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 Chevy Volt Gets 38-Mile Electric Range, Higher 98-MPGe Rating John Voelcker June 7, 2012

It may be hard to imagine, but the Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric car is about to enter its third model year.

The new 2013 Chevrolet Volt will offer a slightly higher all-electric range, up...
Chevy Volt Plug-In Sales Surge In CA, Outsells 'Vette Too
It's quite the morning for electric-car news today, but we didn't want to let one from yesterday slip by either. After a lumpy start to sales of the Chevrolet Volt, it appears that California dealers now can't keep the range-extended electric car in stock. According to an analysis of registration...
John Voelcker June 6, 2012

First 2012 Tesla Model S Delivered To Earliest Depositor Steve Jurvetson (Video)
Deliveries of the 2012 Tesla Model S electric sedan will officially begin on June 22. But the very first production Model S off the line has already been handed over to its new owner. It went to none other than venture capitalist and Tesla board member Steve Jurvetson, who is now driving it around...
John Voelcker June 6, 2012
Honda Fit EV Has Highest EPA Efficiency Rating Of Any Car
The 2013 Honda Fit EV has earned the highest EPA efficiency rating granted to any vehicle offered in the U.S.: 118 miles-per-gallon-equivalent. That's higher than the 2012 Mitsubishi i minicar, the previous record-holder at 112 MPGe, and considerably higher than the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus...
John Voelcker June 6, 2012
BMW To Launch Diesel Flagship 7-Series Sedan For 2014
If you want to know what's coming down the pike in German luxury cars, just watch Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. Whenever one maker launches a new car, crossover, body style, engine type, or performance package...the others usually follow. And so it is with BMW, which reportedly plans to launch a...
John Voelcker June 5, 2012
Audi A3 e-tron Electric Car Testing Update (Video)
It may have reportedly canceled its two smallest plug-in car projects, but Audi is hardly abandoning electric cars. Three months ago, the German luxury and sports brand said it would bring a limited test fleet of battery-electric Audi A3 hatchbacks to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C...
John Voelcker June 5, 2012
2012 Nissan Leaf Leases: $289 For Base SV, $319 For Nicer SL John Voelcker June 5, 2012

The low sales of the Nissan Leaf electric car have been much discussed in the media--just as those of the Chevy Volt were until it began to log respectable sales numbers over the last few months.

...

How To Make Money On Electric Cars: Sell Green Credits (To Other Carmakers)
Most brand-new auto technologies are, at best, a breakeven proposition in their early years. Toyota is thought to have lost money on every Prius hybrid it sold for several years, until its sales rose enough to gain economies of scale. Makers of plug-in electric cars may be losing money on each one...
John Voelcker June 4, 2012
Do Tougher Gas-Mileage Rules Hurt Electric-Car Sales? We Think Not
At the moment, plug-in electric car sales are chugging along between 3,000 and 4,000 a month. So with the upcoming 2012 Tesla Model S added to the mix, it seems likely that 30,000 to 50,000 electrics will be sold in the U.S. this year--more than double last year's sales. But lately, the auto press...
John Voelcker June 4, 2012
Will Tata Nano Diesel--World's Tiniest & Cheapest--Get 70 MPG?
We won't see it here, but diesel fans everywhere are eagerly waiting for the world's smallest, cheapest four-seat diesel passenger car to be launched later this year in India. The Tata Nano Diesel may get as much as 70 miles per gallon or more, making it the most efficient four-seat diesel vehicle...
John Voelcker June 4, 2012
Revolve Launches New European Plug-In Hybrid Delivery Van
Hope springs eternal, as Alexander Pope notably said, and so it is in the world of plug-in hybrid vehicles. A new British partnership has unveiled two drivable prototypes of a lightweight plug-in electric urban delivery van with a small diesel range extender. The two companies, Intelligent Energy...
John Voelcker June 1, 2012
May Electric-Car Sales: Leaf Recovers, Volt And Prius Steady
The May sales figures for plug-in electric cars continued steady, with the Chevrolet Volt leading the pack at 1,680 deliveries--15 percent up on the April figure of 1,462, but below its all-time March high of 2,289. The Nissan Leaf logged sales of just 510 units in May, barely starting a recovery...
John Voelcker June 1, 2012

2012 Toyota Prius C: Buyers Like It, But Not Consumer Reports John Voelcker May 31, 2012

At $19,705 and up, the 2012 Toyota Prius C subcompact is the company's least expensive hybrid.

It's also tied with its larger Prius liftback sibling for best gas mileage on the market: 50 mpg...
Buy Luxury House, Get Low Tesla Model S Reservation Number!
Less than 30 days hence, the first 2012 Tesla Model S sedans will be delivered to paying customers. Now, one Model S buyer who holds a low reservation number for the all-electric luxury car is using it as a lure to sell a million-dollar home in an upscale Illinois suburb. Not only has the home...
John Voelcker May 31, 2012
Chrysler Admits: Electric Fiat 500 Is Compliance Car We Don't Want To Make
Three weeks ago, we listed five upcoming electric cars that we felt were strictly "compliance cars"--or vehicles carmakers offer not because they want to, but because they must do so to comply with California zero-emission vehicle rules. Now Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has admitted that his...
John Voelcker May 30, 2012
Prices Drop For Used High-MPG Cars, June A Good Time To Buy
Like so many Americans, perhaps you've been thinking you really have to replace your old car this year. And maybe you're thinking your next car should get much better gas mileage, to protect against fluctuating gas prices. (They're down this month, but who knows for the future?) Well, looks like...
John Voelcker May 30, 2012
Year-Old Nissan Leaf Electric Car: Worth 70 Or 95 Percent Of New Price?
There's lot of discussion about how the value of electric cars will hold up over time, depending on how long their expensive lithium-ion battery packs last and how quickly they may lose capacity. But now the folks who estimate used-car prices for a living, the NADA Guide, have weighed in with their...
John Voelcker May 29, 2012
Ecotality Sues To Stop Proposed NRG Charging-Station Deal With CA
Seven weeks ago, we told you about the March deal reached among NRG Energy, the state of California, and the state's Public Utility Commission that would install $100 million of electric-car charging stations in the state. At the time, we noted reservations from insiders who questioned certain...
John Voelcker May 29, 2012

Why Can't U.S. Buyers Get Hybrid Toyota Yaris & Honda Fit? John Voelcker May 29, 2012

Both Toyota and Honda are hybrid pioneers.

Both companies sell subcompact gasoline models (the Toyota Yaris and the Honda Fit) and separate subcompact hybrid models (the Toyota Prius C and Honda...
First 2012 Ford Focus Electric Delivered To Retail Buyer, Very Quietly
If reader response is any guide, there's a lot of interest in the 2012 Ford Focus Electric--which logged 12 sales last December and January but hasn't been heard from since. Now, it appears that the first retail customer has taken delivery of Ford's new all-electric compact hatchback. Very, very...
John Voelcker May 29, 2012
2013 Nissan Altima: 31-MPG Combined Rating For Mid-Size Sedan
Today's the day when we can talk about the all-new 2013 Nissan Altima, the latest generation of Nissan's remarkably successful mid-size sedan. And its anticipated combined EPA rating of 31 mpg puts it at the top of its competitive set, bettering the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Ford...
John Voelcker May 25, 2012
Senate To Get Electric-Car Charging Stations (No Tax Dollars Used)
Electric-car charging stations may be coming to the U.S. Senate garage, under a bill passed yesterday on a bipartisan basis. But fear not, zealous guardians of the sacred taxpayer dollar--no public funds will be used for the installation. Yesterday, S.739 was passed by the Senate. The bill had been...
John Voelcker May 25, 2012
2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Gets Updated Full Hybrid Powertrain
BMW's first-ever hybrid sedan, the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 launched for 2011, was an odd beast. Its mild-hybrid system paired a 455-horsepower 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 with a small electric motor, making it a bit faster than its conventional counterpart but only marginally more fuel-efficient. For 2013...
John Voelcker May 25, 2012
Attacks Abate From The Right On Volt & Electric Cars
A funny thing happened around the politics of electric cars. The screaming stopped. We've waited almost two months to write about it, but it would appear that the chorus of right-wing attacks on electric cars--including the Chevrolet Volt--has mysteriously and quite suddenly abated. In late March...
John Voelcker May 24, 2012