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

Floating Tesla, VW diesel payments, Leaf vs Prius costs, BMW batteries: The Week in Reverse John Voelcker June 25, 2016

Which car should a reader have picked to replace her aged Toyota Prius hybrid?

And, what did Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweet this time?

This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at...
Next clean-energy transport: a solar-powered electric railcar?
Tourist railroads are one of the unexpected pleasures of travel. Usually operating on trackage that railroads no longer need, they offer low-speed rides through scenic vistas, including locations that tourists often can't reach by car. But along with historic railcars on many lines come older...
John Voelcker June 24, 2016

Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid pulled from VW's U.S. lineup in 2017
Volkswagen released details on its 2017 lineup for the U.S. yesterday, including the launch of its crossover-like Golf Alltrack wagon, some new Beetle versions, and greater availability of electronic safety systems across more models. But one entry in the VW lineup was missing. Volkswagen's William...
John Voelcker June 24, 2016
VW to offer TDI diesel owners $7,000 plus buyback: rumor
With terms of a final settlement between Volkswagen and the EPA on 482,000 TDI diesel vehicles due to be announced next Tuesday, Judge Charles Breyer has imposed a gag order on all parties. That doesn't seem to have stopped unidenitfied sources from talking about possible terms contained in the...
John Voelcker June 23, 2016
Nissan Juke, Rogue crossover SUVs to offer all-electric versions?
It's a frequent complaint from car shoppers: all the affordable electric cars are small hatchbacks or sedans, but I want an SUV. Indeed, there's only one all-electric crossover utility vehicle on the market—the Tesla Model X—and that will run you $80,000 or more. Now it appears that...
John Voelcker June 22, 2016
Has Germany's long love affair with diesels finally collapsed?
It's been 80 years since the first Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicle went into volume production. Over that time, German makers have developed, refined, and promoted the combustion-ignition engine as a more fuel-efficient method of powering personal vehicles. Followed by Volkswagen Group's various...
John Voelcker June 22, 2016
Replacing my old Toyota Prius hybrid: what are my options? John Voelcker June 22, 2016

The opening photo tells the story: when Jen Smith needed to replace her faithful 2006 Toyota Prius, she ended up buying the new fourth-generation Prius that debuted this year.

But before making this...

The 12 most influential green cars in history
The automobile has been with us since 1885, but only over the last 50 years have governments started to face up to its ill effects on the environment. The world's major car markets have mostly now legislated increasing levels of fuel economy and reduced tailpipe emissions not only of gases directly...
John Voelcker June 21, 2016
Gas mileage ratings for some 2017 cars to fall as EPA tweaks tests
The steady rise of corporate average fuel economy rules through 2025 puts increasing pressure on manufacturers to boost the gas mileage of all vehicles. Lately, carmakers are challenged by cheap gas and a resulting public preference for utility vehicles of all sizes against sedans and hatchbacks...
John Voelcker June 20, 2016
Tesla Model S can float, for short periods: Musk (video)
It's a grainy, jittery 44-second mobile-phone video, with the Blue Danube Waltz in the background. And it's suddenly relevant because that master of publicity, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, tweeted that the Model S "floats well enough to turn it into a boat for short periods of time." It shows a...
John Voelcker June 20, 2016
Electric-car sales, plug-in Mercedes fuel-cell SUV, VW diesel delay: The Week in Reverse
Which huge global automaker promised to launch 30 all-electric cars over the next 10 years? And, what unique feature does the fuel-cell powertrain in a future Mercedes-Benz GLC crossover SUV include? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the...
John Voelcker June 18, 2016
VW diesel owners have lost $1,500 in value on their cars: price analysis
With full details of the Volkswagen diesel cheating settlement postponed again, VW TDI owners have an extra week to contemplate their diesel cars without knowing what they'll be offered in a buyback. Earlier analyses of used-car pricing data showed that their value as used cars has fallen since the...
John Voelcker June 17, 2016

Toyota hybrid battery replacement cost guide (2016 update) John Voelcker June 17, 2016

"Sure, but what do the batteries cost to replace?" is a question frequently posed to hybrid and electric vehicle owners.

It's true that batteries aren't cheap, and at some point down the line they'll...
Volkswagen diesel settlement delayed one more week by judge
Next Tuesday was to be the day when owners of almost half a million Volkswagens and Audis learned the final terms VW would offer them to settle hundreds of lawsuits over its diesel-emission cheating software. It won't be. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer gave Volkswagen and the EPA one more week...
John Voelcker June 17, 2016
Tesla can look at owners' driving behavior any time; is that legal?
It happens every so often: a driver claims that a car accelerated out of control just before it crashed into something or other. Only in the last 10 years have automakers had data to investigate the claims, usually from a "black box" that captures a car's most recent few seconds of operating...
John Voelcker June 16, 2016
What hurts Nissan Leaf sales: Tesla Model 3 or Chevy Bolt EV electric cars?
The numbers are in, and for the Nissan Leaf electric car, they're not pretty. Despite a boost in its EPA-rated range from 84 to 107 miles, its year-to-date sales of 4,697 units are down 40 percent on the 7,742 that were sold in the same five months last year. And those were down on the total of...
John Voelcker June 16, 2016
Bankruptcy shows scope of Peabody Coal's climate denial lobbying
These are tough times for the coal industry. Coal plants are being retired at an increasing rate in North America and Europe, replaced by a combination of natural-gas and renewable generating capacity. These days, virtually any way to produce electricity is seen as better than coal, which produces...
John Voelcker June 15, 2016
Plug-in electric car sales for May flat: Leaf struggles despite range boost
U.S. sales of cars with plugs were essentially flat last month, as low gas prices and perhaps anticipation of longer-range entries within months kept a lid on buyer interest. The second-generation Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, now available throughout the country as a 2017 model, logged 1,901...
John Voelcker June 15, 2016

Nissan takes a different approach to fuel cells: ethanol John Voelcker June 14, 2016

When the world at large thinks of fuel-cell vehicles—to the extent it does, at least today—they are associated with hydrogen as the fuel to power them.

But a fuel cell, more broadly...
Tesla now building 2,000 electric cars a week, it says
As with any auto manufacturer, the vehicle production rate at Tesla Motors is intensely scrutinized by shareholders, fans, financial analysts, and competitors. Almost two years ago, CEO Elon Musk had said that the electric-car maker expected to be operating at a "run rate" of 100,000 cars a year by...
John Voelcker June 14, 2016
Mercedes fuel-cell GLC plugs in like an electric car: what does that imply?
This morning, Mercedes-Benz announced that its upcoming GLC F-Cell hydrogen fuel-cell crossover SUV would also include a battery pack that plugs in to recharge. Just like an electric car. It will be the first production vehicle in the world, in fact, to combine those two zero-emission powertrains...
John Voelcker June 13, 2016
Mercedes-Benz GLC to offer world's first plug-in fuel-cell powertrain
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles face the challenge of a global fueling infrastructure that doesn't exist and will cost billions to build. Electricity, on the other hand, is pretty much everywhere. Now Mercedes plans to combine the easy recharging of a plug-in electric vehicle with the long-distance...
John Voelcker June 13, 2016
Tesla Model S suspensions, NHTSA, NDAs: what you need to know (further update)
A post on a small auto-industry blog that accused startup carmaker Tesla Motors of concealing potentially hazardous suspension breakages blew up into a major media story—and has taken some unexpected twists and turns as it's played out so far. That's par for the course for much of the news...
John Voelcker June 13, 2016
Tesla first drive, electric road trip, hybrids to supplant diesels? The Week in Reverse
Which controversial new Tesla vehicle did we finally get to drive, and what did we think of it? And, where is our electric-motorcycle riding contributor Ben Rich headed on this summer's road trip? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week...
John Voelcker June 11, 2016