Hyundai Ioniq, Sonata plug-in hybrids available anywhere in U.S.

2017 Hyundai IoniqSome manufacturers only offer their plug-in hybrid models in certain markets, even as hybrid models are now generally offered nationwide. Like electric cars, plug-in hybrid sales are sometimes limited to markets deemed suitably friendly to these types of vehicles by their makers. But Hyundai has a more ambitious strategy. DON'T MISS: 2017 Hyundai...

Ford Transit Connect Hybrid taxi prototype to appear in Detroit

Ford Transit Connect Hybrid taxi prototypeThe Ford Transit Connect small van has proven popular among U.S. taxi drivers. In some cities, you're just as likely to find Transit Connect taxis plying the streets as traditional sedans—especially in taxi-rich New York City. But now Ford plans to put a new—and greener—spin on this workaday vehicle. DON'T MISS: Ford plans...

Most autonomous cars shown at CES are electrified: preview

Hyundai Ioniq autonomous prototypeThe annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has become a major venue for automakers. Increased interest in connectivity and autonomous driving, as well as collaborations with tech companies, have led to a greater automaker presence at CES, held just before the annual Detroit Auto Show. Last year, General Motors chose CES, and not the auto...

Tesla upgrades Autopilot for 1,000 ‘Hardware 2’ cars to test

2017 Tesla Model STesla Motors is now beginning to roll out upgraded software to accompany the more complex suite of sensors known as "Hardware 2" that launched in October. All Model S and Model X electric cars built since then have this array of eight cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, as opposed to the less-elaborate "Hardware 1" package used previously. But while...

UK moves ahead on lower-carbon power to end coal use by 2025

Coal, by Flicker user oatsy40 (Used Under CC License)The United Kingdom is increasing its use of low-carbon energy sources as it moves to phase out coal-fired power plants altogether by 2025. Renewable-energy sources such as wind and solar, combined with nuclear power and generating plants fired with renewable wood pellets, are displacing fossil fuels in the country's electricity-generation mix...

Woz is getting a Chevy Bolt EV after all; it arrives today

Steve Wozniak and a Chevrolet Bolt EVIt appears that Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak—also known as "Woz"—is getting his 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV after all. In September, the car's chief engineer, Josh Tavel, showed Woz a pre-production version of the Bolt EV, and took him for a ride. Woz seemed to like what he saw. DON'T MISS: Woz got a Tesla, not a Chevy Bolt EV...

Electric-car market share in 2020: estimates vary widely

2017 Nissan Leaf  Of the new cars sold globally in 2020, what percentage will be electric? It's a simple question, but at the moment there doesn't appear to be a clear answer. Estimates of electric-car market share approximately three years from now vary widely, as do those for periods further beyond that. DON'T MISS: Electric Cars To Be 35 Percent Of Global Sales...

More solar energy was added in 2016 than natural gas or wind

Photovoltaic solar power field at Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, TennesseeRenewable-energy growth has accelerated in 2016, but this may go down as a milestone year for one renewable-energy source in particular. Together, all renewable-energy sources are expected to account for 8 percent of U.S. electricity-generation capacity in 2017, according to the Department of Energy, and solar energy is responsible for most of...