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

Toyota's iQ Mini-Car To Be New Scion Smart-ForTwo-Fighter John Voelcker March 20, 2009

We've always liked the Toyota iQ mini-car, a three-seater just a hair bigger than the Smart ForTwo. Now it looks like we'll see it here in the US, courtesy of Toyota's younger brother, the Scion...
Toyota Prius: Tough Enough To Be A Taxi. Anywhere.
Used to be that potential hybrid buyers worried about whether the electric components were tough enough. Well, the growing number of Toyota Prius taxis should set that worry to rest. Our colleagues at AllSmallCars noticed a Prius leading the Yellow Cab fleet in Denver's St. Patrick's...
John Voelcker March 20, 2009

2009 Tesla Roadster: Range versus Vrooom
The faster and harder you drive the Tesla Roadster, the lower its range gets. Shock, surprise!
John Voelcker March 19, 2009
The Government Is Going To Seize And CRUSH YOUR CAR!!!
The rhetoric and distrust around sensible
John Voelcker March 18, 2009
Would a Prius Without the Hybrid Still Be a Prius?
The economy is rough out there, and saving money is on everyone's mind. We even saw a suggestion that Toyota should offer a cheaper Prius--without the expensive hybrid system. Which made us wonder: Would it still be a "Prius" if Toyota sold the same car, minus the hybrid system? Clearly the company...
John Voelcker March 18, 2009
Aptera in Action Video: Driving the Planet's Greenest All-Electric Three-Wheeler!
Just for its looks, the Aptera 2e has gotten a ton of press--but now we show you what it's like to drive.
John Voelcker March 17, 2009
VW Will Sell Polo, Smaller Than Rabbit, In US In 2011 John Voelcker March 16, 2009

Confirming rumors, VW says it will sell the Polo--a model smaller than the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit--in the US, probably starting in 2011. Launched at the recent Geneva Motor Show, the subcompact...

Is Used Green The New Black?
Toyota's Certified Used Hybrid program takes away the worry about powertrain reliability
John Voelcker March 16, 2009
India's Tiny Tata Nano Coming To Europe In 2011
One of our favorite small cars goes west, gaining power, equipment, and a facelift in the process
John Voelcker March 16, 2009
Is the 2010 Toyota Prius Too Fancy For Its Own Good?
Toyota is worried about competition from the cheaper, smaller 2010 Honda Insight, which gets mileage almost as good as the new Prius
John Voelcker March 13, 2009
Ford's Omnivorous Flex-Fuel Mondeo Runs On Whatever It Has In Its Tanks
The European Ford Mondeo Tri-Fuel can run interchangeably on gasoline, E85 ethanol, or liquified petroleum gas (LPG)
John Voelcker March 12, 2009
To Ford, From Toyota: We Rule, Prius Rocks, Hybrids'R'Us
Toyota trumped Ford's hybrid milestone by pointing out it has sold 10 times as many in the US alone as Ford has built
John Voelcker March 11, 2009

To Claim a Tax Credit, Buy Your Ford Hybrid Before the End of March John Voelcker March 11, 2009

Despite all the green love Toyota gets, Ford builds and sells hybrids too. In fact, they've now built enough of them that tax breaks for buying a Ford hybrid will start to wind down at the end of...
Prius Registrations Soar Around Washington DC
The number of Toyota Prius registrations, along with those of other hybrids, have soared recently around Washington, DC. But it's not necessarily what you may think. That is, there's no data to suggest it's due to (presumably hybrid-loving) Democrats moving in to replace departing (presumably...
John Voelcker March 10, 2009
2010 Honda Insight Base Price Under $20K...Sort Of
Well, today the word came down. The 2010 Honda Insight will carry a base price of $19,800 for the base LX model, which slides it just under the magic $20,000 mark. But--and there's a big but here--buyers will also have to pay a mandatory $670 delivery charge, which brings the total to $20,470. And...
John Voelcker March 10, 2009
2010 Toyota Prius Mileage Gets Lower. And Higher.
Toyota subtly adjusted the gas-mileage ratings for the 2010 Prius today
John Voelcker March 9, 2009
Used Priuses For Sale, Sure, But Hundreds of Thousands? Not So Much.
Sometimes it takes a little nudge to make us realize we know way too much about the car business. When news reports quoted AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson as saying he had 600,000 used hybrids piling up on lots all over the country, we chuckled. And when we wrote about his speech, we didn't use that...
John Voelcker March 9, 2009
UPDATED: Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Much More Mileage Than EPA Admits?
Real-world experience shows that the Jetta TDI consistently returns 40 mpg or better
John Voelcker March 6, 2009

US-Built Priuses Still Coming, Eventually John Voelcker March 6, 2009

When gas hit $4 a gallon last summer and Prius sales were booming, Toyota announced plans to build the 2010 Toyota Prius in a brand-new factory in Blue Springs, near Tupelo, Mississippi. Then last...
Two-Mode Troubles, or How GM Just Can't Catch a Break
They're selling slow, they lose a lot of value, and amidst the general gloom, GM's Two-Mode Hybrids are not the ray of hope they hoped for
John Voelcker March 5, 2009
Want To Buy a Prius? AutoNation Says, C'mon Down!
It's a good time to buy any car, but you may get a particularly good deal on a Prius right now
John Voelcker March 5, 2009
How Green Is That Plug-In? Depends Where You Plug It In
During his presidential campaign, then-Senator Barack Obama promised to put 1 million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on US roads by 2015. His pledge was one of an array of measures to reduce fuel consumption and work toward energy independence. But it begged the question: Is powering cars...
John Voelcker March 3, 2009
Prius in the Snow--Hybrid or Hazard?
Most Toyota Prius owners love their cars--not just love, but LUV. And Priuses are thick and fast on the ground in California locales like San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Santa Monica. None of those places gets snow more than once every, say, 20 years. But large swathes of the rest of the country...
John Voelcker March 2, 2009
We Hail Hybrids' Hundredth Birthday, But Were They Really Born in Belgium ?!?!?
Today we celebrate a unique anniversary. One hundred years ago today, US Patent No. 288,181 was granted to Henri Pieper for a "Mixed Drive for Autovehicles"--what we now call a hybrid-electric vehicle. Here's the odd part: Monsieur Pieper describes himself as "a loyal subject of the King of...
John Voelcker March 2, 2009