As Kermit the Frog sang, sometimes it's not easy being green. That appears to be particularly the case in Michigan, home to the three largest U.S. automakers. The Great Lakes State is a global hub of automotive technology, the bulk of it centered around internal-combustion engines. CHECK OUT: Michigan Gov Snyder Signs 'Corrupt Politics At Its...
Purchasing a hybrid vehicle makes for a slightly different ownership experience than a traditional gasoline-only car. There are always a few tips and tricks for owners to return the best mileage and range from electrified vehicles, and now a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid owner has shared his secrets. Owner Paul Jones has prepared a detailed video to...
The 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...
The series-hybrid powertrain, in which motive power is provided exclusively by one or more electric motors that run on electricity produced by a combustion engine, has been popular in trains and boats for many decades. In cars, it's been confined to the BMW i3 REx and the Fisker Karma (now Karma Revero). Even the first-generation Chevrolet Volt...
How badly do you want a new, affordable, long-range electric car? Badly enough to drive it more than 800 miles without a unified fast-charging infrastructure? That's exactly what Bill Massmann, a professional land surveyor in St. Louis, Missouri, did to become the proud owner of a new 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car. DON'T MISS: Chevy Bolt EV...
Today, we've got electric cars that drive themselves, electric luxury SUVs that will arrive sooner than you think, a small crossover that'll offer an electric version, and yet another Tesla battle with a state legislature. All this and more on Green Car Reports. The Hyundai Kona small crossover utility vehicle will have an all-electric version...
Ah, Texas, the state that was formerly a nation and continues to do things slightly differently. Its politics is bare-knuckle, its hats are big, and so are its ranches. It also generates more renewable wind energy than any other state in the union. Its auto-dealer lobbyists, however, are equally large and powerful. DON'T MISS: Tesla Loses Legal...
It's now widely acknowledged that the energy and electricity-generation landscape is changing rapidly. The U.S. has vastly increased its oil and gas production, driving down prices of fossil fuels globally. At the same time, ever-cheaper renewable energy—not only solar, but surprisingly fast-growing wind generation—is now...
It's widely acknowledged that most, if not all, of the autonomous vehicles expected to reach our roads in volume will be electric cars. Without the complexity of a combustion engine and transmission that must be electromechanically controlled, the task of automating the driving of a vehicle is considerably simpler. It largely comes down to a...
While Audi and Mercedes-Benz have trumpeted the electric crossover utility vehicles they will offer in 2018 and 2019, a smaller competitor is keeping pace with the German giants. The British brand Jaguar won praise for the design of its I-Pace electric SUV on its debut at last November's Los Angeles auto show. Now, that vehicle is already in pilot...
Hyundai has finally shown the world its subcompact crossover utility vehicle, the 2018 Hyundai Kona. The 2018 Kona marks the brand's first foray into the subcompact SUV segment and will likely arrive in the United States next year or for 2019. The Kona name comes from the tourist spot in Hawaii and is meant to signify the vehicle's adventurous...
Today, another award for the Tesla Model X, a BMW investment in electric buses, Mercedes will build luxury electric models in China, and our readers really, really care about fuel-economy rules. All this and more on Green Car Reports. You've no doubt heard that the Trump Administration wants to relax fuel-economy rules for 2022-2025 vehicles; we...
You can't buy one at your local car dealer, but electric transit buses have a significant role to play in reducing vehicular emissions and expanding the spread of electric-vehicle technology. Two companies have a majority of the U.S. market for electric buses, which is growing quickly if perhaps more quietly than that for electric cars. The U.S...
It's not only electric cars: China is also now the world's largest market for luxury cars. Audi got an early foothold among party officials and high-ranking government officials, but the allure of global brands has ensured that Mercedes-Benz and BMW sell lots of cars there as well. Now, Mercedes parent company Daimler is combining its local...
Henrik Fisker, the man behind the relaunch of the company that bears his name, has released some new details on the upcoming EMotion sedan. However, the news isn't necessarily the best that electric-car fans and advocates could have hoped for. The graphene battery technology Fisker has frequently touted over the past year will not be included when...
The 50 states that make up the U.S. don't get to set their own foreign policies (neither do Canadian provinces). But that doesn't necessarily prevent them from working with other countries on matters of mutual interest. And that's just what California is doing in an agreement announced this weekend that expands its efforts to battle climate change...
Tesla's Model X has secured a major accomplishment: it is officially the first SUV to receive 5-star crash-test ratings in every single category. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Model X uniform 5-star ratings, which Tesla says is due to the design of the all-electric crossover utility vehicle. As in the Tesla Model S...
One of the earliest acts of the Trump Administration was to announce that it would re-examine emission rules finalized by the EPA in the waning days of the Obama Administration. Making good on that promise, EPA administrator (and climate-science denier) Scott Pruitt reopened the commenting period on tailpipe-emission limits of carbon dioxide...
Honda's head of research and development, Sekino Yosuke, has revealed the next-generation Honda NSX could be based on the firm’s 1,000 hp Pikes Peak race car, the NSX-inspired 4-Motor Acura EV Concept.
The 4-Motor Acura EV finished third overall at the Pikes Peak hill climb in 2016. That was thanks to its all-electric all-wheel-drive powertrain, comprising four electric motors that developed around 740 kW and 800 Nm of torque, a 70 kwh lithium-ion battery pack and only 1,500 kg kerb weight. Honda claims the electric NSX is capable of 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 6.2 seconds.
With the current all wheel drive hybrid NSX having only been on sale since last year, an all-new NSX is unlikely to be launched before 2023, when battery technology is expected to have progressed significantly.
Honda first demonstrated a 4-Motor EV CR-Z prototype in 2015 with journalists who test drove the vehicle suggesting torque vectoring gave it cornering ability in a whole other league to a Model S.
While there's no denying Tesla, especially with ludicrous mode, have re-calibrated the auto-industry's definition of 'quick', it's probably less well known that Tesla's powertrain is actually based on 1990s technology with the 3 phase AC induction motor and controller designs originally licensed from EV1 drive system engineer Alan Cocconi.
Unlike current high performance all-wheel drive electric vehicles, like Tesla's Model S P100D, which use 2x motors and conventional mechanical differentials, Honda's electric NSX features four electric motors — one for each wheel.
With a dedicated motor at each corner, the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system can precisely apply either positive or negative torque individually to each wheel. This opens the door to torque vectoring and full-time active yaw control - something that will make consumer EVs safer and more energy efficient.
How does this work? Imagine electronic stability control that, instead of applying friction brakes (wasted energy), applies negative torque (regenerative braking) to individual wheels. Unlike friction-brake based ISC, the NSX 4-Motor system can also apply positive torque to individual wheels. Combining that range of precise control with a multi gyro inertial measurement platform unlocks an entirely new level of safety and high performance active dynamic control.
While it might be another 5-6 years before Honda's 4-Motor Super Handling All-Wheel Drive makes it into production, the team at Evans Electric are developing an AWD torque vectoring system based on compact Axial flux induction motors.
Today, rumors about an all-new electric car, why trucks can be cars even if their owners don't know what they are, a frustrating Ford experience (but not because of the car), and lease pricing on the all-electric Honda Clarity. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Over the weekend, we ran down our top green-car stories from last week. The...
As Kermit the Frog sang, sometimes it's not easy being green. That appears to be particularly the case in Michigan, home to the three largest U.S. automakers. The Great Lakes State is a global hub of automotive technology, the bulk of it centered around internal-combustion engines. CHECK OUT: Michigan Gov Snyder Signs 'Corrupt Politics At Its... 
Purchasing a hybrid vehicle makes for a slightly different ownership experience than a traditional gasoline-only car. There are always a few tips and tricks for owners to return the best mileage and range from electrified vehicles, and now a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid owner has shared his secrets. Owner Paul Jones has prepared a detailed video to... 
The 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... 
The series-hybrid powertrain, in which motive power is provided exclusively by one or more electric motors that run on electricity produced by a combustion engine, has been popular in trains and boats for many decades. In cars, it's been confined to the BMW i3 REx and the Fisker Karma (now Karma Revero). Even the first-generation Chevrolet Volt... ![Driving a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV from Virginia to Missouri, June 2017 [photo: Bill Massmann]](http://images.hgmsites.net/tmb/driving-a-2017-chevrolet-bolt-ev-from-virginia-to-missouri-june-2017-photo-bill-massmann_100610195_t.gif)
How badly do you want a new, affordable, long-range electric car? Badly enough to drive it more than 800 miles without a unified fast-charging infrastructure? That's exactly what Bill Massmann, a professional land surveyor in St. Louis, Missouri, did to become the proud owner of a new 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car. DON'T MISS: Chevy Bolt EV... 
Today, we've got electric cars that drive themselves, electric luxury SUVs that will arrive sooner than you think, a small crossover that'll offer an electric version, and yet another Tesla battle with a state legislature. All this and more on Green Car Reports. The Hyundai Kona small crossover utility vehicle will have an all-electric version... ![Tesla owners & supporters gather in Statehouse in Austin to support company [photo: John Griswell]](http://images.hgmsites.net/tmb/tesla-owners-supporters-gather-in-statehouse-in-austin-to-support-company-photo-john-griswell_100424739_t.gif)
Ah, Texas, the state that was formerly a nation and continues to do things slightly differently. Its politics is bare-knuckle, its hats are big, and so are its ranches. It also generates more renewable wind energy than any other state in the union. Its auto-dealer lobbyists, however, are equally large and powerful. DON'T MISS: Tesla Loses Legal... 
It's now widely acknowledged that the energy and electricity-generation landscape is changing rapidly. The U.S. has vastly increased its oil and gas production, driving down prices of fossil fuels globally. At the same time, ever-cheaper renewable energy—not only solar, but surprisingly fast-growing wind generation—is now... 
It's widely acknowledged that most, if not all, of the autonomous vehicles expected to reach our roads in volume will be electric cars. Without the complexity of a combustion engine and transmission that must be electromechanically controlled, the task of automating the driving of a vehicle is considerably simpler. It largely comes down to a... 
While Audi and Mercedes-Benz have trumpeted the electric crossover utility vehicles they will offer in 2018 and 2019, a smaller competitor is keeping pace with the German giants. The British brand Jaguar won praise for the design of its I-Pace electric SUV on its debut at last November's Los Angeles auto show. Now, that vehicle is already in pilot... 
Hyundai has finally shown the world its subcompact crossover utility vehicle, the 2018 Hyundai Kona. The 2018 Kona marks the brand's first foray into the subcompact SUV segment and will likely arrive in the United States next year or for 2019. The Kona name comes from the tourist spot in Hawaii and is meant to signify the vehicle's adventurous... 
Today, another award for the Tesla Model X, a BMW investment in electric buses, Mercedes will build luxury electric models in China, and our readers really, really care about fuel-economy rules. All this and more on Green Car Reports. You've no doubt heard that the Trump Administration wants to relax fuel-economy rules for 2022-2025 vehicles; we... 
You can't buy one at your local car dealer, but electric transit buses have a significant role to play in reducing vehicular emissions and expanding the spread of electric-vehicle technology. Two companies have a majority of the U.S. market for electric buses, which is growing quickly if perhaps more quietly than that for electric cars. The U.S... ![Mercedes-Benz EQ electric car concept [photo: Axel Harries]](http://images.hgmsites.net/tmb/mercedes-benz-eq-electric-car-concept-photo-axel-harries_100597897_t.gif)
It's not only electric cars: China is also now the world's largest market for luxury cars. Audi got an early foothold among party officials and high-ranking government officials, but the allure of global brands has ensured that Mercedes-Benz and BMW sell lots of cars there as well. Now, Mercedes parent company Daimler is combining its local... 
Henrik Fisker, the man behind the relaunch of the company that bears his name, has released some new details on the upcoming EMotion sedan. However, the news isn't necessarily the best that electric-car fans and advocates could have hoped for. The graphene battery technology Fisker has frequently touted over the past year will not be included when... 
The 50 states that make up the U.S. don't get to set their own foreign policies (neither do Canadian provinces). But that doesn't necessarily prevent them from working with other countries on matters of mutual interest. And that's just what California is doing in an agreement announced this weekend that expands its efforts to battle climate change... 
Tesla's Model X has secured a major accomplishment: it is officially the first SUV to receive 5-star crash-test ratings in every single category. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Model X uniform 5-star ratings, which Tesla says is due to the design of the all-electric crossover utility vehicle. As in the Tesla Model S... 
One of the earliest acts of the Trump Administration was to announce that it would re-examine emission rules finalized by the EPA in the waning days of the Obama Administration. Making good on that promise, EPA administrator (and climate-science denier) Scott Pruitt reopened the commenting period on tailpipe-emission limits of carbon dioxide... 
![Tesla Store Los Angeles [photo: Misha Bruk / MBH Architects]](http://images.hgmsites.net/tmb/tesla-store-los-angeles-photo-misha-bruk-mbh-architects_100449434_t.gif)
Today, rumors about an all-new electric car, why trucks can be cars even if their owners don't know what they are, a frustrating Ford experience (but not because of the car), and lease pricing on the all-electric Honda Clarity. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Over the weekend, we ran down our top green-car stories from last week. The...