Will 2018 Hyundai Accent be limited to Canada, or come to U.S. too?

2018 Hyundai AccentIn a U.S. where all the new-vehicle buzz seems to be about light trucks—especially crossover utilities and SUVs—is there even a place for a new subcompact sedan? That's the question posed by the launch of the 2018 Hyundai Accent, the latest generation of the Korean maker's smallest North American vehicle. It was unveiled last week at...

BMW i3 plug-in hybrid recall to fix fuel-vapor problem, fire concerns

2017 BMW i3BMW is recalling more than 19,000 i3 REx extended-range electric cars due to concerns over the potential for fires to be started by fuel vapors. The REx uses a small gasoline engine to charge its battery pack, offering a longer range than the all-electric i3 when both gasoline and electric power are used. According to the National Highway Traffic...

Toyota has now sold 10 million hybrids in 20 years, globally

2017 Toyota PriusToyota has reached yet another significant milestone in global hybrid sales. The Japanese automaking giant has surpassed 10 million hybrid sales globally since the launch of the first-generation Prius in 1997. That total includes hybrids sold under Toyota's Lexus luxury brand, as well as sales of two plug-in hybrid models. CHECK OUT: Toyota at 9...

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid: first drive review

2017 Hyundai Ioniq HybridThe 2017 Hyundai Ioniq isn't one car but three, with a unique choice of powertrains. The volume seller will be the Ioniq Hybrid, a dedicated hybrid (as is the Toyota Prius) with a 58-mpg combined EPA fuel-economy rating for its base model. But you can also get it as a battery-electric car (starting in April, in California) and late this year, as a...

State fees, penalties on electric cars proliferate this year

2017 Nissan Leaf  Several different states have continued to propose new fees for electric-car owners as a way to pay for road repairs. The fees are typically meant as a substitute for the gasoline taxes that, because they don't buy gas, electric-car owners don't pay. Advocates have criticized these fees, saying they effectively penalize drivers for reducing...

Plug-in hybrid utility truck keeps lights on during emergencies

Pacific Gas & Electric plug-in hybrid Class 6 truckCalifornia electric utility Pacific Gas & Electric recently took delivery of a pair of new trucks that it hopes will help solve two problems. The first is power outages, whether they are caused by weather or necessary planned maintenance work conducted by utilities. The other is every utility's huge bill for diesel fuel. The large trucks...

Toyota Mirai recall to fix output voltage on fuel cell electronics

2017 Toyota MiraiEvery Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car sold anywhere in the world will soon be recalled to address an issue with its onboard electronics. The problem lies with the output voltage generated by the cars' fuel-cell stacks. Under certain driving conditions, the amount of voltage generated by the system could exceed the maximum capacity for which...

Volkswagen e-Golf to end when ID electric hatchback launches?

Volkswagen I.D. electric car conceptThe Volkswagen e-Golf will arrive in dealerships this spring with a higher-capacity battery pack that gives the electric car an EPA-rated 124 miles of range. The number equals the rating of the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq, and is the highest range offered by any electric car that's not a Chevy Bolt EV or a Tesla. Whether this boosts the allure of the...