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

Most Fuel Efficient Full-Line Carmaker in the U.S.: Honda. Again. John Voelcker November 21, 2009

Once again, Honda has the most fuel-efficient model range of the nine carmakers that sell a full lineup of vehicles in the U.S.

Preliminary figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...
More Hybrids On the Way From BMW, Including 1-Series
We've covered BMW's first two hybrid vehicles, just launched for the upcoming year: the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 "sports activity coupe", the world's most powerful hybrid, and the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7, the world's fastest hybrid sedan. Now a spy photo from the British magazine Autocar shows that...
John Voelcker November 20, 2009

Green Car Wash: Less Than One Glass of Water For a Whole Car?
It's Friday, so it's time to dig deep into the GreenCarReports.com random roundup box. Today we have just one item, and it comes with an intriguing question: Could you wash your car with just a single glass of water? That's the premise of a new product called Ecolo Green Car Wash, from a company in...
John Voelcker November 20, 2009
Toyota: No Plans To Sell $21K 2010 Prius I to Consumers
The 2010 Toyota Prius is in fairly short supply all over the world, and its U.S. sales are trouncing those of the 2010 Honda Insight, its competitor in the arena of dedicated hybrid hatchbacks. So perhaps it's not that surprising that Toyota doesn't feel the need to sell the lowest-spec 2010 Prius...
John Voelcker November 20, 2009
Ultra-Luxe Mini Planned With Rolls-Royce Trim, Bespoke Features
As European manufacturers get more serious about cutting emissions and attacking climate change, some very interesting small, fuel-efficient cars are starting to emerge. The latest news from Europe is that apparently there will be an ultra-luxury version of the Mini Cooper, to be trimmed out at the...
John Voelcker November 19, 2009
2010 Toyota Prius I Equipment Level: Not Available Any Time Soon
Remember that $21,000, very basic 2010 Prius? Toyota has now confirmed it has neither current plans nor a schedule for selling the lowest-level model of the 2010 Toyota Prius, known as the Prius I, to consumers. In fact, it doesn't even have a timeframe for "continued, regular fleet sales of Prius...
John Voelcker November 19, 2009
Small Vehicles Will Be Largest Part Of U.S. Market By 2013, Ford Says John Voelcker November 18, 2009

Today we were in Michigan to learn quite a lot about the 2011 Ford Fiesta--absolutely none of which we're allowed to share with you today. (Soon, soon!)

Yesterday, though, Ford's George Pipas...

If Texans Don't Want 2010 Smart ForTwos, Will They Rent 'Em?
Several months ago, we previewed Car2Go, the car-sharing program planned in Austin, Texas, featuring Smart ForTwo mini-cars. Now a pilot program with 200 Smarts has launched for the 13,000 employees of the city of Austin. It's the first U.S. version of a scheme that started in March in Ulm...
John Voelcker November 18, 2009
First Photos: 2011 Toyota Prius Station Wagon!
We've written before that Toyota plans to introduce more Prius body styles to expand the reach of its most recognized and iconic hybrid car. Now, our sister site GreenCarReports.com has uncovered three photos of a possible 2011 Toyota Prius station wagon. One comes from a blog called Woody's Car...
John Voelcker November 17, 2009
Preview: 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid
While Mercedes-Benz has focused its first green marketing efforts on the undeniably impressive 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, it was joined by a second hybrid Benz that went on sale earlier this month after previewing in April at the New York Auto Show. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid brings...
John Voelcker November 17, 2009
2011 Toyota Prius Station Wagon To Feature Lithium-Ion Battery
We've known for a while that Toyota plans to introduce more Prius body styles to expand the reach of its most recognized and iconic hybrid car. Now, images of a possible 2011 Toyota Prius station wagon have hit the media. At least in Japan. Woody Thompson, proprietor of Woody's Car Site, points us...
John Voelcker November 16, 2009
BMW's Other Hybrid: 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Sedan
For 2010, BMW is releasing two hybrid vehicles that are very different both in style and in their approach to using electric power to assist the gasoline engine. We've already covered the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 "sports activity coupe", which uses the Two-Mode Hybrid system jointly developed by...
John Voelcker November 16, 2009

Live Around LA? Want An Electric Car? Raise Your Hand Now, Please John Voelcker November 16, 2009

As planning for the arrival of plug-in cars accelerates, electric utilities need to know which of their customers intend to hook their vehicle up to the power grid every day.

Now Southern California...
CEO Group Goal: 75 Percent of U.S. Miles in Electric Cars By 2040
Roadmaps aren't inherently sexy, unless you're lost and hungry. But when they demonstrate plausible visions for the future, they can be well worth reading. Today, a group of 13 CEOs and board chairmen from a broad range of companies announced that they've formed the not-for-profit Electrification...
John Voelcker November 16, 2009
Five Questions: Ed Kjaer, SoCal Edison's Electric Transport Director
Ed Kjaer is usually the most profane executive at any electric-car event. Blunt, direct, often outspoken, he's known as a go-to guy for real-world perspective on how plug-in cars will start to enter the U.S. auto fleet. Since 1999, he's been the Director of Electric Transportation for Southern...
John Voelcker November 14, 2009
2011 Volkswagen Touareg To Include Hybrid, Launch in January
The completely redesigned 2011 Volkswagen Touareg sport utility vehicle, which will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show this January, will include a hybrid model in the range from the start. The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid will be Volkswagen's first hybrid electric vehicle, and it will go on...
John Voelcker November 12, 2009
Do Hybrids Hit Pedestrians More Often? NHTSA Report May Say So
Advocates for the blind have long been pushing for hybrid and electric cars to make some kind of artificial noise at low speeds, to alert people with vision impairment of their presence when operating in all-electric mode, which is quieter. But data on whether electric-drive cars actually hit...
John Voelcker November 12, 2009
Teaching Fuel Efficiency In Driving School: Smart, or Satanic?
Driving school is often a drag for participants. But as long as you're learning to drive, it might not hurt to learn a bit about how to identify more fuel-efficient cars and driving tactics to save gasoline, right? Wrong. It's a distraction and irrelevant, since "so-called environmental...
John Voelcker November 12, 2009

Newly Conscientious Consumers Say Modesty Is Cool For Luxury Cars John Voelcker November 11, 2009

Well, this is encouraging. A new study of luxury car buyers commissioned by BMW finds that even luxury car buyers are beginning to reject conspicuous consumption, with more and more choosing their...
Forbes Calls Jeep Grand Cherokee Dirtiest Car, Readers Slam Methods
That old capitalist tool, Forbes magazine, has issued a list of the 10 dirtiest cars sold in the U.S. At the very top, in first place for filth, is the Jeep Grand Cherokee. But it turns out there are some problems with their list. There's history behind this. A decade ago, the website for Forbes...
John Voelcker November 11, 2009
GM's Second Electric Car After Chevy Volt To Be Cadillac Converj
General Motors will follow its 2011 Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car with a production version of the Cadillac Converj concept car revealed at this year's Detroit Auto Show. It's been an open question for a while now: What will be the next vehicle to use GM's Voltec series hybrid...
John Voelcker November 9, 2009
Toyota Creates New Flower Species To Cut CO2 From Prius Production
You may already associate the 2010 Toyota Prius with flowers, courtesy of its "Harmony Between Man, Nature, and Machine" ad campaign, complete with human flowers in the "Harmony" TV spot. Now Toyota has taken flower power one step further, creating two new species specifically to help reduce the...
John Voelcker November 9, 2009
First Drive: 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6
"Our goal was to fundamentally change the view of hybrids," said Peter TÃ¼nnermann, project manager for the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6. "We wanted to make a 'non-hybrid' hybrid." In other words, a hybrid that didn't drive like a hybrid. And in that goal, BMW has succeeded admirably...
John Voelcker November 7, 2009
Toyota Goes Wild on Custom Prius Models For Charity
The annual event known as "SEMA" (for Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Assocation) has grown from its simple trade show origins into a global extravaganza bigger than most auto shows. Imagine the hugest Kustom Kar event you can possibly conjure. On steroids. In Vegas. SEMA is now a mandatory stop...
John Voelcker November 6, 2009