Electric-car leases in California: Leaf, Volt, Focus vs Clarity

2017 Honda Clarity ElectricThe state of California is undeniably the United States' premier market for electric vehicles. It's also a market where automakers actually need to sell certain volumes of zero-emission cars, which means some of the nation's best lease deals on electric cars can be found in the Golden State. There are plenty of electrified vehicles to choose from...

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

2017 Ford C-MaxNow that we're into a new month, it's time to check out the best deals on green cars—this time for the month of June. As always, Cars Direct has compiled its monthly list of the most budget friendly options for buyers looking to go green. It should be noted there's now a separate category for "Best fuel efficient SUV," since small passenger...

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

2017 Ford C-MaxIt's time to take a look at the best deals on hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars for the month of May, and as new-vehicle sales slow, there are plenty of deals to be had. As always, Cars Direct has compiled the best deals for the month, using deals available in Southern California unless stated otherwise. For full details, check their list...

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

2017 Chevrolet CruzeOnce again, it's to look at the month's best deals on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric cars, and fuel-efficient gasoline cars. Deals for March include several new models, as well as a couple of holdovers from the previous model year. Some manufacturers seem to be more aggressive with incentives this month than others. We'll let you figure out...

2017 Hyundai Ioniq prices: hybrid starts at $23,035, electric at $30,335

2017 Hyundai IoniqThe 2017 Hyundai Ioniq is the South Korean automaker's first dedicated green model. It will offer three powertrain options in the same body shell: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric. Those models are just now beginning to hit U.S. showrooms, and we now have pricing information for two of them. DON'T MISS: Hyundai Ioniq Electric beats...

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

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4As we roll through the second month of 2017, it's once again time to take a look at the best deals on green cars. This month's batch of deals spans a wide array of models, from one of the best-selling plug-in hybrids to a pair of subcompact sedans. It also includes one of the newest green cars to hit the U.S. market, as well as one held over from...

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...

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

2016 Kia Soul EVIt's a new year, and that means a new crop of buyer deals on green cars. The 2017 model year is now well underway, but older 2016 versions of certain vehicles still sit on dealer lots. As dealers get more anxious to clear this older stock, look for more aggressive incentives on these models. DON'T MISS: Plug-in electric car sales in Dec: Bolt EV...

This is the best week of the year to buy a green car

2016 BMW i3If you're thinking about buying a green car—or any car, for that matter—now is a good time. The week between the day after Christmas and the beginning of the new year is the busiest one for car sales, and a great time to find a deal. As automakers and dealers push to meet year-end sales quotas, they will often boost incentives to get...

VW will now sell you a car online, but only in Denmark, not the U.S.

Volkswagen Up online sales in Denmark (promotional video screenshot)These days, it's possible to order virtually anything online—but for the most part, buying a car still requires going to a physical dealership and signing papers. But, in one country at least, Volkswagen is experimenting with an alternative. The German automaker is launching an online-sales scheme in Denmark for its Up minicar. DON'T MISS...

Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for December 2016

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EVAs 2016 winds down, we have one last round of deals on green cars for the year. We also have the very first deals on the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car and 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid—two high-anticipated models just now going on sale. And as usual, we've got other notable deals on electric-car and plug-in hybrid models as...

Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for November 2016

2016 Kia Optima HybridIt's once again time to look at the best deals on green cars. As we get further into the 2017 model year, manufacturers are becoming more eager to eliminate leftover inventory of 2016 models, creating some good opportunities for bargain-hunting car shoppers. As always, our list spans hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric cars, and fuel-efficient...

Hyundai targets VW diesel buyback owners with special prices

2017 Hyundai Sonata Now that a final settlement has been approved by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, Volkswagen can begin sending out buyback offers to hundreds of thousands of 2.0-liter TDI diesel owners. The majority of affected owners are expected to take the buybacks, rather than wait for any approved modifications that may allow their cars to comply...

Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for October 2016

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4The leaves are beginning to change, and so are the deals on green cars. Our monthly survey of best deals on hybrid, plug-in electric, and fuel-efficient cars includes some new models, as well as some with incentives retained from previous months. As we get further into the 2017 model year, carmakers are getting more eager to rid themselves of...

Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for September 2016

2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In HybridIt's once again time to survey the best deals on hybrid, electric, diesel, and fuel-efficient gasoline cars. With 2017 models arriving in larger numbers, carmakers and dealers are eager to move inventory of leftover 2016 vehicles. We have several 2016 models this month that are about to be displaced, and are consequently heavily incentivized...

Men may avoid green products because they seem feminine: hypothesis

2016 Nissan LeafThose tasked with selling electric cars and other products friendly to the environment must confront multiple obstacles as they try to win over often-skeptical consumers. That's something that comes with the territory when marketing new technologies or practices. But could public reticence to adopt green products be influenced by more than just...