Sean Szymkowski, Contributor
Articles
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised that the latest iteration of Autopilot would be the most refined variation of the software yet.
In fact, the Tesla chief recently tweeted that the new Autopilot algorithm...
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Tesla driver killed in Autopilot crash ignored repeated warnings, NTSB says
The National Transportation Safety Board has published its first findings after investigating a fatal highway crash in 2016 involving a Tesla Model S and a tractor trailer. The crash occurred on last summer after 40-year-old Joshua Brown was driving with Tesla's Autopilot engaged. The system failed...
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Even BMW's hometown may ban older diesel cars
Diesel-powered vehicles are facing a tough road ahead as more European cities move to ban older, dirtier, oil-burning cars. Diesel has long been the preferred fuel of European drivers thanks to its efficiency and lower carbon dioxide levels. However, mounting research has shown diesel-powered cars...
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How California and China plan to push for millions of zero-emission vehicles
California has long been the nation's leader in zero-emission vehicles, with initiatives dating more than two decades. Now the Golden State is partnering with China, the world's largest car market, to accelerate that country's zero-emission goals. The state announced a new initiative with China, in...
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European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-April 2017
Electric vehicle sales are holding steady in Europe; the latest sales data shows popular battery electric vehicles remain popular. Plug-in hybrids continue to hold their own as well, according to data aggregated from numerous individual national markets. The Renault Zoe, in particular, continues to...
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VW too will launch electric-car joint venture in China with partner
Volkswagen is following the lead of many other global automakers: it has signed a deal for a new electric-vehicle joint venture in China. The German automaker said this week it has partnered with Chinese automaker Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. (JAC) to produce electric vehicles, as well as to...
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Tesla has given its used electric-car sales a jolt and sweetened the deals for potential buyers.
CEO Elon Musk announced changes to the Tesla Model S sedan's warranty structure and major price cuts...
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How to drive Ford C-Max Hybrid for best gas mileage? Owner video explains
Purchasing a hybrid vehicle makes for a slightly different ownership experience than a traditional gasoline-only car. There are always a few tips and tricks for owners to return the best mileage and range from electrified vehicles, and now a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid owner has shared his secrets...
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Electric-car leases in California: Leaf, Volt, Focus vs Clarity
The state of California is undeniably the United States' premier market for electric vehicles. It's also a market where automakers actually need to sell certain volumes of zero-emission cars, which means some of the nation's best lease deals on electric cars can be found in the Golden State. There...
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Hyundai Kona small SUV revealed, with electric version to come
Hyundai has finally shown the world its subcompact crossover utility vehicle, the 2018 Hyundai Kona. The 2018 Kona marks the brand's first foray into the subcompact SUV segment and will likely arrive in the United States next year or for 2019. The Kona name comes from the tourist spot in Hawaii and...
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Fisker EMotion won't launch with graphene battery; 400-mile range still promised
Henrik Fisker, the man behind the relaunch of the company that bears his name, has released some new details on the upcoming EMotion sedan. However, the news isn't necessarily the best that electric-car fans and advocates could have hoped for. The graphene battery technology Fisker has frequently...
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Tesla Model X gets uniform 5-star safety ratings from NHTSA, first SUV to do so
Tesla's Model X has secured a major accomplishment: it is officially the first SUV to receive 5-star crash-test ratings in every single category. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Model X uniform 5-star ratings, which Tesla says is due to the design of the all-electric...
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Tesla's five New York state stores could increase four-fold should a new piece of legislation pass the state legislature.
The bill calls for an increase "certificates of registration for entities...
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NEVS reveals Chinese electric cars based on former Saab 9-3, 9-3X models (updated)
Swedish auto brand Saab may never return, but the company NEVS has now officially debuted its production electric cars—which are adapted from Saab assets it acquired following the brand's fall from grace. NEVS (National Electric Vehicle Sweden) is, in fact, a Swedish company, though it's...
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All-electric Fisker EMotion orders open June 30, starting at $129,900
Henrik Fisker is planning to return to the luxury electric fold with his new company's EMotion sedan, and potential buyers now have a price tag. The brand's first vehicle, the Fisker EMotion sedan, will become available for pre-order on June 30. And when the EMotion eventually goes on sale, it will...
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Renault plans huge energy storage plant using old Zoe electric-car battery packs
With more plug-in electric vehicles on the road today than ever, automakers are working to solve an impending issue: what to do with used lithium-ion batteries. Once the batteries are no longer suitable to power vehicles, automakers must recycle or repurpose them. Now, through a partnership with...
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Coal-country voters laugh at politicians who deny climate change
The "war on coal" has long been a talking point of politicians running for elected office in the state of Kentucky. The state was once home to a booming coal industry that has floundered over the years as cheaper fracked natural gas has supplanted coal for electricity generation. The state's coal...
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Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for June 2017
Now that we're into a new month, it's time to check out the best deals on green cars—this time for the month of June. As always, Cars Direct has compiled its monthly list of the most budget friendly options for buyers looking to go green. It should be noted there's now a separate category for...
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Electric cars have promised to revolutionize transportation for years now.
As more manufacturers offer electrified vehicles and prices continue to drop for battery technology, the easy correlation...
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Toyota sold all its Tesla shares by the end of 2016
Toyota quietly unloaded the rest of its Tesla shares near the end of last year. In the process, the Japanese automaker confirmed its partnership to develop electric vehicles and related technologies had been canceled. Toyota has by far shown the most restraint in developing battery electric...
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Hyundai Kona Electric: will new small electric SUV come to North America?
Hyundai has already taken its first step into the realm of electric cars with the Ioniq Electric. In fact, a plug-in hybrid and dedicated hybrid round out three alternative propulsion choices from Hyundai, but a Hyundai Kona electric car is slated to join the Korean brand's portfolio. The Kona will...
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Germany investigates possible Audi diesel emission cheats
Just as the Volkswagen Group begins to wind down its diesel scandal in the United States, things may be ramping up in Europe. A German government task force discovered a new type of defeat device in Audi vehicles, which allows the cars to cheat emission tests. Both V-6 and V-8 powered Audi A8...
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AAA raises Tesla insurance rates 30 percent; company disputes analysis
It's never a good day to learn one's insurance rates are rising, but AAA has decided the Tesla Model S and Model X warrant 30 percent increases. AAA combed through its own data and found Model S and Model X owners had abnormally high claim rates. The claim rates were also much costlier than...
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Audi confirms (again) 3 electric cars on the market by 2020
German automakers are beginning to play catch-up with electric vehicles, as Tesla continues to corner the market. Audi has once again reconfirmed its plans to bring three battery-powered electric vehicles to production by the year 2020. The German luxury brand reiterated the plan at the annual...
Sean Szymkowski