VW, Mercedes, Opel, Fiat launch buybacks of dirtiest diesels in Europe

2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEAlmost two years ago, the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal burst into public view, and nothing has been quite the same since then. The news that VW Group engineers had deliberately cheated on eight years of emission tests for the "clean diesels" sold by Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche sent shockwaves around the world. Settling the criminal charges...

Porsche prototype 350-kw electric car fast-charging station installed

Porsche solar pylon Porsche has big plans to expand the capability of the Combined Charging System (CCS) DC standard into much higher voltages to allow much faster electric-car charging. Now, it's completed a first step: at the brand's new branch office in Berlin-Adlershof, Porsche has installed a prototype 350-kilowatt, 800-volt charging station. The new technology...

European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-May 2017

2017 Renault ZoeAnother month, and another round of European electric car sales data is ready for dissemination. Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles continue to earn a healthy share of the European car market, and it's clear there's still a definitive electric car for Europeans. That is the Renault Zoe, which once again leads the way in the...

Electric Mini may not be made in U.K. (but would anyone care?)

MINI E electric car used in vehicle-to-grid test. Photo by University of Delaware/Evan KrapeMini, despite being owned by BMW since 1994, has long been a decidedly British brand. But its British roots may be overlooked as a decision on where Mini's electric car is to be built closes in. Most Mini production takes place at the brand's Oxford plant in England, but both supply-chain factors and Brexit may sway BMW board members into...

Even BMW’s hometown may ban older diesel cars

A semi-autonomous BMW 5 Series, on the highway outside of Munich Diesel-powered vehicles are facing a tough road ahead as more European cities move to ban older, dirtier, oil-burning cars. Diesel has long been the preferred fuel of European drivers thanks to its efficiency and lower carbon dioxide levels. However, mounting research has shown diesel-powered cars spew harmful toxins that may cause cancer and...