John Voelcker, Contributing Editor

John Voelcker is an accomplished automotive journalist with a diverse background in the industry. As a cofounder of Tempting Fate Tours, he has delved into the world of adventurous car experiences, providing enthusiasts with unforgettable journeys for a year and a half. With a passion for automotive journalism, Voelcker's expertise extends to his tenure as a Contributing Editor at Internet Brands. During his stint, he has contributed valuable insights and engaging content to one of the most respected automotive publications in the industry. Previously, Voelcker served as the inaugural Editor of Green Car Reports under the Internet Brands Automotive Group. For over nine years, starting in 2009, he played a vital role in reporting, editing, and providing news coverage and new-car reviews. His contributions also extended to sister sites, including The Car Connection and Motor Authority, solidifying his reputation as a trusted source in the automotive community. In addition to his editorial work, Voelcker has actively covered advanced auto technologies and energy policy for a multitude of esteemed publications. Wired, Popular Science, Tech Review, IEEE Spectrum, and HybridCars.com are among the platforms that have featured his articles. Recognized for his expertise, he was appointed as one of the jurors for the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards in 2015. With a wealth of experience behind the wheel, Voelcker has driven electric and hybrid cars from dozens of automakers, along with countless other vehicles. His firsthand experiences provide a valuable perspective in his automotive reporting. Voelcker's editorial journey has taken him through various notable magazines, including This Old House, Metropolis, Psychology Today, Exposure, Mother Earth News, Budget Living, and IEEE Spectrum. His diverse background showcases his versatility and ability to cover a wide range of topics. Voelcker holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, which adds a unique analytical lens to his automotive reporting. Splitting his time between the picturesque Catskill Mountains and vibrant New York City, he finds inspiration in both the tranquility of nature and the dynamic urban environment.

Articles

Home Owner Associations & Electric Cars: How To Make It Work (Advice From A Pro) John Voelcker February 25, 2014

Residents of condominiums and other multiple dwellings who drive plug-in electric cars are fast becoming a challenge for the managers and boards that run those buildings.

Early this month, a $450...
2014 BMW i3 Gets CA Carpool-Lane Access: Battery Only, So Far
As expected, the 2014 BMW i3 electric car has been awarded its "white sticker," the coveted permission to drive in High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes with only one occupant on California's crowded freeways. The range-extended version of the i3, however, has not yet appeared on the list--and there remains...
John Voelcker February 24, 2014

2015 Nissan Micra: $10K Minicar For Canada--Paid For By Smart?
A fuel-efficient five-door hatchback a little smaller than a subcompact--for less than $10,000? That sounds like a pretty good deal. Unfortunately, it's a deal only available to Canadian buyers--because the 2015 Nissan Micra is being offered just in that country, not in the United States. MORE...
John Voelcker February 21, 2014
Chevy Volt Charging Cord Cut: Angry Neighbor, Electric-Car Hater?
Owning a plug-in electric car, as buyers learn, is a process of educating the public at large. Mostly, people are curious when they see a car plugged in to recharge. But occasionally, uglier emotions come into play. That's apparently what happened to Matthew Cummings and Jennifer Brown. The couple...
John Voelcker February 21, 2014
Nissan To Work With Bhutan Toward 'Electric-Car Nation' Goal
The small Asian nation of Bhutan has a very big goal: It hopes to convert the country's vehicles to almost all electric power. Today, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced an agreement between the nation and the carmaker to work together toward that goal. Nissan Leaf...
John Voelcker February 21, 2014
CONTEST: Most Unusual Place You've Charged An Electric Car?
We know electric-car owners will go to extraordinary lengths to plug in and recharge wherever the opportunity presents itself. It may be for just a few minutes--a kilowatt-hour here and there--or it may be overnight. Sometimes even longer. MORE: Electric-Car Drivers Charge Anywhere; Check Out These...
John Voelcker February 20, 2014
Pickup Truck Gas Mileage, 2015 And Beyond: 30 MPG Highway Is Next Hurdle John Voelcker February 20, 2014

This year, the big hurdle for pickup-truck gas mileage was 20 miles per gallon combined--and two trucks made it.

For 2015, the bar has been raised: The next race is to see which full-size pickup can...

New Fiskers Will Have V-8s OR Batteries, Wanxiang Says
If lithium-ion batteries are "the heart of Fisker," according to new owner Wanxiang, then what does it say is "the soul of Fisker"? That would be the VL Destino, a version of the Fisker Karma range-extended electric luxury sedan with no batteries, electric motors, or plugs at all. MORE: Who's Still...
John Voelcker February 20, 2014
Fees Start April 1 On WA Electric Highway: Same Price As Gas?
All good things must come to an end--and it seems that applies to free DC quick-charging for electric cars along the Northwest's innovative Electric Highway. For the past year or more, the CHAdeMO quick-charging stations in Oregon and Washington states have offered free recharging under the...
John Voelcker February 19, 2014
BMW's Toughest Task: Training Its Dealers On i3 Electric Car
Early adopters, ecology-minded citizens and, increasingly, drivers who want very low running costs are now buying plug-in electric cars. That much we know. But many have reported frustrations at the dealership, from a lack of interest to salespeople who actively steer them away from electrics...
John Voelcker February 19, 2014
Dumb Laws From States Banning Tesla Sales
Those states that ban electric-car startup Tesla Motors from opening stores and selling cars online--including Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Virginia--turn out to have a bunch of other really dumb laws on their books too.
John Voelcker February 18, 2014
Gas Mileage During Dealership Test Drives: Mostly Meaningless
You've read the reviews, and it's finally time: You're off to the dealer to replace your old car with a new, much more fuel-efficient vehicle. But then you get to the dealer, and during your test drive, you notice that the gas mileage shown on the car's display is nowhere near the EPA rating...
John Voelcker February 18, 2014

New Owner Wants To Restart Fisker Karma Production, ASAP John Voelcker February 18, 2014

If all goes according to schedule, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Kevin Gross will rule today on whether the assets from bankrupt Fisker Automotive will be sold to Wanxiang, China's largest auto-parts maker.

...
Fisker Assets Sold For $149 Million To Wanxiang, Chinese Parts Maker
The assets of bankrupt Fisker Automotive were sold to Wanxiang America at the close of an auction in Delaware bankruptcy court that lasted more than two days and lasted 19 rounds. Bloomberg reports that the Chinese company paid a total of $149.2 million for the company, or six times the price of...
John Voelcker February 15, 2014
2014 Toyota Corolla Eco LE: Gas Mileage Test Drive
The Toyota Corolla has long been the best-selling compact sedan in the U.S., and the all-new 2014 Corolla is a considerable advance over the aged, grim, unexciting model it replaced. We recently tested the most fuel-efficient model, the Corolla Eco, over our usual test route of about two-thirds...
John Voelcker February 14, 2014
Tesla Model S Electric Car Versus ... Ford Model T? A History Lesson
Well, give Car and Driver points for high concept: In picking a car to test against a 2013 Tesla Model S luxury electric sedan, the magazine chose...a 1915 Ford Model T. Yep, the most advanced, most talked-about battery-electric vehicle on the planet was pitted against the car that put the world on...
John Voelcker February 14, 2014
2014 Nissan Leaf Has Lowest Lifetime Carbon Footprint: Report
Which new vehicle sold today has the lowest overall carbon footprint over its lifetime? The answer, according to Automotive Science Group (via InsideEVs), turns out to be the Nissan Leaf battery-electric car. In a study to be released this spring, The Automotive Peformance Index: Redefining Value...
John Voelcker February 14, 2014
Many Car Dealers Don't Want To Sell Electric Cars: Here's Why
The stories abound: A car buyer walks into a dealership, educated about the electric car she wants to buy...and the salesperson tries to convince her she doesn't want that car after all. She really wants a gasoline car, he argues. MORE: Why Some Dealers Are Inept At Selling Plug-In Electric Cars...
John Voelcker February 14, 2014

2015 Kia Soul EV: Details From Execs Who Brought It To The U.S. John Voelcker February 13, 2014

The upcoming 2015 Kia Soul EV is not only the Korean carmaker's first battery-electric vehicle sold in the U.S., it's also one of less than a dozen all-electric cars offered for sale.

Launched last...
2015 Volvo S60, XC60, New V60 Wagon: Fuel-Efficient Drive-E Engines
After several years of keeping quiet, Volvo is finally starting to roll out new and updated products--especially in its core mid-size segment. We've now driven three of them, all 2015 models: the XC60 crossover utility, the S60 sport sedan, and the new V60 wagon, the first actual Volvo wagon to be...
John Voelcker February 13, 2014
Did You Know There's Now A 'Tesla Lifestyle'? Neither Did We
Tesla Motors continues to rack up achievements, it seems. The company has built more than 30,000 of its sleek Model S electric sport sedans, it's expanding into Europe and China, and it continues to get buzz and set stock-price records. In other words, the brand is HOT. MORE: Elon Musk Talks Tesla...
John Voelcker February 13, 2014
2014 Cadillac ELR Ad: What Does It Say About Who Buys Electric Cars? (Video)
Well, if this is the guy who's actually going to buy a 2014 Cadillac ELR, there may be some interesting conversations to come with Nissan Leaf owners. This ELR driver is a hard-charging, self-assured, contemptuous-of-vacations, modern-home-owning middle-aged white male, as portrayed in a recent...
John Voelcker February 10, 2014
Nissan's Greener Non-Electric Cars: Hybrids, Diesels, But No Plug-In Hybrids?
In the world of green cars, Nissan is best known for its Leaf electric car--which is the world's best-selling electric vehicle ever, with more than 100,000 delivered. But like any global automaker, Nissan is pursuing a variety of powertrain and other technologies to boost the efficiency of all its...
John Voelcker February 10, 2014
2015 Kia Soul EV Electric Car Unveiled At Chicago Auto Show
Call it electric Soul: Kia took the wraps off its first electric car to be sold in the U.S. this morning, officially launching the 2015 Kia Soul EV at the Chicago Auto Show. The Soul EV was one of three Kia vehicles featured at the Chicago show. It was shown alongside the Kia Niro Concept, a hybrid...
John Voelcker February 6, 2014