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

One Former Fisker Dealer Vanishes Into History (Photos) John Voelcker August 1, 2013

Remember Fisker Automotive, the startup carmaker that sold the $106,000 luxury range-extended electric sport sedan called the Karma?

Hang onto your memories, because the physical traces of Fisker's...
Senate Bill Boosts CAFE Ratings For Natural-Gas Vehicles With Gasoline Backup
A new bill in the U.S. Senate would amend Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules to encourage production of a new class of natural-gas vehicles with "reserve" gasoline tanks. As demonstrated in a drive of prototype vehicles earlier this year, the range-extended natural gas cars would run for perhaps...
John Voelcker July 31, 2013

Why Silicon Valley Venture Firm Kleiner Perkins Bet On Fisker, Not Tesla
Venture capitalists fund a lot of startup companies, and most of them don't pan out. So famed venture firm Kleiner Perkins' stake in Fisker Automotive--which is still trying to sell itself, but hasn't built a car for 12 months--could be viewed as just another failed investment. On the other hand...
John Voelcker July 31, 2013
2014 BMW i3 Electric Car: Full Details And Images Released
We won't see them in the States until early next year, but today the 2014 BMW i3 electric car was revealed in production form to the world at large. Some images had already leaked, and BMW had previously released some specifications and also information on the i3's connectivity and navigation...
John Voelcker July 29, 2013
New Clean-Ish Diesel For World's Oldest Production Car (In India)
You've likely never heard of a Hindustan Ambassador--and unless you're an old British-car geek, you've certainly never seen a Morris Oxford Series III. But the Ambassador--fondly known as the "Amby"--is both India's de facto taxi cab and the oldest production car in the world. Now it's been fitted...
John Voelcker July 28, 2013
Plug-In Electric Car Buyers Very Satisfied With Cars: Report
A new report issued today on the current status of plug-in electric cars suggests that buyers are very happy with their cars, and plug-in sales are rising faster than hybrids sales did after they were launched. "Customer experiences have typically been extremely positive," says the report, citing...
John Voelcker July 25, 2013
Toyota And Ford To Go It Alone On Hybrid Trucks After Study John Voelcker July 23, 2013

Sometimes the most significant divorces are handled in the most minimalist way.

So it was with a brief press statement from Toyota today, noting that after completing a "feasibility study" that took...

Electric Cars Sell Faster Than Hybrids Did At Same Point
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Above is a graph comparing the relative sales volumes of hybrids (starting in 2000) to those of plug-in electric cars (starting in 2011). It comes from the U.S. Department of Energy, which tweeted the image last Friday. (We're not sure why the units on...
John Voelcker July 23, 2013
2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid Caught Testing In CA ('Spy Shot')
The 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid will be the first-ever plug-in electric car sold by the German brand. And the company's engineers are still testing the car in driving tests through the heart of Silicon Valley, where the luxury four-door plug-in hybrid sedan will compete with the Tesla Model S...
John Voelcker July 22, 2013
More Chrysler Electric Cars Coming, Lots Of Catching Up Needed
Now that Chrysler-Fiat reluctantly has the surprising good 2013 Fiat 500e--its first electric car--on the market, what's next for the smallest of the Detroit Three? There will be more plug-in vehicles, according to an interview in the Detroit Free Press with Mike Duhaime, the company's global...
John Voelcker July 22, 2013
Yet Another Chinese Suitor For Fisker: BAIC Kicks The Tires
We haven't heard much about Fisker Automotive in the last few months. The company still hasn't declared bankruptcy, it hasn't yet been bought, and it is still apparently in default on its Department of Energy loans. But now there's a new suitor who's at least kicking the tires. According to China...
John Voelcker July 19, 2013
Cash Prize For Tech To Reduce Oil Use From DC Lobbying Group
Among the many advocacy and lobbying groups that weigh in on automotive and energy policy matters in our nation's capital, Secure America's Future Energy (SAFE) isn't necessarily among the most high-profile. But now the group is offering something that should make civilians sit up and take notice...
John Voelcker July 19, 2013

All-New 2015 Honda Fit Appears, Hybrid Model Too (Not For U.S., Though?) John Voelcker July 19, 2013

The Honda Fit today is the oldest subcompact sold in the U.S., but there's an all-new one on the way.

Now Honda has released the first official photos of the entirely redesigned Fit for the Japanese...
2015 Kia Soul EV: Electric Car Spy Shots, But Compliance Car Only?
Ten days ago, spy shots of a new battery-electric car--from a maker that hasn't yet offered one yet--burst onto the scene. Electric-car fan Lee Colleton shot the 2015 Kia Soul EV prototype test cars connected to CHAdeMO quick-charging stations at a Residence Inn in the California coastal town of...
John Voelcker July 18, 2013
Small And Fast, But Efficient? 3 Hot Hatchbacks, Pros & Cons
More or less coincidentally, we've recently tested three hot hatchbacks: the Chevrolet Sonic RS, the Fiat 500c Abarth, and the MINI John Cooper Works Paceman All4. (The Fiat was actually the Cabrio version of the Abarth hot-rod model with the roll-back cloth roof, not a hatchback--but for all...
John Voelcker July 18, 2013
What Do African Medics Drive? This One Has A Subaru Forester
On major drive events, including our May tour of South Africa’s Garden Route in new 2014 Subaru Forester XTs, organizers often include a medic among the team. This ensures prompt response to emergencies when the group may be hours from the nearest medical facility. From broken bones to insect...
John Voelcker July 17, 2013
Tesla Model S, Roadster Break Electric-Car Lap Record At Laguna Seca
In just a few years, the Re:Fuel racing event has become legendary among those who like their electric cars really, really fast. Two years ago, Joe Nuxoll set a new lap record for electric cars there (1:50.888), driving a completely standard Tesla Roadster. At this year's event, held at...
John Voelcker July 17, 2013
The Missing MINI Model: Clubvan Withdrawn After Just 50 Sales
We've always liked small vans, especially those derived from wagons--as rare as wagons are these days. But it turns out that the latest small van--the 2013 MINI Clubvan--both arrived in the U.S. and departed again, pretty much before anyone noticed. We had dropped a line asking about the little...
John Voelcker July 17, 2013

2013 Ford C-Max, Fusion Hybrids To Be Modified To Boost MPG In Real-World Use John Voelcker July 17, 2013

That noise you heard yesterday afternoon?

That was the sound of the other shoe dropping.

Ford said yesterday that it will "enhance the on-road fuel economy performance" of the 77,000 2013 hybrid...
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS: How Hot Is Chevy's Sporty Hatch?
The Chevrolet Sonic subcompact was an impressive offering when we tested both a 1.8-liter LT hatchback and a 1.4-liter LTZ sedan almost two years ago. Now, with the advent of the 2013 Chevy Sonic RS sports model, we had a chance to revisit the car--and we remain impressed. The RS version uses the...
John Voelcker July 16, 2013
Why Tesla Launched Battery Swapping; Is It Now In Danger?
Tesla Motors has surprised a lot of skeptics in its decade of existence. But last month's announcement of battery swapping for Model S cars traveling long distances deserves some additional context. It adds a new and quicker way for some Model S drivers to cover distances beyond the battery range...
John Voelcker July 16, 2013
2008 Ford Escape Hybrid: 500K Miles, Still In Patrol Service
If you ever had any doubt that hybrids were durable--and many people do--here's a case study to set your mind at ease. A white base-model 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid has just crossed 500,000 miles, which possibly makes it the highest-mileage Escape Hybrid on the road. That's much higher than the Escape...
John Voelcker July 16, 2013
2013 MINI Paceman John Cooper Works: We Ask 'Why?'
Every once in a while, we end up driving a car that leaves us utterly confused. The 2013 MINI Cooper Paceman John Cooper Works ALL4 we drove for a day last week is one such vehicle. It's striking, but far less functional than the MINI Countryman from which it's derived. The handling is decent, but...
John Voelcker July 15, 2013
2014 BMW i3 Electric Car: Connectivity, Navigation Highlights
We'll finally see an undisguised 2014 BMW i3 electric car in about two weeks. But, this week, BMW released not only a few technical specifications for the powertrain but also some details of the car's advanced connectivity and navigation systems. First, the car has its own cellular connection--as...
John Voelcker July 12, 2013