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

BMW Releases More Details, Photos Of ActiveE Electric Car John Voelcker February 11, 2011

The BMW ActiveE, first unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, is BMW's second attempt at an all-electric vehicle. It follows the not-very-pleasant Mini E, of which 600 examples were tested in the...
Oil Exec Says Electric-Car Batteries 'Not Ready for Primetime'
It's always good to hear the arguments against electric cars. Some are valid, some are idiotic, and some simply betray a lack of knowledge about how the auto industry really works. Into that last category may go some comments by one William M. Colton, ExxonMobil’s vice president for corporate...
John Voelcker February 11, 2011

Ram Pickup Trucks To Get Natural-Gas Option For V-8 Engines?
The head of Chrysler's Ram truck brand, Fred Diaz, said at the Chicago Auto Show this week that the company is exploring the addition of natural-gas powered engines to its line of V-8 engined Ram trucks (formerly Dodge Ram). “I'm eager and very interested to see what we can do with CNG in our...
John Voelcker February 11, 2011
Toyota Recall Recap: Floormats, Sticky Pedals, AND User Error
Let's recap. After 18 months, recalls totaling 9 million Toyota, Lexus, and Pontiac models, and investigations by Toyota, Congress, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unit ... what have we learned? (1) A few accelerator pedals...
John Voelcker February 10, 2011
Did Hyundai Elantra Ad Make Ford Stretch Focus Leg-Room Claim?
We're eagerly looking forward to driving the 2012 Ford Focus. It's won raves in reviews--including the first-drive report on TheCarConnection--and been the subject of downright fawning coverage in Detroit media. It has many unique features and options for a compact car, from Ford's excellent...
John Voelcker February 10, 2011
Senator Stabenow: $7,500 Electric-Car Credit Should Be Rebate
It's long been known that purchase rebates--buy a car, get a check--are a more effective incentive for purchase of any kind of car than an income-tax credit, which may take a year or more to affect the buyer's cash position. But the current tax credits for purchase of plug-in cars, up to $7,500 for...
John Voelcker February 8, 2011
Five Reasons Gas-Guzzlers Won't Die--And Shouldn't--Any Time Soon John Voelcker February 8, 2011

Writing about green cars can be a challenge. On the one hand, this site attracts many new-car buyers who want to learn more about more fuel-efficient alternatives to what they're driving now....

Electric-Car Battery Packs Irresistible To Rampaging Rodents?
Anyone who's stored a car in a rural area has heard stories of the chaos wreaked by nesting squirrels. Engine compartments stuffed with leaves, twigs, nuts, and even entire furry families can cause overheating and sometimes fires. But now a new peril has come to light against which electric-car...
John Voelcker February 8, 2011
2012 Buick Regal With eAssist: 26 MPG City, 37 MPG Highway Expected
The rumors started last week, and they were largely true: Buick plans to offer a model of its Regal compact sports sedan with the eAssist mild-hybrid system. What we didn't have were the projected EPA mileage ratings (based on GM's internal tests). The company expects the 2012 Buick Regal with...
John Voelcker February 8, 2011
Helpful GM Propaganda: How 2011 Chevy Cruze Eco Raises MPGs
The word "propaganda" can mean many things to many people. Today, we're using it in the sense of "a form of communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community," as Wikipedia neatly puts it. The busy public-relations team at General Motors is now putting out roughly a video every week on...
John Voelcker February 7, 2011
2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid With 350 HP Rated At 32 MPG Highway
Think "hybrid" and what comes to mind? Small or midsize, sometimes odd-driving Toyotas? There's now actually a raft of low-volume hybrid luxury and sports sedans from such makers as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, and now Infiniti. The 2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid was officially unveiled at last fall's...
John Voelcker February 7, 2011
Volkswagen's 79-MPG Up Hatchback, But Only For Europeans
With fuel-efficiency and emissions regulations tightening all over the world, carmakers continue to push the limits on how economical a production car can get. The latest entrant in the high-mileage stakes: a future edition of Volkswagen's Up minicar that will return 79 miles per gallon using a...
John Voelcker February 7, 2011

Jaguar-Style Turbine Hybrid Buses: Not Up To NYC Service, Sadly John Voelcker February 7, 2011

Now that the 2011 Chevy Volt is on sale, car buyers can experience electric vehicles with range-extending engines in everyday driving. And the Volt is just the start.

In the future, range extenders...
Cars That Last And Last: Driving The Same One For 77 Years
We've all heard the stories about people who hang onto their cars for decades. Irv Gordon's 1966 Volvo P1800 is one; he's got more than 2.6 million miles on it now, after buying it new for $4,150. Then there's Rachel Veitch, who at 91 has logged 562,000 miles--and had no fewer than 18 batteries and...
John Voelcker February 4, 2011
Rumor: Toyota To Show Yaris Hybrid Concept At Geneva Motor Show
Last year, Toyota promised to launch a dozen new hybrid and plug-in hybrid models by the end of 2012. One of those new hybrid models may be unveiled in concept form at next month's Geneva Motor Show. Two Dutch websites are reporting that the company will use the show for the world debut of a Toyota...
John Voelcker February 4, 2011
BMW May Only Lease Its Advanced MegaCity 'i' Electric Car
Of all the electric vehicles planned by major automakers, few are more eagerly awaited than the BMW MegaCity 'i' all-electric urban car, expected to go into production late in 2013 or early in 2014. It's a BMW, which means it will be sporty and handle well. It's likely to be the smallest BMW since...
John Voelcker February 3, 2011
Hyundai Steps Up Its MPG Reporting Dare To Other Carmakers
Although EPA gas-mileage ratings may or may not be achievable in real-world driving conditions, they're a good relative benchmark. They're also a very public encouragement to carmakers to make more fuel-efficient cars. Hyundai, whose new 2011 Elantra compact model is rated at 40 mpg highway for all...
John Voelcker February 3, 2011
Rumor: Next Ford GT To Join The Hybrid Supercar Corral?
And the hybrids just keep on coming. Earlier this morning we wrote that BMW will launch a line of front-wheel-drive hybrids in 2014. Now, the British magazine AutoExpress suggests that a new generation of the Ford GT supercar will also offer hybrid-electric drive. Competition for Porsche If so, it...
John Voelcker February 2, 2011

BMW Front-Wheel-Drive Hybrids Coming In 2014 From New Partnership John Voelcker February 2, 2011

It's not just Toyota that sells multiple models of hybrid cars now. German luxury brands are getting in on the act too.

BMW announced today that it was forming a joint venture with France's...
Which Is Selling Better: 2011 Chevy Volt Or 2011 Nissan Leaf?
The first business day of every month is when automakers release sales data for the previous month. Today, we got January's sales figures, which are an improvement over last January's. But the question that we keep hearing is: Which sells better, the 2011 Nissan Leaf or the 2011 Chevrolet Volt?...
John Voelcker February 1, 2011
Chicago Auto Show Preview: 2012 Buick Regal With eAssist Option
Buick plans to add its eAssist mild-hybrid system to the 2012 Regal sedan as an option, making the Regal its second model to offer the mileage-increasing system. According to trade publication Ward's Auto, Buick will introduce the option at the Chicago Auto Show next week. Last November, General...
John Voelcker February 1, 2011
Technical Details Revealed: 2012 Audi Q5 Hybrid Crossover
Sometimes you just never know where you'll dredge up technical details on vehicles that carmakers haven't yet launched. Technology conferences can be a good source. Take, for instance, the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC) held last week in Pasadena, California. A battery systems...
John Voelcker February 1, 2011
Even Electric Cars Get Recalled: 2011 Think City Safety Notices
Recall notices are now a standard part of the automotive landscape. Last year's recall of almost 10 million Toyota and Lexus models only highlighted the fact that most vehicles get called back to dealers for minor upgrades or inspections to fix or avert potential defects. Despite their much smaller...
John Voelcker January 31, 2011
Horrifying Web Advice & Why Prius Batteries Aren't That Mysterious
Don't believe everything you read on the web. From the Department of Dangerously Wrong Information comes a horrifying piece on Yahoo's open content network, entitled "What New Prius Batteries Cost and How You Can Save Thousands." It looks like one of many articles that respond to consumer worries...
John Voelcker January 28, 2011