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

2012 Toyota RAV4 EV: First Drive Of Tesla-Powered Crossover John Voelcker August 2, 2012

If the ideal electric car has a real-world range of 100 miles or more and the practical utility that American families buy crossovers for, the future may be arriving this year.

The 2012 Toyota RAV4...
Chevy Volt No Good Because You Have To Rearrange Your Garage?
After a rough period last year, the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car has settled down and is now the best-selling plug-in car in the U.S. General Motors is continuing a program, launched a year ago, that makes Volts available for loan both to interested buyers and members of the...
John Voelcker August 1, 2012

Hydrogen-Fueled Olympics Taxis Sent 130 Miles To Refuel--On Diesel Trucks
The London Olympics now underway are a showcase for green cars. Automotive sponsor BMW is getting massive exposure for 4,000 of its greenest vehicles, including lower-emission ActiveHybrid models, fuel-efficient diesels, and much-anticipated i3 all-electric city car and i8 plug-in hybrid sports...
John Voelcker August 1, 2012
July Plug-In Electric Car Sales: Volt Steady, Leaf Lethargic (Again)
Last month, sales of the Chevrolet Volt stayed strong while the Nissan Leaf languished. This month, it's more of the same. In July, Chevrolet sold 1,849 Volts, bringing its total for the first seven months of the year to 10,666--and its total U.S. sales since launch to 18,663 (including 7,671 in...
John Voelcker August 1, 2012
Better Place Parking Lot: Ideas For Nissan Rogue Test Mules?
Sometimes you see remarkable cars in corporate parking lots. This photo, for instance, sent to us by a reader who prefers to remain anonymous, shows five Nissan compact crossovers lined up in the parking lot at the U.S. headquarters of electric-car service provider Better Place. With both left-hand...
John Voelcker July 31, 2012
Latest e-Scooter Prototype Shown By BMW i Electric-Car Brand
BMW has big plans for its i brand of plug-in electric cars, giving the lineup its own visual design language and its first foray into online sales. But beyond the i3 subcompact electric city car and the i8 plug-in hybrid sports coupe, there will be other BMW i models--some of which, apparently...
John Voelcker July 30, 2012
Even Supercars Can Save Fuel: Supercapacitor Start-Stop For Lamborghini? John Voelcker July 30, 2012

Under very few circumstances will the Lamborghini Aventador supercar ever count as a green car.

But as the nuns used to say, "Everyone can do better. Everyone!"

Indeed, even supercars can save fuel...

Electric Car Industry Sums Up Progress, Challenges At Plug-In 2012
It’s been about 18 months since plug-in electric cars went on sale in the U.S., and you might say the industry is in something of a sophomore slump. Sales of plug-ins, while higher than those of hybrids at the same stage of their launch, haven’t met the optimistic projections tossed...
John Voelcker July 27, 2012
2013 Acura ILX Hybrid: Weekend Test Of Acura's First Hybrid
Honda has been building hybrid cars since 1999, but it's taken until now for the company to offer a hybrid model in the company's upmarket Acura brand. We spent three days with, and covered 300 miles in, a new 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid four-door sedan. And we have to say, while we like the ILX as a...
John Voelcker July 26, 2012
2012 Nissan Versa 1.6 SL Sedan: Weekend Drive Report
When auto writers drive test cars, they're usually loaned out from carmakers' regional fleets. So when we asked for an 2012 Nissan Versa sedan to test over a four-day weekend, following our brief test drive of the all-new Versa in May, the car we got seemed rather familiar. It was, in fact, the...
John Voelcker July 24, 2012
2013 Honda Fit EV: Video From First Drive Of All-Electric Car
Yesterday, Honda delivered its first Fit EV electric car to private buyers--or, more accurately, private lease customers, since the car isn't available for outright sale. Only 1,100 lucky lessors in a small handful of states will ever get behind the wheel of a 2013 Honda Fit EV, because for Honda...
John Voelcker July 24, 2012
Big Food Steps Up Fight Against Ethanol Mandate (Infographic)
Ethanol continues to be a political football, with the alcohol fuel coming under fire from the auto industry, environmental pressure groups, and others. The latest to line up against the corn-based fuel is a coalition of industrialized livestock and poultry producers that might collectively be...
John Voelcker July 23, 2012

2013 Audi Q5 Hybrid To Be Pricey 'Performance Hybrid'? John Voelcker July 23, 2012

The 2013 Audi Q5 Hybrid crossover has had a long gestation, but reports say it will finally reach the U.S. market this fall.

On sale in Europe for a year now, the hybrid Q5 was originally launched at...
Hey, Electric-Car Owners, Utilities Want Your Feedback!
Electric cars are getting a lot of press these days. But much of it omits the experience and viewpoints of the people closest to plug-in electric cars: the owners who paid actual money for them and drive them every day. Now, a group representing electric utilities is surveying plug-in buyers to...
John Voelcker July 20, 2012
2012 Tesla Model S: First Drive Video
With Tesla Motors opening new Tesla Stores at a rapid pace, the 2012 Tesla Model S all-electric sport sedan has now been seen by hundreds of thousands of people. Thus far, however, very few of them, however, have gotten behind the wheel. Tesla's working to change that, with a traveling nationwide...
John Voelcker July 20, 2012
2012 Tesla Model S: First Drive Of All-Electric Sport Sedan
After an hour in a 2012 Tesla Model S all-electric sport sedan, one thing became clear: It's a viable car. The Model S gives Tesla Motors a shot at turning into a real car company. That's a provisional judgment; as many journalists have noted, 10-minute drives or an hour driving and riding in...
John Voelcker July 19, 2012
Onstar Lets Owners Rent Out Their GM Cars Via Relay Rides
One way to drive greener is to use fewer cars more efficiently. The average car sits stationary for 23 hours a day; surely if it were used more, we would need fewer cars overall? That's the idea behind Relay Rides, a startup company that connects private parties who want to rent out their cars for...
John Voelcker July 18, 2012
Tesla Cuts Model S Production Goal For Third Quarter To 500, Analyst Reports
Tesla Motors said today it would cut the third-quarter production target for its 2012 Model S all-electric sport sedan, according to a stock analyst who follows the company. A report by Wunderlich Securities analyst Theodore O'Neill notes that Tesla is now saying it would probably only deliver 500...
John Voelcker July 18, 2012

Could The Opel Adam Minicar Become The Smallest Buick Ever? John Voelcker July 17, 2012

Buick and Opel have long been linked, starting 45 years ago when Buick dealers sold Opels imported from GM's German brand.

There will be no more Opel-brand cars sold in the States, but a number of...
Elon Musk Bets Half Of All Cars Built In 2032 Will Be Electric
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has an enthusiastic base of fans who consider him a visionary. And with Paypal in the past, and SpaceX as well as Tesla today, Musk has an impressive track record. So ears perked up when he recently predicted that in 20 years, half of all new cars sold would be plug-in...
John Voelcker July 17, 2012
China Still Plans To Dominate Electric Cars (Details To Come Later)
Five to eight years ago, Chinese carmakers were going to blast into the U.S. car market and sell huge volumes of inexpensive small cars--just like the Germans, Japanese, and Koreans before them. Then, two or three years ago, Chinese auto companies were going to leapfrog directly into electric cars...
John Voelcker July 16, 2012
New-Car Buyers Want Higher Gas Mileage (It Pays For Itself Too)
How much do you spend on gasoline each year? If you happen to live in the average U.S. household, the total is more than $2,850 every year--roughly $240 a month, or $60 each week. So when the Consumer Federation of America surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults in May on their attitudes toward fuel efficiency...
John Voelcker July 16, 2012
Is $23,750 The Right Price To Get Electric Car Sales To Soar?
There are many reasons plug-in electric car sales are still just a tiny fraction of the market. The biggest hurdle may be high price, compared to gasoline cars of the same size, right now (along with range limitations). Despite a cost-per-mile that's just a fraction of what a gasoline car costs...
John Voelcker July 13, 2012
How Seriously Do You Take Gas Mileage Numbers In Car Ads?
When you see that magic 40-miles-per-gallon number in a car ad, does it make you pay attention? Most likely it does. (Among other things, it's usually in much larger type than the other two EPA ratings.) But how seriously should you take any publicized gas-mileage ratings? Most people seem to know...
John Voelcker July 13, 2012