John Voelcker, Contributing Editor

John Voelcker avatar
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

  • 2011 Nissan Leaf: GreenCarReports Best Car To Buy 2011

    It’s been a long time coming. More than 80 years, in fact, since viable electric cars were offered to U.S. car buyers.

    Now, finally, at long last, it’s happened. The 2011 Nissan Leaf is...

  • GreenCarReports Best Car To Buy 2011 Nominee: Nissan Leaf

    The 2011 Nissan Leaf looks like a conventional compact hatchback with unconventionally sinuous styling. It seats five, has all the usual safety features, and we particularly like the way the navigation system is integrated into the rest of the car’s information systems. But the significance...

  • GreenCarReports Best Car To Buy 2011 Nominee: Lexus CT 200h

    It's the nominee we know the least about, and in some ways the one we're most curious about. The 2011 Lexus CT 200h is a non-traditional car for Lexus, which has never before offered a compact hatchback. And after the underwhelming HS 250h sedan, it's one we didn't have high hopes for. That was...

  • How Does Nissan Recharge Some Leafs? With A Diesel Generator

    We love it when people send us photos. Especially photos of things that manufacturers aren't necessarily keeping front and center for the cameras. The photo here is a "range extender" that Nissan uses to keep its 2011 Leaf electric cars fully charged for media events. The picture was taken (by a...

  • GreenCarReports Best Car To Buy 2011 Nominee: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

    For its first-ever hybrid-electric vehicle, Hyundai has blazed a new path. Not only does the 2011 Sonata Hybrid carry gas-mileage ratings better than its competition, but it neatly splits the difference between the indistinguishable-from-standard styling of the Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion hybrids...

  • 2011 Nissan Leaf Orders Delayed For Both Dealers And Buyers

    Both Nissan and Chevrolet have a lot riding on delivering their first electric cars before the end of December, meaning during calendar 2011. Now it looks like Nissan may squeak by with just a few early production cars delivered to a handful of dealerships, because the company has significantly...

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    GreenCarReports Best Car To Buy 2011 Nominee: Honda CR-Z

    As we noted yesterday, we'll be giving one brand-new 2011 model the GreenCarReports 2011 Best Car To Buy Award in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show next week.

    We'll summarize each of our...

  • 2011 Nissan Leaf Roundtable: High Gear Media Editors Weigh In

    The 2011 Nissan Leaf electric car is clearly one of the most revolutionary vehicles to be sold in the U.S. in many years. It's a first battery electric car that relies solely on plugging into grid electricity for its the energy that powers it. Unlike the 2011 Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric...

  • Tesla-Powered Electric RAV4: Initially Just "A Few Thousand"

    One of the more eagerly awaited green vehicles at next week's 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show is the electric RAV4 crossover that Toyota will launch in partnership with Tesla Motors. Now we learn that the initial order is for little more than a test fleet of perhaps 2,000 vehicles, according to Tesla...

  • GreenCarReports Best Car To Buy 2011 Nominee: Chevrolet Volt

    As we noted yesterday, we'll be giving one brand-new 2011 model the GreenCarReports 2011 Best Car To Buy Award in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show next week. We'll summarize each of our five nominees, one per day, between now and then. To avoid any bias, we're doing the list in strict...

  • Small, Powerful Engines: Four-Cylinder Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    We talk quite a lot about how global regulations aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions will lead to much smaller, more powerful engines. Latest case in point? Would you believe a four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz S-Class? Just to be clear, this is the big Benz. The one beloved...

  • Nissan Will Build Leaf Electrics Among Altima, Maxima Gas Cars

    It's one of the most radical cars ever to be built in this country, the first all-electric vehicle to go on sale in many decades. So you'd expect that when the Nissan Leaf enters production in Smyrna, Tennessee, late in 2012, it would have its very own production line, right? Nope. Not at all. Far...

  •
    Building a Better Battery Charger For Electric Cars: GridBot

    Starting a venture-funded company is hard. Starting a venture-funded car company is probably a lot harder, as Tesla, Fisker, and Coda have likely found out.

    But one area that may make sense for...

  • GreenCarReports to Name "Best Car To Buy 2011"

    You're probably wondering by now, "Oh, no, another 'car of the year' award?" Yep. And here's why. We write a lot about future vehicles at Green Car Reports, but we also know that many of our readers seek practical information about which cars both save gasoline and lessen their impact on our...

  • First Video: 2012 Audi Q5 Hybrid Details

    Audi has aggressively pushed its clean diesel models in the U.S., including the Audi Q7 TDI luxury sport-utility vehicle. But even the company that wins Le Mans Series races with its turbodiesel race cars is hedging its bets with hybrids. Today Audi released the first video of its upcoming 2012...

  • Gasoline Engines Will Be With Us For Many Decades Yet, Really

    We write a lot about electric cars here, and we cover clean diesels and efficient gasoline cars. But it's probably time for a little reality check. Gasoline engines are going to be with us throughout the lifetime of anyone reading this article. They may represent far less than the 90-odd-percent of...

  • First Photos: 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV Electric Car, U.S. Version

    First came the sketch, now come the photos. Mitsubishi has released the first official images of the U.S. version of its 2012 i-MiEV electric minicar, just a week before the car is unveiled at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. The company also released some specifications for the little i-MiEV...

  • Imagine! GM Is Building Electric Cars Again, Just Not For U.S.

    For the next few years, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric car will be the sole focus of GM's advanced powertrain efforts for U.S. car buyers. But that hasn't stopped it from putting battery electric cars into production elsewhere in the world. Electric minicars in China Last week, in...

  •
    NY Marathon: 2011 Nissan Leaf Acts As Zero-Emission Pace Car

    A single zero-emissions 2011 Nissan Leaf electric car served as pace car for the world renowned New York City Marathon, held this morning in crisp, sunny autumn weather.

    Its presence slightly reduced...

  • 2012 VW Up Minicar On Sale In Europe Next Year, Already Priced

    VW hasn't yet unveiled the final version of its upcoming Up minicar, which will be smaller than the smallest vehicle it sells in Europe today, the Volkswagen Polo subcompact. But the company has already discussed the car's price there: around 10,000 Euros, or about $14,100 at today's exchange rate...

  • BMW Green: Plug-In Hybrid Sports Coupe, MegaCity Plant OKed

    BMW is moving full steam ahead with its plans to offer new, radically more fuel efficient vehicles in the next decade. Today, the company said it would put its striking Vision EfficientDynamics concept car into production, to be offered for sale starting in October 2013. And, it signed off on an...

  • Panasonic To Join Parade of Tesla Investors With Toyota, Daimler

    As these things often happen, it was rumored in the Japanese press and then confirmed hours later. Panasonic, the huge Japanese consumer electronics conglomerate, is investing in Tesla Motors, building on a previous agreement to work together on large-format lithium-ion cells for electric car...

  • 53-MPG Clean-Diesel Audi A4 TDI Coming To U.S...In Four Years

    German automakers have spent time and money on ad campaigns promoting clean diesels as the better way to improve fuel economy, so far with limited results. But that could change when Audi brings a TDI diesel version of its best-selling A4 model to the U.S. So far, its only TDI offerings are the Q7...

  • Kia Teases 2012 Forte Hybrid Concept at SEMA Custom Show

    One of the joys of the huge, splashy, raucous SEMA show in Las Vegas is seeing what manufacturers toss up in the air to show off. Kia brought several customized cars, one of which falls into the green category: a propane-fueled mild hybrid version of its new, and well-received, Forte compact sedan...

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