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 Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Car: A Few Things We Noticed John Voelcker February 6, 2015

The 2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car hasn't yet gone on sale--it'll arrive in limited regions of California in the second half of this year--but already it's been the focus of a great deal...
FINAL UPDATE: Plug-In Electric Car Sales In Jan: Winter Slump Sets In
Last year's U.S. sales of plug-in electric cars were the highest on record, but now the traditional winter sales slump has set in with a bang. Electric car sales usually dip during the coldest months, and last January was the lowest sales month of the year--but this January's results apparently...
John Voelcker February 5, 2015

Kia Trail'ster Concept In Chicago: New 'DE' Dedicated Hybrid SUV? (UPDATED)
Kia has now issued another teaser photo of the "rugged runabout" crossover utility vehicle concept it will unveil next week at the Chicago Auto Show, and it now has a name: the Kia Trail'ster Concept. The photo shows the rear of the vehicle on a dirt road, with an upswept black bumper shield and...
John Voelcker February 5, 2015
New NADA Chairman Will Continue Anti-Tesla 'Get The Facts' Campaign
Last June, the National Automobile Dealers Association launched a publicity campaign to convince car buyers why it's in their own best interests that dealers make it illegal to buy a car from Tesla Motors. The campaign is called "Get the Facts," and it now includes a handful of animated videos...
John Voelcker February 5, 2015
Electric-Car Owners: Watch Out For Those Dealer Service Bills!
One of the benefits of battery-electric cars is that they have far fewer moving parts than gasoline vehicles, so they require less servicing. Or as the old saying goes, "Nothing but tires and wiper blades"--which is a bit reductive, but pretty close to the truth if you add in occasional brake-fluid...
John Voelcker February 5, 2015
IRS Electric-Car Tax Credits: Reporting Discrepancies Remain
As U.S. taxpayers start to grapple with their income-tax filings, due April 15, tens of thousands of taxpayers will benefit from a Federal income-tax credit of $2,500 to $7,500 offered to buyers of plug-in electric cars. Enacted in 2009, it was intended to spur the early sales of such cars whose...
John Voelcker February 4, 2015
Tesla Model X Tests, 'Insane' Acceleration, Volt Ad, Bolt Name: The Week In Reverse (Video) John Voelcker February 3, 2015

What two Tesla videos got everyone all excited--and caused a few laughs, too?

And which item should you remember to bring if you're driving a very, very small electric car in the winter?

This is our...

2017 Jaguar XE: Surprisingly Similar To Tesla Model 3, But For One Thing
It won't be available until the 2017 model year, its sleek body is largely made of aluminum, and it uses advanced new technology for remarkable efficiency gains over competitors. It's a sleek compact sport sedan that generated reams of coverage even before we knew anything about it, and its arrival...
John Voelcker February 3, 2015
FINAL UPDATE: Plug-In Electric Car Sales Continue Rise In 2014, To 118,500
Plug-in electric car sales during 2014 rose above the 100,000 level, to total roughly 118,500. Last year's total represents a 27-percent gain over calendar year 2013. It's the third annual increase in full-year sales in the U.S. since modern electric cars first went on sale in December 2010; the...
John Voelcker February 3, 2015
2015 Jeep Renegade: First Drive
Jeep got its start with the U.S. Army more than 70 years ago, and the brand has huge global recognition. Now we've driven the first Jeep designed to sell in greater volume outside the U.S. than at home, the 2015 Jeep Renegade. DON'T MISS: 2015 Jeep Renegade - full review It's a subcompact Jeep...
John Voelcker February 2, 2015
Honda Civic Hybrid And Honda CR-Z: Sales Likely To End Soon?
While sales of the 47-mpg Honda Accord Hybrid mid-size sedan have ticked up as supply grows, the camaker's two other hybrid offerings seem to be in limbo. The Honda Civic Hybrid, a compact four-door sedan, and the Honda CR-Z two-seat sport hatchback are still in the lineup--but their 2014 sales...
John Voelcker February 2, 2015
About That (One) Tesla Battery Swapping Station: An Update
Eighteen months ago, in the kind of flashy, highly-publicized event it's so good at, Tesla Motors said it would launch battery swapping for its Model S electric car. CEO Elon Musk presided over a demonstration in which the underfloor battery pack of a Model S was apparently removed and replaced in...
John Voelcker February 2, 2015

Tesla Model X Caught On Video In Acceleration, Cornering Tests John Voelcker January 30, 2015

Thank heavens for the Interwebs, which have now surfaced a video of a Tesla Model X electric SUV being tested in the San Francisco Bay Area.

There's just over 60 seconds of footage of what's clearly...
New, Smaller Porsche Four-Door Sedan To Be Electric Only: Rumor
It's pretty clear by now that the German luxury automakers, at first startled and shocked by the all-electric Tesla Model S, plan to fight back. But the latest report out of Germany--and it's still nothing more than a rumor--is the most indicative of how seriously one of them takes the competition...
John Voelcker January 30, 2015
GM To Fit CVTs To Many Car Models For Higher Fuel Economy
Most car buyers don't think a lot about transmissions. In the U.S., more than 9 out of 10 of them opt for an automatic, and that's that. But transmission technology turns out to be one of the major ways automakers are boosting gas mileage to meet tougher fuel-economy rules. And it appears GM is...
John Voelcker January 30, 2015
Tesla Transparency On Orders, Sales, Production Fades: Do Owners, Investors Care?
On February 11, electric-car maker Tesla Motors will release its 2014 earnings and hold a conference call for financial analysts to discuss them. If recent patterns hold, the company won't disclose a number of the important operating metrics that reveal how well it's doing. In fact, over the last...
John Voelcker January 29, 2015
2016 BYD Tang: Plug-In Hybrid SUV Is First Of Four To Come
It's been more than six years since fabled investor Warren Buffet bought 10 percent of BYD Autos, one of the few independent Chinese automakers. At that time, the company had big plans to become China's largest producer of plug-in electric vehicles--and then export them to the U.S. DON'T MISS: BYD...
John Voelcker January 29, 2015
Driving Small Electric Cars: What It's Like In The Real World
Reader Jen Danzinger explains what it's really like to drive a very small battery-electric car year-round in the Midwest. In the years following my participation in the Progressive Automotive X-Prize, I have watched with keen interest as major car companies introduced electric vehicles into their...
John Voelcker January 29, 2015

Tesla Model S P85D 'Insane' Mode: NSFW Video Shows How Fast It Really Is John Voelcker January 29, 2015

Many Tesla fans and electric-car drivers now know about the Model S P85D, Tesla's all-wheel-drive electric car that's arguably the fastest four-door sedan on the market.

What most of them likely...
2016 Chevrolet Volt TV Ad Released 6 Months Before Car
One of the biggest concerns among electric-car advocates is GM's ability to create and sustain a smart, coherent, clever, and explanatory marketing campaign for its new 2016 Chevrolet Volt. The plug-in hybrid with a 50-mile range will arrive on the market in the second half of this year, but Chevy...
John Voelcker January 28, 2015
Is BMW i3 Electric Car Selling Better In U.S. Than Germany?
One of the notable features of last year's electric-car sales was the strong, and so far sustained, sales of the radical new BMW i3 electric car. The little plastic-bodied battery-electric vehicle from Munich, with its odd coach doors and its rear electric motor, sold more than 1,000 cars a month...
John Voelcker January 28, 2015
Toyota Exec Slams Tesla For Having 'All Eggs In One Basket'
Toyota's public attack on electric cars shows no signs of letting up. Its first sallies were two ads from its Lexus luxury brand slamming electric cars for range anxiety. Now, a Toyota executive has all but sneered at Tesla Motors for putting "all its eggs in one basket" by making only...
John Voelcker January 28, 2015
Once More: Low Gas Prices Don't Hurt Electric-Car Sales
Data is important. Data on the effects of changing economic factors is very important to the car industry. Which is why it's disappointing to see a Nissan executive repeating the canard that falling gas prices can hurt sales of plug-in electric cars. DON'T MISS: Plug-In Electric Car Sales Continue...
John Voelcker January 27, 2015
Should GM Name Its Bolt Electric Car The 2017 Chevrolet EV2?
Without a doubt, Chevrolet dominated the news in plug-in electric cars at the recent Detroit Auto Show. It unveiled not only the new 2016 Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, but also a concept that showed what a 2018 battery-electric hatchback with a 200-mile range might look like. The subcompact concept...
John Voelcker January 26, 2015