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

Will China Overtake The U.S. In Electric-Car Sales This Year? John Voelcker February 23, 2015

Modern plug-in electric cars have been on sale in the U.S. since December 2010, and in China even longer.

The BYD F3DM, a compact plug-in hybrid sedan, went into very limited production in 2008,...
Amp Electric's Workhorse Wants To Be 'Tesla Of Trucks' For Electric Delivery Vans
Aside from economic recession and cautious buyers, one of the biggest challenges for companies that want to sell electrified commercial trucks turns out to be ... making or converting trucks. Amp Electric, a surviving veteran of several generations of electric-truck development, decided to solve...
John Voelcker February 23, 2015

Tesla Battery Life, Volvo Plug-In Hybrid, Fossil-Fuel Girlfriend: The Week In Reverse (Video)
Why are fossil fuels like your girlfriend? And which carmaker will offer the world's very first seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV? This is our video look back at the Week In Reverse--right here at Green Car Reports--for the week ending on Friday, February 20, 2015. Friday, we wrote about one business...
John Voelcker February 23, 2015
Top 5 Ways To Get Flamed, Moderated, Or Banned In Comments On Green Car Reports
Remember when your parents sat you down to have a little chat about how you should behave? It may be time for us to have one of those chats with a small fraction of our readers, just to point out this site's requests, customs, and no-nos. Here's our compilation of things that will see your comments...
John Voelcker February 21, 2015
Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid: Missing In Action, Or Just Slow-Selling?
The Nissan Pathfinder crossover utility vehicle seems to be doing well for Nissan, following its 2013 reinvention as a seven-seat family vehicle rather than the tough truck-based 4x4 that had previously defined the Pathfinder name. There's one model of the Pathfinder, however, that seems to be...
John Voelcker February 20, 2015
2016 Volvo XC90 T8 Plug-In Hybrid 'Twin Engine': First Drive
By the end of this year, there will be several luxury SUV models offered in the U.S. with plug-in hybrid powertrains that let them run 12 to 20 miles on electricity alone. We've now driven one of them, the 2016 Volvo XC90 T8 "Twin Engine" model, which will go on sale this fall. And based on our...
John Voelcker February 19, 2015
2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid & Energi Models To Get $900 Price Cut John Voelcker February 18, 2015

It's well known that sales of hybrid cars rise and fall in line with gas prices.

In recent months, that's led to lower sales for hybrids as gasoline falls to $2 per gallon or less in many parts of...

Adorable, Helpful Fossil Fuels Are Your Loving Girlfriend--Don't Betray Her: Video
The Soviets used to call it agitprop--various forms of media and art with an explicitly political message--but now it's paid for by large corporations, to backstop their lobbying efforts. The latest example is a truly delicious little Valentine-theme video that explains how wonderful and lovable...
John Voelcker February 16, 2015
Tesla Trade-In, Kia AWD Hybrid, Fiat 500X Spy Shots: The Week In Reverse (Video)
Why did our Tesla-owning author trade in his perfectly good Model S electric car? And which carmaker's executive all but confirmed our theory about some spy shots we ran? This is our video look back at the Week In Reverse--right here at Green Car Reports--for the week ending on Friday, February 13...
John Voelcker February 15, 2015
Advances In Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Offer Promise For Electric Cars
Commercial uses of the element sulfur date back centuries, but it may be the key to a new generation of batteries with high theoretical energy density and relatively low cost. The principles of a lithium-sulfur battery have been known for decades, but practical solutions to the chemical challenges...
John Voelcker February 14, 2015
When Federal Electric-Car Tax Credit Ends, Nissan Will Be Ready, Exec Says
Both Nissan and General Motors are roughly one-third of the way toward sales of the maximum number of plug-in electric cars that qualify for a Federal income-tax credit of $7,500. But a Nissan executive says that his company has already made plans for the day when those credits end. DON'T MISS...
John Voelcker February 13, 2015
Tesla To Offer Batteries To Consumers For Home Energy Storage
It was just a couple of sentences during Wednesday's 2014 earnings call by Tesla Motors executives. But in it, CEO Elon Musk apparently revealed a new line of business for the company: selling or leasing lithium-ion battery packs for home energy storage. DON'T MISS: In 10 Years, Electric Cars Make...
John Voelcker February 13, 2015

Mitsubishi Concept GC-PHEV Full-Size Plug-In Hybrid SUV: Chicago Auto Show John Voelcker February 12, 2015

At today's Chicago Auto Show, Mitsubishi showed off a new concept for a full-size SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Called the Concept GC-PHEV, the large and angular design exercise had...
Kia Trail'ster e-AWD Soul Hybrid Concept Unveiled At Chicago Auto Show
At the very first automaker press conference of the Chicago Auto Show, Kia pulled the wraps off its Trail'ster Concept: an all-wheel-drive hybrid versions of its Soul that uses an electric motor to power the rear wheels. Bolder styling cues, a ride height more than 2 inches higher, and a fully...
John Voelcker February 12, 2015
Tesla Model X Photographed Undisguised In Road Testing
Leave it to the Tesla owners, fans, and advocates at the Tesla Motors Club forum to find the so-far hidden evidence of a Tesla Model X test cars under development. These shots, uploaded yesterday by user Yobigd20 at about 6 pm. DON'T MISS: Why Tesla Model X Electric SUV Is Late: Range, Towing...
John Voelcker February 12, 2015
GM Officially Confirms It Will Build Chevy Bolt Electric Car With 200-Mile Range
Six days ago, Reuters broke the story that GM would indeed build and sell the Chevrolet Bolt electric car, but that production would start late next year--not in 2017 as previously expected. This morning, the company's North America President, Alan Batey, officially confirmed at the Chicago Auto...
John Voelcker February 12, 2015
How To Test Hydrogen Vs Electric Cars: A Challenge To Automakers (In Our Dreams)
The amount of animus between some proponents of plug-in electric cars and those who support hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles is remarkable, and sometimes disturbing. Each side marshals studies of everything from wells-to-wheels carbon footprint (electric cars win) to "refueling time" to full range...
John Voelcker February 11, 2015
Infiniti QX30 Concept For Compact SUV To Debut At Geneva Show
The field of luxury compact crossover utility vehicles will get a little more crowded next year, when Infiniti launches its QX30--the Japanese brand's smallest SUV yet. Now Infiniti has released a teaser photo of the QX30 Concept it will unveil at next month's Geneva Motor Show. The production...
John Voelcker February 11, 2015

Honda N-Truck Kei Concept: World's Tiniest Travel Trailer, Too Cute For Words John Voelcker February 10, 2015

Sometimes there are cars that just make you grin.

So how can you not love a tiny Japanese kei car, their minier-than-minicar class, converted into a pickup truck with its own matched travel trailer...
Is The Next Chrysler Compliance Car An Electric Fiat 500X?
For those not familiar with the term, a "compliance car" is a zero-emission vehicle built in small numbers and sold largely or exclusively in California. Its sole purpose is to keep an automaker in compliance with the state's requirement that its six highest-selling carmakers sell or lease a...
John Voelcker February 10, 2015
2017 Chevrolet Spark: Photos Of Updated Minicar Leaked In Korea
The Chevrolet Spark minicar, among the smallest five-door hatchbacks sold in North America, has been an unexpected success for General Motors. The company has boosted imports a couple of times, and managed to sell almost 40,000 of them last year--and 34,000 the year before. Now, the first spy shots...
John Voelcker February 9, 2015
Why Tesla Model X Electric SUV Is Late: Range, Towing, 'Falcon Doors'
Electric-car fans and Tesla owners alike are eagerly awaiting the debut of the Tesla Model X electric SUV, now scheduled to go into production roughly six months from now. Like every Tesla, the Model X has been delayed a number of times--but there's been little speculation about the reasons for the...
John Voelcker February 9, 2015
Bolt Production, Little Jeep Driven, Chrysler's Secret Diesel? The Week In Reverse (Video)
What story did the Reuters news service break that set the electric-car world buzzing? And which carmaker's service was rated best by Consumer Reports? This is our video look back at the Week In Reverse--right here at Green Car Reports--for the week ending on Friday, February 6, 2015. At the end of...
John Voelcker February 7, 2015
Breaking: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt 200-Mile Electric Car To Start Production In Oct 2016
The Chevrolet Bolt, a subcompact electric car with 200 miles of range, is to go into production earlier than expected, just 20 months from now. According to a breaking news story early this morning, the Bolt will start production in October 2016--possibly as a 2017 model. DON'T MISS: Chevrolet Bolt...
John Voelcker February 6, 2015