Electric-car buyers want same things as all car buyers, research shows

2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, Newport Beach, CA, Nov 2014It should come as no surprise to readers of this site that people who buy electric cars are normal people. A new study by Simon Frasier University in British Columbia adds to the body of evidence demonstrating that, though it comes to some unusual conclusions. The 2017 study examined 2,123 Canadians who planned to buy a new vehicle in the next...

What if car buyers aren’t ready for electric cars, even in California?

Tesla Supercharger site in Vacaville, California, before expansion    [photo: George Parrott]It's accepted wisdom among electric-car fans and advocates that within a few years, mass-market car buyers will start snapping up battery-electric cars. First, battery prices have to come down to the point that electric vehicles aren't much pricier than comparable models with gasoline engines. But what it that assumption simply isn't backed up by...

What will your next car be? Take our Twitter poll

Handing over car keysSeven years after the first mass-priced modern electric car was sold in the U.S., more car buyers than ever are at least dimly aware that such vehicles exist. Sales of cars that plug in have risen every year, with one slight dip in 2015, but they were still just 1 percent of the U.S. market of 17.5 million light vehicles last year. One reason for...

Car dealers are woefully unprepared for electric vehicles: study

2015 Nissan Leaf in front of Longfellow Bridge, Boston [photo: John Briggs]Yet another study has revealed that many dealerships across the United States still don't prioritize electric cars and haven't prepared for their growth. The latest report showed dealerships still practice the same unhealthy habits uncovered in earlier studies, including a lack of electric-car inventory, little to no marketing, and an apparent...

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

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE, Willamette Valley, Oregon, June 2017This month's best deals for hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars are in and buyers will find a handful of eco-friendly bargains. Most cars have held their spots from October 2017, but a few newcomers may surprise shoppers, including the brand-new 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Read on to see where the best deals can be had. DON'T MISS: Costco...

Could automotive subscription services boost electric-car use?

2018 Hyundai IoniqAs automakers commit to more electric and electrified cars in the near future, many hurdles remain that can make owning an electric car more difficult than a conventional vehicle. Meanwhile, as electrified cars become more common, automakers and brands will also continue to introduce new models for vehicle ownership, many of them subscription...

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

2018 Kia Optima HybridAnother month, another round of deals for hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars. This month, many cars hold their spots as solid deals, but the offers have become slightly more generous for a few. The deals on diesel-powered vehicles have also been shaken up. So, without further ado, the best deals for the month of October are below. DON'T...

Costco members now get GM Supplier Pricing on Chevy Bolt EV, Volt

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EVCostco members in the market for a new vehicle now have a new round of incentives to consider as they head into the final car-buying months of 2017. Specifically, shoppers interested in a General Motors vehicle will discover Supplier Pricing on nearly every car—including the Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car and Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid...

Electric cars are some of fastest-selling used vehicles in the U.S.

2017 Fiat 500eNot every car buyer can afford a brand-new vehicle, which often makes gently used vehicles an appealing alternative. But while cars that plug in take only a small share of new-vehicle purchases today—about 1 percent—they're apparently very popular once they're used. In fact, electric and plug-in cars dominate the top 10 fastest-selling...

Car subscription services to take 1 of 5 sales by 2023, Volvo CEO says

2019 Volvo XC40The 2019 Volvo XC40 not only represents the Swedish brand's first compact crossover to be sold in the U.S. but its first shot at a new model for drivers to obtain cars: a subscription service. During the XC40 launch, Volvo revealed it would introduce Care by Volvo, a subscription service giving access to the compact crossover. For a flat monthly...

Car subscription services to take 1 of 5 sales by 2023, Volvo CEO says

2019 Volvo XC40The 2019 Volvo XC40 not only represents the Swedish brand's first compact crossover to be sold in the U.S. but its first shot at a new model for drivers to obtain cars: a subscription service. During the XC40 launch, Volvo revealed it would introduce Care by Volvo, a subscription service giving access to the compact crossover. For a flat monthly...

Why one guy bought a 2017 Nissan Leaf electric car: it was a great deal

2017 Nissan Leaf  The deals, incentives, and rebates currently available on the 2017 Nissan Leaf are generous and well documented. A handful of utility companies across the United States have offered generous discounts, likely backed by Nissan itself, to move the current-generation Leaf from dealerships to driveways. All of this has occurred as the 2018 Nissan Leaf...

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

2018 Toyota Prius CAnother month has gone by, which means it's time for another round of superb deals for hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars. For September, many of last month's cars hold their place on the list, though incentives have gotten better for some of them. As always, offers listed here reflect the Southern California region unless otherwise noted...

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

2013 Toyota Avalon HybridAs North America rounds out the final weeks of summer, plenty of discounts and deals remain on fuel-efficient, hybrid, and electric cars. The month of August sees a number of familiar nameplates remain as best buys, while a few newcomers arrive to represent excellent new values. Below are August's best deals on hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient...

Note to (a few) electric-car advocates: get off your high horses

Owner Dawn Hall before 800-mile road trip in 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric carAny movement produces passionate advocates, angry detractors, even as the vast mass of people pay it little or no attention. When that movement involves most people's second most-expensive purchase, and plays a role in reducing manmade carbon emissions to alleviate the worst effects of climate change, things can get heated. And so it is among...

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

2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Catskill Mountains, NY, Feb 2016The month of July brings plenty of juicy deals on battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, conventional hybrid, and fuel-efficient vehicles. Much like last month, many of the deals remain. However, there are a few newcomers to the list for July—including one vehicle that may startle a few consumers. Without further ado, here are this month's best...