Today in Car News
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Volvo adds two new high-performance plug-in hybrids, a North Carolina lithium mine may have new life, and Panasonic and Tesla slow investment in Nevada.
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Polluters pay, 2020 Kia Soul EV, hydrogen internal combustion: Today's Car NewsWe had a first chance to drive the new 2020 Kia Soul EV. London's new pollution charge on older vehicles makes it really expensive to drive older cars into the city. And our latest Twitter poll asks what GM should do with the Volt name now that it no longer produces the car. All this and more on...
Eric C. Evarts -
Ford Explorer plug-in, Karma Revero, German emissions collusion: Today's Car NewsEuropean prosecutors charged German automakers Volkswagen, Daimler, and BMW with collusion over emissions shortfalls. Fiat Chrysler will pay Tesla hundreds of millions of euros to meet emissions targets. The 2020 Ford Explorer will get a plug-in hybrid version in Europe. And Karma revealed a few...
Eric C. Evarts -
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid, Byton M-Byte, Lightning Strike: Today's Car NewsThe Ford Escape Hybrid will make a comeback for 2020—with a plug-in hybrid, too. Chinese Tesla rival Byton reveals the M-byte testing in winter. The Lightning Strike electric motorcycle is out. And our latest Twitter poll asks what kind of electric-car racing matters most. All this and more...
Eric C. Evarts -
Chevy Bolt EV deals, Ram eTorque, in-wheel motors, wind and solar costs: Today's Car NewsRam's new eTorque does more than most mild-hybrid start/stop systems. Chevrolet is making no big sales push at the end of the quarter, despite the expiration of full tax credits for its vehicles. In-wheel motors for EVs may be making their way to the mainstream. And renewable electricity may have...
Eric C. Evarts -
Tesla upgrades, Nissan Leaf Plus drive, more Volvo plug-ins: Today's Car NewsThe first features of Tesla's Full Self-Driving Capability are starting to show up in customers cars. The Nissan Leaf Plus goes long on range, light on charging worries. Volvo underestimated the demand for its plug-in hybrids and is gearing up to produce more. All this and more on Green Car...
Eric C. Evarts -
In an effort to speed up wait times at its service centers, Tesla is eliminating regular annual service visits for its cars. Canada is planning on launching its first nationwide tax credit for electric cars. A new report estimates that by 2030, almost 70 percent of new cars sold in the U.S. may still use gasoline. And Faraday Future gets another, much smaller, lifeline. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Tesla is now recommending service "as needed" for its cars and plans to promote the native reliability of electric cars in its latest effort to cut wait times at its service centers...
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Jaguar I-Pace range, electric BMWs, Ford factories, Fisker batteries: Today's Car NewsBMW plans to have 10 plug-in models by next year. Ford announces where it plans to build a wider array of upcoming electric cars. Fisker postpones plans for solid-state batteries. And we assess why the Jaguar I-Pace has made us more anxious than other EVs. All this and more on Green Car Reports. At...
Eric C. Evarts -
Tesla Model 3 vs. Nissan Leaf, VW diesels, electric off-roaders: Today's Car NewsTesla is starting to have some competition. We lay out the pluses and minuses of the new base Tesla Model 3 against the new longer-range Nissan Leaf Plus. One of the biggest makers of recreational vehicles looks poised for more electric ones thanks to a new deal. And despite Volkswagen's big plans...
Eric C. Evarts -
2020 Tesla Model Y competitors, no more Mid Range Model 3, new Fisker SUV: Today's Car NewsToday, we run down all the current and near-term competitors to the upcoming Tesla Model Y, and look at everything we know about the car to this point. In the meantime, Tesla dropped the Mid Range Model 3 this weekend. And one-time Tesla rival Fisker revealed that it will launch its new lineup with...
Eric C. Evarts -
VW widens electric net, Karma Vision, FCA emissions recall: Today's Car NewsVolkswagen dramatically expanded its already big plans for electric cars. Karma released its vision for the next 10 years with three new or updated models. FCA will recall more than 860,000 gas-powered cars for failing on-road emissions tests. And our latest Twitter poll shows which versions of the...
Eric C. Evarts -
Volvo batteries, California superhighways, more efficient motors: Today's Car NewsFalling reliability costs the Tesla Model 3 its Consumer Reports recommendation. Could high-speed rail be replaced with high-speed highways? Volvo is pulling depleted batteries out of electric buses to use as energy storage for solar in a large apartment complex in Sweden. Argonne National Lab has...
Eric C. Evarts -
Honda teamed with student designers for its latest EV concept. VW is cleaning up its emissions act, not just in cars, but in its factories. Ford is recalling 2019 Fusion Energis for an electric-shock hazard. And readers weigh in on the Green New Deal in our latest Twitter poll. All this and more on Green Car Reports. As Volkswagen transitions to building electric cars, the company has instituted new standards up and down its supply chain to lower carbon emissions from the cars' production. Honda is updating its Urban EV concept for the upcoming Geneva auto show with its new electric Tomo...
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Tesla batteries, EPA comments, Hyundai and Kia plug-in availability: Today's Car NewsActing EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said electric cars are "not grounds for concern" at the EPA—yet highway safety and car prices are. Tesla buys a company that builds ultracapacitors. Hyundai and Kia aim to avoid the dreaded "compliance car" label with their EV sales—barely. We...
Eric C. Evarts -
Kia Niro EV drive, Tesla service, electric car ads: Today's Car NewsTesla plans to make service quicker, easier, and automatic. National Electric Vehicles Sweden bought a stake in Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg. And our latest Twitter poll asks for readers' opinions about electric-car ads. All this and more on Green Car Reports. In our first chance to drive the...
Eric C. Evarts -
Tesla squeeze, broadband charging, EV education, EPA science: Today's Car NewsThe British parent of Virgin Media plans to use Virgin's broadband wiring to build public electric-car charging stations. Electric-car charging info site Chargeway sets up its first installations in Portland, Oregon. And the EPA appointed a noted skeptic of climate action. All this and more on...
Eric C. Evarts -
VW buggy, Porsche 911 Hybrid, Shell chargers, Tesla profits: Today's Car NewsTesla reported profits, and revealed new model lineups for its Model S and Model X—and another price cut. Volkswagen announced it will build a concept electric dune buggy for the Geneva auto show. Details of the upcoming Porsche 911 Hybrid have emerged. And Shell has bought its first charging...
Eric C. Evarts -
Faster Rivian charging, Tesla Autopilot chip, new Honda battery tech: Today's Car NewsSamsung might be supplying Tesla's promised new Autopilot chips in the spring. Honda reveals a new battery that could have 10 times the range of today's lithium-ion cells. And the U.S. hit a milestone for electric car sales last month, reaching 1 million plug-ins across the country. All this and...
Eric C. Evarts -
The backlash builds over the EPA fuel-economy freeze; Hyundai’s subscription plan for the Ioniq Electric is gone; and Caterpillar shovels some money into Fisker for solid-state battery technology. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Honda has joined General Motors in calling for a comprehensive national fuel-economy program that would include aspects of California’s standards—an electric-vehicle mandate, for instance. More than 12,000 comments were filed on the EPA’s proposed rule to freeze the national standards at 2020 levels. Many are pointing to subscription...
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Wireless charging, Model S reliability, Tesla leadership: Today’s Car NewsWireless charging shows its efficiency potential. The Tesla Model S loses its spot on a respected consumer publication’s top list. And who should succeed Musk? All this and more on Green Car Reports. A U.S. Department of Energy lab may have reached a new power-and-efficiency threshold for...
Bengt Halvorson -
Tesla’s profit, Volvo’s mobile charging investment, researchers’ "mass-less" batteries: Today’s Car NewsVolvo invests in mobile charging. Vehicle bodies might double as batteries in the future. And yes, the day has finally come for Tesla. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Tesla yesterday reported a profit. With some creative number-crunching, it also claimed to have the best-selling car in the...
Bengt Halvorson -
Tesla price hike, Dyson factory plan, GM tax-credit sunset: Today's Car NewsGM is next, after Tesla, in hitting the 200,000 ceiling for the EV tax credit. The EPA dismisses some more groups of scientists. And electric-vehicle hopeful Dyson is soon starting a factory, as Faraday Future's struggles continue. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Less than six days after...
Bengt Halvorson -
Tesla teardown redux, smaller fast chargers, dirty battery manufacturing: Today's Car NewsA much-publicized Tesla teardown from earlier in the year reveals some lessons and missed opportunities. Battery manufacturing happens to be in places with dirty power sources. And DC fast chargers have the potential to downsize. All this and more on Green Car Reports. The teardown (disassembly)...
Bengt Halvorson -
EPA deadline, BMW electric reality check, Mustang hybrid tease: Today's Car NewsIf you have a strong position regarding the EPA's proposal to freeze fuel economy standards at 2020 levels through 2026, speak out. Tomorrow is the deadline for making public comments that are part of the legal record. A zinc-air battery project is backed by a big name and claims to have achieved...
Bengt Halvorson