Electric Vehicle News and Reviews (Page 266)

Electric Vehicle News and Reviews

Electric vehicles (EVs) have come a long way in a short time. Barely a decade has passed since the ambitious Silicon Valley startup Tesla Motors introduced the world to an electric car capable of traveling more than 300 miles on a single charge. Since then, Elon Musk and Tesla have convinced many dubious onlookers that electric vehicles are not only here to stay, but that they can become the future of transportation.

Other automakers have joined the EV movement at very different rates. The Nissan Leaf, for example, debuted in 2010 and went on to become the best-selling all-electric vehicle in the world for a time. Competition from the BMW i3 followed, as well as the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt and its all-electric successor the Chevy Bolt EV, but only the Tesla Model 3 has been able to steal the Leaf's crown. Heading into a new decade, electric vehicles are set to go from strength-to-strength, with new models like the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV competing in the entry-level category and the Audi e-Tron, Porsche Taycan, or Jaguar I-PACE vying with Tesla at the top end of the market.

With entire classes of vehicle still lacking an electric version, such as pick-up trucks and affordable SUVs, there's huge potential for expansion and growth in the EV marketplace. For now, Tesla is still blazing the trail, but legacy manufacturers are lining up to electrify their fleets and promising startups like Rivian and Byton are waiting in the wings with exciting new electric vehicles.

The future is bright for EVs and you can keep up to date with all the latest stories right here on Torque News.

Want to pay $0.75 per gallon to fuel your car? Drive on electricity

By Luke Ottaway on July 23, 2014 - 11:47PM

If you’re like most people, you wish gasoline wasn’t quite so expensive. If only there was a way to fuel your car for just 75 cents per gallon...

Could this Reno construction site be Tesla’s Gigafactory?

By Luke Ottaway on July 23, 2014 - 7:05PM

Since Tesla Motors is still keeping the chosen site(s) under wraps, some have taken it upon themselves to find out where the Tesla Gigafactory will be located. There is now strong evidence that Reno, Nevada is at the very least a final candidate.

Gasoline range extenders like those in the BMW i3 mean more EV miles travelled

By John Goreham on July 23, 2014 - 9:37AM

BMW i3 REx owners are reporting that their range extenders are permitting more EV trips than they would have done otherwise. We love stories about EVs that defy the conventional wisdom.

Electric bus manufacturers BYD and Proterra are making serious moves

By Luke Ottaway on July 22, 2014 - 10:18PM

Two of the biggest electric transit bus titans were in the news recently: BYD plans to build a manufacturing facility for its buses and batteries in Brazil, and Proterra has announced the first sale of its second-generation “infinite range” electric bus.

Edmunds shatters Tesla’s old record for fastest cross-country road trip in an EV

By Luke Ottaway on July 21, 2014 - 10:22PM

Two iron-willed drivers from the car shopping site Edmunds.com drove a Tesla Model S from Redondo Beach, California to New York, NY in just 67 hours and 21 minutes. The feat is further demonstration that taking a Tesla on long road trips is becoming more and more convenient.

Rumored 200-mile EV confirmed to be on the way for 2016 – but who will make it?

By Luke Ottaway on July 20, 2014 - 11:47PM

The Korean battery maker LG Chem has announced that it will supply the battery for a 200-mile electric vehicle in 2016. Which automaker signed the contract?

Quant flow cell-powered stunner cleared for on-road testing in Germany

By Luke Ottaway on July 18, 2014 - 4:15PM

Another of those “battery breakthrough” technologies has progressed to real-world testing, but we won’t get our hopes up just yet.

2015 Chevrolet Volt unexpectedly gets increase in battery capacity, range

By Luke Ottaway on July 16, 2014 - 10:55PM

Everyone seems to be holding out for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, the model year due for a significant redesign. Yet even the unheralded 2015 model has received an unexpected improvement.

Tesla continuing trend of unoriginal names with Model III just feels right

By Luke Ottaway on July 16, 2014 - 8:33PM

As far as names go, Tesla doesn’t delve too deeply into the depths of creativity. Somehow it seems to work quite well, and the naming of their most important car yet follows the pattern.

2014 Toyota Prius Plug-in completes Nurburgring using 5 tablespoons of gas

By John Goreham on July 16, 2014 - 4:10PM

The Prius you love, but with a Plug just ran the famous race course following all the track rules on 2.5 ounces of gasoline.

Tesla lemon law case ends quietly with $126,836 settlement

By Luke Ottaway on July 15, 2014 - 11:27PM

Just over three months after the news was made public that a Wisconsin lawyer planned to file a lemon lawsuit against Tesla on behalf of his client, the self-proclaimed “lemon law king” released yet another video concluding the saga.

Hyundai, Tesla exchange barbs over refueling networks – one of them has a point

By Luke Ottaway on July 15, 2014 - 8:43PM

A misinformed jab at Tesla’s Supercharger network by fuel cell-minded Hyundai and a counter-punch from the electric automaker remind us that car companies really don’t like being linked to government backing, yet this will become an increasingly important issue.

Drastic price cuts place Cadillac ELR where it should have been all along

By Luke Ottaway on July 15, 2014 - 12:02AM

The Cadillac ELR has not sold well, mainly due to its disproportionately high sticker price. Cadillac and its dealers are getting desperate to move the vehicles.

Why the range of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive is only 87 miles

By Luke Ottaway on July 13, 2014 - 10:44PM

The all-electric offering from Mercedes promises to be a solid, refined car with plenty of desirable traits. Its range is compromised, however, by poor efficiency relative to its competitors.

Green cars' 2014 sales decline in the US, but overall US fleet MPG goes up

By John Goreham on July 11, 2014 - 11:42AM

Green car sales for the first half of the 2014 are not on-pace to match 2013. How can our average fuel economy be improving even as green car sales are declining?

Tesla CEO Musk honors company’s namesake with $1M donation to Tesla museum

By Luke Ottaway on July 11, 2014 - 12:10AM

Nikola Tesla was one of the most brilliant people to ever live, yet was largely unappreciated in life and after his death. Tesla CEO Elon Musk will donate $1 million to help make sure the inventor is honored properly with a Tesla museum.

2014 BMW i3 sales split between BEV and REx versions mirrors overall market

By John Goreham on July 10, 2014 - 1:21PM

Purely electric vehicles are not outselling EVs with gasoline range extenders of some kind. BMW's US sales so far follow the EV trend.

Nissan’s free EV charging program aims to turn range anxiety into “range confidence”

By Luke Ottaway on July 9, 2014 - 10:48PM

In an effort to improve the EV ownership experience and attract new LEAF buyers, Nissan’s “No Charge to Charge” program allows LEAF owners to recharge at almost all public stations for free. One critical charging network is back in the fold, but only partially.

A Miata can smoke a Tesla in a drag race – an electric Miata, that is

By Luke Ottaway on July 8, 2014 - 11:32PM

Beloved by car enthusiasts everywhere, the Mazda Miata now has a unique accomplishment to add to its trophy case: it beat a Tesla Model S P85 in a drag race. And ‘beat’ might be the understatement of the year.

Volvo unveils more details on powerful plug-in XC90 to arrive late this year

By Luke Ottaway on July 8, 2014 - 11:23PM

For those who like SUVs and saving money on gas, numerous plug-in options are on the way. The Volvo XC90 T8 promises to be the first and one of the most desirable.

LG Chem will make big EV battery investment in China

By Luke Ottaway on July 7, 2014 - 11:27PM

The electric vehicle market in China has yet to gain traction, but the prevailing wisdom is that it will catch on big. LG Chem plans to build a large battery factory in China to take advantage of the huge potential market there.

Plug-ins now outselling electric-only vehicles in green car buying shift

By John Goreham on July 7, 2014 - 8:11PM

Over the past year American green car buyers have started to switch from all-electric to plug-in electric vehicles. Why are the battery electrics losing ground?

Palo Alto sets the standard for EV readiness

By Luke Ottaway on July 7, 2014 - 7:15PM

The California hometown of Tesla Motors has made it even easier for residents to own electric vehicles with new infrastructure requirements for apartments, hotels, and commercial buildings.

2105 Ford Fusion Energi Passes Tesla Sales

2015 Ford Fusion Energi's surprise move to number two spot in EV sales in June

By John Goreham on July 7, 2014 - 4:53PM

In a move that was hard to see developing the Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid jumped up to the number two spot for electrified vehicle sales last month. Why aren't the full electrics doing better?

A 31 MPG 2016 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid 4WD pickup is possible

By John Goreham on July 7, 2014 - 11:42AM

Until Lexus launched its new NX 300h AWD hybrid crossover thoughts of a Toyota Tacoma Hybrid pickup were unrealistic. Now that Toyota family AWD hybrids the same weight as the Tacoma have arrived, the fantasy is becoming more fun to consider.

Deaths in Tesla Model S crash might have been prevented by common safety system

By John Goreham on July 7, 2014 - 5:22AM

This weekend at least three people were killed in a Toyota Corolla when a driver in a Tesla Model S rear-ended them. Could a safety feature found on most cars in the Tesla’s price range, but not on Teslas, have prevented the tragedy?

That big battery breakthrough EV lovers talk about isn't happening at Tesla

By Aaron Turpen on July 6, 2014 - 1:26AM

In analyzing the Gigafactory plans, it's clear the CEO Elon Musk has no plans to improve the batteries themselves. So the big "breakthrough" in battery tech that EV enthusiasts always claim is coming anytime now? Well..

Stolen Tesla Model S crashes and burns in spectacular fashion

By Luke Ottaway on July 5, 2014 - 12:42AM

Tesla has had problems with Model S battery fires before. Very early on July 4 another Tesla caught fire after a collision resulting in an aftermath that must be seen to be believed.

Nissan LEAF continues impressive monthly sales hot streak

By Luke Ottaway on July 1, 2014 - 11:36PM

Nissan’s all-electric pioneer has been on a tear of late. Coming off a record-setting May, the LEAF didn’t disappoint in June.

Is there a future for electric pickup trucks?

By Luke Ottaway on June 30, 2014 - 10:04PM

The electrification movement has largely ignored the segment that arguably needs it the most: pickup trucks. With one notable exception, we still won’t be seeing electric pickups on the road for some time.

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