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

Report Threatens Badge-Engineered Buick Model Of Chevy Volt John Voelcker March 31, 2011

General Motors and its brand strategies have been through a lot of turmoil in recent years.

Now, GM is down to just four brands in North America--Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac--and is rapidly...
Chevy MiRay: Hybrid 'Muscle Car Of The Future' Concept
Big plans are afoot for Chevrolet, which GM plans to take global to face off against Ford. With spring auto-show season upon us, Chevy is showing not only its 2013 Malibu LTZ Concept but also, halfway around the world, its idea of a "muscle car of the future." But hold onto your small-blocks, guys...
John Voelcker March 31, 2011

Can Urine Rescue Hydrogen-Powered Cars?
It's been a rough couple of years for cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. As the drums beat louder for electric cars--the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, Nissan's upcoming EV, and more--the hydrogen chorus is waning. But perhaps there's hope. And perhaps it's as close as your nearest urinal. Or, more...
John Voelcker March 31, 2011
Buick Envision Plug-In Hybrid SUV Concept: Auto Shanghai Preview
It's unfortunate that the media days for the Auto Shanghai 2011 Show and the New York Auto Show overlap a couple of weeks hence, because it looks like Shanghai might get the lion's share of the cool introductions. Take, for instance, the single teaser sketch released today of the new Buick Envision...
John Voelcker March 30, 2011
2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Sells Better Than Expected, Ford Says
When Lincoln launched its 2011 MKZ Hybrid model at the New York Auto Show last spring, the car was less remarkable than its price of $35,180. The number was a surprise because it was the same price as the only other engine option for the MKZ, a 3.5-liter V-6. So what do we know about the two...
John Voelcker March 30, 2011
Can Think Really Sell Enough $41,000 City Electric Cars In U.S.?
Electric cars are much on the minds of green buyers these days, despite limited supplies of the 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2011 Chevrolet Volt. But there's also a second tier of suppliers, beyond the major carmakers, that also offers or plans to offer buyers their own plug-in electric vehicles. One such...
John Voelcker March 29, 2011
One-Third Of 2011 Ford F-150 Pickups Sold With V-6 John Voelcker March 29, 2011

MPGs matter, it turns out, even to pickup buyers. Or, perhaps especially to pickup truck buyers.

Just four months after Ford added an EcoBoost engine option to its top-selling F-150 pickup truck, the...

Can Condoms Curb Climate Change Cheaper Than Low-Carbon Cars?
The Frankfurt Auto Show just wound up today, and most of the concept cars focus on lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Volkswagen, for instance, launched a two-seat "1-Liter" concept car that gets a remarkable 170 miles per gallon. But suppose all the money we're investing in better gas mileage and...
John Voelcker March 28, 2011
VIDEO: How New Cars Are Designed To Get Better Fuel Economy
What are the tricks that car designers and engineers use to squeeze out those last few miles per gallon in your next new car--regardless of what size it is? In our continuing series of videos on ways to drive a little greener and stretch your gas budget that much further, editorial director Marty...
John Voelcker March 28, 2011
Electric Cars To Help 2050 Europe Goal Of Zero-Emissions Cities
When looked at in pure dollars and cents, there are many cases in which electric cars don't yet provide a payback. But other forces will boost their chances of adoption beyond pure payback. And government regulations are one of those forces. On Monday, the European Commission will issue a road map...
John Voelcker March 25, 2011
Better Place: First Battery Swap Station, Profit In 2 Years?
Better Place, the ambitious program that's launching its electric-car service in Israel, opened its first battery-swap station there on Wednesday. At an event marking the opening, CEO Shai Agassi said the company would be profitable within two years of starting to provide mobility services to its...
John Voelcker March 25, 2011
VIDEO: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco, High Gas-Mileage Features
With gas prices top of mind for many drivers, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco model seems perfectly timed. The model with a six-speed manual gearbox is EPA-rated at 28 mpg city, 42 mpg highway, for a combined 33 mpg. On our recent road test over a long weekend, we beat that slightly, getting 34.2 mpg...
John Voelcker March 25, 2011

FIRST DRIVE: 2012 Buick Lacrosse 37-MPG eAssist Prototype John Voelcker March 24, 2011

To date, Buick and "fuel economy" haven't often been used in the same sentence.

But the 2012 Buick LaCrosse, the brand's largest surviving car, will offer one engine option that's projected to...
Leave Your 2011 Chevy Volt On Overnight? Not Much Bad Happens
You don't start the engine in a 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Instead, you "power up" the car by pressing a button with the universal computer power symbol on it. Once the Volt has gone through its bootup routine, complete with tones and chimes, the button glows blue and you're ready to roll on electric...
John Voelcker March 23, 2011
Little Lotus Range-Extending Engine For Electric Cars Proves Popular
Most car buyers haven't even heard the term "range extender" yet. But over time, expect it to become more familiar, as electric cars like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt introduce the concept of a gasoline engine that turns a generator to produce electricity to power the vehicle. Tiny, powerful, efficient...
John Voelcker March 23, 2011
BMW: The Newest 'Ultimate Car-Sharing Machine'? Maybe Soon
Oh, those wacky Germans and their car-sharing schemes. BMW said yesterday that it would launch a pilot car-sharing program, first in Munich and then in Berlin, starting next month. The cooperative venture with Sixt AG will be called DriveNow. BMW says DriveNow will be the "first-ever car-sharing...
John Voelcker March 23, 2011
VIDEO: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco, Our Real-World Gas Mileage
Gas mileage is on absolutely everyone's mind these days. Strife in oil-producing nations, and the associated rising gasoline prices, have already led to a surge of interest in any vehicle's MPG ratings. Now production in Japan (source of most of the world's hybrids) is shut down, at least...
John Voelcker March 22, 2011
Electric Car Factory: Think Sets Up Shop In Indiana, RV-Land
Quick, name the electric cars currently on sale. Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, and ... ummmm ... oh, yeah, Smart Electric Drive. Now name the ones built in the States. Hmmmm. Volt, right? Think about it Yes, but you've missed out on one--in both categories. It's the Think City, which is now being...
John Voelcker March 22, 2011

Chevy Volt Price-Gouging Pushes Buyer Into Honda Insight Hybrid John Voelcker March 22, 2011

For all the media furor over the 2011 Nissan Leaf and the 2011 Chevy Volt, you'd think that tens of thousands of them were flooding onto our streets each month.

Not so. As of Feb 28, the total sold ...
VIDEO: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco, Two-Minute Drive Review
The EPA rates the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco at 28 mpg city, 42 mpg highway, when it's fitted with the six-speed manual transmission. But can the Cruze Eco really reach beyond that magic 40-mpg number, which is highway mileage only? VIDEO: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco, Our Real-World Gas Mileage On our...
John Voelcker March 21, 2011
High Gas Prices May Soon Turn Your Lovely Suburb Into A Slum
Americans rarely think much about zoning, but it governs almost every facet of how we live our lives. And unintended consequences of 50-year-old zoning codes may be about to turn some of our loveliest and quietest suburbs into the next slums. Why? Simply because they've been built too far away from...
John Voelcker March 18, 2011
U.S. Gas Is Too Dirty For Our Best Engines, Mercedes-Benz Says
We rarely think about what's in our gasoline when we fill the tank, but carmakers have to. Mercedes-Benz has just launched a new direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 engine in its 2012 SLK model, with an innovative "lean burn" mode that will also be used on a smaller four-cylinder engine. The "Stratified"...
John Voelcker March 18, 2011
Porsche Launches Version 2.0 Of Amazing 911 GT3 R Hybrid Racer
If at first you don't succeed ... make your race car better. That's the principle behind yesterday's launch of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0. It's the second iteration of Porsche's ground-breaking 911 endurance racer fitted with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System, or KERS. The first version of the...
John Voelcker March 17, 2011
Elusive Cheapest Toyota Prius I Model Remains Unavailable
Gas prices are rising, so you'd think that the 2011 Toyota Prius hybrid would be the car of the moment. But with car production halted in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami, Prius supplies are already growing tight. And Toyota is hardly helping the thriftiest buyers, those who want only a...
John Voelcker March 16, 2011