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

For Greener Cars, Don't Count The Gasoline Engine Out Yet John Voelcker January 17, 2013

Plug-in electric cars get a lot of press, perhaps more than their current sales might warrant.

It's clear to industry analysts that the proportion of plug-ins among new cars produced will grow,...
Boeing 787 Batteries Same As Those In Electric Cars? Umm, NO
Gird yourself: It's possible we're about to see a new wave of attacks on electric cars that ignore battery science. This time the culprit is the troubled Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The FAA has grounded all 787s after a string of fires in their lithium-ion battery packs; other countries have...
John Voelcker January 17, 2013

2012 Coda Sedan Electric Car Price Slashed to $25,000
Coda Automotive, the startup maker that builds the 2012 Coda Sedan electric car, is going through some very tough times. But it looks like one of its three dealers is trying to figure out the right price point for the all-electric compact sedan--which was originally priced at $38,145, including a...
John Voelcker January 16, 2013
Lincoln MKC Concept Crossover: Detroit Auto Show Live Photos
Luxury brands have been expanding into smaller vehicles for a while now, and the Lincoln MKC Concept unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show continues that trend. The smallest member so far of Ford's struggling lxuury brand has been the MKZ mid-size sedan, but the compact crossover concept shows the...
John Voelcker January 16, 2013
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel: Live Photos From Detroit Auto Show
The Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't usually what people think of when you say "green car," but the new diesel version that's coming for 2014 moves it somewhat closer to that category. Unveiled first thing Monday morning, the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel is part of an updated 2014 lineup for the...
John Voelcker January 16, 2013
2013 Nissan Leaf Prices To Start At $28,800 For Electric Car
We know the specifications and details of the 2013 Nissan Leaf, which has now gone into production in Smyrna, Tennessee. But the missing piece of information has always been: What will the battery electric car cost now that it's built in North America? During an electric vehicle roundtable today at...
John Voelcker January 14, 2013
Volkswagen's Two Diesel Plug-In Hybrid Concepts: Detroit Auto Show John Voelcker January 14, 2013

At the Detroit Auto Show, Volkswagen showed not just one but two concepts with diesel plug-in hybrid powertrains.

VW not only unveiled its CrossBlue Concept for a mid-size seven-passenger crossover,...

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel: The Diesel Jeep Returns
It's been rumored for more than a year; now it's reality. This morning at the Detroit Auto Show, the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel will be unveiled by Jeep as part of a comprehensive update to the three-year-old sport utility vehicle. Fitted to European versions of the Grand Cherokee already...
John Voelcker January 14, 2013
Tesla Now Delivering Model S, But Cash Crunch Judgment Waits For Financials
One hurdle down: Tesla is now delivering production Model S electric cars to paying customers from its reservations list of 18,000 or so. Next hurdle: Can Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] bring in enough cash from those sales, and ramp up production fast enough, to keep the company solvent? It would appear...
John Voelcker January 11, 2013
How Bad Were The Nissan And GM Electric-Car Sales Shortfalls?
If 2011 was the year of overoptimism for electric-car sales, and 2012 was Sophomore Slump after the inevitable shortfall, will 2013 be the year of realism? That really depends on what the world's leading electric-car maker, Nissan, sells this year. Let's recap. Several years ago, Nissan said that...
John Voelcker January 10, 2013
How Many Tesla Model S Electric Cars Were Built In 2012? How Many Sold?
It may be the most eagerly sought piece of information in the plug-in electric car world. And Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] ain't talking. The company has a set policy of not disclosing monthly sales figures or production figures until it has to by law. So it'll be another month or so before we know how...
John Voelcker January 10, 2013
Coda Woes Deepen: More Layoffs, Electric-Car Store Closed
The storm clouds continue to darken over electric-car startup Coda Automotive. The day after Christmas, the company announced on its Facebook page that it had closed its Coda Experience Center showroom in the Westfield Mall Century City. Then, last Friday, Coda laid off more staff. That day, the...
John Voelcker January 9, 2013

2013 Nissan Leaf: Longer Range, Faster Charging, Leather Seats, And More: All The Upgrades John Voelcker January 9, 2013

In its third year on the market, the updated 2013 Nissan Leaf will have a slightly longer range, a new and lower-priced base model, faster charging, and a more efficient cabin heater.

The battery...
Camouflaged 2014 Cadillac ELR Teaser Photo Released By GM
For years, spy photographers made a living shooting camouflaged test cars for eager fans. Now the auto companies are doing it themselves. GM today released a photo of the 2014 Cadillac ELR on the road in Southern California, covered in camo, as its second teaser shot for the electric luxury coupe...
John Voelcker January 8, 2013
Now We Know: U.S. Buyers Don't Much Want Tiny Two-Seat Cars
It was always a big question whether Americans would buy very, very small cars. When the Smart ForTwo launched in 2008, right into the teeth of gas prices that soared to $4 a gallon, it looked as if the answer might be yes. But now it seems the longer-term answer is, "No, not really." Sales of the...
John Voelcker January 4, 2013
2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid: Winter Gas Mileage Test Returns 35 MPG
The 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid is a comfortable, quiet, well appointed five-door compact hybrid hatchback that appears to get 35 to 40 mpg in most real-world usage. But it is not a 47-mpg car, from the bulk of the evidence available. The C-Max is selling well--much faster than the original Prius did...
John Voelcker January 3, 2013
Plug-In Electric Car Sales Triple In 2012 As Buyers, Models Increase
U.S. car buyers took home about 17,500 plug-in electric cars in 2011. Last year, the numbers got better. A lot better. In 2012, about 53,000 electric cars were likely sold--essentially triple the prior year's number. Not bad, huh? We know that at least 50,000 sales of plug-in cars will have been...
John Voelcker January 3, 2013
Green Energy Wins In Last-Minute U.S. 'Fiscal Cliff' Bill
It wasn't until 2 am yesterday morning that the U.S. Senate voted 89 to 8 to approve a bill to avert the "fiscal cliff" that took effect on New Year's Day. The House of Representatives then took an entire day of political wrangling before voting 257-167 to approve the Senate bill late yesterday...
John Voelcker January 2, 2013

Tesla Supercharger Network Expands Into East Coast John Voelcker December 24, 2012

The 2013 Tesla Model S comes with one feature no other electric car can match: free quick-charging at an expanding network of Supercharger stations, usable only by Tesla owners.

Following its October...
2014 Mazda6 Sedan: 31 MPG Combined (Or So), But Not For Sale
In olden days, new models for the following year came out in September. Now, they're all over the calendar. The latest example is the 2014 Mazda Mazda6 sedan, of which several hundred already sit in Mazda showrooms across the country. Its highly efficient 184-hp SkyActiv 2.5-liter four-cylinder...
John Voelcker December 24, 2012
2014 Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain To Get eAssist Hybrid System
Starting with its rollout in the 2012 Buick Lacrosse, GM has steadily added its eAssist mild-hybrid system to an expanding roster of vehicles. Next year, it will be offered as an option on the 2014 Chevrolet Equinox and the 2014 GMC Terrain, which will be the first crossover utility vehicles to...
John Voelcker December 21, 2012
Electric Cars Are Doing Just Fine, Says Volt Patron Bob Lutz
Sometimes the glass is half empty, sometimes it's half full. For the future of electric cars, count Bob Lutz on the half-full side--most likely containing a very nice Scotch. Lutz is not only the former GM product development czar, but the man who pushed through the Chevrolet Volt range-extended...
John Voelcker December 21, 2012
2014 Cadillac ELR Electric Car: Teaser Image Of Voltec Coupe Released
We know the official release of the 2014 Cadillac ELR electric car will be on Monday, January 15, at the Detroit Auto Show. Now Cadillac has released a teaser image of the range-extended electric coupe, which is based on a modified version of the Voltec powertrain used in the Chevrolet Volt...
John Voelcker December 18, 2012
2013 Toyota Matrix Compact Hatchback To Be Last Of The Line?
The 2013 Toyota Matrix five-door compact hatchback has always been the Toyota that gets ignored. Now comes word that it may, in fact, leave the market altogether when the current Corolla on which it's based is redesigned for 2014. From assumptions that it had gone out of production in 2009--it...
John Voelcker December 17, 2012