Green
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It's not surprising that the powertrains of electric cars differ quite a bit from traditional internal-combustion engines. Although they have fewer moving parts, the rare-earth magnets that help power electric cars can be quite complex to fabricate. So, what is there to know about rare-earth magnets—and how do automakers choose which kind of magnet is best for an electric car's motor? DON'T MISS: Better electric motors can boost electric-car efficiency First, there are four main types of magnets: ceramic (ferrite), AlNiCo, Samarium Cobalt (SmCo), and Neodymium (NdFeB). The latter is the...
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The 2018 Nissan Leaf has three types of cruise control: how they differ
When the 2018 Nissan Leaf electric car arrives at dealerships early next year, it will offer fresh styling inside and out, more power, a 150-mile range, and an array of standard or optional active-safety features. It will come in Nissan's standard three trim levels—base S, mid-level SV, and...
John Voelcker -
Building Bolt EV, electric cars with 100 miles or more, Mercedes EQC, Porsche Mission E: Today's Car News
Today, we've updated our list of electric cars on sale this year with more than 100 miles of range, nodded to Norway as its drivers reserve a future electric Mercedes, honed in on the very fast charging in the Porsche Mission E, and flagged the catch in a rumored new EV policy from China. All this...
John Voelcker -
Porsche Mission E electric sport sedan: 200-mile recharge in 15 minutes
While there have been lots of concept cars and production announcements, the first serious German competitor to the Tesla Model S and Model X won't arrive for at least another year. And what could prove the most potent of them all—the production version of the stunning Porsche Mission E...
John Voelcker -
Foreign makers might build electric cars in China, but rumored rule change has a catch
China's announcement 10 days ago that it was assessing a timetable for ending sales of new cars with gasoline or diesel engines continues to reverberate. The country intends to dominate global production of lithium-ion battery cells and electric vehicles, for a host of reasons from industrial power...
John Voelcker -
Chevy Bolt EV, Sonic, Bolt, Sonic: GM mingles gas, electric cars on same assembly line
General Motors didn't have to construct an all-new assembly plant to build its affordable, mass-market Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car. In fact, it produces the electric car at the existing Orion assembly plant in Michigan, which opened in 1983. That's not the most interesting aspect of Bolt EV...
Sean Szymkowski -
These are the 2017 electric cars with more than 100 miles of range.
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Mercedes EQC electric SUV reservations open in Norway, for 2019 delivery
The country of Norway has been among the most ardent in urging drivers to buy zero-emission vehicles, offering a friendly market in which automakers can launch new electric cars. In fact, Norway was the first nation to announce a ban on the sale of new vehicles powered by fossil fuels; it's due to...
Sean Szymkowski -
VW e-Golf leases, California after fossil fuels, 1,100-mile electric bus, CR-V Hybrid: Today's Car News
Today, we've got a couple of Volkswagen electric-car stories, California's plans to eliminate fossil fuels, a very long-range electric bus, and a look at the whys and whethers of China's recent bombshell announcement. All this and more on Green Car Reports. We updated our earlier story on the Honda...
John Voelcker -
China wants all electric cars: will it work? Reasons and reactions
It was quaint and adorable when Norway did it, saying it would end sales of cars with internal-combustion engines by 2025. The Netherlands followed suit, with little fanfare. More recently, France and the U.K. have enacted various forms of bans on non-electrified vehicles, on varying schedules. Now...
John Voelcker -
How did Proterra get an electric bus to cover 1,100 miles on a charge? A bigger battery, of course
The laws of physics tend to be immutable, at least until you get into esoteric disciplines like quantum science. In the case of electric vehicles, one law provides that higher energy capacity in a battery allows a vehicle to travel further. That's the principle electric-bus maker Proterra has used...
John Voelcker -
2017 VW e-Golf lease can cost more than longer-range Chevy Bolt EV
Model years can be confusing: the 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf electric car just went on sale this month, at a time when some other makers have already rolled out 2018 models. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, meanwhile, went on sale since last December; at some point this fall, we expect to get information on...
John Voelcker -
For 50 years, the state of California has led the United States when it comes to renewable energy and electric cars. The state features many programs to incentivize electric-car ownership, and 29 percent of the state's 2016 energy production came from solar, wind, and other renewable power sources. California is now preparing for a future in which energy production relies solely on renewable energy sources—one where coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels have no role. DON'T MISS: CA should use VW mitigation funds for cleaner diesel trucks to cut NOx: diesel lobbying group A recent...
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Volkswagen ID electric car to launch in 2020 along with new VW Golf
Volkswagen has a critical year coming in 2020, when the German brand will launch two incredibly important vehicles nearly back-to-back. The next-generation Volkswagen Golf will arrive that year, and then, one month later, the brand will launch its first mass-market electric car, the ID hatchback...
Sean Szymkowski -
Honda CR-V Hybrid displayed in Frankfurt; US likely next, but when?
Five months ago, Honda showed a hybrid version of its CR-V compact crossover utility vehicle at the Shanghai auto show. Now, a European version of the Honda CR-V Hybrid is being shown at this week's Frankfurt auto show. Having teased it twice around the world, will the hybrid crossover come to...
John Voelcker -
Plug-in hybrid Porsche driven, life with Tesla Model S 100D, GM vs China, Range Rovers with plugs: Today's Car News
Today, we have a couple of stories on plug-in hybrid luxury SUVs (they're all the rage), along with more on owning a new Tesla, a warning by GM about China, and a couple of self-driving Audi concepts. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Over the weekend, as always, we ran down last week's...
John Voelcker -
2017 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid: review of plug-in hybrid SUV
The Porsche Cayenne is the second best-selling vehicle in the German sports-car maker's North American lineup, as SUV sales swamp those of passenger cars at luxury brands. A considerable number of the pricey SUV models sold here have been the Cayenne S E-Hybrid plug-in hybrid variant: 1,316 out of...
John Voelcker -
GM CEO Barra attacks China gas-car ban, suggests buyers should decide
General Motors CEO Mary Barra met with reporters in Shanghai on Friday, discussing the company's vision of the future: "a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion." The company doesn't think, however, that China should be quite so hasty in pushing to ban cars that actually do...
John Voelcker -
The 2017 Frankfurt Motor Showed offered a very specific ethos this year: electric and self-driving cars. Many automakers used the bright lights and gleaming stands to reveal their interpretation of a future with all-electric and driverless vehicles. Audi was not absent from the theme. DON'T MISS: Audi confirms (again) 3 electric cars on the market by 2020 The German luxury brand debuted two e-tron electric-car concepts, the Audi Aicon and Audi Elaine. Both are battery-electric vehicles, though they differ in self-driving technology. The Aicon is a fully-autonomous level 5 vehicle, while the...
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Life with Tesla Model S: assessing my new 100D vs old 2013 electric car
About two years ago, under the influence of an eager Tesla representative, I briefly considered trading in my trusty 2013 Tesla Model S 85 for a new Model S 90D. But after a 24-hour test drive, the advantages of the 90D—40 miles more range, all-wheel drive, and Autopilot...
David Noland -
Electric cars near 2 percent of German market (plug-in hybrids included), surging past US
While Volkswagen's diesel scandal has fallen out of the public eye in the United States, its effects continue to be felt in Europe, where diesel-powered cars have long reigned supreme. Falling sales of diesel vehicles in many European countries are somewhat balanced by a boost for electric and...
Sean Szymkowski -
Frankfurt electric cars, Tesla Autopilot crash, Pacifica Hybrid back, China's audacity: The Week in Reverse
Why might all the electric-car concepts at last week's Frankfurt auto show be a sign of desperation? What news out of China could scramble the future of the global auto industry? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending on Friday...
John Voelcker -
Pacifica Hybrid returns, 2017 Leaf deal, Nissan electric cars, states vs Trump EPA: Today's Car News
Today, we've got more plans for more electric cars from Nissan and Mitsubishi, a coming duel between states and the Trump EPA, why a 2017 Nissan Leaf is a great deal, and the return of the only seven-seat plug-in hybrid minivan. All this and more on Green Car Reports. The Renault Nissan Alliance...
John Voelcker -
2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid sales have resumed after recall
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the sole plug-in hybrid minivan for sale anywhere in North America, but it hasn't had a particularly smooth rollout. Its seven seats and 33 miles of EPA-rated electric range make it appealing to families who want a plug-in vehicle with more than five seats and more...
John Voelcker