Green Car News
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Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is not a man to mince his words. We already know he's not a fan of other electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt, he doesn't really like plug-in hybrids, and he's quick to step in and defend his company whenever there's a hint of negative publicity. So it's not surprising that when the subject of fuel cell cars came up at the recent Tesla service center opening in Munich, Musk was only too happy to share his thoughts. They're "a waste of time", according to Musk. Well, he uses a slightly different phrase to that: "Bull****". But the meaning is...
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Tesla 'Autobahn' Tuning, Jeep Cherokee MPG, BMW i3 Design: Today's Car News
The BMW i3, Jeep Cherokee, and Tesla Model S make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein -
Ford Focus & Ford C-Max Hybrid: Is Now The Best Time To Buy?
Dry announcements about temporary auto-plant shutdowns can sometimes offer hints to possible bargains on new cars. In this case, Ford said it will close the plant that makes the Ford C-Max Hybrid (and Energi plug-in hybrid) and the Ford Focus compact sedan and hatchback for two separate weeks in...
John Voelcker -
2014 BMW i3 Electric Car: Why California Set Range Requirements, Engine Limits
The 2014 BMW i3 electric car, which we drove last week, is generating intense interest among both plug-in proponents and BMW fans. Among other things, it's the first car in the world offered with an optional range-extending engine, at an increased cost of $3,850. MORE: 2014 BMW i3: First Drive Of...
John Voelcker -
2014 Jeep Cherokee, More Fuel-Efficient Crossover, Now En Route To Dealers
The 2014 Jeep Cherokee returns significantly better fuel economy than the Liberty it replaces.
Stephen Edelstein -
Women Now Buying One-Third Of All Nissan Leaf Electric Cars
Perhaps a result of the comparatively limited selection of electric cars currently on sale, they've not yet developed any real gender stereotypes. While the geeky technological aspect might mark most out as a product most likely to be used by men, you're as likely to see women actually driving an...
Antony Ingram -
Natural gas flaring in North Dakota may be wasting revenue and harming the environment.
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Tesla Model S To Offer 'Autobahn' Tuning For Top Speed Over 130 MPH
Most countries have their own road rules and regulations and it's no surprise that driving conditions and car requirements vary greatly as a result. One such country is Germany, where some sections of freeway--or Autobahn--have long been de-restricted. In other words, they have no posted speed...
Antony Ingram -
Texas Teslas, Diesel Buicks, Manhole Resonance Chargers: Today's Car News
Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA], Buick, and Nissan make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein -
VL Destino's Corvette-Powered Fiskers Still On Target
A V-8 conversion isn't your typical eco-modification, but for Fisker Karma customers it's one way of ensuring a longer-term survival for their vehicle since the company's troubles started well over a year ago. The conversions are offered by VL Automotive, backed by Bob Lutz and using one of two...
Antony Ingram -
NYC 'Manhole Covers' To Hide Resonance Chargers For Electric Cars
Hevo Power hopes its wireless charging stations can keep electric delivery vehicles moving in urban areas.
Stephen Edelstein -
Will Buick Add Diesels To Its Lineup Too--And Will Its Customers Bite?
Aside from a few dubious efforts in the 1970s and 1980s, diesel has until now been the preserve of big rigs, pickups and the occasional European offering brought over to the U.S. More recently though, wider acceptance of the fuel--aided by rising gas prices--has seen other manufacturers dabble. One...
Antony Ingram -
We all know that hybrid vehicles typically offer greater fuel economy than their regular gasoline counterparts. But when considered over a typical ownership period, are they actually any cheaper to run? That's what a new study from cost-of-ownership specialists Vincentric has been finding out. The company has released its latest 2013 data and revealed that yes, hybrids do offer genuine cost-of-ownership benefits over their counterparts... as long as you select the right model. Out of 33 hybrid vehicles on the market, a total of 13 prove cheaper to run over a five-year ownership period than...
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Tesla Underground: Texas Franchise Rules Make Model S Owners Skirt The Law
Over the last couple of years, Tesla Motors has fought legal and legislative battles in a number of states over proposed or current state laws that try to stymie its unique factory-direct sales and service model. In most cases--Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina, among others--Tesla has...
David Noland -
Dreaming Of A Nissan Leaf With Double The Range? Well...
Nissan's Barcelona Technical Centre built a Leaf prototype with a 48-kWh battery pack for a new racing series.
Stephen Edelstein -
BMW i3 Driven, Musk Buys Bond Submarine, Future MINI Variants: Today's Car News
The BMW i3, Toyota Prius, and Jame Bond's Lotus submarine are in the news today.
Stephen Edelstein -
2014 Toyota Prius Liftback Starts At $24,025, Same As Last Year
The 2014 Toyota Prius Liftback will cost the same as a 2013 model.
Stephen Edelstein -
How To Site Electric-Car Charging Stations? It's The Parking, Stupid
With the recent bankruptcies of charging-station network Ecotality and Israeli electric-car service Better Place, plug-in advocates have quietly discussed whether any business model exists for public electric-car charging stations. But suppose it 's not about the charging at all? Suppose it's about...
John Voelcker -
It's always interesting hearing one automaker's opinion of another, and even more so when a huge global company has to concede that a young upstart is worth keeping an eye on. The huge global automaker in question is Audi, part of the massive Volkswagen group. And the young upstart? Tesla Motors of course, continuing to create headlines with its Model S sedan and for its CEO's interesting pastimes. In an interview with Bloomberg, Audi's top American exec, Scott Keogh, called Tesla "cool", adding that the Palo Alto-based electric car maker was "the talk of the town". It's a far cry from Audi's...
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Next MINI Could Get 10 Variants, Plug-In Hybrid Option
The next-generation of BMW's MINI subcompact could spawn as many as ten different variants following its arrival next year. In an interview with Automotive News, BMW's board member in charge of MINI, Peter Schwartzenbauer, suggested that "eight to ten models" could be built from the car's new ULK...
Antony Ingram -
2014 BMW i3: First Drive Of BMW's Radical New Electric Car
You may have read stories lately that suggest the BMW i3 is the first luxury competition for the Tesla Model S electric car. It’s not. You may also have read that it’s the first range-extended car to go head to head with the Chevrolet Volt. It’s not. In building its first...
John Voelcker -
Elon Musk's Next Project: Electric James Bond Lotus Submarine
There's an old saying that goes "boys never grow up, their toys just get bigger". Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk certainly has some big toys, as the founder of an electric car company and SpaceX among other things. But it turns out he has one toy that any boy would be envious of: the Lotus Esprit from...
Antony Ingram -
BMW i3 Driven, Fisker Bought, Tesla Beats Israel: This Week In Social Media
If you've been following us around the social sphere this week, then you already have a pretty good idea of what's going on in the green automotive world, but if you aren't, we've created a quick recap just for you. We reported our results from the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage's gas mileage test, and we...
Joel Feder -
Fisker Sold, Aston Martin Cygnet Dead, Nissan ZEOD Revealed: Today's Car News
Fisker Automotive, the Aston Martin Cygnet, and the Nissan ZEOD make headlines today.
Stephen Edelstein