Tesla Model 3 preview

Tesla Model 3The Tesla Model 3 electric car is undoubtedly one of the most highly-anticipated new-car launches in recent memory. Unveiled in prototype form last April after a drawn-out teaser campaign, the Model 3 quickly an unprecedented response from the public. As of last August, around 400,000 people had put down refundable $1,000 deposits, despite most...

McKinsey suggests ways automakers could kick-start electric-car demand

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Sep 2016Despite steady increases over the past few years, electric cars still represent only a tiny fraction of new-car sales. There are no shortage of theories as to why that is the case. Some electric-car advocates blame manufacturers for not adequately promoting the vehicles, while many within the industry point to a lack of consumer demand. DON'T...

Offshore wind energy in U.K. far ahead of lower-cost target

Offshore wind farmThe winds of change are blowing harder in the U.K. The price of energy generated by offshore wind farms has been falling steadily, and ahead of schedule too. Costs have fallen 32 percent since 2012, bringing them below a target of £100 per megawatt-hour previously set by the U.K. government and utilities. DON'T MISS: When lauding renewables...

2017 Ram, Jeep diesels should be certified by EPA shortly, company says

2014 Ram 1500 EcoDieselFiat Chrysler may have a plan to address EPA complaints regarding software in its 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6, according to comments by CEO Sergio Marchionne. The EPA announced earlier this month that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had failed to disclose disclose eight separate software routines that affect the engine's emissions, each of which is a...

World to have 5,000 hydrogen fueling stations by 2032: study

2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell, 2016 Toyota Mirai at hydrogen fueling station, Fountain Valley, CATo achieve mass adoption, fueling infrastructure for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles will have to be hugely expanded. It's a problem similar to that faced by battery-electric cars, but charging stations are far cheaper and easier to install—and can rely on existing grid infrastructure for their supply of electricity. Hydrogen fueling stations...

NEVS gets production nod for electric-car plant in China

Saab 9-3 EV electric prototype shown by NEVS, 2014Since it bought the assets of bankrupt automaker Saab in 2012, Chinese-backed consortium National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) has been working toward mass production of electric cars. But despite ambitious plans for a multi-model lineup of electric cars, the company has made relatively little apparent progress toward that goal. While it is...

Schwarzenegger’s hydrogen Hummer gives way to electric G-Wagen

Arnold Schwarzenegger with Kreisel Mercedes-Benz G-Class electric conversionArnold Schwarzenegger has always had rather unusual taste in vehicles. The movie star and former California governor previously drove a hydrogen-fueled Hummer H2, symbolizing both his love for militaristic vehicles and a general concern for the environment. Now, the "Governator" has another SUV that is both gigantic and green. DON'T MISS: Electric...

Electric Nissan Leaf hearse: greenest way to travel the last mile

Nissan Leaf hearseThey may be painted the customary black, but why shouldn't hearses be green? Most people take their final journeys in hearses based on large luxury sedans, usually Cadillac or Lincoln models in the U.S. But a U.K. funeral home has teamed with an aftermarket company to create a more efficient and eco-friendly alternative. DON'T MISS: Autonomous...

Electric Nissan Leaf hearse: greenest way to travel the last mile

Nissan Leaf hearseThey may be painted the customary black, but why shouldn't hearses be green? Most people take their final journeys in hearses based on large luxury sedans, usually Cadillac or Lincoln models in the U.S. But a U.K. funeral home has teamed with an aftermarket company to create a more efficient and eco-friendly alternative. DON'T MISS: Autonomous...

VW dealers settle too; average payout almost $2 million each

2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI Six-Month Road TestA settlement between Volkswagen and its U.S. franchised dealers over the diesel-emissions scandal has been approved by a federal judge. First announced last August, the settlement calls for VW dealers to compensated for the alleged loss in value of their franchises related to fallout from the scandal. Dealers initially considered launching a...

Where do bought-back VW diesels go? Dead NFL stadiums, among other places

Volkswagen TDI diesel cars stored at Pontiac Silverdome (Photo by Jalopnik)When news of its diesel-emissions cheating broke last September, Volkswagen issued a stop-sale order for affected TDI diesel cars. Now that a settlement for 2.0-liter TDI models has been approved, the automaker is also beginning to buy back cars with illegal "defeat device" software from customers. But what happens to all of these cars once they...

2017 Kia Niro hybrid ‘crossover’ wagon priced from $23,800

2017 Kia NiroAlmost a year after it was unveiled at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, the 2017 Kia Niro hybrid is finally going on sale. The Niro is Kia's first dedicated hybrid vehicle, and the Korean carmaker has taken an unusual tack in describing its new model. Kia calls the Niro a crossover, but its relatively low ride height and lack of all-wheel drive make it...

More than half of car buyers know little about electric cars, if anything

2017 Nissan Leaf  In the six years since modern electric cars went on sale in large numbers, educating the public has been one of the greatest challenges for advocates of plug-in cars. Those efforts still have a long way to go, it seems. Electric cars have become more common over the past few years, but more than half of car buyers still know very little about...