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

1917 Detroit Electric Vs 2014 BMW i3: A Century Of Electric Cars John Voelcker September 18, 2015

What a difference a century makes, more or less.

The 1917 Detroit Electric Model 68 in these photos was painstakingly restored over a period of years by owner Donald Davidson, who is only the car's...
Tesla Vs Porsche, Green-Car Deals, No Bolt For U.K., Taiwan Thunder: Today's Car News
We've got lots of stories on infrastructure today.
John Voelcker September 18, 2015

Germans Vs Tesla In High-End Electric Cars: Will Fast Charging Follow In Time?
Arguably the most stunning car at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show was the Porsche Mission E, a low, sleek all-electric sport sedan that is likely to go into production within three or four years. It stole much of the limelight from the other all-electric debut, the Audi e-tron Quattro Concept, a...
John Voelcker September 18, 2015
U.K. To Miss Out On 200-Mile Chevy Bolt EV, GM's 'Electric Car For Everyone'?
North American buyers are eagerly anticipating the debut late next year of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, a 200-mile subcompact electric car promised to sell for $37,500 before incentives. That same car will also likely be sold in Europe, under GM's German Opel nameplate--effectively replacing the...
John Voelcker September 18, 2015
Chevy Bolt EV, 107-Mile Nissan Leaf Face Off At LA Drive Electric Week (UPDATE On Leaf Pricing)
We're now in the middle of National Drive Electric Week, the largest ever, with events planned for almost 200 cities. But yesterday Los Angeles managed to pull off a double-header: Its event brought together the first production versions of the new 107-mile 2016 Nissan Leaf and a running prototype...
John Voelcker September 17, 2015
2016 Toyota Prius: Official Auto Show Debut At Frankfurt Motor Show
It was actually introduced to the world last week, but the 2016 Toyota Prius hybrid made its official auto-show debut yesterday at the huge Frankfurt Motor Show. A large crowd of journalists from around the world crowded around the covered car, eager to see in person what so far they'd only seen in...
John Voelcker September 16, 2015
2016 Nissan Leaf Range: 107 Or 155 Miles? Why Test Cycles Can Be Deceptive John Voelcker September 16, 2015

Suppose you could buy a new 2016 Nissan Leaf rated not at 107 miles but 155 miles. That would be a far more desirable car, wouldn't it?

Well, you can--but only in Europe.

The punchline is that the...

Toyota Shows Second Concept For Subcompact Crossover At Frankfurt; Hybrid Model Expected
With sales of small crossover utility vehicles growing, not just in North America but around the world, two of the world's three largest automakers still don't have entries in the segment. One of them, Toyota, announced today at the Frankfurt Motor Show that it had plans to change that. It...
John Voelcker September 15, 2015
Audi e-Tron Quattro Concept: 2018 Electric Car Previewed At Frankfurt Motor Show
It's been teased and previewed and discussed and debated, and now the concept is real: The Audi e-Tron Quattro Concept debuted at today's Frankfurt Motor Show. A styling concept that is thought to reach production as the Audi Q6 , a more coupe-like crossover utility vehicle similar to the BMW X6...
John Voelcker September 15, 2015
2018 Porsche Mission E: 600-HP Electric Sport Sedan Concept Targets Tesla
Perhaps no German prestige carmaker was more rattled than Porsche by the sudden appearance of electric-car startup Tesla Motors. With the sports-car brand having just launched its first sedan, the Panamera, the arrival of the Tesla Model S in 2012 offered an alternative take on a large luxury...
John Voelcker September 15, 2015
CA Climate-Change Bill Passed, Electric Utilities To Target Oil Industry
Let's call this one a good news, bad news, good news story. On Friday, September 11, the California Senate approved SB 350, the Clean Energy and Reduction Act--by far the most far-reaching climate change legislation enacted in the U.S. The bill's provisions codify Governor Jerry Brown's goals of...
John Voelcker September 14, 2015
2016 Prius Launch, 107-Mile 2016 Leaf, Scion iM Driven, Electric Hearse: The Week In Reverse (Video)
Which of two new Scion small cars did we find more appealing after we drove them? And, why are Nissan Leaf owners already griping about the expanded 107-mile range of the new 2016 Leaf? This is our video look back at the Week In Reverse--right here at Green Car Reports--for the Labor Day week...
John Voelcker September 12, 2015

2016 Volvo XC90: Gas Mileage Review Of Luxury Seven-Seat SUV John Voelcker September 11, 2015

For green-car fans, the all-new Volvo XC90 seven-seat luxury crossover is most notable for its upcoming plug-in hybrid model.

But that version will be just a small part of its sales, of which a...
NYC Mandates Non-Hybrid Nissan 'Taxi Of Tomorrow': Good Thing Or Bad?
After a series of court challenges, New York City finally has a new standard yellow taxi cab. It's not a hybrid, and it's not electric. It's also not particularly fast. But it is by far the best and nicest cab most riders will have seen in decades. DON'T MISS: Nissan NYC 'Taxi Of Tomorrow': Not...
John Voelcker September 11, 2015
Jaguar Land Rover's Future Electric-Car, Efficiency Concepts Previewed
With European prestige-car makers scrambling to respond to the unexpected and disruptive arrival of electric-car company Tesla Motors, a host of luxury car brands have been showing off their electric concepts. The coming Frankfurt Motor Show will see design studies by Audi and Porsche, possibly...
John Voelcker September 11, 2015
Chrysler Upgrades Pentastar V-6 For Fuel Efficiency; Lack Of Direct Injection A Hint Of Future EPA Rules?
Automotive engineers are very good at incremental improvements to existing technologies, and that skill will be much tested in meeting increasingly stiff fuel-economy rules between now and 2025. For the 2016 model year, Chrysler has extensively re-engineered its Pentastar V-6 engine, a mainstay...
John Voelcker September 10, 2015
2016 Nissan Leaf Offers 107-Mile Range With 30-kWh Battery; Leaf S Unchanged
The 2016 Nissan Leaf electric car will offer a choice of two different battery sizes, with a new larger 30-kilowatt-hour pack giving an EPA-rated range of 107 miles on the mid-level SV model and the top SL trim level. The new 107-mile Leaf models will cost $35,050 for the Leaf SV (up from $32,950...
John Voelcker September 10, 2015
2016 Toyota Prius: Few Details At Global Launch Of 55-MPG Hybrid (Photos)
The new 2016 Toyota Prius hybrid made its debut in Las Vegas Tuesday evening, where 350 guests watched the latest model of the world's most popular hybrid car raised into the night sky at an elaborate event to mark its global launch. But "it's not just about MPG any more," according to the press...
John Voelcker September 9, 2015

Mercedes Confirms All-Electric Luxury Car To Fight Tesla 'Very Soon' John Voelcker September 8, 2015

By now, it's well known that the German prestige brands--Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche--will all offer at least one battery-electric luxury sedan or crossover utility vehicle sometime between...
2016 Scion iM: First Drive Of New Compact Hatchback
The 2016 Scion iM compact hatchback is the second two of new Scion models for 2016, joining the iA subcompact sedan. It's part of a much-needed new lineup that takes Toyota's youth brand away from funky "tall box" cars or 10-foot-long urban cars and gives it a product that competes in the heart of...
John Voelcker September 8, 2015
2016 Volt Drive, Tesla Prices, 2016 Prius Photos, Scion iA Drive: The Week In Reverse (Video)
Which green-car event will be bigger than ever before this year? And, what's our biggest worry about the new 2016 Chevy Volt? This is our video look back at the Week In Reverse--right here at Green Car Reports--for the week ending on Friday, September 4, 2015. Friday, we covered the release of the...
John Voelcker September 5, 2015
Tesla Roadster 3.0's $29,000 Battery Upgrade: 330 Miles Or More Of Range
Electric-car maker Tesla Motors has a lot on its hands right now, with deliveries of its Model X electric SUV at the end of the month, a battery gigafactory under construction, a mass-priced electric car to unveil next spring, and so forth. So it's encouraging to learn that the company is now...
John Voelcker September 4, 2015
Diesel Fuel From Air: Neat Idea, Very Inefficient Use Of Energy
It sounds like an intriguing idea: Make diesel fuel from air rather than fossil-fuel petroleum. Better yet, make it from carbon dioxide--the greenhouse gas whose concentration in the atmosphere has risen precipitously since the dawn of the Industrial Age. Diesel fuel, after all, is a hydrocarbon...
John Voelcker September 4, 2015
2016 Scion iA: First Drive Of 37-MPG Subcompact Sedan
The 2016 Scion iA is a four-door subcompact sedan that's Scion's first new vehicle since the ill-fated and now departed iQ minicar. One of two new vehicles for what tends to be termed "Toyota's beleaguered Scion brand," it's a fresh new entry with stellar fuel economy. It also happens to be great...
John Voelcker September 3, 2015