsIf you haven't heard of the all-electric, all-wheel-drive Tesla Model S P85D--and you're reading about green cars--you may not have been paying attention. Tesla Motors claims the P85D is the fastest four-door sedan on the market, at least from 0 to 60 miles per hour. To date, no other automaker has...
Joel Feder -
Tesla Model S Double-Pedal Behavior Still Inconsistent: A Safety Plea To Elon MuskLast summer, I wrote an article patting Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk on the back for being so responsive to Model S electric-car owners. Of whom I am one. But in 2015? Not so much. I ended that article with a plea to Musk for a safety upgrade on the Model S: a firmware change to cut off power to the...
David Noland -
Tesla Battery Swapping: Useful Service Or Minimal Effort For Extra Income?Tesla Motors has been opening its Supercharger DC fast-charging stations at a dizzying pace lately, with 175 U.S. sites operating, and almost two dozen more either in construction or permitted. Globally that total is almost 400 sites, which likely represents more than 2,000 separate outlets. But...
John Voelcker -
2015 BMW i8 Video Road TestThe BMW i8 is sleek and stunning, but it's no V-8-powered supercar. Is it the car that will give plug-in hybrids sex appeal? First, you need to know what makes the i8 go. This is no straightforward supercar: The i8 gets power in a complex way--it can be front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or...
Joel Feder -
Top 10 Cities For Electric Cars: San Francisco Leads, But It's Not All CaliforniaSan Francisco is the top U.S. city for electric cars, according to ChargePoint.
Stephen Edelstein -
Oregon will test a system that tracks vehicle mileage to determine taxes.
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Toyota Mirai Fuel-Cell Car's Ad Agency Should Study Engine Technology More CloselyOh, Toyota ... really? It's not bad enough that your Lexus brand put out two ads that inaccurately slammed plug-in electric and diesel vehicles, respectively. Now your own agency has gone and made a foolish technical error in an ad meant to pave the way for your 2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell...
John Voelcker -
Ford May Show A 200-Mile Electric Car This Year To Counter Chevy Bolt: UPDATEThe announcement that the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt electric car will go into production within 18 months seemingly sent shockwaves through the auto industry. GM's crosstown rival Ford, which has sold hybrids for more than 10 years but shown little love for battery-electric cars, now seems to feel the...
John Voelcker -
Plug-In Electric Car Sales In Feb: Cold-Weather Doldrums Continue: FINAL UPDATEWinter is always a slower sales time for plug-in electric cars than the warmer months, and last month looks like it won't be any exception. Sales of most of the highest-selling battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models stayed roughly at levels similar to those of January. While a blockbuster...
John Voelcker -
Future Buyers Of Gen Z Prefer Cars To Trucks; Fuel Economy Is KeyYounger buyers emphasize fuel efficiency, a new study says.
Stephen Edelstein -
Senate Bill Introduced To End Ethanol Mandate For GasolineAnew bill would discard a mandate requiring larger volumes of ethanol be added to the U.S. fuel supply.
Stephen Edelstein -
Even 10 years ago, the idea of a “family sedan” that could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds was something between a rarity and a fantasy. Even more delusional was the thought of a stock family sedan that could exceed 200 mph. Those heady performance figures were traditionally the territory of extremely expensive sports cars and exotics--but has Tesla invaded this turf with its highest-performance Model S electric luxury sedan, the P85D. DON'T MISS: Why I Had To Trade My Tesla Model S For A Brand-New P85D The challenge of a fast 0-to-60-mph time depends on three...
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Amp Electric's Workhorse Wants To Be 'Tesla Of Trucks' For Electric Delivery VansAside from economic recession and cautious buyers, one of the biggest challenges for companies that want to sell electrified commercial trucks turns out to be ... making or converting trucks. Amp Electric, a surviving veteran of several generations of electric-truck development, decided to solve...
John Voelcker -
This Guy Says Tesla Will Fail As A Company; DiscussTesla's future is still in doubt, some analysts say.
Stephen Edelstein -
Gas Prices Don't Affect Electric-Car Sales: Finally The Word Gets OutNew studies show low gas prices don't hurt electric-car sales.
Stephen Edelstein -
Strange Bedfellows: Consumer Groups, Koch Brothers Unite To Back Tesla StoresKoch-backed Americans for Prosperity is one of 10 groups to sign a pro-Tesla letter to U.S. lawmakers.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tesla Model S Battery Life: How Much Range Loss For Electric Car Over Time?One of the things electric-car owners worry about is long-term battery degradation. It’s a well-established fact that lithium-ion batteries gradually lose capacity as they undergo numerous charge/discharge cycles. We owners understand that our range will gradually decline over the life of the...
David Noland