Sean Szymkowski, Contributor
Articles
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It's well-known that electrical outlets in the United States and elsewhere vary, but it also makes for somewhat different charging experiences with the Tesla Model S.
In Europe, the standard voltage...
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UK Royal Mail electric vans now entering service
The United Kingdom's Royal Postal Service has entered a new era as its first electric mail vans enter service. In total, nine electric postal vans from local company Arrival will enter the Royal Post's fleet, along with another 100 electric vans to be added in December from French brand Peugeot...
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Tesla semi reportedly has 200 to 300 miles of range
Tesla's first foray into the commercial vehicle sector—an all-electric semi truck—is expected to debut next month, but specifics surrounding the electric-car maker's latest project have been few and far between. An exclusive report may have revealed Tesla's range figure as it prepares...
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Tesla Model S beats Lamborghini Aventador in 1/4-mile drag race; so does Model X SUV
Tesla has not only put some of the world's longest-range electric cars into production, but its cars also happen to house some serious performance specifications. Everyone knows the P100D versions of the Tesla Model S sedan and Model X SUV are capable of accelerating at lightning speed, thanks to...
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Energy Dept disappoints US coal industry: no order keeping plants open
The Trump administration has reneged on one aspect of a promise widely discussed throughout the 2016 presidential campaign: reviving the coal industry. President Donald Trump declared the United States coal industry would thrive under his watch, but the Trump administration and the Energy...
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Chevy Bolt EV vs Tesla's Model 3, Model S: CNET, Consumer Reports compare electric cars
Five years ago, the only true battery-electric cars on the market were the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf, while the Chevrolet Volt offered a plug-in hybrid solution. A lot has changed since then, and choices for those interested in an electric car have become more abundant. Specifically, the...
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Solar power provides 10 percent of California's energy supply, which meant electric-grid operators had to be prepared for potentially disastrous effects during Monday's solar eclipse.
To the surprise...
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Faraday Future, short on cash, to leave Formula E electric-car race series: report
Faraday Future may abandon its Formula E racing efforts to save precious funds as the electric-car startup company scales back many of its ambitious plans. The FIA Formula E series, which will receive an influx of new competitors in 2019, has become a de facto arena for automakers to test battery...
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Electric cars now 5 percent of California new-car sales: report
California continues to lead the country in adoption rates for cars that plug in, both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. The state offers numerous local and statewide incentives, and many utility companies reward customers for choosing an electric car over a fossil-fuel powered vehicle...
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How Mazda's SkyActiv-X engine, based on HCCI, actually works (video)
Earlier this month, Japanese automaker Mazda laid out its future powertrain strategy and dropped a massive announcement in the process. In 2019, Mazda will introduce a gasoline-powered Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition engine, dubbed Skyactiv-X, that the automaker promises will offer huge...
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DC's electric-taxi drivers have no public place to charge, they say
The availability of charging stations for electric cars is likely to remain a major factor for many would-be owners as plug-in cars become more popular. While the United States boasts tens of thousands of charging stations, some areas remain better-covered than others. Unfortunately for taxi cab...
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Fisker EMotion electric luxury sedan to be shown at CES in January
Henrik Fisker, legendary automotive designer and the man behind the now-defunct Fisker Automotive company, is getting ready for his grand return to the industry. Spearheading the return will be the Fisker EMotion, which will arrive from the designer's new company, Fisker Inc. Although we only have...
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Hyundai arrived first to market with the world's first production hydrogen fuel-cell crossover utility in 2013 with the Tucson Fuel Cell, and we have a good idea of what to expect from the brand's...
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Tesla electric-car plant expansion could double size of Fremont factory
Electric-car maker Tesla is at a pivotal time in the 13-year-old company's history as production of its mass-market Model 3 ramps up and ambitious plans to roll out additional vehicles loom. Coinciding with the production start of the Tesla Model 3 are plans for a major expansion the Silicon Valley...
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European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-June 2017
The numbers are in, which means it's once again time take a look at European electric and plug-in hybrid sales. Delivery and registration data is compiled from January through June of 2017, and once more, it remains clear Europe has a favorite electric car. The Renault Zoe walks away with an even...
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RIP natural-gas cars, doomed by cheap gas and electric cars
Natural gas vehicles were first promoted starting in about 2000 as a way to reduce reliance on imported oil and cut tailpipe emissions. Their promise appeared to grow near the height of the global financial crisis, when gas prices hovered around $4 per gallon across much of the United States. The...
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Will Rallycross go electric? Michael Andretti on why series is perfect for EVs
Rallycross has become a sensation in motorsport relatively quickly: similar to autocross, a single car races against the clock on a set course or "stage," usually in the dirt, mud, or gravel—anything other than a paved track, in other words. Drivers with the best time are deemed the winner...
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Gas stations aren't a model for electric-car charging: ChargePoint CEO
For more than a century, motorists have been accustomed to gas stations, which provide places to stop and fill up a car with fuel, in recent years with larger and larger convenience stores attached. The model is so commonplace, it may mean drivers don't know electric-car charging stations even...
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For southern California residents, it's an excellent time to start considering the purchase of a BMW i3 or Nissan Leaf electric car.
San Diego Gas & Electric has joined a host of other utility...
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German Chancellor Merkel rejects electric-car quotas for Europe: 'not well thought out'
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the country's leader, has detailed why she believes electric-car quotas are not a viable answer to emission and other issues plaguing Europe. Merkel, a member of the conservative Christian Democratic Union, instead urged a much bigger-picture strategy, rather than a...
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Baojun E100: GM's tiny, two-seat electric car for China
Most North Americans and Europeans will likely never have heard of Baojun, but it's one of many brands operated under General Motors' SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture in China. Its portfolio is mostly made up of small sedans, multi-purpose vehicles (small minivans), hatchbacks, and a crossover utility...
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Senate panel rejects clean-energy cuts, boosts DoE funding instead
The Senate Committee on Appropriations recently exhibited a quality somewhat rare in U.S. politics these days: bipartisanship. The committee released a lengthy report on the 2018 fiscal year budget for the Department of Energy that walks away from the Trump Administration's efforts to defund clean...
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Electric cars after 46 years: Chevy Bolt EV vs lunar rover
President John F. Kennedy challenged the United States to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s, and the country's space agency met his challenge with five months to go. However, in 1971, NASA sent a remarkable piece of equipment into space with astronauts—the Lunar Rover—which...
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Another 'electric highway, 1,250 miles along Australia's coast
The country of Australia is poised to build one of the world's longest "electric highways," which will span 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers). Specifically, the Northeast region of the country will see the electric highway open through the state of Queensland. In total, 18 stations will be installed...
Sean Szymkowski