Green Car News
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There are now more than a dozen plug-in electric cars for sale in the U.S., but not all electric cars are created equal. And a pair of recent articles about service challenges experienced by owners of the Toyota RAV4 EV underscores that buyers should be fully aware of the context in which their electric car is sold. Only five plug-in cars have sold more than 10,000 units in the U.S. since launch: the Chevrolet Volt, Ford C-Max Energi, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, and Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. MORE: Electric Cars: Some Are Real, Most Are Only 'Compliance Cars'--We Name Names The Ford Fusion...
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New Nissan Juke Teased Before Geneva Motor Show Reveal
Nissan has released its first preview image of the new Nissan Juke, set to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next week. The new model is said to look even more striking than before, as well as offering greater efficiency and better refinement than the current model. The Juke was originally...
Antony Ingram -
Timeline For New Fisker Karmas: 'Within A Year'...Hopefully
The assets of the bankrupt Fisker Automotive are now in the process of being transferred to winning bidder Wanxiang America, but already the new owners have started to discuss their plans for the automaker. The latest news nugget is that Wanxiang hopes to restart production of the Karma...
John Voelcker -
Honda Insight Hybrid Production To End
The Honda Insight hybrid is no more. That's the confirmation from Honda itself, as slow sales prompt the Japanese automaker to end production of its flagship hybrid. According to Bloomberg, Honda informed dealers back in November that Insight production would stop this month, and asked them to stop...
Antony Ingram -
Why A Gigafactory? Tesla Used 1/3 Of All Electric-Car Batteries Last Year
The 210,000 plug-in electric vehicles sold around the world last year used a lot of lithium-ion batteries. But if startup automaker Tesla Motors has its way, it will soon need as many lithium-ion cells (of the 18650 format it uses) as are now built worldwide. That's why the company plans to release...
Matthew Klippenstein -
Consumer Reports: Tesla Model S Electric Car Is 'Best Overall' Vehicle
The Tesla Model S was named Best Overall car, while the Toyota Prius once again took Best Green Car honors.
Stephen Edelstein -
Honda, Nissan, and Toyota make headlines today.
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Nissan NYC 'Taxi Of Tomorrow': Not Fast, But Great For Riders
If you're driving into rural areas to spend time with nature, there's nothing more noticeable than a bright yellow New York City taxi cab to do it in. A couple of months ago, we had a chance to test out Nissan's new "Taxi of Tomorrow" for New York City, based on its NV200 small commercial van--but...
John Voelcker -
Home Owner Associations & Electric Cars: How To Make It Work (Advice From A Pro)
Residents of condominiums and other multiple dwellings who drive plug-in electric cars are fast becoming a challenge for the managers and boards that run those buildings. Early this month, a $450 charging cable was destroyed by a vandal in a Venice, Florida, condominium parking garage while it was...
John Voelcker -
Fuelshark Gadget To Boost Gas Mileage Does Nothing Of The Sort
Dozens of companies around the world will sell you devices claiming to improve your gas mileage. For what seems like a nominal amount, the magic devices can apparently increase your fuel economy by double-digit percentage figures. It seems too good to be true. And all too frequently, as Jalopnik...
Antony Ingram -
So What's A Brand-New (Defunct) Coda Sedan Electric Car Worth?
For every success story in the electric car world, there's also a less than successful endeavor. Coda would find itself in the latter category. Years of hype deflated like a burst balloon when the company went bankrupt in May 2013. The company's cars are still available though, through a firm...
Antony Ingram -
Most Popular Car Line In California? The Toyota Prius Hybrid--Again
The Toyota Prius Family is the most popular car line California for the second year in a row.
Stephen Edelstein -
Honda has announced through its EV sales division that the Fit EV model year production will end early, with production of the last of the 2014 Fit EVs this fall. [UPDATE: Honda North America subsequently clarified that Fit EV production will end on schedule this fall, not "early." Honda added that the Fit EV program will continue through the end of customers' three-year leases; the Fit EV is not offered for sale.] Posted by a member of the Honda Fit EV Drivers Facebook group, Honda confirms that deliveries of the Fit EV will continue at around 40 units per month until early this fall. At...
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2015 Ford Focus EcoBoost, Nissan Asks About Tesla, Hyundai Fuel-Cell Concept: Today's Car News
Ford, Hyundai, and Nissan make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein -
Nissan Surveys Tesla Owners For Intelligence On Electric Cars
Nissan is very quietly gathering additional electric-car "intelligence" about satisfaction, details, and features from Tesla Model S owners.
George Parrott -
Hyundai Intrado Concept Previews Next-Gen Fuel Cells At Geneva
Hyundai has revealed official images of its Intrado fuel cell concept, due at this year's Geneva Motor Show in early March. Revealed in a preview image back in December, the Intrado is a compact crossover vehicle powered by the latest generation of Hyundai's fuel cell technology, before production...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Ford Focus To Offer Fuel-Efficient 1.0 EcoBoost Option In U.S.
Ford's global 'One Ford' policy means that fewer and fewer cars in the manufacturer's range are sold in just one market--they need to be viable worldwide to be viable as a whole. That's why you can buy Fiestas in the U.S, while Fusions and Mustangs will soon be on sale in Europe. It's also why the...
Antony Ingram -
2014 BMW i3 Gets CA Carpool-Lane Access: Battery Only, So Far
As expected, the 2014 BMW i3 electric car has been awarded its "white sticker," the coveted permission to drive in High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes with only one occupant on California's crowded freeways. The range-extended version of the i3, however, has not yet appeared on the list--and there remains...
John Voelcker -
Modern electric cars are nice enough, but ask them to climb a snowy bank or forge through a forest and we suspect you'd quickly find their limitations. For truly tough conditions, you need something a little more adaptable--but there's no reason you should sacrifice electric propulsion to do so. That's where the MTT-136 comes in (via Autoblog). Uninspiring name perhaps, but Canadian inventor Yvon Martel's "My Track Technology" vehicle is possibly the world's most capable, adaptable electric vehicle. It looks a little like something a villain might attempt to drive over a trapped James Bond...
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Long-Lived Clean Power: Wind Turbines Last 25 Years, Study Says
A British study claims that wind turbines can last 25 years without the need for upgrades or replacement.
Stephen Edelstein -
Lawsuit Accuses Ford Of Infringing Hybrid Technology Patents, Once More
Ford isn't having much luck with its hybrid vehicles. Don't get us wrong, they're selling well, but after complaints that Ford's hybrids couldn't hit their stated EPA mileage figures, Ford is now facing a lawsuit that accuses it of infringing on technology patents in its hybrid vehicles. Bloomberg...
Antony Ingram -
Will Honda Insight, CR-Z Hybrids Be Pulled From U.S. Sale Too?
Honda will end sales of the CR-Z and Insight hybrids in Europe.
Stephen Edelstein -
Ram EcoDiesel Demand, All-Electric Bhutan, Mitsubishi Mini Motor: Today's Car News
Mitsubishi, Ram, and Volkswagen make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein -
2015 Nissan Micra: $10K Minicar For Canada--Paid For By Smart?
A fuel-efficient five-door hatchback a little smaller than a subcompact--for less than $10,000? That sounds like a pretty good deal. Unfortunately, it's a deal only available to Canadian buyers--because the 2015 Nissan Micra is being offered just in that country, not in the United States. MORE...
John Voelcker