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

Consumer Reports Pans 2011 Chevy Volt, But Misses the Point John Voelcker March 2, 2011

If Consumer Reports didn't exist, someone would have to invent it.

It may be the most trusted brand in evaluating cars, and it offered reliability ratings well before J.D. Power became a household...
Green Car Roundup: 2011 Geneva Motor Show - Concept Cars
If you're in the States, you may be just starting your day. But in Switzerland, the flurry of activity during the first media day at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show is at its peak. With record numbers of concept and production-car launches, our team is shooting photos and posting details as fast as they...
John Voelcker March 1, 2011

U.S. Drivers: Shut Up, Stop Whining, You Don't Pay $8/Gallon
Turmoil in Libya is making global oil markets nervous. That means higher gasoline prices. Cue the creeping unease and outright fear that Our American Way Of Life May Be In Peril. Well, it's Monday morning, and we have a brisk message for our U.S. readers: Shut up and stop whining. So gas is over $3...
John Voelcker February 28, 2011
2011 Think City Two-Seat Electric Car Faces Third Recall
Dozens, even hundreds, of different models get recalled each year by their makers to address defects or potential problems. Most pass unnoticed, except to the owners who get letters in the mail asking them to bring their vehicle back to the dealer. But three recalls in as many months isn't a...
John Voelcker February 28, 2011
Who's Your Gas Buddy? 16 Cars With 40-MPG Gas Mileage On Sale Now
Gas prices got you all nervous? Figuring the days of cheap gas are over? Thinking about a new car with much better gas mileage? Well, just because the EPA rates a specific car at the magic 40-mpg mark doesn't mean you'll actually get 40 mpg. But the ratings are a good indicator of where cars stand...
John Voelcker February 25, 2011
2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid Priced At $53,700, Gets 32 MPG Highway
Two weeks ago, the EPA rated the 2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid at 27 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 29 mpg. That makes it the only car in its class, as Infiniti proudly trumpeted, with both 350 horsepower and a highway rating of 30 mpg or more. Now, the cost of that fuel efficiency...
John Voelcker February 24, 2011
Could Chevy Volt Plug-In Displace Prius Hybrid On Red Carpets? John Voelcker February 24, 2011

It all started with Leonardo DiCaprio, who showed up at the foot of the red carpet in his very own Toyota Prius.

Within a couple of years, alighting from a Prius hybrid--or any other hybrid,...

Porsche Recreates The Original Hybrid Car, 111 Years Later
The name Porsche has traditionally been associated with fast, rear-engine sports cars, and more recently with fast heavy SUVs and fast heavy four-door luxury sedans. But it all goes back to pioneering engineer Ferdinand Porsche. He also designed the prototype for what became the Volkswagen Beetle...
John Voelcker February 24, 2011
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Delay: Deciding To Make It Make Noise, Always
Hyundai is no friend to cheating spouses, that's for sure. Of course, neither is Congress (despite the recent Craigslist antics of former Representative Chris Lee). But perhaps we should start at the beginning. 'Vast defect' ?!?!? We've gotten several notes over the past few weeks from Colorado...
John Voelcker February 23, 2011
Do Battery-Pack Failures Reduce the Life of Hybrid Cars? A Reader Asks
Our reader Jonathan P asks: I have a 1997 Saturn that, remarkably, is still running. It probably has the book value of a large watermelon, so if anything major goes wrong with it, that's the end of that. If that Saturn were a hybrid, I'm guessing the battery pack would have died about four years...
John Voelcker February 23, 2011
2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Engine Stalling Investigated
While Toyota clearly hopes the worst of its recall problems are behind it, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a new investigation into an older Toyota vehicle. On February 15, the NHTSA opened an investigation into 32 complaints of engine stalling in 2006 Toyota...
John Voelcker February 23, 2011
2012 Honda Civic HF Joins The 40-MPG-Plus Parade, Hybrid Too
You may have seen it on a t-shirt: "40 is the new 30." But you may not have realized it applies to miles-per-gallon just as much as age. While cars with EPA ratings of 30 mpg or more used to be considered in the highest ranks of fuel efficiency, now 40 mpg seems to be the new benchmark for...
John Voelcker February 22, 2011

House Vote Blocks Gas With E15 Ethanol; Will Senate Follow? John Voelcker February 22, 2011

The latest episode in the long-running drama over whether U.S. drivers will be offered gasoline with more ethanol in it came very early Saturday morning.

The House of Representatives adopted an...
BMW Confirms 'i' Electric Sub-Brand, Lineup: MegaCity Now i3
Auto marketers and PR people have a love-hate relationship with the Internet. It lets them connect directly with users and fans, but it also transmits facts, leaks, and rumors at lightning speed. That meant that this morning's BMW press conference, telecast live from BMW Welt in a snowy Munich...
John Voelcker February 21, 2011
2013 Chevrolet Cruze To Offer 2.0-Liter Clean-Diesel Option
Last fall, GM executive Tom Stephens said the company would offer a passenger car with a clean-diesel engine in the U.S. market, its first since 1985. Now we know what that vehicle will be: a model of the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan. Workers at the Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant where the...
John Voelcker February 19, 2011
Green Can Be Cool: Customized 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Show Car
Slowly, ever so slowly, the image of green cars is expanding beyond tiny tin-box hatchbacks and nerdy Toyota Prius hybrids to encompass a broader spectrum of the car scene. Take, for instance, this 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid show car, customized by Jonathan Garcia of M&J Enterprises in Phillips...
John Voelcker February 18, 2011
2010 Smart ForTwo Minicars: Still On Sale, Now Even Cheaper
If you're one of the dwindling number of car buyers considering the Smart ForTwo minicar, now may be a good time to close the deal. Smart sent out an e-mail yesterday offering $1,500 of "customer cash" off the purchase price of remaining 2010 ForTwo coupe models, which apparently are still in stock...
John Voelcker February 18, 2011
Federal Incentives: Subsidizing 'Volt-Gouging' By Chevy Dealers?
It's the sign of a successful car launch: Dealers add blatant markups to the sticker price, charging thousands of dollars extra because buyer demand exceeds supply, and dealers have the only supply. Now it's happening to the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the range-extended electric car that went on sale in...
John Voelcker February 18, 2011

2012 Mazda3 SkyActiv-G Engine: How Much More Fuel Efficient? John Voelcker February 17, 2011

Next year's Mazda3 models will deliver fuel efficiency gains over their 2011 counterparts, the company said today, as it unveiled refreshed versions of its popular compact hatchback and sedan, to go...
Researchers: 100 Percent Green Energy Possible By 2050
We approach energy policy with care here, since GreenCarReports is largely about ... well, cars. But a recent article claims it could take just 40 years to convert the bulk of the world's global energy usage from fossil fuels to renewable energy, primarily wind and solar power. That's not only...
John Voelcker February 16, 2011
Tesla Motors Earnings: Losses Rise, So Does Share Price
Silicon Valley startup electric-car maker Tesla Motors released its 2010 earnings report yesterday, and--as you might expect from a startup that has sold only cars for three years--it lost money. Investors apparently weren't fazed by the rising tide of red ink. Tesla shares closed yesterday at...
John Voelcker February 16, 2011
Obama Budget Kills Clean-Diesel Retrofit, Fuel-Cell Funding
The budget that will be submitted to Congress on Monday by President Barack Obama contains cuts for two clean-vehicle programs: retrofits that reduce diesel emissions from heavy trucks and other commercial vehicles, and research funds for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Whether those cuts will survive...
John Voelcker February 15, 2011
NHTSA Investigates 2009, 2010 VW, Audi TDI Diesel Fuel Pumps
Got a 2009 or 2010 Volkswagen Golf or Jetta with the TDI clean diesel engine? Or an Audi A3 TDI? Ever had the engine stall unexpectedly? If so, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration might like to hear from you. The NHTSA announced Friday on its website that it is upgrading an...
John Voelcker February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day Idea: Wrap Your Car In Hearts And Love
Suppose your beloved walked into the garage this morning and found the car covered in pink hearts and declarations of love. That'd be a pretty impressive Valentine's Day gift, right? Well, start your planning for next year, 'cause this one will take more than a last-minute dash to the florist and...
John Voelcker February 14, 2011