Electric Cars

If the mechanical prototype TheCarConnection.com recently drove was any indication, the 2011 Nissan LEAF will be an extremely quiet vehicle, free of the motor and drivetrain whine that accompanies some other electric cars.

One-off vehicles by specialty automakers are essential to the automotive marketplace.  Many of these vehicles are displayed annually at the SEMA show.  The vehicles highlight future products and even outline the direction of the industry as a whole.  RUF Automobile GmbH is a specialty automaker...

We are all well aware that EVs, PHEVs, and hybrids cost automakers more to produce than comparable gasoline powered cars.  Barring incentives and automakers selling vehicles at a loss, they will also costs consumers significantly more to purchase for a long time to come.  But just how much more...

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } China's BYD Auto has received a lot of recognition for vehicles they have been working on.  Many are eagerly awaiting the companies offerings expected to arrive in the U.S. next year.  The company has promised low prices, long ranges, and other innovative...

Toyota has decided to go forward and finish off the small details at its newly built plant in Tupelo, Mississippi.  Work on the plant began back in 2006, but the company halted completion last December due to a dwindling economy and potential financial issues.  The outside of the manufacturing...

Chairman and acting CEO Ed Whitacre has revealed that Spyker is the sole party with whom GM is negotiating the sale of Saab, and will either close the sale with Spyker by the end of this month, or close Saab down.  In a related story, Boston Power and others have formed a coalition with Saab...

Saab, Boston Power and others are now part of a coalition is deliver high performance electric vehicles.  Other reports expect Saab's imminent sale by GM, leaving them free to pursue new product developments.  Boston Power has been seeking a foothold in the exploding electric and hybrid electric...

According to an analysis conducted by the National Research Council , the roll-out of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to the U.S. market will be too slow to have any real effect on our greenhouse gas emissions or oil addiction until at least the 2030s. the added cost of manufacturing a PHEV over a...

In anticipation of the Nissan Leaf EV reaching the U.S. in limited markets by next fall, Nissan has worked diligently towards providing the necessary infrastructure for recharging electric vehicles.  San Francisco, California is an area of this country likely to see the Leaf prior to its global...

To many, the chance to drive a Tesla Roadster Sport may only be a dream.  Its high price and lack of usefulness as your primary, only car may put it out of reach to us ordinary folk.  Dreaming about driving a Tesla Roadster and having the unique chance to actually pilot one are two entirely...

Toyota has gained a considerable hybrid market share with the dedicated hybrid model the Prius. This single vehicle has outsold all other hybrid models and continues to set the standard for a dedicated hybrid. Toyota has been contempt with a single dedicated hybrid model for some time now.  The...

In a briefing sheet for the LEAF, the automaker cites, in addition to the upcoming LEAF, e-LCV van, and Infiniti model, a

Nissan is betting a lot of its future on the 2011 LEAF, along with other electric vehicles to follow—and more specifically, the proprietary batteries that each of them will have on board.

Having attended an automotive based engineering school myself, I enjoy seeing what the next generation of automotive engineers bring to the table.  I think this entry - the Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster - is my favorite so far.  These fine young talents have done an outstanding job blending old...

 Per previously announced plans, Toyota now officially announces the imminent availability of a plug-in version of their 3rd generation Prius gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle.  Approximately 600 units will be leased to government and business fleets in the United States, Europe and Japan through...

A test drive of the 2nd-gen SmartForTwo ED (electric drive) by the gang over at Automobile revealed some pretty significant issues yet to be worked out by the Daimler brain-trust. While the new Tesla-supplied  battery pack increases peak horsepower to 40 HP (from 27HP) the Smart can only provide...

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } It's that time of year when everyone is handing out awards for vehicle of the year.  We've reported on several of these awards thus far and here's another one, the "2010 Green Car Vision Award" goes to?  The award will officially be presented at the 2010 Washington...

November sales numbers are in and once again hybrids are gaining ground in the automotive market. Total vehicles sale for November rose by only a handful of vehicles.  This November, sales came in at 746,928 versus last November at 746,789.  Though overall sales rose by a barely perceivable...

The Prius has won again, and this time the award is unexpected.  The Top Gear team has named the 2010 Toyota Prius as the "City Car of the Year." Jeremy Clarkson, part of the Top Gear team, has not be fond of many "green" cars passing through his hands.  As Clarkson is quoted as calling the Honda...

How could loans from the federal government possibly be a bad thing for automakers?  According to special adviser for Coda Automotive Darryl Siry, whose words appeared in an article he wrote for Wired.com, loans from the US Department of Energy could be stifling innovation by reducing the...