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 Fisker Karma: 20 MPG On Gasoline, 32-Mi Electric Range John Voelcker October 19, 2011

It's been a long and painful year for Fisker Automotive, with deliveries of its 2012 Karma extended-range electric sport sedan repeatedly delayed from the original target of May.

Now, with...
2012 Mercedes-Benz S 350 Bluetec Clean Diesel: Quick Drive
What can you say about driving a Mercedes-Benz S-Class? It's luxurious, smooth, powerful, packed with features, impressive on the road, and very, very large. Now you can add another adjective: green. While the S 400 Hybrid has been in the mix for two years, Mercedes-Benz is launching a clean-diesel...
John Voelcker October 18, 2011

2012 Honda Insight: New Front Styling, Better Gas Mileage
Although the Honda Insight was eagerly awaited before it launched as a 2010 model, the little hybrid hatchback has never come remotely close to its sales goals. But the company isn't giving up, and the new 2012 Honda Insight features revised front styling, a nicer interior, and improved gas mileage...
John Voelcker October 18, 2011
Consumer Reports Pans 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid For Unrefined Drivetrain
The magazine Consumer Reports is deeply trusted by many car buyers for its analysis of auto reliability, so when it pans a car, automakers sit up and listen carefully to its criticisms. We suspect Hyundai Motors America is sitting bolt upright about now, because in its November issue, the...
John Voelcker October 17, 2011
Hertz Says 'We Need More Electric Cars' After Year Of Rentals
Hertz has now been renting electric and plug-in cars for almost a year, and the company has learned some lessons along the way. Among them: "We need more electric cars!" Specifically, "We've got about 50 electric cars in our fleets now, and we could use another 2,000 to 3,000 if we could just get...
John Voelcker October 17, 2011
2012 Subaru Impreza: AWD, 36 MPG Highway, First Drive Report
Subaru is known for its no-nonsense, durable, all-wheel drive Forester and Outback crossover utility vehicles. What U.S. buyers don't seem to know is that the company also makes compact sedans and hatchbacks. For 2012, Subaru has restyled its Impreza compact, increasing interior space while keeping...
John Voelcker October 17, 2011
2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3: Is This The Greenest 3-Series Ever? John Voelcker October 14, 2011

BMW today announced the sixth generation of its quintessential 3-Series, the compact sport sedan that is its highest volume seller and the face of BMW globally.

Along with the return of four-cylinder...

Loss Of California HOV-Lane 'Prius Perk' Slows All Traffic, Study Says
Many California drivers silently cheered on July 1, when the yellow stickers on 85,000 hybrid cars expired--meaning their drivers were no longer allowed to travel solo in the carpool lane. According to a new study released Monday at the University of California-Berkeley, though the loss of the...
John Voelcker October 14, 2011
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Sedan: Weekend Test Drive
"Bracket creep" is the phenomenon where each successive generation of a car gets slightly bigger. It's what allowed the Honda Civic to evolve from the 1973 model, which today we'd call a minicar, to the compact it is today. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, deemed a subcompact by GM, is a prime example of...
John Voelcker October 14, 2011
Next Nissan Altima Previewed By New High-Mileage Hybrid-CVT System
Although Nissan has taken its Altima Hybrid off the market for 2012, the model is likely to live on. The latest evidence: Nissan today unveiled in Japan a new generation of its Xtronic continuously-variable transmission (CVT) and a new hybrid system designed for front-wheel drive vehicles. So far...
John Voelcker October 13, 2011
Why Offer Electric Cars? Because They Sell More Gasoline Cars
Amidst supposedly slow sales--actually limited mostly by low production--one benefit to automakers of offering electric cars has nothing to do with cars that plug in. Not only do electric cars attract radically different buyers to the brands that offer them, they also help sell conventional...
John Voelcker October 13, 2011
Chevy Spark EV: Four Times The Electric Range? RLY? Errr, No
We love our readers, because they often have eagle eyes far more acute than our own. Take, for instance, Neal Riley. Reading our article on the 2013 Chevrolet Spark launch, which included official confirmation of the news on the all-electric Spark EV model that we broke last night, he asked: If the...
John Voelcker October 12, 2011

GM To Start Work on Next-Gen EN-V Electric Pod Car Program John Voelcker October 12, 2011

It's been a big morning for General Motors, with news coming left and right from its big media event in Detroit to celebrate Chevrolet's 100th birthday.

In addition to confirming the 2013 Chevy Spark...
GM Officially Confirms 2013 Chevy Spark Minicar, Spark EV Electric Version
General Motors has just officially, finally confirmed news that this site has previously reported: The 2013 Chevrolet Spark minicar will be launched in the first half of next year An all-electric Spark EV model will be offered in selected regions of the U.S. and other markets New front-end styling...
John Voelcker October 12, 2011
2012 Tesla Model S To Use Panasonic Lithium-Ion Battery Cells
Well, this one's not a big shock: Tesla Motors announced yesterday that its 2012 Model S electric sport sedan would use Panasonic lithium-ion cells in its battery pack. Panasonic is one of several companies that have invested in Tesla, and the two companies had announced in 2009 that they would...
John Voelcker October 12, 2011
GM's First New Battery Electric Car: 2013 Chevrolet Spark EV To Launch In U.S.
GM [NYSE:GM] had hoped to announce its latest green vehicle tomorrow morning, at a nice, orderly, staged press event to celebrate Chevrolet's 100th birthday. But one of its hometown papers jumped the gun and broke the news: The largest domestic car company will launch a small battery electric...
John Voelcker October 12, 2011
2012 Chevrolet Sonic: What Do You Want To Know About New Subcompact?
The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is the first subcompact car built in the U.S. in a very long time, and one of several new Chevy models that aim to lift the carmaker's overall fuel efficiency. We'll be driving at least three separate 2012 Sonics within four weeks, so we're seeking your input. What do you...
John Voelcker October 11, 2011
Where Will Electric Cars Be Most Common On U.S. Roads?
It's conventional wisdom that more electric cars will be sold in California than in any other state. Some estimates say Californians will buy more plug-in cars than the next five states combined. But California has roughly 25 million vehicles on its roads, so while the absolute numbers are high, it...
John Voelcker October 10, 2011

Natural Gas Vehicles Expected To Expand Share, Outside U.S. John Voelcker October 7, 2011

Which alternate vehicle or fuel do you know least about?

You've almost surely heard about hybrids. You may have seen ethanol, even biodiesel, debated in the news. And if you read this site, you're...
2012 Hyundai Accent SE: Quick Drive Report--Commuter Car Test
Over a short test that mimicked commuter duty, our 2012 Hyundai Accent SE hatchback returned 33.4 mpg.
John Voelcker October 7, 2011
Volkswagen, Audi Recall Clean-Diesel TDI Cars For Fuel Leak Problem
The Volkswagen Group 2.0-liter clean-diesel TDI engine has been fitted to quite a number of VW vehicles over the years, as well as the Audi A3 TDI. Now the company has announced a voluntary safety recall that applies to both Golf TDI models built from May 2009 to September 2011, and the more...
John Voelcker October 6, 2011
High-Mileage Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain To Get Eco eAssist System For 2014?
The mild-hybrid system that General Motors calls eAssist (on the 2012 Buick Lacrosse and Regal models) will also appear on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco version. But now it appears that the system will spread further across GM's product lines, with a report on GMInsideNews that it will appear on...
John Voelcker October 6, 2011
2013 Dodge Compact Sedan: More Info On Chrysler's Most Crucial Car
The most important car that will be unveiled at next January's Detroit Auto Show may be the new 2013 compact sedan from Dodge, the first all-new vehicle designed by the combined Chrysler-Fiat companies. This morning, spy shots have leaked out and GreenCarReports has a small nugget of information on...
John Voelcker October 6, 2011
2012 Ford Escape Hybrid: Sentenced To Death, So Buy One Now If You Want One
The Ford Escape Hybrid was not only the first U.S.-built hybrid electric vehicle, it was also the first hybrid sport-utility vehicle--or crossover, if you prefer. It's had a good run, starting in the fall of 2004 and continuing through the 2012 model year. As of the end of September, Ford has sold...
John Voelcker October 5, 2011