John Voelcker, Contributing Editor
Articles
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Today, there are roughly 750,000 plug-in electric vehicles on U.S. roads and about 3,800 powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Proponents of each type of vehicle argue strenuously that their powertrain is...
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2018 Fiat 500e previewWhen the Fiat 500e electric minicar launched in 2013, its range was rated at 87 miles, but its most distinctive feature was its wickedly fun-to-drive character. Six years later, the fun driving remains the same—and the range has fallen slightly to 84 miles, based on changes to EPA test...
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Maine to hit hybrids, electric cars with fees higher than gas tax?Maine has become the latest in a growing string of states to propose adding registration fees for hybrid and electric cars to make up for tax revenue on the gasoline they don't use, or use less of. But it's also part of a much smaller group of those states in which the fees are punitive: drivers of...
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Where will we see the most electric-car innovation? Take our Twitter pollIt hasn't emerged much into the public eye, but some advocates and auto-industry sources have had quiet discussions on whether the U.S. will continue to lead the world in electric-car technology in a new decade. California remains the epicenter of plug-in car adoption, with roughly half the...
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Diesel cheating deal, Model 3 modules, autonomous pod swarms, EV leasing vs buying: Today's Car NewsToday, we've got advice on buying or leasing an electric car, a possible diesel-cheating deal for Jeep and Ram, tax credits in the budget bill, and another Tesla statement after Musk said something that startled analysts. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Over the weekend, as we do every...
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Autonomous swarming electric pods: halfway between train and car?There are cars and trucks, and then there are trains and buses. While multi-seat vans and wagons can serve the purpose of buses carrying multiple unrelated people, a California company has come up with an entirely new concept. The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority announced yesterday it would...
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Most shoppers seem to view visiting a franchised auto dealer to negotiate the purchase or lease of a new car with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
In fact, as electric-car driver Douglas Kerr notes,...
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FCA can settle Jeep, Ram EcoDiesel emission case with fine, recall: Justice DepartmentWhile VW is moving toward the end of buybacks, payments, and fines for eight years of cheating on diesel emission standards, Fiat Chrysler is still in the thick of its own diesel mess involving Jeep SUVs and Ram trucks. On February 2, the U.S. Justice Department offered to let the company move...
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Budget deal restores tax credits for EV charging stations, electric motorcycles, fuel-cell carsFears that Congress would kill the federal tax credit for purchase of a plug-in electric car were laid to rest in December when that incentive survived the $1.5 trillion tax-cut bill. Now Congress has added back a handful of other tax credits related to electric cars and greener transportation in...
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Electric cars in Geneva, plunging Prius sales, Tesla Model 3 delays, hybrid in winter: The Week in ReverseHow did Tesla respond to questions over its latest delays in delivery dates for the Model 3 electric car? Why should EV owners and advocates worry about consumer awareness of plug-in electric cars? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week...
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Tesla Model 3 delays, plunging Prius sales, green-car deals, Sonata Hybrid video: Today's Car NewsToday, we look at plummeting Prius sales, our monthly roundup of best green-car deals, new Tesla Model 3 delivery delays, and a video preview of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. All this and more on Green Car Reports. The company that makes more electric-car batteries in China than any other, known...
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As they say: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
The first Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, launched for 2011, wasn't one of the better examples of the class for drivability.
But Hyundai has updated...
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Tesla Model 3 variants delayed; will some buyers lose $7,500 tax credit?"Overall, I think, while there were challenges associated with Model 3 ramp, we were in a deeper level of hell than we expected, so a few levels deeper than we'd like to be, but swiftly exiting, I think." Those chastened but seemingly optimistic words came from the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, during a...
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Toyota Prius hybrid sales have tanked: here are 4 reasons whyThe Toyota Prius hybrid has been its maker's "halo car" and an example of its most advanced technology for two decades. Launched from an early-1990s project to halve the fuel consumption of a small car, its hybrid-electric powertrain pioneered mass electrification of passenger cars. But the sales...
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Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for February 2018With gasoline cheap and buyers continuing to shun passenger cars for crossovers and trucks, there are bargains to be had in fuel-efficient and electrified vehicles. This month's deals, courtesy of CarsDirect, includes cheap leases, low financing rates, and money off sticker prices. They cover a...
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China's largest electric-car battery maker, CATL, sets sights on U.S. marketJust a handful of companies today make the bulk of battery cells used in plug-in electric cars worldwide. Now the largest single maker of electric-vehicle cells in China has expanded its focus, from the home market to global markets and specifically the U.S. The name, CATL, may not be familiar to...
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Hyundai Kona Electric, new diesel Ford, Lexus RX 450hL price, 2018 Sonata Hybrid: Today's Car NewsToday, we're at the Chicago auto show media day—meaning today—and we've got news about updated hybrid and plug-in hybrid Hyundai Sonatas, a new diesel Ford, some Lexus pricing, and a look ahead to an all-new electric car in Geneva next month. All this and more on Green Car Reports. A...
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What the auto industry calls a "mid-cycle refresh" can range from indistinguishable to very evident.
The 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid falls into the latter category, with new front and rear styling,...
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2018 Lexus RX 450hL hybrid three-row SUV priced from $51,600Lexus invented the idea of a luxury hybrid utility vehicle in a version of its RX crossover well over a decade ago, but sales haven't been strong of late. Cheap gasoline, better fuel efficiency from all types of vehicles due to rising CAFE rules, and a lack of interest in hybrids have all hurt the...
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2019 Ford Transit Connect Wagon gets "EcoBlue" diesel option, no hybrid so farThe last time Ford released a new hybrid or plug-in electric model was for the 2013 model year, and that's a long time ago in electric-car years. Detroit's second-largest automaker continues to work on boosting the fuel-economy ratings of its vehicle lineup, however. The latest example is a new...
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Electric car sales in Canada, fast-charging poll results, this site seeks news writer: Today's Car NewsToday, we've got poll results on what kind of fast charging would lure mass-market buyers, plug-in electric car sales for Canada, and a call for one or two news writers to work for us. All this and more on Green Car Reports. January sales results for plug-in electric cars in Canada are in, and our...
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Green Car Reports is looking for one or two experienced news writersAre you a published writer with a strong and abiding interest in green cars, especially those that plug in? Do you have experience writing assigned news stories on deadline? Are you looking for a new challenge? If so, Green Car Reports would like to talk to you. The site is now seeking one or two...
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What electric-car charging will satisfy a mass market? Twitter poll resultsOne of the obvious challenges of even the latest electric cars is that you can't drive them coast-to-coast as quickly as you can gasoline cars. It's far from impossible to do such a trip—especially if you own a Tesla and can use the company's DC fast-charging Supercharger network—but it...
John Voelcker