Bengt Halvorson, Senior Editor
Articles
-
Do start-stop systems, which smartly switch off the gasoline (or diesel) engine at stoplights and restart it as soon as you lift off the brake pedal, produce significant gains in gas mileage?
In...
-
DC Fast Charging: Mitsubishi Says You Can Do It Every DayThe 2012 Mitsubishi i batteries will retain 80 percent of their original charge after ten years—and that includes a consideration that the battery might be frequently quick-charged.
Bengt Halvorson -
2012 Mitsubishi i: First Drive, U.S.-Spec MiEVThe 2012 Mitsubishi i (what it’s called here) is the most efficient DOT-legal vehicle for sale in the U.S. market, with an official MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) rating of 112.
Bengt Halvorson -
2012 Chevrolet Sonic: First DriveWe found the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic to be fuel-efficient, comfortable, and in 1.4T form, the most refined model in this class, and one of the most engaging to drive.
Bengt Halvorson -
2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In, 2012 Prius V: Pricing, New DetailsToyota has announced pricing on two new models from its Prius family: the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In and the 2012 Toyota Prius V. And it's clarified that both trim levels of the plug-in Prius are likely to qualify for a Federal tax credit of $2,500.
Bengt Halvorson -
Land Rover DC100, DC100 Sport Concepts: 2011 Frankfurt Auto ShowLand Rover has officially revealed its DC100 Concepts—which show the essentially elements of the next (2015) Land Rover Defender
Bengt Halvorson -
This time around, the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid isn't an afterthought.That's what a Toyota official circuitously said at a product presentation for the new Camry, and it was a point driven home as...
-
Ten Percent Electric Vehicles By 2020? No Sweat, Utility CEO SaysHow many people, how soon, could be driving electric vehicles before it makes a significant difference to the grid and the utility needs to increase capacity?
Bengt Halvorson -
Portland's Electric Avenue Charger Project Aims To Take It HigherIn what we see as a shrewd move that will help keep Portland, Oregon at the forefront of the EV movement, the city has dedicated a full city block, called Electric Avenue, to EV charging.
Bengt Halvorson -
Mazda Next-Gen Sky-D Diesel: Cleaner Than VW TDI?The Mazda 2.0-liter Sky-D clean-diesel engine, when it makes its debut in a year or two, will almost certainly be the cleanest of the lot.
Bengt Halvorson -
Fuel-Saving Mazda i-Stop Stalled In U.S. Because Of EPA TestsOver several years, Mazda's i-Stop engine start-stop feature has helped owners in other markets to save on their fuel budget—and it's helped commuters in some of the most traffic-clogged areas be a little greener.
Bengt Halvorson -
2012 Mazda3: 40 MPG Highway, Zoom-Zoom IntactThe 2012 Mazda3 will be the first of Mazda's U.S. models to benefit from the automaker's SkyActiv initiative, which aims to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and make Mazda products even more competitive.
Bengt Halvorson -
BMW revealed two new electric, hybrid, and range-extended models--the BMW i3 electric car and the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid--at a special press conference in Frankfurt earlier today.GreenCarReports...
-
2012 Scion iQ: Is 37 MPG Good Enough?The all-new 2012 Scion iQ minicar starts at around $16k and earns an EPA-rated 36 mpg city, 37 highway, for a Combined figure of 37 mpg.
Bengt Halvorson -
Portland, Oregon: Why Is It A Leading Electric Vehicle Market?Portland was chosen as one of the first markets for both the 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2011 Chevrolet Volt—and at least for the Leaf, the density of charging stations and the presence of that CHAdeMO quick-charger probably had something to do with it.
Bengt Halvorson -
2013 Ford C-Max Energi: Dearborn's Answer To Volt And PriusToyota has managed to make its Prius family iconic, instantly identified by its unique silhouettes and body styles, and almost synonymous with 'hybrid'; and this past year, GM's Chevrolet Volt, as well as the Nissan Leaf have gone on sale with distinct shapes calling them as among the greenest...
Bengt Halvorson -
40 MPG And Safe: IIHS Names Ten Top PicksGood occupant safety can come in small packages—even those that get 40 mpg or more. That's one of the themes of the latest round of crash-test results and safety ratings released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Overall, there are now ten small-car and minicar models in...
Bengt Halvorson -
Could China’s Hawtai Supply Saab With High-MPG Clean Diesels?Saab's new deal with a fledgling Chinese automaker doesn't just mean a lifeline for the struggling Swedish automaker; it could over the longer term become a much-needed powertrain supplier—especially in the area of clean diesels. Through the deal that's almost finalized, Hawtai Motor Group...
Bengt Halvorson -
While the Kizashi Apex Concept shown at Suzuki's New York auto show stand showed off the brand's motorsports and motorcycle heritage, the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept here shows the direction for the...
-
Will Surging Gas Prices Save The Honda Insight?The Toyota Prius is the best-selling hybrid vehicle of all time and recently passed three million sales globally and a million in the U.S., over more than a decade. And when fuel prices rise, so has demand for the Prius and other high-mileage vehicles. So then, why hasn't it for the Honda Insight?...
Bengt Halvorson -
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Gets 38 MPG: Live Photos, PreviewToday at the New York auto show, General Motors pulled the wraps off what it says is Chevrolet's first global mid-size sedan, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. And while the Malibu is a completely new car, with significant upgrades in safety and technology features, the true draw for those interested in...
Bengt Halvorson -
Toyota: No Plans For Quick Charging In RAV4 EVWhen the RAV4 EV reaches its Phase One stage next year, and a limited-production vehicle goes on sale, it will have one key difference versus the Phase Zero prototype we drove in the San Diego area this past week. While the RAV4 EV prototypes have a proprietary charge connector from Tesla Motors...
Bengt Halvorson -
2012 Toyota RAV4 EV Prototype: First Drive
Just a year ago, seeing the 'RAV4, Powered by Tesla' startup greeting would have been almost unthinkable. Yet last May, Toyota and Tesla inked a deal that took the industry by surprise—and left a lot of observers scratching their heads. And nearly eleven months since that deal—and nine...
Bengt Halvorson -
U.S. Toyota Prius Sales Top One-Million MarkToyota announced today that it's sold more than one million of its Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles. The Prius went on sale in the U.S. market nearly eleven years ago, and while it wasn't the first hybrid on sale here—that title would go to the original Honda Insight two-seater—it has...
Bengt Halvorson