First all-electric NEVS 9-3 sedans (nee Saab) built in China two weeks ago

Production of first NEVS 9-3 at plant in Tianjin, China is celebratedThe company that bought the remains of Swedish carmaker Saab, known as National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), finally celebrated the start of car production in China two weeks ago. NEVS first production vehicle is the 9-3 electric, of which it plans to produce 50,000 copies annually during phase one at its assembly facility in Tianjin, China. It...

Singapore launches electric-car sharing program using Bollore BlueCars

Bollare BlueCar electric cars will be used in Singapore's new car sharing service, BlueSGSome of us take for granted the difficulty and cost of owning a car, but more alternatives exist today than did 10 years ago. While many view car ownership as a monthly lease or financing payment, owning a car for others requires finding a place to keep it and perhaps the need to keep moving it around. That's where car sharing comes in. Whether...

Hyundai believes electric-car battery prices will stop falling by 2020

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric (European spec), 2016 Geneva Motor ShowThe automotive business is one that turns raw materials into highly complex finished goods. When the prices of key commodities—especially raw materials—rise, everything downstream in that process becomes more expensive. That's Hyundai's concern over battery prices from 2020 onward, as it envisions a future in which a constrained supply...

Toyota, Panasonic agree to study prismatic battery cells for electric cars

Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota and Kazuhiro Tsuga, President, Panasonic For the 20 years since the introduction of the Prius, Toyota has enjoyed the first-mover advantage in hybrid cars, and leveraged those green credentials to boost public perception of its brand as a whole. But Toyota has yet to mass-market a battery-electric vehicle in the U.S., as Nissan has done with the Leaf. Toyota executives have consistently...

Why China will beat U.S. in electric-car battle: urgency, regulations

2016 BYD Tang plug-in hybrid SUV, made in ChinaAs the electric-vehicle market matures and more global automakers commit to building battery-powered cars, one driving force has emerged to lead the pack. With apologies to the title of a comedy from half a century ago ... The Chinese Are Coming. That's the assertion made by old China hand Michael Dunne, of Dunne Consulting in Hong Kong, who makes...

All-electric Chinese cargo ship will be used to haul coal

China’s all-electric cargo ship will deliver coal to powerplants. China News/Peng YongguiA shipyard in China has built what it says is the world's first all-electric cargo ship, capable of hauling 2,000 metric tons of lading some 50 miles on a single charge. The ship, built and operated by CSSC Offshore & Marine Engineering (Group) Company Ltd under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation Group, may not have the gross tonnage or...

Electric-car tax credit retained in Congressional tax reform bill: report

U.S. Capitol BuildingWe'll likely never know whether it was the influence of auto lobbyists, pressure from the actual public, or a letter signed by two dozen mayors. But however the sausage was made, it appears that the U.S. income-tax credit for purchase of a plug-in electric vehicle will not be killed after all. Whether it would survive amidst the sweeping changes...

Electric car buyers’ struggle: practicality vs luxury, Chevy vs Tesla

Tesla Model 3 found on CraigslistCompetition for the title of most popular electric car has sparked a long and highly charged race between Tesla and Chevrolet. Though these brands offer vastly different versions of electric vehicles, they seem to be the two dominating electric vehicle sales in 2017. Reports show that top monthly electric car sales rotated between the Chevy Volt...

Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for December 2017

2017 Kia Soul EVIf you're looking to give the gift of efficient motoring this holiday season, numerous manufacturer incentives are available this month that'll save you from breaking the bank. For December, CarsDirect has uncovered leases as cheap as $159/month and discounts as much as $18,100 on fuel-efficient vehicles for the month of December. Read on to see...

2017 BMW i3 REx: drive review of range-extended electric car

2017 BMW i3 REx range-extended electric car     [photo: Chris Neff]When the history of modern electric cars is written, the BMW i3 will likely go down as something of an anomaly. Its carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body shell, aluminum underpinnings, and battery-electric powertrain with an optional range extender are a combination not offered by any other maker, now or perhaps ever. We spent four days and 316...