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

2017 Lexus RX 450h hybrid gas mileage review John Voelcker March 3, 2017

The Lexus RX pretty much invented the luxury mid-size SUV category, and it remains a substantial part of the brand's sales in the U.S. 20 years later.

It was also the brand's first hybrid crossover,...
Tesla Model 3 prices: reader makes his guesses, via spreadsheet
Since more than 350,000 people around the world put down $1,000 deposits to reserve a place in line, the Tesla Model 3 electric car has assumed larger-than-life status. Its maker, Silicon Valley-based Tesla Motors, recently reaffirmed that series production will start in July and that Model 3...
John Voelcker March 2, 2017

Will plug-in hybrids catch on faster than electric cars? Poll results
There are essentially two types of electric cars on sale today. Battery-electric vehicles are powered only by a battery, while plug-in hybrids have an engine to supplement a more limited battery range. Which type will ultimately predominate isn't clear; each has advantages and disadvantages. DON'T...
John Voelcker March 2, 2017
Tearing down the Tesla Model S battery pack (video)
The lithium-ion battery pack is at the heart of any electric car. Its cost, energy density, and safety features do as much as any other feature of an electric car to determine its success. And battery packs from Tesla Motors differ from those built by virtually any other electric-car maker in at...
John Voelcker March 2, 2017
Electric-car range: why Japanese needs differ so radically from the U.S.
It was one of the new battery-electric vehicles anticipated for this year, a mid-size sedan from a global maker that remains the second highest-volume hybrid maker in the world. Then the news hit earlier this week: the all-electric Honda Clarity EV would have a rated battery range around ... 80...
John Voelcker March 1, 2017
GM says green-car buyers should consider its diesels: here's why
Diesel engines will continue to appear in pickup trucks, European luxury SUVs, and at least a few mass-market crossover utility vehicles. Two of those are the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-5 crossovers that will launch for the 2018 model year. But the future of diesel in U.S. passenger cars...
John Voelcker February 28, 2017
Honda Clarity EV electric car to have only 80 miles of range: report John Voelcker February 27, 2017

One of the more eagerly awaited all-electric cars coming to market this year has been the 2018 Honda Clarity EV.

It's a battery-electric version of the 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell already on sale in some...

Model 3 timing, living with Leaf, Ioniq Hybrid driven, BMW i3 updates: The Week in Reverse
What did we think of the new 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, with its 58-mpg combined gas-mileage rating? When will the Tesla Model 3 be rolling off the production lines in high volumes? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending on...
John Voelcker February 25, 2017
2018 BMW i3 preview (including battery rumors)
This year's updated BMW i3 electric car is only just arriving at U.S. dealerships after a battery-capacity boost that gives it longer range. But already some details of the 2018 BMW i3 have leaked out, in the form of spy photos and further rumors about more battery capacity yet. Unlike our usual...
John Voelcker February 24, 2017
Which type of car will go all-electric the fastest? Poll results
One reason cited for the slow, if growing, penetration of plug-in electric cars in the U.S. is that they're not available in all segments and body styles. With the exception of the pricey Tesla Model X and the discontinued Toyota RAV4 EV, for example, there are no battery-electric SUVs or...
John Voelcker February 24, 2017
2017 VW e-Golf rated at 125 miles, tops 124-mile Hyundai Ioniq electric car
Oh, those crafty Germans. Just a few days after the week-long media launch of the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq range, Volkswagen has quietly one-upped the Ioniq Electric's 124-mile EPA-rated range. Granted, it's only beaten the South Korean electric car by 1 mile. But still. DON'T MISS: Hyundai Ioniq...
John Voelcker February 23, 2017
Tesla Model 3 timing confirmed: first cars in July, 5K a week by next year
Tesla Motors confirmed today that it expected to start production of its crucial Model 3 electric car in July, and claims that it will boost production to 5,000 cars a week by the end of this year. The news was contained in Tesla's latest letter to its shareholders, and it started with the third...
John Voelcker February 23, 2017

2018 Hyundai Accent confirmed for U.S. as well as Canada (update) John Voelcker February 22, 2017

In a U.S. where all the new-vehicle buzz seems to be about light trucks—especially crossover utilities and SUVs—is there even a place for a new subcompact sedan?

That's the question...
Is 2019 Cadillac XT4 crossover the next plug-in hybrid for luxury brand?
Spy shots are continually fascinating, for both future buyers and auto journalists. They can reveal hints about the shapes, design aspects, and powertrains of vehicles that may not hit showrooms for as much as two years. Some recent spy shots of the 2019 Cadillac XT4 small crossover utility vehicle...
John Voelcker February 22, 2017
2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid: first drive review
The 2017 Hyundai Ioniq isn't one car but three, with a unique choice of powertrains. The volume seller will be the Ioniq Hybrid, a dedicated hybrid (as is the Toyota Prius) with a 58-mpg combined EPA fuel-economy rating for its base model. But you can also get it as a battery-electric car (starting...
John Voelcker February 21, 2017
Volkswagen e-Golf to end when ID electric hatchback launches?
The Volkswagen e-Golf will arrive in dealerships this spring with a higher-capacity battery pack that gives the electric car an EPA-rated 124 miles of range. The number equals the rating of the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq, and is the highest range offered by any electric car that's not a Chevy Bolt EV or a...
John Voelcker February 21, 2017
Next Leaf, Bolt EV range, Ioniq prices, Tesla updates: The Week in Reverse
Which eagerly awaited electric car finally broke cover—and what worried question did those spy shots prompt? Why does Toyota think plug-in hybrids will catch on with customers more quickly than electric cars? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car...
John Voelcker February 18, 2017
Wind energy capacity in Europe now exceeds total coal output
While homeowners are more familiar with photovoltaic solar panels, large-scale wind power is an increasingly important part of the growth in renewable energy. For the first time, the total installed capacity of wind energy in Europe now exceeds the total output of electric powerplants fueled with...
John Voelcker February 17, 2017

GM's Maven car-sharing adds Chevy Bolt EV electric cars (in LA) John Voelcker February 17, 2017

With the 238-mile Chevy Bolt EV electric car now in its third month of sales and rolling out to additional states every month, the industry is focused on its sales numbers.

Retail buyers have asked...
2017 Ford Escape AWD 1.5-liter gas mileage review
Smaller engines with turbochargers have spread throughout new vehicles as a way to meet the increasingly stringent fuel-efficiency rules that started in 2012. But no maker has been as forward about marketing that technology as Ford, which now offers a range of downsized and boosted engines under...
John Voelcker February 16, 2017
Plug-in hybrids to catch on more quickly than electrics: Toyota
Toyota has been by far the most reluctant of recent converts to the idea that battery-electric vehicles might be practical and desirable. Only within the last year has the company moved past its decade-long insistence that all-electric cars were only suitable for tiny, low-range urban uses. Still...
John Voelcker February 16, 2017
All-electric Kia Niro EV to come in 2018, says Kia exec (updated)
South Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia often share the underpinnings of their vehicles, though there's no "badge engineering" and the two brands compete in the marketplace. The recent Kia Niro hybrid wagon and the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid hatchback, for instance, share the same powertrain, platform...
John Voelcker February 16, 2017
Chevy Cruze Diesel lawsuit to move into discovery phase
Shock waves from Volkswagen's admission that it had installed "defeat device" software on its so-called clean diesels to cheat on emission tests continue to reverberate around the auto industry. The diesel-emission scandal that emerged in September 2015 has already cost VW Group more than $20...
John Voelcker February 15, 2017
Smart to be all-electric in U.S. and Canada; gasoline goes away this fall
When the tiny Smart ForTwo launched in the U.S. a decade ago, it got a huge boost in sales from both novelty and soaring gas prices. While its EPA ratings never approached those of the larger Toyota Prius hybrid, the little two-seater found buyers who liked its cheeky character and the ease of...
John Voelcker February 14, 2017