Stephen Edelstein, Contributing Writer
Articles
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Faster electric-car charging, Faraday reservations, Tesla Model 3 cost speculation: Today's Car News Stephen EdelsteinToday, we look at plans for faster electric-car charging, Faraday Future's tally of reservations for the FF 91 electric car, and the results of our poll asking how much a fully loaded Tesla Model 3...
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Toyota shows Mirai Super Bowl ad, but only in CaliforniaAs is the norm these days, the ads running during Super Bowl LI this past weekend drew almost as much attention as the game itself. Automakers are among the myriad companies that expend considerable creative and monetary resources on Super Bowl ads every year. And green cars make occasional...
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Faraday has 64,000 reservations: why they're different from Tesla'sFaraday Future unveiled its first production electric car, the FF 91, last month at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The public debut of the much-hyped luxury utility vehicle generated considerable interest from potential customers. At least, that's how it looks at first glance...
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Home energy storage batteries lose to grid-connected solar on environmental impactAt first glance, renewable-energy sources like solar power and energy-storage battery packs seem like a logical match. Energy storage allows excess power collected by solar panels to be stored for later use, addressing the intermittent nature of solar power. It's a concept that has already won over...
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Much faster electric-car charging: on a fast trackRelatively short ranges and long charging times are two of the main factors restraining more widespread electric-car adoption. To address the range issue, automakers are expected to launch a batch of more-affordable long-range electric cars over the next few years, a shift heralded by the 2017...
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Bolt EV owner impressions, VW diesel modifications, oil companies & electric cars: Today's Car NewsToday, we have first impressions from a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV owner, an explanation of which Volkswagen diesel cars can be modified to meet emissions standards, and a look at which oil companies are investing in renewable energy and electric-car services. All this and more on Green Car Reports...
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More than 16 months after Volkswagen's use of illegal "defeat device" software in diesel vehicles was announced by the Environmental Protection Agency, some progress is finally being made in...
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Ontario, BC update electric-car incentives for Canadian buyersTwo Canadian provinces are now offering more generous incentives to electric-car buyers. Ontario is eliminating certain price caps in its electric-car incentive program, while a British Columbia not-for-profit is boosting its "cash-for-clunkers"-style program. Ontario announced its updated...
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Which oil companies invest in renewables, electric-car services?If electric cars are adopted by mass-market buyers in years to come, that will lead over time to notably lower oil consumption. So what are oil companies doing to prepare for that possible outcome? Some continue to doubt whether electric cars will constitute a serious threat to their business in...
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Strong demand for Opel Ampera-e in Norway moves up launch dateJust as the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car is launching in North America, its European cousin is beginning deliveries across the Atlantic. In Europe, General Motors markets the U.S.-built Bolt EV as virtually identical Opel Ampera-e under its German Opel brand. An example of what is known in...
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Shell fuel stations in U.K., Netherlands to add electric-car chargingElectric cars are often touted as a way to avoid gas stations. But electric-car drivers in certain European countries will soon be going to them to charge. That's because a pair of European oil companies plan to add electric-car charging at certain fuel stations. CHECK OUT: Electric-Car Charging...
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The original biofuel for motor vehicles: wood (and why we don't use it today)When it comes to alternative fuels, the discussion usually centers around compressed natural gas, or biofuels like ethanol or biodiesel. But before the concept of low-carbon or carbon-neutral fuels even existed, a few early makers and desperate drivers tried something completely different. They...
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"Big data" is often discussed as a useful tool for everyone from policymakers to corporate marketing departments.
But could it also be used to help increase electric-car adoption?
Last November, the...
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Exxon says coal will endure; other analyses beg to differRenewable energy sources may eventually render fossil fuels irrelevant in energy generation, but when will the switch between the two energy sources occur? It's a question that fosters much debate among policymakers, environmental advocates, and financial analysts. For its part, ExxonMobil believes...
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What the Tesla logo means: CEO Elon Musk explainsAn automaker's logo can and perhaps should be as recognizable as its cars, if not more. That makes logo design a very important task. Tesla's logo is certainly not anonymous, but it turns out there's more to it than may be immediately apparent. DON'T MISS: Why Faraday Future's luxury electric car...
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Public supports fuel-economy regulations, including Trump votersRegardless of political persuasion, there are some issues almost everyone can agree on. One of them, for example, is likely gas prices. It's hard to imagine anyone who enjoys paying more every time they fill up their car. DON'T MISS: Emissions/MPG rules could cost 1 million jobs, Ford CEO tells...
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China happy to become world's climate-change leader if U.S. lagsUnder the administration of President Barack Obama, the U.S. joined the rest of the world and took a leading role in global efforts to avert irreversible climate change. But that seems unlikely to continue under the Trump administration, which has nominated climate-science deniers to numerous key...
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Ford CEO on emissions rules, Paris climate agreement, Hydrogen Council: Today's Car NewsToday, Ford CEO Mark Fields reportedly told President Donald Trump that current emissions rules could risk up to 1 million jobs, Trump is expected to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement, and 13 companies form the Hydrogen Council to promote fuel cells. All this and more on Green Car...
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The Volkswagen diesel scandal has led to much greater scrutiny on the methods regulatory agencies use to test vehicle emissions, particularly in Europe.
Even before news of Volkswagen's diesel...
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First Chevy Bolt EV electric car delivered to Canadian buyerFollowing its launch last month in California's Silicon Valley, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is now rolling out in other regions of North America. Just last week, the first Chevrolet Bolt EV to be sold in Canada was delivered to its buyer. It proved to be a somewhat drawn-out process overseen by a...
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Carmakers, fuel and oil companies form Hydrogen Council to promote fuel cellsIn addition to automakers and policymakers, battery-electric cars can count on support from a variety of advocacy groups. But grassroots support for hydrogen fuel-cell cars hasn't germinated to quite the same extent. So, in the absence of a large cadre of individual consumers to act as advocates, a...
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Tesla Model 3 previewThe Tesla Model 3 electric car is undoubtedly one of the most highly-anticipated new-car launches in recent memory. Unveiled in prototype form last April after a drawn-out teaser campaign, the Model 3 quickly generated an unprecedented response from the public. As of last August, around 400,000...
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Tesla Model 3 production, VW diesel probe expands, FCA diesel updates: Today's Car NewsToday, we look at how many Model 3 electric cars Tesla can realistically build in a year, a German Volkswagen diesel probe expands to include former CEO Martin Winterkorn, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne believes a dispute with the EPA over diesel-engine software will be...
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McKinsey suggests ways automakers could kick-start electric-car demandDespite steady increases over the past few years, electric cars still represent only a tiny fraction of new-car sales. There are no shortage of theories as to why that is the case. Some electric-car advocates blame manufacturers for not adequately promoting the vehicles, while many within the...
Stephen Edelstein