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

2013 Ford C-Max Energi Plug-In Adds To C-Max Hybrid Sales John Voelcker November 5, 2012

The 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid has now reached dealerships throughout the country, selling 3,182 units in October.

But Ford had an "October surprise" in store: The company sold 144 of the plug-in hybrid...
October Plug-In Electric Car Sales: Volt, Leaf Stay Strong
The good news for plug-in electric car sales just keeps on keeping on. In October, Chevy sold 2,961 Volts--the highest-ever single-month total--and Nissan continued a recent resurgence, selling 1,579 Leafs. Those numbers compare with 2,851 Volts sold in September and 984 Leafs the same month. That...
John Voelcker November 1, 2012

VW Diesel Buyers, Hybrid Buyers: Both Want Fuel Economy, But Beyond That...
When the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid arrives at dealers in late December or early January, VW will become the only carmaker offering both a diesel engine and a hybrid model of the same compact sedan. Why two such different approaches? Because, Volkswagen says, the audiences for the two cars are...
John Voelcker October 31, 2012
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid: What Do You Want To Know?
The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid sedan was never going to match the 50-mpg combined fuel economy rating of this year's mileage champ, the Toyota Prius. When the new Jetta Hybrid was unveiled at January's Detroit Auto Show, VW executives predicted a combined rating around 45 mpg. According to...
John Voelcker October 30, 2012
Chevrolet Spark EV Electric Car For Korea As Well As U.S.
While it was announced a year ago, the Chevrolet Spark EV electric car still hasn't formally been shown by General Motors. That may change at a "GM Electrification" event to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area next month. The only nugget of news we've heard lately is that the Spark EV will be...
John Voelcker October 29, 2012
See Nissan's Wireless Charging With Automatic Parking Location (Video)
Right now, all plug-in electric cars are recharged using a cable that connects the car through a charging device to electric current of various types. But if Nissan has its way, that will change in a couple of years. The company has said it expects to offer a wireless charging system as an...
John Voelcker October 29, 2012
Update On 2012 Tesla Model S Production: 1,000 Bodies John Voelcker October 29, 2012

Tesla Motors is often frustratingly opaque about the company's progress in getting its 2012 Tesla Model S electric sport sedan up to mass production.

Hard numbers come only from quarterly reports...

Electric-Car Owners: Gas Car In Your Space? Use This Notice!
It's called in shorthand "being ICEd," meaning that an Internal-Combustion Engined car has parked in a space reserved for plug-in electric cars. What to do about it is the subject of much discussion among electric-car owners. Now charging network Blink is offering at least a partial solution. The...
John Voelcker October 26, 2012
Toyota Supports Higher MPG Standards In U.S. But Not Mexico?
Toyota has a reputation among U.S. car buyers for being green and offering fuel-efficient vehicles. But a recent post on the Natural Resources Defense Council blog painted a different picture. Noting that Toyota was suing to stop the implementation of fuel-economy rules in Mexico that duplicate...
John Voelcker October 25, 2012
Auto Dealers' Fight Against Tesla Stores: Elon Musk Weighs In
Tesla Motors is facing a formidable opponent it may not have sufficiently appreciated: the auto dealers of America, and their state associations. Tesla, you may remember, is selling its electric cars online, not through franchised, independently owned dealers, and delivering them directly to buyers...
John Voelcker October 25, 2012
Hertz Asks New Yorkers Where They Should Rent Electric Cars
New Yorkers are reputedly never shy to offer opinions, whether or not they've been asked for. Now Hertz is partnering with a NYC government outreach program to ask residents where they'd like to see electric cars located for short-term rentals through its Hertz On Demand EV program. The Mission...
John Voelcker October 25, 2012
Audi R8 e-Tron All-Electric Supercar On Hold: Report
One of the earlier all-electric concept cars from a major maker was the Audi R8 e-tron, first unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009. Audi has consistently said it will build up to 1,000 of the battery-electric supercar and sell them--for a high price--to buyers who want a...
John Voelcker October 24, 2012

Onstar Will Let Chevy Volt Owners Share Their Data Again, Soon John Voelcker October 24, 2012

Owners of the Chevy Volt range-extended electric car are often pretty technically advanced.

Many are conversant not only with auto technology but also with apps and software analysis tools.

Two weeks...
When Will Electric-Car Charging Stations Exceed Gas Stations?
The topic of public charging stations for electric cars isn't necessarily well understood. The release of Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment, a report by Pike Research on deployment of charging infrastructure, led us to wonder: When will the number of public charging stations for electric cars in...
John Voelcker October 23, 2012
Romney Slams Tesla, Fisker Again In Final Presidential Debate
The CEOs of Tesla and Fisker may have thought they were home free--but it was not to be. Both startup electric-car companies were named at the very end of last night's third and final presidential debate. Republican candidate Mitt Romney didn't repeat his charge that Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] and...
John Voelcker October 23, 2012
Yes, There IS A Veggie-Oil-Fueled Diesel Corvette--For Sale
Of all the Chevrolet models, the Corvette sports car may be the one least likely to be considered green. Indeed, the world rocked on its axis when the lead engineer said two years ago that, one day, there might be a Corvette Hybrid. But considerably sooner than that, you can have your very own...
John Voelcker October 22, 2012
2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid: Quick Gas-Mileage Test
Gas mileage in hybrid vehicles can be a tricky thing. Depending on how they're designed--and at what speeds their electric motors kick in--their efficiency can vary considerably. When we tested the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid six weeks ago in Los Angeles, the real-world indicated gas mileage was 37 mpg...
John Voelcker October 22, 2012
Carbon-Neutral Gasoline Out Of Air? Yes, There's A Caveat
Call it last week's most unexpected headline: the idea that a group of engineers in Britain had managed to create gasoline ("petrol") out of ... thin air? Indeed, it appears to be so--if you add energy (and sodium hydroxide). Here's how it works: The process starts by blowing atmospheric air into a...
John Voelcker October 22, 2012

Nissan Leaf-To-Home Power Station: Will It Make It To U.S.? John Voelcker October 19, 2012

Eighteen months after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan, electric cars are viewed there in a whole new light—as portable sources of emergency energy.

Now Nissan has...
Infiniti JX Hybrid: What Do Suburban Moms Want In A Hybrid Crossover?
Every carmaker will soon have at least a handful of hybrid models, and Nissan is no exception. The company’s luxury brand, Infiniti, let reporters drive a prototype version of the Infiniti JX Hybrid it’s expected to launch in the U.S. market within a year or two. The 2013 Infiniti JX...
John Voelcker October 19, 2012
Nissan e-NV200: Driving Nissan's Prototype Electric Minivan
Small delivery vans are a new category in the United States, but Nissan has big plans for its small NV200 delivery van--and among them are an all-electric version. The prototype Nissan e-NV200 electric minivan was one of several vehicles available to drive on the test track at Nissan's GranDrive...
John Voelcker October 17, 2012
2014 Cadillac ELR Electric Car Will Be Built Next To Volt, GM Confirms
Color us, oh, not very surprised at all. General Motors confirmed yesterday that it would build the 2014 Cadillac ELR range-extended electric luxury coupe at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant, on the same line that builds the ELR's Chevrolet Volt sibling. While this had long been discussed in the...
John Voelcker October 17, 2012
2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid: Is It An Electric Car, Or Not?
The 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid is the second best-selling plug-in electric car in the U.S. today. It outsells the Nissan Leaf and is bested only by the Chevrolet Volt. But if you view it as an electric car, it’s an odd duck indeed. The car’s plug-in hybrid powertrain adds a...
John Voelcker October 16, 2012
If You're Going To Attack Electric Cars, Do Your Homework
They pop up like weeds, these "Electric cars are failures" articles--and you just have to keep killing them. The latest is an opinion piece titled, "Why the Electric Car Failed," published last week in U.S. News & World Report. Author Michael Lynch identifies himself as a researcher for the...
John Voelcker October 15, 2012