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

2016 Chevrolet Volt: Owner's First Impressions Of Car, Range, Dealers, And More John Voelcker November 15, 2015

Along with the upcoming fourth-generation hybrid Toyota Prius, the 2016 Chevrolet Volt is one of the major green-car introductions of this year.

It won’t be available nationwide until next...
Autonomous Leaf, Exxon Attacks, VW Diesel Mess Marketing, Miata Reunited: Today's Car News
We've got lots of stories on infrastructure today.
John Voelcker November 12, 2015

Is An Electric Scoot Quad (Nee Renault Twizy) Car-Sharing's Urban Future?
In San Francisco, driving a bright-red tandem two-seat electric Renault Twizy gets you noticed--by everyone from sweet little old ladies to skate punks. Even on Castro Street. On Halloween. We spent a weekend with the low-speed electric vehicle, which is just being added to the Scoot Networks fleet...
John Voelcker November 11, 2015
Hyundai 'AE' Hybrid To Beat 2016 Prius On MPG? Detroit Debut On Tap
While we don't yet know the model name, we do know Hyundai is expected to launch its first dedicated hybrid vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show in January. That car--codenamed 'AE' for now--will go on sale within a year of the fourth-generation Toyota Prius, the car that has defined hybrid efficiency...
John Voelcker November 11, 2015
Expect A 500-Mile Electric Car By 2025, Says Tesla's Elon Musk
It was a relatively brief projection of the future from a man who's juggling a lot of balls in the present, but even Elon Musk's quick hits can be newsworthy. The CEO of electric-car maker Tesla Motors told attendees at the Barron's Investment Conference that he expects 500-mile electric cars to be...
John Voelcker November 11, 2015
More Faraday Info: Chinese Billionaire Backer, Ex-Tesla Staff For Electric-Car Startup
It seems like something out of a movie: a mysterious startup company operates for a few years in total secrecy, then drops plans for a billion-dollar factory that will build electric cars. But that's the summary of the secretive Faraday Future, about which a bit more information slipped out last...
John Voelcker November 10, 2015
VW Gives Owners Of 2009-2015 2.0-Liter Diesel Cars Debit Cards, Roadside Assistance John Voelcker November 10, 2015

Investigations by VW and numerous government agencies into the company's TDI diesel-emission cheating scandal are still underway, so there's not a lot Volkswagen can say right now.

But to try to stem...

Audi e-Tron Drive, Nissan's Big Battery, VW Weirdness, Doomed Tesla: The Week In Reverse (Video)
Who thinks Tesla Motors is "doomed"? And, while we liked driving the Audi A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid, why was our verdict: "Good first effort, but should try harder"? This is our video look back at the Week In Reverse--right here at Green Car Reports--for the week ending on Friday, November 6, 2015...
John Voelcker November 7, 2015
A Polite Note About Tesla To Media Colleagues (Especially In Detroit)
Automotive journalists talk among ourselves, just as most people in most professions do. And because this site consistently covers Tesla Motors and its electric cars, we've had a number of colleagues at other outlets reach out to us with questions about the Silicon Valley carmaker. They all boil...
John Voelcker November 6, 2015
All Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Cars Are Compliance Cars, For Now
When the first Honda Insight and Toyota Prius hybrids launched in 1999 and 2000, expectations for their sales were low. And hybrids indeed logged annual sales in the low thousands until the second-generation Prius came along for 2004. But the sales numbers for the earliest hybrids look...
John Voelcker November 6, 2015
Oregon's Pitch To Electric-Car Industry: Come Test New Stuff Here!
When it comes to raw numbers of electric cars sold, California leads. However, just to the north, the small state of Oregon has long been a pioneer and a trendsetter when it comes to electric mobility. Drive Oregon, the nonprofit trade association that has led much of this work over the past few...
John Voelcker November 5, 2015
Plug-In Electric Car Sales In Oct: New Volt Surges, Old Leaf Flat (FINAL UPDATE)
At long last, a handful of lucky customers in selected areas drove home in brand-new 2016 Chevrolet Volts last month. Sometime this month, full pricing and availability for the 2016 Nissan Leaf with its 107-mile range will be revealed. These two updated plug-in electric cars represent improvements...
John Voelcker November 5, 2015

Audi, Porsche, VW Diesel Stop-Sale Orders: More Cars Than EPA Named John Voelcker November 5, 2015

Although VW headquarters in Germany came out swinging against the U.S. EPA's contention that its 3.0-liter TDI diesel engines contained illegal emission software, Porsche's U.S. arm suspended sales...
2016 Audi A3 e-Tron Sportback: First Drive Of Audi's Plug-In Hybrid
The 2016 Audi A3 e-tron Sportback is the German luxury brand's first plug-in vehicle to go on sale in North America--and by all indications, the company is serious about making it a success. That goal clearly has nothing to do with the VW Group diesel-emission scandal that has engulfed Audi's A3...
John Voelcker November 4, 2015
More VW Emission 'Irregularities' As Investors Question Confrontation With EPA
Another day, another Volkswagen emission scandal? It's beginning to seem like it. The latest news is that VW Group in Germany has found "irregularities" in carbon-dioxide emission levels in roughly 800,000 vehicles, mostly diesels, producing fuel-economy figures that were too high. That discovery...
John Voelcker November 4, 2015
VW In Germany Denies EPA V-6 Diesel Charges, Porsche Pulls Cars Off Sale: UPDATED
Last month, Volkswagen apparently admitted that it had used "defeat device" software to evade emission controls in 482,000 cars sold in the U.S. with three versions of its 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine. Then, yesterday, the EPA issued a complaint in which it accused VW of incorporating similar...
John Voelcker November 3, 2015
VW Diesel V-6 Engines Used By Audi, Porsche Have Cheat Software Too: EPA
Sometimes there's no substitute for having a reporter right at a press event--with a smartphone. David Shepardson, D.C. bureau chief for The Detroit News, attended a press conference held by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today. At that event, the EPA revealed that some 3.0-liter V-6 TDI...
John Voelcker November 2, 2015
Former GM Product Czar Bob Lutz Asks: Is Tesla Doomed?
Former General Motors product czar Bob Lutz, now retired for a few years, is largely respected within the auto industry. He stopped flying his MIG fighter jet when he turned 80, as the story goes, but he remains a larger-than-life persona in an industry with fewer and fewer of them. He's still...
John Voelcker November 2, 2015

Tokyo Intros, Tesla Battery Life, Four-Motor Honda EV: The Week In Reverse (Video) John Voelcker October 31, 2015

Why is one family really happy that its Tesla Model S got destroyed?

And, what car did we drive this week--but plan to report on next week?

This is our video look back at the Week In Reverse--right...
EU Regulators Dilute New Emission Rules To Allow 2.1 Times The Legal Limits Until 2020
The official press release from the European Union sounds as though Wednesday's vote on new emission-testing rules makes it tougher for automakers to cheat as Volkswagen admitted doing with its 2.0-liter diesel engines. Indeed, the new rules add on-road tests of emissions in real-world driving to...
John Voelcker October 30, 2015
Subaru Viziv Future Concept Previews Next-Generation Hybrid System
At this week's Tokyo Motor Show, Subaru displayed two separate concepts. One was a thinly disguised version of the upcoming 2017 Subaru Impreza hatchback, labeled a concept, but the other was a genuine concept car displaying innovations that may (or may not) make it into future production vehicles...
John Voelcker October 29, 2015
LG Chem Adds Tesla To Customer List, Will Supply Cells For Roadster Upgrade
Of the three largest lithium-ion cell suppliers for electric cars, only one can count almost a dozen automakers among its customers. Now that company, LG Chem, has added another name to its roster: Tesla Motors. The Silicon Valley maker of luxury electric cars confirmed yesterday that it would...
John Voelcker October 29, 2015
Mitsubishi eX: Live Shots Of Electric SUV Concept At Tokyo Motor Show
The only new battery-electric concept car from a major automaker was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show today, from a company that hasn't had a lot of new product lately. The Mitsubishi eX Electric Crossover Concept is just what its name would indicate: a concept version of a compact crossover...
John Voelcker October 28, 2015
Nissan's Tokyo Autonomous Concept: Next Leaf Electric Car--Or Not?
As we head out to the Tokyo Motor Show, the teaser photos and previews are starting to come in thick and fast. One from late last week was a shadowy image issued by Nissan of an autonomous electric concept car, which is scheduled to debut Tuesday night at 8 pm Eastern (or 9 am the next day in...
John Voelcker October 26, 2015