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...

When will U.S. ban sales of new cars with engines? Poll results

Bugatti Chiron Scale Engine and GearboxPresuming China sticks to its statement that it will ban sales of new vehicles with combustion engines in some future year, the auto industry is facing a very different future than it was a year ago. Similar bans from Norway, The Netherlands, France, and the U.K. all represented smaller markets, but China is by far the world's largest single...

Mercedes parent Daimler launches E-Fuso electric truck sub-brand

E-Fuso Vision One conceptDaimler, parent company of Mercedes-Benz and Smart, also owns the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation—which it used last week to preview major shifts coming to its Daimler Trucks business. It all took place at the reveal of E-Fuso, a new sub-brand of Daimler's Fuso operation that will focus on electrified and electric trucks and buses...

Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2018 finalist: Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

2018 Chrysler Pacifica HybridIf ever a green family vehicle had a rocky launch, it would be the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Only two months after deliveries of the eagerly awaited plug-in hybrid seven-seat minivan began in April, sales were halted for several when a potentially faulty diode was identified. In June, 1,368 Pacifica Hybrid minivans in the U.S. and a further 309 in...

BMW, Mercedes invest in ‘flexible car ownership’ startup Fair

2018 BMW i3, 2017 Frankfurt Motor ShowHow would you know that the standard model for individuals buying new cars is dying? Sure, you could point to car sharing services like Car2go or Zipcar. Or you might point to ride hailing companies like Lyft or Uber. Maybe you think the subscription model for the Hyundai Ioniq Electric subscription service is the hot new thing. DON'T MISS: GM's...

New entry-level 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE model starts at $28,100

2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Catskill Mountains, NY, Feb 2016Toyota's popular RAV4 crossover utility vehicle will gain a new entry-level hybrid trim for the 2018 model year, offering a remarkably good price against a gasoline-only RAV4 crossover. The 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE trim lets buyers choose the greater fuel efficiency of a hybrid powertrain for only $1,325 more than an equivalent gas-powered RAV4...

Energy Dept to award $15 million for very fast electric-car charging

AeroVironment DC fast charger, part of West Coast Electric Highway  -  Centralia, WAThe United States Department of Energy has announced a new funding initiative to accelerate the development of what it calls "Extreme Fast Charging" (XFC) systems. In total, the DoE will award $15 million for the development of electric-car charging systems as well as batteries capable of very fast charging. Each area of interest has specific...

Stella Vie ‘family sedan’ wins long-distance solar car race

Stella Vie Dutch solar car winner in World Solar ChallengeEarlier this month, the 30th World Solar Challenge kicked off in Darwin, Australia, with 42 competitors vying for victory. At the end of the 3,022-kilometer (1,880-mile) race from Darwin to Adelaide, one team emerged victorious in the highly contested Cruiser class. Solar Team Eindhoven, from the Netherlands, placed first with its Stella Vie...