John Voelcker, Contributing Editor

John Voelcker avatar
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

  • LA Auto Show Wrapup: Five New Plug-In Electric Cars (Video)

    For our final piece on last week's Los Angeles Auto Show, we put together a video on the five new plug-in electric cars officially unveiled there.

    Three of them are plug-in hybrids, a pair from Ford...

  • 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek: First Drive

    Every auto journalist has biases; ours is a predisposition to Subarus, of which we've owned four. So we were eager to test the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, a new model this year. It's essentially the Impreza compact five-door hatchback, with larger wheels and tires, higher ground clearance (8.7...

  • Green Car Reports 2013 Best Car To Buy: Nominees Video Roundup

    Last week, we announced all six nominees for the Green Car Reports 2013 Best Car To Buy award. Now, you can see them all on video, courtesy of last week's Los Angeles Auto Show and our crack video-editing team. As we revealed, our nominees for the Best Green Car To Buy 2013 award are: 2013 Chevy...

  • Green Car Reports 2013 Best Car To Buy Nominee: Ford C-Max

    The 2013 Ford C-Max is the first car from any U.S. manufacturer to take aim directly at the legendary Toyota Prius hybrid. Derived from a small "people carrier" of the sort that are common in Europe, it's Ford's first-ever dedicated hybrid--a vehicle sold with no gasoline-only equivalent (at least...

  • New Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Is Likely On The Way, And Soon Too

    Today, if you want a crossover utility vehicle that gets good fuel economy, you can have a hybrid or a diesel--but only in a mid-size vehicle. There are no hybrid compact crossovers sold today, but Toyota may be about to change that. A hybrid version of the new 2013 Toyota RAV4 crossover "would not...

  • Green Car Reports 2013 Best Car To Buy Nominee: Chevy Spark

    The 2013 Chevrolet Spark misses being the shortest car ever sold as a Chevy in the U.S. by just an inch or two. But the five-door hatchback is by far the most modern minicar Chevrolet has ever offered. And it represents a daring foray into very small cars by a brand better known for its Impala...

  •
    November Plug-In Car Sales: Volt Falls By Half, Leaf Steady

    Sales of plug-in electric cars fell slightly in November, with continued steady sales of the Nissan Leaf not enough to make up for a decline in Chevy Volt numbers.

    This month's total may not quite...

  • 100 Million Electric Miles Driven By Chevy Volt Owners

    Friday evening, when perhaps not a lot of people were watching, a virtual odometer ticked over on the Chevy Volt website. At that hour--about 7 pm Eastern--it showed that Volt drivers had covered 100,000,000 miles on electricity in their range-extended electric cars. (The actual total is about 25...

  • 2014 Ford Fiesta EcoBoost Prototype: First Drive

    Three-cylinder cars are increasing common in Europe, but aside from the Smart ForTwo, they’re a rarity in the U.S. That’ll change next fall, when the 2014 Ford Fiesta EcoBoost goes on sale here. Its 1.0-liter, turbocharged, three-cylinder engine puts out 123 horsepower (at a high 6,000...

  • 2013 Honda Civic: Updates And Live Photos From LA Auto Show

    It's quite unusual for an auto company to make significant changes to a car--especially a successful one--just a year after it launched. But the 2013 Honda Civic introduced this morning at the Los Angeles Auto Show has updated styling, significant changes to the interior, and new standard features...

  • 2014 Kia Forte: Los Angeles Auto Show Live Photos

    Today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia took the wraps off its new compact car, the 2014 Kia Forte. As our live images from the show floor demonstrate, the 2014 Forte is a sleeker, more aerodynamic four-door sedan than the car it replaces--now much closer in shape to its Hyundai Elantra sibling...

  • 2013 Fiat 500e Electric Minicar: Los Angeles Auto Show Preview

    Later this morning, Fiat will unveil no fewer than four new models of its 500 minicar. Among them will be the 500e, a limited production electric conversion of the hatchback that it really doesn't want to build--as company officials have said repeatedly. The 2013 Fiat 500e is a compliance car meant...

  •
    What Do You Call A Nissan Leaf In China? How About Venucia E30?

    Despite lower-than-predicted sales of its Leaf battery electric hatchback, Nissan is pushing ahead with its aggressive electric-car program.

    At the Guangzhou Auto Show yesterday, its Chinese partner...

  • 2014 Ford Fiesta Updates: Styling, Interior, MyFordTouch, And EcoBoost

    Along with the new, ultra-fuel-efficient 2014 Ford Fiesta with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine, Ford's subcompact gets a number of other changes for the 2014 model year. These include a revised interior that adds a 6.5-inch LCD touchscreen display and optional MyFordTouch infotainment...

  • Rejected For Loans Tesla Got, Inflatable Car Firm Sues DoE 3 Years Later

    Oh, those DoE loans. They arose in the recent U.S. presidential debate--not just once or twice, but three times--and continue to generate debate. So here's more fuel for the fire: A company rejected three years ago for loans is now suing the DoE. Its proposed product? An inflatable electric car...

  • Tesla Model S Price Increase Coming, But For New Buyers Only

    Much of economics is simple: Makers of desirable, popular products can raise their prices--to some degree. One example: Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] confirmed in a blog post yesterday that it would raise prices on its 2013 Tesla Model S all-electric sport sedan in the next two or three weeks. But...

  • Green Car Reports' Best Car To Buy 2013: Our Six Finalists

    From a respectable list of 13 different vehicles, we've narrowed the contenders down to six finalists. They're the cars that will compete for the Green Car Reports 2013 Best Car To Buy Award. We'll announce the winner on December 10, either a single vehicle (like the Nissan Leaf, our 2011 winner)...

  • Injunction To Shut Tesla Store Denied In MA, Dealers To Fight On

    Score one for startup carmakers trying to do things differently. Last Friday, a judge denied a request by the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association for an injunction that would have shut down the Tesla Store in Natick, which opened on September 28. If the dealers' request had been...

  •
    Ford Hybrids' Fuel Economy Failing To Live Up To EPA Ratings?

    This is starting to look not so good.

    It appears that two new hybrid cars from Ford--the 2013 C-Max Hybrid hatchback and the 2013 Fusion Hybrid sedan--may not deliver real-world gas mileage that's...

  • Green Cars Of The Past: 1951 Crosley Wagon

    Being an antique auto historian and appraiser is the greatest job I've ever had. I get to drive all sorts of cars that I've admired from afar, but never actually had a chance to drive before. I've always gotten a kick out of the little, economical Crosley cars built between 1939 and 1952...

  • 2014 Ford Fiesta: EcoBoost 1.0-Liter, 3-Cylinder Engine For Subcompact

    It's been on sale in Europe for months, and now it's coming to the U.S.: the smallest engine sold by a U.S. automaker in decades. The 2014 Ford Fiesta that goes on sale next year will offer the turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine as an option in the subcompact hatchback and sedan...

  • Better Place Electric-Car Service: Few Users, More Turmoil

    Much publicity, high hopes, and hundreds of millions of dollars have been devoted to the Better Place electric-car service. Now, with an apparent dearth of Israeli customers to sign on the dotted line, the company is turning over its management. Deputy CEO departs The latest defection is deputy CEO...

  • EPA Keeps Corn-Based Ethanol Mandate, Rejects Suspension Request

    Last month, the governors of eight states and almost 200 members of Congress asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to suspend rules that mandate production of ethanol for use in gasoline. On Friday, the EPA said no. The request to suspend parts of the 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard came from...

  • 2013 Ford C-Max Energi Plug-In Hybrid: First Drive

    The 2013 Ford C-Max Energi is the first plug-in hybrid from Ford to hit the road, and the company sold 144 of them in October even before letting journalists drive the car. It’s the pricier and more capable of the two C-Max models, and Ford compares it directly to the Toyota Prius Plug-In...

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