Electric Cars

Automotive sales totals for 2009 are trickling in and one aspect of sales remains obvious, hybrids are a hit.  Some sources may site an overall decrease in volume for hybrid sales and suggest that buyers are not interested in hybrid vehicles, however this one sided point of view is wrong. A closer...

BMW, well known for delivering the ultimate driving machine, has ventured into hybrid vehicles with some impressive offerings including the ActiveHybrid X6 which was reviewed recently on this site.  Rather than follow other hybrid powertrain variants, BMW is no focusing on developing a new hybrid...

666 Road Racing Ltd., designers / producers of high tech material and laminate components for high performance motorcycles, has now signed up for TTXGP series electric motorcycle racing. In 2009, they were contracted by Mavizen, the designers / racers of the winning electric motorcycle at the TTXGP...

Auto shows have always been the forum for unveiling the wildest, wackiest, most over-the-top drool-worthy vehicles. The shows have been more subdued over the past two years of economic turmoil, but this year, the folks at Revenge delivered something to smile about. The Revenge Verde takes its...

Green Vehicles Inc. of San Jose, CA, is set to unveil the 2010 Triac, a highway-capable, 3-wheeled electric vehicle at the North American International Auto Show, in the Electric Avenue area. Based on feedback from their 2008 prototype and 2009 "early adopter" customer sales, the 2010 Triac boasts...

The automotive market in Japan has very few similarities to the automotive market here in the States.  Japanese buyers tend to select compact, fuel efficient vehicles whereas here in the states we still like gas guzzling, large vehicles.  The difference between the buying habits of both nations...

  A group of concerned activists is raising questions about one potential location for Tesla's future Model S assembly plant. The Raging Grannies spent last Saturday in front of the Tesla dealership in Menlo Park, California, asking why the electric vehicle company might build their future plant...

Only four electric vehicles really matter at the Detroit Auto Show: the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the 2012 Nissan Leaf, and the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, plus the current 2010 Tesla Roadster. They're on sale, or destined for volume production. The rest fall into two categories:  low-volume...

Tesla Motors will be showcasing a major milestone in their production history at the North American International Auto Show.  Tesla Roadster VIN 1,000 will be making it's debut at Cobo Hall, signifying Tesla Motors' impressive feat of producing / selling 1,000 highway capable electric vehicles...

An auditing and advisory firm called KMPG conducted research via survey and found that auto industry leaders believe that conventional hybrid vehicles will be the most important alternative fuel technology for at least the next five years. KMPG conducted their 11th annual survey regarding...

Today was the first press-only day at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and while it was blustery and miserable outside, inside the Cobo Center, it was divine, chrome and carbon fiber as far as the eye could see. I started at the gigantic Ford display, and as I approached...

On Sunday, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said that the Cadillac Converj would go on sale after 2012. For the uninitiated, the Cadillac Converj is the 2 door luxury version of the Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicle.  There was no indication if the Voltec propulsion system would be upgraded for...

The Nikkei Newspaper is reporting that worldwide vehicle regulations and safety rules pertaining to hybrid and electric vehicles will be determined by Japanese automakers and politicians. According to the report, the United Nations UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations will...

This year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan is about to get underway and EVs and hybrids will play a key role at the show.  Aside from the returning event called EcoXperience which gives showgoers a chance to drive select EVs in a controlled environment, the show is...

BMW's ActiveHybrid X6 is one of the most powerful hybrid vehicles ever produced.  Outputting a combined 480 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque, this a hybrid to be reckoned with.  Its 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds from a vehicle weighing in at 5,700 lb is definitely astonishing, but does this vehicle live...

Last April Hyundai unveiled their first ever plug-in hybrid at the Seoul Motor Show.   Known as the Hyundai Blue-Will, the concept is scheduled to make its debut here in the states at the 2010 NAIAS just weeks away.  Though only a concept, the company has stated that it may be a preview for...

According to Mercedes, the next generation S-Class will launch with a plug-in hybrid model available immediately. As Thomas Weber of Mercedes research and development said in an interview with Autocar, "It makes a lot of sense to bundle the high-price tech option to the sort of customers willing to...

Electric vehicles are significantly quieter than their traditional gas-powered counterparts. Maybe it's fitting then, that Volvo doesn't plan to say anything when they unveil their electric C30 at the Detroit Auto Show next week. Volvo spokesman, Dan Johnston, told Inside Line that the new...

 The Lexus HS250h is essentially an upscale Prius.  It carries numerous components that are similar to those found in the Prius, but it does carry one additional detail not found on the Prius, the Lexus name.  Lexus, a make that is synonymous with luxury, coddling the driver, and offering an...

Demand for hybrid vehicles has slowly been on the rise for quite some time.  In particular, Toyota models have fared well holding top sales spots across the board for hybrid vehicles.  Toyota sells more hybrid vehicles than all other automakers combined.  The company is not about to sit back and...